"Emilia-sama?" Everyone in the room asks. Emilia's face was contorted into that of confusion, and disbelief. Sweat began going down her head.
'How..?' She thought.
"Emilia-sama, are you alright?" Frederica asks, getting the attention of the half elf.
"Oh, so-sorry, I was just deep in my thoughts for a second there." Emilia said, reassuring them that she's alright. But the spirit didn't believe what she said.
"Good, as I waaaaas saying, we need the blood of the dragon to cure Subaru." Roswaal said. He still hopes to get some of that divine blood for his sensei.
The rest of the conversation went on like in the previous life, but when everything was over, Beatrice wanted to talk to Emilia about... something...
There on the hallway, Beatrice was looking out at the night sky from the hall's window. She turns to Emilia as she sensed her presence.
"What do you want to talk about Beatrice?" She asks her.
"Hm, not the best place to talk I suppose, we should talk in there in fact." She said pointing at Subaru's room.
Emilia nods, then enters the room, and there lies, the peaceful sleeping boy.
"So, what do you want to talk about Betty?" Emilia asks Beatrice, to which it annoyed her.
"Firstly don't call me 'Betty' in fact! And for 'What?' well, I have something to ask of you I suppose." Beatrice said. "Have you... Died?" She asks, stuttering.
To Emilia's confusion, she then remembers the cult, the mansion being frozen, and the corpses. Those god forbidden corpses...
Emilia nods in confirmation, making the spirit deny everything that is happening right now.
"How?" Beatrice utters.
"How did we go back?" Emilia finishes her question as both girls now checked if they are not hallucinating, nor dreaming.
'This should be impossible!' Both thought as they thought they should've venture on to the afterlife, both were now back in the past.
Once was trembling at what's happening, and the other was a broken mess. Both trying to comprehend what the hell just happened, and if what happen did actually occur, they failed him again. THEY FAILED HIM AGAIN!
Both then looked at their sleeping friend, having a smile on his face, still breathing, calming them down. As both calmed down, they heard the voice of the witch in their heads.
"Here's a little gift from me." Said the witch. Was this her gift to them? Did she knew they'd fail eventually?
"It's not the time to think about it I suppose." Beatrice said as she forces herself to stop thinking about it.
"What's important right now is we can save him in fact." Beatrice pointed out, gesturing to the sleeping boy.
"Right, we have another chance..." Emilia utters out. What if this was a one time thing? What if they'd fail again, will they have another chance? Whatever may happens they need to make sure no matter what, they must prevent the attack, before they'd depart to the Sage's tower.
Both gave worried looks for the sleeping boy, hoping to prevent the blood bath that will happen in the mansion. Considering they were gone almost for an entire month, they have to delay their trip, and secure the mansion's safety first.
There in his office, in front of him was the half-elf candidate he supports in the royal selection, the other was the spirit who has been with him for the past four hundred years. Now they were having an argument to postpone the trip.
"Emilia-saaama, if I were you I'd continuuuuueeee the trip to save our dearest Subaru-kun from hiiiis state." Roswaal said, trying to push the girls to go on their trip.
"But we need to secure everyone's safety first!" Emilia refuted. She was getting irritated on how dense Roswaal is. First at the Sanctuary, now this.
"But the most important priority is waking up Subaru-kuuuun once moreeeee." Roswaal argued. He was still the man who would sacrifice anyone just to attain his goals, if it's for his sensei, he'd do so gladly.
"You're not getting the point in fact! There'd be an attack on the mansion within this month in fact!" Beatrice joins in, not standing anymore to this clown's demands.
Once the bombshell has been dropped, Roswaal looked at Beatrice. One eyebrow raised.
"My dearest Beatrice, hoooow do you know theeeere'd be an attaaaack on my mansion hm~?" Roswaal asks. 'Have they got that power now?' He thought. Now that Subaru is comatose, his power must've transferred to them but how? How such power would transfer from one person to the other.
Beatrice remained silent. If she continue to argue, she most likely be accused to be working with the cultist. But if she let's Roswaal force them to go to the Tower now, then they'd doom their second chance.
Emilia took the stand and defended their side. "It's because we already experienced it! We've just returned by dea-" Emilia utters but gets cut off. Darkness began enveloping everyone, except her and Beatrice.
"Wh-What's happening?" Emilia stutters, as now Roswaal has been fully enveloped by the shadows.
"I-I don't know I suppose..." Beatrice stutters out, as now shadows began forming beneath their feet.
Shadowy claws began appearing, two claws began cupping their cheeks, the other two began venturing down their body, to their chest, then to their hearts. As it cups their hearts, the next second it crushes them.
The shadows instantly disappears, and both now started panting, breathing for air.
Roswaal shows concern on what just happened, for once.
"Emilia-sama! Beatrice!" He yells out in worry.
Both girl's attention were immediately caught, as it was so uncharacteristic of Roswaal to be worried for anyone. Non the less they shrugged on Roswaal's show of concern.
"We-we're fine./I suppose." Both said in unison. For some time, they still were panting, grasping for air.
It was another morning. The breeze was cool, flowers bloomed and the beautiful sky was the ideal scenario for anyone. The sun's light kissing the boy's face, lighting up his peaceful expression. Two girls enters the room, one with the wheel chair, the other with a tray of food. It was another morning in the Mather's residence. Another day, another new start.
For now, it was another time to bring the boy outside of his room, and into the front yard of the mansion. Another morning, another chance. For now they have to retry. Knowing that the mansion will be attacked within this month. So they decided to stay for a bit. They need to know what will happen. Why did the cult attack? What were they after?
"We're here Subaru." Emilia said, as she was the one controlling Subaru's wheelchair.
"Open up I suppose." Beatrice said as she feeds her contractor. Emilia opens Subaru's mouth and Beatrice feeds him.
It was just another morning, another repeated morning. For the rest of the day it was peaceful. It was the day they were supposedly to get supplies for their trip to the tower. But due to what they've supposedly experience, they decided to delay their trip. They let Ram and Rem went to the buy groceries for the day, instead of them buying supplies for their trip.
Since they didn't went to gather supplies Beatrice and Emilia had some time to talk things out.
It was night and the residence of the Mather's mansion were asleep. The moonlight lights up the carpeted floor, and the halls were deafly silent. There laid a room, with the sleeping boy. And with him are the two girls, his contracted spirit, and the love of his life. There, the two conversed, the only ones to hear them was the sleeping boy and themselves.
"So why did you want to talk to Betty I suppose?" Beatrice asks. Earlier Emilia asks if she could have a private conversation with Beatrice, since she was the only person who had died with her previously.
"I was just wondering, how would we protect Subaru from the attack?" Emilia voiced out.
"Hm, We could take him to the tower I suppose." Beatrice said, but before Emilia could refute, she added more to her proposal. "But the rest would be attacked. Either their target was Subaru, or the mansion itself we don't know in fact." She finishes.
"But what can we do then?" Emilia asked, to which the spirit was left to her own thoughts. Their main priority was Subaru, but it would also hurt them if they lost every other member.
And the night went on, no progress as they were left to their own thoughts.
In the castle of dreams, once again Subaru inspects what has transpired. They were left to their own thought as he witnessed what he thought what should be impossible for them.
"You gave them Return by Death!?" Subaru yelled at Satella. Sure he wanted them to get what they deserved after what they've done to him, but he wasn't expecting this.
"Y-Yes, why are you so furious about it?" Satella stutters out. 'Why is he mad about this? It was for his own sake and punishment for what they've done to you!' She thought. His humble personality and mind did not make any sense to her. How is someone this humble!
"I wanted them to see regret what they did to me in another way and not by this manner!" He yells at her. This definitely is not one of the ways he wanted to punish them. And now he has to see them undergo different loops just to save him.
"Why are you so mad at Tella, Baru?" Typhon curiously asks.
"I guess the boy is mad at her simply because he doesn't want them to suffer that much." Echidna replied as she sips her tea.
"But what they did is wrong!" Typhon yelled.
"Yet they are not on fault." Sekhmet defended. " The one at fault here is that Archbishop who ate his name." She added as she yawns.
"A-And Subaru's love and care for them h-holds his hatred back." Carmilla said. Truly Subaru was a wonder to the witches, nothing like Hoshin nor Flugel.
And now as they watched future events, Subaru could only hope they get what they deserved in the right amount and not that much. He doesn't want them to undergo what he had gone through to get to this point.
"Hm, I wonder what will the Witch of Glaciation will go through?" She utter as she smiles. The smile that shows she was intrigued and hungry for knowledge.
After several days of waiting, it was now nearly a month and the Cult hasn't attacked yet. They weren't sure if this was a good sign to leave, or simply it was a trap. Either way it's been days now and they haven't made any progress in saving Subaru. They were now growing impatient, and so is Roswaal. Ever since Emilia's visit, he was reluctant on delaying the trip, yet he did. And now he was loosing precious time. They need to go now.
And so, it came to a head in one night. Emilia was called to Roswaal's office.
"Emiliaaaa-sama. As much as I understand your concerns, weeeee need to save Subaru-kun from his state noooooow." He said.
"But the witch cult attack!" Emilia refuted.
"Weeeee will deeeaaal with the attack, but for saaaafe measures, take Subaru-kun wiiiiiith you." Roswaal proposed. It wasn't a bad idea, but...
"How about the others!?" She asks him.
"Weeee willl be on the capitaaal for the meeean time." Roswaal said.
"And as foooor our place, we will aaaask for some knights to take care of the mansion whiiile we're gone." He added.
It was not a bad proposal, yet some knights had to be sacrificed if the cultists did attack. So it either be them or the knights. Emilia, battling her morality, chose to agree with Roswaal.
"Fine." She reluctantly agrees. "But please keep watch of the cultists okay?" She added, to which the clown just gave a smile.
And with that their meeting concluded and they were about to take on the tower for the third time. Hopefully with no major losses. Hopefully.
'Dear Od, help us." Emilia thought. She just wanted to save Subaru that's all. Why must the cult attack? What was their motives?
'Was it for revenge?' She thought as she went though the night-lit hall of the mansion going back to her room. Until she saw Beatrice heading out of Subaru's room.
"Beatrice!" Emilia called out.
"What is it I suppose?" She asks as she shuts the door to Subaru's room.
"We have to go in two days, and Roswaal said we'll be bringing Subaru with us." Emilia elaborated to the Spirit.
"Oh, so he lost his patience I suppose." Beatrice utters lowly.
"What was it Beatrice?" She asks.
"Nothing I suppose." Beatrice replied. "So what's the plan I wonder? Leave the rest to die I suppose?" She asks.
"What!? No! Don't be like that Betty!" Emilia scolded her.
"Don't use that name I suppose!"
"KEEP IT DOWN WILL YA 'ERE TRYIN' TO SLEEP" Garfiel yelled as he gets annoyed.
As soon as they heard Garfiel complaining, they just decided to move into the library.
"So what's the plan I suppose?" Beatrice asks.
"We'll be heading to the tower with Subaru, while the others goes to the capital for a bit." She replied.
"Huh, then who'll stay in the mansion I wonder?" Beatrice asks.
"Roswaal said he'll get some knights to guard the mansion." Emilia said.
"Hm, not a bad plan I suppose." The spirit commented.
"Can I go with you?" Out of no where, Rem asks.
"Rem..? What are you doing here?" Emilia asks.
"I've followed you and Beatrice-sama after I heard shouting. Although it took Rem several tries to enter." The maid explained.
"And why do you want to come I wonder?" The spirit asks.
"Rem simply wants to aid you in waking up Subaru-kun." She said.
"Are you sure you want to come, Rem?" Emilia asks, trying to get confirmation from the maid.
"Yes, Rem shall accompany you." She said, as she nodded. Her will does not falter.
"Alrighty then, I'll tell Roswaal." Emilia said. "But for now, we should prepare. Another journey to the Sage's tower." She said.
"Good night everyone." She said as she leaves along with Rem, saying their good nights to one another.
It was once again their day of their journey. And once again they'll ask for the Divine Dragon's blood. And again, they'll be accompanied by the knights who failed their friend. The knights they resent so much. Outside, there waited the knights in the front yard. And as the door of the mansion opened, the three knights and butler had bowed their heads in respect.
"Good morning Emilia-sama, Beatrice-sama." They greeted.
"Good morning to you as well/I suppose." Both girls replied in courtesy, but deep inside them, their resentment hasn't died down at all.
"Shall we go now Emilia-sama?" Wilhelm asks, gesturing for them to get in the carriage.
"Actually, we'll be accompanied by two more people." Emilia said.
"And who might that be Emilia-sama?" Reinhard asks.
"Them." Emilia said as she looks back.
Coming out of the door was the blue-haired maid. And with her, the sleeping boy on his wheelchair.
The three knights, who by this point their self-hatred for themselves had grown, were feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. Now that they will be joined by the unconscious boy, it just reminded the "Greatest among Knights" and the healer of the screams of the boy who they tortured back then. And now, they just hoped they could atone their sins against him. After everything what he has done to them and what they've done to him, it was the right thing they could do now.
"Oh, okay then Emilia-sama." Reinhard replied. Reinhard berated himself ever since that day. If he wasn't so slothful, he could've saved Subaru from this state, but no. Now his friend is in a lifeless state, because of him.
And now, once everyone was ready to go, they now embarked once again to the Sage's tower. Emilia and Beatrice just hoped they would succeed this time. That they wouldn't witness another massacre. That they wouldn't fail him. They just prayed to Od Laguna that this time around, everything will be fine.
But for their maid who had accompanied them in this journey, she now smells the scent coming from Emilia and Beatrice. She wasn't skeptical about them, since she had known them for a long time now, and it was only this time that the scent came from them. But it wasn't strong as Subaru's. Non the less, she just hoped her hero would wake up soon.
"Oh, so the gospel has spoken again?" A woman said as she sensed something coming out of her gospel. She pulls out a black-leather book, and proceeds to turn it's pages, and stops in one page. She read it silently.
"Looks like I'll be reunited with him again." She utters as she now walks. Another ordeal was now at hand. The ordeal that will bring back a sin archbishop to his rightful place. The one who this woman oh so loves. And now, they will first harvest that boy's authority.
Their target, the unconscious boy who was heading for the sage's tower.
A/N: Sorry took so long, but non the less here's the new chapter. I am not dead, and next chapter will clarify how this sin archbishop escaped her captivity. Like always thank you for reading, and see you soon, I need to take my rest now.
PS: For the lore masters, this is an AU. This doesn't follow the usual rules for gluttony. Once the name or memory is eaten, contracts are also gone. Just to clarify this IS an AU.
-Stranger