Back in the Head Researcher's office, Rachel was still talking to Lawson.
“Also…” Rachel looked down at her hands. “Your feelings are your own. Rather than being forced by your family or by some drug, I would rather you be free to express them as you choose, of your own free will.”
Rachel looked up and stares Lawson in the eyes with a smirk. “Only Greg Lawson should determine what Greg Lawson feels. And only Greg Lawson should be in control of those feelings.”
“Is that…so…” Lawson looked surprised, and then relieved. “I…thank you, Ray.”
Rachel closed one eye and looked at Lawson with a stubborn expression. “Just so you know, I’ve been wanting to clear something up for a while now, in terms of fairness. My name isn't just Ray…it's Rach-.”
Lawson covered her mouth quickly. “If it's what I think it is, then I already knew..a long time ago. So let me say this first.”
Rachel stared wide-eyed at the Lawson who was suddenly so close to her. She nodded, dumbfounded.
“At first, I thought that you were here to mess around. But, your earnest work always took precedence over everything. You had convinced me by your diligence that this wasn't something you took up on whim.”
He took his hand off Rachel's mouth, and took a step back.
“…so it didn't matter to me either way whether you were a boy or a girl…at least…until today…I suppose I need to thank the Father Almighty that potion had no effect upon you.”
Rachel’s eyes widened as she glanced at her cup. “Did they spike my drink too?” She asked in disbelief.
“They didn't.” Lawson shook his head. “I did.”
Rachel gaped. “Wh-why in the Potioneer’s Madness would you do that!?” She exclaimed flabbergasted.
“I wanted to determine just what it was that I felt for you.” Lawson replied. “With something to compare it to.”
Rachel put her hands on the desk to support herself. “A-and?”
“...A fake affection and a true affection…I now know the difference very clearly.” Lawson smiled, and whispered something into Rachel’s ear.
Rachel's eyes widened as much as they could, and her face turned beet red.
“Ah…I must be dreaming…” Rachel stumbled over to the couch. “Once I wake up, this will all be a dream…” She lay down on the couch to try and wake herself up from her sleep.
Lawson held himself back from laughing. Why hadn't he known Rachel could make such interesting expressions before? He drank some Holy Spring water to neutralize the effects of Lovelorn. Then he moved over to sit across from the couch where she was sleeping, and leaned forward, observing her.
“That was a good dream.” Rachel sat up and stretched. “It was interesting. The hero, and some botched potion, and me suddenly being the head researcher, even Laws-...on…” She noticed Lawson sitting across from her.
“Yes? What was that about me?” Lawson smiled innocently.
“Er…” Rachel started sweating. This was the face he usually gave people when he was about to set them straight.
“Incidentally, those earlier parts about the hero, the botched potion, and you being head researcher are true.” Lawson informed.
“What!?” Rachel exclaimed, surprised.
“Incidentally, the part where I confessed to you is also true.” He added cheerfully.
Rachel’s jaw dropped.
“Incidentally…” Lawson’s opened his eyes into a rather dangerously dark smile. “I am still waiting for your response.”
“Y-yes!” Rachel responded reflexively.
“Is that ‘Yes, you are still waiting’ or ‘Yes I will marry you?’” Lawson pressed.
Rachel blushed, and looked away embarrassed. “Y-es…I’ll marry you…” Her voice dropped in volume drastically after the ‘yes’ to a voice barely able to be heard.
~-~
“Why can't we leave!?” Christian asked with a scowl.
“I was intending to address this at a later time, but now that I'm here, I need to report the activity concerning the illegal magic slave crests, and that nefarious device that Robin broke.” Jasmine sighed. “Magic slavery is a serious issue, and even I cannot overlook it.”
Jasmine curtseyed to excuse herself, then headed to the records room, to look up some information. An attendant escorted her down a side hallway, while the rest were left at the intersection. Christian stood there, feeling like he had a whole lot of things he wanted to do, but couldn't accomplish them.
Robin patted Christian’s shoulder. “Hey, it's just a little while longer, okay? As a prospective victim of that device, I also want to get down to the bottom of this.”
Robin began walking down the other end of the hallway, at a measured slow pace. The sound of her footsteps seemed to echo loudly in Christian’s mind. As she walked, Robin began listing all the important questions that needed to be answered.
“‘One, who built that device?’ ‘Two, where did it come from?’ ‘Three, if they are dead, did they leave behind any instruction manuals to create this again?’ And four, if they are still alive…
Then…‘Where are they now?’”Robin turned around in front of the open window. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she spoke that last question.
Christian felt a sense of pressure from Robin's gaze. He knew. Robin was truly enraged over the topic of the magic slave crest device. Christian’s eyes also narrowed. They were completely in agreement on this point: whoever was responsible for this, they wouldn't get away with it.
“Right!” Christian agreed. “We can't let them off!”
Robin smiled. “You're right. We can't.”
“The Hero definitely can't ignore it if someone made a device that can cause so much suffering.” Robin looked out of the window, at the midmorning sun. “He can't turn aside and ignore it until it begins to encroach upon his daily life. He can’t sit still. He can't be silent. He can’t back down…Because if he did, then he would no longer be the hero.”
Robin turned her head away from the window, looking at Christian. “Right?”
“Right.” Christian replied, feeling something was odd. “Robin, are you doing these things because you want to? Or because that's just what the hero is supposed to do in your opinion?”
“There are many things I want to do….such as half beating to death the inquisitive madman that thought up such a crazy device!” Robin looked down at her clenched fist, and stopped, opening it up.
“But if I did that…then aren't I just as bad as them? I won't allow it. I won't allow them to change me into twisted people like them. That is my resolve.” Robin closed her fist again. Being rotten was not the way to fight rotten people. The best way to do that was to stay good despite it all.
“Robin..” Christian and the others were surprised. Robin seemed to be fighting a battle on many fronts, both without, and within.
“I mean, just think about it. The hero isn't a hero because he does good things. Anyone can do good things. Even a villain can give a starving person a crust of bread. Then…what is it that makes a hero? Power? Knowledge?...this sword? What makes me any more of a hero than anyone else?” Robin looked a little lost.
“A good heart…and the will, the determination to set things right even when it seems that there is no hope to change anything at all.” Keith quoted a line from a previous hero. “Your father had it in him, as do you.”
“That's right…wrong is wrong, even when everyone is doing it.” Robin sighed. “I have learned that lesson very well.”
“You forgot ‘monkey see, monkey do.’” Briar quipped. The others turned to look at her.
“What? So long as there is one person doing the right thing, others will be inspired to do so as well.” Briar walked around the group to stand next to Robin.
“The heart longs to do good, despite it's tendency for evil. It takes a stiff arm to steer the course of a large boat. Otherwise, you would be at the mercy of the waves and the winds.” Briar opened one eye. “Am I wrong?”
“Well…no…” Robin sighed. “You're not wrong.”
Briar laughed. “Just so. I have met several heroes in my day, and not all of them were to my liking. Nor I to theirs…You will do well, ‘Hero’.”
At this point, the sound of running feet came down the hallway. Everyone turned to see Jasmine running towards them. She then tripped, and fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Robin rushed over, and knelt down to help her up.
“Jasmine? What's wrong? What's the matter?” Robin asked, concerned. “Are you hurt? Is someone after you?” She helped Jasmine up carefully, checking to see if she was all right.
“Robin…” Jasmine was still mostly out of breath, but she forced herself in between breaths. “I..need you…to see something…”