Masquerade of the Guilty ,Chapter IV Act V
꩜ As a Fontainian citizen, one of your fears was to be exposed to Primordial seawater. One minor touch and you‘d dissolve to water. This was an issue to every Fontainian person.
Hearing one day that the Hydro Archon, Furina, was being accused of fraud, you, alongside many others, went to the Opera Epiclese to see the magnificent trial.
Once seated, Furina was on the right side of the Epiclese, being the defendant. Her opponent, the one to accuse her, the Traveller. Both have brought gold arguments, though at one point, it seemed that Lady Furina was trying to make excuses for herself.
All clues went against her, and the Iudex, the Chief Justice of Fontaine, Neuvillette, spoke. "In my capacity as Chief Justice, I shall now render judgement on Furina‘s misrepresentation of herself as the Archon of Fontaine. As a human who knowingly deceived her fellow citizens, Furina is — guilty."
"We shall now turn to the Oratrice Mecanique d‘Analyse Cardinale to render the final verdict on the charges." He continued. The Oratrice, converting the people‘s beliefs in justice into Indemnitium, makes its verdict.
Neuvillette‘s eyes widen as he reads it out, hesitant to speak the words, but complying with the rules set in the Opera Epiclese, and his duties as the Iudex.
"According to the judgement of the Oratrice Mecanique d‘Analyse Cardinale, Furina is-… The Hydro Archon, guilty…to be punished via the death sentence." Neuvillette‘s words were sharp, leaving no room for argument.
The Oratrice was never wrong, was it? It has always served justice. But even the Harbinger‘s verdict - Tartaglia‘s - was guilty, despite his innocence.
The crowd murmured, in shock that the death sentence was indeed a real thing, and not just a "myth" they believed in. This was the first time a death sentenced was brought to Fontaine. In its entire history of existence.
To think that the person whom they worshipped was going to be sentenced to death, was unbelievable.