Marie paused mid-explanation. Her eyes lit once more, excitement returning at a new revelation. "Then could your sister have deciphered it and headed toward the location it was talking about?"

Joseph trembled visibly before his hands tightened around the grimoire. "She isn't one to ignore a mystery or a hint that could help her."

Reinhard sighed before pointing out the thing everyone had been avoiding. "We've been ignoring the elephant in the room. How did the grimoire get here, or more specifically, how did Vivane reach this place?"

Silence fell.

Complete and immediate.

Joseph and Marie's expressions showed the question had formed in their minds but remained unspoken. It was too complex, carrying confusion and speculations they weren't prepared to address.

Brunhilde glanced around the clearing. Her gaze tracked across water, flowers, and forest edge with analytical precision. "There is a possibility this area wasn't covered by the roots... I couldn't tell when we left the forest, but near the lake, I can feel a large amount of light and life energy coming from it."

Reinhard's eyes widened slightly as understanding formed. "I see. The light and life energy deterred Angra Mainyu from reaching here..."

Brunhilde nodded in confirmation. "Of course, that still doesn't explain how Vivian came here. Maybe she could have teleported or used spatial abilities, but then the next question is-"

"How did she know about this place, and how did she know exactly how to reach here?" Joseph finished, voice carrying frustration at multiplying mysteries.

Brunhilde nodded, tone softening. "There is a chance she worked with others to cut her way over here. Since Charles mentioned he could reach the center of the forest himself."

Reinhard nodded in agreement. "And unlike the center, the roots can't breach this area, so they could have rested here without any worry..." His expression shifted as new questions formed. "Then the question becomes, what did she find here?"

Silence returned.

Four people standing at the lake's edge, surrounded by blue flowers, holding a grimoire that raised more questions than answers.

Their gazes shifted simultaneously, and all eyes fixed on the book Joseph held.

The white cover, golden patterns, crystal with rotating swords, a book that was left behind by maybe Vivian, but refused easy interpretation.

Joseph's voice emerged quietly. "Either the answers are in here, and it needs deciphering, or..."

His gaze shifted to the lake. Water shimmered with internal light, surface perfectly still, depths unknown.

"It's down there."

Four pairs of eyes tracked the water. The lake that matched Joseph's Trial location and the protected space Angra Mainyu couldn't penetrate.

Brunhilde hummed thoughtfully before her hand rose, fingers tracing patterns in the air with precision.

Golden words materialized, script glowing with a beautiful light, flowing from her fingertips like liquid light given form.

She waved one finger deliberately, and then the golden words rushed toward the lake before spreading across the water's surface in an expanding wave.

Light washed over the entire body, penetrating depths with radiance that illuminated everything beneath.

The action continued with eight more identical waves spreading. Each one probing deeper, searching with increasing intensity. The tenth wave completed its sweep before fading completely, light dissipating into nothing.

Brunhilde shook her head slowly. Her expression showed disappointment mixed with confusion. "There is nothing inside the lake."

Marie blinked, surprise evident. "Not even any animals?"

Brunhilde nodded, a slight frown appearing. "It's just water. There are no objects, no life, and no debris in the lake whatsoever. I used both my runes and senses to check, but nothing."

Reinhard sighed at another dead end. "So it might be that they took all the important stuff but forgot the grimoire."

Brunhilde nodded in confirmation while Joseph's frown deepened, grip tightening on the book still held in his hands. His bright green eyes tracked across the lake's surface with an expression suggesting desperate hope fading.

Reinhard's eyes widened slightly at a possible solution. He summoned Mimir without speaking, consciousness reaching through the Sigil connection.

Black streak rushed upward, materializing into the familiar crow form. Golden horns caught sunlight as Mimir landed on Reinhard's shoulder, wings settling into a comfortable position.

Everyone's eyes lit simultaneously.

Recognition was immediate, and understanding of what Reinhard intended to try. Marie's smile appeared, Joseph straightened with renewed hope, and Brunhilde's expression showed approval at a clever solution.

"Can you read these words, Mimir?" Reinhard gestured toward Grimoire.

The crow tilted its head while Joseph moved forward immediately. He opened the book to the first page and held it where Mimir could see clearly. The ancient script was visible, filled with characters in a language none of them recognized.

Mimir fell silent for three seconds without a response as he glanced all over the page.

"I can read it."

Everyone's eyes lit with excitement, barely restrained. Marie leaned forward eagerly, and Joseph's breathing quickened. But Mimir tilted his head again, a gesture suggesting complication.

"But turn the page a few more times. I want to see something."

Joseph complied immediately. His fingers flipped through pages, one, two, three, and more.

"Stop."

Joseph froze mid-flip. The current page showed text different from the opening, with denser writing and additional notations scattered throughout.

Mimir's voice carried notes of revelation mixed with concern. "I see now. There are different languages in this grimoire, and it isn't just one."

Everyone's eyes widened simultaneously, but then Marie recovered first, the question tumbling out rapidly.

"Can you read those languages?"

Mimir hummed in consideration. "No, because some of them are mixed together to create something new. You can think about it like someone creating a secret code that only they and those they share it with can understand."

Reinhard nodded slowly. "So whoever wrote this did it in a way that no one can understand the contents."

"It would require deciphering to really understand." Mimir agreed. "But I can help make out some parts-"

"Please do." Joseph interrupted, desperation bleeding through usual composure. "Anything would be fine at this point."

Mimir's eye tracked back to earlier pages. His voice gained narrative quality as he translated fragments.

"Basically, this part talks about Vivian confirming something..." He paused, processing mixed languages. " She wrote, 'I finally found a way to cure Joseph after so much looking, pleading, and traveling... This person is approved by even Merlin, and with his help, I can really wake up Joseph from the coma.'..."

Joseph's entire body trembled, and he bit his lips as he continued to listen.

Mimir continued. "It then says, 'But the method required a deal to be made by Oberyn, a weird person. But if I can do this part of the deal, then the person promises to'..."

He trailed off as the next sentence shifted completely, becoming indecipherable even with his vast knowledge. The others leaned forward instinctively, recognizing that the missing section carried critical importance.

Mimir resumed after skipping the unknown portion. "She then says, 'I hope it works once I complete my side of the deal. Merlin called me crazy for agreeing, but Joseph is the most important person in my life. I will never let my little brother suffer... Especially for things out of his control.' That's all I can make out."

Joseph trembled before his entire frame shook as words penetrated defenses built through years of uncertainty. His arms pulled the grimoire close to his chest, cradling it like a precious artifact rather than a simple book. His gaze dropped to the grass beneath his feet, vision blurring with moisture.

Silence fell; no one spoke, allowing Joseph space to process the confirmation. That his older sister had been searching for a cure, that he'd been her priority, that love had driven actions rather than abandonment.

Seconds stretched toward a minute. Joseph's breathing gradually steadied, trembling subsiding through visible effort. When he lifted his head, his expression showed determination mixed with gratitude.

"Let's go." His voice emerged rough but steady. "I wasn't expecting much... But hearing those words and understanding I was always her priority...That I was right to believe she left for me…" He paused, swallowing hard. "It's more than enough... But I want more answers, and this book will help. We just need to decipher it."

Marie smiled as she gently rubbed Joseph's back. "I'm sure we will."

Joseph displayed a smile, though the edges remained fragile. He turned from the lake, walking away with a grimoire clutched protectively. The others followed, leaving behind locations that had answered some questions while raising countless more.

They returned to Pioneer Village as evening light painted the sky orange and pink. Janus, Amiya, and Veryn had arrived earlier, their expressions showing they'd found what closure a memorial could provide.

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