Epilogue

"I think we've all listened to this enough; I don't see how any of this is relevant." The middle aged man interjected, rising from his seat and waving his arms about to make a lavish statement.

"I need to provide context. If you're going to judge me on my actions, you need to know all of it." Ezra defended in a heartbeat.

"This isn't story time. We don't need your life story." He hissed back.

"Mr.Linher please stop interrupting. There are many more individuals more qualified to be on the panel if you don't want to be here. We shall reconvene tomorrow, I'm sure Mr. Anderson would like a break after talking for four hours." The judge intervened

"Thank you, your honour." The entire crowd stood while the judge left, and then after the second of silence, all the tension released, and the room erupts with noise. The young man remains in the box until the last person leaves. His eyes are distant as he remembers the past, and its only when the young woman is directly In front of him, and calls his name, that his eyes flicker down, into hers.

"Hi Theo." His voice is tired, the façade he'd put on is gone, and exhaustion from keeping composure and remembering things he'd rather forget, spreads through his body.

"Are you sure you still want to do this?" she asked. The sun was setting, casting the room in hues of orange and pink, igniting her halo of fizzy hair afire.

"Yeah. I'll tell them everything. I've come this far, haven't I?" he stretched out like a cat ready for a nap. "What's the damage?" he asked lazily.

"They're alternating between hero and villain."

"I'm neither." He settled his head in his palm, leaning against the box edge.

"I know. But it isn't looking good. International law doesn't prohibit prosecution of child soldiers but does limit the punishment that is received: both the death sentence and life imprisonment are opposed, but you did admit to 27 deaths and interfering with the formation of the alliance. But I think it's more that you make them nervous. Beings like Shadow were used in the war and it's power was certainly demonstrated despite what they say, and they don't think they can control you… People fear what they can't control…"

"I knew all that when I started my testimony. So, what are we looking at?"

"They're looking at banishment. Most likely."

He signed, leaning back on his chair, gaze wondering out the windows as the sun disappeared behind the buildings.