"Claude, take Brienne to the kitchen first."
Lord Selwyn's tone was serious. Claude obeyed immediately, carrying the reluctant—but easily distracted—Brienne away.
Once they were alone, Selwyn looked directly at Galladon.
"What do you mean?"
Galladon chose his words carefully.
"After I killed that man… the Just Maid seemed pleased. My strength increased slightly. Not much—but noticeably."
Selwyn froze.
"You are not joking?"
"Father, I would never joke about this."
Silence fell between them as Selwyn processed the implication.
If the sword truly rewarded judgment…
If killing evil strengthened its wielder…
Then this was no ordinary blade.
At last, Selwyn nodded slowly.
"After dinner, come with me. We will verify this."
The Dungeon
That night, father and son descended into the southeastern tower of Evenfall Hall.
Below it lay the dungeon.
Two guards opened the heavy door. Stone steps spiraled downward into damp air.
At the bottom waited Moken—Selwyn's one-eyed kinsman and keeper of the cells.
Moken had once lost his family to pirates. Since then, cruelty toward criminals had become his grim solace.
Selwyn gave brief instructions.
"Bring the stowaway from Lys. And Fisher—the murderer. Bind them tightly."
Moken obeyed.
Soon two prisoners were dragged forward:
A pale Lyseni stowaway, thin and trembling.
Fisher, a hardened killer who had slaughtered a merchant family.
The Lyseni was kicked to his knees.
Without ceremony, Galladon stepped forward.
The Just Maid flashed.
The stowaway's head fell.
No blood sprayed—only charred flesh and faint smoke.
Galladon opened his panel.
Judgment Points: 0
His brow furrowed.
Possibilities:
Only true criminals yielded points.
There was a cooldown period.
Selwyn gestured toward Fisher.
"Try again."
This time Galladon pronounced the sentence clearly.
"In the name of the Morning Light, I sentence you to death."
The blade fell.
Fisher's head rolled.
Again—
Judgment Points: 0
Galladon exhaled slowly.
"Perhaps it requires time between judgments."
Selwyn nodded.
"Then we will try again tomorrow."
No anger. No doubt.
Only cooperation.
Galladon felt a quiet gratitude.
The Next Day
Morning passed in study with Maester Amo. Afternoon brought sword and archery training.
During practice, Galladon noticed his archery improving sharply.
When he checked his panel:
Archery: 7% → 8%
A pleasant surprise.
But his mind remained in the dungeon.
That evening, Selwyn was already waiting.
They descended again.
This time Moken selected:
An old fisherman who had attempted murder by pushing a rival into the sea.
A middle-aged woman who had brutally abused her stepdaughter.
Moken withdrew upstairs.
Galladon approached the woman first.
"In the name of the Morning Light, I sentence you to death."
The blade descended.
Her head fell.
Galladon opened the panel.
[Galladon.Tarth]
Strength: 3.14
Agility: 4.01
Spirit: 12.8
Magic: 0
Skills:
Swordsmanship (3%)
Archery (8%)
Riding (4%)
Common Tongue (27%)
Swimming (29%)
Legendary Bloodlines:
Duskstar (3%)
Targaryen (0%)
Storm King (1%)
Legendary Weapon: Just Maid (Gold)
Judgment Points: 3
Three points.
Galladon's heart pounded.
It worked.
Not every kill granted points.
But true evil—proper judgment—did.
And tonight, the sword had responded.
(End of Chapter 10)
A/N:
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