In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.

The Emberlord caught Milo and she wasn’t stupid in her own eyes. She didn’t know why she was captured or even the fact that she was captured.

Zane had stopped biting Kairon and moved towards Milo.

The Emberlord was simply standing in front of lying Milo. He hadn’t touched her but Zane knew even the presence of that man around her wasn’t a good sign.

He ignored Kairon and dashed straight for his sister but just because he ignored Kairon, it doesn’t mean Kairon would do the same.

"Stay right here, little shit."

Kairon didn’t ignore Zane.

Just as Zane went past the Enforcer, Kairon held Zane by his chain around the neck and since Zane was dashing forward, the chain hugged his throat to the point of him choking to death.

Kairon had used all his strength to pull the chain, as if wanting to kill Zane right there and then under the pretense of stopping him.

Kairon had his right leg dripping from his blood and as the pain rose again and again, the urge of killing Zane knocked more and more.

Zane’s breath refused to come out of his throat and this time, before Milo, he had to save himself.

He stepped back, loosening the chain around his neck.

Kairon clicked his tongue.

He couldn’t harm Zane now.

He could have killed him under the excuse of stopping him but the bastard gutterborn stopped running.

Kairon couldn’t kill him now.

The Emberlord had made it clear by snapping his crown of flame.

If the Emberlord wanted Zane dead, he would already be.

So stopping Kairon’s skill was a clear sign that Kairon wasn’t allowed to kill Zane.

Nevertheless, Kairon didn’t let go of Zane’s chain and the Emberlord sat on one knee in front of Milo.

He didn’t bother about the open doors anymore and he also didn’t seem to mind Xavier fighting with the other Enforcer named Varikh.

Milo laid face first on the red carpet, and all eyes focused on Coin to see his next move.

Zane’s heart was on his throat as he couldn’t guess what the Emberlord wanted to do. He showed no hatred, no anger on his face.

With Kairon, he knew Milo would be hurt. But he had no clue about the Emberlord.

"What is her name, Zane Atlas?" Coin asked.

Zane answered with trembling lips. "Mi- Milo Atlas."

He didn’t want to share the name but he did anyway as the Emberlord might then try to force the name out of Milo.

However, just as Zane shared the name...

"Ughh!"

His hands went straight to his chest. He clenched it.

Zane felt as if his heart caught flames, as if someone threw it in a furnace.

His ears thumped. His tongue tasted ashes. His skin prickled with a hundred needles.

He fell to his knees, panting heavily.

Everyone frowned.

Xavier glared at Kairon as he believed the Enforcer harmed Zane.

Everyone else also had the same notion.

"I did nothing!" Kairon barked. He even let go of Zane’s chains.

No one seemed to believe him but then the Emberlord sighed.

He looked at Zane and answered everyone’s question.

"He lied. That’s what this is."

A collective understanding echoed in the Cathedral.

Zane had spoken truth so much that they forgot that he was under the oath. They couldn’t believe that Zane would get the punishment for lying because he didn’t get one since the start of the trial.

Zane looked up at the Emberlord.

"I did not lie. That’s her name!"

The Emberlord nodded. "That’s what you call her, Zane Atlas. She is your sister. For all of us, she is simply a convict. We don’t need nicknames here."

Zane went silent.

Now his punishment made sense. The path didn’t care about his relations. It simply wanted truth.

Holding back the pain, with gritted teeth he shared the name again:

"Milena. Milena Atlas."

Zane shared the real name of Milo, the one his parents had given her for official uses and just after sharing the name, the pain subsided.

His heart slowly came back to its original pace, the fire inside him died and his breath returned to his lungs.

He stood up with staggering steps.

The Emberlord let him be and now that he knew the name, he would begin.

"Get up, Milena Atlas." Coin said.

He received no response.

The Emberlord didn’t have all day so he reached out his hand towards Milo.

But seeing the hand moving, Zane couldn’t stop himself.

"Wait." He spoke.

Coin stopped.

"Let me be in front of her. She will be unable to answer if I am not present around her." Zane proposed and he made sure to speak in a tone of asking for permission.

The Emberlord opened his mouth but before Coin...

"Ridiculous." Kairon yelled. "You will stay in front of her and signal her to lie. If anything, she needs to be put under an oath too!"

Zane shot a glare at Kairon.

"Children aren’t like us, Enforcer. They don’t need someone familiar in front of them or a goddamn oath to speak the truth. Someone like you could never believe it is possible."

"You fil-"

"Enough."

The Emberlord interrupted.

He looked at Zane.

"Come here if you want. This is already taking more time than I intended."

Zane wasted no time and bolted before the Emberlord changed his mind.

Kairon was left clenching his spear.

Zane reached the Emberlord and stood behind him when another pair of shouts rang.

"I will kill you!"

"You will die by my hands!"

Xavier and Varikh were still busy lashing on each other.

"Die!"

"As if you can kill me—"

"Silence."

A heavy voice interrupted. A voice so authoritative it alone could command armies.

It belonged to none other than the Emberlord.

"But sire—"

"Speak another word and I will remind you why heads bow when I walk past."

THUD!

Varikh let go of his spear.

Xavier punched the Enforcer on the face but Varikh made no sound.

Not just Varikh, every mouth that could speak went shut.

Xavier wanted more fight but Tesla came from the stairs and stopped the brave man.

All of them held their breaths as it seemed the Emberlord was running out of patience.

Zane was the closest one to the Emberlord at the moment and he felt the change in the air first hand.

"Zane Atlas, here’s what I will do." Coin spoke.

Everyone focused.

"I will call your sister one last time. And if she doesn’t wake up..."

The Emberlord looked over his shoulder at Zane.

"I am afraid I have many means to wreck dreams to awaken anyone from their deepest slumber. Just pray I don’t have to use one of them today."