Inside the castle walls of the capital, blood could silently be heard dripping onto the dirty concert floor of a prison cell. Heavy breathing could also be heard, as a young man with raven-like hair and orange eyes that were once piercing but now was lifeless as a corpse tried his best to catch some kind of air while staring motionlessly into a puddle of his own blood. He wanted to move, he wanted to just go outside and breathe the fresh morning air for the first time in what seemed like months.
However, he couldn't do that, not because of the guards standing outside of his prison cell Waiting for him to make a single wrong move, or try escaping so they can slay and "put a filthy witch cultist six feet underground."
Not because of the chains that bound his arms, neck, and feet onto the wall making it impossible for him to escape let alone move. But because he was broken, both mentally and psychically. Cuts and buries could be seen completely around the raven-haired boy's body. His left eyes were closed shut, while his right eye was swollen to the point where it looked like a ripe purple grape. Everywhere in the boy's body yearned for some kind of rest, just for a single day, just sitting down for a second would be enough.
But the raven-haired boy knew it would never happen. It will never come to pass, he would not see the warmth of the morning sun or the cool but calming breeze of the night. The only thing he would do was breathe the same air that was inside the humid prison for the rest of eternity. Even if he died he knew without a doubt his last checkpoint would be in the prison. As the boy watches his own blood slowly drop one by one into an increasing pile underneath him. He slowly started to ask himself, where did it go wrong? How did his life up to this point lead him here? And why was he deserving of such Fate?
Fatigue finally reached the mind of the boy and he slowly began to lose his vision, as images played inside his mind to grant the answers to the questions he's been asking for ever since he arrived at this hell known as this prison cell.
It's been an hour after the battle for Pristella, As the sin archbishop of wrath was finally put down and the witch cult was pushed back. Thanks to the combined efforts of The Emilia camp, The Crusch camp, The Anastasia Camp, And even the prideful Priscilla camp. Calm finally washed away the chaos gate city for what seemed to be the first time in years even though the war only took a few days. The constant fighting, explosions, and screaming were all forgotten for a moment, just for a moment as the waves crashed back and forth.
Standing in front of one of the city's rivers that are used as both transportation and a sight to see, was a raven-haired young man with orange piercing eyes. His eyes gave off a look of pure life and excitement as he looked over the steel blue horizon. Out of everyone in the battle for Pristella Subaru Natsuki, Knight of the Half-Elf Emilia, and one of the key members of the Emilia camp was the one who lead everyone to victory.
He wasn't the strongest, he wasn't the fastest, and even with his own weapon: a whip, he was only decent in using it. However what made him so important and dangerous was the strategies he comes up with, to everyone around him Subaru had this sense of alerting danger and always makes a perfect plan around it to get him and his allies out alive. The way his strategist are formed, and the way he avoids death like it's a hobby. Everyone started nicknaming him the stage knight but in reality. Subaru Natsuki was carrying invisible scars. Scars no one can see, for they do not exist but yet do inside the mind of Subaru.
His ability: Return by death is the only reason Natsuki Subaru is alive to this day. A curse given to him by the witch of Envy was actually a blessing in disguise. Subaru has suffered countless deaths each one being more painful than the last but he uses these experiences to push himself and other people forward. Helping everyone around him to come out alive and safe while he hides his own pain and suffering behind a fake smile. Subaru forgot how many times he's died up until now, but he deemed that for the best. He didn't want to know how many times he's failed them, he didn't want to know-
"What is Subaru doing I wonder?" Subaru heard the voice of a little girl speaking behind him shattering his deep concentration to the crashing waves. The familiar voice made Subaru Immendailty turn around and stare at a blond drilled-haired little girl who was slowly walking to him. She looked a mess but still cute in some kind of weird way, she was injured with her face covered with a small amount of blood and dust on her face. Her pink elegant dress was ripped apart and looked a bit more like rags than proper clothing but Subaru didn't care how she looked. (Even though she was cute and he wanted to scream it into the heavens.)
The only thing the sage knight could do that the moment, was run-up to the great spirit and give her a life-ending hug while spinning her around.
"P-P-Put Betty DOWN I SUPPOSE!" The great spirit screamed out as she tried her best to get out of his death grip. All the while she's being spun around like a new toy doll given to a little girl. After a good 20 seconds of screaming Subaru's name and only to be met with Subaru praising Beatrice from her head to her shoes. Subaru finally puts the great spirit down but not without a bright smile while he pats down her head.
"So Beatrice, how's Emilia-tan and Otto-san, Just how's everyone?" Subaru asked impatiently as his eyes began to wander, his body tensed as he was willing to jump into hell and back once again to save his allies. Sure it was peaceful but only from where he was standing, for all he knew Emilia could be bleeding out inside a hospital room. Or maybe Garfiled and Otto died and he may need to reset.
"The Half-Elf and everyone else is safe I suppose," Beatrice spoke softly as she held her contractor's hand. She stopped for a few seconds before speaking again.
"Only a few minors injures." Those words make Subaru smile for a moment. Before he turned to look back at the crashing waves.
"I'm...Happy your safe Beako...I don't know what I would do if you got killed." Subaru spoke softly but loud enough for Beatrice to hear as he tried fighting off tears from forming in his eyes. As he spoke the words, images of Beatrice getting stabbed and slowly fading away from existence hunt his mind over and over and over and over again.
"Of course Subaru is useless without betty in fact!" The Great spirit proclaimed with pride as she pats her contractor on the back.
With the great spirit by his side and the knowledge, his friends and allies were safe all thanks to his efforts. Subaru was happy, he was at peace, and was really to leave the Watergate city and just go back home to the Roswaal mansion and just sit back and relax on his bed and just fade into a deep slumber. Everything was going up for Natuski Subaru for once in this cruel, cruel world. But the world was about to get crueler as a loud *THUD* echoed behind them.
Subaru instantly took out his weapon, while Beatrice hold his hand tightly as the mana in the air began to swirl all around them indicating that Beatrice was reading the blast whoever was in his way with all her might.
"Wonder, Just Wonderful!" A voice with childlike glee spoke out to them, as he slowly picked himself from up the ground.
"You two will make great meals." The voice proclaimed, as his small body stood up perfectly straight and looked at the duo with a smile that rivals shark teeth. His long brown hair flew against the breeze that was the mana swarm around Beatrice all the while sharping his knives that were tied firmly onto his hands.
"YOU!" The great spirit screamed out with nothing short of hatred for the man before her. In an instant 20 purple crystals appeared right in front of her as she stared at her enemy. Without even giving a chance for the man once again speak she screamed out with all her might.
"EL MINYA!"
After those words, the crystal shards in front of her fired at a speed comparable to a bullet right at the small long-haired figure. With a shark's grin, the man began to dodge every one of the crystals and parried one of them with complete ease. Seeing as it would take a moment for the great spirit to summon all the crystals again.
The man began to rash at her with his knives out but was quickly stopped and taken back by a loud crack from Subaru's Guilty whip hitting him square in the face.
"GLUTTONY!" Subaru screamed out as he hit gluttony in the face, over and over again. Each hit gave a loud CRACK as its force and Subaru's hatred for the sin archbishop echoed through the once peaceful city.
The man in front of Subaru and Beatrice was a sin arch-bishop which earned Beatrice's hatred right off the bat but for Subaru this was personal. For Subaru, this man- no this creature in front of him took away his number two. The one who helped him keep going when he lost sight of who he was and just wanted to go away. That same man was here right before him and he wasn't going to let this chance slip by. He didn't understand how gluttony escaped his capture or how he reached them here but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was put the sin archbishop down and force him to spill any information to undo his effect.
Every time the sin archbishop tried to breathe he was met with a hit from Subaru's whip stunning him for a few seconds. seeing this as her chance Beatrice closed her eyes and formed a mental image of her attack in her mind before screaming out once again.
"EL MINYA!"
Unlike the previous attacks which were small crystals, this one was giant almost the size of an entire sky scrapper. With the archbishop being stunned by Subaru's Whip. Beatrice fired the massive Crystal at the archbishop.
The Gaint crystal flew like a gentle bird through the breeze and was almost about to hit the archbishop when he barely recovered his sense and jumped with such force it left cracks on the concert floors and he landed right on top of the giant mana crystal.
With a small chuckle, he ran on the base of the mana crystal and jumped at the edge, his mouth wide open as if he was about to devour the great spirit whole. With no time to strike him again with his whip, with no time to even dodge, Subaru did the only thing he could do and something he does time and time again as if it was a hobby. Subaru pushed the great spirit out of the way, getting in the way of gluttony and as he was right in front of him. Subaru saw gluttony shut his mouth and laughed maniacally at the sight of Subaru.
"SUBARU!" The great spirit screamed out as small mana crystals began flying in his direction and barely missed him but hit gluttony right in the side.
"Thanks...For the meal..." Gluttony said with a smile as he held up the injured right side of his stomach. Hearing loud footsteps, gluttony with what strength he had left escaped into the river.
Subaru's vision began to fade again and as he fell onto the ground. He felt as if he was drifting to an eternal sleep when he suddenly woke up.
"Ow my head..." Subaru muttered before remembering the short fight that took place where he was laying down.
"BEATRICE ARE YOU OK!" Subaru screamed out for his spirit, only to be met with Mana crystals flying right at his face. He barely dodged it, but little did Subaru know if he was just a little bit slower. If he died right there and then, he could've avoided the terrible fate that awaited him.
"Stay where you are I suppose!" Beatrice growled as she stared at her contractor with such fire and hatred in her eyes he couldn't comprehend.
"Beako?" Subaru muttered as his face was in complete shock at the sight of his own spirit trying to kill him.
"Silence witch cultist or I will gladly send you to meet all your friends," Beatrice spoke calmly but it chilled Subaru right to the bone.
"What are you talking about Beako I'm not a witch cultist! I'm Natuski Subaru Emilia-tan's knight remember!" Subaru spoke but before he could say any more he was hit directly in the stomach with mana shards.
"DON'T YOU DARE ASSUME A CULTIST LIKE YOU COULD EVEN BE FITTING FOR A KNIGHT'S POSITION FOR BETTY'S CONTRACTOR IN FACT!" The spirit spoke out in hatred as she got ready to fire another crystal at him.
"What are y-..." Subaru tried to speak but the pain in the stomach was sharp and painful. it prevented him from speaking and the amount of blood he was slowly making blackout.
Completely disgusted by the man in front of her, Beatrice was prepared to send out another crystal when all of a sudden. A red-haired knight, a feline figure, and a purple-haired knight, and last but not least a silver-haired half-elf approach the great spirit.
"Beatrice-sama what is going on."
"Yeah, Beako tell us what's wrong?"
Seeing the sight of her "contractor" Beatrice calmed down as false memories of her time with Emilia began to form in her head.
Calmly and coldly the great spirit spoke. "This man right here is a witch cultist, no his terrible sent rivals only an Archbishop I suppose!"
Everyone gasped at the sudden announcement. Everyone stared at the dying Subaru with hatred, except for a red-haired knight who was looking down in sympathy, and a demi-human cat who had an evil grin on his face.
"Well we can't be sure if he's a witch cultist, he needs to have a proper trial."
"Reinhard, if Beatrice-sama deemed him to be a cultist and Archbishop at that we should take her word Nyah?" The cat said to the red-haired knight with a cheerful cat-like grin and his hands seemed to tremble with excitement.
"Even so we can't be sure Felix." Reinhard quickly retorted before turning to the great spirit.
"We shall take him in for questioning thank you for the intel."
"Do whatever you want from him I suppose. Kill him for all I care, just keep this cultist away from betty and her contractor in fact."
Given one last disgusted glare at Subaru which chilled him to the bone, Beatrice took her "contractor's" hand and began walking away at rapid speed all the while Subaru was slowly losing blood and slowly dying.
The last thing he heard before blacking out was "don't worry we will take goooooddd... care of him." From Felix before going into a deep sleep.
As Subaru lost consciousness in his memories, he slowly began regaining it in the present time.
"Wake up, now." A similar catlike voice spoke to him but Subaru was too tired to look up, too tired to breathe.
With no response, the demi-human got fed up and gently put his hands on one of Subaru's open wounds. A small light amidated from his hand, which quickly dulled out, in only a second Subaru felt sharp pain ripple throughout his entire body.
His blood felt as if it was boiling from the inside, no sheer human could endure this pain and it caused Subaru to scream out in agony.
As he screamed his body on its own tried breaking free from his chains that pinned his body against the wall but he could do nothing. After what felt an eternity the pain finally subsided and all Subaru could do was put his head down as his body tried to take in some fresh air.
"Are you ready to talk Witch Cult- No, Sin Archbishop of Pride Natuski Subaru," Felix spoke with clear hatred and disgust in his voice.
"I-I-I am... m- n-n-n-ot... a witch cultist... Felix..." Subaru spoke weakly, every day Subaru would be tutored and every day he would tell them the same thing. he wasn't a witch cultist but every day he was met by the same response.
"Very well, maybe this will get you to talk," Felix said with a smile as he placed his hand once again and Subaru's open wounds. He silently closed his eyes and revealed in the screams of the witch cultist. Nothing could bring him more satisfaction than hearing this man's screams, Felix of course didn't do this for himself but instead for his lady Crusch who had her memories taken away by the archbishop of gluttony.
He only made Subaru scream because he hold information, if he just talked the pain would end. he didn't do this for his own satisfaction... right?
And for the next few hours that is exactly how it went, over and over Subaru would claim he's innocent like he has for the past few months he's been in his prison cell but it would always fall on deaf ears. Felix would always demand him to spill information he doesn't have, and each time Subaru told him the truth the cycle repeats.
After 10 entire hours of none stop pain and agony, Felix looked at the man before him in complete disgust and anger. He has been subjecting to months of torture, months! Any normal human would've broken down, gone insane, but the results should've always been the same. He gets the information he wants but this man, this thing before him just wouldn't break.
Completely annoyed Felix punched Subaru in the face breaking his nose in the process and stormed off. He quickly opened the door to his prison cell and spoke to someone right in front of him.
"He's all yours Julius-Kun, do as you please." The demi-human spoke angrily with none of his playful accent being present. Before Subaru knew it he stormed out of the door and closed it behind him.
'Here comes...round 2...' Subaru thought as footsteps echoed throughout his entire prison cell. Subaru didn't even look up, he just kept staring at the puddle of blood that stained his pants and his feet. However, even though Subaru didn't look up there was still one thing the man brought with him that forced Subaru's attention to turn to it. A wooden sword, memories hit Subaru like a truck as he remembered his duel with Julius, the humiliation, the pain. And now the same thing was going to occur, correction the same thing has been occurring for months but it's never been any less painful.
"I recommend any and all information you have in fixing my condition be given immdientality."
The greatest of all knights warned as he looked down the broken boy's body with a sympathetic look to it. Unlike his counterpart and friends, he didn't enjoy doing this. If possible he would end the "Cultist's" pain and suffering right there and now, but that decision isn't up to him and he needed information on recovering his memory after them being stolen by gluttony.
"SPEAK Julius spoke loudly as he tighten this grip on his wooden word.
Through Heavy and ragged breathing Subaru responded to the greatest of all knights.
"I...*huff*...Can't give **puff*... you...information...I...don't...have...Juli."
The second Subaru finished getting out his sentence a loud wack echoed throughout the entire prison cell. The walls were still vibrating and the echoes began to dull a bit at the sheer force of the attack. The prison cell had gone deathly silent for a moment, before the void of silence was erased by loud wacks, screams, grunts, pleading, demanding, and crying.
Another 10 hours have passed before Julius had enough, seeing that the witch cultist couldn't speak any longer and was too tired to even look up at him. He deemed it best for him to get as much rest as humanly possible or what's manageable in his condition before the process began all over again.
Though it's been 20 hours of him getting hit by a blunt weapon over and over, and having his blood and mana fried to the point where his body was almost completely numb. To Subaru, he actually got off easy, at least they didn't stab or cut him with a knife this time, or rip out one of the only good things remaining on his body: his teeth. Or cut off his 10 fingers, and the remaining 6 toes but it doesn't mean the pain was any less worst.
Subaru would give anything for the pain to stop, anything, he wanted to die, he wanted to be free from this prison for a month. But he knew no one was listening, he could cry all he want and beg for death. He knew he didn't have a lot of time to rest before Felix walked inside his prison cell so with all his might and with tears coming out of his bloody left eye he muttered a single prayer.
"Od...or Satella even, if you can hear me. Please set me free..., please...release.." Those were all the words he could manage before he blacked out. His bloodied and bruised body was still being held up straight by his changes. While his head just hunged low, as he slowly drifted off once again to sleep.
Deep inside an empty black void of silence. Muffled crying could be heard as a silver half-elf looked through a magical mirror screen. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, she couldn't believe that this happened to her beloved. She felt like a failure, she was the one who gave him return by death yet it only brought more suffering and pain than anything else.
Out of everything she could've given him, maybe an indestructible body, high mana, an even greater spirit affinity. She gave him the power to return from the dead and it was the source of his trauma, and now with her beloved presence and existences as well as all his sacrifices. Erased due to gulltony, there he is for her to see, bound by chains, wishing for a death that would never come.
And there was nothing she could do about it...NO!
There was something she could do, something she knew she should've done ever since he wanted to give up and run away. Ever since he was thrown into that awful prison cell, she needed to end his suffering. As she begins to think about this, a presence begins to take shape inside the black void that was known as the shadow garden.
But the shape didn't form visibly but it was forming in her mind.
"WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING?!" the voice in her mind screamed, as the half-elf covered in a vale of shadows steeled her resolve.
"I'm ending his suffering."
"YOU CAN'T..."
"Quiet Envy, look how much he suffered because of us... because of me. This is the only way and with this... (long pause of silence) he can be with us again. I shall send him to the castle of dreams where we can be with him for all of eternity..."
For once in the hundreds of years, the witch of envy and Satella have been stuck together for once, because of Stella's resolve and refusal to deal with envy. they both agreed on something, it's a win-win for both of them in theory. Subaru pain in lugiginca ends and the two souls sharing one body can be with their beloved again.
Taking a deep breath, Satella tapped into her bottomless reserves of mana and slowly began undoing the effects of return by death.
For the effect of return by death to be removed it would and without any fear of interference from the witch of envy. it would take Satella 10 seconds, only 10 seconds and it would be quick and painless for her love, but it wasn't any less painful for Satella. The 10 seconds went by in slow motion for her, each second feeling like decades and for the actual decades spent in the void of nothing had nothing to compare.
She rather had the feeling of loneliness than the pain burning deep within her heart. Satella's head was a complete mess, she was happy, sad, angry, relieved. All at the same time, and she truly didn't understand why.
On one hand, her love will finally be feared from all his pain, suffering, the blood he's shed, and the tears that fell every day in silence. However, on the other hand, she was completely angry and the same thing could be said for the witch of envy. Who was screaming in her head for the death of everyone who wronged their beloved.
How dare everyone Subaru protected with his own body and soul repay him by forcing Subaru to be subjected to this kind of torment. How dare the people, who he selfishly saved from their enemies and themselves repay him by not thanking him or giving him the reward he rightfully deserves. Instead they time and time again killed him, they time and time again betrayed his trust.
But no more, the death Subaru was about to experience would officially be his last and he can rest forever in peace with Satella (and a not so stable witch of envy.) If Satella and the witch of envy had it their way, everyone in Luginica would suffer, every single person who dared make their beloved worry for them or make him cry. Would feel so much pain, death would be the only way for them to make it- no. Until their minds stopped working completely and their bodies can no longer feel pain. Death would seem like a dream for the people of this cruel, rotten, unforgiving world.
The thoughts in Satella's mind really made her scoff as she finds herself worthy of the title of the witch of Envy and not one that belongs to her counterpart.
After the blessing/curse of return by death was lifted from the broken hero's body. The hard part was coming up, she needed... to... kill...her beloved. She never has before, not once, not a single time throughout his entire journey. Sure the witch of envy and her might have scared him a little bit into keeping the secret but it was for the greater good. Who knows what could go wrong if someone found out, a person had the ability to reverse time upon their death. But even he sharpened his resolve to blurt out the truth. she killed the imposter not him. she would never hurt him, she wouldn't hurt him until time, space, and the concept of eternity collapsed.
Taking one last deep breath and closing her eyes. Satella envisions a dark and sharp claw made out of shadows entering her beloves body and wrapping itself his warm beating heart. She trembled at what she was about to do, there was no going back from this.
With a small tear escaping the shining amethyst eyes of Satella the witch of envy, the claw grabbed Subaru's heart and popped it as if it was just a balloon. What was left inside the body of Subaru Natuski was an empty space where his heart used to be, with blood dripping down to whatever direction his body would take it as it tried desperately to survive and live on without the most important organ to keep it going.
Subaru natuski lived for 10 more seconds before he finally for what seems like years died a peaceful permeant death. His soul, still being asleep and blissful to what has occurred flew into a bright light.
"I shall...meet you... there soon." Satella choked out softly as tears began to escape her like a raging waterfall. With the deed done, Satella and the witch of envy began crying their hearts out. Knowing it was the right thing to do, but still, feel ashamed of themselves for having to come to such a decision.
3 hours after the permanent death of Subaru.
The night was calm and silent, as small noises of crickets chirping and owls howling filled the atmosphere of a frozen deserted forest. If looked closely inside in many of the dead ice-covered trees. Animals in groups of 3 or more could be seen living inside of the openings or resting upon the tree branches huddling amongst one another for warmth.
As the wings of the birds who once flew high up into the air were turned to nothing more than ice. The once chripping crickets were covered entirely by snow, the remaining animals of the forest one by one froze to death as an unearthly silence deserted upon the forest.
though the forest was nearly covered in nothing but snow and ice, there was a strange beauty of the silence and the snowflakes and buckets of snow falling off the branches of the once lushes green tree leaves. Was enchanting for anyone who happened to stumble upon it would be enchanted and the frozen animals that looked nothing more like statues certainly were a part of it.
Though the frozen forest was silent for a moment, a loud explosion from the center could be heard for miles. The shockwave of the explosion knocked all the snow off the branches and all the animals present with them. For a moment the trees of the forest had nothing on them before the snow started to slowly trickle upon them once again.
Right in the center of the forest that was surprisingly spacish , 5 figures could be seen. 4 on the left standing side by side against another, and one on the right. Badly injured with his body pierced cut, slashed, and frozen but through all the pain. He still had a shark's gin as he stares down his opponents and he began sharpening his knives that were tied together on each of his hands by black and purple rags.
With a small pain-filled laugh, the badly injured man also known as the archbishop of gluttony tried attacking the 4 people standing in his way. With powerful jump forced all the snow around him to move out of the way due to the small shockwave he admitted. He flew at top speed right in front of a drilled-haired little girl, with hundreds of sharp purple crystals swarming around her.
"El-Minya," Beatrice screamed out as all the crystals around her flew directly at the archbishop.
Because of his momentum, the archbishop had no time to dodge the attacks so he did the only thing he could and that was to slice as much as the crystals as possible.
Frailing his arms at such high speeds they could almost be mistaken for small helicopter blades. He cut through most of the great spirits' crystals with ease and was about to finally strike her. When all of a sudden he was sent flown back by a great, bone break punch from a blonde boy with a white X engraved on his face
Giving the archbishop no time to breathe the tiger boy, also known as the shield of the sanctuary Garfiel rushed at the archbishop while he was zooming down to earth. He quickly jumped up, barely reaching the same height as the archbishop, and lifted up his legs and slammed it directly in the chest of gluttony.
Gluttony was sent back down to earth and left a small crater as well as a bit of his own blood to where he fell. The archbishop's vision was blurry, he could barely breathe, he could barely even hear what was going around him and every inch of his body felt like they were on fire but even so. He was still having fun, he was enjoying this fight, he was enjoying the people he was up against. That's why it would be all greater when he feasted upon their memories.
By pure instinct, the archbishop got up and dodged a punch that was about to crush his head by a Garfiel who flew down to the ground faster than a ground dragon running for its life.
With a Tsk, Garfiel was about to attack the archbishop once more but the archbishop was quicker and slashed at the tiger in the side of his cheek before jumping back using his insane leg strength to think about his next move.
"EL-FLUA" (i know I messed it up forgive me). A voice cried out from behind him, as a quick slash of wind magic hit his back. Which forced him to go in the other direction where he was then met with a punch to the face by Garfiel.
"This is your end Archbishop!" Gluttony heard the same voice who attacked him from behind spoke out, tiredly and weakly he slowly looked at the person who attacked him and noticed a small glow on top of her head as her pink short hair swayed in the wind her blood-red eyes stared at him with nothing short of disgust and bloodlust.
With heavy breathing, the archbishop tried attacking the pink oni but was quickly pushed back by her wind magic leaving a nasty bloody scar of the center of his chest.
Before the archbishop would even breathe, he felt his body get lighter as the ground below him slowly hated and he was directed up into the air.
With the last bit of strength the archbishop had, he turned his head and a drilled-haired loli lifting her hand up with her palms all exposed and just stared at gluttony. Meanwhile, next to her a silver-haired half-elf began chanting a magically spell in such a great whisper no one, not even the girl next to her could hear. Once she finished with her chanting small ice shard appeared before her and in an instant flew across the air at a speed faster than a jet plane and struck the sin of the archbishop of gluttony center in the chest.
But even though it hit him right in the center of the chest, the ice crystal was too shallow. He could still breathe, he could still fight, determined with this news he still had a chance to live the archbishop was prepared to break free from the great spirits spell when all of a sudden...
the temperature inside his body began dropping, his blood that was pumping felt frozen and stiff as ice as the ice crystals stuck inside his chest seem to be freezing everything. The ice followed his bloodstream, slowly from the inside out, his hands began to freeze solid until he could no longer move a finger, his legs were frozen to a point where he could no longer feel them. His arms were frozen into a shiny blue-ish ice cast until finally the archbishop from the inside out was frozen to death.
Seeing the archbishop dead and gone, the great spirit undoes her magic and they all watch silently, happily, and proudly as the sin archbishops body slowly plummets to the ground. Shattering into a million pieces upon impact.
A sense of relief filled the air as the frozen forest once again fell silent.
"YEAH, WE SHOWED 'EM!" Garfiled screamed out, as he lifted his fist up into the air upon seeing the millions of pieces that were the archbishop.
The great spirit said nothing but had a smug smile on her face.
"He will never harm another soul again," Emilia commented with a soft elegant smile on her face, proud of herself and everyone around her who help defeat the archbishop.
"Hmph, good riddance." The pink-haired oni said in disgust as she looked up to the start night sky, hiding the relief and satisfaction she was feeling deep inside her body. She has done it, she had killed one of the archbishops that destroyed her home...and ruined her and her sweet little sister's life... little... sister...
CLICK
in an instant all the memories of the Emilia camp were suddenly regained in an instant, everything they'd forgotten, everything that seemed blurry and out of place deep inside their minds were suddenly filled with context.
Upon remembering her little sister, ram wasted no time, not even explaining what's going on to the other camp members, and began running out of the forest. Tears in her eyes and a pain aching in her heart.
Without another word, the other members of the camp began following the pink-oni made out of the forest until they reached a dragon cart. Upon arrival, ram opened the back of the cart, and tears fell out of her eyes upon seeing a blue-haired girl with the same style as her slowly begin to open her eyes.
"REM!" Ram screamed out as she hugged her little sister, how long has it been since she's forgotten, how long has it been since she hugged her little sister. How long has it been since she's talked to her little sister? She promised to herself she would make up all the lost time tenfold.
"Nee-sama?" Rem muttered tiredly and confused but still nonetheless hugged her sister, her other half. It felt good, her warmth felt welcoming, and being hugged that happens to you when you wake up isn't that bad. even though the person she rather receives a hug from when she woke up, other than her precious nee-san was her hero.
"REM, REM, REM, REM! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I've forgotten you, its been an entire year, yet I treat you like a stranger that fool brought home out of pity. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Ram screamed out over and over until her lungs gave away, in return, this made Rem shed a small tear and begin yelling her sister's name, over and over, and over and returned the embracing hug.
The information Rem processed was too much, she's been asleep? She's been forgotten? for an entire year at most, the first thing she noticed when she woke up was entirely different clothing so what her nee-san said wasn't at all a lie but still a was too much. To be forgotten by your own friends, and family that was too much just the taught of it would have broken her mind. but there was one thing that put her at ease
'that fool brought home out of pity.'
Rem automatically knew who she was talking about, who that fool was, it was her hero. Even when the world had forgotten about her. He didn't she was still by his side, even when she was useless.
As the oni-maids cried their heart out at such a reunion, the other camp members smiled fondly at the sight.
Having their own memories of the blue-haired girl, they felt tears about to flow as all their memories, all their adventures began playing in their heads over and over again.
Out of everyone smiling, Emilia had the brightest smile out of them all while she looked fondly at the reunion. The two did so much for her, they opened up to her thanks to a special someone and were her best friends/
Without a warning, she came up and joined in on the hug.
"HEY! Don't leave mine amazing self out!" Garfiled screamed out with a toothy smile as a single tear escaped him.
The Oni-maids even though smushed together by the strength of a half-elf, and a demi-human with the strength of 100 tigers, The warmth and emotions were comforting. As the group began expressing their emotions through silent tears and a long group hug.
A great spirit could be seen a fair distance away from them, tears flowing like a fountain while staring at the group hug.
"Beako, you want to join us?" Emilia asks innocently while stretching out her hand.
"Forgive betty...i suppose..." The great spirit muttered under her breath, none of the words reaching any of the member's ears.
"Beako-chan?" Emilia asks a little worried about the great spirit.
In a second the great spirit fell on the ground with her knees supporting her up and put her hands onto her head and began screaming the same phase.
"FORGIVE BETTY, FORGIVE BETTY, FORGIVE BETTY!" Over and over again, her voice was so loud the trees seem to be shaken by this.
Confused and scared, the members of the camp tried calming down the great spirit.
"Beatrice-sama calm yourself" Ram was the first one that spoke but was the last to reach the great spirits side.
"I've failed, I've failed, I've FAILED!" Beatrice screamed out, as the other camp members tried to keep her from slamming her head onto the ground.
"What are you talking about!" Garfiled screamed out as he used his tiger strength to keep Beatrice's head from reaching the ground floor.
"Betty's contractor, Betty's Subaru, I failed him!"
"who's-"
Upon hearing that name another Click occurred in everyone's head and every member of the Emilia camp besides Rem fell into deep despair.
"Subaru-Kun? Yes Rem's hero, where is Subaru-Kun? He wouldn't ever leave miss Emilia's side." Rem said with a smile as she looked around her environment in search of the ravened haired knight. She was so happy upon hearing his name, she what Beatrice said at the end.
"No...Cap'n..." Garfiled said softly as he looked around, he gripped his fingers together as he remembered a conversation that occurred.
"A witch cultist who assumed to be pride had been captured." He remembered Ram telling him and his bro otto.
"Really who captured him and who was he Ram-san?" Otto said with curiosity as put aside his glass bottle (that was totally not filled with alcohol).
"Lady Beatrice was suddenly faced to face with the archbishop, he went on a mad rambling she didn't get into details about but he did mention Emilia-sama." Ram's made a disgusted face as she uttered Emilia's name. Not out of hatred for the half-elf but for the cultist obsessed with her because she looked like the witch.
After a second of silence, she continued.
"Though he has been thankfully captured and sent off. He's been subjected to torture but the entire time he's been calling out each member of our camp's name and claiming we came to prove his innocence. By chance do you both know anyone called "Subaru Natuski?"
And the answer to the question ram asks was a no, garfiled was even disgusted when he first heard the name that seemingly belonged to a witch cultist but all this time. The cultist he hated for getting close to the half-elf princess, the cultist who was condemned to rot in a prison and be tortured for as long as it takes. Which garfiled supported full heartful was the person who saved him from his prison, from the person who saved him from himself. Was his captain...
He promised Subaru that he would be a great shield, protecting him and Emilia from any danger even if it meant putting his life on the line. And Garfiled failed at his one job, he failed to protect Subaru and he failed to be a great shield to the person who saved his life.
He couldn't help but feel like a useless failure upon hearing the news and regaining his memories.
On the other side of Garfiled was Ram, who was as shocked and disappointed with herself and he was. Sure Ram always ridiculed Subaru for any slight mistakes he makes, and her teasing and bartering always seem to reach new heights but she cared about the boy.
A man with good timing, a man she could trust with her life, a man she likes to spend time with no matter how much she is annoyed by him but now she was just shocked. She couldn't say a word, she couldn't move, as she heard the person who selfless put himself in the cross fire for them has been subjected to torture and death she couldn't help but feel a pain arching at her heart.
But even though she was hurting on the inside, her pride would not allow any weakness to show, so there she remained among the four her expression blank, her eyes hollow, and her mouth silent.
Though each member of the Emilia camp was feeling pain and agony upon hearing the news of Subaru being tortured to death. No one felt more pain in her heart than A silver-haired half-elf.
"What's your name"
"It's because I love you."
"EMT!"
"EMILIA-TAN IS SUCH AN ANGEL."
The voice of her knight echoed through her mind, like a scream though a empty cave. A single tear fell on her face as she remembered how she viewed her poor knight. A witchcultist, a monster, someone who didn't deserve to exist.
Her knight did so much for her, yet she left him, she left him...again... but now was not the time to drown in despair she still had time, she hoped she still has time, once they save Subaru she would get on her hands and knees and force all the other camp members to do the same. They would ask forgiveness, beg for his forgiveness and he may punish them however he may see fit for how they treated him in the past.
"EVERYONE ONTO THE CART DRAGON! RAM, TAKE US TO THE CAPITAL IMMDENTIALY!" Emilia screamed out with a surprisingly strong commanding voice that got everyone's attention.
Without another word to each other, they got into the dragon cart and at full speed began racing back to the capital.
"Stupid Barusu making everyone worry."
"Hold on Cap'n we coming."
"Wait... for...betty...i...suppose..."
"We're coming my dunderhead knight"
24 hours after the death of Subaru.
Scum.
That was one way to describe how Felix was feeling as he stared emotionlessly at a prison cell door. For the past few months Felix has done something unforgivable, he tortured and beat the man who saved his lady from a plague infecting her body. He took pleasure in hearing the screams of someone who had done everyone in the country a legendary service by being a key player in the destruction of the white whale.
And all he could do that the moment when he recovered the memories of Subaru was stare aimlessly at a steel, cold, prison door leading into his cell. What could he say? He was sorry? He didn't mean to? He did it in the name of lady crusch and just hope the boy would forgive him and say no harm no foul.
No of course not, how could he forgive Felix who broke his oath as the greatest healer in the kingdom and tortured an ally, a friend.
Heavy breathing filled the silent room as Felix moved his hand to the door nob. His mind wanted to open it and get it all done and over with, while his heart and soul were screaming no, his heart and soul couldn't bear to see the actions of what he's done.
Each second as Felix's hand move closer towards the door he began breathing more heavily and faster. It was to the point where the amount of air his lungs were exhaling was more than what he was actually intaking, Felix would've fainted right there and now if it wasn't for the a hand of his shoulder placed by an elegant purple-haired knight.
"Julius..." Felix spoke as he saw the man's face full of regret and pain for what's he's done.
"Felix...we should...*sigh* open the door, we must confront Subaru head-on...He's been in the cell for months, we shouldn't let him suffer for a single second more because of my lack of virtue." Julius spoke as he guided Felix's hand to the door nob and then slowly began to turn it until they hear a little creak from the prison cell door finally opening.
"I'm sorry...Subaru..." Julius and Felix both thought to themselves as they walked into the prison cell.
What they discovered shocked them to the very core of their soul, what they saw was the after math of their own actions. The ground was covered in puddles of blood, so much the amount nearly reached the tip of Julius and Felix's shoes. Not only that but on the ground nearly hidden in blood were several fingers that once belonged to the young man but were now completely detached from his body courtesy of Felix when he thought this was a sure-fire way to make the cultist who was actually his friend talk.
Their minds nearly broke as they saw what was on the floor they felt sick to their stomach and were about to puke but they still hold it in. Reluctantly the duo consisted of a purple-haired knight and a feline healer moved closer.
The sound of blood splashing beneath their booths made them sick because this the blood of their friend.
"Subaru..." Julius said calmly as he tries to wake the sleeping knight from his slumber. He felt disgusted with himself for touching the boy more than the blood from his opening wounds dripping onto Juluis's white glove.
"Subaru, wake up."
"Subaru?" Julius spoke again but this time a bit more worried.
"FELIX CHECK ON HIM HE'S NOT RESPONDING!" Julius screamed to his friend in panic as he desperately tries shaking Subaru with all his might but got no response from the still lifeless body.
In an instant, upon hearing Julius words the greatest healer in the kingdom rushed over the broken body of Subaru and checked his pulse
His mind already knew the answer to the question if Subaru was alive or not while his heart begged for the best possible outcome.
Felix put 2 figures to the side of Subaru's next and took a deep breath and hold it in, seconds went by, and then a minute but no pulse came from Subaru's body, instead his temperature was growing colder each second that passed by.
"Subawu...?" Felix whispered timidly as his pupils dilated and his hands began to shake as he slowly began took his hands away from Subaru's next and slowly turned to Julius. Fear and sadness could be seen clearly on his face as tears began to slip through no matter how much he tried to hold it in.
"Felix you can help him right," Julius spoke with a hopeful tone as he stared at his boots that were dark red because they had been encased in the blood of his fellow knight, his frie- no someone who does this to their own ally don't deserve to be called a friend. If Subaru woke up and decides to cut all ties with Julius he wouldn't mind, as long as Subaru was alive he will take any and all punishment with a proud look in his eyes after he says sorry to his friend.
Felix let out a soft whimper as he stared at Julius who was trying desperately not to make eye contact with the feline knight.
"You can help him...right?" Julius asks once more but this time a little scared as he choked out the last word in his small sentence.
"Of...Of course..." Felix croaked out as he placed both his hands on top of Natuski Subaru's head and began purring all of his magic into using one ability, one ability he swore never to use but he was going to, to wash away his sins, to erase what he has done. He was going to use the sacrament of the immortal king to revive Subaru.
A bright light began emitting from Subaru's body and Felix's hands the light was so bright it almost covered every inch of the room but just as quickly as it came out, the light faded away slowly until only the darkness of the prison cell remained. Silence consumed the area before it was replaced with heavy breathing and the sound of tear droppings causing a little splash unto the pool of blood that was on the floor.
"That's...impossible..." Felix choked out weakly as his tears began falling faster.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Felix screamed out as another bright light filled the room only to disappear again as if it wasn't there. Felix repeated this action for a total of 3 times before slumping to the ground, his body shaking and his teeth.
"Felix?"
"...It's not working...my magic... won't work. I can't do anything..."
Hearing Felix words Julius fell silent as his mind began recollecting every horrible thing he's done to Subaru, from the beatdown at the arena to the mindless and inhumane beating that was him smacking him across the head with his wooden sword or stabbing and flashing away at his skin slowly with his real sword. Julius's body shut down as he fell deep into his memory as he relieved every single moment where he has wrong Subaru.
Felix was currently doing the same thing as Julius, but it was more painful for him. He remembered how much he hated Subaru. He remembered the weak fool who embarrassed himself upon the stage and proclaimed to be a knight and tried to shame and dishonor the royal knights by boasting himself as a hero, but now looking back at everything, what Subaru said was true. He became Emilia's knight, was the key to taking down the white whale saving everyone from destruction, and ending a 400-year-old calamity, not only that but he selflessly saved his lady. And what did Felix do to repay the boy? Heal his body just to break him again and again and he took pleasure in it. He enjoyed his screams, he enjoyed his cry for help and even though he hated him not answering his questions when it came to healing his lady. He was always happy and excited to try something new to possibly make Subaru give answers to a question Felix now knew he never had.
Felix had several warnings, and those warnings were the answer Subaru gave him, 'I'm not a witch cultist.' 'I don't know a cure.' And time and time again Felix ignored those warnings and just continued beating the helpless boy.
'How did it even come to this?' That was all the cat boy could ask himself. Now that Felix was thinking about it, did they arrest Subaru on any grounds other than Beatrice accusing him of being an archbishop? Sure the scent was overwhelming and one akin to an archbishop but other than that was there anything else connecting him to being a witch cultist?
However, Subaru didn't have gospel on him, nor did he wear the typical outfit of a witch cultist, and they found nothing on him besides a whip. They had no evidence aside from one accusation even if it was from a great spirit. Yet the two knights did not investigate further and instead just made the boy's life hell.
"let's...take him... back to the manor, let's clean him up and prepare a funeral. I shall...inform Emilia-sama upon her return." Julius said aloud with shame clearly in his voice as he tries to resist the urge of just dropping on the floor and beg Subaru to forgive him and wake up.
Julius took one last look at Subaru's dead body and turned to walk away.
"Free him from his chains...he's... been in there long enough. It's a shame his final resting place is here, I'm sorry Subaru I truly do lack virtue." and on that note, the greatest of knights took his leave.