Subaru's eyes opened as he looked at an unfamiliar ceiling. Slowly processing everything Regulus told him, the information of Satella and Emilia being the same soul made him feel guilty for treating Satella so poorly. He could feel the new powers he gained and only could guess Regulus was using the other authorities to improve his authority of greed. He looked around the room and saw it seemed similar to Roswaal's mansion. He heard a knock on the door, and the person let himself in. The man had blue hair and glasses wearing a butler outfit. He stared at Subaru with a look of both intrigue and worry.

"Subaru-kun, I see you are awake. It is a great privilege to introduce myself. My name is Clind I am a butler for the Miload manner."

"Wait, what? Where is Roswaal?"

"Lord Roswaal is returning shortly. May I speak freely?"

Subaru questioned, "Sure?"

Clind glared into Subaru's eyes, "Similar to Roswaal. I have also been alive for four hundred years. Roswaal informed of the situation you and the Kingdom are also facing."

Subaru blinked, "You also? I have more information now. If you've been alive that long do you know more than Roswaal? I learned a lot while I was unconscious."

"If you are willing to trust someone so quickly, I advise you to be more cautious. However, what information did you learn?"

Subaru sighed, "I don't know where to start. Od Laguna was created by Flugel and contained Flugel's soul. Emilia and Satella have the same soul. Flugel manipulated the witch factors so that a person in the future could use all seven witch factors. He could take over as each witch factor apart from greed has parts of his soul or personality within them. His goal was to reunite with Satella."

Clind looked at Subaru with confusion, "I'm not following. How did you obtain this information?"

"Satella's memories. Long story, but that's what I learned from them."

Clind doubted, "Satella's memories? Well, it seems the information you have is entirely incorrect. Subaru, do you understand why the Great Calamity happened?"

"My information is wrong? From what I can guess, Flugel started the Great Calamity."

"Calamities are a balancing function orchestrated by observers. The trigger to the Great Calamity was caused by Hector and other witch hunters. I'm unsure which witch would be killed to initiate the Great Calamity. Still, you should also know that by the time Satella was sealed, Flugel hated Satella. As for Emilia and Satella being the same soul, I have no knowledge that would support or deny that claim. However, it is possible that Flugel somehow influenced or merged his soul with Od Laguna."

Subaru began questioning everything he learned, "So should I just assume everything I learn is wrong? I'm unsure how often I've learned things to be false due to memory alteration or other powers."

"Knowledge is nothing without awareness. As I said, you didn't hesitate to speak to me without questioning my claims. You lack awareness, but I cannot blame you as you are young."

Subaru activated True Bond for Roswaal to read his thoughts.

'I should inform Emilia that we are almost there.'

Subaru rested his chin on his hand, "Emilia and Roswaal are almost here. If the memories of Satella are to be doubted, I lost any benefit I would gain from them. Pandora now might have a better chance of achieving her goal now."

"As for how to defeat Pandora, from what I've learned, her goal is to manipulate events, so you and Emilia are within Elior Forest. Then attempt to use this opportunity to open the seal contained within. Her power has limitations, as do all authorities, and a domain being her area of effect does sound likely. If you're correct on Emilia and Satella being the same soul, I can only guess that the seal contained in Elior Forest was the method they used to send Emilia into the future."

"A portal to the future? I read something similar to that in a manga before. I do have a way to stop her. That's a mental attack. If she hears me say the command, she will be stuck within a dimension void of time or space. I've only used it once against a Sin Archbishop. A moment after using it, the person affected died."

"That won't work if you are within her domain. If it's activated by sound, then depending on the size of her domain, it'll fail. Throughout the last four hundred years, Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory, has never been this active. I would consider her the same as an observer setting events to happen and watching. Something must've changed for her to be doing this."

"Wait, I still don't understand what even an observer is?"

"Observers are simply a name given to those that set up triggers for events to happen in the future and watch either a person or the situation transpired. I do not believe they care whether the event happens or doesn't. As the name implies, it's for entertainment and nothing more."

Subaru gritted his teeth, "So these observers set up events that caused the Great Calamity and probably many more events of destruction to occur and do it for nothing more than entertainment?"

Clind argued, "An observer is a vague term. Satella watching you when you were given return by death, Roswaal observing your responses to the events he set up, even you observing how your name and memories of your existence being altered changed the world could give you the title of an observer as well. In that sense, observers both create creation and destruction to occur."

Subaru retorted, "If there isn't any evil or good, what is it? What do you call setting up an event for destruction? I don't understand how that can be anything other than evil."

Clind sighed, "Morality is based entirely on perspective. Right or wrong, good or evil, while you may think one's actions are evil, they may view their actions as justice. Viewing the world in the eyes of good and bad is no different from arrogance. Even I, who have lived for four hundred years, am guilty of the same as I have opinions that would contradict the advice I just told you. I can only tell you that at some point, you will be forced to make a decision or multiple decisions where you will question your morality."

Clind went to open the door, and Subaru saw Emilia, Roswaal, and another person he didn't know. It was a younger girl with blue hair and seemed to be wearing clothing he would assume meant she was the heiress or lord of whatever domain he was within. He saw Emilia, who seemed sad but far less than he had imagined. He wondered when he should use his Greed's Memory which allowed him to restore his name to those he chose rather than everyone remembering his name. He watched as Clind left, and Roswaal did as well. Only Emilia and the blue-haired girl were in the room as the door shut.

Subaru looked into Emilia's amethyst eyes, "Emilia, are you ready to remember?"

Before Emilia could respond, the blue-haired girl spoke, "Did you just ignore me? How disrespectful after I had to explain to Emily about… something I neglected a while ago. My name is Annerose Miload, and I'm the heiress to House Miload. Treat Emily well. She's so kind and gorgeous. I've known her longer than you have."

Emilia responded, "Annerose did you forget what we agreed to before this? Your sooo annoying."

Annerose laughed, "I just want the best for you, Emily. You deserve it. Subaru tell me will you be there for her?"

Subaru admitted, "After learning my knowledge was wrong, I can't promise anything. But I will thank you. I can see you cheered Emilia up, which I appreciate."

Annerose froze, "Subaru… that was a response I didn't expect. But there's no need to thank me. I would help Emily anyway I could."

Annerose left, and Emilia stared at Subaru with relief and uncertainty, "So you're the person I forgot?"

Subaru nodded, "Once you remember, I don't know how you'll react to how I am now."

Emilia sat on the bed next to Subaru, "Roswaal filled in some of the blanks for me. I'm ready to remember."

Subaru put his hand on Emilia's head and activated Greed's Memory.

Emilia's mind began to correct every instance of the person she had forgotten. Subaru was the person she met in the Capital and got injured trying to save her, which she never understood. Then was the person that helped kill the White Whale and saved her and everyone. After she left, he embarrassed her. Then he was the one that helped her get through the trials and kissed her. She loved the person that Subaru was when his name was eaten, so why didn't she tell him that before? Even after a little longer than a year, she never told him how she felt. But why? She didn't understand and felt guilty for not telling him. He was the reason she could succeed and confront her past. He was why she gained hope for winning the Royal Selection and freeing the elves. She felt happiness at how much Subaru would look forward to seeing everyone after this.

Emilia hugged Subaru, "I'm sorry. I'm such a dunderhead. Why didn't I tell you how I felt? Why did it take me to forget you for me to realize? Subaru, thank you for everything you've done for me. I was sooo lost and confused when everyone in the camp thought you were a Sin Archbishop, then Reinhard told me and the camp you died. I didn't believe it, but the camp seemed to be… never mind but thank you for everything."

Subaru felt a tear from Emilia drop as she cried tears of joy, "Emilia, the rest of the camp hates me due to Pandora. I have no idea why Roswaal didn't tell you, but I guess I'll have to explain that as well. But first, I should be straightforward with you. When Pandora is defeated, I won't be rejoining the camp. I can only imagine everyone will be miserable realizing they both hated me and were happy learning of my death. It is better if they don't learn that. I went through a lot to prevent you and the others from suffering, and I won't be selfish and cause them to suffer so they can remember me."

Emilia froze, not understanding what Subaru meant, "What? Subaru, I'm sure they'd be happy to remember you. Maybe they'll feel guilty, but that was Pandora's doing. Why leave the camp, and does that mean you want to leave me too?"

Subaru admitted, "At this point, I don't want to return anyways. No, I don't want to leave you, and honestly, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But you have your own goals and can't leave your camp, which is selfish for me even to suggest. I'll be happy if you are happy and achieve your goal."

Emilia started shedding tears of sadness, "Why? Is that what you meant by how I'll react to you now? Subaru, I'll admit that I would've never achieved what I have without you. I can't win without you, and I'm unsure if I even want to be surrounded by a camp that forgot and hates the person who helped create it. Why don't you want to return? Even if it is selfish, it's better than letting them live a lie. Why do you want them to forget about you?"

"After everything I learned, I'm going down a different path. I can't be in your camp even if I wanted to. Honestly, I prefer to be forgotten or hated to move forward with learning the truth. With the circumstances I'm dealing with, this is the best and only option for me. I don't want you to walk this path, either." Subaru asked, "Emilia would you be able to continue without me?"

Emilia cried, "Why ask me that? I wouldn't be able to. I can't even think about a future like that… Subaru, just come back when this is all over."

Subaru placed his hand on Emilia's head, using Greed's Memory to completely erase his existence from her memory. By doing so, Pandora, even with her authority, could not alter her memories for a person she couldn't know. His authority would override hers. He felt pain and despair, but this conversation proved this was the only option. When Emilia opened her eyes, she looked confused.

Emilia tilted her head, "Who are you?"

"Please inform Roswaal to bring Annerose, Clind, and Roswaal to Subaru's room?"

"Subaru? Sure, I guess…." Emilia said, walking away.

Subaru thought of what he had done but knew it was the only option. He now plans to defeat Pandora, and Emilia is completely freed from being a pawn for her. If he continued with her, he'd be a fool. A few minutes passed, and the three who knew somewhat of his identity entered as both Roswaal and Annerose looked confused, but Clind had a decent idea of what had occurred.

Annerose asked, "What did you do? Why did Emily forget you? Wasn't the point of this so she'd remember who she loved?"

Subaru replied, "No, instead, I fixed her memories so she will no longer have a person she loved that she can't remember nor will know of my existence. Annerose, I appreciate your help and concern, but the only way I could help her was to make her forget me completely. She can no longer be manipulated by Pandora as well. Loving me was a burden for her, and I removed it."

Annerose left, not understanding what Subaru meant entirely but felt sadness as she could tell Subaru loved Emilia. To make her forget his existence must mean it was the only way to protect her. Roswaal was frozen as he had no idea how Emilia would win without Subaru's help or how he'd achieve his goal. He left shortly after Annerose did, feeling hopeless.

"So Clind, your the only one who stayed. I can see why the other two left, but you most likely don't care or don't have an immediate need for me to be in Emilia's camp or for her to remember me."

Clind agreed, "That is true. You did accomplish your goal of preventing Emilia from being manipulated, but what was the basis of that?"

"From what I can tell, Emilia needs to love someone for Pandora to turn that into a way for her to open the seal. Now she doesn't since my memories and existence have been erased, and her love for someone has been removed. She may have gaps in her memory, but she won't feel love for anyone. Pandora can't override that, as she can't make Emilia remember me. Her plan relied on my unwillingness to leave Emilia, and it would've worked if I didn't meet you."

Clind sighed, "Your logic and reasoning are irrefutable. I am surprised you would even be willing to do this. But it seems you mature quickly. What is your plan now to let Pandora be or kill her?"

"I am going to confront her. I have a good idea where she'll be waiting. Tell Roswaal that I plan to return, so he doesn't go into complete despair but does not allow anyone that knows what occurred to tell Emilia." Subaru thought, "If you accept, I can use True Bond one of my abilities, to allow me to communicate with you through thoughts. If something goes wrong, I'd need you to kill me if Pandora can alter my memories to undo what I've done and achieve her goal."

"I do have the ability to teleport. I am the holder of the melancholy authority. If you can tell me your location, I can teleport to use and kill or assist you if needed."

Subaru nodded, "I will be going to Elior Forest now. Ensure that Roswaal won't tell Emilia what occurred but that I plan to return. For Annerose, tell her not to speak to Emilia of anything that occurred, as I don't want her to question her memories again."

Clind agreed, and Subaru left the mansion, flying into the sky to Elior Forest. He did have some questions he wanted to ask Pandora since all the information he's received was incorrect. He wanted to know if Pandora was acting independently or if Flugel instructed her to do as she was doing. He looked down towards Elior Forest as he descended, activating True Bond to confirm it would work.

'Clind, can you hear me?'

'Yes, I can. Are you in need of assistance?'

'No, just testing this to make sure it works. How did Roswaal and Annerose react?'

'It worked out fine. Emilia is returning to Roswaal's mansion, and I don't see any signs that she will regain your memory or a person she loved.'

'Good, thank you. If I use this again, teleport to me.'

Subaru walked around the frozen statues as his emotions began to form. He was only thinking logically before and thus could make the decision he made. Now he will have to face the emotional burden that comes with it. He found a hut that wasn't frozen and assumed it was where Emilia slept during her time in the forest. The area was freezing, so Subaru had no choice but to sleep there. He now held Sloth, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, and a small fragment of Envy.

He waited for night to come so he could sleep, as Pandora did not appear surprised. He could only guess whether she had given up or was plotting a new strategy. If Reinhard was correct and two people could open the gate, he knew the second person had to be Satella which would make sense why Pandora couldn't attempt to use her to open the seal. He began to feel isolated as he stopped thinking about Pandora or any of the other issues occurring. He wondered how long he could continue before he lost his purpose or meaning. He had nothing to look forward to as Regulus's words seemed accurate. But if that was the only way he could do this, he had no other choice. He wanted the world to forget him, but he still missed what he had.

"Subaru?"

Subaru's body froze, hearing that voice as he slowly turned around, "Emilia? How?"

"Why? Why would you want me to forget you? Why would you want to be replaced or change my memories of you… why?" Emilia asked, shedding tears.

"I have a task I must do."

"Then why are you lying? You else would I remember you… I left Roswaal's mansion to come here, and I find you. Subaru, just tell me why you're leaving me."

"I don't want to leave you. My past is dead, and this was the only solution. How do you even remember me?"

Emilia didn't even notice the voice as her mind was filled with sadness, "Subaru, what did I do? Just tell me… I know I was cruel to you, but that's not your reason is it?"

"I don't know what to say… I just wanted to be forgotten. I don't want to cause any of you more suffering. I'm not the same Subaru you knew, Emilia. I'm not… so much has changed."

"You didn't answer me… why did you leave? I just want to know if you don't care about me or move on with your life. Just tell me what happened."

"Emilia, wait, I do care about you. A lot has happened. Why did you leave Roswaal's mansion?"

"Subaru, when you were forgotten, I felt love for someone but didn't know who. I felt such a deep connection with a person I can't remember, and now I remember… if you're going to leave, please don't change my memories of you. Even if you don't want me in your life-"

"Emilia," Subaru moved towards her and hugged her, "stop saying that. I want you in my life. I love you. But I can't just expect you to leave with me on my path. I just wanted you to be happy with or without me."

"But I can't be… are you happy? I don't want to leave the others, but I'd be broken without you. If you change my memories or replace yourself, I will still love you."

Subaru didn't want to admit it, but he felt a sense of relief or clarity he was missing, "Emilia, I'm going to eradicate the Witch Cult… and find out truths that I'm not sure I even want to learn I don't want you to give up your future for mine which might be only sadness and misery."

"You came here to this forest. I feel so stupid. Why didn't I tell you… why did I have to forget you to know how I felt about you? Subaru, I can't imagine a future without you. When you left me after killing Pandora, I just," Emilia wrapped her arms around Subaru's back, "wanted to give up. I came to this forest to disappear."

"I… what about the others, Emilia? Please don't give up on your future with everyone, and what about them? Everyone will be lost without you or me."

"I was lost without you. If you're running away… I'll come with you. I don't want to leave everyone behind, but I'll follow you if you have a reason."

"I'm not running away, Emilia. I'm searching for the truth. It's the opposite. I'm finding the truth, not running from it."

"That's why I love you. Subaru, can we just talk together? Let's go to where I used to live in this forest."

"Alright."

The two walked towards the hut that Emilia used to live in. It wasn't too far, and Subaru debated in his head on what he was doing or if he was even right. But if Emilia came here to disappear, wouldn't it be crueler to leave her? He knew he wanted to be with her he hated all the time he spent without her. He would have to explain so much to her, and maybe she could decide whether or not she wants to stay on the path he is taking. They entered the hut where Emilia used to live as she dusted off the various things she had left behind years ago. There was a bed where she used to sleep and not much more.

"Subaru, come sit down," Emilia said, patting down the bed she was sitting on.

Subaru sat down, ready to explain everything, "Emilia, when I was forgotten, I gained a power Regulus gave me. However, in doing so, she lost her connection to me. I then learned of many memories I wasn't aware of. Memories of her world are similar to Echidna's but darker. When I went into the world, I acted differently, and well, that's the first thing I want to learn the truth of. I planned to eradicate the Witch Cult, confront Satella, and learn the truth of whatever I was missing."

Emilia giggled, "I don't understand, but I'm just happy. I don't understand the details of whatever you're trying to learn. I just want to be with you and help you. If you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me, why not just start now?"

"Leave everything behind and go with me?" Subaru leaned closer to Emilia, "Are you completely sure?"

"Subaru, you showed me something I would've never had. Everything that I gained was because of you. I never would've made it this far without you."

"I never would've made it this far without you, Emilia."

Subaru leaned in and brushed his lips against Emilia's. Emilia continued kissing Subaru as the two embraced each other's warmth. Subaru broke the kiss and hugged Emilia tightly.

"Thank you for saving me again, Emilia,"

Subaru eyes began to twitch as he knew he was dreaming. Is this what he wants? Or is this just a dream to torture him? He decided that his way of enjoying himself once he completed his role was simple. To die.