A/N (10/11/2020)
After almost 2 years of being dead, I finally decided to start working on this again! :P
It's not going to technically show up as an update but I updated the intermission chapter. It's completely different than the one before, so be sure to check that out!
Finished updating all the other chapters! Mostly just deleting stuff I find unnecessary, making stuff sounds better, or adding a few details. There are changes in some of the lore details due to new ideas + new details from Dona's 2019 Q&A that I like a lot and want to use! Anyway, outside of the intermission chapter, a complete re-read isn't necessary since many of the changes aren't a big deal. Many of the changes are from chapters 7-9, major ones such as deleting an OC I didn't know what to do with, changing details of Dona's backstory to fit the said 2019 Q&A, etc. I might do a complete re-work in the future but eh, for now, I'd rather just work on new chapters. So with that said, I'll finally be working on the next chapter!
As always, thanks to anyone who still keeps up with in hopes of an update! :D
Intellectual Infiltrator I: Out of Nowhere, A Sudden Meeting
When Emilia's eyes open, she finds herself in what could only be described as a magical world of white.
A sea of white.
Except for the cerulean skies, everything in sight is painted in white.
The scenery is a field of ethereal white grass. Surrounding the grasslands, a majestic forest stood gracefully. Likewise, each aspect of the forest is colored white; the trees, the trunks, the branches, the leaves, the flowers, and even the ground and dirt appear to be fine grains of pure white sand.
The scenery feels surreal, if not beautiful. Does it make sense for a place like this to even exist?
The question is, where is she? And what exactly is this place?
The last thing she remembered was preparing herself for a good night's rest. She can't remember anything out of the ordinary. Did something happen while she was asleep?
In any event, if something did happen, what about her knight, Natsuki Subaru? And what of the other residents of Roswaal's mansion and the members of her camp? Are they safe?! Are they also in this world of white?!
Despite the bewildering circumstances, her kindhearted nature can't help but worry for others first before herself.
As she continues thinking about her present situation, a breeze of wind brushes against her hair, making them dance along.
Then, deciding to search for the answer instead of waiting for one, she's about to saunter towards the snow-white forests when a condescending voice reveals itself.
"How is it? Do you like it? Does this place make you comfortable? Ah! Doesn't it also remind you of the Elior Forest, no?"
The voice, which contains thinly veiled animosity, sounds familiar to the half-elf.
It sends a slight chill down her spine.
It's a voice she hasn't heard in a while.
Turning to meet the owner of the voice, her assumption of who it belongs to turn out to be correct.
Standing with her arms crossed in front of Emilia in all her glory, dressed in an elegant black tunic with white outlines, which is different from her usual funerary getup, and along with her long and graceful white hair, is Echidna the Witch of Greed.
The witch's lips curls into a wry smile.
"E-Echidna?!"
Since the conclusion of the Sanctuary incident, she didn't think she'd see the witch again. Yet, here she is standing in front of her in this strange but beautiful world.
The Sanctuary incident... it's been three months since its conclusion.
The current expression the half-elf holds doesn't conceal her astonishment.
"What's with that moronic look? It looks like you're staring at a ghost," asked the witch with notable sarcasm. "Then again, technically speaking, as someone who already died, as a wandering soul, do I count as a ghost?"
The stunned half-elf fails to enlighten the witch with a response.
"Or maybe, considering how much of an egotistical and arrogant rascal you are, is this your way of making a mockery of my death?"
"No! That's not it!" Emilia half-shouted to deny the witch's accusation. "I would never mock something like that… not even you…"
It appears the Witch of Greed's demeanor towards her hasn't changed one bit… which means Emilia can expect countless harsh, abusive words hurled towards her.
Well, it's not like she hasn't gotten used to it. Somehow, it doesn't even feel that bad.
Now that she has a moment to gather herself, she doesn't quite know what to make of the sudden appearance of the witch. The Witch of Greed didn't exactly leave a good impression on her and Subaru during the Sanctuary incident, to put it lightly. Although, unlike the latter whose goodwill towards the witch completely faltered during their final moments, she, on the other hand, doesn't dislike the witch. Somehow, she can't really dislike her for reasons she doesn't even know herself.
It's probably due to her kindhearted nature...
"Are you behind this? What is this place?" Despite her initial shock, she managed to bring forth the obvious questions.
"I will answer those," assured Echidna. "But first,"
With a snap of her fingers, a small roundtable with two cups of tea, and two chairs were summoned in the space between them.
"Sit."
She commands with an authoritative tone that no one would dare refuse. Then, she proceeds to sit on one of the chairs before sending a sharp glare towards the hesitant half-elf.
"What are you waiting for?" She asked, observing the half-elf for any clues causing her hesitation. "Ah, but of course. She doesn't trust me. Understandably so. Kuku." She mused to herself before turning her attention back to the half-elf. "Look, I despise you with all my being, and I would love nothing more than to see you torn apart into a million tiny pieces of skin, bone, and flesh."
Emilia is taken aback by the grotesque words of the witch. Although the witch sent a fair amount of insults and mockery in almost all their past interactions, this is the first time she entailed how she would like to see her die.
Her glimmering silver hair,
Drowned in a sea of blood,
Blended with her minced innards, bones, and skin.
A gasp escaped her mouth.
The disturbing imagery.
Unsettling. Scary.
"But for now, just this once, I won't bite. I'm only here for a 'little' talk. That is all," assured the witch.
"A… talk?"
The half-elf considered Echidna's words.
"I'm only here for a 'little' talk."
While she may be a naïve girl, she's not that naïve to believe the witch is only here for a 'little' talk without any wicked ulterior motive.
Echidna is the wicked Witch of Greed, after all.
She also keeps in mind what Subaru told her about Echidna. Although he left out plenty of important details, Subaru told her about a certain contract the witch tried to deceive him into accepting. Deceiving someone to bind them to a contract is something she would never accept, regardless of whatever that contract entailed. Furthermore, he also informed her of the cold and indifferent attitude Echidna displayed over Beatrice's tragic situation despite her involvement which led to that situation in the first place… along with some other transgressions.
She had rather been disappointed to learn of those. Although she knows Echidna's Greed isn't something to be underestimated, somehow, she expected better from her.
Regardless, she decided to play along for now.
"Very well…" She nods, accepting the witch's invitation.
Thus, she occupies the empty chair.
"Well, why don't you make yourself comfortable?" Echidna gestures towards the cup of tea in front of Emilia. "Don't get me wrong, it's not that I want you to get comfortable. It's just that I must be a delightful host for my guests, even if the guest is someone utterly repulsive."
Emilia pouts at the ill remark that had the obvious intent to mock her. Regardless, she has gotten quite adept at ignoring the witch's taunts and insults, much to the witch's disappointment.
She gives the cup a look of extreme caution. She recalls Subaru's story about the content of the tea Echidna tricked him into drinking. Upon remembering that, the half-elf can't help but feel perturbed.
Echidna frowns slightly and raises both arms in mid-air to express her innocence.
"I know what you're thinking. I completely understand your concerns, but I can promise you I didn't put anything weird in that cup. And yes, while I do, indeed, agree that I'm someone who should be labeled as 'untrustworthy,' let me assure you I always hold my promises."
"..."
Although still hesitant, she grabs the cup's handle and takes a sip.
She takes a few moments to savor the taste.
Apple.
With hints of cinnamon and honey.
It's delicious.
Unable to help herself, she takes another sip.
And another.
And another.
And another.
Until the cup is empty.
"Did you make this? It's reeeally good," complimented Emilia.
"No." Echidna shakes her head. "Why would I make anything decent for someone like you? I simply used routine magic on a whim. Fortunately for you, it turned out well."
"Even so, thank you."
Emilia lets out her trademark kind-hearted smile despite the outright denial, causing the witch to roll her eyes.
Now that she remembers it, she did wish to have a tea party with the witch someday. That was her parting words before she left Echidna's Dream World in the Sanctuary. It's not as pleasant as she may have been naively expecting back then, but this is probably as close as it gets.
"Hey, Echidna. About last time. I don't know what I did to make you react like that but regardless, I'm sorry."
The witch appears genuinely confused by the half-elf's words. "What are you talking about?"
"Well… it looks like you were about to cry and I thought I was at fault… You also stubbornly refused to see me again after that... Uhm, but now that we meet again, this is a chance for us to clear that up and I hope you're over it if you came to see me."
The witch tilts her head, lost in thought. "Oh. Was there something like that?"
"Don't tell me… you don't remember? I thought it was a pretty big deal, sooo…"
"Nevermind that. It was nothing. Yes, I'm sure it was nothing at all! Forget about it! Erase it from your memories! You were just seeing things!" Echidna insisted with a heavy frown on her lips. Then, she quietly murmurs to herself. "Seriously… I did that? How weak of me."
Emilia catches some of the witch's whispering words but decides not to pursue the matter further out of consideration for the witch, frowning herself.
"Soooo…" She started, taking in the beautiful scenery of the white world, while still savoring the delicious aftertaste of the tea. "Where are we? What exactly is this place, Echidna?"
"You can say it's something akin to the Dream World." Echidna began explaining.
"Dream…"
"Aren't dreams fascinating? You know, people everywhere have always pondered about them. Why do we dream? And what exactly are dreams? Are they memories of one's past? Recent experiences? Future? Regrets? Aspirations? Wishes? Desires? A combination of all of them? Or perhaps, could they even be the events of an alternate or parallel world? These are only a small fraction of ideas about dreams. But, in the case of the Dream World, it's something like a product of one's imagination."
"Someone's imagination… huhh, so that's what this is." Emilia places a finger against her chin, pondering. "That's interesting to know. Is this another one of your Dream World, then? It's different from the greenery last time. But, how did I even end up here again? I thought the trials were over."
"Yes and no. Yes, because this is a product of my imagination. No, because we aren't lodging around in my dream anymore. In other words, this isn't the same Dream World as the one in the Sanctuary. Perhaps, it's more appropriate to say this is currently your dream? I mean, considering our little encounter is taking place inside your unconscious mind, after all."
It takes a few seconds for the witch's words to register.
"M-my Dream World?! Inside my mind…" Emilia analyzes her surroundings again. "But how? I don't recall I've ever imagined something like this… and besides, how did you get in my dream if that's the case?"
"You can think of it as myself invading your mind and controlling your dreams... manipulating what we're currently seeing right now. I intruded on your mind after you drifted into unconsciousness. Or something like that. Kuku."
"E-EH?!"
Basically,
Assuming what Echidna said is true,
Her privacy was violated... just like that.
Emilia didn't know whether she should feel disturbed or amazed.
"Soooo… we're communicating through my dream that you seized without consent… is that what you're saying?"
"Hm, something like that."
Echidna currently has the look of a mischievous child who got caught doing something naughty, while Emilia holds a scornful gaze. Ironically, it's usually the other way around between these two.
"Uhm… I think it's really weird, and I don't reeeally get it, but I think it's amazing how you can do this, Echidna… I mean, ahahaha... how is that even possible? I thought your influence only extends as far as the Sanctuary."
Ultimately, she decides it's alright to be amazed while feeling disturbed all at the same time.
"I beg to differ. Nothing is amazing about this. Let me assure you that I am nothing more than a mere powerless witch who died a long time ago. This is simply one of the loopholes I discovered within the laws of this world after spending centuries as a wandering soul. Nothing more, nothing less. In any case, the how's, why's, and whatnots that led to this 'little' meeting of ours don't really matter, do they? As I've already established, I'm only here for a 'little' talk."
Echidna clearly wants to divert the topic away. The information regarding how she was able to form a link with Emilia's mind isn't something for the half-elf to know.
Not now, anyway.
"Okay, if you say so..." Emilia concedes.
Then, she smiled brightly.
"Whatever the case may be, I like this place. It's sooo beautiful, you know. The white. I like it a lot. Sooo, if anything... thank you for showing me this beautiful 'dream'... I think."
"The white?"
"Yes. It's such a pure and delicate color. And despite its innocent nature, it also maintains unrivaled beauty, class, and grace."
"Hohhh?"
The witch's hallow black eyes close upon hearing the half-elf's compliments. Her lips slowly curved into another deep frown.
"White, eh? Don't be ridiculous. Its purity and innocence are meant to be easily sullied and corrupted without resistance. What's so beautiful about it? It's weak. Frail. Feeble. Unlike the gleaming silver, there's nothing beautiful about the color white, Emilia…" She muttered quietly to herself.
The half-elf failed to hear her musings.
…
After a few minutes of awkward silence, while Emilia continues gazing at the scenery, the witch calls for her attention.
"Anyway, it's about time we get to the main point."
"Ah, that's right. There's that liiiiittle something you wanted to talk about, right?"
"Yes. It concerns that boy, Natsuki Subaru."
"Subaru?!" Emilia exclaimed her surprise.
At first, she expected Echidna to talk about either the Trials, the result of the Trials, the liberation of the Sanctuary, the burning down of her library, or perhaps, even about Beatrice and Roswaal. Well, she also wouldn't have been surprised if the witch just wanted to continue insulting her, stating how foolish and naïve her goals are. And how much she hates her, of course.
Naturally, she knows about the brief history between the two after Subaru told her some of the details of the tea parties. So, they do have that connection even when things didn't work out between them in the end. But what could Echidna possibly want?
Is she still after Subaru despite his refusal of that contract?
A protective instinct well up within her.
"Uhm… what about Subaru?"
"First things first. You have to keep in mind that what I'm about to tell you is something of great importance."
"Ehhh? How important?"
"It's very~ important. I just can't overstate how important it is! Ahhh, you can even say it's life-changing information. Nothing will ever feel the same once you learn of it."
The half-elf's eyes widened in surprise, taking the witch's bait.
"It's that important?!"
"Hm. Hm. That's right." Echidna nods a couple of times with a smug smile. "My point is, you do know well not to tell anyone else, right? Not even Natsuki Subaru. No, especially not Natsuki Subaru. Kuku. This is something we should keep between us. Call it 'girls' secret', if you will."
"Sooo… there's something reeeally important she wants to talk about Subaru, but she forbids me from telling it to anyone else… especially Subaru. What is she up to? There's probably a trick to all of this…" Emilia thought to herself, attempting to find a hint about the witch's intention.
"Uhm, Echidna. If you don't mind me asking, is there any reason why I can't tell anyone?"
"It's for your benefit. Actually, it's for your safety." Echidna smiles menacingly. "You know, if a certain witch finds out that you know about this little information, your life will be endangered. You'll die. She will kill you... mercilessly. So, you see, it will be reeeally bad if you do that~."
Emilia let out a gasp, unnerved by Echidna's words.
Although the witch didn't drop a name, Emilia has a hunch who she's referring to.
However, what does The Witch have to do with this?!
"But please don't misunderstand my intention. It's not because I care about your wellbeing or anything. That would be an utter embarrassment for me if you think like that. I just want to see your failures before you meet a dramatic end. That's all there is to it. Now, do we come to an understanding?"
"O-okay, I understand. I promise I won't say a word to anyone about this!"
Echidna acknowledges her promise with a nod.
Afterward, her expression becomes serious.
"Well, then. With that out of the way, let me ask you; do you believe it's possible for an individual to return to a certain point in time by dying?"
"Ehh?"
A look of surprise envelops the half-elf's face.
It's a strange question, to say the least.
But somehow...
It doesn't feel that strange.
Somehow, she gets the feeling that "returning in time by dying" happened several times already. Not necessarily by her, but someone close to her...
"For instance, let us refer to such a phenomenon as [Return by Death]."
Return by Death.
Return by Death...
Return by Death...
ReTUrN.
bY.
DEaTh.
And with those very words, "Return by Death," a notable shift in the atmosphere begins to take place. All of the sudden, the cerulean skies darkens, and they're replaced by a sea of pitch black. It's shortly followed by the trickling of scarlet liquid throughout the white world. The pure whiteness of the grass, flowers, trees, and ground are being tainted with the color of blood.
It feels like the world suddenly begins to break down. If one is to imagine a 'tranquil' apocalypse from taking place, it'll probably look something like this.
In any case, it's hard to tell whether the sudden changing of the scenery is due to the nature of the dream world, the malevolent imagination of the witch, or even the !uNsTaBLe! mind of Emilia herself.
But something vital resonates within Emilia upon hearing the term "Return by Death."
"Return by Death. REtuRn bY dEAtH. rEtURn bY dEatH. RETurN By DeAtH. deAth. DEatH. deAth. DeaTH. deaTH. deAth. DEatH. dEaTH. DEath. deAtH. deAth. DEAth. DEaTh. deATH. deAtH." She uttered the words silently...
Over and over again...
Unfortunately, she can't quite figure out where she heard those very words before. Or, has she even heard them in the first place?
Maybe it's all a product of her delusion…
DeLUsiOn. deLUsioN. DeLUsION. deLUsiON. deLuSION. DeLuSiOn. dELUsiOn.
She doesn't quite know what's happening anymore...
She does feel weird and fuzzy...
Maybe her vision is becoming a bit blurry...
Something in her heart feels weird...
The rate of her beating heart increases...
Growing louder by the second...
~~Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok, DOK! Dok,DOK!~~
It aches...
Too much pain radiates from her heart...
But...
She knows...
For whatever mysterious reason...
That somewhere out there...
There's a looo~nely girl trapped inside the shadows...
A girl she REPLACED!
However, at this moment...
A black crescent-shaped grin appeared on Echidna's face who's entire being now appeared to be a glowing white shadow.
Amidst the pitch-black skies,
Amidst the white surface of the land that was tainted with scarlet,
Amidst the black and white backdrop with a little bit of scarlet,
With her crazed smile in front of Emilia,
The Witch of Greed appears to be a terrifying monster.
THE MONSTER OF CURIOSITY!
"That boy, Natsuki Subaru, is suffering from a truly intriguing phenomenon known as [Return by Death]. Ahhh~, yes, that's right. He can return by death," Echidna finally reveals.
Emilia grins as she stands up and starts to twirl all over the place in joy, speaking in a song-like tone.
"SUbAru~. SUbaRu~. suBarU~. suuu~BarU. SuBAruu~. suBAA~rU."
"MY~."
"LOVELY~."
"SUUU~BAAA~RUUU~."
"REtuRn bY dEAtH. rEtURn bY dEatH. RETurN By DeAtH."
"deAth. DEatH. deAth. DeaTH. deaTH. deAth. DEatH. dEaTH. DEath. deAtH. deAth. DEAth. DEaTh. deATH. deAtH. deAth. DEatH. deAth. DeaTH. deaTH. deAth. DEatH. dEaTH. DEath. deAtH. deAth. DEAth. DEaTh. deATH. deAtH. deAth. DEatH. deAth. DeaTH. deaTH. deAth. DEatH. dEaTH. DEath. deAtH. deAth. DEAth. DEaTh. deATH. deAtH."
"Ah hA ha HA hA HA ha Ha hA HA ha hA ha HA Ha ha HA ha HA hA ha HA hA Ha ha"
Emilia's vision fades into black as she loses consciousness within her already unconscious mind.