A/N: Happy New Year's everyone! Have another weekly update to start off the year! I went back in the last chapter and fixed a few minor spelling/grammar errors, so apologies if you read it before I got to those fixes. I went through this one an extra amount of times so hopefully you all should see less. Enjoy!
Chapter 65: The Endless Eight – Part 11
Exiting the city undetected, Rem climbed out of the carriage and onto the bench next to YN after returning Emilia's hood to her now that YN was done with it. Looking around wearily as she did, Rem was careful of anyone potentially watching them.
Rem: Emilia-sama is asking where we're headed. She's very upset, thinking we're leaving Subaru-kun behind, and she is already upset that the Great-Spirit-sama hasn't returned either...
YN: *sigh* I guess tell her we're heading in the direction of where we think Subaru is...
Rem: But how will we justify suddenly finding him?
YN: Tell her you smell the Witch's miasma. That's the only thing we can really say... It's not like it's a lie though.
Rem: If Rem hadn't known where to look beforehand, she doubts she could have known to look around the guard tower.
As the town began to get smaller behind them, the tower where Subaru was being kept got closer. While not adjacent to the city, and separated by a few farming plots, the tower was still very much a part of the greater area.
Riding up, YN re-examined the situation they found themselves in, if only for his approach on things in the next loop.
YN: So, it appears the plan was true, as per what Julio told us. The monster doesn't know who its target is, only that the target is wearing a blue outfit.
Rem: And Julio-san's loyalty can be guaranteed if swayed to our side.
YN: Yeah, if he had betrayed us, that would have added a whole new dynamic to things. I think it's safe to say Julio is only a forced pawn, and even then, he doesn't have a means of communication to relay new info.
Rem: Yes. Rem believes YN-kun may be able to make an ally of him next time.
Even till this moment, it pained YN to hear Rem speak in a way that he knew disregarded her own continued existence.
As YN pondered over his thoughts though, the carriage had come close enough to the tower without being suspicious. With a few fields of crops between it and the road they sat on, he dismounted the driver's seat.
YN: It probably would have been a better idea to come at night or some way that's less conspicuous...
Rem: We don't have that choice though.
Having parked the carriage behind a granary of some kind to conceal it, YN and Rem set off through the fields towards the tower.
YN: Wait, what about Emilia?
Rem: Rem told Emilia-sama we would be stopping to buy some supplies for journey ahead—
As Rem said that, the door to the carriage came flying open. Standing in its doorway, Emilia slowly stepped out with a serious expression on her face.
Emilia: — — —
YN: Umm, Emilia-sama—
Emilia: You know where Subaru is, don't you? That's why we're stopping.
Rem: Emilia-sama, please, this is dangerous, it may be best if—
Emilia: I'm not staying put! Subaru is my friend too! How could you both not tell me?
YN: Emilia-sa— Emilia.
Turning to face the half elf, YN tried his best to dissuade her.
YN: Where we're going is an incredibly dangerous place. We need to handle this ourselves.
Emilia: — — —
Looking down, Emilia's hands tightened into fists.
Emilia: Are you saying I'd just hold you both back?
Rem: Emilia-sama, it's like YN-kun said, this place is dangerous, we cannot allow you to come into harm.
YN: It's not that we wouldn't appreciate your help, but it's just too dangerous for you.
Trying to go with what Rem was using to deflect Emilia accompanying, she still rejected it.
Emilia: This doesn't make any sense. Rem made it sound more like Subaru was taken far away...
Rem: And it is like Rem told Emilia-sama, she was able to smell the Witch's Miasma, much like the kind on Subaru-kun.
Emilia: Puck also told me that YN smells like it too. So how can you tell you're not just smelling him?
Shit. Damn it, Puck.
Putting a hand to her chest, Emilia continued.
Emilia: Puck told me Beatrice both said you smelled like the Witch's miasma, and that she told him to not trust you and Subaru around me because of it... But since you both helped get my insignia back, how could I not trust you both? But now...
While her somber expression had taken over her serious one, it came back as she lowered her hand from her chest.
Emilia: Nothing is making any sense. It's not normal that Rem can smell Subaru with you right here, how could she? I don't know what it's like to smell it... but I understand how it works. And now you're both refusing for me to come along to rescue him? Unless...
Looking downward again, it appeared as if Emilia bit her lip, as if struggling to say what she really thought.
Emilia: — — — tch!
Holding her head back up, Emilia had small droplets of tears just coming down her cheek, warping the shape of her amethyst eyes.
Emilia: —Unless the plan never was to rescue him!
Crap... It's not as malicious as she's making it out to be but...
Looking past them as the sun continued to just crest out from behind the guard tower Subaru was being held in, it was directly behind YN and Rem. Emilia was finally free of the tower's long shadow. Seeing they could be headed nowhere else, Emilia pointed to the structure in question.
Emilia: He's there, isn't he?
YN: Emilia, I think you're maybe mistaken a about—
Emilia: If he really is...! Then out of my way!
Bringing down her outpointed hand, Emilia commanded her magic, and a shelf of ice was formed on the ground. Extending outward and right towards them both, Rem and YN were forced to side step away from each other as the mass of ice formed a half wall between them.
She's not really trying to fight is she?! That's incredibly unlike her—!
As YN recoiled away, Emilia ran forward, leaping up onto the ice she had summoned. Reaching the end between Rem and him, Emilia slid with her knees bent and feet flat on the ice. Increasing the ice past them, Emilia surfed a continually longer ice path. Avoiding the two altogether, Emilia continued to cast her ice across the fields, freezing everything below her path with no concern, taking her onward to the tower.
YN: Shit! We gotta stop her! Rem—!
Heeding his call, Rem was already ahead of him. Smashing the ice that separated them with her morningstar, Rem slung YN under her arm as she ran in pursuit of Emilia.
YN: Whaaa!? Rem! What are you—?!
Rem: It is faster for Rem to carry you. But please refrain from struggling so much. Rem promises she will not drop her YN-kun.
As Rem dashed across the field with YN under her arm, her hops and dodges of crops and fences jostled him greatly, making him all but certain he'd be dropped.
While not even half as fast as Emilia was, by the time two reached the door Emilia had seemingly kicked down, the sounds of a fight had already broken out, with ice shards sticking out of various tower YN down, Rem readied herself for combat. Stepping into the tower, they could both see their own breath from the warmth seemingly being sucked from the air with the amount of ice Emilia was casting.
Emilia really isn't pulling any punches... is she?
Rushing upstairs, YN and Rem finally came across an opening in a wall that had been broken apart. Signaling for Rem to halt, they both moved to hide themselves and listen while there was a break in the fight.
Emilia: Why?! Why did you kidnap Subaru?! Is it money... Or something else?
?: Oh my dear girl, it seems you long for your precious staff member to be returned!
Emilia: Subaru is my friend!
?: Then perhaps you'd be open to discussing his release?
Emilia: Why would you want to strike a deal so suddenly... You have the upper hand in combat here.
?: Because, I have a reputation to uphold!
Bowing while extending a single hand, the middle aged man with the graying beard and sideburns that connected on up into his slicked back hair ominously grinned with his sunken face.
Leo: There's a reason I am referred to as 'Leo the Merciful.'
Emilia: What is there to discuss? I'd have to guess this involves some kind of... mercy?
Leo: But of course! I am willing to apologize fully for my actions and promise to never be a bother ever again, with my very soul as collateral... If you agree to a little trade...
Relaxing her fighting pose, Emilia opened herself up to the move of diplomacy.
Emilia: A trade... Then this is all for ransom money then?
Leo: I'm afraid not. I will tell you though, it was not my intention to kidnap him.
Emilia: Then why was he taken?
Leo: It was an honest mistake, I can promise you. My... associate was in search of someone else. What I seek is something in your possession however. Or rather, someone who works under you.
Emilia: 'Someone in my possession?'
Leo: Precisely. A staff member of yours. The other one.
Emilia: YN...
Leo: Ah yes! That was his name! Simply hand him off to me, either with him willing or you tricking him, it doesn't matter how, and I will deliver your other staff member back to you safely and free from any harm, with my promises intact.
Emilia: Why... Why YN? Who hired you to do this?
Leo: At this point, it doesn't matter who hired me, I'm already betraying them. However, my contract states I'm forbidden to kill the one that was accidentally captured. If not, I may have just gotten rid of him at this point.
He's forbidden to kill Subaru? Why...? I guess that explains why he didn't just kill him when he figured out that it wasn't me...
Looking over to Rem who also heard what Leo had just said, she whispered her input.
Rem: Rem doesn't understand why someone who is betraying their employer would worry about other conditions of their contract.
?: Oh yeah? And why can't you kill me?
Hearing some movement from the other side of the ruined room, a new person joined the conversation.
Leo: And just how did you manage to get free from your cage?
Entering into the light, the figure made himself visible.
Subaru: Well, when you shake up the place as bad as you two did, the floor tends to fall out from underneath you, and it seems you forgot to put bars on the bottom of that cell.
Leo: Tch.
Subaru: I've got to ask though. Why is YN your target, and why are you forbidden from killing me?
Shrugging, Leo explained.
Leo: I didn't ask. I was only told to kidnap the other staff member and hold him until everyone gave up looking for him, only then would I be allowed to dispose of him.
Subaru: Why would you be ordered to kill him only after we gave up looking for him? That seems pretty twisted.
Leo: I'm afraid in my line of work, asking these sorts of questions is a waste of breath. But this person did seem to have... other plans for you, and they really don't want you dead... at least not yet anyway.
Biting his lip, Subaru quickly came to his own conclusions on who it might have been who had hired him and under these conditions.
Subaru: The person who hired you... it wasn't a dark haired lady named Elsa, was it?
Raising an eyebrow at the familiar name, Leo waved off any suspense garnered from his reaction.
Leo: The Bowl Huntress? Although she's another... associate of mine, I am unable to confirm, nor deny that question.
Emilia: Regardless, you said you were betraying whoever hired you. Why do you care about not killing Subaru then?
Leo: That's because it's the only part that's actually enforceable in my contract I later found out. The contract was so hastily written, it seems they left the most important parts out.
Subaru: Usually when you betray someone, you don't also follow through with the job, so why do you still want YN?
Leo: Because, his capture is essential to getting the real prize...
Emilia: And that is?
Opening his arms out wide, Leo commanded his voice to boom out loud.
Leo: The horn! The last horn off of the last horned oni! With it, I will be the last magician ever to use one in their research.
Clenching his teeth, Leo' declaration of his desires filled Subaru with an immense anger.
Subaru: All of this... just for some research materials! Do you realize how much of an important event that was for Emilia-tan! And how that—!
Emilia: Subaru!
As Subaru was about to go on about how it would be wrong for Rem to lose her horn, Emilia cut him off.
Emilia: Didn't... didn't you say you thought that the outfit you're wearing was supposed to be YN's?
Subaru: Uh, I guess I did.
Being caught off guard by the seemingly random question, Subaru scratched his head.
Emilia: After you were captured... YN and Rem... They were acting very strange... YN had almost no desire to find you.
Oh shit. She's putting the pieces together.
Giving YN a look of concern, Rem remained silent.
Subaru: — — —
Emilia: And just before I arrived... They both wanted to come here alone, without me. But Subaru...—
Putting a hand to her chest and giving the floor a pained look, Emilia finished what she was saying.
Emilia: —I don't think they came here to rescue you.
Subaru: Emilia-tan... What are you saying?
Shaking her head like she didn't want to believe it, Emilia answered him.
Emilia: I don't know what their intention was, but I don't think it was good.
Finding that hard to believe, Subaru turned to Leo, as if he may know something. Having had his arms crossed and eyes shut while the two spoke, Leo shrugged once the attention was turned to him.
Leo: I can assure both I have no idea what you're going on about. But...—
Uncrossing his arms, he extended a hand in the direction of where YN and Rem were eavesdropping from.
Leo: —why not just ask them!
Sending out a black mana crystal in the direction of Rem who was still hidden alongside YN, he sprang into action, taking Rem and ducking in cover. As wood splinters and chunks of debris covered him, he shielded Rem. Yet with the wall torn down, the two were exposed for all to see.
Emilia: YN! Rem!
Standing back up straight, YN threw the debris off himself and inspected Rem.
YN: Rem! Are you okay?!
Rem: Yes, Rem is fine.
Leo: Well then, I must ask. What is the plan here? Do you two have anything to add? Or shall I pitch a deal of mercy to you, since you seem to be so protective over that oni?
YN: Never in a million years would I give up Rem.
Snapping back at the caped middle aged man, YN spoke while stepping in front of Rem, shielding her just in case anything else happened.
Leo: Truly, I despise people who won't take a good deal. Perhaps maybe your friends here can be convinced otherwise? I can promise everyone here no further harm will come to anyone, no one needs to die—
Extending his palm face up, as if expecting to be handed something, Leo finished his demand.
Leo: —all I require is that oni's horn.
Subaru: How...
Leo: Hmm?
Before YN could deny Leo again, Subaru spoke up once more.
Subaru: How did you know Rem was an oni? And who told you to kidnap YN to do that? How did you know they were close...?
Despite the situation, Subaru was asking the real questions that needed answering. Keeping his composure despite everything, he pressed for information.
Leo: After accepting the job of kidnapping him, I was written a letter by someone else who had considerable knowledge of your camp and wanted to weaken its position. Somehow, they were aware of my accepted contract. They suggested if I were to recover 'that oni's horn,' I'd be paid handsomely for it!
Throwing his head back and laughing, Leo crossed his arms again.
Leo: They even suggested kidnapping the staff member she was courting as a means of luring her away! If I hadn't read that letter, I would have never known there was such a prime opportunity.
Emilia: I thought you said you wanted her horn for... research.
Leo: Oh, I do. I threw that letter away. Whoever wrote it was a blithering idiot revealing all that information, but I must commend their knowledge of things I had never hoped to know.
Emilia: Someone who has knowledge of my camp and wanted to weaken it... That means it had to be one of the other candidates...
Speaking to herself with a shocked expression, it seemed Emilia was rather bothered by such an idea.
Leaning forward though while this exchange was going on, Rem whispered into YN's ear.
Rem: YN-kun, Julio-san said he was being blackmailed by the Hoshin Company, and let us not forget their President is also a candidate in contention with Emilia-sama for the throne.
Whispering back, YN answered her.
YN: Yeah, all this definitely isn't a coincidence.
As the dialog broke down, Leo raised both of his hands, and with it, summoned many dark, flaming crystals of magic, all pointed in various directions where the three groups were scattered about the room.
Leo: Now, do we have a deal, or will I need to take what I desire by force?
Giving YN an opportunity, he readied the mana in his palm, having it generate heat.
YN: You'll never have it. I won't let you.
With a look of dread and malice on his sunken face, Leo ended all negotiations.
Leo: So be it. El Minya!
Sending off the crystals in various directions, YN did the only thing he could with no cover from the incoming attack; return fire with his own.
YN: Jiwald!
As the cascade of light met the crystals, they canceled each other out, fizzling into atmospheric mana.
On the other side of the room, Emilia had managed to produce a wall of ice, blocking the incoming crystals. Breaking down the wall as well, she retaliated with several spears of her own, but they were intercepted by some of Leo's own.
Seeing an opportunity now though, Rem fired some of her own ice crystals.
Rem: El Huma!
Without any charged crystals of his own, Leo was forced to evade, opening a window for Subaru to try his hand at combat. Picking up a long wooden board, part of the wreckage around them, Subaru charged in with it raised above his head. But, as if anticipating his move, Leo met Subaru with a swift backhand, causing the black haired boy to stagger backwards, making enough room for Leo to backwards kick him to the floor.
But seeing Leo on his back-foot, and odd balance, YN charged in as well. Tightening his fist with mana in it, he felt his arm muscles increase in strength. Unsure if this was due to the mana, or adrenaline, he felt his next strike could end the fight. Without any ways to counter the incoming strike, Leo simply braced his arms in an "x" as YN's fist hit dead center.
Leo: —Engh!
Forcing him to land his feet, Leo slid back several paces from the impact. Tightening mana in his opposite hand now, YN went in for a "one-two" combo.
Emilia: YN!
Unbeknownst to YN though, Leo had anticipated a continued assault.
Breaking his arms apart, he spread them wide, and chanted his next spell.
Leo: El Shamak!
Being caught in the darkness, YN immediately knew this was bad.
I got too carried away!
Seeing Leo about to disappear into the black inkiness having drawn a knife, Emilia did what she could to stop any damage. Summoning ice across the floor, she froze everyone's feet in place.
With both YN and Leo forced to become stationary, the yin magic he had just cast, remained. As YN was trapped, unable to make sense of his surroundings, and feeling like was upside down, a warmth began to grow in his abdomen. Slowly, the darkness seemed to be pushed away by a light inside him.
This is just like that time on the mansion's front lawn...
Clearing up the darkness, he could see Leo, struggling to free himself, but getting close to doing so.
I need to get myself out of this ice as well!
But before YN could, Leo had done so, and with it, approached with the knife in hand.
There's only one thing I can do!
Readying mana in his palm, it seemed Leo hadn't noticed YN was going to cast before he could walk up with his knife. As the black inkiness subsided, Leo saw what he had just walked into. YN was close enough he could see the surprise in his eyes, but was far away enough that his knife meant nothing.
YN: Take this! Ji—
Rem: —Hemph!
Jumping over top of him, Rem attempted to slam her morningstar down upon Leo. But with her coming into view, YN immediately canceled his spell, not wishing to harm Rem accidentally. Doing so however, bought Leo a precious half second. Swinging his knife upward, it met the morningstar, and with the sound of clashing steel and with a duck of his own, the morningstar was deflected just enough for him to be missed.
Using her continued momentum though, Rem snapped her shoes together, and used herself as a makeshift spear to impact Leo. Taking the impact, Rem bounced off him and twirled midair, bringing her morningstar back with her.
Damn... If Rem hadn't done that I might have gotten Leo...
With YN still stuck in the ice however, and Leo now several paces away from Rem's kick, the middle aged magician held his palm up to YN.
Leo: Minya!
Casting a single black crystal, nothing YN had was ready to stop its advance.
No!
Halfway between the two on its path to YN though, another crystal intercepted it. One of normal ice.
YN: Emilia!
Sliding across the ice, Emilia posed herself between YN and Leo, and with a flick of her wrist, banished the ice covering the floor, freeing YN.
Summoning many ice crystals of her own, and Leo doing the same, the two began a fierce, close range barrage of projectiles at each other. Volley after volley, they exchanged, until it appeared Leo might have the upper hand.
Leo: You're wide open!
Casting many more above Emilia, it was true, she had no time to react to them, but instead—
YN: Jiwald!
Going back-to-back with Emilia, YN aimed his palm upward, and fired a wide shot of his yang magic, countering the crystals. But with another volley coming from the side, Emilia was forced to sidestep, and counter them with ice of her own.
Using his knife again, Leo advanced inward as Emilia dealt with the recoil of the previous attack. Going side to side with Emilia now, YN readied more mana in his fist. With Leo entirely focused on Emilia, he suddenly felt his wrist that held the knife intensely gripped by YN's hand.
Leo: —Tch!
Diverting Leo's stab down and away from Emilia, just barely missing her fair skin, YN used the mana built up on his free hand and sent it back up to his elbow. While never having done this before, YN struggled to control and concentrate it effectively, and thus when he brought his elbow down on Leo's back, failed to do what he felt like was even half his potential damage.
As Leo staggered though, Emilia anticipated his next move. Throwing ice down on the ground once more, Emilia grabbed YN and slid backwards on the ice, making space between them and Leo.
Leo: Shamak!
Just escaping the blackness, Leo was alone in his own spell. Being given a break in the fight for a moment, YN took the opportunity to relocate, sliding over to Rem on the other side of the room, placing himself between her and Leo.
And thankfully, he did.
Suddenly, out from the cloud of ink came several black flaming crystals.
YN: Jiwald!
Countering them again, YN suddenly felt a fatigue cover his body.
Damn... I'm running low on mana...
Seeing his knees buckle though, Rem stepped in to support him.
Rem: YN-kun, Rem has you.
YN: I'm fine, I think. But—
Leo: Minya!
Sending a single crystal out, Rem snapped it away with her morningstar's chain, and seeing him advance once more, knife in hand, YN readied another Jiwald.
This is my last one, but right now he's vulnerable!
Knife drawn, it appeared Leo had incorrectly judged YN's remaining will to counter attack as Rem was still indisposed, pulling in her morningstar after using her chain, part of Leo's strategy to get her open.
YN: Ji—!
Rem: Hi-yah!
Spinning around, Rem roundhouse kicked the edge of Leo's knife as he approached her with her heel, but in doing so, turned her vision, and was unable to see Leo had summoned a single flaming crystal outside her view.
Damn it!
Grabbing a hold of the strap to her dress on Rem's back, YN used the slickness of the ice floor to fling Rem around, getting her out of the crystal's path of travel as it narrowly missed her. But in having done so, YN had caused her to drop the hilt of her morningstar, and with the heads continued momentum, flung it across the room, just avoiding an observing Subaru.
Recovering from the impact of the kick, Leo raised his knife up high, ready to slash down on Rem as he now used the ice to his advantage to advance forward. Seeing there was no other way to protect Rem though, YN intercepted Leo's strike. Grabbing the blade with one hand, and his arm with the other, he poured his remaining mana into his arms. Fighting a losing battle of strength with his mana running out, Rem also pushed upward on Leo's strike joining YN.
YN: —Ack! Rem—, you gotta get away!
Rem: No, Rem will assist!
With both of them being an even match for Leo, Rem was forced to compensate for YN's failing strength. Digging deeper, Rem summoned forth her horn, allowing her to tap into much greater reserves of mana and begin to push back against Leo.
As the light from Rem's horn illuminated his face, Leo's eyes grew wide with greed and desire.
Leo: Yes! Bring your horn into existence. Soon it shall be mine!
Rem: Rem must be Nee-sama's horn as well, so Rem cannot allow you to take what isn't solely hers!
Pushing back, Leo broke off, and YN's hand was released from the knife.
YN: —Agh!
Clamping down on his hand with his other, blood freely flowed from the wound the knife left.
Seeing the sight of his blood however, Rem immediately put all focus on YN. turning to help him as he staggered backward, completely disregarding Leo being within striking distance.
Leo: It's mine now!
Bringing the knife back across himself to wind up for a slash across Rem's horn, the blade's downward slash was halted.
Emilia: Ha!
Just as Leo would have slashed Rem's horn, Emilia projected a large icewall that spanned from herself across the floor to right down the middle between the two fighting adversaries. With his knife suddenly finding itself mostly encased in thick, cold ice, Leo sneered over to the one who had blocked his victory slash.
Leo: You filthy half-devil!
Turning all his attention to the silver haired girl, the two re-engaged each other.
Still holding his wound, YN found that his adrenaline was in effect, blocking most of the pain of the deep hand wound. Immediately though, Rem had taken to casting healing magic on it.
Rem: Rem will heal her YN-kun's wounds, and then make that man pay for harming him.
With her horn still active, Rem spoke as if in a frenzy, and just as in the forest, it appeared the horn's use added a tinge of blood-lust to the way she worded things. Feeling the skin on his hand be knit back together and the wound close, YN no longer felt the injury at all, and the only thing that remained from it was the stains it had left on both of their clothes.
As Emilia and Leo continued to exchange volley's of magic, Rem tried to help YN stand.
Rem: Can YN-kun stand?
YN: Maybe with some help, but I don't think I can keep myself up...
Saying that, Emilia and Leo's barrage had forced Emilia to take evasive action, and in doing so, moved closer to Rem and YN. Spinning across ice, Emilia dodged several black flaming crystals before coming to a halt and readying to return fire.
But as she did, Leo surmounted a much larger volley than she could muster.
Shit!
Forcing himself to stand, YN pushed Rem out of the way, opposite from where Emilia was, and proceeded to stagger forward to where the half elf still stood.
As Emilia tried conjuring as many ice crystals as she could to combat the growing number of dark flaming ones posed for them all, she held both her hands out, concentrating as much mana as she could. Reaching her, YN held himself up on her, leaning onto her side, to her surprise.
Emilia: Y-YN?!
Extending a single arm up, palm out, in parallel with, and just like Emilia's, YN squinted in strain as he even managed to hold his legs up through the mana-exhaustion. Shoulder to shoulder, and with one of Emilia's arm's in line with his, he replied to her.
YN: We've both gotta give everything we can here.
Trying his hardest to summon mana into his hand, YN felt himself hit empty.
Emilia: It's too dangerous for you to—
YN: —It's more dangerous for us both to die so I might as well! Now get ready!
Forcing himself to have mana in his palm, YN felt what could only be described as an empty dam come crashing apart in his abdomen. Feeling a wash of mana suddenly come forth, it felt more powerful than usual, but with it came a hint of guilt, because YN had a clue what this fuel more than likely was.
This is... this is my Od, isn't it? Rem and Emilia both have told me not to use this but... I've got to now!
With a hailstorm of yin magic beginning its trajectory toward them, Emilia and YN countered
YN: Jiwald!
Emilia: El Huma!
Releasing their own magic, YN's yang magic matched much of the yin, thwarting more than half of the incoming projectiles as Emilia's ice crystals cleaned up the rest.
Seeing his over abundance of magic repelled, Leo was in momentary shock, and taking the opportunity, YN readied another shot.
I have no idea how much damage I'm doing to myself, but—!
YN: El Ji—!
Emilia: Al Huma!
Before he could muster the mana, Emilia fired a larger, but albeit slower moving projectile at Leo. And with it being a slower mover, gave him time to react. Jumping back, he cast more yin magic.
Leo: Shamak!
With Emilia's large ice spear missing it's mark, it traveled into the black abyss. Causing a break in the action as he dwelled in his smokescreen, Leo allowed his opponents a moment of regrouping.
Being free from any immediate harm for the first time in what felt like forever, YN collapsed to his knees once more, breathing heavily.
I can... I can barely stay conscious...
Emilia: YN! You really, reeeeeaaaaally shouldn't do that!
Having no energy to argue with her though, and despite her less-then-serious sounding retort, YN instead focused on keeping his eyes open.
I hate to admit it, but Rem and I have a really bad sense of combat communication... but Emilia and I seem to fight really well together...
Taking the opportunity to while YN was at least being guarded by Emilia, Rem moved to retrieve her morningstar. Keeping an eye on the black inkiness that concealed their foe though, YN had a strong and sudden alarm go off in his head.
As if being able to feel the mana being formed from within black smoke, YN knew there was something targeting Rem from inside.
No... No!
Going to stand, he was stopped by Emilia.
Emilia: YN! Are you listening to me!? You need to—
YN: I don't care!
Shaking Emilia off, as he did so, a single black flaming crystal rocketed out from the still lingering cloud of yin magic, headed right for Rem.
YN: Rem!
I need to push her out of the way! I need that strength from before again!
Going to get up, YN suddenly felt the same sensation from before, but this time in his knees. Poised and coiled to leap, he substituted mana for his Od once more, allowing him to propel himself forward, harder than he ever had before.
Seeing the crystal headed right for her, Rem knew she had no avenue of defense. Too fast and close to dodge, and too strong for Huma to block. A bolt of fear ran down Rem's spine, but that fear was soon dwarfed by the blur of YN coming into her vision, knowing he was taking the hit for her.
Just managing to slide between Rem and crystal, YN's abdomen was impacted.
YN: —Gah!
With the impact, YN felt his momentum stop in the direction he was headed, and instead it was directed backwards, pushing him into Rem.
Flying backwards, YN and Rem slammed into a partially destroyed wall, breaking it more and falling further down to the level below. Bringing forth every last drop of strength he had though, YN flipped his body in the air, making himself hit the ground first, allowing Rem to land on top of him instead, rather than beneath. As YN slammed after falling a full story, what hurt most wasn't his back or his limbs, but the large wound where the crystal impacted him. Dissolving away before his eyes, the absence of the projectile let a stream of blood spill from his body as a burning sensation traveled throughout it.
YN: —Ack! Arrrggghhh...
Putting pressure on it, YN remembered a similar pain when he had leapt into a knife Rem held in a forsaken loop at the mansion, however that was not accompanied by the burning sensation, a byproduct of being hit by Minya.
Scrambling to her feet, Rem completely disregarded her own wellbeing and ran to YN's side.
Rem: YN-kun! No! No! NO!
Kneeling next to him, Rem placed her hands forward and began to attempt to heal the wound, pouring all her mana into the effort.
YN: *cough* Rem...
Rem: Rem won't let YN-kun! Rem won't! YN-kun can't die before Rem! He can't!
With her emotions getting the better of herself, Rem tried in vain to close the wound, but with its severity, she was failing to make any progress as the blood continued to come out.
More and more tears filled her eyes and face, desperate to save the one who held her heart.
Rem: YN-kun... Rem is— Rem can't seem to close the—
YN: Rem...
Rem: No! Rem has to keep trying! If she can just stabilize him, maybe Rem can find another healer and—
Gathering his available strength, YN reached up, and lightly caressed Rem with the back of his hand, being mindful not to wipe his blood on her beautiful face. Startling her somewhat and bringing her back to her senses, Rem stopped her in-vain healing.
YN: Rem... *cough* *cough*
Rem: Y-YN-kun... Rem is... *sob* Rem is—
YN: Please don't be sorry for anything. If anything, I should say sorry...
Grabbing his hand with both of hers, disregarding the blood on it, Rem shook her head.
Rem: No! YN-kun has done nothing wrong! He saved Rem! Rem just wishes... Rem just wishes that she could have saved him. *hic*
Feeling the familiar deathly cold sensation wash over his bones and under his skin, YN knew his time was soon.
YN: You already have... Every day I'm thankful you've given me a reason to wake up and have someone to look forward to seeing.
Rem: Please... Please don't die... Rem doesn't know what she'll do if he does...
YN: *cough* That's why I said I'm sorry... Because my plan failed horribly, and now I need to ask you to take care of the mess...
Rem: Rem will do that! If it helps YN-kun, Rem will do it!
YN: Then Rem... I need you to...
Rem: Yes. Tell Rem what she needs to do.
YN: I need you to... let me die.
Rem: — — —
Seeing all the hope drain from her eyes, and her hands begin to shake, YN brought his hand up and gently touched her bangs that hid her right eye.
YN: I know it's hard... But this way, if memories get wiped again, I should be unaffected. That way—
Rem: That way YN-kun will remember.
YN: Yes. *cough* *cough* But now... things are more complicated... Rem... Leo has to use the crystal now.
Rem: — — —
YN: Subaru has to somehow have his mind wiped by it before he dies as well... I'm afraid it may complicate things when I try next time if he suspects the wrong things...
Rem: Rem will find a way. She promises YN-kun.
Looking into Rem's eyes, YN could see the resolve of her promise, but he could also see a fear in her as well.
YN: I know it's scary, and incredibly *cough* selfish what I'm asking, but only you can do it Rem...
With more tears falling down her face, Rem greatly struggled to deal with YN's incoming death.
YN: I can tell you've been fearing this moment... I can tell that every time I brought up this being a throwaway loop that you took that pain and bottled it up for my sake. And I can tell it's all going to come spilling out right now, isn't it?
Rem: *sob* *hic* YN-kun... *hic*
Feeling his consciousness started to fade, YN knew with his blood loss, he only had moments left.
YN: Rem... I want you to know... that I will always remember what you did for me in this loop. Everything that you did, that you said, all of it. I will hold all of it next to my heart.
Closing his eyes, YN used the last of his breath to try and put Rem's mind at ease the best way he could.
YN: I won't remember it as something Rem did... No...
With good conscience failing, YN uttered his final words.
YN: I'll remember it as something you did.
Passing from this world, and entering the large, wide, open space of the white expanse, YN departed, leaving Rem behind.
Gently running her hand down his now cool cheek, Rem came to grips with the fact that YN had died practically in her arms. Recalling what she'd seen in his memories, this wasn't the first time she had seen herself at YN's deathbed, but that did little to bring her any comfort.
Rem: There were many things Rem had wished she could have said to her YN-kun still... But even until the end, she was afraid to say them...
Caressing the necklace YN wore that matched and was a part of her own, she held one in each of her hands.
Rem: Rem can only hope she will be more courageous next time.
Standing up, Rem looked up at the hole in the floor above where they had fallen through.
Rem: Rem will make good on her promise. She will make sure everything is just how YN-kun desires it to be when he tries next time.
Going forth, Rem summoned her horn, and set out to fulfill her promise, no matter the cost.
Taking one big leap, Rem jumped back up to the floor the battle continued to rage on.
Having brought up an ice wall and using it as cover, Emilia was on the defensive with Rem and YN being gone and her being the only target.
Seeing Rem emerge from below, a sense of relief filled Emilia.
Emilia: Rem! Be careful, he's not letting up.
Rem: — — —
Extending her wall of ice, Emilia cleared cover for Rem to retrieve her morningstar. Calmly walking over, Rem grabbed it, and returned to Emilia's side just as the extended wall collapsed from a bombardment of yin magic.
Noticing Rem was in no hurry whatsoever, Emilia at first thought she was injured, but then quickly realized that wasn't the case when all she did was keep her eyes cast down at her weapon.
Emilia: Rem, where is YN? Did you leave him on the lower level?
Rem: — — —
Emilia: Rem. Where is YN? Is he alright?
Rem: — — —
Emilia: He... He isn't—... Right?
Rem: YN-kun... is dead.
As Rem continued to look downward, deadpan at her morningstar, Emilia gasped in horror.
Emilia: I—! Rem—! He can't be—!
Rem: Rem held him as he passed on. He is no longer with us, she is sure of this.
With Emilia still unsure and unable to believe it was true, she needed confirmation for herself.
Emilia: Maybe you're m-mistaken. I should go look to he sure—
Rem: Emilia-sama—
Reinforcing her defense, Emilia attempted to leave monetarily to look over the debris hole Rem had returned from to see if she could see YN's condition, but stopping her with a hold on her sleeve, Rem spoke, shaking her head.
Rem: —no one can recieve a direct hit from yin magic like that and live. All we can do—, all Rem can do now, is honor YN-kun's dying wishes.
As tears formed in Emilia's eyes, she reached out to hug the blue haired girl.
Emilia: Rem, I'm so sorry, I... know you two were very close.
Disregarding her own feelings on the matter, Emilia knew that Rem must have been in a much worse state of mind than her at that very moment.
Tightening her grip on her morningstar after Emilia let go, Rem's grief slowly became determination.
In order for Rem to fix this, she needs to do as her YN-kun asked of her. From there, Rem can have him back.
Knowing what must be done, Rem hopped the ice wall, and entered the fray once more.
Fighting for what seemed like an eternity, the altercation between Emilia, Subaru, and Rem against Leo lasted for several hours as a continuing stalemate.
During the melee, Rem was presented with a very thin tightrope. Knowing this man was after her horn, and also needed to be convinced he needed to use his trump card, the crystal that ate memories, Rem walked that line.
If she was too much of an opponent, Leo might just cut her down there and take the horn off her dead body. Although she knew he preferred not to do so, should she be too much trouble, she could reason that he may just take that route.
And if she was too weak, or held back, she might run the chance of slipping up and being overpowered.
All the while, she would need to make sure Emilia and Subaru wouldn't face any lethal attacks. Much like how she handled most of the housework, Rem had to handle most of the combat duties now too.
Rem knew she needed to fight not just strong, but smart as well.
Trying to emulate YN's way of thinking, Rem struggled to hear his words in her mind without breaking down. The phantom sounds of his voice in her head, coupled with her own self doubt telling her she'd never hear it ever again was a battle of its own being waged.
Rem would be told to use her strengths... Do the things Leo cannot, but Rem can.
Brainstorming, Rem came up with several ideas. For one, she could pull mana from the atmosphere using her horn where Leo could not. She could regenerate lost mana much quicker. And for second, Rem was capable of healing herself, again, a trait due to her oni heritage.
If Rem is risky where she needs to be, she can exchange blows with Leo. His cuts and scrapes cannot heal in the heat of battle like Rem's can.
The only strategy Rem could imagine that would allow her to win was one that relied on stamina.
And after several hours of fighting, and Emilia and Subaru effectively being too exhausted to go on, the war of attrition now taking place in the rubble of the guard tower had come to a head.
Hunched over, Leo was bathed in exhaustion. For the first time, he had failed to cast a spell from a lack of mana.
And while Rem was equally as fatigued, she at least could still cast magic.
Wiping blood from his lip onto his tattered and torn sleeve, Leo was breathing heavily from exhaustion, much like Rem and Emilia were, with Subaru barely being able to stand.
Leo: I would have never imagined an oni could be so strong. *huff* Your reputation truly precedes you.
Rem: Had Rem been born with both her horns, she would have ended this fight before her beloved had perished.
Trying to stand back up straight, Leo outstretched his hands and taunted Rem.
Leo: Then you don't have anything worth living over then, do you? Or do you want to come strike me down and avenge him? Let us end this.
Tightening her grip on her morningstar's hilt, Rem almost bit the bait that Leo had cast out, but remembering what YN had asked of her as he passed in her arms, she restrained herself, realizing it was a trap.
Seeing her hesitate, and fully observe the situation, Leo folded his arms as a scowl formed on his face.
Leo: I'm not entirely certain how, but it seems you've managed to control your bloodlust, which is very unfortunate for me. That truly was my last trick.
Staring at each other, Rem and Leo waited for whoever it was next to make a move. The battle was finally coming to a conclusion.
Leo: —Which is why I will now use my trump card, Shamak!
Rem: It's useless!
Casting an extraordinarily weak Shamak, barely enough to cover himself, Rem quickly whirled it away with a fling of her morningstar.
Thinking it to be a desperate attempt to flee, Rem's reveal of the brief cover had quickly uncovered its purpose.
With a knife to his throat, Leo held Subaru hostage.
Emilia: Subaru! You—! You said your contract wouldn't let him be killed.
Straining herself to speak despite her weakness, Emilia struggled to stand.
Leo: Ah, ah, ah! One must learn to read the fine print. It only says I can't kill him, it says nothing if either of you kill him if I use him as a shield!
Subaru: Bastard! Let me go!
Emilia: With the two of us, we can easily manage to pull him from you if you try to run.
Leo: Oh, I'm not running. I'm only buying myself time.
Emilia: Time for what?
Leo: This.
Reaching behind him and revealing it from his tattered cloak, the violet crystal YN had told Rem of had emerged. As the crystal began to glow, Leo's eyes grew wide.
Leo: With this, I shall walk away from this is, and make that horn mine. I was hesitant to use it for this, but since it was an oni that pushed me this far... certainly once I get my hands on that horn, it will all be worth it in the end. Now!
As the crystal lit up fully, the first area of light grew, illuminating only his hand and covering his arm as he held it high. Then the next growth, covering his entire upper body.
With the next growth, Subaru, as he was being held hostage would come under its influence. From there, Rem would be free to proceed how she needed.
Leo: With this, you will all lose! And with this, I am victorious!
With his vision turning violet, Subaru was engulfed by the crystal's radius of light.
Feeling his consciousness pour into his bodily vessel, YN felt himself laying down as his senses adjusted and felt the orientation of his body.
The checkpoint should be sometimes around coming in from working outside. I don't think there was time between then and having my memories feel scrambled that I was lying down...
Knowing he needed to figure out what was going on, YN tried to open his eyes.
YN: Ack! Bright...
Being met by a blindingly bright white, YN forced his eyes open and for them to adjust while he sat up. Trying to focus on something, anything, he could only see an infinite, ever-stretching plain of white. Recognizing this place as familiar, he realized he had returned to the white void where his soul seemed to travel when in the process of "waiting" for Subaru to also die.
Here again huh? It's been awhile, but every time I come here, it just drains my energy.
Without the desire to stand, YN instead laid his body back down.
Nothing to do other than wait and hope... Besides, a nap would be nice it feels like...
Letting this world influence him, YN fell into the familiar slumber.
Emilia: Subaru!
As the light engulfed him, Emilia saw Subaru's eyes glaze over, as if something terrible had just happened.
One after another, the crystal's light doubled in size again and again, landing nearly halfway between Rem and Leo.
Emilia: R-Rem! We need to run. We need to escape—, whatever that is!
Rem: — — —
Emilia: Rem!
Tightening her grip on her morningstar, Rem steeled herself for what came next.
Rem: Goodbye, YN-kun.
Emilia: Rem!? What—?!
Rem: Rem is going to go be with her YN-kun. This Rem won't, but Rem will be.
Emilia: Rem... You're speaking nonsense! We need to run from him! We can't win this!
Rem: —But for Rem to be with her YN-kun she must do what she has been entrusted with completing.
Winding back her morningstar, Rem prepared to give her next throw everything she had.
Rem: And for YN-kun to remember Rem, this Rem! She must carry through!
Throwing the spiked ball as hard as she could, it was aimed directly at Leo's head, ready to turn it into a horrific mess upon impact.
Rem: This Rem will earn her spot in her YN-kun's memories forever!
Emilia: Rem, don't!
Leo: You fool!
Lifting up Subaru, Leo sidestepped and replaced himself with the unfortunate black haired boy who currently had no clue what was going on, or why anyone was yelling.
Rem is sorry, Subaru-kun...
With Subaru's skull shattering into a million pieces, he felt no pain. The impact instantly killed him, and with his death, sparked the power that was held over him by the Witch, returning the world to how it should be.
Waking again for what felt like somewhere between a few and several instances, YN began to feel fearful.
I have no clue how long it's been... But it's been... awhile. Did Rem maybe...
Beginning to feel a deep worry in his chest, YN shook his head in defiance.
No! Rem has to pull through. She trusts me, so I have to trust her more than that! It's only a matter of time! I won't give up! And I know neither will she!
Feeling his resilience build inside him, a mental image of Rem filled his mind, unlocking something within.
Slowly, instead of feeling lulled to sleep once more, YN felt his consciousness begin to leave his body.
Looks like I'm headed back.
With his faith in Rem brimming in his mind, YN slowly let his mind be extracted from the world of white, and sink through the inky darkness that was the corridor back to the land of the living.
The land his beloved would be waiting for him, asking him why he smelled of the Witch and what had happened.
The land where Rem was.
The land, of home.