Chapter 327: Trial - 5
Jaegar turned to face Ewen, a spark of challenge in his eyes. "If the evidence against me is as solid as you claim, Mr. Mortell, then surely you have nothing to fear from an examination of my memories. Unless, of course, there's something about this investigation that you'd prefer to keep hidden?"
A tense silence fell over the courtroom at Jaegar's implication. Ewen's face flushed, a mixture of anger and something that might have been fear flashing across his features.
Before Ewen could respond, a new voice cut through the tension – deep, resonant, and carrying an unmistakable air of authority. Gawter Mersius had risen from his seat at the back of the courtroom, his imposing figure drawing all eyes to him.
"If I may interject," the Blade Sovereign said, his words seeming to vibrate with power. "I believe it would be... enlightening to allow young Ambrose's memories to be examined."
"I will be the judge of those memories, if they were to be true or false."
The effect of Mersius's intervention was immediate and profound. The judges exchanged glances, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty on their faces. Even Judge Blackthorn, who had been so adamant in her opposition, seemed to waver.
Gawter Mersius continued, his piercing gaze sweeping across the courtroom. "In my long years, I have witnessed many trials, both just and unjust. It is rare to find an accused so willing to lay bare their mind for scrutiny. Such openness, in my experience, often speaks to innocence – or at the very least, to a truth more complex than what surface evidence might suggest."
He turned his attention directly to Judge Blackthorn. "As for the concerns about precedent and privacy, I would argue that extraordinary cases call for extraordinary measures. The breach of the barrier between magical and non-magical worlds is no small matter. It threatens the very foundations of our society.
Surely, in such circumstances, we must be willing to explore all avenues to uncover the truth."
The Blade Sovereign's words hung in the air, their weight almost palpable. The members of the magical council murmured among themselves, many nodding in agreement. Even those who had been skeptical of Jaegar's offer seemed swayed by Mersius's argument.
Judge Blackthorn remained silent for a long moment, her expression thoughtful. Finally, she spoke, her voice carrying a note of resignation. "Very well. In light of Lord Mersius's counsel and the... unique circumstances of this case, I am inclined to allow the examination of Mr. Ambrose's memories."
She turned to face Jaegar directly. "However, Mr. Ambrose, I must impress upon you the seriousness of this procedure. The extraction and viewing of memories is an intensely personal and potentially traumatic experience. Are you absolutely certain you wish to proceed?"
Jaegar stood tall, his resolve evident in every line of his posture. "I am, Your Honor. I have nothing to hide and everything to gain by proving my innocence."
Read exclusive content at empire
Judge Blackthorn nodded solemnly. "Very well. We shall adjourn for one hour to allow Mr. Ambrose to prepare himself mentally for the procedure. The court will reconvene promptly at 2:00 PM." With that, she banged her gavel, and the courtroom began to buzz with anticipation."
As the judge's gavel fell, signaling the temporary adjournment, the courtroom erupted into a flurry of activity. Council members hurried to discuss this unexpected turn of events, while court officials rushed to make the necessary preparations.
Jaegar remained in the center booth, his expression a mixture of relief and apprehension. He had taken a bold gamble, and now the die was cast. Whatever his memories might reveal, he knew that the next hour would be crucial in determining his fate.
As the crowd began to disperse, Jaegar caught sight of Gawter Mersius. The Blade Sovereign was watching him with an inscrutable expression, a glimmer of... something in his eyes. Approval? Curiosity? Or perhaps a hint of knowledge that ran deeper than anyone in the courtroom could guess.
For a brief moment, their eyes met across the bustling courtroom. Jaegar felt a jolt of... something.
Before he could process the sensation, Mersius had turned away, the members of the council were leading him away.
As Jaegar was led away to prepare for the memory extraction, his mind raced with questions. Why had Gawter Mersius, one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures in the magical world, chosen to intervene on his behalf?
The corridors of the Ministry building buzzed with activity as news of the trial's unexpected turn spread like wildfire. Witches and wizards huddled in small groups, their voices a mix of excitement and concern as they debated the implications of allowing memory extraction as evidence.
In a small antechamber adjacent to the courtroom, Jaegar sat alone, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions and strategies. He knew that the coming procedure would lay bare not just the events of the day in question, but potentially a lifetime of private moments and personal secrets.
The thought was daunting, but he pushed his fears aside, focusing instead on the opportunity this presented to clear his name.
Meanwhile, in a well decorated chamber hall, Arthur had come personally to meet Gawter and welcomed him with pleasantries. He was briefed of the court trial of Jaegar and his abrupt arrival in the courtroom by Judge Amelia.
"Lord Gawter, while I am happy to host anytime you want to come to the ministry, I have to ask you, for what reason you had entered a closed doors ongoing trial."
Gawter looked with an expressionless face at Arthur, and it was becoming hard for Arthur to deduce what he was thinking. Although Arthur wasn't as strong as Gawter, Arthur was a genius when it came to magic, and he had the whole ministry with an army of thousands of wizards and witches at his disposal. So, he wouldn't back down seeing Gawter.
"Minister, you are being too harsh. I just came here as an audience, to satisfy my curiosity about the one who broke the barrier."