As Liebe was covered by darkness, he saw a memory of a winter night. He was lying next to the fireplace and drawing as Lilith came and picked him up, carrying him.
She said, "What are you drawing?"
Liebe said, "Loki."
Lilith said, "Let's see what Loki looks like now." As she saw it, she said, "It looks just like him."
Liebe said, "I drew him just like Grandpa said. Horns. The helmet. He uses a hammer, right?"
Lilith said, "Yes, he does indeed."
Liebe said, "When can I go to Mikill with you and Grandpa? I want to be friends with him. I want to go to Mikill—the land of eternal war. I want to see it."
Tenebris said, "Son, that place is dangerous. And not to mention, Loki is chained to the roots of the World Tree for a reason. And the extreme cold—"
Liebe said, "But I want to. I want to!" As Liebe started crying.
Lilith sat on the chair next to the fireplace. She said, "There, there, Liebe." As she patted him on the head.
Lilith said, "Mikill is a place with the most unbelievable sky. The view is out of this world. But Mikill is very cold. It's a cold place."
Liebe said, "But Mommy, Grandpa said even though it snows there, the people are always warm."
Lilith said, "That's only true for the people born in Mikill. While we have to face the cold. It is said as long as Loki lives and breathes, Mikill cannot forget war itself. As Loki is said to be the worst giant of them all."
Liebe said, "Mommy, I want to be friends with him. I will make him join my team—Team Liebe with Licht, Alysa, and Elizabeth."
Lilith said, "Listen, Liebe, let me tell you. It's OK if not everyone wants to be your friend. The world is a vast, vast place. I'm sure you will find friends. Ones who trust you. Be with them. Travel the world. See the vastness of it. Have a dream. I'm sure the world is waiting for you."
Liebe said, "Mommy, what is your dream?"
Lilith said, "My dream is already fulfilled—being here with you, playing all day in the winter."
Liebe said, "But Mommy, what was your dream before that? A bigger dream?"
Lilith said, "Well, when I was young, I would go around the world fighting whoever was strong. And at one point, my dream was to become the strongest in the world."
Liebe said, "What happened next, Mommy?"
Lilith said, "Well, I met your dad and had you, and my life was complete."
Liebe said, "Mommy, if I became the strongest in the world, would you be happy then?"
Lilith said, "Yeah, I would."
Liebe said, "Then it's settled. It's my dream to be the strongest in the world as well."
Tenebris said, "Absolutely not. You don't have to get so involved with war."
Domr said, "Come on, Lilith, Tenebris—kill, crush Liebe's hope? I'm sure he is the only one who can tame Loki. The day children stop dreaming shall never come."
Lilith said, "Yeah, maybe."
Liebe said, "Let's go, Mommy! Let's go to Mikill right now! I want to see the nation of giants—the cold, cold nation surrounded by eternal war."
Jewel said, "Are you stupid, kid? We just got back from fighting giants there, and the goddamn cold is annoying, alright. We were literally fighting giants for 10 days, and you want to go there?"
Domr said, "It's alright. Mikill is alright. Loki is in the Underworld for good since he is chained down. I'm sure Mikill is safe again."
Liebe said, "Then let's go there right now! I want to see it."
Domr said, "Well—"
Lilith said, "Let's go right now then. If Liebe wants to see it so badly, as a mother, how can I possibly say no? Gelda, get ready. We are leaving in like 10 minutes."
Gelda said, "Great. Taking a kid to the most dangerous place in the world."
As they were ready:
Tenebris said, "Oh no, not yet." As he wrapped Liebe in more warm clothes. He said, "OK, now let's go."
As Gelda made the portal:
Tenebris said, "Well, let's go then."
Lilith said, "Tenebris, are you sure? Your body may not be strong enough to survive the harsh conditions of Mikill. Liebe will be OK because of our genes, but you—"
Tenebris said, "I will be fine. And plus, how can I leave my son alone? As a father, I just can't do that."
As they went through, Liebe saw it—the World Tree. It was so high he could only see the lower branches. He saw the night sky, the aurora. Liebe was in awe at the pure beauty.
Domr said, "You think this is nice, huh? Try this." As he put on the Mask of Ifrit Mythical Model Odin.
Domr said, "Dark Magic: Darest Light!" As he gave his energy to the World Tree. The World Tree's branches began to move as it started to shed its leaves, and the branches themselves started to glow. Now the illuminated tree was a sight to see.
Liebe said, "Pretty!"
As Liebe pointed towards down at the base of the World Tree, Liebe said, "Mommy, there is someone down there beneath the snow." As Liebe was pointing towards the location where Loki was chained to the World Tree.
Liebe said, "Mommy, someone is crying down there. I can feel it."
Lilith said, "Domr, did you tell Liebe about the location of Loki's prison?"
Domr said, "No. It's Mikill's greatest secret. The giants would die before telling anyone anything. And I didn't tell him."
Lilith said, "Can it be Liebe's mana resonance? That he is sensing Loki's mana despite the chains?"
Domr said, "Looks like it."
Lilith said, "Liebe, we are going." As she picked him up and they went back.
Liebe said, "Mommy, why did we leave? We should have helped the sad man."
Lilith said, "Liebe, that was Loki. Loki's underground prison."
Tenebris said, "What's the big deal? I mean, we already took him to Mikill, and with so many of you heavy hitters, it should have been easy."
Lilith said, "You don't understand. Taking Liebe to Mikill is one thing, but Loki—he is a different thing entirely. He is called the worst being in existence for a reason. He is the only frost giant remaining. You don't know what he is capable of. He almost destroyed Mikill in the short while he was free."
Liebe said, "But Mommy, what's the problem? You and Grandpa have seen Loki plenty. So why can't I?"
Domr said, "Well, there is a reason. He did something bad a long while ago."
Liebe said, "Let's ask him then. I'm sure he is good."
Lilith went to her knees and said, "Liebe, we can't right now, alright? But if you are so sure, then let's make a promise. Since me and Grandpa only see Loki for missions, when you are big and strong, Liebe, you can go on a mission to Mikill and ask Loki yourself. Alright? Ask him good and make him a part of Team Liebe. Is that a promise, Liebe?"
Liebe said, "It's a promise, Mommy."
Lilith said, "No need to hurry, Liebe. I'm sure the world will have people who will want to be your friend and go on adventures with you." As she hugged Liebe.
And then the memory turned to darkness as Liebe saw Domr and Tenebris.
Liebe said, "Dad, Grandpa!" As he hugged Tenebris, he said, "Dad, missed you!" As they shared a tearful reunion.
Tenebris said, "Son, you really have been brave for me."
Liebe said, "Dad, I missed you so much. Why did you leave me?"
Tenebris said, "Son, I wanted to see you. Talk to you."
Domr, with tears, said, "I'm sorry, Liebe. I'm sorry we left when you were a child. And after what Lilith put you through, I can't even look you in the eye."
Liebe said, "Grandpa, I missed you every day. Your stories. Donuts."
Tenebris said, "I wanted to catch up."
Liebe said, "We can now. We have eternity."
As Tenebris nodded in a no, Liebe teared up and said, "Dad, Grandpa, why? Why are you rejecting me as well?"
Domr said, "No—"
Tenebris said, "I can never apologize enough for what your mother put you through. But the time isn't right, Liebe. They still need you. Liebe, your friends still need you."
Domr said, "Your journey is just beginning. The world is waiting for its greatest hero, Liebe."
Tenebris said, "I'm sure in the far future, we will see each other once more, Liebe. Until that day, we will always be watching over you. Liebe, you are never alone."
As they vanished, the darkness vanished. Liebe wasn't harmed by the Grand Black.
Lilith said, "How? I cast the Grand Black spell perfectly."
Gelda said, "You did. But you are forgetting one thing, Lilith. Grand Black is a spell that ends everyone the user deems their enemy. Thus, no matter what you do, it can't hurt Liebe in the slightest. To an idiot, Grand Black is an all-destruction spell. But Domr told me the truth: it is a spell to the user's heart. And no matter what you say or feel deep down, you still love Liebe."
Lilith said, "Shut up!" As Lilith drew her blade and charged towards Liebe, but Gelda stopped it with her lance.
Gelda screamed, "Stop this, Lilith!"
Gelda changed her communicator to speaker mode. "Frey, go ahead."
Gelda said, "Lilith, you need this truth."
As Frey went to Markus's room, Frey woke up Markus, and Markus immediately started crying, "Where is Mommy?"
As Frey sighed, "Why are children so much work?"
Lilith said, "It's OK, Markus. Mommy is here."
Markus said, "OK, Mommy." As he stopped crying.
Lilith said, "Gelda, no. Are you taking hostages now too?"
Gelda said, "No. I'm beyond that. I'm ending this sick madness of yours."
In the castle, Frey said, "Child, I'm a friend of your mother. Can you help me?"
Markus said, "OK."
Frey said, "Can you tell me what happened yesterday night after the battle?"
Markus said, "It happened fast. I don't remember much. But when I was with the man Mommy told me to be with, and we were outside, but then the monster came running and I was scared, and it went away. And then that knight came. Someone was trying to hurt us. He protected me, but he was hurt. I wasn't hurt much. He was hurt bad trying to save me. And in the end, he was trying to make the pain go away before Mommy came, and he had to go away. He looked sad."
Frey said, "Are you certain?"
Markus said, "Yeah. The nice man saved me. He was super cool."
Gelda said, "See? That's what happened."
Lilith said, "Why? Why? I thought I was the one who saved Markus, but it was Liebe." As she saw the truth—the whole truth. "But why? Who would do this?"
As Liebe drew his swords towards Greed, he said, "It was them!" As he grew his black wings and flew towards Greed, charging head-on.
Hearing his words, she collapsed on the ground, knowing Liebe wasn't the one who hurt Markus.
As Liebe stood up, he said, "You bastard!" As he grabbed his swords and grew dark wings and charged towards Greed.
Lilith was on the ground in tears with her eyes open. All she could say was, "I tried to kill Liebe. Everyone was right. Liebe really did care. How could I have been so blind?" As she was covered in tears, "Why? Why did I throw away everything we had for words?" As she was in despair, shame, guilt, realizing the truth. She covered her face with her hands in pure disgust of herself. After what she tried to do, she was now broken. She could only say, "Why? Why did I do it? Liebe, I deserve to die beyond all else. I really should be begging for forgiveness in tears after what Liebe has been doing for so long." As she didn't know what was right or what was wrong, her worldview was forever flawed.
Gelda said, "Well then, crybaby. Waste your life away in despair. I will help my son. And if you want to fix what you did, the enemy is there." As Gelda turned around and tried to walk away to help Liebe.
Lilith grabbed her arm.
Gelda said, "What is it now?"
Lilith said, "Gelda, please stop this. Please do something. Please just stop this all of it. I can't bear it. Everyone getting hurt, facing each other because of me. I'm the one who is to blame. So please stop it. Do anything. I will do whatever you need me to. Please stop this battle."
Gelda said, "Alright then, Captain. Let's end this. All units, move from formation Z9 to A5."