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Alicia was unaware of the magic in play until the Beckoners drew everyone's attention to it. So Kyle was some sort of empath? That was useful, and she shot him a nod of approval from the defendants stand. Given this was her first time up here, and the high stakes involved, the help he had provided her with was appreciated.

That out of the way, she turned to the trial at hand. She glanced over at Sylvia, a frown crossing her features as she was challenged to provide evidence that was nigh impossible to give. She knew that Sylvia was just doing her job, but this felt....low. Even for her standards. There was no way she could definitely prove it, and they both knew that. Not if she was going to cast everything Janet said into doubt. 

"Seriously Sylvia? You didn't have to go that far," she grumbled, taking a deep breath as she turned before the crowd. There was no public sympathy here, so she was going to have to do her best. 

Waving over to Janet, she began. "She's right. The Spark hasn't failed before. But how many Deities are there out in the cosmos? How many Horrors and malicious Patrons that intend mankind harm? To assume that the Spark won't fail just because it never has before is folly." She could understand the complacency of her sisters, the desire for safety and the belief in stability. But if they blinded themselves to the world as it was, they would fall to darkness without a doubt. 

Glancing back at Sylvia, she went on. "We all know of items that can corrupt magical girls, such as the Black Coin. Janet mentioned being isolated with a dress of some kind. Perhaps that served the same function. Then she overloaded her with so much magic that she became a monster girl. With everyone else she had under her thrall, it's likely she could do it. But you aren't one anymore, right Janet?" she asked, looking over at her friend. 

"That should be impossible too, but it isn't. Even if you choose not to believe it, there's no way I can conclusively show you that she doesn't have any hidden programming from Justine or what have you. But why else would she have waited a month before coming to find us? She deserves the opportunity to redeem herself and to make up for what Justine made her do. We have a list of all the girls that Justine had Mariette abduct on her behalf, Janet wouldn't be on it if she had fallen willingly. How can we claim to be the guiding light leading humanity forward if we punish someone for something that they couldn't stop." 

Alicia found that she was getting more worked up than she had intended to, muscles coiled tight and a fist clenched as fingernails dug into her palm. She was confident in her friend and in the truth, and she wanted the rest of Beacon to be confident in her even if they weren't confident in Justine. How else would her failure be removed?

After a moment she let out a held breath, before choosing to address her argument from a new angle to erase any lingering doubts. "Still, I think i have the evidence you want," she assured Sylvia with a slight nod. "Someone who knows a lot more about what went on there than I do. I call Kimble to the stand." This was sure to incite a furor, but she was confident in her decision. If anyone could tell them what serving Justine had been like, it would be her.

[@t2wave][@Ariamis][@DarkwolfX37][@Shifter_Master]