"What... what happened to me?" Lolin's voice was tinged with confusion.
Alphonse hurried forward and helped her up. "How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
"I just feel a little dizzy." Lolin leaned against Alphonse's chest and shook her head again.
"Why do I feel like... my mind is empty, like I've lost something?"
Lynn withdrew his hand, his tone calm.
"What you lost was the consciousness and memories Marfa left behind. If they had remained, they would have completely taken over your body one day."
Lolin's expression changed, and her lips trembled. "Marfa? Wasn't she dead?"
"She was, but even death didn't keep her quiet. She left some contingencies in your soul," Lynn said.
"She planted something in your soul. The reason you were becoming more and more like her was because of that thing."
Remembering the strange changes she had gone through during that time, Lolin instinctively burrowed deeper into Alphonse's arms, a chill running down her back.
After hearing this, Alphonse immediately pulled Lolin down to her knees.
"Lord Lynn, thank you." Alphonse's voice was terribly hoarse.
"My life is yours from now on. Whatever you ask me to do, I'll do it."
Lynn waved a hand. "Get up. I didn't save her just for your sake. More importantly, I didn't want Marfa to rise again. If anything unusual happens in the future, come find me at once."
Alphonse knocked his head heavily against the floor before helping Lolin back to her feet.
"Go. Let her get some proper rest," Lynn said. "Don't leave the Academy for the time being. I'll observe her a few more times."
Alphonse repeatedly agreed and slowly helped Lolin out of the laboratory.
Only after they stepped out of Marfa's former laboratory did Alphonse's tightly drawn shoulders finally relax.
He could