The gears in my head turned as I realized the truth.
The dark liquid art where the cultists changed their bodies into weapons. It's Lilith's Sephirah. The information needed to know where Raven would be. Only Lilith and I knew. No, I wouldn't have known without Will.
The ideas of our dojo were in the way of those bastards' expansion! My master always stood in their way! His ideas got even normal folk to stand up against the criminals! They couldn't have it...
It's a lie that Lilith didn't know! She knew! All along! She was the reason!
[Lilith is a witch!] Remembering Raven's words, I finally understood how blind I was. She made me lose faith in him, even though he risked everything he had to keep me safe!
Dropping the book, I could feel tears fall down.
"Ken?" Hearing Ella's worried voice, I tried to wipe them away into my sleeves, but they wouldn't stop. Finally crying out with all the boiled-up emotions, I cursed this hellish world.
"Ken!" Jumping to my side, she hugs me from the back and whispers. "It's fine! It's fine! It's fine!" Rocking me as if I were a small baby in a crib. We notice a small silver coin, which has fallen out of the book.
With a small note next to it. Opening it, I recognize Raven's handwriting.
[Ken, this is my birthday gift to you. You said to me back after visiting Alice's grave that you had your birthday while you were frozen in ice and I'm sorry for that, so I hope this pre-war coin from times when we still used metal instead of paper will suffice.]
Seeing a man of Asian descent on it, holding a blade, with the following text. I feel like I know him, but I can't quite put my finger on him.
[In the heart we trust]
[50 Aquars]
"That sounds a lot like your idea doesn't it?" Nodding with Ella, I hold it tight in my hand before putting it away in my pocket. "Thank you, Raven."
I will repay you this debt!
Jumping up, I accidentally push Ella away. "I need to confront that witch!" Jumping off the balcony to the ground, I sprint off to the only place where I know Lilith could be.
Ella barely managed to look out of the balcony after me, but instead of being mad, she just lightly smiled. "Good luck, dear."
Sprinting through the busy city streets, I took a sharp turn and saw the hotel. Or precisely the place where criminals meet. Reaching the reception, I yelled. "Lilith, *Huf* Where is she?"
I don't know if it was due to my look of urgency or something else, but the receptionist quickly pointed to the arena and told me she was there. Not even thanking him, I sprinted down the stairs to the arena.
Arriving at the battling grounds, I could see a few familiar faces amongst the crowd, but I paid them no mind. Seeing a woman in a dress with golden hair sitting in the observation room. I ran inside.
Bashing down the door, I could see Lilith snacking on some grapes. "Ken? What brings you here?" Acting as if she doesn't know, I yell.
"Raven was right! You're a witch! No, you're a Bitch!" My hands moved on their own and grabbed the sword, but sudden dread overtook me.
"So you've figured it, no use trying to pretend to be kind then. Such a pity and here I hoped you would become mine." Pointing me to an armchair, I take a seat. Fully ready for any of her tricks.
"Ken, I love you."
*Crash*
"What?" Jumping out of her chair she starts to walk towards me. "The way you fight! Such a handling of the blade!" Starting to breathe heavily, I fall over the armchair trying to make space between us.
"I've only seen two people handle a sword with such grace, and one of them is the hero king!" Stopping in her tracks she starts to laugh like crazy. "But it doesn't matter anymore. How can I trust you when you've tried to harm me once?"
"What's going on?" Not understanding one bit, I see her arch her back and yell.
"Maybe you will end up like Raven! You should have seen his eyes when the love of his life exploded in front of his eyes!"
Telling me all the gruesome details of Alice splatering around the whole room while laughing maniacally. I feel something snap inside me. Unsheathing my sword, I try to slice Lilith. But her two fingers change into dark liquid.
"Don't try it, Ken. You're weak. Do you think Raven and you were of equal strength? What a joke! You have no idea how powerful he was!" Kicking my stomach, she throws me into a wall.
"I will admit that he seemed weak, but his ability to use his body as a medium was extraordinary. Not even the greatest mage in our history could do that!" Walking over to me, I try to get up only for her to lift me by the neck.
"Fascinating right? Like you use a sword to cut things, he used his own skin and flesh to create magic far above his level! He didn't earn the title of a crime boss because he had influence like most, no he was just that strong!"
Slamming me into the ground, her eyes shake violently out of excitement.
"To think the only way to get rid of f that vermin was to make him accept death!" Finally letting go of me, I feel the bones in my body shattered. Unable to move, she crouches down and whispers into my ear.
"Let me tell you a story about our favorite Raven.... And the fear the underground felt when he came."