In Terra, she is a hunter and a bad woman.

"I... am very grateful to her..."

"grateful?"

"Ah."

Lavinia nodded.

"She helped me a lot...especially a while ago, when some...unpleasant things happened to me. But she intervened and saved me when I was most desperate...so I am very grateful to her..."

"So... he's my savior?"

"Um……"

"Just a lifesaver?"

The old woman's eyes were always sharp, and she could see through the girl's inner thoughts without even having to listen to what she said. She smiled and continued.

"Hmm... maybe, there's something else?"

Lavinia was not sure either. She just looked at the old woman in front of her embarrassedly, and after hesitating for a while, she slowly spoke.

"She gives me a feeling... very mysterious."

"I don't know where she came from, or why. She looks cold and unapproachable, but she's actually very gentle... a kind of gentleness she won't express. She notices the little details in everyone's lives and manages the distance between us. Although she doesn't talk much, every time she speaks, she gives me an endless sense of security..."

"She... is a bit... like my family..."

Lavinia hesitated for a long time before she said what she really wanted to say. She just shyly expressed her thoughts about Maria.

The old woman beside her was also listening to the girl's words, her eyes gradually falling into deep thought.

Once upon a time, she had such a friend...

But, they haven't seen each other for many years...

Thinking about it now, I have many regrets.

I... haven't thanked her properly yet.

Thinking about it, the old woman shook her head.

Lavinia, who was standing by, also noticed that the old woman's mood was a little subtle. She tactfully changed the subject to prevent her from dwelling too much on the past.

"Um... Madam, are you... interested in the law?"

"Law?" Understanding the girl's good intentions, the old woman smiled and shook her head.

She is not as fragile as the girl thinks.

However, since the girl had changed the subject, she didn't dwell on it too much and just continued talking slowly.

"I used to think the law was great, but now... it's just a tool."

"But... now that we're talking about this, Lavinia, why are you studying law...for? Do you want to be a judge?"

"Judge?" Lavinia was stunned for a moment, a little confused.

"They are the people who enforce the law... They stand in the court, holding the law, to judge disputes and conflicts between ordinary people and make decisions..." The old woman explained patiently.

But this explanation made the girl even more confused.

"You mean…Grey Hall?"

"No, not Grey Hall."

The old woman shook her head firmly.

Although the purpose of the establishment of the Grey Hall was to become the court of Syracuse, it is obvious that the Grey Hall today is far from her idea.

She is not satisfied with the current situation.

"The Grey Hall still reigns supreme over many things in Syracuse... but the court is different."

"Laws are rules, laws are ironclad. Neither the family nor the Gray Hall should be above these rules..."

"And the court, as the voice of the rules, should be above everything in Syracuse... The Gray Hall is not yet able to do that."

"But I believe that one day, the inscription of the law will stand tall in this country. It will stand there forever, like a giant, overlooking everything in Syracuse... including those shameful things."

"It will...make the Syracuse night no longer contain anything else..."

The old woman's words were soft, but Lavinia felt she had never heard such firm words.

There was a sharp awareness hidden in those words, like a blade that could tear through the darkness and surge towards the surroundings.

For a moment, she even mistakenly thought that a flaming sun was rising behind the old woman.

But when she came to her senses, she found that it was just a light hidden in the darkness.

As for what the old woman said...

"How do you know about this?"

Lavinia was curious.

But the old woman just smiled.

"I just had this idea...what do you think?"

"I..." Lavinia wanted to say that she liked that kind of future very much, but... she didn't say it in the end.

“I’m really looking forward to that day.”

Lavinia didn't answer directly... Even she realized what kind of existence the court the old woman was talking about was... and this kind of existence... was something the family would never allow.

She didn't know who the old woman was or why she chose such a path, and she told herself.

But she knew that if she wanted to grow up peacefully in Syracuse without anyone to rely on, it would be better not to delve too deeply into these things...

The old woman just smiled and looked at the girl.

To be honest, her conversation with the girl now was just a coincidence. If it were normal, she might not even communicate with the girl... This is not only due to her sensitivity to her identity, but also a protection for the girl.

But... when the girl mentioned that person, she couldn't help herself.

Although she knew that the person the girl was talking about was most likely just someone else with a similar personality.

But...what does it matter?

There is never a clear dividing line between thoughts and impulses...

So she told the girl her expectations.

As for the girl's reaction...

To be honest, she was a little disappointed.

"You don't believe this day will come, do you?"

She walked forward and stroked the girl's head.

From the girl's expression, she could tell that she didn't really believe that such a day would come.

After all, for most Syracuse people, family rules are the only rules. As for the court... what is that?

So, facing the girl's silence, she had no intention of blaming her, but just walked forward with a smile.

"Yes, in Syracuse, where family values ​​are deeply rooted, it does take a lot of effort to establish an existence that transcends the family."

“But this is why we exist.”

The old woman spoke slowly, her eyes gradually looking up at the sky.

"Without knowing whether the future is bright or not, and whether you have prepared for the worst, you are willing to gamble everything you have on a game of cards..."

“It was a very impulsive thing to do.”

"You might lose countless things throughout your life, but the results you achieve won't be as significant as a few contracts others have signed. This level of sacrifice is truly too tragic, and I find it difficult to associate it with virtue."

"But I'm sure."

“Sacrifice is indeed a form of courage.”

The old woman continued speaking, but this time, her words seemed very plain, but the power contained in them was like a huge hammer weighing ten thousand pounds, making her ears buzz.

It was like a bolt of lightning that suddenly pierced through her spine.

The electric shock made her whole body numb.

Suddenly, the girl remembered something she hadn't thought about for a long time.

Why on earth did I study the law?

For the future? For life? Or something else?

Neither, she simply touched upon the darkness of family control... fighting and destruction.

She couldn't understand why someone could justify these violent actions and take away everything from others with impunity.

She couldn't understand why no one was willing to lend a hand when they saw the person lying in the mud and weeds by the roadside...

As an ordinary person, she just wants to make the world she lives in a happier place... just to make herself happier.

And the law... is the answer she found but never admitted.

She looked at the woman in front of her almost in shock, and after a long silence, she asked cautiously.

"Who are you?"

"..."

The old woman did not answer, but just looked at the girl in front of her with a smile and gently stroked her ear with her hand.

"The dinner is about to begin..."

"Eh?"

After hearing the old woman's reminder, the girl realized that the banquet had passed the boring prayer environment. Now the waiters were bringing plates of decorated food to the living room, preparing to provide the visiting guests with a comfortable dining experience.

"I'm going back... do you want to come in with me?"

The old woman did not explain more to the girl, or perhaps her identity had never been a secret.

However, after she took a few steps, she turned her head again and looked at the little girl who was following closely behind her, smiling.

"No...can't?"

Lavinia was a little nervous.

The old woman in front of her seemed to have some kind of magical power, attracting her who was thirsty for answers...

This is a different kind of attraction from Ms. Maria.

If Maria gave her a sense of security, then the woman in front of her gave her another more unique and stronger attraction.

That is... something called an ideal.

"Of course, Miss Lavinia." The old woman smiled and slightly adjusted the expensive shawl on her shoulders.

"It's just... if you go in with me, you'll have a lot to face."

The old woman's words were reserved, but she knew that Lavinia could understand what she meant... She was not welcome among the family, and once the two of them entered the banquet at the same time, God knew what others would think of them.

This could lead to a terrible disaster for the girl.

And Lavinia obviously understood this.

But she didn't run away this time.

She just lowered her head and thought for a while, then raised her head again.

"Will Syracuse... usher in the Age of Law?"

"I won't let you down, girl."

The old woman answered slowly but firmly.

"Ok!"

Needless to say, the old woman saw the look in the girl's eyes and knew that she was prepared.

Then she would also respond with approval, but would not provide too much help.

At this point, the family and the Gray Hall have reached their limit!

The girl chose to join the Gray Hall at this time. Although it did not have any effect, it was also a gamble with her life.

If the old woman wins, Syracuse will usher in the Age of Law, and she will become an important member of the transition between the Age of Law and the Age of Family.