Chapter 19

Itsuki

"In three days time, the Witch Cult will attack Roswaal's domain." Itsuki said.

He, along with Subaru, sat on one of the couhces in miss Crusch's residence. Rem stood beside the couch, watching the events unfold.

Sitting at the desk, with Felix and Wilhelm beside her, was miss Crusch herself.

"We need help if we're to have any chance to stop them."

Crusch slowly blinked her eyes.

"I understand the situation, but why come to me to aid you?"

"Honestly, you're the most likely to help." Subaru stated.

It's true.

After meeting back up in the shopping district, Subaru and Itsuki came to the conclusion to seek help. After hearing about the other candidates, Anastasia, Priscilla and even Felt, the nicest one among them, and the most likely to become the next King if not Emilia, would be Crusch.

"If you agree to help us, we'd owe a huge debt to you and your camp." Itsuki said.

Crusch slowly blinked her eyes once again.

"You do know that if I were to accept, then it would mean Emilia's withdrawal from the Royal Selection."

Subaru let out a breath of surprise.

"What'd you expect? To put your domain's survival in the hands of another lord, calls into question your ability to rule the nation." Crusch said. "Are you certain this is what you want?"

Itsuki remained silent, looking to Subaru for his choice.

"With all that in mind, we still want, no, we need your help." Subaru told her. "If she dies, everything ends anyway."

"I understand." Crusch said. "In that case, the Karsten family will lend you no assistance whatsoever."

"What?"

"Well, to begin with, the condition of having Emilia withdraw, which you offered up in desperation, has no weight." Crusch told the two.

"What?" Itsuki grit his teeth.

"Isn't having part of the competition removed enough compensation?!" Subaru growled.

"Are you truly unaware of the reason? Emilia's elimination from the Royal Selection will happen with or without any involvement on my part." Crusch said.

Hearing this, Itsuki rose to his feet, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"Are you fucking serious?!" Itsuki growled through his teeth. "You'd just let innocent people die?! Men! Women! Children!"

"Do not change the subject." Crusch said. "It is Emilia who is unable to protect that domain. And Emilia whose people will die because of her incompetence. I will not share the blame for that."

Itsuki clenched his fists even tighter.

"I was wrong about you." Itsuki said. "I thought you'd be better than this. But to knowingly let people, people who have NOTHING to do with this damn selection, die because of this just shows how pathetic you really are! How the hell do you sleep at night?"

Felix, having heard the outburst, spoke.

"Listen here-"

"No." Crusch quickly silenced him. "It's fine." she then looked to Itsuki. "Say the Witch Cult does make a move. How exactly do you know the details of when and where the Cult will attack?"

Subaru was taken aback by the question, having no idea how to answer.

"I... can't tell you..."

"Who gives a fuck about how we know?!" Itsuki shouted, stepping towards Crusch. "They are coming, and they will kill everyone! All we have to do is kill every last one of those sons of bitches and that will fix everything! That will save everyone! Kill them! Burn them! Stab! Slice! Impale! Once the last one drops dead, that'll be the end! If you refuse to help and insist on letting innocent people die, then you deserve to burn in hell for such Slothful behavior! All we need to do is kill them before they hurt anyone!"

The room fell silent for a few seconds after Itsuki's outburst.

Slowly blinking, Crusch stared into Itsuki's emerald eyes.

"My answer remains the same, Itsuki Hinote." Crusch suddenly stood from her seat. "Either through experience or instinct, I can generally tell when the person I am speaking to is lying or telling the truth. Over the years, I haven't once been deceived during negotiations. I can tell you aren't lying."

"Yet you still refuse to help."

"Because you adamantly believe what you say is the truth, certain that what you're saying is right. That is nothing short of madness." Crusch stated.

Biting his lip in frustration, Itsuki drew blood.

Noticing this, Crusch glanced to her knight.

"Would you mind healing his lip?"

"Don't fuckin' bother!" Itsuki shouted. Turning to the door, Itsuki approached and placed his hand on the knob.

"Do you have anywhere else to go?" Crusch asked.

"Don't act like you even give a damn." Itsuki growled. "I already know you're the type of person who has no problem letting others die."

Ripping the door open, Itsuki stormed out of the room, leaving a speechless Subaru and a stunned Rem behind.

Hours later

"God damnit!" Itsuki punched the wall of the Inn he, Subaru and Rem were currently in. Having paid for three rooms, Rem followed Itsuki into his to make sure he was alright.

Itsuki had spent the entire day trying, along with Subaru, to get the other candidates to help with the Witch Cult. However, they were met with the same response Crusch gave them.

"Maybe we can try again tomorrow?" Rem suggested.

"It'd be fucking pointless." Itsuki told her. "Just... get your things and let's head back to the mansion to warn your sister, Beatrice and Emilia."

As Itsuki began to gather the things, Rem wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him close. Feeling her pressed against him, Itsuki found himself calm almost immediately.

"Please. Calm down." Rem said softly.

Itsuki let out a chuckle.

"You didn't have to tell me that." he told her. "You always seem to be able to calm me down with the simplist of actions."

Even though he couldn't see it, Rem smiled, happy to hear that.

The following night

Having packed all of their things into the carriage, Subaru climbed in back while Rem took the reins with Itsuki sitting beside her.

"What should we do about the village?" Subaru asked. "The Witch Cult is on their way and we have no means of transporting everyone to safety."

Itsuki let out a deep sigh.

"I think this might be it, Su." Itsuki replied.

"Are you telling me to, uh, RBD?" Subaru asked.

"No." Itsuki shook his head. "Not yet. But if we don't figure something out, you might have to, yeah."

"I'm sure we'll figure-"

"Itsuki."

Looking to Rem, Itsuki saw her pointing to something ahead of them. Narrowing his eyes, Itsuki saw countless carriages along with the figure of a boy wearing all green.

"Is that... Otto?"

Minutes later

"Are you serious?" Otto asked.

"Yes." Itsuki told him as he looked around at the other carriage drivers. "We need to transport an entire village somewhere else."

"But... isn't it a bit dangerous to travel at night?"

"Well, yeah, b-"

The sound of coins clanging together echoed as Rem held up an impressively large bag.

"We will show our gratitude properly, of course."

Getting into their carraiges, Itsuki, Subaru and Rem, along with the other carriage drivers and their carriages, began heading for the Roswaal domain.

As they rode, Itsuki tapped his index finger on his leg.

"We'll get there before daylight." Rem said, noticing Itsuki's restless tapping.

"That's not what I'm worried about." Itsuki replied, rubbing his forehead. "I'm worried what'll happen if we fail."

"I'm sure we'll figure something-"

"There's Flugel's tree." one of the carriage drivers pointed out.

"Flugel's tree?" Subaru asked.

"Yeah. It's a tree that's so tall, it reaches up into the clouds. Legend says that a wise man named Flugel planted it centuries ago." the carriage driver said.

Subaru, having had his interest piqued, looked over the carriage seat to get a better view.

"Would you look at that?" he said in awe. "It's amazing."

Itsuki rolled his eyes as he looked down. However, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the carriage beside them had vanished.

"Where's the other carraige?" he and Subaru asked in unison.

Before anyone could answer, Subaru looked to Itsuki in the front seat.

"Jinx." Subaru then leaned over the side of the carriage and looked back. "Seriously though, where'd that guy in the bandana go? He was right here wasn't he?"

"What's wrong?" Otto asked from the carriage on the opposite side of them.

"Where's the guy that was just here?" Itsuki asked him.

"What're you talking about?" Otto cocked his head. "There wasn't anyone beside you guys."

"But..." Itsuki stopped as he noticed a dense mist surround him, Subaru and the carraige they were on. "Huh?"

Looking up, a massive shadow moved down beside them, keeping up with the same pace as the carriage.

"What... is that?"

A sudden light came from beside Itsuki. Glancing over for a moment, Itsuki saw Subaru was holding a flip phone, using the light from the screen to see what the shadow was.

As the light revealed the figure beside them, a massive eye stared back at the duo.

Hearing a sudden roar from the wind as it picked up, Itsuki was suddenly thrown into the back of Otto's carriage. Ripping through the fabric, Itsuki hit the wood and rolled to a stop near the back. A moment later, Rem, holding Subaru, joined him.

"What the hell is that thing?!"

"It's the White Whale!" Otto shouted, his voice shaking with fear. "It's the White Whale! I knew this was a bad idea!"

"Keep driving!" Rem ordered the boy. "Don't stop!"

"You think I don't know that?!" Otto shouted back as he whipped the reins to get the ground dragon to move faster.

Itsuki, moving to the back of the carriage, propped himself onto the wooden railing, staring into the mist.

"I can't see the other carriages or the White Whale." Itsuki told them.

"They probably scattered and fled." Rem suggested.

"Damnit! And just when we finally found some transportation!" Subaru punched the floor of the carriage.

"As long as we outrun it, we can-" Itsuki was suddenly cut off as the ground shook violently, almost sending him tumbling out of the back. Keeping himself steady, he looked out the back to see the head of the White Whale was only yards away.

His eyes growing wide and shaking with fear, Itsuki's mouth fell agape.

"Fuck..."

"Why is it only gunning for us?!" Otto shouted as he whipped the reins harder. "There are other carriages to choose from!"

"Is there anything we can use to throw it off our trail?!" Subaru shouted.

"There... is one thing." Rem said softly.

"What? You have a plan?" Subaru turned to face Rem.

"I can jump off the carriage and intercept it, buying you three time to flee." Rem said.

"Hell no!" Itsuki shouted as he looked back at her. "I won't let you do that!"

"I'm not very smart, so this was the only plan I could think of on the spot." Rem said softly, closing her eyes. "Please."

"Subaru!" Itsuki looked to his friend to see his gaze was glued to the ground.

"I... I can't think of anything." Subaru replied. "I don't have a plan to get outta this one."

Itsuki grit his teeth.

"Then that settles it." Rem said, taking a step to the back of the carriage.

"I didn't mean we should still go with this one!" Subaru shouted.

As Rem took another step towards the back, Itsuki reached out and grabbed her arm.

"If you die, then-!"

A bump caused the two to stumble into the side of the carriage. Holding onto Rem, Itsuki didn't dare let go.

"Itsuki, I cannot allow for you to die." Rem told him. "Please. Just let me do this."

Itsuki's grip slowly loosened, making Rem think he was giving her his permission.

"Don't worry about me. I feel I was born for this very moment." Rem stated as she slipped out of Itsuki's arms. As she tried to step away, Itsuki kept his grip firm on her arm.

"Wait."

"Itsuki, there's no time for-"

Pulling her close to him, Itsuki placed his lips against hers, catching Rem off guard entirely. Seeing this, Subaru's heart skipped as he thought Itsuki was doing this as a final goodbye for Rem.

Pulling away, Rem gently touched her lips.

"I can't let you die again."

Hearing those words, Rem looked into Itsuki's emerald eyes.

"What?"

In a single motion, Itsuki threw Rem to Subaru. Instinctevly, Subaru caught her, wrapping his arms around Rem and holding her in place.

"Keep her safe, Subaru."

"What're you-!"

Without another word, Itsuki approached the back of the carriage. Stepping onto the wooden rail, he glanced back to see Rem's eyes were wide and filled with tears.

"Continue living, Rem."

With those final words, Itsuki jumped from the back of the carriage.

"ITSUKI!"

Rolling across the ground, Itsuki's entire body felt sore once he came to a stop in the dirt. As the carriage continued to drive off, Itsuki pushed himself to his feet, a smile on his face.

"Don't give up."

Hearing the roar of the White Whale, Itsuki turned around to see the beast quickly approach.

Turning to his right, Itsuki burst into a sprint, his legs carrying him faster than he thought possible. Making it out of the way of the beast's mouth just in time, Itsuki looked back to see the beast vanish into the mist.

Narrowing his eyes, Itsuki saw, just barely through the mist, the White Whale turn to make another attempt at him. Itsuki tried to move his legs, but they were too sore from both him jumping out of the carriage and the sprint burst he pushed through to carry himself out of harm's way.

Falling to his knees, Itsuki accepted this was his end. He felt content with being able to give his life to save Rem's. Just as she had done the previous loop.

Closing his eyes, the White Whale burst through the mist, biting down right where Itsuki was kneeling.

Subaru

Back on the carriage, Rem was doing her best to break free from Subaru's hold.

"LET ME GO!" she shouted.

"Rem, stop!" Subaru shouted back. "If I let you die, then his last request would be in vain!"

"He's right, Rem." Otto chimed in. "Itsuki asked that you stay here and continue to live. Do you really want to go against his final wish?"

Hearing their words, Rem's strength left her as she fell to the ground of the carriage.

"We're almost out of the mist. Whatever Itsuki did worked, and we're almost safe."

Looking out of the back of the carriage, Subaru couldn't help but shed a few tears.

"Once I figure everything out, I'll save you."

Itsuki

Finding himself in a vale of darkness, Itsuki looked around.

"Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing through the vale.

"Itsuki." Emilia's voice called out to him from the smoke that surrounded him.

Hearing footsteps echo as they approached Itsuki from behind, he turned around to see the figure of a woman emerge from the smoke. She wore an all black dress made of shadows and had a hood covering the top half of her face.

"Keep Subaru safe." Emilia's voice told him. "I need you to keep him safe. He needs you to break the loop."

The aura this woman gave off was unlike anything Itsuki felt before. It was both comfort and terror.

"Already, this is different from the times that came before." the woman said with Emilia's voice. "Each time before, Subaru was captured by the Witch Cult and it was Rem who sacrificed herself to distract the White Whale. Now, it's you. It's been countless lifetimes since we were trapped inside this endless cycle. And I beg you, please, end it. You're the only one who can." the woman approached Itsuki and gently cupped his face in her hands. "I wasn't sure if you'd be the one to save us. But now I am."

Moving her right hand from Itsuki's face to his chest, a gentle light began to glow from her palm and enter his body.

"Who are you?" Itsuki asked.

"My name is Satella."

"Satella?" Itsuki repeated. "That was the fake name Emilia gave to Subaru..."

"My name is Satella. The Witch of Envy." the woman said, ignoring Itsuki's comment.

End of chapter 19