Alright! As mentioned previously, here is the second part. With a bit of luck, the spacing should be better. But should there be issues, please tell how you'd like them to be taken care of.

Thank you, everyone, for being this patient with my messy way of narration. Due to the mysterious part I try to pull here, more than likely I've left you scratching you head. Again, my apologies on that. But hopefully I manage to execute the idea and not seem like some pretentious dumbass about it.

Please, enjoy:

Speak the Sage's Name (part 2)

"Eup, 'm sorry; m' bad; 'scuse m'; m' just scootin' by; hup!"

Hurriedly muttering thickly accented excuses, Grafiel nudged his way with steady pace through gatherings of people. The masses concentrating to soon enough stand shoulder to shoulder. Roads somewhere must be blocked.
If anything considered now, the time and surrounding made Garfiel almost think of mass on church from what tales he read on Gusteko.

It was all on the fantasy side, maybe, but better than most gave credit for in his opinion.

The suffocating mood of bustle and ease was a tossup between pleasant and annoying.
Pleasant on the eyes if moving by, but annoying as shit to go through. Especially when carrying drinks!

"OI, OI! Watch meself! I'm wack'in' 'ere! Movin' 'ere!" The Brooklyn like speech of the young Garfiel –easily as if at home in this domain— made itself noticed through yells at any time a light nudge resulted in him stumbling through the sea of people. A tough order, considering his arms balanced an entire tray packed with pints of heated beverages.

"Garf! Please!" With a paling face, Otto hurried to ease the loud youngster's burden, picking off some mugs. "Please, uhm… forgive him, he's just… didn't mean anything bad, just—" Stuttering to find any decent pretense, Otto looked nervously from customer to customer. Their wide berth and confounded faces leaving him grasping for words himself. "It's just, the hurry! Don't take him for anything bad meaning—"

"Eh? Otto-man, look! How cooler can ma amazin' self can get? Look me balancin' the t'ings now! Just wait 'til the rest see this!" Yet inconsiderate of his partner's hardship of appeasing potential strings of offended passers from the vast pub he'd just left, Garfiel, amazingly to be credited, balanced mug and pint atop another whilst pirouetting the plate he carried the said beverages on.
"Jus' wait and see! When meself 'll see Capn', I'll leave 'im masked wit amazement!"

"In a hurry?" Eyed with disgruntlement a gruff looking guardsman the free show.

"Fer fecks sake, just leave em. None's but nails and screws in dem wankers anywa'." Exasperatedly, spoke off another man that recently found himself stepped over the foot when a blond, cloud headed, boy passed him. "S' much fer convenient night…" Walking off towards the, semi, open roof pub, he waved a hand along with a roll of the eyes.

"By heckin' Od, guy, get yer pall ta walk less like a ground dragon! This now, but next wha'? He sheits too over tha corner?!" More annoyed than the last few, another man, a farmer by his looks, ranted before turning his back.

The once vagrant merchant merely nodded with an all to happy grin to be left alone.

…

"Garf… continue like this and you'll have the honor to be written as the death reason on my tombstone…!" With an exhale and ease of heart, Otto turned to look at his clown by partnership and dragged a metaphorical hand across his face; courtesy of his hands being busy with beverages.
"Just! Move it, you meat headed oaf!" With a cry of exasperation at his friend's obvious self-found entertainment, Otto kicked at Garfiel to put a move on.

"Hey-hey! Watch me though! The drink's 'll spill! …And then 's Otto-bro who'll be left cryin' after losin' his comfort booze." With a toothy smile and giggle, Garfiel moved along with his faction's Internal Affairs Minister, bringing all the while the large plate housing the pints to lean against his hip.
"Still, knowin' ya, ma amazin' self half expects ta find ya scooting off an' find yer own place to enjoy liquor."

"That was…! Great Od, Garf! Don't hold it against me!" Blushing red in shame, Otto screamed in the demi's sensitive ear. "If I'm not allowed to find even a place to drink since Watergate, then Natsuki-san isn't allowed to walk to the bathroom alone anymore!"

"Ei-ei… calm now, m'kay?" With a cheeky grin and a closed eye, Garfiel showed no sign of relenting against Otto. "Meself's just~ sayin' 's all~. Capn's got nun ta do with drunk escapades tho. Me thinks Otto-bro's just blubbering about 'cuz I'm right~." His grin bloomed in a full-on smile, using a hand to slap Otto over a shoulder and shake the poor man on his feet, challenging his trial at not spilling the share of mugs.

"Garf! Garfiel! You-you can't say this! None of this when Natsuki-san returns! Sealed, understand? Seal your lips! If Od-forbid you pour any of this to Natsuki-"

"Relax tho', a'right? I ain't 'bout ta tell on Otto-bro just cuz he likes tha obscurest corners in ta middle o' night."

"Garf, you…! This low?! That's how you think of me?!" Raving mad with shame and indignation, red over the face from blushing, Otto kicked at Garfiel's shins without regard.

"Ei! Ei! Ei! See! This why 's easy fer meself ta pick at ya! Gah, watch it! Tha'—!"

"—Hk! No, no, no-no-no! …Ah…" Flailing like a headless chicken in its death throes, Otto proved to be true the old sayings! Besides the one of a decapitated rooster having somehow lived for the better of a year afterwards, no, it was that his agitation managed to save the fragile cargo Garfiel carried. …Along with his own.

"Oh. Ei, would'ja look at tha'! Bro, you've got pretty good fer dancing in the night! Ya even saved the score."

"It wouldn't come to tempt my luck if Lady Beatrice found the mercy to have us posted at a better place or time!" Protesting with a meek tone, Otto, thankful to Od and back, counted his blessings for not finding himself under the likely outcome of lady Beatrice's abuse should he have someone further inconvenienced her.

Setting Ram aside, the second most unforgiving towards him had to be the youthful spirit. He just had a feeling.

"Ah, come on, Otto-bro… Can't hold 't 'gainst ta little lady. She ain't up ta stayin' 'wake 's much a' she'd like." Wagged the demi his head left and right like a balance weighing coins. "Ya know she tough like nun. But… C'mon, ya know…" Garfiel's voice slowly tamed down to a gentle and reasonable volume.

"We— I know." Wishing to massage his face in frustration, Otto had to settle for merely wrinkling his mien and cringe internally on the rather delicate matter.
By no means, no! The man had no actual reason to hold something against the mentioned spirit. It was simply by the nature of their talk it came up like so.
"But, mh… guess there's really nothing to say. …Just wish for this issue to already disappear. Everyone's worried sick. By now, we should've passed t—"

"'S alright, Brotto. Meself thinks princess' outta all o' us the most frustrated 'bout tha' one." Garfiel stopped the once merchant from thinking too much over his anxiety.
"No use now ta go back ta moody and sheit all over. Gotta be steady, ey?"

"Yeah… It's just, such a letdown, you know? Barely left Costuul and… I can't believe I think this, but I wish we didn't stop even if stupid. …Well, at least now we know what those things are."

"Mmn. Can say it again. Creepy 's wha it 's. Them fucks, come a' night, jus' like ta dredge city, but act freaky 's hell!" With a piercing association to Priestella, Garfiel once more mulled over the aggravating case of Demi Beasts. Those abominations that were entirely unnatural and had no right to even exist.

They followed them like the plague! And what's more, they acted entirely against their goals. While dumb and hollow of intelligence in their approaches, those pissants kept delaying them. …Yes, it was obvious those things were dedicated to exclusively mess with them for months now.

Garfiel wouldn't say it out loud now, on part due to an inkling suspicion that everyone shared this thought, but, it almost seemed like those things expressly made sure they never reached Picoutate.
Subsequently, they never reached Subaru.

And it already was an ill enough omen to make them venture a guess on the perpetrator. After all, that last Gluttony took the dive along with Subaru and Rem.

It was ominous. And just a possibility, maybe a wrong one. And even so, it never failed to chill Garfiel's spine. Because if he was right, much to his terror, then it meant something really held authority over the ugly bastards.

It didn't help that tonight, things died down, seemingly. No trouble and no hint of danger. Just a normal night in this Duchy. Like as if all was back to normal along with the treated Duchess.

"Please, Garf, don't mention those…" Sucking his lips and squinting his eyes, Otto had trouble keeping out of his mind especially horrendous things he at times could've swore to see following their travels at the beginning.
As if something far more terrible waited like a vanguard around them, to ensure they didn't resist too much.

"'Course… Fact! Meself ain't even aware wha' I've been spilling 'bout." With a small simper, Garfiel righted his shoulders and played dumb. With an easygoing attitude, he was sure to dispel the heavier ideas haunting Otto.

"How dare you, Garf…?" With a crestfallen aura, the green garbed man closed his eyes briefly in disbelief and simmering petulance. "You act like a moron and then bounce to being considerate… I can't even get the luxury to blame you!"

"Heh-he-he! As Capn' woulda' said 't! ''S part 'f me charm'!" With confidence, Garfiel palced his free palm over his chest and loudly proclaimed to the world.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

She was brought here, once more.
Made to witness a point already passed.

It boiled with heat.

Blistering heat. The like when flesh would melt and air would burst in flames.

The pressure of the moment was as walking on the sun. The Crystal Palace grounds… burning like the forests, months prior. A hellish rain of embers floating towards the sky from its inner keeps.

Backbreaking apprehension, was a puny description for this inferno.

Again, she was shown the past she failed to confront together with him. Now, only heartless dreams offered any semblance of information or report upon his wellbeing.

The sinister ambient was a curtesy made further possible from the army's dull drums, soon accompanied by a palpitating melody. Trapped residents of great renown in arts, some fleeting or caught in the crossfire, embodied their nationalism… and bore hums of violins in the wake of strife. Perhaps, in their twisted belief, proved the world their worth.
Of course, like their blood dictated, not shying away to do so upon a war.

A quake shook the castle foundations.

"Now, gentlemen~… after us."

She recognized this voice. She would know this voice even beyond time itself. Without doubt, she recognized his voice. So close, like spoken right beside her, and yet nowhere to be caught. Again, she was cruelly shown what she searched for in vague visions.

Towering doors better fit for stronghold walls broke open!

"Emperor, Sage? …Drunkard and the lopped one." An echo of immediate recognition, carried aloft waves of heat with the air of an esteemed host, greeted them within. "Admirable punctuality. Yet I care not to lauder you further, as you should expect."

"Chisha Gold! For having conspired Vollachia's usurpation, and having riled tension among neighboring nations: You are sentenced for judgment at the Emperor's decree." The Astrea's claim waved off a sublime nuance of spite and ire, leaving his sky azure eyes to glimmer in the firelit domain. A true hatred burned inside him! The chance at retribution too great to pass up. Heinkel only mouthed lip service. In truth, he sought blood.
"Declare the truth of your plans. Before you go out bleeding silently!"

"I wouldn't try him, you know?"
That other man, this one, she recognized as well, yes. He was there during Priestella's siege. The same man that one way or another had played a hand in ending her mana-deprived sleep. And for various reasons, the sight of him did not bode well on her mind.
"Bro's worked this one's spirits up, and he ain't about to mellow on this, body-double." Aldebaran's detached remark played jokingly from his metal hidden visage.

And yet the simper blooming on the White Spider's dispassionate mug showed no reason to cave to them. A terrifying confidence boasted his attitude. The gleam of orange moats shading his ghostly presence.

"No manners or consideration, much less traces of care in crucial instances. How deplo~rable of a company thy master keeps." Chisha waved a hand beside him uncaringly, an eye closed for a snide expression. The cool and sure reply left an icy sensation over his listeners.
The Divine General's eyes fleetingly, as if in mocking, washed over Vincent Abellux.

"It's over, Gold."
With a telltale animosity, again he spoke. But hearing him… her heart felt laden with sorrow. A heavy burden, something intangible that carried the air of gloom, nestled itself inside her heart. She would've cried, if possible. She would've reached, if allowed. She would've been there, she wanted…
"The 'cavalry' won't venture to help you. The bitch won't intervene. And her pets already burn. She set you up since the start." His eyes, within which rested a gentle radiance, were nothing like she grew to know and love. "And this won't come down to chance, Chish'. It's over. …Now make the effort."
Subaru spoke with a heart wrenching gravitas. Something saddening, that left her soul to ache. That, mysterious meaning behind his words, was torturous to hear him express.

This wasn't how things were supposed to be like.

"Bold demands, Sage. But you tread dangerously on 'bold' to demand I renounce my ambition. Such disgrace is intolerable." The stark white General turned down the last call for escape. His course sealed already.

"Can't say if I wanna kill him, or high-five him. But hey, 'least I gotta admit: 'respectable'. For once, spineless, isn't what I'd use to describe the guy to fight." The black-haired man's eyes narrowed with the tense joke. His tone mixing in humor and scorn. Subaru held a troubled smile.

"Falling back on jokes, now? I always saw the truth~ for what it was."
This man she saw, spoke of as if knowing Subaru all too well. His method of stating, laced with warnings gave chills. "Those are always the mo~st dangerous…" That man's words, Chisha as she came to learn, trailed off into a tantalizing way. The Divine General came off more like attacking with his notions than even attempting to refute the accusations.
"The joking ones; keeping face when even crisis come. Making excuses of the truth… Hiding behind fake joy~." Chisha smiled with breathless amusement.

It was terrifying. How she could understand perfectly what the rogue General mentioned.

It left her mortified, how easily she got his message.

Subaru joked at every corner and every hardship, even reveled against misery, almost being careless about the situation. Finding some semblance of joy in this scarring method, by pretending to be happy, even when strife pushed him down. When he kept up the premise of hope pulling him onwards, the quiet truth left signs behind. It was always there lingering, the fact of despair pushing behind him.

"He's dug his own hole!" Already at patience's limit, the Astrea took to action! His hand unsheathing the sword at his hip, the blade livened by the will of its wielder, crashed threateningly against the wall adjacent! Dust and pebbles flying in the smooth motion.
"Question as much you want after I gut him!"

Aldebaran's falchion already made smooth arcs around, more than ready for this outcome. Or rather, waiting for it.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time now. Sorry, body-double, 's just your lu—sorry. Your stars were just bad."

"This, is your battle, Subaru…" Waving off his hands, Vincent casually stepped back without an ounce care. "I will merely evaluate your performance." Dusting off the metaphorical dust of his gloved hands, Vincent kept a sly simper on his calm mien, a pleased aura emanating off his hungry eyes. "I believe this is all our covenant is about." All to satisfied, the man stood back and made sure to enjoy what was to be. And hopefully, it would surpass his delight with the ElGina.
With the wave of a hand, it was as if his command was given.

"Come, Subaru! The other Generals swayed like wheat to you. But you'll find I'm in a class all my own." Brimming with a life so rarely found inside this shell of a man, Chisha Gold bounced off Vincent's desire and called out without hesitance. His wolf-gold eyes, completely focused over the black-haired man, shined in expectation for the answer he'd receive!
"Come test yourself and see who's name the World's Love is dedicated for!"

With the challenge irreversible, Subaru's unbound whip cracked. His dagger screeched against the air and revealed its silver reflection fleetingly. Soon, this new conflict roused a greater shine from it!

…

What is there now left to state? How tough the hardship is? How much the schemes led up to? How much the sacrifices reddened the lands?

Those factors existed. And perhaps they held some weight for this grave decision, impressionable or satisfactory for an outsider's eye. Maybe even fancy for a catchy tale.
Ultimately forgettable though.

No. Set here, it was more than her measly glimpses could catch. And believably more than strings of words could capture.

But when Subaru made to kill along those strangers she could not accept to be his support… and the gleam of yang light trickling blood from the man calling out this fallout, she certainly felt a weight like heavens fall over her.

…

Her sight of chopped and random visions faltered.
Like a canvas meant to test dripping colors, the images lost themselves like waves of soap in water. The ink describing the past events, diluted by the present.

The sudden waking, left Beatrice seething. The contract's connection disturbed, only lingering sensations possessed her. A fight not meant to take place, and a resolution baptized with blood, laid ahead, it was apparent. A crown of thorns was the reward. And the trap was obvious.

It was obvious… only now.

And she was nowhere near Subaru to rescue him!

Nowhere near!

The events already concluded, long ago anyway.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

!

Butterfly pupils against blue irises fluttered open to the world!

"Agh! HGnn! Worthless-worthless! In fact!" With barely restraint rage, the petite spirit clutched her fists and trembled on her uncomfortable spot. The old and dingy bed squeaked beneath her aimless wrath.

"Hah! Beatrice-oneesan!" Shot up Meili from her seat, clutching close over her head a swaying red shape.

"Mh? Ah, blue thing…" Without much fanfare, the great spirit glazed over Meili, in her startled state, and hopped of the bed. A tunnel like focus guiding her. Knowing the time should be somewhere during night judging from the window's view, Beatrice had a good bet Emilia spent her time anxiously waiting around.
Well… better to get a move on and find a suitable place, that half-elf might be onto something. More than likely, she already had a decent spot for sighting any active transports in the close region. And Beatrice had about enough restless visions to last her many nights.

Replete with frustrations from learning so little from such choppy memories, it was safe to assume she wasn't exactly in a good mood.

"Uh-um… Be-…"

Looking over her shoulder, the childlike spirit noticed with a disappointed look Meili's downtrodden appeal.

"I wonder, it was common knowledge by now you did not care for asking permission to pester Betty." Gently tilting her head sideways, Beatrice waited for a response. She wasn't exactly in her best state of mind, but she could spare some bits of patience maybe? Oh well, this better be rewarded anyway, she reasoned.
Subaru had the gall to keep the ankle bitter around? Then the least he could do for having her put up with the exploited assassin was to praise her like never before.

"U-h-um… Had a bad dream?" With a hesitant step, Meili reached over and handed Beatrice a considerably ugly and big mug. The steam rising atop the wooden pint, hinting at a hot drink.

'Hopefully sweet' grumbled Beatrice even in her mind.

"Only silly girls like you have bad dreams, in fact." Huffing without much pathos in her act, Beatrice loosened her shoulders and reluctantly reached out for the pint.
As expected, the brutish thing made generally use of in pubs like the ones in this Duchy were a pretty contrasting object to the spirit's delicate semblance.
"How crude… the dumb boy, Garfiel, chose them?" Speaking like a veritable granny, Beatrice made use of both hands to amply swirl the hot, honeyed, milk. Absolutely teeth decaying…
Thank Od her mother didn't care about natural teeth! Subaru kept on supervising her sugar intake in spite of her perfect condition! At least she found an outlet for a bit.

The advantages of being an artificial spirit, or… spirit in general? Meh, not like she cared enough.

Like a charm, almost half the sweet drink already disappeared in one hearty gulp!

"Oh-wow! Beatrice-oneesan is so stoic when drinking that, I think even tiger-niisan wouldn't beat her in a contest!"

Yet Meili only widened her eyes with natural childish delight. Perhaps that unexpected sight was enough to produce a giggle from her.

"But, oneesan is right. Tiger-niisan and the cowardly brother brought them for us." With a little more pep in her voice, Meili answered with a small smile to the spirit lost in admiring the image reflected in the mug. Holding her hands behind her back and gently swaying, the blue haired girl slowly eased up to speak.

"Of course, I'd be them, I suppose." Turning away with the same under the rain aura, Beatrice motioned with a hand for the girl to follow. "Unless you're afraid of the boogieman being outside, Betty thinks going is better, in fact."

"Fueh? 'B-boogemin'? Mhh… I can't say I've come across something like that anywhere I've been." Innocently, Meili tried to cover her confusion by assuming the all-knowing spirit referred to a mabeast. Cutely managing a warbly smile and looking elsewhere, the little girl tried seeming in tune with the subject.
"We shouldn't see them here either. So… everything is alright with me."

Following after, Meili heard the great spirit snort. Said spirit sporting a smug grin, inclined her head as they moved to reply.

"Stupid little girl, don't try and act smart with Betty. Using Subaru-isms does not fall in your list of specialties." Regaining some amount of attitude, Beatrice sipped again on the sweet drink before leaving the small inn they stopped at.

This was a terrible, terrible feeling.

She wouldn't wish this type of loss to be experienced by anyone in the world.

"…"

Again. She pinched her arm, again, for the n-th time this night alone.

Taking a deep breath was nerve wracking. So… moving around maybe helped a little. Perhaps putting her blood to pump faster would do the trick.

"…"

Well, shit.

This was proving to be steadily a losing battle.

Forcing her heavy eyes to remain open through the tempting offer of sleep, Emilia kept her owlish observation over the Duchy's point of entry leading to Flanders. The dirty, gravel, road distorted and waned as the light sources set around towers dimmed and intensified.

"Pffu…" Exhaling more from impatience and nervousness, Emilia started pacing around the guard post tower she decided would work just fine for her anxious wait.

Keeping her hands busy, playing an imaginary game of catch with a fist and palm, Emilia treaded like a kid stuck in la-la land around. Just… making rounds around. Yup.

And the cold started to become unbearable. Also, no, it wasn't from magic. 'Thank you elven resistance. Least you're good for something'. It was a sensation she struggled with for the past months.
'Maybe a problem that wouldn't exist if I didn't just rush off alone to the tower peek! But noooo~ Emilia, you just had to run in like a ground dragon! Why bother using your brain for even a tiiiiiny second?'

Clutching over her shoulders the sizeable black 'coat' to her stature, Emilia resisted tried to warm up.

Keeping herself busy with meaningless monologue, Emilia easily fell in a loop of nitpicking bygone decisions. Because, why not?! How else to enjoy this… fine… night!

"Ah yes, maybe home, with many blankets, telling stories or going outside through Costuul with Beatrice and Subaru! But no, no, it's fine Emilia, this is fine too! I wanted anyways to go insane waiting like a fairy –damn terrible things— from horror stories and worry all day! Go~od job! Go~od job, me! Yosh-yosh!"

Clapping her hands, she felt again every bit the gullible and airheaded kid she was even longer ago in life.

Derisively smiling to herself with a cynical grin and worried eyes, completely drained from summed nights spent without sleep, it was obvious.

Emilia might as well have gone delirious from the lack of sleep.

Not that it was a novel experience, mind you. She already did stunts like this with Subaru, per say, as back in the Tower where there were together, at least! But oh, now? Now she definitely reached a new personal record. Hip-hip hurray!

It was hard to tell, but even her own inner voice seeped with snide sarcasm. In fact, Emilia wasn't sure she'd ever go back to normal! Well, lesson learned, sleep, keep your loved ones close and don't, especially, don't fuck up!

"G-hk… GhAaaAAAgGhhH!" Walking by a few silhouettes, hard to tell with the time and lack of focus, Emilia pirouetted once as she yelled from frustration! Planting her cold hands over her face, the silver haired girl let out the frustrated yell to the skies.

It was really just a way to cope, truth be told. Because, all things factored? Right now, it was a miracle Emilia didn't dig a hole and went to die in. Shame was one thing, but the guilt a whole other labor to tackle!
The sheer degradation her brain must be experiencing from worry induced all-nighters must've helped for something apparently. At least now she could distract herself by making a little art from kicking herself.

"And if it weren't for these horrible, horrible, things! So bad, bad…!"

Clutching her disheveled head, now hit by a serious migraine, Emilia felt a light tap on her shoulder.

"?"

"S'… kinda… Well. How can me amazin' self put it?" Garfiel stumbled to find the right words as he gesticulated close to his chest. "Thin' is ugh… Well. Uhm… Otto-bro! He knows!" Shoving forward the Internal Affairs Minister of their faction, Garfiel stepped back satisfied.

"For the love of Od! Oh… Um, Emilia-sama, are you… alright?" Otto fiddled with his hat and meekly spoke out.
Having been the 'passing silhouettes' Emilia brushed by and suddenly went in a short yelling fit kind of… left them a little scared.
Maybe don't get the uncanny looking half-elf too plunge in a mood of rage, seemed like a sensible lesson to them.

"Oh-ah… Otto-san, Garfiel!" Having just recovered a semblance of composure form the break in her slipping reality, Emilia returned to a more usual likeness. Well, still visibly agitated, but an improvement.
"Y-yes, I'm all good. All o-okie!" Having quickly answered, Emilia gave an awkward thumbs up, fumbling momentarily between that and an 'okie' sign.

"Mg-right." Garfiel cleared his voice when met by Otto's rose brow. "S' ma amazin' self was thinkin', princess gotta know lots a stuff 'bout politics 'n all. And ah, see, miss Emilia, since nun better ta do an keep watch, meself was wondrin'. How… is Vollachia? Fer real, I mean. Less tales, mor' fac's, I ask."

Grafiel's question, not new to hear for the past weeks, held a different note.
The worry in it evident.
This time, the boy wasn't asking about general customs or how cool it was to visit a country with Vollachia's renown.

"Mhh…" Relaxing her shoulders and slightly focusing her gaze, Emilia wrapped her hands around her shoulders –the damn cold was really annoying— and turned to walk back towards the better illuminated spot she wandered away from.
"If Garfiel-kun is so serious with this question after so long, I can tell it must be serious." With a weak smile, the girl sat on a stone stool and kept her eyes over the horizon. At least there was an occupation stopping her from spiraling in nonsense from sleep deprivation.
"Mhm, to answer Garfiel truthfully, Vollachia is a place of doctrines and tradition. If we're trying to reaaaaly look back on it, even now, Vollachia continues like it did in the past. So much so, rules about engaging in conflicts appeared more for the sake of conducting a proper war, rather than stop. But…"

With a blink and reconsideration, Emilia looked back towards Garfeil and Otto.

"But why ask this again?" Her weak smile returned. "Not that I mind talking. Though, even I find it weird to hear the same question, albeit different put." Radiating a gentle feeling, Emilia tried to ease the true subject from the two anxious friends.

"Emilia-sama. …" Otto's brow furrowed. "Garfiel just—" Looking with the corners of his eyes at the blond demi-human, the Suwen merchant received a slow nod. "Garfiel just heard, without meaning to, of course! B-but, Garfiel heard from leady Beatrice on our way here something about. Well… about dreams. And the distinction between them. See, we brushed ways with her and young Meili on the way."

"Nah…" Dejectedly, the blond boy shook his head. "Me dumbass self jus' heard 'bout ta dreams an' parts aside. Brotto made ta connections. 'S just tha', well, miss Beatrice is Capt'n's spirit. 'S just a thin' I wondered 'bout."

"Dreams?" Repeating slowly, Emilia's eyes shined for a second. Thinking over it, this wasn't anything new to hear. Being more precise, it was a notion that reminded her of her own past contract, more or less.

Emilia tugged closer over her shoulders the extra layer of cloth, the black jacket satisfyingly enveloping her, as she thought.

"…" Gripping with a hand the colorless jewel at her neck, the half-elven candidate thinned her lips in deep thought.
True, she always considered herself as not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but… she could explain a few things about this.

"With Garfiel's and Otto's worry so clear and hearing you bring about this subject, I must admit to know something that maybe, maybe(?), is an answer you seek?" Scratching a cheek and shaking her head when feeling a wave of sleepiness hit her, Emilia reformulated.
"Um, what Otto-san describes sounds very much alike to a communion of memories between contractor and contracted spirit. From my experience, I had similar issues from my bond to Puck." It was meaningless to go into too much detail, so Emilia chose to hold back on the more personal things she had to go through with Subaru and Puck. "Though, just like now, this can only result from the great separation Beatrice experiences. It's a little personal to talk about this kind of stuff, so I can't go into much detail, but, this should be about the essence of it."
Soundlessly tapping her fingertips in a thinking pose, as if finishing a lesson, Emilia politely concluded the answer.

"Ah, m'sorry then. Bu'…" Scratching vigorously though his main of blond hair, Garfiel reclined back and supported his back against a wood pillar.
"Bah, sheit it. Gotta ask ta little lady spirit now. Still think Capt'n ain't all tha good. Just a gut feelin' 's all."

"…" Otto lightly stepped a little ways off to look towards the same direction Emilia observed for so hours now. Maybe he should redirect the subject.

"Do not worry needlessly, Garfiel-kun, I appreciate you guys worrying this much for Subaru." Her mien passingly faltered from its barely regained façade. "I really do."

"Emilia-sama…" Shyly Otto called out, with a point in mind. Something curious made him take notice.
"Emilia-sama, how long has that block on the north road been going for? Did you notice it?"

Craning her neck to see over the area Otto pointed at, Emilia noticed the slow-moving sources of light in the distance.

A trail of, had to be, candles.
And from the look of it, definitely people walking. Not many animals with them, just a few ligers in fact, kept to the back. Pretty fluffy too.
"Meili would certainly like to pet them…" Noting to herself, Emilia looked further. Observing how the bustling caused by the flock of people caused a few blocks on the gravel road. Antyhing else though was hard to tell from here.
"By looks 'tis difficult to say, but, maybe a decently sized guild or unit? Most likely, Crusch-sama may better answer this. I can venture a guess for them to be a scouting team to secure the area around the Duchy? They could also be the search enforcements Anastasia-sama summoned. Perhaps they arrived?"

"Ah, ye… true dat too. Od! Talkin' 'bout defendin', 's crazy cool how ya can make 'em statu's princess! Kicked major demi-beast ass out there!" With a more exuberant remark, Garfiel relaxed as he looked over the patrol of people with candles and ligers.
The thought of Mimi unwillingly passed his mind.

"Heh, worth praising it over and over. It was a stellar work, Emilia-sama! You really could be said to have moved mountains. Huh… maybe Sir Argyle did say some truth." Almost remorsefully, Otto rubbed the back of his head as he thought of the pressure Karsten's knight must've handled to keep the still vulnerable people of the Dutchy safe until Crusch got back on her feet.

"…"

However, Emilia didn't really feel it in her to say something about the praise she received.

With time trickling by, the last thing Emilia thought she deserved was praise. And until she wouldn't solve her knight's disappearance, she was in no way capable to even consider her allies encouragements.
In her mind, applied to her, being worthy of their lauders would mean at least living up to them.

So, when Emilia looked around and saw where she was and how helplessly she waited… she felt like vomiting.

"This wasn't how it was supposed to be…" Once more, she imperceptibly spoke, so weakly even Garfiel wouldn't understand her mumbles for something rational.
She only thought how wrong everything was. How this entire ordeal, of them being stuck, stranded away from her knight, was wrong!

This, was not supposed to happen.

This, was not right.

Something bad, really, really did happen.

And this thought kept her up for all those nights.

This wasn't how things were supposed to happen. …She was supposed to pass Vollachia and find him…

Emilia gripped tighter around her the big jacket.

"Emilia-oneesan!"

Suddenly, a thudding set of tiny feet hitting against rock floor sounded off as a cheery shout and rush introduced a running girl straight into Emilia's embrace.

A sweet mood followed in her wake. Like a little grace of goodness, she just crashed into the silver haired girl not unlike a careless bird in her first flight.

"Meili? Wh-why aren't you resting with Beatrice?" Notably worried, Emilia cupped the little girl's cheeks in her frosty palms, involuntarily causing said bundle of hope to lightly tremble. "M-hah! Just a moment, Meili, my bad." Quickly detecting the discomfort, Emilia wrapped her hands in her extra layer of clothing, improvising it for the shape of mittens. Hoisting now in her hold the little girl, Meili was raised like a babe to be rocked on the half-elf's knees.

"Oh, fue-he-heh-he!" Surprisingly delighted by this turn of events, Meili couldn't help but release a sweet giggle. Blushing lightly and grinning with joy at the warm welcome she received, her olive eyes lit like a fireplace. The honest delight she exuded was rewarding in itself on the wizened group.

"Eavesdropping, then running away from Betty to the half-elf? If Betty were softer at heart, she'd feel a modicum of hurt, I suppose." Not far behind, reaching them with a whole other class of elegance only this great spirit possessed, Beatrice spoke with a smug simper.

"N-nh! I, no, Emilia-oneesan, Beatrice-oneesan is just mean!" Flushing red with embarrassment and making an effort to look away, Meili played with a strand of hair as the crimson passenger atop her blue locks twiddled left and right.

For all it cared, the crimson scorpion was happy as long as it could dance. Well, that much was how it looked like. What the transformed Shaula actually thought was a mystery in itself. But at least someone was nonstop running this team's engine of enthusiasm!

"Gotta give da twerp credit, ey. Sum tough sunva bitch, bein' happy all day 'n all." Grinning from the sight brought by Meili and Beatrice, he couldn't help but joke a little to break the past heavy mood. "Almost make ma amazin' self wish were a scorpion magigy thin' too!"

"If you start becoming anything more than what you already are, Garf… I'm certain not even Frederica will tolerate." Absolutely jaded by this idea, Otto turned with a half-shadowed and exasperated look towards the tiger boy.

"Eh-heh… no telling~? But c'mon, 's a dancin' scorpion!"

"Go fish, Garf." Was the deadpan retort.

"Meili, why keep shying away anymore? You could have just come to us since the start, this I always told you." Having rested her eyes on the soft-blue crown of hair on her lap, Emilia shook her head disapprovingly. With a tired voice, she continued. "Even so, Meili, please do not make a habit of this. Listen to me and don't repeat bad behaviors. Being careful is wise from you, but acting this way to anyone here isn't something to do, understand?" Surprisingly stern, the silver haired girl chided strictly. Looking straight in her eyes, keeping a level tone, Emilia did not beat around the bush.

Of course, of course, it was admittedly through an inexperienced and somewhat childish method she instructed. However, not entirely bad either. For example, she couldn't have even addressed it. With time Emilia proved a quick study in dealing with kids.

"How deplorable." With a soft smile, Beatrice folded her delicate arms beneath her chest and knowingly looked at the guilty Meili.
'Subaru gathers a flock of directionless numbskulls and leaves Emilia the play mother hen. How can Betty still condone such behavior? How incorrigible, I suppose.'

Having entertained a humoristic outlook over their stance, the pink clothed spirit made her way to sit beside the others and maybe elucidate the nosy questions gained after her slip of tongue.

"Very well then, tiger-boy, I wonder."

"Hah! Who?! Ah, ya, tha's me, right." Having burst to attention on the rather short notice, Garfiel smacked a hand over his nape and stood at ready. If he'd get answers about Subaru, it was bound to be important. Struggling through some sleepiness was nothing for a complete unit like him!

"What about the country of issue you wish to know, I suppose?" Twirling a lock of hair hanging from her temple –notably, not her drills— the strands Subaru usually abused around as much by twirling them to nigh permanent curliness. Somewhat thank Echidna her appeal was fixed as it was.

"Ehem, meh-well, fer starters." Gaining a respectably more serious likeness, Garfiel scooted closer. "Why's da empire so hellbent en keepin' ta fight an' fight? I mean… 's cool an' all ta host duels or ta challenge bu'…" Scratching his forearms, tracing the old sutures left gift from Kurgan's mortis might, Garfiel mulled over his words.
He wasn't really about to diss an entire populace opinion on conducting themselves, however, he couldn't help but ask:
"But… ain't they eve' had 'nough? I mean, sure feels like too much 's too much. Nuthin else ta do? Only tha'?"

Though easy to tell the young man was not exactly in the comfort to find a better expression, his question was just as valid.

Beatrice blinked and schooled her appeal.

"Currently, this marks the 77th emperor, subsequently 77th generation of royal lineage in Vollachia's history." Stealing a gaze at the stars above her, Beatrice formulated an answer. "Even being strict and irrational, by allocating ten years per each generation, that would at minimum tally closer to 800 years' worth. And Vollachia's history of royalty spans over the thousands. The same does their belief system."

Playing with a tress of blonde hair, twirling it around her pointer, Beatrice kept looking at the stars. It was a very clear sky tonight.
And the stars shined enchantingly bright.

"Since little, indoctrinated with the notion of 'might makes right', they decided no the universal rule of the wild to dominate their social structure. And war easily became something of a tradition with rules among them, the norm if you may, I suppose. Challenging even the crown itself for dominion is permitted even, in fact. Therefore, the nation grappled with this inner war since its conception. They lived and grew with this requirement for war so long… that it became their staple."

Feeling Emilia's kind and surprising gesture of rounding an arm behind her, Beatrice couldn't help but huff. "…Mother hen, I suppose…"

"Is something wrong, Beatrice?" Confused, Emilia drew closer.

"Noting, in fact!" Waving a hand aggressively to hide her blooming smile, the great spirit continued.
"Your deep, great and mighty answer, boy:" Pointed the petite girl at Garfiel. "Is that Vollachia without war is a Vollachia without identity. It may as well have its name lost, in fact. They've fought for so long amongst themselves, they don't even know who they are without it. There is 'no Vollachian pride without hardship', as the sayings go. So, when without the mark of challenge to elevate the individual, the nation resolved to cause itself the misery to incentivize their belief, I suppose. There, I wonder, Betty has revealed to you the truth behind all, in fact. It's not about dominion, gain or right and wrong. It's about holding their identity in this way of life."

"Wow…" Otto's dumfounded utterance echoed around them.

"Shut it, man! Don' ruin i' afta' she got me focusin' too!" Whined Garfiel, nudging an elbow in the merchant's side.

"Mhm, Beatrice is an unmatched teacher." With a proud, warm and all too gentle face, Emilia hugged from the side the sweet and adorable little spirit. "And we're beyond blessed to have her!" Nuzzling her close along with Meili, Beatrice exasperated, flushed red from the praise.

"Stop… nestling Betty like a chick, you weird granny-girl!" With a squeaky voice and halfhearted motions, the little girl pushed against Emilia and the thick cloak she wore around to hold Meili.

Taking note of the dark and orange fabrics, Beatrice involuntarily let a frustrated reply out loud without thinking anything about it.

"And stop dragging Betty's Subaru's garments everywhere! You airheaded girl will lose them somewhere!" Pulled a little Beatrice at the jacket.

"Ah, no! Beatrice! Don't pull on it, I'm careful with it, I know." A little startled by the sudden development of their tug, Emilia in kind spoke louder. "I have to keep it until Subaru returns, Beatrice. Don't be angered by this, please."

"Mh, yup, ma amazin' self hopes this 'xactly ta mood we greet Cap'n wit'." Delightfully at ease in their gradually bettering spirits, Garfiel fully relaxed, blind to anything else going around.

Until…

"Um, Garf… Garf!" Shaking his friend's shoulder, the two friends turned around. Meeting with an odd amount of nervousness what could only be described as a pilgrimage.

…

"…Huh?..."

A voice from within the swath of people and following ligers sounded. Small bells from a sleigh jingled as the ligers moved.

Emilia's and Beatrice's spines chilled. If possible to compare by experience, it felt as if somehow, in particular, they felt the greatest unrest of those around them.

Discretely, Emilia wrapped her arms around Meili and Beatrice slowly. Although, she would've liked to also get a sense from the colorless crystal adorning her neck, she instinctively went to grasp the two little girls right around her.

"…The half-elf… Why here? Strange..."

It was muttered in whispers. Like backtalk between nervous onlookers. It was almost spoken in a manner of identification. And the wariness in their voices left much to be desired. A detached and avoiding nature seeped from their mutters.

It wasn't like Emilia to quickly pass judgement upon mere sight. However… this definitely did not bode well either.

"…Don't look. Don't look…"

"…Aaaghh… I'm scared, brother… I never thought to pass so closely…"

"…The mural was freakishly accurate, looking back… Is she looking?..."

"…Then it must be true! Will we find him? Will we?..."

"…I can hardly believe it. –glass…! He was right…"

"…Then it's true! Will he mend him? I can't believe it…! I can almost cry!…"

"…Wait, sis, wait. We must be close then. It means things changed. But… it's ok…"

"…Incredible. Oh, Od, I've seen your working and my faith is renewed..."

"…We should advise the lord, yes. This is a definite sign. Bring it to thine's attention…"

"…Unbelievable! I almost feel mad…"

"…We're close, so close! We must be, we must…"

Whispers upon whispers.

The line of trekking strangers almost gave the impression to hasten their steps. The scent of freshly cut and washed wool, worked and spun into fine thread, wafted off of them. The beautiful lights previously sighted in their further position, now so close, created a bewildering image.

Indeed, these were the same individuals sighted by Otto.

And clearly, they carried no candles on their equipment.

No, candles do not float. And such gentle flames, give off no heat.

"Spirits?" Meili's wide and wondrous eyes reflected the shining motes like a lake reflecting the night sky. The scorpion atop her head, aware to some degree, mellowed in its happy movement. Almost like a predator tensing and setting to prowl.

"Yes… Spirits, indeed." Beatrice aimlessly confirmed with a hushed tone. Gripping her dress, the little girl felt the tense palm of Emilia rest over her back.

"What— Are they talking to us?" Otto, unsure of what to do, unnerved by the whispering group, tried to step forward. "Um… sorry? Is there—"

"—"

"—"

"—"

And yet, the heavily cloaked men and women kept up and didn't even bat an eye. Undisturbed further, they moved on.

"Yeah… nice seein ya too." Warily spoke Garfiel after experiencing a fever rush through his bones. The tone some of them used definitely carried some harsh opinions towards Emilia, and the specific meaning, wasn't anything new a demi didn't hear before.
Yeah, it was like that. Garfiel wasn't dumb to let it pass him.
"Areshole spouters…"

"Are the weirdos going away for sure?" Bringing a hand close to her mouth, Meili gulped in dry and furrowed her brow.

"Emilia-sama?" Waiting for instruction, perhaps more out of paranoia, Otto called. In recent times, he's come to not undermine the use paranoia could serve. Even if overly cautious.

"Yes." Emilia kept her focus on the distancing unit of people. Her amethyst eyes, encrusted with sapphires for pupils, were fixed. Their dilated appeal sent a clear message of vigilance to the others.
"Let us return inside. I will stay by the windows to look for carriages passing and inform a messenger to ask Crusch-sama more about this… Everyone, please try and get some rest."

With her eyes still set over the people moving further up towards the center, Emilia rose a hand to enclose around the gem around her neck.

"Let us move already. Betty has grown tired, I suppose." Still burdened from mana deficiency, specifically separated from her only source to draw from, Beatrice preferred this time to comply and go along.

Call it what you will.

But instinctually, at the core inside… she did not wish to stay outside any longer than necessary.

"Bad… Bad contractor…" Her voice wavered. "Bad contractor, never again tell Betty scary stories…" In the end, it looked like Beatrice wasn't entirely wrong to joke with Meili. Something close to a bogyman roamed outside in the night.

Worst part was neither one knew what that sinister source was.

Does it have any use to repeat myself? Probably not? But hey, I still feel inclined to thank you for reading. And naturally: thank you everyone for leaving your thoughts about what you think of this story or where you see this going. It's incredible, to say the least. Thank you!