Hill looked at Alice with a tinge of sorrow for her sudden enlightenment.
Growth and maturity force one to struggle alone, tumbling and stumbling, getting hurt, then finally learning to swallow the pain, learning to restrain oneself.
Alice and Merkel began their acquaintance in insignificance, grew to know each other through the grace of Alice saving a life, and fell in love through years of mutual reliance. Yet, they still fell apart when Merkel was influenced by his ancestors during his ascent to legendary status.
The original Merkel didn't harbor ambitions to become the King of Magical Beasts; otherwise, Alice wouldn't have given him her heart.
However, once the heart was given, Alice couldn't bring herself to willingly let go.
One of them had to concede, but unfortunately, it's always the soft-hearted who end up getting hurt.
