The next few hours dragged on agonisingly slow.

After everyone she passed gawked at the orb following her around, Leah retreated back to her room. She considered the idea of dismissing it but couldn't make herself do it. Instead, she simply stared into it, searching for answers in its glowing depths.

She still got the sense of... otherness from it. That there was a second energy mixed in with the Light. Despite the minutes she spent trying to decipher it, it only gave her more questions. Why had its summoning been engraved into the walls of the ritual room? What in the name of the sun was this thing? Why did she feel attached to it, and why did she get the feeling that it was watching her?

It was frustrating, but without her notebooks, it was the only thing she had to keep her mind off Sef's discarded body in the temple below her. When that armour slipped, she found her eyes stinging and alleviated it by digging her fingers into her arms.

Dead.

The word didn't seem like it was real.

Given her involuntary nap over the last few days, Leah couldn't keep her eyes closed for long. Instead, she curled up in the corner with her blankets, staring at her orb until the bells rang, signalling the gathering's commencement.

Deciding her attire was good enough--Teridian leggings and boots with a Radiant style blouse over the top--Leah made her way to the gathering, ignoring the stares that followed her.

There was a crowd outside the gathering hall when she arrived. Leah hung back, waiting for it to filter inside when what looked like one of the guards caught her eye.

The guard made her way to Leah. "You are on Kieran's expedition team, correct?" Leah nodded. "Follow me. Team members are required to sit in a separate stand."

Leah followed.

The guard returned to her post once Leah was seated beside the others from the expedition team. Even though at the best of times they weren't exactly friendly, this was different. No one spoke or shared smiles. The sullen atmosphere draped over them like a heavy, wet blanket, and Leah was left fidgeting in her chair, trying to catch sight of Kieran. Aside from a few glances, they ignored her.

Eventually, Leah's curiosity won out over her shyness.

She leaned over to one of the girls beside her, forcing her to acknowledge her presence. "Where's Kieran?"

"He'll be out the back," murmured the girl. May, wasn't it? "They interview the leaders of the teams."

That was that mystery solved, then. "Thank you," said Leah.

May nodded, chewing her lip before, softly, she said, "Leah... is it true that Sef Shattered?"

Leah's heart clenched. "Yes."

May's eyes closed. She was no longer the only one listening, but she seemed to be their mouthpiece. "How? He was always so careful with his Light. What happened down there?"

"I--I don't know," said Leah. She knew it wasn't good enough. "He didn't run out of Light. We opened the room, and I was looking at the walls and when I turned back, he--he was..."

"People don't just Shatter for no reason," said a girl with red, puffy eyes that Leah didn't know the name of. "You just expect us to believe that he Shattered for no reason? That you were conveniently the only one around in some hidden temple for only the shadows know how long? Sef wouldn't--"

"Wirani!" said the guy beside her. "You seriously think she'd Shatter one of her own?"

"Who knows!" said the girl. Her gaze ignored Leah's orb, focusing entirely on her face. "Who knows what these purebloods are capable of? Someone said she was after Kieran first but he didn't trust her so she went after Sef instead, because he trusts way too easily."

Leah's chest was tight. "I wouldn't--I swear, I didn't mean--"

"Whatever," said the girl. "None of us can be bothered with whatever lies you've come up with."

And with that, aside from a few resentful glances, Leah returned to being part of the backdrop.

The other Radiants, both other team members and audience, filed into the hall over the next few minutes until every seat was taken. The low murmur of conversation flooded the air while they waited for the eleven chairs at the front of the room to be filled.

Sure enough, Emrys led the eleven.

They entered from the back of the room, striding down the centre of the empty floor before taking up their positions on the elevated podiums. They were all pureblooded Radiants, that much was certain even if Leah only recognised Emrys and Asriel. What Leah found odd was the number of them with white hair. White hair wasn't impossible in Radiants, but it was rare. To have five, six if you included Emrys's on the one council suggested something more than coincidence, but Leah had never heard of hair colouring playing into age, blood, or wisdom.

As they reached their places, another, larger group entered the hall and took up the seats at the back of the central floor. Leah breathed a sigh of relief to see Kieran among them.

"Welcome to the half-yearly gathering!" said Emrys from the front, spreading his arms wide. "Would the first team leader please approach the front?"

Kieran stood, notebook in hand, and stood before Emrys. Leah was struck by how insignificant he looked in comparison. Kieran, for all his confidence, looked like she felt most days inside the League.

Movement from the front, particularly from the other five white-haired Radiants, caught her eye. Leah frowned. Had that been the glint of hardened Light, or was she just imagining things? Why would they have weapons inside a gathering?

Emrys cleared his throat. "Now, I do apologise, but before we begin, this will not be a regular gathering, although we had to maintain appearances for certain parties involved." His gaze locked down on Kieran. "This is a trial."

The ice in Leah's bones crept through to her skin.

"Kieran," said Emrys. "As you are well aware, one of your members was recently revealed to be Lightless when he attacked another Radiant. Did you know your team member was Lightless?"

Kieran's voice carried clearly through the room. "I was not."

Emrys made a note. "Understandably, since this was able to slip through the cracks, I ordered the expedition teams, especially yours, to undergo extensive investigation to ensure there were no other infected among us. What we uncovered was concerning, to say the least."

"What were your findings?" asked Kieran.

The sound of weaponry snapped Leah's head around. The door was blocked by Radiant guards, three abreast, including the one who'd escorted her in.

"We believe that the Lightless who attacked was not the only one on your team. Whether they were collaborating or not, we are aware of at least one member of your team who has been, at the very least, willingly cooperating and meeting with the Lightless. Do you have any insight to offer on the subject?"

Oh, sunlight.

Leah was well aware of the way the guard was watching her. Her eyes scanned the exits, trying to figure out if there was any way out of this before realising they'd cut off the room too well.

Her only hope was going to be her mind. She'd have to out-think Emrys on the spot, try to keep herself dancing around the edge of the hole so her story would stick. She'd have to try and figure out what information they had on her, if they'd seen her with Shade, or--

"I do not," said Kieran.

Emrys's smile leaked into his words. "Really? Allow me to rephrase." The shuffle of papers. The moment dragged out. Leah holding her breath, expecting her name to be called. "Kieran Minairi, have you been in contact and willingly collaborating with the Lightless?"

Kieran licked his lips. Every second he didn't reply took a year off Leah's life. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Emrys."

"We have evidence that you do," said Emrys. "The notes before me detail several absences from the League that cannot be accounted for within your League duties. Several Displacers taken out under your name for reasons we know to be inaccurate. Certain crucial periods of time, particularly at night when the Lightless like to operate that you cannot be accounted for. How do you explain yourself?"

Leah's everything was exploding, yet somehow, Kieran was still calm. "May I see the evidence?"

Emrys handed the sheet of paper to a guard on the central floor. "Certainly."

The guard handed Kieran the piece of paper. The room held its breath as he read it.

Leah was just praying that she hadn't somehow been the reason for this accusation.

After several minutes, Kieran spoke again. "Well, this is quite the list, isn't it? Your investigation team went back a fair while from the looks of things."

"What is your response?" demanded Emrys.

Kieran shrugged and put the paper down on the desk before him. "Honestly, I don't remember most of these. I believe we're entitled to personal leave though, and honestly, I'm a little insulted. I know some people don't particularly like me, but this seems excessive. You're wasting everyone's time."

"It is not only the absences," said Emrys. "There are books missing from the library that were later found in Lightless hands, ones only a League member would have had access to. Your history gives you motivation against the League. The evidence stacks against you."

"You sound like you've already made up your mind, Emrys."

"Indeed I have," said Emrys. "But I am not without mercy. Some may stray from the Light, but not all who wander are lost. They can be guided back. I only ask for your co-operation in revealing the Lightless who you worked with."

Kieran folded his arms. "Can't do that if I didn't do any of this in the first place, can I?"

"So you choose to persist with the lies," said Emrys. "So be it. We have other methods of getting the truth out of resistant individuals, Radiants, Lightless or otherwise. By consorting with these parasite infested individuals, you have endangered every Radiant here. My judgement shall be that--"

"Wait!"

Emrys's hand froze mid-air.

The room went silent and looked straight at Leah.

She wanted to die right there and then.

Shade--She just had to think of Shade. What was easy usually wasn't right. Easy was following. Easy was sitting down and staying silent even when your mind was churning, knowing something wasn't right, but easy didn't change anything.

Leah swallowed the fear choking her airway and forced herself to stand up straight.

"Leah?" said Emrys. She'd thrown him off his spiel, if nothing else. "What is it you wish to say?"

No doubt he thought she had something to condemn Kieran. That would be the only reason he was letting her speak, which meant she had to get it out now--in front of everyone before he could silence her.

She tried to make her voice strong but she was pretty sure she failed. "As you know, I've been doing a fair bit of research into the ancient's code and their temples. I believe I've discovered something within it that may be relevant to this situation."

Emrys nodded. "Let the gathering hear it, then."

She had permission. Leah took a deep breath.

"I don't think the Lightless parasite is real."

The room sparked up with conversations like wildfire.

Leah rushed on over the noise. Emrys, at least, was still listening. "Or at the very least--it's not like we think it is!"

"Silence!" demanded Emrys, banging a flat shard of Light on his podium. "I will have order! Guards, bring Leah to the floor!"

Leah was sure her heart was going to Shatter right then and there as a guard behind her took her forearm and half led, half dragged her to stand near Kieran. He was glaring at her. She ignored him.

"Now," said Emrys gently. "Leah, I understand you've undergone a lot during the last few days, but even so, this claim is wild. Are you sure you wish to proceed with this now, as opposed to later when you are perhaps sounder of mind?"

"My mind is fine," said Leah. Sunlight help her, she just hoped this wasn't the time for a huge, gaping hole to appear in her theories. "Emrys, I don't believe the Lightless parasite is as we believe it to be. We believe it to be killed by sunlight, which is why when we run out of Light, we Shatter. We believe it to be sentient, but more as a hive-mind than an individual, correct?"

"Correct," said Emrys slowly.

Leah licked her lips. "I haven't had time to theorise this extensively, but something about it doesn't make sense. If the parasite is killed or inhibited by Light, then why, even after being exposed to sunlight, does this parasite not retreat? Why are Lightless able to withstand sunlight?"

"The parasite, once established, can resist the effects of sunlight," said Emrys like she was asking questions every Radiant should know the answers to.

Leah got straight to the point.

"So why did Sef Shatter when he still had Light left?"

That got more than a few tongues moving. Leah tried to block them out, keeping everything she had focused on Emrys. He couldn't ignore the questions in front of this many people. Not without answering them. Leah almost hoped he could explain everything, that he'd point out the thing that she'd missed.

Almost.

"Leah," said Emrys. "As I've said, you've gone through a lot, it's possible that you are mis-remembering--"

"Sef was careful with his Light!" she said. "He had enough to last the night, and we used it on nothing inside that temple except to Light a crystal to open the door, which shouldn't have been a problem!"

Emrys narrowed his eyes. "It's possible the crystals were old or Sef was careless when injecting his Light into it. We don't know what contraptions the ancients put in to guard their secrets."

Leah shook her head. "If that were the case, he would have Shattered before he could step away from the wall, but he didn't. Emrys, I've seen both Shattered and Lightless now. Shattered are what you would expect from a parasitic hive-mind. They act on instinct. They hunt Light. The Lightless aren't like that."

"And what is your point with all of this?" said Emrys after a moment.

"That the Lightless aren't like the Shattered, and that we shouldn't be treating them as such," said Leah. Gale. Pirra. Ash. None of them. Not even after Dale's attempt on her life would she have doomed him to captivity now. "They aren't animals. They're as alive and as thinking as we are."

Emrys sighed. "Am I correct in thinking that you've been working on the team documenting the latest Lightless batch? And that it was your first one?"

"Yes, but--"

"Leah," said Emrys, not giving her the chance to speak. "The captives will tell you anything. They are no longer Radiant, and I thought I made that clear when I gave each briefing. Though they may seem more Radiant than any Shattered ever will, they are husks of what they once were. The parasite has taken their minds, and as such, it is trying to escape. It will analyse the memories of the Radiant to seem as lifelike as possible, but it is not--"

"So what about the ones that aren't captives?" said Leah before she could stop herself.

Beside her, Kieran swore.

"I'm sorry?" said Emrys. "Are you suggesting that you have interacted with Lightless... outside of the captives recently brought in?"

Easy wasn't going to get things done. Leah took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

"Well," said Emrys. The satisfied smirk leaked into his voice. "Isn't this an interesting turn of events? My investigation team suggested there was a second sympathiser in your team, Kieran. I don't suppose you know anything about this either, do you?"

"Actually," said Kieran. "I do."

"Care to elaborate?"

With a glance in Leah's direction with an expression she couldn't read, Kieran said, "I'm the Lightless she was associating with."

The audience exploded.

Leah shot him a look. "Kieran, don't white-knight yourself out just because--"

Kieran rolled his eyes. Still loud enough for Emrys to hear, he continued. "You were new to the League, you were easy to manipulate. You wrote everything down so it wasn't hard to get information. I even checked out a few documentation books for the Lightless in your name so they wouldn't be linked back to me."

"What are you--" began Leah.

"Order!" demanded Emrys for the second time. "Leah, is this true?"

"No!" she said. "It's not!" Then, quieter, she said, "Kieran, you're ruining any point I might have made--"

"It's not worth it," muttered Kieran, so low she barely caught it. "Drop it. Right now."

"Well, clearly one of you is lying," said Emrys. He looked between Leah and Kieran, amused. "And at this point, I'm not sure I can believe either of you."

"You said it yourself!" said Kieran. "She's traumatised. You think she's reliable?"

"I'm more put off by your sudden co-operation," said Emrys. "I don't think pride plays a role in your actions, so then, what?" He shook his head. "No. This matter will need to be investigated further, outside of this court. Take Kieran and Leah into custody on the grounds of Lightless sympathising and possible collaboration. This trial is over!"

The shard of Light slammed onto the podium, and with it, Leah started to realise exactly what she'd put herself into.

*+*+*+*

A/N - It's only gonna go downhill from here. 

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