Chapter 1: The witch of envy
When he came to, he was shrouded in darkness in a world of cold and shadow
cold sweat began to form on his back.
he could see dark forms moving in the darkness...
no not forms... hands...
they moved through the darkness like fish through water gliding in a way that sent shivers down his spine
they were just like the Archbishop of sloth's unseen hands, but that couldn't be right, after all he was dead
he took a step backwards
suddenly all the hand of darkness turned towards him reacting to his sudden movement
off to the side the shadows parted to allow a woman shrouded in darkness to pass
?: you have done well in this world"
Subaru: u-u-m-m who are you?
?: why, I am the one who brought you to this world
Subaru: The witch? S-satilla?
?: Yes that is what the mortals call me
Subaru: Why did you bring me here? Where am I?
The Witch: I brought you here because I know you are the only one capable of waking me from my slumber
Subaru: I'm sorry lady but I know your evil now and there is no way I'll assist the revival of a woman's whose followers slaughter the innocent
The Witch: Oh? But you are you not already in love with my vessel?
Subaru: What do you mean?
The Witch: Emilia was simply a form created to house my spirit
Subaru: No way... Emilia would never accept the likes of you!
The Which: Oh but she has, her very mind is bound by me, all I needed to come back to the physical realm again was a catalytic event.
Which you provided in the form of the death of the white whale
Subaru: no.. no.. NO
The Witch: You have been most useful Subaru, once I come to your world we can finally love each other like you imagined...
Subaru: NO!... I love Emilia!
The Which: Oh but I am Emilia
The Which: For now we must say goodbye as someone is calling you, I shall return for you soon... be ready
Subaru: W-wai_
Subaru awoke, flailing to Rem shaking him gently
It had been a few weeks since the witch cult attack and most of the damage had been restored however Subaru had begun to be plagued by nightmares almost
every night it had gotten to a point where rem would sleep next to him to comfort him when he woke up affirming again and again that Rem, Ram, Emilia.
and the villagers were all fine
Rem: Subaru~kun smells of the witch, did something happen.
Subaru: What where? oh
Subaru Calms down at the sight of Rem cute blue haired maid
Subaru: Oh its you Rem, sorry I was having a nightmare
Rem: another one?
Subaru: Yeah, but this one seemed different, instead of nightmarish scenes from the witch cult I dreamed of a world of shadow.
Rem: Subaru~kun? Rem does not understand.
"It's ok Rem I'm back now," Subaru said as he patted Rem on the head
Rem leaned into the land on her head smiling brightly "ok" she chimed cheerfully
Rem: Let's get breakfast ready now!
The dark feeling lingered throughout the preparation and duration of breakfast Subaru's brooding affected the others and breakfast passed silently...
While they were washing the dishes Rem asked Subaru what was wrong
Rem: Subaru~kun the smell of the witch isn't leaving.
Rem: Actually I think it might be getting stronger.
Subaru: O-oh is it sorry, I don't know why?
Rem hugged Subaru "Will this make Subaru feel better?"
just them Ram busted in through the door
Ram: GET OFF OF MY SISTER BARSLOU.
Subaru hastily stepped back away from Rem but was off balance to he ended up tripping and bringing Rem down with him.
Subaru opened his eyes and stares into Rems pair of blue eyes
Blushing madly* Subaru looked away
Ram: Barslou how dare you force your vulgar behavior upon my sister!
Ram: You're going to pay
end of the day
Subaru: Ugh your sister worked me to death today *pant* *pant*
Rem: Nee-sama was pretty hard on you.
Subaru: Yeah I ended up having to clean the entire house by myself.
a light knocking came from Subaru's bedroom door
Emilia: Subaru? I'm done with my political studies want to go out to the village?
Subaru: sure be out in a second, Rem tell Ram that I'm done.
Rem: sure subaru~kun
Emilia: I'll be waiting outside
Subaru exited the mansion and took a deep breath of air- ahhh
Emilia: I'm sorry I missed the 3 meals today, the food you brought up was delicious.
Subaru: Well all I really did was peel the vegetables... Rem made the food again.
Emilia: Um- Subaru
Subaru: Yes Emilia?
Emilia: Did you really mean it when you said you loved me?
Subaru: Yes of course! you're my one and only Emilia-tan.
Emilia: "I'm so glad" she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek*
Emilia: Never in my life has anyone treated me specially in a good way, I've been shunned, called a witch and attacked so many time.
Emilia clings to Subaru's chest and through her tears she said thanked him for everything
Subaru smiled however unbeknownst to him the happiness would be short lived
as the sun set the green crystal around her neck suddenly cracked.
As the sun set the winds picked up and dark clouds began to roll in
Subaru: Emilia, let's get inside...
Subaru: Emilia?... Emila? Emilia!?
Subaru: Whats wrong
Emilia leaned limply against his chest not responding to his words
Darkness began to shroud around her
Subaru: whats wrong? Emilia? Emila whats wrong?
Rem smelling a strong scent of the witch came out to investigate
she sees Emilia laying down on the grass shrouded in darkness with a desperate Subaru shaking her shoulders trying to wake her.
Suddenly Emilia begins convulsing, her eyes flutter open now red instead of purple
"sorry" she mumbles quietly before once again losing control
Rem sensed something wrong watching the scene from the porch, the smell of the witch was so thick it was practically solid and it all originated from Emilia
Rem: Subaru! What happened!
Subaru: I don't know... she just suddenly... *his voice cracks*
Suddenly Emilia got up throwing Subaru off.
Subaru: Emilia? are you ok?
Emilia summons a hail of ice blades sending one of them at Rem.
Rem unleashed her horn and mace jumping away as the ice blade embedded itself in the door.
Rem dashed to Subaru picking him up and running back to the mansion.
Subaru: Emiilliiaaaa!
As Rem turned a corner he lost sight of Emilia, the girl she had given everything for, was gone
Tears streamed down his face as Rem carried him back to the mansion to meet with Ram.
Ram and Subaru burst through the door of rams bedroom
Ram: What in the world?
Rem: Emilia's gone crazy, she suddenly started attacking us.
Ram: Barslou what did you do!
Subaru: I-i don't know! she just suddenly started convulsing and then she attacked both Rem and I.
Rem: Nee- sama whats happening?
Ram: I don't know and since Roswell-sama isn't back yet let's go and find Beatrice
Rem: But how will we find her?
Subaru: Oh don't worry about that I can find her, he says as he opens a random door which leads to the forbidden library.
Beatrice: How do you do that - I suppose.
Subaru: Emilia has gone crazy! She attacked both Rem and I randomly.
Rem: And she smells strongly of the witch.
Beatrice: Do any of you know anything- I suppose.
Subaru: I had a peculiar dream last night...
After Subaru told them about the dream...
Beatrice: That wasn't a dream, it was a vision - I suppose.
Subaru: Does that mean em-Emilia has become t-the witch?
Beatrice: Yes - I suppose.
Ram: Then does that mean it's all barslou fault?
Subaru: It... is isn't it... he says as tears stream down his face.
Rem: No it isn't, subaru~kun you saved all of us.
Ram: well as much as I hate to admit it the people you brought did help against the witch cultists
Beatrice: Hmm, they are right - I suppose
Subaru: Hugs Beatrice "Thank you, I'm so glad you believe in me"
Beatrice uses magic to throw Subaru across the room "Who said you could touch me - I suppose"
Subaru: Ouch Beatrice don't be so cold you know you love me
Beatrice: pipe down or ill chuck you out the window next time
Subaru: Yeah, yeah as he sat down next to rem
Beatrice: I shall take a look at what is going on Beatrice said as she summoned a magic orb
after a few moments of silence
Subaru: Whats going on? is Emilia ok?
Beatrice: How annoying, well she is in the courtyard - I suppose
Beatrice: As for if she is fine, I detect the presence of a witch from her form and an aura of darkness radiates from her form
Ram: I have used my clairvoyance to take a look at the surrounding woods... its seems that the barrier against the witch fiends has been broken and now
the witch fiends are gathering in the courtyard
suddenly a large crashing sound came from the area where the front door was situated
Beatrice: They have broken into the mansion I suppose
rem summoned her mace
ram readied her magic
Subaru grabbed a sword off of a display case and they all waited
suddenly Beatrice dropped the book in her hands
Beatrice: Impossible, they have detected my magic?
shortly after a huge shard of ice tore through the libraries door
"Ahh I have found you at last" the voice came from Emilia but the tone was foreign and as cold as ice
Emilia: It feels good to have a physical form again
Subaru: w-who are you and what have you done with Emilia?!
Emilia: Oh but it is me Subaru how could you be so cold to the one you love? just let me slay that meddling Oni and we can live happily together from now on
Subaru: h-happily together? Subaru said in a dazed tone
Ram: barslou snap out of it, it's obviously not Emilia we are talking to
Subaru shook his head vigorously and slapped himself in the face, ram was right
Subaru: I don't know who you are if you are the witch or someone else but return Emilia to us this instant
Emilia: Oh how I am hurt, I guess I have to kill the rest of you and reason with you later
suddenly the air was full of shards of ice
after a seconds pause, they flew towards the other people in the room
Rem summoned an ice wall of her own blocking the ice shards from hitting both herself and Subaru
Ram summoned a field of wind destroying all the ice that flew at her
Beatrice simply held up her hand completely blocking any ice which flew at her
However, both rem and ram knew they wouldn't last for long and the ice shards showed no signs of stopping nor Emilia any sign of fatigue
Ram: This is no use if its barslou she is after perhaps we should just give him up
Rem: Nee-sama!, Even if you're joking that's too cruel she said as she summoned another wall of ice just as the first was destroyed
Ram: Ugh I don't know what you see in that idiot but for now we should retreat
Beatrice: Go I shall hold her off - I suppose
Ram summoned several blades of wind and broke through a wall and rem picked up Subaru by the waist
together they escaped
Subaru looked back at the lone spirit holding off the thousand of ice shards shooting down at her and the silver-haired half-elf whom he loved go mad
Subaru: Emmmmiiiilllllliiiiiaaaaaa he screamed before they rounded a corner cutting off his sight of the fierce battle
After navigating the halls Ram lead the group to Roswell's office
Ram: There is a safe room under this house constructed for emergencies and master Roswell has granted me access in case of emergencies. It is protected by ice magic and will slay an intruder who has not been granted access
Subaru flashed back to the life in which he had attempted to enter the safe room only to find himself frozen
Subaru: Ok, but does Emilia not have access to it?
Ram: No, I myself only received permission after the witch cult attack in case of a similar emergency she said as she moved a shelf to reveal a metal door leading to a staircase
Rem: Subaru~kun, it's ok just follow nee-sama she's always right
Subaru: Will Beatrice be ok? he asked as they descended the hidden staircase
Ram: She may not look it however she is a powerful spirit, her magic in the Kingdom is second only to Rosewall-sama we do not need to fear for her safety
Subaru: But if that's really satilla does she really stand a chance?
Ram: There remains no one in this age who has magic to rival satilla, if that is truly satilla then god help us
Ram: Enough questions, barslou follow me she gestured as she opened the icy door at the bottom of the stairs
the trio entered the door and was met by a massive library made of the same material as the icy stone of the door
"What is this place?" Subaru said in awe
Ram: It is the original location of the forbidden library, the place where it remained before Beatrice took control of it
Ram: In fact, it is still here, the library that Beatrice maintains in the mansion is simply a fragment of this
Rem: Nee-sama, You knew about this?
Ram: Yes Roswell informed me of this place before his latest business trip
Subaru: Ram, could you check if Beatrice is ok?
Ram: Fine, you keep watching barslou Ram said as she closed her eyes
The image Ram saw was far more horrifying than anything she had expected Beatrice lay on the ground bloodied and unmoving while witchfiends roamed the mansion looking for them
meanwhile, the half-elf who had once been Emilia was sitting on a throne of ice constructed by her own magic
Ram once again opened her eyes
Ram: Beatrice has fallen
Rem: Nee-sama are you sure? Beatrice is so powerful
Subaru: n-no way didn't you say she was the second most powerful in the kingdom, has Emilia really turned into the witch?
Ram: I am afraid so, Rem contact Roswell-sama immediately
Rem: ok
Roswell was sitting in another lord's keep discussing the mining rights of the magical stone that Subaru had in his haste given away
altho the decision was preferable to the destruction of his land and property it was certainly fairly costly
suddenly Rem's voice appeared in his mind calling him
Roswell: I am deeply sorry gentlemen however an urgent matter has come up in my manor may we please continue these talks another time at our convenience
after leaving the room Roswell contacted Rem
Roswell: What is of the matter Rem?
Rem: Emilia has been possessed by the witch
Roswell: Surely you jest?
Rem: No Roswell-sama we are currently taking shelter in the saferoom, Beatrice has been defeated
Roswell: I will be heading back right away stay safe until then
Roswell took off from the main tower of the keep, he just hoped it wouldn't be too late
The door to the safe room groaned... it seemed that the witch fiends had no regard for their own lives, no matter how many of them perished they continued rushing at the icy door
The hall was littered with frozen bodies however the smallest of cracks had begun forming on the once smooth surface of the door... the cracks grew with each
collision against another witch fiend weakening the doors defensive magic
Rem: Subaru~kun, rem is scared
Subaru wrapped his arm around Rem's shoulders even though she was an oni on the surface she was just a girl, an adorable one at that
Ram looked at Subaru in disdain but bit back her scathing remark seeing that rem was so comfortable
the door suddenly fell inward... they were out of time
ram instantly got to her feet slashing a bald of wind slicing through all the witch fiends that got through the door
rem got up right afterward and summoned a wall of ice to block the wave of witch fiends trying to break into the room
This only gave them a few seconds of reprieve, the ice wall shattered and rem summoned a new one
Rem's horn appeared on her head and she began drawing in mana from the air ice crystals formed in the air hovering ready to impale any enemies
then the second ice wall broke letting a wave of witch fiends flood into the room
rem waved her hand decimating the first wave of witchfiends and the second, but even in her uniform rem could feel the strain from using so much mana at such a fast rate
she knew she couldn't last much longer as she pulled out her mace
Subaru felt helpless as he held the sword from the display case upstairs, there was nothing he could do but wait
suddenly rems hail of ice attacks stopped and rem crumpled to her knees, she panted unable to take the strain of such a high mana output
ram took her place sending blades of air through the witchfiends but she knew she wouldn't last long, each blade of wind drained her further. soon her mana would be depleted
Subaru took a test swing with his sword... he knew that he wouldn't be able to do much but he wanted to go down fighting
that's when the witch fiends closest to the door burst into flame
Roswell flew through the for his magic floating around his fingertips
Roswell: rem, Ram, Subaru are you all OK?
Ram: Yes we are all OK Roswell-sama
Roswell: I'm OK, unfortunately, we must abandon the mansion again, the second time in less than a month
suddenly a dark mist spread through the room and Emilia stepped into the room
Emilia: You aren't going anywhere
Roswell: I am not convinced I am speaking to the Royal Candidate Emilia, may I ask just who are you?
Emilia: I believe that you would know me as Satilla the witch of envy
Roswell visibly paled and instantly send a barrage of magic at the half-elf
Emilia deflected it without even batting an eye, "is that the best you can do?"
Cold sweat slid down Roswell's back, even he was no match for Satilla a single mistake and there would be no second chance… His only chance was to hit fast and hit hard… if he can't take her out or at least disable her in a single spell… he would be dead
Roswell summoned all of his magic into his trademark spell, six spheres of energy formed and floated around his finger tips, each a different color representing their own element. He drew out all his mana from his gate leaving just enough for a shielding spell as a reserve and cast it all in one motion. Magic circles formed around each sphere combining to form a single magic circle that promised destruction, a beam of pure destructive energy hurled itself at the seemingly defenseless half-elf, only to be completely deflected...
A huge explosion formed bringing up a huge cloud of dust, had the location been anywhere else the entire area would have been annihilated, however being the forbidden library the building looked no more damaged than before the spell was cast. Once the smoke cleared satilla was still standing much to Roswell's dismay. The only change that occurred was that there was now a slight tear in the side of her robes.
She sucked her teeth… how dare you even scratch me… impudent wizard i will now end your life. Satilla swiftly summoned a spear of ice sending it rushing at Roswell…
Roswell quickly summoned a shield however the ice went straight through it as if the high grade magic barrier was nothing but paper.
He only had enough time to think the legends are true… cursed magic before the spear went through his head ending his life.
Ram collapsed, her master, the most powerful magician in all of the continent had been struck down in a single blow. Subaru drew the sword holding it up to defend the Oni twins. Both rem and Ram were in shock seeing their master defeated in a single blow and unable to defend themselves…
Emilia: Subaru, why are you pointing a sword at me? She said in her usual innocent voice
Emilia: You said you loved me, you pledged that you would be my knight… i still remember that day in the courtroom
Subaru's arm shook as he flashed back to his announcement as Emilia's knight, the flush of embarrassment that had creeped into Emilia's cheeks. That's when he knew that Emilia truly was gone… the girl he had loved, whom he had been willing to die for was now the witch of envy… a evil entity who everyone loathed… she was no longer the girl he loved, that girl… was gone.. Forever.. These thought raced through his mind as he faced the half elf whose eyes were no longer the soft violet that he had loved so much, they were now a harsh angry red, a possessive red, his heart shattered… he knew then that the girl he loved, looked up too and admired was no more and that the physical body that remained from her, was now his sworn enemy.