Warlock of Sin. Arc 3: Linking the Past and The Present

Chapter 31: What, Who and Why?

In the empty darkness, a small spark flickered in the distance, in a place devoid of light, devoid of anything, no memories, no thoughts, it was a clean placeholder for this small spark that was about to relight into a raging flame.

"Where... am I…"

Eyes blurry, a silhouette moving around him, he can't see properly, can't hear properly, he can't even think properly, like the sensation of using something for the first time, you aren't used to it, "Subaru, are you okay?" He heard someone say, firm masculine tone, it was from a man, using his bleary eyes, he made out the face of that person, tidy purple hair, yellow gleaming eyes, but there was another person.

"I was really worried you know? I was shocked when I found you lying down here!"

A glimmer of silver, like the shine of a sharp blade, it was pretty, beautiful, it was the hair of the other person, quite a sight indeed, but he's not having any of that, "N-No!" With his eyes suddenly opening up, he retracts his arms to get away from the gleaming hair, almost instinctively, he knew it was dangerous, he had an innate fear for it, he never wants to see it ever again.

"S-Subaru, are you alright? Did I startle you..."
"W-Who… who are you…"

"Huh…?"

Subaru? Who is Subaru? No one replied so does that mean I'm Subaru? But I'm not Subaru. I mean, I don't know who I am. Then, who am I? Should I reply? Then I'd be Subaru wouldn't I? Do I want to be Subaru? Do I have to be Subaru? Who's this girl who calls for Subaru? Why am I scared of her? Why is she talking to me? Why don't I know her? What the hell is this!

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"In the library, I suppose?"
"Must've did a number on yer back, sleeping on the hard floor aint the best feelin…"

After a while has passed the confusion seemed to die down, in enters two more voices, one of a little girl worried and distraught, another that spoke with an unfamiliar dialect, who are these people and what do they want with me? "Yeah, and it also seems he's forgotten about me and Julius…" The silver-haired woman spoke, her voice was sweet yet it made my heart shake.

There was only one man in the room, and his name was Julius. Finely combed purple hair, with stern yellow-glazed irises, wearing a dashing outfit of white and black with a brown and finely sewn overcloak to top. He was the other person I saw back in that rather large library, he called me 'Subaru' no, 'they' all called me 'Subaru' one way of or another, "Natsuki Subaru… is that who I am"

Asking that question out loud, everyone turned their attention to me, who has been left in the blue for quite a while. "Ah, sorry, this must be all really confusing to you…" I nod, looking down as I really know what to do in this situation, "This is really troublesome, I suppose, perhaps Betty should have considered looking over you last night… no, I really should have, ugh, this is very frustrating, I suppose!" The little girl scrubbed her hair in distress, there's a feeling of familiarity with her, I don't know what it is, but I feel like I should know her for some reason.

"Seriously, you're always doing something reckless, are you hurt anywhere, I suppose?" the girl approached me, grabbing my hand, it was stained with a black foreign substance, looking at it, it seems very vexing, but it doesn't seem like it's hurting me or anything, in fact, it feels calming in a way, "I'm not hurt anywhere, I think it's just my back that's sore from being on the ground for too long"

"Good… then, please tell us everything you remember from what happened last night, I suppose, in order to find a cure for this amnesia, we'll have to find the source…" Indeed, though I don't remember who I am, I do have a vague memory of what had happened just before my 'amnesia'. Perhaps that will help me find my true self again.

"I don't remember much… but I can recall walking around somewhere, and picking something up, then I talked to someone… and that was it…"

"That's all we need then… pretty easy to guess the rest from here ain't it?" The purple haired woman butted in, she wore a brown overcloak too, no, now that I'm calmer, everyone's wearing these overclockers, even me. She walks up to me but faces everyone else, "Since Natsuki-kun waked up in the library, it's safe to assume that he's been wandering around the library for something, as for what he picked up, it's obviously a book, what else could you get from a library, now all we need to know, who's spoken to him last night?"

They all looked around, and two people raised up their hands, it was Julius, and another woman, one that hasn't talked yet, "Sensei told Shaula to make sure nothing wakes up sensei so she was diligent and slept by his side" "Then didn't you fail by letting him wake up, I suppose?" "Sensei never said anything about he himself wanting to wake up, so Shaula has been following orders till the end!" I don't think it works that way, this girl must be really carefree, well, one can tell by the clothes she's wearing, they're pretty revealing.

"I've also talked to Subaru last night, but as far as I remember, he wasn't in the library, it was as we were descending down the stairs, I think the last thing I said was 'I think it's best to just call it a night for now…' do you remember, Subaru?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't really remember much… it was only until I entered that library before"
"I see… then, if it wasn't any of us, then it's certain, Shaula, you are able to tell when someones entered the tower, no?"

"Ah, Yaya, just yesterday, when we were coming back, Shaula thought someone broke into the tower so she rushed but there was no one so Shaula let it slip by"

That's the sort of thing you oughta be suspicious of, Shaula really is a slacker then, but it seems my situation had turned a little bit more serious, an unknown person has broken into this 'tower', the culprit who stole my memories, they talked to me last night, from what Shaula has told us, it's a person that can go in undetected, that is, if we're believing the credibility that she would know if someone enters the tower.

"Then with this, we've confirmed that there are other people here besides us… this will make it rather difficult to proceed, with Natsuki-kun in this state, using his knowledge to steamroll through the trials is no longer an option, we'll have to solve this immediately if we're going to get anywhere…"

Everyone suddenly put on a serious face, I still don't really understand the situation but I can tell that I'm a pretty important part of it, wherever they're going, they can't go on without 'Natsuki Subaru', well, since I have no other choice, I better help out. "Uh, so can someone explain to me where we are and what we're trying to do? Maybe if you jog my memory, I might be able to remember…"

"Something as absurd as that is simply too convenient to happen, I suppose, but even so, seeing you in such a state is enough to make Betty consider it, now, onto the introductions I suppose. I'm Beatrice, an artificial spirit, I am contracted to you, even if you don't remember, that over there is Emilia, you are her knight, she is a candidate for the throne of this country"

I nod as I take in the information slowly, bit by bit, can't have my mind blanking out, that'll only burden everyone more. The purple haired man then started to speak, "My name is Julius, I'm the knight to Anastasia-sama, the woman behind you, she is another candidate for the throne and we are currently working together to solve a very unfortunate problem that I myself and many others have been facing"

"An unfortunate problem" I ask, and he continued on, "Three people, the sin archbishops of gluttony, part of a larger group called the Witch cult, have been going around and eating peoples names and memories, effectively making them forgotten, some had their existence erased while others like me had their names taken… you also fell victim to this, but you seemed to be resistant to it, or so we thought…"

"So then, my amnesia is just a delayed effect of the archbishop of gluttony?"

"Betty doesn't think so, I suppose, you are indeed resistant to their abilities, you've resisted many of them, you were able to see through Betelgeuse's unseen hands, you were able to keep your mind intact when fighting with Sirius, and you only forgot memories from before you met us when you fought against Louise, you even remember the names of the people like Julius who've had their names eaten, it's not a question of whether you're resistant or not, I suppose... Rather, the question is…"

"What happened to the resistance, I have? Is what you're trying to say?"
"Indeed, I suppose, that person from last night, did something to you…"

It does make sense, the feeling I had last night was one that had been tampered with, like something had been taken away from me, though, it's probably just the amnesia making me feel like I've lost my sense of self, "Okay… so, I'm guessing your Shaula, and the other little one is…?" "Meili, having Onii-san forget my name is a little rude~"

"So we were all working together to find a way to combat the archbishop of gluttony then?"

"Well~ to be exact, Meili is only here because we needed her, and Shaula is the sage of the tower so we were hoping she could help us, but since she doesn't know herself, we're going to have to travel up to the top of the tower in search for our answers…"

I see, so we're not all exactly on the same side, then, couldn't that mean a traitor could be among us? Perhaps it's a possibility, but the situation seems like one that would require complete cooperation, sabotaging one side could lead to nothing for you to gain, it's gotta be an outsider influencing.

"Anyway, I think there's one person we should definitely ask first..."

After hearing Emilia say this, they all looked towards a set of stairs, there must be one more person here that I haven't met yet, and it seems these guys aren't too fond of him, perhaps he's a person who wouldn't cooperate well? "Uh, so should I come along with you all or...?" I ask, not wanting to be left out of this.

"No, I think it would be best if Subaru stayed here, I suppose, seeing what happened last time, it'd be best if we kept the number of people low, actually, let's split up, I suppose"

"Mhh, ya got a plan there, guess half of us should go an question em, while another goes and looks around the library for clues, leave no stone unturned as they say"

And I've been completely left out, well, I can't blame them, as I am right now, I'm probably just dead weight anyway, might as well be a good dead weight and sit still, "So, where should I stay? Is there like some kind of waiting room in this tower or something? Don't want to bother you guys while you're doing your thing…"

"Then the green room should be fine"

Green room, I feel like the person who named that room should've had a little more enthusiasm when naming it, such a simple name, "Meili, can you stay with Subaru while we're busy, we don't want him getting lost" Excuse me, Emilia, but I'm positive I have the mental capacity to stay in a room and not move when I'm told to, I don't need a kid babysitting me.

"Hmph, well it's not like I've got anything better to do~"

The little girl already starts moving, now that I think about it, I have no idea where this green room is, so I hurriedly follow her to wherever she was going, the room wasn't far away so it wasn't much of a walk, "Woah, guess I can see why it's called the green room…" A room filled with vines, draping from the top and tangle around the floor, such greenery.

"Grr…"
"Heh?"

I hear a groan from behind me, this isn't good, not good whatsoever, "H-Help-" Before I could react, I was tackled to the ground, well, it's safer to say that I was shoved to the wall, a wet sticky tongue licked my face, "Woah, woah! What is this, Meili?!" Opening my eyes, I see a black skinned lizard, a large one as well, no, it was gigantic, why is it so big?!

"Geez, guess Onii-san really did lose his memories, you don't even remember your precious ground dragon, how sad~"

Ground dragon? Is that what this oversized lizard is? And it's mine too? "Ahh, so it's not gonna eat me right?" Saying that, the ground dragon nuzzled its snout on my cheek, I guess it must really like Natsuki Subaru, "Do you happen to know its name?" "Hmm~ if I remember, you called her Patrasche, it's a weird~ name, to be honest…"

The ground dragon, Patrasche, snorted at her comment, I guess she really is attached to her owner. I put my hand on her and looked her in the eye, "I'm really sorry for taking Subaru away, but the others are finding him, so it should be alright after a while…" As I say this, Meili gives me an unamused look, "Shouldn't you be saying 'Sorry I forgot about you' instead? Onii-san is really weird isn't he?"

"Uh… I just don't feel like I should be using his name… I'm not him anyway, calling myself him would be saying that the previous Subaru is the same as me which is a lie. His name is his, his memories are his, I don't think I have the right to use them, it's just not fair for me to be calling myself Subaru while he's somewhere else…"

"Heh? But you are Onii-san right? Guuh, Petra always said that Onii-san was weird and liked to talk to himself a lot but this is way~ more than I can handle, guess Onii-san must be worked up in the head or something"

"Well, enough about me, what about you? What brings you here?"

"Hmm? I'm just an assassin that you guys defeated, I've been brought here against my free will, not that it's any better in the basement anyway…" Wait, what have these guys been doing imprisoning a small child like her? And what the hell, she's a murderer!? They thought it was a good idea to have an assassin watch over me, that being said, maybe she's just joking around, there's no way a kid like her could kill anyone right?

"Onii-san, you didn't just think I'm incapable of killing someone did you?"
"N-No, I thought nothing of the sort, I believe you wholeheartedly…"

"Eh~ I know of several ways to get you right now you know? First, I could strangle your neck, your pretty strong physically but as you are now, even I can hold you down long enough for you to lose consciousness, I can also poke a sharp piece into your eye and watch as you bleed away, oh, I can also just find a way to set a curse on you, if I stick around long enough, maybe I'd be able to curse you, hehe…"

This kid, she's freaking scary! Why did they leave her with me, I want out of this, someone save me, "Just kidding! Well, not really, I can still do it all, but that's no~ fun, hmph, Onii-san is fun to tease but they're just gonna get mad at me for scary you, so I'm just gonna leave for now…" Without even a second thought, the girl stood up and opened up the door, it seems like she was going to go to where everyone else was.

"I don't want to be in another room alone with her… Patrasche, you'll protect me right?!"

Trying to find comfort in the only other person in the room, Patrasche eyed the door, as if telling me not to provoke her, so she really was an assassin that could have done the deed there and then, "But maybe she was just playing with me… damn, I'm too on edge right now, Patrasche, I think I'm gonna go explore this 'tower' to put my mind at ease, do stay here in case someone comes looking for me"

I got up and decide to leave the room as well, but unlike Meili, I decided to go the door opposite of the one she went in, that way, I won't have to catch her, even though she's probably joking around, I don't want to try my chances, even if I'm just being paranoid.

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This tower is a rather spacious place, might I say it's also rather high up, I'm getting quite nervous just looking down through an opening, how long did it take to get up here? "Everything outside is just a desert too, this must be a really desolate area, just what could we be finding so far out of civilization…"

I walk around some more until I find what could only be a spiraling staircase, one that lead downwards, all made of stone with a big circle in the center that went all the way to the bottom, it was big enough that you could fall straight down without hitting the sides of the stairs were you to jump properly, "You really should put railings on these things…"

I sit on the edge of the stairs and stare down, it was like an eerie dark void, I could see the bottom but it was dark, and it sent chills down my spine, "If I were to fall down… I wonder how if it'll be a painless death, or one filled with agony…" Just as I was contemplating the idea, I hear a loud yelp, it was the kind a lizard would make, Patrasche… "Patrash-!"

Shove…

"Huh…?"

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My mind suddenly went blank.

"Huh…..?"

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I myself lose touch with anything, I felt myself free of any bounds.

"...?"

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Nothing was touching me, I was touching nothing, it was a sensation of complete nothingness.

"..."

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I watched as a silhouette retracted their arms, as they turned around.

"Bye~ Onii-san…"

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I was falling, right?

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Yes, I am falling, falling to my impending doom.

"Hah…"

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Hmm perhaps now would be a great time to test this.

"Haha…"

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Will it be a painless death, or one filled with agony…

"Hahaha!"

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I'm going to die, a person who woke up with nothing several minutes ago.

"Hahahaha!"

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Is going to die.

"Haha…"

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"Ha…"

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"Bye..."

A/N

Okay, the next hurdle is coming, let's see if it'll take a month to finish the next one… I'm really sorry for the delay...

Spooky Sharma

Ok. You did clarify my previous question thanks. The chapter was short but the action scenes were alluring to read. I just so badly want Satella to come back. I don't know if you are planning it or not, but I want Subaru to romance Satella, she is my favorite character after Pandora and Echidna after all.

Well to be frank with you… it's going to happen sooner or later so yeah, there's that… if it doesn't happen, you can sue me though.