Chapter 50: Witches of Sin and Sin Archbishops
Back at the Sanctuary, Subaru was currently trying to figure out his next move, while Garfiel and Ryuzu were staring at him like they were the Miles Morales to his Peter Parker.
What? Spiderverse was awesome.
"Wha' we waitin' for?" Garfiel asked.
"I need to visit some old friends of mine. It's been a while, and… a lot's happened." Subaru took a deep breath as he mentally prepared himself. Subaru had every intention to go into the Witch's Tomb and talk to the ghosts of his loved ones. It's just that half the time he went there, he would get cold feet.
Subaru made his way into the Sanctuary, laid down on the ground, and allowed himself to be taken into the Castle of Dreams, as reality itself warped around him, like a painting changing color, changing from a gothic of the Tomb to a landscape of the Dreams.
Every time he went in there, it was like a drug trip. Any lesser man would have had a headache from just coming there, but like with poison, you build an immunity to it every time you take it. Opening his eyes, Subaru stood up to find himself in the Windows 98 background.
Well, that was more of an inside joke for him. In truth, Subaru looked around to see the same green fields, the same table, and the same tea party he had seen every time before.
"Well, well, look who's finally back." Subaru heard a soft, yet confident female voice behind him. Turning around, he could see a white-haired woman in a black dress.
The Witch of Greed. Echidna.
Subaru nodded in response. "Yep. Gusteko was nice, but I was freezing my butt off. I'm sure you already know what's going on outside."
"You mean with your new wife?" Subaru could practically hear the frustration in her voice.
"Ugh. It is not like that, okay?"
"Good! I'd punch you otherwise!" a familiar voice barked. Subaru couldn't help but smile as she saw the Witch of Wrath, along with the rest of the Witches, sitting at their tea party.
Subaru chuckled at that. Good ol' Minerva. "Believe me, I'm well aware."
"I thought they looked cute…" mumbled Carmilla, the Witch of Lust.
"But Baru would never turn his back on Tella!" Typhon, the Witch of Pride, argued.
The Witch of Sloth, Sekhmet, asked, "Would it even be worth it?"
Daphne, the Witch of Gluttony, licked her lips. "Well, she does know how to drink, even if she can't hold her beer…"
Any normal person would have broken down in madness from the fact that they were in the presence of six of the seven Witches of the Deadly Sins, but for Subaru…
"Y'all done discussing my life?" This was just another Tuesday for him. Especially since he used to be one of them.
"Agreed. We have no need to discuss the other half-elf. Regardless of her spiritual nature." Even Echidna couldn't help but be interested in Emilia's nature as a Dragonborn.
"That's not what I meant," the nasty-eyed Undead snapped.
"Very well, then." Echidna eyed her old friend (and unrequited crush), as she callously sipped her tea. "Tell me, Subaru Natsuki, what brings you to us?"
"To be perfectly honest, this wasn't a social visit, I only came here for Garf." Yeah, he wanted to check in on them, but he had priorities.
"This must be pretty serious if you are starting to call in all the favors you can."
The former Great Sage rolled his eyes. "Considering we only have three years before the literal end of the world, I'd say yes, this is pretty serious."
"The extinguishing of the First Flame which would reset the world to what it once was. The return of the World Eater, destined to destroy everything to allow a new Kalpa to take its place. They are... rather intertwined. They represent the end and the beginning."
"Yeah, yeah, real poetic. Do you have any advice that's actually helpful?"
"Killing Alduin is impossible. He represents a concept, and concepts are not so easily destroyed."
The Japanese man groaned. "I said helpful."
Echidna then grinned a bit. "Fortunately, you don't have to kill him."
Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Keep talking…?"
"Alduin is destined to destroy everything. It's an inevitability we cannot avoid. Nothing we can do can change that. However, we can change when it happens."
"We can?! Wait, how do we do that?" Typhon asked the question that was on Subaru's mind.
"Do you not recall what that Dragon, Odahviing, said?" Echidna asked Typhon. "Only when the First Flame finally dies out will Alduin be forced to fulfill his role. So, if the flame keeps burning, it would stand to reason that he would be less likely to do so."
Subaru rubbed his temples. "So, the original plan, once again."
"It is the only way to ensure our world can keep going," the Witch of Greed said.
"Ugh, fine, whatever."
Echidna smirked, seeing a solution that Subaru didn't. "Still, you continue to overlook one obvious solution to all your problems regarding the First Flame and Alduin."
"And what would that be?"
"I want you to figure it out for yourself. Be the great hero you once were. The Great Sage who would use his mind to conquer any trial in his way."
"...If you're trying to flatter me, I'll have to remind you that I'm married."
Echidna grew a bit annoyed and flicked Subaru's forehead. "I'm trying to remind you of the man you once were. Always full of life and energy, always eager to help others in need. The world needs that Subaru Natsuki back. Now more than ever."
With those last words, the world around them crumbled, as Subaru opened his eyes.
"Come back when you have your answer."
Subaru could hear a light smacking on his face, as he opened his eyes to see Garfiel being the one doing it. He must have dragged him out of the Witch's Tomb.
"Oi, you good? Ya look high as shit."
"Yeah... I'm fine," Subaru lied, as he got up from the grass.
"If you say so…" Ryuzu decided not to pry further.
"Alright, come on. Let's get going."
Garfiel nodded, as he looked over to Ryuzu. "Granny, you coming?"
The half-elf shook her head. "I shall remain here to watch the Sanctuary."
"Alright, good luck with that," Subaru said.
Back at the mansion, the discussion about the Sin Archbishops had moved from Roswaal's office to one of the guest foyers, where the Court Mage would entertain his guests. As Rem and Ram left to get tea for the others, as Beatrice began to explain the vile powers that made the Sin Archbishops the dangerous threats they were.
With the help of Patches, of course.
"It only goes from bad to worse," the bald Undead said, readying himself to talk about the Sin Archbishops and their respective Authorities, along with Beatrice.
"Why do you say that?" Emilia asked.
"Well, I guess the foremost issue would be because they're Sin Archbishops."
"Regardless, any information about our adversaries would be useful," Aela said.
Beatrice nodded. "Then let's start with the one you're most familiar with… Capella."
"The shapeshifter," J'zargo surmised.
"Indeed. I assume that she might have attempted to touch some of you?" Beatrice asked.
"I believe she did with me, but my armor got in the way," Siegmeyer said.
"Then that proves that theory." Beatrice confirmed it.
Erik gave the Great Spirit a funny look. "What theory?"
"Lust may be able to change the shape of her targets, just like how she can change her own body, if she touches them. I've seen reports of people turned into piles of flesh or giant flies. It's revolting…"
"Oh…"
Aela nodded. "Focus on ranged attacks, got it."
J'zargo gained a death glare. "Death by fire it is."
"I'm sure you witnessed her regenerative abilities, correct?" Beatrice asked.
Emilia nodded her head. "Unfortunately…"
Solair looked concerned. "Other than complete disintegration, is there no way to end her?"
"Suffocation, maybe?"
Aela groaned at that. "Very situational and hard to execute, especially since she could assume a different form to escape it."
"Then incineration will have to do."
"What about the others?" Seiglinde asked.
Roswaal smiled, as he said, "Subaru and I faced off against the late Sin Archbishop of Pride, Stride Vollachia, back during the end of the Demi-Human War."
"So, the seat of Pride is empty?" Oscar asked.
"I sure hope so."
"What happened to his power?" Emilia asked.
"Subaru most likely has it," Beatrice answered.
Aela raised an eyebrow at that. "If that was the case, then would it not have manifested an ability that he desired? If so, his quest would have already been over."
"That's why I said "most likely has it." If he does have it, it'll probably only manifest under extreme circumstances," the four-centuries-old loli explained.
"You mean it hasn't manifested in over fifty years?" Sieglinde asked.
Beatrice snorted at that. "You have been around Subaru for… what? A few months now?"
Emilia wasn't sure why Beatrice asked that, but decided to play along. "Yeah...?"
"And in that small amount of time, you have faced off against dragons, demons, an assassin cult led by a Sin Archbishop, and an army of vampires." Beatrice concluded.
"That sounds rather accurate," Solaire said.
Roswaal then spoke up. "Imagine all that happening to you on repeat, for fifty years straight."
The eyes of the others started to widen. That… really put it in perspective.
"Subaru has mastered one of the three major magics that exist in our world, just as Roswaal has," the blonde spirit said. "Subaru is far more powerful than he lets on. As such, beyond his mission, he would have no true need to manifest his Authority yet."
The blue-haired Undead added, "And even if he did need it, it would take a lot to bring him under enough stress to manifest his Authority."
Beatrice nodded. "The only reason it hasn't manifested for his mission is because the Sin of Pride is incompatible with what he desires. He wants to heal Satella and save her from a fate worse than death. Such an act cannot be considered prideful at all."
"So, it's completely useless?" Aela asked.
Roswaal tilted his head a bit. "For his mission, but not for the future. Should he be pushed too far, I'm sure it will manifest itself."
"Maybe we could help him along?" Oscar asked.
"You can certainly try. Do not get your hopes up, though," Beatrice said.
Solaire: I'm sure we can try our best to raise Subaru's pride as confidence levels!
Serana: Let's focus on that later. What of the other four?
"Gluttony is a bit of a mystery," the Great Spirit of Yin admitted.
"Nothing to go off of?" Oscar asked.
"Minimal information. Based on the previous incarnations, it's safe to assume they can control Mabeasts."
"Mabeasts? Subaru mentioned those before," Serana said.
"Monsters found mostly in Lugnica and Vollachia. They were created by the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne, four hundred years ago, including the Big Three. The White Whale, the Great Rabbit, and the Black Serpent." Roswaal explained.
Beatrice looked at the vampire. "How do you not know about them?"
"Sealed way before that happened," she simply said. Serana really didn't want to get into her family drama right now…
"Why was the creation of the Mabeasts attributed to Satella?" Oscar asked.
Roswaal sighed a bit. "She was thought to have destroyed half the world during her rampage, she's an easy target to blame. Pandora's machinations certainly didn't help."
"Are all wielders of Gluttony capable of creating and controlling Mabeasts?" Solaire asked.
"A safe assumption," Beatrice said. Well, that was terrifying.
"But beyond that, their abilities are a mystery," Roswaal said.
"Wonderful," Sigelinde sarcastically drawled. "Who's next?"
"Greed. Supposedly the strongest Sin Archbishop there is."
"His most public appearance was when he destroyed a Vollachian city and killed their country's hero, Kurgan. A bit ironic, considering he was a member of Pride's faction," Beatrice said.
"And to make matters worse, he did this supposedly single-handedly," Roswaal said.
The whole party felt shivers go down their spine. An entire city destroyed and a great warrior killed… single-handedly.
"Well, that's just great..." What else could Aela say?
"According to the few eye witnesses that remained, he seemed to utilize an odd form of Wind Magic that allowed him to slice and destroy anything, or anyone, in front of him with a mere wave of his hand," the Court Mage of Lugnica explained.
"Hmph. I bet it's his Authority," Ram said, as she set down some teacups.
"Indeed, as he seems to use no incantations which only incredibly skilled Primal Mages can accomplish. However, that isn't the worst of it," Roswaal said.
"Worse?" Erik parroted. "How does it get worse?"
"According to the same reports, he seemed to be completely invulnerable to all physical harm. Weapons, Magic, Divine Protections, nothing worked. They simply... stopped just before reaching his body. Subaru's current leading theory is that Greed keeps his body in a single moment in time, preventing aging and preventing anything from being influenced by outside sources… making him completely invulnerable."
"Mm. How dishonorable," Rem said, as she filled the cups with tea.
Roswaal nodded, hating that the Sin Archbishop was using the power that rightfully belonged to his teacher. "Indeed. He is unworthy to wield such power."
Suddenly, before they could get into the last two Sin Archbishops, everyone heard a loud crash that came from the entrance of the mansion. Everyone stayed still for a moment, before a blond kid with a scar across his face slammed open the doors, looking frantic.
Ram blinked. "Wait a minute, Garfiel –?"
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
Author's Note: Gee, I wonder who would be attacking Subaru this time around? Anyways, hooray! We've reached the big five-o! This is officially the longest series I have ever worked on, if we're talking about chapter numbers. If we're talking about sheer wordcount, then I have five other works that eclipse this one. (Though, this one may catch up.) It honestly might, given how far we actually are into the story…
We've sort of hintied to this before, but thanks to Subaru's immortal nature, he has been in a lot of different places, and that is including the Demi-Human War. Which side was he on? Well, why don't you guys use the context clues we've given you?
5queso: A friendly Garfiel usually has a two-track mind on what he wants, and that's fighting and girls. And Subaru letting Rem and Ram try to kill him is indeed in-character both as he likes to help others improve, and he has no regard for his own well-being. And don't worry about making me sad for getting older, it's just an inevitability.
palik: Of course you did. And as you can see, no one here likes Regulus.
Qubon: Did you seriously call Garfiel "well hard"? Never mind that; yes, the Emilia Camp is gonna be a force to be reckoned with.
Gwynx: Not just, Echidna, it's all of the Witches! (Sinful reunion!)
Kifhjoofff: ¿Qué tipo de situación requeriría que Subaru convocará a Satella?
Anyways, back to the regular old shilling…
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Thanks for reading, and once again, see you next time!
- Ernalore & Infinite the Celestian