This is what happened inside the cart before arriving at the Kingdom of Wenthoriz.
Inside, the cart did not shake even though the road was very rough, filled with many holes hidden under the snow.
Lina sat opposite Albert, weary, her hand always ready to draw her sword.
But Albert was just chilling, looking out the window, watching the sun set.
He smiled, his face full of relief, like an old man who had lived a satisfied life.
Lina frowned, annoyed at Albert's carefree face.
"Albe… Murderer! What's the cause of this sudden change of attitude? You were struggling to talk straight to me at first, but when…"
She asked, but Albert cut her off.
"No need to worry about the past… Lina,"
he said, his voice serious, staring at her.
Albert's words cut through her heart, not because he was being disrespectful or refusing to let her speak, but because of his attitude, as if he didn't care about the past, including her father's and her twin sister Lessa's deaths.
She lowered her head, bit her lips, and clenched her hands.
"Y-You really are… a merciless murderer!"
She cried, tears flowing from sorrow and grief.
Albert then muttered silent words and pressed his foot against hers.
"Memory… Spell…"
It was a new spell he had just created, without closing his eyes, only by thinking of it. It allowed him to transmit some of his memories to a chosen target through body touch.
Memories flowed into Lina's mind, not only Albert's memories but also his feelings within those memories. The truth about Lessa's death was revealed to her.
"A-Are these things real?!"
She gasped, her lips trembling as tears fell from her eyes.
"A-Albert… I-I'm sorry!!"
She cried with regret and guilt for what she had done to him, and for treating him like a monster.
She covered her face, sobbing.
Albert turned back to the window, forcing himself not to cry.
"I'm sorry!!!"
She repeated.
Albert said nothing. He just waited for her to calm down, as he still had something to tell her about the King.
He waited half an hour until she finally stopped crying.
Her face was covered in tears. She wiped them away with the handkerchief Albert had given her.
"And now, Albert… what do you plan to do?"
She asked, her voice, usually commanding now calm and gentle.
Their cart was drawing closer to the Kingdom, its towering walls visible in the distance.
Albert looked at her and answered,
"From now on, I want to stop this war with my own hands. But first, I must start below… The Doctor, your uncle was the one who ordered your father's and Lessa's deaths."
Albert expected her to be angry. He had not shared this through memory transfer.
But Lina's expression did not change, even after hearing it. She focused only on him.
"Lina, why aren't you surprised by what I said?"
He asked, curious.
"Huh? What? Oh, about the Doctor?… I am surprised. I just don't want to overreact. I want to hear what you truly plan to do. So, do you want revenge on him?"
Instead of answering directly, she shifted the focus of their conversation back to him.
"Not just the Doctor… but also Abaddon,"
he said in a cold voice. Lina felt his killing intent, making the atmosphere heavy.
Albert looked out the window and saw they were very close to the gates of the Kingdom.
"Looks like we're here now,"
he said.
After the cart reached the gate, Albert proposed a plan for when Lina spoke to the King.
The guards blocked their path and asked Lina to allow the big man driving the cart inside. She granted permission.
They entered easily, thanks to Lina's authority.
---
The Present.
Lina knelt before the King, while Albert waited behind the great doors of the King's hall.
"My King, I have found the only person who can erase Abaddon,"
she said, her voice low and formal.
"Uh-huh? Then, is this person the sole survivor? Heh, even if he survived, that doesn't mean he can defeat even a single soldier. Survival is different from victory."
The King scoffed, tugging at the white hairs of his beard.
"I am well aware of that, my King… but you must fulfill your promise…"
She raised her head and smiled.
"And that is why he is the one we need to win,"
she said proudly.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Lina?"
The King asked, frowning. He was skeptical, wondering why she was so insistent on this "sole survivor" being their only hope.
"My King, this man did not just survive. He accomplished the impossible, he defeated one general and two hundred sixty-three soldiers of Abaddon, without a scratch,"
she said, smiling, her face still lowered.
The King's jaw dropped. Unsure if he had heard correctly, he questioned whether he was dreaming.
With no hesitation, he ordered her to bring in the man she spoke of.
And this was all according to Albert's plan. He had told Lina earlier, before entering the King's hall:
"Before I deal with the Doctor and Abaddon, I must first clean up myself. And not only that, I want to secure a decent position in the Kingdom."
That is why he told her to report to the King that he had slain a general and the two hundred sixty-three soldiers lives he was certain he had taken, as he had absorbed their souls, even though time had been reset during that battle.
Albert entered the hall, hood covering his head.
"As I expected, he wouldn't let me enter without Lina first telling him of my unbelievable feats,"
he thought.
Albert walked slowly. When he reached the center, he knelt beside Lina.
"I am grateful for your mercy, my King,"
he said formally, speaking not bluntly but with slow, clear words.
The King narrowed his eyes at Albert.
"His aura tells me his nature. He is the type who will pursue his goals by adapting,"
the King thought, intrigued.
Night fell, shadows spreading across the earth.
"Hm… you may become very useful or perhaps, in time, our key to annihilating Abaddon.
Before sparing you from being branded a former devil (criminal), I'll ask you this… Do you blame me for the deaths of those who were with you?"
The King asked, staring at his silver ring with its green shining gem.
Albert smirked.
"My King, I know you sent us there to dispose of us because of the lack of food and shelter for injured soldiers. To solve such problems, you emptied the prisons under the excuse of giving us a chance by…"
The King raised his right hand, cutting him off.
"Very well. So be it. You have talent, young man,"
the King chuckled, surprised.
"He exceeds my expectations, piecing together my intentions so easily. Even though he is mistaken in thinking disposal was my only reason,"
the King thought.
The King stared at Albert, then came up with an idea he believed to be excellent.
"Great! From now on, you will work under me. You will be assisted by Lina. I want you to lead the mission to dispose of Abaddon. You may do whatever you wish, as long as you prioritize your role,"
the King declared.
Lina was shocked but grateful, their plan had succeeded. She was even more surprised at how Albert had learned of the Kingdom's problems just by observing.
On their way to the King's hall, Albert had noticed injured soldiers being carried into the prisons.
The King made his decision official: Albert would become his personal agent, tasked solely with defeating Abaddon.
Lina guided Albert to his room, where he rested, resolved to defeat Abaddon the cause of his misery and the deaths of his loved ones.
Far to the north, beyond the boundary, Abaddon discovered that the barrier preventing them from attacking the Kingdom had been broken. They gathered every soldier they had to conquer the Kingdom of Wenthoriz.
Albert, Lina, and the King remained unaware of the catastrophe approaching.