Liebe said, "Mom, stop."
Lilith said, "Yeah, what is it?"
Liebe, in shock, asked, "How? How are you able to remember?" As he saw his hands shaking in shock, realizing if the memory spell can break so easily, all of it was for nothing.
Liebe said, "No, I take back my question. How do you know Alysa? Why do you know her?"
Lilith said, "The truth is, I don't remember. I never forgot. I don't know why, but everyone forgot. I guess that was the memory spell activating. I don't know how it works. I only recently found out myself that no one knows her. The world can forget, but I can't. That child was like my daughter."
Liebe said, "Shut up. Don't bring her name." As he couldn't stop shaking. Liebe looked at his hands—they couldn't stop trembling in fear. Liebe couldn't even breathe.
Liebe said, "Why? Why the hell are you an exception to every rule? Why is this absolute strength?"
Lilith said, "It seems so. But I don't know why."
Liebe thought, Why the hell does she remember? The fact she remembers must mean only one thing—that she is stronger than Malvoth.
Lilith said, "Well, if I remember, that means we can remind everyone, and we can easily break the memory spell, and you can be with her again."
Liebe said, "Shut up. Goddamn shut up. I was the one who made the memory spell. I would rather die than break the memory spell."
Lilith said, "Why? With my help, you can save her. With my memories, you can find a way back to her. Why are you showing pride? Are you ashamed of taking my help? In that case, there must be another way."
Liebe said, "Shut up. Shut up. She doesn't need saving. She is already saved. She is far away in a new world where my filthy hands can't touch her. Everything I touch gets turned to dust. I won't let you damage the memory spell. This new reality must stand, no matter what. Even if I have to fight you." As Liebe drew his swords, he said, "Like how you are unable to compromise for the sake of Markus, I can't compromise for Alysa. She deserves to live a normal life above all. If you want to break the memory spell, over my dead body."
Lilith said, "I finally get it. The difference between you and me."
Liebe said, "Why?"
Lilith said, "I get it why Eldrie said I want the best for everyone, while you understand the best for everyone. I get it why I'm stupid. Alright then. Now I see it—how far you can think."
Liebe said, "Still not getting it."
Lilith said, "Alright then. I won't break the memory spell. I just wanted to know the difference between us is like and love. I know how to like people and care for people, but you can truly love people."
Liebe said, "The memory spell will keep her safe, far away from this bloodshed."
Lilith said, "Sure then. If you ever want to talk about her, you know where to find me."
Liebe said, "No. Never. I don't have the time, and even talking leaves the chances of someone hearing. So never. She is dead, and that is all you need to know."
Lilith said, "OK then." As she left.
Liebe sat down as his hands were still shaking from fear. He smiled and thought, Hey, Alysa. I wonder what you would say if you knew I was going to do this—change everyone's memories. Yeah, you would have been mad. Probably pulled my ears off. But that's why it's best I didn't tell you. But the truth is, as long as you are alive and breathing, you still have the strength to protect others. As long as you can do that, you can keep their dreams alive as well. Or was it 'as long as you have someone's dream, no matter how much blood and tears you shed, you have to see it to the end'? Well, those are the quotes of Team Liebe—or what we made up. But that's the truth, isn't it? To protect it all. But now I just don't know. But I have hope. I know you will always be with me in one way or the other. For the past week, I have been diving head first into every battle, hoping at least one can end me. I know if you heard what I was doing, you would probably start crying, and I would have to sit down and calm you down. 'Why value my life?' I get it. I wish there were more people like you. After all this suffering, but I'm still alive. Guess the world still wants me to live. And now I have a reason to live—to keep your dreams alive, to ensure every child can be loved. I will fight. I will keep fighting till we can meet in the afterlife.
As he smiles.