Chapter 3 – The Other Blue Witch
"...My, my. I don't often get visitors."
...That hair.
"Forgive me; I did not have enough time to prepare..."
….That face.
"...since Lambda informed me so suddenly... Hee hee."
….Those eyes.
"Hee hee. I'm honored to finally meet you... Lady Bernkastel."
I immediately decide that I don't like this person.
"...Who... Are you...?" Bernkastel asked hesitantly.
"Hmmmm... What is my name...?"
The figure that materialized... looked exactly like Bernkastel. Lush, blue hair dropped freely onto her shoulders; her hair already passing waist's length. She had no fancy accessories, ribbons, or any other adornments that are casually found on a witch. Instead, she wore only a simple, green sundress.
She looked like what many could easily describe as a somewhat younger Bernkastel... Except for her eyes. Eyes that held a lot of knowledge; eyes that had looked at the world for probably a thousand years. Her deep, purple eyes- the exact same color as Bernkastel's, scanned her lazily.
"...Hmmm. It's been so long since someone asked for my name. I wonder... do I still have one?" She giggled. "I guess my name is Frederica Bernkastel... the Witch of Miracles. Hmmm... But that's not exactly right now, is it...?"
"Bern... " Bernkastel curled her fingers around her chin. Heh... So that's it. ...Lambda, what the hell are you planning this time..?
The girl mimicked Bernkastel's actions, and smirked. "Yes... This definitely won't do. After all, you're the one who currently holds the name Bernkastel, Witch of Miracles, right..? ...Hee hee. So I guess I'm Frederica, the previous Witch of Miracles... Oh no, that's not exactly right now, either. After all, that child would definitely get angry if I continued to use that name. Heh, what to do, what to do...?" She looked at Bern. "Well then, as you may have already guessed, I am the previous Witch of Miracles... the witch before you. But right now, I am merely a humble observer of this territory." She smiled. "It's such a pleasure... To finally meet the witch who would take after my name; a thousand years from now."
Bernkastel's eyes narrowed. "...Hmph. Sad to say, but I'm afraid I can't say the same. After all... I never really did like looking at things that belong in the past." She pouted. "They make me sick. They make my skin crawl. They make me want to vomit my guts out, and swallow it all back again." Her expression grew more sour.
The girl tilted her head to the side. "...Oh my, that's a real shame." She turned around, facing away from Bern. "Seeing as how this dimension has a hobby of warping time, I know that it's definitely not a surprise for someone like me from the 'past', to be able to meet you. Hee hee hee." She glanced at Bern. "...But still, I can't help but be somewhat excited in meeting anyone at all. After all... I spend all my time here. I never do get enough visitors."
"Tch. That's not exactly my point."
"Ohoh. Then what could it be, I wonder...?" She giggled. "I imagined that once we met, we would have a heart-warming time together, chatting over a cup of hot plum tea. I also imagined that you would be more interested in knowing more about the origins of your name... After all, I believe most witches are curious and bored enough to do so..?"
"Hmph. As I had said, I've never really been interested in any of those bullshit." She sneered. "...Tea sounds really good about now, though. I am quite tired from the long travel."
"Oh, dear. How impolite of me. Well then..." She snapped her fingers. The whole area began to distort; and before Bernkastel knew it, they were in what seemed to be an old, Japanese-styled room. At the center of the room was was a dainty tea table, with a delicately-designed tea set on top of it. Warm sunlight entered the room through the windows, and through the doorway that led to the outside. Bernkastel peered at what seemed to be an endless garden.
"My apologies. I know that this may not be as fancy and extravagant like your abode, but please, make do of my little home." The girl said as she sat down at the cushion, pouring some tea.
Bernkastel sat down with her. "...will you reach some place if you take that road over there?" She said, pointing outside to a lone, narrow road that stretched onto the horizon.
"...Hee hee. I'm afraid not. That road loops endlessly; I tried following it once out of boredom, but in the end, I only returned back to where I started." She smiled, giving Bernkastel her cup. "I haven't tried following it since."
"...So it's just like that wretch's Golden Land." She took her cup close to her mouth. "...Most likely meaning that you're pretty much trapped here, with no hope in moving on... right..?"
"...Hee hee. That is one way to look at it." She took her own cup, and sipped some tea. "But still, I am quite happy to be granted a place like this. Before I relinquished my title, I only had that sea to call a home. As you may have thought..." She put her cup down. "It had gotten quite lonely out there. At least this place has a peaceful feel to it."
Bernkastel sipped some tea. "And why is that part of the sea closed off in this territory, anyway..?"
"Oh? Because it contains the fragments of this territory..?" She giggled.
"...That's not the answer I was looking for. Usually, kakeras are scattered across the sea, regardless of their territory." She looked up, gazing at the ceiling. "They do not intermingle with each other, but they are not specifically bound or closed off within their territory. After all, territorial witches would have no use for them. ..They are not allowed to travel freely in this sea, unlike Voyager witches."
"Hmmm.. is that so...?"
"...Yet, this area is completely closed off- or shall I say hidden. I had already neared the coordinates scribbled by Lambda, yet I couldn't feel a single presence of the territory." She looked at the previous Witch of Miracles. "Yes... the probability of stumbling upon this place without your knowledge or consent, is a flat-out zero; which is probably why I had never come across this territory during my travels. To be able to close off a part of the sea like this, and keep it concealed... Just how...?"
"...Because..."
"...?"
"...These are ….. precious... Fragments."
...The girl looked like she was in a trance.
"...Oh. I apologize." The girl said as she snapped back to reality, and smiled. "I must have spaced out; how very rude of me. Please, have some more tea."
"...Anyways," Bernkastel said, not wanting to push the subject any further. "You and I are aware that I am not here for idle chitchat."
"Ahhh yes... of course. You lost a game of baccarat with Lady Lambdadelta, so here you are now- doing an errand for her. Hee hee."
Bernkastel swore that she would smack Lambda flat on her forehead and claw her throat out while she was unconscious, once she sees her again.
"Oh my, I do apologize. It seems that it is not a happy memory for you..." Though she was apologizing, it was obvious that she was trying to suppress a few giggles.
"Rrrghhh, Lambda, I swear when I get back I'll... Ahem. Anyways, I would like to take the item and be on my way. ..I'd like to get back as soon as possible. I left one of my pets alone, without telling her I was leaving... and she would be most distressed when she finds out I left. ...Very distressed, indeed. ...Ufufufufu." Bern giggled, remembering a certain twintailed bluenette whom she completely forgot about until now.
"...?" The girl looked genuinely confused. "...Again, I do apologize. But the item that Lambda requested is not quite ready yet."
"...What."
"Yes... I believe she told you?"
…...
"...But... She said... To pick up..." Bern's mood, once again, began to grow sour. "...What exactly did Lambda inform you...?"
The girl had finally caught on. She giggled. "...So I see. I did find it strange, that you were in such a hurry... Lady Lambdadelta is still quite the trickster, I see... Hee hee hee..."
"...What the hell did she say?"
"Hmmm.. Well, to put it in its broadest sense, she said something along the lines of..."
"Greeetings, my dear Frederica!~ As you may know, this is the great Lambdadelta, speaking to you! Because my sweet kitty Bern lost to me at a peaceful, non-rigged game of baccarat, I asked her to do a favor for me! You remember that 'thing' I asked you about, right? I know its not quite ready yet, but I sent my kitty there early! You see... You know how much my Bern could be such a grouch around others, riiight...? The poor thing doesn't have any friends, aside from me! It's just so pathetically sad! What if she gets into trouble, and I'm away on some kind of vacation trip, so I wouldn't be able to save her...?
...Well, that wouldn't exactly be right, since she IS a powerful witch. She'd probably chew her enemy's head off before they could even land a scratch on her! Ohohoho...! But still, I'm such a busy young maiden; she probably sulks around, awaiting my return whenever I leave her...! Ooooh, the thought of that makes me wanna cryyyy...!
So I thought I'd do her a favor! Ohohoho, but you know... I'm really the jealous type, you see. I know it's practically impossible for Bern to make friends easily, but still... I don't want my dear kitty to get TOO close with someone, especially when that someone is NOT. ME.~! So I went through the list of the folks I knew and trusted well, and I thought, what the heck; you two will probably get along! After all, you look waaaaaaayy too much alike. Ufufufu... You wanted to meet her too, right..?
Plus, I know you're not the kind of being who'd snatch my Bern away from me, riiiighhttt...?
..So with that, I'd like her to spend some time in your territory for a while~! Alright, I leave her in your super-capable hands then! Toodles~!"
"...Is what she said." The girl ended, in what seemed to be the most accurate impression of Lambda anyone could ever make. "...She didn't even let me speak. Such an amusing witch now, isn't she..? Hee hee..."
...Bern wasn't amused, though.
Oh no, she was far from amused.
...Veins popping out from anger, she clutched the rim of the table...
"...!"
...yes, and that was the glorious day Bernkastel flipped over a poor, defenseless tea table, out of sheer irritation.
"...Ahhh, but don't be mistaken, though. I have my other reasons too. But don't tell her that... alright?"
"...Tch. I should've known this would be another one of her tricks..."
A few moments after Bernkastel calmed down, the girl had finally deemed it safe for the poor tea table to make its return. Once again, it materialized at the center of the room- complete with the teapot and the teacups, as if it was never touched.
Shortly before that though, there was definitely a lot of silent swearing and foot-stomping; probably Bernkastel's attempt to calm down. This was the tea party all over again, she thought; except for the fact that the witches who would mock her endlessly whenever she would loose her composure weren't around. That's why this time, she didn't try to hold back as much as she usually did- which is very unfitting for the great Witch of Miracles, indeed. Bernkastel was getting ready to leave, when the girl had informed her that Lambdadelta apparently knew this was coming, and had already planned things out. She had put up a ward just outside the territorial boundary- a ward which would certainly not let Bernkastel escape; it would only vanish if Bernkastel finishes the 'errand' assigned to her.
Bernkastel could easily destroy the ward from the outside, but because she was in the inside... Yes, she felt it in the beginning, and that's why she grew so wary.
Her powers were being restricted.
So now, the probability of her escaping was a complete zero.
And thus, the result of that was more silent-cursing and foot-stomping; the girl could almost see the poor table shiver and cling for dear life.
The girl poured a new cup of tea. "..Yes, it appears so. Once again, I am truly sorry; I would've informed you about the ward earlier, but I had only noticed its presence now."
"...Ugh. Well, I guess I can't do anything about it for now..." Bernkastel said, rubbing her temples as she sat down.
"... Hee hee. It appears that Lady Lambdadelta cares for you very much; going through all that trouble for you. You seem to have quite a close bond." the girl said, giggling. Bernkastel couldn't discern if she was mocking her, or being sincere. It probably wasn't the latter.
"Pfft. Yeah. I love Lambda. I love her so much; I'd pull her intestines out, and decorate it around my room so I could stare at them for as long as I want. Of course, I'd put special preservatives on it, so it wouldn't rot so easily; but still, her body's probably made out of candy, right...? I'd probably have to worry about ants and little children more... Ufufufufu..." Bern said this, with the creepiest smirk anyone could ever make. Yep, she was definitely pissed with what Lambda did.
...And again, the table begged for dear life.
The girl giggled. "Moving on... What do you plan on doing now? Like I had said before, the item Lambda is requesting isn't quite ready yet. ….You would have to wait a while until it is done."
"And how long do I have to wait, exactly...?"
"...Ufufufu. Who knows."
...The sight of those intestines are beginning to be very calming for Bern, indeed.
"...Well then," Bern said as she took hold of her new cup of tea, "Though it is very much against my will, I guess I have no choice but to make friends with you now. Heheheh... You wouldn't mind drowning in a vat of butter now, would you...?"
The girl giggled. "My, my. I am sad to say this, but Lady Lambdadelta and I are very different. Meaning... Yes, I would definitely mind."
"...Well then, we won't turn out to be very good friends now, would we...?" Bernkastel smirked, sipping some tea.
"Hmmmm, maybe not... Even if you would teachnically be me, a thousand years from now. Such a shame. Hee hee hee."
"Hmph... Not to mention I still don't know your name. What kind of friend would I be, if I didn't even know such a simple thing as that..?"
….If the atmosphere could kill, it would have probably crushed everyone in the room.
"Hee hee. I believe I had mentioned it before, but I do not seem to have a name."
"...Frederica."
"..."
"That's what Lambda called you, right...?" Bern giggled for the umpteenth time. "To tell you the truth, I had the pleasure of being called by that name a lot, some hundreds of years ago... Could it be that it had something to do with you..? Ahahaha... But after a few years, no one dared to call me that anymore. Gee.. I wonder why...?"
"...My, you sure are a creepy little kitten, aren't you...?"
"Why, thank you ever so much for the compliment." Bern set down her cup. "So then, since it'll probably easier for the both of us, I'll call you just that. Got it...?"
"...Hee hee. I believe I have no say in this, now do I...?"
"Of course not."
"...Very well, then." Frederica smiled, and sipped some tea.
"So..." Bernkastel stood up, and went near the door. "I do not believe you spend all your time here just sitting there, drinking tea." She scowled. "Just imagining it makes me very, very bored. And since I am to be spending time with you for a while, I certainly don't want to rot because of boredom. It would be such a sad and pathetic death for me, wouldn't you agree...?"
Frederica gave a her a lazy smile. "..Sadly, there is not much to do here. I guess you could say I've gotten used to it? After all... I am not allowed to leave this territory." She stood up. "But aside from having tea all day... I do fancy observing the many fragments of this world. They definitely keep me occupied." She glanced out the door, along with Bern. "...Come, I will show you a very special fragment. Unlike the fragments you've seen floating in the sea, I keep this particular fragment here; to keep it safe." She stepped outside, glancing at Bern. "After all... This particular fragment is the main reason this area exists. So you could easily guess that I fancy this fragment very much."
"Hmm... Sounds interesting. ….Definitely better than staying here." Bern said, as she followed behind Frederica.
Frederica didn't follow the road, as Bernkastel had expected. Instead, after walking a few steps forward, she turned sharply to the right, and went through a bush. Except, it wasn't exactly a bush; like ripples formed by touching water, the bush morphed as she went through; leaving no trace of her as she went through the other side. Bernkastel followed, and when she reached the other side, she wasn't entirely surprised to see a continuation of the endless garden.
"...You certainly do have a lot of 'security measures' around here now do you...?"
Frederica giggled. "This is a special pathway I designed; you may call it somewhat of a safety precaution. If someone were to suddenly stumble upon here without my consent, the first thing they would probably do is follow the road while looking for a way out. Only I could open this path; if you try to cross that bush without my accompaniment, then you'd just go through the bush, like a normal person would." She said, as she continued walking. "...Oh, and you'll get a few scrapes and scabs from the thorns as well. Hee hee."
"..Heh. So you're saying that there's no other way to this fragment?"
"Hmmm. Well there is. But you'll probably have to be lucky to find it. Very lucky, indeed. And you're going to need a lot of patience as well... If you're planning on spending a thousand years looking for it, after all. Hee hee."
"...Heh. So you're saying that particular being would need a miracle, in order to get there without your help?"
"...Yes, that's a very good way to put it. A very befitting challenge for the next Witch of Miracles after you, don't you think...? Ufufufu."
"Tch." Bernkastel sneered. "Well, get this; I'm not planning on giving away my title so easily, not in a million years. They are free rot in hell first, before I get any ideas in relinquishing my name."
"..Hee hee. ..Well, It's nice to know that the witch after me is a spirited one." Frederica giggled.
After following a paved, white brick road, Frederica stopped as they stood before an exquisite garden arch. It would definitely suit the gardens of western manors; but for a simple, Japanese-styled home, it definitely seemed out of place. In fact... the area seemed to have shifted into a more western-themed look.
"...Beyond this is the fragment which I have been telling you about." She turned her head towards Bern. "...What do you think? It is a lovely place, is it not?"
Bernkastel looked around the garden; noticing that almost all the flowers glowed a vivid, bluish-white. Elegant trees and shrubs surrounded the arch, enclosing the area beyond it. A small fountain could be found at the side; creating a prism of colors as the sun's rays touched the small sprinkles of water it spouted. Truly, this place looked like it was taken from a child's romantic fairy tale.
The place was endearing indeed, but one has to be reminded that these are the kinds of places that Bernkastel didn't fancy at all.
"...Yes, it definitely seems like what would look like a lovely place," Bernkastel said as she touched one of the roses- small mists of bluish light falling from it. "...But I am very sad to say that these sorts of places do not pique my interest one bit. It is, how you say it..." She turned to Frederica. "Too tranquil..? While it is indeed 'lovely', what more is there to it...?" She picked the rose off the bush and crushed it, the rose disintegrating into a shower of light. "Remove the fancy foliage, and this place would be no more than a dump. How boring."
Frederica gave a dry chuckle. "...Hoh. It is such a shame to hear that. But of course, I accept opinions of all ranges; so I thank you kindly for your insight." She faced the arch once again. "Well, shall we get going..?"
The inside was just as extravagant as the outside. The leaves of the trees rustled as they swayed to the wind, light passing through sheepishly from the gaps of the leaves; bathing the place in warm, solemn light. If one listens closely, they would be able to hear the rustling of wind chimes, adding to the tranquil atmosphere the area possessed.
What truly completed the scene was the thing at the center. Rested above what seemed to be a small pillar, was a lone fragment. It shone brightly, specs of light flying away from it. An aura of light pulsated around it, giving it a majestic appearance.
"This is..."
"Such a beautiful fragment, isn't it...?" Frederica walked towards the fragment. "Unlike the one's you've seen... This one radiates life. Though it had gained scratches..." She gently touched the fragment. "It had succeeded in doing something that the other fragments were never able to do." Frederica looked at Bernkastel. "It fought, shattered fate's strings, and..."
"...Created a miracle." Bernkastel said, as she stood beside her. "...Is this fragment the cause of your birth?"
Frederica giggled. "..Oh, no. I was born before this piece was ever found. In fact," She looked at Bern. "Before this fragment even came to light, the title of the 'Witch of Miracles' was never rightfully mine." She smiled, looking at the fragment. "...Oh, but I'm babbling again. I forget that you have no concern of my origins. Hee hee. My apologies."
"The kid in this fragment... I really do admire her. To be able to break free of fate like that..." Her eyes were fixated on the fragment, as if reminiscing on an old memory. "Even I couldn't believe it, at first. After a thousand years of searching, waiting, and hoping for a miracle.. With the help of her friends, she had finally reached the other side of the boundary that kept looping her agony." A genuine smile had crept her face. "...That is why I keep this fragment here, as commemoration for her victory; a befitting end- or shall I say, beginning... after her long journey."
As Frederica said this, the wind blew gently- the euphony of wind-chimes ringing through the area. Tranquility had begun to envelop the place...
"...Pffft."
...Right until Bernkastel started to laugh.
"Ahaahahaha. HAHAHAHA."
And her cackles grew louder and louder...
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAHAHA...!"
….And then she stopped.
"...Friends? Hoping? Waiting? Victory..?" Slowly, she looked at Frederica. "...Pfffft. What the hell... Is this bullshit?"
….And the tranquil ambiance suddenly came to its end.
AN: So that's Chapter 3! I've actually planned two chapters for this, but since both turned out too short... I merged them. \o/ orz Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it! Their little game is about to begin, but it's probably not what you guys were expecting. T^T
Oh, btw, this story will have spoilers for Higurashi. Just giving a heads-up. xO Also, thank you so much himekaidou and renahh chen for reviewing this story! I really appreciate it! :3 I also give my thanks to the readers who put this story in their story alerts and favorites. If you have any comments to this story, then please, feel free to do so! I promise I don't bite! c:
Again, comments will be greatly appreciated.~ Thanks again!