The Unicorn's Blessing | #ONC2025 ?

Trumpets sounded as the king and the judging committee exited the chamber and returned to the court hall. The grand space, once filled with murmured speculation, fell into a hush. All eyes turned toward the throne, toward the ruler who would now deliver justice.

Oskar found his way back to his mother's side, lowering himself to kneel beside her throne as he had done when he was a younger boy. The gesture was instinctive—one of seeking grounding in a moment heavy with consequence. As he rose to his feet, his mother patted his hand, a quiet reassurance between them.

Erasmus stood at his side once more, his grip firm on Oskar's shoulder, a steady presence amid the uncertainty.

From the side door, General Corrin was led back into the hall. He no longer carried the posture of a man who expected to command a room; instead, his shoulders, though squared, held a new stiffness, and his expression wavered between resignation and defiance.

The scribes, quills poised, waited in silence.

The king stepped forward. His gaze swept across the court—his people, his advisors, his sons—before settling on the condemned man before him. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of the kingdom.

"Let this court remember—justice today is a double-edged blade, sharp with consequence," the king said as the room watched and waited. "Judgment, today, is not just punishment for a single individual, but a warning to future thoughts of those who may seek to defy the laws that govern both our kingdom and the magic that sustains it," the king continued, his voice carrying through the hall. "Let none mistake this for mere retribution—it is a testament to the price of arrogance and the boundaries that must not be crossed."

The weight of his words settled over the court like a heavy shroud. The scribes' quills scratched against parchment, immortalizing the decree in ink as General Corrin stood motionless before the throne.

"General Corrin," the king went on, his tone firm but not without an underlying disappointment. "You are hereby stripped of your rank. You have disgraced Unara's crown and stand charged with murder of the second highest offense.

"For your crimes against the kingdom, its people, and the sacred laws that govern us, you are sentenced to live out the remainder of your days in imprisonment. The magic you sought to claim has already begun to take its toll—your final years will be spent in reflection, knowing the very power you coveted has sealed your fate.

"As for those who aided you in this treachery, their betrayal is equally damning. They shall face the full weight of the law and pay for their crimes with their lives. Let this serve as a warning—no man is above justice."

Silence fell over the court as the judgment settled, heavy and inescapable.

The king's voice came through once more, a resolute edge to his words. "And let it be known, by this decree, the edict that once allowed for the accidental hunting of Unicorns to go unpunished is hereby strickened from the records." A murmur passed through the room at his words, but he continued, unwavering.

"We will no longer tolerate actions that threaten the existence of these creatures, nor will we allow negligence to be excused. A new law shall be enacted—one that guarantees the protection of all Unicorns within our borders. Their lives, their safety, and their sanctity shall not be diminished by ignorance or greed." The king's eyes swept across the gathered court, ensuring that every word sank in.

"The law shall be enforced with the full strength of Unara's justice, and those who seek to harm them—whether by design or by recklessness—shall answer for it."

A heavy pause followed, the king's words settling like a stone in the still air. Oskar felt a mixture of relief and unease. The decision had been made. The justice served. But the weight of the change, the weight of the future, still loomed large.

Erasmus stood by him, and Oskar could feel his brother's gaze on him. For a moment, the silence stretched longer, the implications of what had just been said settling over the room like a thick fog.

The weight of the court's attention now fell on Oskar, but he barely noticed. His mind was still processing. The law would change, and the Unicorns would be protected, but was it enough? Could it ever be enough after all that had happened?

* * *

That evening, sleep eluded Oskar. His mind, still heavy with the weight of the day's events, refused to quiet. In an effort to create drowsiness, he made his way to the kitchen. The faint smell of herbs lingered in the air, and a small fire still burned on the hearth, its glow casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.

He lingered there for a moment, feeling the warmth of the fire against his skin, the crackling sound a comforting contrast to the turbulent thoughts swirling in his mind. The soft glow of the flames seemed to soothe him, but even in the quiet of the kitchen, the weight of the verdict—and everything that had led up to it—lingered in his chest.

Taking a seat at the wooden table, he rested his elbows on its cool surface, his fingers tapping absently. He stared into the fire, lost in thought. The law had been struck down, and a new one passed. The Unicorns were now legally protected. But what did that mean for him? For his kingdom? Could one act of justice truly undo the harm done by the past?

A soft sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet, and Oskar glanced up to see Matthias standing in the doorway. His personal servant, though still young, had been with Oskar for years—quiet, loyal, and steadfast. The burden of the day had left its mark on both of them, but Matthias's usual composed demeanor held a hint of concern.

"Your Highness," Matthias said softly, his tone respectful yet familiar. "Couldn't sleep either?"

Oskar shook his head, forcing a small smile. "No. Too much to think about."

Matthias moved closer, standing near the hearth. "I understand. It's been a long day." He added another log to the fire, the crackling of the wood filling the silence for a moment.

Oskar sighed, his fingers still tapping rhythmically on the table. "Do you think it's enough? The change, I mean? The law, the judgment... will it actually make a difference?"

Matthias paused for a moment, considering the question carefully before responding. "It's hard to say. But something needed to be done. Even if it doesn't fix everything, it's a start, Your Highness. A necessary one."

Oskar nodded, though the uncertainty still clung to him. The silence stretched between them as Matthias moved to stand beside him, his presence grounding Oskar in a way few others could. Despite his station as a servant, Matthias was a confidant—someone Oskar trusted, someone who listened without judgment.

"I suppose we'll see," Oskar murmured, his gaze once again fixed on the flames. For now, the quiet was enough, and in the company of Matthias, he didn't feel so burdened by the weight of his thoughts.