All the Holders, especially Crake and Ordeus, shifted their attention to the newcomers, each with a different expression. Ordeus watched them with a slight smile of relief, while Crake merely snorted. The other three responded with wary, deadly glares.

  Deciding to ignore the hostility, Hana and Rein proceeded to their respective lecterns.

  "With the Seven Holders finally here, let us begin our meeting," the Judge on the tallest lectern announced, striking his gavel against the sound block several times to declare the session open.

  "For your information, Your Honor. That girl right there has murdered thousands of soldiers from both Neurn and Qtiryn territories," Ordeus stated with a flat expression. "You can read the full context in the file my secretary is providing you."

  At Ordeus’s signal, Benjamin approached the Judge and handed over the file. The Judge began to read, his eyes widening in horror the further he went, until he finally closed the cover for good.

  "I think... the context you gave me is more than enough, Sir Ordeus," the Judge stated, moving the file to the corner of his lectern. "Anyway, it is clear that Defendant Caroline has done something horrible. But I suppose there is a reason behind it. If one of the Seven Holders witnessed such reasoning, you may speak."

  Hearing the signal, Rein immediately spoke up. "Yes, Your Honor," he said in a respectful manner, addressing the Judge. "It's true that Defendant Caroline literally murdered thousands of innocent soldiers. But I would argue that it was because she lost control of the Leviathan Lineage inside her."

  "So you want to say that kind of monster lost control on her own and wasn't killing out of her own free will?" a female Holder countered sharply.

  "Silence, Gaia Holder!" the Judge exclaimed, hammering his gavel again. "I do not permit such accusations!"

  She clicked her tongue in annoyance but fell silent.

  "You may continue," the Judge said, looking back at Rein.

  "Thank you, Your Honor," Rein replied, bowing slightly before lifting his head in respect. He proceeded to explain the entire story, from the Holder War to the Scarlet Sky incident. The Holders listened with anticipation, even the Judge leaning in to hear the details.

  "That's all I can tell you, Your Honor," Rein concluded, reverting his focus to Carol, who looked back at him with a proud smile.

  "Fascinating. To think that even an 'anomaly' has emotions..." a male Holder mumbled to himself, growing more interested by the second. "Your Honor. May I ask the Defendant a few questions? It might be helpful for both sides, especially when someone here appears to miss the Defendant very much," he asked, glancing at Rein with a curious expression.

  "Permission granted, Nature Holder," the Judge said, striking the gavel once more.

  The Nature Holder immediately cast his plant magic, lifting himself gracefully toward the ceiling before jumping down into Carol’s area.

  He landed as if he weighed nothing and walked gently toward Carol, his footsteps echoing softly across the hall. Rein grew nervous as one of the Holders approached his friend, his Azure spell slowly freezing his lectern in silent anxiety. As the Holder stopped close to her, Carol backed away warily.

  "No need to worry. I'm here to ask you a few questions," the Nature Holder stated, trying to reassure her.

  "For what exactly? Are you going to use me as a tool? An experiment? Or something else?" Carol responded with a harsh tone, unable to trust his demands.

  "Oh, it's none of those. I find that an 'anomaly' like you is quite fascinating, especially when it comes to your journey to become human despite having monstrous traits," the Holder explained calmly.

  "Anomaly? Is that supposed to be a title or a taunt?" Carol asked, slightly annoyed.

  "Hmm. I suppose your history lessons at Verlyn never taught you what an anomaly is, am I right?"

  Carol shook her head in response.

  "An anomaly is like two identities merged into one. It's basically a taboo that directly breaks the power system. Of course, not because it is overpowered or anything. It is dangerous because when that 'anomaly' cannot choose which identity they want to use, they will lose their mind and personality, leading to destruction everywhere in their path like a mindless abomination. Just like the Calamities," the Nature Holder explained briefly.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  (Calamities? Just like that Tyrant in the seas and the Ice Dragon in Sowrien's Territory?) Carol thought.

  Noticing her deep thought, the Nature Holder smiled in amusement. "Of course, in your case, it won't happen for now. As long as you use your two identities, which is your Half-Margia and Half-Leviathan sides, in equal measure, that is."

  Carol snorted in disbelief at the explanation. "That power sounds too good to be true. I mean, having two identities with different purposes instead of two elements like your everyday Margia, or even having one element like a Holder... that's too busted!"

  "That's why there is a drawback. An anomaly, though powerful, consumes twice as much Ender as a Holder. Therefore, they will tire easily in a prolonged fight," the Holder said, nudging his glasses as the ceiling light reflected off the lenses. "As for the power ranking... I would say an anomaly is on par with a Holder if they mature enough. A Successor is obviously below a Holder but above the Sealers, if they still exist. The Sealers are clearly slightly above Margias thanks to their anomalous spells, yet still on par with Margias when it comes to battle power. As for the Child of Light and the Leviathan... let's just say they have their own separate category."

  "Uhm... is that ranking really necessary? It's kinda confusing," Carol said, her mind feeling hazy from the overwhelming information.

  "Just treat it as speculation. Not a big deal if you only care about the result," the Holder said, assuring her. "Now, for my question: what made you lose control of yourself? From what I heard in that boy's story, your mental state was the reason you became such a monster. But there's more to it than that, am I right?"

  Hearing his question, Carol widened her eyes in slight shock before snorting in amusement. "Your Honor. Can I speak to someone here?"

  "S-sure. Permission granted," the Judge responded.

  "Rein! Did you take that emblem from my room?" Carol asked, her voice loud and casual, irritating and shocking most of the Holders with her lack of decorum. "Can you give this man here that emblem?"

  Listening to her request, Rein let out a deep sigh, embarrassed by Carol's action. He pulled a bloody emblem from his pocket and threw it toward the Nature Holder, who grasped it with ease.

  "This is..?" the Nature Holder said, looking down at the bloody, ancient emblem of the previous Gaia Holder resting in his palm.

  "That's the catalyst behind everything. If you want, I can share everything I know," Carol offered, drawing a nonchalant smile.

  In that moment, she casually told them everything about what had happened, even revealing the one who left such a tainted emblem behind.

  "You really had a hard time, huh?" the Holder said, showing an expression of sympathy.

  "Heh, it's not a big deal. Anything can happen, especially when life becomes too peaceful," Carol shrugged casually.

  "Is that so?" The Holder fell into deep thought, only to snap back to reality and shake his head. "Anyway, thanks for your cooperation, Caroline."

  "No worries. Oh, just call me Carol. Your successor, Noire, always says my full name sounds too strange," Carol stated, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.

  Hearing his successor's name, the Holder widened his eyes in shock, which was quickly replaced by a smile of relief. "Seems like you finally found someone you can trust, Noire," he mumbled to himself. "I presume your group of friends has more than one successor. Is the daughter of the Ignis Holder one of them?"

  "Well, if you mean Aria, then yeah. What about her?"

  "From the path she is trying to take, it seems her journey will be the embodiment of hell itself. Perhaps a path of Asura, if you will," the Holder stated, turning his body away from Carol, ready to leap back. "I hope you're aware of this, Carol. Even a normal person can be a monster on their own." As his warning finished, he leaped away, landing back in front of his lectern.

  In response to the Nature Holder's retreat, the Judge struck the sound block with his gavel several times. "With the meeting finally in its final phase, I will ask every Holder to discuss what kind of fate suits Defendant Caroline."

  The Seven Holders conferred, debating the course of action Carol should face. One suggested the death sentence, while another suggested forced labor to pay for the destruction. Suggestion after suggestion was debated, pending, or cancelled... until finally, they reached an agreement.

  Noticing the Seven Holders nodding at him, the Judge responded with a nod of his own. Everyone returned to their places as the Judge announced the punishment. "Defendant Caroline. Are you willing to take responsibility for what you have done?"

  "I do, Your Honor," Carol said. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, determination radiating from her gaze. "This is a crime I must face. No matter what kind of punishment you want me to take, I'll gladly accept it."

  "Good. For your punishment, every Holder agrees that you will be sentenced as a prisoner for one year and a half. Then, when your time as a prisoner is over, you must wear the Ring of Seal we will provide," the Judge explained in an official, harsh tone. "This way, most of your Leviathan power will be suppressed for a while. If you decide to force yourself to use the full power of the Leviathan instead of a portion without the permission of all the Holders, the ring will explode, and you will die. Do you accept such outcome, Defendant Caroline?"

  Hearing the explanation, Carol widened her eyes in disbelief, having thought the punishment would be much harsher. Tears of relief fell to the ground as she snorted, wiping them away. she drew her usual smile, a gesture of gratitude toward every Holder, including Rein. "I gladly accept it, Your Honor."