Licht said, "Are we ever free?"
Liebe said, "I mean, we did just come back from, like, a three-week vacation."
Licht said, "Good point. And Alysa, will you help me check out the forest since you already know how to navigate there?"
Alysa said, "Of course."
Liebe said, "I have a meeting with the Black Lion forces about the escort in the port as well as in our waters."
Licht said, "Ok then, it's a plan. How about we head to the forest tomorrow?"
Alysa said, "Ok."
Liebe said, "And Gelda, you are with me."
Gelda said, "Of course."
The next day, as Licht and Alysa reached the forest and saw the forest, Licht said, "You weren't kidding. 11 AM and 15-meter fog? It really is a hazard."
Alysa said, "That's why I brought you here."
Licht said, "No wonder they call this place the Forest of White Dreams. Well, we have three options: either do something about the forest, change the route, or remove the forest entirely with my magic. Clearing a 30-meter-thick road inside the forest won't be much trouble."
Alysa said, "I doubt that will solve the problem."
Licht said, "And choosing a new route seems like trouble. Best if we investigate. Let me take some soil samples." As he touched a bit of soil with his gloves and tasted it, Licht said, "Narcotics. Definitely not natural."
Alysa said, "But how can it be?"
Licht said, "Take some soil samples for the lab."
Alysa said, "Sure."
Licht said, "It's February; haven't rained in a while, yet why is the humidity so high? Almost like a storm." Licht said, "This fog—it isn't natural as well. Now, Light Magic: Piercing Light!" As he cut down a tree, Licht said, "Alysa, get someone to take this tree. Either evolution gave up, or this forest isn't natural. Unless we used mana detection, we could find each other if we aren't in a 10-meter radius."
Alysa said, "Ok then."
Licht said, "Be on guard. We don't know where evolution fucked up. If the terrain is this bad, who is to say the animals aren't worse?"
Alysa said, "Ok."
Licht said, "I need to check a few leaves and barks."
Alysa said, "Sure."
As Licht was checking the ground, "Looks like the grass is dead, and these ants—the mightiest predator in nature—they sure seem different. Take some of them, too."
Alysa said, "Ok."
Licht said, "Our work seems done for the most part. Let's sit down for lunch."
As they began to eat, they were talking.
Alysa said, "Licht, I have noticed something. You sure seem distant from Aunt Lilith for the past few years. Is it because of Marks and Liebe relinquishing his title?"
Licht said, "Something like that."
Alysa said, "If you want, you can tell me. I won't tell Liebe."
Licht said, "Sure, sure. Of course, you won't. You literally tell him everything."
Alysa said, "That is not true."
Licht said, "You literally tell him the number of times you snore at night. How do you even count that?"
Alysa said, "Ok, maybe. But listen, if the reason is too much of a burden, you can tell me. After all, I'm your wingwoman who will make sure you get married and don't die single surrounded by cats."
Licht said, "My social life isn't that bad."
Alysa said, "You sure? Because you wonder what to do for a 15-second conversation with Iris like a military strategy. If you actually spent that much time actually saying hi, you would be married with kids."
Licht said, "Fine, then. The thing is, I know something that Liebe can never find out."
Alysa said, "What is it? Is it that you are gay, or that you are trans?"
Licht said, "It's not. Well, the truth is, I'm supposed to be Liebe's best friend, but for the past decade, I ended up being a thorn. When Aunt Lilith was getting married, Aunt told me to convince Liebe to be happy about it. Only then did I find out what kind of man Gabriel really was. I ended up being the reason Liebe agreed. And ten years ago in the capital, if I had stopped Liebe at Celes Beach and convinced him to stay with us, Uncle Tenebris would still be alive."
Alysa said, "I wasn't there ten years ago, but what happened in the capital is our secret. It's a secret we members of Team Liebe have to carry to our graves. And I'm sure Liebe doesn't blame you for it. After all, you were only 7 yourself; I'm sure you couldn't have known any better."
Licht said, "In the end of the day, it was my failure as his friend that caused the Rebellion of the Two Captains."
Alysa said, "I understand how you feel. We should have stopped him, and we couldn't."
Licht said, "The reason why I don't talk to Aunt Lilith like before is, well, I know the truth."
Alysa said, "What kind of truth?"
Licht said, "For someone who respects Aunt Lilith as much as you do, are you sure it's a secret you can bear?"
Alysa said, "It doesn't matter. It's something I have to. So, please, go ahead."
Licht said, "Aunt Lilith murdered Uncle Tenebris."
Alysa slapped Licht and grabbed him by the collar as she asked, "Do you know what you are even saying? Or are you going back on the sole reason we swore to judge Liebe for who he is?"
Licht said, "It's the harsh truth. My dad was there, and he told me. This is the truth we members of House Vaude must bear, and failing to prevent that outcome is a sin we can never escape from."
As Alysa let go, her hands were trembling. She said, "Why? How can it be? Please, please tell me you are lying. Please."
Licht said, "I wish the same, but I asked Gelda, and she replied the same. And in the incident, my dad lost his arm."
Alysa said, "When did you find out?"
Licht said, "Dad told me a little over a year ago, before starting classes. That is why I'm loyal—to make up for the sin and failure of my father. My father never retired because he wanted to; he retired because he couldn't face Liebe. And now, here I am."
Alysa said, "Why didn't you tell me or Elizabeth about it?"
Licht said, "You two are like my sisters. I never wanted to burden you with the truth. And after the incident, Aunt Lilith never stopped looking at Liebe because of work; she stopped because Liebe reminded her of what she did. And that is how the nobleist faction used the opportunity and bribed the rest of the Faust family to get her politically married to Gabriel. And thus, here we are."
Alysa said, "I can't believe it. I didn't know."
Licht said, "Just forget it."
Alysa said, "I can't. But I swear onto my life as a member of Team Liebe, I won't let Liebe find out, no matter what. If he ever finds out, we can't—"
As Licht continued to eat, he said, "I will ensure Liebe reaches the dawn. That is the only way to atone. I also wish I was protected like you, but that day at the capital, I felt Liebe's rage. I could sense the darkness, and if that day Liebe wasn't stopped, all of us would have died that day. I saw death incarnate. Now, I want to ask you something: what do you feel about Marks Faust?"
Alysa said, "Nothing, really. I just feel bad for Liebe. Even though Marks is an infant, he is simply born to be crushed by the burden."
Licht said, "Marks will be nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Alysa said, "How do you know?"
Licht said, "Dad told me. Making Marks the heir was the biggest mistake Aunt Lilith made. It is a decision that is killing both Liebe and Marks at the same time."
Alysa said, "How?"
Licht said, "Simple, really. Marks was made the heir to satisfy the nobleist faction, yet most of them are wiped clean by Liebe. And Liebe is just 17, same as us, and he is already considered one of the top 5,000 people in the world. And Liebe is now the former heir, so everyone who even looks at Marks already has the expectations he has to be far better just because he is pure nobility, while Liebe is a half-breed. The poor child might just die from the pressure. On top of that, he didn't even inherit the signature magic attribute of the Faust family, while Liebe attained it in its perfect form. Let's just say this decision of Aunt Lilith is what makes me disgusted. Initially, my dad planned to try and convince Aunt Lilith to change her mind and not to listen to the nobleist faction, but before that could even happen, Liebe relinquished his title as heir."
Alysa said, "I doubt we can do anything else."
Licht said, "Unless somehow Aunt Lilith makes Liebe become the heir again, it's not possible. And not to mention, she already has a will stating Marks will be her successor and is the heir to the throne of Faust."
Alysa said, "I don't mind if Liebe isn't the heir. I'm ok with that. I'm with Liebe for who he is. But not being Aunt Lilith's successor—that is something I can't accept."
Meanwhile, in the Vaude estate, Alex stated, "And that is why I'm here."
Jewel said, "You have some nerve showing up now and not even helping when we needed you the most."
Alex said, "You know better than anyone: if I didn't help then, right now Eldoria wouldn't exist."
Jewel said, "So what are you expecting me to do? Thank you or something?"
Alex said, "Of course not. You are far too old and fragile for that."
Jewel said, "Ok, but listen. I don't know if you should know this or not, but well, in Domr's will, it was stated that: 'I, Domr Faust, hereby declare Liebe Faust as the heir, and as of right now, Lilith Faust will be my successor, and after that, it will be Liebe Faust. The one who carries the signature magic attribute of the Faust will sit atop the throne of Faust.'"
Alex said, "What? Marks never inherited the attribute?"
Jewel said, "No, he didn't."
Alex said, "Show me the document."