Releasing a groan of agony, Ignis pushed himself to his feet, wiping the frozen blood from his neck before asking, a look of genuine confusion on his face,

"I don't understand, Your Majesty. What crime have I committed to deserve execution?"

His expression appeared so convincingly confused that it made Voltrex raise an eyebrow, if only for a moment.

"You have disrespected the Snow Goddess in the sacred courtroom," Voltrex declared, his voice cold and authoritative. "A crime that demands no mercy for the perpetrator."

"I had no intention of disrespecting anyone, Your Majesty," Ignis countered, nervousness etched across his face. "I merely asked for a reward for my achievements."

"And you asked for Lady Nymeria as that reward!?" Voltrex replied, every word laced with restrained fury. "Not only is she a goddess, but she is also the one who will rule the Hundred Sky Mountains alongside Taranis in a few years."

"But she still lives in the Hundred Sky Mountains," Ignis argued. "Meaning she, along with every citizen residing here, belongs to you, Your Majesty. I did not ask for anything beyond your capabilities. Moreover, she has not yet married the Prince, so she does not belong to him either."

"Lady Nymeria is not an object to be claimed, you bastard!" Taranis roared, veins bulging as he used every ounce of self-control to stop himself from scorching Ignis into ashes.

"As the Prince has stated, Lady Nymeria is not an object that can be given as a reward," Voltrex said coldly. "Forget about her—had you even asked for a mere maid of the Hundred Sky Mountains, my answer would have been the same."

"B-but you are the King and ruler of these lands, Your Majesty!" Ignis insisted, his voice rising. "Every object, being, and treasure here belongs to you. You yourself said that I could have anything I desired. You cannot go back on your words—"

Bam!

Before Ignis could say another word, a booming punch struck his head, rendering him unconscious instantly.

"Forgive my son, Your Majesty," Aethon pleaded, his fist still clenched from the strike he had delivered. "He is young and foolish. He does not understand what it truly means to be a king."

"Aethon, it is not that your son is young," Voltrex muttered, his voice dangerously calm. "He is rotten to the core. People like him are better off dead before they commit something truly unforgivable."

Aethon's eyes widened as he realized Voltrex's intent. Before judgment could be passed, Aethon clenched his fists, cast aside his pride, and dropped to his knees. His forehead touched the floor.

"For everything I have done for the Hundred Sky Mountains, and as the Sect Master of the Flamebanes, Your Majesty, I beg you to spare my son's life," Aethon pleaded. Sincerity saturated his words, leaving all the Banes present in awe.

Aethon El Flamebane—one of the strongest and proudest cultivators of the Western Continent, second only to Voltrex and equal to the other Banes present in the courtroom—had lowered himself to beg for the first time in his life. It was utterly humiliating. He knew he would become a laughingstock among the Banes, yet he chose to endure it all for the sake of his son.

Voltrex released a weary sigh, fully aware of the burden weighing on Aethon. Taking into account everything Aethon had done for the Hundred Sky Mountains, Voltrex gave a slight nod.

"Very well. I will not execute him."

"Th-thank you… thank you so much, Your Majesty," Aethon said, bowing repeatedly.

While he was still bowing, a flicker of blue lightning shot past him and struck Ignis across the face.

The attack carved a deep diagonal mark into Ignis's once-flawless features, the wound crackling faintly with blue electricity.

"Punishment shall still be given," Voltrex said, his finger still glowing from the lingering aftereffects of his Soulforce. "This injury contains remnants of my power. It will never heal and shall remain upon his face until he reaches the same realm as me."

Aethon bit his lip in restrained fury and muttered, barely suppressing his anger,

"Thank you for showing mercy, Your Majesty."

Without sparing another second in the courtroom, Aethon lifted Ignis's unconscious body and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Once Aethon had left, Voltrex spoke again, his gaze shifting to Aurelion, who was seated in his place.

"Come forth, Aurelion," he commanded.

Aurelion rose from his seat and stepped into the center of the courtroom.

Clicking his tongue in frustration and forcing his expression into stoic neutrality, Voltrex announced,

"Releasing killing intent and drawing your weapon in the sacred courtroom. I expected better from you, Aurelion. This incident has made me realize that you still need to work on your temper. As punishment for this crime, I forbid you from entering the frontlines. A short temper has no place in war."

Aurelion's eyes flickered at the unexpected judgment. He was not the only one, every Bane present gasped at Voltrex's words.

Aurelion was an irreplaceable asset in the war. For countless years, he had stood as Voltrex's shield. To forbid him from the frontlines was no exaggeration of punishment—it was akin to Voltrex severing his own arm.

"But, Your Majesty—"

"My order is final. Nothing will change it, Aurelion," Voltrex cut him off before he could protest.

To the Banes present, the punishment seemed foolish. Voltrex was not only restraining Aurelion from fighting but also weakening himself—something all of them knew contradicted how deeply Voltrex trusted him.

However, Aurelion understood.

He knew the reason behind this strange judgment.

When Nymeria had burst into tears upon learning that Taranis would also depart for the frontlines like her father, Voltrex had blamed himself for separating her from both the men she loved. Though Voltrex had spoken with Nymeria only a handful of times, he loved her as though she were his own daughter.

He did not want her already-fragmented childhood—sacrificed to her divinity—to be spent without her father.

In truth, the moment Voltrex saw the tears in Nymeria's eyes, he had already decided not to take Aurelion with him. Yet knowing Aurelion's stubborn nature, he had searched for a way to make him stay. This punishment provided the perfect excuse—allowing his closest friend to finally experience the warmth of family.

Aurelion clenched his fist in frustration, worry for Voltrex's safety already weighing on him. Still, he chose to accept the hidden gift embedded within the king's judgment.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Aurelion said, bowing before returning to his position.

"Taranis, come forth!" Voltrex commanded once Aurelion had stepped back.

"You have truly disappointed me today, Taranis," Voltrex continued, his voice firm. "Uncontrolled anger can lead to catastrophic and irreversible outcomes—leaving behind nothing but regret."

"I do not regret my actions today, nor do I believe I was wrong, Father," Taranis replied calmly. "I merely did what you would have done had someone disrespected Mother. I only followed your teachings."

"T-this brat!" Voltrex growled inwardly, not in offense, but because Taranis had struck a perfect nerve.

Voltrex knew that had it been Aestra who was insulted, he would not have stopped his attack inches from Ignis's chest like Taranis—he would have pierced straight through it.

A proud smile appeared on Aestra's face as she heard the unwavering, fearless words of her son, spoken boldly even before the might of his father.

Voltrex, too, smiled inwardly, but his face remained stern and emotionless. He wanted to praise Taranis for his actions, yet the throne bound him. The king was obligated to punish the prince, not only for attacking someone in the sacred courtroom, but also for defying a royal command.

Voltrex knew that allowing Taranis's actions to go unpunished would shatter his authority before the Banes.

Taking a deep breath to steel his resolve, Voltrex said,

"So you choose obstinacy until the very end. Very well. Prepare yourself for your punishment."

The smile on Aestra's face vanished instantly, replaced by a frown of concern. Nymeria, standing on the upper floor, flinched as she heard the judgment that was about to be passed upon Taranis.

"For the crime of openly attacking someone in the courtroom, destroying the sacred walls forged by our ancestors, and disobeying the order of the king," Voltrex declared,

"I exile you from the Hundred Sky Mountains for the next three years."

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