I will conquer the stars.
Maxine's voice sliced through the stillness of the cluttered room, each word a cold, deliberate cut. "Oh yes, and do not bother wasting your breath on screams. Noah has woven a barrier of wind magic around us. No sound will escape these walls." She remained poised in her guarding stance, her eyes fixed on Subaru with an intensity that refused to falter, not even for a heartbeat. Those green-blue irises, usually playful, now glinted like sharpened steel, pinning him where he stood.
Subaru felt the damp chill of sweat prickling across his skin, his body tensing as he fought to keep panic from clawing its way out. His chest tightened, his breath growing shallow under the weight of her gaze. Maxine's sudden shift in demeanor stirred a haunting echo in his mind, a memory of that first day at Roswaal's mansion. Rem's suspicion had been raw, visceral, born from instinct and pain, but this was different. Maxine's caution felt calculated, a trap forged from intellect and experience. She's been hurt before, he thought, his mind racing. Something in her past made her this wary, and now that witch's scent on me has flipped a switch. Alone with him, she had seized the initiative, cornering him with a precision Rem had never possessed. She's smarter than Rem was. I'm trapped, and I need a way out.
He forced his voice to steady, though it trembled at the edges. "Wait, wait! Why would you even think I'm from another world? That's absurd!" His denial spilled out, a desperate shield against her piercing scrutiny.
Maxine's glare sharpened, her lips curling into a faint, mirthless smirk. "Really? Is it not obvious?" She stepped forward, her presence filling the room as she began to unravel her reasoning. "First, I examined your clothes before you ever set foot in my laboratory. The fibers, the stitching, every detail of your attire defies replication by any tailoring technique known to this world. This is no mere hunch. I have studied tailoring, fabrics, and design exhaustively, skills honed over years. Not one method I've encountered could produce what you wear. You might argue it hails from some distant homeland, but my sources come from Lady Varocious's library, a collection spanning centuries, predating even the Great Calamity. The notion that her archives would overlook an undiscovered land is laughably improbable."
She raised a single finger, marking her first deduction with a quiet confidence. "Moreover, I spoke with Rem about you. She mentioned you're still learning to write in Lugunican script. You speak fluently, yet reading and writing elude you. That discrepancy gnaws at reason. One could claim you're uneducated, but I find that hard to believe. You carry yourself with an awareness, a knowledge that sets you apart. Are you not educated, just not from here?" Her eyes narrowed as she recalled his casual references, words like "drone," "computer," "mech", terms that slipped from his tongue with familiarity, yet found no echo in this world's history. "And finally, when I accused you of being an otherworlder, your first instinct was denial. Not confusion, not amusement, but a swift rejection. That reaction is far from natural if you truly belonged to this realm."
Maxine drew closer, her shadow lengthening across the floor, her eyes darkening with an unspoken threat. Noah hovered nearer, its iron form humming with mana, the air trembling as it primed itself to unleash spells at the slightest provocation. Subaru's back pressed harder against the locked door, the cold metal a stark reminder of his shrinking options. The pressure bore down on him, squeezing his lungs until every breath felt like a struggle. Death's waiting if I slip up, he thought, his mind spinning for an escape. He had no choice but to yield, at least in part.
His voice emerged as a strained rasp. "Fine. I'm from another world, alright? Are you satisfied now? But I haven't done anything wrong. I've never meant to hurt anyone. All I want is to help Emilia."
Maxine's gaze remained unyielding, her scrutiny dissecting his every twitch. "That brings me to the second matter that stirs my suspicion." She advanced further, closing the distance until the air between them crackled with tension. "You can see the future, can't you?" Her words hung heavy, a challenge laced with certainty, daring him to deny the truth she had already begun to unravel.
Subaru's breath caught in his throat, his mind racing as Maxine's accusation hung in the air like a guillotine blade. See the future? The words stabbed too close to the truth, not the exact truth but near enough to make his heart pound against his ribs. He couldn't let her see the panic flickering behind his eyes, couldn't tell her about Return by Death. Cornered by Maxine's sharp intellect and Noah's threatening aura, he had to act fast, deflect, disarm, anything to keep his secret buried.
A shaky laugh spilled out, loud and a little too forced. "See the future? That's insane!" He flashed a grin, though it wobbled at the edges, and waved his hands as if brushing off the idea. "If I could do that, I'd be winning bets left and right, not tripping over trouble every five minutes. I mean, do I look like some mystical fortune-teller to you, Maxine-san?"
"The second deduction, that you can see the future, was a wild guess on my part. When you shut that door and triggered the lock, I wasn't certain." Her eyes narrowed, suspicion coiling in her stance. "If you truly had foresight, you'd have anticipated this trap and never set foot in my laboratory. Yet here you stand."
Subaru's pulse raced, his mind reeling under the weight of her scrutiny. She's too clever. She's circling the truth. He swallowed hard, forcing his thoughts to steady. But she hasn't figured it all out. Not yet.
Maxine's lips curved into a faint, calculating smile. "Before this moment, I pieced together your actions in Arlam Village. Too perfect to be chance. You went there with Rem, mingled with the villagers, and let yourself be cursed. It was intentional, wasn't it? You needed a solid excuse to lure Rem and Ram into the forest to wipe out the mabeasts. But here's the flaw: if you could see what's coming, you'd have navigated this confrontation with ease. You didn't. So either you knew I wouldn't kill you, or your ability only awakens when death brushes close." She raised a second finger, her deductions clicking into place with mechanical precision.
Subaru's mouth fell open, awe surging through him. She's incredible. Her mind's on another level. Her logic was a net, tightening around his every move, leaving him bare. She's so close to Return by Death. But he couldn't let her cross that line. Not when he didn't know what revealing it might unleash. "Wait. So you're saying this whole thing was just to scare me? You're not actually planning to kill me?" His voice trembled, caught between relief and stunned disbelief.
Maxine's smirk widened, her posture easing as she propped a hand on her hip. "I leaned on a little tactic to shake you up. People's true reactions slip out under pressure. Besides, the way you responded to my second deduction proved I was right all along." The icy edge in her demeanor thawed, and she slipped back into the quirky, playful girl Subaru knew, her intimidation fading like mist in sunlight.
Noah let out a small, petulant sigh, its mana glow dimming. "Aw. I really thought he might pee himself a little."
"Hey!" Subaru snapped, indignation overtaking his fading fear. "But… why are you so relaxed now?" He studied Maxine, still wary, his confusion mounting as her intensity dissolved.
Maxine's gaze softened, a flicker of warmth igniting in her eyes. "That brings me to my third deduction." She stepped closer, her presence no longer a blade but a quiet reassurance. "If my first two conclusions hold, then my third must follow. And my third deduction is… you're a good person, Subaru."
The words settled over him, soothing the jagged edges of his nerves. She believes in me? Just like that? His shoulders loosened, though a thread of doubt lingered. He met her gaze, finding only kindness there, the storm of suspicion replaced by a steady, knowing light.
She shrugged, a casual motion that seemed to brush away the tension of moments ago. "Well, I would never doubt Lady Varocious's choice. If she says you are the Judge, then you are kind. Just needed a little confirmation, that's all." Her voice carried a playful lilt, a stark departure from the accusations she had hurled earlier. "Besides, even with your ability to peek into a future where you might die, you still chose to stay and help those villagers, right? Even after knowing them for barely half a day. That kind of goodwill speaks louder than words to me."
Subaru exhaled, the weight on his shoulders lifting as if a massive boulder had rolled away. His breathing steadied, the frantic rhythm of panic giving way to something calmer. She trusts me? Just like that? He blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "I… I don't know what to say. Thank you." The words stumbled out, awkward but sincere, and he dipped his head in a clumsy nod.
Noah's voice chimed in, bright and teasing, cutting through the quiet. "Oh, no need to worry about it. Moreover, your secrets are safe with us."
Maxine rubbed her chin, her expression thoughtful, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Well then, I really did strip your secrets bare, didn't I?" She paused, then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, tugged her shirt up just enough to make Subaru flinch. His cheeks flushed, but she stopped short, revealing only her midriff.
Subaru's gaze fell on the massive scar that marred her right side, a jagged, puckered line that stretched from back to front, as if something had clawed its way through her long ago. The sight stole his breath, shock rooting him in place.
"Yeah, not really pretty, huh?" Maxine's tone softened, a trace of pride threading through her words. She glanced at Noah, the gleaming steel cube hovering nearby. "This beauty right here is the culprit." Noah spun lazily in the air, its hum a quiet reply. "Well, thank you so much, sister. Not my proudest moment, though," it quipped.
Subaru frowned, confusion swirling in his mind. "Wait, what do you mean Noah did this? I thought she was your spirit?"
Maxine's smile turned bittersweet, her eyes distant. "Well, yes and no. Everything changed for me on that fateful night." She sank to the floor, papers and books crunching beneath her as she crossed her legs. Subaru hesitated, then joined her, settling across from her as Noah floated silently at her side. He leaned forward, eager to hear the story behind her words.
"I was just a student at a magic academy," she began, her voice steady but heavy with memory. "Life was simple then. I didn't dream of stars or grand inventions. All I wanted was to become a healer, nothing more. Then Lady Varocious arrived. She was already part of Emilia-sama's camp, searching for a young mage to serve her house. Of course, she set her sights on the best students, and let's just say I wasn't exactly a shining star back then."
A small, self-deprecating smile flickered across her face as she traced idle patterns on the floor. "I was rough, unpolished, a crude stone at best. But even so, Lady Varocious saw something in me. She believed I could shine if I pushed myself. One night, I ran into her outside the academy's grand library. We talked for hours, her words wise and soothing, like a guiding light. Then, out of nowhere, we spotted a shooting star. But it wasn't just a fleeting glow. It grew closer, faster than either of us could react. Before Lady Varocious could shield me, that star, no, that rock, crashed into me, tearing through my belly."
Her hand drifted to the scar, fingers brushing it with a tender reverence. "It was a massive piece of metal. My guts spilled out, but I felt almost nothing, no pain, just a strange numbness. I started walking, each step dragging more of me onto the ground, until I reached the crater it had carved. I picked up that metal shard, and in that moment, it wasn't my life flashing before my eyes. It was the entire sky, every star, every distant light, resting in my hands."
She reached upward, her fingers curling as if to grasp the memory once more. "Then darkness took me. Lady Varocious cared for me, healed me as best she could. When I woke, my mind burned with ideas, wild and unstoppable. I scribbled them down, proved them true one by one. I threw myself into learning, magic, mathematics, alchemy, art, tailoring, biology, and above all, astronomy. My ambition caught Lady Varocious's eye, and I swore my loyalty to her house. I began working with that piece of metal, the one that had pierced me. Months later, I realized it had taken part of my gate, part of my soul. The mana pattern, the warmth, it felt like a sibling. With my newfound knowledge, I reshaped it using magic, and then, suddenly, Noah awakened."
Subaru's eyes widened, awe settling over him. "So Noah is… part of you?"
Maxine nodded, her smile soft and genuine. "In a way, yes. She's my sister, my spirit, my creation. That night, I lost a piece of myself, but I gained something more, a purpose, a dream, and a companion." She glanced at Noah, who hummed faintly in acknowledgment.
Subaru sat back, the weight of her story wrapping around him like a quiet embrace. She's been through so much, yet here she is, still reaching for the stars. Respect flickered in his chest, warm and steady. "That's… incredible. I had no idea."
Maxine grinned, the playful spark returning to her eyes. "Now you do. So, Judge, don't think you're the only one with a wild tale to tell." She winked, the heaviness of the moment lifting into something lighter.
Subaru chuckled, a sense of ease settling over him. Maybe this place isn't so bad after all.
Subaru Natsuki perched on a stool, his posture buzzing with excitement as he jabbered on about his latest brainstorm. Across from him, Maxine Craft leaned against a workbench, her sharp eyes glinting with amusement as she jotted down notes, her pen dancing across the page with practiced ease.
Their voices tumbled over each other, a cascade of ideas born from newfound trust. Subaru's words spilled out in a rush, each one brimming with possibility, while Maxine sifted through them with the precision of a master craftsman, plucking only the gems worth keeping. Their camaraderie had blossomed so naturally, so effortlessly, that the hours slipped by unnoticed.
"Oh, shoot," Subaru said abruptly, his gaze darting to the small clock nestled among Maxine's tools. "It's getting late. I should probably hit the hay, Maxi-san, Noah-san."
Maxine tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips as she waved off his concern. "Hmm, no need for that, Judge. Noah, crank him up, girl." She flicked a finger toward Subaru, and the sentient cube hovering nearby bobbed in response.
A beam of orange light erupted from Noah, washing over Subaru in a tingling wave. Strength surged through him, a vibrant pulse that coursed through every muscle and banished the creeping haze of exhaustion. His mind snapped into focus, thoughts aligning with a clarity that felt almost unnatural. "Wow! What was that?" he exclaimed, hopping to his feet and flexing his arms as if testing their limits. "I feel strong. Light. And not even a hint of sleepiness!"
Maxine's smirk widened into a full grin, her tone laced with pride. "Cool, huh? I've been tinkering with Yang magic lately. That spell Noah cast gives you a solid boost to physical strength, stamina, and mental sharpness. You're good for the next twenty-four hours, no sleep required, and your strength's probably up by a factor of five. Pretty neat, right? I lean on it for late-night breakthroughs. There's a downside, though." She nodded toward Noah, who now wobbled unsteadily in the air, its smooth movements replaced by a drunken sway. The cube drifted to a nearby cushion and slumped down, motionless as a stone. "Noah can't pull mana from the atmosphere for this one, so she's tapped out. She cast it for both of us, so let's give her a break."
Subaru's eyes widened as he stared at the resting cube, a mix of awe and wonder swirling in his chest. A metia with a soul and a gate. Maxine's tweaked it to shift affinities on the fly, something even living mages struggle to do. The realization hit him like a spark. Noah wasn't just a tool; she was a masterpiece, a steel marvel that Maxine had sculpted into something extraordinary. Her gate couldn't max out every magical category, but it adapted with each spell, tuning itself to perfection. "This is incredible," he breathed, his voice trembling with excitement. "So, we've got all night to keep going, huh, Maxi?"
"Heck yeah!" Maxine's eyes gleamed with the same fire that burned in his own. "Now, let's dive back into that thrust engine topic."
Subaru leaned forward, the thrill of invention igniting his veins once more. The night stretched out
The dawn broke gently over the horizon, its first rays spilling through the tall windows of Varocious's mansion and painting the room in hues of soft gold. The air carried a crisp chill, laced with the faint scent of dew from the gardens beyond. Subaru Natsuki stood by the window, his butler attire neatly pressed against his frame, watching as the dragon carriage rolled away. Emilia's silver hair glinted briefly in the morning light before the carriage turned a corner, taking her, Varocious, and Vaelthoryn toward the royal palace.
Beside him, Maxine Craft tilted her head, her steampunk ensemble a striking blend of leather and brass. Their eyes met, and a conspiratorial smirk curved their lips in unison. The plan was set. "Good," Maxine said, her voice low and laced with excitement. "Now, are you ready, Noah?"
Hovering above them, the sentient cube pulsed with a faint glow, its surface alive with the shimmer of recharged mana. "Yeah, sister. I'm charged and ready for a full day's work," Noah replied, its tone brimming with energy.
"Perfect. Let's kick off the first step of our plan, Noah-san." Subaru's pulse quickened as he spoke, his mind drifting back to the previous night. He had poured out his thoughts to Maxine, his desperate need to aid Emilia despite the orders to stay put. To his surprise, she had agreed without a flicker of hesitation. Friends are supposed to help each other, right? Sure, it might go south, but you're my friend, Subaru. Besides, I'd never pass up a chance to see you make a fool of yourself. Her words echoed in his head, a rare warmth settling in his chest. Trust like that, so freely given, was a novelty he wasn't used to. She didn't even doubt me for a second.
Noah's form shimmered, mana crackling faintly in the air as it began to weave its spells. The first was a modified Yin magic, its dark essence coiling around Subaru and Maxine like a shadow's embrace. The world dulled slightly, not because their senses faded, but because they had slipped beyond notice. Every sound they made, every rustle of fabric or scuff of a boot, vanished into an unseen void. Subaru's skin prickled with the spell's touch, a cool sensation that felt like stepping into a moonless night. In short, an invisibility spell.
Then came the wind spell, a surge of energy that lifted the weight from his limbs. His body felt buoyant, as if the floor might give way beneath him, an effect layered atop the Yang spell from the night before. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the effortless strength coursing through him. I could leap a mountain like this. Noah's mastery was staggering. A metia wielding all six elements, it shaped mana without chants, bending spells with a precision that left Subaru speechless. Maxine's Einstein in this world, no question. Last night, despite his silence on computers and logic gates, she had already unraveled the concept herself, using mana and gate theory to craft spells with binary elegance. Noah was her creation, a magical AI born from her genius.
Maxine moved first, stepping to the open window and launching herself into the air. Her form soared, cutting through the dawn with the ease of a bird, landing atop a distant rooftop with a soft thud. Subaru blinked, awestruck. She does this all the time? Her strength matched his own, yet her familiarity with the spells made it look effortless.
He followed, stepping onto the sill and pushing off with a burst of power. The wind rushed past, cool against his face, as he arced through the sky. The usual lurch of freefall never came. Instead, the Yang spell smoothed away the nausea, leaving only a thrill that sang in his veins. He landed beside Maxine, his footing slipping briefly on the tiles before he caught himself. A giggle escaped her, light and playful. "Not bad for a first-timer, huh?"
Subaru grinned, brushing off the stumble. "It didn't even feel like the first time. Is that the Yang spell again?"
"Actually, yes," Maxine said, her eyes gleaming with pride. "It sharpens your mind, lets you adapt instantly. Your muscles follow without a second thought. But we can't linger. We need to be back before lunch, or Rem will have our hides."
Noah's voice buzzed between them, tinged with mock fear. "And I'd rather not face her wrath. She's fiercer than any magic I've got."
Subaru laughed, the sound soft but resolute. With a nod to Maxine, they jumped form buildings to buildings, destination: royal castle.
The second step of their plan unfolded smoothly, their stealth spells cloaking them in a veil so potent that even mana-sensitive beings like Puck or Beatrice would find no trace of their presence. The royal castle stretched before them, its towering walls steeped in an aura of unyielding authority. Subaru Natsuki, Maxine Craft, and Noah the sentient cube, lingered near the grand entrance, their breaths shallow in the crisp morning air. All they needed now was the arrival of another dragon carriage, a chance to slip inside unnoticed, shadows trailing in the wake of the next visitor.
A rumble stirred the stillness as a red dragon carriage rolled into view, its crimson scales glinting like molten fire beneath the sun. The beast pulling it, a male dragon cloaked in matching scarlet, snorted softly, its breath curling into faint wisps. The carriage door swung open, and out stepped a woman whose very presence seemed to ignite the scene. Priscilla Barielle, her orange hair cascading like a wildfire, descended with a grace that bordered on arrogance. She wore a red dress, a fan clasped in her hand. Beside her stood a man, his steel helmet catching the light, his odd attire marking him as an enigma at her side.
Maxine edged closer to Subaru as they trailed the pair into the palace, her voice a hushed thread in the tapestry of silence. "That's Priscilla Barielle, the Sun Princess of the Sacred Vollachia Empire." Noah floated just above her shoulder, its faint glow pulsing in rhythm with her words. "Her being here can only mean she's a royal candidate."
Subaru's eyes widened, a spark of disbelief flickering within him. "What? The girl I helped yesterday is an opponent now?" He stole a glance at Priscilla, her imperious stride painting her as someone born to rule. Guess I misjudged that one, he mused, a wry twist tugging at his thoughts.
Noah's voice chimed in, sharp yet reassuring, audible only to their trio. "No need to dwell on that, right? Our mission is to support Emilia-sama, and that's the bottom line."
Subaru nodded, his resolve snapping back into place like a taut bowstring. "True, Noah-san. Emilia-tan's the best, so she'll win this race hands down. No doubt about it." His confidence rang clear, though a quiet tremor of uncertainty lingered beneath.
Maxine's gaze settled on the throne room doors ahead, their red surface adorned with twin golden dragons, their coiled forms exuding a regal menace. "Oh, heck, here we are," she muttered, her tone a mix of awe and apprehension. "This is where we split up." The third step of their plan loomed before them: Subaru would enter alone, while she and Noah remained outside, hidden in the shadows. Inside stood Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint blessed by the world itself, his countless Divine Protections a net that could snag their cloaking spells in an instant. Subaru would have to shed his invisibility, stepping into the lion's den with nothing but his wits to shield him.
A pang of worry gnawed at Maxine's chest. This is insane. He's walking straight into danger. Yet she pushed the doubt aside, choosing faith over fear. "Welp, hope you know what you're doing in there, Judge," she said, her fist meeting his in a firm bump, a silent pact between them.
Subaru flashed a grin, though his pulse thundered in his ears. "No need to worry. See you later, Maxi." He waved, his hand lingering in the air as the massive doors groaned open. With a final glance at his companions, he stepped forward, the weight of their trust settling over him like a mantle.
The throne room of the royal castle. Within this grand chamber stood Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint of the current age. His crimson hair flickered like a living flame under the light, his blue eyes sharp and steady, surveying the gathered nobles and knights with an unshakable calm. To the world, he was a figure of unparalleled might, blessed by countless Divine Protections, each a mark of the favor he bore.
In that moment, however, two of those gifts stirred within him, rising to the surface without warning or command.
The first to awaken was the Divine Protection of Causality Law. It was a power granted to him long ago, on the day he first encountered Varocious Atroscity. The memory unfolded in his mind with crystalline clarity. She had appeared before him cloaked in black, her dress flowing like shadows given form, her hair a cascade of midnight silk, her eyes deeper and darker than a sky bereft of stars. A vampire noble of Lungunica, she had endured eras of chaos and calamity, her name synonymous with kindness and wisdom. To those who knew her, she was a beacon of compassion, a friend to all who suffered. She had woven herself into the fabric of Reinhard's family across generations: a guest at his grandparents' wedding, a witness to his father's birth, a voice of solace at his grandmother's funeral, and a figure of hope in his mother's darkest hour.
Varocious had been there when Heinkel, consumed by desperation, sought her aid for Louanna. Reinhard could still see it: his father's trembling hands, his mother's frail form, and Varocious standing beside her, her presence both gentle and unyielding. That was the day the Divine Protection of Causality Law had taken root within him, a shield against any force that might twist his fate. It was a gift born of necessity, tied to the woman whose own power defied the natural order.
Her Divine Protection of Causality Deflection, allowed her to redirect the threads of cause and effect with a mere touch. Reinhard had once seen it in action. A blade had flashed toward her throat, only for the attacker's neck to split open in an instant, his blood staining the ground while she stood unscathed. Heinkel had believed she could use that power to save Louanna, to shift her affliction elsewhere and rouse her from the Sleeping Beauty condition. Yet Varocious had only lowered her head, her voice soft with sorrow. If thee hadst come to me sooner, before it took hold, perhaps I could have helped. But now, it is beyond my reach.
That moment had left an imprint on Reinhard's soul. As Varocious spoke those words, he had felt the world shift, the will of Od Lagna weaving a new thread into his existence. The Divine Protection of Causality Law was no mere coincidence; it was a countermeasure, a safeguard against Varocious's own ability. The realization had gnawed at him for years. Why would the world arm him against a woman whose every action radiated kindness? She was a soul without malice, her life a testament to selflessness. Over time, as his collection of Divine Protections grew, he had come to see it as a peculiarity of his blessed fate, a mystery he could not unravel.
Now, as that same Divine Protection stirred within him, a certainty settled in his chest. Varocious was near. His head turned, his gaze cutting through the throne room's expanse to the grand doors as they swung open. Emilia entered first, her silver hair shimmering like a thread of moonlight, followed by Roswaal, his painted grin as enigmatic as ever. Behind them came Varocious, her dark elegance a quiet storm amid the room's splendor. Trailing the group was Priscilla Barielle, her crimson gown a bold declaration, her knight at her side.
Then, a second awakening rippled through him. The Divine Protection of Detection, a gift that unveiled what hid from sight, forcing the unseen to step into the light. His senses sharpened, piercing through the shadows of the room. There, tucked behind Priscilla's imposing figure, stood Subaru Natsuki, clad in the crisp attire of a butler. His presence was a puzzle, a thread out of place in the intricate weave of this moment.
The grand double doors parted smoothly as Subaru Natsuki stepped through with an effortless stride, and in an instant, the invisibility spell cloaking him unraveled like threads of mist, revealing him to the watchful eyes within. His composure held firm, unshaken even as the spell faded. They'll just assume I've been standing here the whole time, he thought, steadying himself with the notion. The magic hadn't truly hidden him; it had merely nudged their perception to pass him over, a trick he no longer leaned on as he crossed the threshold. The throne room sprawled before him, split into two distinct realms: one side lined with knights and the other brimming with nobles.
A murmur stirred among them, and then a voice pierced the air.
"Subaru?"
A silver-haired girl, Emilia, turned her gaze upon him, her face etched with surprise as he entered. Her amethyst eyes flickered, blinking as though struggling to trust her own sight, a swirl of confusion and unnamed emotions dancing within them. Yet Subaru stood unshaken, his calm a shield against her stare. Before she could find words, before her thoughts could take shape, he moved first. With a hand lifted to his head, he closed one eye and poked out his tongue in a fleeting, playful twist.
"Sorry, I'm here," he said, his tone airy despite the dryness in his throat.
A heavy silence settled over the throne room, thick and unbroken, pressing down on the assembly for a lingering moment.
Beyond the closed doors, Maxine Craft lingered in the shadows, her form still veiled by the invisibility spell. She watched the entrance, her white-blue hair flickering as she scratched the back of her head in quiet thought. Beside her, Noah's soft voice broke the stillness. "Is it really a good idea for Subaru to step in there? I won't question you, sis, but…"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Maxine replied, her words quick and casual. "Subaru's got that wild obsession with Emilia-sama, and his emotions burn way too bright." She paused, then grinned, her confidence solid as stone. "But with the Yang Fortification spell, his mind's sharp as a blade, and fear or doubt won't touch him easy. Plus, Subaru's clever, maybe not on my tier, but when he locks onto something, he'll see it through no matter what."