Zen walked quickly down the hallway, tightening the bandages wrapped around his arms when he felt them loosening from his speed. He took a sharp turn and shoved through a crowd of soldiers, who started to shout out before they saw who he was and his face. His face was scrunched in a deep frown and his eyes were burning. The others quickly stepped out of his way and watched as he approached the door to the dreaded meeting room. They looked amongst each other with wide eyes before one of them raced out of the group to spread the news of what they'd seen.

Zen shoved the door open without knocking. "Malum-" He started as the leaders turned to look at him.

"Zen, I told you to rest!" Vada cut him off sharply as she began to stand.

"All due respect, Ms. Vada, this is more important than a few scratches," Zen growled. "You've only heard what I stuttered out to the group. You need the full story."

"Zen," Malum began, but Zen cut him off.

"Medicus is dead, you know that, but you don't know that they think I did it. They have good reason to think so, too. My feather was found at the scene." Aurelia narrowed her eyes.

"Feather?" She asked. Zen held his hands out and his crossbow, unloaded, appeared in his hands. He wrapped his hand around the place between the stock and rear sight and lifted it up before pointing. Hanging from the curve of metal under the trigger was a light green feather that faded to a bright yellow at the very tip.

"But I didn't do it," Zen growled, "because I still have it. I would never let it out of my sight. They know how important it is to me, and they know that there's only one kind like it." The crossbow disappeared.

"Then how did they get it?" Nicator asked, and Zek couldn't help but feel like he was mocking him. He could tell he didn't believe him.

"I don't know." He growled. "But there are duplication spells. It can be copied. A fake one can be made."

"Zen, what are you getting at?" Malum asked from where he was beside the blank chalkboard. Zen looked at him and opened his mouth, but he was cut off.

"I don't understand why everyone's blowing this up!" Nicator said in his loud, obnoxious voice. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard to him. "Our greatest enemy is dead! We can win easily now, without a doubt!"

"We're blowing this up because if someone is trying to FRAME ME, there's someone else!" Zen shouted.

"Explain, Zen," Aurelia growled. Zen looked at her, eyes burning. Strangely, he felt a little soothed when he saw that she was looking right back at him with just as much intensity, but it wasn't aimed at him. She cared. She was listening.

"If someone is trying to frame me for Medicus's supposed death, someone is trying to stir up trouble." He glanced around the room, his stare lingering on Malum. "Someone is trying to make the war blow up between them. SS had every intention of killing me tonight. Without Medicus there, and with no one to talk to Vacuos, then he's in charge! He's going to start a full-blown war between us!"

"What do you mean Medicus's supposed death?" Zen turned towards Malum quickly, hands curled into fists.

"Medicus can't be killed." He growled. "Not so easily. Not without putting up such a fight that the entire Universe hears. I knew that man for billions. He's gone against mortals, gods! He's fearless in battle and he's smart, he's strong! Medicus isn't dead!"

"Then is it a trap?" Malum asked, amber eyes glowing brightly in the sun-rays from the nearest window.

"No," Zen growled. "SS's rage was real. And Medicus would never, ever, in a million years, fake his death for a trap." Malum stared at him before he rubbed his chin and looked away.

"Oh, tell me you're not considering this." Nicator growled, standing up. Zen turned and glared at him.

"Why are you adamant on brushing this all under the rug?" He growled. Nicator narrowed his eyes.

"I don't like your tone."

"Congratulations, most don't." Zen snarled before he turned back to Malum. "I am begging you, listen to me! You and I both know him like no one else!" This was dangerous territory and he knew it. "But there is no way Medicus is dead! Someone is messing with us! Someone is trying to get us to destroy each other so they can take whatever they want!"

"What could they want?" Malum asked. Zen scoffed.

"What wouldn't they want? Control over Death, over the Courts, over everything living!" Zen said. "Without Medicus, the Courts is under SS's protection and even though he's a strong warrior, he's weak emotionally. Especially with my betrayal."

The room was silent at the last word. Zen had never said it out loud. It hurt just as much as he thought it would. He didn't look away from Malum though.

"There's someone trying to meddle in your affairs, Malum." He growled. "You know it just as well as I do."

"... Yes, you're right." Malum turned and looked out the window. "But who would be foolish enough to do that?"

No one responded. They didn't know the answer. But Zen had done what he needed to do. He hadn't 'killed' Medicus and he didn't know who, or why they did it, but... If Malum searched for his 'killer,' then not only would it keep them busy, but it would keep the Courts safe.

Zen had to do what he had to do to protect the Courts. And this was one of them.