Celeste turned to look at her former love.
He was dressed in an ornate, fancy garb - dark crimson in colour, with a high-collared sleeveless mantle draped over his shoulders. It appeared to be crafted from an extravagantly fine leather, golden engravings on the high collar catching the light.
Coupled with his neutral mask, eye patch and sole crimson eye, Alden did indeed look like a young Prince, heir to the most powerful individual in the Sanctuary. Celeste didn't know how strong the Keeper was in relation to the leaders of the Four Clans, but if they were marginally ahead with regards to influence and power, then it would make sense for them to be the strongest.
Alden now held a similar status to her, which Celeste was glad to see.
No longer could people use him as a way to get to her, or force her hand - they would have to think twice before crossing the Keeper's Apprentice.
The young woman felt a brief flash of sympathy for her former love, the weight of countless expectations would only increase with time. It didn't help that the important figures here believed he wasn't qualified to assume the role of the Keeper's successor, if the scrutiny and carefully veiled frowns were anything to go by.
Celeste discarded thar train of thought, focusing on Alden and the individual who had posed the question. Upon closer inspection, they appeared to be a 'noble' of the Wind, with black hair greying on the edges and piercing sea-blue eyes with a cunning glint, almost identical to Julian's.
Imperceptibly, Celeste's face darkened.
She was staring at the leader of House Aerithale, a prominent family who became influential through the many shops and establishments they owned scattered throughout the Territory of Wind. This esteemed household was also where Julian hailed from, with Zaruk, being the odious lecher's uncle.
Celeste's frame trembled subtly.
Suddenly, she felt a reassuring hand on her arm.
The Chosen of the Divine Sovereign shifted, locking eyes with one of her Senior Sisters, Nellie, who whispered:
"It's okay, I'm here. You're safe. They can't do anything to you here."
Celeste felt a warmth bloom in her heart at her words. Nellie was right. Julian's reprehensible family couldn't afford to cause a scene here.
Not just because she was a Disciple of Light - in addition to her position as a Chosen of the Divine Sovereign -, but also because any attempt made to slight Celeste would only invite the other Houses, particularly those from the Flame, to do the same.
Tensions were already rocky between the two.
The young woman gritted her teeth.
She inhaled, clamping down on her annoyance and rage. Celeste shifted her gaze away from Julian's vile family towards Alden, who didn't bother to face Zaruk - an act which she felt made the Aerithale Head furious, if the slightly stirred wind in the chamber was any indication to go by.
She suppressed a smile.
Celeste was curious how her former love would respond.
Zaruk's question placed him in a bit of a difficult position.
If Alden stated the match had been a good one, he would risk offending Elder Crystal, who was clearly displeased with the Rime Hound's performance. On the other hand, if Alden declared the clash had been lacking, he would need to explain his reasoning, which would require showing those present a glimpse of his capabilities.
Hate the Aerithale's all she liked, Celeste couldn't deny that Zaruk had made an extremely cunning move.
Unfortunately, for him…
"It was satisfactory."
Alden's response was blunt and straight to the point.
He didn't offer any further clarification, nor deign to involve himself in the web of House Aerithale's schemes. His neutral and indifferent mask was still in place. Celeste smothered another smile, resisting the urge to laugh.
She felt Zaruk's anger rise, before the sly Merchant collected himself.
"Ah, the refreshing nature of youth. Their lack of experience is very… endearing."
The Head of House of Aerithale paused, then continued, keeping his tone light.
"No matter. This is why we adults exist. To correct their mistakes."
Instantly, Alden's aura flared, bringing a hint of a deathly chill to those present.
…He wasn't the only one outraged.
Celeste stiffened, while her Senior Sisters beside her failed to contain their outbursts, their auras erupting like one of the Pyre Peaks.
"You incorrigible scum!"
"Men like you are why women can never be safe!"
Nellie, Cassandra and Kiara, each took a turn to rip into Zaruk's character. In Celeste's eyes, even if it was considered ill-mannered, her Senior Sisters had every right to burst out .
As a result of House Aerithale stalling after the incident almost two weeks ago, demanding that Julian be tried in the Court of Wind, while the Houses of Flame and the Ember Clan refused to hand the lecher over, the matter had dragged on for too long.
That was… until the Keeper stepped in.
Since it involved a conflict between Territories and the matter didn't seem like it would end any time soon, the Keeper of the End had no choice but to intervene. A quick investigation from the Paladins brought some new, revolting evidence to light.
Celeste recalled the auburn-haired stranger who sat beside Alden on the night of the Festival. He had been right, this wasn't the first time Julian had done this.
In fact, as it turned out, the deplorable lecher had ties to the Crimson Apostles, an elusive cult who routinely murdered people to harvest blood. Julian would choose young women with little to no standing, coerce them with his compulsion, and then once he was finished, he would then hand over the bodies he had defiled to the murderous group.
Celeste felt sick when she learned that.
She still felt sick, even now, the memory alone making her want to throw up.
After the new evidence had been made public, Julian's fate was sealed. Alden, Alistair and her Senior Sisters pushed for public execution. However, the Aerithale's still resisted.
As the ultimate authority, the final choice belonged to the Keeper.
They decreed that Julian be exiled from the Sanctuary, banned from ever entering the Barrier again - practically a death sentence for someone of such a low Rank. The Aerithale's could not complain, though.
Unlike a public execution, Julian still had a chance to live. It was incredibly slim, but the possibility existed. Celeste felt a heavy weight press down on her chest, white-hot rage causing her limbs to tremble.
Zaruk's words were both a jab at Celeste, and a veiled implication that he still wouldn't give up contesting the injustice he believed his family had experienced. Before the Head of the House Aerithale could respond to the earlier accusations, however, a vast, oppressive aura silenced everyone.
The air in the viewing chamber suddenly turned incredibly sharp, as if countless wind blades were hovering in the air, ready to slice through everyone.
…The Grand Elder of the Zephyr Clan had intervened.