Karsten If
Chapter 3: Starting The Madness
"Hey, Blue… ain't this a little outta pocket fer a reinforcement campaign?"
Steering his dragon forward, the catboy glanced at the mercenary beastman trodding beside him on his giant wolf.
"What do ya mean, Ricardo-san?"
"I mean look how extensive this all is… Yer lady ain't holdin' back with all of these people around."
They both looked around them. The sight of forces Crusch had amassed to come with her after the expedition against the White Whale was impressively large, almost like an army.
"Dontcha think that boss-bro wanted a smaller force o' men to come take care of Sloth? That's what we've been told by big boss…"
"Subaru-kyun and Anastasia-kyun agreed to a smaller force…" Felix looked at the man with a concerned gaze. "Why hasn't Crusch-sama been informed of such a deal?"
Ricardo simply shrugged as he manned his white wolf. "I ain't sayin' this was some secret, I thought the green princess would know more than us since we're small fry to the big leagues over 'ere."
"I stand by Crusch-sama's side no matter the occasion, so I would've heard about such an agreement if she was involved, nya…" Felix gripped the leash on his dragon a bit tighter.
"No matter the occasion, eh?" Ricardo had a knowing glint as he grinned and pushed his ride forward. "I thought it was weird how shocked ya were once yer lady told us we're aboutta fight the Witch Cult… She didn't tell you about that either, did she? Or ya weren't even beside her when that happened—"
"What is it you want, nya?" Felix grits his teeth in distaste, having the man finally get under his skin enough to warrant a reaction. Ricardo simply laughed in victory and shrugged his shoulders.
"I just wanna know why Julius and the old man weren't taken along… Them two were our best chance at a full victory, that's all." The western beastmen grinned at Felix with a raised brow, making the healer sigh and stare thoughtfully toward the rest of the marching ground dragons around him.
"I'll… Ask Crusch-sama myself…" Felix looked at the front of the caravan they were a part of with hesitancy, unnoticed by the satisfied mercenary as he continued to tread alongside his host.
Getting left alone with only questions on his mind, the catboy sighed once more in annoyance and clicked his heels to push his dragon forward more closer to the front. He bypassed the carriages of weapons, bringing himself closer and closer to the very front of the battalion.
Though he loathed to let her keep riding alone as she insisted, she looked every bit as beautiful and strong as he has known her to be throughout the years.
"Noyt even the Whale can make that fact falter about you, milady…"
"Hm? You said something, Ferris?" Her eyes glance toward him as she leans back from her dragon, her handle on the ropes to control the beast was perfect, pose too, and the way her hair fluttered in that ponytail—
"I said that you look ready for a big fight… Ya should take some rest in one of the carriages."
"Ah," she had a small frown as she glanced backward. "I'd rather not leave room for error."
"Or ya don't wanna mingle with those guys…" Felix took a good glance at her gloved hands, noticing how tightly they gripped her dragon's lead when he spoke about the people behind them. "Not all of them were a part of what happened with the center group…"
"It's not about any of that," her voice was firm and detached, eyes on the road ahead without a hint of emotion seeping through. "What happened in that battle against the Whale is no one's fault but my own. I take responsibility for it."
"That's distasteful, Crusch-sama," Felix felt his own grip tighten as he watched Crusch's expression with scrutiny. "Lying to yourself and then to me, nya… You're growing cruel."
"I don't have time to joke around, Ferris. I need to think about what's to come next, soon we arrive at Arlam."
"..."
The silence that fell on them was heavy. It appeared that much to his heart's discontent, there was a certain mental wedge driven between them. Felix wasn't unwise to understand that he wasn't at fault here. It was his lady's amazing stubbornness that fully dispatched his feelings on the matter, knowing that she was resigned to face things on her own as always.
Wanting to think about anything else rather than how useless he was, Felix decided to ask another question.
"Um… I originally intended to ask about the numbers we have… Were we supposed to have been a smaller force when entering Arlam?"
"... According to the previous plan, yes. This number is a great much more than what was originally agreed upon by our camp, Hoshin's, and Emilia's." Crusch responded without looking back at him, her eyes stuck on the road.
He looked at her apprehensively. "... So you changed Subaru-kyun's wishes…"
"That idiot can wish whatever he wants, I will not have him get killed because of stupidity." Giving an emotion finally, Crusch had a tone of anger and her deep scowl showed it if only it lasted for a moment.
"Huh?" Felix looked bewildered at the insults she hurled toward a man she showed respect and even admiration most of the time they were treating his wounds. "What… Happened to make ya say that, milady?"
Crusch glanced further away from him, hiding her eyes for whatever reason before she carried on pushing her dragon forward. He assumed she wouldn't say anything to his question, but it appeared she was feeling kind. "... The original plan was for Natsuki Subaru to take one battlement of the surviving from the expedition against the White Whale, and have the reinforcement group that was freshly provided by Hoshin's knights come with him to face against the threat encompassing his master's lands."
"Emilia-sama… The Witch's Cult…"
Crusch's head gives a tight nod. "Sloth… A known active terrorist leader that owned a faction larger than any reported by survivors of the cult."
"Subaru-kyun…" Felix frowned deeply at his front. "Why would he want a small force… Why not take the whole army, mercenary groups, and the knights who came with Julius-kun…"
"It seems to be just like the White Whale… Subaru Natsuki knew where Sloth was attacking from." Crusch looked back to her knight for the first time, her idea directly hinted at without stopping her dragon as they turned on the road.
"... Subaru-kyun planned to ambush the cult?!"
Crusch nodded and looked ahead again. "That boy is a fool. To put such a responsibility on oneself just because they want to be a hero to someone…"
"... Crusch-sama…" Felix widened his eyes in realization, having her mutter that annoyance at Subaru.
"You brought everyone that can fight with you, nya… the other carriages carrying the injured and depleted troops have no guard…" He eyed her with astonishment.
"You took everyone you can get because you don't wanna fail Subaru-kun's mission for him…" Felix felt his heart ache for his lady.
Her only response was a small sigh and a look of regalness as she steered her dragon forward some more.
"I put two capable men to guard the returning… Everyone else came of their own accord."
"So that's why Julius and Old Man Wil were told to leave with them… To protect the entire horde of injured troops until they are back home?" Felix didn't receive an answer from her as she focused on the road.
"That speech you gave wasn't exactly a command, that's true… but…" Felix shook his head at her, seeing through the politics of it all. "Ya really can be nasty when ya wanna be, my lady."
Crusch gave her knight a small smirk for the first time. "I'm afraid I'm not unlike my knight in that regard, hm?"
At this, the catboy started blushing a bit. "I-I do what I must to help, Crusch-sama… ya looked like you were in a pinch…"
Crusch's eyes softened visibly and she moved to swiftly pat the boy's ears across from the space between their dragons.
"Thank you, Ferris. I'd not have been able to get this many people with us had you not helped my speech."
Us…. Felix didn't lose the intention behind her words. She knew that no matter who came with or against them, Felix would always be by her side.
Hearing this filled him with more courage to smile back at her… and ask a certain question he's been waiting to get an answer for…
"Ya worried about Subaru-kyun, Crusch-sama?"
Felix noticed immediately resignation in her facial features. Her eyes downcast but still on the road in front of her, Crusch gave another, tired, sigh.
"Knowing what he's going to do once he realizes what I've done, It's the people around him I worry about. That boy will kill himself if it gets him closer to a goal."
Felix looked like he had something to say but she surprised him by giving a small chuckle.
"It's admirable if not concerning." Crusch showed her second small smile since the leading of the troops began, and this one wasn't aimed for Felix, she gave it as she patted the dragon she rode on, looking wistful and kind as she always does when they were in private.
Felix bit his lip and stared ahead.
"Wonder how the people around Subaru-kyun are dealing with the guy now… knowing that if he wakes up, he's surely going to make Julius-kun's trip a lot more lively back to the capital…" Felix tried to find humor, apparently succeeding as his lady chuckled at the thought.
He sighed and shook his head. He hoped that whatever happened, Julius would further stop any notion of Subaru outdoing himself and breaking the bandages that Felix worked hard on perfecting.
"Hope we will see you all safe and sound, nya…" he whispered and rode beside his master and lady, giving her his trust and hope.
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"Everyone's fucking dead…" Subaru muttered in pain as the explosion pushed him to the ground. He couldn't get up immediately because of the wrappings around his legs and arms. "My bones…"
"Subaru-kun!" Rem was heard screaming as she pushed her bruised body beyond its limit to carry him of from the dirt.
"Damn…" Subaru cursed as burning pain filled every limb he owned. "The bandages Felix worked so hard to make are falling apart… Shit… It hurts…"
"Please hang on, Subaru-kun! I shall be taking you with me back to the Arlam village."
"Hang on, Rem!" Through the pain, he shouted and gritted his teeth, the girl carrying him wanted to ignore his words but she stopped running when he threw himself out of her arms. "Subaru-kun!"
"Argh… Shit!" He coughed and quickly raised his head from his position in the dirt to look onward.
"Subaru-kun! We must leave quickly…" Rem kneels by his side and begins to work on handling his body so she can carry him over again.
"I need to see…" His voice stopped her in place from how cold it was. Even though he was withering in pain against the muddy road he was thrown on, he had a large intensity to his eyes that made her backtrack her hand from touching her beloved. "I need to know… Who they are!"
Subaru's shout forced the aggressors beyond the bloodied field to look at him.
When Subaru was saved by Julius, he couldn't get a good look at his second attacker, the one who happened to just appear from behind him with a blade on his neck. It was too fast for him to feel the weight of the person but now that Subaru sees them together, he realizes how peculiar these people look.
The one who caused the first carnage of all the carriages and ground dragons while appearing unharmed amongst the bloodied corpses, an unremarkable man in a priest's dress that reminded him of knock-off royalty parties back home.
His second attacker, and the one trading blades with Julius, a young boy that looked no taller than the village kids back in Arlam. Long hair, and a twisted smile to complete the 'hobo' look that Subaru began associating with the short attacker.
"This isn't the time for any mistakes to be made, Subaru Natsuki!" Julius grits his teeth in a surprising grunt as he rocks his sword against the swift slashes the boy keeps delivering to him with cackles. "You need to go back to the original plan! Now!" He specifically refused to insist on speaking details, Subaru had realized.
"Julius you piece of shit! You're not going to stay here and let me deal with everyone's disappointed faces!" He can't look the man in the eye, not after what Julius had done to him… But more so than not, Subaru couldn't feel anything but shame as the knight was hacked and slashed repeatedly because he put himself between Subaru and this monster of a boy.
"~~~TSU~~~!" The boy laughed as he dirtied the white coat on Julius with another kick.
"Julius-sama!"
"Hey! Stop!"
The boy's grin showcased a sense of sadism as he stepped back, blood coating his arms from the slashes he'd put on Julius.
"... Hehehehehehehe, how refreshing! This sensational, honorable, and pleasurably perfect dining has appeared before us! Tis' enticing, tis' original, tis' enthralling!"
"Who the hell are you?!" Subaru spat some blood as Rem held him up. He glared all the hatred within his heart onto the bloodied boy before them. He realized that the blood covering the child from head to toe wasn't his own… But the men around them.
"You…"
"How incredible this is~, we came because our pet was thwarted even though we were told to come here with it. We didn't expect such a fine feast as this~."
"Your pet?" Julius coughed and readied his sword while keeping his eyes on his enemies. "Speak clearly, you monstrous being!"
"Yes yes yes! We felt signs our pet's been done in, so over we come to look and, ahh—what a wonderful harvest we have here. So great, how great, pretty great, sure's great, maybe great, surely great, isn't it great, definitely sure is great! Tenacity! Love! Hatred! Chivalry! So many joys and sorrows interspersed! Which's exactly why, which's exactly why, eating them is filling!"
Julius looked at the man with burning rage.
"Those people at your feet were fellow soldiers who gave their all in defeating a monster of legend. You've been disrespecting their corpses by standing there, and to top that, you have the gall to speak so self-centeredly like the world awaits for you to finish rambling. You best name yourself immediately!" The knight's anger could be felt through the tone of voice he spread across the Lifus highway fields.
"We don't disrespect such gallant, divinely driven, courage-filling foods~! We have come ourselves because of a call made only to us! We haven't eaten people who are so strong in a long time~!"
"What the hell is talking about…" Subaru looked at Rem with distinct alarm, "He's insane."
"We need to leave!" She quickly helped him up and looked around.
"R-Rem, wait a second! Julius is still there—"
"Do not worry, you fool! Just leave." The knight in question admonishes, teeth still gritted from pain from the plenty of gashes across his body.
"Nobody was asking you, shut up for a moment!" Subaru traded glares with the knight he hated so much from the bottom of his heart, yet both seemed to be owning the same expressions of pain and self-sacrificial determination to the point he felt like he was staring at a mirror… One he wanted to punch.
"Say,"
Everyone froze as the white-haired individual beside the boy spoke for the first time.
"How utterly absurd this situation has become! The sheer audacity, the unfathomable disrespect! Do you not realize who stands before you? I, the paragon of perfection, am being ignored? How dare you overlook the most important, the most magnificent presence in this room? You must be delusional, or perhaps, pitiably blind, not to acknowledge my grandeur. It's inconceivable, truly, that such an oversight could occur. To ignore me is to ignore the sun, the stars, the very essence of existence itself. Have you not heard of my unparalleled achievements, my divine justice that surpasses all understanding? Let me enlighten you, though it pains me to stoop to such a level of explanation. Every word I utter is a gem, every thought a revelation. My voice is the symphony of truth, the melody of righteousness that you, in your utter insignificance, are unworthy to even listen to, let alone disregard. To think that my time, the most precious commodity in the universe, is being wasted on ingrates like you! This is an affront, a grave injustice! I will not stand for it, I will not be treated as some inconsequential being when I am the pinnacle of existence, the quintessence of all that is noble and just. Henceforth, heed my words, for they are the decree of fate itself. Ignoring me is not just folly, it is a sin against the natural order, an aberration that cannot be tolerated. You will listen, you will acknowledge, and you will bow to the undeniable truth of my supremacy. For I, will not be ignored—"
"Can you just shut up? Who the hell are you?!" Subaru shouted more than his damaged chest allowed his lungs to expand, but he didn't care. He glared towards the man who stared at him from the far spot across the bloodbath. "Listening to you is more painful than all the pain in my body right now! Holy shit—"
"Subaru-dono!" "SUBARU-KUN!"
The world turned as he was thrown alongside Rem from the spot where the white-haired man had waved. It was a simple wave from a man who was yards away from Subaru's position. The only threat physically was the fast-paced boy who had been eyeing Julius with lust or hunger, Subaru didn't care.
That man's wave… sent a strike of wind that tore the very earth as it traversed towards him and Rem.
Subaru barely had time to react before Wilhelm, the Sword Demon, pushed him out of the way with a forceful shove. Time seemed to slow as Subaru tumbled to the ground, his eyes widening in horror as he watched the razor-sharp wind tear into Wilhelm.
"No!" Subaru's scream was a raw, guttural sound, echoing his disbelief and anguish.
Wilhelm's body was shredded by the wind, his limbs and torso torn apart in a grotesque display of blood and gore. The air was filled with the sickening sound of flesh being ripped and bones being shattered. Blood sprayed in all directions, painting the ground red.
Rem, as she tumbled and held Subaru close to her, gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "Wilhelm-san..." Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with sorrow and disbelief. She clutched onto him tightly, trembling in place.
"No…" Julius whispered in anguish but closed his eyes to stop looking at the bloodied remains.
"This isn't good at all~... Even though our pet's been done in by you guys, you don't seem to show us the true extent of your abilities here. What is this feeling that oozes out of every one of you? What is this love? What is this sorrow? What is this excitement and horror?! Hahahahaha!" The boy's high-pitched voice forced both Julius and Subaru to glare at him with hatred, both of their gazes sharp, both of them enraged.
"Interrupt me? Interrupt me?! You dare to cut off the flow of my perfect words, the harmonious symphony of my thoughts? How dare you, an insignificant speck of existence, presume to silence the voice of the highest existence? Do you not grasp the gravity of your insolence? My words are not mere sounds; they are declarations of divine truth, reflections of absolute perfection! Every utterance from my lips is a gift to the world, a beacon of enlightenment in the darkness of your ignorance. To interrupt me is to disrupt the very balance of the cosmos! You, with your pitiful understanding, cannot even begin to fathom the profundity of my thoughts. My intellect towers above yours like a mountain above a grain of sand. I speak with the authority of Greed, the unwavering certainty that everything I say is of the utmost importance. And you—how dare you—trample upon this sacred communication with your banal interjections? Do you believe your words carry any weight in the presence of my magnificence? That your mundane thoughts could ever compare to the brilliance of mine? It's laughable! I am the pinnacle of human excellence, the epitome of righteousness and justice. Your interruption is not just rude; it is blasphemy against the natural order of things! Know this: to interrupt me is to invite the wrath of the gods themselves. It is an act of supreme arrogance, a transgression that cannot and will not be tolerated. You will learn your place, and you will remain silent while I dispense my invaluable wisdom. So, let this be your final lesson: never, ever interrupt me again. For to do so is to court disaster, to bring upon yourself a fate far worse than mere death. My words are sacrosanct, and you will listen, reverently and without interruption, to every single one of them."
The man in the back of the boy tapped his foot on the ground and pointed to Subaru with a hateful glare.
"That self-centered attitude on you both remains the same as his… That arrogance… That 'number one is me' mindset…" Subaru's glare was levels beyond hateful when he returned it to the man, and he wished the boy was having his fair share of it too.
"You both are just like that bastard Petelguese." He glared at them knowingly as Rem and Julius listened in.
Both entities beyond the highway seemed to grow rigid at his words, bringing their attention in union toward him. They seemed to dislike the name Subaru had attached to them but they gave him a nod that seemed prearranged almost.
"Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult representing Greed, Regulus Corneas." The white-haired, unremarkable yet extremely self-centered man gave a sinister smile.
"Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult representing Gluttony, Ley Batenkaitos!" The boy's giggle filled the air as he jumped in place on the blood-soaked grass with his wrist blades waving aimlessly.
"Archbishops…" Julius grunted, his glare never leaving the two as he staggered to his feet.
"Witch's Cult… Subaru-kun… Are they here because of…" Rem looked down at her beloved as he glared straight toward the two with such hate she had to admire his eyes for fear sparks may leave them.
"They are here because we killed the White Whale and threatened Sloth… They are here for Emilia…" He struggled to get to his feet, bandages forgotten and her hands helping him forward. "I should've known… It was all too good to be true… I can never save them no matter how hard I try…"
Rem's mouth went thin as she heard his whispers. She noticed the glint within his eyes that she couldn't because his hate was so strong. She noticed the fear… The panic…
"Maid…" Julius locked eyes with Rem for a moment. "Go. Now."
Feeling the urgency from the knight, Rem gave the man a final nod of respect. "Thank you, Julius-sama the Knight. Rem apologizes…"
"Just go." His voice serious without a hint of resentfulness, Rem dislodged the apology in her mouth for how rude she had treated him before.
"Julius… You won't even look at me, you bastard…" Subaru shouts beyond the struggle to fight his pain as Rem begins running with him over her shoulder.
"I'm sorry… But I don't want this to be a goodbye to someone I respect." Subaru could hear Julius say this as the boy named Ley dashed toward them, stopped by a brilliant kick from Julius that sent him flying into a pile of bodies from the demolished caravans.
Subaru looked at the desperate scene with utter disbelief. The destruction, the lives lost, and the final stand between Julius and the terrifying opponents that faced them.
The knight Subaru hated with all of his heart had assorted six lights of what Subaru recognized as lesser spirits around him. The man brought his sword forward with a bright light that blinded the world itself beyond the people on the ruined highway of the Lifus plains.
"Al Clauzeria…" A loud explosion followed behind Subaru as he was turned around by the abnormally strong girl handling him.
His hisses of pain didn't falter either as she strapped him down on something harsh and warm.
"What are you… Is that you Patrasche?" Subaru's ears heard a familiar fond screech and the thing he was being roped against began moving in discontent. It was the back of his black dragon. "Why are you putting me like this on her, Rem? I can't move my arms or legs but you can… Rem?"
"I'm sorry, Subaru-kun…"
She turned her body around and tapped on the dragon's hind legs… A signal for the prideful lizard to move.
"NO! PATRASCHE!"
"I hope that even for a little bit… Your heart ripples for me, my hero…" She smiles warmly to him. Explosions filled the air in the background as Julius drew his last strength against the enemies forward.
And Subaru's screams were drawn out as his dragon used its best energy to get away from the scene of carnage. Running like lighting with her master roped and bandaged on her back. Riding the wind while Subaru sobbed and tapped his head against her neck, trying to break her scales and get to make her turn back.
"Stop… Patrasche… Please… I need to go back for Rem… Please…"
The prideful dragon gave him a most understanding screech but kept going forward nonetheless.
Behind them as they went further away… The explosions ceased… And Subaru knew that the victor wasn't going to be the smug bastard he hated or the stubborn selfless girl he loved…
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I wonder if he's going to be okay…
Or you wonder if he will be angry that you took his mission from him.
He can't face the Witch Cult with those injuries…
He wanted to be the hero that saved Emilia.
It's not my issue if he has no sense…
Yet you put yourself in his place to protect him out of guilt.
Crusch Karsten rode at the head of her battalion, the rhythmic thud of her ground dragon's steps resonating through the earth. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden hue over the dense forests flanking the dirt highway. Her army's morale was high, their collective resolve like a tangible force behind her.
She gave a shake of the head. Her mind's voice disappeared to the back of her consciousness as she commanded her dragon forward some more.
"Crusch-sama… Don't stray too far, milday, nya!"
But then, an eerie stillness fell over the world. The sounds of the forest, the clinking of armor, the conversations of soldiers—all of it ceased in an instant. Crusch's eyes widened in alarm as she pulled on the reins of her ground dragon, bringing it to an abrupt halt. The beast trembled beneath her, refusing to take another step forward.
"What's going on?" she muttered, scanning the surroundings.
In the blink of an eye, her entire army vanished. The once bustling highway was now desolate, an expanse of emptiness stretching out before her. Crusch's heart pounded in her chest as she dismounted, her feet hitting the ground with a soft thud. She turned in a slow circle, her sharp eyes searching for any sign of her comrades, but there was nothing—only the oppressive silence and the deep, unsettling blue that seemed to wash over the world.
She stopped with a hitched breath as she noticed. Not only did all of her army and comrades disappear suddenly… But the world was a different color.
Everything was deep blue. The trees, the sky, and even the ground seemed to be bathed in this unnatural hue. Crusch could feel a chill creeping up her spine, a sense of otherworldly wrongness settling over her. She placed a calming hand on the side of her ground dragon, but the creature was visibly distressed, its eyes wide with fear, its body quivering.
"Steady," Crusch whispered, using the familiar tone she'd given her mount in an attempt to soothe it. But her voice sounded foreign to her ears, swallowed by the all-encompassing blue.
Taking a deep breath, she drew her sword, the blade glinting faintly in the strange light. She had faced countless battles, had stared death in the face more times than she could count, but this... this was different. This was an unknown that defied logic and reason.
"Show yourself!" she demanded, her voice strong despite the unease gnawing at her. "What is this sorcery? Where have you taken my men?"
Silence. Only the deep blue in response.
Crusch tightened her grip on her sword, every sense on high alert. She could feel the pulse of her ground dragon, erratic and frightened, matching her own. She knew she couldn't stay here, couldn't let fear paralyze her. She had to move forward, had to find her army, had to understand what was happening.
She took a step, and then another, each one deliberate and measured. Her eyes darted around, looking for any sign, any clue. The deep blue seemed to pulse with a life of its own, an omnipresent force that watched her every move.
"Crusch-sama!" A voice pierced through the silence, distant yet clear.
Crusch spun around, her heart leaping at the sound. "Who's there?" she called out, her voice echoing in the unnatural stillness.
"Crusch-sama!" The voice came again, closer this time.
"Ferris?" Crusch's eyes widen in alarm.
"Crusch-sama help!" His voice was far off into the forest… She couldn't hear it well the first few times.
"No… This doesn't make sense… You were riding to my side just seconds before…" Crusch stopped her legs, glaring at the bluish trees and the voice that kept echoing within the depth of the biome.
"This mustn't be Ferris… It's an imitation."
Crusch Karsten's eyes narrowed as she realized the voice calling out from the depths of the bluish forest was not truly Ferris. The tone was too hollow, too perfect in its mimicry. Her instincts screamed at her that it was a trap, and she knew better than to follow it.
"No," she muttered under her breath, gripping her sword tighter. "You won't fool me."
As she turned back towards the road, something caught her eye—a delicate blue flower swaying gently by the roadside, an oddity in the eerie, monochromatic landscape. She approached it cautiously, her sword ready. The petals shimmered, almost beckoning her closer.
In an instant, the ground beneath her shifted. Roots erupted from the earth, transforming into tentacles that wrapped around her wrists and ankles, yanking her towards the flower. Crusch struggled, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she was slammed against the side of her frozen ground dragon. The tentacles tightened, constricting her movements and pressing her against the creature's unyielding body.
Her vision blurred, and she felt her consciousness slipping. The blue world around her seemed to pulsate with malevolent intent. Despair clawed at her heart as memories she had tried so hard to bury surfaced with brutal clarity.
Ah, doesn't this seem familiar~
Sh-Shut up for a moment…
But this finally got fun again! You look exactly how you see yourself! We should find a mirror before we die.
I won't… Die… Here…
Do you really want to say that while drawing your last breath? How about you close your eyes and think about the last time you felt this helpless?
N-No…
But you can't help it can you? Envision it.
She remembered the battle against the White Whale, how she had been saved by others when her own army, her own trusted soldiers, had betrayed her. The sting of their betrayal, the shame of her helplessness, still burned within her. She had prided herself on her strength, and her ability to lead, and yet she had been reduced to a damsel in distress, reliant on the mercy of others.
I do not blame them… I do not blame—
You hate them. We hate them. All of those cowards who abused our courage only to turn and tuck their tails when we needed help the most.
You're just here to sound my darkest thoughts. I have no intention of letting this resentment lead me forward–
It led you to come here, didn't it? The entire reason you forgave and forgot was to get them to help with the taking down of Sloth. And you used your fondness of the boy to make you feel better about needing the people you hate.
I'm here to fulfill his promise for him. He can't do it with his injuries! Subaru Natsuki sacrificed his body to save me! Save us!
And here we are, being the hero in his place just because we need some form of achievement after he did your job for you with the White Whale.
Then there was Subaru, the boy who had shown unwavering courage and determination. She had stepped in to take his place against Sloth, not just to protect him, but to prove to herself that she could still be useful, that she still had worth. But even then, she had felt like a thief, stealing his destiny, his struggle, for her own sense of validation.
This isn't…
You know it's true~~~~
Please… I need the strength to get out of here… Whether it's true about how rotten I am or not… I need to fulfill my promise!
Ah, the promise to take the throne… The hatred towards a dragon that never came to save anyone…
When are you going to stop telling that lie to yourself and accept that you were useless then, when that nicest boy died before you? As you were against the Whale. As you are now with Subaru's fight against his enemies.
And then, the most painful memory of all—Fourier. The crown prince, the man she had feelings for, was taken from her by an illness she could not fight. She had been powerless, forced to watch as life ebbed away from him. She had blamed the dragon, searching for something, anything, to direct her pain towards. But deep down, she knew the truth: she was helpless. Pathetic.
Tears welled in her eyes, mingling with the cold sweat on her brow. The tentacles tightened further, and she felt her grip on reality slipping. She had always strived to be strong, to be a pillar of strength for those around her, but in this moment, she felt like nothing more than a fragile, broken woman.
But I don't think we want to die like this… Feeling helpless and pathetic while every one of those cowards behind us is free to judge our corpse… Look down on us…
"No..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't... I can't give up..."
We have more people to fail… More people to disappoint.
"Crusch-sama…"
As if mocking her, the imitated, cold voice of her closest person sounded from the forest. Crusch could feel the flower holding her in place almost trembling in sick pleasure at the suffering it caused.
"Crusch-sama…"
I wonder if the sweet little brother of ours will be okay with how much of a failure we were against a mere flower… Maybe he will find a better master to serve.
Her vision darkened, the blue world closing in around her. But even as the edges of her consciousness frayed, a spark of defiance flickered within her. She had faced despair before, had stood on the brink of oblivion, and pulled herself back. She couldn't let this be her end.
With a final surge of will, Crusch summoned the last of her strength, struggling against the tentacles. She could feel them give, just slightly, and she gritted her teeth, refusing to succumb to the darkness.
"I am Crusch Karsten," she hissed through clenched teeth. "I will not be defeated by a mere illusion."
As if in response to her determination, the tentacles hesitated, their grip loosening just enough for her to break free. She collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, her sword still clutched tightly in her hand.
Slowly, painfully, she forced herself to stand. The blue world still surrounded her, but it seemed less oppressive now, less overwhelming. She would find a way out of this nightmare. She had to. For her soldiers, for Subaru, for Fourier. For herself.
"Be gone," She commanded and swiped her blade with strength that sent her magic through the air. The wind attack she was known for tore the giant tentacles and eventually destroyed the blue flower that owned them.
Still could've done a better shot.
…Nothing ever pleases you…
And then, like a veil being lifted, the deep blue began to recede, the world slowly returning to its natural colors. The sounds of the forest resumed the chatter of birds, the rustling of leaves, the distant murmur of her soldiers' voices. Her ground dragon relaxed, the tension draining from its body.
Crusch blinked, disoriented but relieved as she saw her army reappear as if they had never left. Her men were dispersed along the side of the roads, all were holding their heads in their hands.
"Crusch-sama…" Ferris, her trusted knight, wasn't on his ground dragon as she had last seen him, he was on the ground beside it. Holding his head and… crying in anguish.
"Ferris…" Crusch knelt to his side and turned him over by force.
"Please don't leave me… I'll do anything you want, Crusch-sama… Please!" He was begging for what seemed to be another version of her. Deep within his slumber but consciously suffering from the horror of his worst fear playing out regardless.
"Oh, Ferris…" Her heart broke at the sight of her knight, and she resolved to quickly asses the people around her.
Crusch let go of Felix, her heart aching as she watched him mumble and cry, trapped in his own illusion. She had managed to break free from the blue world's grip, but it seemed no one else had been able to. The haunting reality of the situation weighed heavily on her shoulders. She couldn't afford to fall into despair now. She had to find a way to save them all.
"No one else seems to be getting out of this bewitching spell but you, intruder." The voice, cold and detached, snapped Crusch out of her thoughts. She turned sharply, her sword at the ready.
A hooded figure stood before her, moving with a silent grace. As the figure came closer, the hood slipped back slightly, revealing a face that felt familiar. Crusch's brow furrowed. She didn't recognize this girl, yet there was something uncannily familiar about her.
"Who are you?" Crusch demanded, her voice steady despite the tumultuous emotions roiling within her. "And what do you want?"
Ram's glare was icy, filled with a disdain that sent a shiver down Crusch's spine. "My name is Ram. And I'm here to ensure you don't disrupt this spell any further."
Crusch's grip tightened on her sword. "I don't know you, but I can't let you keep my comrades trapped in this nightmare."
Ram's eyes narrowed. "You think you can stop me? You don't even know the true nature of this spell."
Crusch took a step forward, her resolve hardening. "I don't need to understand it to fight against it. Release them, or face me."
A small, humorless smile played on Ram's lips. "Bold words. But empty."
Before Crusch could react, Ram dashed forward with astonishing speed, her hand holding a small sword that she picked from a fallen soldier. Crusch barely managed to block the strike, their energies clashing violently. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the air, causing the ground beneath them to tremble.
Crusch pushed back, using all her strength to create distance between them. She knew she couldn't afford to underestimate this foe. Whoever this girl was, she was powerful and determined.
"What are you?" Crusch asked, breathing heavily, her eyes locked onto Ram's.
Ram's expression didn't change. "I am the one who will ensure you do not interfere with Roswaal-sama's lands any further."
The name struck a chord of recognition within Crusch, but there was no time to dwell on it. She had to focus. She had to find a way to defeat this girl and free her friends.
As they clashed again, Crusch's mind raced. She had to think strategically and use every advantage she had. She could see the anger in Ram's eyes, a cold, burning rage that seemed almost personal. Crusch didn't know why, but she knew she had to use it to her advantage.
Crusch's eyes widened at the mention of Roswaal's name. "Roswaal? Do you serve the margrave? I'm here to help. Subaru Natsuki knew something was coming to harm Emilia. That's why I brought my army."
Ram's expression hardened with skepticism. "If that traitor Barusu truly intended to save Emilia-sama, he would be here beside you. He's as loyal as a dog and won't let a situation like this go without his disgusting presence."
This girl is really mean to him for some reason.
It's alarming how many of his friends like to abuse his person…
"He's been injured and taken to the capital for healing," Crusch explained, her voice steady but urgent. "I brought my army to save Emilia's camp and everyone in Arlam Village."
Ram's disbelief was palpable. "Such a convenient excuse. I refuse to believe such a lie."
Their swords clashed again, but Crusch, fueled by desperation and determination, overpowered Ram. With a final, decisive move, she disarmed the maid and forced her to her knees, her blade poised at Ram's neck.
"Why do you assume the worst of me and my army?" Crusch demanded, her voice a mixture of frustration and desperation.
Ram's eyes burned with defiance. "Because a letter from your camp was sent as a declaration of war."
Crusch's heart skipped a beat, her confusion deepening. "A declaration of war? Subaru sent a message to Emilia warning her to prepare an evacuation while I brought the army. It wasn't a declaration of war."
Ram glared up at her, unyielding. "The letter was blank. A declaration of war to the Mathers estate and all of Emilia-sama's allies."
Crusch's eyes widened further, a storm of confusion and realization swirling within her. She glanced away from Ram, her gaze trailing to the road behind her.
"Natsuki Subaru… What have you done?"
To be continued…
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Brooo how could this happen? How could Subaru forget to write the letter and send it in such a way?! He deserves to die again, frfr. (Pay attention to the fact that Rem was the one to write the letter under Subaru's order... And since Rem was deleted by Gluttony... well... No letter)
Thanks for reading and the support through donations. See you in the fourth chapter.