As the morning sun rose over Sanctuary, Subaru and Ram continued their mad rush to Emilia's cabin. Subaru would have loved to slow down and take in the luscious greens of the forest, the mosaics of brown that made up every tree trunk, and the patterns of black in the grass that were little bugs crawling around on the earth. He longed to slow down and admire it all, but he had no time.
The world blurred by as he and Ram raced through the trees, their breaths coming short and fast. Subaru felt bad for making Ram do this much on such short notice, but she could handle it. She was Ram. And that was all there was to it.
After a few minutes, they stopped outside of Emilia's cabin.
"What's the plan, Barusu?" Ram asked between breaths.
"No time to explain," Subaru said, pushing the door open and sprinting into the hallway. The further Emilia got from the trial, the likelier she was to wake up. Making too much sound was less of a risk than the sun's rays rousing her.
With the wood creaking as he stepped, he made it to Emilia's room and finally tried to be quiet, taking care not to make a sound as he opened the door. Within, he found Rem sitting in that same chair, keeping watch of Emilia as she always did no matter the loop. Subaru had trusted in her consistency, and she hadn't broken that.
He leaned down next to Rem and whispered, "Is she still asleep?"
Rem turned, noted the urgency on his face, and nodded. Subaru straightened his back and took the last steps toward Emilia's bed.
He kneeled down and let out one last whisper over his shoulder, "I need you guys to trust me a little. Can you do that?"
"Of course," Rem said, standing up from her chair and backing away from them.
Ram grunted from the doorway, her arms were crossed and she wore a scowl, "Fine, idiot."
"Thanks," he said.
Then he turned back to Emilia.
Subaru flexed his arms and readied his hands. It was time to speak to a certain spirit. Though he had no idea if this would work, he still clamped his lips and held his breath. He floated his hands down, aiming for Emilia's neck.
"Subaru," Rem's voice had lost its softness. She was on edge now, and he didn't blame her. This looked extremely suspicious. But Subaru had to do this. He steeled himself against the uncertainty. A part of him whispered this wouldn't work, but the rest let go of doubt and trusted.
Right when his fingertips touched Emilia a light frost spread over his hands. The gem on her neck shimmered with light.
"Ah," a feline voice spoke directly into his mind, "looks like it's time to talk, eh Subaru?"
"Yeah, time to talk," Subaru said with his mind while letting his fingers rest on Emilia's jewel. Through it he could have this conversation with Puck.
"So how did you find me here?" Puck asked, "I'm glad that you did, and I was counting on it. But how?"
"A long story," Subaru's thoughts passed to the spirit, and back into his memories. Petra's body shattered like glass and rained down off his back. Puck's eyes drilled holes in him.
He shook off the memory as Puck responded, "It does seem that way. You're certainly feeling differently than when we last spoke."
"Stop," Subaru didn't have the time to discuss random things with Puck, "I can tell there's something you want to talk about."
Puck let out a mental sigh from within the crystal, "Well I guess I should start off with why I left."
"It would be nice to find out."
In all the time since his first visit to Sanctuary, Subaru hadn't figured out why Puck disappeared. It had always remained an endless mystery badgering and pestering him. He remembered thousands, if not millions, of long nights spent trying to figure it out. But no answer had come.
Now, his heart dropped into his stomach at this development. He'd finally get the answer.
"Lia was keeping me trapped," Puck thought to him.
Subaru's jaw dropped, and his mind ceased to function for a moment. The answer…that was the answer, but…how?
Subaru contained his shock and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well Lia's heart is in disagreement. Her back heart, the deep down stuff, doesn't want me to materialize, but her consciousness doesn't know what's going on so wants me to come out."
"What… Why is that happening?"
"Because of the past I'm keeping suppressed. Lia's back heart has realized her memories don't reflect the real past, so it's revolting against me."
"Huh," Subaru thought on that for a second, "no wonder she can't pass the trial. She's seeing a past she doesn't remember but a part of her knows it's real. She's stuck in contradiction."
"Yeah," Puck confirmed.
Subaru pulled his body back from the jewel and breathed. His hand formed a fist.
"You're a fucking asshole."
"Ah, that hurts Subaru," Puck said, "but you may be right."
Subaru didn't respond. Breathe, just breathe.
Puck finished on his own, ignoring Subaru's fury, "To alleviate the block in Lia's path there's only one method that will work."
Subaru instituted calm in his mind, even for this short moment it was important, "And that is?"
"Well it's gonna leave you with a lot of cleanup work to do, but it will let Lia truly face her heart."
Subaru didn't need to think about it. A little clean up work with the upside of allowing Emilia to move forward? It wasn't even a real question.
"Let's do it."
"This will hurt Lia's heart." For a second it seemed like Puck was actually guilty, "Breaking our contract is the only way."
Subaru wanted to rip Puck out of the crystal and beat him to death. The scenario played out in his mind, but it was a waste of time. Instead he forcibly adjusted himself to the situation. That being: Puck had forced Emilia to be dependent on him, and now the only way for her to move forward was ripping away her strongest relationship.
"She really will cry if that happens."
Puck gave him a mental nod; the spirit was resigned to the outcome. Subaru flexed his jaw as he figured it out.
Puck wasn't sorry. He was just sad he couldn't control Emilia anymore.
Subaru pushed himself past the spirit's behavior and back to Emilia, the one with real importance here. He knew she'd cry, "But when she's done crying she'll be able to move forward, and we can help her along the way."
We didn't include Puck.
It never would for as long as Subaru drew breath.
"So we are in agreement," Puck said, oblivious to Subaru's conviction, "now there's one last thing you need to know about."
Puck explained that final thing to him, and when he finished Subaru's hands had balled into fists again. He wanted to reject Puck's offer and tell him to fuck off. But when he thought his response at Puck he grimaced.
"That'll be very helpful."
"Then goodbye for now, Natsuki Subaru. When Lia cries make sure someone is there for her."
Subaru pulled his hands away from the jewel on Emilia's collar. This was the first task he'd leave to another. He wished it could have been anyone other than Puck, but there was nothing he could do. He would just have to make up for it.
He turned and grabbed Ram's hand, then said to Rem, "Stay with Emilia."
Rem did as he'd asked while Subaru and Ram walked out into the sunlight, the misty morning air rubbing their skin as they stepped out of the cabin.
"Alright," Subaru said, turning to Ram, "do you want to know the plan?"
"Of course, someone with some intelligence needs to be in on it," Ram answered, her keen glare demonstrating that her intellect wasn't a lie.
At Ram's assent, Subaru explained the threats to Sanctuary and the way he intended to deal with them. Although, he'd left most of the prep work out; there was too much for her to worry about on her own. He had to split up the preparation amongst everyone. But they'd all get the overarching plan.
When he finished, Ram said, "That is…a lot."
She remained silent for a few moments after that. As the quiet stretched, Subaru grew aware of other sounds. Of birds chirping and singing while a butterfly passed over their heads. Subaru looked up at it, at the detail in its wings. He truly could see now.
Ram's thoughts came to a close and she asked, "What do you need me to do?"
Subaru looked down from the butterfly and said, "You know how you've been unable to help Rem with her issues?"
"Yes…" her voice was hesitant.
"Now is the time for you to address them. Rem is ready now. And we'll need her at her best," Subaru contemplated the road ahead, "everyone will need to be at their best…every one."
Ram thought on his request for a long time. With her hand to her chin, she was no doubt calculating. It was cute the way her lips turned down, then up. The way she tapped her foot. The way she shifted her weight back and forth on her legs. The way she rubbed her forehead. And most beautiful of all, the way hope grew in her eyes, "I'll do it, Barusu."
"Good, and Emilia is gonna be pretty sad by the time you're done. So when she starts crying, have Rem comfort her, then you head to Roswaal's cabin. Wait for me there."
"Where are you going to be in the meantime, napping?"
He cracked his knuckles and gave a curt exhale—the closest he could get to anything resembling laughter.
"Nah, I'm gonna go beat the shit out of Garfiel until he helps us."
Her lips opened up slowly, "Hah. Be careful, Barusu, he's quite stubborn. And your arms are weak and pathetic compared to his."
"Damn, you really can't hide how concerned you are about my safety."
Ram's eyes broke from his and she forced her scowl deeper, "Shove it."
"You know, you look cute when you're embarrassed," he said, patting the top of her head.
A pout rose on her face, "Fuck you."
"Think about that later," he tapped his finger on her now pink nose, "See ya, Ram-tan."
"Stop being so slow, get going," Ram berated as she shoved him.
Subaru regained his footing and accepted her words. Then he looked around for the cathedral spire that scraped the sky; he put it in his sight, and trekked toward it.
"An idiot like you will need it, so good luck," Ram said to his back.
"I don't need luck. I have Otto."
As Rem watched the sleeping Emilia, she wondered what Subaru had done earlier—when his hands, having moved to choke the half-elf, were stopped and covered in a layer of frost. The behavior was odd to say the least, but Subaru hadn't seemed untrustworthy, and it wouldn't have been the first time he'd done something odd for a good reason. Even so, he had been different.
Not more deranged though.
Instead, he'd been more calm. More peaceful. More trustworthy.
Something about him had clearly shifted, and Rem had no idea what it had been. Nevertheless, the change didn't make her uncomfortable. He'd seemed like he was still Subaru, still the man who'd told her to move forward.
He'd asked her to take care of Emilia, so Rem watched over the sleeping girl, accepting of her task, as a wash of sunlight flowed in from the window. Emilia turned over, restless. The sun wasn't helping her sleep.
The trial was helping even less. Rem resigned herself to this failure; she could keep Emilia's body safe, but couldn't do a thing about the perils in her mind. So she sat, hunched over, watching. It was a while before anything changed, but after some time passed, the door behind her opened.
Ram's voice echoed, "Rem, can you come outside with me?"
Rem turned to the apprehensive girl.
Apprehension, from Ram…
Rem got to her feet, obeying her sister's words and following her. Swift steps brought Rem across the room while Ram waited. When they linked up, Ram said nothing, though as they moved through the little hallway Ram kept glancing back at her. Had Rem done something wrong? Was that what Ram's…wait…Ram wasn't anxious anymore. She was inquisitive now. Maybe Ram suspected her of something instead of knowing it?
No. Ram loved her. Ram wouldn't suspect her of something, and if she did she wouldn't hide it.
"Rem," Ram began to speak before they were out of the cabin, "how do you feel about me?"
Rem tilted her head, why would Ram ask such an obvious question? Was there something deeper to the inquiry that she was missing? No, her sister wouldn't try to confuse her like that. Right as they got to the door that led outside, Rem answered, "Sister, I think you're perfect."
Ram didn't say anything more while they crossed through the doorway to the rest of Sanctuary. When they got outside, Ram pulled Rem over to the edge of the house and said, "How do you feel about yourself?"
Now Rem was confused; she scratched her neck and thought about it. What did her sister mean? Rem was going to say 'does it matter'. Until she remembered Ram loved her, so she wouldn't want Rem to say those things.
"I…" Rem didn't know. Ram may not have not wanted her saying things like that, but they made so much sense. She was just Rem.
Ram whispered something to herself. Rem caught the words trust and Barusu.
Then Ram raised her voice, "I love you, Rem."
Why had Ram said that? Well, it didn't matter too much, so Rem smiled and said, "I love you too, sister."
"Rem," Ram's words were hesitant, "I…"
What was wrong? Ram never hesitated like this. She was always concise, strong, lacking any self-doubt.
Stuttering?
Trailing off?
Infirmity?
None should even come from Ram.
"Sister?" Rem examined Ram's face, did she have some kind of fever? Was her battle with Gluttony taking more of a toll, did Ram need to rest more? Ram no doubt knew the proper amount she had to rest, but she might have been ignoring that.
Ram leaned forward, sadness etched lines scrunched her face. Her older sister grabbed her shoulders, using Rem as a way to stay upright, "Rem…I'm sorry."
Rem wasn't surprised, just confused, "Sister, what could you possibly be sorry for?"
Ram pushed her head up; tears had come into her eyes. Tears. From Ram. Tears. Again, Rem couldn't comprehend it. With that misty gaze, Ram looked into her eyes and said, "For not telling you that I love you."
"But you tell me all the time, and I know sister," Rem said. What was Ram talking about? Likely something Rem couldn't grasp…no, sister would explain that. And Rem wasn't…she wasn't…completely stupid. If it wasn't something like that, then what was happening?
Before Rem could figure it out, Ram pulled her into a hug. Ram shook her head, and let out a tiny sob. Shock tore through Rem, what was this? Again, another impossibility, another event Rem couldn't understand.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
Ram tried to explain it by saying, "It's just…I love you, Rem."
"What are you talking about?"
"Ram is saying that…" Ram wiped the little lines of tears from her cheeks, "that…I'll always love you, but I'd rather love Rem. Instead of Rem trying to be Ram."
Subaru's trek ended after only a quarter of an hour and a short walk up some stairs. At the top of those stairs, and around the side of the church, was one of the greatest weapons he had access to. A weapon that was right now, squatting down and cleaning dirt out from in between his ground dragon's toes. A man with a tired look on his face and sweat-stained clothes.
"Yo, Otto!" Subaru called out to him.
Guilt wormed its way into Subaru's heart as Otto turned around and waved. His face was set in lines of work with perspiration covering his cheeks, but still he was smiling. Tears ran down Otto's face; Subaru's hands wrapped around his neck, crushing, closing, strangling,
"Hey, Natsuki-san," the illusion shattered. Subaru's hands were at his side. Otto was fine, and talking to him.
"What do you need?"
Otto had rushed to help…
This whole time, in all the loops of Sanctuary he would have done that, so long as Subaru asked.
He ran his hand under his sleeve and gouged a thin line of skin from his arm. Otto said something else to him, Subaru forced his hand out to the side, wiping the blood on his jacket on the way. He couldn't let the guilt of his past loops destroy this one. That would only be repeating his sins. He'd murdered Otto in a past loop, but it would never happen again.
So this time, Subaru said, "I've got a problem. And it needs dealing with."
"What's the problem?" Otto asked, ready to help. He wasn't someone to be scared of. Someone to strangle. Someone to toss away and judge unimportant. He was Otto Suwen, a friend. A man Subaru sat down next to and told of everything facing Sanctuary. At the end of his explanation, Otto was staring at the ground.
He mumbled, "Well…that certainly is a predicament."
Subaru's doubts crept up and paralyzed his tongue. He didn't fight, instead he simply ignored them, and spoke anyway, "That's why I came to you."
"Me…" Otto pointed at himself, "why?"
"I needed help," Subaru's doubts faded. Right now, Otto glowed with so much green and gray coloring that Subaru was ready. He breathed in and took the leap of faith.
"I figured, I have an impossible situation, so why not ask a friend"
Otto sat in shock for a moment, then a smile crossed his face. He chuckled and said in a powerful voice, "What do you need my help with?"
"Recruitment," Subaru made a fist and held it out before his face, "and Garfiel is necessary to victory, but uncooperative. We have to go kick the shit out of him till he listens."
"Why…?" Otto obviously wasn't keen on beating up a child. Maybe Subaru should have questioned the choice, but this was what those he loved needed. Even if they'd needed Garfiel dead, Subaru would only have asked for how they wanted it done and when. That should have scared Subaru, but it didn't. Because he trusted Ram, Rem, and Otto. They'd guide him back to his own empathy.
Though he'd already figured out a few things, "Garfiel doesn't like it when you try to deceive him, so I'll back my arguments up with punches. Also, it'll show him the power of numbers."
"Do you really think he needs to learn that power?" Otto asked while he fidgeted with a little twig between his hands. Subaru had no grasp on the quantity of thoughts running through Otto's mind, but he was likely already forming the specifics of a plan.
Subaru however, had the advantage of prior knowledge, so he said, "If you knew him a little better you'd know that it's the one power he has no concept of."
"Alright then, I'll help out," Otto said. To Subaru, it was obvious Otto had always intended to help.
It had been that easy the whole time…
Subaru really was seeing, wasn't he? How had he not noticed before? How little he saw. How much of the world he ignored.
And with this sight, Subaru nodded and stated their less than noble sounding goal, "Let's go beat up a kid until he understands that two is better than one."
Garfiel Tinzel began his morning rounds of Sanctuary at the crack of dawn. He normally started later, but with the new faces from the Emilia camp within the forest, he'd need to be extra careful. It'd be unforgivable if he failed here. Sanctuary needed him more than ever, and he was its shield.
While he stalked through the trees, he refrained from scratching anything. It would bring unnecessary noise. His claw sharpening could be moved to later in the day. The matter was that simple. If Sanctuary needed him to postpone his normal ritual, then he postponed.
The remainder of his routine didn't last long either; an odd scent came to his nose. What was it? Garfiel sniffed, but still the answer eluded him. Yet, he knew its direction. That was all he needed to begin making his way there.
Keep calm. Analyze. Think before action.
He repeated those steps like a mantra, even though he wasn't particularly good at any of them. Ram had recommended he adopt those strategies after one of their practice fights a long time ago. He'd listened without hesitation. Because it was advice to defend those he loved, coming from Ram—the best there was in that regard. She was unyielding, she never questioned herself, and she did everything necessary to protect those she cared about. Garfiel smiled. If the advice had come from Ram, there was no doubt in his mind it was good.
So while the scent grew stronger, Garfiel rubbed his scar once more. As calm flooded through him, he thought on all the knowledge available. This smell was uncommon, and as he got closer he realized it was smoke. Who'd light a fire at this time of day?
The residents of Sanctuary rarely altered their behavior; they were all old and set in their ways. All the villagers from Arlam were in the church and he was too far from that to smell anything, unless…
He checked over his shoulder. Making sure the church wasn't ablaze. Thankfully, the spire was fine, and there was no inferno big enough for him to smell even from here. He turned back and pushed a branch out of his path. A few pine needles flaked off onto his arms.
While he rubbed them away, he started going over the new arrivals, judging their suspicion levels. Roswaal was cooped up in his cabin, so it was unlikely he was doing this. Emilia might be erratic after failing the trial—he knew how it felt to fail that—so he couldn't say for sure. He knew Rem and Ram didn't act like this, so that put it down to Emilia, that merchant guy, and that suit guy.
Garfiel reached out to the granny clones so he could get the Sanctuary's eyes to watch them. But when he exerted his influence and tried to connect to the doubles, he received no response. He couldn't even feel the clones. Garfiel tilted his head, that was…a change.
A massive, unprecedented, and unwelcome change.
Garfiel's hands curled into fists, and he ran toward where that smoke was coming from. His legs pumped, feet pounding; dirt sprayed while he sprinted. The closer he got the stronger the scent became, until he burst out of the tree's shadows and found he was running toward the Ryuzu Meyer testing facility. Anger coursed through his veins and his calm slipped even further away. He pushed his body into the testing facility. Within it, the same blue glow greeted him.
However, there were some new sights.
That guy in the suit and the merchant were standing right next to a small fire. It smelled off from close up.
And yet, there was a stranger sight still.
Every single Ryuzu clone was gathered behind the two, watching Garfiel, staring at him with their piercing blue gazes. The Sanctuary's eyes were turned on him now.
"What th'fuck 'r you doin'?" Garfiel asked them, and prepared to transform. He didn't want to fight in such close quarters while fully conscious. There wasn't any way for him to prevent that from turning bloody, so he had to keep it from going violent at all. He searched for any plan, any way to avoid battle.
At his earlier words the merchant, who he now remembered was Otto, simply smiled and said, "I'm helping a friend."
The suit guy, Subaru, didn't smile, but he put his hand up to his chest, "And I'm here to ask for your help, Garfiel."
"Th'fuck 'r you talkin' about?"
Subaru explained that a massive attack on Sanctuary was coming, as well as including the details of the assault. When he finished he said, "Will you join us?"
Garfiel snarled, "Shut up. If thr's any real threat then my amazin' self'll destroy it. I don't need you. I'm the Shield of the Sanctuary."
"Knew it would come to this," Subaru sighed and put his hands on his hips. For a moment, age circled him, deepening the bags under his eyes and adding wrinkles to his face. He seemed a great being out of the books Garfiel always read. But those tomes wouldn't help Sanctuary, so he forced himself to ignore the age.
Keep calm. Analyze. Think before action.
Garfiel began thinking, as Ram had advised, but quickly discovered that those brown eyes of Subaru's were studying him too. Neither moved a hair as they stared each other down. Eventually, Subaru was first to move, and when he did it chilled Garfiel. All the movement consisted of was a posture adjustment. But it was precise, exact, deliberate, and nothing any normal human would do. That motion was too sane, far too sane to be sane. This was no normal man.
Garfiel had to tread carefully, "'F yer tellin' the truth, then how the fuck did you get that information?"
"I know a lot of things," Subaru said, his face neutral, "and I want to use those things to help those I love. But I can't do that alone, so I'm asking for your help."
"'Nd' I'm tellin' ya t'fuck off," Garfiel bent his knees a little. This guy was gonna try something. He knew it. There was no way this wouldn't come to violence. Garfiel exhaled, resigned to it. He'd already prepared to activate his Beast Form.
"I'm sorry Garfiel, but I need everyone on board if we're going to have any chance of surviving this, so I won't let you drag us all down." Subaru explained it all without a hint of fear. Garfiel bared his teeth, turning his focus to Otto for a second. He noticed Otto was analyzing him just as much as Subaru. Garfiel's mind came to its conclusion.
No merchant, no matter how shitty, would come to try and sell stuff in Sanctuary. And no man moved that perfectly. Neither of these men were sane.
Garfiel bared his teeth, "Stop tryin' t'manipulate me.'
Subaru ran his hand along his face in annoyance, "I'm not manipulating you, Garfiel. I'm telling you that I want to help, and I'm going to beat you up until you let me."
The man was ready for a fight, and he had been the whole time. It just proved Garfiel correct. Subaru wasn't sane at all. But to go along with that, he certainly wasn't powerful. Garfiel's will rose to confront the tiny shriveled up force of belief that had driven Subaru here. Probably worship of the Witch of Envy.
Garfiel snarled at the Witch's Cultist, "You ain't strong, I can feel it. Both of you got nothin'."
"Well, I do have a few things. Like Otto, and, for some reason, command rights to the Ryuzu clones," Subaru snapped his fingers and the clones sprinted at Garfiel. At the same time Otto's face took on its own resolve and the merchant tossed a little crystal up next to him. Garfiel pushed the Ryuzus away, taking care not to kill any. Though they weren't attacking; just running past. At the same time, as they jostled him around, the little crystal glowed red, then smoke filled his vision.
It invaded his lungs and brought tears to his eyes. Violent coughs shot from his throat, and the skin inside his neck scraped. Garfiel forced his eyelids to close, and readied himself. He listened for any sound. They'd all be helpful in this situation, but there was nothing. The total silence became its own noise. Until something jabbed the back of his neck.
"Shit, he hasn't done it yet," Subaru swore, his voice full of irritation.
Garfiel flipped around and tried to punch the man, forcing his eyes open as he ran forward. Subaru coughed, hacking blood and leaping away. Garfiel shot toward him. Both men had lungs and eyes full of smoke. But Subaru was evading him expertly. Or Garfiel just wasn't very good in the smoke.
He forced his mind to calm, he needed to think, he had to become what Sanctuary needed. They needed him to plan, so he planned. He tried to come up with a strategy as they fought, but a quick blow from Subaru always distracted him. Garfiel growled. This wasn't what everyone needed. They didn't need Garfiel. They needed the Shield of the Sanctuary.
He abandoned his mind, and trusted in his instincts. Immediately they pushed him to slam his foot into the ground and he sent a pillar of earth where he believed Subaru was on the other side of the smoke.
As soon as he did it, blue lights burst to life from somewhere in the smoke. He barely made them out through the tiny slits where he'd pushed his eyes just open enough to see through. Garfiel's spike continued to protrude from the ground. The air snapped, and a whip lashed the side of Garfiel's face. At the same time, a word came, one full of power.
"Minya."
Garfiel's column of earth snapped and lost its connection to him. A punch slammed into the side of his face. His instincts yelled, and he shoved his eyes open. There was Subaru, with a perfectly calm face, tears dripping down from his fully open eyes, his fist still bouncing off Garfiel's cheek.
His hand snapped out, clasping around Subaru's wrist. Garfiel bit his lip, overcoming the pain in his throat and yelling, "I'm the Shield of the fuckin' Sanctuary, bitch!"
Subaru met his eyes and shouted back, "And I'm someone who won't let his friends die!"
Subaru's knuckles crashed into Garfiel's nose with his other hand. The fist bounced off, doing little damage other than making Garfiel flinch.
Yet that flinch was just enough time for Subaru to belt out, "El Shamac!"
Black mist jumped from Subaru, grabbing Garfiel. All his bodily control vanished. Yin Magic. Garfiel pushed aside the notion of activating his Beast Form. Ram had warned him of how weak to magic the form was after one of their fights long ago. He had to treat it as a last resort now.
But, for the moment, Garfiel didn't take up any thought. He still relied only on instinct, but remained in human form. In that state, he shoved against the bonds of Yin Subaru had chained him in. He'd break out, he'd escape, he'd take down Subaru, it was what Sanctuary needed.
Garfiel activated his Divine Protection, throwing a volley of earth skewers at Subaru. The man's hands shot out, and spirits spun around them, "Minya!" the tips of each spear crystallized, but they kept reaching out from the ground. Five spears tried to surround Subaru.
Garfiel snapped the spell cutting him off from his body and finally moved. He pounced on Subaru, his blessing having already distracted the man.
Out of nowhere a shout interrupted them, "El Dona!"
Spikes of earth pounded Garfiel in the back, throwing him to the floor. Garfiel's ribs cracked, eliciting a groan. He'd assumed Otto had run away. A bad assumption, as now Otto was running over to him, and he wasn't able to do anything. He was just trying to get air into his abused lungs. But Garfiel couldn't…it was so far away, so hard to breathe.
Subaru coughed as he leaned down, "C'mon, get up, Garfiel, you don't know what we'll do to Sanctuary if you stay on the ground."
At those words, the two men sprinted out the door and off into the forest. Insane Witch Cultists. He had to stop them. Garfiel let energy flow into him from the ground. With that strength, he shoved himself from the floor to his feet. When he was finally standing he sucked in air, coughing from the lingering effects of the smoke. A growl escaped his jaws while he trekked out of the stone testing facility. As he got to the door, he threw himself into a sprint.
His breath was shallow; the smoke made him want to cough, but he couldn't. But he had to run, so he did. While keeping his breath from devolving into horrible coughs, Garfiel kept after Subaru and Otto. The burning in his lungs continued to grow, but Sanctuary needed him. So he ignored the ever-growing pain.
He didn't need much concentration to follow the Cultists. They hadn't made it hard to track them. He managed to pick out their tracks while his eyes stung and his throat was so full of phlegm he couldn't breathe.
Finally, he was forced to cough. He hacked out as much as he could and ran once more. Garfiel continued to ignore the pain. A little smoke in his lungs wouldn't stop him from helping Sanctuary.
A second later, Garfiel entered the forest. The temperature dropped as the canopy's shadows covered him. He tried to suck in as much air as he could while he ran further.
A red stone landed next to him.
It flashed twice.
Before he could react, a wall of fire consumed him, searing wounds into his skin and pain deep into his mind.
Subaru leaped out of the underbrush and shoved his knuckles into Garfiel's chin, throwing him to the ground.
They'd surprised him. That wouldn't happen again.
Garfiel was done.
"'Nough, shit, my amazin' self ain't lettin' you fuck with Sanctuary," Garfiel said as he pushed himself to his feet. His hands shook at the concept of killing Subaru. But he had to, the people here needed him. If they needed a killer, then he'd be one. Garfiel growled, calling on his blood.
"C'mon, c'mon," Subaru mumbled. Garfiel ignored the words as his teeth lengthened. Hair spread across his arms along with black stripes. His muscles bulked and his bones stretched. Garfiel's reasoning melted away, and a red tint took over his world. Rage and the need to protect Sanctuary fueled him.
Garfiel shoved his fist into the sky, then slammed it down on Subaru. But Subaru didn't let it hit. He lunged back and ripped a blue crystal pendant off his neck. In this state, Garfiel didn't recognize it at all. Instead, he was dead set on removing this threat, so he swung his other hand to try and cut Subaru in half, or break him enough that any threat he posed would vanish.
"El Shamac," Subaru said. Garfiel's body stopped. He raged against it. He'd crush Subaru. Murder him. Destroy him. Kill him. Mangle him. Dismember him. All for Sanctuary.
He was the Shield of the Sanctuary and Subaru's death would just be another strike deflected by that shield.
"C'mon," Subaru whispered from outside the sensory prison.
Garfiel screamed and tried to escape. The spell was beginning to come undone from the full force of his will. He was the Shield of the Sanctuary. He'd crush this boy. Annihilate him. Destroy him. Protect Sanctuary.
Destroy all threats.
Save Sanctuary.
Subaru was a threat.
Garfiel was the shield.
He broke out of Subaru's spell and descended on the cultist.
The cultist engaged in some wild attempt to evade him, but Garfiel was faster. Each time Subaru tried to change direction, Garfiel heaved his massive form and arrived there first, cutting off Subaru's path. His instincts drove him to circle around the boy. Subaru tried to get out of Garfiel's trap, but Garfiel summoned a wall of earth to keep him in. Now it was Garfiel, his back to the wall, facing Subaru. The cultist tried to get to the other side of the prison. But he was too slow in turning around.
Garfiel swung his claws, they caught on Subaru's chest and sailed through.
Enormous gashes were now carved into Subaru's chest.
Subaru barely reacted to the blood pouring out of his suit. But Garfiel did. The iron smell slipped into his sensitive nose, showing his instincts it was time to kill. It was then that Subaru acted.
He held his amulet up to his chest, breathing heavily while watching Garfiel close in on him. There was no change in Subaru's face. Pure willpower was all that remained there, and all that had ever been there. Even as blood covered his hands, Subaru held onto that cord, that blue crystal.
A massive blue glow flared up from the stone.
The light blinded Garfiel, leaving him cut off from Sanctuary for a moment. Garfiel's sight darted around until the light faded. Garfiel sprinted forward, having recovered. Yet it seemed the light had done nothing to Natsuki Subaru. He was standing perfectly straight, four gargantuan slashes in his body.
"Time for the cleanup," a new voice interrupted Garfiel's kill, "eh, Subaru?"
"Yeah," Subaru said, resentment shone through little cracks in the facade of calm. But none of them were for Garfiel. Not even while Subaru was running straight at him.
Garfiel stood his ground and roared. The deafening sound did nothing to slow Subaru. A tremendous amount of blood pouring onto the ground hadn't been enough so what would a scream do? Nothing. It would do nothing as the man continued racing forward. Garfiel put both fists together then raised them to the sun. He'd crush this threat, this bug, and destroy him for Sanctuary.
Garfiel screamed and shoved his hands down on Subaru. Subaru dove forward in silence, slipping behind Garfiel's arms. A squish rose as Garfiel hit the ground and more blood spilled out of him. A tiny bit of pain came. Something had jabbed into his foot. Garfiel glanced down.
Subaru was prone, his hand lay just next to Garfiel's foot. The little blue crystal was buried in his calf and had drawn out some of his own blood.
Garfiel and Subaru locked eyes.
Then, something tore within Garfiel's gate. It was a horrible ripping, followed by terror as mana flowed from his body. Garfiel grasped for his magical power, to try and keep it held only in him, but it was like trying to hold a river still. Nothing worked, and nothing would come no matter how much he tried.
His beast form melted away and his intelligence returned.
Garfiel didn't hesitate. He immediately tried to plan, until he realized almost all of his mana was gone. Despair sank into his heart, but he shoved it away.
At the same time, Subaru pulled the crystal from his foot while he stood. The necklace glowed a brilliant blue. Even with all of his mana gone, Garfiel set his jaw. Those massive gashes were still bleeding. Garfiel had a chance, and when there was a chance, despair had no place.
So with no mana—a fatigue weakened body, and smoke-burnt lungs—Garfiel howled and threw a punch at Subaru.
With absolute calm, Subaru caught his fist.
"Sister?" Rem still had no idea what Ram was talking about. Her sister's words eluded Rem's comprehension. Ram wanted to love Rem, not Rem trying to be Ram… What did that mean? Surely, sister wanted someone just like herself, even if she loved Rem. Rem knew that deep down Ram still felt loss for her horn.
But Ram didn't say that, instead she said, "Rem, I love you, and I've been watching you our entire lives. I know all your struggles."
"My struggles aren't worth your attention, sister," Rem spoke honestly.
"Why would the struggles of the person I love most not be worth my attention?" Ram asked.
Subaru stood above her. His hand stretched out, a bruise on her cheek from his slaps. Stand up. Rem tried to resist the sentiments in her head, to hold fast against them. But she couldn't. They were right. She was just Rem.
She was just Rem.
"Because I'm not worthy of you, sister."
Ram slowly pulled herself away from their embrace and stared into Rem's eyes.
There was a smile on Ram's face, and her cheeks were wet, "Of course you're worthy of me. You work so hard. You try to protect me. You do everything you can to make my life easier. You've done so much to be a good sister."
Ram's visage twinged with guilt, "You're a better sister than me."
"No, you're not a bad sister, sister," Rem said, her voice finally filling with strength. Ram wasn't a bad sister. She wasn't. Rem was the bad sister. All of this only confirmed it. Ram's smile trembled, and doubt flashed. Rem had to use that, to stop her sister from worrying about her.
"Rem is selfish," Rem said, "Rem works not to make sister's life easier, but to selfishly make up for her horrible thought."
"What thought?" Ram asked.
Rem bowed her head and forced her eyes shut, "B-back when you had your horn, you were amazing, sister…" She cursed herself for speaking wrong, "You still are wonderful in every way."
"You did, and do, everything right. No one could even hope to match you. You were stupendous, brilliant, and strong. You protected Rem. You made sure Rem was safe. You saved Rem's life. But…Rem wasn't as strong as you. Rem was jealous…"
"Rem?"
"S-so when the…" Orange light filled her mind and ash rushed into her nose, "The fire happened…when you protected me, and…"
Rem shook her head and threw her hands up to her cheeks, scratching long gashes.
"Rem!" Ram grabbed her arms, shoving them to Rem's sides and wrapping her in another hug. For a few moments, the two sisters only breathed. Tears ran down Rem's face and got in the small trenches of blood she'd made. It stung. It was deserved. Yet, this wasn't enough punishment for that thought. Rem couldn't hope to even pull herself together to finish, but Ram was strong, and she managed to speak.
"Rem, it's okay. You can say it. After all this time, you can say it. I won't be mad, no matter what you say. You're my sister, and I'll love you. It doesn't matter if you say you wanted to kill me, or take my horn, I don't care. I know it's been eating you up inside. You can say it, and I'll still love you."
Rem listened to Ram's words, but doubted them. Were those feelings really possible? Could Ram still love Rem after all this? It didn't make sense at all. Subaru's voice rang out once more, Stand up. But Rem couldn't, not after what she'd done. She didn't deserve to stand.
"But what if you're lying?" Rem asked, immediately she cursed herself. Ram didn't lie like that…but then why was she saying all these things? A simple answer, one that seemed so childish and naive, so simple, came to her. But she forced herself away from it, she shouldn't stand up. She should remain on the floor, left behind.
Ram's words came before that conclusion could fully form, "Don't worry, Rem, you always know my heart."
Ram's heart… Rem let her mind seek out the Synesthesia that connected them. Within it was Ram's regret, and her love. So much love. Even though she only felt it in their connection, somehow it extended beyond. Ram was glowing with it. A glittering beacon of golden light surrounded Ram, so strong it outshined the sun.
In her awe, Rem's mind whispered, What if Ram isn't lying? What if Rem can finally say it?
Rem sobbed for a few moments. She tried to build up the strength to say it, but she didn't need to. Ram rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. And Rem could say it, she knew she had the strength because Ram had the strength, and Ram's strength was her strength.
"When that Witch Cultist cut off your horn I thought…" Rem began, she tried to finish. But something within her couldn't let her. A final gasp of her doubts, all rising to the surface in a moment.
"It finally broke off."
Rem's eyes shot open. All the water which had been stuck there burst forth. That had been Ram's voice, not hers.
"I'M SORRY!" Rem screamed. A scream full of years of bottled up emotion. Her pain rang through in the echoing words, pain she shouldn't feel, pain only her sister should be allowed to experience. Rem hadn't lost her horn, but Ram had. Rem shouldn't hurt this much, but she should.
She shouldn't hurt because she wasn't the one who got hurt.
But she'd caused her sister to get hurt, so she should hurt.
Ram smiled through her tears and said, "Rem, that was the first thought in my mind when my horn broke off."
Rem's mind stopped. No thoughts would, or even could come into her head. It took a few moments for the questions to form. What had sister said? Had she really just said that? Was she lying? Rem checked her Synesthesia once more.
Ram wasn't lying, and she still glowed as bright as any star.
The illumination almost formed a horn around Ram's forehead, Rem's lips fell open, "Sister…why?"
"I had to lose my horn," Ram answered, "it kept telling me to do things. Horrible things. I had to get rid of it, or I might have killed you."
Rem stood in silence for a moment. Both of them had tears dripping down their faces. Ram's smile had melted away a long time ago.
"I forgive you, Rem, it's not your fault," Ram was still telling the truth. Rem knew thanks to their Synesthesia, she knew, she knew. No matter how much she wanted to reject it, to throw her sister's words away, she couldn't.
Everything should have been her fault. Rem was a bad sister, but Ram was telling the truth.
"What if Ram just loves you?" Subaru's words from the past returned.
Rem finally let all her inhibitions go.
She wasn't just aware of Ram's love.
Now, she trusted it.
"I've been a bad sister," Rem said. Her next words would hurt so much. They'd grind at the fundamentals of her being, but if what Ram said was true then Rem had to say this.
Rem pushed the words out, "And so have you."
Ram's face twisted and her composure fully disappeared. Ram's knees lost all strength, and she stumbled, Rem caught Ram.
Rem's older sister leaned on her, and cried into her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Rem," Ram said, "I'm sorry. Sister, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, sister. I'm so sorry."
Ram repeated the same words over and over again. The older sister was crying into the shoulder of the younger. But that really didn't say much, did it?
After all, Ram was only a few minutes older.
"I forgive you, Ram."
Rem soothed her slightly older sister, "We've both been bad sisters. Can we become good one's together?"
Ram pulled her head away from Rem's shoulder. "I think…we can," she pushed past her tears, "You'll become the best Rem you can be…"
"And you'll become the best Ram you can be."
"I forgive you," they both said at the same time.
For a long while they cried into each other's arms, until a bright light flashed from within Emilia's cabin. The girl began to scream and weep. Rem looked over, concern filling her.
"Go help Emilia-sama," Ram said, then explained what Subaru had told her.
Once her sister finished speaking, Rem said, "That will truly be difficult."
"Yes, but there is a chance, we can't ignore it, and you're cute, you can manage it," Ram said.
"Yes, I really am just as cute as you, Ram. And when we make it out of this…I think I'll grow my hair out." It was a tiny choice that Rem proclaimed. But an immense smile crossed Ram's face at the declaration.
After those words, Rem turned and stepped toward Emilia's cabin, she stared down at her hands, then looked up toward the future.
Stand up.
With Ram's help, she had, and with Ram's help, she'd never fall again. And now, when Ram stumbled, Rem would help her.
Rem moved forward, from this point she was no longer Ram's sister, Rem. As she reached for the future with Ram, Subaru, and Emilia, she would be Rem, Ram's sister.
She finally understood.
She was just Rem…
And what was so bad about that?
Subaru threw Garfiel's fist to the side and punched him in the nose; Garfiel's face stumbled back. The sky was all he saw before he clamped his hand into a fist. Strength flowed into Garfiel from the earth. He brought his head back down, staring into Subaru's eyes.
Blood dripped down from his nose. He ignored it and screamed, "I'm gonna fuckin' kill yer!"
Garfiel punched Subaru in the cheek, then pushed his fist through, throwing Subaru's face to the side. Red splattered from Subaru's chest onto the ground. Subaru turned his head, spit out a few teeth and said, "All I want to do is protect my friends."
Subaru glared at him. Garfiel met his gaze and said, "I'm gonna protect Sanctuary."
"I'm going to save my friends, no matter what. I will be whatever they need me to be," Subaru charged him.
"I'll be what Sanctuary needs," Garfiel lunged forward, ready to strike Subaru in the chest, but an arm wrapped around his neck. Otto's arm. Garfiel snarled and grabbed Otto's sleeve as Subaru tackled him. All three men hit the ground. Garfiel struggled, throwing his arms around wildly, slashing Subaru with his nails, and hitting Otto's head with his elbow. But neither man gave in. Subaru continued holding Garfiel while Otto got out from under him.
"Power of numbers," Subaru said, then punched Garfiel in the chin. He laid more and more blows into Garfiel's face. Strength flowing from the earth into him, Garfiel caught Subaru's fists. Subaru's lips curled into a frown.
"Otto!" Subaru shouted. The merchant picked up the blue crystal and jabbed it into Garfiel's arm. Garfiel howled and tightened his fist while the gem stole all his mana. It flowed straight from the earth and into the crystal. It was a closed circuit for mana to rip through and away from Garfiel. The pain was immense. His mana quickly ran dry.
"Take it out," Subaru said, then punched Garfiel again.
Garfiel tried to throw Subaru off, but his arms were exhausted. His muscles trembled and shouted for him to stop. And yet Garfiel kept thrashing, trying anything he could to get Subaru off.
Only to be met with Subaru saying, "I'm not stopping. Not until you help us. I will do whatever I need to protect my friends, and if that means I have to beat you to a pulp while I bleed to death then I will."
Those words…could this cultist be telling the truth? No, he wasn't. Garfiel couldn't trust someone as underhanded as this.
"Shut the fuck up. My amazin' self ain't gonna let you do shit!" Garfiel said, his body screaming louder than him.
"Really?" Subaru asked, then nodded to Otto.
The merchant shoved the gem back in. What little mana Garfiel's Divine Protection had granted him disappeared, and that same circuit closed once more. Garfiel screamed, but not in pain.
Garfiel screamed in defiance.
He pushed. But there was nothing left to move with. All his mana was gone. His lungs were scraped and bloody, his nose was broken, and his body was exhausted.
Subaru punched him again, then leaned down and whispered, "Right now you are nothing, Garfiel Tinzel. I could strangle you here and now, then claim you tried to kill me while getting Rem and Emilia to heal me. It would be so easy to do. But that's not what my friends need, so I won't do it."
Garfiel tried to shake him off, "Shut up, I'm gonna keep Sanctuary safe."
"And how good of a job are you doing? You just lost to a merchant with barely any magical training and a guy you could kill with one attack. In fact, I'm about to bleed to death, and who's on top?"
"Yer not gonna be thr' fer long," Garfiel said.
"Exactly. Someone so weak Rem could kill me with ease, and I'm the one winning here. You want to know why that is?"
"Fuck off," Garfiel's heart pounded with rage, and he tried to throw Subaru off. But his muscles still had no strength. Anything his Divine Protection gave him got sucked away immediately. He was powerless here. Nothing he could do would yield any results.
"I'm on top Garfiel, because I asked for help! Because I trust my friends to help me," Subaru said, "It's truly a tough leap to make, to trust others with the protection of those you care about most…but Rem and Ram surely count as those you care about most. So work with us, with them, to save Sanctuary."
"My amazin' self is the Shield of the Sanctuary," Garfiel said. It was a one-man job. He was the Shield. The lone barrier. The only thing trustworthy to hold fast against the outside world.
Subaru put his arms out to the side, "And look at what a good job you're doing, you've lost to the two weakest men in the Emilia camp."
The cultist shook his head, "What are you going to do when the Witch's Cult comes knocking. If you can't handle us, how will you handle the same group that crippled Ram?"
Garfiel's mind gave no answer to that question. He'd failed Sanctuary. But…if he couldn't do it alone. Was there anyone he could trust to protect Sanctuary? Garfiel shook his head, there wasn't. He'd just have to become stronger. This guy was just underhanded and manipulative. Not worth even hearing.
Garfiel denied him. With all his fury he screamed, "I'M THE SHIELD OF THE SANCTUARY!"
He shoved his hands right into Subaru's wounds. The man's grip held, somehow. Until Garfiel dug his fingers deeper into Subaru's injuries. Finally the cultist's hold gave out and he collapsed on Garfiel.
Garfiel ignored Subaru, and reached for the crystal. Otto yanked it out of Garfiel's hand—to keep it away from him—and tried to put some distance between them. As he tumbled backward, Otto searched in his pocket. He was trying something, but Garfiel wouldn't let him.
He'd overcome a body with no mana. He'd overcome muscles that screamed and tore. He would protect everything. Neither of these scheming pricks could stand against his will. It didn't matter if he did it all alone. He had the will to do so, so he would do it. And if he didn't have the will, he'd make it stronger.
Garfiel forced himself to his feet, throwing Subaru off. The man grunted when he rolled off Garfiel, who got to his feet and walked toward Otto. It was a slow movement. Each step forced Garfiel against another test of endurance. Each step almost brought him to the ground. And yet his indomitable determination to protect Sanctuary would not let him fall.
Garfiel alone would stand where no other could. As he stepped past the bleeding form of Natsuki Subaru—his body had rolled all the way to here—Garfiel stomped on his chest, earning a crunch. Ribs came apart under his foot, and blood spurted from Subaru's mouth.
No one could stand up from that level of injury. Huge gashes in his chest, a concussion from impacts that had torn teeth out, prolonged blood loss, and to top it all off the same smoke-injured lungs that Garfiel possessed.
With that threat taken care of, he turned his attention back to Otto, and hobbled toward the man like the slow march of inevitability. Inevitable because he was Garfiel Tinzel, Shield of the Sanctuary. No matter what, he would always triumph and ensure Sanctuary's safety. He strode toward Otto while the merchant grabbed a fire stone and threw it at him.
Garfiel snatched it from the air, tossing it somewhere into the forest. When the stone landed, the resulting explosion spit dirt, dust, twigs, and leaves every which way. He ignored the debris which rained down on his face and continued toward Otto. The merchant's blue eyes scrambled around in search of any hope for escape. Garfiel readied himself to raise walls of earth in case Otto tried anything. There would be no retreat for Otto. He was a threat to Sanctuary.
Garfiel would extinguish him.
"G-Garfiel," a soggy voice said his name. It wasn't Otto's.
"Heh," Garfiel grunted, so Subaru could still talk. But talk was all he could do. He'd never stand, so Garfiel ignored him, once more taking up his shaky journey toward Otto. The merchant brought his hand up. Likely for some weak spell.
"Stop!" Subaru shouted from behind him. Garfiel disregarded him. Why should he listen to the man? Yet Subaru still yelled, "Garfiel!"
Garfiel shook his head and loomed over Otto. Otto held his hands up and whispered, "Dona…"
Garfiel shoved his foot into the ground as dirt sprung out from right in front of Otto. Earth of Garfiel's own making met Otto's. The two cancelled each other out, spewing mud all over both men and leaving Otto out of options. Garfiel reached for Otto's neck, his hand poised to choke the life from him.
"Garfiel! Look at me," Subaru said. The impossibly commanding tone made even Garfiel cast a quick glance over his shoulder.
The sight he met paralyzed him.
Subaru's hands were below him, and he was pushing himself up. Blood poured into the grass as he put his feet beneath his body. Then, with a grunt, Subaru managed to push himself up until he was standing. He may have been hunched over, bleeding, and barely able to open his eyes, but Subaru was standing. Even after so much injury.
And he could still say, "I'm not going to let you hurt my friends."
Subaru stepped toward him. Somehow he didn't topple over as all of Garfiel's mind was saying he would. Garfiel was a statue, no matter how much he wanted to move he couldn't.
For the first time, Garfiel trusted Subaru. He trusted that Subaru would make it to him, that no matter how much damage Garfiel inflicted upon Subaru, he would never stop trying to help his friends. Garfiel readied to kill him, until his instincts told him a horrible thing. It made no sense. But somehow in that moment Garfiel understood.
Killing Natsuki Subaru would never be enough to stop him.
Garfiel had been wrong.
This man was true inevitability, not him.
Garfiel's shock didn't allow him to resist as Subaru made his way to him while tightening his hand into a fist. A punch slammed into Garfiel's cheek. It held enough force to move Garfiel's head to the side, but nothing more. Subaru's knuckles remained pressed against his face, it was in this position that Subaru once more levied his gaze against Garfiel.
Subaru's voice was still so strong, "I defeated you with the power of numbers. The only reason I let you get this far was because those I love needed you alive, and one day I'd like to include you among those I consider my friends."
A power radiated around Subaru. Though it wasn't mana, nor spirits. Garfiel thought he'd have to cover his eyes, but no, he just wanted to stare at this man. This force made human.
Garfiel's breath escaped him when Subaru reached out his hand, "So what do you say, Garfiel? Will you help me?"
"Yer…" Garfiel had no idea what to say. What could he say to the man who'd defeated him? Shown him mercy. Gotten up from some of the most gruesome injuries Garfiel had ever seen. Managed to walk over and punch him. The same man who now offered his hand.
What could Garfiel possibly say to that man, other than, "Yer so fuckin' cool."
Blood dripped down Subaru's lips while he said, "If those I love need someone cool, then I'll be someone cool."
Subaru's eyes slipped closed after that, and he dropped to the grass. Garfiel stood, utterly and completely defeated for a moment. Then he lowered himself, kneeling down and clasping Subaru's hand. Through that touch he activated his healing magic and sent it into Subaru.
Garfiel's heart was empty, his absolute defeat leaving him unable to decide how to feel. What would have happened if Subaru wanted to kill him? He knew. If that was the case, then Garfiel would have died, without even a fight. Mercy was the only reason Garfiel drew breath. Maybe he should at least feel a little thankful. He showed his thanks by continuing his healing.
After a few minutes, Subaru forced his eyelids open and looked up at Garfiel. Subaru started to speak, but Garfiel cut him off, "My amazin' self'll help you protect Sanctuary, 'nd I'm gonna learn how you got so cool. Then Ram'll love me."
"You want Ram's heart?" Subaru said, like he'd already known that, "Well…that's a battle where I'm not showing any mercy."
There was pure determination on the face of the far more than half-dead man. This guy was at death's door, and he was challenging Garfiel in the fight for Ram's love. Garfiel couldn't help but say, "And my amazin' self ain't gonna back down either, no matter how bad the odds're."
"Good, you'll need that spirit to save Sanctuary, I'll tell you my plan after you finish healing me."
"We're gonna be here almost half an hour. Y'stole all my fuckin' mana."
"Half an hour for your help? I'd call that a good deal," Subaru's frown faded a bit. Even with that expression he offered his other hand to Garfiel.
It was bloody and shaky, but Subaru still held it up and said, "How about we not do this in the future, eh Garf?"
Garfiel took the hand without hesitation, "'F course, Cap'n."