Re:Abyss- Chapter 6
"Oh Emilia, come now it's time for bed." Spoke a calm yet stern voice. Surprised by the sudden intrusion Emilia spun around behind her. Directing her gaze upwards she was met by someone familiar. She towered over Emilia like a looming mountain, her hair was a luscious silver like her own though cut far shorter just barely reaching the tips of her shoulders. Her eyes to like her own were a deep violet though unlike Emilia's own hers were an almost almond shape giving them a sharp and stern feel. And her ears just poking from under her hair were pointed as if she were an
"Elf!" Emilia exclaimed, her voice far squeakier then she last remembered.
Blinking in both surprise and concern from Emilia's yell, the taller elven woman reached down, tracing her slender finger gently over Emilia's face near her eyes.
"You've been staying up late again haven't you. Now it's gone and made you all delirious." The women sighed exasperated.
"Right." Not knowing what else to say Emilia allowed herself to be swept into the woman's embrace. A strange feeling of warmth erupted in her chest as if feeling something familiar. Soon the embrace ended, and she felt the soft pillows of her bed welcoming her as if she were an old friend.
Feeling the older elf about to pull away Emilia quickly grasped her hand with her own. With her own tiny stubby hand. Though before she could think more on her hand her attention was quickly stolen by the soft giggles of the elder elf.
"Oh Emilia, do you want me to hold your hand while you sleep again." Her normally sharp gaze softened, and Emilia finally remembered what this feeling was. The feeling of love, of unconditional parental love.
"Yes please." Emilia whispered, closing her eyes.
Then the mood changed; with a jolt Emilia awoke her hand feeling as if it were encased between two blocks of ice. With trepidation Emilia looked to her hand then upwards to the frozen statue. The frozen statue where the older elf had stood earlier.
No, that was where Mother Fortuna had stood. Now she is dead. Mother Fortuna was dead, for a second Emilia stared then her mind finally caught up with her eyes.
Then she screamed.
So loudly did she scream that she didn't hear the sound of her door opening nor of the hurried footsteps and worried yell of her name. Though she did feel the warmth of another's form though this one was too small to be that of elven women from her dreams.
"Lady Emilia, please!" Rem voice laced with worry was ultimately futile against Emilia's own terror filled thoughts. All she could do was embrace the half elf. She caressed her hair whilst clutching the sobbing girl to her chest.
One two three perhaps even four minutes passed before the distressed girl finally succumbed to her exhaustion and ultimately returned to sleep though Rem feared she may have simply fallen back into her own metaphysical pit of nightmares. Rem lifted the blankets over Emilia tucking her back into bed. Faced with Emilia's dampened face Rem the ever diligent and prepared maid procured from one of her silken pockets a handkerchief.
Carefully she dabbed Emilia's face with the dry cloth soaking up the loose tears. Finally, satisfied, Rem carefully folded the handkerchief before placing it on Emilia's bedside table.
"Rem hopes you feel better soon Lady Emilia, perhaps Rem can prepare your favourite lunch and this time Rem won't add any pepirs. Perhaps you might feel better then." Rem smiled hopelessly knowing that such a thing will change nothing.
Stealthily as to not disturb her, Rem walked out of the room and slowly closed the door. She flinched with each creek the hastily rebuilt door made.
It was his smell that indistinguishable smell akin to that of the witch that first made her aware of his presence yet despite this his voice still made her jump.
"How is she?" His voice, not too loud or quiet, felt as if it would rupture her ears that had just seconds ago adapted to the tranquil quiet of the night.
"Not good, not good at all." Rem admitted her blue eyes stared out at the moon in silent lamentation.
"Regrettable." His response was quick, and though not disingenuous, Rem could not help but feel it cold.
"Rem is not sure what to do, Rem..I am worried Emilia may not be fit to attend the royal selection meeting. It is a mere week away and Emilia has only just begun to process her loss."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, if Emilia were to refuse to attend it is likely her already substantially low reputation will be ruined, and she may even be disqualified altogether." Logical that was all his answer was. Rem looked at him sharply.
"I believe you're thinking too much of Emilia as a royal candidate and not as a person. If she is treated insensitively, I believe it could be her breaking point." Holding her ground against him, Rem glared up at Bondrewd.
"Perhaps that may be true. But I fear should we drag Emilia from the selection now we risk even greater deterioration in her mental wellbeing. You forget Rem that Emilia has her own dreams too. And I am willing to bet that this selection matters more to her than we believe."
That was true and Rem could find no argument against it, when it came to preparation for the selection Emilia could only be described as the very personification of diligence when it came to her studies. No such dedication came from a whim. It is clear the selection is important to Emilia. To force her out now would undermine every effort and sacrifice she had made up until this point.
"I will talk with her tomorrow. For now, why don't you get some rest." Feeling his hand on her shoulder, Bondrewd gently urged her in the direction of her room.
Knowing of her impending early start tomorrow Rem accepted offering the door to Emilia's room one final glance before making her way to her own bedroom.
Bondrewd himself stared at the entrance to Emilia's room for a few seconds as still as a statue. It was a state he had commonly found himself in particularly when he was thinking. In the Abyss where night and day was particularly hard to distinguish, he had long given up on limiting his thinking time to night when most would sleep. Now with the sky so clearly in view such a difference was easily perceptible and unable to simply swap bodies his time of thinking and self-reflection was limited to that of night-time. The unfortunate result of which was an inability to sleep. Like a child giddy for tomorrow, Bondrewd was excited, eager to see the culmination of his and the other residents' hard work.
"I have taught you what I can with the limited time given to me. The rest you must learn on your own. You are nearly there Mili though the coming days will be darker than you have ever known they will inevitably make way for a brighter dawn." Bondrewd thought, lifting his hand as if tempted to knock on the wooden door.
"What are you doing, I suppose?" Or he would have done had the childish voice of Beatrice not interrupted him.
"Beako don't you think it's rude to sneak up on people like that?" Beatrice only huffed in response.
"You mean like what you did to the maid girl, in fact." Beatrice accused though with no real bite.
The two stared each other down for a few scant seconds before Beatrice again spoke, her voice lowered unnecessarily as if she were trying to keep a secret.
"Bondrewd…I Betty healed the girl but in doing so Betty found something strange, I suppose."
"How about we make our way to the library so that we may discuss this properly." He offered. Nervously the drilled haired spirit nodded before the two of them enter one of the nearby doors. Utilising her door crossing the two found themselves within the library; Bondrewd turning to face the teetering spirit.
"Now, please tell me, what did you find?" For nearly a month Beatrice had heard his ever consistently calm voice but only just tonight did she feel how cold it could be. How detached and almost lifeless it sounded as if nothing could ever phase him.
Beatrice opened and closed her mouth taking note of her hesitance Bondrewd approached the young-looking spirit. Taking a knee, he gently coaxed her his actions guided by years of experience of handling children and at prodding the thoughts and feelings from Beatrice herself. That was a skill unique only to him, often much to Beatrice's chagrin.
"What did you find Beatrice?" She flinched in surprise, not used to hearing her full name and not his usual nickname for her.
"T-traces of…traces of bocco fruit, in fact." Her voice squeaked as quiet as a mouse.
"That would explain her surge in energy. I'm impressed I did not know you could find such a thing through healing magic alone." He spoke with jubilant praise as he struck his palms together in a slow clap. In any other circumstance Beatrice would have been happy to receive such jovial praise from her contractor yet now all she could feel was a sick twisted feeling in her stomach.
How could he stand there and clap? Surely, he realised that all the evidence pointed to him, he was after all the only one to prepare and feed the girl himself. This didn't make sense to Beatrice perhaps she had made some kind of mistake, perhaps Bondrewd was just impressed with her and any second now he would stop, and they could figure out this mess and avenge Puck even ease the stupid brats whining. Done with her own thoughts Beatrice decided to finally confront her contractor with her feelings.
"Bondrewd did...did you know about this?" She was sure there was some kind of misunderstanding. In fact, she was so sure she just decided to ask him upfront just so she could immediately quell her own ridiculous thoughts. He'll explain everything to her now, then everything will make sense.
"Indeed, I did. Very well deduced." As if the world enjoyed tormenting her, the very worst of her thoughts were confirmed. Bondrewd her kind-hearted contractor who had put his very life on the line to save the sisters. He was her chosen person, the one who will show her the world, who will carry on her mother's work, who will protect her and love her. How could he ever do something so sinister something that would hurt her like this.
Beatrice's thoughts continued to whirl faster and faster until with the awesome power of a hurricane they exploded fourth and Beatrice erupted into rage.
"How could you! You betrayed us, betrayed Betty. Why would you do such a thing?" She yelled her voice no longer so restrained and her rage so strong it surpassed her usual verbal tics.
"My my it would seem I've made you rather agitated. My deepest regret for speaking so insensitively but I can assure this was not done out of any desire to betray you."
"How could you say that? You admitted to it, you forced a mana surge on that girl, a mana surge that summoned one of the world's great calamities, I suppose." She snapped back, her face twisted into a snarl.
"Both I and Roswaal believed there was a potential risk of further witch beast attacks. So, we put together a plan. In an attempt to bait out any other lurking beasts young Meli might try to use against us and to test our current security for any glaring flaws."
So that was it, some kind of scheme but if that was the case why hadn't she and the rest of the manor been informed.
"Why did you not tell Betty this? Why keep this a secret from the others?" She demanded.
"I didn't want the others to be on alert; it would defeat the point of the test." Ever logical it reminded Beatrice so much of her mother and that's what conflicted her most. Those samples of admiration and ever so slight horror.
"The point of the. Bubbies dead! This stupid test or whatever it was supposed to be killed Bubby, in fact!" Beatrice lunged at Bondrewd, hitting him with her tiny hands.
"I am sorry, Puck's death was most regrettable. If I could reverse it I would." He hugged the agitated spirit, her punches wearing down before she just stood there in his embrace as if she were a lifeless doll.
"Get out! Leave Betty alone, in fact." Having regained her strength, she yanked herself out of his grasp; her butterfly shaped irises met the violet glow of his helmet; an invisible clash took place in their minds before finally Bondrewd relented.
"Of course, I'll give you some time to yourself to think things over." With a flourish of his coat he stood up as if she were some child, he had left on time out.
Goodnight dear Beako." With his final piece said Bondrewd crept out of the library determined not to disturb Beatrice further.
Finally, with him gone she allowed herself to collapse to the ground in tears. How could this happen, how could the one Beatrice choose to be 'that person' hurt her like this. Yet despite that hurt it took all her mental strength to not call for him, to run after him; was it because his nature reminded her so much of her mothers or perhaps was it her own fear of loneliness of returning back to those four hundred years of reptation and solitude, Beatrice didn't know.
Slowly the childlike spirit walked over to usual chair and sat at her usual desk. For four hundred years she held this same position well, almost this position there was just one more piece missing. A certain black tome similar in appearance to the gospels wielded by the dreaded Witch Cult but more similar in nature to the Tome of Wisdom wielded by the Witch of Greed Echidna. Though Beatrice preferred to refer to her as mother rather than such a formal title and why shouldn't she, as an artificial spirit created by said Witch she is by all accounts her daughter. She clutched the book tightly desperate for any source of comfort.
"Did Betty make the right choice?" Desperately she opened the ancient tome only to see the same thing she had seen for all those centuries alone.
Nothing.
It was the very next day the sun was only just breaching across the night skies and the only activity within the mansion halls was that of a lone maid ever diligently fulfilling her duties. Though that was only what lurked within the halls behind closed doors two men stared each other down, poised like snakes ready to wrestle the other into submission with their words in place of venom. And in this deadly dance Roswaal already knew he was at the disadvantage, for so long he'd held the upper hand armed with the knowledge of the future he'd learned to be self-assured, to be confident to rely on it. Now faced with perhaps the only person who could defy his mentor's plan he couldn't help but feel underprepared.
"I trust you sent word to the Sages council, about the White Rabbit's demise." Straight to business Bondrewd asked the primary subject of his visit. Or that's what the Roswaal believed to be Bondrewd's primary concern to be. The Tome had spoken of a naïve boy who held his heart on his sleeve. Such a person would be easy to read and even easier to manipulate.
Instead he has Bondrewd, a secretive man who seems to grow more dangerous with each passing day, and who despite seemingly seeking the same end result as himself seemed content with forging his own way separate from the Tome. He wasn't what he was promised but Roswaal will make do with what he does have, for now he can only observe and try to uncover the secret that is Bondrewd.
"Of coooooourse. The death of such a calamity will be a great boooooost to Lady Emilia's popularity after aaaaall." It was time to test those waters starting with what Bondrewd had hoped to achieve with the White Rabbits attack.
"It is unlikely many will believe our claims even with your backing. Without a corpse to prove it many will likely argue that we are using the rabbit's obscurity in order to gather favour." He retorted, thumping his helmet with his own hand in mock annoyance.
"Perhaps that maaaaay be so. But some will likely be willing to give us the benefit of the doubt. I am a veeeeery influential Margrave after all." He cheerily countered.
"Hm very good then, we will depart in six days' time in preparation for the Royal selection. You will not have to worry about Ram. I will ask dear Beako to stay with her." Bondrewd spoke with an air of finality as if they had both already agreed on such an action.
"Excuse me." Quick to retort Roswaal readied himself to deliver a verbal lashing to the arrogant upstart only too late did he realise his mistake and began to reign himself in with a small tsk. It would seem again he had lost this little game of cat and mouse, to lose himself at the mention of his comatose member of staff. It was a reminder from Bondrewd to Roswaal, to tread carefully Roswaal was sure of it.
"I must take my leave, there are other matters that require my attention." Mechanically Bondrewd swivelled to face the door prepared to leave the pondering lord to his fate.
"Wait." Said lord pleaded. Leaning across the table he called desperately for Bondrewd who stopped at his request. For a moment the two returned to silence; the only sounds were of the old desk creaking under half of Roswaal's body weight.
"Why did you not reset, when Puck died?" To lose such a valuable member to their party, it was Roswaal who had originally placed the spell. To weaken their bond in preparation for new found reliance on Bondrewd but Roswaal had at first thought to make use of him for the Royal selection. After all, the naïve girl's contract to the Great spirit of Fire had been all about the only positive advantage going for her. Did Bondrewd already intend to begin breaking her down; remaking her into the perfect puppet for their goals.
"The idea of Puck will afford her more power than what Puck could ever give her." He confessed his voice seeped in what seemed regret but that may have been Roswaal's own traitorous mind trying to attribute human emotions to a being who eclipsed even himself in age.
"You want her to grow stronger." Roswaal uttered slinking back into his chair in a state of shock.
"I do. I want her to become her own leader without my or anyone's input." He confirmed.
"She's not ready, it's doubtful she'll ever be ready. She is just a child in an adults' body unable to recover from one loss." He scathingly retorted. "Do you really think I'll believe in some child with the revival of my beloved teacher?"
"I know you will, because I know things about you. Me and you have played this game so many times now I know exactly how you think, all your cards are all laid bare to me." Bondrewd's words struck a chord within Roswaal and a question burst to the forefront of his mind. If what Bondrewd claimed was true, if he truly knew so much about him about the others, then how far back had he looped from or better yet how many times had he looped to obtain such intimate knowledge.
"How old are you…Bondrewd?" It was a question made out of desperation, to try and understand even a fraction of the man standing before him. It was a mistake because his answer only left him chilled as if his blood had frozen solid.
"I would have to say, and I emphasise that this is a rough estimate. Around a hundred and fifty-five million. That is the most comfortable number I feel to give. The truth is I am likely older." Like a child reciting his own name, that was Bondrewd's tone.
"That's not possible! No man could stay sane." Roswaal refused to believe such an impossible lie.
"No man you say; but I am not a single man. Rather I am the culmination of all that came before me. The inheritor of all my own suffering from an infinite sea of loops across time and space." He held his arms out as if embracing an unseen family.
For Roswaal there was no comfort, only growing horror but still he persisted with a final question that left his lips before he could even stop it.
"What do you all want, what is the goal here?" He stuttered faced with the enormity of what was at stake of the devil; he may have very well signed his soul too.
"To reach the end, to free this world from the chains formed in the past! For so long this world has clung to the past, the Witch of Envy, the demi-human war, everyone is frozen in time bound by these chains."
Using his hands, he grasped the air as if taking a hold of the chains themselves before yanking them down as if seeking to shatter them, a violent showcase of his passion.
"No longer, I will tear them down, destroy them, expunge them from existence; I will restart time, bring everyone back to Zero and together we will seek a new Dawn. Free of fear, of superstition, of hatred, of suffering, free of the past we will stand in the present and look to the future." Bondrewd exclaimed excitedly. He was truly happy no, elated to finally speak of his grander ambitions.
He's insane, that was all Roswaal could allow his mind to think of the masked man he had first thought a pawn. Perhaps that would have been Roswaal's final conclusion, but after so many years of experience dealing and betraying hundreds of men and women alike, he knew what insanity looked like. Bondrewd wasn't insane; he was a man much like himself, a man who had found his resolve though unlike Roswaal who had resolved to save only a single life Bondrewd had resolved to save everyone. Had he been anyone else Roswaal would have called them an arrogant fool but with Bondrewd a man aeon's his senior and with the power to control time itself; Roswaal sat back his body unable to move and his mind content to think of the many possibilities he had unleashed upon himself the moment he had invited Bondrewd into his estate.
His piece said Bondrewd looked to contemplating Margrave before shaking his head.
"My apologies, I allowed myself to get a little excited there. I will speak to you soon Roswaal." Finally, with no complaint from Roswaal Bondrewd took his leave.
As of the coming days finding good conversation was becoming progressively harder and harder with Rem having taken to looking after both Ram and Emilia, Beatrice committed to finding out the cause of Rabbit's appearance and now subsequent anger with him, Emilia's trauma and Roswaal's growing wariness.
"Oh and of course Ram too being indisposed." Muttered Bondrewd aloud a little too loudly as Petra, one of the village children he was currently entertaining, furrowed her brow in confusion and began tugging on his coat seeking his attention.
"Who's Ram?" Innocently asked the young village girl her cyan eyes beaming up at him.
"Oh? I suppose you were just clinging to consciousness. Ram was one of the maids who helped me save you and the others." Bondrewd answered, petting her head affectionately.
"As of now she is just taking a small break after straining herself." He removed his hand from her head.
"What about Meli? I haven't seen her in sooooooo long. Is she ok? Will she come down for dinner like she promised?" Petra rapidly fired her questions, her face growing red from lack of oxygen.
"Meli is doing fine as is everyone else." Bondrewd reassured the young girl whilst chuckling at her expression.
"I'll bring her down soon, then you can invite her to dinner like you wanted to." He added hoping to placate the young village girl.
"Yay!" Petra cheered, jumping up and down in excitement.
Pleased he has finally assured the girl Bondrewd bid her and the remaining villagers who had come to greet him a goodbye. After the witch beast incident, the village had taken to a much stricter schedule for the children much to their chagrin. Though those who had been included in the rescue of the children have become highly welcomed in the village, even Emilia being warmly welcomed the few times she had been able to visit since.
As such when he had passed through talking of going on a patrol around the local area the village happily supplied him with various assortments of food and water. It was a rather welcoming experience even if the children had delayed his plans by a solid half hour by swarming him with questions and attempting to climb all over him.
It was only with the promise of his return and offer of stories did Bondrewd finally escape their childish grasp.
With a nod to the village elder, the only inhabitant to be informed of the incident at the mansion just a few days prior Bondrewd left the village. Though the village had already been informed of the attack primarily when a few came to investigate after hearing explosions Bondrewd felt it best to inform the elder on the finer details minus the death of Puck and Meli's involvement. Just like the last time Bondrewd had kept Meli innocent to the villagers, she was a good girl at heart and did not deserve the village's ire for one mistake at least that's what Bondrewd thought.
Alone with his own thoughts, the next few hours of travel felt like a breeze, the lush trees seemingly transforming into a greenish paste as Bondrewd continued his march down the dirt path before taking a sharp left into the forest edge.
Wandering through the forest Bondrewd immediately sensed the heavy atmosphere indicative of those most hated by the world. The Witches scent dominated the air more than oxygen itself and for just as many leaves that hung up on the treetop he felt as many eyes watching his form.
"There is no need to hide, come and greet me as duty demands." He ordered changing his tone of voice from its normal calm and serene to one of authority with just the right ounce of arrogant expectation.
Not from the bushes but from the bushes' own shadows figures lurked outwards seemingly emerging from the ground as if it were water. To call them figures was an apt description, they worse long loose black robes decorated hiding their body completely and rendering it impossible to distinguish sex. Atop their head they wore masks the upper part pointed upwards similar almost to a cone; even their eyes remained hidden behind red slits that had been sown onto the cowl where their eyes should have been and on their upper forehead lay a decorative third eye the symbol of the cult.
Eight of them surrounded Bondrewd, their long flowing black robes reminding him briefly of the Umbral Hands. For a few moments Bondrewd looked at their faces though with their hooded masks such a thing was impossible.
"Escort me to sloth." Bondrewd waved his hand indifferently like a lord beckoning a lowly servant. With a small bow the hooded figures surrounded Bondrewd like a protective bubble before marching through the thick brush all too happy to use their bodies as practical human shields between Bondrewd and the various thorns, bushes and branches that got in the way. One of the cultists split off from the rest before running ahead, their form sinking into the shadows likely to inform his master of their arrival.
Finally, at their destination, a large rocky clearing, Bondrewd looked ahead to the hillside where inlaid into the mound itself was a large cave the inside of which was obscured by darkness like a thick fog it was as if no light could enter or escape the dark tunnel.
"What is the meaning of this? For what purpose have I been dragged from my diligent reflections! My time alone with both myself and the instructions of our Goddess, why would you betray me like this to try and drag me into slothful stagnation away from her love!" Screamed a lone man, emerging from the darkness. He wore similar robes to the others though unlike them he wore no cowl only a small cap atop his head exposing his putrid pale green flesh to the world.
Bondrewd coughed, the walking corpses bulging eyes zeroed in on him almost instantly though before he could begin another rant Bondrewd decided to introduce himself first.
"Bondrewd the Novel, Sin Archbishop of Pride." The air hung still for a moment, the two men staring the other down.
"Wonderful no fantastic! Your appearance today must mean my diligence has finally been rewarded. The ordeal it is finally time." Frantically the man pulled out his gospel and began rapidly turning through its many pages before with a poorly self-contained huff he slammed it close.
"There is no mention of you in my gospel. Who are you interloper!" He pointed a lone finger at Bondrewd, the nail of which was barely existent, only chunks of it stuck towards the back exposing the abused flesh beneath.
"As if any such book could contain the entirety of her greatness especially in regards for me her most beloved." His voice reeked of smug arrogance causing the other man to narrow his eyes.
"Then present your gospel, proof of her love." He demanded the air growing distorted, likely a result of his authority.
"Can you not smell upon me, her love so thickly laid on me. Like a child wrapped within his blanket I am bathed in her warmth. I have no desire nor need for such a thing for I am always reminded of her love and it is her gift to me that I may always know the path foreword to her resurrection." Bondrewd spoke knowing Petelgeuse would be more likely to fall for his ruse should he embrace his title more.
"Well you certainly live up to your title." The man grumbled assuring Bondrewd his plan had worked.
"But to indulge oneself in your own sin without seeking to improve is the very embodiment of sloth yet you also sought me out of your own volition without command of the gospel. How diligent! Oh, it makes my brain tremble!" Slamming his hands into his head as if trying to steady and restrain his own mind the man contorted his body violently twisting his own back as bent at various unnatural angles.
"You've yet to introduce yourself." Bondrewd pointed out. Immediately the man paused his mad rant and looked at Bondrewd as if he had just told him the single worst obscenity he had ever heard.
"No! Could it be in judging you I have allowed myself to once again partake on the cardinal sin of sloth. How could I have been so arrogant." Tearing out strands of his own hair the man clapped his hands as if in prayer.
"Oh, Satella, please forgive this lowly servant in your name. I shall make amends now." Turning to face Bondrewd he briefly coughed into his hand as if trying to regain his composure.
"I am the Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult representing Sloth Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti." With a horrific snap Petelgeuse's neck he twist his own head sideways, a large smile exposing all teeth adorned his face.
"Now that such things have been cleared between us, I come with important news regarding the Ordeal." Bondrewd tempted knowing such a thing would quickly earn Petelgeuse interest.
"The Ordeal! The promised day when our Goddess shall walk among us once again. How is it that someone without even a gospel knows of it?"
"It was shown to me, I have seen the future where Satella walks the world once again. It is the nature of my authority. The reason I do not hold a gospel is because I hold the truth within myself." Bondrewd paused briefly though only to catch his breath.
"In six days, a silver haired half elf will announce her desire to run as dragon candidate from then we must carry out our sacred duty. I tell only you this because of the other Sin Archbishops you are the most active and the most diligent. It must be you that confront this doppelgänger and carry out the ordeal." Bondrewd walked over to Petelgeuse who had fallen to his knee's midway through the speech.
"Will you do this Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti?"
"Yes, there is no question of my diligence and loyalty so much so that Satella has finally acknowledged me and has even chosen me as her champion to return her to our world. Finally, I can return the love that has been showed unto me onto all of us!" He hugged Bondrewd tightly like old friends who had not seen each for so long.
"Thank you. You could have hoarded this sacred duty for yourself, to give in to your pride but instead you diligently cast it aside. I feel as if bond has formed between us to find one as diligent as myself could this be friendship." Petelgeuse ranted joyfully.
"There is one more thing, are you able to contact the other Sin Archbishops?" Questioned Bondrewd gently pushing Petelgeuse away from their embrace.
"Yes of course, though to do so might take some time."
"Good. Do so for me I have a target that requires Gluttonise's special touch." Nodding Petelgeuse bowed his head.
"It will be done though I must ask who the target is." He tilts his head up his spine groaning in protest.
"A blue haired maid, she is the trusted friend of our candidate and will be paramount to the fall of the White Whale, a necessary sacrifice I assure you. Have her name forgotten and the Ordeal will be complete."
"Yes, yes of course as you say I shall do so with diligent haste." He placed his hands onto his chest just above his heart as if swearing on his own life to carry out his task.
"And take this." Unclipping one of the cylindrical canisters from his belt Petelgeuse felt a dreadful sensation as if his very soul was intwined in web his Fingers felt it too with many of the normally emotionless 'hosts' shuddering.
"Within you will find a seed. Please I ask as one diligent comrade to another to plant this seed somewhere safe. A cave perhaps or an underground trove." Bondrewd pleaded.
Petelguese hesitantly took the canister every fibre of his being demanding he destroy it on the spot.
"What is it?" He asked frustrated with the strange sensation he felt emanating from the canister.
"It is called the Zoaholic, a piece of it anyway but it will grow in time. It's power over souls will help immensely in the revival of Satella so keep it safe." At his words Petelguese's trepidation turned to awe as if he were holding his own gospel.
"I must return now; I have infiltrated the Emilia camp in order to ensure everything runs smoothly. Await my word in the coming weeks and with your duty fulfilled you will be finally set free." With a final nod to each other and the gift of a conversing mirror from Petelgeuse to Bondrewd the two split off both wills iron clad and willing to see their mission to the end.
With a loud knock Bondrewd awaited permission to enter Emilia's room. His trip back had taken more time than expected though most likely due to the repeated delay when attempting to cross through Irlem village. Now it was already approaching night and as Rem was finishing off her final duties before bed Bondrewd had kindly offered to bring Emilia her evening tea. Knowing of his goal to speak to the troubled half elf Rem had readily accepted. So, with steaming cup in hand Bondrewd awaited the panicked and meek yell of.
"Ah! C-come in." Careful as to not spill the drink Bondrewd entered into Emilia's room, the young woman's eyes widening as soon as she saw the unexpected visitor. Hastily she shuffled her papers and opened one of her books.
"I-I was just studying. It's lucky you brought some refreshments I thought I might just keel over from exhaustion." She lied poorly. The thin layer of dried crust forming over her eye lashes and the web of blood red veins bulging from her eyes told all he needed to know.
"You fell asleep." He deadpanned.
Panicked Emilia quickly held her hands forewords as if trying to hold back a collapsing weight.
"No, no I was just." She paused momentarily before sighing.
"I'm sorry." She whimpered before plopping down on the edge of her bed looking down at the ground like a child who had just been harshly reprimanded.
"Here." Offering her the now cooler tea Bondrewd sat right beside her. Tentatively she reached for the mug, her hand jolting backwards from the still warm china before she quickly grasped it by the handle.
"Thank you." Gratefully she took a large gulp of the tea ignoring the minor pain brought on by the boiled water. Still the tasteful mix of the mansion's most expensive tea leaves brought a pleasant feeling of warmth and flavour that helped to relax Emilia. With a satisfied sigh she finally looked up from the ground to Bondrewd a small smile across her face.
"Rem tells me you've been suffering from nightmares." He asked gently though even still his question caused Emilia to sink backwards.
"Ever since Puck sawed me from ice my memory has been skewed but now. Ever since Puck…died." She gave a small sob bringing her legs up to her chest so that she can hug them Bondrewd having already taken the teacup to avoid Emilia accidently dropping it.
"Things I've forgotten, people I've forgotten are coming back. And it hurts, it hurts so much but I don't know why, why can't I remember them?" With her head in her hands Emilia clutched her scalp tightly.
Bondrewd coaxed the crying girl into a one-armed hug, Emilia quickly bawling into his chest.
"I heard from Beatrice, when both you and Puck formed your contract Puck added a hidden clause. One which would hamper your memoires. It is likely he wanted to protect you from the truth but now with his unfortunate demise all that has been kept hidden from you has come crashing back." Bondrewd spoke slowly allowing Emilia time to process his words and there meaning.
"So, it's true. I really am worthless. I couldn't save anyone back then and I couldn't save anyone now, even the one who mattered most to me." She ground her teeth in frustration, her hands tightening around Bondrewd's cloak to the point she may tear the fabric.
"What is important is not the beginning or the middle part. The most important thing is the end. The women I respect the most in the world once told me that." Bondrewd cut off Emilia's rant revealing to her the words that had given him strength throughout his many lives.
"Huh?" Emilia looked teary eyed and confused at Bondrewd's sudden interruption.
"You cannot change the past, only learn from it and ensure it never happens a second time. Puck's death was not your fault, he sacrificed himself because he loved you because he believed in you. That belief is shared by me and Rem and now the whole of Irlam village." He wiped her tears away using his finger and the two stared at each other before Bondrewd continued.
"With each and every step you grow stronger, instead of clinging to the past you must instead look to the future and promise yourself never to let what happened happen again. The future is full of endless possibilities including the one where you find it."
"Find what?" She questioned desperately.
"That which will give you strength, the strength to face each day regardless of what happened the day before." Emilia thought for a few seconds before finally her sombre expression changed, and she released a tired yet determined smile as if she had finally made up her mind.
"Who was she, the woman you admire most?" She asked carefully, hoping not to upset her masked friend.
"My mother." Bondrewd answered affectionately.
"What was she like?" Though she felt slightly ashamed to ask such a personal question, Emilia pushed on her mind desperate to fill in the gaps to understand what a mother's love truly was.
"She was a kind woman, I once thought her a little simple minded but I think she understood me better than everyone in the end, she always knew how to make me smile and she loved me unconditionally no matter how much of a disappointment I felt I was." To Emilia he sounded almost vulnerable as if he had never truly taken the time to speak or even express his own sorrows.
"I think, no I remember. I used to have something like that. A mother." Briefly a memory flashed within her mind of the same short haired elf from her dreams.
"Perhaps the only way to find out is through these dreams of yours." Offered Bondrewd insightfully.
"Maybe but." She gently grasped his hand in hers.
"Will you stay with me tonight; I don't want to face it alone." Her smile strained, though Bondrewd's words had given her newfound strength she still felt nervous of what her dreams may reveal of who she was.
"Of course, I will." Bondrewd reassured her gently, squeezing her hand back.
With a dazzling smile Emilia quickly dived underneath the covers, resting her head against the pillows she yawned before holding out her hand for Bondrewd again to take. He did so, watching as Emilia slowly closed her eyes.
"Will you promise me one thing?" She asked tiredly.
"What is it?" He asked curiously.
"Promise that you'll always remain by my side, even after I find my strength even in the future." She begged her voice small and her hand tightened to the point it began to hurt.
"I promise to always remain by your side, for as long as you want me there."
"I remember someone used to tell me the importance of keeping promises." Emilia spoke slowly before exhaustion finally took her.
"I know, when I was younger, I broke all sorts of promises and hurt a lot of people. But from here I assure you every promise I ever made to you and everyone else will soon be…"
Fulfilled.