JUDICATOR JANE 7 - CHAPTER 2

Another Order

Jane straightened her shoulders and clenched her teeth, her eyes locked on the encampment of former human slaves gathered from across the Mandalas. Their numbers didn’t come close to matching the demons, but the group was still sizable. Makeshift camps dotted the edge of the mountains—ragged clusters of tents and lean-tos cobbled together from whatever they could find. Most of the people here were soldiers—men and women her army had encountered in previous battles.

For now, she was alone—no Veralaktus, no Melindra. Best to do this myself.

As she stepped forward, eyes turned toward her at once. Wearing her black and red Emberwing Inferno Gown, she stood in stark contrast to the dirty, exhausted humans around her. The demons had only brought weapons and armor, so anything the humans had was scavenged along the way. And even she had to admit, the march had been brutal—few stops, even fewer breaks. It had taken a toll on the demons. For the humans, it must have been far worse.

Conflicting emotions stirred within her. Part of her saw everything that was wrong with them. Weak. Emotional. Erratic. They were everything the demons weren’t. It would be so easy to simply Soul Bind every last one of them. Make them like the demons. Strong. Obedient. Loyal. That would have prevented disasters like the one with Tarik and his band, who had ambushed Valrathian and the delegation of dragonkin from the Mandala of Wisdom. A reckless act that nearly sparked a bloodbath.

She didn’t need them. Didn’t want them. They were fragile. Useless. Nothing more than a liability.

Then came the memory—sharp, vivid.

“I don’t want to go there. It smells,” young Jane whined, arms folded tightly.

“Not everyone is as fortunate as us,” her mother had replied firmly. “We do what we can for those in need. We’re on this earth for more than ourselves—don’t forget that. The Westriver Shelter is barely staying afloat, and with funding cut, they need every pair of hands they can get.”

Jane scowled, turning away. “Why don’t they just take a bath, at least?”

“Jane,” her mother said, her tone stern now. “That’s enough. You don’t know what people go through. Don’t judge anyone until you’ve walked in their footsteps. I thought I raised you better.”

Her cheeks flushed at the memory and she shoved the darker thoughts aside. They’re people, she reminded herself. Not perfect. But neither am I.

Most of them didn’t want glory or revenge—they just wanted change. Freedom from the Masters who had enslaved them for generations. To them, she wasn’t a tyrant. She was a symbol—maybe even a miracle. A flicker of hope in a sea of hopelessness.

Passing a young woman with a dirt-marred face and a scar running across both cheeks, Jane stopped. Her gaze lingered, heavy and penetrating. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Somewhere beyond the Green Sea, Pogg was wreaking havoc. But that meant nothing to these people. They would never meet him. A distant war across the world held little meaning. What mattered to them was here—the Mandalas, the Masters, and a woman with a demon horde arriving as an unexpected savior.

Some, like Tarik, were undoubtedly driven by vengeance. But not all of them.

She opened her eyes and scanned the camp. Many of these people she had already judged. Then she spotted what she was looking for: a group of nearly three hundred men and women gathered loosely together, set apart from the rest. Atop each of their brows glowed a pulsing circle of light.

Light Judged.

During her sweeping judgments across the slave armies of the Mandala of Courage and the Mandala of Beauty, she had marked many with that gift—the power to discern truth from falsehood.

Walking up to them, she clapped her hands. "Hey. All of you. Over here."

They turned, expressions cautious but curious, and slowly shifted toward her.

"I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I'm the one who gave you that glowing circle on your heads. You're probably wondering what the heck that even is, so let me explain. I know you're drawn to each other—you've probably felt that part already. That’s because you're Light Judged now. It means you have a new power. You can tell truth from falsehood. No one can deceive you—not anymore."

She paused, letting the words settle in the air around them.

"I gave you that gift because I saw who you were. Good people. Honest people. And right now, more than ever, I need good people."

She let the silence hang, her gaze sweeping across their faces.

"Across the Green Sea, there's another group of people just like you. Those too are Light Judged. They are known as the Order of the Shining Circle, and they have one mission: fight for justice. Not for revenge, not for blood, not to settle old scores. Justice."

Jane’s voice rang clear. "You’ve followed me this far. You didn’t flee to the Free Cities. You didn’t run when the chance came. I’m hoping that means you want to do some good. Well, this is that chance."

She activated her Mantle of Retribution, the gray battlerobe settling on her shoulders. Then she summoned her Gavel of Repentance, lifting the glowing hammer high above her head.

"I am reforging this land into one where justice reigns. No Masters, no chains, no crimes that go unpunished. From noble to commoner, king to peasant—none will escape their due. But I can't do it alone. Neither can the demons. These are your kingdoms, and your countrymen under duress. So I ask you—who among you will join the Order of the Shining Circle? Who will fight for the weak, the voiceless, the ones in need of help? Not only against the Masters, but any who might seek to exploit or abuse power over those without?"

Silence.

The wind stirred, rustling the grass around them. In the distance, Jane could hear the hushed murmurs of onlookers—the other humans watching from the outskirts of the camp.

Then, from within the crowd, a woman in a torn vest and a weathered eyepatch stepped forward. "I will fight for justice."

Another followed. "As will I."

"If you’ll have me, I’m with you."

One by one, voices rose, each of the Light Judged stepping forward, until a chorus of commitment filled the air.

Jane nodded and lowered her hammer. "Good."

She took a breath. “Then hear this. This choice requires commitment. Sacrifice. Forget any thought of riches, glory, or fame. You serve a higher purpose now—a higher cause. I didn’t free you from one master so you could bend the knee to another. Your allegiance isn’t to me, or any man or woman. It’s to an ideal."

She looked each of them in the eye.

"You will see to it that people are treated according to their deeds—nothing more, nothing less. Impartial reward or punishment, regardless of race, gender, class or allegiance. Whether dragonkin, demon, or human. Justice is your compass now."

She raised her voice one final time.

"If you take up this banner, know this: the demons will stand beside you. I will stand beside you. For I am Jane King, Judicator of Alur. And while I live, justice across this world will reign supreme."

***

Approaching the edge of a jagged ridge jutting out from the southern canyons, Jane prepared herself. Below, before the gates of Integra, the other half of the demon horde gathered in solemn formation. And standing alone at the precipice, overlooking them all, was Dyle.

She paused, drew in a breath, and closed her eyes. Then, with deliberate steps, she walked forward.

“Hey
” she said gently, coming up beside him. “I’ll be leaving soon.”

Dyle turned his head just enough to meet her gaze, offering a faint, weary smile. “Ah. So the preparations are complete?”

“Almost.” Jane rubbed her arm, glancing toward the horizon. “I really appreciate what you did. Coming for me like that
 crossing an entire ocean. Honestly I still can’t believe it. And I wish you could come. I really do. It's just
”

Dyle waved a hand dismissively. “It's alright. I know I’m not as strong as Gral’gor or the other high-level demons. You're
 in good hands.”

“No,” Jane shook her head quickly. “That’s not it at all. I just
 I can’t explain it well. But right now, in the middle of this chaos, this is where you’re needed. That much, I do know.”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he sat down on the rocky ledge, gazing out across the plaza in silence. Then, softly: “Why do I get the feeling that there’s something you’re not saying.”

“Well—” Jane started, but Dyle raised a hand, gently cutting her off.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain. I can tell you’ve got your reasons.” He exhaled, then gave a short nod. “I’ll stay behind. Help Melindra and the others. Maker knows my time serving Lord Tygal prepared me for more than I ever wanted to know about infiltration and intrigue.”

He turned, his expression serious. “But you have to promise me something. Don’t throw your life away chasing Pogg. Jane, he’s—well, I don't even know if I would classify him as human any longer. He’s nearly indestructible. He can summon an army of deadly Seraphic Angels at will. He can fly. He’s burning people alive with light shooting out of his hands. And every day, he grows stronger. I’ve seen your skills, and yes—they’re terrifying. But he’s gaining powers just as fast. Maybe faster. Perhaps even the same kinds that nearly sent you away forever.”

His voice cracked slightly. “The world needs you. I need you.”

Jane’s cheeks warmed. She crossed her arms, eyes hardening. “I don’t know what’s coming, Dyle. But I’m not going to sit back just because things are dangerous. I wasn’t ready last time—I was
 reckless. I didn't know what kind of person Pogg had become. But now I do.”

Her voice lowered.

“He has to be stopped. Even if it’s too late. Even if the demons are already gone. He will answer for what he’s done. He will face justice—no matter the cost.”

Dyle shook his head slowly. “Some costs are too high to pay. What if he banishes you again? Sends you back to the Netherrealm?”

Jane’s lips tightened. “It’s
 It's going to be fine. That kind of power—banishing someone—there has to be a cooldown. If he could use it whenever he wants, he would’ve done the same to Gral’gor already.”

She tried to smile. “Anyway, it’s just a quick jaunt through the tunnels. I’ll hit him with my Gray Inquisition skill before he even realizes I’m back. That’ll be the end of it.”

The smile faltered just a little. She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince—Dyle, or herself.

Dyle looked away, letting out a dry chuckle. “So, while the fate of Arcadia hangs in the balance halfway across the world
 I’m just supposed to sit here and wait for the results?”

“Hey,” Jane said gently. “You know it’s not like that.”

Her voice softened. “I know I vanished without warning last time. And yeah—things were looking pretty bleak. But this is different. We’ve got to work with the hand we’ve been dealt.”

Below, the demons were stirring—lines of Hellguards mustering, Ash Bolters repositioning, Energy Weavers walking through the throngs with careful eyes. The plaza shimmered with motion and anticipation for the impending journey.

She hesitated, then stepped closer. “Listen
 when I used The Drawn Veil, I saw it. What it was like for you—carrying me through the critch swarms. I saw it vividly. I
 I’m so sorry, Dyle. I knew it wasn’t easy, but until I saw it for myself
”

Dyle gave a slight shrug, still staring at the horizon. “It wasn’t so bad. Not really.”

Jane raised an eyebrow. “It looked pretty bad to me.”

Dyle’s rubbed his chin in thought. “Maybe everything softens in hindsight,” he murmured. “But it felt good
 being needed. Not for scheming or spying or knives in the dark. For a greater purpose—saving lives instead of ending them.”

He glanced at her. “I’m not afraid to do hard things, Jane. As long as they matter. As long as they’re for
”

He trailed off, turning away.

Jane bit her lip. “The road ahead is going to be hard—for all of us. Maybe not like the Great Woods
 but it won’t be easy. What you'll be doing here is just as important as with the Menadeen. I know you hate what’s happening to the people here as much as I do. And the demons? The Mandalas won’t stop. They’ll regroup. They’ll try to eradicate them.”

She exhaled. “The demons need a place in this world. That won’t be given. We’ll have to take it. Reshape the entire continent, if we have to. The Mandalas may have built this festering mess—but we're going to clean it up.”

Dyle shook his head, looking back at her. “That’s not something I ever expected to hear from you.”

Jane gave a small shrug. “What can I say? I don’t have time for politics or politeness. Neither do the demons. Or the slaves still shackled and bleeding in places no one talks about.”

Her eyes hardened.

“There are children out there, Dyle. Branded. Enslaved. In my old life, I was helpless to stop the atrocities in my world. But now? Here? Now that I can make a difference
 It makes walking away from it, leaving them behind all that much worse.”

She lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked up again.

“I can’t do this alone. The dragonkin may not have a Legendary class holder among them, but I know there are Epics. They’ll come. And someone has to be ready when they do. We can't take anything for granted.”

Her voice caught slightly. “I do need you, Dyle. But right now—where I need you is here. Can I count on you?”

Dyle let out a long breath, then nodded slowly. “Of course you can. You know that.” A hint of pain flickered in his eyes. “But if something happens—if the demons feel you vanish again, or if something doesn’t feel right—I can’t promise I won’t come running.”

Jane gave a small, tired smile. “Alright
 fair enough. Thank you.”

She raised a thumb toward him. “You know, this might be the last thumbs up you ever get from me.”

Dyle straightened, locking eyes with her.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”