Chapter 5: Requiem
Summary:
In this chapter, Subaru and Bastian encounter a somber scene and a familiar face.
Chapter Text
Pushing that frosty door open, Subaru and Bastian saw what the former had been fearing all along. He knew what the answer was going to be all along. The snow outside was clear evidence of this. But the sight that greeted him in that inner sanctum…
Subaru: [E-Emilia…]
On the cold stone floor was the body of Emilia, surrounded by many motes of light. These spirits are startled at the sudden appearance of these two strangers and disperse.
Subaru: [Why were those spirits here?]
Bastian: [Same reason as you: to mourn.]
This struck Subaru deep in his chest. He recalled his first day in Lugunica, and the first time he'd seen Emilia commune with lesser spirits. It was like something out of a fairy tale or a dream, an enchanting scene he'd never allow himself to forget. The scene he and Bastian had just infringed upon was still enchanting, but in the same way one would be enraptured by a somber painting. It was a haunting scene, one he felt bad for interrupting by showing up.
Getting closer to where Emilia laid, a grotesque reality began to set in.
Subaru: [Oh, Emilia…]
A mournful cadence permeated his wavery voice as he kneeled before her. Her limbs had been twisted into unnatural positions. There was bruising around her neck, a clear indicator of strangulation. Her face bears a pained, melancholic expression. He's thankful that her eyes were left alone, and that they weren't open. Though he'd always loved her violet eyes, he didn't think he could take having them stare back at him lifelessly.
Subaru: [Emilia-tan…]
His voice strained into an anguished, grief-stricken squeak as he uttered her name once more. He didn't know how many tears he had left in him. Clearing the rubble had been effortless by comparison to the emotional heavy-lifting he was having to do by confronting the consequences of his flight. He was beginning to feel exhausted, utterly drained emotionally.
Emotional delirium wouldn't prevail, however. He knew all too well who had treated his beloved Emilia like a ragdoll and choked the life out of her. A mixture of anger and sadness welled up inside of him. Despite this, he knew rage was not befitting the context he found himself in. Instead, he channeled the more tender parts of his grief into one action: he leaned down to embrace her.
In this moment, he was reminded of another occasion where he'd embraced Emilia. It had been in a failed loop, where he'd spoken of his Return By Death before Emilia, causing her heart to burst.
Subaru: [Why… why couldn't I have held you when you were alive?]
The weeping turned into outright wailing now. He didn't want to hold onto these distraught feelings any longer. He wanted to heed Bastian's prior prescript to let it all out. Feeling that same gentle pat on his back, he did just that.
Again, hours seem to elapse as his dammed-up heart was let loose. It is at this moment that Bastian's hand twitches as it continues to pat Subaru's back, something the latter picks up on.
Subaru: [What… what's wrong, Bastian?]
His voice was hoarse from all the crying as he addressed what he perceived as a sign of concern.
Bastian: [Not alone in here.]
Subaru: [… huh?!]
Subaru shot up at this alarming statement. Who else could've wandered into the exclusion zone? Was it a knight here to take them in for trespassing? Was it a Witch Cultist, here to finish what they'd started by taking Subaru's life as well? Was it Roswaal, here to catch Subaru and punish him for running away?
Subaru: [Where? Where are they, Bastian?]
Bastian wordlessly pointed to a frozen figure in the shadows of the inner sanctum, just out of view. He taps the sheath on his left hip, and Ris emerges to illuminate this shaded corner of the room. The sight paralyzes Subaru with another mix of emotions. Fear. Anger. Self-loathing. Regret.
Subaru: [… Petelgeuse.]
The name escaped his mouth with the most contemptuous snarl. Frozen before him was the Sin Archbishop representing Sloth, Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti. The man who had tortured him and Rem in a failed loop, who had designs on Emilia, who masterminded the Ordeal that he'd carried out. His cherished loved ones and the innocents of Irlam Village all died by either his hand or his command.
If anyone in this world could presently be described as Subaru's worst enemy, it would be Petelgeuse. And here he was, frozen. Defenseless.
He knew rage hadn't been suitable for the previous context of mourning Emilia's death. But in this new context, where such a foul person stood unguarded? Surely rage was suited for it.
He let it consume him. Blind him. Direct him. With that faint white aura bolstering his strength, he strode over to the frozen Petelgeuse and drives his fist clean through the Sin Archbishop's chest. He shatters to pieces on the cold stone floor. Even with Shinza enhancing his strength, Subaru felt the pain of punching a veritable ice statue to pieces in the knuckles of his right hand. They were bleeding as he shook the pain out of his hand.
Subaru: [You deserved far worse, you bastard.]
He felt a sense of profound catharsis having shattered the vile Petelgeuse. It was astonishing how easy defeating a Sin Archbishop had turned out to be. Then, as he turned around to return to Emilia…
Subaru: [Hrk! Guh! Wha…?]
He felt a sickening presence enter his body and begin to take hold of him. He could hear loathsome laughter echo in his head.
"Petelgeuse: [Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! This is a fine vessel you have, dear Pride. You are Pride, are you not?]"
Subaru began patting himself down against his will, as though the presence within him were searching for something on his person.
"Subaru": [Hrm, there doesn't seem to be a Gospel on your person, however… then it seems you are not Pride, believer in love.]
Subaru: [Gah! Stop this! Get outta my head, you --]
His protest was futile. Petelgeuse refused to let him go.
"Subaru": [Nonsense, nonsense nonsense nonsense! I refuse to give up such a pristine vessel.]
Subaru then looked over at Emilia's remains.
"Subaru": [Ah, it is regrettable that she failed to pass the Ordeal. It seems she wasn't a worthy vessel for the Witch after all. A pity.]
Subaru: [Guh! Bastian, help!]
Bastian: [Being possessed by an evil spirit… Ris, Exorcism.]
At Bastian's command, all eight of Ris entered Subaru's body.
"Subaru": [No! No no no no no, foul spirits!]
Though Petelgeuse tried to maintain control over Subaru's body, Ris forced him out. The inky shade of Petelgeuse eyed Bastian, considering him as a possible vessel. He attempts to secure this vessel but is immediately repulsed.
"Petelgeuse: [A Spirit Arts user?!]"
With this realization, the inky shade flees up the stairs to the ruined mansion above.
Subaru: [After him! He can't be allowed to escape into the world!]
With a simple nod, Bastian confirmed the gravity of the situation as they gave chase to the shade. Ris led the chase, allowing them to know where the evil spirit was.
They wound up chasing it all the way to the courtyard before the mansion's entrance, where several of the Sin Archbishop's underlings were frozen. Being the only readily possessable entities, Petelgeuse had no choice but to possess one of them. He was cornered, and he knew it. Though Subaru lacked the ability to eliminate him, Bastian was another story.
Subaru: [Nowhere to run, you bastard!]
Like in the inner sanctum, Subaru threw a invigorated punch into the frozen figure, this time with his left hand. The figure shattered to the ground, and Petelgeuse's shade emerged, frantically jumping to another of his minions. He was truly scared for his life at this point, having no recourse to fight back against the duo.
Subaru: [Think that'll save you?! Huh?!]
Under the moonlight, Subaru proceeded to smash every last frozen Witch Cultist in that courtyard, leaving Petelgeuse once again with only one option.
Subaru: [Gah! Not again!]
Subaru began to writhe as he did all he could to resist Petelgeuse's attempt at possession. At this rate, they were going to be going in circles, with Bastian exorcizing Petelgeuse from Subaru and Subaru being repossessed ad infinitum. It was a hellish experience, having his consciousness being assaulted by this unwanted presence. There had to be some way to put an end to it.
Subaru: [Bastian – guh! – do you have any way of ending this guy?!]
Bastian pondered this query without even the slightest hint of urgency.
Subaru: [Bastian, god damn it!]
Bastian: [Rite of Absolution.]
Subaru: [Guh… huh?!]
Bastian: [A rite of my faith. Could do the trick… though my disgrace may prevent me from performing it.]
Subaru: [Urgh, please, just do it already!]
He didn't care what the implications of this rite were. If it offered even a chance at ending this monster crawling under his skin, he wanted to seize that chance.
Bastian: [… very well. Ris.]
All eight of Ris entered Subaru once more, this time holding Petelgeuse in place, acting like a metaphysical binding to Subaru's vessel.
"Petelgeuse: [What? What what what what what is thiiiiiiiiis?! You think you can snuff the fire of love burning within me, you wretch? To handle the situation in such a simple manner is truly slothful!]"
The experience of being held down by Ris was agonizing for Petelgeuse. It was as though he had searing nails piercing his flesh, pinning him to a metaphysical wall within Subaru's soul.
Bastian then closed his eyes, casting his head downward as he clutched his bear-headed medallion.
Bastian: [O Great Kingmaker Odglass. This spirit has strayed from the path of righteousness. His most grievous faults have become an afront to the faith. He requires your mercy and grace to rectify his ways. He requires your love and compassion to return to the path from which he has strayed. He requires… Absolution.]
Suddenly, a circle with obscure, ever-shifting symbols formed beneath Subaru's feet as a warm light began to envelope him. For him, the light felt inviting and even pleasant. But for Petelgeuse…
"Petelgeuse: [Ah-ah-AH-AHHHH-AHHHHHHHHHH!]"
Screams of unbearable pain rung throughout Subaru's head. It was the kind of scream one would emit if they were being burned at the stake. It made Subaru's eyes close tightly, his teeth clench even tighter. If it went on much longer, his teeth felt as though they'd be ground to dust. He very well could've had an aneurysm or stroke if it dragged out. Fortunately, the process was actually rather brief, taking about ten seconds for the holy radiance offered by Odglass to burn Petelgeuse out of existence. Ten seconds, yet it felt far longer.
With this, the circle beneath Subaru's feet faded away.
Bastian: [Can't feel him anymore… Ris has nothing left to hold.]
Bastian opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was his medallion. He stared wistfully at it.
Bastian: [… s'pose this means Petelgeuse was too far gone to be Absolved. Odglass rendered her judgment.]
Subaru: [So… it's over?]
Bastian: [Yes. It's over.]
Subaru felt uneasy, as though this solution had been all too easy. Moreover, he felt something else inside of him. It tangled like a knot within his stomach. It wasn't the same sickening feeling that he'd experienced when Petelgeuse had possessed him, but it was disturbing to him, nonetheless.
Subaru: [Hey, Bas--]
He wanted to tell Bastian about this dark, tangled feeling within his gut, but now he felt something else: enervation.
In performing the Rite of Absolution, Bastian had released his Shinza. The stress of all the hard work and conflict of that evening hit Subaru all at once. He felt the strength in his legs fail him, as he collapsed to the ground unconscious.