Normal: General setting
Italics: Within the domain of the Witch's Tea Party
Bold: Within the domain of the screen in perspective of the Warden
"Roar! I~t's dinner time!"
"No~. Somebody, help me!"
"Hahaha! Talking meat goes to my tummy."
A lone girl sat playing with her dolls, giving them voices with varying intonations; surrounding her were a multitude more, diverse in cast and shape, humans and monsters alike. She played with them for her actions were limited. Outside the circle of toys was the confines of the room she resided.
The room had a comfortable ambience and accommodated her general necessities, suitable for the girl to live in. Upon closer inspection, eerie discrepancies could be found. The room had no windows. The light came from Lagmite ores placed in the room's ceilings, out of reach for the lone girl. The room had limited ventilation and was cold most of the time. Fortunately, the girl was used to such temperature due to her… work, work that she was currently in indefinite leave for. The room had a single point of entry, a door with no lock. In general, this was more decorative in purpose for what lay beyond it was the place's true point of entry, an iron door with many locks installed upon it, deterring anyone from entering or leaving. For the girl within, the room was a glorified prison, confining her. Not that she cared for her freedom, with her failures piled upon her, imminent death awaited from the outside.
The girl continued playing with her dolls as she looked around with her olive-green eyes, taking in the same things she'd seen every day for the past year since the start of her confinement. She wore a short blue long-sleeved one-piece dress as her general wear.
Repetitive were her daily actions: wake up, bathe, braid her dark blue hair, eat, play dolls, sleep. A cycle of monotonous activities done every day. Such were the days of Meili Portroute.
Fortunately for her, visitors came from time to time, keeping the girl company: a blonde boy with ferocious teeth, an energetic orange-haired maid, a scary-looking black-haired boy. These people came to gossip and play with Meili, breaking her from her isolation.
"Ha~, when will they return?"
Putting down the dolls, Meili sighed as none of the merry visitors came to visit her for the past few days. Although food was still delivered to her room, the maids in charge left as quick as they entered. Each passing day, her boredom increased as human interaction became sparse.
"I'm bo-"
Meili's speech halted as she was suddenly enveloped in white light. As the light dissipated, the lone girl vanished from the confines of the room.
"-red… Wha…"
Ending her speech, Meili looked at her surroundings. Although the ambience was similar, the location had changed. Gone were the dolls, bed and cabinet; a wooden circular table surrounded by four chairs and a wooden chest were present instead. Another change, the biggest change, was that she was not alone in the room.
Meili watched as two other individuals were with her, a pink-haired girl wearing a large black robe and a white-haired lady wearing black dress. In terms of appearance, she deemed herself aged in the middle, being older than the pink-haired girl and younger than the white-haired lady.
All three of them were sitting on the floor, watching each other bewilderedly.
"Hmm… Interesting."
"W-wha… E-Echidna…sama?"
The lady and the girl spoke as both looked at their surroundings, the latter being familiar with the lady. Gauging their reactions, Meili considered them to be in the same predicament as she: abducted.
The pink-haired girl gawked at the lady as tears welled up in her cyan eyes.
"E-Echidna…sama? W-why…"
"Hmm, to get a better response, one must ask a complete question, Ryuzu."
"Why a-are we here? Why… am I here?"
Following the lady's remark, Ryuzu stated questions that dwelled within her. Hearing the surprised yet somber tone that carried those words, Meili surmised that the girl wasn't only talking about their current predicament.
"I don't know. But I assure you, this is just a momentary obstacle to the likes of me. We will get to the bottom of this." Echidna replied, a clenched fist to her chest, as she stood up. Reaching out with her other hand, Echidna gestured Ryuzu to stand up. Although clean, they were still sitting in the floor. Reluctantly, Ryuzu accepted and was assisted in standing up, using her other hand to wipe her tears.
Meili looked down as she was reminded of her loneliness. Among the three that had been transported, two were acquaintances.
"Oh, she's being left out. Reach out to her." A blonde woman ordered; her arm stretched out with her hand directed at Meili.
"But Minerva, she's a baddie." A dark green haired girl argued, swinging her feet as she sat. The chair beneath her was tall enough for her feet not to reach the grassy ground.
Both of them were accompanied by four others, all sitting around a rectangular white table. The table was full with refreshment, ready to be served. Before them stood a large metia with features synonymous to a wide screen television. On its screen showed a girl sat on her own corner and at its periphery was another.
"Typhon, hah… just because, huh… she had done, hah… something bad, huh… doesn't mean, hah… she had to, heh… be alone." A third voice, languid in tone, stated its opinion. Its source, a magenta haired woman, was slumped on the corner of the table. Most of the woman's vision was blocked by her hair, yet she didn't care. The initial shock she had due to the sudden change in location depleted her energy to care.
"M-Minerva's is right. E-even though… the girl was b-bad… doesn't mean she could be… neglected." A pink-haired girl added, covering her face with her light green muffler.
"Well, I suppose an introduction is in order. We are currently in a place unknown to us and she is meeting strangers. At least Ryuzu is familiar to me and vice versa, too familiar by the sounds of it, can it be… A year has already transpired since the event in the Sanctuary. If Meili is alive, she either succeeded in her job on the mansion or has failed to do so; the former I can't imagine since Subaru arrived with Beatrice to vanquish the Great Rabbit, an act whose prerequisite clash with the girl's mission. So she failed but managed to escape, how intriguing. An acceptable result, I suppose." The white-haired lady concluded, agreeing with her own assessment.
Five of the six had voiced their opinion, the consensus reached: Meili would be talked to. The sixth among them uncaring since the beginning, gobbling up the food served on the table, not caring for the crumbs getting to her gray hair. She could not watch the screen as her vision was blocked and she was too lazy to remove it.
"Hmm, isn't it too uncomfortable to sit on the floor when there are chairs nearby?" Echidna queried Meili, gesturing at the chairs placed near them.
"U-uh, yeah." Meili stuttered at the sudden question, nodding in turn. She immediately stood up but the sudden change in posture disorientated her, making her lean on the wall near her.
"A-are you alright?"
"Do not worry, she is just slightly disoriented."
Echidna answered Ryuzu.
Sitting on the unoccupied chairs, the three surveyed the place. The place was an isolated space devoid of any entry; neither doors nor windows could be seen. The light that illuminated the place came from Lagmite ores at the ceiling. Meili could only sigh at the sight, although its content had changed she was still confined nonetheless.
"It seems that we're trapped, its cause magic in nature." Echidna stated, taking in all that she could see.
"H-how can we get out?" Ryuzu asked.
"You can't." A foreign voice, masculine in tone, interjected.
Meili, Echidna, and Ryuzu looked at its source and were surprised to what they saw. The fourth seat, previously unoccupied, was being sat on by someone. That someone was wearing a black robe with orange engravings, a layer of brown clothing could be seen behind the robe. Even though he was not wearing anything to cover his face, none of the girls could perceive the person's facial features. If not for his tone, they wouldn't be able to surmise the figure's gender.
"A perception blocker, huh. Interesting." Echidna quipped at the sight on the screen.
"Is he a baddie?" Typhon asked, pointing at the figure.
"Typhon, just because someone suddenly popped out and has a mysterious aura, doesn't mean their bad." Minerva replied, nodding in agreement with herself.
"But it also, hah…meant that he, huh… can't be, hah… quickly trusted, heh." The slumped woman stated.
"S-Sekhmet is right… Isn't he… our captor?" The pink-haired lady concluded after seeing the figure's sudden appearance. His nonchalant statement with regards to the girl's plan to escape cemented the fact.
"For now, we wait and see, Carmilla. This entity has showed its presence to us. Limited at a glance, everything placed within this space is calculated. The four chairs for the four of us, around a circular table; it connotes that our captor, gracious yet elusive as he, wants to discuss something from us. Seeing the others in attendance, I have a general idea of the subject matter to be discussed. How intriguing." Echidna replied.
The three girls were on alert against the mysterious man before them. Seeing this, the figure sighed.
"I am the Warden." The figure introduced himself.
"How fitting." Meili thought at the moniker the figure gave himself.
"And you are all here because of an event one year prior." The Warden continued.
Echidna grinned; her speculation proven to be correct.
"W-what event?" Ryuzu asked.
"The event surrounding the Sanctuary and the mansion." Echidna answered before the Warden, the latter nodding in turn.
"It is so. I have called upon the three of you in relation to a sleeping boy, the centerpiece of everything." The Warden stated.
Echidna raised an eyebrow at the statement, seeing the absence of the person in question. Delving through her memories of the event from the past year, a possibility arose.
"Is it…him?"
"It is."
The Warden answered Echidna's speculation, proving it to be true.
"So, he is here." Echidna mused as she remembered the boy who rejected her and sided with the being she loathed the most.
"Ha, are you familiar with any bo… wait, is he talking about Subarun?" Daphne grinned as she faced Echidna, remembering the boy, who was true to his words, killed two of her greatest creations.
"Baru is here?!" Typhon squealed, happy to meet the boy again.
"Th-that boy…" Carmilla winced, remembering how the boy treated her and himself. Self-loathing and rash, the boy had trajected himself to a path thorned with tragedy. If not for her and Satella, he might had succeeded in doing so, taking his own life within the Witch's domain and scarring his soul permanently.
"W-who?" Ryuzu asked, out of the loop.
"Is it Onii-san?" Meili asked, getting an inclination to the person in question.
"But first things first, an introduction is in order." The Warden interrupted as he clapped.
"Although I've introduced myself, you three have not. Isn't it better to know more of the people you meet?" he continued. The three girls looked at him as they remembered, since their arrival, that none among them had introduced themselves.
"How hypocritical of you to state that, being veiled and all." Echidna chided.
"Captor's Privilege. Well, let's start with the eldest shall we, appearance wise." The Warden replied, gesturing at Echidna.
"I am Echidna, just Echidna. Although I have other titles, the name will suffice for this discussion."
Echidna complied with a simple introduction.
"My name…"
"I am…"
Meili and Ryuzu both followed, their voices overlapping. The two looked at one another, seeing the other as younger.
The Warden snickered at the exchange, earning him looks from the three, before gesturing at Ryuzu, signaling her to go first.
"I-I am Ryuzu Meyer, under the employ of Echidna-sama." Ryuzu stated, name and service.
Echidna's eyes flickered at Ryuzu's statement, knowing that something wasn't right.
"E-Echidna, isn't that girl supposed to be…"
"Encased, I know, and hypothetically, should still be. I touched her earlier and can confirm that she is a clone who has an artificial Od as a core, same as the vessel that houses us."
Echidna concluded Carmilla's statement, noticing the irregularity the girl presented.
The Witch of Greed knew that Ryuzu's clones valued their individuality to separate them from others, giving them their own sense of self. The clones did this by changing their last name to differentiate not only among themselves but to other people; a fact that boy used to free the Sanctuary. Because she is their progenitor, Ryuzu's real last name, Meyer, was taboo and could not be used. If that was the case, …
"But her memories seemed to have returned, has she… tried to take on the trials like… the one we housed." Minerva asked, crossing her arms
"Improbable, the barrier must be activated for the trial to be taken. After that… girl destroyed its algorithm, the tomb had lost all its functions. The trials are no more. And any time before that should have notified us within the tomb. Other than retrieving Garfiel a decade prior, none has dared entered the tomb. But even so, her cadence and action seem that this Ryuzu before us has been overwritten by the original, same as us with ours." Echidna answered, eyes inquisitively glaring at the screen.
Immediately apparent upon their arrival at the confined space, Echidna had completely overtaken the Ryuzu that the Witches possessed. Gone was the form of Ryuzu Shima, replaced with Echidna's.
Pyroxene crystals of the highest caliber could contain vast quality of souls to anchor them to the world, avoiding the cleanse through the Od Laguna. But without a sufficient Od to transfer its content to, pyroxene crystals would just be prisons to the souls that resided within. Even with Echidna's vast knowledge, she could not stabilize a fusion of an occupied pyroxene crystal, containing souls of varying magnitude and quantity, and Od, artificial or not; the best she could accomplish, through the actions of her Artificial Spirits, were to utilize the former as a conduit to stabilize and strengthen the latter's existence and power. Anymore, would result to a destructive and incomplete situation.
Echidna sighed as she remembered what happened to the first Ryuzu clone that existed and the failure it resulted. Being unable to receive the soul of the Witch of Greed in its entirety, due to the quality and built of her artificial Od, fragmented knowledge and experience were given to her instead. The resulting clone's mental state had become extremely distorted due to the incomplete transfer, making her devoid of any emotions. Unlike Echidna who had the other Witches, peculiar as they were, to learn empathy from, the clone had none; resulting for her to leave the Sanctuary and find a purpose.
"What has happened to her? Has she found her purpose?" Echidna contemplated.
And yet here the Witch of Greed was existing not just as an overseer from the realm of the Witch's Tea Party but also as real within the world of the living. No discrepancies, flaws, nor faults could be sensed within; she had stabilized, the pyroxene crystal containing the souls of six Witches had successfully merged with Shima's artificial Od, completely overwriting Shima's existence.
An act beyond her comprehension, Echidna could only think of one entity capable to do that; an entity they were currently facing. But before she could confront him, …
"… Ryuzu, what is the last thing you remembered prior to coming here?" Echidna asked the pink-haired girl on her side. Ryuzu reflexively shuddered at being called upon her lady, an act that was unbefitting of her stature as an Apostle of Greed but even so…
'She has the same cadence, aura, and mannerisms, and yet why… why is she different from the Echidna-sama I know." Ryuzu thought as she looked at the white-haired lady on her side. Fortunate for her attire, none could see her shaking hands.
"I-I was saying my farewell…to my friend." Ryuzu replied as tears welled on her eyes, remembering the event in question. A last-ditch effort, the lone option needed to be done, Ryuzu remembered her final moments within the facility as she resolved herself to the cause of a better tomorrow. She hoped that her actions were not in vain and that her friend, Beatrice, wouldn't blame herself for it.
Echidna's eyes flickered at the reply, her hunch proven to be true.
"And finally…" Moving on, the Warden gestured to Meili.
"My name is Meili Po..." Meili stopped as her stomach grumbled, indicating her hunger to the others. Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment as the others looked at her.
"Hmm, hungry, aren't we?" The Warden snickered, Meili pouting in turn.
Standing up, the Warden went to the wooden chest, tapped its cover twice, and opened it. Reaching within, he revealed an assortment of baked treats and placed it on the table. He returned to the chest and took out a jug of juice and some cups, placing all those on the table before closing the chest.
"Hmm, something smells deli~cious." Daphne slurped, sensing food beyond the screen.
Instinctively reaching out to the treats before her, Meili caught her out stretched arm. As tempting as the treats and juice were both visually and in scent, the place and situation she was in told her to keep her urges in check.
The Warden sighed at the girl's restraint, took a cupcake, and ate it. Even though the face was unperceivable, they knew that the Warden was smiling as he was eating.
Echidna sighed and joined in, taking a crumpet. She grabbed the cup and was poured juice by Ryuzu, the latter acting instinctively.
"Her face might be different, but the aura she exudes is still the same. Could she really be…" Ryuzu thought as she was thanked by Echidna, the former deciding to partake on the refreshments served.
Seeing the three merrily enjoying the food and juice made Meili relented.
"Well, if I'm going to die through poison, might as well be through delicious food." She thought as she joined in, her eyes widening at the taste.
"So~ good." Meili voiced out as she was handed juice by the Warden. The three girls ate their fill, glancing around from time to time.
"Mm, delicious, delicious, delicious." Daphne repeated as she devoured the food on the table, the table's contents being eaten nearly as fast as they were being recreated.
Each food Echidna ate within the confined room was recreated in flavor and texture within the Witch's Tea Party, same went for the juice.
"I got to say, it's not bad."
"It's…edible, hah. Typhon, pass me the juice, huh."
"Here, it tastes great."
The other Witches ate the banquet reproduced in front of them.
Meili burped as she had her fill, her manners dulled due to solitude. Resting around the table were the four, satisfied and full.
"Raised your hand if you're full." The Warden stated as he raised his hand, the other three following suit. Seeing that all were sated, he stood up and pointed at the wall on his front, located at Echidna's back, as he continued, "Let's go then."
The three looked at where the Warden was pointing at and saw a door, one that wasn't there moments ago.
"That…wasn't there earlier." Meili commented as Ryuzu agreed. They could not miss seeing a door within the limited space they were currently in when they first surveyed it.
"S-should we… follow him?" Carmilla asked in worry.
"Baru might be in there." Typhon replied, pointing at the door on the screen.
"And besides, hah…we have nowhere, huh… else to go here, heh." Sekhmet added, uncaring and full.
"Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained." Echidna concluded, interested on what's to come.
"And now it is. I repeat, Captor's Privilege."The Warden replied as he led the three. Reluctant, the three followed.
Once inside, the three surveyed their new location. A row of seats could be seen before them, facing a black screen. The light came from Lagmite ores located at the ceiling as no windows could be seen.
"W-what is this place?"
"Is this a theatre?"
"What's a theatre?"
The girls queried as they examined the room.
"It is. This place is a theatre meant to show a certain person's life in this world."
The Warden answered as he gestured them to the seats.
Meili glanced back at the door they entered to and found it gone, once again placing them on another confined space.
With nowhere else to go, the three took their preferred seats. Echidna and Ryuzu sat near each other, having one seat vacant in between. Meili decided to seat afar. The Warden moved to their front, facing them.
"Normally, I will be in another room voicing over all of you. But since I'm here already, let's start first with the reason I gathered you all." The Warden stated. Unease yet curious, the three listened intently to their captor. Facing silence, the Warden continued:
"Natsuki Subaru, the star of the show. You, along with the others, will be looking through his complete actions with regards to the Fourth Arc, his failures and success alike."
On cue, the screen lit up revealing a scene similar to theirs, a group of people within the confines of a theatre discussing among themselves, their screen showing a selection of words. A tally was seen being done among the cast, deciding what's next to watch.
Upon closer inspection, Meili saw familiar faces. Scattered among the group of people were members of Emilia's camp.
Among the group of strangers, one stood out for Ryuzu. Her eyes widened at the figure that sat on an unconscious boy sitting as if it was her special place.
"Beatrice-sama…" Ryuzu uttered, her heart beating fast as tears started to well on her eyes.
"E-Echidna…these people…aren't they people w-whom…that boy met?" Carmilla stated as she pointed, with a shaking hand, at the people on the screen.
"Prominent, huh…ones at that, hah." Sekhmet added.
"Emilia…" Minerva uttered; her blue eyes glued at the half-elf.
"Ah, Baru is sleeping." Typhon smiled at the sight.
Echidna hawked her eyes on the screen before her, analyzing every information she had perceived. Piecing together the information from the Warden's cryptic statement and the content reflected on the screen, an improbable scenario surfaced from the depths of possibilities. Could it be…
"Warden, what do you mean when you said that we'll be watching his complete actions, his failures and success alike?" Echidna queried.
Before the Warden could reply, the cast on the screen had made a consensus on what to watch. Hearing this, he smiled, looked back at the screen, and snapped his fingers. In response, the screen within their screen went static, leaving no room for discussion to the perplexed cast within.
As the static abated, what was shown were three people and a ground dragon, standing on a forest clearing under the veil of the night. A pink-haired maid, an ashen merchant, and a black-haired boy were convening on what to do.
All three people shown on the screen within the screen were present albeit one of them was missing the viewing, being asleep and cuddled by the three girls next to him. The other two quickly looked at each other, alarmed at their screen's content.
"That event, could it be?" Minerva glared at the screen. Due to Echidna's curiosity, the Witches had delved within the boy's mind and witnessed his tribulations. Having seen all of his journey, failures and successes, she knew that what was reflected on the screen the other cast was watching hadn't happen in this reality.
The perplexed look the other Witches had proven her point, the others noticing the anomaly.
"Hmm, the atmosphere see~med to have changed. What's happenin'?" Daphne stated, sensing a change of ambience within the Witch's Tea Party.
"Just seeing something in the screen within the screen within the screen. Baru is there too although he is awake unlike the other Baru in the screen within the screen who is asleep." Typhon answered, unknowing of the truth of the scene, as she described the situation in relation to the metia the Witches were watching from.
Hmm, that's a lot of screens, Ty-Ty." The Witch of Gluttony replied, her stomach grumbling. Hearing this, Echidna snapped her fingers to replenish the food on the table. Daphne grinned and thanked the Witch of Greed as she rampaged on the refreshments.
"What are they alarmed at?" Ryuzu asked.
As if heard, Garfiel asked the ashen merchant next to him what was wrong, the latter replying with a grim expression that the event shown on their screen didn't happen. Alarmed by the statement, the cast hawked their attention to the merchant. Emilia pleaded for his statement to be false but was quickly rebutted by the pink-haired maid.
"H-huh, the event didn't happen?" Meili stated with uncertainty, unsure of what was being discussed.
"You'll just have to wait and see." The Warden responded as he sat along with the three, placing himself one seat apart from Echidna and three seat apart from Meili.
The event within their screen continued as the two boys discussed their next actions, planning a way to leave their current location, the Sanctuary. As they discussed, Subaru remembered the problem they had to face, a problem at the mansion. He stated that Frederica would be able to fend for herself. The pink-haired maid interjected that the two wouldn't be of help and were about to ask her to assist them.
"The Sanctuary…" Ryuzu uttered, repeating the word that the boy had said. Could they be in the Sanctuary, the one where her lady had made their haven? What happened to it during her absence?
"The mansion…" Meili uttered as she reminisced the location of her final job, her biggest failure. She winced as she remembered the death of her partner and mentor, Elsa, at the hands of Garfiel. Her only solace was in knowing that Elsa did what she wanted until her end, a macabre dance of blade and fang. The Bowel Hunter had a thing against opponents who were not afraid to fight to the death.
The cast discussed their screen's content, stating the fact that the boy had known of the attack in the mansion, including the identity of the attacker, the Bowel Hunter.
The Subaru on their screen continued, stating that the maid's assistance was necessary. He thought that having confronted Elsa for two loops made him need all the help he could get. With this, he would have to prioritize the mansion before Emilia.
The cast grimaced at the reveal of two loops, reminding them of the previous Arcs.
"Previous Arcs, loops…c-could it be?" Carmilla mused. Seeing the cast's reaction to the viewing, she knew that they had an inkling on what was being shown; Ram's denial cemented that. The cast knew about Return by Death. If that was the case…
"Carmilla, hah… is there something, heh… wrong?" Sekhmet asked as she watched the pink-haired Witch shuddering on her seat and covering her head in fear.
"Don't worry. We're here." Typhon added as she patted the Witch next to her.
Echidna sighed as she analyzed the exchange among the other Witches. Hearing Carmilla's musings, Echidna knew that the Witch of Lust had grasped the general situation with regards to them and the cast on the screen. They were all being shown Subaru's entire life in their world, including the failed timelines. And because Subaru's authority being revealed was a prerequisite in summoning that accursed entity, Carmilla was having a scare. Normally, that would be the case but upon closer inspection of the viewing and the cast within, along with themselves, …
"Typhon's right, Carmilla. There is nothing to worry. If what you fear is true, then everyone of us should have already been engulfed by her shadow. The fact that that hasn't transpired is proof that she is currently being deterred." The Witch of Greed stated as she placated the shaking Witch next to her.
"So, it really is true." Minerva mused; her hunch proven to be correct.
"Huh, Tella is also here." Typhon said jovially, happy to once again meet her friend.
A purple-haired lady voiced her concern, indicating an irregularity within their screen, Subaru and the others needing to leave the place in secret. The cast discussed her finding, asking questions with regards to the possible enemy the people within their screen were facing. The Margrave was seen as a person of interest; an idea immediately rebutted by the pink-haired maid.
Ryuzu flinched at the sight of Roswaal, the latter wearing clothes unbefitting of his title. Upon listening to their discussion, she surmised that he was the Margrave and head of the Mathers family. Same with the lady next to her, this Roswaal seemed different to the one she knew and served. Along with their current situation, many questions rose on Ryuzu's mind; questions she needed answer to. What happened during her absence? How long was her absence? She decided to keep these in mind as she continued to watch the viewing.
The discussion continued until Garfiel had an epiphany with regards to their screen's possible enemy, an epiphany he didn't like. The ashen merchant and the pink-haired maid grimaced as they caught on.
"Is it him? Is the event showing the time Onii-san fought him?"Meili mused, having heard the story of their confrontation from Subaru and Garfiel themselves. Although the perspectives were different and embellishments were made, she had heard multiple versions of their fight. With that in mind, she continued, "Wasn't the fight done when the sun was setting, not during the middle of the night?"
The event on their screen continued as the pink-haired maid agreed in assisting Subaru. The people then looked at their expected ride, a lone ground dragon whose built was limited in capacity, not being suited for the three of them. The maid mocked the two boys in passing as she stated the problem they faced. Subaru planned for their next action when Garfiel approached them, emitting animosity at the three. Upon his arrival, their screen dimmed and was replaced back with a selection of words, some crossed out.
The cast was shocked at what they were shown. Garfiel was trembling as he hunched forward, sobbing. Frederica, the blue-haired maid, and the ashen merchant went to comfort him.
As the three gathered around Garfiel, the screen dimmed. The Warden clapped his hands to gather the girls' attention. Eyes at him, he explained:
"Soon, you three will be joining them to watch the viewings. Due to the severity of the contents within the Fourth Arc, I gave them a selection of previews to watch. Three in total, for each Arc that had passed. The one we witnessed along with them is the second one they watched."
The two girls were perplexed while Echidna raised her eyebrow at the statement.
"So, he… let them watch… S-Subaru's journey, in its entirety?" Carmilla asked, still in disbelief of what was happening.
"And if Satella, hah… hasn't appeared yet, huh…"
"She really has been blocked from here."
"So, Tella won't be coming."
Minerva concluded Sekhmet's statement, Typhon drooping.
"If that's the case, …"
"…why?" Echidna asked.
A simple question, direct and brief, was posed by the white-haired lady to their captor.
"Hmm, why indeed?" The Warden replied, a hand on his chin. Looking back at the questioner, he grinned and continued, "Captor's Privilege."
The Warden made a zipping motion on his mouth, indicating the end of discussion with regards to the matter.
"What?!" Minerva stood up as she pounded the table.
"Ner-Ner, didn't you hea~r? Captor's Privilege." Daphne repeated as she faced the furious Witch next to her.
"D-Daphne, I think sh-she's angry due to the lack of reason of us being here." Carmilla explained as she flinched from Minerva's outburst.
"If you won't explain why, at least explain what we're seeing?" Meili questioned as Ryuzu nodded meekly, both girls still hadn't fully grasped the scene they were seeing.
"I have already stated, to show his life and journey within our world, failures and successes alike." The Warden replied.
"But why start at the Fourth Arc? Why did we skip the first three?"
"Because of your participation within the Arc. All in all, we are watching him die again and again."
The Warden nonchalantly answered Echidna's question. The girls hawked at their captor's final remark.
"Die…w-what?" Ryuzu uttered at the word as she contemplated its place within the Warden's statement.
"Has Onii-san…died?" Meili muttered as she remembered the jolly mean-eyed boy. The girl knew people who were harder to kill than the average person; Elsa and Mother came to mind. Witnessing them, Meili knew that death could not be easily deemed to be the end of a person's existence. Was Subaru the same as them?
"…watching him die again and again. How morbid." Minerva stated in disgust as she glared at the Warden on their screen.
"Technically, he didn't."
"Well, uh… yeah. Technically speaking, you're right."
The Warden stuttered as he tried to retort Echidna's statement, changing his mind and agreeing with her at the end. In this reality, Subaru hadn't died once; his deaths symbolized failed worlds, worlds parallel to their existence. Whether those worlds continued or not, none could say with certainty.
"Should you at least be more specific with regards to the person in question to us. Unlike me, the others have little to no idea of the details you've stated." Echidna continued as she chided the Warden, the latter sighing and agreeing.
"Different from the event within their screen, the event within this screen still continues as the cast, people you're soon going to meet, are discussing the event shown to them earlier." The Warden explained as he pointed at the screen before them.
"The people within the same situation as us, taken away and transported here?"
"Captor's Privilege."
"Are you going to answer that every time you—"
"Captor's Privilege."
"—don't want to ans…never mind."
Echidna and the Warden exchanged questions and answers respectively, the former gazing expressionlessly at the latter's repetitive replies.
"S-so, with regards to what they saw, what did they see, exactly?" Ryuzu asked, slowly raising her hand to be noticed.
"Well, that situ—"
"A situation that the boy, and in relation the others with him, had experienced during his stay at the Sanctuary."
Echidna interrupted the Warden as she answered Ryuzu's query.
Ryuzu's eyes widened at the answer given to her, specifically with regards to the location where the situation occurred.
"The Sanctuary… is the Sanctuary still standing?" She queried, hope within her heart. Hearing the current existence of the haven the Witch had given her and her kind, Ryuzu prayed that it stood the test of time and was still welcoming to her and her kind.
"Well, hones—"
"The place still stood but the barrier, in which you were chosen to be part of, has been nullified. Worry not however for it has served its purpose albeit in a matter I didn't foresee, surprisingly." Echidna answered, once again interrupting the Warden; the latter gawked at Echidna's audacity.
"Pfft." Carmilla reflexively snickered, quickly covering her face with her muffler.
"I-is that so? If that's the case, how long…how long have I been encased?" Ryuzu asked, her eyes started welling.
The others paused at the question. Meili was unknowing of the situation; a stranger brought along with them. Echidna was being coached by Minerva and Carmilla with regards to tact and sensibility, the two foreseeing their friend's knack of manipulating others, feelings be damned. The Warden was looking at Echidna and waiting for her to reply, not wanting to be interrupted again.
Ryuzu sniffled at the silence, worried if she had said something wrong, when a hand was placed over her, patting the pink-haired girl. Looking at the source, she saw Echidna pat her, the latter moving closer as she smiled dearly.
"Am I doing this right?" Echidna asked. Carmilla nodded as Typhon thumbed up.
Seeing the girl calm down, Echidna retracted her hand from Ryuzu's head and, using both hands, grabbed the girl's hands. Ryuzu was surprised at the action but did not retract her hands.
"E-Echidna…sama." Ryuzu voiced the name of her lady as her eyes locked with Echidna's.
"Ryuzu, you've been encased for a long, long time; so long that cultures and rules had changed and most of the people you knew are gone. But even so, remember that I am here before you; and as you've seen in the screen, Beatrice and Roswaal, in a way, too. The Warden with us will let us reunite later. But until then, remember that you are not alone." Echidna answered.
Ryuzu nodded, feeling hope that the things she'd left behind could be reclaimed. She gave a little smile, covered by the robe she wore.
Echidna let go of Ryuzu, giving the latter some space.
"So, with regards to the cast… they saw it all, the first three arcs, even with his failed loops?" She asked the Warden, the latter nodding in confirmation.
Watching the three from her end was Meili sitting alone. Eavesdropping at their conversation, the girl had collected fragmented information, all of which didn't add up. Failures and successes, death, failed loops. What could they mean?
"Echidna, talk to Meili." Minerva stated as she watched the girl behind the Warden. The other Witches looked at the lone girl contemplating.
Echidna nodded, interested to know what occurred with the girl during the past year.
"Meili…do you have something to ask, something in your mind?" Echidna questioned Meili, the latter flinching at being suddenly addressed.
"Um, about what he said earlier. What do you mean Onii-san…die?" Meili asked. Although it was corrected as not by Echidna earlier, Meili felt that there was something more to it.
"I'll answer this, thank you very much." The Warden stated as he looked at Meili. Echidna crossed her arms and sighed.
"Subaru has been given the ability to bend time to his own will; it works when he dies. We'll see his journeys in overcoming obstacles with the use of this power." The Warden continued, condensing the boy's ability.
Echidna raised an eyebrow at the Warden's answer, summarizing it as blunt.
"W-what…are you, talking about?"
"B-but that's…impossible."
Meili and Ryuzu replied simultaneously, unbelieving of what was said.
"And yet that boy can. Meili, having interacted with the boy, what is your first impression of him?" Echidna asked.
"Onii-san, Subaru… he is a jolly fool. Overly optimistic to a fault." Meili answered.
"Yup, she's right."
"Also too forgiving."
"Baru's a good boy."
"He's a, huh…crybaby."
"H-he lacks tact."
The other Witches voiced their replies to Echidna's question, the latter smirking at the responses.
"He is very kind yet obnoxious, visiting me from time to time." Meili continued. Echidna raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"Visiting? Was she…caught?" Carmilla queried.
"Highly possible if that's the case. And by the looks of it, she is well accommodated." Echidna added, seeing no visible bruises on the girl.
"Have you ever wondered how a boy as weak as he has accomplished improbable goals, ranging from the defeat of the Witch Cult to the culling of two of the three Great Mabeasts; always one step ahead of the others?" The Warden questioned.
"The Witch Cult…" Ryuzu uttered, remembering the group from her time.
Meili squinted as she heard the accomplishments Subaru had.
"How he always has this…foresight of the things to come. Things that are meticulously hidden, he reveals; calamitous events unstopped for centuries, he prevents. A person with good timing, some can say." The Warden continued.
"Y-you mean, that he got those information…through his death?" Meili asked.
"Deaths, technically." Echidna corrected.
"H-he has died…m-multiple times." Ryuzu asked, stuttering at the weight of the fact revealed.
"B-but how? How can he have…such an ability?" Meili queried, her tone in shock.
"Dona-Dona, why not ask the Warden to show it instead." Daphne raised her head from the table as she faced Echidna. The Witch of Gluttony smiled as she continued, "There i~s an event that can answer her question."
"But which one?" Echidna pondered, a hand on her chin.
"What do you mean which one? There is only one event that she meant when… Echidna." Minerva glared at the Witch next to her, realizing what the latter implied.
"Are we going to see Tella's arrival at the tea party?" Typhon smiled as she raised both hands.
"O-or Envy's a-arrival at the Sanctuary?" Carmilla added, comprehending a secondary event, as she pieced information from Minerva's statement.
"Well, hah…whatever the case, huh… the cast from before, heh… will also witness it, hah." Sekhmet stated as she watched the other Witches.
Being in the helm of the vessel they housed; Echidna grinned as her decision was finalized.
"Warden,I have a question that needed to be answered. The others are currently watching previews of the Fourth Arc, events pertaining to the Sanctuary, to lessen the impact of what they'll witness. Is it right?" Echidna asked the Warden, segueing from Meili's question.
"It is what you said. Severity aside, the first three arcs are easier to digest than the contents of the Fourth Arc. Although personal information and reference are shown to add context, the amount of information seen there have been generally known by the cast themselves, to some extent. The dangers of the Mabeast and the Witch Cult, and any other attack with regards to Emilia are known and has been foreseen. The contents of the Fourth Arc however will reveal information that were hidden and burnt away from the annals of history. Your existence, for example." The Warden explained, Echidna nodding in agreement.
"And the reason for these viewings cannot be divulge." Echidna asked back, the Warden nodding in confirmation.
"You can control which events they can see. Am I correct?" She queried. The Warden nodded as he squinted at the Witch on his side.
Seeing his response, Echidna looked at Meili and continued, "Meili, with regards to your question, a viewing will suffice, won't it?"
Meili looked at Echidna as she pondered, nodding back in agreement at the end. The others could give answer to her but it was up to her to believe them. She still couldn't believe their reasoning with regards to Subaru; controlling time through deaths, dying multiple times.
"If that's the case, won't it be beneficial not only for us but also the others to see the events of…her arrival." Echidna questioned.
"Her arrival…" Ryuzu repeated as she and Meili looked at Echidna with puzzled expressions; the Warden, although unperceivable to the others, could be sensed to be glaring at Echidna.
"Echidna…" Minerva uttered as she glared at the Witch next to her.
"Hah, this'll be tiring…" Sekhmet added.
"Who…is she?" Meili asked, sensing the sudden change in ambience. Silence followed as the four sat on their place, the girls looking puzzled and the other two were on a silent war of attrition looking at each other intensely, albeit Echidna couldn't perceive the Warden's face. Moments later, the Warden sighed and relented.
"You are one devious woman."
"The sooner the better. Didn't you say that you would like to lessen the impact of some scenes?"
The Warden and Echidna exchanged, the former sighing again as he raised his hand.
On cue, the screen before them lit up to reveal the others, still in discussion. Garfiel, who was in distraught from the last viewing, was currently being bullied by his allies within the Emilia camp. No harm nor offense was made, making their jabs for comforting purposes. The others smiled at the sight.
"It seemed that he is done brooding, what a coincidence." Warden stated as he snapped his fingers.
Gathering their bearings, the cast were beginning to discuss what to watch for their final preview when their screen changed. The cast watched as the screen changed, its content except for Love, vanishing. The lone word enlarged as it covered the screen.
"A tad theatric, don't you think?" Echidna said as she watched the Warden's manipulation.
"Ha." The Warden retorted.
Beatrice called out for the Warden, demanding to know what was transpiring.
"Beatrice-sama…" Ryuzu uttered as she watched the girl she befriended.
The Warden clapped in response to being beckoned, flashing an eerie aura upon the cast on the screen; the cast unnerved at the feeling.
"Ooh…" Typhon said as she watched the Warden's move unfold on the screen within their screen.
Static followed and slowly vanished to reveal a lone boy within their screen. Subaru was waking up as he hurled sand that got within his mouth. Emilia and Ram realized the location and time of the scene within their screen, stating that Subaru was within the Witch's Tomb during the time of the trial.
The purple-haired lady queried about the trial but was stopped by Beatrice, the latter prioritizing what was shown within their screen. The cast was on edge due to the abrupt and eerie beginning of the third preview.
"Well, what can you say. Captor's Privilege." The Warden stated as he raised both hands, palms out, to the side of his head.
"Not that again." Minerva facepalmed.
The cast watched Subaru within their screen gather his bearing, being disoriented. He stated concern of redoing hurling sands and thanked Echidna for letting him remember.
The cast had an epiphany, affirming that the scene showed his checkpoint. Beatrice was grateful that Echidna was helpful to the boy. They noticed that Subaru was looking for someone.
"Echidna-sama, are they talking about you?"
"In a way, yes."
Echidna gave a brief response to Ryuzu's question.
"Echidna, witch, Witch's Tomb." Meili muttered, listing words thrown on the screen within their screen. She looked at the Echidna with her on the confined space and eavesdropped on the exchange between her and Ryuzu. Could she really be…
Their screen continued as it showed Subaru calling out for Emilia, worried for her. Seeing her gone, Subaru rushed outside of the building; he recollected that Emilia was always with him during the prior loops, experiencing the trial.
Emilia stood up at the confirmation of her hunch but was quickly distraught at the immediate irregularity, stating the current event within their screen had not occurred. The cast looked down and grimaced at Emilia's statement, the green-haired lady concluding their thoughts.
"Echidna, I-I think that i-it would be for the best if you w-warn them of what's to come." Carmilla suggested as she placed her hands on the side of her head, readying herself.
"Meili, Ryuzu, be ready. You're about to meet the…entity that had bestowed Subaru his authority." Echidna warned the two girls. Ryuzu gulped instinctively, hearing the serious tone of her lady. Meili held a hand to her chest, readying herself for what's to be revealed.
Subaru exited the tomb, in disbelief of the sight before him. At the base of the Tomb, encompassing the building and immediate surrounding, was a viscous black substance. Subaru stood alone, as no one else was present to be seen.
The cast was shocked at the sight. Questions were raised with regards to the irregularity, further cementing the event in their screen as a failed loop.
"What's a failed loop?" Meili asked, hearing the term again.
"A timeline, conceived set of events, that the boy had trekked through, ending with his death." Echidna answered. Ryuzu grimaced at the morbid response.
"And with it, he'll arrive at a certain point of his past retaining all the memories he learned from that loop." The Warden added.
Meili's eyes widened at the in-depth explanation. And if what they said was correct, the scene within the screen within their screen was an event that didn't occur.
"Don't worry, shocking as the event maybe. I'll not show his deaths, not yet." The Warden continued.
The cast continued their discussion on the situation within their screen. A red blonde lady speculated, stating the possible resurrection of the Witch of Greed. Some were in disbelief of the notion but couldn't fully refute the lady's words.
"A speculation weaved within the limited information they received. Hmm,…"
"…, Warden. If they have not yet watched the Fourth Arc, how did they know of me? Was I discussed by Roswaal?" Echidna queried. She perceived that information about her in general to be private matters within Emilia's camp; it being revealed be detrimental to the camp.
"By extension. The first preview they've chosen showed your first meeting with Subaru albeit I stopped it upon your introduction." The Warden replied.
Their screen showed Subaru yelling for the others, people who were supposed to be there.
"Ryuzu…san?" Ryuzu uttered as she heard her name being called upon.
Subaru moved to see more of his surroundings when a change occurred on the carpet of darkness that blanketed the vicinity. The black matter formed a visage, one that shocked not only Subaru but also the cast watching; the Witch of Envy had entered the Sanctuary.
"W-wha…"
"W-who…"
Meili and Ryuzu stuttered as they leaned back on her seat.
The Witches glared at the figure on the screen within the screen within their screen.
"Ooh, has she appeared?" Daphne asked, being blindfolded, as she sensed the shift in atmosphere within the Witch's Tea Party.
Subaru gawked as he watched the Witch approached her, the shadow following her. Upon the same elevation, she spoke repeatedly confession of love enlaced with heartfelt yearning. The cast was speechless at the sight.
The girls were speechless at the sight, squirming at their seats.
Echidna was glaring at the figure, her eyes glinting with spite.
The Witch made its way to Subaru, the boy petrified to move away. She didn't relent her confessions of love. Within reach, she hugged him, nuzzling on his neck as she continued confessing.
Meili couldn't believe what she was seeing, didn't want to believe what she was seeing. The accursed Witch of Envy, in love with Subaru. She couldn't fathom the idea.
With one last confession, their screen dimmed leaving the cast in silence as they processed what they had watched.
"That's enough for now." The Warden declared as he snapped his fingers. On cue, the screen dimmed.
"Meili, that…gave Subaru his authority." Echidna stated, her eyes still glued on the blank screen.
"W-who is she?" Ryuzu queried, scared of the veiled lady and worried for the boy.
"She…is one of my most hated persons in this world." Echidnaanswered flatly. Ryuzu flinched at the response, shocked to hear her lady speak in such a spiteful tone.
After seeing the events within the screen within their screen and Echidna's spite, Meili's eyes flickered with understanding. Since she was transported here, everything improbable had occurred. If that's the case, …
"What…are you doing?" The Warden asked as Meili pinched her cheeks at each side as hard as she could, her fingernails digging in her face.
"What is she doing?!" Minerva repeated as she stood up, worried for the girl's act of self harm.
"I, I am, I am trying to wake myself up. After all this, has to be a dream. Hahaha." Meili answered as she let go of her cheek and faced the Warden. The Warden winced at the sight of the girl with bleeding reddened cheeks.
Ryuzu's eyes widened at Meili's answer, pondering if the latter was right.
"Ryuzu, this is real. Not a dream, hallucination, nor an illusion." Echidna replied as she looked at Ryuzu. The trace of malice she presented earlier gone from her face, replaced with worry not only for Ryuzu but also Meili.
"Am I doing this right?" Echidna asked. Typhon nodded as Carmilla thumbed up.
"Echidna's right." The Warden added as he waved his hand. On cue, Meili's swelling cheeks and the bleeding, along with the blood, vanished. As he watched Meili touched her healed cheeks, he continued, "Meili, everything you're experiencing now is real, same with what you watched on the screen. She, Satella, has given the boy that power to utilize. If not, he will not survive long in this world."
"B-but why, because she…loves him?" Meili questioned, still in disbelief.
"Yes." Echidna answered briefly.
"Warden, wouldn't it be better for them to see the first three Arcs? To give them better context." She told the Warden. Unperceived by the others, Warden scowled at the plan. Their maturity aside, the girls were still girls at their core. Remembering Petra and her participation from the viewings, he sighed.
"I will only show a montage."
"W-what's a montage?"
"A montage is a selection of scenes affixed to a linear narrative."
The Warden relented and compromised, Echidna answering Ryuzu's question.
"Where did you… oh yeah, Subaru." Minerva stated, realizing that Echidna had delved more on the world Subaru came from to sate her greed.
"Which event are you going to showcase?" Echidna asked, intrigued.
"Meili's act on the Second Arc, specifically her introduction to the mansion's inhabitants." The Warden replied.
"W-wha…" Meili uttered at the Warden's reply, her eyes widening at the realization. A few months prior to her attack in the mansion with Elsa, she was ordered to sow trouble at the Margrave's land. She embarked with the Ulgarms for the task, planning to spread hysteria among the villagers situated near Emilia's abode. The plan was thwarted by the inhabitants of the mansion, Subaru included. Did Subaru use his powers to stop her? Did he die…multiple times?
Meili's pondering was stopped at the sound of a clap coming from the Warden.
On cue, the screen lit up to show a village. People were chatting and the kids were playing. Among the kids was a dark blue haired girl smiling with the others.
"Meili…" Ryuzu uttered the name of the girl with her as she watched her onscreen counterpart.
Although she was joining their games, the girl's attention was divided on her surroundings as she surveyed the place. Seeing a new face coming from the mansion's direction, the kids' curiosity led them to approached the person. The person was wearing an attire suited for his duty as a butler under the Margrave's employ, he had black hair and mean looking eyes. He was grinning and immediately befriended the kids.
"Onii-san. Wait, why is he alone?" Meili queried as she remembered the event more than a year ago, "Where are the maids?"
Subaru played with them a bit, stating that he has to shop for ingredients. Meili smiled as she went and grabbed a puppy that was waiting for her, introducing it to the others. Subaru was bitten by it. Retracting his hand to expect the bite mark, Subaru commented on how feisty the dog was before he excused himself to do his job. As he left, the scene changed back from the beginning, the villagers chatting and the kids playing. Meili was there with the kids. Upon the entrance of the village were two people approaching it, a blue-haired maid and Subaru.
Meili was speechless as the second event occurring, once again similar to what she remembered but with key differences. This time, Subaru was not alone in his duty but was assisted by a blue-haired maid.
The two employees split up, the maid going for grocery as the boy walked around the village. Upon seeing a new face, the kids approached Subaru and forced him to play with them. The scene skipped as Rem approached the boy being bullied by the kids, telling Subaru that it was time to leave. Before going, Meili introduced a puppy. Wanting to pet the puppy, Subaru was instead bitten by it. Inspecting the wound, Subaru sighed before bidding farewell to the kids. As Subaru and the maid left, the scene changed back from the beginning.
"H-how…many times will we watch this?" Meili asked, seeing the familiar yet unfamiliar scene unfold. Meili knew the lethality of the Ulgarm's curse, a delayed execution wrought for the Mabeast's nutrition. If Subaru's authority worked upon his death, how many times had he die to know the cause?
As the villagers frolicked around, minding their own business, a lone blue-haired maid entered the village. She held a list of ingredients needed within the mansion as she made her way to shop.
"Why is she alone?" Ryuzu queried.
"Subaru is currently with Beatrice, being protected by her." Echidna replied.
"From who?" Ryuzu asked back, worried for Subaru.
"From…me." Meili answered, earning herself a puzzled look from Ryuzu. Ryuzu's eyes widened as she caught the implication.
"B-but why?" Ryuzu uttered as she looked at Meili, the latter answering with silence.
Meili saw the maid and smiled as she reached out to the puppy. Gathering her courage, she approached the maid and showed it. Although her expression was stern, the maid couldn't resist to pet the puppy, getting bitten by it. Seeing this, Meili apologized profusely as the maid waved her other hand, stating that she was okay. Upon inspecting the bite mark and seeing it slowly heal, the blue-haired maid gave Meili her farewell as went back to the mansion with her groceries. The scene once again changed back from the beginning. As the villagers were doing their thing, Subaru, along with two maids, entered the village to buy ingredients.
Meili's eyes widened at the sight, realizing that the current event shown was the one she remembered.
"So he died three times." She muttered.
As the maids did their job, Subaru was talking to the villagers, kids and adults alike. One way or another, the boy had managed to let everyone touched him in some way or manner; this included the bite mark from the puppy. Once their job was done, the three left.
Upon exiting the village's ground, the screen dimmed.
"So, what do you think? Have you ever wondered how the mansion's inhabitants were able to easily see through the attack you meticulously prepared for?" The Warden asked Meili.
"Repeated usage of his death to travel back in time, carrying over information from past loops. His final act, as you've seen, was one of reconnaissance to weed out the source of the curse. He let himself to be touched on different parts of his body by everyone present on the village to pinpoint the curse and find the shaman that inflicted it." Echidna explained.
Meili was bereft of speech, the former's doubts fading as the montage and explanation given showed apt reasoning for her plans to be thwarted.
"Onii-san…really died multiple times. Then how much death has he encountered on the mansion? Have Elsa and I succeeded only for it to be undone at his death?" She contemplated, a hand covering her mouth at the revelation.
Ryuzu stared at Meili, afraid of the girl. Her jovial nature shown on the montage was proven to be a cover, for her to infiltrate and sought chaos on the manor's inhabitants. How could a girl as young as she be so evil?
"I-if that's the case, what now? A-am I going to be executed?" Meili asked, anxiety reflected on her eyes. Having her crimes revealed not only to the people with her but also to Emilia and the others, Meili was afraid; the severity of her actions could not be taken lightly. Subaru was loved and cherished by most within Emilia's camp; if they were to see her after her actions were revealed, Meili winced at the implication.
"Nope, not going to let it happen." The Warden rebutted Meili's fear as he continued, "If that's the case, most of the people in the cast will also be subjected to an execution."
"The Warden is right. Do you really think that his accomplishments are as rosy as they are described? Every bond and connection he made are established from his blood being spilled as he went through the worst outcomes first." Echidna added.
Meili looked down feeling conflicted, not sure whether to be happy or not of the fact.
Ryuzu could only look in silence at the situation before her, unknowing of what she could do.
Sensing the ambience turning for the worse, the Warden clapped his hand before pointing at the back. On the wall opposite of the screen, a double door appeared.
"Beyond that door is a lounge for you three to rest. It seems that you have the general gist of the matter." The Warden stated as he stood up, "I'll reconvene with the others to discuss your arrival. But before that…"
Looking at Echidna, the Warden procured from himself a secondary cloak, similar in design as his, before handing it to the Witch.
"Hmm, could this be…"
"…a perception blocker, like yours?" Echidna questioned.
"Among other things." The Warden replied as he snapped his fingers; Meili and Ryuzu scowled as they held their head.
"W-what did you do?" Meili asked, ringing echoed within her.
"Just a little contract. Unless said by her or the cloak was removed, you cannot speak of Echidna as such. For the meantime, she'll be… named Coven, an entity of yore in relation to the Witch of Greed." The Warden answered as he pointed at Echidna.
"What's that mean?"
"A group of, hah… Witches."
"How…apt."
Sekhmet answered Typhon's question, Minerva commenting its appropriation.
"Echidna, the matter in which you and Ryuzu were sent here are the same. Handle the rein carefully." He continued; his words cryptic. The girls were perplexed by his statement while Echidna's eyes widened in realization as she grinned.
"So that's how it is. Interesting." Echidna grinned as she understood the meaning behind the Warden's statement, pieces of information gathered throughout her stay finally forming a complete picture.
"What have you found out, Echidna?" Minerva questioned the Witch of Greed, slightly unsettled by the Witch's sudden change of demeanor.
"A clean slate bathed with miasma; this place must be separate from the reach of the Od Laguna for the latter to have little to know hold here. With that, the limitations to the artificial Od's built are removed making it more…alterable. Normally an Od, artificial or not, could not house the amount of miasma we exude accumulatively without the vessel breaking. This was generally balanced by the presence of our Witch Factors when we were alive four centuries ago; something we don't have. To offset or limit the exhaust of miasma now, the pyroxene necklace we housed before is used as a conduit; a separate entity from our Ryuzu's Od. But now, the Warden has melded the two, Ryuzu's artificial Od with the pyroxene crystal, its amalgamation acting as an artificial Witch Factor." Echidna explained.
"B-b-but that's impossible. W-Witch Factors can't be replicated." Carmilla commented.
"But, Petelgeuse…" Minerva interjected, remembering how the Sin Archbishop had divided his Witch Factor to his fingers.
"I agree with Carmilla. Petelgeuse's Witch Factor was divided among his ranks, not replicated per se. Witch Factors can't be fully replicated in its entirety; believe me, I tried. However, some part of it can. Even now, we are emitting miasma ever since the beginning when we arrived here. Meili, due to her built, has protection and is used to it. Ryuzu's artificial Od has also been cleaned out and fused with miasma, her original self overwriting the Ryuzu before; a factory reset, I suppose. As the Warden said, the way the two Ryuzu entered the place is the same. The Warden has to have protection or immunity if he is the one responsible in holding Satella at bay." Echidna expounded, noting the reason why none of their companions were currently vomiting or in pain.
"W-what? If that's the case, us joining the others will be detrimental." Minerva voiced out, foreseeing the problem they'd immediately faced when they joined the others.
"Not the case, the Warden has foreseen that and gave us that. In addition to being a perception blocker, it also blocks most of the miasma we exude. I can feel some restraint within the cloak." Echidna responded as she pointed at the cloak on the screen.
"S-so, we're really going t-to join them, to w-watch that boy's life in the Sanctuary." Carmilla queried.
"It seemed so, hah…no other choice, huh." Sekhmet replied, much to Carmilla's dismay.
"Echidna-sama." Ryuzu called out to her lady, the latter looking back.
"It's time for us… to rest. I... can't wait to meet Beatrice-sama again." Ryuzu said, feeling happy to be given a chance to be reunited with the Great Spirit.
Echidna nodded as she went to the door, Meili and Ryuzu following behind her. Due to the montage, Ryuzu gave distance between her and Meili, the former wary of the latter.
"How abou—" Echidna stopped as she looked back and saw the Warden phased through the screen behind them.
"H-how did he do that?" Ryuzu's jaw slackened at the Warden's action.
"Captor's Privilege." Meili answered, her eyes wide.
Echidna sighed as she looked at the screen one last time. Turning back, she opened the door to enter the lounge. The two girls followed her inside, tired at what they watched. Once closed, the double door across the screen had vanished, leaving an empty space devoid of people.