Episode: 5Episodes: 42
Sir Cyrus Thorne points a glowing Church branding iron at Lunara in the royal palace. Queen Helena and Princess Isolde mock Lunara and wait for her to break. Whispering maids expect the prisoner to beg for mercy. Instead, Lunara calls the test pathetic and grabs the burning metal with her bare gloved palm. Thick smoke pours out, but she feels no pain. She slaps the iron down and reveals her undamaged hand.
Sir Cyrus Thorne steps forward in the palace hall with a glowing red Church branding iron. Queen Helena and Princess Isolde sneer from nearby, laughing at Lunara's quiet posture as the hot metal nears her face.
Maids huddle together in the back of the grand hall. They trade insults about the woman in black, calling her a harlot and betting that the scorching metal will soon force her down to her knees.
Lunara tells the court the iron is far too cold. She reaches out and presses her gloved fingers straight against the searing brand. Plumes of white smoke swirl into the air while she sits completely still.
Silence falls over the onlookers. The maids, Sir Cyrus Thorne, and the royal women stare at her face in absolute terror. Nobody sees any sign of pain, and the servants realize she is not an ordinary mortal.
Lunara declares that their God lacks the power to judge her. She smacks the glowing iron out of Cyrus's grip onto the carpet, then holds up her clean, unburned hand for the entire room to inspect.
“The Church's fire iron? To test me? That's too laughable.”
“Once the iron touches her, she will be on her knees begging for forgiveness.”
“This heat? Not enough.”
“Your God has no right to hear my confession. He certainly has no right to judge me.”
Lunara casts the burning brand onto the floor and holds up her undamaged hand. Queen Helena, Princess Isolde, and Sir Cyrus Thorne stare at her in stunned silence. The holy trial has produced no burns or tears. How will the royals react to this failure, and what will Princess Isolde do next to save face?