Empty Palace, Council Hall.
"I am guilty."
An old, decrepit senior priest stood on the carpet in the center of the hall. With his back to the attendees filling the seats behind him and facing Duke of Star Lake seated high upon the throne before him, he held up a copy of the Sunset Canon and bowed deeply.
Tales sat in the highest seat in the hall, frowning as he watched the old man's actions.
Was this Zadvi's teacher—the senior priest of the Sunset Temple, Fede, who had learned that his student had been assassinated, entered the palace in righteous indignation with a crowd behind him, and demanded to question the Prince about state affairs, putting the entire Empty Palace, from Tales to Jann and even Federico, on high alert?
He looked frail and withered, and his movements were slow.
Like a candle flickering in its final days.
Whispers arose in the hall.
"Yes, you heard me, Your Highness Prince Tales, and all those present here today who care about the future of Emerald City..."
The senior priest straightened and calmly turned toward the audience filling the hall.
"Beneath the setting sun, I am guilty."
Fede's voice was aged but steady, measured and forceful.
That was right. He was guilty.
Fede endured the gazes filling the hall and silently thought.
That was why he was here today.
He was guilty of having spent most of his life in a daze, straying from the teachings of God.
He was even more guilty of ultimately being unable to resist temptation or uphold the commandments, turning a blind eye to the evil in this fallen city until he had grown accustomed to it...
Until he had become one with it.
In the end, he had been taken advantage of by the Path of