Chapter 14 – Into the Sanctuary…
Within Roswaal's Mansion, as Subaru returned to the office after escorting Meili back into her cell, the group decided it a good moment to discuss the trip to Sanctuary.
"Sheesh… That girl really should calm down a little…" The hero commented with a tired tone. "She almost bit my fingers from how mad she was, the little savage… It was only a game!"
"Subaru-sama?"
"Hm?"
"Oh, yeah!" Subaru sat down beside Emilia, staring at Frederica as she laid on the table a rough map of the Mathers territories. "I think I've seen this map before… Ram once explained the layout of the land with it when I first arrived."
"Yes…" Emilia's eyes narrowed, staring within the map the location Arlam, yet her vision slowly but surely drifted north, in the direction of Elior Forest. "So, Sanctuary is east from the Mansion, right?"
"Deep within the Forest of Kremaldy, yes." The maid nodded back.
"Kremaldy?" Otto frowned at the mention. "Are you sure?"
"What's wrong Otto?" Subaru gazed at the trembling boy in wonder.
"He must be worried about the rumors surrounding the forest… After all, they are true, Subaru-sama." Frederica gave the reason away.
"Rumors?"
"It is said that you get lost within Kremaldy forest; that no matter how you try and attempt to cross it, you'll always end up in the spot you began, so it is better to simply go around it." The merchant boy explained with exhaustion. "*Sigh* Does it really have to be that hard to meet the Margrave?"
"To be precise, that should be the reason as to why Sanctuary must be considered as such." Subaru reasoned. "Wouldn't be much of a sanctum if anyone could stumble on it while taking a hike."
"Even if you say that…"
"There is one specific route you can take within the forest to reach Sanctuary safely… Or at least its vicinity." Frederica pointed her finger on the map, tracing a line from Roswaal's Mansion and into the forest, guiding it all the way to the heart of the sea of woods.
"Oh!" Otto beamed in surprise. "So I suppose this must be another secret of the Margrave… Yikes! I really must be delving deeper into things than I initially expected!"
"Are you sure you aren't just digging for new ways to get a few extra coins from the guy, eh?" Subaru smugly grinned at the now nervous wreck in front of him.
"…N-No…" The merchant boy looked away from the hero with embarrassment.
"That doesn't look like the face of a 'no' though…"
"Argh! Fine! I planned to convinced the Margrave to buy some oil as well, alright?!"
"Ehehe! You sure buckle over fast after a pair of words!" The black-haired teen teased again.
"You are merciless, Natsuki-san…"
"My… I didn't think a boy like Otto could be so shrewd…" Emilia followed Subaru's mockery with her obliviousness.
"I'm not a boy! I'm a man!" The boy yelled with a blush.
"*Cough-Cough*" Frederica interrupted the tomfoolery by gaining their attention once more. "A word, if I may…"
"Apologies, Frederica."
"Yeah, sorry!"
"Augh…"
"Back to topic." The maid stared at Subaru and Emilia sternly. "Once you arrive to the heart of the forest, you must be cautious of the man named 'Garfiel'."
"Garfiel…" Subaru repeated. "Is he like a Gatekeeper to the place or something?"
"You could… say that." The servant looked away for a moment before staring at Subaru again. "There is also, however, the problem of the barrier."
"The barrier… That's why folks get lost in there?" The grey-hair mop inquired now with newfound interest.
"Indeed." The maid produced a blue-hued gemstone laced to a string, making it a rudimentary necklace. "Said barrier can be bypassed by the use of this." She assured as she handed the stone to the half-elf.
"Ah, so the gem is like a keycard, I see…"
"Keycard?" Otto raised an eyebrow. "How can a key be a card, Natsuki-san? Don't they require indentations to open a lock?"
"Keycards don't work that way, you just slide them and the door opens." The moron explained, omitting all details.
"You have cards that unlock all locks?! How is security even managed beyond the waterfall?!"
"You dingus! It's not that overpowered! You are not getting it!" The boy snapped in exasperation at the merchant. "Keycards are-!"
"Eh-Erhm!" Frederica interrupted the children once more. "As I explained, the stone shall serve as a qualification for penetrating through the barrier. From then on, the Ground Dragons can take you in a straight line all the way towards Roswaal-sama and the Sanctuary."
"Okay, okay!" Subaru got up with excitement. "We have a plan and the how-to-get-there settled! It might put a bit of a damp on their construction work, but I'll go secure some supplies from the village tomorrow."
"We can apologize and compensate properly once Roswaal and the other half of the village returns. At any rate, we'll be leaving the day after, then." Emilia concluded as she and Otto got up as well. "It has been a reaaaaaally tiring few days… As such, make sure to rest properly tonight, there is much to do still ahead."
"Yeah!"
"Understood, Emilia-sama."
As everyone retired for the night, emptying the office, Frederica called out to the Avenger once more as he made his way to his quarters for the night.
"Subaru-sama?"
"Yes?" Subaru sat back down and stared at the standing servant. "What is it?"
"…Once more, now that Emilia-sama isn't around, I would like to properly apologize for my behavior earlier." She bowed at him. "I know you should be retiring to rest right now… so forcing you to listen to my apology is discourteous and rude, to say the least."
"*Sigh* If it's just that, then it's fine…" He gave her a tired smile. "You had every right to chew me out; I was being forthcoming as hell pilling up accusations against your boss. I suppose someone HAD to put a stop to it proper."
"Even so, my behavior reflects not just on Roswaal-sama now, but Emilia-sama as well. Openly attacking the rhetoric of the man that saved my masters' domains when said words had logic and reason to them was still disrespectful." She got back up from her position, staring intensely at Subaru. "I realize now, in hindsight, that wishing to speak to Roswaal-sama was a tactic devised to prove his innocence. By having me, his subordinate, directly attack your stance, I could imply his culpability." The maid frowned slightly before recomposing herself into a neutral face. "Which is why, for arrogant as it may be, I ask that you please not equate my words to those of my Lord's, if only for this particular instance."
"Ugh… You people really are big on the whole 'I reflect on everyone' thing, aren't you?" Subaru scratched his head in annoyance. "Then again, I DO reflect on the Avengers as well, rookie as I might be… So I guess I should learn a bit from said attitude as well." He looked at the still apologetic maid with pity. "…Fine. Uhm... If you really feel like compensating that much…"
"Hm?" The maid perked up at his word.
"Tomorrow, when we clean the disaster outside, I want you to tell me about yourself. I'll take that as an apology." He smiled at her.
"Speak… About myself?" The maid made a confused face at him. "Why so?"
"Well, I've been going around trying to learn as much as I can from this world! I'll be working with Emilia and the candidates closely now, so I suppose that getting to know their subordinates with small talk is also part of the job!"
"Uhm… I guess that would make sense…" The servant reasoned. "But why me? I am a maid to Emilia-sama, nothing more."
"Hey, hey! You are part of the camp as well, are you not?" Subaru was quick to retort. "Who cares if it's a maid?! If I get to talk important stuff with a butler and just as much with a knight, a maid makes no difference!"
"Are you referring to your interactions with the subordinates of the other candidates?"
"Yep! Crusch's butler was this real good swordsman! Priscilla had a knight that comes from Earth, like me! And Anastasia… Okay, we can skip Ana, point is that I like to know the people I surround myself with, so I'd like to get to know you too! You know, make friends and all? I do call myself the 'Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man' for a reason! Ah! Do not forget the hyphen between 'Spider' and 'Man' if you are writing it down! Otherwise, I'd have to grow the extra limbs and switch it up to the 'Human Spider'… How lame is that?!"
"…Ufufu!" The maid's sole reaction was to giggle at the man's comment. "I figured you'd be talkative from Emilia-sama's descriptions…"
"Owch."
"…But I must admit, you are also quite odd."
"So, we friends already?" The guy smirked confidently.
"Hm… I suppose so. Thank you for your 'friendship', Subaru-sama." The maid nodded and grinned back at him.
The next morning, after a night of well-deserved rest, Subaru and Frederica both woke up early to tend to the Mansion's dilapidated state. While lifting some of the debris, carrying away into the forest or reestablishing as soil for the hollowed garden, Subaru prompted some of his wonders for the maid.
"…So, you grew up in this Sanctuary place, right Frederica?"
*BLAM*
"That is correct, Subaru-sama." The maid nodded as she settled a pile of uprooted trees to the side of the broken fence.
"I gotta say you are pretty strong!" He commended as she moved onto lift another pile.
"Hm, I'm not quite sure a girl would like to be told that." Frederica chuckled.
"Sorry, sorry…" Subaru said apologetically as he rounded up the broken fence's parts.
"It is quite fine… My strength is part of my heritage, after all."
"Beatrice did say you were a 'half-beast' I think…" The boy stood still for some seconds. "So you are a demi-human as well… Honestly, I've seen so much crazy stuff; I figured it was some Divine Protection or something else."
"Well… Sanctuary is rather filled with- HMPH!" She threw another pile beside the fence.
*BLAM*
"…Demi-humans." She finalized her statement monotonously while wiping some sweat from her brow.
"I suppose that must be the reason for the name, huh?" The boy turned to look in the direction of the Capital. "Back in the city, it was actually a bit scary how people treated each other."
"Pardon?" The maid turned to look at him in confusion.
"I'm just saying… Perhaps the name 'Sanctuary' is set to be called like that because it is a mostly demi-human village, as you said." He continued. "Seeing how the people in the Capital treated each other due to their race, not to mention the hierarchy, the fact that Roswaal is an advocate for demi-humans and is keeping the place under wraps, perhaps he really is more considerate than I thought."
"Well, hopefully that makes you reformulate your overall opinion of Roswaal-sama, Subaru-sama." Frederica grinned in satisfaction at the boy's conclusion.
"By the by, where did the… cultists' corpses go?" Subaru looked at the maid with an uncomfortable expression as he inquired. "I'm sorry about the morbid topic, but as I understand it, the ones in the village ended up in a common grave at the forest's edge; there wasn't that much to bury after the Archbishop's attack after all…"
"Well, I gathered their bodies and had them cremated within one of the clearings." The blonde stated matter-of-factly. "I don't believe such people deserved a grave, after all. The sole reason the villagers gave them one was because there were too many for one pyre alone to do the job."
"I see… I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
"It is no problem… I'm glad I could get rid of the grim visage before the new arrival after all."
"New arrival?"
"…You'll see tomorrow, Subaru-sama." The maid teased as the smile returned to her face.
"?" The boy could do nothing but be left wondering on what exactly she was talking about.
"Ah! Frederica, Subaru!" As the pair moved another set of rubble around, the bell-like voice of the half-elf, Emilia, called for them from behind. "Good morning!"
"Oh! Good morning, Emilia-tan!" Subaru turned to greet her, surprised by her presence on the yard.
"Good morning, Emilia-sama." The maid bowed in reverence.
"I'm amazed you are up this early! I thought for sure you'd sleep until noon with all that has happened recently!" The boy mocked smugly. "You know, like you usually do!"
"Wha-?! Subaru! You shouldn't make such rude comments!" The half-elf exclaimed with annoyance of her own. "Even I can be an early riser if I resolve myself to be one!"
"Hehehe…" Subaru simply chuckled at her complaint.I thought for sure she'd still be upset about Puck… But she seems rather cheerful if she can banter like this with me.
"Emilia-sama." Frederica prompted to her Lady once more. "Let's go inside, if you are up and about already, it'd be improper for your breakfast not to be served."
"Ah, thank you, Frederica." Emilia and Frederica prepared themselves to head back into the mansion, only to notice that Subaru was not accompanying them. "Subaru? Is something wrong?"
"Huh?" The boy shook his head. "Nah, nothing to worry about. I was just thinking of going back to the village to help, being that we are already almost done with the grounds here… I did say I had to gather some supplies for the journey first, right? I'll be back by lunch, I think."
"Oh… That's right…" Emilia remained pensive for some seconds.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…Uh… Emilia-tan?" As Subaru was heading for the exit to the estate, both him and Frederica stared at Emilia with worry, vexed as to why… she started following behind Subaru. "You… You want to come with me to the village?"
"Huh?"
"Weren't you and Frederica heading for breakfast right now?" He asked still perplexed.
"Well… Yes." She simply nodded, ignorant to what he was implying.
"…Then why are you following me outside of the mansion grounds?"
"What? I'm not-"
"Yes, you are! Look!" He pointed behind her, signaling to the still befuddled maid who had shrunk into the distance staring at the two.
"Huh?! When did I-?!" She turned around, bolting towards Frederica's direction. "U-Uhm! See you at lunch!"
"Y-Yeah…" The weirded out waved back at her as she disappeared into the mansion with the maid. "…That was… kinda weird?"
"She seemed a little clingy, following you around just now." Karen interrupted Subaru's thoughts as he exited into the road to Arlam.
"Clingy? Emilia?" The boy's tone went into confusion once again. "Um- Why would you think that?"
"Losing Puck's figure, I reason she has begun to subconsciously follow YOU as a role model now."
"Well… I cannot say I'm the best role model." The hero rubbed his head with embarrassment. "I'm petty, I'm loud, annoying… Also, I tend to go off on people when annoyed, so add impatient and stubborn too. Plus, Rem followed my example and ended up in bed with… a lot of injuries…"
"You sure are quick to point out the flaws, aren't you? When was the last time you received a genuine compliment and managed to get it through your thick head?"
"K-Karen?" Subaru gazed at his wrist, vexed by the A.I.'s reproachful voice.
"Subaru, I want you to stop for a moment and compliment yourself."
"…Um, huh?"
"Do it!" As if a mother she were, the program chastised once more.
"O-Okay!" Fearing for his life, the youth stopped in the middle of the road and remained contemplative for a few moments. "I-I'm- Um… I-I'm…"
"…Go on…"
"…I'm… Strong? I mean, not NEARLY as much as, say, Thor or- or that Captain Marvel girl we met back at-"
"NO COMPARISONS!" Karen reproached again, making the boy flinch. "Start up from the top! Again!"
"Wh-What is this?!" He shouted in utter bafflement. "What's gotten into you?!"
"You don't ask questions; just tell me a good thing about yourself!"
"Okay, okay!" The Avenger stood still again. "Hngh… OH! I'm really good at drawing attention to myself!"
"That's the same as calling yourself annoying."
"…I'm… good at making others… follow me?"
"You mean making them chase you off? Or prompting their rage?"
"Ugh! What is this?! For real this time!" He questioned once more in annoyance. "Karen! What gives?! Talk to me, please!"
"…Your self-confidence leaves much to be desired, as of late."
"Wha-?"
"There's much to do still, but until you can flatter yourself in the mirror every day without me asking you to do it… Well, I'll be asking you to tell me about your good traits every day from now on."
"You want me to become Priscilla 2.0 or something?!"
"I want you to recognize yourself, just that."
"…Is this because you think I forgive others too easily?" He deflated as he thought about the possible reasons. "Or because you think I'm still hurt over… Felix's outburst."
"You know I'm right when I say both." The program affirmed confidently. "Now, go make yourself useful in the village. Make sure to earn your own compliments."
"Ugh… Yes, mom…" The boy kept walking towards the village, now a somewhat worried glint to his eye.
Getting an earful from his own Artificial Intelligence, Subaru spent the entire day coming and going between the village and the Mansion, helping the villagers clean up and rebuild or preparing the carriage and dragons, occasionally making small talk with the crowd around him and with Otto. And so, by the next day…
"Hng…" Subaru mumbled incoherently as he turned on his bed, a sore lower back from carrying around rubble the previous day killing him, even in his slumber. Although the sun was soon to rise and he had to prepare for the journey to Sanctuary still, moments of rest had become far too precious and rare in-between problem and problem for him to properly slack-off. "Mhn-Mhn…"
"Subaru-sama…" A sweet, youthful voice whispered into his ear.
"…Too early…" He mumbled again, this time somewhat proper words. "Five more minutes, May…"
"It is morning already… Subaru-sama…" The voice whispered again.
"!" The boy's eyes opened up in alarm as he untucked himself from the bedsheets. "OH SHIT! I'M LATE FOR CHEMISTRY!" Subaru quickly leapt out of the bed, his shirt unbuttoned, as he hadn't even bothered to change clothes before slumping over the mattress last night.
"KYAAAA!" Petra shouted with panic as she gazed at his half-naked form, covering her face with her hands. "Su-Subaru-sama!"
"Wha- Petra?!" Subaru yelled frantically as well. "What are you- What are you doing here?!"
"I-I came to wake you up and…" Her eyes drifted back down towards his exposed torso. "Please, cover yourself!" She protested with embarrassment while still not covering her eyes herself, sneaking more glances in-between her fingers.
"Uh-Uh-Y-Yes!" He turned around with shame as buttoned his shirt. As he did so, he whispered a question for the computer attached to his wrist. "Karen, what gives?! Why didn't you wake me up?! Or-Or tell me Petra had entered the room?!"
"Well, I thought it'd be hilarious." The intelligence reasoned back.
"What?! Karen, that was embarrassing as hell!"
"And comical, too. I have it all on video."
"You-!"
"Subaru-sama?" The little girl called out to him, noticing his slurred and silent speech. "Are you fine?"
"Oh, sure! I was just… Just bantering with Karen! Is all…?" He faced the child once more, pointing to his web-shooter awkwardly. "Ahahaha…"
"Oh… Well, as I was saying, I had come to wake you up! Subaru-sama!" The auburn-haired kid smiled. "Breakfast is soon to be served, so please, dress properly!"
"Subaru-sama… Why are you talking as though…?" Before he could complete his question, Subaru took a proper look at her, noticing with surprise how she was now wearing a maid's uniform. "Are you… dressed as a maid?"
"Correction. She is a maid of this household now, Subaru-sama. Well… in training, to be specific." Frederica's voice answered from the room's open door. "Good morning, Subaru-sama."
"Hehehe!" The child giggled.
"Uh-huh…" He nodded slowly. "So… were you here to witness… me being a spaz right now, Frederica?"
"If by 'spaz' you mean yelling incomprehensively while flashing a minor…" The blonde servant teased with a smile.
"Ugh… Please, don't throw me more 'Ram-level' jokes… One Ram is enough…"
"Sorry, sorry. But you were the one who told me to treat you as though a friend you were."
"Touché!" Subaru grunted while composing himself.
"Ufufufu…" Frederica chuckled.
"…" Petra noticed with an annoyed pout the amicable vibe between her mentor and her hero with disapproval, opting for cutting the scene short. "Breakfast! You two!" She protested.
"Now, now, young maid." The older servant approached her with a chastising tone. "You must be prim and proper as a servant. That means no such complaints when in front of a guest."
"Ah… I'd appreciate it if you two could… Leave the room while I change clothes?" Subaru chimed-in on their little interaction.
"Understood, Subaru-sama." Frederica bowed, followed soon by Petra's bow as well. The pair then exited the room, closing the door behind them.
"*Sigh*…Hah…" Subaru exhaled in exhaustion. "It's just morning and that already had me beat. It sure looks like a long day ahead…"
As the pleasantries of breakfast and cleaning around the mansion were over, Subaru, Emilia and Otto finally had begun to board onto the carriage that would take them towards the Forest of Kremaldy. Without much more to discuss, Otto and Subaru engaged in conversation with Frederica to clear some doubts regarding the roads within the forest.
"…And here, you just continue straight." The maid affirmed confidently.
"You sure? Won't that get us derailed from the road?"
"Said marked road is still part of the barrier's misdirection, Subaru-sama." She warned.
"Oh… I see…" Otto nodded in approval with a smile. "Alright… Yes, it might be easier to navigate than originally expected!"
"You seem eager." The Avenger pointed out. "Are you somehow excited?"
"W-Well, the less I have to think about my debts, the more I can focus on what is ahead, I guess…"
"But all of this effort is for the sake of paying your debts… Isn't ignoring them what got you in such a problem to begin with?"
"You don't have to remind me!"
"You are reminding yourself at this point! How can you mention not wanting to remember your debts to the guy you know will point them out?! Dumbass!" Subaru grinned annoyingly as he mocked the grey mop.
"You are so mean! Natsuki-san!"
"Subaru, please." Emilia reproached Subaru's behavior sternly from behind him. "You are about to make poor Otto cry!"
"Emilia-sama, please! I am no child!" The man-child protested.
"Oh? Is Ottotto really going to cry?" Petra spawned from behind Emilia to tease smugly as well.
"Why would a little girl want to see me cry?! And my name is Otto!"
"Boy, if you aren't easy to tease…" Subaru chuckled in amusement.
"Don't laugh about it!" A few tears of embarrassment slipped from the poor boy's red face.
"Emilia-sama." Frederica called for the half-elf's attention. "You have the crystal with you, yes?"
"Indeed." Emilia nodded at her. "Thank you for all your efforts, Frederica. And… For allowing us into the location on Sanctuary."
"It is no problem, really." The maid smiled toothily. "It is my pleasure. Ah!" She noticed her grin, prompting her to cover it with her hand. "Do take care of Garfiel, nevertheless…"
"Hm, we won't forget your warning."
"You take care now as well, Petra." Subaru thanked the little maid. "Honestly… I think I'm giving you too much of a workload… But please, look out for Beatrice every once in a while, won't you? The little brat won't admit it, but she does get lonely. I would know; we are just as stubborn!"
"Of course! I'll just have to open all the doors in the mansion as I clean up! No biggie!"
"Also, make sure to talk with Meili often. She grows bored locked in the dungeon." He requested again. "Don't worry, she won't bite… I think she won't, anyways."
"Meili-chan…? Uh-Umm… Sure!" The little girl nodded once more, a bit more agitated by the implication of having to interact with her would-be killer, but not wanting to disappoint her crush.
"Honestly, I'm impressed your parents would allow you to become a maid and leave the house as early as twelve…" Subaru scratched his head with some apprehension. "I mean, it IS another world, but child labor is still…"
"It is precisely because I'm twelve, Subaru-sama!" Petra protested with a pout. "Please, treat me as you would an adult!"
"…That's a bit…" Subaru just sank deeper into his worries over the situation. "Hmm… You just make sure to follow along in Frederica's teachings and I'll consider it… That good for you?"
"Okay! Er- That is…"
"The word is 'yes', scatterbrain." Subaru teased again.
"Y-Yeahs!"
"That's just a 'yeah' and a 'yes' strung together!"
"So double the positive then." Frederica supported the little girl. "Don't worry Subaru-sama; I'll make sure she'll be speaking politely once she returns."
"Okay! Let's get-!"
"Ah! Subaru-sama!"
"-Going, what is it?" He turned to the little maid again. "Petra?"
"Subaru-sama, um… Would you accept this?"
"Huh?" Petra tied a white handkerchief around Subaru's left hand.
"The white handkerchief, huh?" Frederica giggled. "It is a custom, Subaru-sama."
"A custom?"
"It is a prayer for safe travels. She is lending the handkerchief, expecting you to return it all dirty from your journey."
"Oh~! So, like one of them old customs!" He looked at Petra, only for the moppet to hide behind her senior. "…Somehow, the fact that she hides makes me rethink the entire meaning. Are we looking deeper into this than we should?" He asked the blonde.
"I'm sure her hiding has nothing to do with the intention, Subaru-sama." Frederica chuckled in amusement. "Now then, you should leave for the forest posthaste. After all, the woods do get dangerous at night…"
"Alright, up people, up! We don't wanna burden head maid here!" Subaru teased Frederica as everyone embarked the cart.
"*Sigh* Please, don't make it sound as though I were enforcing you to leave, Subaru-sama." The maid sighed with slight disappointment. "Regardless, safe travels, Emilia-sama. Subaru-sama. Otto-dono."
"Safe travels too! Subaru-sama! Emilia-sama! Ottotto!" Petra waved from behind her senior. "Take care!"
"That's not my name!" Otto complained from the driver's seat.
"We will!" Subaru waved back from the carriage's open window.
"Farewell!" Emilia spoke as well.
"Let's go, you two!" The green merchant whipped the carriages reins.
*WHIP!*
"KUUAAAHK!"
"GHAAAAKH!"
As the carriage made itself a speck into the horizon, Frederica whispered in a low tone. "…I've done as Roswaal-sama indicated… But will things go as he expects? Honestly, it all depends on Emilia-sama now…"
The carriage continued for many hours on the road, Otto following Frederica's indications with exactitude. At their pace, they wouldn't be too long for Sanctuary's barrier…
"I know I should have asked earlier… But are you sure you are fine? Emilia-tan…" Subaru prompted to the half-elf sitting across him.
"Huh?" Emilia, who had been spacing out, answered with a flinch. "A-about what?"
"…Puck, I mean."
"…"
"Look, I know I made the mood sour and all… But he had it coming with such a contract! I just thought…" Noticing how the tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife, he tried reformulating his words. "Alright, okay, scratch that."
"Subaru?" The elven girl looked at him inquisitively.
"Emilia-tan, will you be alright? I understand that… the issue of Puck is sensible and all… But, at the end of the day, I just want to know if it'll be okay for you on the long run. Being that… well, you are a Spirit Arts user and all, so not having your Spirit…"
"Please, don't doubt that you did the right thing Subaru." Emilia hastily shot down his concerns, in an almost uncharacteristic confident voice. "You trusted me, unlike Puck would. That's why you would risk your life in telling me such a dangerous secret, after all."
"I mean…"
"If it's about me being unable to fight, I still have my contract to the lesser Spirits. Even without Puck… No, I WILL manage without Puck! You'll see!" She hyped herself up with a smile in a noticeable attempt to boost her own self-confidence.
"…You are amazing." Subaru whispered in a low voice with some surprise as he deflated on his seat. I think that is what Karen wants from me… Honestly, I wish I could talk about myself like that.
"And in case that 'Garfiel' crook approaches, I'll protect you!" She said with a grin as her cheeks puffed up.
"…Do we even know if he's a crook?! A-And Emilia-tan, I don't think I need protection!" He worried over the fact that Emilia might be psyching herself a bit too much. "I think the role of protecting somebody falls to me here!"
"But I can protect myself!" Emilia was quick to protest. "Who else are we supposed to protect if not one another?"
"Well…" The boy looked to the side, opening the driver's side window. "We can protect Otto! He can't protect himself!"
"Why would you open the window just to mock me?!"
"You answered yourself! Ahahaha!"
"Argh! You are the worst! Natsuki-san!" Otto closed the window.
"Still, though… I think Roswaal did mention him a time or two. Garfiel, that is." Subaru then commented. "I never really heard 'bout Sanctuary, but the name Garfiel did come out casually from his mouth, from time to time."
"Really?"
"Yeah… Something about visiting or the like. Honestly, it was around the weeks when I was still fixing my stuff, so Rem took care of everything back then. Not Ram though; she'd take breaks at every turn to laugh at my failed prototypes blowing up on my face…"
"That sounds like Ram…" Emilia giggled a bit.
Subaru then opened the driver's window again, catching Otto's attention. "Please, if you are about to joke again, close the window Natsuki-san." The green man huffed in annoyance.
"Eesh, such a cold shoulder…" The hero chuckled. "Nah, don't worry. I wanted to ask if we were already at the forest's edge."
"We actually are about to enter it." The merchant pointed to the front.
"Hmm…" Subaru nodded,
"So we are arriving now…" Emilia said with a smile still plastered in her face. However, her hands trembled, even if she tried to hide the shiver, Subaru was quick to notice.
"If you are nervous, you can just tell me, you know?" He said with an attempt to a relaxed tone. "Nothing wrong with that."
"…It's just…" She started to explain as her smile fell. "We are about to enter a village of demi-humans. I hadn't really thought about it… But what if… What if there are half-elves there, like me?"
"You are a rare lot, after all…" Subaru pondered for a bit. "Sorry… I never even thought about how it would affect you."
"No, it's fine." She denied his worry. "You've done a lot for me already. There is nothing you should be apologizing for, Subaru."
"You've never seen any other half-elves then, right?"
"No… So if there really are some in Sanctuary…" As she said this, the gemstone Frederica handed to the candidate began shining brightly.
"!" Subaru's senses tingled as he looked at the stone. "Emilia!" He yelled as he reached for the jewel.
"Huh?!" She spat in surprise as Subaru snatched the stone from her hand. Then, just as suddenly, the world turned dark for the half-elf. "Ah…"
*THUD!*
As Subaru was about to throw the stone away, he turned to see behind him to see the slumped body of the half-elf on the floor. "EMILIA!" He yelled as the light of the stone in his hand reached its peak.
*FWIM!*
"WOAH!" The sudden flash flung Subaru away from the carriage, teleporting him into the forest. "Shit!" He grunted as he hastily got up from his place on top of a bunch of shrubbery. "I'm an IDIOT!" He stressed as he analyzed his surroundings. I felt it before it shone and I still hesitated before taking the stone from Emilia's grasp! Am I stupid or what?! He thought desperately as the image of the unconscious Emilia painted his memory. "Karen!"
"Subaru!" The intelligence answered.
"How's Emilia?! Is she alright?!"
"She's unconscious!" She assured the altered boy. "She passed out as we entered the forest!"
"Crap…" He sweated a bit. "And where are we?!"
Karen deployed the image of the forest from above from his wrist. "I cannot tell…" She hesitated a bit.
"Huh?!" Subaru looked at the image with incredulity. "The image… What?!" The image of the Forest of Kremaldy was nothing but a sea of trees. When analyzing it further, although the inner roads were there, the woods looked as if they just shifted around, unable to show any clear image of the inside. "Crap! Is that the effect of the barrier on the visuals?!"
"Although I can pinpoint your specific location and Emilia's, as well as communicate… But the illusion of the forest's barrier clearly extends to the visual aspect from outside the forest as well, not just the perception. It all looks like woods and a road, no clearings or-" Karen explained to the boy before being suddenly interrupted.
*CRA-CRACK*
"!" Subaru heard the sound of a branch breaking; his armor reacted, covering his body as he turned around. "Who's there?!"
"…" A little girl with pink hair and a body-long white garb stared back at him.
"Who… are you?" Subaru asked as his armor receded, showing his face. An elf child? He wondered as he noticed her ears. Before he could continue his inquiry, the little girl ran away from him. "Wha- Wait! Wait, you!"
Subaru pursued, reaching a clearing with some sort of stone temple in the middle. As he gazed at the structure, his Spider-sense yelled at him that such a place meant danger.What the hell?! Is this a trap?! "Hey! Little girl?! Are you there?!" He kept asking. "Is this- Is this Sanctuary?!" Receiving no answer, he clenched his fists in frustration as he rushed into the temple. "Tsk!"
"This sets off all sorts of alarms, Subaru…" His companion program warned. "Are you sure you must enter this place? I have no image from the outside still…"
"Not much of an option… We don't even know WHERE we are…" Subaru reasoned with reluctance. "But we have to rendezvous with Emilia... So I'll take my chances!"
"I see. So is that the root of your desire? How amusing…"
"!" The voice of a third party alarmed the two as Subaru turned around to gaze at the entrance to the tunnel. "Who's there?! Are you the girl from before?!"
The moment Subaru spoke, the light at the entrance to the tunnel engulfed him, blinding him for a second. "SUBA-!" Before Karen could protest, the light cut off her voice.
"Ugh…" Subaru's eyes adjusted as he regained his vision and his bearings. "Wh-What…?" He wondered as he looked around, noticing that he had been teleported yet again; this time to an expanse of empty hills covered in grass, the sun of a mostly clear day shining over them. "Are you serious…? Karen, where are we now?"
"…"
"Hn?" Subaru looked at his wrist in confusion by the silence. "Karen-?!" He realized that he wasn't wearing his battle armor nor even his clothes anymore. "What the hell?!"
The clothes Subaru was wearing now weren't at all the plain short-sleeved shirt and black pants similar to denim set he had been appareling since coming back from the Capital, but rather, the tracksuit he'd usually wear during his free time or when training casually back on Earth. What was even more alarming, however, was that none of his technology was around anymore; his web-shooters were gone.
"Ugh! What the hell! Did I fall unconscious and got mugged and dumped in the middle of nowhere?!" He desperately attempted to reason again. "No… That wouldn't explain the clothes… So is this an illusion of some kind? This world IS all magic, after all…" He denied, just as quickly.
"You could call it an illusion; although, it is the only place I exist within at the moment." The voice of a woman answered from behind him, the same woman that had talked to him just before he was transported into the empty plain.
"!" Subaru turned again, annoyed now by the constant surprises. "Who are you?!" He asked of the woman, noting how she was sitting on a chair atop one of the hills, a white table to her side, a teacup in her hand and an umbrella shielding her from the sunlight. As he looked closer, he noticed the delicate features of the woman; pale-white skin, white hair, black irises with white pupils, all adorned by a black dress and a butterfly brooch on her hair. She was an ethereal beuty, barely on her late teens.
"My, my, are you a startled one." The woman sipped on her tea. "This is fine, however. After all, you were flung around without your consent."
"…" Subaru remained silent for some seconds as he stared at her with caution. "My name is Subaru Natsuki. Now your turn."
"Still in alert… that hurts my maidenly heart! *Sigh*" The woman exhaled in complaint, yet her assured smile remained. "However, if you really need the introduction, my name is Echidna…. Or perhaps you might know of me as 'The Witch of Greed'?"
"…Echidna, huh?" Subaru remained in place, staring at her. "Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch?"
"That is quite difficult to ascertain, I must say." Echidna affirmed. "After all, what constitutes a 'Good Witch' and a 'Bad Witch', hmm?" She asked back.
"Well… A good Witch would at least tell me where she has sent me to… You ARE the one that sent me here, am I wrong?"
"To be precise, you are in the exact same ruins you were just moments ago." The pale woman sipped on her tea.
"What?"
"It is true. What you see around you… This endless expanse I've invited you to is known as 'The Witch's Tea Party'. Your physical body is still right in that tunnel. But your consciousness? All here."
"Whisking my consciousness away… You are not painting yourself as a 'Good Witch' at all." Subaru chuckled.
"Why don't we chat it over a cup of tea, then? This… 'Good' and 'Bad' you talk about." She invited Subaru to sit in front of her.
"…The sooner we get this over, I suppose the sooner I can help Emilia." He mumbled as he reluctantly approached, still not lowering his guard. As he arrived to his seat, a cup of tea resting on the table welcomed him. "I don't sense any active danger from this… Then again, if you can so easily separate me from my body, I suppose I'd be dead already. No need to worry at this point." Subaru said as he drank the tea.
*GULP*
"…That was… Honestly? Rather bland. I mean, it tasted like hot water, more than anything."
"That was awfully brave of you. Drinking the tea served by a Witch…" Echidna's eyes widened for a second before turning back to normal.
"Brave? It's just tea though?"
"It is actually something that can only be produced here… A body fluid of mine, to be precise!" She said with a teasing voice and a radiant smile.
"…WHAT?!" Subaru yelled the moment the origin of the liquid was revealed, opting for wiping his tongue on his sleeve. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"And he barely even reacts to it!" She claimed with excitement.
"Barely?! I think I'm gonna puke! Who feeds someone a body fluid?!"
"Oh, please, you exaggerate! The body fluid of a gorgeous maiden cannot be THAT repugnant, can it?" She pouted with hurt eyes. "Are you sure, in your heart of hearts, you didn't enjoy it?"
"Stop talking fetishes!" Subaru reproached with embarrassment. "Even if you are pretty, I already know how much of piping-hot mess I am with love, so I'd rather keep away from it! Er- For the moment, at least. I don't wanna be a loner forev- Point is! I'm not falling over for you! No sir-ee! No matter how much of a 'gorgeous maiden' you are!"
"Well, most men who gaze at me puke their innards out before they can gawk, anyhow." Echidna affirmed matter-of-factly, a smug grin to her face.
"That isn't even funny! How can you call yourself 'gorgeous' then?!" Subaru complained again. "And why am I even here to begin with?!"
"Oh, no reason, really."
"HUH?!"
"I mean, YOU are the one that walked into this place of your own accord. I didn't bring you here or whisk your consciousness away of my own volition; I simply did as you stepped into my domain."
"As if THAT should reassure me…"
"If you are really that worried, I could send you back. You are free to go." She flicked her hand, opening a portal to her left that would lead to the outside.
"Oh! Than-!"
"But is that what you really want?" Echidna inquired once more, narrowing her eyes at Subaru as she sipped on her tea again.
"-k you- What?"
"It is not every day that one gets to speak with the Witch of Greed, you know? It is a privilege, some would say, one only privy to you now. The sole requirement was that we both exist within the same space, and here we are now. Let's remove all the unnecessary elements, shall we? All we need is words…"
"!" As Subaru attempted to get up, he immediately sat back down as the world around him ceased to exist. Replacing the green hills… Was a void. Moreover, said void filled with stars and celestial bodies as Echidna spoke, creating an imitation of the cosmos.
"The desires, the curiosity, the greed and all you seek answers to…" She blinked before gazing intensely at Subaru, locking eyes with the nervous black-haired youth. "Now, what would you like to ask me?"
"Wha-?!"
"About the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne, who created the Calamities and the beasts that defy the heavens in order to save the world from hunger?" The silhouette of a girl with twin pigtails made up from systems and galaxies flashed behind Echidna.
"Or perhaps the Witch of Lust, Carmilla, who granted emotions to the non-human in an attempt to fill the world with love?" Another silhouette of a woman spawned; this one with a scarf.
"Maybe the Witch of Wrath, Minerva, who healed the people as she pummeled them, lamenting the war-torn world around her?" The figure of a woman taller than the previous two appeared, a ponytail falling to the side of her head.
"Even the Witch of Sloth, Sekhmet, who drove the Dragon past the Great Waterfall just so she could bask in her self-indulgent laziness?" The next form to appear was that of a voluptuous, tall woman.
"There is also the Witch of Pride, Typhon, whose youthful innocence and cruelty led her to judge criminals with the ultimate price, regardless of the crime?" The silhouette of a young girl, not older than Petra, danced in the background.
"As well you could ask about the Witch of Greed, Echidna, who embodies the thirst for knowledge, who has done even in death the distorted and twisted in her obsession with knowledge, regardless of whether she regrets it or not?" Her gaze into his eyes grew even more intensely as her smirk turned demonic.
"Or is your interest in the Witch of Envy, who killed all other witches and used them as her sustenance as she made the world itself loathe her… The most detestable being in this world?"
"…" Subaru sat in petrified silence as the disturbed stare of Echidna froze him in place.
"Oh? Did I scare you so?" She teased. "Perhaps you do not wish to know of them after all… Things do seem difficult to ascertain around YOU in particular…"
"Hghk!" Subaru grunted as he felt a stomachache, making him reach for his gut in alarm. "Wh-what?!"
"Well, that sure took less time than I expected, you adapt quickly! NOW we can talk all we want…"
"Wh-What have you done to me?!" Dammit! I'm a fucking grade-A moron! Of course she did something! Why didn't my Spider-sense go off?!
"Relax some… All I did was use the Envy Witch Factor in the tea to bolster your resistance. Just so we could talk normally, is all."
"What the hell does that even mean?!"
"Must you question everything? Then again, I do so as well… Pot meets kettle, as they say, hmm?"
"What?!"
"Whether you'd attribute it to yourself or not is irrelevant. You slayed the man carrying the Sloth Witch Factor, did you not? The Witch Factor chose YOU as its new host once you killed the previous one. Hence why you managed to enter this graveyard unharmed, after all."
"Graveyard?" Subaru inquired to the ominous tone of the witch. "Do you mean… is this a crypt? A tomb of some sort?"
"Tomb fits, I gather." Echidna nodded with a relaxed smile. "The Witch's Graveyard… MY Sanctuary." She remarked in a playful voice.
"Wait… YOUR Sanctuary? So is this THE Sanctuary or somewhere else?!" Subaru grabbed the witch by the arm, touching her hand.
"…Wow, you really are a bold one…" The pale woman blushed at his sudden action.
"Come on! Is this really Sanctuary or are you playing with me?!"
"*Sigh* But you are also quite forward as well…" She looked away with embarrassment as she retracted her hand from his grasp. "Yes… This is Sanctuary. Both the forest AND the ruins, to be precise."
"Alright… So, can I leave now?" Subaru asked nonchalantly, disregarding everything Echidna had told him just now.
"Wait what?" The Witch looked at him in shock.
"The exit is that portal, right? Honestly, I'm ki~nda busy right now? Gotta return to Otto and Emilia, they must be worried SICK about me by now! I know I am! She'll give me an earful if she thinks I popped out of existence or something!" He explained as he got up, walking towards the aperture in space.
"Wait! Wait!" Echidna got up in a panic as well, rushing towards him. "Are you sure that's all you want?! I'm the Witch of Greed! Powerful men and women from all over have sought my counsel! S-So! So! Are you sure there is nothing, REALLY nothing you wish to discuss?! The truth of this world is-!"
"Listen, although the truth of 'this' world might be interesting, I'm a foreigner here! I'd rather, just, stick to my Earthly concepts and whatnot. I mean, I'm reaching a LOT lot already with the magic I've been taught. So… Bye-Bye! We can chat over tea later! No body-fluids then though!"
"You- You can't just ask a dead woman, a Witch at that, to agree to that so easily! How rude can you be?!" Echidna protested in a panic. "I haven't even had my compensation!"
"Uh… Just so you know; all my money is in the carriage…" Subaru said with some nervousness, feeling like a fleeing customer who was leaving without paying.
"Compensation for a Witch is not money. What I want… is a vow of silence."
"Silence?"
"Indeed." Echidna's voice and mannerisms turned regal once more. "Your promise of not speaking about what we spoke just now with anyone else… That is my condition. And as an extra, just for you, I'll grant you the access to facing the Trial of Sanctuary…" She laid a hand on Subaru's chest.
"Trial?" Subaru stared at her hand with doubt as she retracted it. "Like, a combat ritual? Or some sort of riddle or the like?"
"You'll see… Once you take it, at least." She brought the hand close to her face. "Just how will you fell about me once you face it? I cannot wait… For your answer…" She smiled as she licked the hand that had touched him all over, finalizing her action by staring the creeped out boy in the eye.
"…You are the 'freaky' kind of Witch, aren't you…?" Subaru took a step back in surprise by her oddities.
"Perhaps not the word I would choose… But I am a Witch nonetheless. There are no 'Good' Witches. Only very evil magic-casters…" She smirked as she flicked Subaru's forehead, expelling him back into the real world.
"Wha-?!" The boy got up in a flash after dropping onto the cold stone floor.
"-RU!" Karen finalized her yell. "Are you alright?! You fell unconscious for a moment!"
"K-Karen…" Subaru turned to stare at his wrists with confusion. "Just what…? Screw that! We have to leave this place!" As he tried and failed to recall the events that had transpired just now, Subaru rushed towards the exit to the tunnel, remembering that Emilia and Otto might be in danger after the half-elf passed out. "Shit!"
As he reached the outside, his eyes widened as he saw the body of Otto, face down on the ground, motionless.
"Otto?!" Subaru dashed towards the merchant, quickly checking his pulse. "Otto! Are you okay?! Answer me!"
"Angh…" The knocked-out grey-hair mumbled incoherently.
"Hah… At least you are alive…" Subaru sighed with some worry still.
"Hoh! Ya got some nerve, outsider!" A voice called out to Subaru from the forest, making the Avenger quickly turn around and jump in front of the body of his companion in order to defend him.
"Who's there?!"
"Shouldn't I be askin' dat?! Waltzin' 'round as if ya owned da place… Is this like a magmarin laughin' when it's full of holes?!"
*ZOOM!*
"!" A figure charged towards Subaru and Otto, forcing the hero to pick up the merchant in a princess carry as he jumped over the head of the new threat. As he descended, he noticed the carriage and Patrasche, making him rush in their direction the moment he landed.
"No ya don't!"
*ZOOM!*
*FWOOOSH!*
*FWOOOSH!*
The aggressor attacked again, but Subaru sensed the incoming blows even before the mysterious assailant attempted them. Moving in an unpredictable fashion, Subaru bounced from tree to tree within the edge of the clearing before finally drawing some distance between the attacker and himself.
"TSK!" The man grunted in annoyance.
"KUAAAA!"
"GUAHK!"
Patrasche and Frufroo both grunted as Subaru laid the unconscious merchant on the driver's seat. As he set him down, he took a quick look into the inside of the cart through the driver's window. Seeing that Emilia was still unconscious inside, but unharmed otherwise, made him sigh in relief.
"…" Subaru stared at the attacker, taking a good look at him this time around. "I take it you hurt Otto."
"Hmph! Not half-bad! What are ya anyways?!" A boy with blonde hair and an 'X' shaped scar on his forehead gloated and asked of Subaru as he assumed a combat pose again. The boy then charged against Subaru once more.
*ZOOM!*
*ZOOM!*
Subaru charged at him as well, deciding it best to make it a close fight than letting him approach the carriage.
"Gotcha!" The boy yelled as he attempted a punch towards Subaru's temple, but Subaru predicted this, opting for dodging at the last second before grabbing the boy by the collar of his jacket. "Wha-?!"
"Hngh!" Subaru then launched the boy towards a tree with enough strength to shatter the trunk.
"Not gonna happen', ya shithead!" The blonde-boy, however, managed to spin in the air as Subaru launched him, using the tree to propel himself back towards the hero.
"!" Subaru noticed this in alarm, making him pirouette around the boy as the two clashed once more.
*SWISH!*
*FWOOOM!*
*WHOOOP!*
"Stop moving ya jackass!" The boy complained as Subaru dodged each and every strike. Although their match had become contained to the ground as they distanced from the trees, Subaru had managed to irritate the boy as his nimble movements taunted his overly aggressive approach. The fact that he had remained silent throughout the entire exchange doing nothing but exacerbate the blonde boy's ire.
*SWISH!*
*FWOOOM!*
*WHOOOP!*
"Do ya not know how ta throw a punch?! Or are ya just scared, huh?!" The boy taunted desperately, the impatience gaining on him as Subaru just kept dancing around his blows and not responding. "TSK! How ya like this one?!"
*FWOOOSH!*
"!" The boy accelerated again, this time becoming faster than Julius had been during the duel back at the Capital. "Kuh!" Subaru had to start blocking the punches instead of dodging now, growing increasingly alarmed by the absurd strength of the boy.
*FWOOOM!*
*BASH!*
"Ack!" He grunted as the boy's punch made him step back quite a distance.
"Not so tough now, eh?!" The boy glared and chuckled as he rushed around Subaru, catching him off guard. "Don't cha worry! I'll make sure ta leave ya half-dead! Just alive enough ta swear never ta tell anyone 'bout dis place!"
*BASH!*
"Kuh!" Subaru grunted again as the boy landed a punch against his back, launching him all the way towards the temple. Subaru, however, was not so easily defeated.
"!" Garfiel stared in surprise how Subaru spun in the air, much like he had done earlier. However, what really impressed him was the fact that he was still conscious after the punch he had dealt; even more shocking was how he could move with flexibility as though the punch hadn't landed at all.
"…" Subaru reached to top of the temple, sticking to the upper part of the wall as he gazed intensely at the boy down below.
"HA! So ya stick ta da walls; as though a Snow Blight that stalks from da canopies, ya run from me by sticking ta da tops! How cowardly!" The boy yelled with a grin as he picked up a large rock.
"What?" Although the rock wasn't as big as a boulder, it was still sizeable enough to break a few bones or even kill if launched at high-speeds. "Don't do it…"
"What?!" The boy laughed as he prepared himself.
"I'm warning you!"
"Hah!" The blonde boy laughed again as he threw the rock in Subaru's direction. "How ya like it, eh dumbass?!"
"Tsk! This asshole…" Subaru jumped in the direction of the rock and aimed his wrist.
*THWIP!*
"Huh?!" The boy looked perplexed as Subaru produced a white net from his hand, catching the rock within it in the air before it bounced back directly at the aggressive runt. "Oh shi-!"
*CRA-CRACK!*
*BLAM!*
"Dammit!" The boy barely managed to dodge the rock, but the speed generated by the projectile caused a small dust cloud as it collided with the ground to his feet. "Where are ya?!" The boy searched frantically.
"…"
"!" The boy's advanced instincts kicked in, making him react to a presence to his right. "There ya are, ya shithead!" He threw a punch fast and strong enough to dissipate the cloud almost instantly.
*FWOOOM!*
*CLANK!*
"What?!" He realized in befuddlement how his punch landed not against Subaru, but against his armor. The Iron Spider's limbs had supported it in place, making the silhouette almost indistinguishable within the dust until after this cleared. "Where are-?!"
*BAM!*
"!" The boy failed to react as a kick from below landed squarely on his jaw.
"And that's just the entrée!" Subaru yelled from the floor.
"TSK!" The Avenger followed the momentum of his kick, dragging the surprised boy's face against the ground. The end result was a cartwheel, in which Subaru switched places on the soil with the boy, ending with him standing over his assailant with a foot pressed against his face. "YA COCKY LIL'-!"
*THWIP!*
*THWIP!*
*THWIP!*
"Wha-what?!" The boy reacted in alarm as his attempt to get back up from his humiliating position on the dirt ground was prevented by a series of sticky webs enveloping and restraining his body. "What is this?!" Subaru had shot an entire cartridge's worth of web-fluid towards the boy, pinning him immobile against the hard ground.
"That's your time out, you aggressive moron." Subaru stated with a reproachful tone. "Next time, have the decency to hear out when someone is talking to you… Hm?" Inspecting him closer, he noticed his most 'rebellious' features in detail: unbuttoned sleeveless jacket exposing his abdomen, no shoes, fierce Jade eyes, sharp teeth, thick eyebrows… the whole set. Including a remarkably familiar gemstone attached to his neck. "Are you by any chance…."
"TSK! GET OFF ME!" The boy complained again, his tone growing furious.
"Are you related to Frederica?" Subaru inquired, stepping away from the boy.
"HUH?!" The boy stared up at him, still in anger as his sharp fangs showed. "WHAZZAT TA YA?!"
"Well… You sorta-kinda look like her…? In a cosmic sort of way, at least. And clearly you know her if you aren't the one asking ME about her now." Subaru reasoned while crouching closer to the boy. "I'm her friend."
"I'M HER HALF-BROTHER, YA ASS!"
"Are you the so-called 'Garfiel'?"
"DAMN RIGHT I AM! NOW GET ME OFF THIS DAMN THING SO I CAN BEAT DA SHIT OUTTA-!"
"No can do. If you start picking fights, then I'll have to complain against Roswaal. We came to see him anyways, so just sock your anger and tell us where he is. Or better yet, take us to him. THEN I'll let you out." Subaru smiled smugly at the defeated and reddened boy. "Not a bad exchange, eh?"
"YOU-! GARGH! ALRIGHT!" The irate boy swallowed his wrath and grumbled. "I'll take ya lot ta dat damn annoyin' clown! So let me out already, ya damn nasty-eyed Arkalb!"
"I don't know what that is, but don't you call my eyes ugly! I got them from my mother, thank you very much!" Subaru complained while scratching his head. "Seriously, you are the worst at apologizing. Making the worst impression on your sister's friends… And here I thought I sucked. Karen?"
"Yes?" The Iron Spider responded quickly from beside the beaten Garfiel.
"Free him."
"Understood." With a quick movement of the bladed limb, the armor cut through the webbing surrounding the angry boy in an instant.
*SHWING!*
*RIIIIP!*
"Tsk!" Regaining his freedom, Garfiel drew some distance from Subaru while preparing to fight once more, his face stuck in a scowl.
"Hey, hey! You promised! Take us to Roswaal." Subaru quickly chastised. "Don't make Frederica look bad!"
"…Hmph! She looked bad enough by leaving…" The boy huffed in a low voice as he slouched over, still glaring pettily at Subaru. "This ain't over, ya hear me?!"
"Yeah, yeah, we'll settle AFTER Roswaal's situation is dealt with." Subaru grumbled in annoyance. "Boy, have I ever been like that? This guy needs a chill-pill!"
The two then walked towards the carriage, not before Subaru could properly slap Otto awake. Afterwards, within the tense interior of the carriage…
"*Sgh*" Otto grumbled as he rubbed a sore spot on his head. "Seriously… I didn't even know WHAT was going on until after you woke me up, Natsuki-san…"
"Well, he pretty much made you look like a jobber!" Subaru followed up by teasing his green companion.
"I don't know what a jobber is, but I'm sure it's upsetting!" The merchant complained some more. "Still… I suppose I should be satisfied with the fact that you avenged my pride already…"
"You had pride?"
"You are so mean!"
"Gehehehe…"
"…" Garfiel stared at the two in silence, still glaring at the Avenger for showing him up on his turf. "Tsk! It's not as if ya won, jackass. Ya just cut it off before it went forward, barely managin' ta avoid the knickerbocker's misfortune and a beating, is all!"
"I don't really understand your analogies, but you are pretty foulmouthed, aren't you?" Subaru retorted.
"Ya morons shoulda' shown me da jewel if ya didn't want an asswhoopin' anyways, not my fault ya didn't think 'bout it!" Garfiel turned his face away from them. "Hmph! Gotta act on a Ganglion 'fore ya think 'bout it."
"Bro, I don't know what you are saying!" Subaru protested again.
"That girl by yer lap…" The blonde boy pointed at Subaru's legs, signaling to the unconscious Emilia, who the hero had laid to rest on his thigh as though a pillow it was. "That da so-called Emilia?"
"Yeah, she is." Subaru looked down with worry as the girl had yet to wake up.
"With all that silver hair… Pah! Figures she the half-devil Roswaal was yammerin' 'bout earlier." The boy chuckled.
"It's half-elf, you moron." Subaru quickly chastised the crass behavior of the youth in front of him.
"Hoh~! Ya wanna go that badly?!" Garfiel immediately got on the defensive, aching to fight once more while smiling sadistically. "We can stop the carriage now, anyhow! Boutin' it here an' all!"
"Stop being a knucklehead, I have more important business than dealing with you." Subaru warned sternly.
"That just makes me wanna pummel yer cocky ass even mo-!"
"Hngh…" Emilia's groggy moan as she woke up interrupted the argument between the two, prompting Subaru to help her.
"Morning, Emilia-tan…" The young man greeted in a soft voice. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"
"Hunh…? Subaru?" As the girl took in the surroundings, she then noticed the presence of the unknown blonde boy glaring at her friend. "What?! Who are you?!" She instantly stood up as she glared back at the boy, raising a hand towards him. "I warn you! I won't let you lay a hand on either Subaru or Ottotto!"
"It's Otto! You know this!" The driver complained as he heard the interaction behind him. "And it's late for that already, Emilia-sama!"
"Huh?" The girl's eyes turned to Otto, then to Garfiel and finally to Subaru. "What?"
"It's fine, Emilia-tan." Subaru reassured her, making the girl sit back down. "This here is Garfiel, the guy Frederica told us about."
"The Gatekeeper?" The half-elf reasoned as her head turned towards the blonde-hair.
"The term is Shield, thank you." Garfiel grumbled pettily at the tittle.
"As it turns out, he's Frederica's sibling. He's taking us to Roswaal right now." The Avenger confirmed. "Ram and the other half of Arlam's villagers are all there right now, waiting for us."
"Oh… So we finally arrived to Sanctuary, then…" Emilia mumbled in a low voice at the information dumped on her.
"Ugh, are ya serious?! Didn't ya fall asleep 'cuz da barrier knocked ya cold?!" Garfiel protested in annoyance.
"The barrier? Was it not just supposed to cast illusions to prevent us from crossing into Sanctuary?"
"That's just part o' da effect. The barrier bars half-bloods from crossing it." The boy hastily explained. "Sole reason ya managed ta ignore it was 'cuz o the stone!"
"So that is why the gemstone glowed…" Emilia looked downwards as Subaru placed the gem again on her hand.
"So Sanctuary is a village of only mixed blood demi-humans?" Subaru inquired next.
"Took ya idiots long enough ta figure out!" Garfiel laughed aloud. "Welcome, Emilia-sama an' her two goons! Ta Sanctuary!" He opened the carriage's window to show a rundown village to the guests.
"This is Sanctuary?" Subaru frowned as he took a good look at the broken houses in disrepair all around. "Doesn't look like much, I gotta tell you…"
"It's just a hodgepodge of halfwits, anyhow… A dead-end testing ground." Garfiel said with some melancholy, his tone noted by Subaru.
"…"
"So you finally arrive." As the carriage came to a halt, the voice of the reproachful oni Ram called for the group's attention from a house by the village. "You do know how to make the important people wait, I'll give you that." She joked in a monotonous voice.
"I'm glad to see you too, Ram." Subaru greeted as he got down from the carriage.
"I never said I was glad greeting you, Barusu." The maid instantly insulted.
"Yeah, you are Ram, alright…" The young man lamented.
"Ram… Hello." Emilia descended right behind Subaru, waving weakly at the maid.
"Greetings, Emilia-sama." The oni bowed in reverence. "Roswaal-sama awaits for you inside. Please, allow me to escort you."
"Thank you, Ram." The half-elf nodded.
"Can I come in too?" Subaru chimed in.
"Unfortunately, Roswaal-sama called for you as well." Ram said with a disappointed face and tone.
"You could have just said yes!" The Avenger was quick to point out her attitude.
"Garf, make yourself useful and take a hike with the cabbie, won't you?" The maid ordered indifferently as she dismissed the boy and Otto away.
"I'm not a cabbie! I'm a merchant!" The tired Otto protested to the insults once more.
"Ah, shut it cabbie! Ram's roughness has its charm; not like I expect ya to recognize it though! Haha!"
"And you like how she treats you?!" Otto shouted with indignation as Garfiel led him away from the house.
"Don't worry Otto, I don't think Garfiel will bite you too much…" Subaru inserted a joke as the pair left. "I'll make sure to give you a proper burial!"
"Don't make it sound as if I'm going to the gallows!" The merchant cried as he left.
"…Now then, Ram?" Subaru turned to the maid for a moment. "Can I have a word with you?"
"Whatever it is, I hope it is no waste of time, Barusu." The girl rolled her eyes at the interaction.
"Nah, it's no waste… I just wanted to make sure you were fine and all… Being that we haven't even seen each other since, well, since before I left for the Capital if we are being precise…" He stated as he bitterly buried the horrible memories of his 'vision' of Ram's corpse.
"Hmph, as you can see, I am as beautiful as ever, if that is what your lecherous gaze was trying to ascertain." The maid scoffed in exasperation. "Hah… Typical of a dirty Barusu."
"If you can joke, then I take it you are okay." Subaru nodded in response.
"How is Rem, anyhow?" Her demeanor shifted as she pondered on her sister's condition. "Is she doing fine?"
"Well… Some stuff happened, and she is now in the Capital recovering, taking a well-deserved rest." Subaru explained.
"Recovering?" Ram's eyes narrowed. "How do you mean?"
"She was injured during the altercation, but she is doing fine, currently…" He omitted the gruesome detail of her wounds and opted for a more attentive approach. "She's staying in Crusch's manor as we speak."
"I see…" Ram sweated a bit before recomposing herself. "Well… If she is resting, then I guess I shouldn't bother with chastising you beyond what you deserve for allowing her injuries, Barusu." Ram giggled derisively.
"Huh?"
"I'm saying, be grateful I'm not breaking your spine in twain for allowing Ram's cute little sister to fall upon harm's way in your conflict with the cult, dumb Barusu." She scowled pettily.
"Goddammit! I don't know if you are insulting me or trying to lighten the mood!"
"Ram, please." Emilia shutted the maid down. "Subaru has done quite the sizeable efforts to get here as it is. I'd appreciate it if you could… dial down your mockery toward him."
"…Yes, Emilia-sama." The pink-hair raised an eyebrow with some surprise at how vehement her Lady was in defending Subaru, even from just somewhat aggressive banter.
"U-Uhm… Emilia-tan? I don't think that was enough insult that you should step in my behalf… I mean, I'm grateful and all, but-!"
"Don't worry, Subaru. So long as I'm around, I won't let someone else berate you." She admitted with self-assurance as she entered the decayed cabin house.
"…Huh…" Subaru was once more taken aback by her defense of him.
"It might seem she has grown… a little too fond of you, Barusu." The maid admitted to the man.
"Yeah… I think so too… Is that bad?"
"Depends on what aspect of you she clings to." The servant reasoned. "Hopefully it is not your voyeuristic tendencies…"
"When the hell have I had those?!"
"Now then… For real, how is Rem doing?"
"And you change topics just as quick as you hurl insults…" The boy scratched his head. "As I said, she's fine. She's using the occasion as a vacation from her taxing duties."
"I see…" The oni lamented.
"The only thing that worries me is that those knights at the Capital have grown infatuated with her."
"What?" Ram flinched all of a sudden, her mind freezing.
"As I left, a whole bunch of them came with gifts to court her." Subaru explained. "They seem to have fallen for her after she saved their lives' from the cult's assault."
"…Those morons." The maid clenched her teeth and fists as her aura grew murderous.
"R-Ram?!" The hero looked at her in alarm.
"Neither them nor Barusu have a claim on Rem. If they try anything, they'll have to come face to face with me and the wrath of a million onis." She recomposed her demeanor while spitting ominous warnings.
"Scary!" Subaru quickly ran into the house as he fled from the maid's ire.
As the group entered the cabin, Ram guided them into the master bedroom. However, the surprising visage of an injured Roswaal, covered in bandages as he rested on a bed, greeted the pair of Subaru and Emilia.
"Ah… Emilia-sama, Su~baru-kun! Why, how I've mi~ssed seeing the two of you together like thi~s!" The man smiled from his sitting position as the group came into the room.
"…And here I wanted to give you an earful… What the hell happened to you?"
"…Roswaal? Why are you… so injured?" Emilia asked with suspicion as Subaru glared by her side.
"Befo~re that, Emilia-sama? I would like to know the specifics of your ventures this past week!" Roswaal interrupted, still stuck on his cheerful tone. "As Ram told me, you are now in an allia~nce with four of the five candidates, yes?" He stared at Subaru with expectation.
"Yeah… Not a fan of how you just left Rem behind to deal with the downfall between Emilia and me." Subaru admitted while leaning on the wall, arms crossed. "Did you not think about what would have happened had I not intervened to make the alliance possible?"
"I simply kne~w that you would, one way or another, return to the service of Emilia-sama, Su~baru-kun!" The clown celebrated still.
"I'm not her direct subordinate anymore though…" The teen retorted, much to Emilia's discomfort.
"…" The half-elf remained silent.
"I'm more of a… 'Royal Advisor' of sorts. In the service of ALL the candidates in the Alliance." The boy concluded.
"That still mea~ns that you serve as Emilia-sama's subordinate, even if it is a more di~stant position that I'd be comfortable with." Although his smile dropped a little, the ambitious light within his eye remained alive and burning. "I just knew that Su~baru-kun's ideal of 'friendship' with Emilia-sama could prevail even against you argument back in the Capital. Proving your worth as a he~ro against the cult to save my domain is more than enough proo~f."
"*Sigh*" Subaru rubbed his temples in frustration with his right hand. "I really, REALLY want to smack you over the head right now…"
"Ufufufufufu~!" Lord Mathers giggled.
"Roswaal…" Emilia sternly talked, disrupting his jovial behavior. "What exactly is Sanctuary? This place… It certainly doesn't make the name much justice, with all the decayed homes and all… Moreover… I have this sensation, ever since we reached the barrier, that…"
"That a more appropriate name would be the Witch's Graveyard, hmm~?" The tone of the clown turned ominous as he spoke.
"What?!" The girl's eyes widened in alarm. "Explain!"
"This land in which we stand… It is where the Witch of Greed, Echidna, met her end long ago…" His eyes closed as he rested his head against the bed once more. "That in and of itself makes it worthy of being called a 'Sanctuary' in my~ opinion."
"…" Subaru's eyes narrowed at the man. "What's the deal with overseeing such a place anyways? I was told by the villagers your family has guarded it for generations."
"You did your research, I see…" He smiled from ear to ear. "Echidna and the Mathers family have been bound together for genera~tions, Emilia-sama, Subaru-kun."
"Then the Witch of Greed-" Before Emilia could continue, Roswaal interjected.
"Echidna, please…" He said in a solemn voice. "It is a tad… disrespectful to outright call her a Witch, even if she was one. After a~ll, the connotation is rather e~vil in nature within this world… Unlike yours, Subaru-kun."
"Well, I didn't really have a problem with the Scarlet Witch being called so…" The boy reasoned. "She's an Avenger anyhow, so no reason to call her moniker evil."
"Rules for one world, not for ano~ther."
"*Sigh* So Echidna…" Emilia finally continued. "Your family revered her? Is that why you protect her resting place?"
"'Protect' becomes rather pointless when the place has its own defe~nse, Emilia-sama." The clown argued. "You've seen the barrier, after all. It prevents entry without the proper qualification, after a~ll. And the effect varies depending on the trespasser's bloo~d. Did you not experience such effects, Emilia-sama?"
"I did, as a matter of fact…" She gazed down, feeling useless as she remembered how she lost consciousness while Subaru and Garfiel clashed.
"The effect seems visual as well from the outside…" Subaru indicated to his wrist, a satellite image of the forest. "Although it can pinpoint where I am, all the satellite sees is a sea of trees. No clearings, no buildings, no tombs. Just some woods rocked by the wind with an imaginary road in the middle…"
"So that is how the outside sees it, hm~?" Roswaal's eyes widened in fascination. "Well, that is quite fascinating. To think the barrier could fool the visuals of your advanced metias…"
"I still have audio and communications, so we are not COMPLETELY cut off from the outside." Subaru implied in a warning tone. "So what about you? You stayed here because you made a boo-boo? You can't expect me to think things so simple when around you…"
"Always to the heart of the matter, eh?" He relaxed again before speaking seriously. "The truth is we are all under house arrest here."
"Huh?!" Emilia wondered in confusion. "How- How do you mean?!"
"Myself, the villagers of Arlam and Ram. We are all trapped within the barrier. And that includes… the two of you now, as well…"
"House arrest?" Subaru thought aloud. "Hold it, is Garfiel-?!"
"Nah, not me, ya shithead." The blonde boy grumbled in protest at Subaru's accusation. He entered the room, interrupting the meeting with a shit-eating grin. "Didn't ya hear Roswaal over here? It's the barrier holdin' everyone here. And the guy? He got his ass beat by the trial rejectin' him."
"A trial?" Emilia asked, vexed by the circumstances.
"The barrier keeps people with mixed blood inside… Does that mean Emilia can't get out?" Subaru theorized. "Even so… The villagers of Arlam had nothing to do with the barrier, surely they can-"
"Don't ya think it unfair, ya asshole?" Garfiel growled, interrupting Subaru. "Only mixed bloods cannot cross it, yet, da only way ta dispel da barrier is by halving a mixed blood take the Trial. Anyone else… Well, ends like clown here." The rude boy pointed at Roswaal. "Honestly, I don't trust da villagers Ram brought. So long as they don't pull anything funny, they won't be harmed. As such, they are all rounded up in the church outside."
"…So you are holding them hostage?" Subaru glared at the boy.
"Oi, oi… Ya make it sound as though I'm all evil here. They get da full course of meals an' sleep here! All we want is that you listen ta our demands… Unless, of course, ya wanna duke it out?!" He glared at Subaru with a toothy grin on his face.
"What are your demands?" Emilia asked in anger as she stepped between the two and stared down Garfiel.
"Simple. Take the Trial Emilia-sama, break da barrier an' allow the people of Sanctuary ta leave!" The blonde boy offered. "If ya can't though… Well, we won't allow da people of Arlam ta leave. And of course, ya are trapped here too!"
"The church… Take me to the villagers." Subaru requested of Garfiel.
"Hmph! Don't order me 'round…" He squinted his eyes in annoyance at the hero.
"Ga~rfiel-kun? If you could, please…" Roswaal glanced at the boy as well.
"…Tsk! Follow me…"
"I still have things to talk with you Roswaal… So don't try anything." Subaru said to the Lord in a stern voice as he and Emilia followed the boy outside.
"I'll be here when you retu~rn, Subaru-kun…" Roswaal simply laughed.
Entering a chapel in the middle of the decayed village, Subaru and Emilia looked in worry at the miserable faces of the Arlam villagers as they greeted them.
*CREA~K!*
The gates opened.
"Huh?"
"Who?"
"Subaru-sama!"
"Emilia-sama!"
The group of villagers rushed with glee to salute their heroes, surrounding them.
"If you are here…"
"The cult's been dealt with, everything's fine back at the village." Subaru reassured in a soft voice.
"Oh, thank goodness!"
"YES!"
"Thank you, Subaru-sama!"
"We heard about Roswaal-sama though…" One of the villagers murmured. "While you were fighting for us in Arlam, he got hurt trying to free us!"
"Something about breaking a barrier…"
"So you've heard…" Emilia confirmed with worry.
"It seems the one they want to break the barrier is Emilia-sama…"
"I'm sorry this has all been such a mess…" Emilia apologized profusely. "In truth, I wish it could have concluded with the cult's confrontation, but it seems I do nothing but endanger others as of late…"
"Please, do not apologize, Emilia-sama." One of the elders, Milde, pacified the nervous girl. "We know already of all the efforts you've pulled for saving us in the past. Both you and Subaru-sama. Regardless of the threat ahead, you have our backing, no matter what."
"Huh?"
"After saving our children from the mabeast invasion and organizing an army directly from the Capital just to save us… Was there really any reason to doubt our faith in you? We know you are no 'Witch', Emilia-sama." The villagers all smiled at her. "Perhaps it is arrogant of us, as if we pursue only the benefit… But we'd like to be friends with someone such as you."
"Friends… I-I…" Emilia nodded furiously. "Of course! I want to be friends as well!"
As night fell upon the land, Subaru, Ram, Garfiel and Emilia gathered in front of the Tomb, the half-elf readying herself to undergo the Trial…
"…" Emilia was communicating with the lesser spirits glowing around her. Just as sudden as they had made themselves visible, however, they disappeared. "…Alright…"
"Are you okay to go?" Subaru patted her on the back. "Emilia-tan?"
"…If I could get one last cheer…" She gazed at Subaru with pleading eyes. "Would that be selfish?"
"YOU CAN DO IT! YOU GO! EMILIA-TAN! WOOOOOOOOO!" Subaru turned into a raging fanboy, monkeying around her.
"*Sigh*" Ram frowned. "Must you ruin my sight with your primate antics, Barusu? Honestly, it's disgusting…"
"Hehe!" Emilia laughed instead. "Thank you for the support… I'll make sure to live up to such loud words." The half-elf smiled at him one last time before entering the crypt. "I'm going now…" As she sank into the darkness inside, the temple glowed a blueish hue.
"For real… good luck." Subaru whispered.
"That light means she's been approved ta take the trial." Garfiel commented to Ram and Subaru.
"…So… Mind explaining why YOU never took the Trial, Garfiel?" Immediately, the hero questioned the blonde boy.
"Hmph! It's not as if I don't want to… I just…"
*SHWOOOM*
"!" Garfiel, Ram and Subaru stared in alarm as the light of the temple suddenly shut off. "What?!" The maid spat in confusion.
"Da light's not supposed ta cut off until after the Trial is completed… What gives?" Garfiel narrowed his eyes.
"Subaru!" Karen immediately called for her master. "There's a problem!"
"Karen?!" The boy lifted his wrist. "What is it?!"
"It's Emilia! She lost consciousness!"
"What?! Again?!" Subaru clenched his teeth in alarm. "Goddammit!" He rushed into the temple, even if his senses began flaring up again.
"Wait, Barusu!" Ram called out in panic as he ran inside. As she tried to pursue, however, the light of the temple returned. Subaru had somehow reactivated it. "What is…?"
"Stay there, Ram!" Subaru yelled from inside. "I'll be back soon with Emilia! I'll send Karen if I need help!" As he reached the end of the tunnel, he encountered a heavy iron door. Crossing the threshold, he sees the unconscious Emilia slumped on the cold floor. "EMILIA!" Before he could reach her though, another voice called out to him from inside his own head.
First…
"!"
You need to face your past.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!
Sorry, wanted to vent out.
Honestly, this chapter strikes me as one of the boring ones. After all, I mostly just did rewrites from the novel and the anime… That isn't to say I didn't throw some stuff here and there, but there's a lot of setup going forward into Arc 4… At least NOW we get into the original stuff.
For anyone asking (Yes, I've been asked), next chapter will deal with Subaru's Spider-Man origins, and the one after, once he returns to the mansion, will introduce the multiverse. Sorry for all the setup, and thanks for sticking around!
Also, I'll be updating the previous chapters, fixing some errors I found.
See you on the next one!