Dreamer

19.

Orion.

"Do you Maria Smith, accept the claims that you fled a situation by leaving your people to fight behind, Whereas knowing every Bellator luminis is to fight or flee together?" The bright room filled with a number of fifty council members of justice, as the top five at the head of the position, question my mother while she stands at the podium.

Their attires that of white, whereas the five heading the trial, have a touch of gold by the sides, representing their positions.

My gaze turn back to my mother, as remorse and guilt runs through me, seeing the face which was always bright and sanguine, now replaced by a worrisome look, ever since she became chief of the western part of Cyrus.

Mother whom was always open minded has now become one who has to keep everything confidential, changing the very person she is at the first place, all because of a position.

And I do not blame her, as after the death of my father, she had to take on a larger role for each of us up until the time she landed this position.

Yes, she may not have made the right call, and not only is she at fault but I am too, for treating her the way I did, when deep down I knew right before she is a chief, she is also a mother.

"Yes. I do." Mother accepts the claim, while I stand there not able to do anything. After mother's statement the room goes silent, as the five discuss silently amongst one another.

"Even though you made the right call by introducing the warlocks when a threat was made, from what we know and what you have accepted, you fled the scene at the time of emergency saving yourself, and not just that, but prevented two other Bellator luminis from joining the fight. For that you have broken the rule of conduct of Cyrus." Councilman Felipe, a man in his early sixties continue to speak.

"For that Maria smith, you have been stripped of your position and asked to step down as chief of the western part of Cyrus, also to serve three months of community service based on your act." I watch mother's face fall as she takes in a large gulp, while my heart clenches at the pain she's in.

I saw this coming, as it is expected that based on her actions they would strip her of her position, but it doesn't mean she is no longer an indigene of  Cyrus.

If I'm to be unbiased, I would admit that mother made the right call, by fleeing with Aurelia and Ares. As selfish as that sound, but if they had remained there, Articus would have definitely not spared any one of them, especially with the situation mother had Atheena in.

"If that is all Maria Smith, you are excused." Councilman Felipe adds, while mother gets away from the podium and walks towards us.

Seeing the look on her face, my demeanor reverts, as I see she's is on the brink on years and one thing mother does not do, is to show her weakness, which means something else has her more than I think.

Either ways, I didn't need to be told twice as when she reaches us, I pull her into me and hug her rightly. "I'm sorry mother. I'm so sorry, I'm here with you now, we all are." I tell her truthfully.

"Orion Smith." I hear my name being called, as I pull away from mother. "Report to the podium please." I look up seeing it councilwoman Yenifer speak, another of the head councillor.

I give mother a last nod, as she caress my cheeks lightly before I go, knowing I'm also going in for my questioning, where as Ares and Aurelia would go theirs next.

"Orion smith?" Council woman Yenefer calls my name once again  all due to courtesy to attain that I'm the one in front of her.

"Yes, I'm Orion smith." I answer truthfully before she nods her head.

"We have read you statement and from there we would like to ask you some questions." Councilwoman Yenifer continues. "When Articus attacked, how exactly do you believe that happened?" She asks me.

"That I do not know of councilwoman." I answer directly while she gives me a furrowed gaze.

"That is unexpected, because from the  footage of what happened before Articus attack, you alerted them of Articus impending arrival, how did that happen?" They ask me.

"I only knew of that because of the mark the chosen carries. And at an instant, the mark burnt, where as, I heard it from her signalling that Articus had found her." I inform them where as councilwoman Yenifer nods her head in approval.

"Also it was seen from the footage, that you prevented the curbing of the chosen even when you knew of her actions towards a warlock of Cyrus. Is that true?" She inquires again.

"Yes... But I only did that..."

"I did not ask for your reason Mr Orion smith." Councilwoman Yenifer cuts me off, as that takes me aback, keeping me shut.

"And it is also seen that when Articus killed every one in his path, he seemed to have spared you and Octavius, may I know why he did that for you, if you had no intentions in the tragedy that took place?" Councilwoman Yenifer questions  as I only furrow my gaze as of where this questioning is headed to.

"I had no intentions of the tragedy that took place, and my only escape from Articus cruelty was only due to the words of the chosen, coming to my rescue, by trading my life for her alliance." I tell her with every part of me on the edge at her inconsiderate questions.

After my statement, she seems to go silent, before looking down at the device in front of her. " So you mean to say, the chosen gave up her life for you, why is that Mr orion Smith? Because under no circumstances do we know of you and the chosen's relationship of that nature. " councilwoman Yenifer adds.

"If I may speak freely councilwoman Yenifer?" I inquire while she nods her head for me to go on.

"Unlike what it is envisaged of the chosen, it is not so as if not for her I wouldn't be here to give such a statement. Yes, she may have made actions worth capturing, but I am certain that she didn't mean any of it, because she only said so based on hurt.

I do not say we should have left such to happen, but even if it had progressed more than it did, Atheena would never have gone for it and even if she did, Octavius would never allow her to kill him. And if it was not said before, but the chosen does not know how to properly activate her powers." I tell them where as all five pairs of eyes stay on mine.

"Do you mean to say, the chosen has not properly mastered her powers?" Councilman Felipe asks this time around.

"Yes she hasn't." I reply them. "And from my statement, it is said that I urged for us to inform the other supernatural, in order to join hands with them and find her as soon as possible before Articus has the chance to turn her just like him." I add.

"Excuse me... Mr orion Smith, but you clearly stated that she hasn't well mustered her powers, so how certain can you say it isn't because of that she didn't go through with her mission when she had too, and not her still having been the person we thought her to be.

Lest you forget, the prophecy states clearly that as well as she could be our saviour, so can she bring our destruction..."

"Exactly councilwoman Yenifer." I cut her off abruptly while she stares at me taken aback. "That's what the prophecy says and after that we haven't gotten a new prophecy signalling that she is for sure our destruction, which only means we should do everything in our power to make sure she is our saviour and I believe she is." I tell her with all seriousness.

"She could have vented revenge the first instant she saw Articus and killed Octavius, but she didn't, instead she saved me, so what is that supposed to say? Because of that I want you to reconsider and see,  that all that was done by her was based on her loss, which should be understood." I add.

"So you do vouch for her that is to say?" Councilwoman Yenifer asks while I go silent and so does the room.

"Yes I do." I accept knowing the responsibilities that comes with my words.

"Let's say we were to listen to your proposal, how do you plan on getting her away from Articus?" Another of the councilman, Alexander speaks.

"Once were able to find her with the help of other supernatural beings and have gotten the reinforcements we need, it is known that Octavius has embarked on a journey in order to fortify his powers. When it is time to take her back, Octavius would return and even if we can't defeat Octavius at that point, we should be able to weaken him to take Atheena back." I tell them.

"And how sure are you Octavius would return fortified, or return at all? We all know what the forest of the dead is for. If you do not pass, you die."

"It is a risk we would just have to take, councilwoman." My voice low but definite. The same silence comes again, as they discusses with one another while I pray deep down they do accept my proposal of still saving Atheena, and not of seeing her as the enemy.

"We have listened to your proposal Mr Orion, and we have decided. Find the chosen based on your strategy, but under the circumstance of having a retrieval system, just in case were too late. If Articus indeed has gotten to her before our arrival, then the chosen would no longer be our chosen, but our enemy."