No one's POV

Lyra:...So you and Alise finally crossed the line, huh?

Sora: No! Nothing happened! Nothing!

Lyra: I hope you realize your protests aren't doing much to persuade me.

Sora blush and look away. The girl was sitting in a chair, swinging her short legs in evident enjoyment. Sora woke in the morning so tired that he could barely move, when Astrea and the other girls, found him lying in sofa beside Alise.

Sora: Uh... I can't believe she just did that. And to make matters worse, she's asleep on top of me like I was her damn pillow.

Sora said slumping his face into the table still so exhausted after the night Alise forcefully pinned him towards the ground. After that, Astrea, Kaguya and the other girls dragged Alise away from the boy and asked Lyra to look after him.

Lyra: Well, that's what you get for being a dammed hottie and a womanizer. And besides, aren't you glad Lady Astrea and Kaguya stepped in?

Even now, Sora and Lyra could still heard some argument between Alise and Kaguya who were bickering in a different room not to far from where Sora and Lyra were. And as usual, Kaguya's warning didn't seem to reached Alise's.

Alise: When your fighting for a man's love! You need to be on the offense, Kaguya!

Kaguya: Ara~ Ara~ Captain! I really wanted to punch you in the face right now.

Alise:...Hee-Hee... Jealousy doesn't suite you, Kaguya.

Kaguya: Whoever said I was jealous?!

Alise: You say that, but your face says otherwise~

Their argument reaches Sora and Lyra's ears. Hearing what Alise just said made Sora's body shiver, while Lyra could only smirk at the young Hero. It was then Ryuu finally entered the room. And confronted about her argument with Kaguya the other day.

Lyra: Ideal and reality? What, Lion? Has Alise or Kaguya been putting strange ideas in your head again?

The pallum, who measured less than 120 celches, had spread a collection of strange instruments on the table. She was in the process of disassembling and repairing them, and her nimble fingers worked incessantly. Without lifting her head to look at Ryuu, she offered her a silly grin.

Lyra: Instead of making that serious expression, you should just nod and smile. If you jump in bed pretending you've figured it all out, the strange thing is that all your worries simply up and vanish!

Ryuu: Come on, Lyra, I'm being serious. Yatagami can you talk some sense into her?

Sora: You know what Lyra is like. So nothing I say would reached her.

Lyra: Hah! Now you get it!

Ryuu: Ugh... Just because Kaguya is so confrontational doesn't mean I should ignore what she says. That only narrows my own view. Alise's words really stuck with me, too. I feel like I need to hear more opinions if I'm ever going to sort this out...

Lyra: Oh man, are elves ever annoying...

Lyra rudely brushed away Ryuu's concerns. The pallum's words were incredibly out of sync with her tender, innocent eyes. Surprisingly, she was two years older than Ryuu. Her short hair was dyed peach (which was "super- cool," according to the pallum herself), and a crafty smile constantly played on her lips. As her appearance and behavior suggested, Lyra the pallum was quite the cynic.

Lyra: Why do you have to be the one who has to come up with an answer anyway?

Sora: Let alone an answer other people think is correct.

At first glance, she seemed a poor match for this elf who was the very picture of an upright soul, but whenever Ryuu was troubled by something, she tended to go to Alise first, then Lyra. Lyra's opinions were always honest and unreserved, and sometimes unexpected for Ryuu. Within the familia, her sharp words were always respected.

Although Lyra didn't seem serious about life on the surface, Ryuu was frequently startled by the perceptive way she got to the heart of things, and unconsciously found herself depending on the Pallum quite often.

Lyra: Just take everything with a grain of salt. That goes for what Kaguya says as well as Alise.

Ryuu: Lyra, that's a bit...

Lyra: Have you forgotten what this Idiotic Hero over here says?

Sora: -_- Idiotic Hero huh...

Lyra: The truth completely changes depending on the person. Each and every one of us has our own definition of Justice.

Ryuu: !

Lyra: Ultimately, you are the one who decides what is true. You are the one who creates your own truth. Take everything with a grain of salt, think about it all, and fashion yourself a truth you can be satisfied with.

It was unlike Lyra to sound so much like a walking proverb. Perhaps that was because for once this master liar was actually speaking her own truth.

Ryuu:...I wish you always talked to me like that.

Sora: -_- Same...

Lyra: What are you talking about, Sora, Lion? I'm the most serious and kind person around here!

Sora: -_- Oh... I'd like you to put your hand on your heart and think back on what you've taught me in the past before you make a claim like that...

It was true. The pallum was always teaching the most unrespectable things. Skills like how to see through a lie were fine, but then there were things like the art of using blackmail to negotiate, lessons in intimidation, and to top it all off, she also taught Ryuu how to always win at gambling as well as how to cheat.

Sora: -_- If I remember you once said, If you're gonna beat the scumbags, you've gotta understand how they think... Pretty words won't do much in the fight for justice...

Lyra: Ugh...

Lyra's teachings may have had some logic behind them, but they certainly weren't befitting the familia of justice. After five years in the familia, Ryuu had acquired more than her share of unnecessary knowledge.

Lyra: I've been looking after this girl since she was such an innocent little elf.

Ryuu: If we're comparing me to you, I can't argue with that...

Lyra smiled teasingly and finally looked up at Ryuu, who was standing beside her.

Lyra: Listen, Lion. Knowledge is a weapon. Information is a meal ticket. What I've taught you may have been improper and random, but it will all be helpful one day. Remember it all and use it all.

Remember it all and use it all. That was Lyra's favorite saying.

Lyra: Use your brain until blood comes out your ears. If you don't have equipment or items, scavenge what you need from the Dungeon, and if that's not possible, rely on drop items. Make your own substitutions. Even if something is useless on its own, it might be incredibly useful in combination with something else.

Ryuu: Use your head, right...?

Lyra: It may not come easy to you but study the subtleties of human nature. They're not just key for negotiating—they're incredibly important in the Dungeon.

The characteristics of monsters, improvised weapon-crafting, survival skills, the inner workings of her party members...That day, Lyra had boasted that by knowing all these things and using them in conjunction, it was possible to obtain something important for succeeding in the Dungeon. She had spoken teasingly, but she was dead serious about planting this seed in Ryuu.

Sora: In other words, what Lyra is saying that, all this random knowledge might have been annoying and time-consuming for you to learn, but it's better than being ignorant. It might take a while, but now you have to turn what you know into wisdom.

Ryuu: Turn knowledge into wisdom...?

Lyra: See, Sora gets it. Once you can do that, you'll be able to help someone beside yourself. You'll be a crazy-strong elf that everyone looks up to. Not even Kaguya will be able to call you green, then.

Lyra looked part mischievous child, part big sister.

Ryuu:...Is that how you got so strong?

Lyra: Yep. I mean, if I don't use my head, I'll die. I'm a pallum, after all.

Ryuu:...

Lyra: Anyway, take this with a grain of salt, too. Just remember what's useful to you.

The little pallum, who was physically weaker than Sora and Ryuu, ended her speech with a shrug of her narrow shoulders. Ryuu never forgot a single word she said that day.

Lyra: It's not proof of anything, but look at me. Here I am, a respected Level Three adventurer, and I got to where I am through cunning and fast-talking easy prey like you. I'm a rising star among the Pallum.

Sora: -_- I have a feeling you just said something very important.

Lyra: It won't be long before Finn Deimne, that budding hero of my race, will be dropping to his knees with a proposal ready. Hee-hee-hee...

Sora: -_- If I remember correctly, Finn was avoiding you recently... Honestly, I think your no different with Alise who is head over heels for me.

Lyra: Thanks for the compliment, oh Great Hero!

Sora: -_- That's not a compliment.

Sora and Ryuu sighed as their friend, who dreamed of marrying into wealth, laughed wickedly. That, too, was a scene from a bygone era. Among the most important memories that rose in Sora's mind, this was a more sentimental one. Lyra's words were rooted deeply in Sora's heart.

All the words of his companions, all the assets of Astrea Familia, was alive and well within Sora. Sora had properly inherited their will. Their Justice and their will was still alive within the boy.