Dark mist surrounded him, where ever he looked only darkness was present. He could see only as far as a few meters in front of him, but that mattered a little for there was nowhere to go. Nowhere to go, nowhere to travel, but that didn't stop him. He walked and walked, it felt like he'd been doing it for weeks, or maybe months. The sense of time is lost in here, but again he continued. He had a reason to do so, He had to find his wife. Yes, he had to find the woman of his life, the woman who decided to marry him, out of all people. He had to find queen Emilia, so Julius walked.
To where? To his future wife, or was she his current wife? He didn't know, everything happened too fast, one moment they were exchanging their vows, and then Subaru fell to the ground. They would have tried to help him, but that was impossible and moments after only darkness existed.
But, that now didn't matter, what did was his wife's safety. He will find her and then escape this prison, or whatever this is. He is the greatest of knights and no foe will be able to separate him from his lady.
" Your efforts are for naught"
He heard a voice in his head, a calm and emotionless voice. The words spoken carried their meaning and nothing else. He heard it before, moments after Subaru died. Only this time he was able to understand the meaning of the words spoken.
"Whoever you are, show yourself!"
He had enough of the voice, he had enough of this situation. Somebody was tormenting him, and possibly his wife and others as well. Therefore he will act and face that foe who, ore whatever they are. He looked around himself, agitated and ready to strike at any moment. His movement stopped when he saw a familiar figure.
In front of him stood a boy, or more accurately a late teen. He had spiky hair, and scary black eyes and wore strange clothes, a tracksuit as he called it. In addition to that, he was holding a bag of a kind in one of his hands. Julius immediately recognized the person in front of him, but he know that wasn't Subaru. This person in front of him was too young for that, they looked the same as Subaru looked when they first met half a decade ago. Plus, Subaru's iconic smile was lacking on this person, as was any sign of emotion. No, this thing was quite clearly impersonating his friend.
Yes, friend. Julius still considered Subaru to be his friend, even after everything that has recently happened. He understood that Subaru was hurting, but he loved Emilia and wanted to be with her. He just hoped that Subaru would one day forgive him, so they can again share happy memories. All of that made Julius angrier still. This thing that was, presumably, behind his beloveds' and everybody else's disappearance, and also guilty of killing Subaru, dared take his friend form. So he acted on his feelings.
"What are you? How dare you take that form?"
He spoke as he unsheathed his sword and threateningly, pointed it in the direction of the creature. That creature seemed not to care and with an unchanged expression answered.
"We are power."
"We are might."
" We are the world."
The cryptic answer didn't satisfy Julius so he got closer and repeated it.
"I will not ask again, Who are you."
He towered over his opponent, which coupled with the tone of voice he used would make anybody terrified for their life. But once again, there was no emotional response from the target.
"We are Pride, you may refer to us like that If you so desire."
"Pride? Don't lie to me! All the Sin Archbishops are dead."
He was angry and with every passing moment, he was closer to simply strike down this enemy. But, that wasn't currently possible, the person in front of him most definitely knows what is happening here. So if he wants to get Emilia back he needs them alive.
"Arch Bishops?"
"We are unfamiliar with such a title, but you may be confusing us with one of our previous hosts."
" If that is the case, then you are wrong. We are not Sin Archbishops."
Hosts? The person in front of him was speaking gibberish, so he decided to cut the chase and get to the point.
"Where is my wife?"
He asked with gritted teeth.
"Wife?"
"We are unaware of a creature with such a name."
Emotionlessly the answer was given, and emotionally was accepted. Yes, Julius didn't like his wife being referred to as a creature in any shape and form. But, he had to keep calm so he clarified.
"Where is her majesty, queen Emilia?"
"Creature by the name of Emilia is here as well"
Well, he got his answer at least. Although, he wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad answer. On one hand, he was glad he knew that she was here and that she was, presumably, fine. But, on the other hand, she was here, in this place whatever it was.
"I would like to see her."
"No."
His self-control was starting to fall, so he decided to ask again.
"Take me to her."
"No"
In his anger, Julius tried to strike Pride, as it called itself. When his hands were a millimeter from hitting them, it somehow found itself back at his side.
" Envy is whit that creature, the same way We are with you."
His confusion was replaced with fright. Envy, could it be that Satella was behind this. He know that was impossible Subaru had killed the witch of Envy a year ago. But, one can never know when dealing with that wretched creature.
"Is Satella with her?"
His voice although firm carried fright in it. If he was a lesser man, he would have probably been shaking now.
" Although the Emilia is quite similar to the Satella. Later is, as you say, dead."
"Than who is whit, my wife?"
"Envy."
"And, who is envy?"
" Same as Pride, same as Wrath, same as Greed, same as Gluttony, same as Sloth."
Noticing Julius's' confusion, the being tried to use comparisons.
"In nature, we are most similar to Od Laguna."
Not believing what he heard, but without option, Julius ran with this statement.
" So an Od Laguna-like being is with Emilia, and you yourself are that type of being."
"Correct."
" And What makes you like Od Laguna."
Hardly curious Julius asked the question.
"We exist on the same level as it."
"We are more powerful than It."
"We do everything It does."
That was impossible, Od Laguna governed the world, stood behind the magic, and gave people unique gifts at birth. It is ludicrous to claim that you are anything like it, or that you can do what it can. While Julius knew all that, his faith was somewhat shaken. This thing, Pride as it calls itself, is probably behind this darkness that now engulfs him. In addition to that, it seems not to lie, or be decisive in any way. The things' speech was, for the entire conversation, devoid of any emotion or desire to misdirect.
"How so?"
"We grant our hosts the ability to achieve their goals. In the same way, Od Laguna granted you your power."
"This area, that you refer to as darkness, is our domain. No being can influence it, our will is the only thing that controls it."
" That is why your attack failed. In addition to the fact that this form you observe is only a manifestation and not our true form."
"What does envy want with Emilia."
"Answers, just like we want from you."
" What Answers."
"Our host desires not to live. We want to know why."
They mentioned the word host before. Yes, they refer to archbishops and even implied Satela to have been one. Considering the form they have taken, Julius concluded who might that host be, or more accurately was.
"I suppose Subaru is your host. And, he is now dead."
"Correct."
"Why does it matter now?"
"We can not raise him from the dead If he doesn't desire it ."
To revive Subaru. The implication of this being's ability to seemingly bring back the dead brought shivers to Julius. Such a thing wasn't impossible for a really strong mage, but not at the level implied here. If Subaru is truly dead then his opinion shouldn't be able to stop them. If that is the case, then there is something else stopping them. Perhaps they desire something else in addition to this, and just reviving Subaru would go against it.
"So your goal is to revive Subaru. If so then why do all of this?"
"Our goal is to reach peace."
"We did everything needed in order to reach that."
Their inability to be direct or desire to be cryptic is quite infuriating to Julius. Were they doing it on purpose or are they simply unable to carry their thoughts properly? It matters not, he will just have to be more proactive when talking.
"What exactly is that."
"Destroying Od Laguna, and taking over the world."
It was becoming clearer and clearer that the situation is way beyond Julius's', or anybody's abilities. Baring Reinhard no one could probably pose a serious challenge to this being, perhaps Od Laguna itself, but that thing seems to be passive in nature.
"And you believe you can do this."
"We know we can."
Deciding to switch the conversation from what he can't control to what he can he asked the question.
"You sad you wanted answers from me, but you have never asked me anything."
"There was no need for such a thing. During our conversation, we were able to learn everything you know about the matter."
"While your knowledge is helpful, it ultimately doesn't give us the answer we are searching for."
What? Can they read minds? If so what will they do now that they have no use of him? Will they kill him, discard him, leave him here. And most importantly, will all of that happen to Emilia as well if she fails to provide them with what they desire?
"That doesn't mean we will destroy you. While we did desire knowledge, that wasn't the only use we have of you and Emilia."
As to answer all of his questions, Pride spoke. Truthfully, it should have been obvious that they can read minds. After all, at no point did Pride actually speak. They just put thoughts into Julius's head, whenever they wanted to carry any information.
"Now we will leave you alone, there are other matters requiring our attention."
Before they leave Julius had some parting words.
"You will never win, Reinhard will stop you as will the divine dragon."
And he truly believed so, many times did he personally see Reinhard's power. In addition, the divine dragon was a god to the people of Lagunica. The idea that it may be defeated was border lining on sacrileges, and there is no way for the "perfect knight" to have such a belief.
"It is true that the Reinhard and Volchanica, in addition to the Oni goddess were able to slow us down."
"Even at this pace, we will win."
"But with every moment they are growing weaker, whereas we remain the same."
"Sooner or later we will win."
With those words, Pride left and Julius was alone in a dark mist. Searching and waiting, for what he knew not anymore.