There Is No Lie In This World-Chapter 30: The Answer

I was led to the Garden that Luc brought me to before on my first - and so far only - real day off.

The place didn’t lose any charm for me on my second visit. It was just as tranquil and captivating as the first time - if not more, because now I could see and appreciate smaller details that I had missed before.

Luc was waiting for me in the middle of the garden, under the old tree where we had tea before and Abe brought me that cheesecake. She seemed relaxed on her seat, casually - yet gracefully, as ever - sipping on tea while Elune stood behind her. I was glad to see that Elune wasn’t punished too harshly for bringing me to the place that I shouldn’t have been, showing me the things that I shouldn’t have seen.

I noticed that Cain was also standing behind Luc.

"Thank you for coming, Miss Roen," Luc rose as I approached and greeted.

"Thank you for inviting. Again."

Luc responded with a faint smile and nodded to Elune, who pulled out a seat for me.

Once we were both seated, Abe took a position behind Luc too, just next to Cain, while Elune stood by myself to tend to me.

"I believe I owe you some answers," Luc opened the conversation.

"I would appreciate it."

"I will answer as much as I can - within limits."

I didn’t like that it came with a condition, but beggars can’t be choosers.

I took in a deep breath and fired away.

"So what really happened at the lobby when Bada got hurt?"

"Someone tried to take your life. Luckily you were saved. The little child was an unfortunate casualty."

It hurt to hear that what happened to Bada was my fault.

"But she was saved too."

"Yes, she was."

"How...? She was bleeding so much and even stopped breathing."

"Are you unhappy she was saved?" Luc took another sip.

"Of course not! But... it was unreal. I mean - how was that even possible, physically?"

"A miracle, Miss Roen," Elune cut in. Luc glared at Elune, which made her hide behind me.

"A miracle?"

"I guess you could call it that," Luc sighed.

"Was... everything I saw - was that all real?"

"Memories can be deceptive, Miss Roen. People shouldn’t believe everything they remember to be true." Elune didn’t dare to interrupt this time so Luc answered.

"I am VERY sure of what I saw. I won’t be gaslit here."

"Then tell me, what did you see?" Luc put the cup on the table, leaned forward, and clasped her hands on the table.

"You said ’darkness’, and everything... really turned dark. Darker than pitch black, but I could still see you - Cain, Abe, Bada, Nabir, and - "

"And?"

For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the name of that mysterious being.

"There was... some sort of ’presence’. I can’t clearly recall. But Nabir brought a heart - a beating heart... and Bada was saved."

"I see."

"So...?"

"What you saw is what happened."

This wasn’t kind of an answer I expected. I wanted explanation.

"Just like that? That doesn’t explain anything."

"Must everything be explained? What you saw is what happened. What more can I say?"

I shook my head. This was a dead end. There were other things I could ask her, perhaps more important things.

"I saw your pictures in Elune’s room. You were there in every single picture. It was as if you’ve existed for centuries," even without turning back, I could sense Elune fidgeting behind me.

"I’m sorry you had to see all that. It wasn’t meant to be shown to you. Elune has foolishly kept unnecessary things, and even dared to show them to you. She will be suitably punished."

"No, no! That’s not what I meant! I want explanations - how?"

"How? Is that the right question?"

There was a twinkle of cheekiness in Luc’s eyes. She was clearly amused.

"OK, let me put it this way. Just who - or what - are you, Luc?"

Luc then leaned back, closed her eyes for a moment, and opened them again to look at the leaves of the tree we were sitting under.

"Is the answer to that question that important for you?"

"Yes, it is-" I then built up the courage to continue, "and I won’t leave this place without getting a proper answer."

"Very well," Luc nodded her head and called out, "Elune."

"Yes, Mistress!"

"I’m sorry, Miss Roen. But I am bound to secrecy and cannot answer your question directly. Elune will explain the situation to you. Within limits."

I didn’t like the bit about ’limits’ but that was better than nothing.

"Please go ahead," I spoke to Elune, and she came out from behind my seat to position herself between me and Luc.

"Miss Roen, the Mistress is not human."

"Right. That explains everything - wait. What?!"

Luc smiled. That was definitely a smile.

"It is as you heard, and as you’ve seen. The Mistress is not a mere mortal. She’s something far grander than that, something more majestic, fantastic, more amazing than any human language can dare to describe-"

"Elune, just stop," Luc frowned and shushed her with a wave of her hand.

"Ahem-, so... Miss Roen, in short, the Mistress is an immortal."

"No... no way..."

"I believe that is sufficient for now," Luc announced. Satisfied.

"No, no-, wait... you are not human... you have supernatural powers - you saved a dying girl... you brought her back to life... it can’t be..."

Now all eyes were on me. Elune and Abe exchanged knowing glances and nodded.

My mind just blew off, but there was no denying the truth now. From what I’d seen - things that Luc could do, just how perfect she was... it all clicked. No matter how unbelievable it was, there could only be one conclusion that made sense.

"So... You are an angel...?"

Luc spat out the tea. Elune covered her mouth. Both Cain and Abe flinched.

"I- I’m sorry! I’m not supposed to say that out loud, right?"

Luc closed her eyes. A frown formed between her brows. She rubbed her temples.

Cain and Abe turned around to face the other way. Elune rushed to clean the table.

"That... that’s not exactly..."

Luc seemed rather shy in admitting it.

"Right, right... I’ll keep quiet about it... but it all makes sense now."

Nobody said anything anymore and I figured it was the right time for me to shut up too.

My head felt hazy and mind was jumping all over the place to process and accept something so unreal, but at the same time, I felt great warmth in my heart.

So there are angels in this world after all...

And I was being looked after by one.