Falsehood is a term that represents an untrue statement—a lie, you could say. A fact, an action, or something that didn't occur, yet the one who spewed that "falsehood" claimed it was true, even though they knew it wasn't real.
Elyon was a liar.
Eve stared back at him in shock... no, not in shock.
For the first time since the God of Nature, Eve looked at him with a neutral expression. She didn't know how to see him, with what eyes or expression. For the first time in her life, she felt betrayed. More so than by Elyon's actions at the Colosseum.
Eve wanted to cry, to scream at him. To tell him to go to hell for keeping such a vital thing locked away in his brain. And yet she didn't do anything.
"Eve... I'm sorry."
But was he really sorry? Was this another lie? She didn't know, and frankly, she stopped caring. To be precise, in this moment, she stopped caring about Elyon. She still clung to something: her wish to see her father again.
"I will explain everything later. Trust me, Eve, we will handle it."
Eve shifted her gaze; she didn't answer. She didn't even listen to him, but something was still floating in her mind.
Doubt everything. Doubt the words that come from my mouth. Doubt the bed you are standing on, the people you talk with. Doubt Elyon, doubt Vigil...
Nightfall's words pierced through her hazy mind.
Eve turned her head, and she looked into Elyon's eyes.
"I will trust you, Elyon; you are our master, aren't you? I am sure you will handle it."
Elyon exhaled loudly, and he nodded back. He was glad that Eve didn't yell at him.
But for the first time in her life, she truly lied.
Because in her mind...
Fuck you... Elyon.
In those short moments, Eve made her plan. After they met with Aureth, she would sneak off to find her father. She was done with Elyon, and that went for Vigil as well. She didn't know what his deal was, but she didn't care.
Or did she? At this point, Eve was thinking more and more about her situation, her supposed friends, and the people around her than she would like to admit. In a way, she did care; she cared too much. But she wanted to care less, to avoid getting lied to again.
And so, she did what she thought would fit her best.
She started to pretend to care so she would care less.
Eve patted Elyon's shoulder, and she gave him a bright smile. Just like the one she gave him when they first ate together. But this time, it was forced.
Elyon stared, dumbfounded, at her; he didn't think that Eve would smile, especially after he lied to her.
Eve talked again, "I am sure you had a good reason... Elyon, I will wait for you to explain everything. Just don't forget about it, alright?"
Elyon nodded. When did Eve turn so... understanding? Would it be a good idea to tell her now about his brain damage? He thought about it, but he decided not to tell her now.
Under the shade of the flying church, Eve outstretched her pinky finger.
"You promise?"
Elyon looked at her finger for a bit, and he wrapped his pinky around hers.
"I promise."
She wanted to laugh in Elyon's face because she realized that she was starting to trust Elyon again. She wanted to say that Nightfall was dumb for telling her to doubt everything. She wanted to deny its words so bad, to show it that Elyon was trustworthy even if he was a dumbass. But Nightfall's words held, and so... Eve started to doubt everything around her.
I hate you.
Eve gave him a big, bright smile that was full of hope and trust.
The Harmony just kept observing them without doing anything.
At the same time, Vigil did the same, he just observed two liars promising falsehood to each other.
The other group was slowly starting to change as well.
When is Maryam coming?
Stacy wanted Maryam to keep Anton occupied, while Anton wanted Maryam to talk with her.
The silence between them was growing awkward by the minute. And so Anton put his spoon back in his pocket.
"Stacy."
The woman turned her head when she heard her name.
"Yes?"
"Do you smoke?"
Stacy looked a bit confused; she hadn't touched a cigarette in her whole life. She didn't like the smell that clung to one's fingertips after smoking. Or the smell in general.
"No."
Anton took out a cigarette, and he handed it to her.
"It's not too late to start."
Stacy took the cigarette, and she examined it.
"Why?"
Anton shrugged; for the first time in his life, he actually gave someone a cigarette. Every time someone asked him for one, he would plainly refuse. Because that would mean less for him. He didn't realize it in that moment, but if Stacy started smoking, he would run out of cigarettes very soon since he didn't have that many left, while she didn't have any.
"So you can ruin your health."
Stacy kept twirling the cigarette in her fingers.
Ruining one's health for the purpose of fulfilling an addiction was an odd concept for Stacy. She didn't particularly care about her health, but still.
Stacy stopped twirling the cigarette, and she looked at Anton.
"You are a strange guy."
Anton shrugged; he didn't deny it since it was true. And so while Stacy put the cigarette in her mouth, Anton lit it for her after she took her first puff. Stacy started coughing; she didn't even pull the smoke into her lungs.
Anton started laughing, while Stacy kept coughing.
"How the hell can you even smoke this stuff? My throat is on fire—" She stopped herself because another coughing fit started.
Anton puffed, "Practice."
Stacy handed the cigarette back to Anton. "It's bad manners to give a cigarette back after someone gave it to you. You have to finish it."
Stacy glared daggers at him.
"I'm kidding, do whatever you want with it. I don't want to ruin your health for nothing."
Stacy was stuck between continuing and finishing it. So she decided to throw it out, but before she could, Maryam came back.
"Are you a smoker, Stacy?"
Both Stacy and Anton froze; Maryam was a church nun, and they were going to get in trouble.
Stacy pointed the cigarette toward Anton. "He gave it to me."
Maryam looked at Anton. "Oh, is that so?"
"NO!" Not even fighting David and Goliath brought him as much fear as what Maryam was giving him.
"Hmm," Maryam started to approach Stacy.
Once she was in front of her, Maryam grabbed the cigarette Stacy had in her fingers.
Maryam brought the cigarette to her lips, and she started smoking.
Both Anton and Stacy were left dumbfounded.
"What?" Maryam asked.
Anton pointed a finger at her. "Since when do you smoke?"
"Since I was young. How the hell am I supposed to stay concentrated when I gamble? Too bad I didn't have any the last time."
"What?"
"What?"
Both Anton and Stacy shouted at the same time.
"What? Oh yeah... hmm, you two would make a great couple."
Both Stacy and Anton looked at each other, then back to Maryam.
"WHAT?"
"WHAT?"