The ride back to the capital was intense, to say the least. For the past 2 days, there had been no breaks. Everyone was in hyperdrive, no one could sleep, no one could eat. Only one thing was on their minds as the distance between them and the capital of Lugnica decreased, and that was to save their friend and savior Subaru Natsuki. Their minds raced as they wonder what state they would find their friend in. Would he be nothing but an empty shell of his former self? Would he grow to hate and despise them? Or...would he- no they couldn't start thinking about the problems of would he, at the moment. They needed to reach the capital at all costs.
Inside the royale dragon carriage, 3 people were sitting inside half-ice-covered seats. The inside of the dragon carriage was so cold the windows look like they cracked when in reality it was just, ice encasing around it. Even though the inside was arguably less than -20 degrees. No one was complaining, no one was even arguing. All they were was lost in their own thoughts at the moment, for the entire dragon ride in fact. No one even spoke to each other ever since Emilia gave out the orders to reach the capital. Even the newly reunited oni-sister maids stayed far away from each other. One was outside steering the carriage and the other inside giving others a worried and sad look as she just went along with this intense silent game. But they can't continue like this forever.
"Um..Everyone... Excuse me..." The silence finally broke as a gentle and sweet voice spoke, breaking everyone out of their days-long trance. Everyone inside the dragon carriage looked up with dull, lifeless eyes at a certain sky-blue oni-maid.
"I'm truly sorry if... I'm bothering everyone's thoughts but where is Subaru-Kun. Rem would like to see her hero again."
The blue oni spoke softly and slowly and began to smile at the thought of the raven-haired knight.
A volt hit everyone right in the chest when Rem finished speaking. Heavy breathing began to fill the air as Garfiel tried to keep himself under control. A red aura was circling around him indicating he was angry and was about to turn into his giant beast form, but he tried to keep it under wraps. The dragon carriage was the only ride to his captain and he can NOT fail him again by losing his emotions.
Following Garfiel, the temperature of the carriage decreased drastically, the windows were completely encased and dim the sunlight piercing inside the dragon carriage. Snow began falling, as a silver-haired half-elf stared at the snow pile beneath her feet. Her amethyst eyes began to glow brightly while a cold whisper no one could hear circled the air.
"Calm your magic I suppose!" A drilled-haired little girl screamed out, as she violently shook Emilia from her motionless state. As if by magic, the light in Emilia's eyes slowly began to fade and return to its normal color. She still didn't make eye contact with anyone, she couldn't make eye contact with anyone even if she tried. Her mind was on one thing and one thing only, the man who selflessly saved her time and time again and asked for nothing in return.
'Because I love you, Emilia.'
'If you don't want this, dodge.'
She heard her knight's voice ring out in her head like water droplets in an empty cave. The scene of her and Subaru kissing kept playing in her head, filling her heart with warmth yet with strange otherworldly cold as well. For the first time in a long time Emilia, royale selection candidate chosen by the dragon himself. Felt herself plummeting into an empty black void of emotions, everyone around her was gone and the only thing left remaining were pictures of Subaru. He was smiling, he was talking to her, loving her, and now he was crying, begging, pleading. Just like the time she left him at the Crusch's manor when they got into a fight.
"Don't cry," Emilia spoke in a soft whisper to herself, yet everyone around her could hear.
"This time, I'm gonna save you, my dunderhead knight." Emilia proclaimed proudly before sinking deeper into her mind.
"SAVE?!" Rem screamed out as jumped up with such force the dragon carriage almost served off to the left. Luckily the dragon with a little help from Ram kept going straight, and right on track, back to the capital.
"Sit down maid," Beatrice growled out in hatred...for herself?
"The sooner we reach the capital the sooner we reach Betty's Subaru. So sit down and don't cause trouble in fact!"
"Beatrice-Sama, I know I have been asleep for...I don't know how long. But I need to know! is Subaru-Kun in danger? Who has him? What can we do?"
Hearing Rem's desperate pleads, Beatrice simply sighed and sat down on the snow-covered floor in shame.
"It's my fault in fact."
Beatrice said as tears began to build up, Rem looked at her stunned.
"What do you-."
"Emilia-Sama, we have arrived." A voice called out from outside of the dragon carriage as the doors flew open. The light from the sun blinded everyone's vision but standing in front of them was a pink-haired red-eyed oni. When the light dulled down and everyone got used to it once again, everyone simply stared at the oni maid who goes by the name Ram and looked behind her.
They were indeed back in the dragon capital of Luginica. The streets were buzzing with life as humans, demi-humans. Walk and talk with each other side by side, tables with surplus amounts of food, items, and much more were on full display as every citizen toured and enjoyed the life of the city.
None of them were even aware of the shock happening deep inside the system of luginica at the moment. None aware of the pain, and panic the royale candidate Emilia and her camp were feeling at the moment and for now it will stay that way.
At the entrance of the prison inside the capital of luginica two knights could be seen in front of a large brown smooth desk. Unlike the other knights of Luginica who were cleanly dressed, and looked professional in everything they do. These knights were different. Their hair were messy, their knightly clothing was wrinkled and stained all over with red, and most notable of all was their faces gave off a sense of horror, shock, and the black bags over their eyes made it seem like they haven't slept in days.
"I can't believe it."
One of the knights began to speak as he placed his arms over his heads and placed his face onto the desks.
"Is this what we truly did to one of our own?"
The other knight looked at his companion and slumped down on his chair, and looked up tiredly at the ceiling.
"That kid was a fucking hero, and this is what we get? It made me sick cleaning that cell...I don't know how he didn't die sooner from all those wounds."
" You can say that again. There was blood everywhere hell it could match the sea. I could still feel it crawling up my gloves. Just... removing him from that cell made me fucking sick. We were in there for only a few hours, imagine what he must of felt for months."
The two knights both let out a loud sigh, as they tried to forget what they saw... they tried to forget what they've helped done. But as they slowly began to get lost in their own thoughts...
*Creak*
The door leading to the entrance of the prison opened up, they both sat up straight and tried their best to look professional, despite how they looked now, but what they saw in front of them removed any calm they might have had. What the two knights saw chilled them to the very bone.
at the entrance was the half-elf royale selection candidate Emilia herself and some other members of her camp. Fear instantly took place in the royale knights' hearts as Emilia began to walk towards them. Each of her footsteps gave off a small echo, that seemed to shake the room. The aura around her was cold, the air around them dropped in temperature but the knights didn't notice as their hearts started beating from their chest as if asking- No demanding they run away but they couldn't do that. Either out of fear or pride.
Before the knights knew it, Emilia was standing right in front of them with the members of her camp shoulder to shoulder.
"Hello. I am here to take my knight home." The silver-haired candidate spoke in a sweet, loving, but chilling tone.
"Yes. I know Rem's hero is here. Please let us see him." Rem spoke up after Emilia, catching a strong smell of Subaru coming from the uncleaned-looking royale knights. Even though she just woke up a few days ago after sleeping for what seemed like an eternity her sense of smell was still as sharp as ever. Not only that but she could never forget the sweet smell of her hero.
"Hurry up and speak In fact...'Betty needs to apologize.' Beatrice whispered the last part to herself.
"S-"
"S-"
"S-ir, Natsuki is not here at the moment.. h-e, was taking to the Crusch manor." One of the knights finally spoke up giving possibly the worst stutter in the history of all stutters.
He couldn't stop shaking, he tried to tell the truth yet fear held his tongue as if he knew. If he told the Emilia camp the truth he would be nothing more than a frozen popsicle. The room itself is already cold enough to cause frostbite, it was clear to the knight if the half-elf wanted him dead. He would stand no chance against her.
"Crusch's Manor why was Barusu taken?"
Ram asked quickly as he narrowed her eyes in suspicion at how nervous the royale knight looked when he spoke to them but just let it pass by as thinking he was just new to the job. It would explain why he has been covered head to toe in dirt and some red substance. She knew those new to a job no matter what it was. Would have to always do the dirty work that the seniors would never even attempt to do. She would know, she was the one who nearly overworked Subaru to death on his first day at the manor.
"Sir Natsuki has been taken to receive treatment for his wounds." The other knight lied but unlike his partner, he was more calm, collected, and spoke with great comfort as if he was merely talking to a friend.
The words the older knight spoke brought great comfort to the Emilia camp, their worries, their pain, everything they've been panicking about, just lifted from their shoulders. From the knights' words, Natsuki Subaru was alive and was just being treated to some of the wounds he got from the months he's been abandoned.
'Thank Od, my hero is ok.' Rem thought to herself as a smile began to form on her lips. All her worries were for nothing, sure Subaru might be hurt but from how everyone was going on about. Especially with how silent they were in the carriage ride her hero was alive and well, and whatever state he is mentally she will surely help him get back to his feet like last time when he felt like giving up and running away with her.
That was Rem's proudest moment, saving her hero from himself just like how he did with her.
While Rem and the others took in happily the fact Subaru was alive, Emilia... was having mixed feelings. It felt like deja vu for her, when she abandoned Subaru she left him in the care of Crusch Karsten a fellow royale candidate and ally courtesy of Subaru after the great whale was killed. History had a strange since in repeating itself, Subaru was abandoned by his allies and Crusch had to take care of him it was funny in a way.
Emilia really couldn't tell if she was happy or disgusted with herself for letting the man who does so much for her, the man who loves her and now without a doubt now knew she also held the same feelings for be in the care of another woman because of her incompetence. None the less she couldn't think right now, her emotions didn't matter right now all that mattered was reaching Subaru, begging for forgiveness, and bringing him home was all that mattered.
"Thank you, we will be taking our leave," Emilia said while bowing her head respectfully at the two dirty royale knights. With that The Emilia camp left the prison with hope in their hearts and fear for what's to come when they meet with Subaru again. Each of them expressed this type of emotion, except for a blonde drilled haired little girl who was glaring down in silence.
"Why did they smell of so much of Betty's contractor...and of blood...?"
The Great Spirit asks herself in a dull, lifeless, whisper. As she placed her arms on her chest, trying to feel something but...whatever she wanted to feel wasn't there. That chilled her to bone.
Meanwhile, in the Crusch manor, chaos-filled each and every corner. From the garden to the outdoors, to inside every room of the manor. But where the chaos was most active was in single room behind a brown smooth door.
Inside the room royale knights, mages, healers, everyone in a profession that either has something to do with healing or protecting were in this room. All of them were panicking as they all circled around an elegant bed, where a knight with Raven hair and once piercing orange eyes lay motionless. From an outsider looking in, the Raven-haired boy seemed to be simply sleeping on the bed. His skin was smooth, all his wounds disappeared as if it never occurred and his once dirty and ripped up tracksuit was mended and looked good as new. The only signs Subaru had been tortured or badly injured were the fingers missing from his hand and the toes missing from his legs.
"Is there any way to wake him?"
"He's been dead for days now, even Felix couldn't revive him."
"Felix? Crusch's knight Felix you can't be serious, how did scarment of the immortal king not work?"
"I don't know maybe its a condition where after a few days after you die it doesnt work?"
"A possible theory but he arrived after hours of Subaru's death."
"Well there has to be something we can do! The kingdom has lost a hero, and what would happen when the public find out about this?!" (oh im excited to get to that point)
Back and forth chatter occurred in Subaru's room for hours now, the same routine would go as following one of the many people in the room would try to provide a solution, the others would disagree and point out the obvious. Each of them tried their best to figure out a way to do the impoossible and revive one of the nation's greatest hero but none of them had the power to defy death. If Felix, the greatest healer in all of the kingdom couldn't do anything and all the greatest medical minds couldn't do anything. All they could do is try to look for a solution in vain.
Outside the room where Subaru resides a green haired ducches was walking back and forth. She was hearing every word, every single word inside the room, she would get her hopes up when one solution had been found and reality would hit her like a speeding cart dragon. Her heart was arching, her breathing was slowing and tears threaten to fall out of her eyes but she didn't let any of that show.
Crusch Karsten had master her poker face and looked professional and collected no matter the situation. As she paced back and forth, she bit her lip so hard blood began to drip onto the red carpet floor and disappeared as if it never occurred.
She hated herself at this moment, she really hated herself. Subaru has done everyone for her, he helped her slay the white whale, he helped take away her black blood and saved her life, and asks for nothing in advance. She pledged to herself that she will one day pay back Subaru in full for everything he's done but as the sun started to dim closer all she could do was asks OD to please revive Subaru.
"It's decided."
One of the great mages began to speak, Crusch hearing this quickly went to the door and placed her ears on it. Trying to hear every single word as carefully as she could, her heart was racing, her breathing was getting heavier and one thing filled her heart. Hope.
"There's nothing we can do."
And just like that Crusch's heart broke into a million little pieces, hearing this she sluggishly walked away and begin to walk to her office. The look on her face was not one of despair or lifelessness but one of a military officer forced to give the news that a love one was not coming home.
"Crusch-Sama, I bring unfortunate news."
A bultler with white hair and a white beard spoke with sadness clear in his eyes.
"I already know Wilhem... sir Natsuki is dead and there is nothing we can do to reverse what has been done."
Crusch responded with her eyes closed, trying her best to control her emotions at the moment. For the first time in years, Crusch felt true sadness in her chest.
"It seems like i can never repay him for all that he's done."
"Neither can I" Wilhem followed up as he closed his eyes in respect for the boy who helped avenge his wife, the boy who he considered more of a grandson than his actual grandson, and the boy who helped him move forward in life.
To say Wilhem was sad was an understatement, just like Crusch he was broken deep inside but he had been living for so long and has had this job for so long. He has mastered the ability of controlling his emotions. He had to make himself look presentable especially in from of his lady, even though he wanted to do nothing more than slam his fits to the ground and curse OD with all his might on how such a thing could happen to an innocent young man.
"How is Felix?"
Crusch asks with disappointment and anger clear in her tone. Felix was one of the people responsible for the death of Natsuki Subaru, he was the reason why Crusch can never repay her debt. The worst part is he ignored his duties as a knight and didn't bother to investigate to see if Subaru was truly a witch cultist or not. So many clues pointed to him not being one yet all she could ask herself was why no one bothered to investigate?
Crusch was anger at her knight and friend, did she hate him? Even she didn't know , what he's done was sinful and unforgivable but all those times he stood by Crusch's side she couldn't just forsake all those memories.
"Not well. He's been drowning in self-guilt for what seems to be hours now. He cries himself to sleep and when he does, he starts having nightmares about that night."
'I'm sorry Subaru.'
'Please stop, stop hurting him, stop smiling!'
'IT WAS ALL FOR LADY CRUSCH! I DIDN'T MEAN TO I THOUGHT HE WAS A CULTIST!'
'I'm a failure.'
'Ferri is sorry, he's so so sorry.'
The voice of Felix's crying and painfilled voice replayed in Wihelm like a record on repeat, he felt sorry for the blue knight but he reaps what he sows. Wilhelm will give him no comfort, neither will his lady and he knew that clearly. What Felix did was Felix alone and he will deal with the consequences of his actions, mentally and psychically.
"I see" Crusch responded with a sigh and with those words the Crusch manor for the first time in days fell into a deep silence for a limited amount of time. It was nice, it was calming from the endless talking and panicking, Crusch only could hope it would last forever but just like everything in life it didn't.
"LADY KARSTEN, SWORD DEMON WILHEM I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION!" A guard wearing a full seat of metal armor spoke loudly and proudly with a little bit of nervousness in his voice.
Wilhelm and Crusch stopped what they were doing and looked at the guard with a 'What do you want?' type of gaze. Taking notice the guard stood up straight and with a calm and loud tone screamed out."
"EMILIA AND HER CAMP HAVE ARRIVED TO THE MANOR, THEY DEMAND TO SEE SUBARU NATSUKI!"And with those words, Crusch and Wilhems heart sank to the floor.
"Thank you for inviting us in at such short notice Crusch-Sama," Emilia spoke with a gentle smile as she gave a respectful bow.
"It's...no problem at all Emilia-sama, It is completely understan-"
"Enough with the chit-chat, Betty wants to see her Subaru, Betty WANTS TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW INFACT!" The great spirit spoke with great impatience.
"Beako please be respect-"
"Do not call Betty that I suppose! Only Subaru can, only Betty's contractor can." The great spirit spoke with tears threatening to come out of her gentle butterfly-looking eyes. Her contractor was right in this manner and from the information, the guards gave them he was alive and being healed. He was right here...so why didn't she feel the bond?
The contract between spirit and contractor cant be served by anything, even when she accused Subaru of being an archbishop their bond was still present in her chest at the time even though she didn't know why. The entire months they've been apart from one another, even though she thought her contractor was Emilia she could still feel the bond between her and Subaru present so why now was she not feeling it? Especially when her contractor was so close, the bond disappeared ever since she got her memories back. Is that why? Did Subaru break the contract somehow? Beatrice didn't understand why but Beatrice didn't care all she cared about was apologizing for being a worthless spirit.
"Yes, can Rem see her hero now?"
"Yea we need to see the captain."
"Sigh immature fools, Crusch-Sama forgive us for the disrespect my co-workers gave you," Ram said with great disappointment in her voice for every single member of her camp, except for her sister. She found it adorable how she could care for such a worthless man who could barely cut a tato.
Crusch couldn't help but soften her ember eyes as she looks at everyone, she wanted to speak but couldn't. they have to see what happened to Subaru themselves.
"I understand, Sir Natsuki is on the third floor, second brown door to the left." Crusch spoke softly, and with a nod, Beatrice began to walk away, Rem, followed, then Garfield, then Ram. The only one left behind was Emilia who was staring at her with worry in her eyes.
"Will you not join us?"
"No, you need to spend time with Sir Natsuki alone."
"Ok.." The half-elf said before walking off.
Crusch took a deep breath in the morning air, she looked up at the sky as the rays of the sun slowly began to be blocked with Gray clouds. A small droplet fell on herself, indicating to her it was about to rain.
Truly ironic, rain falling on a disastrous event. But even if it would rain Crusch would stay out, she wasn't brave enough.
"I'm sorry sir Natsuki, for not being able to save you as you save me"
Crusch Karsten shed tears alone, with no one intruding and witnessing her shame. if someone was to witness her, they would see her shed tears of pain and agony as if a love one was truly lost just a few minutes ago.
The walk to Subaru's room was more intense than anything The Emilia camp has faced in their life. The battle with the great rabbit? small, the defeat of the sin archbishop of wrath and saving pristella, HA! arguably even been worth a challenge. The dragon carriage ride to the capital was intense but THIS!? They rather get stabbed 100 times in the back with sharp blades than have to face Subaru head-on but they had no choice, they needed to confront him.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking up the surprisingly long stairs and a long hallway. They finally reached the exact location, the second door to the left, a brown smooth door, and just behind it was a hero.
Emilia stood at the door, her mind came up with 100 different scenarios on how this would go. Subaru screaming at them, Subaru hugging them, Subaru attacking them and blaming them for leaving them behind. If The scenarios in Emilia's mind were ratio'd it would be 25/100 Subaru hating them, 50/100 Subaru having a mental breakdown and crying her hearts out, and 15/100 of Subaru actually forgiving them. Well never to do but get this over with.
Emilia slowly opened the door, it gave out a loud otherworldy creak. Raindrops could be heard outside the manor as the door opened up to reveal a dimly lit room with an elegant bed. On the bed was Natsuki Subaru himself. The Emilia camp walked inside the room one by one and circled around the bed and took a good at Subaru.
It made them sick, Subaru looked completely healed and untouched. But some of his fingers are missing, some of his toes are missing as well. If this was what was missing, Od knows what kind of other pain Subaru had to deal with while everyone was away having fun on their little adventure.
"Subaru." Emilia spoke gently as she tried to shake the ravened haired knight, his skin felt...cold but Emilia assumed with was just herself. Her magic had been out of control for days so she thought it was only herself.
Getting no response Emilia shook the raven-haired knight again... no response... again... no response... again and again and again and again again again again. She shook the knight, each shake being more desperate than the last yet no response!
"RAM GET CRUSCH! FELIX! WHOEVER! SUBARU ISNT RESPONDING! BEATRICE PLEASE COME TO SEE IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHAT'S WRONG WITH SUBARU!"Emilia screamed out expelling any oxygen from her lungs.
Without saying a word Ram raced out of the room and tried to find any help she could, meanwhile a certain great spirit was staring motionlessly at the corpse that Natsuki Subaru.
She slowly and emotionlessly walked onto the bed and climbed up with no help and moved towards Subaru. She gave a silent prayer to whatever god existed in this world and placed her hand on Subaru's head trying to sense the problem with him.
"Beatrice-sama what's wrong with Subaru-kun!?"
"Yea what's wrong with the captain!?"
The great spirit gave no response instead she delved her head into Subaru's tracksuit and began crying her heart out.
"PLEASE WAKE UP! DON'T LEAVE BETTY ALONE I SUPPOSE! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SUBARU, BETTY IS SORRY FOR HURTING YOU, BETTY IS SORRY FOR LEAVING YOU ALONE JUST PLEASE WAKE UP!"
The great spirit screamed out, her words hitting everyone in the room like a thunderbolt. She didn't have to say it directly but everyone in the room knew at the moment Subaru was dead.
"forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty,forgive betty, forgive betty,forgive betty, wake up, wake up,wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, don't leave me, dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me,dont leave me!"
The great spirits' words kept echoing throughout the room as everyone just stood motionless at the words spoken.
"Captain..." Garfiel simply muttered to himself, his body became otherworldly heavy and he couldn't do anything to keep himself from going onto his knees. The shield of the sanctuary Garfiel Tinsels fell into a deeper hole of self-loathing than the time at the sanctuary. He was a failure, he couldn't protect the person who saved him, he couldn't protect the person who did so much for him. What is a shield other than a useless piece of metal or in this case a useless person if they couldn't defend the person they care about the most?
Emilia on the other hand was different from Garfiel in a way, she could move and she could speak. Her eyes that held so much light grew lifeless as she walked up to Subaru. A print of ice followed her every step as she reached the corner of the bed, when she did she followed the great spirit and began to cry her heart out.
"I'M SORRY! I NEVER RETURN YOUR FEELINGS! I KEPT MAKING YOU WAIT WAIT AND WAIT WHEN YOU SAVE ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND I ABANDONED YOU! JUST LIKE LAST TIME I'M SORRY! I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU MY ONE AND ONLY NIGHT!"
"Emilia-sama...Beatrice-sama... you can't be serious...Rem's hero cannot be dead. He can't be!"
Rem said with complete shock as her vision began to fade in and out, the pain in her heart was too much. The person who saved her from herself cannot die, abandoned by his allies and forced to have his final resting place alone at such a young age. They were supposed to grow old together, they were supposed to laugh until next year like true demons!
'Runaway with me.'
Rem heard Subaru's voice play in her mind of that time when he was broken and didn't have anyone else to turn to but Tem and wanted to run away with her. He wanted to choose and protect her over everyone else at that time, and Rem declined and helped him break out of his depressed state. At the time she felt proud of herself, for saving her hero from himself as well But now...if Subaru was truly dead...
"Did...Rem...make the...wrong choice..."
Suddenly Rem's mind began playing images of a future now completely out of reach, she saw herself with long hair wearing some strange dress unusual from her normal maid outfit. She was holding someone, a baby girl and she was smiling she was happy. Next to her was Subaru, he was also taller more handsome, he wore a slightly different type of clothing Rem had and was holding a blued raven-haired kid.
They all looked happy together, they looked...so...happy. Rem tried to reach her hand and touch the older Subaru but the image quickly faded and all that was left was the crying mess of people in the Emilia camp and Subaru's corpse. The oni joined Garfiel on the ground and began to cry her hearts out while cursing the half-elf and great spirit for even letting such a thing happen to her hero.
Ram was outside she didn't know what was going on In the room but she was feeling it. Her bond to her sister came with the ability to feel her emotions no matter what situation she was in. And right now she was feeling nothing but despair and anguish. The feeling Ram was feeling from REM was the equivalent of knowing the world around them would end and there's nothing you could do about it.
Ram hated this feeling, this terrible feeling that made every part of her body ache with psychical distress even though it was only emotional. She hated her sister having to feel this way because of a useless...stupid...hero.
Ram picked up pace as she looked everywhere in the manor for someone anyone to help Barusu. With each step she took in the manor she was beginning to feel more and more hopeless until in the distance she spotted a feline healer. Wearing his white shinning knightly clothing but his shoes were dirty with an unnatural red.
The feline healer looked tired...his eyes gave off the look as if he didn't even slept in days as with large black bags underneath his eye lids. His hair was a mess and his usually straight cheerful cat ears were down indicting he was bad about something.
Ram could only ask what was going on in his head but now was not the time.
"FELIX!" Ram screamed out with all her might catching the feline healer's attention.
"Nayh?"
Without giving time to explain, Ram grabbed Felix by the arm, and with a speed that would put Usain Bolt to Shame Ram sprint toward Subaru's room and arrive In a matter of seconds.
"Help him, Felix!"
Ram screamed at the healer, catching the attention of every single person in the room. Felix at the desperation in their eyes. They were begging for help, pledging that the great healer would do something, anything to save Subaru.
"please please please you need to help Betty's Subaru. Cant, you revive the dead in fact? arent you the greatest healer in the world. please wake Betty's Subaru so she can apologize!"
Felix's lips trembled to try to give out an answer but even still he steeled his resolved and looked at his Failure in the eyes.
"I, tried. I couldn't do anything I'm sorry. There's...nothing Fe-... I can do."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN!? YOU CANT HELP THE CAPTAIN! THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO!"
Garfiel barked at Felix with tears in his eyes as he began clutching his fingers together so hard, blood began to drip out and fall onto the polished floors.
"Captain can't die, he can't die! he has to wake up!"
"I'm sorry. Ferri is so so sorry."
"It's all Betty's fault, I caused this to Subaru..."
"Beatrice-Sama time and time again, you said it was your fault, why do you keep saying this? What did you do to put Rem's hero in such a condition!"
Rem demanded, completely fed up with being left in the dark for o long! The entire time since she woke up, all she heard was Beatrice's self-loathing as they race back to Subaru, now that her hero was dead. All she wanted to do was avenge him and make everyone who hurt him pay!
Beatrice slipped the sheer hatred in the Oni's voice and looked down in shame.
"Betty...labeled him an archbishop. I thought when Betty's memory was taken and Gluttony escape... Betty's Subaru vile smell was one of a cultist. Betty caused this..."
Before the great spirit or anyone could even take in the information a loud *THUD* echoed throughout the room as the great spirit's body flew across the room, the walls of the manor caught her but the great spirit's body shape left a dent in the wall.
Beatrice's vision was blurry, her artificial body felt great pain as she looked up at the person who did this. Before she was an angry blue-haired oni, her horn crackled with power as sparks began to dance all over the room.
"You hurt Rem's hero, you're the one who left him like this. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO RUINED REM'S REUNION!"
Rem growled as she approached the great spirit, and picked her up, by her now messy drilled hair.
"REM ENOUGH!"
Ram cried! trying to stop her sister from making a mistake she WILL regret. Rem's anger made her blind, she was blind to notice the temperature in the airdrop and mana swirling around the room. She was blind to a vicious red aura surrounding the body of a golden tiger, and she was blind to a healer crying his heart at.
"No Nee-sama, she's the reason why rem's hero is-"
"It wasn't Beatrice's fault."
Felix spoke, catching everyone's attention. The room fell into another worldly silence as everyone stared t the healer. venom in their eyes as if they were snakes prowling their pay. Felix didn't even have to think much about what they were all thinking. 'what do you mean by that you worthless excuse of a healer?'
Taking a deep breath Felix closed his eyes and steeled his resolve, Beatrice would not pay for his sins. Beatrice was the one who informed them but he was the one who caused all of this pain and suffering in the first place.
"I was the one who ordered Subaru to be tortured until he spilled the information on how to undo gluttonies effects. I have put him through great pain, I have done..unspeakable things to Subaru-Kun, if there is someone you wish to punish. Punish me.
'did the air in the room just get even colder?' was all Felix could ask himself as the lower half of his body was frozen solid in an instant. The air in his lungs froze solid as a cold mist started to take shape in the room of the room.
"You've done what to MY SUBARU!?" Emilia growled out, as he begins to freeze the feline healer's body solid. Felix could do nothing but whimper in despair as his eyes searched the room trying to find someone, anyone to help him in his time of need but no one was coming as everyone in the room simply stared with anger in their hearts as Emilia slowly began to freeze Felix solid. She would make sure he would be nothing but an ice statue but luckily for the cat, a strong commanding voice appeared from outside the door.
"Emilia, stop this instant! I understand your pain but killing Felix will not bring back Sir Natsuki."
"Why shouldn't she? Your knight-" Rem was about to start before being suddenly cut off.
"HE IS NOT MY KNIGHT!" Felix's heart sank to the floor as his lady screamed out those 4 simple words. 'he's not my knight' it played over and over in his head like a record, breaking his break mind more than it already was but oh Crusch wasn't done yet.
"Someone who does this to one of their own colleges, and especially with some terrible things I can heard went down in that terrible prison. Don't deserve the title knight I say again, Felix is not my knight and never again shall he be, he shall stay here for today but I assure you Emilia-Sama his presence near me and his Association with has ended. So I simply ask you to spare his life so he can face true justice through the legal system. Killing him here would be an escape from his shame, grief, and all of the things hurting him. Please Emilia-Sama I beg you to reconsider but if you will strike him down. I understand but this will be the end of our alliance."
The duchess spoke clearly and proudly while not backing down, staring deep into the growling rage filed eyes of the royale silver-haired candidate. The room seemed filled with tension but it quickly died down as the temperature started to finally rise up. Felix's half-frozen body was turned back to normal but even though he was no longer freezing. He was shaking, he was screaming on the inside. But all he could do was stare down on the floor like a mad man.
This is what he deserved he knew he deserved this but it didn't make it any better. What did he really want? A slap on the wrist, ha that seemed like a joke now. Now Felix's only reason for existing and that was to serve his lady was now complete and otherly gone when she exiled him from her presence. That was a fate worst than death itself for Felix, no other punishment even if he went to court marshall and be jailed for the rest of his life would semed like child's play to the amount of pain he was feeling now. No amount of emotional or psychical pain could even match up w to what has happened here today.
"Fine! He shall live but Crusch our alliance is completely over. You allowed him to do this to MY KNIGHT. You stayed blissful to the things he was doing, and I am assuming you didn't know anything. But I swear if you knew and completely ignored what was happening. I will freeze you and all those who follow you solid. Thank you for all your care and this is goodbye."
Once Emilia finished her declaration, she walked up to the bed Subaru was resting in and picked him up with her elven strength. Her heart raced as she saw Subaru sleeping even though she knew it was eternal. Subaru sleeping comfortably and peaceful provided a strange calm to her chaotic mind.
Taking one last look at the feline former knight Emilia signaled the members of her camp and left one by one, each giving one last dirty glare at the feline healer who was still shaking from what he just heard from his lady.
At this moment unknown to all the others, the light in Felix's eyes dulled and then disappeared.
He had lost his will to live.
Crunch silently watched them all walk away not daring to say anything before she turned to look at her former knight. She could tell he was distressed but she will offer no comfort. Instead, she simply walked away with a sigh and a heavy heart. Felix will be allowed to stay here just as told but only for today only after that. She never wants to see him in her sights again. That was the decision she made when she spoke with Emilia and one she will keep.
As Crusch walks back to her office. She couldn't help but feel like The death of Natsuki Subaru was going to shake the very foundation of this country...no the world itself. The world was already cold, dark, and miserable as it is. Subaru was one of the few people that brought light to this world with his cheerful attitude, selfless nature, and much more qualities Crusch just couldn't get the mindset of. And with his death, she knew this world was not only going to get darker but...pitch black.