Chapter 36 – A Little Care Goes a Long Way
"Bit of a ruckus you made in there Doc! I don't think anyone in the room expected an entire info dump about Reality-bending disasters and all!"
"Hmm…"
"Er- If I'm allowed to call you Doc, that is…"
"I'd rather you keep it as 'Doctor', Aldebaran."
"I'd rather YOU would just call me Al though…"
"Not fond of your own name, eh?"
"…" Al turned away from the Sorcerer nervously whilst ruminating on his lack of an answer; it was true after all, he did not like his name.
For the past hour or so after the revelations inside the Throne Room, the group conformed by Subaru, Karen, Beatrice and Strange had remained within a waiting room inside the Royal Castle as the Council of Elders deliberated the boy's fate. Accompanying them however were Julius Juukulius and Aldebaran as escorts and guards, although this was merely a formality seeing as though there was no feasible way they could hold back Strange were he to turn aggressive all of a sudden.
This was all just standard procedure mostly, being that the decision of sparing Subaru's life had long been agreed upon before his actual sentencing.
Having said this, the new case against Roswaal L. Mathers for high treason, and Elsa Granhiert for murder and assassination, amongst many other charges, were still underway. The Council of Elders felt Subaru and Strange's presences might compromise on the focus of the Trials and the punishments thereafter, especially so after Strange's ludicrous proposal; thus, they were promptly removed from the room for the remainder of the meeting.
"Ah~, what a pa~in…" From his seat, a comfortable vermillion-colored sofa directly across of Al and Strange, Subaru groaned with boredom while staring at the door. "Oi~, Juli-kyu~n, how long does a trial normally take to, erhm, end?"
"…I ask that you please remain silent Subaru. I have quite a lot on my head right now to focus on your antics." Julius, who was standing right behind Subaru's sofa, shook his head as he answered Subaru's question stoically.
"That doesn't exactly answer my question though… I'm just here wondering WHEN they'll allow us to enter once again."
"Then I hope this clears things for you proper: the trial will end when the trial ends, so just remain here whilst it progresses."
"Alright, Captain 'Stick-up-my-butt', I'll comply… But I'll be grumpy all the way! Although, they sure are taking their sweet time in there with Elsa and Roswaal's cases." In retort, Subaru frowned at Julius' response, turning away from the door and staring back at the knight behind him with disgruntlement.
"Won't it be dangerous for the clown though? Being in a room so outwardly hostile to him?" Al asked with indifference in response to Subaru's worries.
"You cannot seriously be telling me you are worried about the Marg- that traitor!" The comment regarding Roswaal's safety managed to get a more emotional response out of Julius, making the knight shout back at Barielle's servant with indignation as he corrected himself.
"Oh, don't misunderstand me pretty boy, I couldn't care less about the guy. But that's the problem, see…" The helmeted man shook his head voiced his thoughts out loud. "Unlike me, not everyone seemed to have a cool head in there. Won't they just straight up beat the guy to death without 'Doctor Who' here guarding him?"
"Doctor Who wasn't exactly how… Forget it." Strange gazed at the helmeted man with disappointment briefly, for but a moment.
"Negative, they haven't done anything of the sort…" Karen affirmed whilst staring in the direction of the Throne Room through the waiting room's broken windows. "Although a good number of nobles have punched him in the face a few times, notably so Crusch's supporters, they have not done anything to endanger Roswaal's life. Apart from said incidents, it has been a rather… Let's just call it a 'peaceful' trial."
"You are kidding me! You can see into the Throne Room all the way from here?! We are almost at the other side of the building!" Al burst out laughing with genuine surprise, marveling in awe of Karen's abilities for spying.
"See?! Infrared, X-Rays, heat vision, night vision, the whole nine yards! I need a compendium of all the stuff you are equipped with Karen! Maybe the Iron Spider has them as well-!" Subaru agreed with Al as he celebrated Karen's many skills, still unknown to him or even herself. "Really though, just how much did Uatu pack into you?!"
"Hmph! Machine girlie there might be multitalented indeed, but Betty's Subaru should not forget that so is Betty herself, in fact." Beatrice, who was sitting on Subaru's lap, pouted childishly as the boy complimented his Synthezoid partner before her.
"Oho?! Is this jealousy I detect in Beako?! But she's awesome as hell too!" Subaru then proceeded to tickle the little Great Spirit, teasing her to no end.
"Uwaaaaaaaaa-!" Beatrice flailed around on Subaru's lap, trying her best to contain her laughter.
"As Karen said, there is no need for me to intervene for Roswaal's safety; neither the Council nor the Candidates would dare lay a finger on him beyond roughing him up here and there." Strange nodded in affirmation as he regained Al, Julius and Subaru's attention.
"So you were aware of what was occurring in the Throne Room as well, huh? All the way from here…" Julius sweated with awe, still rattled by the Sorcerer's presence.
"But how can you assure those present in the room won't charge against the clown with killing intent? Eventually, someone might just… Snap, taking into consideration greenie's, er, Crusch-sama's earlier reaction." Al reiterated as he corrected his mispronunciation of Crusch's name before a rather annoyed Julius.
"Crusch? She had history with the late prince, right?" Subaru asked Julius meekly, worried eyes looking back at a pensive knight.
"Prince Fourier was thought to have been the second coming of the Lion King. Put bluntly, he was one of the greatest leaders and aspiring rulers Lugunica could have hoped for in years, even as fourth in line to the crown. And he was… Crusch-sama's childhood friend as well." Julius explained with a frustrated tone as he recalled the disaster that befell the Kingdom a year ago, the Royal Family's demise. "As a mysterious, incurable epidemic struck the Castle and the Royal Family died out, he was one of the last ones afflicted, and his passing wasn't as heard of as that of the King. I suppose… His unceremonious demise and the lack of care people gave it might have been what pushed Crusch-sama forward with her candidacy."
"I'm sure you must carry tangible contempt for Roswaal as well, Julius. I don't fault you for doing so." Strange stared at the noble knight with pity, just as said knight failed to hide a scowl directed towards the window, in the direction of the Throne Room. "But as it stands, they won't touch Roswaal, the Kingdom cannot risk it."
"Risk? Are you making some sort of threat here?" Julius looked back at the Sorcerer with a suspicious gaze, taken aback by Strange's affirmation.
"Let me put it this way: Everyone in there knows that I want to take him as my student, and understanding the little show of power I did, they would not risk killing him outright, lest they made an enemy out of me."
"Show of power- You mean to tell us you overpowered Marcos and Reinhard on purpose?!" Julius stiffened with shock as he reaffirmed Strange's words.
"Although I hadn't intended for it to happen so chaotically, shown as to how I failed to hide my scent… Yes, I wanted to show the upper echelon of your kingdom how strong I was on purpose. So that once I made the proposal to teach Roswaal, you wouldn't consider killing him so easily."
"…That just sounds as though you are protecting a criminal that deserves to be put down." Julius argued with renewed anger for the Sorcerer.
"Maybe so, but you are too fixated on the short term benefit if you decided to kill Roswaal here and now. He could still be of some use, depending on how the cards are played…"
"And there he goes again, treating everything like a meticulous game, just like Uatu… Trust me Julius, this guy LOVES acting all cryptic and stuff, but he has a reason behind his every action. To the point that I actually doubt you failed to hide your scent and ominousness on purpose. In fact, I'll say it out loud: You ARE doing shady stuff under the table, you just won't give us the specifics." Subaru assured Julius with a tired voice as he gave Strange a rather petty glare. "If Strange needs Roswaal alive, but still would allow the exposure of his crimes to happen in the first place, then that means he doesn't need him for his status or whatever."
"Exactly as you said, Roswaal is sure to lose everything: His rank, his talents, his territories and even his wealth. If the circumstances allowed it, I'd let Lugunica handle him as you saw fit. However we need him FAR more than you might think right now." Strange considered with a pensive face, ignoring the contempt directed towards him.
"Do you really see fit teaching and… gifting power to a madman that is about to lose everything? What if he turns against the Kingdom with these 'Mystic Arts'? With magic beyond our years? To take what you can give and use it for revenge against the elite that ousted him as a malefic schemer?" Julius questioned with hesitation and anxiety, clearly distrusting of Strange's actions and motives. "A man like Roswaal wouldn't go out of his way to use such power for anything other than his own benefit, if his recently unveiled background is to be taken into account."
"You are right, the Roswaal that stands in Trial right now wouldn't. The one that finishes my training however… He might not be as callous about using his power left and right, knight." Strange reassured with an oddly calm voice, with somewhat of a self-assured attitude. "To wield the Mystic Arts one should also possess a great degree of self-restraint… That is one of the first things I ought to instill on him."
"I see it hard for a bit of training to straighten a guy like Ros-chi out though… For starters, 'cause you and self-restraint sound like antonyms." Subaru looked back at the Sorcerer, pointing out his words with suspicion. "What's he really so necessary for? Those dangers you say are coming to Lugunica in the near future?"
The waiting room fell silent as Subaru inquired Strange on the dangers ahead. Needless to say, knowing more about what awaited the Kingdom in the future was a top priority for all present, and even more so for those in the Throne Room. The Council especially wanted to ask questions when Strange was present, but given all the differing tensions and past occurrences in the last few hours, they had to hold their tongues back in order to continue the proceedings with any semblance left of stability. This was the real reason they had sent Al and Julius to escort and keep watch over Subaru's group: the one-armed servant for his shared origins with the Sorcerer and the hero, which might allow them to lower their guard when inquired, and the finest knight for his sharp wit at the time of asking questions.
Julius was expected to report his findings during this conversation to the Council, the Candidates and the nobility.
"…Subaru, do you remember when I transformed during the battle?" Strange asked back as his tone changed to an overtly mysterious one.
"Transformed? Like Optimus Prime?" Al asked with curiosity.
"During the battle against Ultron, Strange oozed some 'black sludge' from under his robe and then, his entire body transformed into a- some sort of- like a MENAGERIE of monsters and Spirits." Subaru affirmed, much to the surprise of Al and Julius, as well as Beatrice's dread.
"To Betty, that sounds more like the disgusting man regurgitated his food, I suppose." Beatrice huffed with disgust for Strange.
"Beatrice wouldn't 'technically' be wrong, I guess." Strange chuckled derisively towards himself as he continued explaining.
"Hold it, how exactly would YOU know of that power Beako?" Subaru inquired his contracted Great Spirit with amazement.
"Hmph! Amazed and astounded now, are we? It is only natural, given Betty's intellect, I suppose. While she remained cooped up inside the Forbidden Library, Betty did come to know a great deal of the races and customs around her world, Subaru!" Beatrice puffed up her chest as she made boisterous claims about her knowledge. "Amongst the many tribes that conform the Four Nations, one of them consists of heretical 'Spirit Eaters' that gain the abilities of the Spirits they consume… This was all written centuries ago though, so Betty does not know how such a tribe fares nowadays. Nevertheless, the point Betty wanted to make was that the Sorcerer over there must possess a similar technique if he can use Spirits he is not contracted with as slaves or sustenance."
"And as she says, it is true. All the amazing and disgusting monsters and Spirits I summoned during the battle with Ultron were creatures I devoured, assimilated unto myself in the pursuit of power. In the pursuit of… twisting fate." Strange reaffirmed as Beatrice glared with disgust at him.
"*Gulp!*" At the mention of 'twisting fate', for the briefest of moments, Strange stared Subaru in the eyes, making the boy gulp anxiously.
"Regardless, even if it did not bore fruit towards my original goal, said actions did succeed in countering Ultron's insurmountable powers." The Sorcerer smiled as he remembered how the many summoned critters managed to back Ultron into a corner momentarily.
"But that is not the real topic of this conversation, is it now?" Karen inquired whilst still staring in the direction of the Throne Room, trying to shift the attention of those words away from Subaru.
"That is correct, it is not; rather than how I devoured those creatures, it is the origin of those that we should be wary of." Strange nodded in agreement. "Subaru, amongst the creatures I summoned back then, there was one that… was more of an aspect of a greater being than a creature itself. Can you guess which one?"
"An aspect? Like, it wasn't the whole being, but a fraction of it?" The hero asked with a perplexed tone. "Umm… The creature you shouted about… Oh! The one made of tentacles! That was the aspect, right?!"
"Indeed; and what I'm about to say correlates to the dangers coming to this land, so pay attention: Never mention the name of that creature Subaru. Never." Strange warned sternly.
"Hard to say how I could, the name you called when you summoned the tentacles was unintelligible to my ears." The teenager admitted with disinterest. "But if I remember it, I'll make sure not to mention it!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm a bit lost here. Why would mentioning some… unknown creature's name be cause for concern?" Julius chimed in with confusion.
"Because when it comes to greater cosmic, eldritch and mystical creatures, words are power, and so are their names…" Strange hesitated as he spoke to the knight. "During the showing of the battle, you witnessed how I cast a spell known as the 'Images of Ikonn'…"
"The spell that casts illusions of Bro and the other Guardians? What about it?" Al responded with his own wonderings.
"Many of the spells used in the Mystic Arts were created by other Sorcerers, Spirits and gods of higher orders and pantheons or eldritch creatures from across myriad realities. As such, whenever a person casts said spells, their usage becomes a window for the creators of said spells to witness the users' actions. Ikonn itself is an interdimensional demon, and whenever I use the 'Images', he becomes a witness to that usage via the mana used to project each image. You summon one illusion, you summon one of Ikonn's eyes." Strange described forebodingly, making everyone in the room shiver. "The 'threat' that wishes harm upon your Kingdom, young knight, is one such creature; vastly more powerful than Ikonn even, a purely evil 'idea'."
"…But why?! What interest would it hold in Lugunica such a- such an astounding and horrifying creature?!" Julius remarked with aghast eyes, sensing that whatever Strange could perceive as a threat was clearly beyond standard comprehension of the world.
"Ultron's many transgressions across the Multiverse, and particularly around Subaru, became prime ground for this being to catch a certain interest in your World; for what reason in specific I know not, yet it most certainly has to be the worst possible. And were I to mention 'it' by name whilst inside your Universe would invite 'its' early arrival. You cannot afford that, unprepared as you are right now."
"I… See…" Julius clenched his fists tightly as he heard Strange's warnings; the Sorcerer wasn't being dubious because he liked to, it was because he needed to. Had he gifted upon the knight all the information he wanted, he might have received more than he could handle. Strange was keeping him in the dark to protect him from a greater danger. "You discovered quite the distressing amount of truths in the few hours between Ultron's defeat and your arrival into our Kingdom…"
"Hours? Oh, pardon me, but that is wrong as well… I guess you do lose the sense of what is normal and what is not when you travel across timelines and the like as much as I do." Strange apologized to Julius as the befuddled knight tried to recompose himself from the continuous information delivered. "See, as previously stated, time flows differently within each Universe, and it flows exceptionally slow between Universes… From my point of view, it's been quite a few months since Ultron's defeat."
"Months-?!" Al almost fell over from his seat as Strange yet again casually admitted to insane concepts beyond human ken.
"Yadda-Yadda, 'Hyperbolic Time Chamber' crap…" Subaru could do nothing but shake his head with boredom as Strange spoke, far too tired to care about the temporal hijinks of the lonely Sorcerer.
"It does remind Betty of how the perception of time is twisted and slowed through the use of Shamak and its derivate spells…" Beatrice examined the Sorcerer's words with interest however.
"I'd guess it'd be similar; when you lose all your senses in the darkness of Shamak, time becomes relative from your perspective. Like with gravity within a black hole… er, theoretically, at least." Subaru reminisced to the time Puck taught him firsthand the dangers of magic in the forest months prior.
"No, no, you are right; gravity can affect time and its normal flow, depending on the density of the celestial body." Strange confirmed Subaru's words whilst catching a glimpse of curiosity in Beatrice's eyes. "Hmm… A 'Shadow' Spirit now…"
"At this point, I lack the energy to feel astonished anymore…" Likewise, Julius too found himself surprised by his lack of shock or awe at the feats of Doctor Strange. In the short time he had known him, the notion of 'He's an otherworldly Sorcerer, I should expect anything' became deeply ingrained in the knight's thinking. A similar notion he had grown to expect of Reinhard in hindsight.
"This is why I need Roswaal; his innate talent as a mage will ensure that whatever I can teach him he will learn quickly. And the more Sorcerers we have at our disposal WHEN the danger comes, the better." Strange continued with confidence. "You have to agree in the end that, no matter what, even Roswaal cannot achieve his goals if his world is obliterated."
"I mean… That's just common sense dude…" Al sweated bullets as he decided to lie down on the sofa beside Strange. "Holy fuck man, how screwed were we…?"
"Do you get it now, Julius, Subaru, Al? I'm teaching Roswaal not out of capriciousness, but out of necessity. In order to protect your world, I'm forcing him into a position in which he'll have to stand at the forefront protecting everyone instead of at the background, scheming maliciously."
"…Even so, I refuse to feel thankful for Roswaal's presence." Julius affirmed with disdain, regaining his serious composure. "Even if it might be a plus for protecting Anastasia-sama in the long-run, as well as the Kingdom and the other Candidates, I'll never thank that man. I refuse to; in a fundamental way, I just refuse to do so."
"As you should Julius." Subaru agreed vehemently. "For one, you are not gonna find me bowing my head to the guy! Hmph!"
"…Even though your face looked sour all throughout his judgement?" Julius asked with disappointment. "I just know you wanted to say something back then; to pull some sort of stunt to spare his life had Strange not done it."
"Urk-!" Subaru flinched as a deer caught in the headlights.
"Don't think I didn't notice Subaru; even as Roswaal's crimes were denounced, you felt pity for that traitor!" The finest knight criticized the black-haired teen, much to said teen's chagrin. "You have to know WHO to show compassion towards; Roswaal doesn't deserve it!"
"I have to agree with Julius on this one, Subaru." Karen interrupted, for once looking back at her partner instead of at the Throne Room. "Just like with the Witch's Cult, Roswaal isn't someone you should feel sorry for."
"E-Even so… He-H-He was Emilia-tan's backer you know?! So I just thought that it was a bit cruel to put him down like a dog without hearing her opinion firs-!"
"Eh, she looked pretty okay with the decision if I recall. A 'you reap what you sow' kinda deal, Bro." Al shut down Subaru's argument nonchalantly.
"Gugh… Et tu Karen, Al…" Subaru lowered his head with frustration.
*Paf!*
"In the end, Betty's Subaru is a big softy." Beatrice smiled as she patted Subaru in the head, caressing his hair softly. "He wanted to spare Roswaal for Betty's sake… That idiot has been her friend since a long time ago, in fact."
"…The Mathers family has been in the care of Beatrice, a Great Spirit of Yin, for generations. It's obvious Subaru would want to keep his contracted Spirit content, even if it meant keeping a scumbag alive." Strange affirmed with an amused smirk, fond of the Great Spirit and Subaru's interactions.
"I suppose I can empathize a little; given my own partners are Spirits as well… But still, I won't approve of your relief for Roswaal's survival, Subaru!" Julius reinforced his stance with decision.
"Oh, come on! Cut me some slack!" The boy complained with annoyance.
"Hmm…" Unbeknownst to the others, as Subaru and Julius bantered with each other animatedly, Strange's gaze remained fixated on the Avenger as he seemingly mulled over some deep, deep thoughts.
"Huh? What's wrong Doctor? Ya seem kinda odd all of a sudden; not as if you weren't 'Strange' all the time anyways. Hehe! Ah? Get it?" Rolling with the amicable vibe in the room, Al joked with Strange the moment he noticed his meditative expression and serious eyes.
"…" Strange slowly turned to face Al with the same focused gaze he had given Subaru, making the helmeted man flinch in surprise.
"Auhm… Doctor?" Al asked again with noticeable confusion.
"Huh? What now Strange?" Similarly, Subaru and the others caught onto what was occurring as Al's voice sounded cautious.
"…Although I'm not completely sure it is a solution either…" Strange murmured to himself cryptically whilst slowly standing up, seemingly entranced by some notion. "There might be a way, a quick-fix to avoid the disaster coming to Lugunica, Julius."
"Really now? After all the disastrous warnings you've delivered, have you found some sort of answer to them?" Julius' voice sounded doubtful as he inquired the Sorcerer, his suspicious eyes fixated on him.
"Hold it, solution? Come on Strange, you wanna keep dancing on the topic of the 'UgA-bOoGa' coming devil forever?! You already made a shitshow out of warning everyone inside the throne room! Make up your mind!" Subaru complained with irritation.
"I agree with this sentiment." Julius nodded as the Avenger spoke his frustrations. "In all honesty, suddenly saying there is a solution right after the show you performed in the Throne Room seems quite out of left field… What does that solution of yours entail, Sorcerer? And why did you not mention it earlier, BEFORE the apocalyptic warnings?"
"Because the solution entails summoning a portal to return Subaru back to Earth and ensure his safety." Strange responded in a contemplative tone.
"!" Everyone in the room felt their spines shiver in surprise as Strange declared such a feat so nonchalantly.
"I am not certain of the motives behind the coming danger, all I know is that it's coming… One of my running theories is that Subaru's involvement in Lugunica's affairs might be the reason as to why it has set its sights here, so were Subaru to leave and return to Earth, then your Kingdom would not be in danger anymore." Strange theorized whilst scratching his beard. "However, said theory is not without its flaws: for example, Why Subaru? Because he made a connection with the Enigma Force? What if its objective WASN'T Subaru in the first place but something or someone else? It is all still just speculation… Which is why, rather than a solution, the appropriate term would be 'suggestion'-"
"Strange, back up, back up!" Subaru stopped the Sorcerer's ramblings midway through as he registered the declaration of his power. "Returning ME to Earth?!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Don't 'what's wrong?' me! You just said you could- you could return me to Earth?! Just like that?! I-I-I-I mean, of course you can! You are the Sorcerer Supreme and all! Your version of THIS Universe has done crap like that too back in Titan! But-! But…" Subaru rapidly spoke as his mouth had trouble catching up with his brain. Soon, he fell silent, for he could not properly articulate his thoughts as he wished. "But I…"
"Subaru?" Beatrice spoke softly, pitifully even as she frowned on the boy's lap.
"…" Subaru looked into the Great Spirit's worried eyes and doubted on how to respond to her clear preoccupations. What could he answer with anyways? Could he confidently say 'Please return me to Earth!' whilst looking Beatrice in the eye?
"…As I said, it is not a clear solution against the coming danger if I return you to Earth, Subaru. But yes, I can." Strange turned to look at Subaru as he spoke, and then, at Aldebaran as he continued his declaration. "The same goes for you, Aldebaran. Do you wish to return to Earth?"
"…You… For real can return us to Earth…?" Aldebaran trembled with excitement as his attention was entirely focused on Strange. "Goddamn… Do you even- Do you even realize how many nights I spent dreaming of such a thing?! Returning to Earth?!"
"A-Ah…" Julius found himself at a loss regarding the less than thrilling developments.
On the one hand, Subaru vanishing and returning to his home world might be what the Avenger really wanted, and potentially, it could deviate the attention of the looming entity aiming for his Kingdom, saving it in the process. On the other hand, not only would the centerpiece of the Alliance disappear, returning the Royal Selection to a state of chaos right after a disastrous battle that decimated the Capital, there was the possibility the looming danger wouldn't care about it and still aim to destroy Lugunica regardless of whether Subaru remains or not. In addition, if Subaru left, would Lugunica still possess Strange's favor? The most likely answer… was a no.
Worst part of it all was that he had no agency in this decision, at all. If Subaru wanted to leave, that would be his choice and his choice alone; trying to guilt trip him into staying might backfire and make him want to leave even more, especially after the treatment he had received thus far from the Kingdom.
The worst… This is the worst possible situation! Subaru cannot leave, not now! Not if there is another danger looming right around the corner! If he did… If he did, as we are right now, as Lugunica is right now, we'd be defenseless before such a threat again! Damn it all, Strange! What side are you on?! Do you wish to save the Kingdom or destroy it, you dastardly Sorcerer?!
"…Karen? What's your input in all this?" Calmly, in an almost monotonous voice, Subaru asked the Synthezoid in the room as he hugged the little girl on his lap.
"I'm going wherever you are going." In an equally calm manner, Karen answered whilst still keeping her vision focused on the Throne Room.
"I see…" Subaru nodded and remained silent for a few seconds. "…Welp, sorry Strange, but I'm not leaving Lugunica. Not just yet."
"Hm?" Strange looked genuinely vexed as to why Subaru would so readily reject his chance to return to Earth.
"Huh?!" Likewise, although vastly more alarmed, Julius gasped in awe at the decision.
"B-Bro, are you serious?! We are talking about Earth here! Wasn't working for the Alliance meant expressly FOR the purpose of returning to Earth?!" Al hastily inquired with a shook voice and attitude.
"I mean, yeah, I know that, but…" Subaru smiled as he responded Aldebaran's wonderings, all the while tightening his hold of Beatrice's hand as they hugged. "I feel bad for May, Ned, everyone on Earth really, I really do! I WANT to go back! But I- I can't… Not right now."
"…" Julius observed the Great Spirit and her contractor with something akin to understanding, comprehending from their mannerisms alone that the reason for his refusal to return back home was most likely his bond with Beatrice, amongst others. The relationship between a Spirit and their contractor was not one to be underestimated after all; in some cases, it could be as intimate as that of family, or even thicker than blood itself. Were for his own little companions' sake, would he make the same decision? All he could do was wonder, as the six spheres of light under his cape shone with emotion when witnessing Subaru's proclamations.
"Call me a softy, but in two short months I've gotten WAY too attached to the happenings of Lugunica." Subaru closed his eyes, and as a smirk appeared on his face, the boy's mind filled with memories of all the experiences lived, good and bad alike.
"If you leave… I won't forgive you! I-I'll… I'll hate you! I really will!"
"My name is Emilia. Just Emilia. Thank you Subaru. For saving me."
"…em…"
"You might be creative, but you really are a buffoon. Stop salivating over your master's thighs the moment you're not in danger, disgusting Barusu."
"Live… Love… You…"
"…Hehe… You are *sniffle* demonically inspired."
"Betty has spent entire ages in here. Such moments were nothing but a moment in comparison."
"Don't you dare leave yet, you petulant child! You've yet to keep your side of the bargain, in fact!"
"Subaru, you cannot live judging yourself for events beyond your control; you are not shackled to the same fate as your Variants, you carve your own fate. There is a reason for you being there, never doubt that."
"I know I said some stuff to Uatu… But I've grown too attached to this World to run with the tail between my legs. The Witch's Cult isn't someone else's problem anymore, it's my own, so I plan to see their defeat through myself by the end of the Royal Selection; and that promise goes for a lot of other stuff and people as well." Subaru said cheerfully as he broke the hug off with Beatrice, the Great Spirit looking back at him with a wide smile and rosy cheeks. "I'm not leaving Beako, not right now, and even if I leave, I wouldn't do so without making sure I can come back. Whatever may come, I will protect this world, no matter what."
"Just know, Subaru, that you'll have loads of schoolwork awaiting you once you do return back to Earth. You don't get to become an engineer with a year's worth of electronics and calculus behind you." Karen advised as she smiled back at the teenager.
"Eh, that doesn't sound so bad. Hell, I think I could get that done in LESS than a year… Given time."
"Unfortunately, Betty's Subaru is awful at managing his schedules, in fact." Beatrice mocked his contractor's faults with smirk equal parts pretty and smug.
"Geh-!" Subaru gasped with shock in reaction to his Spirit's abuse.
"That can be corrected: Like a rebellious toddler, Subaru shall be taught correct sleep and patrol schedules, so he won't pull all-nighters working or fall sleep mid-swing between buildings." Karen reinforced Beatrice's words with assurances of her own, earning a giggle from the Great Spirit.
"Augh-! You really do hurt me when you say stuff like that, you know?! Beako, Karen!" Subaru shed fake tears as both of his companions made fun of him relentlessly.
"Subaru…" Independent of the mockery however, Julius felt astonished by Subaru's words. Openly declaring war to the Cult and saying you would protect a land foreign to your own so brazenly; had he not witnessed the extent of his will firsthand, he would have called the boy a maniac. "In the respect that you would postpone such a deserved reward for the sake of helping a land unrelated to you… *Sigh* Very well, I admit it: you do have the loyalty of a knight, at the very least."
"Holy shit, is this a dream?! Did Juli just compliment me?!" Subaru asked with a shaky voice, sweat rolling down his forehead as he stared at the now frowning knight.
"Oh, don't make me take back what I just said you buffoon…" Julius felt instant regret as he realized Subaru would just make a mockery of whatever compliment he could give him.
"Loyalty, huh…" Aldebaran murmured to the purple-haired knight begrudgingly, meanwhile touching with his hand the stump of his left arm. "I don't like knights, I really don't but… I do have someone I'm loyal to."
"Then, Subaru isn't going back to Earth… What about you, Al?" Strange then turned to ask the one-armed man, whose aura had change into a rather calm one.
"…" Al remained fixated on his missing arm for a few seconds before responding to the Sorcerer's proposal with uncharacteristic determination. "…I'm staying too. I… Have some pending business here for the moment."
"Woah, you sure Al?" Subaru wondered with awe. "You could return to Earth right this instant man! Who knows when else you'd have the chance?"
"I wonder though… Would everything be the same if I returned?" Al answered the Avenger with his own musings. "I've changed bro… A lot, actually. While it isn't exactly wrong to say I miss my home… Thinking it through, I owe too much to Princess to just up and leave. I just… She is the only one who has shown something akin to trust towards me… That isn't something I want to leave behind. Not just yet… I-I got my loyalties too…"
"…Well damn! Priscilla should be more grateful of the loyalty she has already!" Subaru laughed as he realized Aldebaran was rather similar to him in some aspects. "Alright then, I'll make sure next time I visit Priscilla's home I bring you a whole bunch of grub! Just you wait, Cola, Ice Cream, I'll even throw some Mochi in there! Er- when I can get my hands on some rice… And the recipe… Ah, scratch the Mochi, I'll throw in gummy bears… When I found the recipe for that too!"
"Hey! I'll look forward to that then, haha!" Al laughed along with Subaru as the apparent dread from before finally dispelled from the room.
"Hah… Hnn?" Although Julius had managed to relax a little after the commotion had passed, he still felt as though he had lost years' worth of his lifespan from the continuous shocks. But truly, the Sorcerer Supreme was just the gift that kept on giving, for right as Julius tried to regain his regality, Strange approached his ear with a… 'Recommendation'.
"I know they told you to report everything, but I ask that you keep the talk about returning to Earth within this room, alright? The less people know I can just do that, the better." The Sorcerer murmured vexingly.
"…Right." Not wishing to inquire further, understanding that it was pointless at this stage of the conversation to try to keep a secret from Strange, Julius reluctantly agreed to the Sorcerer's demand. "Just… Don't ask me anything further."
"…Thank you."
*Crea~k!*
"A-Attention!" An injured young knight, whose arms and hands were bandaged to an almost comical degree, entered the room in a hurry. "Um-Um-The Council- Er, no! The letter! There's a letter- ah, but, it is for the half-dev-er-!"
"…Calm down, recruit." Julius tiredly raised a hand, trying to calm the young man down. "First, start with the news regarding the Council of Elders."
"Argh- Yes!" The young knight nodded rapidly before answering. "The esteemed Council of Elders of the Dragon's Kingdom of Lugunica has called for Natsuki Subaru a-and his companion, Karen, to return for their official sentencing! Along f-for their witness, Doctor Stephen Strange, f-for further discussion of former Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers sentencing!"
"See? Told you they would hand him over to me." Strange smirked as he perfectly predicted Roswaal's final situation successfully.
"So he really did get his titles revoked. Damn, sucks to be him." Al said condescendingly.
"Very well, let us be off then; the Council awai-" Before Julius could continue however, the young man interrupted him.
"Th-There's more!" The knight continued talking as he produced a letter from his jacket's inner pocket. "Um, as I came here to fetch you, a letter arrived via pigeon from Costuul in the Mathers territories! It is from a distant relative of the former Margrave, a-and directed towards Candidate Emilia in case of an emergency! It says that it is to be read before the Council of Elders!"
"A letter… For Emilia-tan?" Subaru looked confused as the knight announced the letter.
"To be read before the Council?" Julius asked with equal vexation as he grabbed the letter from the young knight's hand, opening it and reading its contents for verification. "HUH?! This is-!"
Meanwhile, within the Throne Room…
*SMACK!*
"Hmrf-!" Roswaal panted as he fell to the floor, dragged around by Marcos' strong fist as the knightly Captain punched him. "Huuu… There was some ta~ngible disdain in those knuckles just now, Marcos. See? Two of my teeth fell do~wn…"
"Not enough blood, in my opinion Roswaal." Marcos immediately responded to Roswaal's uncaring words with disgust as he wiped the filthy blood off his hands. "Get up; I'm not done beating that cocky grin out of you, bastard!"
"Getting greedy, I see. I thought the agreement was one pu~nch per person?" Roswaal mocked again as he stood up, eyeing with amusement at Crusch's Camp.
"Hmph! You should be thankful I'm not commanding him to behead you, piece of filth." Crusch retorted with a heated glare. "As you know, even if most of my followers have struck you, I've yet to do so. Should I concede my turn to Marcos, in the hopes he'll squash you like the bug you are?"
"It would be my honor, Crusch-sama." Marcos nodded with a wicked smile as he agreed to Crusch's hatred-filled words.
"You should attempt to maintain your calm, Crusch-sama; this vision-clouding anger is unbefitting of a naturally gifted commander such as yourself." Miklotov interrupted the discussion, attempting to be a voice of reason for the Duchess. "We've yet to discover Sorcerer Strange's intentions with the former Margrave; risking his life any longer with these beatings might jeopardize Lugunica's relations with him and Natsuki…"
"Don't bother, Miklotov." Bordeaux responded somberly, with a weary voice as he glared tiredly at Roswaal. "Even if Marcos punched him again, I doubt Roswaal will kick the bucket. If anything, the clown will just laugh louder knowing there is nothing we could possibly do to affect him; he is in a position in which forces greater than ourselves need him alive, Strange is likely monitoring the whole Trial as we speak. It stands to reason then that he'd intervene again if we actually tried to kill Roswaal…"
"…" Crusch gritted her teeth as she considered the words of the elders, irritated by their veracity. For the most part, they were right: her anger towards Roswaal was shrouding her judgement, blurting out the desire to kill him could jeopardize her position in the eyes of Strange, endangering Lugunica. As a leader, she spoke for more than just herself, but for her followers as well; recklessness was not allowed, and yet here she was, permitting bloodlust get the better of her. "Damn it all…"
"Do you see it no~w Marcos? Not much you can do…" The former Margrave could not help but chuckle as he wiped the blood off his face, a deranged yet acute heterochromia gaze fixated on the knightly commander's infuriated blue eyes.
"Tsk! You cocky little…!" Marcos growled between gritted teeth.
"Moreo~ver, I found it JUST a tiny speck hypocritical of you that I AM the only one held on Trial after the reveal of my inte~ntions, esteemed Council, Crusch-sama… Are yours not just as depraved, hmm?" Roswaal giggled derisively as the infuriated Crusch's amber eyes turned red again. "Is it not true that the death of the Royal Family has given you, Bordeaux, an almost total control of the army you NEVER had before? Without a King to burden you with orders, you've conducted quite a number of decisions you never would have before in just under a year; treaties with Vollachia don't come cheap, you know? I wonder if you offered something to the Empire under the table..."
"Shut up, worm…" Bordeaux grew agitated as Roswaal liberally spoke his mind, reigniting certain animosity his semblance had lost.
"Miklotov, as well as the other councilmen, this stands tru~e for the other facets of our 'beloved' Kingdom, is it not? Commerce, farming, mining, even the tax-collection revenue is now all under your DIRE~CT control, right? The Royal hand holds no influence anymore in your many powers and talents… Isn't that a tiny bit liberating?"
"W-When he puts it like that…"
"The taxes over the border did increase a little…"
"Although, I just thought it had to do with the King's passing, but now…"
"My private soldiers' equipment was notably worse than the knights stationed in the Capital…"
"…" The other councilmembers stared around at the Court in astonishment and nervousness as Roswaal's devious claims echoed across the hall, making even the most loyal knights and noblemen whisper amongst themselves with certain levels of suspicion and contempt.
"This is bad…" Miklotov whispered to himself amidst the murmurs ringing throughout the hall. "Has he gone mad? It's almost as though Roswaal intends to drag the whole Court to his level."
"And my dear Ca~ndidates?" Roswaal's vision then focused directly on Crusch's glare, intensifying it thus. "Were it not for the Royal Family's passing… Would it not be true that NONE of you would be here with Insignias on hand, ready to claim the crown and the Throne? There'd be no reason for a Selection after a~ll!"
"Bastard, speak another word and I-!" As Crusch threatened Roswaal's safety however, Anastasia's response to the mad clown's claims caught her off-guard.
"Hmm… Although I feel somewhat bad for saying this, especially so considering Julius's devotion… I do think the demise of the Royal Family served a greater purpose in the end." The Mauve princess's smile faltered slightly as she answered Roswaal's inquiry, prompting her to rub the white fox scarf over her neck for comfort.
"What… Are you saying?" Crusch's voice cracked a bit as she slowly turned to look at the merchant. As she was about to argue again, Priscilla was the next to answer.
"Hmph! If they died, then they died, end of story." The vollachian woman haughtily responded, without much interest on the topic. "Clearly, their territory was doing quite poorly indeed if one were to take a closer look at the Kingdom, even previous to last night's battle. Bad crops, minor uprisings here and there, friction amongst the populace, dying economy, rampant terrorism across the land, and disloyal servants in high positions to boot! Their deaths to some incurable disease was merely the due payments of poor leadership catching up to them. And unlike mine divine self, and you lot of serfs I suppose, they couldn't avoid their fate, only buckle over and die. 'Served them right' your future ruler says… HA!"
"HOLD YOUR TONGUE BARIELLE!" Crusch yelled with disdain for the red-haired woman, only for Priscilla's giggles to intensify into stifled laughter. "HOLD YOUR TONGUE OR SO HELP ME, I-!"
"B-But it's true…" Contrary to anyone's expectations, the first person to jump into Priscilla's defense… Was none other than Felt.
"My, my… What unexpected defense! Are you considering, perhaps, entering my service through appeals of flattery?" Priscilla asked the youngest Candidate with a raised eyebrow and a smirk drawn on her lips.
"Argh- shove it, you-! Don't make me swallow my words!" Felt, however, retorted with disgust.
"Excuse me?!" Crusch's glare focused to the left of Priscilla, a few meters behind her- to look at the small frame of little Felt, making her flinch in surprise.
"I-I'm just saying… Look, I hate the pompous red bitch too, but-!" Felt felt troubled as she attempted to argue, so she decided to simply speak out what was on her mind at the moment hoping it'd make a halfway decent argument. "The Kingdom was a shithole under the rule of the late Royal Family!"
"!" Crusch felt floored by such a declaration, the sheer animosity and sincerity in Felt's voice dissuading her anger a minuscule bit.
"Y-You've never felt it, have you?! Of course you haven't! Living and sleeping in cozy mansions and all that shit, not having to live under the stress of having no money, not even knowing if you'll make it to tomorrow! Do you even get how south my life would have gone if I hadn't had Old Man Rom by my side?!" Felt rambled with anger in response to Crusch's own, her voice increasingly growing infuriated with the green-haired Duchess. "Have you ever questioned whether one day you'll simply have no money or food or clothes left?! Asking yourself if you'll live past winter?! Not knowing if you'll wake up after sleeping under a bridge during a snowy night?! Waking up to some- some hobo trying to grope you or stealing what meager belongings you have?! Wondering if stealing isn't enough and if you'll have to sell your body next to make ends meet?! All for some shitheads in fancy suits to tell you it's your fault for being poor?! How many others do you think lived like that in the Capital alone, huh?! Certainly not just me!"
"Felt-sama… Was this how you truly felt? I never knew… you resented the Kingdom to this extent." Reinhard lamented a few steps away from his liege, a complex expression written on his face.
"So I'm SORRY I can't feel bad about the Royal Family's passing, but do you think I could afford it?! If they died and then my life got better… You think I'd feel bad about that?! Am I not entitled to at least feel good about my current life?! About meeting Rein and Big Bro?! Huh?!" The blonde girl fired mercilessly against Crusch, airing out all of her grievances in one go, much to the worry of those around her. "What's worse, it's not as though your own goal is all that noble either! The clown wants to resurrect some Witch, but you wanna oust the Dragon altogether, don't you?! Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the Selection?! Fixing the contract WITH the damn Dragon, so it can at least help us when assholes like Ultron come again?! I don't want either Rein or Big Bro getting hurt like that again, dammit!"
"I…" Crusch was left speechless by the sudden stream of unfiltered honesty, feeling shaken by Felt's sincere thoughts on the previous Royal Family. Was this the sentiment of the slums? Of the people she was using as a bargaining chip to gain Subaru's favor? Did they really despise Lugunica this much?
It wasn't the perfect country, sure, and it is not as though she didn't knew about the discontent brewing underneath beforehand, but hearing it firsthand from someone with just as many chances in the race as her… was the common folk this displeased with the late King and his rule? If so, how did she ignore it for so long? Was she missing something? Her servants should have informed her of such things beforehand!
How could she ensure her rule would avoid such sentiments and misgivings? Was it impossible, then? To rule without the Dragon at her back? In the end, Crusch could not do anything but grit her teeth, for she lacked any appropriate response…
"…Felt-chan, I think Crusch-san understands a little better now, so that's enough." Emilia's sweet and soothing voice broke through the tension in the Throne Room; her presence, which had previously diminished amidst the tumultuous revelations, had taken center stage again as she approached the Duchess's wheelchair.
"Emilia-dono…" Crusch mumbled as she braced herself for another injury to her pride by the hand of a fellow Candidate.
"I realize that you must have hurt tremendously upon the loss of the Royal Family, Crusch-san." Emilia spoke with sadness as she leaned forward slightly, attempting to see the distressed Crusch eye to eye. "I cannot tell you I haven't benefitted from their demise, because I have- I became a Candidate to rule this country, and I've met so, soooo~ many people substantially better than myself since then… But then that doesn't mean I don't lament your loss."
"…" Crusch looked as though she wanted to say something in response to Emilia's words, yet whatever animosity she held dispelled as she looked into the saddened eyes of the empathic half-elf, that mourned for her friend despite never knowing him in the first place.
"I lament that the Royal Family was this despised or disrespected… and maybe they weren't the greatest at the time, but it still feels unfair to hate them in hindsight like this." Emilia's smile returned as she then made a bold declaration before her fellow Candidates and the Council, a gleam of confidence in her amethyst eyes as she swore eloquently. "I swear, were I to be made ruler of this Dragon's Kingdom of Lugunica, to honor the late Royal Family accordingly. To reminisce them not for their flaws solely, but for any good they had brought onto this world as well. So that their passing had meaning… So that the Lugunica of tomorrow need not struggle as the Lugunica of today does, I intend to rule in their stead and build upon what they left behind, so that their memory is not sullied by hatred or spite. I'm sorry for your loss, Crusch-san, which is why I intend to make the most of this chance given to me and create a Kingdom the previous King would have been proud of!"
"Emilia-dono…" Crusch felt impressed, even inspired by the declarations of the half-elf; it would seem that, despite the advantage that was to her life the passing of Fourier, Emilia didn't inherently hate him or admonish him. If anything, she seemed to respect him, despite never meeting him. For a half-elf that had surely been discriminated her whole life to be this respectful, ignoring her own pain or grievances for the sake of paying proper tribute to past rulers… Crusch felt as though the Royal bloodline had been redeemed somehow.
"Honoring the Royal Family?"
"I don't quite think they'd have approved of a half-elf…"
"Emilia-sama did put her life on the line to protect the Kingdom though-"
"Are you seriously referring to her as 'sama'?!"
"I'm surprised you are not after last night, or are you saying she isn't owed any respect for saving our lives?"
"I'm not about to bow… to bow to a half-elf!"
"Suit yourself then! I'm not about to bow to a lot that so blatantly disrespected the late crown!"
Murmurs and presages of debates sprung amongst the knights in response to the sayings of Emilia and the other Candidates, the room divided between noblemen and warriors siding with either Crusch and Emilia and Felt, Priscilla and Anastasia's views on the passing of the Royal Family and the organization of the Royal Selection.
"Bold wo~rds, for someone that will most certainly see the e~nd of her political career after the conclusion of this meeting, Emilia-sama." Roswaal's words disrupted the awe felt by the Duchess and the knights in the room, his poison-tainted words stinging deeply into the hearts of everyone present that had just found a new respect for the half-elf.
"What do you mean, Roswaal?" Emilia herself questioned the ramblings with vexation, not quite comprehending the implications of the former noble.
"'Tis quite si~mple, my esteemed Emilia-sama…" The clown voiced almost with cheer, although not in any way for anyone to hear comfortably, without feeling anxiety. "Your candidacy came as a result of myse~lf obeying the guidance offered by the 'Book of Wisdom'; the same exact tool that foretold the passing of the Royal Family and the arrival of one Su~baru-kun. If I were to be judged AND punished, would that not mean the Council must reconsider your status as we~ll? You'll soon lose the right to the Throne without my support, no matter how much you stru~ggle to cling to it!"
"Hmm…"
"Should we really expel her though?"
"I'm surprised we didn't do it sooner!"
"But the Capital…"
"Keh! She was just another machination of the clown! Of course she should be thrown away!"
"I don't want to agree with Roswaal of all people, yet…"
"…I say we should just save ourselves the trouble and throw her out of the Selection." Bordeaux mumbled to the Councilmen beside him.
"Rather panicky, aren't we Bordeaux?" Miklotov hastily criticized the view of the former Military commander. "You were one of the most infuriated with Roswaal moments prior; are you seriously about to heed his word, now of all times, and allow him to drag everyone around with him? You are playing into his game."
"I'm trying to do what's best for the Kingdom here." Bordeaux barked back with irritation. "It's best if we simply cut our loses and simply part ways with the half-elf-"
"I almost hear resentment in those words; did she not fight by your side last night?" Nevertheless, Miklotov would not let Bordeaux finish his declarations so, whispering close to him in return. "Think a little, do you really want to jeopardize our chances with Natsuki out of spite for the half-elf? For all we know about his relationship with the Sorcerer, we don't get one without appealing to the other!"
"When it comes to Natsuki, I might be able to bite my tongue, even if begrudgingly. And then, there is not much I can do about Strange's interest in Roswaal of all people… But If I can pull the rug from under the bastard that betrayed Lugunica, if we can just avoid letting Roswaal maintain any sort of power in this Kingdom in the future, I will take my chances." The old soldier stressed with contempt whilst glaring in Roswaal's direction, looking back at him the smug and scheming smile of the once Margrave of the north. "We cannot trust in the judgement of his pawns, the half-elf has to go!"
The Council and the nobility argued somewhat loudly as Roswaal redirected the conversation of condemnation to Emilia, making the half-elf look at him with shock.
"Tsk, if I knew it'd all be this chaotic…!" Crusch clicked her tongue as she gazed around at all the debates and arguments sprouting about in the room.
For one, she was infuriated with the other Candidates for dismissing Fourier's death so callously, and yet, she also understood where they were coming from and that in the near future she would have to play her moves carefully if she was to keep the Alliance and the Selection manageable.
Another point was Strange's presence; she had been the first to welcome him with open arms as he disrupted the meeting, however, his intervention was also what was keeping Roswaal from facing any due punishment. In a way, she felt a sort of betrayal from the Sorcerer, but then again, it could also be fate playing her a bad hand after her initial schemes for manipulating Subaru to her side after his argument with Emilia.
Politics involving the Avenger turned out to be a real headache for the Duchess, it would seem.
"…At this rate, Emilia-sama could very well be expelled from the Selection, Crusch-sama." Wilhelm suggested as he scratched his beard softly, pensive on what could be done to avoid a catastrophe.
"Do you have some sort of suggestion, Wilhelm? On my end, I feel- I think my actions may have backfired on me. I suppose I've still ample room to grow as a leader…" The Duchess of Karsten lamented with frustration as she turned to her butler.
"I personally believe you make a great leader already Crusch-sama, specially so when facing such astronomical and borderline fantastical problems. But that's beside the point." Wilhelm shook his head as he tried to reassure his liege's doubts. "There is something else I wish to confirm, actually."
"Wilhelm?" Crusch stared at her servant with a raised eyebrow, perplexed by the old swordsman's sayings.
"Do you believe accepting Doctor Strange into the conversation was a mistake?"
"…that and the fact the fact Fourier wasn't nearly as respected as I thought he would be." Crusch answered without reservation, her face one of displeasure. "I wouldn't say I was naïve to the discontent of the masses, I very much believe I was aware of it. I just… have a problem with where the line blurs… Like there was, something or someone that kept me grounded to my ideal that yet is- is missing from my head. I know this sounds all confusing from your perspective Wilhelm, but I just- I'm just missing something. As though I just acted insulted to the other Candidates and the Court in a way I would not normally-"
"Could it be what Subaru-dono suggested? About Felix?" Avoiding the healer's ears by murmuring close to her, Wilhelm voiced his own conclusions to the Duchess.
"Felix? What… About him?" She whispered back, aware of Wilhelm's insinuation of not letting him hear them.
"Subaru-dono mentioned he was your knight, prior to Gluttony's attack. Do you believe a man that was close enough to you to possess such a title would have kept you informed of the other's opinions on the late Royal Family? Kept you in check of your own ire?"
"Perhaps so… But no matter how much I try to imagine it or picture it, I could not see him in such a position." Crusch averted her eyes from the healer, object of their argument. "There is something about his attitude I just cannot fathom I could have ignored or condoned if we were truly that close… He's obsessed with an ideal of me I don't quite fathom, it perturbs me somewhat-"
"Crusch-sama, maybe we should depart already." Interrupting their conversation, Felix's voice sounded uncomfortably close to the surprised Duchess.
"Felix…" Crusch looked at the boy incredulously, leaning down to her level in her wheelchair, barely a few centimeters from her shoulder with a smile uncaring of the hectic spectacle around them. "We can't leave just ye-"
"Ferris gets that you wish to see that trash standing before nya Council get punished already, but unfortunately, it would seem it's already gone beyond our hands. At the very least, we should be content they'll punish the half-elf's Camp in his stead; they were his pawns after all."
"Are you suggesting that we abandon Emilia-sama to the whims of panicking politicians, young man? Need you be reminded that we stand here today thanks to-"
"That annoying 'Avenger' or whatever, Subaru…" Felix stated with indifference whilst rolling his eyes as he interrupted the irritated Wilhelm. "I have my doubts about the guy honestly, but if it's for the benefit of Crusch-sama, I can hold back… for nyow."
"Emilia-dono also helped us tremendously during these trying times, Felix." Wilhelm continued making his point with a severe voice, despite the insult taken by the continuous interruptions.
"Did she? Far as I recall, that Subaru was the one that warned us about the Whale. And the Whale alone should have been our primary objective… Most of our losses came from involving ourselves with the half-elf-"
"Call her by name." The Duchess ordered with annoyance.
"…Ferris point is that Emilia will continue to be hunted by the Witch Cult, and the other Candidates clearly hold no respect for the late Fourier-sama. If we ought to continue in this 'Alliance', then it should be exclusively to cooperate with Subaru and to gain access to his technology. We should keep ourselves removed as much as possible from the affairs of the other Camps, lest ours gets dragged into another mess like with Greed and Gluttony."
"There is clear spite in your voice, Felix." Crusch pointed out with a disappointed tone.
"Call me Ferris, please… I just- Ferris just wants what's best for Crusch-sama!" Shifting from a displeasured mood to excitable and happy at a hat's drop, the anger in Felix's voice turned to happiness as he declared his wholehearted devotion to the liege that had forgotten him. "These people are clearly looking out for their own interests only, they cannot think beyond that! The only one worth hearing out here would be that Sorcerer and Natsuki, but only for what they can offer. Ferris is just looking out for you, as he always has!"
"…I wonder, did I sound that insufferable just now as well? As the lack of self-restraint to my anger took hold?" Crusch turned away from the feline man with doubt as she reexamined her own behavior until now. "Now I doubt if your presence in my past really would have pacified my anguish."
"Crusch-sama?" Felix wondered with a frown, a saddened tone tinging his voice.
"I want to say I have learned something from this whole mess, but I don't quite know if it's true…" Crusch looked at Emilia, who was arguing with Roswaal as the Council threw insults at each other, wondering with what sort of action they could tackle the half-elf's situation. "What I do know is that I'm now less ignorant than how I was yesterday, and I cannot be thankful enough for that."
"I-I- Ferris doesn't get what nya are…?"
"Emilia defended my sorrow and anger just now, how can I not do the same for her Candidacy?" Crusch smirked with surprise, amazed by her own conclusion. "I guess… I guess even that fool's softness has rubbed off on me, eh? This is not a decision I would have taken two weeks ago… But I'm satisfied with it regardless.
"What?!" Felix flinched with shock, mortified by the possibility that Crusch would risk her own Candidacy to aid Roswaal's pawn. "Bu-But you can't! That clown is-!"
"Yes, that clown left Fourier to die, but Emilia is not him. I don't think she should be held accountable for Roswaal's actions as I think I alone couldn't have beaten the Whale." Crusch spoke with a stern yet satisfied voice as she dismissed Felix's concerns confidently. "If you have a complaint about my handling of this issue, you are welcome to discuss it with me afterwards, but not right now. I believe you would see better use of your time healing the soldiers outside than complaining to me anyways. Now, Wilhelm?"
"Yes, Crusch-sama?" The butler smiled as his master ignored the disobedient feline boy's conclusions.
"Go help out Emilia, won't you?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
HELLO THERE, I'M BACK!
Sorry it took so long, but a lot came up since the last chapter.
Job, Uni, bills, COVID! (Which my family and I managed to beat, thank goodness!)
Anyways, life seems to be looking up for me nowadays! I finished this chapter (at LONG last), I managed to graduate and become a Professional Architect, Money's not so tight anymore, my parents and siblings are all healthy now... Life's good!
Next chapter should conclude this whole 'Trial' mess that has been the last few chapters (I originally wanted to end it on this one by New Year's, but I didn't really like the first few drafts and then I fell sick) and then onto Subaru's knighting and the true end to this whole Arc 4 of the story. Expect it by next week, for real this time!
Also, one last thing, for anyone wondering if I hate Felix due to how I've been handling him in this Fic, because I've gotten messages like that as well… Not really? No.
He's NOT my favorite character, but I think he'd make a pretty interesting foil in the future? So this is all setup for stuff I don't really want to spoil… Just look forward to it.
See you next chapter!