To the best of her knowledge this was still quite the unexpected event. Though to be fair, hazarding a guess as to why this occurred was still a simple task even with the sparse amount of precedence.
The nature of his highly desirable ability was probably the direct cause.
As she contemplated the new batch of information, she watched as one of her guests staggered unsteadily to his feet.
"Echidna," he grumbled, "what the hell was that? I thought I was about to go insane."
She answered smoothly. "The trial of the present. A thoroughly constructed world, formed in part from your own memories. As the rarely seen authority of envy, Return by Death is a power mysterious even to me. Who's to say what you saw hasn't occurred in another world?"
He flinched, struck mute by the mere possibility. Seeing the hopeful glint in his eye, she knew what he would ask and had swiftly shut him down.
"But still, you really do bring all sorts of surprises into my life, don't you?" Turning to the trembling girl right beside him, she commented, "Even Beatrice, whom I never thought I'd see again, was pulled into your flow and accompanied you into this nigh inaccessible world of dreams."
It was only after being verbally addressed that Beatrice stood. Eyes already wet, she tipped her head up the hill to her. "... Mother?" she said, voice timorous. "You're a bit different now, but you're still her, right?"
Inclining her head, Echidna gave her creation the usual agreeable smile.
"Betty's-I'm sorry," she stuttered, snapping into a shame-filled bow. "So deeply sorry for failing to complete her duty, but having the nerve to return here regardless, in fact."
"Don't worry, Beatrice, you've performed your task admirably. I've been observing your progress," Echidna replied.
Curiously, that only made her grit her teeth harder. "Please don't feel the need to be kind, I suppose. Betty deserves any insult mother holds in her heart, especially if you've been aware of my lack of results the whole time."
"My creation, I haven't told a single lie," she confirmed. "I'm truly, wonderfully fine with everything you've done."
A muffled sniff responded to her words. Echidna was mildly surprised at how well Subaru faked his composure as he watched in concern, but still seemed unwilling to cut into a reunion between a creator and her child.
Beatrice failed to hold back tears. Tense posture released, hot droplets rolled down her face as she sobbed quietly in relief at her mother's words, spilling out choppy sentences between hiccups as she slowly looked back up. "That's too-that is far too kind for a failure begging forgiveness, I suppose, b-but thank you for this kindness."
"I'm glad you feel that way. Now that that's settled," Echidna said, turning to Subaru, "we have other things to discuss."
He stared blankly for a moment, evidently surprised by the sudden shift in topic, then took a step uphill before pausing to tap on Beatrice's shoulder. "Hey, Beatrice, let's go," he said gently.
The spirit nodded wordlessly as she trailed behind him. Her face had been hastily rubbed dry, though the redness of her eyes and cheeks still betrayed the recent upset.
Without fanfare, both were now seated at the table. The table was already set with chairs and sweets. The latter was just for show since she knew neither would touch them, but a host must show proper courtesy regardless of whether anyone would care for it or not.
Echidna swirled the liquid in her teacup for a moment, took an easy sip, and clinked it on the saucer when she put it down. "The mansion's inhabitants have been saved from the assassins. I'm quite sure that's a weight off your shoulders, but you still have steep obstacles ahead. Letting your guard down would be a bad idea."
"I know that better than anyone," Subaru sighed, exhaustion tinging his words. "We still have to deal with the trials first, or somehow get rid of the Great Rabbit before it reaches anyone."
"Exactly. Neither option is easy, and that Garfiel boy will only make things more difficult either way," she added.
He rested his forehead on his knuckles as if he had a headache. "That thug, huh. At this point, I don't even know what he's-"
"Wait," interrupted a timid, unsteady voice. They paused and turned to Beatrice, who had a somewhat bewildered expression on her face. "Why do you two sound as if you know the Great Rabbit's movements, I suppose? It's difficult to predict and I doubt mother is able to in her current condition."
Echidna formed an o-shape with her mouth, feigning surprise. "Ah, that. It's a bit of a long story, but the one best suited to tell is the one who experienced it, correct?"
That only made Beatrice even more confused. She stared with narrow eyes at Subaru, who, for some reason, had gone unnaturally still at Echidna's insinuation. Shouldn't he be happy at an opportunity to tell someone else?
"I'd rather not shove my problems onto other people," Subaru admitted after a period of quiet. "I've caused enough trouble for everyone and Beatrice's got too much on her plate to hear about this."
Said spirit seemed oddly irritated by the statement. "Tch. You'll only cause more problems by hiding information. Is this about 'Return by Death,' I wonder?"
Subaru's gaze snapped to her "How did you-"
"Don't take me for a fool, I suppose," Beatrice stated. "Both mother and you mentioned those morbid words, so whatever it is, it seems to be important."
Ah, she finally brought it up. The ability so central to the situation at hand, and one of the few things that could potentially satisfy her perpetual, endless desire for more. Her little spirit might not have the same voracity for knowledge, but she for sure wasn't clueless.
Echidna decided to drop a few hints. "Beatrice, remember what he said prior to my appearance?"
Subaru sent her a warning glare.
"Yes, mother," she began, unsure. "But they seemed like delirious mutterings, I suppose. Senseless."
Nodding, Echidna replied, "You're a clever child. You can figure out most of it on your own. That, I am certain of." It wouldn't do to test his good will at the moment, so she stopped there and changed the subject. "Subaru's sheer determination has carried everyone quite far, so it's strange that he doesn't wish for recognition."
"What are you going on about?" he replied harshly, tightening his grip on the chair. "Something like determination doesn't matter until you get results."
"Now, now, don't treat yourself like that. Every single moment of your struggle has been worth something," she countered. He was dearly underestimating the value of lived experience.
Sadly, his words confirmed that. "Just being worth something doesn't mean it's worth it in the end, and the pain I've inflicted on everyone can't ever be forgiven even if it does reset in this reality," he replied narrow mindedly.
"Discard mistakes that aren't relevant anymore," stated the witch, smile unwavering. "You've given your life over and over to secure the position you're in now, and that is something to be admired no matter what. I of all understand what you have been through, and I forgive every atrocity that has arisen from your actions."
That shut him up for a moment, then a thoroughly confused stare was directed to her. "This doesn't feel right. You're being too nice to me."
"Of course I am. I have an ulterior motive. However, a pure maiden like me needs to warm up before the offer is properly made," she claimed easily, breaking eye contact.
A blush covered her cheeks as she made her long awaited request. "Natsuki Subaru, would you consent to forming a contract with me?"
He let out a noise of disbelief as Beatrice, whose gaze was darting between them as if watching a ping pong match, froze on Echidna.
She continued speaking. "If you agree, all the knowledge I possess would now be at your disposal. Recall all the seemingly insurmountable tasks you've faced? You would then have more than yourself to depend on for judgement."
He spoke inaudibly under his breath, possibly something self-demeaning.
"Moreover, you'll have an understanding figure supporting you at all times, and with the weight of your sins crushing you, that might be necessary comfort. As an evil, calculating witch, I've taken this all into account." she added.
At that, Beatrice's breathing became slightly irregular, but evened out enough to say, "The mere offer of mother's aid is a rare and valuable opportunity, in fact. Anyone who refuses her wisdom would be a moron."
That seemed to convince him. Even after all this time, Beatrice was such a helpful little girl.
"Is that so?" he responded with a tired, partially amused admittance. "Well, you're a lot smarter than I am. Do I have to shake her hand or something?"
"So you will?" she exclaimed, palms slapping the table and making the porcelain chink. The belated realization of coming on too strong sunk in and she quickly adopted a composed manner. "I mean, if you insist, I won't turn you down."
Her enthusiastic appearance actually seemed to lower his guard further. Almost jokingly, he shouted a jab at her behavior and she opted to ignore it. "If it's settled already, then we'll need to form a bond between our souls. Hold out your palm."
Sighing with a barely disguised relief, he lifted up his arm and-
A muted sniffle caught his attention. Subaru stopped, as if attempting to pinpoint the sound's location, then turned his head to the spirit beside him.
"Why have you stopped, I wonder?" Beatrice muttered snappishly, uncomfortable with the attention.
"No, it's just-" began Subaru, "... you look a bit lonely, somehow."
She let out a displeased huff. "There isn't any need to be worried, I suppose. Betty should be far above your concerns."
With uncertainty, he acquiesced to her reasoning and said, "Alright, we'll talk about it later if it bothers you that much," before reaching his hand out again.
Echidna watched in annoyance as a white blur slammed into the boy full force.
A mushroom cloud of dust, peppered with visibly swirling mana hearts, rose into the air and marked the duo's landing spot behind a nearby hill. If this was in life, it wouldn't be surprising if she were accused of creating magic-induced explosions.
"Min...erva?" Beatrice said falteringly. "Was that Minerva? She's here too?"
"Oh my, still remember that silly girl? Your memory's quite good," she responded as cries of "moron!" and "stupid!" resounded in the distance. The praise didn't provoke any reaction, unexpectedly. The spirit simply stared dazedly toward the source of the commotion, deep in thought.
The Witch of Wrath landed back in front of them with Subaru in a headlock that would've undoubtedly snapped his neck had it been anyone else. "You stopped, and immediately tried to take her hand right again? You're an idiot falling for her mean tricks without thinking twice! Stupid!"
Interference, but Echidna had easily foreseen her antics far in advance.
"Let go! What the hell's your problem?" Subaru clamored right as Minerva struck his skull with the force of a barreling truck.
"You finally seeing things straight now?" she demanded in a fury. "If you don't get it even with a clear head, then you'd be completely hopeless!"
The exhaustion in his eyes had cleared up. He blinked a few times, as if clearing his vision, then fixed the Witch of Greed with a questioning stare. "If you're here, and Minerva is here, then what was up with the body substitutions earlier?"
"I simply omitted some information," she offered guiltlessly. "If all the witches were to come and go, there would be chaos. Remember how Typhon ripped off a limb and shattered your body into dust within a minute of meeting you? That was with only one witch in the room."
Subaru replied after a second of deliberation, as if an epiphany struck. "Oh, I guess that makes sense. I'd rather not go through more of that."
The same quick acceptance didn't cross Beatrice's face. "Typhon shattered you?" she whispered in unconcealed dismay.
"Just once. Everything turned out fine, though," he added. Noticing her growing horror, he hurriedly attempted to placate her with, "But it didn't hurt! Don't worry!"
It didn't work. If anything, it agitated her even more, which might turn out poorly considering their next guest.
"I heard my name a lot, so I came to see!" piped up the playful voice of a little child. " But Chidna, it's not good to hide things, you know? It's not a sin, but it's aw~fully close."
That silly nickname could only mean the arrival of Wrath, and the necessity for Witch of Greed to justify herself. "He didn't ask so there was no obligation to list them, though the supposed downsides are negligible with the mindset of achieving the desired end."
Sekhmet's arrival was inevitable at this point given Typhon's appearance, and Echidna's assessment was immediately proven correct when a purple mass of hair materialized out of the corner of her eye.
"Haah," came a labored breath. "Shouldn't the severity of the consequences -haah- be judged by him and not you?"
The familiar creaking of the centipede coffin also signaled Daphne's presence and she rolled in. "Ah, It's not just Donadona anymore! It's been so long since so many of us showed up at once!"
Subaru's demeanor grew more panicked at the growing number of witches. "Typhon, and now you two? What are you talking about? Why are you here?"
"Boy, think a bit harder. She might not be lying, -haah- but there are things you shouldn't accept at face value," Sekhmet insinuated.
That did it. A faint spark of suspicion was finally lit. He stilled himself and looked to Echidna for answers.
While Carmilla was unlikely to join, all this delay was mildly annoying. "Don't listen to them, Natsuki Subaru," she declared authoritatively. "If you take my hand, I will, without fail, lead you to your cherished goal. If it's for that, then what do you stand to lose?"
"And -haah- what will happen in between now and then?" Sekhmet exhaled. Echidna saw a troublesome expression creep over Subaru's face
⁂
Currently, Beatrice was the definition of internal turmoil.
Setting her own two eyes on mother after four centuries of emptiness was, to put it simply, euphoria inducing. All doubts fell away at those deep eyes that had once overseen her creation, the careful hands that had once moulded her blank mind, and a mouth that never snapped at her no matter how terribly she fumbled.
Beatrice was born for one purpose only. She was a spirit meant to serve her creator, and that had not changed.
Despite Beatrice's lack of regret at her temporary departure, coming here still incited distress from within. It was wholly necessary to apologise for her numerous transgressions, and all were forgiven by her ever patient mother.
She would be content to bask in her presence had the crushing sense of failure been a tenth of what it was currently. Amnesty from the one who expected so much from her was both a blessing and a curse, but one she would take gratefully; she would not ask any more for fear of overstepping her bounds and truly invoking mother's disappointment.
However, the conversation between mother and that boy became increasingly suspicious. Grasping a view on a future without a gospel's aid. Discussions about other worlds. Implications that he'd died and somehow didn't stay dead. It almost seemed like they were talking on a separate plane of a different world.
Somehow that wasn't the last of the oddities.
In their month of acquaintance, Subaru always played host to a nigh hyperactive energy; a perpetually nosy, cheerful, and childish butler who constantly chased the heels of his silly crush. He'd have moments where deeper issues would accidentally slip out, but generally acted as the guiltless nuisance he was. Guiltless was the last word she could ascribe to him now. It almost felt wrong to witness.
The contract offer to the one person that might have been "that person" sparked the familiar sense of loss that she despised so much, no matter how fleeting. In fact, she almost felt relief when the Witch of Wrath intervened, at least, until witches began materializing one after the other as if none of them had died centuries ago.
Mother managing to escape death, Beatrice could accept. However, the fact that more witches were here likely meant that Echidna prepared for it.
If she prepared for it, she saw it in advance. And if she planned it in advance, then…
It meant that she specifically didn't tell the spirit about a decision as major as a death plan, and left her mourning cluelessly in the Forbidden Library. That was a painful realization that tore at her worn heart. Mother must have had a good reason for doing so, she still lamented internally, though there was little time to dwell on the thought.
Echidna raised her arms into the air, as if readying herself for a speech of grand proportion. She opened her mouth and words tumbled out in an excited rush.
Beatrice gleaned much information, more specifically, she finally received more clarification on Subaru's ability. That "return by death" they talked of was an incomprehensibly powerful authority with the power to defy time itself. She never would've believed such a thing existed when even the most advanced magic couldn't hold a candle to it.
That wasn't what shook Beatrice to the core, however. Within an unbroken spiral of ceaselessly incessant rambling, she evenly spoke the wild explanation of her desires in a manner that commanded everyone's full attention, a feat considering the sheer length of her vow of love.
It was logical. Every sentence made sense and each line had an overall purpose, but, in that same rational stroke was madness only achievable through intense yearning and an outstanding selfishness devoid of morality.
Her inviting smile, plastered on in an attempt to seem friendly, had chipped away word by word to reveal something incomprehensibly monstrous.
An ability like Subaru's likely incurred an incredible cost. Beatrice wasn't going to disregard what the name "Return by Death" implied, and how it combined with Echidna's desire to fulfil her infinite want of knowledge.
Was this really her mother? Had her authority finally driven her mad? Only a truly insane being could throw their soul into those words with a wholehearted sincerity that even a devoted daughter with an ounce of sense hadn't a chance in hell of defending her.
Echidna confirmed her sentiments as Subaru hurled accusations one after the other, damning herself further. Beatrice could hardly stitch a coherent sentence together as watched on.
"Mother, you're not… why-" she murmured shakily, voice cracking as tremors spread throughout her body. "No, what happened to you?"
During her time within the Forbidden Library, the memories of her youth and mother must have played tens of thousands in her head. While not always idyllic, they were a lifeline she had clung to in the worst of nights where she would eye a shard of a shattered teapot, slowly running her fingers over the rough edge for hours while contemplating, but never doing.
There was little comfort in reminding herself of the task she was given, so instead, she would reminisce. Even if nostalgic memories tormented her, they also brought a spark of warmth.
Once, Beatrice had read a text on theories of the mind. Every time you recalled something, it claimed, you were remembering the last time you remembered it and every time it gets more distorted, if only minutely. By that logic her memories must've been warped beyond repair.
That conclusion made her throw the whole theory out, but maybe it had a kernel of truth all along. Or possibly, the eyes of a naive, idolizing girl captured little of Mother's less savory side. Though power and intelligence still radiated from her very being, the image of a shining mother, having been built up over countless fond remememberings, fractured.
What was left of Beatrice's self preservation scabbled to keep her together.
Echidna, gaze floating between her and Subaru, watched on uncomprehendingly. "You're both behaving rather oddly. I know my words were not planned in advance, but I don't think I sounded that terrible."
"Were you always like this?" Beatrice asked, lips trembling. "How much have you hidden?"
"What do you mean by that? If no one asks, it was never hidden in the first place." She replied innocently.
Steeling herself, the spirit clenched fistfuls of her dress. "Ever since Betty came here, there's one question I've been wanting to ask, I suppose."
"Oh," she said without a hint of genuine curiosity. "What might that be?"
"My gospel, the one you gave me, stopped years ago after delivering one last instruction, in fact," Beatrice stated.
Recognition flickered in Echidna's eyes. "Yes, that. You've been taking good care of it."
Without verbally acknowledging her response, the spirit continued on. "As mother is the most intelligent person to have lived, you must have some clue who 'that person' is, I suppose. Betty apologizes for being a failure, but if you tell me, I can finally fulfil my purpose."
"I'd rather not," Echidna pouted. "That would defeat the reason for giving the order."
That response threw her off kilter enough that Beatrice paused for a few seconds. Instead Subaru jumped in with his own thoughts. "I don't get what's going on, but neither of us have any patience for you right now. Spit it out," came an unsympathetic reply.
"Such crude language to use on a maiden like I. It's not like I can't make another order, though," she sighed while placing a hand on her cheek. "'Them' is anyone."
"Sorry? Be more specific, this isn't philosophy class," he snapped as understanding slowly dawned on Beatrice's already exhausted visage.
Echidna, neither annoyed nor amused, answered. "Simple. Beatrice could pluck someone from the street and they would be 'that person.' Beatrice has always been one of my more interesting creations, and I wished to see her choice unbound from my judgement. Quite the experiment, no?"
If Beatrice had blood, her nails would've undoubtedly dug deep enough to smear her palms with it.
That time agonizing and wanting to die. All her desperate confusion and stamping out flaring flickers of hope. Everything could have ended within a single hour of the ink manifesting on paper.
In a volatile flurry of hurt and disbelief, the spirit cried. " How much was I ever worth to you?"
Strangled wailing, built over the course of four hundred years, rang throughout the air as ominous dark clouds raced across the ever green landscape.
Took a shot at an echidna pov. I feel like there's a ton of info we still don't know about her, so i wonder how well this'll age. I also edited about half this chapter on my phone since there was a mass wifi 'outage' or whatever you call it, and only my phone had cellular
When i wrote the "anyone could be them" line i was thinking abt the ending scene in ratatouille (i spelled that in one try) where remy goes "when gusteau said 'anyone can be a cook' he meant didn't mean everyone could be great at cooking but a good chef can come from anywhere"
Prepare for more beatrice next chapter too
