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> "When monsters stand trial,
the judges better be clean…
or be ready to burn."
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⚖️ Scene 1 — The Shadow Tribunal Hall
The hall beneath Aegis Academy hadn't been used in decades.
Not since the last soul-warrior went rogue.
Stone walls inscribed with truth-binding runes.
Spectral chains hanging like silent watchers.
A round table of nine elders sat beneath a burning ring — the Eye of Testimony.
At the center stood Lena Voss.
Hands bound in soulsteel. Mask removed.
Face cold. Proud. Unapologetic.
She didn't blink as the Head Councilor announced,
> "Lena Voss, former General of the Eastern Circle,
you are charged with conspiracy, manipulation of celestial law,
and the death of a child — Aric Vale."
Silence fell.
And then…
Aric stepped forward from the shadows.
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🔥 Scene 2 — Aric's Testimony
He wore no academy uniform.
Just a black coat.
No sigil. No title. No mask.
But his voice filled the chamber like thunder wrapped in silk.
> "She didn't just kill me.
She trained me to die.
And when I didn't die right,
she tried to erase me."
Lena didn't flinch.
Aric kept speaking.
> "I was a field test. A disposable prototype for your 'rebirth alignment' project.
She told me I was special.
Then sent assassins when I uncovered her notes."
He held up a page — the original rebirth schematic signed: L. Voss.
Gasps echoed.
The elders whispered. Even Luthor turned pale.
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🧠 Scene 3 — Lena Speaks
Finally, Lena raised her chin.
> "You want the truth?" she spat. "Fine. I was part of the Vox Gate Project.
And Aric was chosen — not because he was innocent…
but because his soul was already broken.
Perfect soil for rebirth."
Myles stepped forward, fists clenched. "You treated him like a lab rat!"
Cassia whispered, "Monster…"
But Lena's smile was bitter.
> "You wanted gods, Council. You just didn't want to watch them being made."
One elder asked, "And Vox? Did you unleash it?"
She laughed, once. "No. That wasn't me."
She looked at Aric.
> "He woke it. Because you buried too much pain in one heart and called it strategy."
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🔗 Scene 4 — The Council's Division
The Council convened in whispers.
Some wanted exile.
Some, execution.
Others… offered amnesty in exchange for her full research.
> "Knowledge this dangerous cannot die with her," one elder said.
Aric's hands trembled.
Cassia gripped his shoulder. "Don't let them trade truth for silence."
Myles whispered, "Do it, Aric. Tell them."
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📜 Scene 5 — The Sealed Letter
Aric stepped back into the circle.
"I have one final testimony," he said.
He pulled out a sealed letter — not from Lena.
From the grave of Councilor Grane, whom Vox had made him kill.
The seal was broken. The paper singed.
Aric read it aloud:
> "To the future witness:
If Lena stands before you, know this —
She wasn't alone. Half the Council signed the Vox trials.
And if they silence her…
they erase themselves."
Pandemonium.
One elder dropped his mask. Another screamed, "He forged that!"
But the truth-binding flames turned blue.
The letter was authentic.
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⚔️ Scene 6 — Chaos in the Chamber
Flames erupted from the Eye of Testimony.
Runes cracked.
The truth circle shattered.
Aric shielded Cassia.
Myles tackled two exorcists lunging for Lena.
In the chaos, Lena ran.
> "Stop her!" a voice roared.
But Aric didn't move.
He looked up at the burning sky and said softly,
> "Let her run. The world's smaller than her guilt."
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📓 Scene 7 — Notebook Update
Later that night, in the ruins of the Tribunal Hall, Aric wrote in his journal:
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"Phase 8: Truth Unleashed"
Lena: escaped
Council: compromised
Vox: dormant (for now)
Public memory: corrupted
Allies: 2 (Cassia, Myles)
> "I didn't win justice.
I broke the lie that wore its face."
"That's enough for now."
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