I could hear the murmurs, the disbelief crackling beneath their breath, but none dared to challenge me outright. This wasn't just a test of strength or intellect—it was a battle waged in absolutes, where deception held no ground and prejudice had no refuge. They could hate me. They could doubt me. Yet, the moment I called for Veritas, I ensured that deception would not be able to present itself within the chamber. Once the call to use the highly volatile spell was out, it became more than a demand for pure honesty. It became a means to an end that would silence the hatred for as long as possible. "Be silent!" Marcus demanded. "I agree to ze request und move to have ze Veritas spell used. He has already shown ze ability to remain calm under pressure und seek a non-violent vay to end a dis

