"Not bad keep it up," Halibel remarked as Subaru continued to dash towards him training his shinobi technique.

Subaru panted, "I think this is enough for today. I don't even know how this is fair."

"Ya got an invisible weapon this trainin for me too," Halibel remarked as the moment he felt contact, he evaded the weapon he couldn't see.

Subaru coughed, "But I can't— even lay a single— hit on you."

"Alright, we have been goin for four hours. That's good enough." Halibel remarked, putting down the kunai he occasionally used during the training.

Subaru sighed, looking at the purple sword he manifested as a replacement for his Invisible Providence. He could only form a single sword, but it could be used in his hand while being thrown and returned to him. He named it Shadow Sword as he planned to use it, similar to Halibel's technique of staying hidden within shadows.

As the two walked back, Subaru was confused, "How did you dodge every strike? I'm starting to wonder if this will even be effective."

"It will be in combat against most opponents." Halibel taking a puff from his kiseru, reminded, "The trainin is helping me too. Not every day you can train against somethin, ya can't see. A shinobi is all bout being prepared for unknown forces or techniques. Being able to adjust to them is the difference between life and death."

Subaru stuttered, "I still need to get stronger. If my authority is right, I either already lost return by death or will at some point."

"That's why we trainin, and I see ya effort payin' off. Your old mindset of death is why probably why ya never trained or improved yourself physically or mentally. The fear of death is taken away from you is like taking away part of what makes ya livin in the first place."

Subaru sat down on a stool as Halibel grabbed a bag putting rice balls and Okonomiyaki on the table, "Return by death… took away what made me live?"

"Think about what you jus said. Now think bout it from my perspective or, hell, anyone's perspective. If ya lose the risk of death and can redo shit till ya succeed by dying, then ya lose that fear. But that very fear of death is what makes a person feel they alive." Halibel continued handing him a pair of chopsticks, "Ya was livin an unhealthy life both physically and mentally due to that. Now ya startin to remember what it's like to fear death. That's exactly what you need."

Subaru took a bit to think back on how he stopped self-harming, and with mediation, he was able to understand himself better than before slowly, "You're right, but what about love? I still miss it."

"Lemme tell you some advice bout, love. The word means nothing unless you understand what it means. If anyone knows that it should be you, how the word loses any value when it's something you say without even understandin what it means? Tell me, what do you think love is?"

Subaru thought about the question thinking to Emilia and what made him love her, but his mind reached a blank. He knew why, but he didn't know if that was even love or obsession, "What's the difference between love and obsession?"

"Now ya gettin' it." Halibel smiled, "This is how I view love, and it can be applied to romantic, friendship, family, whateva it's the same concept. Love is a flower that blooms naturally after ya spend enough time with whoever dat person may be. That flower will blossom and eventually wilt and fade. I've seen many that had pure hearts and loved someone so much that when losing that person, that love turned to hate or bitterness. If ya can mature to the point of understanding that and acceptin it, you'll lose that risk."

"Like Wilhelm," Subaru said as he thought about the metaphor. He always respected Wilhelm, but he was driven to the point of what he'd now consider extremes because of his wife's death.

"Wilhelm Astrea ye? From what I saw through your memories, that would be a great example. Ya was able to identify it too. Think bout how Wilhelm's wife, the previous sword saint, would want her husband to live after she passed. Guided on a goal to achieve vengeance or to move on and support the younger generation?"

"Now that I think about it, he neglected his family… and I doubt I'd have a stronger will than Wilhelm," Subaru replied, questioning if he should even try to love again.

Halibel started to laugh, "Ya jokin, right? Brought into anotha world and died countless times and ya think your will is weak? Subaru ya got more mental resilience than ya give yourself credit for, which is good takin glory often leads to regret, but you must unknowledge what you've done. Movin on training, and compared to what I saw in ya only a month ago, you've adapted far faster than I expected. Only goes to show that ya got more perseverance than me."

Finishing his plate, Subaru sighed, "I couldn't even give a response for why I loved her…."

"Nothin' wrong with that. Most important is moving on from it." Halibel thought of the first thing they needed to do and knew Subaru was approaching his expectations before they started, "If ya driven by love find a way to make it healthy and above that accept the fact it will fade like all things in this world do."

Subaru carefully removed his black robe, revealing the intricate golden accents. Underneath, he wore a pair of dark pants designed with a slightly loose fit that allowed for optimal movement and flexibility during his training sessions. Over the past month, Subaru had been working to improve his physical abilities. As a result, he shed some excess body fat and gained a few pounds of lean muscle. This transformation had given his physique a more athletic and toned appearance.

Feeling exhausted from his intense training, Subaru closed his eyes. His mind wandered through his recent understanding and awareness. He was required to complete both to prevent disasters from happening and give his life meaning, but eventually, the thoughts dissipated as sleep enveloped him.

Subaru opened his eyes, feeling an uneasy sensation. He looked around him but saw nothing as he couldn't feel his body.

"Why did you leave me?" a voice echoed that sounded both insane and saddened.

Subaru knew where he was. The place Halibel questioned him about that he himself never even knew he had ever entered.

"Satella, why are you lying? Both to yourself and me?" Subaru thought to himself as he had no way to speak.

"Not mine, no, no, no, no, no." her voice dragged out as Subaru started to understand why she asked him to kill her.

Subaru's presence was not wavering as he wanted to speak to the Satella he saw in the Castle of Dreams. The only time she ever said anything that made sense to him, yet he claimed to save her. He didn't regret it as he normally would've but viewed it as a past mistake, and if he could, he would correct it.

Unknowing to him, his thoughts were heard as he saw the void shatter and break, then change like pieces of a puzzle aligning themself. As Subaru laid eyes on Satella, a wave of emotion washed over him, causing tears to well up and spill down his cheeks. His face was frozen in a shocked expression, unable to hide the intensity of the feelings overwhelming him. For so long, the guilt within him overtook his mind, amplifying his sorrow and remorse.

"Why are you crying?" Satella gently inquired, her warm smile emanating a sense of comfort and understanding.

Subaru wiped the tears off his face, saying, "I'm sorry I told you I'd save you. Giving you false hope is pure cruelty."

"You've always tended to blame yourself for everything," Satella observed, drawing Subaru closer to her. "I've endured all this time so that you could live a happy life that you never had. But I failed. I'm so sorry."

Subaru watched as her body began to be covered in shadows once more. He heard, "Goodbye, my beloved."

When his eyes opened, his body trembled as he remembered what he saw. He now knew that he could die for certain. He saw the sunlight coming through as he jolted up, taking some herbs he rarely used anymore and taking a puff from his kiseru.

"I can… die." He mumbled to himself.

Subaru put on his robe walking outside to get some fresh air as he thought back to his dream or whatever he saw. He activated True Sense, running a simulation where he died, and he didn't come back. Return by death was gone.

"It seems it's time," Halibel said as Subaru turned around to catch a multi-color sphere.

Subaru took another puff calming his mind as he focused, "Right now? I lost… it. If she kills me, I'll die."

"That's the point. Only you can defy fate. I stand no chance at convincing her." Halibel, after a month, decided to give Subaru his first chance at death, "Y'know how it works. I'm trusting ya because I do not doubt in my mind you'll live. But ya gotta do this yourself. This is your final challenge before we tackle the other three."

Subaru couldn't argue or object. He knew Halibel was right, "Alright, I'll go. I can do this I won't die."

As Subaru left for Zarestia's bed, Halibel felt a sense of mentorship or teaching after the month he spent with Subaru. He would not put his trust in such an important job, but he believed in Subaru, not because of his ability to redo things but his spirit and his ability in the past to alter fate. Even without his ability, he had a way of seeing the future, and by changing it, he was defying fate with every step he took.

As Subaru embarked on his journey to Zarestia's lair, he contemplated whether he could die today forever or survive. The mystery surrounding that knowledge weighed on his mind as he traveled, but he tried to focus on the task. He knew a few things about Zarestia, and when he thought about his dream and the guilt he felt for Satella, he started to question if Zarestia had it worse. Isolation for a millennium is consumed by hatred and vengeance. Now he is trying to save Zarestia.

"I won't make an empty promise. I will help her." Subaru said as his desire to want to save Zarestia grew. If he died, his purpose was never met, and it'll be over if he fails to do as he said. His judgment will be death.

As he progressed, he noticed the ground beneath him gradually taking on a more ominous, crimson hue, signaling Zarestia's awareness of his presence. Unfazed, Subaru followed the sphere's guidance, drawing closer to his target.

Suddenly, he sensed an attack hurtling towards him and instinctively raised the Shadow Sword to deflect it. "Return it," Zarestia snarled menacingly.

Subaru saw three wind spells being hurdled towards him as he used his Shadow Sword to block the attacks throwing the sphere at Zaresita, "I came here to return what was stolen from you."

Zarestia grabbed it, and the sphere dissipated instantly as she regained her lost elements. As she stared at the raven-haired boy, she approached him with a single question, her voice a mixture of sadness and confusion, "Why did you come here to die?"

"I can't do this anymore. If I die now, then it's alright. I accept it. I don't know why, but I'll accept it," Subaru mumbled as the woman drew nearer.

As she stared at the raven-haired boy, she approached him with a single question, her voice a mixture of sadness and confusion, "Why did you come here to die?"

Subaru smiled a resigned acceptance in his eyes, "After being forgotten by everyone and unable to see the purpose of continuing, I can see that you are the one who will decide if it's worth continuing. I don't understand why, but if you're going to kill me, do it. I've already been forgotten and sinned enough to accept it."

"My name is Zarestia, and I will kill you." She stated, confused even further as the words the raven-haired boy said resonated with her past.

Subaru walked closer to her, losing his composure as his guilt overwhelmed him, "Zarestia, eh? Tia sounds better. My name is Subaru. If you're going to kill me, do it. I accept to die forever." he started to laugh at himself, "What's the point of living anyway? I can't have anyone in my life anymore, and my life was destroyed by being betrayed by someone everyone I cared for just to learn another person was controlling them. If I went through with my plan, what would it bring? More suffering? If I die here now, I won't have to face the failures I made."

Zarestia was confused, but her eyes widened when she thought of what he had said. What has she been doing for the last thousand years? Sitting alone hating everyone because of betrayal. She thought about the name Tia and wondered what Subaru's idea was unless it was just to die.

"Why did you come here? Was it only to die or something else?" Tia asked as she formed a wind attack within her hand, walking towards Subaru.

Subaru touched his face and looked at it seeing tears, "To see if it's worth continuing. It wasn't if you decided to kill me. If you don't, it is. But it seems you have already made up your mind. This world I was brought to was a never-ending cycle of hurting anyone I tried to help."

Tia walked closer, now touching Subaru's neck. With her wind attack, she channeled into her hand, "Betrayal?"

"I assume that sphere belonged to you somehow?" Subaru asked out of curiosity alone. He knew it was connected to her, and Halibel had used it in the past to track her but nothing more about it.

Tia admitted, "That sphere was made from the limbs they cut off from me. It held the elements that I lost and my power. I used to be called the Spirit of Nature."

"Did those people betray you?"

Tia's hand dropped down, "Yes, they did. That's why I hate humans. That's why I'm going to— kill you too."

Subaru smiled in understanding, "That makes sense. You're similar to me. But being alone for that long… sounds like hell." thinking about Beatrice wanting to die, he asked, "Maybe both of our fates can be changed. If you killed me, I'd regret how my life played out as I won't live anymore and won't be able be condemned for my failures. At least I could help someone condemned to this hell."

Tia thought about the time she spent alone. She didn't even know how long it's been since she was around someone. Alone and isolated in her thoughts, her hatred of humans kept her from seeking death. But she was still alone.

"What will you do if I don't kill you?" Tia asked, curious and confused by his words of seeing the world in black and white.

Subaru looked down, "I'm so weak. I try to help and only make them suffer, but I don't want to anymore. I can see you have something that could give me a future. Kill me or agree to come with me, and if you get betrayed, I will die with you. That can be our contract. I— can't take this anymore." Subaru walked closer as his emotions took control of his mind. He hugged her, mumbling as tears fell, "So pick one– I don't know the point of continuing not seeing anything, but the people I care for suffer."

Tia was frozen, not knowing what to say or do. Being isolated for so long, she forgot what it felt like for someone to ask her to help them genuinely. She had doubts, but it was hard to imagine this person betraying her if he was the same. Feeling tears on her shoulders, she thought about a life without being isolated. Maybe a life where she could live again. She still hated humans, but she could make an exception for him.

"I can try to save you too," Subaru mentioned as he realized he had asked her to save him without offering anything to help her.

Tia whispered, "I— can't. I hate humans."

"After being tormented with hatred for so long, I realized something. Hatred and love are very similar. Hatred creates love, and love creates hatred." Subaru broke the hug and stared into her eyes, "I would feel guilty if you killed me. Isolation is far worse than any other emotion. Being alone… I hate that more than anything."

"But— I want to — save me?" Tia asked as the thought of being saved from her current life of isolation was something she wanted but never thought she'd find or accept.

Subaru wiped the tears off his face, "You'd already have been saving me whether you chose to kill me anyway. I don't want to live without anyone anymore." he continued, "Tia, if you agree, then I will save you too, you'll get to live again and maybe I will too…."

"Contract? I don't want to be controlled by a contract."

"You won't be. Setting it up as a contract will be easier, but I won't force you to do anything." Subaru remembered, "I would like it if you didn't leave, though. I want to see you live again."

Tia grabbed his hand, "I— agree, but if you betray me, the-"

"Kill me then," Subaru says, cutting her off.

Tia gazed into Subaru's eyes, seeing a reflection of the emptiness and sorrow she felt within herself. At that moment, Subaru recognized the same in hers and proposed, "Our contract can be as simple as not being alone anymore. I don't care. Just make a decision."

"I can't. I hate humans. Even if I wanted to, I can't," Tia confessed, her voice wavering.

Subaru offered support, "Hatred is the other side of love. Do you hate me? Please just let me try."

Tia contemplated the proposition. All the people who had betrayed her were gone. This raven-haired boy had come to her and returned the power she had lost so many years ago. If they were to form a contract, she would need to be able to restrain herself from killing him. She realized she didn't want to kill him.

"If you can, just promise not to betray or leave me…." Tia finally agreed, her voice filled with hope.

Subaru smiled, "I won't, and you'll see in time that my words aren't empty."

A smile bloomed on Tia's face. "I was so alone, and nothing seemed to heal or help me."

"I'm glad this worked out." Subaru remembered, "Tia, now that you have your original elements back, are you able to fix my gate..."

Tia took Subaru's hand and absorbed some of his mana, "That should keep you alive for another two months or so."

"It worked… I can save you, Satella." Aldebaran mumbled, lying in a guest bed in Roswaal's mansion.

"You still need sloth and greed from Subaru. To help you save your love, I'll release Sirius."

Aldebaran questioned, "Why are you helping me?"

"I want to see how much love you hold for her. It's a stunning display of love. So pure, so exposed."

Before he could respond, she disappeared. He knew he had made a deal with the devil, but his failed path was restored. He could become the person he was meant to be before losing it. He thought about Subaru and how he was willing to let him do it before, but being offered an offer to regain his title as the sage candidate wasn't something he could ignore.

The Sage prioritizes one above all.

To be clear, the Shadow Sword is just the name Subaru chose as his Invisible Providence changed into a sword that can change shape/be thrown sort of like a shapable weapon. It's more powerful than a normal unseen hand or his invisible providence since it's authority condenses more into a single thing.

For Zarestia, the Sphere is just her lost power. As for magic, I got a few people saying that certain magic isn't possible, etc., but Roswaal has been shown to create lightning, lava and Echidna/Sphinx can bring the dead back to life. So I won't say it's a stretch for Zarestia, the Spirit of Nature, to be able to mix elements to create similar things to Roswaal.

This fic uses the theory that AI was a previous sage candidate btw

This is the last chapter that'll be mostly the same as last time this is where the pacing got screwed. Working on showing POV's for Emilia's camp so that'll be in next chapter as well.