Lucid and Alice were now alone, the conversation with the pair of researchers who had welcomed them upon arrival had come to an end. The two had walked for quite some time, eventually finding themselves in the heart of a small town. A stone fountain marked the center, its gentle trickling water blending with the quiet hum of life around them. A few shops lined the square, their open doors inviting and lively.
The sun was high, casting a warm, golden light over everything. It was the kind of day made for being outdoors—clear, calm and peaceful. But while the sunlight warmed his skin, the wind carried a sharp bite, brushing against him in cool bursts that contrasted the gentle heat.
Lucid had slipped off his long black coat, draping it over his arm as they strolled, allowing himself a rare moment of comfort. As they walked past the townsfolk, a few curious glances were cast his way—not at him, but at the strange glass mask he wore. It caught the sunlight sharply, gleaming like a polished mirror, almost glowing like a light bulb. And yet, the swirling fog within the mask seemed to swallow that light, dulling it from within, creating an odd, shifting contrast of brilliance and opacity.
He tilted his head slightly, murmuring to himself,
'Huh… this thing adjusts to everything?'
Alice walked beside him, matching his pace, but something about her felt... off. She was unusually quiet.
The once-bright girl—with those vivid green eyes that always sparkled with curiosity—now seemed withdrawn, distant. Her gaze, once so full of wonder and mischief, no longer wandered to the lively shops or the playful children nearby. She didn't even glance at the food stalls, something Lucid would've bet on her doing without hesitation.
He had expected her to dart from vendor to vendor, to drag him along in excitement, to laugh, to taste, to explore. But instead, she walked in silence, hands clasped, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
Lucid glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his thoughts tightening.
"Something's not right," he murmured inwardly.
They walked to a nearby bench by the fountain, the gentle splashing of water filling the silence between them. Lucid gestured for Alice to sit, handing her a crepe he'd picked up from a vendor along the way.
They sat together in stillness, quietly eating their treat. The moment felt strange—too quiet. Not a single word passed between them. Normally, it was Alice who filled these silences with chatter, sparking conversation with her endless curiosity. Lucid, on the other hand, was rarely the one to initiate conversations unless necessary.
After a moment, he glanced at her and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"So, uh… Alice. Tell me what's on your mind?"
Alice didn't answer right away. Her gaze lingered on the fountain and drifted further to where children played in the distance, their laughter faint against the breeze.
Then she spoke—softly, almost too soft to hear.
"Big brother Lucid… is it okay to kill someone?"
Lucid froze, the crepe in his hand suddenly forgotten. He was completely taken aback by the question. Of all things, he hadn't expected that. Though maybe… he should have. After all, they were on a mission—one that could easily turn deadly, especially if what the chiefs village had said about Yu Sakamoto proved true.
"What makes you say that, Alice?" Lucid asked, his voice gentle.
Alice didn't look at him. Her eyes dropped to the ground, her crepe forgotten in her lap.
"What if we have to kill that person... Yu Sakamoto? What will we do?"
Lucid went quiet. It was a surprisingly easy question to answer, in theory. But she was just a child. He couldn't just say yes—that killing was acceptable. That would be too much… too soon. So instead, he took a moment, choosing his words with care.
"No," he said finally. "It's never right to kill someone. Even if they're one of the most despicable people alive—at least that's what the law tells us."
He paused, frowning slightly at his own words.
What am I saying to this little girl...?
After a moment, he continued, his tone quieter, more thoughtful.
"But… what if this person is so terrible that they've caused harm no one can undo? What if they've betrayed people, destroyed lives, stolen things that can't be replaced? Is it justified then?"
He looked at Alice, her small hands clenched in her lap, her eyes still lowered.
"That's the kind of question soldiers, law enforcement and people like us have to face. And no answer ever feels good. But what matters," he added, voice steady now, "is that we don't become like the people we're sent to stop."
"So no, we're not going to kill Yu Sakamoto."
Lucid's voice was firm, but calm.
Alice stood up from the bench, her small hands clenched at her sides.
"But… he's a really bad person. And if we don't stop him, a lot of people could get hurt."
Lucid almost nodded in agreement—her simple reasoning wasn't wrong. There was truth in her words, and part of him felt it too. Still, he remained steady, choosing his response carefully.
"I get it," he said, looking up at her. "But why don't we try talking to him first? Before shedding unnecessary blood. Let's see if he really is who they say he is—if he really means what he does."
Alice frowned, her eyes troubled.
"But… it's not that simple."
Lucid stood now too, facing her. His gaze met hers, steady and sincere.
"I know," he said softly. "I agree. It's not simple. But it's the right option."
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"We're human, after all… and that means we have to try."
But deep down, Lucid knew the truth—not everyone could be saved. People like Aika were, in his mind, beyond redemption. If they died, he wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, he couldn't say that to Alice. She was too young, too impressionable. If he truly wanted to make the world a better place, he had to start by planting the right seeds for it to blossom into a beautiful world. Instead of making the Right choices himself.
'I hope I gave you some clarity, Alice life is always morally gray,' he thought to himself.
"But it doesn't have to be more complicated then it seems" he muttred, in the next moments. Without warning, Lucid stuffed the rest of his crepe into her mouth.
"Tasty, right?" he said, trying to lighten the mood.
Alice, unfazed, took the crepe with a blank look—then casually started eating both hers and his.
Lucid stared.
"...That was mine."