Chapter 26: Pandora part 1
Roswaal's Mansion: 12:00 hrs. 23/11/1538
It's been almost a month since the telegraph has been working, and copper was still not being imported in big enough quantities to start making a new line to the Capitol, but it was proving to be quite useful by allowing the Emilia camp to instantly communicate and not having to wait a few days for a letter to be sent back and forth.
Emilia, Subaru and Beatrice where behind the mansion, waiting for Roswaal who had summoned them. He had still not arrived, so Emilia started talking to kill some time.
"Subaru, you remember that you thought it was weird that mukt where still not widespread? Even after half millennia of being first conceived."
"Mukt? Uh…" Subaru was caught off guard not knowing well that Emilia was talking about.
"Musket it was you know it as I suppose." Beatrice intervened.
"That! You have an answer Emilia-tan?" Subaru was surprised, Emilia usually isn't this smart, but she had a long time to thing about it, so it wasn't as farfetched of an idea.
"I do" She stated proudly delighted by the surprised Subaru "For starters the advantages of the Muskttet? Mukt! Are these. Firstly, they are loud and scary compared to bows spreading fear among an opponent, then logistics are supposed to be easier as the powder and ammunition are easy to get and transport compared to arrows that are bulky and odd to store in a compact manner and lastly they have better penetrating power against armored opponents. Right?" Emilia told them proud.
"True. Now the downsides are that Muskets at least the ones that are being used are useless in the rain, are less accurate and have a slower rate of fire compared to bows." Subaru Replied.
"Yes, but some of the advantages are limited to your world only, since you said there wasn't any magic." Emilia stunned Subaru who now wasn't sure where she was going.
"So?" He asked
"Did you ever see a goa before coming here in fact?" Beatrice asked, suddenly making it click in Subaru's head.
"The fact that they are loud and scary doesn't matter since magic it so much scarier!" Subaru said impressed by his oversight. "But what about the armor?" He asked.
"Well, I'm not completely sure, but most troops seem to have very little armor, not these complete armor plating that you told us about." Emilia told him, Subaru then remembered the Vollachian soldiers, they did not wear the heavy armor he expected from the medieval age, at first, he thought they were just poor and couldn't afford it, but he could only think of a handful of people he ever saw wear full plated armor.
"Also, the advantage of Mukt's being better against armor is nullified significantly in fact. Many if not all archers use mana reinforcement to draw heavier bows than otherwise possible allowing for bigger, faster and stronger arrows to even pin people to a wall I suppose." Beatrice told. Subaru briefly remembered the time when he was shot by an arrow in the Vollachian jungles, he died pinned to a tree.
"So, there was never any advantage to using a Mukt? Only as a novelty that won't ever have place in any army?" Subaru asked.
"Yes." Emilia replied
"No." Beatrice followed. "They can be a good force multiplier for an army that for some reason or another has no way to use mana."
"For people like me, with a broken gate." Subaru followed on Beako's train of thought.
Then a shadow covered them, they looked up and saw a machine flying, followed by Roswaal who was also flying, Roswaal landed and so did the machine, he excused himself and quickly moved to the machine he brought. He yanked a mana crystal from it. What was left of it, and it dissolved back into the air completely drained.
"So, you called us to show this…thing?" Subaru asked.
"You remember that you asked me to make a flying machine? One to make anyone with mana capable of flying?" Roswaal replied to a now confused Subaru.
"I did?" Subaru wondered as he looked at the machine the size of a carriage.
"You did, a few months ago and here it is. It's first iteration!"
"Just how does it make anyone fly?" Emilia asked.
"Simple, one sits there and channels his own mana through that crystal, that then powers other crystals inside and the magic circuits." Roswaal stated proudly.
"So, it makes it easier to fly?" Beatrice asked.
"No, not yet, it makes it possible so that those that can't fly can."
"Like me?" Subaru asked
"No, you have to little mana, you can at most stay airborne a few seconds." Roswaal pointed a finger at Emilia "Like her, Emilia-sama you do not have the prowess in the magic affinities involved in flight, not all of them at least, so this machine should enable you to do so."
"So, I will fly?" Emilia asked excited.
"No, it's dangerous, have you even tested it?" Subaru inquired worried.
"It flew itself here, didn't it?" Roswaal replied.
"After draining every last bit of mana from that crystal in fact. How long would it take to drain Emilia's mana I wonder?" Beatrice asked somewhat worried.
"Long enough." Roswaal replied dryly.
They started to discuss if it was safe for Emilia to use the machine, not noticing that Emilia was already sitting in what seemed like the chair.
"Now just imagine yourself expelling mana from your back and into the machine, then imagine yourself floating as if in water." Roswaal said noticing that Emilia had no clue as to what to do.
Emilia did as told, and the machine first puffed, then started to cough and finally rise. It rose only a meter off the ground, and only a soft humming could be heard. Emilia looked at her friends, only Roswaal seemed happy, both Beatrice and Subaru seemed scared.
"Emilia that a good enough test for today, how about you imagine yourself landing?" Subaru shouted visibly nervous.
"Don't worry for my mana, I can last about a dozen minutes at this rate!" Emilia shouted back trying to calm her friends as she rose a bit more.
"There is a fire crystal in fact!" Beatrice shouted hoping to get Emilia off the machine.
"So?" Emilia asked, I'm not worried by what one fire crystal could do.
"It's not just…" Subaru was interrupted.
"I and the villagers left a gift for you in Irlam Village go find it, right in the center square!" Roswaal interrupted.
Emilia not giving it a second thought decided to go ahead. Awkwardly the machine pivoted in the direction of Irlam Village, gaining more speed as the pivot increased.
Irlam Village:
Emilia had almost lost here sense of orientation when she saw something pink moving in the forest below, it was Ram who was off to buying supplies, she then noticed the path Ram was walking through, it was hard to spot between all the trees and foliage, but it could be done. Not long after she arrived at Irlam Village. Feeling a bit exhausted from the machine draining a bit too much mana for her comfort, she started to land on the entrance of the village, first slowly then once she thought she had touched down and hopped off, the machine fell another 2 meters until it hit the ground making a loud crack.
"It broke!" Said Emilia out loud looking for the source of the cracking sound, she couldn't find it "It doesn't seem broken…maybe I should…" she was going to climb back on the see if it was broken but was interrupted by a group of kids that arrived to see what was happening. Once they saw her the youngest one, who Emilia hadn't seen before exclaimed "You! Are you Emilia?" He was interrupted by another "Don't talk to her like that, of course she is Emilia!"
"You're looking for me?" Emilia asked.
"Where are! I mean we were…any ways follow us we have a present for you!" The eldest kid explained.
Emilia followed the kids that guided her to the center square of the village. She could see it was somewhat decorated and at its center was something covered in cloth. Most of the adults where present and they all seemed eager to show off what they had for her.
"Emilia-sama I am sure you will like this gift, it took us about a year to buy the material and hire a maker and the Margrave gave us a lot of aid, as did Subaru though he doesn't know." An elderly lady told her "For saving us." She finished.
"FOR SAVING US!" Half of the village yelled. "FOR BRING THEM BACK!" The other half added. The cloth piece was taken out and it revealed a statue, not of Subaru or Emilia, but of Puck. Made from bronze and covered in silver to give it some of Puck's colors, it was decorated with two water stones in the eyes rendered inert by Roswaal to keep them stable. It was large compared to the original at a whopping 4 meters tall. It seemed to be watching her.
Emilia was lost for words, she first seemed sad, then depressed, but just when everyone thought she was going to cry, she seemed happy. Though she had watery eyes that everyone saw, she seemed very happy and started to thank the Villagers one by one.
Not long after Subaru, Beatrice, Roswaal and Ram arrived. Subaru seemed like the only one in distress.
"See? Like I told you, she is alright." Roswaal told Subaru mockingly.
"But your machine is nowhere to be seen in fact." Beatrice indicated.
"True, I must ask her where it is." Roswaal told her, both not noticing that Subaru was distracted by something.
"It that…Puck?" Subaru muttered.
"Subaru! Come here." Emilia called and he complied.
The two met within the crowd and then walked together towards Puck's statue.
"I want to thank you." Emilia said.
"For what? I didn't do this." Subaru said stunned by the accurate Puck, almost looking like the authentical. Almost.
"They said you helped, though not knowing." Emilia replied also stunned and somewhat scared by the accurate statue.
"I did?" Subaru said, thinking about when he did "I did, they asked me to draw puck and I did, I though they just wanted to know what a great spirit would look like."
"Thank you." Emilia said hugging Subaru.
Irlam Village: 11:00 hrs. 24/11/1538
Both Subaru and Emilia had come one again to look at the Statue, but today Emilia seemed sad when looking at it.
"What's the matter?" Subaru asked. Knowing well what it was.
"It just reminds me how much I miss him…" Emilia said in a choked voice.
"I know…I also miss my parents…a lot." Subaru tried to comfort her.
"But we are not here to be sad! Let's go on our date!" Emilia exclaimed vigorously trying to push these emotions aside.
They had planned to go to the nearby flower field where their first date was and spend the afternoon talking and looking around. The last time they went there Emilia heard a nearby water flow and wanted to find it this time.
Once they arrived at the flower field it was just past midday, so they decided to eat lunch there and unpacked all the picknick stuff they had brought.
They talked about everything that had happened and what they could see happening in the near future, but none of them could take out a thought from their minds. What happened to Puck? None of them knew for certain, all they knew what that he wasn't with them. This left both of them uneasy and soon enough both retorted to just eating.
"I wonder what has you so uncomfortable." Subaru asked.
"Same for you." Emilia replied.
"I…I just wonder what happened to Puck. Where is he now, what is he doing?" Subaru said.
"I-I don't know…" Emilia said weakly starting to sob. "I don't know if he is even…" She stopped herself from saying it.
Subaru unsure what to do and say if he should even say anything at all brought her in a hug, letting her cry out her emotions.
'I shouldn't have asked! I'm an Idiot!' Subaru thought to himself.
After what seemed like forever, Emilia had finished crying and thanked Subaru for being there. They continued to eat in silence. Slowly as if afraid that any noise would break the peace that surrounded them.
After another eternity Emilia noticed something new. "Is it me…or there are now platinum flowers?" She voiced out.
"So you see the new flowers too. I thought they were just white." Subaru said between bites.
They kept eating and looking for another quarter hour. Comfortable in the peace that was the field. Even though no words where being said both knew they were together.
They finished lunch and now was time to start exploring. Emilia led the way claiming that she "Heard" of a place she wanted to see. "Who told you about this place?" Subaru asked, wondering if it was Petra.
"No one, just heard it." Emilia said.
"How could you hear of a place if no told you?" Subaru asked playfully.
"No, I just heard it." Emilia said one more.
"So you are listening to other people conv-" He was interrupted by Emilia covering his mouth with her hand.
"I hear it. Do you?" She whispered.
"Hear what?" Subaru asked confused he could only hear the grass moving and some distant tree being blown by the wind.
"The river." Emilia replied.
"I only hear grass and…" it wasn't a tree being blown by the wind it was a water flow. "A river?"
"Yes, you hear it too. Let's go." Emilia said enthusiastically as they continued their exploration.
They soon arrived at the river, not to wide being five meters (aprox. 5 yards) at its widest and having a near translucent water that allowed them to see the riverbed and many small fishes. Subaru was frozen looking at its beauty. Next him Emilia was also frozen, or rather paralyzed.
Emilia:
Emilia was happy guiding the way to the river and when she got her first glimpse of it, it was beautiful. But there was something horrible next to the river…a door, a large black door that had a lock. But what was next to the door was something even worse, a seemingly young woman with a small delicate body and platinum hair that she knew all too well.
"So, I have finally found you." The woman said in a calm tone.
"Pandora! You have no business here. Whatever you want from me I won't give it to you!" Emilia warned a bit of rage seeping into her voice.
"E-Emilia-tan who are you talking to and who is Pandora?" Subaru said confused.
"Don't you see her?" Emilia asked afraid as confusion flowed over her.
"I am Pandora dear boy." Pandora exclaimed in a voice loud enough to ensure Subaru heard her.
"See who Emilia-tan? Are you feeling alright?" Subaru was growing worried at Emilia's reactions.
"Didn't you hear her?" Emilia said wondering if she had gone mad.
"You don't see me." Pandora said at first impressed, then seeming glad. Pandoras reaction only made Emilia even more terrified. "With that now solved, help me and open it." She pointed her finger at the door.
"Never!" Emilia said galvanizing her fear into something else. "Subaru turn around and run." She demanded.
"Wh-what? What's wrong? I can help!" Subaru was starting to get scared and was looking for his link with Beatrice to call her.
"Just get out of here Subaru! It isn't safe!" Emilia ordered turning to Subaru.
"Yes, you will go away." Pandora said. Subaru gave Emilia a smile and rushed back in the direction they came from.
"So again, this door?" Emilia asked, spawning mana crystals ready to confront her.
"I was…but it seems like you have found someone interesting." Pandora replied.
"You won't take him away from me!" Emilia exclaimed as she started her attack making Pandora burst into blood.
She reappeared a dozen meters in front of her "Funny, I wasn't planning to…" Emilia sliced her in half with an ice sword. Only for her to reappear above her.
"I don't need to capture…" Pandora turned into a mist of blood as two ice hammers stuck her.
"Why won't you just die!" Emilia yelled fighting to not let her anger get ahold of her.
"Because dear…I can't" Pandora whispered into her ear. Emilia spawned a warhammer and caved in her opponent's skull.
"Why won't you leave me alone!" Emilia yelled starting to get overtaken by rage.
"Because you have the key to something I need…and now to someone I want." Pandora said.
Emilia lost it and started to just shoot ice crystals at Pandora, all of them bursting into blood or being cut to pieces. Then the pandoras started to appear closer.
"Just I little more I almost have him." Pandora said from behind her.
"No, you don't!" Emilia said as she ran to Pandoras position ice sword in hand and impaled her through the chest just below the ribcage. This time, the Pandora didn't die instantly "I've got you." Emilia whispered into her ear as she closed her eyes, a weak hand holding her shoulder.
"Did you?" Pandora asked behind her.
"Wh-" Emilia's eyes shot open and she saw Subaru. Impaled by her sword.
"Emilia…" Subaru said weakly. Happy to see her back. "I though…you were losing it." He said with much effort.
"Subaru don't talk. I can fix this" Emilia said starting to panic as she started to apply healing magic.
"Emilia-tan." Subaru called out.
"Subaru don't talk!" Emilia panicked, her magic not doing anything.
"Emilia-tan…it's not your fault…" Subaru cough out.
"Actually, it is." Pandora said behind Emilia, Subaru still not seeing her.
"Emilia-tan…" Subaru used what little strength he had left and hugged her. "…it's not your fault…I…I love…you…" He said between breaths.
"Subaru…Subaru please…don't…" Emilia said sobbing.
"I…love…" Subaru was no more.
Roswaal's Mansion: 17:00 hrs. 23/11/1538
Subaru was back, he was outside Roswaal's mansion in the garden. The flying machine being inspected by a seemingly frustrated Roswaal in the distance. "So, I'm yesterday…I mean. Tomorrow all goes wrong…" Subaru was saddened by his death. Thankfully it wasn't as painful as others had been, but it still left quite the impression being killed by Emilia's hand and it broke his heart to see her so sad and full of rage.
Next Chapter: "Pandora part 2"