The Paladin leads me down a long, cold white marble hallway that dissolves every sound before it has a chance to echo. The marble was veined with gold and silver streaks that almost look too smooth, as if worn by centuries of footsteps. Yet there were no footsteps but ours. The stillness pressed against my ears and I wonder if even the sound of breathing would cause a disturbance here.
We passed benches set along the walls, each one carved from dark wood and was polished to a muted shine. A few had cushions neatly decorating them, as though someone had intended comfort but had forgotten what comfort was supposed to be. They looked used and empty, and the room held the strange heaviness of a place where many had waited before me.
Every now and again a scholar dressed in white with polished steel hanging from the waist in different shapes scurried past me and the Paladin, half masks covering the scholar's face only showing his eyes and half his nose, it looked like a muzzle. To know the truth but never speak it aloud. They walked with silent purpose, carrying documents and scrolls. When I tried to catch their attention by raising a hand or speaking in a quiet greeting they moved past me without any acknowledgement.
The Paladin said nothing until he ushered me to one of the dark wood benches in front of a black door, iron studs decorated it. I wondered if the door was my cell or my interrogation room, I thought they had their answers and decided I was innocent, why am I here?
Time passes strangely here, the only light source is the flame light from the burning sconces above which cast long shadows over the pale stone. A distant door opens and closes and more scholars rush past me as bells chime and yet, no one still calls my name. I try to catch anyone's attention once they pass and I'm not spared a glance, I just need to know how long I will be here.
My legs stiffen from the prolonged sitting, I can only get up and stretch so many times before I have no effort for it. The stillness allows for quiet reflection, playing the events over the past few months in more depth. The forest, the books, the Eclipse truth and most of all my own truth. I am still Scarless, but no longer powerless.
The silence swallowed every question my mind conjured, two Paladin Knights approached from the right of me, their armour was similar to my guide, white with silver fittings. The marks on their face told me that one was of Deceit, with his curling green lines and the other sloth with lines that look like vines carved into stone.
They stop before me, the two narrow slits carved into their masks staring directly into my soul.
''We are here for you. Follow.'' The Deceit Paladin barked.
I stand slowly. ''Can you please tell me where I'm being taken sir?''
Neither of them answered, they turned and marched in perfect unison. I follow, out of fear of being left behind in this maze.
We moved deeper into the Citadel, the corridors darken and the marbled corridors lost their golden veins and shifted into deeper, older stone, weathered and ancient. The air cooled until my breath made an appearance in the dim lighting. We turned a sharp corner and I stopped by accident, ahead of us stood a huge door, twice as tall as any man needs to be. The frame was carved from black polished stone with two Paladins guarding either side of the entrance. Their armour was entirely different.
Black and Gold, every plate a mirror of the darkness reflecting the molten light. Their masks were golden, with patterns which I couldn't decipher. They tower above any man I know or have seen, silent and imposing. Their shoulders were squared as if bearing the weight of centuries.
Patterns stretched across the wooden door with shifting intertwining symbols of seven crowns. Eight crowns… There is an extra crown branded on this door. I reached out before I even noticed I was moving. My eyes were fixed and the longer I stared the deeper its meaning sank into some unspoken place inside of me.
''Move it.'' The Sloth Paladin ordered me, their hand seizing my arm and nearly breaking my wrist. A woman's voice but a monster's grip.
The spell the door cast on me broke, I stumbled forwards being pulled away from the door. My heart was beating and aching. What is inside of that door? I need to know.
They led me into a small chamber not far from the black marked door. The room looked painted white with no windows for light, just torches perched in the corners of the room. In the middle sat a single chair, which one of the Paladins ordered me to sit on. In front of me stood a huge rectangle table with seven throne like chairs, each one carved with a sin. The inspectors.
The door swings open as seven white cloaked figures enter one by one, they arrange themselves accordingly as this was a council rather than an interrogation, they each sit in a chair with their respective sin. I notice one in particular, the Lust inspector smiles warmly towards me, like old friends as she lifts her hands to wave and greet me.
''Hello again sweetie, you remember me, yes? If there's anything you remember from our last meeting you should tell us.'' She speaks warmly as I feel her Lightscar ability trying to loosen my tongue.
The Pride inspector did not wait for my response as he announces ''That is enough, We will commence the interrogation.''
Lust's smile disappeared as she folded her arms and leant back onto her chair. Pride's gaze fixed onto me, his posture was rigid and his presence was sharp. ''You are here because our order has questions. You will answer them truthfully and plainly. We will determine your answers worth. Do not lie. Do not evade. Have I made myself clear?'' His voice carried the authority of someone who is used to being obeyed.
I nod as he continues his speech. ''We will discuss your experience in the Forest of Sin. Your past will come into question, along with your memories and associations. Will will examine any ties to the missing Paladin Knight. We will determine if it was you who summoned the Creature in the forest. We will also determine whether you have knowledge of any others like yourself. Now then, where are the rest of your kind hiding? Where are the Eighth sin?''
Shock slams into me so hard I forget how to breathe, I manage to reply while my throat dries up faster than a puddle in the summer sun. ''I do not know anything about the Eighth, other than the stories. I have no family or friends.
Pride leans back in his chair, his fingers stroking his stubble while he inspects me and his eyes looking at me like meat needing to be carved. My breath grows shallow and my insides stir with panic the as the room grows darker, flickering in time with my heart beat
Deceit leans forward, the same one from my previous interrogation, his eyes narrow and his attention is fixed onto the torch behind my head. The flames seem to flicker more violently than before as its tip bends slightly in my direction.
''There! You see the flame? It bends towards him! He affects the room and is beginning to eat the light!'' Deceit points to the flame.
''That is enough, the boy is eighteen years old and Scarless, barely able to defend himself. There is no reason to assume he carries the influence of an ancient order.'' Sloth Objected.
Gluttony nodded thoughtfully. ''Agreed. A child does not summon The Bàs Gairthe. Especially a Scarless one.''
Wrath interjects with that same bored look he displayed on our first meeting. ''Why not just convict him anyway? Guilty or innocent, it makes no difference to us. We do it all the time.''
His smile widened and something inside me went cold. My hands tremble and my eyes begin to tear as the words leave his mouth, my friends faces flash through my eyes along with Orien and the innocents of the Eclipse. Will the truth die with me?
The room didn't feel safe. The air grew tight and my legs trembled beneath the chair. I wanted to run as fast as I could. I wanted to scream but all I could do was sit as they studied me and wait until whatever came next.