Because I already knew that!

In Lionel's illusion at the same time

I open my eyes. The bright light of the sun blinds me. I sit on a horse in the middle of a kind of victory parade. It's loud, and everyone is full of joy. I look around. Behind me ride Knox, Caspian, and Rosa. But where is Aria? Ah!... My memories become blurry. Who is missing again? I don't know...

I don't really like this much attention. On the other hand, the others seem to enjoy the attention. Especially Caspian. But that's how I know him. A gust of wind picks up. Cherry blossoms fly past my face. My gaze follows the blossoms as they drift to the right. In the crowd, I notice a white-haired woman. I couldn't see her face. Only her white hair, which disappears into the crowd. I don't know what exactly caught my attention, but I was so distracted that I didn't notice Rosa speaking to me.

"Lionel, are you listening?!" she asks.

I didn't notice her riding her horse next to me.

"Oh, sorry. What's up?" I ask.

"You have such a serious look on your face. Aren't you happy that we won? I mean, you did your duty, and you're being celebrated for it. You did it!" she says, smiling.

"Ah...of course!" I say.

At least I think I am. I've fulfilled my duty. Nothing more?

"Hey Lionel, when the parade is over, do you want to watch the fireworks later together?" she asks, slightly blushing.

"Sure," I say, thinking.

After all, it is obvious that we all celebrate together. After the parade, the king and Cecil, as the prince, gave a speech to honor our deeds. The king hypocritically made many positive comments. But at least Cecil is overjoyed to know Princess Irene is safe again. She stands next to Cecil and seems overjoyed.

"Now let us celebrate the day and the safe return of the princess and the heroes!" Cecil shouts, and musicians on the street begin to play happy music.

In the marketplace I meet the others.

"It's truly pleasant to be celebrated like this. And it goes down well with the ladies, if you know what I mean!" Caspian says, joking.

But since he says it, he kind of means it.

"Let's have a drink!" Knox says, smiling.

"Let's go in the restaurant over there!" Rosa insists.

We sit down in the outdoor area of a restaurant. Rosa sits down right next to me. Then Cecil comes over.

"You are taking a drink without me? How dare you!" Cecil says jokingly and sits down to the left of me.

"Don't make drama like Caspian always does!" I say, slightly smiling.

"Exactly! ...Wait what do you mean by that?" Caspian shouts annoyed after he realizes that I referred to him.

I start to laugh. His late reaction was too funny. The others stare at me.

"Since when are you this carefree?" Cecil asks.

"Since when?" I ask, thinking.

"You surely changed because of a woman. Am I right?" Caspian says, smirking.

"What?... I don't know what you mean!" I say.

Okay. I realize I used to be more serious and withdrawn. After all, as a hero, you're supposed to suppress your personal feelings and, ideally, lock them away. That's what everyone expects. Because your priorities are far lower than those of the kingdom and the greater good.

Rosa always encouraged me to live up to my role as a hero and be self-sacrificing. But somehow I think that's not right anymore. I've decided to live not just for others, but also for myself. But when did I decide that? And why? I don't know... But it feels right.

"I always wanted you to be a little less serious and cramped. You were more the hero than the Lionel I know!" Caspian says.

"That's the sacrifice a hero has to make! And Lionel lives up to this expectation!" Rosa says.

Rosa has very strong views and expectations of a hero. Why am I only noticing this now? Probably because I always thought so too.

"Oh, the drinks I ordered for us!" Knox says happily.

A waitress comes to our table and places huge beer mugs on our table.

"Who is supposed to drink all this?" Rosa asks, irritated.

"That little bit will quickly run out. Don't worry." Knox says.

"Cheers," Cecil says, and everyone toasts.

"At least you get something for your money, I guess!" Caspian says and starts drinking too.

Then a waitress with white hair walks past our table. Why do I have such a familiar feeling? I grab her wrist. She stops and looks at me in surprise. Just like the others at the table.

"What's wrong?!" the woman asks, irritated.

I look at her face. She has white hair, freckles, and dark brown eyes. I don't know whose face I was expecting to see, but the familiar feeling is gone.

"I am sorry. I mistook you for someone else," I say, a little nervous.

"What was that?" Caspian says, irritated. The others also look at me irritated.

"Nothing, I just mistook her for someone!" I say.

"And who did you confuse her with?" Rosa asks.

"Just leave him and let us continue!" Cecil says.

He must have noticed that this could have ended in a useless debate.

After a while it is dawn.

"The fireworks will start soon. Let's get going," Rosa says and grabs my arm.

She drags me across the market square to a bridge.

"And what about the others?" I ask, somewhat confused.

"We don't need them. We wanted to watch the fireworks together!" says Rosa.

Did we? Oh, it seems like I misunderstood her question before. Basically it doesn't really matter.

"Lionel... We've known each other for a long time now!" Rosa says.

"Yes, we've known each other since I began my hero training in the temple."

"You are always serious. But you are so determined, dedicated, and self-sacrificing. Everyone admires you for that. I do too." Rosa says.

I don't know exactly where this conversation is going.

"What I wanted to tell you is... This is more than just admiration. I like you."

It is like I wanted to hear such words. But I have the feeling that these words come from the wrong person.

"Thank you. But I don't feel the same." I say.

"But we grew closer during our mission. I thought you would feel the same way..." she says, visibly hurt.

The more I hear, the more I have the feeling that I wasn't part of the mission myself. I don't have the feeling that she lies. But I would know something like that.

"Rosa, you like the hero. Someone who puts everyone above himself and is selfless. But I am not just the hero. And I want to live for myself for the first time in my life. You might find this egotistical. But I lived only for others for far too long. I don't want to be the hero anymore. And I think you may be also confusing admiration with love..." I say.

"No... What are you talking about? You are not like that!" she says in tears.

Then I get a slightly warm feeling. I hear a voice whispering.

"Please don't be fooled... come back to me...!"

Whose voice is that? Aria?

Right, everything feels strange because it didn't happen that way. Sisli and Aria were with us, not Rosa.

"This isn't real!" I shout and look at Rosa, who now has red glowing eyes.

"You noticed. Why can't you just be a good boy and play along...?!" she says with a weird voice.

"Who are you?" I shout and grab my sword.

"You don't need to know! But what you need to know is that the Aria you searched for in this illusion isn't who you think she is!"

"What are you talking about, you monster!" I shout ready to attack.

The creature looking like Rosa gets claws and starts to attack. I block her attack with my sword.

"Your beloved Aria isn't a healer or even a human. She is the infamous evil witch Uriel. And you know what? We can join forces, educate your team, and eliminate the witch together..."

Before the creature can end her sentence, I thrust my sword into her chest.

"Why?..." she asks, spilling blood.

"Because I already knew that!" I say and draw my sword back from the creature, and everything around me cracks into shards.