Later, after the Festival of Warriors, while everyone was leaving, Jade said, "Hey, Liebe."
Liebe said, "Yeah?"
Jade said, "It was good seeing you again."
Liebe said, "Same here."
Jade said, "Take care of yourself. I know how you forget that. And more than that, I would like it if we were friends."
Liebe said, "Same here."
Jade said, "See you next year."
As they parted ways…
Meanwhile, on the ship, everyone was panicking. Licht and Alysa were saying, "What do we do? What do we do?"
Lichee said, "What are you guys so worried about?"
Licht said, "Worried? Lia will kill us! All of us! Maybe all of us except you! And Liebe did say he is disappointed in us."
Alysa said, "Yeah, we have to apologize. Maybe we should start with making his favorite… and Licht, I think you need to do two spoons."
Licht said, "I'm not doing that. My dignity is worth more than my life."
Alysa said, "We don't have a choice."
Licht said, "Still no."
Lichee said, "Why are you so worried?"
Alysa said, "Because he never used the word 'disappointed.'"
Lichee said, "But why are you so afraid?"
Alysa said, "Not afraid—it's respect."
Lichee said, "I don't understand. My attribute is so dangerous, yet no one is scared of me. But hearing Liebe is disappointed, you all are running."
Licht said, "Well, I will explain as the true godparent."
Alysa said, "Okay, good luck."
Licht said, "I don't need it. I'm great with kids."
Lichee said, "But we are the same age."
Licht said, "Let's go, kid."
As they went on their walk on the ship, Licht said, "Well, where should I start? I guess since you are Liebe's kid, I'm your uncle—even if it's not by blood. But trust me, your blood family is basically all just assholes, and the closest to a non-asshole is your grandma Lilith and Alysa's half-brother."
Lichee said, "Who is that?"
Licht said, "Well, lucky for you, we are going to meet him now."
Lichee said, "Oh, what is he like? Is he nice? Or is he like, cool?"
Licht said, "Don't get your hopes up. And the simple reason why we don't fear you is simple: because we all love and care about you, and we know you will never hurt us intentionally. And we respect Liebe, as it's kind of because of him that we are here now. Let me introduce you."
As he knocked on the door, Aile opened the door.
Lichee said, "Is this uncle, like, after his gender-changer operation or something?"
Licht just laughed and said, "No."
Aile said, "Can I help you, Admiral Licht?"
Licht said, "Is Eosian here?"
As Aile got Eosian, Licht said, "Yo, dumbass, you alive? Eosian Bouduin."
Eosian said, "What is it?"
Licht said, "This is Lichee Filafle, your niece from the future, and like Liebe and Alysa's daughter. So babysit her for an hour."
Eosian said, "You got a screw loose or something? I'm a Godkin. This is beyond me."
Licht said, "I'm a pure-blood noble and your superior."
Eosian said, "I only follow orders from Admiral Alysa, my sister, not you."
Licht said, "Here's the deal: unless you want me to screw your brains in—literally, with my fists—you will do it. Otherwise, I can increase your house arrest from one week to life."
Eosian said, "But—"
Licht said, "But what? Are you objecting to my orders, dumbass?"
Eosian said, "No, sir."
Licht said, "Good. Watch her for an hour, and I will be back."
As Licht went back to the kitchen, he said, "That smells good."
Alysa said, "I'm trying a new recipe for Liebe." But then she saw Lichee wasn't there. "Fate, usually during walks with children, it is common to return with the child, even if they may be of similar age."
Licht said, "She is in a one-hour break. I'm teaching her why we respect Liebe."
Isurugi said, "I understand."
Elizabeth said, "But how exactly?"
Licht said, "I told Eosian to babysit her."
Alysa grabbed him by the collar and said, "Eosian? By that, you mean my brother Eosian?"
Licht said, "Well, that's the only Eosian I know."
Alysa said, "Get her back now!"
Isurugi said, "What is the matter?"
Fate said, "I would like to know as well."
Alysa said, "He left Lichee with Eosian."
Elizabeth said, "Yeah, but it's your brother. It's free babysitting."
Alysa said, "Oh, hell no! I'm not keeping my daughter in his care. He will probably get her lost, or she will get bad habits. Now go and get her in one piece, Licht, or I won't feed you till next year!"
Licht rushed off. As he knocked on the door again, Eosian said, "Thank God you are back! She destroyed the room, turned most of it into dust! What magic does she have?"
Licht said, "Yoo, came to get you back."
Lichee said, "Good. This dude really is an asshole. Noir and Aile were great."
Licht said, "Good to know."
As they were walking, Lichee said, "He really was annoying. But why do you hate him?"
Licht said, "But I left you there just for 10 minutes."
Lichee said, "I know. But now tell me, oh great godfather, why do you hate him so much?"
Licht said, "Two years ago, he tried to prove himself and tried to fight the monster Skelos in the Abyssal Zone, and he almost got himself killed. Yet Liebe and Alysa made it just in time to save him. But Liebe almost got killed. That's why."
Lichee said, "Oh, I see. But what about the rest of the Faust family?"
Licht said, "Besides your grandma Lilith and whatever of a spoiled brat your two-year-old uncle, Marks, is, everyone else is six feet under. Liebe made sure of that. Grandpa Domr died in battle. Besides him, all were killed by Liebe."
Lichee said, "Oh, I see."
Licht said, "Listen, I know where you are from, things might be different for the better or worse. But blood isn't everything, okay? Like, Liebe is more of a brother to me than Marks is to him, but we aren't brothers by blood. Same for Elizabeth. And you know how close Liebe and Alysa are, right?"
Lichee said, "Yeah, well, that's obvious. They are a bit too lovey-dovey for my taste."
Licht said, "Yeah, my parents are the same. But Liebe and Alysa wish their parents could be like that. Alysa's mother died when she was one, and her step-family—you saw in the Festival of Warriors—that Ava Bouduin, she is Alysa's step-sibling, not related to her. Where Eosian is her half-brother. She and her sister, Sadina… they were so horrible, Alysa couldn't talk. Of course, the symptoms exist even now. And the thing is, Isurugi has no one. Gaia doesn't even know who she is. Fate is just a machine without a master until Liebe came. And me? My dad is a hero, and look at me. He used to sleep only 14 hours a day; I get to sleep 20 hours a day. Well, in that sense, I might be better. But the thing is, none of us would have even known Alysa existed. We knew her because Liebe made the effort to talk to her. And same for Elizabeth. Yet she was someone the three of us always spoiled. And the thing is, the reason why Liebe and Alysa are trying to be there for you is because they don't want you to miss out on what they missed. So that's why they are like that."
Lichee said, "I see. I never knew I was so fortunate having you guys, since in my era, I only had Dad and no one else."
Licht said, "You may not have your mom, but now is your chance. Have fun, enjoy being a family. I'm sure that's what Liebe has been wanting, too."
Lichee said, "I will. And Licht, can I ask something?"
Licht said, "Sure."
Lichee said, "What was my grandpa like?"
Licht said, "Oh, Uncle Tenebris? He was great. He wasn't a knight, but whenever my dad, Grandpa Domr, and Aunt Lilith would go on a mission, he would take us all on fishing trips. It was boring, yet enjoyable compared to our daily lives, where it would just be noise. Of course, most times, Liebe and I would tie Elizabeth to a rope and use her as bait, and she would be eaten, and, well, Gelda would be there to save us."
Lichee said, "Was he hot?"
Licht said, "I don't know how to answer that. Do you have a grandpa fetish or something?"
Lichee said, "Oh, no, no, no. But I also wanted to ask something else. What was Grandma Lilith like, you know, before she went, you know, whatever this is?"
Licht said, "Honestly, she was great. She was more of a friend playing with us than an adult guardian. But it changed after Tenebris's death."
Lichee said, "Like, what happened? How did he die?"
Licht said, "Well, I don't know the details, but it was a landslide, and it was a week after Grandpa Domr died in battle."
Lichee said, "I see. It must have been hard for her."
Licht said, "Guess so."
Lichee said, "And what's Gelda like?"
Licht said, "Same as ever—nice, guiding, like a second mom to us."
Lichee said, "Oh. And how long has the Captain known her?"
Licht said, "About 45 years, even before becoming 10 years old. But that's what I know."
Lichee said, "Okay. And Licht, can I ask for a favor?"
Licht said, "Okay."
Lichee said, "Can I see Lilith for once?"
Licht said, "Why?"
Lichee said, "I said a lot of stuff, but I want to apologize for what I said."
Licht said, "Okay, then, but no fist fights."
Lichee said, "Deal."
Licht said, "Good."
As he snapped his fingers, a portal was created, and Gelda came and said, "You asked for me, Licht?"
Licht said, "Yeah, take her to HQ. She wants to talk to the Captain."
Gelda said, "But last time, it went bad."
Licht said, "This time, she wants to apologize. So please. And this time, if something happens, call me."
Gelda said, "Okay, then."
As Lichee and Gelda went through the portal, Gelda said, "You really want to apologize?"
As Lichee hugged her and said, "Thank you for everything. I know you may not understand me and all, but thank you for everything and being family and like a sister to me. And it means more than you know. And now that Dad is no more, without you, I just don't know…" as she burst into tears.
Gelda sighed and said, "What am I going to do with you, kid? 50 years and still the same crybaby. Don't worry, I will always be there."
Lichee said, "Forever and ever?"
Gelda said, "Yeah, yeah. You are far too dumb to live without me, idiot. It's a promise."
Lichee said, "Good." As she wiped her tears, she said, "Also, don't tell anyone I cried."
Gelda said, "Oh, I will. I didn't promise that. I promised I would stay. And what's the fun in staying if I don't laugh a bit? Now, see Lilith Faust and give her a piece of your mind."
As Gelda entered Lilith's office, Lilith said, "Did something happen?"
Gelda said, "The dumbass is back to apologize."
Lilith said, "What? You sure it's the same dumbass?"
Gelda said, "Yeah. Now then, come in."
As Lichee entered, Lichee said, "Hello."
Lilith said, "Hey. I know it's awkward and all."
Lichee said, "Yeah. Also, exactly how old are you? And like, why do you have grey hair?"
Lilith said, "About 52. And it's called stress."
Gelda said, "No, it's called lack of iron in food and too much meds."
Lichee said, "So what are the meds for?"
Lilith said, "Depression. Currently my second best friend, besides Gelda—the only constant. And it's 500 mg."
Lichee said, "Oh, how much is 500 mg? And does it taste good?"
Lilith said, "Nah, it's like drinking sewage water. And 500 mg is, well, a lot."
Lichee said, "So why depression? You have Liebe."
Lilith said, "Yeah, it's regret, mistakes, and what happened a decade ago still haunts me. These help me sleep. Of course, this dosage would kill any normal person."
Lichee said, "Cool. So what happened? Where did it all go wrong? Why did you two drift apart?"
Lilith said, "I want to say it's because of time, but the thing is, it's my fault. I made bad choices. Without Dad, there was no one to guide me. And without Tenebris, there was no one to love me unconditionally."
As Gelda stated, "Ahem."
Lilith said, "Well, sorry, Gelda is there."
Lichee said, "Oh, what was this Tenebris like?"
Lilith said, "Quite opposite to what I am—weak, not a knight, somehow mature, and has common sense. But he was special, like how Liebe is for Alysa. Later, I had to get married again to a noble because it was my duty as a noble, and I was pressured by the family, and I ended up doing it, which really taught me what is the difference between a caring partner and a useless one."
Lichee said, "Who are the assholes who made you get married again, huh? Tell me their names. I will drink their blood."
Lilith said, "Well, the extended Faust family."
Lichee said, "Great! Now I will go and kill them."
Lilith said, "Looks like Liebe really did beat you to the punch. He already made sure they are six feet under."
Lichee said, "But why? I was planning to do that."
Seeing the depressed Lichee, Lilith actually chuckled and said, "Good, too. I know, otherwise I would have had a full head of white right now."
Lichee said, "I know, 52 and white strands? Weird. You look old. Learn a thing or two about healthcare from Gelda."
Gelda said, "Tried, but wouldn't listen."
Lichee said, "Do you regret the past?"
Lilith said, "Yeah, after all I did and what I did to Liebe. Just because I was on my own for the first time in my life, to make things easier, I ended up making things hard on him. And I know I don't deserve forgiveness, but even now, I'm trying to build a normal relationship. For the past 10 years, we didn't know each other, but now at least he calls me 'Mom' once a month. And for me, that's more than what I deserve."
Lichee said, "Hey, if I ever met Tenebris, what would you want me to tell him?"
Lilith said, "I'm sorry for everything, and don't leave me ever again, dumbass."
Lichee said, "Noted."
As the three of them talked and laughed for hours, it was about 7 PM. Lilith said, "Guess it's time for you to go. Liebe and Alysa must be worried sick."
Lichee said, "Yeah, I really need to work on that."
Lilith said, "Yeah, I know, but you never will. And Lichee, in your era, be the hero you want to be, and don't end up like me."
Lichee said, "Don't worry, you aren't so bad. Even if this era hasn't been too kind to you."
Lilith said, "Yeah, but Liebe and Alysa will be there for you to make it easier. And tell them I said thanks."