Sorry for the delay on this one. There was quite a bit of trial and error for me here, but I think that I've finally cracked it down. I like how this turned out, for the most part, and I'm hoping that you all will like it too!
Thanks for the reviews, as well! I read every single one! I really appreciate all of the support from you all! I look forward to seeing what you have to say after this one!
Enjoy!
Chapter 15: Re:Turn
A figure calmly stepped through the city streets, their feet even and unwavering in their pace. The person walking, a girl, held a very indifferent expression. Her gaze remained forward, focused only on moving to her determined destination.
The girl herself had a great face. It was a face that one would typically call beautiful; a face that would catch a lot of positive attraction. However, now it was only associated with terror and dread. Despite the indifference in her expression, vast emotions bubbled and welled beneath the surface.
Though all of that hardly mattered. Not to her, and not to anyone else.
She was alone. She always would be. That was a fact that she had accepted.
That was why she didn't care. Nothing could faze her; not anymore.
That was why, despite all of her heinous deeds, her expression remained cold and unchanging.
Her clothes, which had been purchased fresh and new mere days ago, were stained with blood. The amount of blood varied — some splotches new and wet, some splotches old and dry. The bottoms of her shoes were painted red, the puddles she stepped in providing a new coat each and every time.
She hardly cared. She never really liked shoes, anyway.
Her entire outfit was but a sad, unpleasant reminder of what she once had. It was a reminder of what she'd so helplessly lost. Its new, bloody features seemed symbolic of that, in a way.
Still, her body and skin remained untainted. There was nothing, not a scratch, bruise, or stain on her pristine, practically perfect form. To her, that endless, unnatural perfection was a reminder of what she truly was, and always would be. It was a reminder that the happiness she once aspired and hoped to have was never even attainable in the first place.
Truly, she was hopeless. A walking freak of nature.
Suddenly, she stopped walking. She'd finally reached her destination. After all of those pointless, annoying obstacles, she'd finally made it.
…
Why had she wanted to come here, again?
Her head angled upward, her eyes meeting a large face of stone. Her gaze narrowed at it, but no other expression was given, and no action was taken.
She'd willed herself to get here. She walked through the Capital, tearing through anyone that dared stand in her way, and for what? So she could just stand there, looking at a piece of stone?
That's right. She marched through the Capital, all the way to its center, just so she could look at a measly statue. Though, this wasn't just any statue; it was a commemorative statue — one that honored a fallen hero.
In truth, at the time, he hadn't truly fallen. Now, however, he did. She knew that all too well.
… And she hated it.
Looking up at the statue, she could feel her dormant emotions rising. Just by looking at its face, she felt a sense of longing. She so desperately wanted to hold it in her arms, close to her chest, and never let it go.
She knew that she couldn't, for that time had passed.
Her gaze lowered, finding a podium at the base of the statue. She adjusted herself slightly, slowly walking in front of it. There were words written and inscribed on its surface:
Under the guidance of Queen Felt, this statue stands to commemorate the heroic actions, deeds and sacrifices of the young Natsuki Subaru.
She didn't read any more after that.
With a quick, sudden motion, she grabbed its side with her left hand and flung it out of her way. She'd used more than enough force, tearing it from its station on the ground and sending it tumbling until it finally slammed into a building not too far away. The resulting impact caused the structure to break apart and crumble at its front, breaking glass, causing a lot of excess noise, and ultimately causing more chained destruction as a result.
She barely paid any attention to it. She stepped closer to the statue itself, her eyes failing to be torn away from its base. Once she was close enough, she stopped again.
Strangely, she extended her hand out to it. Her hand didn't stop, instead gently coming into contact with the statue's surprisingly smooth, yet cold, surface. As she touched it, her sense of longing and desire surfaced again.
As quick as those emotions came, they left. They were replaced by something else — something more ferocious and angry. She quickly retracted her hand, raising her right leg, and furiously began to stomp at the statue's base.
The first hit formed a sizable crater in the stone's surface, spidering cracks throughout the entire monument. The second hit destabilized it even more, even going as far as to break bits and pieces of stone from the main structure. The third hit was its downfall, destroying enough of the base so that the statue could collapse and crash to the ground.
Anything beyond that was intentionally overkill.
The statue began to fall over, a deep creak and hum following it down. When it collided with the ground, a loud crash boomed throughout the area, the sound of cracking and breaking of stone invading her ears. A small puff cloud of dirt kicked up into the air, but it hardly bothered her. She didn't even close her eyes.
When everything settled, her eyes looked upon the rubble. The statue, broken and in pieces, lay on its side. It wasn't whole anymore, a remnant of what it once stood for. It was almost ironic, she thought.
Oddly enough, as she continued to gaze upon the broken stone, she felt satisfied. It wasn't because she had vented her emotions out; no, it was because destroying the statue was symbolic to her. In a way, it was her letting go, despite how much she didn't want to.
Whether she liked it or not, she needed to face reality. Destroying the statue was supposed to show her that; it was supposed to show her that he was gone, but true acceptance failed to grasp her broken mind.
Her mindless rampage was because of that semblance of acceptance, however. She'd done all of this because a part of her knew the reality of things. Yet, why did this stubborn, annoying other half of her decide to cling to something that wasn't there anymore?
She wanted to purge it. She didn't need that part of her anymore.
With her satisfaction now realized, she felt ready to fully let go. She'd shown them her pain, and she'd gotten her minuscule sense of closure. She felt ready to join her beloved.
Though, would he even still accept her?
No, that didn't matter.
As long as she was with him, finally freed from the curse and torment of living, she would be happy.
She only wished it were easy.
Even with a good part of her feeling satisfied, ready to move on, there was another part of her that felt … differently. It was a side of her that felt next to nothing at all, and, when it did feel something, it was always a sense of anger, a desire for bloodlust.
It was still angry at the world; it was angry at everything.
The girl suddenly gripped her head, gritting her teeth and bending her knees. She huddled down, her hands gripping and pulling tightly at her hair. Her breathing suddenly became irregular, heavy and slightly hitched.
She was in pain. Deep, internal pain. Physically she was whole, but mentally, she was shattered.
One side of her wished to let go, while the other wished to take its anger out on the world, along with the people living in it. That anger sparked a want for revenge, its desire fueled by the peaks of her insanity.
Her anger was justified, right? She had a right to be angry.
After all, the world had harmed her — hurt her — so why couldn't she keep hurting it back?
She'd lost the person she loved. He'd meant everything to her, and now he was gone. The chance to live happily with him, to start a family, was quelled in a matter of seconds.
She needed him. She was nothing without him anymore.
It wasn't fair.
…
People were nearby; she could feel it. Cowering in what meager sanctuaries they had. In her despair, some people in particular had caught her attention. There were three of them, hiding together not too far away in a small, ordinary, and fragile building.
She felt a sudden urge to go after them. There was a sudden influx of anger and envy surging from inside of her. One side wished to stop everything, while the other desired to cause suffering based on the whims of her loss.
This was okay, right—?
Yes— Yes, of course it was. Her feelings were justified, and they deserved it.
But he would really dislike it—
That didn't matter anymore … He was gone.
It would hurt him—
Those people deserved to hurt more! They were the ones that took him away!
He would hate her—
She hated herself more.
…
There's nothing to hold her back. There's nothing to stop her. These are the people who made her suffer, so she would make them suffer in turn.
Her body stiffened, her arms slowly lowering back down to her sides. Her expression eerily settled back to one of indifference, her eyes staring blankly ahead while her body rose like a mindless drone.
Then, for several moments, she only stood still.
…
In an instant, she appeared right beside the building she'd singled out. She burst through the wall, the sight of a cowering family immediately meeting her eyes. A father, a mother, and their young son.
The father, though clearly afraid, took a defensive stance. He firmly grasped a smooth, cylinder metal bar in both of his hands, glaring her down with heated intensity.
He yelled at his wife and son to run, lunging forward to attack the Witch standing a mere few feet in front of him. His wife and son quickly ran past, making for the exit as the metal bar drew close to hitting its target.
The bar stopped dead in its tracks, much to the man's surprise. His eyes widened, taking an instinctive step backward due to his initial shock. The Witch, as inexpressive as ever, had moved her left arm at unseeable speeds and grabbed hold of the makeshift weapon.
Her eyes failed to move away from the man, unblinkingly staring him down. The metal bar then crunched, bending unnaturally as her grip gradually increased, before then breaking in two at the base of her hand. The top half of the metal bar fell to the floor, crashing against it with a loud, echoed clank.
The man wouldn't let such an intimidating display sway him, however, as he clenched his opposite hand and made a quick, wide swing at her face.
It never even got close.
Her right hand moved at the same unseeable speed, grabbing his wrist and effortlessly holding it in place. The man grit his teeth, immediately feeling the pressure of her grip.
She still didn't move her eyes. Her hand moved against his wrist, pushing forward so that his hand would bend upward in an easy, fluid, yet slow motion. Painful snaps and cracks sounded from his wrist, his screams echoing throughout the building as it bent further and further back.
Eventually, his wrist fully bent back. His hand now unnaturally pointed toward his body, sickeningly resting on his forearm. The unimaginable pain he felt was near immeasurable to him, but the Witch still hadn't let go. She kept applying pressure, causing more pain and forcing him to his knees.
Suddenly, her grip tightened further, her body swinging itself around in one, fast motion. The man swung with her, forced into the air due to the Witch's incredible strength.
After she'd completely reversed, she let go.
He was sent flying, released from her grip, directly toward the building's wall. The force behind the throw was so strong that he not only slammed into it, but he also crashed through it. The man broke through brick and stone, greatly slowing his momentum, before tumbling on the ground. His body rolled for a few seconds before settling, motionless and unmoving.
Not too far away, a boy screamed out for his father. He broke out of his mother's grasp and ran back toward the scene at full speed. His eyes were already full of tears when he got there, only worsening as he looked down upon his father's body.
The body was covered and surrounded by bits of rubble. The man's face was covered in blood, his nose indenting into his face and his jaw torn off at a single side, hanging down by his neck. A single eye was cut and gouged by a sharp piece of stone, and most of his limbs were bent at unnatural angles.
The boy wanted to look away, desperately so, but he couldn't. He could only cry as he looked at his father, silently pleading for the man to get up and comfort him.
But that would never happen again. His father was gone.
A shadow loomed over him, and the boy's gaze immediately shot up. The Witch stood over him, her emotionless stare aimed down at him. The boy froze, petrified, only able to stare up at his imminent demise.
A loud shout was heard, but neither the Witch or the boy turned to look at it. The Witch, however, reacted, extending her right arm out to the side and grabbing hold of an attacker.
Only when the yell ceased, and the sounds of gurgled struggling began, did the boy change his gaze. His eyes widened, haunted by the sight of his mother being held up by the throat. She was raised up into the air with next to no effort, choking and futility grabbing at her throat in an attempt to free herself.
The Witch's eyes tracked to the boy's mother, shifting her focus onto the woman she held in the grip of her hand. The woman repeatedly tried to grab the Witch's wrist, but her strength proved little against the Witch's overwhelming Authority.
The Witch thrusted her left hand toward the woman's stomach with one motion, penetrating through her body with little difficulty. The woman let out a pained gasp, struggling to breathe, as bits of blood spurted out. The Witch's hand intentionally moved and dug around in the woman's body, feeling her organs and insides while the woman became more limp in her grasp.
Then, her hand suddenly grabbed hold of something, ripping it out in one fast movement. The Witch looked at it, viewing the bloody sight of a still beating heart. She looked back at the woman, who'd gone fully limp. The Witch dropped the woman's body, letting it fall to the ground, dead.
She then squeezed the heart in her hand, crushing it and making it explode with a splash of blood. It stained her clothes, but any which hit her skin seemed to fade as the seconds passed.
Her head slowly and eerily turned back to the boy, her eyes staring into his soul with the same cold, indifferent stare. He hadn't moved, stuck frozen and shaking in place. The shock of seeing his father's body and watching his mother die was too great for him to bear.
He remained still, even as she took small steps closer to him. He could only stare at her, petrified. She extended her hand, reaching out for his throat and easily grabbing hold of it. The boy immediately felt the pressure of her grasp, choking and struggling to breath as he was lifted into the air.
He quickly felt lightheaded. The pressure around his neck made him think that it would snap with even the slightest squeeze. He truly believed that he was about to die.
He was so, so scared.
"Let the boy go."
A new voice called out from nearby, garnering the attention of both the Witch and the boy. She turned to face the source, subsequently making the boy do the same.
The boy then felt some of his fear and despair vanish, struck by a sudden ray of hope. His eyes met a man dressed in a mix of armor and ragged civilian clothes. There were bags under his eyes and a stubble on his face.
He looked similar to that of a man from the slums, despite his knightly armor, yet he stood in his place with a sense of authority. His violet-colored hair lightly swayed in the breeze, his face hardened and yellow eyes narrowed. This man was an actual knight.
The seriousness on his face was not missed, his lips moving to repeat his order.
"Let the boy go, now."
The words were said with more intensity this time, conveying a sense of purpose and urgency. The Witch, however, paid that no mind. Her eyes looked between the two; first the knight, then the boy, then back to the knight again. Her expression remained neigh expressionless, her arm dangling the boy out in front of her with an unrelenting grip.
SNAP!
The knight's eyes immediately widened in shock, his mouth unwillingly becoming agape. The Witch had suddenly, ruthlessly and without mercy, crushed the boy's neck in her hand. His neck snapped immediately, her hand breaking through flesh and bone to form a complete fist in the middle.
The boy's head was essentially cut off from his body, only barely remaining connected through strands of both thick and thin red tissue. The boy's mouth was hung wide open, and the knight swore that he'd seen the boy's eyes desperately dart around for a few seconds after it all happened.
The knight was forced to watch as the boy's head fully snapped away from the rest of his body, falling to the ground and lightly bouncing a few times like a deflated ball, before it rolled to a stop. The rest of the boy's body slipped from the Witch's grip, simply falling to the ground, falling to its side.
The knight was horrified. Despite how much he wished to look elsewhere, his gaze was stuck on the body. The bloody sight before him was of an innocent child; a child that he was powerless and unable to save. It shook him to his inner core and soul.
However, the knight took a deep breath. He forced himself to steady, finally picking up his gaze and directing it back toward the culprit, who hadn't moved an inch. As she looked at him, he looked back with newfound rage and contempt. His expression mirrored those feelings, his teeth gritting into an aggressive, undignified snarl.
"You will pay for that," he growled out. His hand reached to his side, his head tilting slightly down, eyes closing as his palm rested upon the hilt of his sword. "It is time that your rampage comes to an end."
His fingers wrapped securely around the handle and, with one fluid motion of his arm, he pulled the blade out of its scabbard. His eyes opened, intently staring down his adversary. He then gripped the blade's hilt with both of his hands, holding it out readily in front of him.
"Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory," he spoke again, his voice low yet noticeably laced with renowned venom. "I never thought it possible to encounter you again. Whether it be a blessing or a curse, it does not matter. I failed to protect my friend from you once; I will not fail to protect these people now."
She failed to respond, only keeping her gaze locked on him. The knight, however, didn't do the same, instead closing his eyes again and letting his body gradually begin to relax. It was strange, given the situation he was currently in, but it would soon prove to be immensely worthwhile.
He willed a sense of focus into his sword, subconsciously tightening the grip both of his hands had on the hilt. He could feel the blade emanating with power, calling for and drawing at the forces of nature around him.
The blade itself began to glow as a soft, light, yet satisfying hum unnaturally resonated from the metal itself. It was at the humming's peak when Julius opened his eyes again, once again staring down his opponent with a fierce glare.
"I, Julius Juukulius, the Spirit Knight of this kingdom, will strike you down, here and now."
In that moment, various multi-colored orbs began to appear around him. Then, they started to branch out, going further and further to the point where nearly a few hundred surrounded them both, covering the entire area with various glowing lights.
Julius was surprised, but he withheld it. The sheer amount of spirits nearby was nearly staggering. Even without any existing contract, he could feel their power flow through the blade of the sword. It was almost like a beacon, able to summon various spirits and draw upon their power, funneling it through the blade.
Was this the true power of the Spirit Sword?
At last, the Witch reacted. It was merely a raised eyebrow, signifying a sense of amusement or curiosity, but Julius still heeded it no mind. Instead he chose to draw his focus to the blade of his sword, concentrating on the newfound power that he held in his hands.
The blade began to flow a bright red, catching aflame even with nothing to ignite it. Julius felt the heat of the flame from where he stood, but it failed to phase him as he raised the sword behind his head. Then, with a determined yell, he swung the blade forward in a horizontal slash.
The fire leapt from the blade, adopting the shape of swing and quickly spreading itself out in a wide, deadly arch as it shot forward. Pandora reacted in time, lowering herself just enough so that the fast-moving flame would just barely miss.
She could feel its scorching heat as it passed overhead, luckily dissipating before it could hit and potentially burn through any nearby buildings. That attack didn't burn like an ordinary fire; no, it burned much hotter than that. It held the combined might and power of dozens upon dozens of lesser fire spirits, after all.
Repulsive memories momentarily resurfaced. She remembered how a fire of similar intensity had encompassed her whole body, the smell of her own burning flesh having invaded her nose as she burned alive. In her broken state of mind, it only served to fuel her need for carnage.
She righted herself, standing fully back on her feet from her previous position. The anchor which could keep those suppressed had been cut off. She was now stuck floating amongst a sea of blood without anything to keep her steady.
Nothing could prevent her from snapping again.
… It was already too late.
Pandora subtly shifted her stance.
Julius seemed amazed, looking at the sword while he sweat and took a few deep breaths. He hadn't expected his attack to be so intense, but he supposed that it only made sense. As he looked at the blade, it continued to softly hum.
Even without an existing contract, he felt as though he could hear the spirit's voices all around him. They supported him, cheered him on, gladly lending him their power in order to vanquish such a foe. He didn't even need an incantation to cast the spells he wishes to use.
Truly, the power of the sword he possessed was incredible.
His thoughts were suddenly interjected by various whispered screams invading his ears. It was the spirits; they were calling out to him. He couldn't audibly understand each of them, but he could still feel and make sense of the immense panic behind each of their cries. It was almost as if they were—
Julius' eyes widened, immediately sidestepping with surprising amounts of speed. His eyes tracked downward, catching sight of an arm in the place where he'd just stood, its hand balled into a fist.
Pandora had appeared beside him in the blink of an eye. He had been distracted, which nearly cost him his life.
The cries still echoed in his ears, telling him that things were not over just yet. With similar speeds, her arm moved horizontally to the side, aiming straight for his waist.
Julius reacted quickly, angling the blade of his sword down to block the strike. He flinched as her arm made contact with the sharp edge of his blade. From the amount of force the sword received, he was sure that her arm would've gone straight through him, had it connected. It was a miracle that the sword itself hadn't shattered on impact.
The blade stained itself with a familiar red liquid, making Julius' eyes widen. His eyes scanned the ground at his sides immediately, finding the bloody remains of a severed, pale forearm and hand.
His gaze quickly shot back to Pandora. She merely straightened her posture, raising her severed arm and looking at it with a slightly tilted head. Besides that, she showed no visible reaction to the injury at all.
It was horrifying.
Julius wasted no time, using the blade's already declined position to his advantage, jabbing its edge into the ground. It easily pierced through the dirt, emitting a different element as it hummed with power.
A thick wall of earth immediately sprung from the ground at a slanted position, aiming straight for Pandora's neck. She backstepped and ducked her head, avoiding the attack, but Julius wasn't done.
Another thick wall of earth shot straight up from behind her. It quickly moved horizontally, acting as a literal wall and pressing into her, pinning her to the other, slanted wall. Pandora's neck hung over its edge, the wall at her back crushing and choking her as it continuously pinned and pushed against her.
Julius quickly took the edge of his blade out of the ground, pulling his arm back, pointing the blade upward, and thrusting it forward with speedy purpose. The tip of the blade pierced straight through her neck.
Blood spurted from the wound, spraying in front of her and even a little bit onto Julius. It hardly phased him; in fact, he almost relished in her demise, refusing to take his eyes off of her, even as she drew her final breaths. He kept watching as she went limp, blood continuing to spill from the wound at her neck, even as her body slumped against the stone and the sword pulled away.
Julius couldn't help but keep his eyes on her body for a few extra seconds, mainly in both astonishment and disbelief. A large part of him didn't believe what was happening; he needed to make sure that she was truly dead, gone for good.
Though, when he finally looked away, a heavy sigh escaped his lips. While it may have seemed easy, or even anticlimactic, it was finally over. He'd killed her; he was sure of it.
… Why did he still feel anxious?
The cries erupted in his ear again, making his eyes widen once more. The spirits tried to warn him, but he was unable to react in time. Something grabbed his back, effortlessly lifting him into the air before slamming him onto the ground in a matter of seconds.
Julius felt the wind get knocked out of him, making him take deep, heavy breaths. A sharp pain radiated in his chest, his broken ribs threatening to pierce through his lungs, but he still did his best to stand and recover.
His vision became blurry and his ears lightly rung, primarily from the force of his impact. However, he kept a tight grip on his sword, feeling as it began funneling powerful water magic through its blade, aiding his recovery and even healing him. Julius used a lot of his strength in trying to stand again, but he kept stumbling, unable to keep himself steady..
When his eyes started to adjust again, he could just make out the silhouette of a very familiar figure. He ended up on his knees, grunting as he struggled to stand. The figure walked around his side, his eyes keeping track of its every movement.
Julius could feel the effects of the sword's healing capabilities. The magic from the numerous water spirits around him accelerated his recovery by near immeasurable amounts. They healed his body, ridding him of physical exhaustion and allowing him to once again fully stand on his feet.
His vision cleared and his ears stopped ringing, allowing him to come to his senses and identify the figure in front of him. He stifled a small gasp at the sight.
Pandora stood before him, completely uninjured and clean of any blood, both on her body and clothes. His eyes darted to the walls of stone he'd conjured, shocked to see that her body was no longer there. Off to the side, he barely noticed the disappearance of her severed limb, as well.
… How was that even possible?
When he looked at her, Julius could see a small smile grace her lips. He recognized that smile. She'd held that same face ten years ago when they'd first met. It was as though she was mocking him, amused by his puny, meager efforts.
He felt taunted by it.
Julius readied the sword in front of him once again, glaring at Pandora with a newly heightened hatred and rage. Such feelings were unprofessional of him, that he knew, but Julius couldn't help but let them rise, fueling him in his purpose and resolve.
He called upon the power of the spirits around him. They lent him their power as his blade heated up again, humming with intensity and drawing an immense heat, quickly bursting into a scolding flame.
This time, he thrusted the edge of his blade forward and shot out a large, focused blast of flame. It shot toward the Witch at rapid speeds, and, to Julius' shock, she didn't even try to move out of the way. She let the blast of fire completely consume her, engulfing her entire body in a raging inferno.
Julius didn't stop firing until he was sure that she was incinerated. When the flames finally did dissipate, there was nothing left of the Witch's body.
The cries and warnings didn't cease, however, and so Julius turned on his heel, swinging his blade along with him, to strike at his backside. The blade stopped in its tracks, caught by a sudden rising hand.
Julius once again faced Pandora. She was, again, completely devoid of any physical injury, though her expression changed once more. This time, in place of her small, mocking smile was a more small, displeased, and unpleasant frown.
Her left hand held his sword, firmly locking it in place. Small streams of blood flowed from her hand, bleeding as a result of tightly gripping the sword's sharp edges. Julius hardly let such a drawback bother him, though, as he immediately began to draw upon the spirit's power once again.
The blade emitted a deeper hum this time, glowing a darker color for a just moment. Pandora suddenly felt a disconnection from her body, the effects of the spell rendering her completely unable to properly move or orient herself.
Julius jumped at the opportunity, forcefully pulling the sword from her grip. He imbued the sword with strong Yang magic in an instant, the blade itself beginning to shine with a white glow. Its constant hums seemed to amplify with a higher pitch as he moved the blade, thrusting it directly toward her at heightened speeds.
The sword finally plunged into her chest, the Yang magic imbued on the blade making its penetration seamless, its tip coming out the other side. Julius was easily able to cut through her body; it was like a hot knife through butter.
He brought the sword straight up, slicing through her flesh with ease. The blade started at her chest, vertically cutting through both her neck and face before exiting at the top of her head, drenched in her blood.
Her body split apart in a spurting, bloody mess, toppling to the ground, dead. Bits of guts and brains spilled onto the ground around the body, but he didn't waver one bit. Julius kept his eyes firmly on her body, this time. He dared not move or take his eyes away, lest she be reanimated again.
Unfortunately, he only needed to blink, and, in that instant, she was gone. Her entire body, the blood she left, the pieces of her brain on the ground … They vanished, only to instantly reappear behind him, entirely whole again.
Even after that — even after such a gruesome death — she failed to be bothered by it. It shook Julius to his core, but he continued to persevere.
After that, a process began. He would kill her, she would come back. It repeated over, and over, and over again. An unending loop.
It didn't matter in which way she died.
She'd been impaled by an onslaught of ice spikes.
She'd be crushed and smashed by walls of Earth and stone.
She'd been blasted by deadly beams of Yang magic.
She'd even been beheaded and dismembered more than just once.
Julius was beginning to get tired. The Spirit Sword granted him endless supplies of Water magic through the spirits to heal and recover, but, while his physical state remained unaltered, his mental state only continued to drop.
The sword he held was strong, but she was stronger.
He was getting desperate. The longer this went on for, the more he realized that he was far too outmatched. This opponent was unlike anything he had ever faced before. She seemed immortal, and her strength seemed unnaturally enhanced, almost endless.
Julius became sure that she was only toying with him. Had she wanted him dead, he knew that she could've done it by now. Perhaps she was relishing in his frustration, he thought.
In one, last-ditch effort to end things once and for all, he began to draw elemental power to the blade again. This time, it wasn't just one element, but all of them.
The blade began to clad itself in a rainbow hue, charging an attack that he hadn't used in years: Al Clarista. The last time he'd used this spell, it was with his buds.
Though it deeply saddened him, he'd long accepted that they were no longer with him. With as many spirits as there were around him now, he theorized that this attack would completely destroy her.
Yet, there she stood, unmoving and still, always watching him.
He glared ahead, the hue of his now rainbow sword glowing brightly as he sprung forth. He brought the blade behind his right shoulder and head, readying his strike as he charged Pandora with intense vigor and rage.
He reached her in seconds, swinging the blade forward in a devastating diagonal slash, completely and effortlessly cutting through her body. As she split apart, the area around them violently exploded under the force of the strike, the combined forces of magic annihilating both her body and creating a small crater in the ground.
When the light dimmed and the dust settled, Julius looked to find no trace of Pandora anywhere. He let his hope and relief foolishly get the better of him, as he took deep, tired breaths. He lowered his sword to his side, relaxing his arms, feeling as the blade's power drained.
The sword had protected him from the blast of his own attack, but he still felt exhausted. While it affected him physically, his condition of exhaustion was mostly mental.
But he had little time to dwell on that.
To his utter dread, the warnings and cries from the spirits erupted in his ears once more. He was too tired and distracted to move fast enough, trying to swing the blade backward, only for his wrist to be tightly blocked by Pandora's palm.
She twisted it, triggering an involuntary reflex which made him drop the sword, no matter how much he willed to keep hold of it. The many spirits around them began to fade away, having lost their beacon and anchor to stay. Her other hand shot up, grabbing him by the throat and effortlessly lifting him off of the ground.
She dangled him in the air, choking him. Julius looked down at her, directly into her emotionless, dead eyes as he gasped for air. Her grip was tight and unwavering; it would be futile to try to break free.
It was at that moment that Julius realized he'd failed. He couldn't protect the kingdom. He couldn't protect the people, or even his friends. As the Witch squeezed the life out of him, he acknowledged his uselessness.
His life flashed before his eyes. He believed that he'd finally reached the end of his life. Shockingly, he'd accepted that, closing his eyes and willingly awaited death. He didn't even try to fight it or resist.
"Let him go, Dora!"
A voice — an all too familiar one at that — called out from nearby. Julius quickly opened his eyes, becoming vigilant as Pandora quickly turned to face the speaker.
Both of their eyes widened at the same time, shocked to see who was standing not too far across from them.
There he stood, tall and ready, with his nasty-eyes narrowed. He wasn't glaring; no, he was focused. His black hair lightly flowed in the breeze, as did the collar of his tracksuit. The tracksuit itself looked somewhat worn, unlike how Julius had seen it the day before.
Natsuki Subaru was here.
Both Pandora and Julius could see the seriousness in his expression, and how his hands lightly clenched with unknown emotion. There was a new addition to his person: a sizable scabbard, wrapped around at his backside, containing a sword.
"Please," Subaru spoke again, his voice heavy as he pleaded. "Let him go, Dora."
Many questions raced through Julius' mind at that moment. Dora? Why did he call her that? Why did Subaru seem so familiar with her? Why did he sound so sympathetic? Why did it sound as if he was trying to reach out to her?
His thoughts were interrupted by a squeeze around his neck. Pandora's eyes narrowed at Subaru, thrusting Julius forward with her arm, trying to tempt him.
Subaru raised his hands up. It was a sign of nonaggression; a sign that he meant no harm. Julius was further shocked and confused at that, but he could hardly think about it due to the crushing pain around his throat.
"I know you're mad at me. Hell, you're probably furious," he started with an understanding tone as he slowly, cautiously, took a step forward. "And I get it. You have every right to feel that way."
He took another step closer, only to immediately stop when Pandora suddenly tightened her grip, threatening to crush Julius' throat. He stood still, keeping his hands up and his eyes glued to hers.
The two stood opposed to one another across the open area. On Pandora's right lay the broken statue of the man she'd let go. Now in front of her was that same man, alive and well, looking at her with those emotionful, meaningful eyes of his.
They were eyes that conveyed his care for her — his sympathy and sentiment.
Pandora's face twitched a little.
"I also know that you're suffering," he continued. "You're in pain, and you're desperately trying to funnel it elsewhere onto something else." He paused, lightly shaking his head. "But this isn't the way."
Julius could only remain slumped in Pandora's hold, forced to listen to their exchange. He lacked any proper understanding of the situation, but he could clearly hear Subaru's emotions through his voice alone.
Strangely, he could feel as Pandora subtly reacted, momentarily loosening her grip at times.
"This isn't you," Subaru stated. "You know that, too. You know what we've been through together, what we've talked about. We both know what the real you is really like." He paused, taking a breath. "I know that you're in a lot of pain. I know that everything hurts. I want to help you. So, please, Dora, come back to me."
Pandora's eyes seemed to narrow even more, yet her arm wavered and her grasp on Julius further loosened. Her arm started to shake, her teeth gritting while her head quickly turned to the side. Her body shook for a moment, her eyes clenching themselves shut.
The arm that held Julius swung itself outward, letting go of the knight and sending him flying through the air. Subaru's eyes widened, taking his gaze off of Pandora in order to focus on Julius. He reacted quickly, extending his right arm and manifesting a Helping Hand, which similarly extended from underneath his arm.
The Helping Hand shot forward at an incredible speed, keeping itself directly under Julius as he came closer to the ground. When it caught him, Julius felt lost for breath, even as the hand lowered him to the ground. It gently set him down before quickly returning to Subaru, disappearing into his body.
Julius didn't have time to process it all, instinctively grabbing at his nearly crushed throat with both of his hands. He felt disoriented, his eyes scanning the area for a moment, trying to get a grasp on where exactly he was.
"Julius! Get out of here!" Subaru yelled out to him, his tone harsh and demanding. Julius had rarely ever heard him speak in such a way.
Julius wished to argue. Once he saw Subaru's face, however, that thought drifted away. His friend's expression was stern, yet also soft and filled with pure, unbridled emotion. He looked over to Pandora. She remained mostly stationary, but, by looking at her face, Julius could tell that there were deep, underlying emotions in her, as well..
Julius knew that he was too far in over his head. He stood no chance against Pandora in combat, that much was painfully evident. From the look of things now, Subaru knew what he was doing. Julius didn't know why, or even how, but he confidently felt as though Subaru would be able to handle the situation from here.
The best thing for Julius to do now was get out of the way.
He picked himself up off of the ground, hardly able to get to his feet. He still felt weary, almost wobbling in his steps. He made sure to pick up his fallen sword, which had been kicked away, fumbling to sheath it before he started to move back.
Julius spared one last glance at Subaru. The knight's curiosity ran wildly, but he contained it. His questions would be better off wondered about later. For now, he needed to report back to Felt.
And so, Julius left.
Subaru and Pandora were left alone. They were free to indulge in their quarrel without interruption.
Subaru took a deep breath, watching as Pandora did the same. He kept his arms up and steady, slowly trying to approach her, despite her eyes not being on him. His own gaze wandered downward, shivering at the sight of three dead bodies on the ground: a family of three, each killed with their own brutality. Their blood was still fresh, and he knew that Pandora was the one responsible.
Denial crept up into his mind. He knew that Pandora — the Pandora that he knew — wasn't really like this.
He thought back to their time together. He remembered them fondly. Sure, things may have started out rough, but in the end it became how it was now. He wouldn't trade that in for anything.
He remembered when they had first started opening up to one another in the Seal.
He remembered when she had first shared her past with him. It was the first time she'd truly displayed her vulnerability to him. It showed that she had trusted him.
He remembered how much closer they'd grown and their confessions of love.
He remembered that, even after being released, they had remained close. Pandora hadn't reverted back to her previous mindset. She'd stayed with him, caring and loving; a sweet and normal girl. That's how Subaru viewed it, at least.
He remembered their talks of the future. They had a plan to settle down, to start a family.
… His mind wandered to the family of three, freshly dead on the ground. He couldn't help but draw parallels to their own plan for a family. Pandora had been the one to kill them, so—
He rapidly shook his head. He shouldn't dwell on thoughts like that. The Pandora he knew — the Pandora he had grown close to — wouldn't kill an innocent family like that. Right now, she wasn't in her right mind.
Subaru narrowed his eyes again, determined. He would bring her back. He'd save her.
So far, his attempts to reach out to her through Cor Leonis had failed. He, however, would not give up hope so soon. Perhaps if he got close enough, he could use Natural State on her, restoring her mind.
The sword at his back rattled a bit. He internally grimaced at the reminder. If he could help it, he would never have to use it.
At the same time, Pandora was having her own internal, mental breakdown. Her mind raced, rapidly debating with itself with an influx of denial and uncertainty.
Is it him …? Is he back—?
No, it cannot be.
But he is standing right there—
That cannot be true. That is impossible.
He called out to me. He is back. He is waiting for me—
A fake. A trick. An illusion.
I cannot leave him—
He left me. I saw it. He is dead.
…
Pandora suddenly ceased any and all movement, making Subaru do the same. She remained unmoving, entirely still where she stood. Subaru stayed silent, yet he kept his hopes up. He thought that maybe, just maybe, he'd gotten through to her. Maybe she'd come back.
Those hopes were dashed in an instant.
Her face scrunched, visibly showing an intense anger and frustration. Compared to how she was before, the sudden show of emotions was a terrifying shift.
Her head shot toward Subaru, her eyes making fierce contact with him and making him flinch with an instinctive fear. Her expression alone caused a chill to run down his spine.
He momentarily wondered if his feelings had something to do with her Authority. Though, perhaps it truly scared him to see his beloved so heated, so broken.
She was angry, and her face showed it. Her teeth were grit into a nasty snarl, her hands were enclosed into tight fists, and her eyes were narrowed into a deep glare that bore into his very soul.
Subaru stiffened. He could only watch as she picked up a piece of the fallen statue at her side with a single hand, hurling it at him without missing a beat.
Subaru moved quickly, protruding two Helping Hands from each side of his back and positioning all four of them in front of him to act as a shield. The broken piece of statue slammed into the Hands, creating enough force to physically push Subaru back. His shoes skid across the ground, coming to a stop only a few meters from where he once stood.
He lowered the hands down to his sides, thinking it was over. His eyes went to look at the thrown piece of statue, which had thumped onto the ground and kicked up some dirt after the impact. The dirt barely obstructed his vision, but it hardly mattered anyway.
His Danger Sense immediately went off. His eyes shot forward, barely catching the sight of his own stone-made face barreling straight for him. Moving instinctively without thinking, he jumped to the side in order to dodge it.
The rather large stone head of himself shot past him, hitting the ground and tumbling at high speeds directly into a building. When Subaru heard screams from inside, he gasped and quickly ran toward it, leaving Pandora alone behind him. She remained in her place, her eyes intently watching him as he moved.
He made it to the building, using his four Helping Hands to lift and move rubble. Underneath it lay two women, covered in dust and debris on the now broken floor. Subaru did his best to quickly help them, removing as much rubble out of the way as he could.
The two women, luckily, seemed to be relatively uninjured, only dazed and disoriented. They weren't hit directly by the stone, nor had they been directly struck by anything too heavy or hazardous. Subaru quickly helped them to their feet and got them moving, ushering them away to safety, which they gratefully accepted and followed.
Before Subaru exited the broken remains of the building, he paused and looked to his broken, stone head. It sat at rest in the middle of the building, its momentum having been stopped by the walls. Subaru stared at it, and its stone, cold, and unchanging face stared back.
The expression the stone head held was one that resonated with him. Subaru looked directly into his own, cheerful smile. Oh, how he wished that he could so easily smile like that right now.
Things stayed quiet for what felt like minutes.
Though, after just a few moments, Subaru's eyes softened, looking away as he climbed out of the building, his broken, stone head watching him as he left. He looked ahead at Pandora, who remained in place, continuing to observe him.
Subaru raised his arms outward, as if gesturing around the area, but at nothing in particular. "Is this really what you want?" he asked, slightly heated compared to how he'd spoken to her before. "Do you really want to hurt me? To hurt these people?"
Her face twitched again, contorting with mixed emotions.
Subaru felt something within him flare up. He knew what it was, but, strangely, it felt different. Instead of a helping hand, an aiding aura, a healing touch, or an instinctive intuition, it was something more special; it was something more akin to him as a person.
This power, whatever it was, centered itself around his very soul. It metaphorically wrapped entirely around him, adapting to his very being. It's abilities tugged at his mind, letting him know that they were there, ready to be used at his will.
As Subaru felt the familiar tingle from Danger Sense, he narrowed his eyes and acted.
Pandora appeared in front of him, her expression stern with a clear frustration and anger. She thrusted her arm forward, straight into his chest.
… Except it didn't hit anything.
Her arm went through his chest, but it failed to pierce any skin. Instead, it seemed to phase right through it. Subaru's body still stood in place, nothing visually changed, but it was almost transparent-like in nature.
"I guess I was wrong, then?" a familiar voice sounded from beside her. Pandora's eyes widened, her head shooting toward the source, finding Subaru standing there, arms crossed with a downcast expression. "You really do want to kill me?"
She appeared in front of him again, performing the same move. It only yielded the same result.
"I guess so, huh," he spoke again, this time from behind her.
She turned to look at him, getting an immediate eyeful of his saddened face once again. There were three of him now, and each of them looked at her like she had just died.
Still, he remained hopeful. He showed it in his tone as he spoke, "Please, Dora, come back to me. I don't want to fight you."
Pandora tried again.
Then, again.
Then … again.
Each and every time, the same things would happen. Every time she tried to kill one, it would fail and another would appear. They each bore his image, but they weren't real. They were only manifestations of his image. They were fakes; illusions.
… It was similar to the person she was fighting, right? He wasn't Subaru. It was just an imposter that stole his face and image.
Yes, that was it.
That made her angry.
All of those sweet, pleading words. How dare he speak to her like that … like he knew her. Only Subaru knew her, and this couldn't be him.
… Right?
As she kept her pace, attacking as many of the manifestations as possible, Pandora was starting to get confused. She looked around herself at all angles, only to see a different Subaru. His face was still sad and disappointed, though notably strained.
She kept both her gaze and body moving, looking everywhere in an attempt to distinguish the real Subaru. It proved fruitless.
She suddenly stopped as something grabbed at her ankles. She was barely able to look down in time to see two dark, purplish hands before they roughly yanked her back.
Her upper body flopped down, hitting the ground with a rough, hard impact. Even with her Authority, the force of the landing had left her a bit dazed. The hands never let go over her ankles, instead positioning above them in order to pin her down. Two more hands shot forward from behind, grabbing her wrists, spreading her arms to the side so that she could be pinned there, too.
Quickly after that, she felt something press against her back. While she couldn't see him in her current position, she knew that it was Subaru — the imposter. He sounded out of breath, as if he'd suddenly gotten exhausted.
Even when the daze wore off, she didn't move. She remained completely still, her eyes only blinking once, her face occasionally twitching and teeth lightly gritting.
Her mind was going haywire.
I need to stop—!
I need to keep going!
I cannot—!
I must!
I'm hurting him—!
It is not him!
It is—!
It is not! He left me! I saw it! I held his body as he died!
He is here! He is alive! He is trying to help me—!
…
The effects of her mental brawl kept her from moving, her eyes staring ahead in a daze. Every speck of her energy was spent keeping herself still, lest she kill the man at her back in an instant.
She registered nothing, only herself.
"I'll have to thank you for this power later, Dora," he mumbled, looking down at her with a thankful, yet sad, expression.
The Authority of Vainglory, and technically Pandora herself, had saved him. It gave him the advantage that he needed, but it took a toll on his stamina.
Still, with how deenergized he felt, he would only have one shot at this.
He quickly lowered his right, normal hand, lightly grabbing a hold of the back of her head. His grip wasn't tight, since he didn't want to hurt her, but it was firm enough to keep her steady. He didn't want to waste any time; he didn't know how long she'd stay down for. He needed to end this.
Subaru closed his eyes, letting the images and whispers of Natural State fill his ears. It all happened in the span of a few seconds, his mind opening up to the grid which was the inner workings of her body.
Everything was going well. The whispers gently guided him, and he felt confident in the fact that he was going to heal and stabilize her fractured mind. However, everything changed when he felt something … different.
His eyes opened and widened, immediately withdrawing his hand far away from her head, his breaths suddenly becoming heavy. He stopped using Natural State, the whispers quieting in his ears.
Subaru brought his hands in front of his eyes. He intently looked at them, slightly fearful; however, they held a lot of regret within them, as well.
He'd almost removed Pandora's Authority. Natural State was going to heal her mind, but it would also fix everything else. His lack of control over the power showed in that moment. Subaru was scared of taking away her Authority.
He couldn't help but berate himself. He could have potentially fixed everything, but his selfishness at preserving a possible future prevented him from doing what was necessary.
How reckless and foolish of him. How slothful; how greedy, how lustful. He truly was the epitome of all sins.
He should've just done it, but he was too much of a coward. He didn't want to harm her at all. It just felt so … wrong. It could've killed her.
But what if he failed now? He would be damning the lives of so many innocent people.
He hated himself for being so selfish. Why couldn't he just … do it?
Pandora's body twitched under him. His Danger Sense went off, the tingling almost blaring in his head. His arm moved on its own, bending backward and grabbing hold of the hilt of his sword, drawing it out of its sheath and bringing it straight to her neck.
He barely stopped himself in time.
Danger Sense fought against him, but Subaru fought back harder. He kept his own arms from slicing Pandora's throat, shaking intensely as he fought against himself. The entire time, Subaru was horrified.
He looked at the sword, its clean, shiny blade glistening in the sunlight. The Sword of Life surprisingly felt lighter in his hands, its untapped power laying dormant within, waiting for its moment to strike.
Pandora's eyes were also locked onto the blade, which was only mere inches away from her skin. She knew of the blade; she knew what it could do to her.
The Sword of Life was one of the most powerful weapons in the world. Its ability to completely destroy an individual's soul, no matter who or what they were, was incredibly unique to the blade, and extremely deadly.
It could even permanently kill the Sword Saint. If it had hit her, Pandora wouldn't have survived, even with her Authority.
…
He'd almost killed her … for good. Both Subaru and Pandora acknowledged this.
For Subaru, it was horrifying. It haunted him and made him fear his own instincts. For Pandora, it only served to fuel one emotion: anger. It surged within her, but for what reason, she wasn't sure.
Her anger flashed onto her face, her arms and legs rapidly shooting up and breaking out of their restraints with ease. She thrusted her back backward, knocking him off of her and making him stumble onto his butt.
She flipped herself around so that her body faced him, bending her right leg back and delivering a devastating kick to his stomach before he could even react.
The impact made him drop the sword, knocking the wind out of him in the process and breaking a few bones. He actually went up into the air, flying and spiraling backward, straight toward a nearby building.
He still had enough awareness in his mind to react, protruding four Helping Hands from his back and quickly anchoring them to the building in order to catch his descent. The landing still hurt, but it was much better than slamming head first into a brick wall.
Subaru could already feel Natural State healing his body, barely catching his breath. He, however, had no time to think about things.
Danger Sense began going off again, but Subaru was reluctant to let his instincts take over, especially after what had just happened. He couldn't be entirely sure of what he would or wouldn't do anymore.
He didn't move.
He turned his head around, catching the sight of a broken statue arm right before it hit him. He broke through the building's wall, crashing onto the floor of its second story. He gasped for air for a few moments, but Natural State was helping him quickly recover.
He found himself able to stand, though it was hard and he wobbled a bit as he walked. In his dazed mind, he couldn't help but be surprised at the fact that the floor held together.
He made his way toward the new hole in the wall, looking down at the open area from within. His eyes immediately went to Pandora, snapping him completely out of his daze. He adopted the same expression as before, looking at her longingly, as uncertainty filled him.
Was she really gone? Was she really a lost cause? No matter what he said, nothing seemed to completely get through to her.
But … he was getting through to her. Perhaps it wasn't fully reaching her, but it was reaching her.
It was as if Subaru was extending a hand out for her to take. She saw it — she acknowledged it — but would never make a move to grab it. Though, at the same time, it was like she wanted to.
At least, that's what it felt like to him.
Throughout this conflict, he'd seen her moments of hesitation and reluctance. The anger she felt now existed as a byproduct of her own confusion and sadness. For that, he knew he was to blame, but it gave him a reason not to give up.
A sense of hope once again found its way into his heart, visibly shown to the world through his now shifted expression.
He looked determined, full of pure will. He couldn't give up that hope; not yet. If he gave up, everything would have been for naught. Everyone's sacrifices would be in vain. He couldn't let that come to pass.
She could still be saved. Screw Natural State, and screw the Sword of Life. He would do it his own way. He would make things right, for everyone and for her.
Return by Death was gone. He needed to make everything count.
His Authority of Vainglory pulsed within him, after that. Subaru relinquished himself to it once again, letting it further envelop his very soul. From that, he seemed more at ease — more aware. The Authority seemed to be empowered, though from what, he wasn't quite sure. He knew that he was only scratching the surface of what it was capable of, now.
Subaru was more vigilant now, his mind better open to the things around him. He centered his sight on Pandora, who only looked back at him. He zoned out, unable to keep his mind from thinking of her.
It was as though he looked directly into her very soul. He could see her — the real her. She was in there, he was sure of it. He reassured himself of that fact.
Pandora seemed to react out of nowhere, springing herself into action. Danger Sense screamed at him, momentarily snapping Subaru out of his thoughts. A moderately-sized piece of stone, broken from the fallen statue, was hurling toward him at high speeds. He reacted, jumping out of the building before the stone crashed into him.
He turned himself around in midair, extending a Helping Hand from under his right arm and using it to grapple onto the building's roof. As the hand began pulling him up, Danger Sense went off again. He planted his feet onto the building's surface, halting his ascent. With one look to his right, he saw a thin metal beam which connected this building to the next.
Subaru jumped off and spun around again so that he could properly aim his left arm at the beam. A Helping Hand shot out from underneath it, grabbing hold of the beam and allowing him to swing toward it.
He swung under it, his momentum carrying him enough to circle around and land atop it. He struggled to keep his balance at first, anchoring his Helping Hands to each of his sides in order to better stabilize himself.
How could he get her to calm down? Subaru knew that his words were getting through to her, but he was starting to doubt his own capabilities. Perhaps he was only barely breaking through the surface, but he would keep trying.
He didn't have a chance to think any longer. Danger Sense erupted in his mind again, his eyes able to watch as another large piece of statue came directly for him.
Subaru turned to his left, shooting both Helping Hands at the next building's roof and using them to propel himself forward. The piece of statue missed, striking and breaking the beam he once stood on.
As he adjusted himself on the building's slanted roof, with his focused and clear mind, he affirmed his thoughts.
He began to run across the roof's surface, narrowly dodging more pieces of statue as they were thrown at him from below. A part of him was actually amazed at how accurate Pandora was when it came to throwing things.
He made a large leap from the building's roof, aiming for the next. Luckily, the next roof was shorter, making it easier for him to land. He shot his Helping Hands downward, using them to aid in his descent, preventing any injury.
As another large chunk of stone came for him, he jumped off of the roof. The stone missed, hitting the roof and falling through due to its weight. Subaru turned himself around as he fell, facing the building's wall, and used his Helping Hands to slow his descent. When his feet touched the ground, he positioned himself to face Pandora again.
While difficult, grueling even, Subaru knew that he couldn't relent. His belief in her was extraordinary, even with the impossibility of everything that was happening. He was completely unwilling to leave her alone, not again.
Even if it took days, weeks, months, or even years, he would keep trying. He owed it to not only her, but everyone else, as well.
He knew Pandora for who she truly was, and that was enough for him. He had faith in her.
Subaru's expression softened as he kept his gaze ahead of him. He watched as Pandora almost responded to his thoughts, effortlessly grabbing another large chunk of the statue with an obvious intent to hurl it at him. Unfortunately for her, she was running out of things to throw, and Subaru was starting to solidify a peace of mind.
Subaru began his advance toward the Witch in front of him, quickly coming to a halt when Pandora threw the large piece of statue in his direction. It shot through the air at incredible speeds, just like her other throws, but it failed to dissuade Subaru.
All five of his Helping Hands extended out from his back; two hands came around from each side while the final hand came from over his head. They quickly extended out in front of him, spreading their palms and acting as a shield.
The stone slammed into them. The force was enough to push Subaru back, his shoes skidding across the ground. The hands weren't destroyed, staying extended as they willfully held the stone back.
Its momentum slowed, only ceasing as the next few seconds passed. The Hands kept hold of it, moving off to the side and lowering it down to the ground. Once it was low enough, the hands released their grip, shooting back to Subaru and disappearing into his body.
Subaru wasted no time in continuing his advance. He held up a single hand, trying to induce a message of nonaggression. He walked over the sword, its blade glistening in the light, but he ignored it.
His actions did little to affect Pandora, however, as her expression hadn't changed. She was still angry, glaring at him from where she stood.
"You're angry, you're confused, I get it, I really do," Subaru began, trying his best to convey his understanding to her. "I messed up. I really, really messed up. You have every right to be angry about that. I don't blame you for that at all."
Pandora didn't seem to visually change, or, at the very least, Subaru didn't notice. That, however, didn't last long, as Pandora suddenly appeared in front of him. Her arm reeled back in a millisecond, thrusting itself forward in a devastating strike to his gut.
It never landed.
Just like before, her fist and arm ran straight through his body. Though, unlike the last time, it disappeared, fading into the wind.
She turned around, coming face-to-face with the man again, bearing the same expression and gesture as before. Pandora couldn't mistake how sympathetic and caring that expression of his was. It made her angry.
How dare he give her that look …
"And I know that this," he paused, using his free hand to gesture to the destruction around them, "isn't something you would do anymore. I remember what you told me, all that time ago. Your home, the village … it hurt you. You did this back then, too, and you hated yourself for it. You thought that there was no way out for yourself …"
How dare he say such things. How dare he act like he knew her …
"I told you before, so I'll say it again now. It's not too late for you; it wasn't then, and it isn't now." He took a breath, preparing his next words. "I know you're thinking that isn't true, but it is. I know that you think you're alone, but you're not."
Pandora's face twitched, as did her fingers. Her body rushed toward, appearing in front of him as if she'd teleported, thrusting her hand forward and aiming for his head. Just like before, it phased right through, the projection fading in the breeze.
"I don't want to fight you," he said. She didn't even bother turning around. She didn't even want to look at him. Still, even then, her mind could only focus on what he was saying. "I want to be there for you. I want to laugh with you when you're happy, and cry with you when you're sad. I want to live my life with you."
Something felt off, but she paid it no mind. Again, she dashed ahead in another assault. This time, she looked directly into his face as she did so. It was loving, knowing, and undoubtful.
Her soul rattled and shook. She felt tired, almost entirely weakened. As she swiped her arm through his chest, only for it to yield the same results, she failed to realize, or even consider, what was happening to her.
When he reappeared behind her, she chose to face him again. He failed to look deterred. Rather, with a hardened will and self-assurance, he continued to speak to her.
"I'm here for you, Dora. I always will be. I'll never, ever leave you like that again. Everything will be okay, I promise."
Pandora felt as her eyes unconsciously widened. It was then that she had some semblance of realization to what was happening to her.
Her Authority was built off of perception. Vainglory was the epitome of one's excessive pride, and the Authority was fueled by that. Her own perception and will could dictate her Authority's functionality, allowing her to force that will wherever she went, but the same could be said for other people.
Subaru — the man before her — held an entirely different view, one that completely contrasted from what her Authority hungered for. The insistence and will in his words was the exact opposite of Vainglory: pure modesty.
Pandora had held her own doubts within, even if she didn't realize it. He made her own twisted and manipulated perception subtly crack under the weight of his words, depowering her Authority's influence and enforcing her own inner conflict.
Such sentiment from his words — his expressions — really held so much meaning to her, after all.
Her expression, which had been contorted into one of anger, began to gradually soften as her mind cleared. Her eyes changed from a hardened glare to a soft sadness. Her face switched back and forth between expressions as her anger fought back.
She felt weak, drained of energy. Her mind raced once more.
Do not be fooled!
This is real—
He is lying!
He is telling the truth—
He will only end up leaving again.
Pandora snapped out of her inner thoughts, her eyes focusing back on Subaru, who now stood directly in front of her. She hadn't even noticed that she'd fallen to her knees, nor did she notice the tears which began to roll down her cheeks.
Subaru smiled at her, extending his right hand for her to take. She was shocked to see such a gesture.
Her mind tempted her, urging her to take it, but her arm wouldn't budge. Her doubts were strong enough to dissuade the action.
"Please, come home to me, Dora."
Her eyes widened. His voice was calm, sweet, loving, and encouraging. Just hearing him speak in such a way made her lack of energy meaningless to her. Her arm moved instantly, her hand quickly grabbing a hold of his.
When Subaru began to pull her up, she could hardly hold herself back from falling straight into him. Pandora's arms wrapped around his back, her face digging into the crook of his neck. She could feel his arms returning the gesture.
From the moment they made contact with each other, their souls felt calmer, more at peace. Little by little, their respective anxieties trickled away as they held each other close.
"It's okay, I'm here."
Her mind began to ease. Her thoughts were no longer diluted, now solidified.
This was real.
She wasn't alone.
He was here.
…
It was then that she felt assured, safe in his arms.
She lightly continued to cry, holding him tightly, as though he'd disappear the second she let go. He rubbed circles around her back, trying to soothe her. She didn't care about her own perception or how she was viewed, she felt free; free to let out all of her feelings to him.
Her distress remained prominent, her eyes staying open, unable to pry away from the carnage around them. Pandora knew that this was just a small, minuscule amount of what she had done.
"I …" She tried to speak, but her words came up dry. Subaru seemed to hold her more securely, bringing himself as close to her as possible.
"It's okay, it's okay," he repeated, continuing in his soothing motions. "I'm here for you."
Through her tears, she finally closed her eyes, digging her face into the crook of his neck. For the first time since everything started, she spoke, "I … I am sorry. I am so sorry."
Subaru developed a downcast expression at Pandora's soft pleas. He lightly bright a hand up her back, moving his palm around the back of her head so that he could hold her closer.
Despite their current position, Subaru activated Cor Leonis: Third Shift. The two felt connected to one another again as their souls intertwined.
While Pandora took heavy breaths, Subaru spoke in a calm, reassuring tone, "You'll be okay. It's okay."
He could feel Pandora shake her head into his shoulder. "It is not," she mumbled. "I cannot undo the damage that I have done."
Subaru silently noted how much she'd changed. Just moments ago, she'd been an angry, murderous Witch. Before that, she was an emotionless husk of what he knew, killing anything in her path. Now, she was neither.
She was simply Pandora.
Cor Leonis: Third Shift allowed him to understand and feel that change, but this was special. She openly showed her feelings; she openly showed her regret and sadness to him in full.
Pandora wanted to fix everything, but she knew that she couldn't. Half of her power was gone. Undoing something of such a large scale just wasn't totally plausible anymore.
Subaru knew better than to let himself believe the same, though. He still held hope.
"You can, Dora. I really believe that you can."
He could feel Pandora's surprise at the statement. In response, she took another deep breath, speaking in a light, doubtful tone, "How?"
"Because I'm here. We can do it together."
It was then that Pandora felt it: various foreign powers, along with a very familiar one, gracing her soul. She understood what he meant, now.
Cor Leonis: Third Shift didn't just let them share their feelings, inner and physical; it let them share everything.
That included the things which envelopes around their very souls: Witch Factors — the antithesis to the Od Laguna itself.
Pandora felt the other half of her Witch Factor return, reconnecting with her own. Her Authority was made whole again.
Through the small streams of tears, she closed her eyes, silently thanking Subaru for the opportunity she now had. She took hold of her Authority and began to use it, willing everything to be undone — to undo her mistakes.
… It really wasn't too late.
Subaru could feel her resolve through their connection. He felt himself becoming relieved, even happy. Things would return to the way they were supposed to be. Everything would be fixed. Everyone would come back.
…
Pandora suddenly went limp in his arms. Her legs gave out on her, so he quickly moved himself to catch her. He carefully held her up, immediately looking at her face. Pandora's eyes were closed, her expression indistinguishable.
Her breathing light, though she was unmoving and unresponsive. She was out cold.
He could feel that something was wrong through Cor Leonis, but he couldn't distinguish what it was. He couldn't understand it. All he could feel was a strain, as well as a certain emptiness that he couldn't even begin to describe.
Subaru picked up his gaze, quickly moving his head to look around the area. The statue was still broken, the buildings were still in shambles, and there were still lifeless, bloody bodies lying on the ground.
Nothing had changed.
His flames of hopes were stomped out in an instant, replaced by a terrifying and unyielding dread.
He carefully redirected his gaze back down to Pandora. He could only distinguish her consistently light breathing, causing him to worry further. Subaru's heart started to beat faster and faster as his unease rose.
It was too late.
There was nothing else he could do.
They needed to leave.
Subaru rose to his feet, holding Pandora up with both of his arms. He saw the glistening of his sword once more, setting Pandora down only to quickly put it back in its sheath. He raised her in his arms again, his hold caring and secure.
He looked in a few different directions before choosing one, quickly and carefully rushing off. With that, the two disappeared, leaving that area firmly behind them.
The entire time, however, they were unaware of a certain pair of eyes which peered at them from the shadows.