"Indeed," Marcellus slowly lifted his eyes, his voice low and deliberate. "At that moment, I saw—"
His gaze suddenly lost focus, as if he were being pulled back into that vague yet vivid dream.
"A forest…" he murmured, his tone a mix of confusion and certainty. "Layer upon layer of mountains, rolling endlessly. Towering cedars stood in dense formation, their branches interwoven, blocking most of the sky. Wind passed through the trees, carrying a damp, heavy scent, mingled with the smell of earth and moss. I could even hear a distant stream splashing against rocks, as if it were right beside me."
At this, his hand unconsciously clenched, knuckles whitening.
"That feeling… it's so familiar," Marcellus's voice dropped suddenly, tugged by some memory. "I know exactly where that is."
He paused for a moment, then looked at Alia, his eyes reflecting a complex mixture of emotions. "I can feel it… another fragment of the Grail lies deep within that forest."
"The forest behind the castle?" Alia frowned, a mental image forming of the familiar yet somewhat desolate woods behind the castle. There seemed to be secrets hidden there, though she wasn't certain her guess was correct.
"No," Marcellus's voice was low, tinged with hesitation. "It's… the forest beyond our family cemetery."
"The cemetery?" Alia blinked, frowning, a twinge of doubt stirring in her mind. In her memory, Livia had almost never ventured into the family cemetery, let alone explored that forest.
Marcellus sighed softly, as if gathering his thoughts. "Livia hasn't really been to our family cemetery. Not that I didn't want her to go, but… ever since what happened with Celesta, she's avoided such places. The air of death, the weight of past memories—it repels her. So she never got close to those areas."
Alia's gaze lingered on Marcellus's face, noticing the flicker of complexity in his eyes—helplessness, regret, and a subtle, almost imperceptible determination. Her curiosity stirred, but she understood that this memory carried not just a location, but also the emotional weight Marcellus could not articulate.
"I see…" Alia murmured, picturing the shadowed cemetery in her mind, sensing the heavy stillness and chill in the air. She furrowed her brow, thinking silently, If the Grail fragment really is there… we'll need to be extremely careful.
"So, the exact location?" Alia asked without dwelling too much, her tone calm yet carrying a hint of vigilance and curiosity, as if sifting for every trace hidden in Marcellus's words.
Marcellus lifted his head, meeting her gaze with a faint, resigned smile. "Uncertain," he said, pausing as if choosing his words carefully. "But the forest isn't large, so there's no need to overthink. After all, it's my family cemetery, and everyone around it is someone I truly trust."
His voice fell slowly, each word pressing down in the air with unquestionable authority, yet laced with a trace of unease.
"I've already ordered a preliminary check," he continued, his fingers tapping the tabletop unconsciously. "Just to see if there's been any disturbance, but this is only the first step. Your personal confirmation is still required."
Alia nodded lightly, quietly weighing the situation. She could feel the gravity in Marcellus's words—not just command or planning, but a transfer of trust. Even though she was Alia, he was entrusting part of the responsibility to her.
Outside, the wind stirred, rustling a few yellowed leaves. Alia's eyes swept the street beyond the window, clear that the quiet forest concealed not only tombstones and shadows but possibly the Grail fragment itself, along with dangers lurking unseen.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at Marcellus, speaking softly, "Don't worry. I'll be careful. Once I've checked it myself, you'll have a clearer answer."
Marcellus nodded, a faint upward curve at the corners of his lips, though the shadow in his eyes remained. The air was heavy, tense, like an unlit flame, ready to ignite at any moment.