"Alright!" Subaru clapped a fist against his hand in excitement. "It's morning and I'm ready for the third and final Trial!"
"Do your best, Master!" Shaula cheered as he got onto the staircase that would take him up to the very top of the tower, where the last Trial awaited him. "Upwards to Maia!"
Taking his time for this last one, it took Subaru a good while until he finally reached the third set of imposing black doors.
Third of the Three Hs: The Heart
"Mental, then physical, now spiritual." Subaru took a deep breath. "Let's do this."
Do not falter.
Grunting as this received mental clue, especially with how... blunt and straightforward it was, Subaru pushed the doors open to regard the area. Compared to before, it was huge and outdoors, with six pillars placed around the outskirts of the floor and a giant pillar located at the very middle of it.
And right against that giant pillar was a titanic dragon covered in rocky black and pale blue scales that gleamed in the sunlight, glowing gold eyes regarding him. It even had a halo-like structure amidst it's horns, which really leaned into it's status as a divine entity in draconic form.
"I'm gonna take a wild guess, and identify you as Volcanica, right?" Subaru spoke up.
"Indeed, am as thou says. Thou, who have reached the top of the tower and passed the previous Trials, are now eligible to fulfill the final Trial." Volcanica replied, it's voice rumbling with a power that shook even Subaru's bones. And yet, for some reason, it sounded... "Even though thou possess mental capability and physical prowess, it is all for naught if thy spiritual fortitude is lacking."
Subaru frowned as the dragon rose up from it had laid down, the ground rumbling from that very motion. He opened his mouth to question Volcaninca-
"Learn that now, Sage Candidate."
-before clicking his mouth shut when he briefly found himself confronted with the sight of a horizon-swallowing, eye-searingly divine figure. The Divine Dragon looked down upon him with all of the power it's title implied, the World warping under it's illuminating brilliance while the ground cracked from the spiritual pressure.
Was... Was Volcanica using Haoshoku?! Because that was... That was...
Because how the fuck was Subaru still conscious?!
-:-
Synthesis at 82.6%
-:-
As shivers tremored through every inch of his body, Subaru realized that he'd fallen down on one knee at some point, struggling to breathe while keeping from puking out his own guts.
"Thou still retain thyself? Impressive, but insufficient."
Subaru took a moment to pant and get his heartbeat under control against the spiritual assault against his very will, grinning rather hysterically as he staggered back to his feet. "Insufficient? Insufficient?! LIKE HELL I AM!"
A wave of something tore free from Subaru at his roar, slamming against the Divine Dragon's Haoshoku and lessening the pressure that had been crushing him, causing astral red-black lightning to rip through the entire area.
"GYAAA!" Shaula shrieked as two cosmic entities flooded the entire Watchtower with their presence, making her feel so very, very small as a dragon of divinity clashed against a sage of unfathomable darkness.
"Mustuh..." Shaula gurgled as she collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
They fell.
It didn't matter how deep in the sands they were, or how far they'd been from the tower.
All mabeasts Fell within the desert as crimson-black lightning ripped through the skies.
All across Mirula, every single resident's jaw dropped when something exploded from the Watchtower, huge surges of strangely colored lighting reaching up to the sky before immediately blowing away every cloud in it for several miles.
Subaru's will was brought up against the Divine Dragon's... but was still ultimately...
"Adequate enough, I suppose."
The Divine Dragon declared as it's shine seared through Subaru's will and caused him to stagger, the pressure immediately vanishing.
"The essence of this Trial was to either test if thou could be capable of backing down against a seemingly unbeatable foe or surpassing them in a clash of wills. Had thou failed at either, thou would've needed to redo everything for the third time now."
Subaru barely noted what the dragon god was saying, too focused on what he'd just experienced.
The idea... of barely surviving a Haoshoku clash. Unbroken, but certainly not unshaken.
With more difficulty than Subaru cared to admit, he pushed this bit to the back of his mind and focused more on Volcanica. "So, I passed right?"
"It seems that all of thy accumulated willpower is for the better now than it was before, Flugel." Volcanica decided with a rumble as it settled back down. "In accordance to the rules that have been set down, I hereby declare that thou have successfully and are now the Watchtower's Administrator. What are mineself's orders, Flugel?"
Being done with just about being mistaken for some other dude that stranded Shaula here and wondering why the Divine Dragon was asking for orders after just kicking his ass in Haoshoku, Subaru immediately gave his orders. "Continue as you have, Volcanica. But make sure to find a way and leave this place without stopping any important stuff you're doing here. I don't like the implications that you, Shaula and Reid have all been here for so many centuries."
"It has only been four centuries." Volcanica replied. "Almost negligible."
"Like hell 400 years are negligible!" Subaru snapped before sighing. "Now that the Trials are over with, and I got Haoshoku as a surprise bonus-"
And wasn't that a surprise? Haoshoku belonged to leaders. How did he possess the 'disposition to rule over others'?
"-unless there's anything else I should take from here?"
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have conquered the Trial of the Spirit: Eminence of the Icon!
You have attained full authority over the Pleiades Watchtower as it's Administrator!
Subaru just shrugged before swiping it out of the way for the next screen.
THE PLEIADES WATCHTOWER
Otherwise known as the Great Library of Pleiades, this is a megastructure created by the combined abilities of Great Sage Flugel, Divine Dragon Volcanica and Witch of Greed Echidna. Originally serving as Flugel's homebase, it currently holds numerous items and facilities which include the Books of the Dead, the Evil Sealing Stone Shrine, several hidden rooms and Warp Portals.
Subaru blinked before regarding Volcanica. "So... this place is... mine?"
"Indeed."
"But what about Flugel?" Subaru pressed. "Not me, but the other Flugel who made this place?"
"Thy very presence is proof that he shall never return." Volcanica replied, a hint of sadness in his solemn tone.
"...am I his reincarnation or something?" Subaru mumbled before reading the other screens.
THE EVIL SEALING STONE SHRINE
This is a hidden structure beneath the Pleiades Watchtower that acts as a gateway between the World and the dimensional subspace where Witch of Envy Satella is mostly sealed away.
Subaru thought back to his encounter with Satella in his dreams. "'Mostly sealed away' is pretty accurate... But if she's here below this tower..."
Not only did that explain the miasma being greater here than anywhere else, it also warranted a literally deity sitting it's draconic ass at all times, rather than just for some 'Trial' the other Flugel cooked up.
WARP PORTALS
These are teleportation glyphs that take the form of crystalline platforms, allowing you and your allies to travel vast distances in an instant towards and away from the Watchtower, only via creating a network of set locations with the Watchtower as its hub.
"Holy shit!" Subaru grinned widely at this part. If he ever wanted to visit here again, no more long trips! Hell, he could return to Roswaal's mansion, install a Warp Portal there, and return in a literal instant! "Okay, then! First order of business..."
Wait, what would he do now? Return back to Emilia and the others? Wasn't it too soon? Sure he was a lot stronger, but... A gaze at the morning sun as it was briefly covered by a cloud drew Reinhard to mind for some reason-
Wait. Reinhard! "I could visit him! Hey, and Felt and the appa guy, too! And this time, I'll have money to buy some!" Subaru realized with a chuckle before turning to Volcanica. "Okay, I'm leaving for Lugnica's capital! Oh, and I'm taking Shaula with me!"
"Very well." Volcanica extended a massive clawed finger, gesturing for Subaru to raise his hand. When he did so, a spark of blue fire erupted into a plume above his palm before it solidified into a tiny metallic replica of the dragon before him. Before Subaru could question Volcanica about it, he hissed when it suddenly came alive and realigned it's limbs and tail around his wrist, morphing into the coolest armband he'd ever seen in his life. "There. Now if you were to call for mineself's aid, I shall be able to directly reply."
Well, that was pretty reassuring. Still, Subaru couldn't help but fear for the kind of situation he would need to call over the Divine Dragon for.
Meanwhile, in the capital of Lugnica, it was all around a quiet morning.
Which allowed the Sage Council in the throne room to almost relax after sending the knights into searching for Natsuki 'Flugel' Subaru.
"Good morning, Miklotov."
"A good morning to you as well, Bordeaux."
"Any success regarding our latest enigma?" Bordeaux queried.
"Unfortunately, not." Miklotov sighed. Of all the reports so far, the ones from the slums seemed to be simultaneously the most accurate yet troublesome. Due to the sighting of a 'dragon' in that area, Miklotov strongly believed that this 'Flugel' might've originally been a resident of there before emigrating to better his life. Most likely, he was strongly connected to the 'dragon', but he couldn't just state that. If there was one thing he'd learned in his long life, it was to never assume that a theory was the absolute truth until proven so, therefore preventing him from reaching wrong conclusions. "Hopefully, we shall receive a stroke of luck-"
"LOOK! The Dragon Tablet!" Another Sage Council member interrupted Miklotov's words, pointing at the Dragon Tablet as it sparked once more before displaying a new message.
"Sage Candidate, Natsuki 'Flugel' Subaru, has subjugated the Pleiades Watchtower and become its Administrator."
And with that one sentence, the whole room proceeded to lose their shit once more.
Well, there went the rest of Miklotov's good morning.
It was almost noon at the Karsten estate and inside her office, Crusch Karsten's thoughts once more redirected themselves towards the individual Ferris had informed her about.
Sage Candidate Flugel...
Capella Emerada Lugnica...
Just hearing that an Archbishop used to bear that family name had stoked a rage nearly beyond Crusch's control, the idea of her dearly departed friend being related to such a revolting individual being unbearable. It was only after remembering Ferris's own parents that she'd calmed herself down, trying to work this new information into her objectives.
If he could be found, would it be possible to recruit him under her banner? With their plans to subjugate the White Whale, the addition of a person capable of defeating a Sin Archbishop was almost invaluable.
But what could she offer him? Money? Land within her territories? A noble title? Her connections?
"It seems that you're need of another break, Crusch-sama." Wilhelm spoke up as he entered her office, the elderly swordsman carrying a tray with tea in his hands. "Does this 'Flugel' character still plague you?"
"That word implies that my opinion of him is negative, Wilhelm." Crusch chuckled as she sipped from the cup he offered her. "...I want him, Wilhelm. With him on my side, all of our goals would become even more feasible, as well as solidify my claim to the throne."
Crusch finished her words with a caress against the insignia in her pocket, it's red gleam visible through the clothing. "I cannot imagine that Lady Hoshin will be any less proactive in attaining him for her camp as well."
"True, considering that acquiring desired information is a task much more suited for merchants than warriors." Wilhelm agreed. "But Flugel isn't truly the one keeping you upset, is he?"
"...no. It's the Archbishop." Crusch admitted with some reluctance, her fist clenching. "The very idea of such a person bearing Fourier's name...! The Dragon Tablet does not lie, so it must be truth. But if it is so, then how can she exist? Was she a hidden royal family member who was raised away in isolation? Was she somehow the true Emerada Lugnica who somehow attained immortality despite supposedly dying young? I almost wish that Flugel had left her alive so that I could interrogate her."
"You aren't the sole person to have such a desire." With her permission, Wilhelm took a seat. "However, I do not believe that there is a need to fret."
Crusch frowned at his words. "What do you mean?"
"We do not know his reasons for slaying the Sin Archbishop of Lust, but we can at least be sure that he is now aware that the entire kingdom knows of his feat." Wilhelm pointed out. "Regardless of his reason, I cannot believe that he would not desire some sort of reward for this, and will most likely approach the Capital himself to claim it."
Wilhelm paused as he realized something. "Ah. Unless he killed her for a completely personal reason, that is... which I now admit seems very likely."
Crusch agreed as well. About half of every citizen of the kingdom could possess completely justified reasons to hate the Witch Cult, and Flugel was most likely amongst that number. Just as Wilhelm could be considered 'mad' for wanting to personally kill the White Whale, perhaps it was the same of Flugel with the Sin Archbishop of Lust. She herself desired the throne for personal reasons as well, rather than the lure of power like most of her fellow nobles.
Madness of rage... Madness of insanity... Madness of power... Madness...
Crusch shook her head and emptied her cup of it's tea, relishing the slight burning of her throat as it cleared those dark thoughts from her head.
Still, without any means of reaching Flugel, perhaps it would only be by luck that Crusch would encounter him.
The doors slammed open to reveal a panting Ferris, still in his knight regalia. Had he run all the way here? "Crusch-sama...! Old Man Wil...! The Dragon Tablet...!"
[Hey! Subaru is back!]
Walking back down, Subaru grinned at Spica's cheer as his Spirits left neon trails from how fast they circled him. "I'm back, guys. Not that I'm complaining, but why hasn't Shaula knocked me down again?"
[She fainted over there, like a wuss.] Ari flew away and highlighted Shaula's limp body, drool escaping her lips while her eyes stayed blank. [She's been like that ever since that weird lightning storm from your Trial.]
Subaru frowned. "Wait. You guys are fine from that?"
[Well, it was difficult to stabilize our forms a bit, but we have no physical bodies to fall unconscious with.] Sigma pointed out, causing Subaru to hum in acknowledgement. [Now that the Trials are over with, what is your next move, Master?]
"I'll wake Shaula up and prepare to leave for the Capital." Subaru stated, kicking the scorpion girl awake. "Shaula, get ready to leave. You no longer need to keep watch over the Watchtower."
"I... I can leave?" Surprisingly, Shaula began tearing up. "You finished the Trials? Shaula did good work?"
Subaru gawked at her reaction before going down on a knee to draw her into a hug. "You've done excellent work, Shaula. I won't let you be alone anymore."
This time, Subaru was ready for the following crushing hug, even as Shaula soaked his clothes in tears.
Later on, they were almost set to leave.
With Shaula's help, Subaru had packed everything that he felt could be taken along. As for what he was packing them into, using Character Editor on himself for... experimental purposes(which in turn somehow took a whole day) had allowed Subaru to learn a few nifty things about his selected archetypes.
Such as his Butler self having Hammerspace, similarly to how cartoon butlers and maids always seemed to have the required stuff at hand regardless of its size and the location.
A superpower that worked by the rules of his own belief was awesome.
(And terrifying, considering that it was the Authority of Lust, the one vice that Subaru was self-aware enough to realize he was fit for just by the virtue of being a teenager surrounded by pretty girls.)
Additionally, due to Shaula not wanting to change her skimpy attire for anything else, he'd been force to change her archetype once more into that of a shrine maiden. She was now dressed in a miko attire, consisting of a white gi with red string decorating it, a short red skirt, upper thigh-high white stockings, and a pair of zōri with white tabi.
Yeah, despite it's better decency, it still ended up turning into something sexy... Was Subaru just incapable of imagining Shaula in nonerotic outfits despite her personality being such a turnoff?!
...well, he'd just have to live with it.
Exiting the Sand Dunes and landing back in Mirula, Subaru was glad he had the foresight to arrive at night so as to bypass the sudden influx of tourists Volcanica had warned him about with his clairvoyance. Thankfully, his leviathan scales were dark in color to help with camouflage.
'But what the hell drew all of these people here in the first place?' Subaru wondered as Mirula's night life bustled around much better than it'd done a few nights ago, he and Shaula making do with cloaks hiding their features. 'I know I left quite an impression before I headed for Pleiades Watchtower, but it really wasn't just... me, was it?'
Making his way back to the inn he'd patronized earlier, Subaru entered just in time to see not only Shion's surprised but elated faces, but the utterly shocked faces of about half the residents as they turned to regard the new entrant and recognized his face. "Uh... I'm back?"
"By the Dragon, he came back?!"
"Who placed a bet for two days?!"
"Fuck! I pushed it up to a week!"
"Not me! Gimme those coins!"
Making his way past the arguing travelers with Shaula in tow, Subaru soon reached the dusty innkeeper. "Hey, man. Same as before, please."
"For the night and tomorrow morning then." The innkeeper noted on his ledger, his eyes turning to Shaula as she regarded everything around them with unguarded interest. "Does she get a separate room?"
Subaru sighed. "No, she's not gonna stay in it. Put us both for the same room."
"Well, that'll be 70 silver coins." The innkeeper replied. "I'd have put it higher, if not your stunt back then bringing in lots of customers."
Subaru noted the greedy look in the innkeeper's gaze as the man regarded the crowd that had at least doubled since the last time the former had been here. "Also, how much extra do I need to pay for food to be brought up to my room, along with nobody accidentally finding out my room number?"
"Heh, you've certainly got the bite of a merchant, don't you?" Despite his slimy grin, there was a good amount of approval in the innkeeper's tone. "That'll be five golden coins in total, with an extra two if you want the girl bringing your food to... ah, spend the night in there."
'Ah, he noticed how Shion's been regarding me, and he's taking full advantage of that. Well, if that's the case, I better do the same.' Subaru huffed before dropping ten golden coins on the table instead of seven. "And an extra 3 golden coins for complete silence of these deals."
"Dear customer, it'll take a professional torturer to make me betray this deal." The innkeeper chuckled as he scooped up all ten coins with one sweep of his hand.
"Good." Subaru smiled before unleashing a smidge of Haoshoku, enjoying it a little when the innkeeper paled and stumbled in place. "It better."
Turning about after collecting his room key, Subaru only paused a little to whisper into Shion's ear as he passed her by before continuing on. "You're leaving with me tomorrow."
Shion shuffled about nervously as she spent the remainder of the night with Subaru and the strange woman he'd brought back with him. While she'd never lost faith in the faith that he would be unharmed by the Augria Sand Dunes, she'd never really believed he would make it into the Pleiades Watchtower.
Now, she was both delighted and nonplussed at his success at it, as not only did this grant him a level of superiority over many others including the Sword Saint himself, it however allowed him to bring back this strange... woman?
As a former(?) assassin, Shion felt like it would be hypocritical to be mean, but despite Shaula's claim as the 'Star Keeper', she really came off more as a ridiculously hyperactive entity bearing a body on par with Elsa Granhiert's in terms of sexiness.
So far, she'd flipped over the bed twice, broken one of the chairs, skittered out of the window and up to the roof in a disturbingly bug-like manner, slapped Subaru's back at least twice with enough power that Shion had felt small shockwaves, snatched up a butterfly just as it was passing by the window to immediately stuff it into her mouth, and for some reason, cuddle up to him from behind by wrapping her limbs around his midsection tightly while deeply inhaling his scent.
(There's a reason she used the term 'entity' rather than 'child', despite her behavior.)
Perhaps it was because of her being relatively still and silent during that last bit that Subaru allowed her to do so without complaint.
"So you're saying that they're all cool with it?" Subaru asked.
"Yes." Shion dutifully reported. "There are 291 of us in total, but 224 of us are in accord with your desires."
"224...?" Subaru muttered in disbelief. Apparently, he must have never been in charge of such a large number of people. But Shion would do her best to support him, especially when all 666 of them were reunited under Subaru! "...okay, okay, we can work with this. Do you know what a temp agency is? No, I guess that isn't a thing yet... Alright, let's do it Yorozuya-style."
"Yo-Yorozuya-style?" Shion questioned.
"It means that we'll be going for the simplest version possible." Subaru explained. "Just as you're currently doing, I'll have all of you do any kind of job for a predetermined wage. Considering that you're all still trying to recover from Capella, freelancer business is probably the best choice for you guys."
"I see..." Shion hummed in understanding. "Would it be like assassination requests, which we will bring to you for approval?"
"Yeah, but no more of that assassination guild stuff. Now, you guys are just a... guild, I guess." Subaru hummed. "Maybe I should come up with a catchall name... Fairy Tail? Oh, no, that's just too blatant... 224 workers..."
"Master, I'm sleepy." Shaula announced as she squeezed Subaru tightly enough to make him choke a little, her fingers beginning to roam his chest. "Come sleep with me."
"Go to sleep on your own." Subaru grabbed her face from behind and shoved her off him, only to grunt when she swiftly returned and yanked him onto the bed with a cuddle that restrained his limbs. "Shaula, off!"
"Don't wanna." The womanchild rebutted, shuffling about in a way that made Shion wince a little from the wet-sounding groans she could hear from Subaru's body. If her abnormal strength was taken into consideration, a lesser man than Subaru would've gotten his bones broken thrice over from Shaula's 'cuddling'.
"Um, could you let go of Subaru-sama?" Shion flinched when Shaula's ever-present smile immediately switched into a glare that made the former almost reach for her sword, only to remember that she'd placed it on the nearby drawer to undress for the night. Nevertheless, she pushed onward. "I don't think he very much enjoys that."
Shaula gave no verbal reply, her emerald eyes turning crimson as she aimed a glowing finger-
"Shaula."
-only for the two of them to still when the very air itself darkened, crushing them into life-sized statues within the void. Shion almost lost herself to the memories of the last time she'd felt such a sensation-
"You naughty, naughty pointy-eared scumbag." Mama purred as she twisted her body as if it were clay, blushing at the painfilled screams her fingers stroked from her. "Should I make you a cute little rabbit to eat? Or a wiggly worm to step on?"
Resistance was utterly useless when Mama suddenly ripped her apart as if she were paper, her skin, sinew, bone, veins, nerves, arteries, and everything in between becoming two uneven piles of gore.
And through it all, Shion was unpermitted to die.
"Don't fail Mama again." Mama ordered before laughing, her cackles echoing as her miasma filled the area with her presence, with the image of a colossal black thing with wings that spanned from horizon to horizon, molesting her very soul with depraved malevolence and unmitigated contempt-
"-Shion!"
Suddenly aware that her lungs were still present(at h̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶m̶ the moment), Shion remembered to breathe as she found herself back in Subaru's room, her body pressed against his chest while she shook. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Um, Master-"
"Shaula, shut up." Subaru's voice rumbled from above where Shion's head had been nuzzled into, none of his Witch miasma slipping out like it had before. Shuddering as he leaned her face into his shoulder, he rubbed her back while speaking in the softest tone possible. "It's okay, Shion. It's just Subaru."
"...Subaru-sama?" Shion questioned as she froze in place, waiting for [her] punishment that would follow.
"Everything's okay. Capella's dead... after all, you're with me because I killed her. Remember?" Subaru continued to stroke her, his fingers moving around in a comforting manner until she slowly began to relax, hesitantly raising her arms and tightly clinging to him.
"Mama's gone?" Shion mumbled into his chest.
"Yeah. Sorry." She couldn't see his face, but the frown on it was audible. "I didn't know my Haoshoku could affect you like that."
"Haoshoku? Not... Witch miasma?" Oh, it had been something different? Something stronger. "Similar, but superior."
"Hmm... If Witch miasma shares the same intimidation ability as Haoshoku's starter pack..." Subaru mumbled as he kept stroking her. "I wonder if that's why Rem was super hostile at the start... And it's not like I expected to have it in the first place-"
"Um, Master!" Shaula shoved herself down to the floor and down on her knees and knees, her head pressed against the floor. "Shaula is super sorry! Please forgive Shaula as she demonstrates the Ultimate Dogeza of Apologies!"
"I refuse." Subaru's harsh tone returned. "Not only are you apologizing to the wrong person, I cannot easily forgive the fact that your initial response to somebody caring for my welfare was to immediately murder them. Is the only reason my Spirits were untouched because they were incorporeal?"
Shaula gave no response, keeping her head low.
"You shame that dogeza." Subaru readjusted himself on the bed, putting himself between her and Shaula as they laid sideways. "You will stay like that, alone throughout the night. Afterwards, you will apologize to Shion in the morning. Otherwise, I will personally return you to that tower."
Shaula flinched violently. "Shaula is sorrrrrry!"
Subaru paid her no more attention, giving it all to Shion as he cuddled her. Maybe Shion would care more if she were in a better state of mind, being so close to a man. Maybe she would pay more mind to Shaula as she begun sobbing from her spot, her face still pressed into the floor.
But she wasn't, so she let herself fall asleep in Subaru's protective grasp, clutching him tight while her legs intertwined with his.
"Everything's okay. Capella's dead... after all, you're with me because I killed her. Remember?"
After all, where else could she be safe from Mama than right next to her kindhearted killer?
"Shaula... is sorry." Shaula sniffled after Master and the fake Satella had finished dressing up in the morning, her eyes hurting from crying all night. Master had been soooo unhappy with Shaula. She didn't want to go back to Pleiades Watchtower!
Master had made her stay up there and keep it safe from the Deceiver's underlings, and it really was important due to the Red Asshole's soul sticking around and Lord Volcanica making an excuse with his so-called contract, but she'd been so alone.
"I see." The fake Satella spoke up. Even now, after she'd freshened up, she was still awash with Master's scent. "Okay, then. I... forgive you. I just hope Subaru-sama forgives you too."
When the door opened to reveal Master as he left the bathroom, Shaula fought down the urge to tackle him and replace any possibly leftover scent of the fake Satella's with her own. Instead, she reenacted the Ultimate Dogeza of Apologies once more. "M-Master, I've apologized to the replacement. Can Master please forgive me?"
"Replacement?" The fake Satella mumbled.
"...where in the world did you get the idea that killing those close to me would somehow end with me proud of you?" Master spoke up as he began dressing up, the fake Satella blushing as she kept her face averted from his movements.
"I just... didn't want to be alone." Shaula shivered in place. She'd been alone. She'd been fine with that, as long as she was fulfilling Master's task! But... now... Master Flugel had finally come back! He didn't remember her for some reason, but he'd come back and had not left her behind again! "You met her before me, and just like me, you'd told her to wait for you. And you came back for her in just two days..."
And he'd left her alone in that place for four hundred years.
"I... I didn't want to be left behind." Shaula curled in on herself on the floor. "Not again..."
Becoming alone a second time would've been too hurtful.
Master sighed before patting Shaula's head. "I won't. I don't know what Flugel was thinking, but I won't leave you behind... as long as you behave yourself."
Raising her head back up, Shaula had never nodded as much as she did that moment before tackling him into a hug.
This time... Master hugged her back instead of shoving her away.
𝟛𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕗 ℙ𝕝𝕖𝕚𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕤: 𝔼𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕀𝕔𝕠𝕟
KingVessel: Hey, you know what you realize when you try to lessen Subaru's trauma? That everybody else's trauma stands out MORE. Also, Subaru's gonna have to watch his Haoshoku around Archbishop victims now, isn't he? I'm looking at you, Regulus. Sorry, Sylphy, but it's gonna take quite a while before Great Sage Subaru saves you.