Only God
Chapter 74 - 68: Judging Dertulian

Chapter 74: Chapter 68: Judging Dertulian

The day of judgment had arrived.

Almost everyone in the kingdom could foresee that the trial was of extraordinary significance.

No matter what the outcome might be, this trial was set to determine a rational crisis sweeping through the entire kingdom.

The one being judged was Dertulian, son of the Prophet, brother of the King.

Tens of thousands of Logosians gathered outside the palace, awaiting the soldiers to escort Dertulian to the stone-crafted magnificent palace to face the trial presided over by the King and the Nobles.

The commoners and slaves who sympathized with Dertulian, who adored this man, lined the streets shouting the name of the son of the Prophet.

Countless people knelt down, articulated to God the tribulations of Dertulian, praying for his safety, beseeching that he might receive fair treatment.

Dertulian faced them with a smile, then was led by the soldiers into the palace.

But as Dertulian stepped inside the expansive palace, all he encountered were hatred, hostility, and contempt.

The palace was filled with Nobles who had been the powerful Elders and Sages since the era of the Sapo King, conferred with the King on matters great and small, and this time was no exception.

In the past, Nobles often had endless debates over affairs affecting the kingdom, but now the case was quite the reverse, almost everyone united with the same intent, determined to execute Dertulian to completely suppress this sweeping crisis.

King Yarlessto sat high on his throne, the dim light concealing his face; when deciding upon the kingdom’s major affairs, Dertulian had always stood at his right hand, but now, Dertulian stood at the accused’s stand.

After Dertulian stepped into the center of the palace, the revered monarch calmly waved his hand, signaling the trial to begin.

A representative of the Nobles—esteemed as the "Sage" Bolan—stepped forward, he began, as was customary, by praising God’s holy name.

This custom was to signify that the accuser stood on the side of God, that the trial was sanctioned by God.

"Son of the Prophet,"

"I bring against you three accusations, namely rebellion, treason, and blasphemy."

Bolan looked coldly at Dertulian on trial, despising the man before him for having shattered the long-standing order, negating the morals of the Logosians.

Dertulian remained composed, for it was tradition that the one accused could not offer a defense before the charges were levied.

"First, the rebellion, Dertulian, the facts are before the eyes of every one of us, not a single slave denies that you led them in rebellion."

"I must tell you, it was the statue of your father, also the statue of the Prophet, those slaves constructed the statue of your father on the ground, yet you led them to revolt, how do you dare face Prophet Al?"

As Bolan’s voice rose, the Nobles around him were incited into a frenzy, hurling accusations and insults at Dertulian like crashing waves.

"Your father’s statue is destroyed, our splendor is ruined, all because of your terrible rebellion, which has obliterated all the achievements of the Logosians. What do you have to say for yourself?!"

Bolan’s accusations, representing the rage of the Nobles, clearly laid out the chaos engulfing the kingdom, the Logosians facing a new rational crisis - these issues, at their root, were due to Dertulian’s grand insurrection.

On the throne, King Yarlessto’s gaze fixed on Dertulian, his face invisible to all.

Under the angry stares of the assembly, Dertulian slowly began to speak.

"Indeed, I instigated a rebellion,"

uttered Dertulian.

As his words fell, the Nobles were thrilled to their core; the man before them was confessing, and without any defense, once all three charges were applied, they could execute the origin of the rebellion and extinguish this scourge.

"My father’s statue has collapsed, our splendor has collapsed, the Kingdom is falling apart, and the Logosians have encountered a crisis of reason once again."

Dertulian spoke as if reciting his own charges.

Bolan’s hands trembled slightly; he had anticipated a difficult accusation that would require all of his wits, but now, it seemed that this descendant of Al was slowly surrendering victory into their hands.

The Nobles listened more eagerly, their emotions surging, see, even the source of the insurrection admitted his guilt, in the name of God, execute this bane, uphold our morals!

Dertulian lifted his eyes, surveying the power-wielding Nobles around the hall.

"But I must ask you,"

"For whom was my father’s statue built?"

Dertulian asked unhurriedly.

Bolan sneered coldly, seemingly anticipating this question, and answered:

"God,"

"Who else but the Almighty God can accept such a sublime gift?"

Bolan was well-prepared for this question, for claiming it was offered to a man would bear flaws, only invoking the name of God could one hold the high ground, beyond rebuke.

Dertulian stared at him calmly, and asked again:

"Constructing this statue, was there Logosian blood shed? Was there Logosian suffering?"

Listening to yet another question that appeared to be completely unrelated to the previous, Bolan replied directly:

"Bloodshed and suffering are inevitable, but for God, everything is a necessity.

Son of the Prophet,

Have you forgotten God’s grace?"

As Dertulian heard Bolan’s counter-question, he looked around at the Nobles and once more began to speak:

"God said:"