Chapter 141 - Fairy Tale Bull
The dark sign appeared over Georgina with Hope not letting the time pass and hack his sword against it, cutting it in half. With this, the last clutch of the curse from Madam Hoot had broken.
Hope landed on the ground on one knee, turning his body and defensively blocked his sword from Fernando. Malice might still have a trick up her sleeve and Hope should not let his guard down easily.
"Georgina," Fernando cried and held his lover in his arms. She laid unconscious from the arms that draped from her body, the heat from Fernando coaxing her from the decades of nightmare she endured.
"When we were under the Demon Queen's spell…" Fernando trailed off and carried Madam Hoot in his arms. "We were locked in this endless nightmare. We couldn't escape and we couldn't move our bodies on our own. It was as though we were dreaming but so much worse."
"How do I know that you're not under the spell or another spell?" Hope asked, dashing forwars and pointing the tip of his sword by Fernando's neck. "Speak the right words or I won't hesitate to knock you out."
"How do I prove my innocence? Through my eye? My words? You believe what you want to believe. I will take Georgina with me back to the Forest," Fernando said and turned around.
Just when he did, a woman with the same uniform as Ryan walked forward. She had a tight skirt that hugged her thighs right, her suit was also tight that it emphasized the size of her breasts.
"My name is Miranda Fall," she introduced. "And I will be taking Georgina Hoot with me to the dungeons for the crimes she committed against the kingdom and its citizens that includes, threat to the king and citizens' lives, treason, and murder of the late Queen. This sentence is not open for a trial therefore the only option left is the execution."
Fernando gasped and could only look down. In the eyes of the people, they were evil. It was hard to convince everyone with just words considering most of them were present when they attacked.
"But she didn't do it," Hope said in defense. "They were controlled by the Queen of Hell, Malice. Everyone can attest to that."
"And by everyone you mean?" Miranda quirked her brow up and crossed her arms.
"Everyone from yesterday. Even the Holy Crow and the Raven Justice were there. They witnessed how Malice controlled the Forest Folks," Hope said. "If you could just call them or contact them, I'm pretty sure they will speak for the Forest Folks."
"We cannot just call either of them," Miranda said. "They are important figures of the kingdom, and by extension the continent. You can't just–"
"The Holy Crow will testify in behalf of the Forest Folks." A woman with the mask appeared beside Miranda. It was the woman beside the Holy Crow. She was kneeling on one knee, head bowed down. "He will say everything that he need to say in order to stop the mayhem that Malice, the Queen of Hell, brought. It is his duty as the head of the Heaven's Son."
Miranda touched her chest in shock, her lips formed an O while Hope's formed a smirk. Little did everyone know, he had requested the old man to do so.
Just when the battle was over and the sky was cleared. The Holy Crow's followers were about to take him away when Hope walked over and asked for him testify. He played the guilty card, that the Holy Crow is a head of a religion that spreads truth and kindness. What will his followers ay after they knew that their leader had hid while an innocent person is punished?
"Miranda," another police called out and whispered to her ear. "It seems like the Raven Justice is going to testify for Miranda Hoot's Innocence too. What shall we do?"
Miranda was speechless for a moment, trying to recover her thoughts. She took a deep breath before relaxing her shoulders.
"It seems like we have their pardon," Miranda said. "Georgina Hoot's execution will be revoked temporarily. But a trial will take place instead. She is therefore invited at the Grand Hall of Justice under the Royal Judge and the Royal Jury."
After Miranda spoke, her mood instantly changed from serious to happy. She gasped and ran towards Fernando, her eyes seemed like they were glimmering.
"Is this her?" she asked with a completely different voice. It was high-pitched, or child-like. It was far different from the deep voice she used just a few moments earlier.
"Oh, that's her Faint," the policeman said. "By the way, I'm Joseph Macro. I am Miranda's colleague and junior in the police."
"W-What is happening?" Hope tilted his head in confusion. "Just a few moments ago she was a scary woman. Now she acts like a little kid. Why?"
"As I've said, that's her Faint. She has three personalities living inside her. Miranda the policewoman, Mary the little kid, and someone that she doesn't want everyone to see. Apparently the third personality is very shy."
"Oh," Hope said. "What shall Madam Hoot do now?"
"She will await for her trial which will be in three days. Until then, she is not allowed to leave Solaguer and is forbidden to get near the Royal Palace," Joseph said. "The Royal Court will provide her lodging and food until the trial. If they find her not guilty, Miranda will be banned to get near Solaguer or any member of the Royal Family, but she is free from execution."
"What if she's found guilty?" Hope asked.
Mary, the other person inside Miranda nudged Hope's sleeve. When the boy looked her, she ran her index finger in her neck, signaling death.
"Oh," was all Hope could say. "Oh."
"Hope! Oh," Connor stopped abruptly after seeing other people on the rooftop. "What's happening here?"
"We'll talk later, for now, we have to send Madam Hoot to the inn the Royal Court provided," Hope said and walked over to Connor, Fernando was trailing behind him.
"Did you see the woman?" Connor asked. "She's not down below and you were taking your time so we though you were battling her or something."
"No, I just saw Madam Hoot by the edge of the rooftop. Malice still had a curse on her and tried to continue to spread her evilness," Hope said. He glanced at Fernando and smirked. "Good thing Madam Hoot's savior came and saved her."
"Savior? Fernando?" Connor asked to which Hope nodded.
"He kissed her and apparently broke the curse," Hope teased.
"That's some fairy tale bull," Connor deadpanned. "And I'm sure the others would agree."
–
"That's some fairy tale bull sh*t," Ed said the moment Hope got to their room and said the events that took place by the roof. "Kissing to break a curse? That's preposterous. If there's something that could break a curse by those kind of act, it's love making."
"Agree," Luck added. He was sitting on a chair beside Elliot's bed while waiting for the healer to finish.
"Why are you still here though–" Connor tried to say but was instantly shut down by Luck.
"The point is, I'll escort them. It will be hard if Malice shows up again and you're the ones there. She might kill you all," Luck said.
"Are you sure you can take her though?" Connor asked. "I mean, the three of us are Unawakened Eternals. You know that."
"And I'm a being above an Eternal," Luck muttered. "I'm a God."
"Gods are extinct," Ed deadpanned. "Or they don't exist at all. They're just myth. What are tou saying?"
"Too much talk, I'll go with them. You four can stay here and wait for Lance. I'm sure he has a more pressuring business to tend than all of us," Luck said and stood from his chair.
Fernando was standing by the end of Elliot's bed, still carrying Madam Hoot in his arms. He nodded at Luck and walked out, Luck walking behind him.
"Is he sure he's okay?" Ed asked, harrowing his eyes at Fernando. "The former captain of the Guards is suspicious."
"If Luck says it's okay, it's probably okay," Hope said. "I hope that's the case."
"All done," the healer interrupted them from their conversation. "I will now pull him out of his trance and then we're good."
"Trance?" Connor asked. "I thought he fell unconscious because he was hit by a random attack?"
The healer tilted her head and pouted, "But there's a powerful flame trance in here. And a residue of memory manipulation."
"Memory manipulation?" Connor gasped. "It must be that woman."
"She erased Ed's memories too," Hope said. "But why? And why would a flame user trance Elliot?"
"Maybe he attacked Elliot," Connor said. "Yeah. The woken up Forest Folk must've attacked Elliot with his flames and knocked him out so they could target Lance."
"But why would they target Lance though?" Ed thought. "I mean, it might be because he was the prince and all but Malice seem to be more interested in Lance more than the king. And the king should be the one to take out first if they want to destroy the kingdom."
"Either she has some other plan or the destruction of the kingdom is not her goal at all," Connor said.
Hope couldn't help but clear his throat, "Well, after the battle yesterday, the Holy Crow told me something."
The two looked at him and waited for him to continue.
"It's about Lance," Hope said and sighed.. "About the boy who wields the Dualism."