"Yes!" Raymond responded firmly, eting Captain Andel's gaze with steady resolve.
Before he could continue, Mrs. Becker, who had been fidgeting behind Andel, cut in with a shrill, insistent tone. "Sir Knight, don't waste ti listening to his excuses! Can't you see the ss he's made? He's clearly dangerous. It would be right to arrest him imdiately!"
Her voice held a frantic edge, as if she feared what Raymond might reveal. And he understood why. Over the years, Mrs. Becker had exploited him and others like him; orphans with no family or resources, easy targets. She found any excuse to dock their wages, forced them to work backbreaking hours, and fed them nothing more than scraps. Now that he was awakened, she clearly saw him as a threat, one she wanted out of her life for good.
Her plan was clear enough to Raymond: if the Knights arrested him, he'd be imprisoned, and Mrs. Becker and her son could simply disappear, leaving him with no chance of retribution.
Just as Raymond drew breath to speak, another voice, unexpected and sharp, cut through the tension.
"Shut up, you fat cow!"
The room went silent as all eyes turned to Freya, her hands firmly on her hips, eyes blazing. Mrs. Becker gaped, face turning crimson.
"Who are you to tell us Knights how to handle our business?" Freya scoffed, leveling a look of pure disdain at Becker. "And for the record, I heard Raymond say he took down these three creeps to protect the girl in the bed over there from… let's say, 'unsavory' intentions."
Mrs. Becker's face froze, her mouth opening and closing as she seed torn between fury and terror. Despite her humiliation, she dared not protest. Here, in the town of West, the Knights held considerable authority, second only to the temple itself. She knew better than to openly challenge one of them.
Captain Andel and his team gave no sign of reprimanding Freya. After all, they needed no interference in their duties, especially from soone like Mrs. Becker.
With a thoughtful glance toward the bed, Captain Andel asked, "And who is she?"
"Arya," Raymond answered, his voice softening as he glanced at the unconscious girl. "She works here, sa as . A waitress."
Captain Andel nodded, looking down at Arya with a critical eye. "Freya ntioned that Arya hasn't regained consciousness since this all happened. That in itself raises questions… Her condition may be connected to the incident."
Raymond felt a surge of relief at the captain's even approach. It was a welco change; the Knights, it seed, didn't simply arrest people on the basis of one accusation.
"Raymond," Captain Andel continued, his voice firm but impartial, "why don't you tell us exactly what happened. Freya, check the conditions of the other n here and look into Arya's state as well."
With a deep breath, Raymond began his account, detailing how he'd been drawn to the East District on a personal errand, and how he'd co across Seth and his gang, who were harassing Arya. He explained that he'd only used his abilities as a last resort, out of sheer necessity to protect her.
Captain Andel listened intently, jotting down Raymond's words with a small notebook and pen. He didn't press Raymond about why he'd gone to the East District in the first place, seeming to accept that, as an awakened one, Raymond might have his own reasons for being there.
"...To save Arya," Raymond concluded, "I had to use my strength, and in the heat of the mont, I may have… overpowered them a bit." He looked up, noting the captain's attentive gaze as he recorded the final details. "And that's the truth of it, Sir Knight."
Freya, who'd been crouching over the unconscious n, stood up, her eyes gleaming with understanding. "Ah, so that's how it all went down!" she announced with a dramatic flourish. She had clearly been eavesdropping on the entire recount.
Captain Andel looked up and fixed her with an exasperated stare, which she t with an impish grin. Sticking out her tongue playfully, she shrugged, clearly unapologetic.
Raymond couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Captain Andel glanced over his notes, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked back up at Raymond. "So," he said carefully, "you attacked them to protect Arya from Seth and his n's intentions. Is that correct?"
"Yes!" Raymond replied, his voice firm. A mont later, he clenched his fists, recalling sothing painful. "They've bullied in the past," he admitted, his voice carrying a trace of bitterness. "But Arya… she always stood up for , even when no one else would. I can't shake the feeling that they took it out on her because of that."
"Have they really bullied you before?" Freya asked, her voice soft with surprise.
Andel shot her a look, clearly not pleased with her interruption. But even he seed curious, as though Raymond's story was beginning to reveal unexpected layers.
"Yes…" Raymond took a deep breath, as if summoning the courage to revisit the mories. He closed his eyes, his expression pained, his voice subdued. "It wasn't pleasant," he murmured, his tone haunted by the weight of past experiences.
He then described a series of incidents in a calm, detached voice, the kind of calm that hinted at years of resilience built through necessity. He spoke of the taunts, the small cruelties, the underhanded pranks Seth and his group had used to humiliate him. It wasn't dramatic, but that calm tone, masking so much pain, was more moving than any show of rage.
But when he ntioned Arya, a faint smile broke through. "She was always there, in her quiet way, watching out for . And today…" His eyes grew determined. "Today, I finally got the chance to protect her. Even if that ans I'll be punished, I don't regret it, not for a second."
"Captain, they're terrible people!" Freya suddenly clutched Captain Andel's arm, her face a mix of anger and empathy. Despite her earlier bluster about being an "emotionless assassin," she was visibly moved by Raymond's story, her eyes shining with sympathy.
Andel sighed, a faint smile of amusent crossing his face as he shook his head slightly. But he was also experienced enough to keep his emotions in check. Raymond's story was compelling, yes, but it was just that, one side of the story. The truth would only erge once Arya and Seth regained consciousness and could be questioned directly.
Just then, one of the knights returned, saluting Andel. "Captain, we've examined them. The three n are uninjured beyond a few bruises, but the girl on the bed appears to have been drugged."
"Drugged?" Andel asked, his voice sharpening.
"Yes, sir," the knight confird, handing Andel a small, empty bottle. "We found this on the one with no hair. The type of vial suggests it ca from Dalian Pharmacy. We can't be sure what was in it, but it's likely the sedative that put her out."
Andel examined the vial, frowning as he turned it in his hand. "We'll take it back and have it analyzed," he said, his expression darkening. "The identification spell should confirm what it held."
He turned to Raymond, his tone level but firm. "Raymond, I understand what you've told us. But for now, since the others are still unconscious and we need a full account, you'll need to co with us to the Knights' Office. Once Arya and Seth can give their statents, we'll determine what really happened and ensure justice is served."
Raymond nodded, exhaling slowly. "Understood, Captain."
"And Arya?" Raymond asked after a mont's pause, glancing at her unconscious form.
"We'll assign soone to stay here and look after her," Andel replied. "Once she wakes, she'll be taken to the office to give her statent. As for Seth and his group…" Andel's tone held a subtle edge, "we'll bring them along for questioning as well."
Raymond felt a surge of relief. Knowing Arya would be protected and that Seth and his gang would be held accountable gave him a strange peace amid all the uncertainty.
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