After Lilith explained everything, Zeres dropped his head and his hands against the pillars. After some moments frozen that way, his hands clenched into tight fists. His jaws worked before his voice came out with so much struggle. Lilith saw his mouth opening and closing a few times, but nothing seemed to be able to be said yet by Zeres.

  He bit his trembling lip so hard his lower lips started to bleed. He could not believe that she did not go ahead and died in peace, going into the afterlife. She was even willing to sacrifice her one and only chance to rest in peace. This was just too much for Zeres to take in. It was just too much. When will the world be satisfied? What more does it want from him?

  As Zeres trembled and fell into utter silence, Alicia averted her gaze from his pitiful form and looked over at Lilith. She could see how much the truth had broken him all over again. Just looking at him made her worry increase by leaps and bounds. It was obvious that he could not accept what she did.

  "Lilith, I need you tell him about this spell. With it, he would be able to see and hear me," she quickly instructed, and Lilith blinked at it.

  "What?! There is such a spell like that?" Lilith sat up at attention.

  "There is, apparently. The knowledge just came to me right now. It seems there are hidden information that can only be accessed by the dead and now it keeps coming to me in batches ever since my spirit left my body." She explained. Alicia was confused as well and did not know why this was happening either. Why would this new information come to her only when she was dead? And where are all these information coming from? Could this be the ability of spirits? To know everything the living dont?

  Alicia tried to refocus as there was too much going on with her since her spirit had left her body. She must focus on Zeres right now. That is the most important thing right now.

  After she uttered the spell into Lilith’s ears, the young girl faced Zeres again. She was thankful that Zeres just quietly listened and did not anything to complicate things even morw. Once she was done, without wasting a moment, he uttered the spell even faster and quicker than Lilith had done, and Alicia’s spirit seemed to waver before finally solidifying and appeared before his eyes.

  He was frozen for a long while, eyes wide as if in shock. He was just staring at her until Alicia spoke.

  "You can hear me now as well, right? Zeres?" Alicia’s voice floated out softly. Then out of the blue, Zeres moved forward, his arms slightly curved as though to envelope her in a bear hug. However, his body passed through her visible form, and he stumbled behind her. Zeres gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tight before abruptly turning around to face Alicia.

  Alicia appeared before him again and tried her best to console him. "I’m sorry……" she said and Zeres just brokenly stood there, staring at her forlornly. "I am so sorry for always being so selfish. For making you go through all this. And I am so sorry again because I am not regretting what I did, and I never will." She lifted her hands and ran her fingers across his face, though she knew very well that he would not be able to feel her touches at all.

  "I need you…… we need you…… and that’s why I did everything I could to keep you alive. I’ve told you before, right? I will do everything for the witches, my queendom." She added and Zeres stumbled backwards. Despite everything, and the numbness inside him, he could not help but smile bitterly that this woman even in her spirit form would never change. She was still all about the witches, her queendom. She saved him because of the witches too. And even gave up her chance to go to the afterlife just so she could save the future witch queens and to watch over them as well. Somehow, it was so funny that the woman he was trying so hard to save and would even give his life and soul to save was also the same woman so hellbent in sacrificing herself for her subjects. She is still such a stubborn woman even in death. But perhaps, that was why he loves her so.

  This woman was just incredibly indescribable. He did not know how and when but perhaps, he had fallen in love with just the way she was. The way she cares so much about her people. The way she selfishly does everything for them. Her willingness to sacrifice for them. He wondered why she was doing this when many witches would not even serve and love her as much as she loved them. But then, he smirked inwardly, remembering that he still could not stop loving her despite knowing she does not feel the same way for him. And he could only accept that this was the way it was.

  "That’s why, Zeres……" she spoke again as she took another step closer towards Zeres, "I need you to –"

  "Alright, Queen Alicia," he suddenly cut her off and his broken expression changed a little. "You win," he added wretchedly, "I will listen to everything that you have to say. I will also do everything that you want me to do but on one condition," he stared intently into her eyes, "if I ever find a way to bring you back……" he paused and gave her a slightly hopeful and forced smile, "please, just let me."

  The moment he said those words, he turned his back from her, not letting her speak and broke the spell. So, he could no longer see and hear her anymore. He then stared at Alicia’s body before he left and headed towards the exit, leaving Lilith and Alicia’s spirit inside the cave.

  "W-where is he going?" Lilith asked.

  "Don’t worry. I think everything will be alright now. I’ll follow him." Alicia said and also disappeared.

  In the heart of the Black Forest, the vampires were quietly waiting while the other witches were surrounding them. Though the witches were hiding behind the trees as if they were the intruders and not the vampires.

  "How long are we going to wait here for?" Alex asked, his brows creasing into deep lines, when suddenly, Zeres materialized before them.

  ___

  A/N: Thank you for waiting.