[Recap]
?: Who th' hell are all of ya and wha' are you doin' here?
The boy was loud and commanding like a guard or someone of the same status.
Subaru: My name is Subaru Natsuki, now that I told you who I am mind telling me who you are?
?: The nam's Garfiel Tinsel, and ya better leav' or I will have to force' you.
The boy spoke with a severe look on his face, even an idiot could understand what he was trying to say, if they didn't leave they would have to fight him.
Subaru: Look, Garfiel we are not here to fight we just came here to see someone.
Garfiel: I didn' ask wha' you are tryin' to do here! I told' ya to leave'!
Subaru kept trying to reason with Garfiel calmly but he wouldn't even bother listening to them at all, he would just respond with "I don' care wha' ya here for jus' leave!"
Subaru: Stop being stubborn and listen to me! We are here to find Roswaal, we were told by Frederica he might still be alive!
Subaru stopped trying to reason with him and said his goal as loud as he could, he needed Garfield to know the situation's urgency.
Garfiel face shifted from anger and annoyed to anger, annoyed, and a bit shocked, but the shock didn't seem to come from what Subaru was saying it came from-
Garfiel: Frederica, how do ya' know tha' name.
Subaru: Did you not listen to a thing I said, how is that important, I need to find Roswaal!
Garfiel thought for a moment before slamming his foot to the ground and saying angrily,
Garfiel: SHUT UP! I don' care wha' ya wanna do! Or who ya' wann' find, this barren wasteland only got more barren ever since that damn snowstorm. If I don' kill ya' hungry will!
Once he said this he started to approach Subaru and Beatrice, seeing this the cultists got in front of him to protect them, however, this didn't stop Garfiel he continued
All the cultists excluding Lyra blocked Garfiel's path, and two of them rushed toward him, however, Garfiel quickly stopped them with two punches in the gut. They weren't dead but they weren't going to be moving for a while. The cultists seeing this changed their plans, their plan was simple "Run". Every time he approached one of them they would just jump away, but they kept attacking him by throwing knives and other things in the area so he couldn't ignore them and attack Subaru, Beatrice, and Lyra.
However, Garfiel would catch them eventually and the attacks they used were all but effective, so at most all, they were just buying time.
Lyra: Hey, I think we might need to deal with this Garfiel guy, I say we kill him!
Subaru looked at Lyra with a look of disgust before looking at Beatrice,
Beatrice: I think she has a point, I suppose, we could kill him. With my Yin magic, and the cultists we could probably win in a fight, in fact.
Subaru: Beako, we can't just kill him! We don't know how important he is to the sanctuary. What if he is super important, people live in the sanctuary right he might be to the people there.
Beatrice: Well we need to think of something or he'll kill us, I suppose.
Subaru thought of everything that was said so far, Garfiel, and something came to his mind,
Subaru: Beatrice, Lyra, I need you to hold Garfield off. I have a plan so just trust me.
His face showed a bit of worry but his face was brimming with confidence.
Both Lyra and Beatrice nodded before facing Garfiel, while Subaru ran towards the carriage they used to arrive here. At this time all the cultists that were distracting him were all lying on the floor grunting in pain.
This sight was enough to make Lyra look a bit worried, however, Beatrice whispered something into her ear which replaced her worried look with a determined one. Garfiel continued his approach and once he was only a couple of feet away Lyra and Beatrice put their plan in motion.
Beatrice aimed her hand towards Garfiel and then chanted,
Beatrice "EL VITA!"
Garfiel fell onto his knees for only a couple of seconds before getting back up but it was clear to tell he was struggling to stand up, then Beatrice aimed her hand toward Lyra and chanted.
Beatrice: "MURAK!"
Once Murak was cast Lyra ran toward Garfield, of course, he tried to do what he did with the other cultists and smack her in the gut, but due to him being slower than usual due to gravity being amplified and Lyra being a bit faster she managed to dodge by moving to left, once she dodged she managed to punch him right in the face. He then tried to hit her again this time aiming for her face, but she ducked below and landed an uppercut right on his chin. Then he just stopped trying to attack her instead he switched up his approach and went on the defensive.
Lyra not realizing this tried to punch him once again, however, Garfiel predicting this gave her a taste of her own medicine and dodged and then hit her in the stomach with all of her strength. This was enough to make her fall to her knees and even cough up some blood. Garfiel kicked her out of the way and started to approach Beatrice next,
Beatrice: Don't move or Betty will be forced to kill you, I suppose!
Garfiel hearing this threat only started to run toward her instead of walk, Beatrice had no other choice she aimed her hand at him and chanted,
Beatrice: MINYA-
?: WAIT!
Both Beatrice and Garfiel turned their heads to the voice that interrupted them, it was Subaru and he was carrying some kind of container full of something,
Subaru: Garfiel, I know you don't trust us, but all I ask is one day to find Roswaal, in return ill give you all of this.
He placed the container in front of him and backed away, Garfiel carefully looked inside. After seeing what was inside he thought for a moment before stomping his foot on the ground and angrily said,
Garfiel: Fin' ya can stay for on' day! But ill be watchin' ya every' move!
Both Beatrice and Subaru nodded and after they did this Garfiel turned around and walked away, once he was unable to be seen Subaru sighed in relief.
Subaru: Who would have thought it would be so hard to even get in this place, Roswaal better be in here!
Beatrice's response was delayed, she was still amazed at how easily Subaru convinced Garfiel to allow them to enter the sanctuary.
Beatrice: Betty's completely sure that he's here, I suppose, now then what do we do about the cultists, I wonder?
As Beatrice said this she pointed at the cultists that were lying on the ground,
Subaru: I guess we can just put them in the carriage, for now, Lyra put the cultists in the carriage.
Lyra who was healing herself after the damage inflicted by Garfiel turned her head in the direction of subaru
Lyra: Oh come on, I don't even get a thank you! I am not moving until I get one!
She said half-joking,
Subaru reluctantly choked out a "thank you" and Lyra reacted with an earnest smile Subaru only scoffed at this. Once all the cultists that were injured during the fight against Garfiel were inside the carriage they started to make their way toward the sanctuary. Subaru and Beatrice remained outside of the carriage to guard it while Lyra drove it.
Beatrice: Betty's confused, what was in that container you gave Garfield, I suppose?
Subaru: Oh it was just the food we brought along for the trip.
Beatrice: Why did you give him that, I wonder?
Subaru: Oh the reason is pretty simple, he mentioned a snowstorm which I believe was caused by Puck and he said something about how hungry will kill us if we get past him. I thought it was weird why he said that but it occurred to me that this Sanctuary place might be having a food shortage. I mean I don't know much about farming but if it snowed and killed all the plants then I imagine a food shortage would be very likely.
Beatrice: Betty didn't even think of that, I suppose.
Honestly Subaru didn't blame her, even though he was a bit shocked when he thought of it. All of his problems have been more magic-based, first, there was Petelgeuse then his crazy wife Sirius. Now the problem of finding Roswaal was, food was never a problem because the cultists were always around to gather some, and after Reinhardt killed Puck he seemed to have reversed any negative effects on the environment, but maybe even he can't undo all of it.
...
After their chat they finally arrived at the Sanctuary, and it clearly wasn't in the best shape. There were tiny hunts and outside of them were what could only be described as demi-humans, of course, the second they saw Subaru and Beatrice they ran back into the hunts.
Subaru: Great now that were here can you show us where-
Garfiel: Not so fast' I firs' gotta interview' ya I need to know where ya' came from and other stuff like that.
Subaru: We don't have time for that, you only gave us one day!
Garfiel: I don' care! Ya only here cause I let ya, if ya don't want my amazin' self to change my mind' ya better do what I say!
Subaru reluctantly agreed there was nothing he could do but listen to him, he led them into one of the small hunts and they all sat on a nearby table.
Garfiel: Why don' ya start by tellin' me where ya came from?
Subaru: Me and my partner Beatrice came from the Roswaal Mansion, we were told that Roswaal might still be alive so we came here. Garfiel: An' what made ya' think that bastar' died? Subaru thought for a moment before speaking again, Subaru: The Roswaal mansion was attacked by the witch cult, we are trying to find any survivors. Garfiel: Then min' tellin' me who died durin' the attack? Subaru: All the people in Arlam village, Rem, Ram, and Emilia. Garfiel's eyes widened when he heard Ram's name, Garfiel: W-wait, did ya say Ram?... I-i, get out!
Subaru: Wait what about-
Garfiel: Roswaal in the bigges' hunt' of this dam' place, NOW LEAVE!
Garfiel suddenly forced Subaru out, despite this reaction being very weird Subaru didn't care too much. With Garfiel out of the picture for now he could focus on the real reason he came to the sanctuary in the first place, to find Roswaal. Beatrice and Lyra were both waiting for him outside the hunt.
Beatrice: What did you talk about, I wonder?
Subaru: Oh nothing really he asked me like three things before kicking me out, but who cares about that let's find Roswaal.
Lyra: Yeah, we should look for him but how would we do that?
Subaru: What do you mean?
Lyra: Well, we don't really know which hunt he's in, actually he might not even be in one of the hunts.
Subaru: He did say where Roswaal is, apparently he's in the biggest hunt, so get the cultists to search for that.
Lyra paused, before speaking again
Lyra: Uh, right now I am the only cultists who is still able to do anything and even then I am still injured... but I might be able to if you encourage me!
Subaru just sighed before deciding to look for the hunt himself, he grabbed Beatrice's hand and started his search. Of course, while he was searching Lyra followed behind them, however, Subaru made sure to speed up every time she got too close for comfort.
After a little while of searching, Subaru found the biggest hunt in the sanctuary and readied himself to enter it.
Subaru: Beako, you ready?
Beatrice: Of course, I suppose.
Lyra: I am ready to-
Subaru: You aren't coming.
Lyra: Wai-
Subaru: No, absolutely not, you will stand here and be useless like you always do.
As he said this one of the injured cultists appeared and whispered something in her ear before disappearing once again, whatever the cultists told her alarmed her that was clear just from looking at her face. This did catch Subaru's attention but he didn't care too much. He turned around and just before he could open the door to the house that contained the main reason Subaru came here, to begin with, Lyra spoke,
Lyra: Hey we might have a problem-
Subaru: Fix it yourself, I couldn't care less.
Lyra: Wait this is really important-
Beatrice: My partner already told you to fix it yourself, whatever your problem isn't as important as this, I suppose.
Subaru nodded at this comment and Lyra just looked away with a worried look on her face, Subaru and Beatrice took this as her agreeing to figure out the problem herself. And with that, he entered the hunt with Beatrice.
Subaru: Ros-chi you in here- oh?!
When he entered and saw Roswaal he was shocked, there he was, the strongest magic caster had bandages all over him like something or someone attacked him. Not only did he look badly injured, but his face, hair, and clothes were also all disheveled as if he hadn't tidied himself in weeks. He was looking down at the floor looking very demoralized, however, his eyes jolted toward Subaru the moment he entered, and he looked amazed. Perhaps he heard what happened at the mansion? This would make it easier to convince him to join our side!
Subaru: Roschi, I see you must've already heard of what happened at the mansion. That is probably why you look so sad, but I am happy to tell you that I survived, and not only that I already have a plan to get revenge on that damn cult! But we need power and influence if we want the plan to succeed, and you have both of those things! Join us, join me! Let's destroy the witch cult and all of their "Archbishops" let's make them suffer as much as they made us suffer! I already defeated the "Archbishop of Sloth" and captured the "Archbishop of Wrath" who knows how many more are out there but with you, on our side, there is no chance in hell they can stop us!
Roswaal face lit up in shock, though the parts he seemed most shocked at were the part where Subaru said he beat the Archbishop of Sloth he looked a bit more disappointed than happy but perhaps Subaru was just seeing things, he couldn't read what was on others faces despite people being able to easily read his face.
Roswaal suddenly jumped out of his bed and grabbed Subaru's shoulder, despite him being bandaged heavily he was able to do this easily almost as if the bandages were just for show. This sudden movement shocked Subaru and he was left speechless, even Beatrice who knew Roswaal the best was shocked.
Roswaal mouth started to move slightly as if he was struggling to say something due to not talking for weeks on end, but eventually, he started to talk.
Roswaal: Stop playing around, restart, and go back, what do you think you are doing? You weren't supposed to beat the "Sin Archbishop of Sloth" like this, you were supposed to save Arlam village, Emilia, Rem, and Ram! Of course, I won't help you with your stupid plan to get revenge on the Witch Cult!
He sounded confused and angry, but that wasn't the part that shocked Subaru,
Subaru: What do you mean, "go back" and supposed to? Did you already know that the witch cult was going to attack the mansion?!
Subaru was giving Roswaal the benefit of the doubt until now, when Frederica said Roswaal was most likely somewhere else during the attack he thought that meant he was just somewhere else during the attack that's why he didn't help everyone. But if he knew about the attack beforehand why didn't he help? Why didn't come and save them, these were the only questions floating around in his.
Roswaal: I did know, in fact, I planned it! I spent over 400 hundred years meticulously and diligently following the Gospel! Ever since that fateful day I've been doing everything I can to pursue my goal, I've discarded and destroyed the lives of countless people, and I've taken my own off-spring to extend my own life! I cause the destruction of the oni-village where Ram and Rem lived, I hired Elsa to back at the capital, and even now my plans are still in effect! Go back and stop this foolishness! Save Emilia, Rem, Ram, and everyone else! I won't let my plan be absolutely discarded, not after the 400 hundred years I've spent in pursuit of my goal!
Roswaal's grip on Subaru's shoulder tightened as he kept talking, If Roswaal planned to provoke Subaru then it was certainly a success. Subaru was rightfully angry about everything he was hearing. Ros-chi? He could've easily stopped the witch cult, he could've done way more to prevent all of this from happening. But even more than that, he could've spared Subaru from the trouble he faced with Elsa! And he destroyed the Oni village Ram and Rem was from!? Does this mean Roswaal was the cause for all the problems Subaru has faced?
Subaru: ARE YOU INSANE! Why would you let all of them die? YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS THE WITCH CULTIST! No, YOU MIGHT BE EVEN WORSE!
As Subaru screamed he pushed Roswaal away, Subaru was so angry he completely lost control over himself and involuntarily a familiar shadowy hand appeared, the same hand that the lunatic Petelgeuse used, the same hand that caressed his heart so many times.
The hand stretch forward and went right through Roswaal skin into his fragile insides, the hand reach all the way into his heart, just a little force and he could crush Roswaal's heart, surely Roswaal could feel the hand, perhaps he was feeling the same thing Subaru feels when he tries to tell people about his power to return by death. Maybe that was the reason he wasn't fighting back, was Roswaal in shock? Subaru didn't care, this monster is better off dead!
Suddenly, Subaru felt something grab his actual hand.
?: Betty knew this wasn't a good idea, In fact. Subaru, we should leave.
Beatrice's voice brought Subaru back and he managed to calm himself down. He nodded his head before turning his head toward the door they used to enter this place, he couldn't stand seeing Roswaal's face any longer. Of course, even at this moment, the payment his Authority demanded was paid and Subaru's head started to hurt like hell.
Roswaal, on the other hand, was in shock, he was so focussed on Subaru he didn't realize that Beatrice was there, did he make a contract with her? Even more, things that will ruin his 400-year plan! However, this did give him an idea, if Subaru didn't willing want to restart, then Roswaal could force him to. This is just another necessary action that must be taken to reach his goal.
Just before Subaru and Beatrice left Lyra burst the door open, she looked incredibly worried.
Lyra: Hey, guys that problem you told me to fix, I don't think I can- wait GET DOWN!
"AL GOA!"
Subaru listen to Lyra's sudden outburst and ducked down to the floor, Beatrice however turned and faced Roswaal, there she saw a massive inferno coming toward her. She stopped it using magic of her own.
Beatrice: What are you thinking, I suppose?
Roswaal: If you keep avoiding the path the gospel wishes then ill just have to force you!
"EL SHAMAK"
Roswaal fell to his knees as if he was unable to control his body, Subaru took this chance to grab Beatrice and start running, he ran out of the hunt and made his way to the carriage that brought them here to this horrible place, to begin with, of course, Lyra followed behind them,
Beatrice: What is the plan, I wonder?
Subaru: We need to get out of here, we're going to the carriage and getting out of here!
Lyra: About that, the carriage is being used.
Subaru: What!?
Lyra: Yeah I used it to solve the problem, it didn't work though.
Subaru looked back at Lyra while he was running to glare at her before changing his direction toward the forest,
Subaru: Change of plans we'll just have to run back to the mansion!
Beatrice: But that would take hours, I suppose.
Subaru: It's the only way we can, sorry Beako but we are going to have to!
They all turned toward the general direction of where the mansion might be and started to run as fast as they could. Just when they entered the cover of the trees they heard someone chanting.
"AL GOA"
Just as the person chanted this some of the trees that were behind them caught on fire, Subaru looked everywhere for the person who did this, until he saw them just through the leaves of the trees around him, it was Roswaal, and he was flying! He didn't seem to know where Subaru and Beatrice were, but he wouldn't need to find them if he burned the forest down!
They kept running but Roswaal would find them and kill them if nothing was done. Just as the situation looked dire things only got worse as soon they reached a dead end, a huge cliff blocked their way, it was too big, and trying to climb it was impossible, and going around would take too long, no matter what they did Roswaal would find them.
Subaru: No! No! No! Beatrice is there something you can do to get us out of this situation?
Beatrice just shook her head, he then turned to Lyra he was so desperate he would even ask her for help but she just shrugged, as he tried to think of something Beatrice suggested an idea.
Beatrice: Betty can buy you some time, I suppose, and use that time to go around this cliff and escape.
Subaru: Absolutely not! There has to be another way!
Lyra: No, I don't think there is-
Subaru: Lyra you go buy us time!
Lyra: As much as I would love to there is no way I could hold him off for long, maybe a couple of seconds at best.
Subaru: Ok then how about all the cultists we brought to hold him off? Surely you can give us enough time.
Lyra: That won't work, that problem I was trying to tell you earlier was Garfiel whatever you told him he seems to think it's our fault, so I told some cultists to fight him off while the others go back to the mansion and bring back reinforcements. However, the cultists I sent to the mansion haven't returned and the cultists I sent to fight Garfiel are likely dead.
Subaru bit down on his lip, if he had paid attention to Lyra would they have been able to escape?
Beatrice: We are running out of time, I suppose!
Subaru: Beatrice you can't!
Beatrice: It's betty's job as a contracted spirit to protect the life of her contractor, I suppose.
Subaru: Stop! Please, I can't lose you!
As Subaru said this the tiny embers from the fire magic Roswaal made quickly grew out of control and raged on and started to get closer,
Beatrice: Go now!
Subaru: Stop!
Beatrice turned toward the direction Roswaal was and started to move, Subaru tried to follow her but Lyra prevented him.
Subaru: Lyra, what do you think you're doing?
Lyra: Sorry but, as a friend and as a witch cultist, I can't let you do something that would guarantee your death.
Subaru: Are you insane? Beatrice will die! I am trying to help her!
Lyra: Sorry, I can't do it no way could I let you die, you are my friend after all. So if you refuse I will just have to force you, so please just follow me. She's buying us time don't let it go to waste.
Subaru: No, of course, I won't do that, get out of my way.
But Lyra continued to stand in the way, unmoving.
Subaru was truly angry now, he was starting to question why he even friended Lyra or tried to befriend the Witch cultists. She served no purpose, the whole reason why he wanted to befriend her was to learn about the witch cult but she knows nothing! She went from being useless to being an obstacle,
Subaru forcefully pushed her out of the way, a bit more roughly than necessary Subaru was trying to declare one simple message, Don't. follow. me.
Once he got past Lyra he managed to run a couple of feet before the fire stopped him, not only did he not know where Beatrice was, all the trees around him were on fire, and all he could hear was the sound of crystals shattering but this actually allowed him to know the general direction they might be in. Once he realized this, he was trying to figure out a way to get to them without burning alive. He didn't know if he could help Beatrice during the fight but he definitely couldn't help if he was a brunt corpse
While Subaru was thinking he heard a loud apologetic voice.
?: Sorry!
Subaru suddenly felt something hit his head, causing him excruciating pain. The hit seemed like it was meant to make him pass out, but the person who attempted to do it was either too weak or inexperienced. Subaru: AH! Before he could find out who or what hit him, he was smacked once again. This time Subaru fell to the ground, his head started to bleed, his vision was stained red, All he could hear was a loud ringing sound. His eyelids were heavy and as he struggled to keep himself from falling unconscious, he could only think of saying one thing, Subaru: Sorry, Beako. ... _ When Subaru awoke again, the sun has long since set. He was being carried, and who was carrying him, he could only assume it was Lyra.(Author note: She was just basically giving him a piggyback ride)
Looking around Subaru recognized where they were, they were at Irlam Village, if he tried hard enough he could see the mansion.
Subaru: What happened?
Lyra: Shh, t-there are Mabeast, please stay quiet.
Her voice was incredibly weak as if she was too tired to even say those simple words, that wasn't the only thing he notice. She was noticeably limping while she was carrying him. She was so unstable that it felt like her legs would give in at any moment and would fall down onto the floor.
Subaru: How long have I been out?
Subaru made sure to follow her advice, even though he didn't particularly trust her but he knew the danger Mabeasts posed.
Lyra: Maybe a couple of hours, long enough for us to be able to escape that clown.
Subaru: Beatrice! What happened to her?! And who attacked me when I was trying to help her.
When Lyra mentioned Roswaal he remembered every that happened before he passed out, his mind was racing a mile a minute.
Lyra: I don't know what happened to her, it's not like I know. But as for who attacked you, that was me. It wasn't out of malice I needed to save you or you've gotten yourself killed.
Subaru: You did WHAT-
Before Subaru could fully scream at Lyra for doing something so awful, a loud scream, or screams, rang out. Both of them look towards the direction of where the screams were coming from, the mansion.
Lyra suddenly made a dash toward the mansion, of course, she was still injured so she wasn't very fast but she was still fast enough to reach the mansion in a couple of minutes.
Subaru: What the hell.
Once they arrived and saw the yard of the Mansion Subaru had to hold himself back from vomiting. Masses of bodies, some bodies he could recognize as cultists, but other bodies he couldn't, and it wasn't just human bodies there were also the bodies of Mabeast mixed into the piles. Each pile was coated with the crimson red of blood, the stench alone was enough to make anyone puke.
As the two of them continued into the mansion the situation still didn't get much better, more bodies. The only change was as they continued to go deeper into the mansion the bodies of the Mabeast started to outnumber those of humans.
Subaru: What the hell happened? Did Mabeast attack?
Lyra: Guess we know what happened to the group I sent to the mansion, huh?
Subaru didn't bother answering, this was all so overwhelming. They just found Roswaal, things were supposed to be getting better, Not worse!
?: Dang it Elsa, finish her off already! I've already lost so many pets!~
?: Oh my aren't you being a little taskmaster.
The second those oddly familiar voices spoke a nearby door opened abruptly out of it came, Frederica and she slammed into a nearby wall. Then after her, a strange man wearing a white cloak that blocked his face came out, the only characteristic Subaru could make out was his purple hair.
Directly following the Purple-haired man was a swarm of Mabeast, on one of the Mabeast appeared to be a small child.
?: Hey~ Elsa! I found our targets!
And finally out of the room came Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter.
She launched out of the room toward Frederica's direction and made a decisive cut on Frederica Lower-torso, if Frederica was still alive she certainly isn't now. The purple-haired man seeing this tried to attack Elsa, however, the swarm of Mabeast prevented him from getting close and forced him to back away to a different hallway. The child followed closely behind him, Now that left Elsa.
Elsa: Oh good, I finally found you.
Subaru: YOU! YOU DID THIS? Stop, stop it!
Elsa: Why else would I? A client asked though this wasn't as planned. What a shock it was to find out you weren't even here in the mansion.
Subaru: I don't care anymore! Ill KILL YOU!
As if taking that as a signal to start fighting Lyra placed Subaru onto the floor and charged at Elsa, of course, Elsa did the same.
The fight ended in a blink of an eye. Lyra, weakened and limbing was easily outmatched by Elsa's quick speed and strength, once she was finished she started to make her way to Subaru.
Subaru did the only thing he could think of,
Subaru: AUTHORITY OF SLOTH- AH!
Before he could even finish his sentence he felt a sharp-shooting pain emitting from his chest, he involuntarily placed his hands over the area where the pain was the worst, but it was no use, blood spilled out of him dying the floor in a crimson red.
Dead yet again.
Notes: