Chapter 2

Subaru: "Hey everyone. Sorry to gather all of you like this, but I have an announcement to make"

The Emilia Camp was gathered in the dining room where Subaru would talk to them.

Otto: "What is it Natsuki-san? Why did you gather us all here?"

Ram: "Indeed. Out with it Barusu. Ram does not wish to stand here and dilly-dally all day."

Roswaal: "Of course Subaaaaru-kun. It's not like you to suddenly organise a meeting with the entire Emilia camp"

Emilia: "Is something wrong Subaru? Did something bad happen?"

Subaru: "No Emilia. It's nothing like that"

Rem: "Then why did you gather us here? What was so important that you needed to gather all of us here?"

Subaru took a deep breath. And turned to Meili

Subaru: "Hey Meili. Could you put her on the table for everyone to see"

Meili: "Sure thing Onii-san"

Meili held her hands out over the table and out of her hands, the entire camp saw a small red scorpion.

Emilia then realised something about that particular scorpion

Emilia: "Subaru. Is that…?"

Subaru: "Yes. This is Shaula"

Emilia and Ram had strange looks on their face, while the rest of them looked confused by what he had said.

Frederica: "I apologise Subaru-sama. What exactly are you saying? I do not know the whole story about what happened at the Watchtower but-"

Ram cut Frederica off

Ram: "We encountered the Sage's apprentice, Shaula at the Watchtower. When the rules of the Watchtower's rules were broken, she transformed into a giant killing machine"

Petra: "Killing machine? That's scary!"

Ram: "Of course. Although Ram was not there to see it, Shaula turned to dust."

Frederica: "Oh my. The sage's apprentice transformed into a monster and…turned to dust?"

Garfiel: "So yer sayin' she died?"

Subaru: "Not exactly Garfiel"

Everyone looked at him with a look of confusion

Garfiel: "Whaddya mean Cap'n?"

Subaru sighed

Subaru: "Yes, Shaula transformed into a monster and eventually turned to dust. But out of that dust came this."

Subaru picked Shaula up in his hand and then used his other hand to pet her head

Subaru: "Shaula didn't die. She exhausted all her power and reverted into this small red scorpion you see now"

Everyone had a look of surprise. Emilia saw Subaru's face. Shaula being in her human form had bothered him these past few months since he came back. She thought about possibly taking him on a date to cheer him up later.

Garfiel: "What're ya sayin' Cap'n? This thing here is Shaula?"

Otto: "No way"

Roswaal looked shocked at first. But then he wore a devious smile

Roswaal: "How interesting. Aaaaand I am assuming that you are going to teeeell us that you've found a way to restore Shaula to her human form, right Subaaaru-kun?"

Subaru's eyes twitched at Roswaal for a second. He looked around at everyone in the dining room. They all had looks of unease on their face. Subaru took a deep breath and collected his thoughts.

Subaru: "Yeah. I think I've found a way to bring Shaula back"

Emilia: "You…want to bring Shaula back"

Emilia felt a strange sense of discomfort welling up inside. She couldn't understand why she was feeling this way. Maybe it had to do with the fact that Shaula's advances made Subaru feel uncomfortable. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was that made her feel this way.

Subaru: "Is something wrong Emilia-tan?"

Emilia was snapped out of her thoughts by Subaru talking to her.

Emilia: "Oh, it's nothing. Sorry, I must be tired."

Subaru: "OK, good."

Subaru cleared his throat.

Subaru: "Anyway, um…a few days ago, I sent a letter to Crusch-san's manor, asking to speak with Felix. As you know he was able to successfully engineer the Dragon Blood we got from Volcanica and undo the effects of Lust's victims in Pristella."

Garfiel and Otto flinched, remembering what happened in Pristella. But remembering seeing the miraculous effects the dragon blood had on most of its victims. People stricken by the sleeping beauty sickness had woken up, the people transformed into flies, piles of meat and dragons being transformed back into humans, Garfiel remembering how he had shed tears of joy when his stepfather Garek had been brought back and his mother and half-siblings were happy to have him back.

Subaru: "Hey sorry Garfiel. I didn't mean to-"

Garfiel: "Nah! S'all good Cap'n! It went great! No need ta apologise for anythin'!"

Garfiel laughed and gave a toothy grin, putting Subaru at ease. He then pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and started unfolding it.

Subaru: "Ok. So, I got a letter from Crusch-san yesterday and she said Felix was willing to talk about helping Shaula"

Beatrice: "Enough! Let Betty say something already I suppose!"

Subaru: "Sorry Beako. Guess I got a little carried away"

A few days ago

Meili: "Eh? You wanna bring naked Onee-san back?"

Subaru: "Yes I do"

Beatrice: "What are you talking about, I suppose? Do you know a way to restore the sage's apprentice?"

Subaru: "Weeeelllll, not exactly."

Meili: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Subaru: "It's not so much I know a way. It's more that I'm hoping that the circumstances are on our side."

With that, Subaru explained to Meili and Beatrice his plan.

Subaru: "I'm hoping that Felix has some of that Dragon Blood leftover after he used it on Pristella's victims. That way he could use it to do to Shaula what he did to Lust's victims."

Meili and Beatrice sighed and looked at him in disbelief

Beatrice: "So your plan to help the sage's apprentice is based on whether the healer has any of the dragon blood left, I suppose?"

Meili: "That's stupid Onii-san"

Subaru: "Yeah, I know. But that's all I've got. I can't think of anything else."

Beatrice: "It isn't a stupid plan in fact."

Subaru was surprised by Beatrice when she said his plan wasn't stupid.

Subaru: "Really Beako?"

Beatrice: "Of course in fact. I don't know anything about treating patients as that cat-boy-girl does, but I'm certain that the victims of Pristella aren't the only ones influenced by Gluttony and Lust. So I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to produce a substitute which could mimic the effects of the original dragon blood I suppose."

Beatrice let out a small sigh.

Beatrice: "So, if bringing that weird girl back is what Betty's contractor wishes, then I will assist, I suppose"

Honestly, Beatrice found Shaula's antics extremely annoying, and she hated how she'd always force herself on him. However, she'd also seen how much her current condition had affected him. Despite her irritating personality, Subaru valued Shaula and wanted her back.

Beatrice had been angry at Emilia for taking advantage of her contractor all this time and making him wait and sink into depression. But talking about bringing that scorpion girl back had made him seem happier than he had ever been in the past few months since his return from Vollachia. If bringing Shaula back could make her contractor feel better and take his mind off how selfish Emilia was being, she would support him and be by his side throughout all of it.

Subaru: "Thanks Beako. Sorry if this is a lot to ask."

Beatrice stood proudly, puffing out her chest

Beatrice: "It is, in fact. And you can repay Betty with lots of hugs and headpats whenever she wants I suppose."

Subaru then grabbed Beatrice and spun her around

Subaru: "You're a lifesaver Beako! I don't know what I would do without you!"

Beatrice: "Stop spinning I suppose!"

Meili: "You're so noisy! I get you're excited but tone it down a little!"

Subaru then stopped spinning Beatrice and put her down

Subaru: "Sorry, I got a little excited. Anyway, I'll write a letter to Crusch-san's manor tomorrow."

Back to the present

Subaru: "So Beatrice, Meili and I talked and we decided that we were going to go on a trip to Crusch-san's manor and speak with Felix."

Emilia: "I see"

Emilia smiled bitterly. She was happy that Subaru was trying his hardest to help someone he cared about, but she felt a little hurt that he didn't talk to her about his plans.

Subaru: "Hey uh, Otto? Garfiel? I hate to ask this but, I don't feel comfortable driving a dragon carriage all by myself so uh-"

Otto: "Sorry Natsuki-san, I wish I could, but I've got a lot of work to do."

Garfiel: "Yeah. 'ppreciate the offer Cap'n, but Mimi-chan has some time off from 'er work and she's comin' 'round ta visit fer a few days."

Subaru flinched a bit. He did want to spend time with his two best friends, but they both had relationships and women they both loved in their lives. Subaru had seen Otto and Garfiel with their respective girlfriends. They clearly loved Frederica and Mimi and wanted to make time for them.

So Subaru let it slide because he didn't want to get in the way of their romance. But that just brought him back to his stagnant relationship with Emilia.

Subaru shook his head.

Cut that out idiot! Your heart belongs to Emilia-tan! Stop being such a petty little shit!

Subaru: "It's ok guys. If you want to be with your girlfriends, don't let me stop you."

Otto and Garifel blushed lightly at their bro's teasing.

Subaru: "You can come if you want Emilia-tan. I'm sure you could use a break from the Royal Selection.

Emilia was snapped out of her thoughts by Subaru asking her if she wanted to come with him on his trip.

Emilia: "Oh, I-I'd love to-"

Ram: "Stupid Barusu! Trying to distract Emilia-sama from her duties, are you? Your depravity has no limit it seems"

Subaru: "Don't just jump to conclusions like that on a whim!"

Ram: "Emilia-sama, you have several meetings with the Western Lords in the coming month, so you should focus on making a good impression for the Royal Selection, as opposed to succumbing to Barusu's perversions"

Subaru: "Could you not make me out to be some kind of creep?!"

Emilia: "O-oh of course, I almost forgot. I'm reeeeeally sorry Subaru, but I have a lot of meetings to attend for a while."

Subaru: "Nah. It's fine. The Royal Selection is important. I understand."

Rem: "I'll go with you."

Rem stating that she wanted to go with him caught Subaru off guard.

Subaru: "Um, really? I figured you'd want to stay with your sister."

Ram: "Disgusting Barusu. Not only do you seduce my sister but then you try to drag me down to your level of depravity."

Subaru: "That is not what's happening here."

Rem: "Yes. I will accompany you. And Spica can join us."

Subaru: "O-ok. If that's what you want then-"

He was cut off when Spica rushed up to him and hugged him tightly.

Spica: "Uwaaa!"

Subaru was surprised by Spica's sudden display of affection. But he returned her affections by petting her head, unaware of his contracted spirit, pouting up a storm.

Beatrice: "The nerve of that girl. Who does she think she is I suppose?"

Spica: "MMMnnhhh!"

Spica responded to Beatrice's jealousy by sticking her tongue out at her. Which only served to irritate the great spirit even more.

Subaru petted both of them on the head, trying to ease the tension between the two girls

Subaru: "Beako, Spica. Don't worry, I'll make time for both of you"

Beatrice: "Fine. But that girl should watch her back I suppose."