01

When the carriage had come to a halt and a young couple had stepped out from within its paltry size the people outside found themselves staring at the scene wondering if by chance some princess of high status had come to their small town.

But this never happened. This could have been the conclusion the people of Kararagi would have come to if they had not noticed the spiky haired boy whose appearance screamed broken teenage boy instead of prestigious glorious knight.

The relationship between the two was something people did not know. But they could argue that the girl had very well been a princess and that teenage boy was just using her for her money.

Subaru's shoulders shivered like he had been thrown into a pile of snow on a cold December day. He could've sworn he had been getting a few bad looks every here and there but this was more than usual. The carriage may have not been big or showered in countless gems that one could match with royalty, but.

It wasn't unnatural for nobles to do this so one must have assumed the platinum girl beside him was of nobility.

It was very common for royalty to sometimes ride in a much less glowy carriage if it meant that they would be protected from thugs and thieves who saw this as a quick opportunity to get rich fast from robbing a rich princess or taking her hostage and demanding a ransom.

Subaru knew this well from the time he spent riding in carriages with Emilia. Those thugs sure did love stopping them, not that it worked out though.

Lucky for these two they didn't have to encounter such corruption so far outside of Vollachia. They hired no guards so nothing happening at all was oddly scary and Subaru found himself on edge more than a couple of times. One or two thugs may have been no problem but a whole gang could prove bad, yet.

Pandora had been all the more calm, not worrying about anything. She had the demeanor of a saint and as he watched her sit on her seat staring out the window he found himself becoming more calm like she had casted as spell on him.

And when she caught him peeking at her small pale face she gave a soft smile while waving her snow white hand in a gentle motion.

Something about that had not been normal, Subaru knew but he didn't care. After waving goodbye to the driver on the carriage he caught a glimpse of a strange smile that Pandora had been giving.

A shadow casted down on her face like some kind of witch and just as he blinked and rubbed his eyes Pandora was staring directly at Subaru, her smile looked like a normal young girl.

Still wanting to not look like a weirdo Subaru tried to look away but as it would have it this drew more suspicion then just looking directly at her insead. It was too late as Pandora threw all her weight into his side hugging him, she snuggled into his arms and looked up as if asking for some attention.

(" I must be overthinking things.") Subaru thought which led to another crushing tug to his ribs..

"What must we do ? hmmm ?"

With her free hand she stuck a finger to her chin and tilted her head to the side like a curious girl about to ask some type of question.

And then it hit her while jumping up in surprise and almost taking some of Subaru teeth with it.

"Our time is far from infinite, If I had to say then we might have a month before you start showing signs of sickening. So finding the great spirit of wind is our top priority."

"Hey watch it you almost took me out for good "

"Oh well how about this. Does that feel better ?"

"H-hey quit it!"

It was embarrassing when the voice that pretended to be angry came out as a weak squeak. With her soft slender hands she rubbed Subaru's chin like he was a baby.

Her smile was enough for Subaru to quit pushing her arm. She was like a puppy her body heat melted into his arms and it soon felt like a sin if he removed himself, not that he would.

What man would deny this sense of warmth, definitely not Natsuki Subaru.

"Fufu."

"Ahh so Pandora-chan how are we going to find this spirit, we can't just roam around and hope we find it and even if we do find it how will that solve anything ? "

Subaru had asked the question.

Even with Subaru's experience he had only encountered one great spirit and when that spirit was angry it resulted in an inescapable mountain of despair that only dragged the spiky haired boy deeper into a loop that was already difficult in itself.

If Subaru had said he wasn't scared that would be a complete utter lie. He did not know what Pandora was capable of. Was she a fighter ? Was she a support ? Or did she have a crazy power like the rest of the sin archbishops before him. Subaru had not forgotten, even if he had claimed to now be a sin he had not forgotten the times he spent gargling in his own blood by their hands.

He didn't have Beatrice, she may not have put him out like the rest of them but right now she was not here. He had not known what Beatrice's true feelings were, but right now he had no one but himself and Pandora.

Maybe that's why he had never asked how the sin archbishops became bishops.

The reason for their existence still remains a mystery to even him, but does it matter when most of them are dead ? But what would he do If she had come out and said it was all her doing. What would be Subaru's reaction ? Subaru felt a chill go down his back as Pandora was pouting.

"Hey, hey, hey~ What are you thinking about while I'm speaking? It can't be another girl can it ?"

"No no no you're mistaken but that envious side of you is kind of cute."

"Good answer but, since we were discussing something important I won't consider your punishment now. Later when you think you're safe is when I'll strike."

Pandora made a paw with her hand and struck her head with a tilt. The thought of him soundless sleeping and having a pale petite girl chopping his legs off sent shivers down his spine which soon caused him to clasp his hands together and apologize.

"Ah sorry Panora-chan please don't remove my legs in my sleep !"

"Huh what are you talking about, but good idea i'll write that down ."

Pandora slipped from under Subaru's arm and pulled out a paper and pen from seemingly nowhere. Subaru tilted his head before a realization struck and he began begging the goddess for mercy.

"Say Pandora-chan, let's talk about the great spirit of wind !"

"Hmm, well since we were already on that topic I guess we can pick it back up. "

Subaru breathed a sigh of relief but that didn't last long when the devil called Pandora had awakened a sadistic side to her. If there was a time to leave it would be now, but Subaru had no other choice but to stay and witness this wrath.

"Okay but first we got to collect some things like hmmm knives, darts, rope, candle wax, and a whip."

"Pandora-chan even if you're joking, that's kind of scary ?"

"Joking ?"

She tilted her head in confusion but Subaru ignored this gesture.

"Well let's say we do encounter that spirit. What is the plan after that ?"

"Eh ? You still don't get it do you ? I'm going to have you make a contract with that spirit inorder to preserve your life, don't you see it ? Something similar to that old spirit you had working for you ? "

"But contracting a great spirit is kind of… Wouldn't less mana be an issue for something so powerful and wouldn't that be a little too draining for me. I'm still so young I don't want to become a vegetable to some spirit and what about Beatric- "

"Well mana is not the only thing this spirit wants."

"What do you mean ? "

"This one kind of has a history of uhh killing its contactors, but maybe a little blood could sort this one out."

"Excuse me ?"

Pandora stuck out her tongue and put her paw to her head as if she was saying oops to just now telling Subaru of what could happen.

"I think you'll be fine and plus if anything bad happens you always have me to fix things, remember ?"

It was confirmed. This girl definitely had a lot more than just a few screws loose. Not only would contracting this spirit may result in his death but who knows what would happen if he had confronted it. Death was sure to follow if he decided to pursue and yet he didn't feel the extreme sense of fear fill his brain.

Pandora deserved to get punished but as he tried to grab hold of the girl she had somehow got behind him and pulled both his ears with the force of a thousand rubber bands.

"AH okay~ okay I get it just let me go !"

"I don't think so maybe this will teach you how bad thinking about other girls is when your wonderful and cute girlfriend is here to satisfy you and your every need."

Her hands gently let go of his ears and moved towards his back bringing him into her embrace while the tears in Subaru's eyes became a waterfall of things.

02

Meanwhile somewhere else in a cavern surrounded by a forest that many did not know of and were always told to never step foot in, a spirit lived there and one who did not have such a good conscience enough to let anyone through without at least taking a limb or two if not their life.

This cavern surrounded by a forest did not have a name but to people that lived in Kararagi they called it Zarestia's bed. It was the home of the great spirit of wind and anyone who steps foot into this place will not ever come back.

And the ones that did come back could only report the sound of a bell before a gust of wind came and chopped their flesh into clean cuts as if it had been an invisible knife that had the ability to cut anything like butter.

These were the rules of that small area just outside Kararagi.

The great spirit clicked its tongue. It wasn't the innocent bystanders fault for coming into this forest and losing their lives in the process. If she had to confess the reason why she resided here it was because of its beauty. The clear lakes and the calming noise the wind makes when it comes into contact with the trees and into her cave. How the sun light scatters as the trees cover the forest like a roof.

It was natural that people were drawn to this place because of its natural beauty. But How many more bodies will it take for them to listen. How many more will follow before this place is entirely shut off to nature.

Will it be 5 or maybe even 5,000 more, she didn't bother counting or even cared. One more body to feed her plants was all. She was the great spirit of wind so obviously this forest had been hers. Anything the wind touches is her property, right ?

The wind had grown cold. The great spirit threw her hand down in a downward slicing motion as if she was trying to chop down a wooden board in a master karate exam and watched as the girl before her split in half as the pressure from the wind sliced her body in two. Blood shot out from every angle but the great spirit didn't bat an eye.

Her white hair was stained red but she didn't harbor a smile like when she tore apart her other victims. For some reason she didn't have that same dopamine level rise in her brain like it would with any other victim.

This one had been different.

The great spirit clutched her teeth and closed her hand into a fist.

"Why do you keep coming back !?" Those were the words she said as the blood that stained the scene including her hair mysteriously disappeared and the corpse that was split in two appeared back in its original spot fully revived with not even a scratch on her pale skin.

The spirit blinked as the girl was standing emotionlessly infront of her with only a smile on her face.

The girl had long platinum hair and deep blue colored eyes that represented the sea. But even if this girl had a godlike aura to her, something seemed off about the way she acted. It was almost like she was a doll.

"Great spirit of wind, Zarestia." The girl-like doll spoke with an emotionless tone. A tone that no human should speak with.

Zarestia didn't answer, she harbored disgust for this thing that refused to die. She brought her hand down once more and sliced through the girl with another barrage of wind. It had only been a few seconds but once the blood shot out and stained her beautiful white hair it disappeared all over again as the girl appeared before her once more.

It wasn't the amount of stamina that she found herself struggling with. Zarestia pushed her beautiful white hair away with a swinging motion of her hand. It wasn't that her attacks were becoming draining and it definitely wasn't her getting tired, no, none of that really mattered.

But why had this platinum haired girl kept coming back, what was her motive ? She felt like throwing up at the thought.

She felt like someone trying to kill a fly that just keeps avoiding everything that's thrown at it. Why must it be persistent like this? But something happened that changed all of that.

A few words that left the platinum girl's mouth was enough to change the trajectory of this fight. It was like whatever she said changed reality.

(Huh ?)

Something like a bullet had hit Zarestia in the chest causing her to fly back and cough out blood. What had that girl done to her ? The wind became chaotic and Zarestia fell from the sky just barely catching herself from plummeting her head into the ground. She had landed on her feet but that didn't stop her power from going haywire.

Wind blasted off in several directions destroying trees as many leaves fell to the ground throwing dirt everywhere at such speeds that even with the dirt combined made deadly weapons going faster than a hurricane. The chaotic wind blades sliced through the platinum haired girl's body a few times infusing blood into the wind as it struck.

This was not a good sign.

"Huh what did you do ?"

"Huh what did you do !?"

This had been truly bad for the spirit. Looking to the right she had noticed two things. As the wind continued to grow more it had stopped responding to Zarestia's calls and something appeared to which it shouldn't have.

Then looking down she noticed one thing that had gone missing.

Her Lightsphere had disappeared as well as the platinum haired girl who had been thorn to her side. She was gone as well as her light sphere and also her blood lust.

"Ah ! Give it back! I will kill you ! Give it back !"

The one that shouldn't have been there jumped to the sky and dashed onto a tree. She looked as if she had witnessed someone burn away at her house. She threw her hand up in a stretched out motion and aimed at the city that had been no more than 50 miles away.

And with a flick of the wrist the wind had disappeared and so did the one that shouldn't have been there.

Finding that platinum haired girl must've been the top priority. Zarestia jumped up in a catlike way and stared at the city. She hoped that the people of the city could last before she arrived. She had truly hoped they lived.

Even without the light sphere she could manage even this.

03

Her face was filled with a few mixed emotions. Sadness, grief, and anger were just a few things she felt tug at her heart. She was sad he had left. She felt grief for what had happened. But most of all she felt anger for those around her who had put him in that situation.

Why must Subaru suffer for the things they caused him, if it weren't for that blue haired oni then this wouldn't have happened.

With her blue eyes and butterfly pupils that were drained from its tears she stuck her hand up and pulled the sheets over her small body. These were one of the only things that reminded her of him.

What had she done that drove him away, why had he left ? Those thoughts that plagued her mind were enough for her to believe it was her fault.

When was the last time she had left his room ?

"Whoever that is at the door please make it quick, I suppose."

The person behind the door must've jumped in surprise because the floorboards squeaked as loud as concrete breaking. It seemed like they were about to knock and after a few seconds of quiet. Someone opened the door and made their way inside.

The girl wrapped up in the boy's sheets didn't even make an effort to look her way.

"What is it you want, Half-Beast girl, can't you see I'm busy. "

The girl wrapped her head in the sheets Frederica sighed and sat at the edge of the bed.

"Listen Beatrice I know Subaru had left bu-"

"DON'T ! Ever say his name again ! You people were the ones that made him leave. Your mana is gross I don't want it please leave. "

"Beatrice-sama please calm down !"

"Nooo!"

Frederica grabbed Beatrice arms and legs to prevent her from squirming but that proved to be a mistake as a shard of glass shot past Frederica's face and grazed her skin causing some blood to fall. Frederica jumped back and Beatrice squirmed to the corner of the bed, her hand still smoking from the use of mana.

"Beatrice."

"Don't call me that."

"Rosswaal wanted to inform you were are heading to Kararagi to find a Ryuzu clone that resides there."

"What does that have to do with me ?"

"Whether you go or not that is up to you. But if I do have a say in this we don't know where that boy had gone off to and going to Kararagi could be a clue to where he's gone. It's just a hunch but maybe that Ryuzuu clone knows something and that's the reason Roswaal set this up ?"

Beatrice's ears perked up.

"You say this but what is it you think I'll do I suppose ? "

"What do you mean ?"

"If by chance we do encounter Subaru and he has no reason for coming back what do you think I'll do ?"

"..."

"His presence is still bonded to me. I know he's alive but it's slim. To think I'll support you and not him is outrageous so please keep that in mind and leave me be, I suppose."

It was temporary, but if Subaru was found it would only be a matter of time before she rejoined that boy's arms, that was what she thought, no matter what she had to do she would be together with her contractor once again. When Frederica closed the door something in Beatrice shot up.

"Subaru I will definitely rejoin you!"

Afternote

Now that we're finally getting somewhere I'm interested to see where Subaru and Pandora's relationship goes. As for Zarestia I am interested to see what she plans to do regarding "Zarestia" and the light Sphere. Will She fold to Subaru's charm or will Subaru experience many struggles like he had before. Or maybe the Emilia camp will come in and encounter Subaru or Omega could make an appearance ahh who knows. But Frederica should look out for Beatrice, she does seem kind of crazy at the moment.