They saw two silhouettes approaching, one much taller than the other.

Faust and Leona were frozen in shock.

‘We got caught already!’ he thought and started frantically searching for ways to escape their predicament.

‘What will happen now?’ Leona thought and tried to identify the pair that approached them.

Soon they realized that it was Schenk. A much smaller man accompanied his large figure. But when Leona recognized him, she bowed hastily. Her heartbeat was like a drum. Faust didn’t fare any better. Out of lack of a better option, he bowed as well.

He didn’t recognize the man. He didn’t appear old or particularly remarkable. The only thing that startled Faust was his armor. He wore the same armor he had seen on the Companion Cavalry.

‘He must be… Alexander!!!’ Faust realized and added a polite “Milord” to his bow.

Alexander turned to Leona, his voice was kind and amused.

“Leona. We haven’t seen each other for a long time. I didn’t think it would be under such… peculiar circumstances.” Despite the darkness, Faust could hear the amusement in his voice.

“Androcles, did you know she had a secret lover?” he asked Schenk who stood next to him as if he had turned to stone. The man grumbled like rolling thunder.

“No. Especially not one who’s in a relationship with my wife’s closest friend on the castle.”

Faust could hear anger in his voice and Leona trembled a bit. She gathered all of her courage and spoke up.

“Father, please, let us explain!” she begged him, but before she could continue, he interrupted her with a snort.

“What’s there to explain? I'll have him whipped and sent to the border!” he grumbled, but she could hear from his tone, that he wouldn’t actually do it.

Alexander laughed. He was young indeed. For an earl that is.

“Androcles my old friend. You can control a sword, you can control a shield, and maybe even an army. But you can’t control a person’s feelings. Let’s hear them out. He should be the boy that Lucon told us about, right?”

Schenk grunted affirmingly. Alexander then took a step forward. Faust thought he could make out a smile on his face.

Leona was speechless.

“I…” she stammered but Faust helped her.

“6 months ago, my village was raided, and Lord Schenk took me in and treated me like one of his own.” He took a breath, and he could hear Schenk grumble. The older man would have loved to say something, but he didn’t dare refute his liege.

“My family was killed before my eyes, and it took a toll on me. The woman Lord Schenk was talking of and I have found solace in each other's arms and we have been together ever since. I was assigned as Leona’s guard and over time we developed feelings for one another, and she helped me as a friend to overcome my trauma.”

Alexander nodded.

“I can understand that matters of love can be very complex...” He said after thinking briefly. His tone wasn’t embarrassed, but confident. Faust could feel that the Earl spoke from experience.

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“Go on Faust. That can’t be all can it?” he asked, and the moon was uncovered as a cloud floated away. It let Faust see the face of the man before him and Leona’s anxious and unbelieving stare. She was completely shocked about what was happening.

Faust took a deep breath. He didn’t know how, but he mustered his confidence and continued.

“I have always fled from my bad feelings to Flora, and she did the same. I never felt this way around Leona. Simply being with her elated me and made me smile. It was so different. Leona and I both knew there were feelings between us, but neither of us dared to admit this to ourselves.” Faust shook his head.

The words he spoke came from the bottom of his heart. The kind face looking at him managed to make him forget about Schenk who towered a meter behind them. But it wasn’t just kindness, but an aura of elegance. Of discipline and strength. This man wasn’t kind because he needed to be. He was one of the most powerful men on the continent.

Faust felt the urge to tell this man everything about what happened. But he wasn’t sure.

‘Should I tell him? Maybe it could help me in my current situation… maybe I could stay with Leona…’ he thought hopefully.

‘Am I crazy? We agreed not to tell anyone and here I am considering telling this man…’ he chided himself, but soon realized that this idea wasn’t all that bad.

With Leona vouching for what happened and Lucon’s report they might even believe him.

Alexander looked at Faust wordlessly. Faust could understand why this man evoked loyalty in his followers. He was not a tyrant, but a young, wise man, a natural leader, accomplished and feared on the battlefield.

Faust fell on one knee and Alexander was startled. He looked down on the young man curiously. Faust took a deep breath and then spoke.

“Milord. I was not truthful in my report to Lucon about what happened on the mission.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow, but nothing else. Meanwhile, Schenk hissed behind him. He obviously had a hard time not saying anything.

Leona looked at him with eyes wide open, shock painted her face. But soon it warped into understanding. She too realized that this was probably their best chance.

“When our group arrived in the forest we were surrounded by dozens of orcs. I chose to sacrifice myself for the group. I chose to give my life for Leona and my comrades.”

When he said those words, a smile appeared on Alexander’s face.

“That was very brave and selfless of you. You fulfilled your duty as a friend and as a bodyguard. You have my respect.” Alexander put a hand on his shoulder and brought him back to his feet. Faust was about the same size as the Earl.

“Faust. Stand while you tell us the rest. I am sure there were reasons for why you hid the real story from Lucon. Tell it now and I guarantee you nothing will happen to you.” He looked at Schenk, who sighed and nodded.

“Let us hear the truth then. Let’s make some sense of all of this.” The large man spoke. He seemed more curious than angry by now. Alexander walked past Faust and looked at the tree planted on Victor’s grave. Faust continued.

“I fled and was forced into a dark cave. It was a dead end. There was a large underground river and I couldn’t go deeper into the cave. The orcs were closing in. I thought that now was going to be the end… so I decided instead of becoming orc-meat, I might as well suffocate under water. I jumped into it.”

Schenk and Alexander looked at one another unbelievingly.

“That can’t be Faust. You wouldn’t be alive.” Schenk said, but Leona shook her head.

“Father, please just listen, only this one time. He is speaking the truth.” She begged her father and Schenk was unable to refute her.

Alexander, who was facing away asked Faust: ”Then how can you stand before us? You have jumped into a river with your armor on. That spells death.”

“I feared you might not believe me. That’s why I initially did not report it, but please believe me.” Faust said before he continued his story after Alexander nodded without turning.

“I was severely injured and got carried away by the river…” and so Faust truthfully told the Earl about what happened to him. Alexander stood still, looking away the entire time.

“It was when I thought I was dead that I realized my mistake. I never loved Flora. Not the way I loved her.” He looked over at Leona, who melted and smiled at him. Schenk shook his head.

“This is too crazy. An underground lake, an orb, water disappearing, and Stray Orcs, magical changes to your body… what’s next?”

Alexander turned around to face Faust. Alexander's face lost its kind expression and took on a serious one. He looked at the group and slightly nodded several times as if confirming something to himself. Then he spoke, and his voice left no room for doubt.

“If you had told me this story two weeks ago, I would not have believed you… but many things have changed.” He turned to Schenk.

“And that is also the reason for my sudden visit.”