The Third Side - Arc 2: Mind

by H-thar

[AU/Canon divergent from Chapter 228] On the heels of Tyki's unexpected warning, Lavi, Allen and their comrades flee to safer territory. The mysteries of the Heart, the Noah, and the Bookman Clan begin to weave a tragic tapestry, while Lavi and Allen wrestle with the terms of their fates. Rated M for depictions of violence and language. Part 4 of 6 in the series "The Third Side."

1. The Journey

A/N: Here we are, FINALLY kicking off the second arc to our project! If you haven't read panaili's Interlude: Junior (on AO3 and grouped with The Third Side series), there will be lots of references and content in this arc that are missed, so definitely check that out. This chapter was beta-roomie's/panaili's installment again. Please review/comment and give her some love! For all that I'm the Allen fanatic of this collaboration, she is the resident Lavi expert. Real Life 2021 was an uphill battle for us both ;^; Only Chapter 5 remains to be written for Arc 2, so expect to see regular updates for a bit. All that said, enjoy!

The Journey

There was a time, not too long ago, when a day like today would have left Lavi feeling energized.

It was the blessing and the curse of his Bookman lineage. Even worn down, going days without food or sleep, a child of the Bookman Clan couldn't help but record the world around them. As the chosen successor to the Bookman himself, Lavi had been trained from childhood to push that natural inclination even further. His curiosity could always override his exhaustion, an appetite unsatisfied unless it was devouring every piece of information available. It was the type of skill that made him a talented apprentice, a fact that even Bookman could grudgingly admit despite his constant admonishments for Lavi to stay on task.

But that was before.

Before he and Bookman were captured, before their months of torture and imprisonment, before his Innocence bonded with his blood, before Lavi came to realize that his fate was not to be found in the Bookman title he had long revered.

Before he knew he was the Heart-bearer.

Lavi sat propped up in his bed, having been whisked back to his recovery room after their encounter with Tyki left him panic-stricken and trembling. It was embarrassing more than anything else, to be taken out by little more than a foul scent and his own traitorous mind, but not even shame could dissipate the haze from his thoughts. He sat quietly, timing his heartbeat to the pace of his breath, and tried to push past the fog in his mind to pay attention to the fierce argument still unfolding before him. Tiedoll was playing mediator overall, but between all the logistical concerns and the general contrary natures of Kanda, Cross, and Allen, a decision was still far from being made.

"Why do you keep suggesting that we go back there?" Kanda asked, eyes flashing with familiar irritation. "The Black Order isn't going to help us – at best, they'll just lock up Johnny and the beansprout, and who even knows what they'll try to do with Lavi—"

"I know all that, Kanda, but where else can we go that could possibly stand up to Apocryphos?" Crowley replied, looking pained.

"The Black Order can't stop Apocryphos either," muttered Allen. He had staked out his familiar seat beside Lavi's bed, clearly concerned by his reaction to Tyki, but as the debate carried on, he'd drawn closer and closer to the group. "I was attacked inside the Order, where that thing had been going around disguised as a Cardinal—"

"No one expected him then," Tiedoll pointed out. His face was carefully neutral, as it had been throughout the debate. "If they knew of his deception and were able to prepare for an attack, the Black Order would be able to rally its defenses."

"They do have Exorcists and CROWs there," acknowledged Johnny, his tone hesitant.

"We have Exorcists here too," Kanda scoffed. "Including three Generals. When was the last time the Black Order housed more than one or two of those at a time, besides the most recent major attack?"

"I hate to agree with Kanda," Allen said, face twisting in a pained expression, "but he's right. The Black Order isn't going to be any safer than anywhere else. Actually, it's worse, because they've already made it clear that Johnny and I are considered traitors."

"And they'll take Lavi away the second they hear that he's got the Heart, Bookman Clan be damned," Kanda added, looking just as uncomfortable to be arguing on the same side as Allen. "You know I'm right."

Lavi glanced over to Bookman, but the old man stayed silent in his wheelchair as he sat on the opposite side of Lavi's bed. The only sign that he'd heard Kanda's assertion was the slight pursing of his lips.

But Lavi had been traveling with Bookman long enough to read his master's expressions. Even Bookman didn't believe the power of the Clan would be enough to hold off the Black Order if they wanted to take Lavi.

Exorcists were one thing. The wielder of the Heart was something completely different.

"But where else could we go?" Johnny fretted, voicing the same question that had been mentioned over twenty times already. No one had an answer.

"This discussion is going nowhere," fumed Kanda. He paced across the room, looking like he wanted to hit something but ultimately resigning himself to glaring out the window. "The longer we stay here, the more we put this household at risk—"

"We're not completely helpless, I'll have you know," Jo interjected, brow furrowed as she sorted through her medical bag.

"No offense, but in this case, you really are," muttered Allen. His tone was petulant, the way it often got when Allen was overly tired or battle-worn. Lavi watched him from the corner of his eye, a brief wave of fondness breaking through his panic-induced exhaustion. A part of him always sought to catch those instances when Allen got too tired or too frustrated to maintain his polite mask.

Jo shot Allen a glare, but directed her response to Kanda. "Besides all that, the fact remains that Bookman and Lavi are definitely not healthy enough to travel yet. Not unless you have a carriage on hand—"

"We do!" Allen cut in again, looking annoyed at being dismissed. He gestured impatiently at General Tiedoll. "Tiedoll was able to transport us before, and there's nothing saying we can't travel that way again."

"Yes, but to what destination?" Tiedoll asked. If he was annoyed by Allen's presumption of using Maker of Eden, his face didn't show it. "At this point, the Order is our only real option, especially if Bookman and Lavi still need medical attention—"

This sparked another round of debate, with various people calling out the same questions and concerns previously voiced, and Lavi gave up trying to follow the argument again. He looked out the window, noting the last glimmer of evening light disappearing over the horizon, and resisted the urge to sigh.

If Tyki was to be believed, then Lavi knew Kanda was right. The longer they stayed here, the higher the risk that Apocryphos would attack and make the decision for them. The smart thing would be to run now and have this debate on the road.

Lavi considered saying as much, staring at the ongoing argument, but his mouth stayed locked shut. He felt like a child again, acting as a silent and impassive sentinel on the edge of battlefields, like he couldn't smell the death in the air or feel the blood as it soaked into his shoes. Even in a situation like this, with his life literally hanging in the balance, his training held strong.

It may have been shock. He thought he had been recovering, but the sight of Tyki sent him back to his months in the dungeon, struggling to breathe and aching with pain. The lingering effect of the Noah's presence was more infuriating than anything else; what had all his training been for, if he lost control so easily at the resurgence of bad memories?

He'd never been tortured before, so perhaps that was it. The only other time Lavi had ever felt a memory linger quite this badly was after an aborted soul gaze, and he had to imagine he'd remember doing something as foul as allowing Tyki into his mind.

Lavi focused on his breathing, letting the sound of everyone's voices wash over him and trying yet again to bring himself back to center. Before he could do much more than take a few breaths, a new voice cut in.

"I know where we could go," General Cross said, but no one could hear him.

No one except Lavi and Bookman, who both stared at him in shock. The telepathic connection used by Bookman and his apprentice was not a commonly known line. Only the Bookman himself knew to use it and taught his intended successor to do the same. And even though Lavi knew Cross had been Bookman's previous apprentice, who possessed the same lineage as he did and likely had been even further along in his training, it was a genuine shock to hear someone else using the Bookman telepathy.

Bookman's shock gave way to fury within a second, his eyes flashing. "How dare you use this method to speak with us?" he hissed. "You forfeited this right decades ago—"

"Yes, I remember," Cross replied. "But I assumed you'd rather I ask you first before suggesting a better option for our destination. Unless you'd prefer to be badgered by the group at large?"

Bookman glowered at Cross. The scowl on his face was a testament to his outrage, given his normal ability to mask his emotions with ease. Still, he hadn't become the Bookman by shunning new information. "And what option would that be?"

"The Grove," Cross suggested. At the appalled look on Bookman's face, Cross argued, "What other place do you know of that has strong enough defenses to counter both Innocence and Dark Matter? It's not a perfect solution, but it should buy enough time to come up with a better plan."

Unmoved, Bookman snapped, "If you think you'll be allowed anywhere near the Grove after your betrayal, you are a fool."

"Excellent point," Cross remarked, smirking. "Maybe I'm suggesting it to be rid of you all, then."

"Do you think this matter is a joke?" Bookman asked. The cold fury radiating from his expression was enough that Johnny edged away from his wheelchair, glancing between him and Cross in confusion.

"Hardly," countered Cross. Despite his blank expression, Lavi got the distinct impression he wanted to roll his eyes. "You and I both know going to the Black Order would be a disaster. Even if they were able to withstand the Noah and Apocryphos – and they couldn't, we both know that – they would imprison my apprentice and steal yours away for experiments. The only other place with appropriate defenses is the Grove. I'm no longer allowed there, but you hold those keys. It was designed to protect the Heart in the first place, wasn't it? Why not let the Grove fulfill its original purpose once again?"

This fact about the Grove was new information to Lavi, who narrowed his eyes at Cross. To his surprise, Cross met his stare, smirking as though he could sense Lavi's curiosity. There was a challenge in his eyes, like he was daring Lavi to ask.

Lavi averted his gaze, shoving his questions down. He looked over to Bookman instead, whose expression had reverted to its carefully guarded state.

The loud argument over their destination had continued during the entire silent debate, the same rehash as the past hour had been. The tension between Cross and Bookman did not affect the conversation, though Tiedoll had taken notice and seemed to guess at what was going on by the way he was watching Bookman with interest.

To Lavi's surprise, Bookman didn't bother to respond to Cross. His outrage was still palpable through their bond, but his expression looked as though it was carved from ice.

In that moment, Lavi knew what decision Bookman had made.

As Kanda snapped back at Crowley yet again, Bookman interrupted.

"I know where we can go," Bookman said. His voice was quiet, but it cut through the room with ease.

Lavi sighed, sinking back into his sickbed as Bookman explained the plan. Apprehension twisted in his stomach, uncertainty warring with longing in his heart.

It was time to return to the Grove.

---

Once the decision was made, things moved quickly.

Supplies were arranged, belongings were packed, and tasks were delegated out with a precision Lavi had only seen when trailing various military units. Tiedoll proved to live up to his title of General in more than just battle prowess, taking charge of their departure with the clear desire to leave long before dawn broke the following day.

Lavi had already packed some clothes and the few books he deemed important enough to bring along, including the slim copy of Cross's old journal. He would need to ask about it at some point, too aware of how foolish it would be to let the opportunity for more insight on Cross's thoughts go to waste, but it didn't make the prospect any more pleasant. His opinion of Cross had not improved since discovering his unfortunate biological connection to him; if anything, it soured Lavi's already critical memories of the man.

He would have to speak with him on the road, Lavi was sure, but for now he simply tucked the journal into his travel pack and ignored his lingering questions.

Jo had given both him and Bookman a final medical exam, sending them off with a variety of medicines and strict instructions to avoid walking too much. Lavi had nearly laughed in her face, still too weak to even climb stairs properly, but the genuine worry in her eyes had killed any humor he might have felt. He hadn't been awake when they transported him from the Ark to the mansion, but the glacial pace of his recovery told him more than anything how close he'd come to death's door.

Given their impaired states, Lavi and Bookman were exempt from most of the frantic preparations for the trip to the Grove. Bookman took the opportunity to organize his notes and prepare various letters to send to the Clan Elders, informing them of the travel itinerary. Lavi could only imagine how furious the Elders would be once they found out, but he supposed that was one of the perks as far as Bookman was concerned.

While Bookman was busy with his own arrangements, Lavi opted to take advantage of an actual washroom for the last time before their travel began.

It didn't take long to clean up, given how little activity he'd engaged in since the last time he'd bathed. Only when he began to change into a borrowed set of more travel-hardy clothes did Lavi find himself slowing down, eyes catching on his reflection in the tall standing mirror in the corner.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen himself since his rescue, but it was the first time Lavi really let himself look.

His cheeks were still gaunt and his ribs too visible along his torso, the enduring remnant of months with little to no food. His hair wasn't a disaster anymore, thanks to Johnny's helpful attention, though his skin still had an unhealthy pallor and exhaustion lingered around his eyes.

Lavi's attention drifted to the crucifix scar that bisected the left side of his lower ribcage. The shape of the cross was burned in dried blood and lined with pale white tissue. It looked the same as the scars on Kanda's arms or Lenalee's legs, which Johnny had noted with excitement when he first examined it. Even though it had only been three weeks or so, the wound looked years old.

Lavi traced the edges of the scar, the tissue beneath his finger as numb as his mind when he considered his new reality. The scar cut through his Bookman tattoo, an artistic depiction of the Tree of Life that he'd adopted upon his completion of the first stage of apprentice training at the Grove. He remembered his pride when it was done, a physical sign of his commitment to the Clan.

The crucifix scar burst through the branches of the tree without mercy, and Lavi had to choke down the urge to laugh at the irony of it.

He could never be both the Heart-bearer and the Bookman's apprentice, after all.

Before Lavi could think any further on it, a knock sounded at the door.

Startled, Lavi hastily pulled his shirt on. Awkwardly bracing himself against his crutch, he made his way across the room.

Allen stood outside, smiling a little sheepishly. He held up Lavi's bag, saying, "I, ah… Jo said you'd gone to wash up, but it had been awhile, and I think we're almost ready to leave, so I figured I'd come check on you…"

"Afraid I'd passed out?" Lavi asked, feeling his dark mood lighten despite his lingering apprehension. He grabbed the bag from Allen's hand and managed to swing it onto his shoulder. "I may be an invalid, but I can handle a trip to the bathroom."

"In my defense, I really just wanted an excuse to not be in the same room as my master," Allen replied, shrugging.

"You realize we're all about to be within ten feet of each other for the next month, right?" Lavi asked. "Getting to the Grove isn't gonna be a quick trip."

"I'm trying very hard not to consider that reality, thank you," Allen replied, expression growing sour, and Lavi grinned at how young it made him look. It was a refreshing change, considering everything they'd gone through.

Maybe once this was all over, Allen would have the chance to enjoy being a teenager. Unlikely, but it was a nice thought. Lavi could almost imagine it, Allen and Lenalee and maybe even Kanda, finally free of this dark existence and able to embrace a few light-hearted pleasures of youth. If the Earl and the Noah were defeated and the akuma were eliminated, they might even be able to live relatively normal lives.

Even in Lavi's fantasies, he couldn't imagine himself among them. He'd given up any claim to innocence or normality long before the Black Order.

"Well, maybe we can put up a curtain or something," Lavi said, shaking off his heavier thoughts before they could crush the pleasant mood Allen's presence had brought. He collected his dirty clothes from the counter, wrapping them neatly to be deposited in the laundry on the way back. "If everyone's ready, I don't wanna keep them waiting. I have to imagine we'll be safer on the road."

Allen nodded, reaching out and grabbing Lavi's laundry without a thought. Ignoring Lavi's protest, he began the slow walk down the hallway, grumbling, "Maybe if we get lucky, Apocryphos will attack before we leave and I won't have to endure my master at all."

Lavi laughed, letting himself be led away.

---

If Lavi thought he understood how terrible traveling crammed together in a small carriage with this particular group of people was going to be, he was wrong.

It was exponentially worse.

"Could you stop making such a racket?" Kanda snapped, glaring over at Allen's corner of the carriage for the fourth time that morning. "I'm trying to meditate, and your endless yammering isn't helping!"

Allen bristled like a tomcat, echoing Kanda's annoyance as he fired back, "Johnny's explaining the way they decoct medicines in the lab! It's not yammering!"

"Well, it's not useful, either!"

Leaning against the corner next to Allen, Lavi let his head fall back against the carriage wall as Allen and Kanda launched into yet another verbal sparring match. It had taken all of two days for the tenuous truce begot by their flight from the mansion to fade away, quashed under one unavoidable truth: being stuck together in a small space made other people utterly infuriating.

It hadn't taken long for the carriage to divide itself into zones. Allen and Lavi sat near the back, often joined by Crowley and Johnny for company and conversation. Bookman took the opposite corner, quietly reading or writing correspondence, and Kanda and Link usually elected to join him in the quieter end of the carriage. Unfortunately, sheer proximity meant that any sort of genuine silence was impossible, a fact which only exacerbated Kanda's irritation at being surrounded by people. Once exhaustion, apprehension, and plain old travel stress were added in, it made for a powder keg of nerves.

Kanda and Allen couldn't help but bicker at the slightest provocation, of which there were many. Crowley was running low on akuma blood, making him lethargic and snappy, and Link seemed to like being around people even less than Kanda. Johnny somehow managed to keep his spirits buoyed, but his anxious chatter whenever tensions got too high often grated on the nerves.

Lavi was genuinely grateful that Cross had elected to sit up front with Tiedoll for the journey so far. He could only imagine how explosive things would get with a match like Cross making contact with this particular fuse.

Lavi and Bookman were probably best suited to lengthy travel with any number of bedfellows, but Jo had been right that it was too early for them to be on the road; despite doing nothing but sitting, by the end of each successive day Lavi found himself sore and utterly exhausted, barely able to set up his bedroll before collapsing onto it.

Thankfully, Cross's Magdala Curtain saved them the trouble of manning a night watch, but Lavi still woke every morning feeling like he'd only managed to sleep for half the night. It was a good thing that they were traveling incognito; if he'd had to fight even a Level 1 akuma right now, Lavi was pretty sure he'd be smoked. Bookman didn't look much better, despite his comparative ease at hiding it.

In any case, as the group approached the end of its first week of travel, the cracks amongst them all were growing wide enough to be full-fledged gaps.

"Ugh, just because he wants to sit and stare in silence at the wall," Allen muttered to Lavi, when Kanda cut yet another argument short with a huff of frustration and a clear dismissal. Allen's hand twitched like he wanted to fight, and he crossed his arms in an attempt to keep things contained. Glancing over at Lavi, Allen groaned, "Please tell me we're getting close. I don't think I can take much more of this."

Lavi winced. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news..."

"Then lie to me," Allen pleaded, dropping his forehead onto Lavi's shoulder in defeat. "Please say we'll be there tomorrow."

"We will definitely be there on a tomorrow, just not the immediate one."

"Not helpful," Allen mumbled into Lavi's sleeve. "Why are you so cruel to me?"

"It builds character," Lavi answered, shrugging. "Gives you more endurance to fight with Kanda, don't ya think?"

"I'm sure Kanda just wants us to keep it down a bit," Johnny said, trying to maintain his optimism. Lavi gave him a pointed look, and Johnny's smile dimmed, but he still maintained, "My voice can get loud, so I'll just have to watch it."

"It's cute that you think that'll help," Lavi teased. When Johnny pouted at him, Lavi shrugged one shoulder and said, "Allen and Kanda don't get along normally, and now we're all shoved into a tiny box for twelve hours a day. I'm honestly impressed things haven't come to blows yet."

"Give it time," Crowley predicted quietly from Lavi's other side, and Lavi laughed at the dark humor in his tone.

"He's not just being a dick to me, he's been snapping at everyone," Allen protested. He rubbed at his Innocence arm in frustration, as though his irritation was causing hives.

"That's because everyone is going stir-crazy," Lavi said, stretching his arms up to fold them behind his head. "And we're barely even a week into the trip. This is gonna be fun."

"Your idea of fun is terrible," Johnny muttered.

"From the perspective of observing human nature, it's bound to be enlightening."

"Only if I make it that way by lighting Kanda on fire," Allen threatened under his breath, glaring over into the corner where Kanda was decidedly ignoring him. Lavi resisted the urge to lean away from the waves of rage that seemed to radiate from Allen's small form.

"Well, look at it this way," Lavi suggested. "It could be worse."

"How so?"

"Kanda could swap with Cross."

The look of genuine horror on Allen's face was enough to make Lavi burst out laughing, and then it was his turn to get screamed at by Kanda.

Worth it.

---

One benefit of the long hours on the road was that it gave Lavi plenty of time to review Cross' old journal from the mansion. It wasn't the only book he'd packed, but it was the most intriguing, and after he got started with the translation, it proved to be a worthy challenge.

Language was the primary issue, since the written Bookman script was not something in which Lavi considered himself particularly fluent. The script was a strange combination of linguistic properties, borrowing just enough from other lexicons to be somewhat recognizable to someone familiar with ancient languages but still difficult to decipher. Johnny, in a fit of boredom, had tried to read over Lavi's shoulder one day and nearly cried at the cryptic text; in sympathy, Lavi had allowed him to borrow one of the few books he had in English.

But while translation was the main obstacle, as Lavi read further he began to realize that it wasn't the only issue hindering his understanding.

The entire journal, from what Lavi could discern, revolved around the nature of trees. It began with an overview of their physical characteristics and read similar to a scientific treatise. This section was fairly straightforward, allowing for Lavi to read faster as he adjusted to the Bookman script again, but soon the technical writing deviated into a discussion about the use of trees symbolically across civilizations. This section slowed Lavi up yet again, as it pulled in more metaphorical examples and flowery descriptions.

Even with Lavi's natural curiosity and desire to read, the topic would not have been terribly compelling if not for the notes that Cross scattered throughout his writing. Some of the additions were official footnotes, but others were just comments, often half-thought theories that did little more than raise new questions. Next to a section concerning the age of trees, he had listed a number of seemingly unrelated locations, along with a single name: Cornelia?

In the section on symbolism and mythology, amidst the illustrations of stylized trees from a variety of cultures, Lavi found a rough sketch that looked like an early prototype of Timcanpy. He would have written it off as nothing more than a passing doodle if not for the diagrams connecting the sketch to specific materials referenced in the text.

The vague hints of something more to Cross' writing was enough to hold Lavi's attention, even if he couldn't figure out exactly what Cross' purpose was in writing it. Even more intriguing, there was a certain reference that kept popping up in Cross' footnotes, marked only by a particular tree sketch and the annotation: central archives 11-457.

To a casual observer, that might not have meant anything but an incomplete source. To Lavi, having spent three years in the Grove, the phrase held far more meaning. The eleventh floor, located deep in the catacombs of the central archives, housed the journals of all the previous Bookmen, and room 457 was off-limits to anyone but the Bookman himself. Even Lavi had never been inside.

So how was Cross able to reference a book from there?

Part of Lavi knew that he could just ask, given that Cross was going to be traveling with them for most of their trip, but a mix of distrust and pride kept him puzzling over the journal instead. Besides, Lavi figured, given Cross's cagey nature and tendency to mess with people, he was not likely to give a straight answer.

It was frustrating, but it wasn't as if Lavi had anything better to occupy his time. Even if puzzling over the journal sometimes made him feel like he was going crazy.

"Hey, Lavi," Allen prodded, waving a hand in front of Lavi's face.

Lavi blinked, tearing his thoughts away from the journal in his lap and forcing himself to focus on his friend. Maybe the crazy feeling was getting worse.

"Are you all right?" Allen asked, his smile slightly uncertain as he searched for any warning signs. "You kind of zoned out there."

"Sorry, I guess I was just too focused on translating this journal," Lavi replied, pausing to crack his sore neck. "You know how I get."

Rather than be reassured, this response seemed to give Allen pause. After a moment, he said, "You weren't reading, though. Just… staring."

Blinking again, Lavi looked down at the journal. Though he could have sworn he had just been reviewing a particular section, the book lay closed on his lap. Lavi couldn't recall shutting it.

"I guess I was doing it all in my head, then," Lavi suggested, forcing a laugh. He waved away the look of concern on Allen's face, saying, "Please, like you've never spaced out? Let a man contemplate translations in peace."

Allen rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever you say. But if you're done for now, tell me more about this secret Bookman camp we're going to."

Snorting, Lavi replied, "Okay, first of all, the Grove is not 'Bookman camp,' but I absolutely want you to call it that forever now."

---

It took a mere ten days before their dwindling supplies and travel exhaustion officially outweighed the need for haste.

"We haven't seen any sign of the Noah or Apocryphos," Tiedoll said, in response to Kanda's apprehension. "Besides, we need to resupply soon anyway, and we'll be able to hide much more effectively if we do so before we get closer to the city center of Kerman."

Despite his concerns over safety, Kanda seemed to appreciate the break from travel just as much as everyone else, and he accompanied Tiedoll and Crowley as they ventured into the nearby town to resupply.

Unfortunately, Allen and Johnny were still considered fugitives from the Black Order, and even after a rousing argument over options for disguises, they were both ordered to stay back with Cross under Magdala Curtain. Allen bristled at the restriction, but he couldn't fight the logic of it despite his clear frustration. Link also opted to stay behind, still focused on his vow to protect Allen, but he spent most of the morning lingering on the outskirts of their secured area in an effort to have a semblance of quiet.

Bookman and Lavi also stayed with the group in hiding. Their decision was less due to security and more due to their health, though Bookman was already looking better than he had at the start of their trip.

"How are you recovering so much faster than me?" Lavi whined at Bookman, who was still busy jotting down notes in his journal. "You're old. I should be the spry one."

"Perhaps your body is confused," Bookman mused, not looking up. "You waste so much energy flapping your mouth, it must think you want to prioritize your ability to babble."

Lavi threw a clod of grass at him, glaring, but he dodged. The jerk.

Regardless, it was a relief just to be outside the carriage, even if they were still stuck in a relatively small area. Lavi spent the morning exploring the confines of the meadow with Allen and Johnny, grateful that Cross had allowed a decent amount of room within the illusion cast by Magdala Curtain. Lavi had to imagine that after literal years spent traveling on his own, Cross was likely feeling just as much strain as anyone when it came to spending this much time with other people.

As the afternoon wore on, familiar boredom set in. While Johnny seemed content to settle down by Link to continue his book, Allen's agitation only seemed to grow worse. He rubbed at his arm almost compulsively, as though he was literally itching to burn off his energy in a fight. It almost made Lavi wish that Kanda had remained behind; given the size of the meadow, the inevitable squabble between them could have actually been a physical one, which Lavi thought would do them both some good.

"You know, you could still do some training on your own," Lavi suggested, as Allen threw down his latest hand of cards in a huff. It had been a winning hand, so Lavi had to reason that wasn't the issue. "I'm not up to sparring yet, but I could give pointers or something."

"I know, I know," Allen muttered, running a hand through his hair. He steadied himself and took a breath, retrieving his cards with a calmer air. Instead of resuming the match, however, Allen just set them atop the rest of the stack. Looking up at Lavi, he said, "I just hate this."

"What, Rummy? We can play something else."

"No," Allen protested, "Just… this. What our lives have become. When we were active Exorcists, we could take the fight to the Earl. We could go out and actually save people from the akuma. Now it's just…"

"Endless running and endless war?"

Allen managed a laugh, gesturing at Lavi and saying, "Exactly! At the Order, it felt like we were making a difference. Now, it's as if all we can do is run away. Constantly. I'd rather be fighting."

"I dunno, I'm still pretty useless in a fight," Lavi said, shrugging. "The only thing my Innocence seems to be good for is exhausting me right now."

"At least we'd be doing something," Allen countered, dropping his chin into his palms.

"Yeah, dying."

Allen made a face, rolling his eyes in irritation. "Oh come on, you know what I mean."

Lavi raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to pretend I like it either, but I'm kinda surprised this part is getting to you so badly. We used to travel all the time as Exorcists."

"Yeah, for a mission," Allen said. "This isn't the same. Before, we'd travel because we needed to go save a town or investigate Innocence, and we had control over how we were going to do that. This… this isn't traveling. It's more like being smuggled."

Lavi nodded, considering the words, and was about to respond when another voice cut in.

"It's your own fault, so I don't see why you keep whining about it," said Cross, appearing from seemingly nowhere. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it up, blowing a stream of smoke down onto their heads.

Both Allen and Lavi jumped, scrambling back from the tree line and gaping up at the man.

Cross rolled his eyes. "I was just checking the perimeter. No need to act like children about it."

"I mean, we are still technically children, I think," Lavi pointed out. Cross ignored him.

Somewhat quicker on the uptake, Allen snapped, "What the hell do you mean, whining about it? You're not the one who's been forced into hiding!"

Cross leveled Allen with a deadpan stare. "Do you not recall that I'm supposed to be dead?"

"You chose to let everyone think that," Allen countered. "Besides, you know full well that no one at the Order would bat an eye if you came back. Half of them barely believed you were dead in the first place! And clearly, they were right."

"Regardless," Cross said, his tone catching an air of smugness at the reminder of his successful feint, "you're the last person who should be complaining about your situation. I tried to tell you to stop fighting it, but you insisted that you had to keep walking. This is part of the price for that decision, apprentice."

Lavi frowned, unsure what Cross was referring to, but his statement flipped a switch in Allen. Before Lavi could even blink, Allen was on his feet, glaring at Cross with fury in his eyes. The air seemed to shiver around him, as though the molecules themselves were reacting to his aura. For a moment, Lavi swore he even heard a faint buzzing, but as soon as he focused on the sound, it faded away.

"So it wasn't a dream, then!" Allen snarled, fists clenched at his side. "You were there!"

"Of course I was there," Cross said. Lavi winced at the dismissive tone as Allen's temper seemed to burn even brighter. "I told you to go to the mansion, didn't I? If you're going to insist on doing this the hard way, you shouldn't keep grumbling about it."

"What other choice do I have, exactly?" Allen asked, stepping up to Cross like he wanted to clock him. He was still a good head shorter than the older man, but it was clear that Allen had grown some since Lavi had last seen them together. "Just giving up? Letting Nea take over my body and just disappearing? Isn't that what you suggested I do?"

As Allen's voice rose, Lavi glanced around the meadow to see Johnny and Link on the opposite side, watching the exchange warily. Bookman was seated closer, though his expression was more effectively shuttered; Lavi had seen him in observation mode more than enough times to know what it looked like by now.

He wasn't sure how this exchange was going to play out, but Lavi climbed to his feet just in case, eyeing the way Allen's hands shook. His Innocence arm seemed to vibrate worse than the other, and Allen cradled it against his side as if it ached.

"It would be easier," Cross said, taking another drag on his cigarette. His cool tone only seemed to worsen his words as he continued, "You had the option to drown in your memories with Mana and sleep, but you chose to keep going. I already told you, it's inevitable. The Fourteenth will overtake you, no matter what you do."

"And what, I should just take your word for it?" Allen shouted, slapping the cigarette right out of Cross's fingers. "Because you've been so honest about everything that's been going on so far, is that it?"

Cross did not flinch, expression stony. "Nothing I've done changes the reality of your situation."

"Are you shitting me—?"

Ignoring the interjection, Cross said, "Has anyone ever been able to successfully resist being taken over by a Noah? Ever? Have you heard of any instance where that actually happened?"

Allen's jaw clenched, fury still evident in every feature, but he said nothing.

"The only thing you're doing by fighting the Fourteenth is prolonging your own suffering," Cross snapped. "I offered to stay with you, to help you through it, but you chose to fight. Don't go crying to me now that you have to stand on your own two feet."

Lavi still wasn't sure what conversation they kept referring to – as far as he knew, Allen had been just as surprised as he was when Cross showed up at the mansion – but he could tell Allen was nearing his breaking point. A fight between Allen and Kanda would have been letting off steam, but a fight between Allen and Cross was fraught with so much history that Lavi couldn't imagine it going any way but terrible.

With that in mind, Lavi took a step forward. "Allen," he said, trying to head off the explosion.

Allen ignored him, still focused on Cross. "You said I needed to walk alone! So I'm doing just that, and I'll do it my own way! You no longer have a say in how I'm handling this situation!"

"Forgive me for trying to spare you the pain," Cross replied, with a tone Lavi could only imagine he had used when Allen was being a particularly difficult child. "I told you I'd always be your master, but that doesn't change the reality that you're Nea's host. Your fate is already sealed."

"Why'd you even bother, then?" Allen cried, his eyes bright with rage and tears. He charged forward like he was going to strike at Cross, and without thinking, Lavi grabbed Allen's shoulder to hold him back.

The instant his hand made contact, a blinding explosive force blew Lavi back into a tree, knocking the air from his lungs. His head spun, and he was just barely able to keep himself upright as he tried to regain his focus. It took a few moments, but as soon as Lavi reoriented himself, he stared in shock at the scene before him.

Allen had been knocked backward as well, stumbling several feet but managing to stay standing. He turned to face Cross once again.

This time, however, it was not Allen.

"You," Nea hissed, golden eyes glowing in the shadowed light of the meadow as an aura of doom froze the air around him. "I've been dying to talk to you, Cross Marian. What the HELL DID YOU DO?"

The ferocity of Nea's tone made all the hairs on Lavi's neck stand on end, as eerie and alarming as a snake's rattle. For the first time, Cross's expression showed something other than smug indifference, but Lavi couldn't read the complicated look that passed over his eyes.

"It's been awhile, Nea," Cross replied, keeping a neutral tone as he adopted a casual but guarded stance.

"Oh no, you don't get to do that," Nea hissed. He began to move forward, slowly and deliberately, like a mountain lion eying its next meal. "We had a plan, Cross, and now I'm stuck with this useless host while the Heart is still outside my control. So what the hell happened, Cross? Did you think you could make your own plan and get away scot-free? Create a little fiefdom to rival the Earl? Keep the Heart for your own family line?"

"Hardly," Cross said. His eyes never left Nea, already poised for a fight, but he gestured dismissively toward Lavi. "That was nothing but a mistake."

"A mistake?" Nea repeated, barking a laugh. His mouth twitched and his anger seemed to go off-kilter as he repeated, "A mistake? Nothing about your BETRAYAL was a mistake. You must've done away with Allen and left me with this nobody instead, keeping the Heart for yourself! And now you expect me to cooperate – to play my part in some broken scheme of yours, without so much as a fucking explanation? I demand an answer, you conniving little worm—!"

Nea lunged, hands in claws as though he wanted to personally tear Cross's eyes out, but before he could make contact, Link abruptly intercepted. Lavi caught the barest glimpse of a seal flying through the air before another flash of magic interrupted his view.

By the time Lavi regained focus, Nea – or Allen, he supposed – was unconscious on the ground with Link standing over him. Cross hadn't moved, but for a split second Lavi thought he almost looked regretful.

"Is… is he okay?" Johnny asked. He had crept closer to Bookman, still maintaining a careful distance.

"The seal should contain him for now," Link replied. He knelt next to Allen's body and began applying additional talismans around Allen's Innocence arm, the same way he had done back in the mansion. "I assumed Allen had a strong enough hold on his consciousness during waking hours, but I underestimated the strength of the Heart."

Lavi blinked, staring at Link in confusion. "Wait, what? What do you mean, the Heart?"

Link looked up at him, his face carefully neutral. "Allen's Innocence clearly reacted to the Heart," he explained.

"But," Lavi began, staring down at his hands. "But it wasn't even activated—"

"Do you really think that matters?" Cross derided, much less subtle with his scorn. "You triggered my idiot apprentice when you touched him. Maybe you should watch that until you figure out how to control yourself."

Lavi stayed frozen by the tree line as Link gathered Allen up, moving him safely across the meadow. He pressed his hand to his stomach, unerringly finding the stigmata scar beneath his shirt. He couldn't feel the Heart any more than normal, but Allen's unconscious form made it clear there was more going on than he knew.

---

"I just don't get it," Lavi murmured, keeping his voice low despite their distance from the rest of the group. "That wasn't the first time I've touched Allen since my Innocence crystallized, and it's never triggered his Innocence before. How could that happen?"

"The properties of the Heart are largely unknown," Bookman replied. He dropped the hem of Lavi's shirt, having taken the opportunity to examine the Innocence scar after the strange reaction. "Nothing appears to be different on your end. Unless you're sensing something I can't detect."

"Not really," Lavi said. He glanced across the meadow, where the rest of the group was illuminated in the firelight. Tiedoll, Kanda, and Crowley had returned shortly after the incident, but Lavi had made himself scarce, too worried over his Innocence having other residual effects on Allen to risk being too close. "I guess I've been tired lately? But that's just from recovery."

"Perhaps," said Bookman. "Or perhaps the Heart is activating without your knowledge."

"Great," muttered Lavi, sighing and leaning against a tree. "More complications."

A branch cracked nearby, and both Bookman and Lavi looked up to see Allen standing a few lengths away, apparently sneakier than Lavi had anticipated. He had woken up shortly after Kanda's group returned, but Lavi had avoided the retelling of the incident in favor of staying as far away from Allen as he could. He was sure they had all debated the reaction as well, but Bookman hadn't reported any conclusions the others had drawn and Lavi hadn't checked in since. He eyed Allen's Innocence arm, brow furrowing at the layer of fresh talismans Link had applied.

"It wasn't your fault," Allen said in lieu of a greeting.

Lavi blinked, then frowned. "What do you mean, it wasn't my fault? I touched your shoulder and the Fourteenth popped out; that wasn't a coincidence."

Allen winced. "Well, no, it wasn't, but I'm pretty sure the Heart was not the problem."

"The Heart is what your Innocence reacted to, surely," Bookman said, raising an eyebrow.

"My Innocence was reacting to my anger," countered Allen. "I know it was, because I could feel it building up. The Heart just… I don't know, gave it a little push."

Lavi gave him a pointed look. "So it was me."

"Well, yes, but not because of anything you did!" Allen exclaimed, his jaw tightening in frustration. "If I hadn't let my temper get the best of me, we would have been fine—"

"This time," Bookman cautioned. "We don't know what the Heart is capable of."

"That doesn't mean you have to stay all the way over here or avoid me for the rest of the trip," Allen said. He stared at Lavi, looking miserable as he picked at the talismans. "I could feel Nea in the back of my head before you even stood up, Lavi. I'm just so sick of traveling, and Master made me so furious, I couldn't stop my Innocence from reacting. Besides, Nea has come out entirely on his own before, too. I can't always control it. That's— that's part of why I lashed out at my master."

It took a moment for Allen's meaning to click, which left a sick feeling to settle in Lavi's stomach. "You're worried that he's right."

"Sometimes it feels so pointless," Allen said, his eyes straying away as if admitting it was shameful. Before Lavi could respond, however, he met Lavi's gaze with renewed conviction. "But I promised Lenalee I'd fight, so I'm going to see this through. I just… please don't make me endure the rest of this trip alone. I might end up murdering Kanda, and we actually do need him, so where would that leave us?"

Lavi couldn't contain his grin as Allen put on his best pleading expression. He glanced at Bookman, who shrugged.

"There's no evidence to suggest that avoidance would be effective," Bookman conceded. "We will all be in close proximity no matter how far apart you two are. We have to trust the talismans will hold."

"Well," Lavi said, directing his smile back to Allen again. "Guess we're relying on the good inspector to keep us safe. God help us all."

Allen returned the grin. "Here's hoping his talismans are on par with his baking."

"Oh yeah," Lavi mused. "He must be going through withdrawal, stuck all the way out here with no kitchen."

"Without a doubt," concurred Allen. He paused, glancing awkwardly between Lavi and Bookman for a moment before saying, "So, I'll just… leave you two to finish your debrief, then. I just wanted to make sure to let you know what happened."

Lavi nodded, smiling fondly at the earnest apprehension in Allen's eyes, and waved him off as he returned to the campfire, where the rest of the group was gathered. He didn't look any worse for wear after his ordeal, but Lavi could still see the heaviness weighing on his shoulders.

When he turned back to Bookman, the old man's eyes were sharp and scrutinizing. Lavi fought the urge to look away, fully aware of what was coming.

"We've talked about this," Bookman said coolly. "A number of times."

"What does it matter now?" asked Lavi, trying to fight against a rush of irritation at the knowing look in Bookman's eyes.

"It's still a fool's errand to get involved with the actors—"

"I thought I wasn't your apprentice anymore," Lavi clipped, cutting him off. "So why do you care? Am I not just another actor now?"

Bookman's expression shuttered, clearly not expecting the retort, but Lavi turned away before he could respond. He made sure to keep his pace steady and calm as he walked back toward the group. It felt like storming off nonetheless.

---

He blinked, and his vision was filled with a gleaming tree.

Perfect was the only way to describe it. The branches stretched high into the sky, lush with silvery-white leaves. The sky was clear and blue, glinting through small gaps in the leaves as they rustled in the fragrant breeze.

He was close enough to nearly touch the trunk of the tree. He hesitated before his hand could touch the bark, feeling a strange warmth emanating from the wood. There was a hum – no, a vibration – no, a shiver down his spine –

A footstep sounded behind him, and he pulled his hand back.

He turned, and was struck with a terror – an awe – a force so grand it froze the voice in his throat—

Lavi jerked awake, gasping.

Despite the late hour, the moon overhead cast just enough light for Lavi to get his bearings. He sat up, eyes darting immediately to Bookman at his side, curled up asleep by his pack. The fact that Bookman was still asleep told Lavi his panic was just from the dream, and he focused on that while he slowly regained control over his breathing.

He had no idea what had scared him so much in the dream, but it still took a few minutes for his heart to stop racing. He'd seen this tree in his dreams before, but it had been weeks since the last time. Part of Lavi had thought the dreams were just an initial reaction to his Innocence crystallizing, or maybe just an aftereffect of being in the mansion itself, but this new dream told him it might be something more than that.

This dream felt different, too.

It held the air of a memory.

Lavi shook his head, trying to concentrate on whatever it was that had scared him awake, but despite his Bookman memory, the last moments of his dream slipped away. He was left with nothing more than a lingering shiver.

Sighing, Lavi forced himself to lie back down, curling up on the soft ground and willing his apprehension to fade away. This time, he turned toward Allen, and it was only then that he realized the younger boy was also awake.

"Are you okay?" Allen whispered. He was still lying down, but his eyes seemed too steady for someone who had just woken up.

"Y-yeah, just a weird dream," Lavi replied. "Did I wake you? I'm sorry."

"No, you didn't," Allen answered, shaking his head. He held up his talisman-wrapped Innocence arm, wincing slightly with the gesture. "It's been giving me problems this entire trip, and the talismans don't help. They sort of make it worse, actually. It's hard to sleep."

"Do they hurt?" asked Lavi, eyes narrowing. "You shouldn't have to wear them if they hurt. We can handle the risk—"

"No, it's not like that," Allen interjected. "I'm mostly just sore. Nea isn't worth the risk."

"If the talismans are making you lose sleep, maybe he is."

"I'll be fine," Allen murmured, with a rueful sort of tone that made Lavi want to curse out whoever had made Allen so willing to accept disappointment. Before Lavi could formulate a response, Allen pressed on, "Besides, I'm not the one recovering from injuries. Why didn't you say you were having bad dreams?"

"I'm not," Lavi said, sighing. He recognized Allen's 'change the subject' tone, and assumed that he wasn't likely to get anywhere pushing on Allen's sleep habits. Instead, he focused on denying his own issues, adding, "They're just weird, and this is the first time it's happened since the mansion. I guess I was surprised."

Allen stared at him, eyes dark and serious in the dim moonlight. He seemed well aware that Lavi wasn't telling the full truth, but Allen also seemed to realize that they were at a standstill if neither wanted to talk about their difficulties.

Rather than press, Allen shot Lavi a crooked smile. "Wanna count constellations, then? It doesn't sound like either of us are getting much sleep tonight."

Lavi returned the grin, rolling onto his back to stare up at the starry sky. "I wasn't aware you cared that much about astronomy."

"Nah, but the stories are fun," Allen said. "I enjoyed hearing about all the different ones, like the Two-bit Gambler, the Contortionist Stripper, the King of Thieves—"

"What kind of wacked out astronomy did you learn?" Lavi asked, just barely managing to keep his laughter at more of a snicker. "Those aren't the right names at all."

Allen shrugged. "I never said they were accurate."

"Okay, let's trade constellations," Lavi said, shaking his head in amusement. "You owe me these ridiculous stories now."

By the time they were on their second constellation, the strange tree and remnant terror had faded from Lavi's mind. And by the time dawn broke, Lavi could scarcely remember what had woken him in the first place.

---

"Lavi? Hey, Lavi, are you okay?"

Lavi blinked, fog fading from his thoughts, and focused on Johnny's concerned face in front of his own. The long days of travel hadn't done much to calm the frizzy halo of hair around the young scientist's head; if anything, his curls grew wilder with every new day on the road.

"Are you feeling okay?" Johnny asked, relief clear in his face as he realized that Lavi was responding.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Lavi asked, frowning. He moved to gesture with the book he'd just been reading, a collection of medical texts he'd borrowed from Bookman, but was startled to discover that his hand was empty. The book was dropped face-down on the floor of the carriage.

"I mean, we've been stopped for a couple minutes, but you didn't react, and it took a bit for you respond to me," Johnny said. He glanced behind him, where Bookman was regarding the scene in silence, eyes locked on Lavi. "I was just worried…"

Lavi met Bookman's gaze, reading the mix of scrutiny and concern in his eyes. He hadn't spoken much to Bookman since storming off in the meadow, still feeling the lingering bruise of his lost apprenticeship, but his irritation hadn't lasted long enough to nurse a true grudge.

The calculating edge to Bookman's gaze now was just enough to make Lavi's annoyance flare again, and he tore his eyes away to look back at Johnny instead.

Shutting out Bookman's attention, Lavi said, "Don't worry about it, Johnny. I was just lost in thought." Turning toward the front of the carriage, Lavi saw the rest of the group crowded around the still-closed curtain separating the cabin from the driver's perch. "We stopped, you said?"

"Y-yeah, just a bit ago," Johnny said, going along with the abrupt change in subject. "I think one of the locals flagged us down, but it's a bit too crowded up there for all of us to listen in."

With Johnny's help, Lavi climbed to his feet. He was debating prodding Crowley for an update when the entire group quieted and began to back away from the curtain to let Tiedoll climb through.

"It was just a local," Tiedoll informed them without preamble, brow furrowed. "He didn't recognize our carriage and wanted to warn us away from a nearby cave system, just in case we happened to go near it. Apparently, one of the caves is haunted and has been known to drive a person insane if they have the misfortune of stumbling upon it."

Tiedoll paused, eyeing the group as they took in his words.

Not missing a beat, Allen replied, "So, more Innocence, then?"

"Obviously," Cross concurred, rolling his eye as he leaned against the opposite wall of the carriage.

"It was kind of that villager to warn us," Crowley murmured.

"I bet they've gotten sick of dumb tourists driving themselves mad," Kanda replied, shrugging. "The real question is, what do we want to do?"

"Avoid it," Cross replied immediately, scowling. "Why would we have wasted the past few weeks traveling incognito just to go gallivanting off to an Innocence cave?"

"It is our responsibility as Exorcists to collect Innocence," Tiedoll countered. "I don't like the idea of leaving Innocence in the wild to disturb civilians."

"It sounds like the locals have a good handle on it," Link pointed out.

"What about travelers, though?" Allen asked. His voice had gained a particular tone that Lavi had heard in countless battles against the Earl's forces: righteous indignation. From the way Kanda bristled, he recognized it as well. "If we leave it there, we could be condemning any number of people to insanity."

"It's possible the Order is already aware of this cave," Crowley offered, conciliatory as always. "Perhaps they've dispatched a team…"

"It's a remote area, so that's doubtful. And if they haven't discovered it yet, Allen is correct," Tiedoll said. "We have a duty to recover the Innocence if we can. With seven Exorcists in tow, I imagine it should be a quick errand."

Cross stared at Tiedoll for a long moment before throwing his hands up, not bothering to argue anymore despite clearly disagreeing. Allen looked victorious, but a sidelong glance at Bookman told Lavi that his mentor was less than pleased by the decision.

"It'll be a nice change of pace?" Lavi suggested, when Bookman noticed the attention.

"It's a foolish plan," muttered Bookman derisively, his tone so closely mirroring Cross's that Lavi was surprised he'd never noticed it before. "But we're hardly in a position to force the issue."

It didn't take long for Tiedoll to restart the carriage, now heading in the exact direction they had been warned against. Kanda sat up by the front to discuss the plan with Tiedoll while Allen, Link, and Crowley rejoined the group in the back. Allen was already looking more energized, as if the sheer presence of a mission was enough to shake his stress away.

"You'd better not be wishing for akuma," Lavi warned as Allen drew closer.

"I should hope not," Link muttered.

"I'm not that masochistic," replied Allen, laughing it off. "I'm just happy to do anything but ride in a carriage and make camp. Besides, I hear the caves in Persia are gorgeous."

"They are," Lavi confirmed, recalling a brief foray he'd taken with Bookman as a child, though they were a day's travel south of that particular site. "As long as we don't go crazy first."

"That would be one way to end the war," Allen said in a dry tone of voice, shrugging.

It didn't take long to reach the cave system, which ran alongside the far eastern edge of the town and was comprised of multiple interconnected caves. At least, that was the impression Lavi got as he climbed down from the carriage and stared at the variety of holes leading deep into the rocky hill. The closest one to the road was the largest, promising a safer hike, but there were trails all around the mountain leading to openings deeper still.

"Please tell me you guys have a sense of where to start," Johnny bemoaned, squinting at the vast area. "Otherwise I don't think this will be all that quick."

"Perhaps we could split up?" Crowley offered.

"No," Tiedoll said immediately. "It's more important to stay safe. Besides, as we get closer, the effects of Innocence should become more obvious."

Kanda gave his master a sidelong look, pressing his lips together in a tight line. "Unless we go crazy first," he murmured.

"The villager didn't seem to think it was an immediate effect," Tiedoll countered in a good-natured tone.

Lavi was only half-paying attention to their conversation, still wrapped up in observing the natural formations before him. None of the caves looked particularly remarkable for the area, though he wouldn't be surprised if they found wild animals making homes out of a few of the more distant ones. As he waited for the debate to resolve on where to start, Lavi found his eye being drawn toward the right, where a narrow twisting dirt path led to a seemingly ordinary cave in the distance. There was a strange sensation in the back of his mind, almost like a buzzing that he couldn't quite hear, but it faded just as he tried to concentrate on it.

Before he could reconsider, Lavi pointed at the cave and cut in, "What about that one?"

An awkward silence followed his interruption, and Lavi winced at the puzzled stares he received. It was clear from their tense stances that Kanda and Allen had been gearing up for yet another squabble, but instead Allen just asked, "Why that one?"

"I…," Lavi began, before realizing that he had no solid ground to work with. The buzzing sensation had not returned. "I'm not sure. It feels right?"

"That's a stupider answer than the beansprout gave," Kanda replied snidely, though he seemed to be considering it.

"At least we're offering options instead of just shooting people down!" Allen snapped. Lavi wondered just how much of their building fight he'd blocked out.

"It stands to reason that the Heart might be better able to sense Innocence," Bookman said, stepping up to stand beside Lavi. "If we don't have any reason to start elsewhere, we could test the theory."

"Oh, that'd be fascinating," Johnny said, eyes bright with interest. "Like Lavi is a sort of Innocence divining rod? Do you think—?"

"Who gives a shit?" Cross asked, cutting Johnny's question off with a tone of finality, starting down the path that Lavi indicated. "We're here to get the Innocence and that's it. Let's just get it over with."

Johnny wilted at the brush-off, but shrugged ruefully at Allen when he mouthed an apology for his master. No one seemed to have any counter to Cross's decision as they followed him down the narrow path. The cave was visible from the main road, but it still took a bit of hiking before they managed to reach its entrance. The faint sound of water dripped within, echoing against the stone, and the opening was shaped like a jagged set of teeth, set just wide enough for them to see a faint glow emanating from the darkness.

The buzzing returned as Lavi stared into the cave, like the faint aftershock of an explosion.

"Well, this is ominous," Crowley murmured wryly.

"You're one to talk," Allen said. "Your castle was far worse."

"How did you think I recognized the ambiance?"

"Be careful as you approach," Tiedoll said, stepping forward alongside Cross to enter the cave first. "We have no way of knowing how quickly insanity can set in, so we need to be on guard."

Lavi waited with Bookman at the back until the rest of the group had entered, still not trusting his own stamina to be able to face any threats that might lie within the cave. He was honestly relieved that the hike to the cave hadn't taken too much out of him, given how difficult it still felt to even set up camp after a long day in the carriage.

Inside the cave, the air was dank and humid, scarcely cooler in the darkness than in the sunlight outside. The eerie glow reflected against the jutting stones that formed the walls of the cave, making them glitter as tiny gemstones in the rock caught the light. The narrow opening began to expand roughly thirty yards into the cave, shaping into a wide chamber. Most of the chamber was taken up by a large pool that rippled gently as water dripped from the back wall. There, centered in the damp cavern surface, a glowing stone emanated faint blue light over the clear spring.

"How are we supposed to get to it?" Allen asked, frowning at the Innocence. It was imbedded in the wall just above water level, not too far out of reach, but entirely inaccessible without crossing the cavern pool.

"Swim, obviously," Cross said. "Or possibly just wade."

Kanda swiped at the sweat collecting on his face as he scoffed, "And go crazy? The water is probably what causes the madness."

"On a hot day, it would be hard to resist," Tiedoll murmured, kneeling by the edge of the spring. He was careful not to touch the water.

"Maybe we could blast it loose?" Cross suggested, tilting his head at the stone.

"What, do you have dynamite on you?" Lavi joked.

"There's a spell or two I could use," continued Cross, not bothering to glance back at Lavi.

"Surely not," Link countered. He stepped close to the lake's edge, eyes focused on the stone set in the far wall. "The cave system is too delicate. We could be crushed."

"That, and there might be akuma in the vicinity," Allen agreed, sidling up to Link's side. "We can't be too careful."

"Swimming might be the only option left," Crowley said.

Lavi frowned as Crowley crouched down by Tiedoll, examining the clear water with interest. Glancing around, he realized that most of the group had slowly drawn closer to water, eyes focused intensely on the glowing Innocence across the lake.

"Um," Lavi said, frowning. "Bookman, are you seeing this?"

Bookman stepped past him, eyes intent on the far wall of the cave. "It's possible we could use the Innocence itself. It is a power source."

"Guys?" Lavi asked, as he felt fear begin to build in the back of his mind. "Guys, I think you need to back away from the water now."

No one seemed to hear him, too intent on the stone and the water surrounding it. Lavi looked around for someone else to see what he was seeing, but he stood alone at the back of the cavern, seemingly the only one unaffected by the strange mood that had descended upon them.

Lavi pulled Bookman's shoulder, shaking the old man. "Gramps, are you seeing this?"

"There are options for destroying the stone," Bookman said, shaking off Lavi's grip without looking at him. His eyes were locked on the Innocence embedded in the opposite wall. "We simply need to consider the most logical course of action."

Rushing forward, Lavi grabbed Allen's arm, pulling his friend back from the edge of the pool. "Allen, c'mon, snap out of it."

"We have cut it loose," Allen murmured, eyes reflecting the blue glow of the stone. For a moment, Lavi hoped he might have broken through, but then Allen continued as if on a loop, "We can't just leave the Innocence here, it'll wind up attracting akuma."

Lavi dropped his grip, looking around the rest of the group. They were all still talking like they were having a conversation, but as he listened, Lavi realized that they weren't talking to each other at all anymore. Instead, the discussion had turned into a series of monologues overlapping each other, like each person was simply lost in their own imagination.

"What the hell is going on here?" Lavi muttered, looking around wildly to see what had triggered the change. Though everyone had drawn near the water, no one was actually touching it. Even Tiedoll was still carefully avoiding the edge, though he now seemed to be addressing a former student as he considered the water.

Just as Lavi thought of the strangeness, the answer burst in his mind like a flash: there was water in the air.

They'd been breathing in the insanity ever since stepping into the cave.

"And somehow I'm the only one unaffected," Lavi muttered, sighing. "Or maybe I'm just going crazy, too."

However, as he continued to regard the group, it seemed that he really was the only one left alone by the spell. No one else was paying attention to other people, too wrapped up in their own thoughts. As he listened, the talk began to slowly dovetail away from the Innocence in front of them, leaving Johnny to murmur about various scientific theories while Crowley reflected on how he'd never learned to swim as a child. Lavi gave up trying to listen after that.

He had no doubt the Heart was the only reason he was protected, but he had no idea how long the protection would last. If he wanted to stop the literal madness, it would have to be soon.

Lavi crept along the side of the group, tuning out their babble, and regarded the clear water. There was no way to the stone but going through the pool, and even if he were to try and summon his hammer somehow, there wasn't a ledge to land on once he made it across. At best, he could have tried to brace himself against the hammer and the wall while he wrestled out the Innocence, but he knew that was ridiculous even as he considered it.

It only took a few seconds for reality to sink in.

"All right then," Lavi muttered to himself, stripping off his tunic and starting to unlace his boots. "Looks like I'm getting wet."

It wasn't long before Lavi found himself barefoot and shirtless, standing at the edge of the pool with trepidation. There was no way of verifying that the Heart would shield him from the insanity once he faced the Innocence's power directly, but he couldn't see any other alternative. Before he could lose his nerve, Lavi forced himself forward, splashing into the cool water until he was nearly thigh-deep.

Immediately, the buzzing surged until it resembled the endless drone of cicadas, loud and unrelenting against his mind. The Innocence seemed to glow brighter as Lavi approached, making him wince against its sharp light, but he persisted. As he plunged deeper into the water, Lavi forced himself to focus, trying to keep his mind secure against the insistent pressure of the Innocence surrounding him.

The closer he drew to the Innocence, the warmer the stigmata wound in his side became. It almost seemed to throb, though it wasn't painful, and the buzzing over the water faded as the pull of the Heart grew stronger. By the time Lavi found himself at the back wall, shoulders-deep in the pool, he could scarcely hear the sound anymore.

Instead, his eyes were locked onto the Innocence just above his head, as it seemed to resonate with the same pulsing beat he felt in his side. Without thinking, Lavi reached up to touch the stone, but before he could even consider how to pry it loose, the Innocence reacted.

As soon as Lavi's fingers brushed the cool stone, the Innocence seemed to dissolve, reforming into a familiar cube shape for a brief moment before flowing across Lavi's hand like water. When he pulled his hand back, Lavi was astonished to see the glowing liquid sink into his skin, vanishing without a trace.

The throbbing of his Innocence scar faded as a strong wave of warm relief washed across his body, like plunging into a hot bath after a bitterly cold snowstorm. For a long moment, Lavi felt lost in the sensation. The effect was short-lived, however, and he soon came back to himself standing stock-still in the deep water.

Lavi stared at his hand in shock, barely registering the sudden silence in the cave. The hum of the Innocence had vanished entirely, leaving nothing but an ordinary cavern. Lavi couldn't even feel a different presence within himself, as though the piece of Innocence had been completely incorporated by the Heart.

"Well, that was weird," Lavi murmured, examining his hand in depth. It didn't take long for him to realize there wasn't anything different about it, so he shrugged and began to make his way back to shore.

The trip back felt much shorter now that he wasn't battling the force of the Innocence trying to hold him off. On dry land, the rest of the group slowly began to shake off the strange spell they had been under, but Lavi was redressed and lacing up his boots before any of them spoke.

"W-where did the Innocence go?" Link said, looking utterly confused as he stared at the back wall.

"It's right… there…" Crowley said, gesturing with his hand before realizing that the glow was gone. The shock on his face was mirrored by the rest of the group as they all came to the same realization.

Before a whole discussion could start, Lavi announced, "I got the Innocence. We're good now."

Everyone turned to stare at him, no closer to any clarity.

"You got it?" Tiedoll asked. "But… how? When?"

"Well, first off, you all went crazy," Lavi said, biting back his amusement at the group's continued bafflement. He proceeded to explain what happened, keeping it as simple as he could and ignoring the concerned frowns and wide-eyed stares that the story begot.

"You just absorbed it?" Kanda exclaimed, eyes narrowing. "But you already have Innocence. Do you have both now? How does that work?"

"You got me," Lavi said, shrugging. "It doesn't feel like two pieces of Innocence. It still just feels like the Heart."

"So you assimilated it," said Allen, sounding fascinated. "I've never heard of Innocence just vanishing like that."

"I have," Link said, cutting off any comments from the others. His eyes narrowed as he regarded Lavi with an unreadable expression. "Apocryphos can absorb Innocence, or so he says – I've heard him claim it personally. He can track it, too."

The revelation made Lavi pause, recalling the pull he'd felt toward the cave. Staring back down at his unchanged hand, Lavi asked, "So… you think I'm like Apocryphos now?"

"Or maybe Apocryphos is like you," Tiedoll said, his tone considering. "A twisted version, perhaps, but if he's made of the same material as the Heart, it would explain his abilities and his desperation to reunite with it."

"But Lavi isn't absorbing Innocence all the time," Allen protested. "We've been around him this whole trip, and our Innocence is completely fine."

"Our Innocence isn't in a raw state like that one was," Kanda countered, gesturing to the empty wall where the stone of Innocence used to reside. "But the Heart definitely has an effect on our Innocence as well. Or did you forget getting knocked out?"

Before Allen could snap back, Bookman interjected.

"It's more specific than that," the old man said, eyes piercing Lavi like he was nothing more than a moth pinned to an insect board. "The Heart can bolster other Innocence. That's why Allen's Innocence reacted so strongly – it became overloaded when Lavi made contact."

"But I wasn't even activating it!" Lavi exclaimed.

"Not consciously," replied Bookman. "It took me some time to notice, but the Heart's been activated this entire trip. You've been supplying energy to Cross and Tiedoll's Innocence without realizing it."

Lavi stared in confusion at Bookman, gratified that most of the group seemed to share a similar expression. Before he could argue again, however, Cross cut in with a laugh that sounded more like a scoff.

"The seizures," Cross said, eying Bookman knowingly. The old man nodded, expression unchanged.

Frowning, Lavi glanced over at Allen to see if he could make more sense of the conversation. By the look on Allen's face, he wasn't alone in feeling lost.

"What are you talking about?" Lavi asked.

Surprisingly, it was Johnny who spoke up.

"Oh," he said, eyes alight. "All those times Lavi was zoned out and didn't respond?"

"Those were absence seizures," Bookman confirmed, nodding. "Subtle enough that I doubt we noticed all of them."

"What are you guys talking about?" Lavi reiterated, frowning at the way everyone seemed to take this information in stride. Even Allen looked as though he'd suddenly discovered a missing puzzle piece.

"You've been having petit mal seizures," Bookman said. The use of the French term jarred Lavi's memory, recalling his time at an Army camp in Paris, where he studied medicine while recovering from a gunshot wound. "Not strong enough to render you unconscious, or long enough to be debilitating. I wasn't sure at first what was causing them, since you didn't have them at the mansion, but now I'm reasonably certain it's due to the Heart. It's been supplying energy to Tiedoll and Cross this entire time."

"I…," Lavi began, only feeling more confused. "That can't be true. I think I would've noticed if I was having seizures."

"You haven't, though," Allen said. "I assumed it was just you recovering, but… I think Bookman's right. They never lasted long, and you never seemed to be affected afterward, but you've been spacing out fairly often. You just haven't realized it."

"Is that why your stamina has been better lately?" Kanda asked Tiedoll. "You don't seem as tired as you should be, given how far we travel every day, but I thought it was just the result of training."

"It could be both, I suppose," Tiedoll murmured, "but I think Bookman is correct. If the Heart reacts to activated Innocence, it makes sense that this trip would trigger that kind of response. Between Maker of Eden and Grave of Maria, Lavi's been surrounded by activated Innocence ever since we left the mansion."

The confirmation only seemed to encourage further discussion, but Lavi felt more overwhelmed than anything else. He backed off from the group, sinking down to sit on a nearby boulder. Ever since the Ark, adjusting to his new abilities had been a burden, but this was the first time he truly felt like his body was no longer his own. If he hadn't noticed the Heart supplying power to Tiedoll and Cross, what else could he have missed?

"Hey," a voice cut through his mounting panic. Lavi looked up to see that Allen had sat down next to him. He offered an understanding smile, saying, "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll figure this out."

"Or die trying?" Lavi asked. His attempt at a joke fell flat, but Allen didn't let his smile falter.

"Not if I can help it," said Allen. He placed a hand over Lavi's, cool and steady. "We're in this together, remember?"

Despite everything, Allen looked like he truly believed things would work out. The warmth of his smile was almost enough to make Lavi believe it, too.

Before Lavi could say anything else, the familiar annoyed tone of Cross' voice cut through the chattering group.

"Interesting though this may be, it appears that our task here is finished," Cross clipped, looking thoroughly annoyed by the discussion he'd interrupted. "If we're done wasting time, I'd rather get back on the road."

He directed the last statement to Tiedoll, who seemed to find his fellow General's irritation amusing. Regardless, Tiedoll nodded. "Cross is right. We can discuss this once we're back in the carriage."

---

As it turned out, there wasn't much genuine discussion to be had after returning to the carriage.

It wasn't for lack of trying. Johnny in particular seemed to enjoy throwing out increasingly wild theories about the Heart and its capabilities, but at the end of the day, they were left with more questions than answers about how the Heart truly functioned or how Apocryphos might play into things.

"We will simply have to wait," Bookman said after nearly a week of back-and-forth debates following the mysterious phenomenon in the cave. At Lavi's weary suggestion to just go to a random field and experiment with his troublesome Innocence rather than continue to fight about it, his old master curtly dismissed, "We have not traveled this far only to throw away our secrecy due to childish squabbles."

Kanda and Allen, the main instigators of said squabbles, had the grace to look chagrined under the weight of Bookman's glare.

The final leg of the trip dragged on as they headed into the Himalayan mountain range. Lavi wasn't sure if their pace had slowed due to the elevation change or out of Tiedoll's concern about Lavi's health, but the change didn't seem to have any effect on his Innocence seizures, for better or for worse. Lavi still didn't notice them, but now that Bookman had called attention to the issue, it was hard to ignore the way everyone stared at him after one occurred.

Frustrated by the change of pace and the increased attention, Lavi tried to bury himself in translating the rest of General Cross's journal. This proved to be its own exercise in frustration, as the information and conclusions often felt so abstract they were almost useless. If Lavi didn't know Cross was the one who wrote the journal, he would have assumed the author was spewing nonsense and given up, but he'd listened to Cross enough to recognize his particular style of obfuscation. There was information that Lavi was missing, and he suspected it all traced back to whatever books were hidden in the archives at the Grove.

If he thought he'd have any success, Lavi would have just talked to Cross directly, but he knew without asking that such a thing would not end well. Cross knew Lavi was reading his journal. If he'd been willing to elaborate, he would have mentioned it at some point during their month-long travel instead of dismissing the matter with a roll of his eyes.

Despite this, when Lavi woke just before dawn to see Cross packing his bag at the edge of their campground, he was on his feet before he even realized it.

The air was crisp in the dim early morning light, and no one else stirred in their sleep at Lavi's movement. Still, he kept his steps silent as he walked toward Cross, feeling oddly like he was approaching a street cat he didn't want to spook.

"Are you leaving?" Lavi asked, keeping his voice low.

Cross didn't bother to turn and face him, but Lavi could feel his aggravation by the way his shoulders shifted.

"Have you finally worked up the courage to ask me about my journal, then?"

The mocking tone to Cross's voice made Lavi second-guess himself. Skeptically, Lavi asked, "Would you give me any answers if I did?"

At this, Cross stood up and finally turned to face Lavi, his familiar smirk in place. "If you need my help in order to analyze it, I suppose that confirms how much of a downgrade Bookman made by choosing you as my replacement, now doesn't it?"

Lavi resisted the urge to grind his teeth, feeling an intense wave of sympathy for Allen over how long he had to put up with the shameless asshole.

"By the sound of it, you abandoned your duty. It's not like you left him any choice," Lavi replied, fully expecting Cross's dismissive scoff at the statement. He perched an eyebrow at the man. "Is that what you're doing now? Running away again?"

"Do you honestly expect the Grove to welcome me back with open arms?" Cross sniped, his words laced with bitter sarcasm. "As you said, I abandoned my duty. The Clan couldn't possibly accept such a disgrace back onto their sacred grounds."

Cross's mockery of the Clan only served to grate further on Lavi's nerves, but he forced himself to remain outwardly impassive. From the gleam in Cross's eye as he watched Lavi's reaction, the feint wasn't successful. Regardless, Lavi could tell there was more to Cross's statement than he was saying.

Once he was sure he could keep his tone even, Lavi guessed, "You're formally banished, aren't you? You couldn't cross the wards if you tried."

"Obviously," scoffed Cross. "I'm sure they tore down every single reminder of my existence – all but one, anyway." He waved a dismissive hand in Lavi's general direction. "After all, if they were to openly admit that an apprentice quit, it would mean acknowledging the fallibility of their whole mission. And the Bookman Clan couldn't possibly do that."

"Why did you quit?" Lavi asked, refusing to let himself be distracted by Cross's insults toward the Clan.

Cross's smirk sharpened. "Why, are you thinking about giving it go? From what I hear, you're a crystallization too late for that particular choice."

"Maybe I just want to know what was so compelling about Nea that it made you forsake the Clan and everything you'd been working toward your entire life," Lavi snapped back, holding his ground. "You were a decade older than me when you abandoned your apprenticeship. What could Nea have possibly offered that was so important it would make you throw away over twenty years of training?"

Rather than toss out another flippant comment, Cross actually seemed to consider Lavi's question. After a few moments, he reached out and grabbed his pack, swinging it onto his shoulder before facing Lavi directly.

"That isn't the right question," said Cross, his tone far more serious than it had been.

Taken aback, Lavi could only ask, "Then what is?"

Cross sighed. With an air of reluctance, he said, "I was identified as the Bookman's intended successor when I was three years old. The Clan was my entire life, as it is for every single Bookman going back to the very first one, and impartiality was championed as the ultimate virtue. Between Bookman and the Clan Elders, there was no room for anything but being the perfect apprentice."

"And what, you couldn't take the pressure?" Lavi suggested.

"Please," Cross said, rolling his eyes. "I was easily better than you ever were."

The use of the past tense made Lavi wince, and the smirk that flashed across Cross's face made it clear the word choice was intentional.

"Oh, are you upset that you failed?" Cross mocked. "You shouldn't be. The Clan runs a beautiful smokescreen, but at the end of the day, all of its glorious objectivity is just a cover-up for a singular mission and an undying grab for soft power. I'd almost be impressed that you escaped the scheme as early as you did, if I didn't know that none of it was your decision."

"A cover-up for a singular mission?" Lavi repeated. "Recording the history of humanity isn't exactly a secret."

"That's the cover-up," Cross said, looking at Lavi like he was an idiot. "The real mission of the Clan revolves around the very Innocence that you now carry. The rest of the bullshit is nothing but an elaborate lie."

"Your entire life is nothing but an elaborate lie," Lavi pointed out, crossing his arms. "Why should I believe anything you say?"

"You don't have to," Cross said, shrugging. "The original Bookman's journals are stored in the restricted area of the archives. You can read about it yourself."

Lavi frowned. "No one is allowed there except the Bookman himself."

"And I wonder why that is," Cross said pointedly. Then, with a dismissive gesture, he said, "I don't care if you bother to look it up or not. The answers are there if you choose to seek them. Not that it will matter much, now that the endgame is in motion."

He turned on his heel to walk away, adding as an afterthought, "Such a shame, really – you finally have the freedom to choose, and you're trapped fulfilling your destiny to destroy the boy you love."

Lavi's eyes went wide. He lurched forward without thinking, snagging Cross's coat.

"What?" he said, his thoughts spiraling. "My destiny to– I have no idea what you're—"

"Don't bother denying it," Cross cut him off, rounding on Lavi to shove him back a step. "Your objectivity has been abysmal ever since coming to the Black Order, and you know it as well as I do. Bookman learned the wrong lesson from losing me as his apprentice, and he coddled you. You care. You care about your friends, and anyone with eyes can tell you care for my apprentice. Or are you going to try and pretend your hotheaded fight against Tyki Mikk was somehow objective?"

"My fight against Tyki…?" Lavi asked. It took him a moment to place the reference, and then he frowned. "In Edo? You weren't even there for that!"

"Just because you didn't see me doesn't mean I wasn't there, imbecile," Cross replied, looking scornful.

"Oh, whatever you say, God."

"Don't insult me," Cross laughed. "I'm far more involved than he ever was."

Lavi clenched his teeth, fighting to keep his voice quiet despite the frustration building in his bones. "You don't know anything about me. You're just assuming—"

"Denying it doesn't change anything," Cross snapped, interrupting him again. "Though really, what does it matter? Nea will consume my apprentice eventually, only to become the Earl or die trying. And if he succeeds, your destiny will be to destroy him yourself. Rather pathetic, don't you think? The sum total of your life will be as a failed Bookman turned into little more than a weapon."

The accusation stung worse than salt in an open wound, leaving Lavi feeling raw and exposed under Cross's knowing gaze. He clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface of his skin.

"Better than being a miserable drunk who has no one," Lavi fired back, though the words felt weak compared to the fury in his heart.

Cross chuckled, unaffected by the slight. With a bitter smirk, Cross replied, "At least that's a life I chose, Heart-bearer. Enjoy your destiny."

Without another word, Cross turned away again and headed toward the far edge of the clearing. Lavi could feel Magdala Curtain powering down, leaving the group exposed, but he knew Cross had chosen his exit strategically – they were isolated enough that a brief exposure wouldn't be too risky, not with Tiedoll sure to rise with the sun.

Still, Lavi couldn't let Cross leave just yet, not with all the questions that lingered between them.

"Wait," he hissed, stalking after Cross. "You can't just—"

Cross whirled to face him, irritation flashing in his eye. "I can do whatever I want, and right now, there are more pressing matters requiring my attention than whatever teenage crisis you've concocted in your mind. The Fourteenth and his coming war are somewhat more important than that."

"You've barely answered any of my questions," Lavi protested.

"If you bothered listening, you'd realize I've given you more than enough information," Cross said, heaving an exasperated sigh. "Now, I intend to leave before the rest of the whining lot wakes up and forces me to deal with their incessant drivel, but if you keep harping and wake them up, I'll be really pissed. So I'll let you have one more question in exchange for you backing the fuck off."

Lavi rocked back on his heels, recognizing how close he was to the edge of Cross's temper. He swallowed his own outrage, pulling on his objectivity and trying to think of what question he could ask that only Cross could answer. The mention of Nea took Lavi's mind back to the fight in the meadow, where Nea launched accusations of his own at Cross, and suddenly Lavi knew exactly what to say.

Quietly, Lavi asked, "Who is Allen?"

Cross's face went stony.

"What?" Cross replied. The attempt at confusion was belied by the blankness in his expression. Lavi recognized the mask for the Bookman training it was.

"You heard me," Lavi said, his tone sharp. "Nea accused you of getting rid of 'Allen,' and it was pretty clear he wasn't talking about our Allen. So who was he talking about?"

Cross regarded him in silence for a long moment. Any true reaction was effectively hidden behind his stoic expression, but the delay in his response was enough to show how shaken he was by the question.

Finally, Cross sighed. His lips flashed a wistful smile before the expression vanished behind the stony mask yet again.

"He was a friend," Cross replied, his tone somber. "And that's all the answer you're getting."

Before Lavi could respond, Cross turned away a final time. He didn't look back as he disappeared down the narrow path, weaving into a dense forest.

Lavi didn't call after him again.

---

Cross's departure was met with all the reactions Lavi expected.

Bookman was impassive, Tiedoll accepting, and everyone else ranged somewhere between annoyed and unsurprised. Allen's anger was enough to break through his usually cheerful mask, and he nearly got into a fistfight with Kanda when the swordsman pointedly noted that Allen should be the least surprised of any of them.

"I hate to say it," Lavi said, sitting with Allen in the far corner of the carriage after helping Crowley haul him off Kanda, "but he's kinda right. You're the one who told us how often Cross pulls this crap, after all."

"I know," Allen muttered, glaring at the floor with red eyes. "I just thought…"

He trailed off, tone growing melancholy.

"I just thought he was going to stay this time," Allen finally murmured. "Stupid."

There wasn't anything Lavi could say to that, too familiar with that sort of longing, so he just wrapped an arm around Allen's shoulders and sat with him until the dark mood passed over.

Luckily, it wasn't long before Tiedoll lifted everyone's spirits by announcing that their journey would soon be over.

Nearly a week of climbing through the mountainous terrain of Nepal had finally brought them to the doorstep of the Grove. The moment Lavi clambered out of the carriage and saw the golden gleam of the Eastern Gate, he was hit with such a strange mix of homesickness and anxiety that his knees nearly buckled.

"I just don't see why we need to exit now," Kanda complained as he descended, giving Tiedoll a skeptical look. "Wouldn't it be safer to get inside first?"

"I've been reliably informed that isn't possible," Tiedoll replied, gesturing at Bookman.

Bookman gave Kanda a cool smile. "The wards on the Grove would not react well to a carriage of Innocence. You must enter as individuals, and only with the proper seal."

One by one, Bookman began the familiar process of sketching out a temporary seal on everyone's arm. Lavi had seen it done many times before, by various Elders in the Clan, but this was the first time he'd seen such a large group receive the seal all at once. Lavi stood apart as Bookman finished up, having no need for the temporary seal himself.

As soon as he was finished, Bookman turned away and commanded the group, "Come with me."

Lavi fell into step beside him, settling into the familiar pace as he had thousands of times before. They had rarely entered through the Eastern Gate, preferring one of the hidden entrances along the western or southern edge of the Grove to the grand road the Eastern Gate guarded. As an entrance, however, it was impressive: a shining frame of pure gold bracketed the road, standing several meters tall and nearly a meter thick. The style fell somewhere between traditional Nepalese and Japanese gates, but Lavi knew the Eastern Gate actually hailed from far earlier times and mirrored the traditional styles of a now-extinct civilization. The sheer amount of gold on display had attracted thieves at various times throughout the centuries, but the curses and wards etched deep into the gate's base were more than enough to ensure security.

The rest of the group followed Bookman and Lavi as they passed through the gate, and Lavi smirked as he heard them express surprise at the effect the wards had on them. He'd never felt it himself, being a child of the Bookman lineage, but everyone outside the bloodline said crossing the wards felt like a full-body shiver.

Lavi looked over his shoulder and locked eyes with Kanda, who was closest behind him. Teasingly, he said, "If you were a cat, all your fur would be standing on end right now, wouldn't it?"

"You could have given us a warning, rabbit," Kanda grumbled, rubbing at his arms as if to calm the lingering feeling.

Lavi snickered, turning forward again and continuing the trek. At the end of the road, an enormous yew tree dominated the skies, draping itself over a large, sprawling complex of structures and connecting to several smaller trees along the way. The canopy it created blanketed nearly the entire complex, which sported a dozen buildings connected by covered walkways.

"Holy crap," Lavi heard Johnny whisper from somewhere behind him. "I had no idea the Bookman Clan was so big."

"That's just the main complex," replied Lavi, grinning. "You haven't even seen the rest of the Grove yet."

As much as Lavi wanted to turn around and enjoy the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, his attention was drawn by the group of Clan members gathered at the end of the road. Any doubt that they were there to welcome Bookman was banished when Lavi caught sight of Chief Elder Horace and several other Clan Elders, along with a few other familiar faces.

It had been over two years since he'd last seen them, freshly out of his required preliminary training and aching to get back on the road with Bookman, but the sight of the Clan Elders still made Lavi feel unsettled. Most of them had hated him when Bookman first declared him as his apprentice, and though time had smoothed over the ruffled feathers, Lavi had never forgotten his initial poor reception.

Thinking back to his last conversation with Cross, Lavi abruptly realized how much of that first terrible interaction had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Cross.

If the Chief Elder still held any lingering resentment toward Bookman or Lavi for the incident, his feelings were well-masked as they approached. He grinned widely beneath his thick white beard, blue eyes beaming at Bookman like he was happy to welcome back a beloved brother.

"Most esteemed Bookman," Horace greeted, projecting his voice so the entire group could hear his respectful tone. The performance made Lavi want to laugh, so clearly put on to impress the representatives of the Black Order with his magnanimity. "It has been too long since you returned to our humble home. The Clan welcomes you back, and offers our welcome to your guests from the Black Order as well."

"Chief Elder Horace, it is my honor to step foot back onto our hallowed grounds," Bookman replied, playing his own part with considerably less enthusiasm. "May I introduce General Tiedoll and General Kanda of the Black Order, our representatives for this trip?"

As the exchange of pleasantries began, Lavi backed away, used to being politely ignored during official proceedings like this. He glanced around the group, trying to see who all had arrived, but before he could even count how many Elders had come to welcome them, an arm interlocked with his.

"Hey stranger," said a familiar voice, and Lavi turned to see Ingrid shooting him a grin. "What fancy new name are you going by now?"

"Lavi," he replied, mirroring her smile. She was a far cry from the gangly teen who had guided him around the Grove during his first few days, standing nearly as tall as him with her long golden hair twisted into a respectful bun. If the sight of the Elders still prompted anxiety, the sight of his oldest friend managed to calm it down again. "Though I'd imagine you're going to call me whatever you want, no matter what I say."

"Nah, I'm an adult now," Ingrid said, scrunching her nose in childlike disgust. "Gotta be respectful, y'know? Set an example for all the little Booklings."

"Yeah, a bad one maybe," Lavi teased.

"Like you can talk," she countered, rolling her eyes. Before she could continue, there was movement from the Clan Elders as Horace made a gesture toward the main complex. Ingrid disentangled her arm, apologetically whispering, "That's my cue to start the tour. We'll have to catch up later."

She pressed a friendly kiss against his cheek before heading toward the front of the group, adopting her familiar ambassador role with ease as she bowed politely to Kanda and Tiedoll in turn.

As Lavi moved to follow the group, he caught sight of Allen staring at him with wide eyes.

"What's up?" Lavi whispered, trying not to draw attention away from the tour.

"Who was that?" Allen asked. He seemed taken aback.

"Just an old friend," replied Lavi, shrugging. "You do know I've been here before, right?"

"I know, I just…" Allen began, before he seemed to reconsider his words. Shaking off whatever confused him, he concluded, "Never mind. It's nothing."

Lavi watched him for a moment longer, but when Allen didn't ask again, he let it go.

---

It wasn't until Lavi came face-to-face with his old quarters in the main building that the reality of his situation hit him.

The tour had been brief, much to the relief of the travel-weary group, and it had ended at the dormitory in the central complex, where rooms had been prepared for all of the guests. Tiedoll and Crowley only intended to stay long enough to restock, aiming to be back on the road by nightfall to return to the Black Order, but the rest of the group had beds laid out for them.

Initially, Lavi intended to stay and help everyone get settled, but the Clan Elders had insisted on having a follow-on discussion with Bookman and stared at Lavi expectantly when he didn't immediately join them. A moment's glance at Bookman told Lavi that his former master hadn't yet notified them of Lavi's dismissal as the apprentice, which he would surely be correcting soon enough. In the meantime, Lavi knew he needed to play the role until Bookman made it official.

So he gritted his teeth and accompanied the Clan Elders and Bookman. He stayed silent in the background, trying to reconcile the familiarity of the Grove with everything he'd learned and experienced in his nearly three years at the Black Order. There was a time when Junior had thought the rest of his life would be nothing but trips in and out of the Grove, objectively recording the trials and tribulations of a weary world.

Now Lavi felt like an outsider in his own ancestral home, listening to discussions to which he would no longer be privy. He wondered if Cross ever felt adrift like this, or if malcontent had borne the man out of his role from the very beginning.

It wasn't long before Bookman dismissed Lavi to their shared living space in the headquarters building, stating that he and the Elders had more to discuss in private. Lavi didn't have to guess to know what Bookman intended to tell them.

Now, standing in the doorframe of his old apprentice quarters, Lavi couldn't bring himself to enter.

The room was sparse, with nothing more than basic furniture and a few daily essentials prepared. There were few clues to suggest that Lavi was its occupant, but they stood out in glaring contrast to Lavi's eyes: the hand-embroidered wall hanging gifted by a traveling shaman in the nearby village; a set of playing cards that Ingrid had left tucked into the corner of the desk; and a handful of various knickknacks from his three years studying at the Grove as Junior.

His room at Bookman's larger, off-site residence was far more cluttered with books and materials, but Bookman had always insisted on keeping their main complex quarters barren and neat. Even the few items Lavi had left were enough to raise Bookman's ire, though the old man had given up that argument long ago.

Just the sight of his old room was enough to root Lavi to the spot, his thoughts circling around the cold truth of Bookman informing the Elders of his failed apprenticeship at that very moment. His entire life at the Grove was now a lie, his destiny as the next Bookman shattered in favor of whatever role he was expected to play as the Heart-bearer. The information wasn't new, but now that he was back at the Grove, the sheer finality of his failure struck him in an aching blow.

"You're supposed to go in the room, dumbass."

Lavi jumped, looking behind him as a sharp voice startled him out of his troubled thoughts.

Kanda stared back at him, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall by the stairs. It looked like he'd been there for a while.

"What are you doing here?" Lavi asked. Then, frowning, he added, "Wait, how long have you been here?"

"I followed you when you went off with Bookman and all the old geezers," Kanda replied, shrugging. "You and the beansprout both need to be guarded."

"Even here?" Lavi scoffed. "Trust me, Yuu, the Grove is warded better than any place on Earth. I doubt anything is going to happen."

"That's exactly the sort of stupid thing you would say, right before getting attacked."

Lavi couldn't help but laugh at the derisiveness in Kanda's tone. "If something does bust through the wards to get me, I doubt either of us are gonna be able to do much about it, but I guess I appreciate the support. Are you sure you didn't wanna guard Allen instead? You two have become such fast friends over our trip."

Kanda's withering glare was enough of an answer, and Lavi shook his head. "You guys are impossible, I swear."

"As long as we can be separately impossible, I don't give a shit," Kanda muttered. Then, narrowing his eyes and gesturing toward the room, he asked, "Are you going to go inside anytime soon?"

Lavi glanced back at the room but didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Where are you planning to sleep? I'm sure Bookman's bed is made up, but he might be back at some point."

"There's a couch," Kanda replied, pointing to an antique sette sofa along the back wall of the room. It was ornate and not terribly comfortable, but Lavi knew Kanda had endured far worse conditions and likely didn't care. Impatiently, Kanda prompted again, "Is there something wrong with your room, rabbit?"

Lavi opened his mouth to deny it, willing himself to just get over his turmoil and deal with reality, but he stopped. Looking back at his room – at Junior's room, cold and full of more memories than Lavi had the energy to deal with right now – Lavi knew that his discomfort wasn't going to go away.

Instead, Lavi made an executive decision.

"Nah, I don't think I will," he said, shifting his pack more securely along his back. "You don't deserve to suffer through that particular sofa. Besides, it'll make for easier guard duty if we're all together. Let's go back to the dorms."

Kanda maintained eye contact for a long moment, clearly doubting Lavi's honesty, but he didn't call it out. Instead, he rolled his eyes and grabbed his own bag from the floor, grumbling, "Great, more time spent with insufferable morons."

"At least we get separate rooms?"

"A separate continent would still be too close after this past month."

"Aw, we love you too, Yuu."

"Stop talking, idiot."