Chapter 113: Sunshine On My Shoulders

YN sat by Rem's bedside for the better half the day. Immobilized by his heavy heart and troubled mind, he knew there was little else he could do right now anyway.

But, he had finally been coaxed out of the room by Subaru, saying he needed to talk to YN, and that of course dinner was soon.

As everyone had taken their place at the table, Subaru, YN, and Emilia sat at their usual spots, whereas Frederica and Petra sat further down, and Beatrice's seat was left unoccupied.

She's probably still not in the best mood given what Subaru told me on the way down here...

Subaru had relayed he'd gone to meet with the Great Spirit whilst YN was at Rem's bedside, and what he had learned during their meeting. While she wasn't enthusiastic to see him, he did mention how she had said all the answers they sought currently were in the Sanctuary. —Be it Roswaal's motive for remaining there, the Gospel Subaru had retrieved, or this talk of a "Witch Factor."

Subaru: —she also mentioned you'd get some answers on Rem.

With the groundskeeper on-board with going along to Sanctuary as well now, he trusted Subaru to figure out the way in a decisive manner. It was to his surprise though, Beatrice had also told Subaru that Frederica was the key to gaining access to the Sanctuary.

In the time YN had been by Rem's side, Subaru had also managed to finally get a concrete location of the Sanctuary, namely because Emilia had mentioned YN knew where it was roughly, causing Frederica to cave and tell them. "They would eventually find it going that way" was her excuse for breaking the vow of not disclosing its location.

To all this though, even with the hope he'd make progress in regards to Rem's condition, what reinvigorated the pain in YN's chest he felt right now was the empty table seat to his side.

The very same one Rem would occupy.

Despite YN barely touching his dinner, unable to for reasons beyond the sorrow he still felt, he did pay close attention to a rare view into an important exchange between Emilia and her self-proclaimed knight.

While Emilia had asked Subaru for a "reeeeeaaallly important favor," the black haired boy in question had incorrectly assumed it was for him to stay behind at the Mansion whilst she headed to Sanctuary. And while YN feared it was going to be a repeat of the Capitol for Subaru, he was pleasantly surprised to hear it was the exact opposite request he had assumed it was. "I need your strength" was Emilia's newfound, resolving reason for wanting Subaru to come along, despite any potential danger.

Genuinely happy for him, YN did his best to make it appear he wasn't listening in too intently.

With the passing of that day though, the next two days went by rather mundanely for YN.

While things needed to be prepared for their next excursion to the Sanctuary, YN and Subaru lent Frederica a hand on getting the Mansion back into shape.

YN hadn't much to do outside with his groundskeeper duties despite having been gone in the Capitol. The lawns needed mowing, some flower beds needed watering, but since the Mansion had been in possession of a dedicated groundskeeper for so long now, work outside was beginning to dwindle.

And while this was a boon for those inside who could use the extra help, it only silently pained YN. Everywhere he dusted or cleaned, it only reminded him of Rem.

'Rem wouldn't have let this get so dirty.'

'Rem knew the fastest way to clean this.'

There were times when Frederica would come along to check up on him, only to question how it was YN knew how to do something, or why he was doing something a certain way, and his answer always was—

YN: Rem taught me this way.

No matter what it seemingly was, it all built and built on YN.

He would finally let it out at night, silently letting his pillow become wet with tears when he'd go to bed late at night, —later than anyone else from having stayed by Rem's bedside for so long into the evening hours.

His actual slumber was difficult too. Tossing and turning trying to sleep. Both nights, he'd finally give in, quietly leave his room, and sit by Rem's bedside more, where he'd finally fall asleep from pure exhaustion, head resting on her sheets.

While the gentle moonlight came in from the window, it made the blue haired girl's fair skin glow with radiant beauty.

But waking up for a third time now back in this Mansion, again at Rem's bedside where he had wandered into, a gentle knock at the door was what woke him up this time.

YN: Ugh... Huh?

Picking his head up off the sheets, YN checked himself for any drool on his face, which there was none of thankfully and took a moment to fix his hair and slap his cheeks to wake himself up before acknowledging the next set of gentle knocks at the door, this time having been made a bit firmer given he hadn't responded to the first.

YN: U-Um, yes. Come in.

While YN hadn't a clue who he expected to be knocking, he did have an idea on perhaps why they were knocking.

Damn, it's pretty late in the morning...

As the mid-morning sun shined brightly through the window now, its rays of light greeted the one who poked her head through the doorway.

?: YN-sama?

YN: I told you before... There's no need for the honorific...

While YN had been unsuccessful in quelling that from becoming the norm with Frederica, it appeared as if this was going to be the case with the Mansion's newest resident maid too.

Petra: P-Please forgive the intrusion.

Doing her best to mind her manners and speak as politely as she could under the order of her golden-haired Sensei, the auburn-haired girl bowed in a delayed fashion as she stepped into the room.

A lot of people have begun to call me that as of late...

Whether it was Crusch in her amnesiac state, Frederica, or now even Petra, YN felt uneasy having such a high honorific attached to his name.

Petra: I am only doing so as Frederica-Nee-sama instructs me.

YN: As far as I know, unless I've earned some royal title I was unaware of, we're still coworkers. —Equals.

Petra: That may be... But I've only just been accepted. I just got my uniform yesterday.

Slightly pinching the dress's sides with her fingers and giving a half twirl, the auburn girl was clearly happy to have such fancy clothing for the first time in her life. But to YN, it was strange to see her so enthusiastic about such a demanding job at her young age.

The poor girl is separated from everyone she knows… I guess she took on this job partly so she can stay close to Subaru. She's probably pretty lonely.

With the other half of the villagers all consisting of people Petra called her friends and family, YN pitied the girl.

YN: You might have only started yesterday, but you've learned a lot from Frederica already. You'll be better at the inside duties than I am by the time we're back from Sanctuary I'm sure.

Petra: O-Oh! That's actually why I'm here... It's close to departure time.

Before he answered her, YN looked up to the glowing magic crystal on the wall that told the time.

YN: I guess it probably is, huh? At least I didn't sleep until Fire Time this time...

Rising from his chair he had slumbered in, stretching as he did, YN already had what belongings he needed to take with him packed in his pockets, spare any clothes he had, which he had left in his car the night before for this very reason.

YN: C'mon Sunshine. It's time to go.

Reaching under the Sleeping Beauty's delicate figure, YN gently lifted the blue-haired girl.

Petra: Ah! YN-sama, you shouldn't strain your strength unnecessarily. Despite your hard work, you've refused to eat almost anything these past few days...

With Rem securely in his two arms, he gave a weak smile to the small maid that voiced her concerns.

YN: Don't worry, I'll be fine.

She's not wrong though...

He, too, felt the fatigue she worried about as well.

Petra: YN-sama... I understand you may still feel sad about Rem being asleep, but you should still take care of yourself.

Somewhat earnestly concerned for his well being despite being just an acquaintance to her, the young auburn haired-maid truly was worried for him.

Do I really give off an air of impending disaster or something?

YN: Don't worry too much, okay? I appreciate the concern.

Happy he wasn't just writing her concerns off, the young maid held the door open for YN as he departed with Rem in his arms.

Going her own way though, probably on a task given to her by Frederica, YN was left to his own thoughts as he began his descent of the stairs.

I wish I could explain it… It's not that I'm not eating just because I'm upset about the obvious… Rather, it's more than that it seems.

With Rem being the topic of his thoughts, YN looked down at the Sleeping Beauty in his arms as her hair gently swayed with each step he took on the stairs.

I just can't stomach the taste of anything as of late...

In truth, the bland flavor everything seemed to have now was only amplified. While colors in his vision still seemed muted and dull with the exception of Rem's azure hair, this same sensation it seemed had transitioned to his sense of taste too.

I sort of began to notice that at Crusch's Manor... It was only if Rem cooked it that I liked the food.

Unsure if it was simply this world's choice of pallet, or something deeper in his psyche, YN could only say for certain that he had been spoiled on Rem's own cooking so much he had a hard time eating anyone else's.

Frederica is a good cook too, but it's just not the same as Rem's... Even that super esteemed and famous cook, Diaz Fatsbalm-whatever wasn't as good as Rem.

Trying to understand what it was, YN couldn't put his finger on what it was.

As cliche as it sounds... The only thing I can think of that would be the difference between anyone else's and Rem's cooking, is that she puts love into hers.

But as easy as an excuse as that seemed to be, YN felt that wasn't right either.

The very first series of Loops... When she would warm up food for me and Subaru at our first meeting with Roswaal, it had the same effect on me then too...

While the method made no sense, given all the evidence he had against it, it still was the only plausible explanation.

But that would mean she is was putting 'love' into the food she made for me from the first time she saw me—

Halted on the landing between the first and second floors as the depth of that thought ran across his mind, YN looked down to the girl in his arms once more.

Gently, she still remained unconscious, her resting face was at peace and her hair glistened brilliantly as the sunlight entered through a nearby window.

Given everything he knew about Rem, and how her complicated maiden heart functioned, a looming thought crept over his mind.

That... would be something that wouldn't be unfounded of her...

Feeling struck at the idea that Rem, —perhaps even only on a subconscious level, "loved" him at first sight… It was a weight his currently fragile heart couldn't bear.

Even despite her mistrust and suspicion of him in the beginning, the idea that she potentially held feelings she at first didn't understand either for him... It was all too much of a sudden realization for YN.

But as his brain contemplated it all and he felt his eyes begin to water up, he also put two key connections together, which perfectly explained something he knew of, but didn't understand about her inner emotions until now.

Her guilt...

—It was the single reason Rem had refused to forgive herself for the actions [she] had done in forgone Loops, even with how honest the two lovers were with each other.

Part of what it must be to her, she betrayed her most inner feelings... I've asked her to forgive herself, but how can she when she's got the single biggest betrayal to herself on her own shoulders?

Wishing he had known this before he could no longer communicate with her, YN knew it futile to dwell over things he truly couldn't change now.

Still though, just the idea of Rem's innermost thoughts buzzed in his mind.

Rem, how long did you bottle up those feelings of yours for me?

Somewhat frightened to fathom that Rem had gone so long without saying what she truly felt, YN at least found solace that she had gathered the courage to say it, even if it was only thanks to the conditions that previously terrible Loop had let come about.

YN: We're going to have a lot to talk about when you wake up, even if it's that as soon as tomorrow.

Doubtful that would happen, nonetheless, YN knew the others were waiting on him.

Proceeding down the rest of the steps, YN held Rem tight, keen on doing all he could for her, regardless of what should happen.

His shoes clacking across the freshly mopped foyer floor, YN had a flash of vibrant color follow in his peripheral vision.

Rem's hair...

The floor he walked on had such a mirror finish, that Rem's azure hair was reflecting on it. Of course, that was only because it was more visible due to YN still being stuck in a world full of dull, washed out colors.

I really can't believe it's been this way since I woke up in Crusch's Manor...

While he had no desire to fret over it, he wasn't given a chance as the one responsible for the floor's pristine condition greeted him.

Frederica: YN-sama.

Bucketing her mop, the maid bowed at his presence.

Frederica: Subaru-sama and Emilia-sama are outside packing their carriage. You will be joining them, correct?

YN: I was actually going to be using my own car— er, dragonless carriage.

Quickly recalling Frederica wasn't familiar with his otherworldly item, he feared if she would grow suspicious over it.

I know Subaru hasn't told anyone we're from another world... The only person who ever learned that was Rem... We can only hope Frederica doesn't begin to assume that.

Fully aware Roswaal's maids all possessed highly adept thinking skills and keen wit, YN was worried if Frederica questioned them on it too harshly, their origin would be exposed.

That would just create a way bigger mess when we really don't need that right now...

But thankfully rather than question him on his strange self-propelled carriage, Frederica's focus was locked in on the girl in his arms. Slightly frowning, her well shaped eyebrows furrowed.

Frederica: I still must protest the idea of removing Rem from the Mansion. She would be cared for here, and better off...

As the golden-haired maid tried using the same arguments she had the past two days over to YN on his unwavering decision, her voice trailed off, knowing it was all in vain.

YN: Frederica, it really isn't because I don't believe you wouldn't take care of Rem.

Frederica: I am aware...

The two had gone back and forth on this subject ever since the plans for going to the Sanctuary were better discussed in detail. While Emilia had agreed with Frederica, Subaru had been inclined to side with YN, understanding why he would feel that way, and still partly feeling responsible and guilty for why YN felt the way he did.

Least to say, the current opinion stood at a standstill, with only YN himself being the tiebreaker on the simple matter that no one felt they were in any right to stop him, given the melancholy aura that had begun to hang around him.

YN: I just can't let her out of my sight... Not after what happened.

Still dreading the world he now inhabited, one that was without a trace of Rem's existence, ultimately YN wished he hadn't pushed the oni to go with the wounded and fatigued, or had at least gone with her.

Ever since being reunited with Rem, even in her current state, YN felt a great amount of anxiety and worry by simply not being in close proximity to her. As a Sleeping Beauty, she could not protect herself should danger come about.

But presenting a more rational conclusion to Frederica, YN went on.

YN: If by some miracle we find what I'm looking in Sanctuary for, and Rem awakes, I'm worried how she might feel if I'm not nearby when she does, or if some other issue regarding her pops-up.

Sighing in response, while the golden-haired maid still did not agree, she could not fault his good intentions. Giving in finally, she warmly smiled at him.

Frederica: Rem is very lucky to have someone who loves her so much.

Somewhat shocked to see she had drawn such a conclusion to the depth of his and Rem's relationship, YN could only bashfully smile in response as he looked down at the girl in question.

YN: I would say I'm the lucky one... she's the one who loves me...

As his tone became somber, YN knew with his departure soon, it was a bad idea to let his emotions best him now.

YN: B-Besides, Ram needs to see her, —immediately. I can't let it wait. If I don't go right to her, I'm fearful she'll doubt her and Rem's kinship...

Frederica: I can understand the sentiment, being an older sister myself.

With a brief hint into her own personal affairs, the maid gestured for YN to follow her. Exiting out to the front drive and curb of the Mansion where the ground dragon carriage and YN's car were still parked. It was clear everyone was set to leave soon.

Taking it upon himself to quickly handle his packing, YN gently placed the Sleeping Beauty into his car, and after double checking his belongings, returned to the group where Frederica and Petra stood off to one side, their backs to the Mansion, and Emilia and Subaru to the other side, their backs to the carriage. Joining in on the side of those departing, YN was greeted by Emilia.

Emilia: Are you sure it's a good idea to bring along Rem?

YN: I don't have a choice really...

Subaru: It's for Ram to see her, right?

Correctly understanding where he stood, Subaru could take a well educated guess at how YN thought.

But with more things needing to be said, Frederica approached Emilia, a gift for her in her hands.

Frederica: I failed to mention this the day before, but you'll need this when you arrive.

Presenting Emilia a blue pyroxene crystal, not unlike the green one she wore that still supposedly housed her now absent contracted Great Spirit, she took it into her own hands.

Emilia: May I ask what this is for?

Frederica: The Sanctuary is protected by a special barrier. By having this crystal in your possession, it should allow you to pass with no issue deeper inside.

Going against what YN understood, this seemed like an unneeded caution of some sorts rather than a necessary element for entry.

Skeptically, YN voiced what he knew.

YN: That's odd... Rem, nor Ram ever mentioned needing a 'key' of sorts to enter...

He was sure of it. Neither of the Twins were in possession of, or ever mentioned this needed mechanic when they had tried going to the Sanctuary in the foregone Loop where Rem had been forced to take his life.

Something isn't being said here...

Giving YN first a defeated look, Frederica sighed and looked to Emilia and Subaru.

Frederica: Admittedly, it is because of the Sanctuary's long, dark past and Emilia-sama's own disposition...

Subaru: 'Emilia's disposition?'

Frederica: Yes... I had rather avoided being so crass, but it is because Emilia-sama is half demi-human, half human...

YN: And that also has to do with the Sanctuary's past?

Asking this of Frederica, Subaru spoke up, answering in her place.

Subaru: Something tells me we'll better understand what that means when we get there...

Somewhat uneasy feeling, Beatrice's words of "All the answers to your questions can be found in Sanctuary" echoed in his mind.

At an impasse for any further information, YN quietly thought to himself as their final farewells for this trip were said.

I guess Frederica didn't mean to be rude is all... I can't fault her for that. But—

Looking back towards his car, the hue of Rem's azure colored hair reflected the late morning sun brilliantly as it fell on her through the dragonless carriage's many large windows.

—I have to once again thank Rem. Even though she hasn't been awake for any of this, just her former presence has helped and explained so much so far... Even like this, she manages to keep me going.

Warmly smiling, YN spoke softly enough that no other souls could hear the words off his lips.

YN (whisper): My little oracle...

But taking his warm thoughts off the woman who held his heart, was the sound of his own name entering his ears.

Frederica: —and YN-sama should be able to guide you there if the ground dragon loses its way. From what he has described, he should be familiar enough with the idea to find it.

All agreeing everything had been said, the group of three split with YN who was headed to his car, but as Subaru was the first to board their ornate ground dragon carriage to help Emilia inside, a voice of near protest sounded out.

Petra: Subaru-sama!

Running up before he left, was the youngest and newest maid of the Roswaal Mansion.

Petra: P-Please take this!

With Subaru now being offered a parting gift as well, a pure white handkerchief, he took it with no reluctance.

While YN stood next to Emilia, she expressed her amusement as Frederica explained to Subaru the significance of it, only to have Petra embarrassingly retreat to the golden-haired maid's comfort.

Emilia: *Giggle* It seems between this crystal and that handkerchief, you've been left out of any parting gifts.

As Emilia said this to YN, he shook his head, as he too found Subaru's reaction to Petra suddenly turning 'tsun amusing as well before he answered the half-elf.

YN: I'm glad for him actually. I feel like he needs it more than I do.

With Subaru continuing to pry, thinking he had upset Petra somehow with the way she was acting, and Frederica protecting her, Emilia's tone changed as she replied to him.

Emilia: Umm, YN.

Raising a brow to change in her voice, he prompted her to continue.

Emilia: What I spoke to Subaru about at dinner a few nights ago... when he assumed I didn't want him coming along to Sanctuary, and I admitted I felt like I needed his strength...

Trailing her words off, the silver-haired girl held the green crystal that hung above her chest as if seeking courage from it.

YN: Yeah I remember.

Hoping she wasn't having second thoughts on what she said, inspiring so much confidence in Subaru, her reply wasn't what he expected.

Emilia: I wanted to ask the same of you too. But at the time, Subaru was so surprised, and I still felt rreeeeaaaalllyy bad about how I doubted him in the Capitol... Something just didn't feel right asking you the same thing there as well. But along with asking you that now, I want to apologize if I made you feel left out or less important...

Scratching the back of his head, YN tried to quell Emilia's worries.

YN: Honestly, I'm glad you stuck to just asking Subaru at the time. He really needs exclusive moments like that from you.

Emilia: It did make him really happy it seemed... After our big talk, when he and I spoke in the field after the fire crystals detonated from the Witch Cult, I didn't want him to feel like all that we said between each other was only for that moment. I wanted to show him I really meant those words!

Nodding in agreement, YN understood what Emilia intended.

YN: You were just trying to show integrity and that your words of trust to him are true. I think he understood that as well.

Lightly sighing in relief at his analysis of it, Emilia let him go on.

YN: As for the same request of me, —you have it. Besides just helping a friend, I know helping you is one of the things Rem would want me to continue to do. I can only hope though by doing that, it ends up helping her as well.

Emilia: I promise I'll work hard on helping you wake her up as well, okay?

Nodding his head to her as Subaru finally returned to the carriage and helped her inside, YN thanked her.

YN: Thank you, Emilia.

As the door shut, YN thought how it was good Emilia was no longer being so overprotective of Subaru, either out of pure trust alone, or simply because she knew it was futile to try and stop him, especially given his successfulness.

It's also a relief seeing Subaru have her confidence. I'm happy for him.

Getting into and starting up his car, Frederica waved farewell with Petra at her side, but voiced one final warning to those departing.

Frederica: Please also be cautious of the one known as Garfiel!

Getting their attention, the windows on the carriage were swung open to hear her as the window on YN's car rolled down.

Frederica: He is the individual in the Sanctuary you must all be the most weary of.

Heeding her warning, the two maids quickly bowed as their vehicles began to move once more.

Emilia-sama, Subaru-sama, YN-sama, and Rem... Please return safely.

Departing out of the front gate of the Mansion, the five, which included the ever silent driver, Otto, began their journey to the mysterious Sanctuary.

Taking up the rear, YN followed closely, and to his side was the woman he loved, safely buckled away in the passenger seat.

As the gentle light of the morning sun filtered through the tree branches they passed under, the specs of light danced brilliantly on her hair, the one thing left in this world to YN that still retained its true hue and color.

Rem... I promise we'll get some answers for you.

Riding on the bumpy back-road, YN actually began to feel pressured to keep up with the ground dragon carriage before him.

This thing is gonna shake itself apart by the time we get there...

During the drive, YN had occupied his thoughts with the things Frederica had only briefly described the Sanctuary as, all an effort to better anticipate what he could soon be facing.

At one point, she said it was specifically a place for demi-humans with 'circumstances.'

YN tried to gauge in his mind what "circumstances" could mean, only to become slightly worried what weight that word could hope to convey.

I wish I knew Frederica better to know if she was the type to beat around the bush or just be honest with her words...

As the trip went on, when his mind would delve too far into things he didn't know and that caused him worry, he'd reach towards the passenger seat and grab a hold of the hand of the one who sat in it.

Rem...

Acting like a battery that took in his worry and anxiety, even as she laid asleep, she was helping YN.

Now close to the sixth or seventh time now he'd needed to reach over for her hand, the road for the first time had become slightly less rugged as a visible clearing in the trees opened up to their side.

Turning off into said clearing, Otto commanded Subaru's ground dragon that pulled their carriage to come to a stop.

Wondering if they intended to make some kind of rest-stop out of this location, it wasn't until YN pulled up alongside the carriage did he see why it was they stopped.

YN: Holy crap...

Opposite of their side of the clearing, YN witnessed it.

A massive, stone temple of sorts enshrouded in vines and trees, near to the point of being completely overgrown, spare some stone facade, hosted a dark foreboding entrance, with a steep series of stairs before it.

His eyes open wide at the unexpected ancient wonder, YN shut his car off and stepped outside, taking one large stretch before the driver of the ground dragon carriage leaned around the corner of the seating area he sat in.

Otto: YN-san, this isn't the 'Sanctuary' we're supposed to go into, is it?

Only able to shake his head and shrug, YN couldn't afford the merchant an answer.

YN: I sure hope not. That place has a bad air about it... I can't put my finger on it.

Otto: I can. I call it spooky!

Jumping down off the driver's bench, he readjusted his green, feathered hat as he landed.

YN: Did you ask Subaru or Emilia-sama if this is where we're supposed to be?

Otto: I did, but unfortunately they did not answer.

YN: They didn't answer? Did you open the driver window to see if they fell asleep or something?

Otto: Well, Natsuki-san became annoyed with my presence shortly after we left and locked the view door... Part of why I pulled over was the check on them.

Giving the carriage a worried look, Otto turned the same expression to YN.

Otto: They're been awfully quiet since we arrived into the forest...

Turning away from YN, Otto began adjusting the harness on Patrasche, freeing her from it to give her the opportunity to graze and have a rest.

Otto: Although to tell the truth, I'm afraid to check on them. I feel it may be rude of me to rouse them for such a simple question...

At an impasse of what he should do, Otto's voice trailed off as YN let his familiarity guide his confidence.

YN: Why don't you tend to the ground dragon and I'll check on them?

Otto: R-Really?!

Almost ecstatic that YN was willing to take the fall he feared, his own common courtesy bested him still as he halted his joy.

Otto: B-But wait, YN-san. What if Natsuki-san and Emilia-sama are... well... indisposed?

Whisper the final word of his question of worry, YN snorted in amusement at it.

YN: You think Subaru has that kind of courage at this point with Emilia-sama so early? And in a carriage of all places? That might make sense for traveling merchants like yourself, but I think even Subaru wouldn't allow Emilia-sama's standards to be that low, even if she didn't know any better.

Otto: —hk!

His face turning scarlet as he spun around the resume handling Patrasche, Otto protested what YN had assumed.

Otto: I don't know how you managed to spin that one back on me but I'll have you know that—!

YN: —Yeah, yeah. I'm sure you have. —or haven't. Whatever is the opposite of what you were going to argue there.

Otto: —tch! How can you just break down my serious retort into such a pedestrian affair?! Have you no honor?!

Getting in his share of teasing Otto, YN waved off continuing the discourse in favor of checking the carriage's occupants. Stepping around to the side door, YN knocked with the back of his knuckle in a stiff, but light fashion.

YN: Wakey wakey. Our esteemed navigator has a question.

*Silence*

Without not so much as a stir inside to be heard, a response, had there been one, must have been quieter than that.

Giving two more knocks like the first one, YN called out again.

YN: Hey. Subaru, Emilia-sama.

With more knocks and calls, YN still received no response.

This is only moderately worrying...

Seeing Otto was well off towards the treeline with Patrasche, just outside of earshot, YN knew he was on his own.

No backup...

Taking a deep breath, YN decided to give it one last chance. Pounding his fist on the door to rattle it as much as he could without damaging it, he called once more in conjunction.

YN: Hey! Could one of you answer?! You're worrying us with how quiet you all are being!

Yet still, no response.

Swallowing a lump in his throat, YN assessed the situation.

Well, we know they aren't dead... There's been no Return, and Puck isn't trying to destroy the world...

Out of all the people in the world YN could have trapped inside a Schrodinger's Box, the two whom he was currently unaware of were perhaps the best ones he could be looking for, as each had dire, instantaneous consequences should either of them perish in the Box.

They've gotta just be asleep from the trip... There's no other possible reason...

YN sat his hand on the latch that would allow himself access into the Box, or carriage in this case. Putting down one last lump of anticipation in his throat, he voiced one final shaky ultimatum.

YN: I-I'm coming inside! P-Please excuse the intrusion!

Pulling the latch, the door inside swung open with little effort on YN's side of things.

YN: Subaru, Emilia-sa—

Cutting his words short, was the silver-haired half-elf he was looking for, collapsed on the floor of the carriage.

YN: —Emilia-sama!

Stepping inside the carriage with haste, YN raised the girl off her face.

YN: Emilia-sama! Are you okay?! What happened?!

Alarm bells going off in his head, his heart began to pound in his chest as a dire situation was now unfolding.

Lifting her up by her underarms to the carriage seat, YN shook her shoulders, trying in vain to wake her up.

YN: Emilia-sama! Emilia-sama!

Doing nothing but giving her a case of whiplash, he hadn't a clue of what he should do.

Shit, she won't wake up!

Feeling the familiarity of the problem, a cold and sudden realization flew across YN's mind.

Emilia won't wake up just like Rem won't, which can only mean—!

YN: —hk!

Looking about the carriage, YN noticed one key member was missing.

Where did Subaru go!?

With Subaru's disappearance—, no, his vanishing a better way to put it, this all only compounded YN's now skyrocketing anxiety and worry.

Tearing the opposite seat cushion off, YN made absolutely certain—

YN: He's not in here... Where is he—!?

This was bad. If Emilia was in a coma like how Rem currently was, and Subaru had disappeared without a trace, YN could only draw one conclusion.

YN: Don't tell me Gluttony did this somehow...

Had something happened while his attention wasn't on the carriage? Had his memories been altered in a way he remembered the two in the carriage but not what happened? Worries abound, YN tried in vain to take several deep breaths to calm himself down.

Think! Think! How could that happen!? There's gotta be some sign left behind... Some trace of an alternation...

Looking high and low, all appeared normal in the carriage. Trying to come up with some idea though, one did populate in YN's mind.

YN: Wait, Otto remembered them both... That means that—!

There was still hope.

Gingerly picking up the half-elf in his arms, YN needed to get her to Otto for no other reason than to make sure he still recognized her.

If Emilia were to be subjected to Gluttony's power, maybe she would be erased, but maybe not her stature since she's a Royal Election candidate after all...

While he knew what would more than likely occur if Emilia's memories were eaten, YN knew not the extent the power or reach the Authority of Gluttony had on someone so well known if their name was eaten, but he had to make himself certain if this was the case or not.

Securely holding her in his arms, YN jumped down the short distance it was from the carriage's side door to the ground, but as he did—

*ba-dum—ba-dum—ba-dum—ba-dum—ba-dum—ba-dum—ba-dum—ba-dum—*

Just as his feet were planted on the stone surface below, YN felt a sudden gust of wind behind him. The shadow he had found himself cast in by the carriage that should be right behind him was gone. And as direct sunlight fell upon him in a place it shouldn't, the groan of a crashing disaster happened a moment later to his side.

Quickly turning his head but keeping his body in place to shield Emilia in his arms, YN was appalled at what he witnessed.

YN: —?!

Somehow, the carriage he had just been inside of had been reorientated, facing the opposite way it had been before, not to mention that in addition, it was also upside-down.

Partially damaged from the turbulent action, YN's mouth hung agape as the dust continued to settle.

His mind raced with countless possibilities of explanations, but the single one that kept coming back was how this was entirely too familiar to him.

It's just like the Loop where my car was crushed to smithereens... First there's someone who won't wake up... and then some kind of infinitely strong force... It can't be them again, right?

Fearful that those two— the Archbishops could show up again, here of all places, YN voiced his disbelief of that being possible, despite all the evidence he now was seemingly surrounded by.

YN: —! H—! H-How...?

At a loss for words, YN's stumbling words were cut short by a sharp voice.

?: Oi... Ya' sure gots a lot of bravado showin' up here in such a flashy entourage, outsider.

Speaking crassly, a lone figure spoke from the opposite side of the flipped carriage.

?: Yer someplace you ain't supposed-ta' be. And now yous been caught by me.

Standing opposite of YN, a young man presented himself, cracking his knuckles as he spoke.

Everything from his demeanor, to his appearance, to his words all were rough and untamed. With sharp, shark teeth and short but wavy golden hair, the youth cracked his neck as if loosening up for something.

?: What? Choosin' to be a quiet coward like the Brigand of Tilworth?

Is he making some sort of... reference?

Unsure what was being asked of him, YN had almost asked before a more familiar voice entered the conversation.

Otto: YN-san! Be careful! This guy suddenly showed up and started yelling at us! If he can flip an entire carriage he can—

?: Hey! I thought I told ya ta keep quiet!

Obviously already familiar with this new adversary, Otto, who was about a dozen or so paces away from the carriage yelled out.

Otto: Y-You're the one we were warned about, aren't you!? You're Garfiel—!

?: —tch!

Growing impatient with his yelling, the golden-haired boy quickly closed the distance between himself and the merchant. Stunned by the quick action, Otto stumbled backwards, falling to his back.

Garfiel: And just how did ya manage to hear about my amazing self, eh?

Bending over to get his face even with the terrified Otto's, the golden-haired boy gave the merchant a look of unconcerned discontent.

Otto: I-I-I'll have y-you know that despite looking like a humble merchant, I know to protect myself i-if cornered!

Raising a single hand to his capped head, Garfiel flicked Otto's head as one would flick a pesky bug.

Garfiel: If ya ain't gunna squeak, shut yer mouth. Just go-ta sleep.

Sending Otto into the realm of unconsciousness with such a simple action, he stood once more and turned his attention back to YN who continued to hold the silver haired half-elf in his arms.

This guy is trouble... But I can't do anything with Emilia in my hands...

Garfiel: Well, I was curious how ya knew my name, but now I gotta ask ya a different question now.

Swallowing hard, YN could only muster to nod at request, hoping only to somehow resolve this situation by hearing it. Pointing directly at him, Garfiel asked it.

Garfiel: Why's you got that half-devil in yer arms, huh? What's up with that?

Referring to the girl he continued to hold, YN guessed that perhaps this level of instant hostility may now be made worse by Emilia's presence. While he desired to bark back at all this potentially being because of nothing more than the half-elf's appearance, someone else had beaten him to the punch on that.

?: Don't. Say. That—

Suddenly speaking up from behind the golden haired boy, he stood on the highest step of the overgrown stone building which wasn't far off from where the two stood now. Having just emerged from the dark opening on its front facade, he yelled out as he rushed down from the steps.

Subaru: —in front of her!

Even managing to surprise this powerhouse of a young man, Subaru spun him around as he approached with a hand on his shoulder.

While Garfiel wore what amounted to tape-tied, torn trousers, a waist sash, wrapped cloth around his forearms, and a simple open chest blazer, Subaru grabbed him by the single blue crystal necklace he wore around his neck and pulled him close to lay in his anger at the word choice being used.

Subaru: It's half-elf! Got it!?

Letting his anger disregard any of the freakishly strong feats this boy had just performed, Subaru went ahead trying to intimidate someone many times physically stronger than himself.

Garfiel: —pfft.

Easily shoving Subaru off him, the golden-haired boy had made him fall to the ground with what appeared to be so little effort it was amusing to him.

Stepping forward, it was now Garfiel who picked up Subaru by an article of clothing.

Garfiel: Now, 'make like Bazomazo and sweep right and left!'

Lifting him up, Garfiel threw Subaru with all his might over his shoulder. Aiming for just past YN, toward the flipped carriage, Subaru would have destroyed the carriage and certainly become gravely injured if not for—

Patrasche: —*Squaaa*!

Bracing the impact with her large body, Subaru's trusty ground dragon had come to his rescue, catching him in a much less dangerous way than the carriage would have.

Subaru: —ack! Ugh... Thank you, Patrasche.

As Subaru pulled himself to his feet using the detached straps that hung from the ground dragon's saddle, Garfiel pointed an accusatory finger at the still stunned black haired boy.

Garfiel: You can wait for yer turn n' stay quiet! If I don't like his answer I'll come beat a better one out of you.

Referring to Subaru, then to YN and then back to Subaru, Garfiel barked out his intentions.

Stumbling over towards YN a few paces, Subaru and Patrasche joined their groups together to face this sudden threat that had descended upon them.

With Subaru on his feet and close-by, YN took the opportunity to hand Emilia off to the one who fancied her.

Subaru: She's not hurt, is she?

Fearing she had been inside the carriage when it had been flipped, YN assured him that wasn't the case.

YN: No, I just happened to get her out before that was set to happen, but it was all pure luck.

Subaru: *Sigh* The one time we get lucky... It doesn't look too damaged though. Had Emilia been inside that though when it happened...

Talking among themselves for a moment, the golden-haired boy across from them quickly grew impatient.

Garfiel: Oi! If yous both don't quit yer yammering and answer me I'll flip that damn carriage again!

YN: Are you a child having a tantrum?! What if she was still in there when you'd done that?!

With YN gesturing to the still slumbering half-elf that was now in Subaru's arms, Garfiel didn't appreciate his question being ignored again.

Garfiel: Fine! Have it yer way!

Crouching, the golden haired boy was ready to pounce and deliver a confrontation to those who refused to answer him.

Garfiel: If ya won't answer, maybe if I half-beat ya two ta' death and toss ya outta' the forest myself, you'll know better than to tell anyone about this place!

Keen on delivering harm, a new challenger entered the fray.

Patrasche: *Squaaa!*

Disapproving of harm befalling Subaru, his trusty ground dragon was set to use her immense strength to protect him. After her cry, she charged at the youth with her head lowered and small, upper arms pulled in.

Smiling at the challenge though, Garfiel stood his ground.

Garfiel: Now that's a feeling I haven't had in awhile...

Stoically meeting the impact in the dust the ground dragon had kicked up to send the golden haired boy flying, the impending result was more akin to her hitting a brick wall.

Without so much as himself scooting backwards, Garfiel had the ground dragon in a headlock as he stopped her motion.

Garfiel: Yer a loyal ground dragon, —naw. A loyal woman.

While a surprised look ran across her scaly face, her captor continued to speak to her.

Garfiel: I won't hurt ya.

Readjusting his stance, the freakishly strong adversary raised his voice once more.

Garfiel: —I'll just put ya to sleep!

Somehow finding the strength to lift an entire ground dragon, Garfiel propelled Patrasche above his head and behind his back.

Garfiel: Haa!

Patrische: *Sqaa—!*

Making the ground shudder with the impact, an even larger dust cloud on the stony ground was stirred up.

Subaru: Patrasche—!

Calling out to his ground dragon, Subaru's yell was out short by a sudden rustling in his arms.

Seeing her restless face begin to stir, YN was the first to get Subaru to react, despite him initially noticing it.

YN: Subaru! Emilia-sama is—!

Subaru: —I see!

Dropping down to his knees, Subaru was now effectively giving Emilia a lap-pillow, but that wasn't the pressing realization of the time.

Emilia: Ugh... What are all those loud noises...?

Dropping to a single knee himself, YN pleaded to her to say something, to prove his worst assumption wrong.

YN: Emilia! Are you injured? Do you... remember anything?

Please don't tell me she's like Crusch!

Worrying she may at the very least still be affected by something similar to what happened to Rem still, he was answered.

Emilia: I... I remember a bright light... And then nothing.

Looking to YN to offer context, Subaru whispered it, if only so this wouldn't further startle Emilia as she came back into conciousness.

Subaru (whisper): That necklace Frederica gave Emilia... It began to glow, and then she passed out suddenly. I grabbed it off her because I thought it was draining her mana or something... But then it teleported me to not far from here.

YN: 'Teleported?!'

Shocked to hear such a magical mechanic truly did exist in this world, YN quickly mulled over what that could mean.

If Roswaal is considered to be the best magic user, and he still flies places, that must mean teleportation is exceedingly rare...

YN: —tch.

Cursing the reality he was in, for a moment his mind had defaulted to potentially thinking to ask the one person in this world he knew was aware of his continued unfamiliarity of it.

Rem... I wish I could ask you...

Wondering just how much more complex things could hope to get, his thoughts were ended by Emilia rousing to consciousness more.

Emilia: What... What happened? Subaru, you were suddenly gone... And—

Beginning to sit up now, realizing she was on the ground of all places, the silver haired girl quickly saw the scene that had been developing all around her.

Emilia: The carriage—! And Patrasche!

Seeing the destruction and pain that was plentiful here, Emilia quickly got to her feet, stumbling only a half-step in her still newly conscious state.

Emilia: What is the meaning of this!? Why have you decided to be so violent?!

Immediately recognizing who had to be responsible for these feats, Emilia locked eyes with Garfiel. With her strong sense of justice showing, it was clear she wasn't going to tolerate such actions.

Garfiel: —Aarg...

Growing visibly displeased by those he thought should be answering his question rather than questioning him, the golden haired boy approached the flipped carriage that was now closer to him than the anyone else.

Garfiel: —Gah!

Kicking the flipped carriage in a way that appeared to be less than serious by the body imagery alone, the dealt strength and energy rather translated to the carriage flipping back upright, only to then slowly teeter to its opposite side once more.

Emilia: —!

Managing to flip the carriage twice now, Emilia was left speechless at the display of power before her, something her recently awakened mind hadn't readied itself to see.

Garfiel: I've about 'ad it with all the talkin'!

Pointing at the three facing him, he proclaimed his intent to get even more serious.

Garfiel: If one of yous piss me off again I'll really start smashing stuff! And I'll start with that weird lookin' carriage there!

Pointing over at the only craft that had yet to be involved in this scuffle, the golden haired boy referenced none other than YN's car.

Garfiel: Ya know... It's kinda strange yous all got two carriages but only one ground dragon...

Rubbing his chin with his hand, he became more interested in the brown metal box on wheels, and began to approach the car.

Just as YN was intent on letting his survival instinct keep him standing in place in the safety of numbers, the remembrance of what was in that car spurred him to movement.

—No! Rem's in there!

Given Garfiel's previously just-spoken threat as well, YN couldn't take any chances with what his intentions were, given he was now approaching the craft that held what was the most precious thing in any world to him.

Breaking from the safety of the group he stood in with Emilia and Subaru, YN put himself between Garfiel and Rem, who was still inside his car.

With them only a few paces behind him, YN locked eyes with the golden haired boy's own green eyes. In this face off, YN made note of the prominent scar on Garfiel's face, reaching from his forehead to the bridge of his nose.

Seeing he was clearly being denied this inspection, this only served to deepen Garfiel's fascination with the automobile. Continuing his path towards the car, he approached YN who also continued to stand resolute, as he would not tolerate this "do what thou wilt" attitude.

Reaching YN, Garfiel still wasn't as tall, but YN still knew his strength. Preemptively pulling mana into his body from his Gate, he prepared to argue his strength as a last course of action.

Now only an arms length away, Garfiel reached out with his hand and crossed YN's torso with it, using his own forearm to push him out of his way like he were some insignificant obstacle.

But as Garfiel applied force to move him aside, his action was stopped by YN's own strength for half a second before the golden-haired boy simply gave a pinch more extra effort to the motion.

Ultimately, YN was moved to the side with ease, but Garfiel had definitely made note he had to somewhat try to do so. Getting the one who blocked his path to stagger back and catch himself on his back-foot, he sneered at him, as if pleasantly surprised YN had shown the resistance.

Pushed aside with what felt like no real effort to him though, YN had felt the strength of this adversary for the first time.

I can understand how a simple finger-flick could knock out Otto...

Knowing this same strength had allowed this person to flip a ground dragon carriage, arguably heavier than his own car, and also allow him to stop Patrasche's charge, again arguably stronger than him, YN knew that same car would be mere child's play for that level of strength.

Reaching the car, Garfiel folded his arms as if evaluating it. Looking up and down it, he snorted at how it appeared so insignificant, yet so foreign.

Turning back to YN, the golden haired boy lazily inquired about it, gesturing to it over his shoulder with his thumb.

Garfiel: Just what's so special about this thing, huh? It move on its own or somethin'?

YN: — — —

As he asked that question, a certain look was in his green eyes. A look YN wasn't fond of at all.

I really don't like that.

Garfiel: Huh? Goin' all quiet again? This thing some kind of secret?

Staying silent as to not take any chances to antagonize this foe further, YN walked on thin conversational ice.

Garfiel: Oi! I don't like all this ignorin' yer givin' me!

Grabbing the large, chrome bumper that he stood next to, Garfiel shook the whole car about as it bounced on its suspension. Lifting it up just so the front wheel was off the ground and dropping it, the suspension bottomed out each time and the whole car shook and creaked from the abuse.

Seeing the vessel that held Rem be jostled about so, YN's eyes widened with anger and his fists closed tight in rage.

Forcing himself to shelve his pure anger just to avert his eyes to Rem to make sure she was unharmed from the bumpy, yet stationary ride she was being given, YN could see the Sleeping Beauty easily through the glass window.

Rem!

Jostled about but still held in place by the seat belt, YN was not given long to look at her as the one shaking the car demanded attention from him.

Garfiel: Hey! Answer me or I'm flippin' this whole thing!

Seeing his vision was focused on the strange ground-dragonless carriage, Garfiel gave it one monumental rock. Pressing down on the bumper hard enough to lift the back tires up and let them slam back down, this violent motion had caused Rem's head to move, tilting from one side to the other.

While her head had been peacefully resting in a way YN could not see her face, now he could. Still in her coma, Rem's face radiated beauty.

But seeing her be treated as such, to see even the smallest bit of harm come to the fairest of hairs upon her head, something in YN snapped.

He had let her be harmed.

Even as minuscule as this, because of how defenseless she truly was in her current state, YN was sent into a near frenzy. The fact she could not ever hope to defend herself either only amplified this feeling further.

Mana rushing into his body, a heat began to build as if his blood had suddenly been brought to a boil. His fists tightened enough that his fingernails had begun to dig into his palm, almost to the point of drawing blood.

Exhaling hard out of his nose, a hazy stream of heat exited like it were a cold winter morning. His entire body had begun to become hot to the touch with Yang magic building to the point of near meltdown.

Also seeing how violent this was quickly going to become, it had been Emilia's next instinct, now mostly awake, to step in and put an end to any threat of harm between the two, especially to that of the innocent Rem too who was but a bystander in all this.

As she had gone to call for a cease of hostilities, she stopped herself just short of Subaru trying to do the same, and the reason was—

Algol: — — —

Shining brightly behind his head, so as not to be visible to Garfiel, YN's contracted spirit of Yang had shown itself.

While Subaru had wanted to halt Emilia out of the volatile situation this was quickly becoming due to fear for her own safety, Emilia had done so out of mutual respect to YN.

As a fellow Spirit Arts user, I shouldn't involve myself in this now...

Seeing the newly evolved spirit show itself in rare fashion, Emilia's own instincts kept her back, keen on letting the bond between Spirit and Contractor deepen at this important moment.

She could feel the mana in the atmosphere begin to be drained, as it all headed towards the brightly shining white spec of light.

Emilia: YN...

Folding her hands together, Emilia closed her eyes and prayed for the best outcome.

As the mana in YN had reached near full capacity though, the golden haired boy whom his anger was fully focused on turned his head away from the growing threat before him.

Trying to understand what this outsider was getting so visibly upset over, he spotted what it may be now.

Garfiel: —?

Sat inside the odd metal carriage, was a girl. A familiar looking one at that.

Hair styled exactly like someone he knew well, her round face and sleeping expression matched, as she was nearly identical.

No.

It was closer than that. It was as if this were the mirror image of that person he knew, if only palette-shifted in the color of her hair.

Now thoroughly distracted by the image of this blue haired girl, Garfiel could have easily mistaken this person for the other.

Genuinely curious on how this was possible, to see someone so recognizably similar, his fascination now overpowered his intent to be hostile.

—But that was only true for him.

Garfiel: Ay! Who is—!?

As he turned to inquire about this girl, keen on keeping up the bravado he had displayed thus far, he was struck.

Garfiel: —GAH!

A stiff fist full of anger and rage impacted squarely on his chest.

The fist meeting its mark, the owner's arm extended and straightened along with it. Like a pneumatic piston of great strength, YN impaled the one who had shown such genuine disregard to the safety of the one he loved.

Launching the golden-haired boy back, he remained airborne for half the distance between where he had stood and the treeline of the clearing. Landing hard on the ground, his breath was knocked right out of him as he tumbled and rolled the rest of the way to the edge of the stone covered clearing of this rock temple of sorts. His back impacting a large tree, leaves fell around him. Finally halted, it had taken this to finally stop the momentum he had been given by the punch.

His vision momentarily blurred from the anger, YN could see the heat wave rising off his still extended arm.

This display though had everyone utterly shocked.

Subaru watched on with his mouth agape, where Emilia had covered her own with her hand. While each remained speechless themselves, their minds were filled with thoughts of disbelief to what had just occurred.

Breaking that silence though, was the one picking himself up and brushing the dust off his clothes.

Garfiel: Hah... Haha!

Getting a fire in his green eyes, Garfiel was thoroughly amused at the effort given by YN. Cracking his neck and stretching his muscles, he replied to the blow he was given with a sharp, shark-toothed smile.

Garfiel: Now yer goin' and gettin' me all excited! Seems like one of yous actually do got some bite to that bark!

Knowing full well this was about to turn ugly really fast, Emilia and Subaru were both forced to resign any hopes there would be a peaceful resolution to this aggression. They did at least cling to hope that maybe YN might be able to stand a fighting chance against this unrealistically strong opponent given the unreal and unexpected strength he had suddenly manifested.

Scraping the ground with his feet like a bull might before a charge, Garfiel was posed to pounce. To this, YN planted his stance wider and more secure in silent response.

Garfiel: AAHHH!

Running and jumping once halfway to him, YN came face-to-face with the charge as a wall.

Meeting the impact, YN was pushed backwards nearly halfway to where Subaru and Emilia stood but ultimately came to a stop after finding leverage with his heels dug into the stoney surface of the clearing.

Locked hand in hand, a shoving match or sorts broke out. Like two wrestlers trying to overpower the other, it was a test of strength.

Seeing such defiance to his blow of anger though, the familiar flash of white crossed YN's vision as Algol dumped mana into his body. Sending it straight to his muscles, if one hiccup or stall occurred, he'd completely crumble under this strain. In fact, it already felt like he was so close to losing.

Garfiel: C'mon! There's gotta be more than that!

Egging him on, YN knew he was truly past the point of "do or die."

But watching on, Subaru and Emilia were continuing to be blown away by such a display. Not only had Garfiel been able to flip their carriage twice, he had stopped and thrown a full grown, charging ground dragon over his head.

Where is YN finding the strength to do this?!

His muscles were burning strength almost as quickly as it could be replenished by Algol. YN knew he had to work fast to wrap this match up.

With his thoughts on the need to assure safety for Rem, YN felt the same "snapping" sensation as before. A new wave of strength flowed into his body not from his Gate, but rather—

—My Od!

Seemingly having granted himself access to its reserve of extra power, YN pushed himself to be sparing with it. Utilizing both a fraction of it along with the mixture of his own mana and the atmospheric mana Algol was gathering, YN dug deep to pull up even more strength.

While his arms were maxed out, his legs could take more usage of the Yang Magic now being converted from his Od.

YN: —AAARRGG!

As cracks in the stone snaked out in the ground behind his heels, YN maximized what he believed was physically possible of his body, turning those cracks into full blown fissures extending all the way to his onlookers own feet.

Emilia: YN!

At peak strength, YN pushed back with all he had.

YN: —HAAAA!

A look of surprise crossed Garfiel's face before he was knocked back again, this time, though, he was only slid back on his feet, being thrown back as far as he had been airborne before.

Even as it wasn't as much as last time, Emilia and Subaru both continued to be dumbfounded that YN had summoned such a strength, but knowing it was due to Rem's presence in the car, they at least were aware of its source.

While Emilia had only just recently been informed of the relationship between YN and the blue-haired girl she could not remember, she hadn't expected it to be this deep of one.

He's accomplishing so much for her...

While an unexplained emotion had begun to fester in the half-elf, one she hadn't felt in some time, the action before her snapped her back to reality.

Now separated by several paces, the heatwave and steam rising from YN's exposed skin was apparent. Never before had it been this intense.

But just as he had before, Garfiel wryly grinned his toothy smile and pounded a fist into his open palm.

Garfiel: Now yer gettin' me serious! Show me how 'Faqir slays the basilisk!'

As Garfiel was keen to continue this fight all day it seemed, YN could already feel the strain on his body this was causing him.

Damn it!

Already, his monumental strength was waning. While he had managed to summon more than Garfiel could at a single moment, YN did not have the stamina to compete long term. Although Algol was doing all it could to manage his still stretched Gate, in the end, YN was still using mana up in an extremely inefficient manner, burning though nearly everything he could hope to conjure from himself or the atmosphere.

With Garfiel ready to continue the fight long-term, YN knew this couldn't go on if he hoped to keep Rem safe.

I've gotta end this quickly with what I have left...

Releasing the mana still in his muscles, he instead concentrated it in the palm of his hand.

He just thinks I'm strong. If I time it right, and get lucky, I might be able to catch him off guard with some magic...

Knowing this spell could prove fatal to the one he was facing, YN had to prioritize Rem's safety, especially with how she was unable to give herself any.

Taking a step though, Garfiel once more jumped and pounced at YN, this time leading with a leg to impact him with a flying kick.

Now airborne though, and unable to dodge with any precision, YN was given the optimal opportunity to end this.

Raising his palm to meet the threat, it glowed white with what strength he still possessed. Caring little for the threat though, Garfiel made no attempt to evade, or even wince at the impending Yang magic.

Close enough for a surely lethal crescendo of heat filled rays of blindingly white light, just as YN had gone to cast it—

YN: Ji—

?: That is enough!

A new voice bellowing out, followed by a razor-wind of a force breaking out between the two combatants, it proved effective in dividing them. Continuing on to slice several trees opposite of them in half and fell them, YN recoiled his outstretched hand and dispersed his half-cast spell with great recoil to himself from the sudden outburst of what could only be Wind magic.

YN: —Gah!

Garfiel acted similarly, pulling his leg in and choosing rather to tuck and roll away from YN and where this blade of air had originated from.

Now both separated, broken apart, and forced to stand down, they turned their attention to the owner of the voice that had ended this fight.

Standing resolute, with pink hair fluttering about softly as she remained immersed in her Wind magic, the apron of her maid uniform everyone in attendance recognized also rippled in the gentle whirlwind around her.

Pointing her wand at the space between the two combatants, this oni, still with no horn of her own displayed her strength and distaste for the conflict before her.

Ram: Neither of you shall move unless Ram instructs you to. This fight is over.

Otto: —I'm a victim here too! I deserve an apology as well!

Even as the driver of the carriage exclaimed his frustration, he was only able to do so thanks to the venerable Nee-sama stepping in when she had.

Ram had ended the fight between YN and Garfiel, and after making sure each side had fully stood down, she was strict in her instructions; they were to all accompany her to where everyone else was.

—They were to accompany her to Sanctuary.

Having arrived at the entrance of some village that was hidden away in this forest, YN exited his car he had been following the damaged carriage in.

Stood outside his vessel now, he had pulled his seat forward and extended a hand to the fair-skinned and silver-haired Candidate for the throne he had been tasked in transporting as she went to exit his car. While he had done this, it was clear an intense conversation was continuing from the carriage as its occupants also departed from it.

Ram said she'd keep 'a handle' on Garfiel's behavior, but I can understand Subaru not wanting Emilia in the same carriage as him for right now...

Taking YN's offered hand to exit the backseat, since the passenger seat had been taken up by the resident Sleeping Beauty, YN looked to see if the one who had requested her ride with him was involved in this nearby, intense conversation.

Garfiel: Oi merchant-man, don't sweat the small stuff.

Sighing, Otto gave up on getting any sort of retribution for his honor while Subaru still voiced his displeasure over the whole event.

Subaru: Well, what isn't small stuff was flipping the carriage. What if Emilia-tan had still been in there?

Garfiel: Eh she'd've been fine. She was still sleepin by the time I got there, yeah? She's a half-devil after all—

Subaru: Hey! How many times do I have to tell you?!

Aggravating Subaru with his word choice once again, he clenched his first towards the golden-haired boy.

Subaru: Whatever you got against half-elves—!

Garfiel: —O-Oh! You gunna show me ya got a backbone like that fella over there?

Taunting back at Subaru's retort and pointing over to YN, Garfiel stuck out his chest, ready to throw hands should Subaru want to.

But, before anything could happen, the one YN had helped out of his car rushed over to put herself between the two.

Emilia: I still have no clue who you are, but I won't let you lay a single finger on Subaru!

Looking over to YN, Emilia and him briefly had their eyes meet before she continued her assertive declaration.

Emilia: —or anyone else!

Moving her outstretched hand from blocking Subaru to her chest, she concluded herself in a much more calm manner.

Emilia: If you have a problem with me, state what it is. I want to hear it.

Silent for a moment in response, it seemed Garfiel was choosing his words at Emilia's projected confidence, yet before he could say anything further, the one whom had told Subaru she'd keep the golden-haired boy in check stepped beside him, and raising up her heel, she impacted it on his own foot.

Garfiel: —Gah!

Ram: You'd be wise to keep your mouth shut and mind your manners when speaking to a Candidate for the Throne, Garf.

YN was seemingly surprised how Ram had managed to tame the shark-toothed youth. Not once did he retaliate, or even talk back to Ram.

Impressive, Nee-sama.

But as Garfiel was quiet in response to Emilia's question after Ram had reigned him in, Subaru croaked back up, also realizing it was Ram who seemingly had dominance over youth.

Subaru: Wait... Garfiel, how did you know Emilia-tan was asleep?

Garfiel: Heh. Maybe if you'da let me finish earlier rather than bitin' my head off like 'Yonkai and the fish' you'd have an answer for that. I knew because the Princess-sama here passed through the barrier, yeah?

Hands on his hips as he said this, Emilia was the first to speak in reply.

Emilia: I'm sorry, but we already passed through the barrier? When was that?

Garfiel: *Sigh* You gotta be kiddin' me... You are a half-elf, yeah?

With Emilia only nodding in reply, Subaru spoke back up.

Subaru: This doesn't have to do with the Sanctuary being a place for 'demi-humans with circumstances,' does it?

Garfiel: Just about. People like the Princess-sama pass out when entering the barrier. That's what it does.

Crossing his arms, closing his eyes, and nodding, he answered as if this were all very matter of fact.

Emilia: So wait... It wasn't the crystal?

Turning to Subaru with this question, he pulled out the blue crystal in question from his pocket before answering her.

Subaru: It started glowing right before you passed out... It must be responsible for why I wasn't in the carriage with Emilia-tan...

Garfiel: —!

Silently reacting to the crystal being shown, only Ram and YN had noticed Garfiel's expression change, which he quickly played it off.

Garfiel: That thing? It's just some dumb stone. What the Princess-sama passed out from is the barrier.

Changing the subject and reiterating what was responsible for Emilia's former condition, the two were forced to accept it as fact.

YN: Why the emphasis on half-elf though? Is it only demi-humans who are affected by the barrier?

Concerned Rem may have been affected, even in her sleeping state, YN could only worry how someone already asleep would react to passing through the barrier.

Garfiel: Heh.

Grinning wide in an ominous manner, his sharp teeth gleamed in the relatively dark and shady area of the forest they had arrived at.

Garfiel: 'Barrier catches more'n just half-elves. Yours truly ain't no exception to that. We're all mixed.

YN: 'Mixed?'

Emilia: You mean those who are born to demi-human parents and human parents?

Only grinning in reply at first, Garfiel's voice became low as he answered the question.

Garfiel: That's right...

With Emilia, YN, and Subaru all swallowing that truth in a hard way, they all could only expect what sort of a place this was if it "captured" mixed blood demi-humans.

Garfiel: But without any more waitn'—

Walking past the three before him, Garfiel turned after getting a few paces past them towards the beginning of the cropped houses nestled next to the trees.

Garfiel: Welcome, Princess-sama and her three lackeys. This, is the Sanctuary.

Taking in the scene before them, the rundown, dilapidated, and aged structures that served as resident housing did not give a good meaning to the name "Sanctuary."

—Couple that with the fact this place 'captures' demi-human's with 'circumstances...'

Subaru: Seems like this place isn't like what it says it is...

Voicing a similar conclusion to what YN had come to in his mind, Subaru brought it up to Garfiel, but, waving it off as no concern, he briefly explained its origin.

Garfiel: Meh, that's just what Roswaal calls it.

Strolling along ahead of them as they began to walk deeper into the village, the boy had his hands behind his golden hair-covered-head, but turning to face Subaru again, he continued.

Garfiel: Seriously though, if yous all've just said 'Hey we're with Roswaal.' things mighta not got so ugly.

With everyone too concerned with keeping the tentative peace rather than challenge Garfiel on his interpretation of how events unfolded, there was still one who didn't fear voicing her disapproval.

Ram: And you certainly took your sweet time realizing who those entering into the forest were. Ram believes it was equally your fault just as much as you think it was theirs.

Tactfully besting the sharp-toothed youth's self-praise, he responded in a more unexpected way.

Garfiel: I do gotta say, it's pretty rare for you to come lookin' for me like that. Did Roswaal kick the bucket and you needed a shoulder to cry on?

Ram: Garf can count himself lucky that did not happen. Had Roswaal-sama perished, Ram would be razing the entire village.

Hands folded in front of her, Ram answered as "matter of fact" as she always did, but what she said next only served to perplex YN.

Ram: —Besides, Ram's only concern was YN.

Raising a brow to her reasoning, YN was met by a brief side-eye by the maid who said that, as well as a silent snarl from Garfiel. Caught off guard by why he of all people was the catalyst for Ram's concern, as the two looked forward again, YN quickly turned to Subaru with an expression that screamed "Did you hear that too?"

Alas, Subaru was busy making small talk with Emilia and Otto as the group went along, as none were too keen on getting involved with any of Garfiel's banter.

Can't say I blame em... We seem to have Garfiel's respect, which with Ram keeping a leash on him, I don't think we'll run into his belligerence being a problem. He's still too unpredictable to let our guard down around though.

His body still fatigued from the fight not even an hour prior, YN still felt shock at the fact the person he'd aimed to potentially end was now peacefully showing off his home village to him.

Before YN could dwell his thoughts anymore to himself, it was the same golden haired boy who brought everyone back into the conversation.

Garfiel: —Anyways, don't go givin' the name of this place the wrong idea. This is where folks with mixed blood with nowhere else ta-go, go. It ain't as pretty as the name it has. Roswaal may give it a lavish name, but like 'eyeshadow on Gandella,' it doesn't hide that it's still a run down, dead end laboratory.

Emilia: —?!

Subaru: Wait, 'laboratory?'

Unsure if they were asking him to better explain it, or simply they didn't hear him well enough, Garfiel raised a golden-blonde eyebrow to their question, as if asking himself for more context.

YN: 'Laboratory' as in like, a place of learning or research? Or—

Emilia: —something less pleasant.

Still new in this world ultimately, YN had assumed the description in a way devoid of the hostility Emilia had seemingly picked up on, and upon hearing her guess, YN was inclined to agree.

Hmm, this speak of a barrier, 'dead end,' and the history of Demi-humans... I guess it was foolish to assume anything positive...

But putting a gloved hand to his chin to answer, Garfiel waved off the idea completely after a moment of thought.

Garfiel: I don't know anything about any of that, all I knows is that a more fittin' thing to call it is what it is; the 'The Witch of Greed's Labratory.'

Saying that title so nonchalantly, before any had any real time to process what that meant, let alone speak up, Otto was already yelling.

Otto: —'the Witch of Greed?!'

Stopped in his tracks, Otto stood with his hands on the side of his head, exclaiming his shock as his knees knocked together.

Otto: Not only is this place some backwater, far-flung village of angry muscle heads, but it's also connected to the Witch of Greed!?

Growing ever more worried, it was Subaru who sought to tone him down while also seeking answers to questions he surely had now.

Subaru: Hey now, calm down. Who's this 'Witch of Greed?' I've never heard of her... She's obviously different from the Witch of Envy, right?

Emilia: Yes.

While Subaru was hesitant to ask, especially on a topic that could easily upset Emilia, he was surprised it was her who answered him.

Emilia: It's from a rreeeeeeaaallly far time ago, but there used to total seven Witches altogether.

Seven of them? And if Envy is one of them...

YN had thought it odd that there were Archbishops of Sloth, Greed, and Gluttony, those of course being some of the cardinal sins. Hearing now that these witches also brandished the same names however—

'Greed' and 'Envy.' The naming convention must go on.

Mulling over if these 'witches' were connected to the Archbishops he'd seen so far, YN didn't hear much of the ongoing conversation, but did hear how these other Witches were unreliably recorded in history, as well as how it was the Witch Of Envy's hand that killed them all.

I really wish Rem was here to ask about it... Even if she too hadn't much of a clue about them, at least she'd help me brainstorm...

Letting his sadness of Rem's loss get the better of him again, YN was only perked back up in response to Garfiel finally voicing his input.

Garfiel: Gah, if yous all are interested in that sorta stuff, best to go ask Roswaal himself. He'll talk yer ear off about the Witch of Greed.

Emilia: Oh, speaking of, where is Roswaal?

Turning to Ram who kept up pace right behind YN, staying silent for the entire conversation, as if there was an air of distaste for the subject for her, all eyes fell to her to answer.

Ram: Roswaal-sama is—

Going to respond, Ram stalled before closing her eyes, turning away from eye contact with anyone, and only then answering.

Ram: —tch. Emilia-sama and the others will just have to pay him a visit. Ram cannot explain more.

Thinking it odd she couldn't say exactly, the conversation moved back to other things, whereas Ram had moved up to YN's side to walk the rest of the way, opting to let Garfiel lead the way, causing them both to lag behind the group as they each stayed silent.

The tone in her voice... That wasn't her trying to be secretive, rather, I think she was angry.

Unsure what the pink haired maid would have to be angry over, especially given it involved Roswaal, YN hesitated on asking what it was about.

Damn it... If I can't even ask her why she's upset, how am I gonna tell her about Rem?

Knowing he had a tough conversation ahead of him with her, the group had reached their destination, but upon arriving, Garfiel took his leave, not wishing to be part of anything that involved Roswaal it seemed. In addition, leaving as well was their newfound merchant companion.

While he professed a desire to meet the Margrave, he however thought now wasn't the best of times, given how he was unprepared for the arrival of a stranger. With this, he retreated to tend to the carriage and ground dragon, saying he'd try and repair what he could on the damages the vessel had sustained.

With only the four members of the Emilia camp left now, before them stood a single stone shack not unlike the ones that surrounded them already. It was plain, but had a wooden door, a wooden porch, and a thatch roof.

These are primitive even by Arlem's standards...

Approaching the house from the path, Emilia took Subaru's hand, hoping to inspire confidence in them both. Being the first two to enter the yard, and walk up to the porch, YN and Ram remained by the front gate for a moment before also following, if not only to keep the doorway from feeling congested.

Unbeknownst to YN however, Ram had been paying attention rather to the shared hands of the two before them. A certain ache filled her heart in which she could not explain. It was an emotion she was familiar with, however she could not determine from where, and why it had conjured itself now.

Watching as the two before her moved as one, Ram's own hand had ever so slightly reached out to her side, hoping to grasp another. She was completely unaware of this motion, too distracted by her own self analysis of her feelings. Before it could reach its intended target however, the other hand moved ahead to follow the two in front of him as well.

It was only with YN stepping away was Ram recalled to reality, realizing where her hand had been migrating to. Shocked with herself, she moved her other hand to control the slightly outstretched hand, bringing it in close to herself like a scared and lost child.

Why...?

She couldn't understand why her subconscious had allowed this. Ram knew she was a very self disciplined person, so why had she not noticed herself grasping for something in comfort of this ache she felt in her heart?

This was nothing compared to the physical pain she bore and tolerated on a daily basis, a side effect of the injury which rendered her body unable to gather its own mana in any capacity. So why now, had she nearly lost herself to this?

For a moment...

What had caused her to be so close to a slip up? What was it that had nearly broken such a strong self discipline?

—it felt as if—

All of these things now, her ache, her emotion, her shock, it was all snowballing into one realization that only made less sense the more she dwelled on it.

—the relief to all Ram's pain—

What? What was it? Why for the first time in years did it feel she truly had an out? A way to free herself? What was the catalyst for this hope?

—was right next to her.

More unsure of anything in her life up to this point, Ram watched as YN followed the two onto the porch of the shack her employer currently resided in. Knowing her responsibilities took precedence, the maid regained her resolve, and moved to the front of the line, opening the door for those who needed to speak to the one inside whom she was duty bound to serve.

Proceeding inside, for the first time in what felt like forever, YN and Subaru would be dealing with their gracious employer and sponsor of Emilia. Taking a deep breath, YN was the last to enter into the dimly lit interior.

Time to figure out what all this about...

Entering inside, the small cramped bedroom they'd all shuffled into was certainly full. But taking point and standing by his bedside, Ram bowed her head to her employer.

Ram: Roswaal-sama; Emilia-sama, Barasu, and YN have gallantly returned to us.

Roswaal: Myyyyy Emilia-sama! Subaruuuuuu-kuuun as well.

Last to enter the room, and with no real space to engage in the conversation, YN stood just inside the door-frame.

Roswaal: —Ahh and there's our favorite groundskeeper.

Being stuck in the back, YN simply waved in response as he posted up next to the entrance.

Turning his attention back to Emilia though, Roswaal went on.

Roswaal: I'm so very relieved to see you're in good health, Emilia-sama.

Somewhat frowning, he looked to Ram, who was still patiently standing by his bedside before returning his gaze to the silver haired girl.

Roswaal: I had been tooooold of what occurred by Ram, and admittedly I was very distraught. But to see you saaaafe and sound is great weight off my shoulders.

Closing his blue eye, the Margrave looked upon them all with only his yellow eye.

Roswaal: —I find it would have been quiiiiite difficult to live with myself had something happened to you~.

Roswaal said this while holding his bandaged arms up, showing off the reason he was bedridden and without his usual clown makeup adorning his face. But while Subaru and Emilia were focused on his current state, one they'd never seen before, YN was more concerned with Ram.

As Roswaal had concluded himself, Ram had somewhat grimaced, as if made uncomfortable with something he said.

Ram I guess really didn't like what he had to say... Maybe she doesn't like the idea of that having been a possibility?

Wondering if her discomfort stemmed from the idea of such a terrible fate, truthfully, YN felt about the same, however as he mulled over Roswaal's words, one thing stood out to him.

He said it would be 'quite hard' for him to live if she died...

Putting a hand to his chin, YN could only come to one conclusion.

Puck and him did talk often in private... Is Roswaal also aware of the consequences of Emilia's death per Puck's contract with her?

While YN had been stuck in his mind thinking these things, Subaru too had been mulling over his own thoughts, except much simpler in nature. Namely, how out of place the Margrave looked, bedridden in this dilapidated shack.

Snapping them both out of their thoughts though had been Emilia with an intense emotion in her voice, asking why it was Roswaal was the way he was; injured and bedridden.

Emilia: Stop pretending this isn't serious!

Actually managing to surprise even Roswaal with her tone, Subaru was just as shocked at the normally reserved half-elf's sudden outburst. Seeing all eyes on her though, she quickly looked away with a hand of comfort on her chest. With a shadow cast on her face from her bangs, she apologized.

Emilia: I'm sorry... I didn't mean to sound so angry. It's just that ever since I woke up, —since I made contact with the barrier, my heart hasn't stopped being nervous.

Subaru: Emilia-tan...

Emilia: You feel it too? Don't you?

Subaru: Well... —!

Emilia: —Please!

Suddenly grabbing his hands with both of hers, the silver haired girl pleaded to Subaru.

Emilia: We promised to communicate better, right? —To say what we think? Please don't feel pursued to agree with me just because. I want your valid opinion.

Sighing, Subaru reset his composure.

Subaru: I can't really say I feel anything that is out of the ordinary... At least not how you're feeling.

Turning her head to YN, he was silently called upon to answer the same question.

YN: I'm kinda with Subaru on this... I'm sorry, Emilia-sama.

With a shake of her head, a weak smile crossed her face before responding.

Emilia: No need to apologize. I value your input too.

Subaru: Umm, Emilia-tan, why not try and describe to us what you feel?

With both Roswaal and Ram silently looking on, awaiting her answer, Emilia thought for a moment before saying anything. Looking up to the ceiling, she spoke from her heart.

Emilia: Just... What is this place? It doesn't feel like a 'sanctuary' at all? Garfiel mentioned it being a laboratory but I don't understand that either...

Shaking her head as she spoke, the half-elf continued, now making eye contact with her sponsor.

Emilia: This place feels reeeaaally cold... —Not ice cold, but 'sad-cold.' I can't find a word to describe it though...

With a grin growing across his face void of any makeup, Roswaal gave her a fitting answer.

Roswaal: Would the word 'tooooomb' work?

Emilia: —!

Somewhat jarring the poor girl's senses with such a dark choice, Roswaal doubled down on the idea.

Roswaal: Perhaps even... a 'Witch's Tomb?'

Lowering his voice as he said that, he closed his blue eye once more, and stared at everyone else with only his yellow one, all while his grin had grown to sport an air of mischievousness.

Emilia: — — —

Unable to answer his question, it was nonetheless obvious to everyone that this had not only come as a surprise to her, but had also perfectly illustrated the feeling Emilia felt in regards to the Sanctuary.

Emilia: A... A-A 'Witch's Tomb...'

Croaking out a response finally, Emilia timidly repeated the word. Everyone in attendance knew she disliked anything associated with the word "witch," but with the effect it being coupled with the idea of death, and when combined, symbolized the feeling of near ancient dread the Sanctuary seemed to have, its effect was astonishingly prevalent on her face.

Roswaal: That is exactly what this place iiiiiis. The Sanctuary is home to the current resting place of Echidna, the Witch—

Halting his words, Roswaal's face that was normally caked in clown makeup quickly went from holding its usual smiling expression, to one that was ultimately somber and, dare say, sadly reminiscent.

Roswaal: —the supposed Witch of Greed.

Hanging his head and lowering his arms, his eccentric demeanor was lost. At the same time it seemed, seeing him this way, Ram, who was still loyally standing by his bedside, readjusted herself, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Ram: — — —

While only YN was its witness, Emilia and Subaru were still giving Roswaal their full attention.

Roswaal: To me, however, this place is more accurately termed a Sanctuary.

Almost as if he had gotten too caught up in his grandeur to realize he was speaking of a topic he himself associated with negative emotions, the snap back to his current melancholy self seemed to wound him deeper than the ones that already covered his body.

But as the Margrave let a rare showing of his other emotions be seen, everyone else had turned their attention back to Subaru.

A hand over his chest, at first YN assumed this show of emotions had touched his fellow wayward companion. But with Emilia inquiring on what it was he felt, YN could easily surmise a purpose behind his reaction with the answer he gave her.

Emilia: Subaru? Are you okay? Is something wrong?

Subaru: No... No. I'm fine, really.

Subaru definitely noticed something... Was it from something Roswaal said just then? I'll need to ask him later...

With YN writing his own mental note to uncover more information, Subaru was wasting no time to figure it out for himself.

Subaru: —I am curious though.

Regaining his composure, he sternly looked to Roswaal, hoping to satisfy the curiosity he professed to have.

Subaru: How did you come to control this place? I figured somewhere with so much... history, would be administered by the Kingdom directly.

Getting right to it, Subaru was keen on first uncovering the connection this place had with Roswaal.

And offering that information, Roswaal answered.

Roswaal: The responsibility of administering the Sanctuary has been passed down to each inheritor of the Mathers Domain, a tradition not unlike the inheritance of the name 'Roswaal' itself.

Processing that fact, it was Emilia who responded first.

Emilia: That would mean that since times of very old, the Mathers family has controlled this land. Even from before this place must have been 'a tomb...' That would mean the Mathers family has been connected with the Witch of Greed—

Roswaal: —Echidna.

Emilia: —Eh?

Suddenly correcting her, Roswaal had spoken as if greatly annoyed at something, presumably the use of the term 'Witch of Greed.'

I've never seen him react that way before...

But changing his attitude at her surprise, Roswaal raised a finger as if making a point, and chose to fill his voice with friendliness to counter the previous tone he had spoken with.

Roswaal: Echidna. Please, call her Echidna.

Smiling as he said that, Subaru was intensely watching the ongoing conversation, his attention nowhere else, but the same could not be said about YN.

Off to the side of Roswaal, the pink haired maid had become uncomfortable looking. In rare form, she had begun to fidget with her hands, squeezing her own wrists with her hands as she stood with them to her front.

As YN half-watched Emilia, and half-watched Ram, Roswaal continued his point.

Roswaal: Calling her The Witch of Greed might seem cruel after all. It may carry an air mistreeeeeatment to it.

Brilliantly getting Emilia to sympathize and see it from a familiar perspective, one that matched her own lament of being called a 'Witch,' her cheeks stiffened as she sternly nodded.

Emilia: I understand. Echidna it is.

With her discomfort seemingly being the utterance of this name, Ram had enough of it. While Roswaal, Subaru, and Emilia spoke of the barrier, its properties, and the presence of 'outsiders' entering the woods surrounding the Sanctuary, the pink haired maid was able to slip away, unnoticed by all except for YN.

Huh? Did Nee-sama finally get upset enough about something she left—?

Thinking somehow with her disciplined training as a maid, Ram had excused herself from the room entirely unnoticed, just as YN had noticed her absence from Roswaal's bedside, he felt a faint presence to his side.

YN: —!

Silently shocked he hadn't even heard her approach, leaning her back against the wall next to him, arms folded, and an insecure look crossing her face, Ram had moved right next to him, joining him in the back of the room.

While he wanted to whisper to her to see what was wrong, as he turned his head, she turned her eyes away. As she did, the look of discomfort and insecurity that was unfounded for her usual resting expression multiplied.

I don't think she's in a talking mood...

While YN couldn't understand why the pink-haired maid was so upset with the conversation moving towards the topic of the Witch of Greed, he had even less of a clue why she had sought to be by his side now.

Knowing Nee-sama, I don't think she'd find more comfort in me than in Roswaal...

Obviously she had chosen to seek him out. Ram had every opportunity to exit the room with how she had gone about leaving the Margrave's bedside. Yet here she was, by YN's side of all places.

Trying to figure out what Ram's motive stemmed from, YN's attention was pulled away from Ram, and back towards Emilia who's loud exclamation stole the entire room's spotlight.

Emilia: —Teleported?!

Going on to describe what the crystal had caused, it explained why Subaru wasn't in the carriage when they initially pulled over.

Subaru went on to elaborate what had occurred upon his sudden change in location. Immediately upon finding himself deep within the Sanctuary, a small elf girl had spotted him, and in her attempt to flee, and Subaru's determination for answers, he gave chase. He had gotten as far as the stone structure YN and Otto had eventually stopped at, but rather than staying outside, Subaru had actually entered what they had no clue of knowing at the time was a tomb.

Subaru: —the next thing I knew, I woke up on the inside after passing out, and heard a bunch of yelling outside...

YN: That was right after Garfiel knocked the carriage over for the first time I bet.

Emilia: And shortly after that, I woke up too...

Seemingly at an impasse, Subaru looked hesitant, as if he had wanted to say something additional, but finally gathering the willpower, he spoke what was on his mind.

Subaru: I've got a bad feeling saying this, but...

Emilia: Go on, Subaru. I'll be right here to help you.

Taking his hand, the half-elf did her best to inspire courage in her self-proclaimed knight. With a large sigh, he delivered what he thought was a hash realization as Roswaal nodded for him to speak, seeing he was the one that was to be addressed with this next idea.

Subaru: Frederica was the one who gave us the crystal, and she specifically handed it to Emilia... which has me thinking...

Ram: —Emilia-sama was the intended person to be teleported. That's what you're getting at?

Subaru: I don't want to go pointing fingers...

YN: Hold on now. Frederica did say it was required to get past the barrier. Maybe that was the effect it was supposed to have?

Hoping to give the golden haired maid the benefit of the doubt, Roswaal unfortunately shut him down.

Roswaal: Unfooortunately that crystal is not necessary to pass through the barrier. It was completely unneeded.

Folding his hands and looking down at them, the Margrave's voice was filled with a mix of his own curiosity and suspicion.

Roswaal: That she handed this off to Emilia-sama in specific makes me believe this may be part of a scheme with an unknown intention.

Emilia: No...

Not wishing for Frederica to be an enemy of sorts, the silver haired girl could hardly believe it. While she herself wished to give her the benefit of the doubt like YN was trying to do, they each couldn't ignore the smoke where there was fire.

While Roswaal spoke to Subaru and Emilia in regards to how Frederica had been under his employment for some time, and how her loyalty had never wavered until now, YN's attention once more fell to the pink haired maid to his own side.

While unsure if she was standing even closer to him or not, she spoke with a hostile tone under her breath, a scowl on her face.

Ram (softly): Frederica's scheme failed... Serves her right. Hah.

Hearing this though, YN couldn't help but raise a brow to Ram's sudden change in nature.

I can't recall Rem ever mentioning anything negative about Frederica... Maybe her and Ram didn't get along like maybe Rem and her did?

Brooding in anger it felt like, Ram couldn't ignore the fact YN had obviously overheard her words.

Ram: That was a joke.

Relaxing his expression slightly, YN repeated her.

YN: A joke?

Softening her own expression as well, it seemed the simple exchange of words between them had somewhat improved her mood.

Ram: Yes. A joke. But the consequences won't be.

As the two in the back of the room were seemingly in their own world, one sharp exclamation brought YN's attention back to the conversation he was missing.

Subaru: —You mean we're prisoners here now?!