Tears of Themis Episode 2 – The Unbearable Love

There are 28 scenes in Episode 2 made up of 15 story scenes, 10 debate battles (recommended power level 3575 – 4562) and the balance are crime scene investigations and trial. This is a rather long episode and I would actually suggest going through it in two seating. Spoilers ahead!

As requested by Artem, you deliver the set of documents to Vyn’s house which was designed like an old English manor. Vyn does not greet you at the door as he is busy on the second floor. He asks you to come upstairs to find him as you hear a familiar classical piece played in the background. In the study, you see Vyn placing the final two pieces to form a pyramid of cards. You introduce yourselves. Vyn then asked you for a favour to pull out one card without destroying the structure. You originally refused for fear of ruining his work but he assured you it was ok. True enough the entire tower collapses and you apologise. Vyn asked you had you known that the structure would collapse, would you still agree to his request.

You pondered on his question for awhile and then replied that you would. Recognising the classical music in the background as a piece you once played on the violin, you said that song represented the composer’s hopes for his country to always stay the same but that was impossible since change is the only constant. With that in mind, you explained that you can always keep trying by using a different card or method and refused to believe that there could only be one outcome. Vyn was impressed by your reply and told you to remember your response should you find yourself being turned away by everyone for your decisions.

Thereafter you made some small talk with Vyn and hands him the documents which he sets aside without another look. You were puzzled as you thought they were important. Having accomplished your task, you made to leave but decided to ask if you could approach Vyn in future if you have questions related to criminal psychology. Vyn replied positively. He also invited you to join him for an upcoming art exhibition at Stellis University over the weekend. After you left, Vyn speaks with Artem and acknowledges that you are suitable for joining NXX. He also admonishes Artem for being too protective and that you will need to be subject to harsh conditions to flourish.

After you got off the taxi at the law firm, you were surprised to see Artem. He sounds concerned that you took so long to come back. You apologised and he offered you a lift home, asking about your conversation with Vyn. He seemed to be rather wary of the latter. It was only then that you realised that Artem had been waiting for you.

The weekend soon approaches and you wake up on Sunday only to remember about the art exhibition. Though you didn’t make any appointment with Vyn, you wondered if you might still bump into him there. While looking at your phone notifications reporting the latest scandals, you bumped into one of the students. Though you originally apologised for not watching the road, you soon realised that he had been running too which led to both of you crashing into each other. The cheeky student tried to explain his way out of the situation and refusing to reveal his identity to you. When he found out that you were here for the exhibition, he volunteered to bring you to the new Stellis Art Museum as recompense.

You meet Vyn at the entrance of the museum and learns that the student who had brought you here is none other than Pax Group CEO, Marius von Hagen. Vyn is Marius’ private tutor in psychology whom his parents hired after Marius returned from overseas education. He is currently pursuing his masters in Stellis University. Marius is none too happy to see Vyn but asked to follow both of you around the art exhibition.

However the exhibition has to wait as Captain Darius Morgan, a police officer, arrived with the intent to place Marius under arrest for suspicion of murder of Estelle Marino, the owner of Mode de la Venus, a high end fashion design company. Marius had attended a function organised by Estelle to celebrate her victory at the Stellis Fashion Week, triumphing over Pax Group’s fashion designer. She was found dead in her hotel room, allegedly from poison found in the chocolates that he had gifted her with.

Despite the charges laid against him, Marius appears as cool and calm as a cucumber. He doesn’t try to resist Darius and instead asked if he has the right to an attorney. With that he turned to look at you with a smirk that he would be appointing you as his attorney. You tried to refuse and suggested that he finds Artem instead who would certainly be more capable in defending him. Marius refuses saying that he cannot afford Artem.

With that he informs Darius that you would be representing him and asked to visit the crime scene for himself. Vyn offers to come along as well much to the chagrin of Marius. You smile at the teacher-student relationship between the two who are barely a few years apart and then sulked when you realised that Marius had said he couldn’t afford Artem’s fees even though he is one of the richest man in the world.

At the hotel, you record Marius’ statement and wondered if there could be any areas of conflict between him and Estelle considering the business marriage scandal that you just read this morning. Marius explains that this had nothing to do with the case and teases if you were asking because you’re interested in his love life. After giving you his statement, he is taken away to the police station as the news of his ‘arrest’ had been leaked to the media. However you will stay on to investigate. After he left, Marius’ assistant turns up with a pair of flats ordered by Marius so that you would be able to investigate in comfort. You are touched by his thoughtfulness.

As you fretted over handling a criminal case which isn’t your forte, Vyn returns to your side and encourages you. He tells you that he will support you in this case with his in depth experience and knowledge into criminal psychology. Throughout the investigation process, Vyn serves as a very useful partner in exchanging and analysing the evidence collected from the key eyewitnesses and the crime scene. Based on the evidence gathered, you were convinced that there could be two perpetrators while Vyn was certain there was only one culprit based on his psychological assessment. He puts you to a wager. Vyn is also impressed by your resourcefulness in leveraging on an idol’s fan base to track his whereabouts.

After you completed the investigation at the hotel, you returned to the police station with new evidence while Vyn headed off to another location to uncover more information. You learnt that even more incriminating evidence had been found in the trunk of Marius’ car, thus he would be prosecuted within the week. When you next meet with Marius, he asked if you had any success in finding evidence to prove his innocence. In your annoyance with him, you said that you didn’t manage to and he was certainly going to be convicted. Marius plays along and feigns his sadness at hearing the news.

You shared that more incriminating evidence had been found against him so you encouraged him to hire Artem to defend him. Marius explains that as a renown figure in the business world, his case is being covered extensively by the media thus the court had no choice to prosecute him. If he were to replace you now as his attorney, it would severely affect your reputation. He added that he has complete faith in your abilities which brought a slight blush to your face.

Marius also added that even if the evidence points towards his innocence, there is no way that Marius would be able to get away without being prosecuted. His business competitors would claim that he had used money to buy his way out and smear his and his company’s reputation. The only way for him to walk out of this unharmed is to win the court case. You were amazed at his analysis of the situation and affirmed that you would do your best to free him. You later learned that the evidence had indeed been planted in his car which pointed to someone outside of his company wanting to frame him.

After speaking with Marius, Vyn returns from his escapade. You learned from the police officers who accompanied him about how he had managed to retrieve the information through a game of cards and guile which almost seemed supernatural. Vyn dispels the notion and explained that everything was scientific but that lesson would have to wait until another day. Vyn then accompanies you back to your law firm now that the station has been surrounded by the media.

As the day of the trial approaches, you were still lacking the final piece of evidence. You wanted to seek Artem’s advice on how to go about defending Marius however he was out of town to handle an equity financing case. He finally returns your call and gave you some advice. Before hanging up, he stutters that he needs a partner and that he would talk more with you when he returns. With his advice, you finally got the final missing evidence though the method of retrieval left you a bitter taste in your mouth.

After the trial concludes, both you and Marius are bombarded by the media as you left the courtroom. Marius disregards the various disparaging remarks against him until he hears a question about appointing you as his attorney and whether there was some special relationship. At this question, Marius speaks up for your ability and he warns the journalist against fabricating any lies about you or be prepared to be sued.

Back at NXX HQ, Marius compliments you and told Artem that he has no qualms about you joining them. Artem has his reservations since his request stemmed from his own selfishness. However the purpose for meeting Marius was to discuss the involvement of Heirson in the recent case.

A week later, you called Vyn to thank him for his help and further discuss the outcome of the case. You cannot help but feel sorry for the perpetrator as they were led down the path as a result of mental instability driven by pressure from others. Vyn agrees that it is indeed difficult because mental health issues are harder to understand and thus harder to diagnose and treat. Thereafter you recall that you owe Luke a meal after he heroically rescued you from court after being cornered by the media after Marius left. As you thought about your dinner plans, Artem returns to office and asked you to be his partner which you agreed whole-heartedly.

Meanwhile Vyn does his daily update on his personal recorder. He speaks about you fondly and while he originally had reservations about joining NXX, he no longer has any regrets after coming to know you.

In episode two, you get to be acquainted with Vyn and Marius. Vyn appears to be a gentle and nurturing mentor but beneath this exterior lies another cold and shrewd persona. I wonder if all psychiatrists are like that. Marius, on the other hand, appears to have a super cavalier attitude towards everything yet after explaining his actions to you, is actually a very rational and analytical person. I think it’s really hard not to be taken by his confidence and cheekiness. Heirson Pharmaceutical is mentioned in this case as well as the perpetrator was a client of their products.

Two key themes explored in this episode is about the thin fine line between love and possessiveness; and the distinction between invasion of privacy and right to information. When does love end and possessiveness begins? Does loving a person give us a right to own the other person even if it means taking away their freedom or right to privacy? For example, if you suspect that your spouse is having an affair, is it right for you to look through their phone records or in your insecurity about their fidelity, demand that they do something that is detrimental to their career? As a fan to an idol, though they have made the decision to lead a public life, do they owe their lives to their fans who are also indirectly contributing to their fame?

Yet on the other hand, can we say that because we have individual right, we can be calloused about how our actions would hurt those who love us especially for people you are in a relationship with? Once you have committed to walk down a path together as husband and wife, does personal right give way so as to achieve happiness in marriage and life ever after? Does being a fan give you the right to invade on a celebrities’ personal life and to report on it and yet access to such information would also help people make better decisions and judgement on who to support. As the title of the episode suggests, perhaps all things should be done in moderation otherwise it just becomes unbearable, a pair of shackles that the recipient want to break out of, no matter the cost.