On their way to the Sanctuary Subaru, Emilia, and Hikaru were sitting inside the carriage while Otto and Rem were driving. Things were going alright until Otto called out to the group.
"Excuse me! We're in the forest!"
"The Lost Forest of Clemaldy. From what Frederica told me and Subaru, it's some kind of special barrier that protects the Sanctuary. It makes outsiders lose their way, to prevent them from getting close. That's why they call it the Lost Woods. Better keep my guard up. And you might need to come out just in case alright?"
"Yeah, for some reason I have a very bad feeling about this place. It's almost as if someone planned all of this, just make sure to keep your guard up Hikaru."
"Yeah, you got it."
"So the Sanctuary is just ahead...Hm? Emilia-tan are you nervous?"
"Huh? How could you tell?"
"I know everything about! At least, that's what I'd like to say, but anyone could tell."
"Yeah I got to agree with Subaru on that one Emilia, your hands were shaking too."
"You're right! I'm sorry for worrying both of you. When I think that we're about to arrive at the Sanctuary, a village where only demihumans live..."
"No, I should apologize. I wasn't thinking that far ahead. I guess there might be more half-elves like you out there, huh?"
"I've never seen any half-elves other than myself. But just maybe, in the Sanctuary..."
"Don't worry I'll-"
"Emilia!"
Both Subaru and Hikaru yelled as the stone that Frederica gave them on Emilia's chest started to glow.
"Uh...Is this..."
"I suddenly have a really bad feeling! I'm borrowing this Emilia!"
"Wait Subaru! Don't!"
Subaru grabbed the necklace and opened the window to throw it out but before he could they both heard a loud thud that came from a now unconscious Emilia.
"Emilia!"
Subaru quickly looked at the stone more as it sent him to a place in the forest. The last thing he heard was Hikaru screaming his name.
"Where...am I?"
Subaru looked around as he heard some movements behind him and he saw a little girl wearing a white coat and has pink hair on her.
"Who are you? Those ears...Are you an Elf?"
As soon as Subaru asked this, the started to run away.
"No, wait! Wait a minute!"
Subaru yelled as he chased the girl further into the forest. Until he ran outside the woods where he found a temple in the open.
"Hey! is anyone here? If this is the Sanctuary, somebody answer me!"
As Subaru entered the temple, he felt something. As he slowly enters the tunnel even if it was dark by just touching the walls. Subaru kept walking until he heard a feminine voice call out to him.
"I see. So that is the root of your desire? How very interesting."
Before Subaru knew it he as teleported to a green field where no trees can be found, but only a huge umbrella and a table under it with a white haired woman with a black dress.
"Oh, did I startle you? It has been quite sometime since I spoke with anyone so I was perhaps quite too eager. My name is Echidna... Or perhaps you would know me better as The Witch of Greed?"
Subaru could only stare shell shocked at the revelation. He felt that he was in dangerous situation as he kept his guard up just in case.
"Please, it hurts to see you look so alarmed by me. Despite who I am, I'm still a tender young maiden you know."
"Sorry but...There's no way I'm not going to be alarmed when you tell me you're the Witch of Greed the moment we meet."
"I see. That's a fair point."
"What is this place?" I was in some dark ruins just a moment ago! Did I get transported to another world again!?"
"Unfortunately, you're mistaken. You weren't physically moved anywhere. You were simply invited to my tea party."
"Tea party?"
"A Witch's tea party. Are you going to stand there forever? Why don't you at least sit down before the tea gets cold?"
"Oh, damn it! All right, fine!"
Subaru angrily marched over to the table grabbed the cup and chugged the whole thing down, surprising Echidna.
"You're awfully brave, gulping down tea served by a Witch in one gulp."
"Hah! If you wanted to kill me, I would have been a pile of ash right now. What is this tea anyway? It's not bad but it's not good either."
"It's something that's produced here. To put it bluntly, it's a body fluid of mine."
"What the hell did you just make me drink!?"
"I must say, you're a truly fascinating individual. You're standing right in front of me as if it's normal. Not only that you have some mysterious powers that no one in this world has scene before, you truly fascinate me."
"An opportunity to talk to the Witch of Greed is not something that just anyone, other than you can earn. The only requirement to have a dialogue is for the both of us to exist. Let's remove everything unnecessary from the picture. All we need is our words. Let me affirm all the desires, the curiosities, the greed, that you seek to satisfy with answers."
As soon as Echidna said this, the place started to change into a different dimensional world. When Subaru looked back at Echidna she had a very evil smile on her face and a very evil glint in her eyes as she continued to speak.
"Now, what would you like to ask me? About the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne, who created beasts that defied the will of God to save the world from hunger? About the Witch of Wrath, Minerva, who struck people to heal them as she lamented that state of her war-torn world? About the Witch of Sloth, Sehkmet, who drove the dragon past the great waterfall just for a chance to rest? About the Witch of Pride, Typhoon, who out of youthful, innocence and cruelty, judged criminals one after another? About the Witch of Greed, Echidna, the embodiment of the thirst for knowledge who has done things she regrets even in the realm of the dead, all in pursuit of all types of knowledge?
"Or...The Witch of Envy, Satella, who killed all the other Witches and used them as sustenance while she made the whole world her enemy-the most detestable of all?"
When Echidna was done talking, everything went back to normal as she noticed Subaru a little tensed up after her display.
"Oh, darn. Looks like I frightened you to much. Such is the nature of a Witch. It's quite bothersome."
Subaru just looked at her until he felt something in his stomach, this didn't go unnoticed by Echidna.
"Oh, that took less time than I though it would. Compatible people do adapt quickly."
"What are you talking about?"
"That tea you drank? I used the Envy Witch Factor on it to strengthen your resistance. Now you and I can talk at leisure. So what would you like to ask me?"
"Well for starters, what the hell did you do to my body!?"
"Please don't get the wrong idea. I didn't make you drink that tea to do anything bad. Like I said, I find your existence quite desirable. I'm a bit embarrassed really."
"In these past few days, you killed the one that possessed the Sloth Witch Factor correct? When he died, the Witch Factor chose you as it's new dwelling. That's also why you were able to enter this graveyard unharmed."
"Like...a tomb?"
"Yes. This is the Witch's Graveyard, where my soul is held prisoner...The Sanctuary."
"You know where it is!?"
"I don't have the experience to determine whether you're brave or just very bold."
"Don't make fun of me! So I can consider this...rather the forest with the ruins where I was before...to be the Sanctuary?"
"You're so mean...That's right. Just as you wanted, the Sanctuary is outside the ruins. So, what else would you like to as-"
"And if I ask you, you'll let me back out, right?"
"Sure...I can guarantee that. Hey isn't there anything else you want to ask me?"
"Sorry, but I'd rather meet up with Rem and Emilia outside than talk to you."
Echidna just stood there flabbergasted at the fact that someone actually rejected her knowledge, no one has ever done that before.
"Huh? Y-You're kidding right!? I'm the Witch of Greed! Powerful people from all over the world have come to me for my knowledge! So, um...relax, okay!? We can just relax and talk! I have knowledge about the truth of this world that nobody-"
"Not interested."
"What!?"
"I'll make time to chat with you and drink tea with you later, okay?"
"You'd ask a dead women...a Witch, at that...to agree to that as if it were the simplest thing?"
"I never had a tea party like this. If you're going back, I'll just take compensation first."
"Oh...About that...I'm broke beyond compare."
"Compensation for a Witch doesn't mean money. What I desire from you is a vow. You will tell no one of what has transpired at this tea party. That's my condition. And since you're here, I'll send you away with a souvenir. I will grant you the right to face the trial of the sanctuary."
"Trial of the Sanctuary?"
"You may not understand now, but once you learn where it is, you will realize it's worth. What feelings will you have toward me when that happens? The mere thought gives me such beautiful expectations."
"You...really are a Witch, aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm a very evil magic user."
Echidna said as she poked Subaru on his forehead which lead him to the portal behind him. As he woke up, he found himself still inside the temple right when he was knocked out and held his head.
"Anyway, I need to get out of here, and back to the others. Though I feel like someone said something to me."
Subaru weakly walked out of the temple only to find Otto on the floor while Rem and Hikaru were watching over Emilia. Subaru quickly ran over to them before he heard a voice behind him.
"Look at you, just waltzing out of there! You got a lot of nerve outsider! Is this some magmarin laughing when it's full of holes!?"
Someone behind Subaru said as he was lifted off the ground and threw him away. Patrasche saw him flying and quickly ran to him to catch him by drifting the cart towards him.
"Subaru-kun!"
Rem exclaimed as she saw Subaru crash into the carriage rushing over towards him to make sure he was okay. When she got there she saw Subaru rubbing his head in pain and looked at Garfiel.
"Ow. Damn it! What the hell!?"
"What a tantalizing choice! That's a nice ground dragon ya got there. You're a real good-lookin girl, ain't ya? I'm not gonna hurt ya! Just take a little nap!"
The man exclaimed as it grabbed Patrasche and slammed her on the ground knocking her out.
"Better thank her for fightin' so hard for ya!"
The blonde exclaimed as he approached Subaru.
"Wait...wait!"
"I'm gonna throw you guys outta this forest half-dead...Just alive enough to swear you won't tell a soul about this place!"
The blonde then leaped towards Subaru to punch him.
"Y-You know Frederica, don't you!?
"Why the hell did I just hear that name come out of your nasty mouth?"
"Why do you think? Just think about it."
"Thought about it. Don't know. I'll think after I bash your skull in!"
"Quit jumping to conclusions without thinking! It's because we know her too!"
"Huh? I'm Garfiel. If you guys know her, you must've heard that name, right?"
"Y-You're..."
"How the hell did you know I have anything to do with Frederica!?"
The man known as Garfiel angrily asked with his teeth shining.
"Are you being serious right now?"
After their little 'scuffle' everyone was in the carriage. While an angry Otto was driving the carriage.
"I just got beaten up for nothing. What am I supposed to do with this anger? You call, "Hey numbskull kinda jumped the gun," an apology!?"
"Anyway, if ya just shown me that thing sooner, that woulda done it. Gotta act on ganglion before you think about it."
"Gangli...huh?"
"Lookin' at that hair, I'm guessin' that's the famous Emilia-sama? The silver-haired half-devil Roswaal's helpin' out."
"She's a half-elf! Don't ever call her that again!"
"Hey, look at that! Guess you can put some energy into yer voice after all! Wanna how it feels to be a bazomazo bein' flung back an' forth?"
"Uh, is there some sort of translation glitch happening between you and me?"
"Huh?"
The two stopped talking as soon as Emilia began to wake up and sat up from her chair. When she saw Garfiel she assumed he was someone trying to hurt Subaru. He and Hikaru both explained the situation and told Emilia that he was Frederica's little brother Garfiel. After they made it to the Sanctuary, Subaru, Hikaru, Emilia and Rem went on ahead while Otto went to put the Carriage outback.
"You're back? It took you long enough."
"Ram!
"I haven't a clue which Barusu you are, but I'm disappointed by how long it took you to get here. Ah, But I suppose I was a fool to expect more of you."
"If your story is that you "haven't a clue" who I am then stick to it!"
As usual Rem and Emilia were oblivious to Ram's harsh treatment as always and just smiled at it while Hikaru greeted Ram. Ram surprisingly had a flushed face as she greeted Hikaru and led the group to Roswaal's Inn, where they saw Roswaal all wrapped up in bandages.
"Ah, Emilia-sama, and Subaru-kun. It feels like it's been so very long since I last saw you. And yooooou must be Hikaru-kun correct?"
"Yes sir. I'm Hikaru Takahashi. As of now I'm a new member of your camp, pleasure to meet you."
"Though this guys is suspicious."
"Oh no the pleasuuuuure is alllllllll mine."
"And Suuuubaru-kun you look a lot different the last time we saw each other what happened?
"Um...That's actually a long story. Lets just say some stuff happened and now I'm magicless"
Roswaal was shocked, from what Ram told him Subaru was flying and wiping out the mana in the air like it was nothing when he was fighting Sloth, but there wasn't any mana interference. Roswaal assumed it was magic but it turns out he was wrong. Though he wasn't the only one shocked Ram, Rem and Emilia were shocked as well except for Hikaru of course, they too thought that was magic he was using.
Though they wanted to ask they knew now wasn't the time so they left it alone for now.
"Don't worry I'll explain after all of this is over. But for now that's all I'm going to say, don't wanna reveal to much so early, I told Beako about it but she doesn't know that I'm a devil. I didn't tell her everything about me not being human anymore. And besides, I'm not going to tell him anymore than that, I don't trust him."
"Anyway, I was going to slug you when I saw you again, but now...What the hell happened?"
"What could have hurt you so badly?"
"Well now where shall I begin?"
"Hey, before that, just one thing...The alliance with Crusch-san is on. Now are you satisfied with the results you got from abandoning me and everyone else here?"
"Yes, more than satisfied. Truly, truly, you were the once-in-a-lifetime windfall I had long awaited for."
"What did Roswaal-sama mean about Subaru-kun being a once-in-lifetime windfall?"
"Oh?"
"Roswaal, what is this place? Since we got here...no since we made contact with the barrier...I've had this weird feeling in my chest, and I can't relax. I've heard it's called the 'Sanctuary,' but it doesn't seem like one to me at all. In fact, it feels more like..."
"The Witch's Graveyard? Does it seem to make far more sense to call it that?"
"Exactly what I said, nothing more or less. This is where The Witch of Greed, Echidna, met her end long ago. and in my mind, it's worth calling a 'Sanctuary.'
"Witch of Greed? I suddenly don't like this clown all of a sudden."
"Echidna..."
"Subaru-kun?"
Subaru? Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. And why are you overseeing a place with that kind of backstory?"
"It's quite simple. This land has been overseen by the heads of the Mathers family for generations."
"Then the Mathers family and the Witch of greed have -"
"Echidna."
"Huh?"
"Please, when you speak of her, do use her name. The name 'Witch of Greed' makes her sound so evil. That's not very nice, is it?"
Rem was honestly confused as thoughts raced through her mind.
"Why would Roswaal-sama know The Witch of Greed's name? Why is Subaru-kun so important to him?"
Honestly the more the conversation went on the more her worry and suspicions grew. There was no doubt about it, to Rem, Roswaal was suspicious though she wasn't the only one that caught on. Subaru and Hikaru knew he was suspicious too.
"Um, then...the Mathers family and Echidna have been acquainted for a long time, and that's why they've always overseen a place like this?"
"Yes, though to say we 'oversee' it is a bit of an exaggeration. Echidna's barrier prevents entry by outsiders who fail to follow the forest's proper procedure. In addition, the barrier has certain effects on those whose blood meets certain conditions. Did you not experience this yourself, Emilia-sama?"
"And how did you end up like that?"
"Did you not find it at all strange, Emilia-sama? That all the people who fled to the Sanctuary, as well as Roswaal-sama and myself stayed here and didn't return to the mansion?"
"Nee-sama was the one that brought the villagers here, knowing that the barrier won't let anyone here leave until you passed all three of the trials. So why would she do that knowing all this?"
"All right it's official, it's not just Roswaal that's suspicious but Ram too, they are both planning something. They knew something was going to trap us all in here the moment we entered, I wonder how Rem feels about all this."
Though Rem loved her sister, she couldn't help but feel suspicious of her along with Roswaal, she knew they were planning something, but for now she would just play along to see where it all goes.
"Well..."
"I mean, you stayed because you're hurt, right?"
"We are all being held under house arrest here in the Sanctuary."
"What!?"
"Myself, Ram, and the people of Arlam...oh and you three as well, the moment you entered here."
"The hell? You guys still flappin' your gums in here?"
Garfiel suddenly exclaimed as he barged in the room and sat on a chair as he began to explain the rest of the situation.
"So the barrier only works on half-breeds correct?"
"Yep, yer right on point. The only way to break the barrier is to go through the graveyard's trial, but if anyone who isn't a mixed-blood tries it..."
"Then they'll end up like Mr. Roswaal over here."
"Right on point again. All the villagers are rounded up in one place, so as long as they don't act up we won't hurt 'em. They even get three meals and a nap everyday! This is our demand. Break the barrier surrounding this Sanctuary. The only one allowed to undergo the trial to do that is you. If you can't break it, we won't let any of the villagers leave. Of course, you can't leave here yourself, either!"
After they discussed everything with Roswaal, Subaru and Hikaru went to train in forest while Emilia went to her Inn to get some rest before it was time to take her trial. Subaru asked Rem if she wanted to come along but Rem said she wanted to catch up with Ram. Subaru obliged and left with Hikaru.
"Ok Subaru, we're going to work on your swordsmanship and your hand-to-hand combat training. Once you master those then I'll have you fight against me to test how well you improved. Once you're done with that we'll work on lots more."
"You got it. Hey Hikaru."
"Yeah?"
"I realized something."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"I just don't just want to get stronger to protect everyone, I want to get stronger so I can be the strongest. And fight a lot of other strong people out there. So right here starting today, you and me are rivals!"
Hikaru had a huge grin on his face at Subaru's new resolve, he really reminded him of a certain someone. Hikaru formed his hand into a fist and outstretched it towards Subaru.
"Subaru, you're my best friend. My brother...so I'll gladly be help you! You found your new resolve so I'll be more than glad to help!"
Subaru formed his hand into a fist and outstretched it towards Hikaru with his own grin on his face.
"Yeah...From here on out we're not just brothers..."
Bumping both of their fists together they both exclaimed.
"We're rivals!"
And with that they would train until it was time to go and see Emilia off as she would take the trial. They trained for at least 8 hours before it was time to go. When they got there everyone was already waiting for them.
"You're late Barusu."
"Sorry, Hikaru and I lost track of time while we were training. But we're here now arent we?"
"Hmph!"
"Anyway, Emilia-tan did you get enough support from the lesser spirits?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. Still, I think I'd like one last cheer."
"Can I do it?"
"I want you to do it. Please."
With that Subaru did his famous EMT dance while everyone else just stared at him. After he did his cheer Emilia walked in the tomb as it started to glow.
"That means she's been approved as a qualified challenger in the trial."
"Wait a minute, I get that it sucks being trapped in here but why didn't you take the trial yourself?"
"If I could, I would, damn it."
Suddenly the light disappeared right after Emilia entered.
"H-Hey! Is she going to be ok?
"The light's not supposed to go out as long as the trial's still going on..."
"Emilia!"
Subaru instantly speed off towards the temple as it glowed again shocking everyone present.
"S-Subaru-kun..."
"Why...?"
"I don't understand, but if I can get in there, that's good enough for me! Just stay there! I'll yell if I need you!"
Subaru ran into the temple and found Emilia lying on the floor unconscious. Subaru immediately rushed towards her to make sure she was okay, not until he heard a voice that sounded like his.
First you need to face your past.
Subaru lost all consciousness as he fell to the floor right next to Emilia. When Subaru came to he looked around and found an all to familiar scene his figurines and he manga as well all on shelves.
Subaru noticed he still had his tail so he tucked it in just in case. Subaru's thoughts were cut off as he heard a voice he hasn't heard in so long.
"Good morning, son of mine!"
A man rushed at Subaru and landed right on him, making spit saliva.
Subaru couldn't believe his eyes, his dad was right in front of him. Someone that he thought he wouldn't see again since being transported to another world was right in front of him.
"Hey, c'mon! What? What? What's wrong? You look as if you just saw your dad naked first thing in the morning!"
The man did a thumbs up with a grin on his face while Subaru just stared in utter shock. Subaru was about to say something until he heard another voice from someone that he missed for so long.
"Oh come on you two. Breakfast will get cold! And cold food won't compliment the mayonnaise at all!"
"Dad."
"Mom."
Subaru was home. Back in his original world.
Subaru's first trial finally began, as he would face his past and reunite with the people he missed the most since being transported.