chapter 14: meeting place

Lily narrowed her eyes upon Gilbert and Kirito suspiciously as they arrived in the meeting place. Her skin crawled with unease as she felt their presence, as if something sinister was lurking in the shadows. Questions and doubt raced through her mind: had the Dark King's spell truly been broken, or was this another trickyruse? She scrutinized Gilbert's every move in search for any signs of trickery, but she also felt something else - a genuine presence in the air that resonated with her deeply.

At this moment she discovered an opportunity; with Gilbert's guidance, he could help her hone her bowmanship - an advantage that could tip the scales of this quest in their favour. Though unspoken, hesitation and skepticism were present in the group; no one wanted to risk being betrayed by the Dark King again. Still, Lily decided to take Gilbert's plea of redemption seriously, and looked to her twin brother, Arthur, for support.

'Perhaps we should lend Gilbert a second chance,' said Lily.

Arthur examined Gilbert's hollow expression and solemnly nodded.

'We can trust him,' he said confidently.

For a moment, the room was calm but soon, Lizana stepped forward. It was as if something had awoken inside of her; something that voiced her hidden past. Instantly, her eyes looked darker and her expression more menacing.