"Who is... Subaru?" Subaru asks them.
For Subaru, it was a normal question. For the rest of the people in the room, it was a devastating question. They just wished he was joking. He is joking right? Right!? He has to be joking!
"Wh-What do you mean by that?" Emilia asks, everyone's moods dropping by the second. 'Is he acting? Why though?' Emilia thought, trying to deny the possibility that Subaru had his memories lost.
"I mean, do you know who I am? Because for sure I don't even know who I am, or who I was! Pathetic isn't it?" He replied back, as he continues to pat Beatrice's head.
Everyone was now taken aback by his claims, Beatrice shoots up and looks at her contractor with teary eyes, despair filling her entire being.
"Don't you remember Betty? Don't you remember us?" Beatrice asks him, tears on the verge of flowing out like water flowing out of a broke dam.
"As much I like to say 'I remember you.', but sorry, I really don't know who any of you are, nor I do know who I am." Subaru replied.
Everyone's mood of relief and joy were all smashed by that confirmation. Subaru did lost all of his memories. As their moods died, one half-elf denied reality.
Emilia walks up to Subaru, taking his hand, their finger intertwining with one another.
"Don't you remember me Subaru?" She asks him. Hoping his act would finally stop.
"Sorry, again as I said, I don't remember you all." He replied.
"Liar." Emilia spat out.
"What?" Subaru replied.
"Liar! Liar! Liar!" Emilia began yelling him.
"Stop acting! You know me! You know everyone in here!" She continued to yell, the rest wanting this to stop so no further injuries maybe inflicted.
"Emilia-sama stop please!" Reinhard said as he now holds back Emilia.
"It's true Emilia-sama... He's lost all his memories.." Crusch utters out. They know she has the divine protection of wind reading, basically a lie detector. So if she says Subaru is telling the truth, the man they knew was now gone. And what was left of him was now a former shell of himself, no memories, nothing. Essentially the Subaru they knew was now dead, and the Subaru in front of them now was the result of their actions. A permanent mark of their sins, a permanent mark of their failure.
And now here he was clueless of who he is. Beatrice then cries onto Subaru's chest, in return, Subaru head pats the spirit. Emilia fell to her knees, crying. Rem was devastated. Now was her chance to meet him again, but he is not the Subaru they knew. Rem silently held spite to everyone and to herself for being failures to save Subaru. And now here he is, as if a save file was wiped. Crying continues on as the rest of the people just held grim expressions after losing a friend.
Later on, after persuading Subaru to come back with them to the Mathers' mansion, he agrees to come along.
"See you again soon Crusch-chan!" Subaru said, waving goodbye at Crusch.
"See you again soon too, Natsuki." Crusch replied with a smile.
As they exit out of the mansion, Crusch was left with her thoughts.
'So I was like that before huh?' Crusch utters out, now knowing the pain of Felix and Wilhelm when she got her memories eaten.
For the people from Crusch, they just wished them luck. From the experiences with Crusch, it wasn't that easy to deal with at the very least. It'll be hard for Subaru to be Subaru again.
For the people who were returning to the Mathers' domain, it's just the beginning of their long road to restore Subaru's mind back to what it used to be.
Outside the Karsten's mansion, there await a carriage, the twin onis controlling it, and inside, there sits the great spirit of the Forbidden Library, and the half-elf candidate, waiting for the boy to join them.
"Where is he I suppose?" Beatrice asks, arms crossed and cheeks puffed. Even though she was a great spirit who had lived for four centuries, she can still grow impatient.
"Look! He's coming!" Emilia said, as if she was an excited child. Subaru can be seen running towards the carriage, and clearly exhausted.
Subaru pants as he recovers from that running. Ever since he woke up, his right eye was his problem. Instead of seeing things normally, now it can see only black and white. And sometimes, a purple aura would appear from his vision from time to time.
As Subaru pants, he was about to get in, until he saw Emilia, giving him a hand.
"Do you need help?" She asks.
Subaru smiles in exchange. "Thanks!"
As they got Subaru in the carriage and they are ready to depart, their journey back to the mansion and the retelling of events begins. The retelling of their known stories. For they have never experienced the dark side of his experiences. The side of him that went to hell and back. The side only known to himself.
While on their way back, a sleeping boy was the sight of the two girls inside the carriage. The boy's head was laying on Emilia's lap.
"It's so nice to see him like this right?" Emilia whispers to Beatrice.
"Yes it does in fact." Beatrice replied. She was left to her own thoughts.
"How would we tell them I suppose?" She asks. To which the half-elf frowns at the question then sighs.
"I don't know, honestly I was hoping this wouldn't happen.." Emilia replied.
"I just wanted to say sorry to him, but the 'Subaru' we know is now gone..." She added.
"Maybe the sage could help I wonder..?" Beatrice utters out.
Once again, Emilia had a brilliant idea. If they could bring Subaru to the sage, maybe the sage could help them with his condition.
"Maybe we should ask Roswaal about this first." Emilia said as she shook her head.
"Fine I suppose." The spirit replied.
The ride back was mostly peaceful to say the least, but, there were few tears here and there. They hoped everything will be back to normal again. They hoped they could bring back Subaru's memories. They just hoped that everything will be back to the way they used to be...
It was now noon. It was a devastating morning. After everything they've done, here they are. Left with a clueless man who doesn't know himself anymore. Who doesn't know them anymore. And here they are now, back at the mansion. They'd hope Roswaal had a clue on what to do about Subaru's condition. For all they know, he might be permanently like this for the rest of his life.
"Ram." Emilia called out.
"Yes Emilia-sama?" Ram asks.
"Gather everyone in the dining hall, we have to discuss something." Emilia said, to which the maid nodded and went to gather everyone.
"Okay, you can come out now Subaru." She said holding her hand out to the man who was getting out of the carriage.
"You know, this is humiliating for a man Emilia-chan." He said under his breath.
"What was that?" She asks.
"N-Nothing, nothing." He replied.
"You two are idiots I suppose." The little spirit said as she observes what's happening.
"Aw come on Beatrice, aren't you happy to see your contractor again?" Emilia asks, gesturing at Subaru.
"Betty is happy that her contractor is alive in fact. It's just you're acting foolish, making him acting foolish as well I suppose." Beatrice replied with a jealous tone.
"Aw, Beako!" Emilia teased the spirit.
"Stop calling me that I suppose!" Beatrice yells at Emilia. "Carry me now!" She demanded as she now looks at Subaru.
Subaru smiles, and holds Beatrice's cheeks.
"Alright then Beatrice-chan." He said now swooping the spirit from the ground to his arms, carrying her and then walks alongside Emilia to the dining hall. It will be a long day, longer than it should have been.
It was now evening as everyone could not be assembled before dinner. As a result Emilia had to wait to explain to everyone about their current situation.
"Sooooo Emilia-sama, why diiiiid you call for our presence?" Roswaal asks.
"Y'eh princess, why did ya call us 'ere?" Garfiel asks as well.
"Well firstly, the conquering of the tower went well, and as you can see, we now remember Rem." She said gesturing at the oni twins.
"That's good news Emilia-sama, but is there another reason behind this conversation?" Frederica asks. She has a hinge on what there else might be in this conversation.
"Yeah... About the next one..." Emilia utters out. She couldn't even say it. She was afraid to say it.
"Betty's contractor is back I suppose." Beatrice answers for Emilia.
"Huh? But your contractor is Emilia-san right?" Otto said, rather confused with Beatrice's reply.
"She is not my contractor I suppose." Beatrice replied.
"Hm? Then whooooo is your contractor?" Roswaal asks the spirit, rather intrigued with what's happening.
"Subaru is my contractor I suppose." Beatrice replied, to which all she got from them were confused looks.
"Subaru? Who is-" Otto gets cut off as memories of his friend started flooding his mind, same goes for everyone else in the room.
"WHERE'S MAH CAP'N!?" Garfiel yelled as he now remembers what happened. Subaru was locked up and was tortured for being accused for being a witch cultist.
"Please Emilia-san! Tell us where is Natsuki-san!" Otto begged an answer. He left his friend behind and now he might be dead.
"Well... Subaru, you can come out now." Emilia utters, to which the door to the side opens, revealing the black-haired boy, with one chunk of white striped hair on the left side of his hair. One eye was hazelnut brown, while the other was a lifeless grey.
"H-Hi." He utters out, not knowing how to respond to the current situation.
As soon as he entered, everyone noticed the changes on the boy's appearance but they didn't bother to even question. They were glad to see the boy alive and well.
"CAP'N!" Garfiel yelled as he leaps over to hug his beloved captain.
"Subaru-sama!" Petra joins in with Garfiel.
"Natsuki-san!" Then Otto joins, and now three people hugging tightly the member they've forgotten and left aside.
"A-Alright but please, stop hugging me, I can't breathe." He said as his face did turn red, due to the tight hug everyone gave.
"Oh, sorry Natsuki-san." Otto apologizes.
"Nah, it's alright... uhm... Otto?" He utters out, with a confused tone.
"Why do you sound like you've forgotten me?" Otto asks as he caught on.
"He did I suppose." The spirit utters.
"What do you mean he did Beatrice-chan?" Petra asks, not liking where this is going.
"Subaru..." Emilia utters. "Subaru..."
"Come on Emilia-san you could do it." Otto said, pushing the half-elf to explain what does Beatrice meant when she said he did forgot everyone.
"Subaru... Subaru lost his memories." Emilia utters out as she now drops the bombshell to everyone. Tears now flowing out of the half-elf's eyes.
To say everyone was shocked was an understatement.
"Yer kidding right?" Garfiel utters out as he tries to deny reality. But all he got was silent sobs and grim looks from the newly returned members.
"Yer kidding right!?" He once again asks, this time now screaming at them, but no response.
He then proceeds to hold his head and starts shaking. 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,' Was all he could think about.
Otto was slack jawed, eyes trembling. "This..." He utters out. "... Can't be..." He finishes as he fell to his knees, looking at the man he failed. And now the scene went on, the crying Garfiel is now being comforted by Frederica, along with Petra. The sight was truly grim for everyone...
Everyone except the clown in the room.
The night went on and Subaru, not knowing everything because he lost all his memories, is now be guiding by Emilia to his room.
"Wow, did I really work here before?" He asks as they walked through the hall, amazed by the sheer size of the insides of the mansion.
"Yeah.. You did..." Emilia utters back, sniffling.
Subaru took notice of Emilia as she was again on the verge of tears.
"Eh..? What's wrong Emilia-chan?" He asks, to which it caught off guard Emilia.
"I'm fine! I'm fine... It's just..." She replied, stuttering, not knowing how to respond.
But Subaru, he took the hint. 'It's about me again isn't it?' He thought.
"Never mined, let's talk about it someday soon." Emilia said as she composes herself.
"Alrighty then." Subaru replied, as he now holds her hand.
Emilia was stunned by the sudden action. 'Maybe... He's still in there some where...' She thought. She hoped to make everything right again. After what everything Subaru had done for them, now's the time they repay him with everything they've got.
Moments after, they arrived to the guest room where Subaru will be staying for these few days.
"Well, here we are." Emilia said as she opens the door. It was the same exact room where he had slept after he saved Emilia's life in the loot house.
Subaru, being a humble man, didn't believe that he'll stay at such a splendid room. A room that marked memories for the old Subaru. The memories of horror and despair.
"A-Are you sure this is where I'm staying?" He asks, stuttering. 'Surely it's a mistake right?' He thought.
"Yes this will be your room." Emilia replied with a smile.
"A-are you sure? It might be a mistake..." Subaru utter out.
"It's not a mistake Subaru." Emilia replied. "Now go and be a good boy and rest, so that you can grow healthy." Emilia added.
"I'm not a child anymore..." Subaru replied.
And after a few more exchanges of teasing and laughter, the boy went to bed, while Emilia went back to her room.
It was not a good day for everyone. One of their members lost his memories, and there is no way to restore him back. Healing magic cannot restore someone's memory, even if they could fix his brain, his memories are long gone. The other option for them was the book of the dead, since it retold someone's past before they died, but the thing is, Subaru hadn't died. At least for them.
Emilia walked her way back to her room, feeling defeated. She was supposed to be repaying the man who saved her countless of times, and now this wonderful man is gone and replaced with his broken shell. Once she gets in her room, all she did was cry. She cried her eyes out at what happened. The devastation and shock of what happened to Subaru was still fresh. She cried until she fell asleep.
It was morning, and a beautiful plains could be seen until the end of the horizon. In front was Subaru, smiling back at Emilia.
"Emilia-tan!" He yelled with joy.
"Subaru!" Emilia responded as they both started running towards each other.
But before they could interact with one another, Subaru dissipates into black smoke.
"What..." Was all Emilia could utter as she sees the black smoke form into another scenario.
Subaru then can be seen laying on the ground, laying on a pool of blood.
"Subaru!" Emilia yelled in worry as she ran to Subaru.
"Stay with me!" She yelled as she proceeds to heal him.
But to her surprise, Subaru wore a face of disbelief and horror.
"Why? What's wrong!?" She asks, but then suddenly she heard a thump.
"What was that?" She asks as she looks around worried about the situation, only to find herself laying on the floor, blood coming out of her gut.
Emilia yells and was taken aback at what she saw.
Subaru then proceeds to grab Emilia's hand.
"No matter what... I'll save you.." He utters before the his life goes away and the smoke replaced everything once again.
"What's happening!?" She now yelled as she was not liking where this is going.
Then, the smoke formed a forest, it was a red sunset, and Subaru can be seen in pain, his leg clearly damaged and was bleeding.
"Subaru.." Was all she could utter as she was confused at what's going on.
"Why do you always leave me behind!?" He yelled.
Emilia felt the anger and pain at Subaru's statement.
"What did I ever did t you to deserve this!?" He continued on.
"No! I would never leave you!" She refuted as the smoke once again came back and transform the entire landscape.
It was now snowing, and what would seem like in the sanctuary.
"Emilia would never say she'd love me!" He yelled at someone, as Emilia couldn't figure out who he was talking to.
"No! That's wrong!" She refuted once more and once more the smoke came.
Now the scene was back at the Capital.
"And that's why I'll repay them now, by ending this." Emilia utters. It was the day she left him.
"You did enough Subaru Natsuki, you know I had high hopes for you." She added as she looks back at him with a sad expression on his face. Then she shuts the door, to which Subaru proceeds to cry.
The Emilia who was witnessing this then fell to her knees. Hearing his cries painfully tore her heart.
"I'm sorry.." She utters in between her sobs. Then the smoke came once more, this time playing out every single event simultaneously.
"Why do you always leave me behind!"
"I'll save you.."
"She would never say she'd love me!"
"What did I do to you to deserve this!?"
Everything played out in a rapid succession as Emilia now saw a glimpse of Subaru in the midst of the now storm of smoke.
She saw him, he was glancing back at her. His body was being torn apart, as cracks were visible on his body. Each time he tried to shed a tear, the cracks gets larger.
"Subaru no!" Emilia yelled out of horror as she caught on what's happening.
For the Subaru in front of her, he knew his time was up, so instead of approaching Emilia, he simply looks back at her, and utter something, but no sound came out of his mouth, yet Emilia knew what he said.
"I love you."
Then two claws, made out of shadows appeared. Both claws crushed Subaru into nothing but blue sparks of light.
Then the smoke subsides and now the scene was now back in Crusch's mansion.
"Who is... Subaru?" He asks.
Emilia shot up from her bed as she panted.
"Oh, so it was a nightmare huh?" She utters, as she now swipes of the sweat and tears on her face.
But then suddenly, knocking on the door could be heard.
"Emilia-sama." The voice which belonged to Petra. "Emilia-sama! Something's happening to Subaru!" She yelled from outside the door.
At what Emilia heard, she got out of bed as quickly as she could at the heard the distress at Subaru's current predicament.
They got to his room, but it was something they didn't hope to see...
A/N: Sorry this took so long, school and stuff, but do not worry I'm still alive. Any guesses at what might have happened to Subaru? Like always see you in the next chapter.