The town hall is a sturdy, two-story building made from weathered stone, with ivy creeping up its sides. The wooden double doors were large, worn from years of use but still solid. As Zed entered, he was greeted by the heavy atmosphere of the place filled with the weight of governance.


    The guards nodded to the woman and greeted her casually as she entered the town hall, their expressions respectful but informal. "Miss Emilia," one of them said with a polite, almost friendly tone. There was a sense of familiarity in the way they addressed her, as if she was a regular presence here. They didn’t question her presence, their eyes only briefly flicking toward Zed before returning to their posts.


    The woman gave a small nod in return, her face unreadable but her body language still tight with the weight of recent events. She led Zed past the guards and into the heart of the town hall, where the room opened up into a large, somewhat austere space. The high ceilings, the dark wooden beams, and the stone walls all gave the room a heavy, almost somber atmosphere. The only light came from a few windows high on the walls, the glass fogged with age and grime.


    As they entered the governor’s office, Zed noticed a roaring fire crackled in the fireplace, though it did little to warm the room''s cold, vast interior. The long wooden table and several chairs were scattered across the floor, their positions seemingly chosen at random. Behind the table was a massive wooden desk where a man sat, looking tired.


    He sat with his back slightly hunched, his face drawn and gaunt from sleepless nights and endless responsibility. His eyes were a mix of curiosity and exhaustion but also flickered with strength and determination as they shifted from the woman to Zed, taking in the unfamiliar face and the strange aura Zed carried with him.


    "Emilia! Where have you been?" the man’s voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing slightly as he addressed Emilia. "And who is he?"


    Emilia, sensing her brother''s frustration, calmly replied, "Lane, I brought a Judge." She side-stepped to let her brother see the man in full, gesturing toward Zed with a small but determined motion.


    Lane’s eyes widened, his expression shifting from exhaustion to disbelief. He stood up slowly, the chair creaking beneath him. The word “Judge” seemed to hang in the air, heavy with meaning. He hesitated, clearly weighing the implications. He knew the term and fully understood its significance.


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    “A Judge?” Lane echoed; his voice uncertain. “Are you sure, Emilia? That’s... that’s impossible, isn’t it?”


    Emilia was about to respond when the door creaked open, and a man stepped into the room with a sense of urgency in his stride. His entrance immediately shifted the atmosphere.


    "Emilia! I heard you came back!" The man''s voice was warm and full of relief, a stark contrast to the tension that had hung in the room just moments before. His eyes scanned the room, landing on Emilia first, then briefly flicking to Lane before settling on Zed.


    His gaze lingered on Zed for a moment longer than the others, perhaps recognizing something in him—or sensing the oddness in the air around the newcomer. The man’s brow furrowed slightly, but his tone remained cordial. "Who’s this?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.


    Emilia, startled by the sudden interruption, quickly composed herself and stepped forward. “This is… a Judge” she said, her voice laced with a mix of awe and urgency. “I found him in the lake – or rather he found me. I was just frolicking there when he came out from the depts of the lake… flying!” Her words tumbled out in a rush; the urgency clear in her voice. She glanced at Zed briefly, as if trying to convey her belief in the impossible nature of the situation, “I think he’s here for a reason.”


    Zed remained silent, allowing Emilia to handle the conversation. He could feel the tension in the room building. Whatever a "Judge" was, it clearly was someone important, and the mention of it was enough to stir the air with a sense of expectation.


    Lane shifted his weight, still standing behind his desk, his tired gaze now flicking between the two, “Emilia, you can’t expect both Mario and I to readily believe that will you?”. Still looking at Zed with some suspicion, crossed his arms over his chest. "A Judge, you say?" His voice is that of someone who wasn’t easily convinced. "And what brings a Judge here, to a town like this?"


    Zed felt the tension rise again. He could sense the underlying question in the air—what was the significance of him being here? What was expected of him?


    “Let me introduce myself, I am Zed,” he said, offering only his name for the moment. His tone was steady and unassuming, a quiet confidence beneath the surface. He didn’t feel the need to explain further. “I’m here…,” his words slowed, as if weighing their importance, “to also understand what’s going on.” he finished.


    Lane let out a sigh, his expression softening for a moment. “I am sorry, Mr. Zed, but could you wait outside?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. “I just need to speak with my sister and cousin.”


    Zed nodded silently, he glanced at Emilia who was about to say something to his brother, then without a word he turned and exited the room, leaving the door to swing shut behind him.