ukimiya | fifth trial

fifth trial

FIFTH TRIAL

Saturday, Week 5

UNCOVER THE GUILTY PARTY

Yesterday's events were quite shocking. None of you expected to find two victims, much less two who were so young and full of life. But, as always, there's a silver lining here. Their lives bought you release from the motive, and isn't that worth something? After all, it would be a lie to say that this thought hasn't passed through anyone's mind. But would it be right to thank whoever was involved for what they did? For some of you, the idea isn't all that outlandish.

Any further deliberations regarding whether or not the act was truly just will need to wait until later. For now, you have a trial to attend.

Once thirteen of you gather in the Great Hall, the large doors slam right open and prompt everyone to ascend the stairs into the trial room.

As those present takes their seats, it becomes apparent just how many lives have been lost over the course of this game. Half of the seats are now empty, which is staggering given how many of you there were when the challenge began. Beyond the room and the current occupants are the profiles lining the walls. They're hard to miss at this point, for obvious reasons.

The Sage's steady voice slips in through the pendants as soon as everyone's settled.

"It is time, my warriors, to meet the challenge head on. You have all managed to come this far and so I expect you to perform as admirably as you have in the past. How may vary, but every individual here is important and brings their own unique touch to these trials. ... Normally, that is. To my dismay, a number of you will be temporarily incapable of taking part in this challenge.

Let us hope this is a trend that does not continue into future weeks. That said... May all who remain be blessed with only the best of fortune. You will need it."

As soon as the Sage finishes speaking, five images flicker into sight as if brought to life by a projector. Seeing how there's no such device present, it may not be a stretch to consider magic is at work here.

15 REMAIN

locations | profiles | votes

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Well, let's think about it.

[She ticks off each person finger by finger, scanning their profiles as she does.]

Mako. You're 6'1", 180 lbs, which is significant when compared to two high school students who were a fair few pounds lighter. You've some fighting skills, but your talents lie in a power you no longer have, which means you might make an easier target.

Mahiro. 5'8", 140 lbs, around the same height and weight as our victims. A student with some fighting experience. With two people, you might not provide too much trouble, but on the other hand, you do have that gun.

Hanyuu. 5'5", 115 lbs. Small, and while you have swordsmanship skills, we haven't any swords. I would imagine some fighting skills come with the territory, but on the other hand, you're small enough that they might have assumed you would be an easy victim.

Kizakura. 5'9", 146 lbs. Absolutely no fighting skills, and you're about the same height and weight as both boys. Again: not precisely an easy target, but not difficult when it's two against one.

And finally: Georik, 6'4", 176 lbs. A great deal larger than both boys, but although you have some talent in throwing knives, again, there weren't any at the scene of the crime. however, you do have medical skills, and we know that bandage was applied expertly.

Out of that list, I do think we can safely cross off those who lack fighting skills as they, in turn, would not be able to turn the situation around on the two boys.

So if we're going with this theory, that would leave behind Mahiro and Georik as the two most likely.

Um, it is true, yes--I can fight well with a sword, but I am not as good unarmed. I have basic experience, but I'm not sure if I would be able to hold off two people at once.

[She nods at that.]

It can be challenging enough for one person skilled in unarmed combat to fend off two unskilled people if they have the element of surprise on their side.

With knives there has to be a specific balance to them in order to be thrown with any kind of accuracy, none of the knifes I've found in the castle matches that prerequisite....

[He comments offhandedly, tapping his finger as if counting off, glancing to the side as he thinks]

Can't believe that got listed, only learned that to settle a bet with Mikhail. Ah... as for the bandage, I did teach people who offered some basic first aid, but I admit that wouldn't give someone expertise.

Edited 2017-09-02 23:41 (UTC)

It wouldn't be too difficult to pick up basic first aid skills here, now that there's a library with books of that nature anyway.

[A beat.]

What were you doing on Thursday evening, Dr. Zaberisk? And can anyone confirm your version of events?

Mahiro did have those medical books... but that doesn't prove anything.

On Thursday, I was in my room. I was bothered by the something the... water spirit said to me and I was trying to figure it out. I had considered getting Kizakura to take him up on his offer a couple weeks back to basically stay together to prevent another lack of oversight.

[He gives a helpless shrug, and a sound of annoyance directed at himself]

But time escaped me and by the time I looked up, it was too late to be disturbing anyone.

So you remained in your room for the duration of Thursday night and remained there until Friday morning?

[A pause.]

And how close were you to either of the victims?

I only spoke to them a couple of times, and as I had mention, I did teach a bit to Miyamura, but not as extensively.

And that is correct on how late it seemed, given the pattern, not only I assumed Kizakura would be asleep, but it would be unwise to leave the room.

You say that like reading books is a substitute for practise. There's a difference between seeing diagrams on a page and actually doing shit.

Did you teach anyone else who is a suspect?

Kizakura, but I also taught some to Miyamura as well.

...indeed he did. I learned some useful stuff from Zabernik-san.

Before we get too caught up on who the killer might be by trying to figure out Miyamura's motives or capabilities, what about after Miyamura and Jin were dead? Everything probably happened in the greenhouse, and the actual killer may not have expected to kill anyone.

The killer visited three places that we know: the river, the infirmary, and the furnace, where they burned something. It's possible there's another clue we haven't found yet.

Alright, that's take a step back. What do you think was burned in the furnace?

It was clothing of some type. Undyed clothing, by the way.

Meaning it was sewn here.

[Hrm...]

If that's true, the killer has some sewing skill or is close to someone who made them some clothes.

[he does appear to be thinking about it... He looks exhausted]

Probably clothes.

The rest of the bandages.

If the killer was burning the clothes that they happened to be wearing during the murder, there's a chance they might have set something else on fire.

[and there is a small... vaguely? red spot on his right coat arm. It's hard to see, since it's dark. But it's there, tucked in towards his chest, easily hidden when his arms are crossed.]

Edited 2017-09-02 23:58 (UTC)

If they weren't caref....

[ trailing off.

Leeeeeet's take a closer look at that spot. ]

...

[He frowns deeply, and slowly he puts on his glasses again]

. . . Mako.

What is that on your sleeve?

Undyed clothes....

[She mulls over that piece of information, but then she's....distracted.]

Hey, Mako... can you hold out your right arm for a moment?

[he looks confused-- he said--

ah. He holds out his arm.

It's light now, but his coat is relatively thick, and dark. It's vaguely magenta?]

Sure.

Is that...fabric dye?

[ squinting harder.

or is it blood? ]

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