The stars shone along with the moon. Together they gave the forest a little bit of light. It was enough for Rem to find her way. The morning air was rich and filled with the scent of dew, and the song of birds had begun. The sun would come up soon. She'd already used most of the night to speak with Ram. With her Synesthesia, Rem had directed her sister to Emilia's cabin. After discussing Subaru's plan, Ram was now on her way to Roswaal in order to get him on their side.
Rem had the same task, however with a different person in mind. She had to get Garfiel on their side. Rem grimaced at the thought. Ram should have been the one to talk to Garfiel. She was still just an inferior version of her sister, so it would have made sense to send the original to get Garfiel, but they didn't have the time.
Though before trying to handle Garfiel she went to the church, Subaru's ground dragon would need to be ready for him to leave tomorrow. The feeling of Subaru's hand as he pulled her off the ground in Crusch's mansion rose in her mind. Maybe she could do that part correctly.
It only took her a few minutes to get to the church. When she got there she walked to where the ground dragons were. The merchant, Otto, was sleeping in the driver's seat of the carriage. His own ground dragon strapped into its harness. Though it was resting on the ground next to Patrasche.
Rem tilted her head. Was Otto planning on running? Her hands turned to fists. No, he hadn't been. If he had been planning to run or something of the sort he wouldn't have fallen asleep. Otto seemed incompetent but not this incompetent.
Though that still left the question of why. A question Rem had to find an answer to. She would help Subaru, he'd helped her and Ram so much, she had to help him as much as she could to repay the favor. With that vow in mind Rem walked up to Otto and tapped him on the shoulder.
It took the man a little while to stir and wake up. But he did wake up after a moment. His eyelids pulled back, revealing blue irises. They jumped around until they landed on her.
He let out a yawn and said, "What's going on…Rem-san?"
Rem didn't grow suspicious at his hesitation. It was likely from not being able to see her hair color in the darkness. If Otto knew her a little better he'd be able to tell her and Ram apart right away. He'd be able to see how much better Ram was than her. How much every single aspect of Ram was an improvement—
No. Subaru had, for some reason, wanted her to stop thinking like that. She had no idea why, it was the correct way of thinking, but Subaru had insisted. And they were friends now, she would trust him.
"The Witch's cult is going to attack Sanctuary and the mansion," Rem said, hatred for the cult running through her.
Otto's eyes widened, "I'd guessed Natsuki-san would need help with something. But not that."
Rem nodded and explained that Subaru would need Patrasche ready in the morning to get to the mansion.
"Does he think he can handle that on his own?" Otto asked.
"Yes," Rem said, "I trust Subaru-kun."
"Hm, I'll trust him then, and we have our own issues to worry about, yes?"
"Yes there are two disgusting Sin Archbishops coming to Sanctuary," Rem said.
"I assume you're going to find Garfiel or Roswaal-sama then?"
Rem's fingers formed a fist. How was Otto guessing what she was going to do? Was he simply intelligent? Or was there something more she'd need to worry about? Rem thought back on what Subaru had explained to her, he hadn't mentioned anything about Otto. Rem forced herself to relax. If there was anything to worry about Subaru would have pointed it out to her.
"Yeah, Re-I'm going to get Garf," she said, then turned to walk back into the forest.
As she began to walk Otto said, "Good luck."
Rem silently thanked him for his words.
She spent the next few minutes traversing through the forest, then realized she had no idea where Garfiel would be right now. So she called upon her knowledge of the boy. With all these new people in Sanctuary Garfiel would likely be stalking around somewhere. Somewhere he could watch the newcomers. It followed that he'd be somewhere around the church. Using that information she began to search in a circle around the cathedral. Eventually she found claw marks in an old tree.
Garfiel's claws. Rem knew that he sharpened his claws like this often. He'd been doing it since he was young. She eyed the surrounding trees for similar markings. When she found them she stalked in that direction. After a few minutes of following that trail, the sound of Garfiel's fist slamming into a tree reached her. He was getting ready for a possible attack.
Well possible in Garfiel's mind. Rem knew it was a certainty, if Subaru was to be believed, which he was. He'd had the information required for them to beat Gluttony and as she'd heard from her sister, the White Whale only a few hours before. So while Garfiel was preparing for a possibility Rem was readying for the future. Though of course, Garfiel was getting ready even though he didn't know if it was certain or not.
Rem had needed confirmation from Subaru before she'd begun preparing for any kind of attack. Rem punched herself in the thigh. With Emilia-sama being a half-elf she should have been ready for this. Ram had probably already been preparing something in her head. But she'd been too nice—
No sister wasn't just too nice. Sister loved Rem. Any doubt of that was gone from Rem's mind. She took her fist away from her leg and breathed in and out deep breaths.
Her horn told her someone was coming. She reached for her flail. But stopped when Garfiel stepped toward her.
"Eh Rem, what're you doin' out here?" he asked.
"It's—"
"Were you watchin' me work out?" he said, "Sorry but I don't got eyes for you. Though if Ram was around," he trailed off flexing his biceps.
Rem closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh.
"Ey, what's that fer?"
"For my brilliant sister who has to deal with one as lowly as yourself," Rem said.
"Hey, Ram's not dealin' with me…wait. How's she plannin' t'deal with my amazin' self?" Garfiel smiled.
Rem punched him across the face. Throwing him to the side.
"Ow!" he yelped as he reached for a tree to hold onto, "The fuck was that fer?"
"I know you were thinking vile things about sister," Rem crossed her arms and tried to put as much distaste into her gaze as possible.
"Well…'f Ram doesn't feel a little bit the same toward my amazin' self why're you s'worried?" Garfiel asked.
"You mangy cat," Rem whispered, "I can assure you sister feels nothing but contempt for you. All of her love goes to me, and maybe a bit to Subaru. There's none left for you."
"Subaru…huh…who the fuck's that?" Garfiel rubbed his face. Though Rem knew he wasn't angry about the punch. Ram had punched him the same way before. And sister's punches, even when playful, were harder than most things Rem could do.
Rem didn't answer, letting Garfiel work through it on his own.
"Is he the weird black-haired dude in the suit?"
"Yes, it took you more than too long to figure that out," Rem said, eyeing him to see how he reacted.
"Fuckin' hell. I knew Ram's type was dude's in fancy shit," he said.
"Hah, like you could understand sister's type," she said, "you've failed to match it for what a decade?"
Garfiel found a tree stump and sat down on it, she did the same on a stump across from him. As he mulled over what she'd said his face gained a bit of seriousness. Until now it had been full of only humor. With his new attitude he said, "Hey, you know my amazin' self isn't gonna change just to suit Ram. I'll be what the people who need me need. Ram doesn't need me to dress fancy."
On the inside Rem smiled, though of course she couldn't show that to Garfiel.
He looked at her and started to laugh.
"You need t'get better at hidin' those smiles o'yers."
"You're just bitter that you don't fit into Ram's type naturally. You're lazy, just like the cats who birthed you," Rem said.
Garfiel frowned. But he didn't look sad. His eyes held contentment. After this conversation Rem didn't feel as bad about trying to get Garfiel on their side.
"Hey, I ain't lazy. Ram may not need me t'wear fancy shit but Sanctuary does need me diligent," he said.
"On that topic," Rem said, trying to get the conversation to where it needed to go.
"Hm?"
"Sanctuary is going to come under attack soon," the words jumped from her mouth before she could think of them. She didn't want to try and deceive Garfiel.
Any humor or comfort from their conversation vanished. In the blink of an eye, the boy's bearing altered completely.
"How d'you know?" he asked, though he didn't seem to be doubting her. He wanted more information was all.
"Subaru told me," she answered.
"...That guy," Garfiel said, "why d'you trust 'im?"
Rem explained why. All the times he'd helped her and Ram back in the mansion. When he'd gathered the forces of two royal camps to take down the White Whale and Gluttony. Rem even told him how Subaru stunk of the Witch.
"If he stinks like 'er why the fuck do you trust him?" Garfiel asked. Anger had begun to seep into his tone.
"There was a time Rem didn't," her sight dropped to the grass. She picked at the edge of the stump she sat on. Chipping off little bits of wood.
"What happened?" Garfiel's anger faded a bit.
"Rem tried to kill him," she said.
"Huh," he said, then didn't speak for a while. He mimicked her and picked at chips of bark.
Guilt pumped through Rem's veins as she ripped out bigger and bigger pieces of wood from the stump. Tears welled up in her vision. She forced her eyes shut, trying to keep away the tears. Sometimes she was able to forget that she'd been about to kill Subaru and that he'd still helped her so much. He'd still asked to be her friend. Why? She didn't deserve to be friends with him. What made him care about her? She couldn't think of a single reason why Subaru would ever want to stay around her.
Garfiel sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Yer good, Rem," he said.
Rem nodded but wasn't able to say anything.
"You really feel guilty about this huh? This guy must be somethin' else for you to feel this bad," he said. Rem rested her head on his shoulder. She continued to cry in silence for a bit longer, Garfiel calmly scratching the back of her neck.
The two remained like that for a while before Rem was able to regain her composure.
"You do really trust this guy, don't you?" Garfiel asked.
"Yes, I do," Rem responded.
"Alright. What do I need t'know to help Sanctuary?" Garfiel asked.
As soon as the words reached her Rem explained everything Subaru had told her. She wouldn't keep any information from Garfiel, he'd need all of it to help Sanctuary.
When she finished explaining it all Garfiel's hands turned to fists then stared at the brightening horizon. The sun was coming up. They only had around eight to ten hours at most.
"Aight," Garfiel said, "time t'defend Sanctuary."
Rem and Garfiel walked toward Emilia's cabin. Ram had said that when she was done with Roswaal she would meet Rem there. So that when Emilia woke up they could get her up to speed as well.
As they continued to get closer to the cabin Rem reached into her mind to feel her Synesthesia. Unfortunately, the sensation was dulled. Worry flooded through her. Though it faded when she realized Ram was alive and healthy. She was just keeping her emotions concealed. Which was normal for Ram when she spoke with Roswaal, so Rem's worry left as quick as it had come.
By the time they arrived at the cabin, the sun had begun to peek above the horizon. Rem and Garfiel stepped inside the door and went to Emilia's room. They spoke idly as they entered. Garfiel grabbed one of the room's chairs and pulled it up next to Rem's. The two sat next to each other and continued to speak quietly. They spoke about things with very little substance. Rem insulted him. Garfiel pretended to be sad, until finding a big response, which Rem knew he'd read somewhere in a book. And after using it she'd call him a hairless cat. Then they'd repeat that process over and over again.
After some minutes of talking Rem's Synesthesia returned to normal, and Ram steadily grew closer to the cabin.
"Egh Rem, ye stopped talkin'," Garfiel said.
"It is because my brilliant sister is now on her way, and thinking about a conversation with her is a better use of my time than speaking to you," Rem said, smiling, trying to imitate Ram's smug look. Of course she did it worse than Ram, though that wasn't important right now.
"But…my amazin' self is right here."
"Yes, and even though sister isn't, she is still better."
"That doesn't make sense," he said, "unless…did you guys figure out how to talk to each other in your heads?"
"That's not how it works, Garf."
Garfiel leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms and yawning before saying, "Yeah I know I know, but I figured you guys're close enough you could swing it anyway."
Any response Rem had been preparing died on her tongue. After a second a smile formed on Rem's face. Subaru really was right about Ram loving her. Through their bond Rem could feel love for her filling Ram's heart.
"What stupid shit did I say this time?" Garfiel asked as he locked his hands together behind his head to make a headrest for himself.
"I used to think it was stupid," Rem said.
"Huh?"
Rem smiled a little wider but didn't say anything more.
"My amazin' self don't understand," he said to himself.
Rem wouldn't have spoken anyway, because of what her Synesthesia told her. The door behind them opened and Ram stepped through.
"Hah," Ram said, "you don't understand a lot of things, Garf. Be a little more specific. My cute head is better spent on more important things than figuring out what new thing you fail to understand."
"Hey!" Garfiel turned to Ram, "I understand a lotta things. Also, you look hot today."
Ram stepped closer to Garfiel.
Garfiel continued speaking, ignoring the look in Ram's eyes, "Though y'look hot every day."
Ram punched Garfiel in the face, on almost the exact spot Rem had hit him earlier. The force of Ram's attack launched Garfiel off the chair and into the wall. Ram caught the chair before it could fall.
"And that's two more misunderstandings to add to today's count," Ram said, her voice light. She wasn't angry as she continued, "First you misunderstand my feelings and violate my pure cute being with your disgusting teenage fantasies—"
"Wha…but, yer still eighteen." Garfiel pointed out.
Ram pointedly ignored him and sat down in the now empty chair, "Second you didn't understand that I would want to sit next to my equally cute sister."
When she finished sitting Ram crossed her arms and put a smug expression on her face.
Garfiel looked around the room and realized there were only two chairs, "Do I really gotta fuckin' stand?"
"Yes, animal," Ram said.
Garfiel grumbled to himself. To Rem it almost sounded like a laugh. After looking around for a second he stood up. He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
"Your shabby attempts at looking cool won't impress sister," Rem said.
Garfiel shook his head.
Ram pushed a frown onto her face and said, "Yes. Only three people's attempts to look cool impress me," she held up three fingers before continuing, "One is Rem but truthfully my cute sister doesn't even need to attempt to look cool to be cool."
Rem blushed at her words.
"Then there is Roswaal, whose efforts to be cool actually have power behind them."
"He's a fuckin' clown."
Ram eyed Garfiel a moment before finishing, "And the other is Barusu. But his attempts to appear cool only impress me in how unbelievably stupid they make him look."
Garfiel tilted his head at the tone of Ram's voice as she said that.
"Huh," he said, then moved to speak more, but before he could a soft voice pierced their banter.
"Subaru…he's a liar," Emilia whispered, her eyes looked like little slits. For a second Rem wondered how she seemed tired, even though she'd been asleep the entire night.
However she was reminded of why when Emilia's head tilted to her side and she muttered, "Guese…Mother Fortuna…Archie…Pandoraaaa…" the girl trailed off as she slipped back into sleep.
Emilia remained silent for a few minutes before staring back up at the ceiling. While she gazed at the wood she asked, "Why're you guys here?"
Rem and Ram took turns explaining what Subaru had told them about.
"Oh…and you need my help?" Emilia asked.
"Yes, Emilia-sama," Ram said.
"Rem…" Emilia said.
"What is it, Emilia-sama?"
"Is Subaru a liar?"
"No," Rem answered without hesitation.
Emilia closed her eyes and processed what she'd heard.
After a few minutes, she turned to them.
"Why are you all asking me for help? I'll just end up being a burden," Emilia said.
"Emilia-sama," Ram said, "Two Sin Archbishops and a Great Mabeast are on their way. We need everyone we can get to make it out of this alive. Barusu trusts all of us to handle the Sanctuary while he deals with the mansion. We need to live up to that trust, and without you, Emilia-sama, we can't."
"Are you expecting a lot of me?" Emilia asked.
Finally, Rem spoke, "We're expecting you to do everything that you can, Emilia."
Emilia nodded, and the bags around her eyes lightened a little.
"Okay, I'll do my best. Can you guys wait for me outside? I'll join you in a minute," Emilia said, still subdued from the trial.
Rem, Ram, and Garfiel, all left the cabin and waited outside for the girl. None of them said anything. The light-hearted air of their conversation had gone away after seeing Emilia in such a rundown state. Maybe not as much for Garfiel, but for Rem and Ram—who'd gotten to know Emilia over the past few months—it was a big difference from her normal actions. It was a big difference even from a few days ago.
Rem looked at Garfiel. Thinking about it, the only other person in the Sanctuary who'd experienced anything like Emilia had was Garfiel. He may have understood Emilia's plight better than Rem thought. Well, just another showing of her shortcomings. She had so many it became hard for Rem to keep track. Which she supposed was another one. And that uncertainty. Only being able to suppose. She should be certain of her shortcomings.
"Move forward, and do better, that's what I want, Rem," Subaru's words came back to her, and her thoughts stopped.
Ram loves me. Subaru is my friend. They both want me to do better. Rem breathed in as she thought that to herself. Her self-hating thoughts fell away, somewhat.
For now she was able to wait in relative peace. After a few minutes were over Emilia came out of her cabin, fully dressed. The green crystal on her neck shone in the sunlight. Emilia's fingers caressed it, a melancholy look washed over her. Quickly, Emilia banished it and stepped over to them.
"Alright, I'm ready to try and live up to your expectations," she said even though her voice shook.
"Good, Emilia-sama," Ram said, "now we have to get that idiot Otto."
Emilia nodded as she set her shoulders and tried to stand up straight. She still slouched and was obviously tired. Yet even while so tired, Emilia tried to meet their expectations of her.
Rem smiled. And realized something about getting up and moving forward.
It was supposed to take a while.
Patrasche's feet struck the ground in a rhythmic pattern as she ran. The wind obeyed her, freezing in a bubble around her as she passed. Subaru and her remained untouched. That was wrong. He shouldn't be allowed any amount of peace. Though, it's not like he did have any peace right now. Even with the wind frozen and Patrasche's running bleeding into the background, Subaru still wasn't left alone. It still wasn't quiet. Otto being strangled remained in his mind. Subaru tried to banish the thoughts.
To hold away the sounds he thought of Petra and her colors. Holding the girl in his mind, Subaru grasped tighter to Patrasche's reins.
Ice shattered. Subaru's eyes darted around. Fragments of Petra were all around him. Subaru blinked again and they were gone. The sight of ice didn't return, but the sound. The sound of Petra's words choking off and her body falling apart, that sound stuck in his mind. It joined Otto's attempts at survival.
Subaru put one of his hands up to his face and rubbed it along his cheek. A trembling breath escaped him, but it was frozen by Patrasche's Divine Protection. He breathed in and out, each one stopped dead by the Wind Evasion. Each breath was silent. Subaru could breathe so easily and smoothly, but it felt wrong. Like he couldn't breathe. The lack of color became oppressive. His breathing quickened. He needed to hear the air flowing in and out of him. Clawing at his chest Subaru sucked in air as fast as he could. Nothing made the oxygen touch him. It had no weight. He wasn't breathing. He was breathing. He wasn't breathing. The monochromia closed in. Subaru pulled back on Patrasche's reins.
As soon as she came to even a partial stop Subaru threw himself off the ground dragon. The breeze touched his cheek. As soon as he felt it he inhaled as much oxygen as he could. He breathed in and out over and over again, trying to get as much air as possible into his lungs, he needed it. All of it.
Subaru kneeled down and kept trying to breathe. After a minute Patrasche licked his cheek. Regulus screamed. Patrasche exploded.
He blinked. The dragon was still slobbering on his face, trying to cheer him up. Subaru clamped his teeth and pushed himself up. After that, he pulled a bit of food out of Patrasche's saddlebags. Otto had packed some stuff in here for him. Why did he do it? Maybe he poisoned it, Subaru had no idea how Otto thought. And he didn't care to think about why Otto lied as much as he did. He had more important things to focus on. Pulling out the food, which was pretty much only some bread. With it in hand, he sat down.
Patrasche leaned over as he split the bread in half. It came out a bit lopsided, one side bigger than the other. He gave the larger portion to Patrasche. The ground dragon devoured it quickly. Subaru stared down at it while she was eating. He didn't want to eat, but he had to be ready to help Petra. If he wasn't in his best condition he wouldn't be able to offer all the aid he could.
Even with that thought in his mind, something kept him from eating. His mouth was dry. Petra fell apart like a dropped vase. Snow surrounded him. He forced himself to bite into the bread.
For the first time in an eternity, there was a taste.
A horrible one.
The bread seemed to rot in his mouth. This bread was from Otto. It was poisoned. Poisoned. But there was the chance it wasn't, and if it was Subaru could come back to life anyway. Subaru chewed, breaking through the food. After a few moments of slowly chewing and flinching at the rancid taste, he swallowed. The bread slipped down his throat like slime. It was awful.
It was poisoned.
Subaru's hands wrapped around Otto's neck. What if Otto wasn't the one who poisoned it? What if Otto didn't really hate him? No. Otto hated him. He did. His hands closed around Otto's neck. Subaru forced himself to bite down again. His hands closed around his own neck. While chewing he caught his tongue, scraping it with his teeth on accident.
Subaru swallowed. His throat ached. The hands around his neck tightened.
He spent the next ten minutes choking down the rest of the bread. Once he was done he sat in that same spot. He didn't move a muscle as blood leaked from his tongue and those hands grew ever tighter.
Otto wheezed, trying to break out of Subaru's grasp.
Subaru held his head in his hands.
Puck stared down at him, she shattered in the same way as his black amulet. He tried to hold her together.
She came apart in his hands.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and he rocked back and forth. His breathing came in short fits while he tried to ignore the hands that strangled him.
Regulus screamed, Patrasche's blood bathed Subaru.
Snot dripped down from his nose, with a shaking hand he wiped it away.
Capella straddled him.
Subaru closed his eyes.
She was the one choking him.
He opened his eyes.
Capella was Petra.
Subaru vomited on the grass.
For a few seconds his vomit had color, then as it settled into the grass it faded back to gray. Tears leaked down his cheeks. His hands fell to the side. He looked up at the sky and wept.
Patrasche put her face down so it was even with his own. He looked into her orange eyes and realized something. Patrasche couldn't speak to him. Everything she tried to communicate was up to interpretation.
Natsuki Subaru's interpretation. He looked down at his own gray hands, then up at Patrasche.
Patrasche and his hands were the same color.
Subaru let his head fall and then he kept crying.
Every time he tried to summon up an image of Petra to fuel himself it broke apart. Turning into little fragments. Just like Petra had. It took him a long time before he could form a solid image of Petra.
Holding it in his mind he finally forced himself to his feet. While he was standing he almost slipped on his vomit but he held his balance. With careful steps he walked up to Patrasche and climbed onto her now gray hide.
He kicked his feet into her side and snapped her reins. As she started to run Patrasche turned her head and looked back at him. Her pupil widened when it landed on him. He had no idea what to make of it, after all, he was Natsuki Subaru.
Atop his gray ground dragon Subaru arrived at the mansion. He flicked his eyes to the sun. It was beginning to set. Even though the sun's rays seemed the same gray as everything else the brightness still remained. He just couldn't see it. By the time he got back to reality a big spot blotted out his vision. Each blink brought it back more and more.
Subaru dragged his eyes off the sun and back toward the mansion. He swung his legs off Patrasche, then walked away. He didn't leave any instructions for her, nothing. Why should he? She was gray like everything else.
With a deep breath, Subaru walked to the manor. Well, walking wasn't quite right. It was more of a shamble. He got to the door, barely making it before collapsing.
After a short knock from him, Frederica opened the door.
The woman's once blonde hair was gray as were her eyes. She bowed to him, exuding maidlike formality. She was even better at it than Rem had been during his first time in the mansion so many millennia ago. He remembered those days somewhat clearly. They'd faded for two months before Echidna's contract had preserved them. Yet still, he could recall one memory better than the rest.
He was looking down at Rem, asking her to talk about the future with him. They spoke, Subaru didn't quite hold the details but their mouths moved. After a minute a smile bloomed like a wondrous flower across Rem's face. Tears poured down her cheeks. They came from joy, not sadness. A smile crossed his own face a moment later. He was happy.
The memory faded. Subaru wasn't smiling, and he certainly wasn't happy.
"Subaru-sama, you can come inside," Frederica said.
Subaru did what she said and walked into the front room of the mansion. The tile floors were mostly clean, though a few spots weren't quite spotless, likely from Petra being so new, and there being only two maids for the entire massive estate.
"So why have you come back from Sanctuary…and without the others?" Frederica asked, with a bit of suspicion in her words.
"An attack on Sanctuary and this mansion is going to happen soon," he responded, "I'm here to get everyone out of the mansion."
"Why not fight back?" Frederica said.
"The Sin Archbishop of Greed isn't someone we have the resources to take down. Anyway, go get Petra we need to leave fast. We don't have long before Regulus gets here."
Frederica hesitated, reluctant to trust him.
Subaru knew she'd never trust him fully, not in the span of time he'd known her. Even if she didn't know him well enough to hate him, that would just work against him now.
"Go get Petra, or I'll get her," Subaru said, almost like a threat. He had no idea if that method would work. If it didn't he'd find a better one on reset.
Frederica bowed her head and went off to find the girl. So it had worked.
Subaru touched the closed wooden door of the mansion and began to count. If he was forced to do this loop again he'd like to have a semi-accurate count of when Regulus would arrive. He could make a starting estimate with this loop and perfect the timing as the repetition continued.
Seconds began to pile up in his head, soon the deaths would pile up as well.
Subaru hated that notion, but couldn't reject it.
Natsuki Subaru's fingers tapped on the inside of the door. They were rhythmic taps. One every second.
Pandora touched that same spot from the outside of the door. She smiled, now she had a far better idea of Subaru's progress. He was past the first attempt at coming to the mansion. This was likely his second attempt.
So his Authority of Envy truly was the ability to loop the entire world's time. It did align with what she'd seen in Roswaal's gospel. She'd read the entire thing when Roswaal had received it four centuries ago. She'd used her Vainglory to erase his memory of the event, then she waited until a few months ago to begin making her alterations.
Nevertheless with what she'd seen time looping was the only thing that made sense, and the trigger…well she'd seen Subaru's eyes once on the day of his arrival.
It was then she laid eyes on Subaru and realized something. She knew those eyes. She saw them every time she looked into a mirror. The eyes of a dead person kept walking by the sanity draining power called the Witch Factor.
Time looping, with death as a trigger. She'd put together his ability then, and had been following him ever since. Someone else who truly understood what it was like to be reanimated by the Authority. That was a heart she could comprehend.
Pandora understood Natsuki Subaru, and she knew how to make him do what she wanted.
Now was the time for the final stages of this plan she'd enacted months ago.
Pandora would have her Sage Candidate.
She would show Flugel what it truly meant to be a Sage, to be wise.
Aldebaran had gotten away from her eighteen years ago.
Subaru would not.
Pandora activated her Authority, and whispered, "Bishop Lugunica's Gospel displays the order to attack Sanctuary."
Her plan was almost complete. She whispered something else, "Bishop Corneas' Gospel displays the order to attack the Mansion in ten minutes."
The two alterations to reality occurred. With them complete Pandora touched the door of the mansion.
"Miss Baumann forgot to lock this door."
There was no click as the door unlocked. No noise, no sound, no notice. But Pandora could feel it. Reality was different. She grasped the handle, turning it, then pushed open the door.
Her beautiful Natsuki Subaru awaited her.
Rem checked the sky, the sun was in the process of setting. In the past few hours Rem, Ram, Garfiel, Emilia, and Otto had all gathered the people of Sanctuary and Arlam into the church. It was the safest place for them. They'd also worked out a more exact plan on how to deal with what was coming. Otto and Ram had been the main contributors to the plan.
Now with the sun setting, they were all getting into position, Rem and Garfiel were going to the outer forest to lie in wait for the mabeasts and the Bowel Hunter. Rem would deal with the mabeasts while Garfiel handled Elsa.
After a while, the two of them found a spot they felt was appropriate and waited. They didn't move for a long time until a group of figures came into the edge of their vision. The group grew closer and closer until Rem could make out each one of them. Her nose easily picked up the stench of the Witch. She reached toward her flail. A small growl emanated from Garfiel.
The group was made up of two small children. One a boy, another a girl. Two lightly dressed women, one with black hair the other with blonde hair. And two swordsmen clad in Witch's Cult robes.
Rem barely held herself from attacking them. She shoved impressions to her sister, who was at the church with Emilia. They were using Emilia's spirits so Ram could roughly coordinate them. Rem made it so Ram understood that something was wrong. Subaru had given her loose directions on how the cult would attack, and this didn't match up.
It wasn't long before a spirit hovered above the group of cultists. The blonde woman looked up. Rem guessed she was Capella, Lust.
"Ah, a spirit. It looks like they've seen this lovely lady and you all," Capella said.
A moment later a meteor blasted through the sky. It shot toward the group of cultists. Rem craned her neck to look up, but she didn't have to for much longer.
Roswaal landed in the center of the clearing. Ram had gotten him onto their side earlier in the day.
"Capellaaaa," Roswaal said, "it seems you've changed your strategy. Intereeeeesting."
"Well this lovely lady loves fun, and doing the same thing over and over again would bore even you meatbags," Capella said.
"Hm, odd," Roswaal said, then raised his hand. Fire sparked to life within it, "Kiiiiiiindly die."
Capella's eyes shot to her followers, "All of you go have some FUN! Except Theresia and Kurgan, you get to stay with this lovely lady!"
Lust's form twisted as Roswaal blasted her with fire. The little boy shot off in a random direction as Elsa grabbed the little girl and did the same. Mabeasts followed them, rushing through Sanctuary as per Capella's orders. Rem and Garfiel looked at each other. Then nodded and began their pursuit of the Bowel Hunter.
They snuck through the trees around Capella, once they were far enough away they started to run. Explosions rang out behind them as Roswaal began trying to kill Lust.
The two sprinted, dashing through Kremaldy Forest as mabeasts ran from them. It didn't take long for Rem to catch sight of Elsa. The woman was moving slowly, relaxed. This disgusting woman worked with the Witch's Cult. She would pay for that.
Light glowed atop Rem's head and her horn sprouted and grew to its full extent. Mana flowed from the atmosphere into her. Rem stuck one hand out as she jumped over a fallen tree. She put magical power into her hand. As soon as she found Elsa's visage she yelled, "Ul Huma!"
Ram's head hung back, her face turned toward the sky. Her eyes were closed, but she still saw, just not through her eyes. Two perspectives stuck out at the forefront of her mind along with dozens of others. She sifted through all the information and came to her conclusion.
"Emilia-sama," Ram said, her voice vacant as she was still gazing through dozens of eyes.
"Yes?"
"I need you to relay a message to Otto."
Emilia's voice came again a few seconds later, "Alright, I'm ready."
"Good, this is the message."
"A message from Ram," the spirit hovering next to his head said. Otto perked up. Was it time? He knew he'd said he'd do it, but he still couldn't believe he was actually going to try this, and with so little preparation.
"What is it?" Otto asked.
The spirit repeated the maid's words, "Otto. You said you'd help Barusu in any way you could. If you're intelligent you'll leave Sanctuary right now and run. But we both know you're a complete idiot who'll likely help Barusu anyway."
"What the hell! Is that a compliment or an insult?" Otto frowned as he tried to work through it, but he didn't have the time as the spirit was still speaking.
"Now if you're ready to help, as you said, go to this location," the spirit rattled off the spot.
Otto nodded, stood up, readied himself, and began to sprint through the forest. The spirit chased alongside him, updating the location as he ran.
This is idiotic. He thought. Everything about this situation was stupid. But Subaru coming into that forest to save a random merchant from Ley Batenkaitos was stupid as well. Yet Subaru had still done it. It was time for Otto to repay that favor.
"You're getting close," the spirit said.
No fear even touched Otto's heart as he ran at full speed toward an impossible danger. One he was barely even ready to face. He would have no allies other than the animals he could gather.
This was so incredibly stupid.
Yet Otto still ran, until he neared his destination.
New gashes filled trees, and hundreds of animals cried out. Mourning the now dead. Otto didn't need the spirit to guide him anymore. Animal blood was splattered everywhere. It was a new layer of paint on the forest. Otto was growing close to the force of nature and sin that had wrought this.
A few moments later short swords danced in the canopy above. Animals wept as the maws of a beast made man consumed them. Otto glimpsed the source of the wildlife's screaming. The thing he stared at was a void. One of utter hunger and voracity.
He gazed at it for a moment.
The being above stopped rushing through the branches. The void grabbed onto a tree limb and gazed back. Its eyes were full of incomprehensible eldritch hunger.
Otto didn't back down. The boy descended from the tree. His bare feet hit the ground, spraying a bit of dirt toward Otto. He smiled, it was a toothy disgusting smile. Saliva dripped from dirty teeth along with blood that had belonged to a dozen animals. The boy was clothed in noble, yet peasant-esque cloth.
"~Tsu, a good course," Roy said, "why have you come so willingly?"
Otto didn't hesitate in responding, "A friend needs my help."
"Ehehehe, is that why you've come? What friend could be good enough to become a willing meal, ~tsu?" Roy feigned a bit of care for the situation, but Otto could tell Roy just wanted to eat him.
Otto tightened his fists and stared at the boy, even with the three meters between them he knew Roy could cross it instantly.
Yet still, Otto grinned, "The reason is because a few days ago that friend saved my life. He saved me from Ley Batenkaitos for no other reason than he's a good man. Now I'll help him deal with you, Roy Alphard."
Thus with little preparation, a rushed introduction, and out of breath lungs, Otto Suwen faced down the Bizarre Eating. All with a smile, and the determination to help his friend.
The door opened and Pandora stepped through. Subaru's eyes widened. He looked over at her but didn't move. All he did was continue to tap on the door. He had to know when Regulus arrived in relation to his own arrival.
"Natsuki Subaru," Pandora said. She had color, but it was subdued, heavily. She understood him, but did that mean he could trust her?
"Pandora," he said.
"Ah, you really did know I was coming," she whispered.
Subaru tilted his head a bit but aside from that kept tapping. He was too tired to focus on anything more.
"Now that you expected me I believe it is the time for honesty. I told you last time that I understood you, yes?"
Subaru's head snapped back to her and for a moment he stopped counting. In that second Pandora crossed the distance between them and took hold of his hand with her own.
"I believe I should honestly introduce myself. So that things can attain their natural state," she said. Her voice was calm, and the world watched her with bated breath. Subaru barely cared about the aura around her.
"So…" he said, "introduce yourself."
Pandora closed her eyes, her smile widened, she opened them and introduced herself, "I am Pandora the Witch of Vainglory."
"Witch of…Vainglory," he whispered.
"I am also the head of the Witch's cult."
Subaru's heart twitched.
"I want to offer you a position. I have two empty seats. One suits you so well. One doesn't. Though one of those seats is really three. But the two do not listen. The one is dead. Now I offer you a seat at my table," she explained vaguely.
"A seat?"
"The seat of Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, representing Biliousness."
His heart throbbed as his mind noticed an opportunity
"Wait…Sin Archbishop…" he said.
Pandora touched his cheek, "Yes. A way to make Miss Leyte hate you openly."
Neither spoke for a moment, until Pandora made her offer once more, "So, what is your response, will you become my new Sin Archbishop of Gluttony? Will you become Bishop Subaru?"
Upon hearing it all summed up, Subaru's heart ached. Not for any anger at Pandora, or hatred toward her.
The ache came because he couldn't find a good reason to reject the offer.