Some people hate you because of your success, and they will always hate you even if you give them everything you possess.

In the Eldros Continent of Dwarkam, in Veyndral city, inside the Ironhalo Citadel, inside the Cathedral of the First Flame, a gutterborn witnessed the hate of everyone present in front of him.

But it wasn’t only hatred.

Some had pity in their eyes for him.

And a few had worries for him.

Nevertheless, in the face of hatred, only hatred appears.

As a result, Zane saw only hatred.

Curses and abuses rang out.

A shoe slammed right on Zane’s face.

Someone’s spit fell on his toe peeking from his shoe.

All of them found an outlet for their anger in Zane.

And in their hatred they only wanted one thing.

"Execute him!"

His death.

Zane’s mind went numb.

His body gave up moving.

He stood motionless, not even averting his eyes from them.

He watched the murderous and disgusted gazes towards him and he couldn’t comprehend the amount of hatred they had for him at the moment.

Not once did they think that Zane might be innocent.

He stood on the stage, helpless.

And in this state, he found a slight relief.

It’s a relief I didn’t bring Milo here. She would have died before me seeing me like this.

Emberlord Coin let the people rage for a few good minutes and then raised his hand.

Silence took place right after that.

"I accept your verdict on him, loyal flamers. This gutterborn shall die."

"Yeahhh!"

"Deathh!"

The whole Cathedral erupted in cheers as Emberlord Coin simply announced Zane’s death sentence.

No speech. No last words. Simple justice.

The Cathedral became the hub of shouts and hatred.

Shining shoes again slapped Zane’s body.

"Wait a second!" Someone shouted.

It died under the noise.

"Wait!"

It died again.

"Can. You. People. Wait. A. Fucking. Second!!?"

...

Now it was heard.

Silence took place in the Cathedral once more.

All heads jolted towards the shout.

Zane also looked and when he saw it, his eyes lit up in a faint, tired light.

Tesla’s mouth went agape.

Emberlord Coin also darted his eyes there with a frown.

"Who are you, child?" He asked as he eyed the man up and down.

The man had hollow cheeks and a shivering hand.

Zane knew the man.

Tesla knew the man.

It was none other than Liberi Heart.

Who was also known as...

"I am Xavier Reivax."

It was Xavier.

It took all his strength and courage to shout in the presence of the Emberlord but for Zane, he took that risk as well.

And now that all the attention was at him, he would not waste this chance.

"What do you wish to say? Do you have the intention of defending this Infidel and thief? Choose your words carefully."

The Emberlord confronted Xavier and his voice was enough to make anyone change their opinions.

But Xavier wasn’t just anyone.

Nor was he brain dead.

He took in the gazes of everyone and chose his words wisely.

"You can’t kill him, Emberlord."

Brows shot up.

Emberlord’s fist clenched.

They were behind his back so no one saw it.

"Why?" Coin asked.

Xavier calmed down his heart and said:

"If you kill him, how will you find the original relic? And he hadn’t even confessed that he stole the relic. You should detain him instead of killing him right away."

Xavier did his best to speak slowly for everyone to understand what he was saying. It took all his strength to not let his voice break while speaking.

But Xavier managed to light a slight flicker of hope in Zane’s heart.

The Commoner didn’t ask for Zane’s forgiveness. Instead he simply tried to keep Zane alive for a few moments.

All eyes shifted to the Emberlord after Xavier’s idea and Coin simply shook his head.

"There is no merit in detaining him, young man. His kind is greedy, selfish, and ungrateful. Give them all the gold in the world and they would still steal the money kept in your wallets."

Coin glanced at Zane.

"Once a thief, always a thief."

The words fell like a blade in a guillotine.

Xavier opened his mouth but Emberlord raised his hand.

"Yes. He hadn’t confessed his crime. But there is no need for it. He will never confess it. Bring me a thief who confesses he is a thief. No one will come. There are no equal rights and democracy for such terrorists in our society. He had stolen the relic for himself, not knowing one thing about it. He is a filthy dimwit thief."

"Also," Coin added. "We have to find the original relic. Yes. That is important. But we have means to find it even after his death. There is no need for you to worry, Xavier."

Coin averted his eyes from Xavier and gazed at everyone else.

"His death right now is crucial for the prosperous and calm future of our lives. If we let him go today, tomorrow another one like him will get courage and stand beside me. Therefore, his death shall instill terror in the hearts that are pumping the blood of a thief. His death shall happen. Right here. Right now."

"Yess!"

"Execution!"

"Death!"

"Kill him!"

The people got their vigor back.

The small flicker of hope in Zane’s heart died with the spit of the audience.

"Thief!"

"Greedy!"

"Take this money!"

TUN!

TUN!

TUN!

After shoes and spit, coins showered Zane. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Coins after coins.

And no coins missed their mark.

They all hit Zane all over his body.

"Take this!"

One more coin tore the air and this one, this one slammed in the center of Zane’s forehead.

The force was strong as the edge of the coin sliced Zane’s skin.

In stinging pain, Zane dropped his head low, staring at his feet and then...

TIP!

TIP!

Cheers erupted as first blood was drawn.

Blood dripped from Zane’s forehead and that broke the dam.

Seeing his blood, cheers increased in volume as more and more coins hit Zane.

And the gutterborn, the man had become a stone.

Zane didn’t know what to feel.

His voice won’t be heard even if he spoke.

No logical reasons would save him anymore.

He didn’t even question the silence of his system at such a moment.

"I think I know where the original relic is."

...

Silence arrived in the Cathedral again.

All ears perked up as everyone focused on the speaker.

This time it wasn’t Xavier.

Nor Tesla.

It was a woman.

Zane also raised his head and he recognised her.

"You should not make such claims, flamer." Emberlord said.

The woman bowed her head.

"I am not making any claims, sire. I simply think that I know."

"How?" Coin asked.

The woman explained.

"I am one of the receptionists responsible for allotting the rooms to the students. I was the one who allotted him his room as well."

Zane didn’t know where this was going.

"So?" Coin pressed.

The woman nodded.

"When he came to get his room, he wasn’t alone. He had someone with him."

Zane’s eyes widened.

His body that had turned to stone, remembered flesh.

His forehead that bled, began to ache more.

Now he knew where this was going.

Emberlord Coin saw the change in Zane’s behavior and became interested in the woman.

"Keep talking." He said.

The woman adjusted her glasses.

"This boy had a maid with her."

Coin frowned.

"A maid?"

"Yes. I was also surprised. How can a gutterborn afford something like that? He had said that the maid was free but after seeing today’s event, I think I know where we should look."

Zane’s palms drenched in sweat, his heart threatening to beat itself to death thinking the next words of the woman.

And the woman, she said those exact same words he feared.

"We should capture his maid and force the location of the Relic out of her mouth."