Prolog: I'm home!

?: "I'm home!"

The doors to the old temple were thrust open with a crash, and sunlight streamed into the chamber. As the outside air rushed in, dust billowed up and clouded his vision. His voice, loud and commanding, echoed through the empty halls. His orange and black robes swayed at his side and a pungent smell emanated from him. He looked around the dark empty room, remembering the time when it was full of people.

?: "Where the hell is everybody? I've only been gone a decade! C'mon guys, is there anyone here to welcome me back to Lugnica?"

?: "Subaru!"

Finally a familiar face, Lye Betankitos ran towards him with his arms outstretched. Subaru held his hand out and caught the archbishop of gluttony in the face, keeping him at arm's length. As lye swung his arms around Subaru tried his best not to be touched, knowing the archbishop couldn't resist a meal.

'Subaru': "Don't touch me with those things, I know how you get. And clean your daggers already, I can see last week's blood on them."

Lye: "Sorry hero, we had such a good time, eating, crunching, bitting, gnawing, gouging, gorging, and savoring, we must've forgotten. Tsu~"

Lye backed off from 'Subaru' as he continued speaking. As they conversed, the fodder cultists who had come with 'Subaru' began walking into the temple.

'Subaru': "This coming from the guy who eats memories, since when have you ever forgotten something. Anyway, is Betelgeuse here, I need to talk to him?"

Lye: "Betelgeuse is not here, tsu~. He'll never be here again, tsu~"

Lye's eyes darted from left to right as he spoke. 'Subaru' disliked talking to Lye for long periods, it was like talking to a toddler. 'Subaru' rolled his eyes and continued.

'Subaru': "Okay then. Where is he? And don't say you forgot again."

Lye: "He is dead, tsu~. Killed by our hero, the one who killed the whale."

'Subaru' staggered back in stunned silence. Betelgeuse, dead? How could that be?

'Subaru': "Are you sure, maybe you forgot again?"

Lye: "We're sure, his gospel and witch factor were taken too."

'Subaru' grabbed Lye by the scruff of his shirt and lifted him off his feet. 'Subaru' stared into Lye's eyes as more of the pungent odor filled the room.

'Subaru': "Who killed him? Was it Flugel, that bastard. Or was it Reinhart, once I find out how to kill him, he'll pay. Go on tell me who it is, who is so filled with envy they would kill my best friend just for some silly authority."

Lye: "Our hero, Subaru Natsuki."

'Subaru': "CUT THE CRAP! I'm willing to play your games sometimes but not this time."

'Subaru' began to shake Lye violently, though it seemed to have no effect.

Lye: "It was the other Subaru. Our hero Subaru, tsu~. Enemy of the witch's cult and slayer of the great whale."

'Subaru' stopped shaking Lye after hearing that. It was only then he realized he was talking to a memory, specifically one who thinks of this other Subaru as a hero. He took a deep breath and let Lye down.

'Subaru: "Okay, right, sorry about that, can you tell me more about this hero, where he lives for example. What are his strengths and weaknesses?"

Lye: "He is super weak and has to rely on his friends to help him, although he always seems to have a plan when we need one, tsu~. He lives at the mathers domain, where we work."

'Subaru': "Pfffff, hahahahaha."

'Subaru' couldn't help but laugh. He had thought that if someone was brave enough to steal his name and impersonate him, they would at least be able to hold their own in a fight. But this kid sounded like he needed help crossing the street.

'Subaru': "Thank you Lye. You've put a smile back on my face, even after learning about the death of our friend. As a reward, I'll show you where Regulus hides the sweets, that'll piss him off."

Lye's face lit up at that and he got a very hungry look in his eye. As he talked he began to reach his hands out towards 'Subaru'

Lye: "We thank you so much tsu~. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

'Subaru': "Bad touch, bad touch!"

After this exchange the two archbishops walked together down the halls of the temple, one plotting to eat delicious sweets and another plotting a murder.