Countless questions pierce through my mind. But then I can't help but conclude one thing: Aurora had betrayed me and sold me as a slave. I had been too naive, I had let my guard down because of my desire to make amends.

  I return to Lilu and sit beside her. I hold my sore cheek.

  "I-I told you it was impossible," she says.

  "What's going on? Why can't I use my Herencia?"

  "I-it's because of the matriarch's Herencia."

  "But she's not even here."

  "T-he best of the clan can cover kilometers."

  I can't help but sigh. Aurora's smile recurs in my mind. I thought she was helping me. But of course, she hated me. What was I thinking?

  These negative thoughts engulf me, but then the scent of roses envelops my nose. Soon I find myself remembering Delilah and the beautiful sunsets we saw in the park where we played as children with Porter and the others. When my brother played with us.

  I am surprised by the emotions and memories. I sniff to discover that the origin of the scent comes from Lilu beside me. This hadn't been the first time I found Lilu by following the nostalgic and soothing scent.

  "Lilu, this smell…"

  She curls up even more and avoids my gaze even more.

  "D-do I smell bad?"

  "No, that's not what I meant! I was wondering if it was your Herencia?"

  I ask, but I don't receive answers. However, eventually, Lilu speaks to me.

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  "M-my heritage…" Lilu's trembling voice says, "It attracts people to me. Since I was little, it's done nothing but bring me trouble."

  I remain pensive. And suddenly realize something.

  "I know you might not want to talk about it anymore, but how is it possible that your Herencia still has an effect? Didn't you say that the matriarch's Herencia dulls all other Herencias?"

  "W-well, yes. All except those of the Mantis Oriquidia clan. We are naturally resistant to the effects of the Herencias of our clan."

  My eyes gleam, and I grab Lilu's hands. She startles and seems to blush.

  "What's going on?"

  "That's how we are gonna get out of here!"

  "W-what do you mean? Why are you holding my hand?" she says quickly pulling her hand away.

  "Do you remember how I've been able to use others' Herencias so far? If you let me touch your mark and see your memories, I'll be able to copy your Herencia and then I will be able to fight."

  "I don't know if that's a good idea," Lilu says, looking pensively at her mark.

  "I'm sorry," I look at the burns in my arms, "I got carried away. I'll think of another way to get out of here."

  Lilu looks in my direction after a while.

  "I-if you tell me how you got those burns, I might allow you to see my memories."

  I hesitate for a few seconds, but I know it's the best chance I have. If I can activate her Herencia I can override the effect of my white mark and attack the guards. I look up at the ceiling of bioluminescent worms, and I try to remember everything. The day it happened.

  "Where I come from, there's something called the Knights' Trials. If I passed and became a knight, I would be closer to being like my brother. When I was finally able to enter after months and months of training everything was going perfectly. I passed each trial with the highest marks, but when the last trial came…"

  My heart starts beating rapidly, and my hands sweat and tremble.

  "In the last trial, the objective was to withstand the impulses of violence by increasing the strength of the gauntlets, differentiating between different types of targets. However, as soon as I put on the gauntlets, everything went dark. When I realized it, I was in the hospital with these burns on my arms, and my brother he was…"

  My body trembles as I try to avoid crying. But then I feel Lilu's warm hands on mine. I open my eyes surprised. This time she looks me in the eyes with a smile, and I can stop myself from starting to cry.