Later, a large council room hosted an unusual circle.
Miria, Asher, Axel, Marlie, Henry, Isolde, Eiden, Kira, Bryan, Alix, Gale and Diana were seated around a long stone table.
Miria stood up.
— If I brought you all together... it's to talk about a delicate subject.
She turned to Isolde.
— Isolde… to you.
A murmur ran through the assembly.
Isolde took a deep breath.
— What I'm about to say may shock you... but... I know Fishlegs.
Brutal silence.
— What do you mean, knowing? Axel exclaimed.
— The Fishleg? The Dark Lord? Kira added, pale.
Miria crossed her arms, calm.
— Continue.
Isolde nodded.
— I met him… through Léana.
— Leana?! cried Diana.
Asher narrowed his eyes.
—I suspected she was hiding something...
- After... Ray's last refusal... Isolde continued, her voice trembling... Léana offered me another solution. She said she knew someone who could help me.
"Bad idea," Gale muttered.
— She took me to a forest… I couldn't say which one. Then... a castle appeared... like magic.
Bryan leaned forward.
— A castle… in a forest?
— Yes... and we were guided to the throne room... Fishlegs was waiting for us.
Eiden clenched his fists.
—And what did he want from you?
Isolde lowered her head.
—I wanted...to be with Ray so much...that I lost my way...
— That is to say? Alix asked softly.
—He gave me... a charm powder... and a locket.
"Illusion magic," Axel whispered.
— The game was simple... I had to make Ray drink the powder... then show him the medallion... He would have thought that I was his beloved...
"A manipulation of desire," Asher concluded coldly.
— But... nothing went as planned... because... I fell into Henry's arms...
Everyone turned to him.
Henry scratched the back of his neck.
— I think... it still worked.
- How so ? Isolde wondered.
— Wait... That day... you put the powder in his food, didn't you?
— Yes...
— …and I shared his meal.
A collective shock.
Gale burst out laughing.
— Magnificent... so two poisoned people for the price of one.
"And… the medallion intercepted me," Henry continued. That's why... this sudden desire for you...
Isolde turned scarlet red and hid her face.
— I-I… I'm sorry…
Henry smiled.
"In that case… I owe you flowers."
Miria frowned.
- For what ?
Henry smiling, placing his hand on Isolde's.
—Thanks to her… I found true love.
Isolde returned his smile, sincere.
A tender silence followed… then Marlie spoke.
— It's beautiful… really… but there remains an essential question.
Everyone turned towards her.
— Why does Léana work with Varek? What bond unites them… and above all… what does she gain?
A shudder ran through the room.
Asher whispered:
— This... is the real heart of the problem...