Leyla kept crying for a few minutes on the ground.
Her whole body was shaking with fear…
She was wondering what she had done wrong.
'I don't understand…' she thought. 'I never thought he felt inferior…'
She wipes away her tears.
'Maybe it would've been better if I wasn't here in the first place…'
A beat.
Then, she lifts a hand and brings it to her heart.
'Maybe I should have never even been born…'
She grits her teeth and slowly rises to her feet.
'I should search for him…'
She takes a step forward and falls to the ground.
A tear rolls down her cheek as she grips the grass.
'I should beg him to forgive me…'
Coco stares at her the whole time with a bored expression.
Leyla whimpers and that makes him lose it.
''Oh, COME ON—! For Berlin's sake—… don't tell me you're feeling bad about what just happened…''
Leyla abruptly sits up with puffy eyes.
''How can you say this? I wasn't there for my brother when he needed me most…!''
She looks down, her eyes already getting blurry again…
''He must've felt like I was so close…'' her last words were so low, it was almost a whisper. ''Yet so far…''
Coco rolls his eyes and crosses his arms.
''Well, that's on him.''
He sighs; he could already feel a headache coming…''
''If something bothered him so much, he should've said so instead of letting himself endure it.''
He kneels down next to her and places a hand on her shoulder.
''He's the only one to blame here.''
Leyla thinks over his words for a little while before looking back at him.
''No.''
He raises an eyebrow.
'''No'?'' He repeats.
''No.'' She confirms.
She stands up and looks down at him stubbornly.
''It's never one person's fault. William should've talked, but I should've asked if he was okay. I should've noticed that something was wrong in the first place. And I shouldn't have been so selfish…''
Her gaze locks on the direction her brother went to.
''If we could blame anyone… we would never have the chance to fix anything.''
She grips her dress with clenched fists.
''William taught me that the first step to success is…''
She turns around.
A determined look in her eyes. Nothing close to the childish innocence that used to gleam in them.
''First admitting failure.''
He stares at her with wide eyes.
Then closes his eyes to smile at himself.
''Your potential truly is fascinating…''
He slowly stands up.
''They were right… when you become a parent, your children do seem like they grow too fast…''
Leyla laughs softly and bows.
''Thank you for everything you taught me, Coco…''
Coco snorts and lightly shakes his head.
''Why do you act like it was the last time we will see each other…?''
Leyla's smile softens…
She doesn't look back.
She doesn't answer.
She simply starts walking into the forest, while clutching her heart.
In search of her brother.
Meanwhile, in the ship, the female guard from earlier was gently rubbing the dead general's wife's back with a soft expression.
''Your husband truly was someone admirable…''
The wife manages a small, shaky smile. Even through her tears.
The woman nodded and stood up.
''I'm sorry… I need some time alone…''
She lets out a shaky breath and leaves.
Her steps softly clicked against the metallic floor as she left…
Capricorn was behind a corner, silently stalking them.
She smirked when the general left and cracked her fingers.
It was time to act.
She stepped out and leaned against a wall with crossed arms.
''Hello there~!
-OH, MY BERL—!''
Fast boots clicked on metal.
And Capricorn was already in front of her to clamp a hand over her mouth.
She places a finger on her own lips.
''Shut up.''
She smirks.
''I can tell you everything you need and want to know.''
She slowly pulls her gloved hand away from the woman's mouth.
''I can tell you why Moonlight lied.''
Her smirk widens.
''I can tell you why you should trust me and let me help you rebel against The King.''
She takes the woman's helmet from her hands and throws it on the metallic floor.
''And I can tell you how to become stronger.''
She sets her foot on the helmet and puts her hands on her hips.
She leans in, her yellow eyes glinting with mischief.
''But I just need one, single, little favor from you first…''
The woman swallows nervously.
Her eyes wide as she leans back in her seat.
At the other side of the forest, William looked up at Adam with bored eyes.
He crossed his arms and looked into the distance.
''How could anyone even trust you…? You don't even like me.''
Adam snorts and makes a black cape appear around his shoulders.
''Because I'm cool~ and because I'm the only one who actually can help you.''
William raises an eyebrow.
His head slowly turns to Adam, as if he was scared to wake up from a dream if he turned it too fast…
''What did you just say…?''
Adam snorts and runs a hand through his dark hair.
''You want to get your parents back, right?''
William's eyes light up with hope.
Could Adam really help him…?
''How can I get them back?'' He tried to say steadily, but his voice cracked mid-sentence.
''I can fight The King if you want.'' He answered, ''also…''
He kneels down in front of him and leans in, whispering into his ear…
''I'm the only one who can actually protect you.''
His smirk widens.
''No one can die…
He leans closer to William.
''Unless I allow it, if you see what I mean…''
William's eyes widen further.
The second Adam pulls away, William immediately gets on his knees and bows.
''Please, Adam… I beg of you… tell me when she will die… or at least save her—!''
Adam snorts and stands up.
''I can't do that for free~''
He looks up at the moon, almost affectionately.
''Everything has it's opposite. It's just how life is… And artificial stuff doesn't really matter to me that much.''
He glances back at William.
''But I could make an exception~'' he chuckles. ''I can tell you when, and save your lovely little sister from dying… in exchange of one, little thing…''
William frowns and stands up, leaning against the trunk.
''And why would you help me? How could I ever trust you?''
Adam laughs softly and snaps his fingers.
Leyla appears directly in his grip as he holds a knife at her throat.
''I don't think you get it, William.
-William!'' Leyla exclaims happily
Leyla swallows as she grips Adam's arm, confused.
''A-Adam?!''
William's eyes pop out of their sockets.
''Let her go—!''
He steps in.
Adam lightly presses the cold steel against Leyla's throat.
''I don't think you get it…'' he repeats. ''You're standing in front of death itself. I don't get orders from you, or anyone else!''
He laughs darkly and grips Leyla's throat instead of her arm.
''So, do we have a deal or not~?''
William freezes in place and swallows the lump in his throat.
Meanwhile, in the ship, the guard suddenly stood up.
''You think I'll believe a demon like you?'' She raises an eyebrow, offended. ''Guards!'' She yells… but not nearly loud enough to actually bring anyone's attention.
Capricorn sighs heavily.
''All I need from you is simple: I just want you to be the head of a rebellion.''
The woman freezes, her body going limp as she stares at Capricorn silently…
A silence settled in before she shakily asked.
''What did you say…?''
Capricorn clears her throat and starts walking in the small room, examining the furniture.
''You and I both know The King's wrath. He has an awfully short temper~''
The woman's face pales, a violent shiver running down her spine at the thought.
Capricorn shakes her head with a small chuckle.
''And we both know that literally everyone is scared of him… So, what I'm asking you is to awaken the rebel minds of your little friends. In exchange, I'll answer all of your questions.''
She shrugs and sits down on the table.
''Deal?''
The woman takes a deep breath, thinking carefully.
If The King learned about any kind of betrayal… they could all say goodbye to happiness…
But on the other hand…
If Demo— no, if Capricorn's plan did work…
She would have answers, and freedom, all in one.
She takes a deep breath and slowly sits back down while looking at the ground.
''Give me a few days to think about it.''