Chapter 128: An Unlikely Truce
Standing at the edge of the Sanctuary, YN awaited his part to play in the plan.
He was to remain separated from his fellow wayward traveling companion, for now, as a surprise element. Per YN's command, the Ryuzu copies addressed Garfiel who was already awake and doing his morning patrol. When he asked them if anything had occurred during the night, they replied with shook heads indicating "no." Still, he was further curious as to what Subaru had been up to the night before, but when he spoke to Ryuzu after going to see her that morning, she reported that the copies had seen him wander the woods for awhile, and had gone back to bed.
While not a lie exactly, it was distinctly an ommitence of the truth.
But now as part of this plan for escaping the Sanctuary, they needed to feed the golden-haired youth more dis-info.
He'll easily see that Patrasche is missing from the stables on his rounds of the Sanctuary, and we don't want him getting too suspicious if the Ryuzu copies feed him too much appeasing info. He knows Subaru had something on his mind the night before. If he just gets told he's still asleep or not doing anything funky, he might get spooked and run to the crystal to double check his Command Authority.
Needing to walk a thin line and tentatively control the information Garfiel had, YN had told the Ryuzu copies to tell them Subaru was looking like he was running away. With Ryuzu correctly telling Garfiel that Subaru was on Patrasche and he was heading to the exit of the Sanctuary, she did lie about YN's whereabouts.
Garf still thinks I'm asleep, which would be normal if I had slept.
For once, YN was thankful for his recent bad sleep habits, as it was convenient for this.
If Garfiel didn't also think YN was involved initially, he might not view it as such a desperate thing to immediately confront.
Still, the buzz of fatigue due to a sleepless night did make this all the more stressful for YN, especially since so much of this plan revolved around vague timings that needed to be just right.
With YN in position, by the time Subaru was to reach him, the Ryuzu copies should have given Garfiel just enough information for them to all end up meeting at around the same time.
The relationship between Subaru and Garf was already badly stained last night, so if Subaru is suddenly gone, it might make Garf erratic enough to follow us out of the Sanctuary in hostility. He needs to see we have the Command Authority. When he does, he'll be forced to run all the way back to the other side of the Sanctuary, which will give us all the time in the world to get away from him.
*Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump—*
As he mulled over the plan, the muffled trample of a ground dragon in the distance entered into YN's ears.
Here he comes.
Holding the reins of Patrasche, Subaru approached with a small cloud of dust behind him.
Patrasche: *Skqwa!*
Screeching as she came to a halt, the jet black ground dragon offered her face for YN to rub his hand on. Looking now to Subaru, he knew Garfiel wasn't far.
Subaru: So, where's our send off party?
Subaru of course meant Garfiel and the Ryuzu copies, and while the timing had to mean they were close, they'd not met as soon as YN had liked.
Just as the groundskeeper went to say something along the lines of "any second now!", the sound of a drum beating entered into YN's mind.
*Ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum—*
Right behind them both the sound seemed to resonate, but of course was only audible to YN.
YN: — — —
Turning to look, of course nothing was there other than the trees and the shrubbery-undergrowth of the forest.
Subaru: —?
Confused as to what YN was looking at, Subaru could only wonder why he was seemingly being ignored, as there was clearly no reason to think anything was awry. But even as not the gentlest of breezes disturbed the leaves on bit, YN called the bluff of the stillness he saw.
YN: —You stick out like a sore thumb.
Speaking to the void almost, there was another break of near indefinite stillness.
?: — — —
YN: — — —
Subaru: — — —
But not before long—
*Rustle-rustle*
The shrubbery began to move.
?: —tch
Emerging from the thicket, first was his golden hair.
?: Yous all make me sick...
Followed by his irritated tone, he picked a few loose twigs and leaves off his clothes and brushed his shoulders clean as he crossed his arms.
?: Yer all the same. Ever single one of ya.
YN: It's not my fault that for a cat, you suck at prowling.
With the standoff now starting, Subaru, mounted on his ground dragon with YN at his side now were two or three dozen paces away from the one that wanted to stop them from leaving,—
Garfiel: Shuddup. I ain't taken' no more shit from either of ya. Your nothin' but cowards. The lot of ya... Every one of ya!
Stomping the ground in anger, the shark-toothed youth bore his fangs, which only served to rile up Patrasche, making her scratch at the ground and snort.
Subaru: Easy, easy...
As Subaru tried to rein her in, YN took a step ahead of the ground dragon.
YN: 'Cowards' huh? You sure you aren't looking into a mirror?
Garfiel: Piss-off. I'm not playin' games. You lot are trying to run off... Everyone is always tryin' to skirt their shit. If ya ain't runnin' away from somethin', yer plannin' on it. —Shit makes me furious!
Stomping the ground again, Garfiel raised his voice.
Garfiel: Everyone's tryn' to leave! That clown—! The Princess—! Green-hat—! You pair of—!
YN: —Are you going to list Frederica in there too?
Garfiel: —?!
Eyes opened wide hearing her name be uttered, for a moment, the youth was stunned by YN knowing he had similar, but ultimately more complex feelings regarding the same subject of "running away" and his sister.
But this was ultimately short lived.
Dropping his hands to his sides and clenching them tightly, the golden-haired boy's anger grew more.
Garfiel: Ain't no one leavin' this place till the Trial's over!
His rage was making him more and more volatile. Garfiel began to bend his knees as if ready to lunge at any moment.
Garfiel: —Yous all wanna just run away! Well, I won't let ya!
Defiant from the very start, Garfiel made his intentions clear; if they left, it would only be after getting past him.
YN: It's a good thing we aren't running away then. We're leaving and coming back with answers. Answers that'll free this place.
Garfiel: Pah! Like hell ya are... You must think I'm real stupid ta' believe that!
Subaru: It's strange, actually, more than anything else.
Garfiel: Oh? Why's that, huh?
With Subaru entering the verbal-fray now, he spoke atop his ground dragon.
Subaru: You act like you want to keep everyone in the Sanctuary, but you also want the Trials passed. Why the conflicting stances?
Squinting at the youth, Subaru continued as he answered his own question.
Subaru: —It's because there's more complex things at work here, isn't there? It's not as simple as you want everyone to think it is. You've got other motives.
Garfiel: That ain't true at all... I want what I want n' that's as clear as 'Olamar's wall o' stone!'
Denying any other more mysterious goals, Garfiel only became more enraged at the idea he was the one being accused of this.
Subaru: If that's truly the case, you should just let us do what we have to do. It's the only way you're going to get what you want in the end.
Garfiel: 'Problem not only with you twos isn't just that ya leavin'... No... The problem I gots with yous both now is that ya reek of the Witch.
YN: I suppose we do, don't we? Well, it's too bad that's nothing you can smell.
Garfiel: —?!
Taken back again from not only their blatant acknowledging of it, what caught Garfiel off-guard the most was the immediate dismissal that it was he who smelled it.
YN: Ram was right, Garf. You're a terrible liar.
Garfiel: You keep her name outta' this... It ain't no lie...
Trying to double down, YN tore into Garfiel's weakening stance.
YN: If that's so, why hadn't you mentioned it when me and you first fought? You're too straight forward to have not mentioned it then.
With this, YN set his double-actioned trap.
Garfiel: I did smell it then! —This entire time! I just ain't said nothin' till now 'cus... 'cus—!
YN: —Because the person feeding you that information hadn't smelled that on us until we left the Tomb.
Exposed in a double lie now, Garfiel actually took a step back, knowing YN and Subaru were two steps ahead of him.
Garfiel: That's... That's not true! Why would I—?! Why would I need ta' lie 'bout bein' able ta' smell that shit, huh?!
Subaru: Because it distracts attention away from whoever it is that can smell it.
Garfiel: — — —
Stunned silent, after a moment of wide-eyed terror of being found out, the youth lowered his head. Wondering if he'd finally given up, their question was answered.
Garfiel: 'Seems I can't let you twos live after this.
Hunched over, Garfiel began what appeared to be his transformation into the large golden tiger that they'd faced in previous Loops.
Garfiel: AAAAA—!
Needing to think of something fast, YN knew their plan was going to fold if Garfiel transformed.
YN: You talk big, but you won't kill us, you're too soft for that.
Recalling how the youth hadn't killed Subaru, but had only captured him after an intense injury that Garfiel himself later healed in a previous Loop as well, YN now doubled down on bluffing.
Garfiel: No! Not now! I gots to kill you both now! There's no other choice!
YN: Are you sure the person who told you about the Witch's Scent will want that? Wouldn't they want us to be able to keep talking? Just so they can find how we know all of this?
Losing his composure and his progress at his transformation with YN's words, Garfiel knew he was right. He couldn't kill them. They needed to be captured and questioned.
Knowing he had to do this with his mind intact, Garfiel resorted to doing this with his own hands.
Garfiel: Quit acting like you know everythin'! Ya don't know shit!
About to lunge straight for YN, Garfiel bared his fists and bent his knees, but before he could launch himself forward.
YN: —All of your secrets are known, Garfiel. All of them!
*Snap!*
Using his fingers to signal that the time was now, the brush all around them rustled with excitement, and within only a few seconds, they all appeared from the woodwork, surrounding the golden-haired youth.
Garfiel: —?!
Over twenty in total.
YN: Every secret. Even the secret of who was telling you about the Scent.
All around them, the small statures of their figures were each tactfully placed. In their coats of white, barefoot, and flowing pink hair, the small elves protected YN and Subaru while also offering a show of force to Garfiel.
With all the Ryuzu copies here in attendance for this, one now broke rank, and ran directly for the one holding the Command Authority, taking his hand in her own before turning to stare blankly back out at Garfiel.
Pico was now back at YN's side, and seeing this, an intense shock of despair shot down Garfiel's spine at this unfathomable sight before him.
Garfiel: — — —
Wide eyed and with nearly no life left to them, the golden-haired youth staggered onto his back foot as his lip began to quiver. A few short, sharp breaths is all that could leave his mouth for a lack of words.
Subaru: Garfiel, do you understand your position here now? It's over, for now.
But with Subaru's testament of the situation before them all, it sparked the embers of Garfiel's determination.
Garfiel: How... How the 'ell did yous find that place?! Huh?!
A few tears forming in his emerald eyes, the desperation in his words had made his voice crack as he yelled out at how this was possible.
YN: It doesn't matter now. The Command Authority rests solely with me.
Hearing it said aloud, Garfiel couldn't help but drop to his knees. Morally, he was defeated. All he could do was look down at his own hands as a grimaced expression washed over his own face. Truly, he was disgusted not only at outsiders having control over the one he viewed as his real grandmother, but also disgust in himself for allowing this to happen.
Subaru: We're leaving now. We have things we need to figure out and we can't have you getting in the way.
Seeing the state the golden-haired youth was in, YN took a gentler approach to his address.
YN: Garfiel, I know you're capable of crossing the barrier, but don't follow us, okay? We really don't want to fight you.
Hoping he could plant the idea in Garfiel that he needed to run back to the Laboratory and regain his Authority rather than pursue them, YN's words had a nearly opposite effect on him. Clenching the open palms that he looked down on, Garfiel snapped his vision back to the ones before him.
Garfiel: You... You think I'm just going to give up...? You think I'm just going to run away?! Just like you are?! Piss-off, shithead!
Standing and sliding his feet about from the strength and force they had, Garfiel kicked up a cloud of dust before he launched himself forward.
Garfiel: AAAAHH—!
With newborn fury, the youth roared in final defiance. Even despite what was before him, he wasn't going to let this be the end. He refused to go out with a whimper, but rather a bang if it must be.
I really didn't want it to come to this...
Damning all else, Garfiel rocketed towards them, his arm morphed and transformed into one giant, tiger-sized claw.
But before this claw could strike at either of them, YN used the Authority he now possessed to his plan.
Copy: —!
Having one jump up, arms out to defend them from the attack, a single Ryuzu copy was now airborne to receive it for them.
Or rather, be skewered along with them.
Garfiel: —tch?!
Rearranging his footwork, Garfiel for a moment pulled his punch, but quickly weighing that this was what his enemies hoped for, he went back to fully committing his strength. He would slash through this simple clone, and in doing so, would end the lives of his foes, and reclaim the Command Authority for himself, thus freeing the other copies from any further terrible fate.
Garfiel in this moment was forced to choose the lesser of two evils, and if it meant the life of just one copy, it—
Copy(?): —Gar-bo.
With one utterance of his name, a look of horror ran across his shark-toothed face.
Garfiel: —G-Granny?!
Steering his momentum away from the "copy" now, Garfiel threw himself to the ground to avoid harming her.
Garfiel could live with killing a blank copy, devoid of anything truly developed inside them, but killing one of the four main Ryuzu clones that could speak to him? That was inexcusable.
Crashing to the ground, before he could recover and curse their dirty trick, Garfiel felt the weight and tug of every other copy now raining down on him.
Garfiel: —Gah! H-Hey?!
Even as so many of the clones of the little pink-haired elf were holding him down, Garfiel possessed the strength to easily free himself by just swatting or pushing them away.
With three now clamping themselves to his arm, he was prepared to use his strength to just cast them away with pure force, but as he did—
Copy(?): Gar-bo.
Another of the main four replicants.
Garfiel: —Tch?!
Again curtailing his strength, Garfiel was given no other choice to let himself he lightly held down.
Those bastards?! They—?!
As Garfiel could only curse his adversaries in his mind, this tactic here that was part of Subaru and YN's plan had been the brainchild of the groundskeeper.
Subaru mentioned how in the Loop I was absent for, the one where the Witch of Envy manifested herself through Emilia, Garf never hesitated to to use the Ryuzu clones as an expendable tool.
Correctly assuming Garfiel valued the main four more than the others after their conversation with Ryuzu in her shack, YN had incorporated this aspect into their plan, and it was now paying off.
Either the conscious ones were already dead, or he was holding them back... One thing was clear though, and I even asked Subaru to be sure, but Garf never once used of the conscious Ryuzu clones for that.
And with the main four were now mixed in with the regular copies, disguised, Garfiel wasn't about to take the chance that out of the more than twenty holding him down now, that he could just swat and claw himself free and hope he didn't harm one of them in the process.
Ryuzu: Is this enough to yield an adequate head start for Su-bo and Y-bo?
YN: Yes, Ryuzu-san, it should be. Thank you.
Trying to maybe eliminate one of the ones he knew he couldn't harm, Garfiel had tried to reach for the copy that had just spoke, but as they all shifted around her, the identical copies hid the one that had just spoke as they all reshuffled themselves.
Garfiel: —Agh! —Damn, dirty tricks!
Watching on as Garfiel struggled in vain, knowing he greatly needed to limit his strength, Subaru spoke to YN from atop his ground dragon still.
Subaru: I... I don't think Garfiel ever expected this.
YN: Yeah...
As he struggled and floundered about more, YN could see the increasingly desperate look on Garfiel's face.
Walking up to the pile of clamoring Ryuzu copies, YN looked down at Garfiel in his vulnerable position as Pico continued to hold his hand.
YN: Garfiel, I'm sorry it had to come to this. But, we both know the only way for you to not harm or come after us for the things we need to do was to in turn do this. We all know you'd never harm Ryuzu-san, and I'm sorry I had to exploit that value of yours.
Somewhat halting his struggle as YN said that, Garfiel looked up at him with a sea of emotions on his eyes. Anger, sadness, regret, disgust, it swirled in his emerald eyes, making a cocktail of negativity.
Garfiel: The hell... The hell is that suppose-ta' mean, huh? Ya think I'm so easy to read, dontcha'?! Huh?!
Lashing out in desperate anger now, it took ever ounce of Garfiel's willpower to not throw all the copies from him now and end YN's life.
YN: I hate to say it, but you should count yourself as lucky... Things could have ended up a lot worse for you here if I didn't respect you.
Garfiel: —?!
Being talked down to like this, Garfiel couldn't believe this was actually happening.
Garfiel: 'Lucky?!' Me?! This is as worse as it can get! Aaaaahhh!
Losing any will he had to fight, it was in turn replaced with despair as tears began to well up and fall down his scared face.
Garfiel: Y-You shit-stain! *Hic!* S-Stop—...! *Sob* Stop screwin' with me!
Falling deep into the hole of anguish, the once indomitable Garfiel was now wallowing into a sea of tears as he lost all will to fight against the situation he was in.
As YN watched the golden-haired youth cry and wail like an inconsolable lost child, a pang of guilt ran through his very soul seeing Garfiel like this.
Garf...
With Subaru coming up to YN's flank now, he offered out his hand to help him up onto the saddle of the ground dragon to depart for the Mansion, as per their plan. With Garfiel neutralized, now was the time to leave.
But—
YN: —Subaru.
Unable to take his eyes off the one suffering before him, YN still spoke directly to his fellow wayward travelers offered hand.
YN: —You'll to have to go and speak to Frederica alone in my place. I'm going to stay here.
Silent for a moment before taking his hand back and using it to hold onto the reins again, Subaru questioned the break in the plan now of all times—, especially when everything was technically going on without a hitch.
Subaru: ...I'm afraid I don't understand.
Not one to outright question his friend's judgment, he could tell by the way YN spoke, he wasn't making this alteration without the appropriate amount of consideration.
YN: It might not be the best idea if we leave and surrender the Command Authority back to Garf before we return. We might need to pursue more answers to things here once you finish at the Mansion.
Looking down at the reins he held in thought, Subaru was convinced by YN's words.
Subaru: Maybe it would be best if we kept our options open... Okay.
With a small snap of the reins, Subaru commanded Patrasche down the path a bit and stopped once more.
Subaru: We should have some time before you-know-what shows up. I'll do my best to be back before it does. Not like we can do a whole lot here after that
YN: True. I'll hold things down here.
Somewhat wishing his word choice had been different saying that, Subaru nodded to YN, and had Patrasche continue to ride out of the Sanctuary.
Seeing this happen though, it prompted Garfiel to yell out in near hysteric frustration.
Garfiel: Granny! Granny! You're letting him leave! Don't let him leave the Sanctuary!
As the copies continued to hold him down, Garfiel could only manage to pound the ground with his fist in complete powerlessness.
Garfiel: Granny! Why, Granny?! Why are you taking their side!? Why?!
The wails of Garfiel's voice echoed in the forest around them with an intense pain of betrayal. To Garfiel, this was a nightmare come true. But as the cries sounded out, YN felt each one reverberate against the guilt growing in his chest seeing him this way.
No one deserves to feel this way...
Almost lost in his own guilt, YN felt a small tightening of the small hand that held his own. Looking down to her, even as Pico blankly stared forward, she on her own, began to look down at the golden-haired youth in his continued frustration. As she gazed on for a moment, she than turned her vision upward to YN. While her stare was still ultimately emotionless, her cerulean eyes seemed to have some sort of request behind them. Only able to illustrate this with another small grab of her hand on YN's, he nodded to the small elf.
YN: Garfiel.
Too Inconsolable to even look at YN, the golden-haired youth continued to thrash about like a tantruming child while the Ryuzu copies continued to subdue him.
Garfiel: Why... Why, Granny?! Let me goooo!
Still needing to say something to Garfiel, YN could only speak and hope his words would be heard.
YN: I'm going to give you some time alone with Ryuzu-san, so you can talk... They'll let you go when I get back to the crystal. Once you're ready, we can talk more there.
With almost no reaction to his words, all YN could get as a confirmation was a single side look from Garfiel as he turned to leave. It was a look like a younger sibling might give to an older sibling whom said if they behaved, they'd wouldn't reprimand them. In that frustration and despair, was a small glint of hope.
Departing back to the Laboratory, YN and Pico walked hand in hand.
I can only hope he takes me up on my offer to talk...
Standing, waiting, and with Pico still holding his hand, YN patiently anticipated the one he knew would show up.
About an hour had passed since he arrived here, and with a few squeezes of his hand from Pico, it served almost as an indicator that Garfiel had been released from the hold of the other copies.
Hopefully he's calmed down and is willing to talk...
With Pico blankly staring out, her vision suddenly shifted to the side, at the treeline beyond the clearing that surrounded the Laboratory.
A second later, the branches and leaves moved about, and a figure emerged.
Garfiel: — — —
Walking towards YN, a small train of Ryuzu copies accompanied him. While not all of the copies had stayed behind to follow him here, a few of course were waiting, hiding; ready to come out if need be.
A dozen or so paces from YN, the golden-haired youth stopped. With no such hostile body language to him, the Ryuzu copies, heeding their command, still felt they couldn't be too careful.
As several stood at all angles of his flank, a few stood between him and YN.
Garfiel: — — —
Remaining silent still, Garfiel was close enough that YN could see he still had a few lingering tears on his face.
He took a while to calm down...
And maybe that was to be expected. After all, YN hadn't felt that guilty for no reason.
Still though, with the Ryuzu copies positioned as they were, it made the environment feel much more hostile than YN wanted it to be if he truly wished to have a dialog with the shark-toothed boy.
With a simple wave of his hand, YN dismissed the copies, and let only Pico remain.
As a few more silent seconds passed between the three now, it was finally ended with Garfiel using the back of his hand to wipe away the remaining tears on his face.
Garfiel: I ain't gunna fight ya. I'm just gunna push past ya, shove myself by, get to the crystal, and I'll give ya to the count of ten once I do, to get the hell out of my sight, or I'll make you pay.
Hearing his determination, YN still stood resolute, as he wasn't going to allow that.
YN: You know if you choose violence, you'll end up harming Ryuzu to do that. You might even accidentally really hurt her. I don't want to see that happen as much as you don't.
Garfiel cast his eyes downward before he responded, clenching his fists to his side as he did. As he made eye contact with YN once more, a dull looking pain was abundant in those eyes.
Garfiel: It'll hurt me too, but it hurts me even more ta' see some bastard like you controllin' Granny like this. I'll get the power back and apologize to her properly later.
Knowing Garfiel didn't have any other choice but this, YN knew Ryuzu had consoled him enough to warrant him being calmer, but YN hadn't instructed her to be as cruel as to tell him he shouldn't save her.
YN wasn't going to force Ryuzu to say that, and he wasn't about to manipulate Garfiel using his Granny's words like that.
—Which is why he wanted to go about this a different way.
YN: None of that will be necessary, if you agree to a deal.
Silent for a moment before answering, Garfiel un-clenched his fists.
Garfiel: ...'A deal,' eh?
Listening at the very least, YN put his spare hand over his chest as he spoke.
YN: I'll willingly relinquish the Command Authority back to you with no fuss... but only once Subaru returns and you answer any questions he has truthfully.
Garfiel: — — —
With a small amount of perplexion on his face hearing the rather lax terms, he was hesitant to immediately agree given there were no real consequences for him involved.
Garfiel: Somethin'...there's somethin' yous ain't tellin' me.
Squinting his eyes at YN, Garfiel was doubtful things could be as clean as what he was purposing.
Seeing he was skeptical, YN kept his hand to his chest, and bowed.
YN: I swear on Rem's life, I will not deceive you or be dishonest.
Somewhat stunned to hear such a bold proclamation, Garfiel looked away before answering.
Garfiel: ...Rather empty oath placed on the life of someone who can't wake up.
Wanting to find any reason to not trust him, the sound of the Laboratory's door opening behind YN and the addition of a new voice changed all that.
Ryuzu: What Y-bo says is true. His feelings are as honest and pure as you're hoping they aren't.
With her staff in hand, the main Ryuzu replicant on duty spoke to Garfiel.
Garfiel: ...How do I know he ain't makin' you say that?
Ryuzu: Gar-bo. You know he isn't.
Using her knowledge of her own youngster, Ryuzu walked up to Garfiel, and took his hand, as if imploring him to take the deal, as it would no doubt resolve his problem.
Unsure of how to answer, Garfiel seemed to wrestle with it in his own mind as to what he should do. With his entire sense of honor telling him to do one thing, and his logic saying another, as he went to answer finally—
Garfiel: I—
—his answer was cut short by a strange phenomenon.
A phenomenon that shouldn't have been possible. At least, not here, and not now.
Catching his vision, he looked as it gracefully fell to the ground at YN's feet and disappeared as if never there.
Garfiel: Huh?
Looking up to where it fell from, he was greeted by a few more falling. Following them to the ground, he looked back up again and was greeted by several more.
Then a dozen more.
Then hundreds.
And then thousands.
An uncountable amount now fell from the heavens.
YN & Garfiel: — — —
All around, the small phenomenal event grew, and with it, a drop in temperature, as they both realized as they looked on, their breath was now visible.
Garfiel: How the hell...?
YN: No... It can't be...
Not this soon... What changed?
— — —
It had begun to snow in the Sanctuary.
With the sound of slush and crunching snow being heard under her feet, Patrasche gingerly traversed down the winding path back into the Sanctuary.
Subaru had seen the cloud cover building over the Sanctuary upon his hasty return journey, and once he had reentered the Kermaldy Forest, he felt the bitter cold wind lashing at his cheeks, chin, and nose as his ground dragon had sped forward. However, from that same cold, Patrasche had begun to slow down. Being more than likely due to her cold blooded heritage, it seemed as if ground dragons were very much like reptiles in that sense; they did not take well to such cold conditions.
Still though, she pushed herself, not only for Subaru, but for the only other sole survivor of the assault on the Mansion that had come to claim everyone else's lives.
What worried Subaru greatly now though, was what the condition of the Sanctuary was like. He hadn't a clue what to except to see here. Was he going to be walking into the aftermath of a bloodbath and bringing the one he carried with him back to someone who had long perished?
He simply did not know.
As Patrasche did her best, the trio rounded the final corner to where the barrier of the Sanctuary had it's farthest influence, and to Subaru's greatest relief, he was met by quartet of welcomers.
Stood in the path forward in makeshift winter wear, was YN, Pico holding his hand, and to the opposite side, Garfiel, and whom Subaru could only assume was the on-duty Ryuzu replicant.
Striding up to them, the black-haired boy couldn't help but notice that oddly enough, YN still seemed to be in control of the Command Authority, and Garfiel wasn't dead or clawing out the groundskeeper's eyes.
For a brief moment, there was a silence as Patrasche came up a halt and Subaru surveyed everything up close.
Subaru: ...You two sure seem like you're getting along...
Garfiel: We's at a truce is all. But things have changed... like the weather. Tch.
As YN took a step closer, he saw that Subaru wasn't alone.
In fact, despite the cold weather, Subaru wasn't even wearing the matching jacket of his tracksuit, someone else was.
YN: Is that—?
As Subaru untied the sleeves to his jacket from around his waist, he turned sideways on the saddle to better secure his passenger now that she was lose.
Her beautiful face revealed from behind the jacket's unfolded collar, the hue of blue against the bright white of the snow covered forest behind her made YN's heart skip.
YN: —?!
His eyes open wide in question, YN now looked more carefully at the scene.
Subaru was covered in scratches and gouges. Blood stained his undershirt and even the jacket that he had put around Rem in her nightgown, more than likely done to keep her warm upon encountering the snow.
Given he had Rem, and the condition he was in, Subaru had left extremely hastefully when he had.
Subaru: I'm sure you can tell but... things didn't go well, at all.
Painfully admitting things had gone awry at the Mansion, Subaru looked weakly at his fellow wayward traveling companion as he was ready to pass Rem onto him so he could finally dismount the ground dragon.
Holding Rem gently by shoulders, he had moved her legs to dismount the saddle as YN walked up, ready to receive her.
Subaru: H-Hey!
As YN took his first step towards Rem though, Pico suddenly dropped his hand as Subaru looked past YN and yelled out, prompting YN to not question anything and instead quickly reach for the Sleeping Beauty to secure her.
As Rem fell into his arms, a few quick, hurried steps and the sound of someone sliding their feet across the snow covered ground were heard behind him before a voice of stern nature repeated the name of the one responsible for it. His sleeping beauty secured, YN turned his head to see what this fuss was all about.
Ryuzu: —Gar-bo.
Garfiel: —Tch
With the blue-haired maid safely in his grasp, YN could instantly tell what had occurred. As he had gone to approach Rem, Garfiel must have seen an opportunity to get ahead and tip the situation in his favor. Yet, thanks to Pico quickly reacting to this, throwing herself in the golden-haired youth's way, and Ryuzu too, grabbing his forearm to halt him, Garfiel had been stopped short of his goal.
Subaru: — — —
YN: — — —
Garfiel: — — —
Ryuzu: — — —
Pico: — — —
Algol: — — —
Even prompting Algol to show themselves, tensions in the air were now thick, as what appeared to be a standoff began to form. Not staying silent for long though, Garfiel rather cursed his failure now, it being clearly apparent.
Garfiel: —Damn it. You and your dirty—!
Ryuzu: —Gar-bo!
In rare form, even Ryuzu now somewhat raised her voice of chastisement to the one she had guardianship over, making his angered expression recoil in shock, much like a scolded child.
Ryuzu: Y-bo offered his sincerest word that he would relinquish his control of the Command Authority. Had you succeeded in taking that girl hostage, or worse, he would have broken that agreement with all hostility.
Looking down at the pink-haired elf, Garfiel snarled before looking back to YN.
Garfiel: Ay! Yer makin' her say that you shithead! Granny wouldn't say nothin' like that!
Accusing him of manipulating Ryuzu for his own protection, YN paid the charge no heed, and instead gave the shark-toothed boy a look of dark seriousness as an intimidating tone came to his words, a fitting match for the boiling heat of Yang magic in his muscles at the idea of Rem potentially being taken hostage by Garfiel had be succeeded.
YN: If you had managed to have taken Rem there, I would have shown you no mercy with the Ryuzu clones.
Even as he delicately held the maid in his arms, the aura YN now gave off was not one that Garfiel could feel safe doubting. With Ryuzu and him both looking to YN with eyes wide open in surprise, they were shocked at how dark he had become and how narrowly they seemed to have avoided something horrible here.
Casting his eyes downward, Garfiel clicked his tongue as both Pico and Ryuzu finally let go of him, showing an end to his intentions. Kicking the snow on the ground in frustration, Garfiel realized that Ryuzu hadn't been ordered to voice that warning to him. She had spoken freely, and she had spoken with all due cause.
Ryuzu: Gar-bo, you have nothing to gain by taking a hostage. Y-bo has not once shown an attempt to betray his word.
Garfiel: Whatever, whatever... We gots bigger issues anyway.
Dropping any further hostility, Garfiel seemed to be rational once more. Subaru did tilt his head to his words however, and inquired as to what he meant.
Subaru: "Bigger problems," you say?
Looking to YN as he said that, he most easily explained how the situation had unfolded.
YN: *Sigh...* A little after you left, Emilia-sama went into the Tomb and didn't tell a soul. That was only a little while before the snow began to fall, apparently. The problem is, we can't get her to come out.
In truth, both YN and Subaru knew it was possible for the groundskeeper to just go in and get her, however, that would mean YN would have stop guarding the crystal, something he couldn't risk losing.
Garfiel: The Princess-sama's there right now. Still. Fer two days almost.
While Subaru had left in the early morning of the previous day, it was now late in the afternoon of the next day.
Subaru: It really has been that long... Jeez. Alright. I'll go in and get Emilia-tan.
Taking Patrasche by the reins to lead her to the stables, YN accompanies Subaru while Pico ran back to his side, holding onto his cloak he wore that the one in his arms had made him in this frigid weather to keep warm.
At about halfway to their destination though, Garfiel ran ahead of them and stopped, pointing a finger directly at YN.
Garfiel: Oi. I've bouts had it waitin' so long now. Once Knight-san here goes in to get his Princess-sama, I'm countin' that completn' our deal. Yous gunna hand back over control of Granny. Got it?
Sighing, YN let a small cloud of white steam exhale from his nostrils as he knew Garfiel was pushing the terms of the deal. However, given what Subaru had hinted to have happened at the Mansion, and thankful Garfiel wasn't inquiring more about that, YN gave in.
YN: Sure, sure.
As they all walked on, the snow only began to get deeper, and the air colder. With YN worried for Rem's safety in these worsening conditions, and Subaru worried for Patrasche, and Garfiel worried for Ryuzu, the three sent their auxiliaries away to the Cathedral as a neutral zone for them to be away from the bitterly cold evening this was turning into.
The trio than arrived at the Tomb, and letting Subaru go ahead, they waited outside.
After what felt like close to another hour, the day's light had just begun to fade with the slight darkening of the sky. Yet, thanks to the snow, the entirety of the area seemed to stay better illuminated than it would have otherwise been at this hour.
Unsure how much longer they could realistically wait, YN almost had begun to deem it necessary to abandon the Command Authority, and see what was up on the inside.
Subaru didn't actually get trapped this time, did he? Is he maybe attempting the second Trial?
Just as he was about to go in, a silhouette from the opening of the Tomb could finally be seen.
A lone silhouette.
Emerging without the silver haired half-elf in tow, or over his shoulder even, a bitterly defeated look went across his face as he looked down at the ground.
Garfiel: Oi, oi, oi...
Immediately finding this concerning, YN spoke up too after Garfiel.
YN: Uh... What's up? Where's Emilia-sama?
With a tense worry filling those waiting, Subaru shook his head.
Subaru: Emilia has been taking the Trials... Over and over and over again. She hasn't eaten anything, and all that along with the stress I think has her delirious.
As a brief silence descended upon the trio, it was broken by Garfiel bombastically crossing his arms and demanding a conclusion to this.
Garfiel: Yous problems is yous problems. Whatever's wrong with the Princess-sama ain't my issue. I'm going to go get the power over Granny back, so you better—
Subaru: —Emilia said she loves me.
YN: —?
Garfiel: —?
Each perplexed as to Subaru's sudden words cutting off Garfiel's threat over the deal to have the Command Authority returned to him, YN could hardly apply logic to it before Garfiel answered him.
Garfiel: Well, good for yous then? Like I said, ain't none of this is my problem. Now, if either of yous try—
Subaru: —Emilia. She said she loves me.
For the second time in a row, Garfiel tried to warn Subaru and YN both to honor the deal in relinquishing the Command Authority, but again, he was cut off by Subaru. He spoke as if this was some profound thing for them all to be just as equally concerned over as him, despite that though, Garfiel had enough of being interrupted for things he couldn't care less about.
Garfiel: Just what hell are you on about, huh?!
With a stomp of his foot onto the ground being muted by the snow beneath him, Garfiel's frustration was reaching a fever pitch as the snow flakes that fell on his exposed skin were not just melting, but were steaming off from the anger he felt right now.
Garfiel: Yous stallin', huh? Huh?! That's what ya tryin' do? Oi?
As YN put his hands up and stepped between the golden-haired and black-haired boys, he tried to calm things down.
YN: Garf, if Subaru is trying something here, I have no clue what his plan is.
At first raising a brow to YN, it seemed he believed his profession of innocence. However, that did not stop whom his anger was directed at. Pushing YN out of the way, Garfiel stood directly in front of Subaru now as a threatening aura circled about him.
Garfiel: You decidin' to play hero now?!
Yelling in Subaru's face now, Garfiel went on.
Garfiel: Get one damn thing straight 'ere. I'm getting the power over Granny back, even if I gotta tear each and every one of yous heads off and—
Subaru: —How could Emilia possibly love me?!
Shouting over Garfiel now, his sudden outburst stunned him and YN with wide eyes. All of their words and thoughts are halted at this display.
Subaru: How? How?! How is that possible? It makes zero sense. What changed to make that a reality?
Trying to logically go about the question, it only made the two before him slightly more suspicious the more he spoke.
Garfiel: ...The hell are you goin' on about?
Speaking much lower, as if out of caution, Garfiel questioned his questioning.
YN: I... I gotta say I'm with Garf here, what do you mean?
Entirely clueless as to what Subaru meant with this odd behavior, the group dynamic had shifted from Subaru and YN facing Garfiel, to Garfiel and YN facing Subaru.
Keeping a dead eye of contact with them both, Subaru clenched his fists at his side as he spoke much softer.
Subaru: Emilia would never— Never. Not in a million years, would lean on me like this all of a sudden, and for no reason. She'd never say her feelings for me are everything to her. There'd need to be a reason for that to happen. A very, very good one.
Garfiel: Than out with it, ya bastard. You wouldn't be flapping your lips like this if yous didn't know why.
Taking a deep breath before answering, it seemed as if the answer hurt for him to say.
Subaru: It's because Puck wouldn't ever let her become so enthralled with me... He wouldn't stand for a such a thing.
While Garfiel was only somewhat familiar with what Subaru meant by that, YN knew fully, and admittedly could easily sympathize.
YN: Subaru, I know how much it would mean to you to be first in Emilia-sama's heart... But that spot is still protected by the one Emilia relies on the most for her own internal stability, and that is Puck.
Nodding in affirmation to YN, Subaru looked down at the ground. While Garfiel still wasn't fully understanding the conversation, he stayed silent still, figuring if this much emotion was mixed with such an equal part of intrigue, it might be worth knowing for the Sanctuary's sake if it was all related.
Subaru: —That's not all of it though. This happened because I wasn't here. Emilia was driven to this point not out of choice, but out of necessity. She's been forced to hide away in that cave... Baring all the responsibility on her own...
Seeing as his shoulders were beginning to shake, neither could see the black-haired boy's expression until he raised his head back up, his teeth bared and anger making his already scary looking eyes even more unpleasant to be seen.
Subaru: Who drove her into that corner?! Who made her depend on a worthless guy like me as her knight?! WHO MADE HER THINK SHE NEEDED TO KEEP GOING?! NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES SHE WAS TRAUMATIZED BY THE TRIAL?! WHO?!
As Subaru shouted at the top of his lungs now, the word's sharp edges were barely dulled by the soundproofing nature of the snowfall around them. Greatly beginning to worry Subaru was about to foolishly lash out at Garfiel, YN went to try and get his fellow wayward traveling companion to calm down, thinking he might have misconstrued everything.
Shit, I think Subaru thinks Garfiel hounded Emilia to take the Trial while he was gone. Does he really think he did that?
While YN knew from his first hand experience that couldn't have been possible, he could only figure Subaru must not know that.
Subaru: —WHO DID IT?!
Looking at them each with utter discontent as he shouted for answers, a new fear formed in YN's mind.
...There's no way... Does Subaru honestly feel like I might also be the one to blame for this?
Unsure just what his friend was thinking, or if he was still frenzied from the shock of Emilia telling him she loved him, YN was fearful of what Subaru might be driven to try if he really was emotionally compromised right now.
YN: Woah, woah, woah... Easy there, Subaru. Neither me, nor Garfiel have had any contact with Emilia-sama since you left.
Garfiel: Y-Yeah. What he says. We ain't told the Princess-sama to do nothin'...
Hearing his plea too, YN noted that even Garfiel seemed to be off put by Subaru's potent anger.
Subaru: —None of you get it! Do you?!
As one final shout was made by Subaru, his eyes were beginning to be bloodshot from the tension he felt. Yet, in the next second, his brows fell, and his expression lost all the vengefulness it had just held.
Subaru: ...It was me... It's all my fault... I caused her to push herself this hard...
YN & Garfiel: — — —
Each somewhat stunned at the sudden and abrupt change in just the vocal volume, let along the emotional tone, the shock caused them both to be rather united in their silence.
Before long though, Garfiel was back to his old ways of behaving.
Garfiel: What the hell...
First starting quietly like a pot about to start simmering, it quickly formed into a rolling boil.
Garfiel: What the hell—?! Huh?!
Teeth clenched and fists held tightly at his side, Garfiel demanded an explanation.
Garfiel: What's the damn point of sobbin' out here while the Princess-sama is in there sufferin'?!
Really beginning to lose his cool now, Garfiel pushed past YN, and grabbed the black-haired boy's shirt collar.
Garfiel: If she loves ya so damn much, get yer ass back in there, and get 'er out! Or—!
Subaru: —'Or' you'll what? Go in and get her yourself?
Sternly cutting Garfiel's words off, the golden-haired youth narrowed his eyes and leaned in close to Subaru's face, teeth still clenched.
Garfiel: —The 'ell does that mean?
As if trying to extrapolate if Subaru was hinting at something else, he laid out the fruits of his most recent expedition to the Mansion, despite all the hardship it had caused him.
Subaru: You're an Apostle of Greed. That's the only way that you yourself could be granted the Command Authority over the Ryuzu copies. Just like YN is. And frankly, just like how I could if I touched the crystal that holds the original Ryuzu Meyer. Only the Witch of Greed can give someone that. And for her to give you that—
Dropping Subaru from his held shirt, Garfiel was still stuck on the last sentence Subaru had said. Looking at both of them, wide eyed as he went from YN to Subaru, back and forth, Garfiel had a look of short panic go across his face.
Garfiel: What do you mean by that... Oi... —Oi! Ya mean to tell me yous both taken the Trial?!
In utter disbelief, Subaru capitalized on this.
Subaru: We all have. Everyone here, right now. And that includes you.
Garfiel: —hk!
Subaru: You've taken the Trial before, Garfiel. That means you can go into the Tomb yourself. You know it's pointless to make me be the one to get Emilia out of there, and that's why you let it nearly slip there just now.
As if he hadn't heard the last part of that, Garfiel reached down to Subaru and pulled him back up into a shirt grab as he yelled for answers.
Garfiel: How'd you know I took the Trial?! How'd you figure that out?!
Subaru: Because—
Nearly expressionless as he spoke despite being jostled around like a ragdoll by the angered youth, Subaru revealed his newly found knowledge.
Subaru: —Frederica told me.
A wide array of emotions now played across Garfiel's face and eyes. Betrayal, admonishment, anger, sorrow, trauma.
Garfiel: —! —! —!
Speechless, he finally dropped Subaru for a second time before turning his back, and kicking up a large amount of snow, frozen ground, and ice in frustration.
Garfiel: That damn... SNITCH!
As the nearby trees clear across the clearing were pelted with rocks, it shook the snow from them.
Garfiel: It's not enough she has to just leave everyone and abandon em'?! She's gotta pander to outsiders to?!
With a sick sense of betrayal making Garfiel feel completely defeated, his back was to them as he yelled out into the cold, dark sky.
But truth be told, YN could hardly believe it. This revelation wasn't something he had expected to hear.
I guess I didn't put two and two together that Garfiel would also need the 'Apostle of Greed' to also have and use the Command Authority... And he must have got his like we got ours...
Well, at least how Subaru received his, YN knew. After all, the Witch herself hadn't given it to YN, but for reasons still unknown to everyone, he was also given it when Subaru received it.
Garfiel could only hold back tears of frustration and anger as Subaru stood back up and continued to lay out the learned secrets of the Sanctuary.
Subaru: There's only one person standing in the way of the Sanctuary being liberated. And it's the same one who made the contract binding the residents of the Sanctuary to the Witch of Greed, Echidna.
Somewhat sidelined now in this conversion between the Knower and the Secret Holder, YN couldn't decide who to keep his eye on.
Is... Is Subaru accusing Garf of that contract?! Is he saying it's Garf who's intentionally keeping the Sanctuary under lock down? Or is he implying it's this mystery person feeding Garf info like the Witch's Scent..?
Either way, to YN, it seemed as if Subaru was accusing all of the problems they faced now were a byproduct of Garfiel's actions, whether he was a subordinate of this or not.
Garfiel: —Bah! I'm sick n' tired of listen' to you yammer on about shit yous got no business in! I'll send you straight to that hell you kept talkin' 'bout the other day!
Slamming his foot into the ground, while the sound was muted thanks to the snow, the ground still shook as it knocked snow down from the nearby trees. With Garfiel slowly beginning to transform again, the snow accumulated on him melted and dripped away.
Truly unable to do anything, YN could only look to Subaru in hopes he was going to do something to evade the throat slashing lunge he knew was imminent.
Yet there he stood, resolute and unmoving.
Garfiel: —AAAAAAAHHH!
Crouching, Garfiel was poised to give Subaru a most violent death, but even in the face of this, the black-haired boy only spoke to continue his former point.
Subaru: —The one responsible for that contract, it's the same one as who's making it snow right now—
Paying his words no mind, Garfiel launched forward, and in doing so, kicked up a snow blind large enough that YN was unable to intervene.
YN: —Subaru!
YN could only imagine a Reset was mere fractions of a second away now. With what he had last seen before the curtain of white cut off his vision, he was certain of it.
—Yet as only his sight was taken from him, his hearing remained. And to that, he heard his fellow wayward traveling companion speak what he could only guess would be his final words; the answer to the person he now realized was at fault for all that was occurring.
Subaru: —it's Roswaal.
As the snow blind continued to rain down on YN as it settled, he felt the tiny specs of frozen water gently tickle the skin upon his face as his vision remained glued to where Subaru had stood.
What... what happened?
The curtain of white still hung, suspended in the air, but slowly, it began to settle and reveal a scene before him.
Nowhere was there a ribbon of fresh blood laid out. The snow was not painted in the evidence of gruesome violence YN had entirely expected to see. His mind gave little thought to the last words of revelation Subaru had just spoke, but thankfully, Garfiel for a change hadn't been so dismissive of them.
Eyes whitened out, veins popped upon his brow and temples. His body, still half-beastified, had stalled and held itself back.
Garfiel: — — —
The golden tiger, partially into his own realm of despondent outrage, silently stared at Subaru having heard what he said. With less than a hands-width to go, the claw bent on tearing Subaru's throat out had stopped.
While too far along in his transformation to speak back coherently, it was just still early enough to hear what Subaru had to say.
Snarling still though, warm steam from Garfiel's anger filled breath washed across Subaru's face from the close proximity the two were still at. It was a silent way for golden tiger to say "Explain now. And do it quickly, should I lose my patience."
Yet still as if unphased by the danger before, Subaru spoke with the same continued determination, fueled solely by the revelation he had come to realize.
Subaru: It's not Emilia making it snow. Without Puck by her side, she couldn't do something this dramatic by herself.
As Garfiel was slowly convinced by this logic, he retracted his large clawed hand, and the beatification of his body also retreated.
With the immediate danger pushed away for now, Subaru held a single hand up and out to catch a few wandering flakes of snow. Bringing them closer to his vision, he remained silent until the small crystals melted in his hand before looking back up and both Garfiel and YN.
Subaru: —Even if this was Emilia's doing, there would be no way she could hide this from me so flawlessly.
Garfiel had fully returned to his more easy to deal with self now. Taking in everything Subaru said, he still had a healthy amount of skepticism though.
Garfiel: How do I know yous just not in denial about it being her, huh? 'No one reaches around Faruke without first shaking his chain.'
Speaking one of his unknown idioms or proverbs here that was lost on both Subaru and YN, his question was simple enough to understand, and knowing fully well that Subaru was right, YN stepped in to back up his findings.
YN: Emilia-sama isn't the kind of person who'd throw a tantrum and harm everyone else by doing it. She might be hiding away from us all, but she's wouldn't even do that if it meant harming someone else in the process.
Tentatively, Garfiel only give YN an expression of "You got a point." and gingerly kicked a bit of snow on the ground. He was coming around to this idea, but as Subaru too could tell, he needed the extra push forward to convince him.
Subaru: Garfiel. Is it truly Roswaal that's the one binding everyone here to the Sanctuary?
Outwardly asking this, Subaru not only asked for clarification, but also backhandedly checked to see if Garfiel could be brought to their side of things went in the right direction.
Garfiel: ...'Ya hear that from Frederica too...?
Begrudgingly confirming the info with his own question, Garfiel had only done so while grumbling.
Subaru: No, actually. It's just me sorting out all the information and evidence I have. While I do have enough of a reason to even entertain false accusations of others, including myself, it looks like I ended up being right this time.
Exhaling a long, steamy breath upward into the cold air, Subaru unfolded his arms, and stuck his hands back into his pockets. He then turned to face YN.
Subaru: Look's like the mastermind of our old problems continues to be the architect of our current ones.
YN: Yeah... Except this time we have proof other than him just telling us after the fact.
Looking to Garfiel and YN alike, Subaru set a destination and purpose for them now. —A cause and flag they could all rally behind.
Subaru: Let's go pay ol' Ros-chi a visit.
Each of them shared a glance to one another, and with that, matched their resolves to one common cause.