"Humanity... is evil...?"
Lyrica uttered in front of the old lady as Esmeralda retracts her hands away from the girl. Right then, the old lady reverted to her usual calm, always smiling, and kind demeanor.
"Thank you for hanging all our clothes, you can go and follow Nela and the others if you want."
Just like that, as if nothing happened, the old lady takes her exit from the scene and went back inside the house. On the other hand, Lyrica remained still on the wall, wondering about the words that came out of the old lady's mouth.
'It's a hint, right? It's got to be a hint.' She thought to herself. 'Still, the way lola Esmeralda changed her persona so quick is terrifying.'
From the back of the house, towards the front yard, Lyrica leaves the premises and goes for a walk. However, she did not follow the same road she saw Nela and her siblings went through.
'Humanity is evil... Do not succumb to your evil...' Lyrica mumbled to herself as she continues to walk while avoiding crowded streets. 'She could be referring to the human's evil nature. Maybe they are trying to avoid doing something evil, and that is why they are trying to show hospitality and generosity towards one another.'
However, even after saying that, Lyrica felt like it isn't right. First of all, that doesn't explain why they can't speak what they have in mind. And second of all, the old lady just helped her confirm that something is going on with the town.
'And if they are making a fake persona, I should be able to read it as fake. But for whatever reason, I couldn't. It can't just be a simple fear of doing something evil, there's gotta be more into it.'
Starting from the beginning, Lyrica reminds herself of what Esmeralda told her once again. From the idea that the old lady's words refer to human's evil nature, Lyrica avoids the road ahead and paves two more possible scenarios.
'Maybe it refers to a person?'
If the words, "Humanity is evil" could be referring to a person, someone who commits evil on others, the idea that someone is forcing people not to speak their thoughts, as well as not to express what they feel would make sense.
Someone is behind all of it.
'Or maybe it's not necessarily referring to an evil person?'
The problem with hints is that you can't just decipher them simply after reading them with the naked eye. You also need to think outside the box.
What if there is something evil lurking around town, and whatever that evil is, its origin and its motivation are derived from humanity's evil actions, their nature, or perhaps something close to it.
'These are plausible ideas so far, but I need credibility to reinforce them. As for the other...'
Lyrica refers to the other sentence that Esmeralda mouthed—"Do not succumb to your evil."
'I can't think of any ideas...' Said Lyrica in her thoughts. 'Maybe it's a warning for me? Maybe she's telling me to be careful while I try to figure things out? Either that, or it has another meaning to it...'
Another meaning that Lyrica has yet to ever think of.
'Well, it's just like building an object or something. I already have the foundations in hand, I just need to find the correct materials and put them all together like a puzzle.'
As Lyrica continues to walk along the quiet road while in deep thought, failing to realize that she's about to reach the river park, the image of Riko sitting alone in the green field appears at the end of the road.
'Now then, where should I get the necessary materials... Hm?'
Right then, Lyrica finally noticed the silhouette of Riko after turning her attention forward.
'That's Riko, right? Isn't he supposed to be with that girl—Mila? What's he doing here?'
As she bombarded herself with questions, Lyrica tries to slowly approach Riko from behind. Riko, who's quietly gazing at the flowing river, hears the sound of Lyrica's footsteps coming towards him.
"Didn't expect to meet you here." Said Lyrica, revealing herself to Riko as she stood beside him. "Where's the girl you call Mila? Aren't you supposed to be with her? Did you guys fight or something?"
Riko shook his head, denying that he and Mila had a fight hence why he's alone in the river park.
"Mila needs space, so I gave her what she needed."
The way Riko said that in a calm, monotonous voice made Lyrica imagine everything that transpired in the Forest of No Return once again.
Riko has seen the deaths of the people he cared about as they get eaten alive by the Guardian Snake right in front of him. Compared to anyone who witnessed everything that has happened in the forest, including Mila who lost her father, the one person who should be the most in pain is none other than Riko.
'But, he's sitting here and looking at the river alone, and I can't see even a hint of pain or despair in his eyes. You wouldn't think he lost two important people in his life yesterday.'
But again, Lyrica can't tell if Riko's emotions are real or not. And she's starting to get fed up with it.
For now, she tries to keep herself calm and stoically tells Riko, "I'm sorry. For your loss, I mean."
Lyrica observes Riko closely, looking to see if her words would trigger some sort of reaction. But Riko did not flinch at all.
"It's all right." Said Riko in reply calmly. "My mother used to tell me that at every beginning of a journey, there's always an ending. I think what happened to Karlo and Father is what you'd call an end of a journey. And it's not that bad. Because now, they can finally rest in peace and forget about all the troubles in their lives."
While saying that, Riko looks up to the cloudy sky with a bright expression on his face.
'I'm amazed by his positive attitude, but is that really a response you would expect from someone who lost the ones who are precious to him?'
"You, are you not sad at all?" Lyrica curiously asked the young knight after narrowing her eyes. "How can you stay optimistic after all that?"
"Didn't you hear what Magdalo said yesterday?" Riko replied with a question as he stood up. "Nothing lasts forever, not even hatred. Or sadness, or despair."
Lyrica proceeds to avert her blank stare from Riko, she then locks her gaze at the shining flowing river.
"Nothing lasts forever, huh..."