"I don't get what you mean." Len responded. He was confused by what Leo meant. Why did he think that living forever was closer to death than living a shorter life?
Leo did not explain himself. Instead he left off with the words, "one day you will understand, and when that day comes, I'm not sure whether you would be rejoicing, or crying from grief."
"What do you mean by that?" Len asked. He was unsure of what he personally had to do with this topic, so much so that he might feel grief because of it.
Leo smiled. "It's not time for you to know. Yet. One day you will find out, I know you will. It is inevitable."
"Why can't I know now?" Len asked. He was curious, but he did not sound like he really cared to know the answer. However, he did know it was important, especially since Leo brought it up this way.
Leo was upset seeing him like this, and desperately wanted to tell him the truth, but refrained from doing so. "It would only hurt him worse for him to know. I must not tell him." Leo thought.
"I cannot be the one to tell you. You must find out from somewhere... someone else." Leo said, refusing to give in to his temptation.
"Even though we are brothers, you still cannot tell me?" Len asked.
"No. I cannot tell you."
"Then... why did you bring it up?" Len asked.
Leo sighed and avoided looking Len in the eyes. "I am worried about you. You are in a dangerous situation."
"What danger?" Lena was annoyed by how vague Leo was talking, but he still was calm and collected.
Leo decided not to answer. He usually shared all the information he could with Len, but he knew he could not share this. Absolutely not. "You should go back to work now. You have a lot to do."
"And whose fault is that?" Len responded. He was still completely calm, as if he was unaffected by anything that Leo said.
Leo ignored him. After Len left, Leo waited for Lyra to return to his office. He wanted to hear her report about what was going on there.
Lyra returned to his office and sat in the chair. Leo spoke first, "What happened in the forest? Was there anything strange?"
Lyra nodded. Then she described what happened. She told him about the strange behavior of the demon at the beginning, about how the demons fought in a group shortly after, and about how they did not run into any demons after finding the cave.
"To conclude, there was most likely something going on at that specific time that kept the demons away from us. I have an odd feeling that the Queen of the Demons has reappeared already, but I have no clue where or when she appeared."
Lyra continued, "I'm not even completely sure that she appeared at all. But the demons behavior strikes me as strange."
"I see... I'll look into this." Leo said. Then his usual smile returned. "So... Selena, do you have any plans on how you will win Phil's heart?"
"Nope! None. But I feel like I'm already succeeding." Lyra said easily. Then she remembered something important.
"Don't call me Selena. Remember, we can't let Len find out. If he accidentally overheard us, then..."
"Right... Lyra. But sometimes I wish we could return to those times when Len was happier and when you still went by the name Selena."
Lyra sighed. It seemed like those times could never come back. Or maybe they could? "If I... succeed in winning his heart, then we could possibly return. But no, it's impossible. If we tried to go back to the way we were, Len would find out the truth."
Leo nodded and the two sat in silence. They really sat in silence a lot whenever it was just the two of them talking to each other recently.
Leo has another question. "Can you tell me about Laura?"
Lyra smiled. "Yes! Laura is quite interesting... she is really skilled with magic. She can even use complex magic!"
"She can use that? That means that she is on par with the old me..."
"If not the current you." Lyra teased.
"Hey!"
"But honestly, it is a possibility. I don't know her exact level yet." Lyra said. She looked excited when she spoke about Laura's talent.
"You- are you planning on teaching her more?" Leo asked. He was easily able to predict Lyra's plan.
"Yep." As expected of Lyra.
Of course, Leo knew that this was not just a matter of teaching. Lyra was obsessed with fighting, but she had no equal other than the Queen of the Demons. Leo knew that Lyra would attempt to get anyone with good talent to be her sparring partner.
"I suddenly feel really bad for Laura..." Leo muttered as he stared at Lyra.