Rem surveyed the area, her senses sharpened, desperately searching for a familiar scent. The air was thick with the reek of damp stone and stale air, but she strained to isolate a different, more precious aroma. It was the scent of her hero, a scent she craved with an almost animalistic desperation, like a lost dog yearning for its master. The smell was a drug to her, an addiction that gnawed at her, fueling her frantic search.
"That way," she murmured, her eyes locking onto the direction of the faint, tantalizing scent. With a surge of renewed hope, she leaped through the trees, her movements swift and precise.
From within the dense forest, a sliver of moonlight pierced the gloom, washing Rem's face with a fleeting sense of hope. She leaped towards the light, emerging into the partially frozen Arlam village. Her eyes widened, a chilling echo of past trauma resurfacing as she confronted the scene. It was a stark reminder of the Witch Cult's attack on her home. "The smell is strong here," she whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. Was it fear? Anxiousness? Or the gnawing guilt that clawed at her conscience? She couldn't distinguish the tangled mess of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
Torn between her desperate search and the sight of the frozen village, she made a choice. "If Subaru-kun were here, he would do the same," the thought echoed in her mind, solidifying her resolve. She wouldn't allow history to repeat itself. She would protect what her hero held dear.
Rem's gaze, scanning the perimeter, snagged on an anomaly: a demi-human, his features obscured by shadows, moving with an unsettling purpose through the frozen village. She couldn't recall any demi-humans among the village's usual inhabitants. A jolt of suspicion shot through her. Without hesitation, she launched herself towards him, intent on capturing him for interrogation.
However, her impulsive action didn't go unnoticed. The villagers, their eyes sharp and wary, saw her sudden movement. A collective gasp, escalating into a piercing scream, erupted, shattering the tense silence. "Intruder!" The cry echoed through the village, marking Rem as a potential threat, and turning every eye towards her.
"There! Who are you?" The villagers converged, a wall of suspicion and fear closing in on Rem. "We won't let you destroy our village again!"
"I am from Roswaal-sama's household," Rem began, her voice strained, attempting to project calm. "A maid. I'm here searching for—"
"Liar!" a burly man roared, his face contorted in rage, the steel of his sword flashing in the dim light. He lunged, a desperate, clumsy strike aimed at Rem's heart.
Time seemed to slow. Rem's blue eyes narrowed, calculating the trajectory of the blade. With a fluid motion, she summoned her morning star, the heavy flail materializing in her grasp with a soft whoosh. The chain, a blur of silver, snaked out, intercepting the descending sword. The impact resonated, a sharp clang that echoed through the frozen air.
The chain, now wrapped tightly around the sword's length, hummed with contained energy. With a powerful jerk, Rem yanked the weapon from the man's grip. The force of the pull, combined with the brittle cold, sent a sickening crack through the air as the sword's blade snapped, the broken pieces clattering onto the icy ground.
"Please," Rem pleaded, her voice laced with urgency, the morning star still poised menacingly. "You misunderstand. I mean no harm." Her gaze swept across the villagers, their faces etched with fear and distrust. The scent of her hero was faint, but it was there, a thread leading her deeper into the frozen village. Every second wasted was a second lost. She had to be quick, decisive. She needed to save these people, and find him.
"If only Subaru-kun were here," she murmured, a frown creasing her brow. The thought brought a pang of bittersweet longing. She vividly recalled their past visits to the village, trips to replenish supplies that always turned into impromptu gatherings. The children, their faces alight with hero-worship, would swarm him, their laughter echoing through the streets. He, with his easy smile and boundless energy, had bravely defended them from a rampaging mabeast, earning their unwavering adoration. Each memory was a sharp reminder of his absence, and the daunting task that lay before her.
"Do you think you can lie to us so easily?" The villagers screamed, their voices a chorus of fear and defiance. Each of them brandished a makeshift weapon: a rough-hewn wooden block, a splintered wooden sword, a tarnished kitchen utensil, a jagged tree branch – anything they could find to defend themselves. They were brave, driven by desperation to protect their homes.
A small, almost imperceptible smile flickered across Rem's face. She recognized the fierce determination in their eyes, a testament to Subaru's influence. He had woven a thread of unity through their community, strengthening their trust in their lord. "But why?" she wondered, a knot of confusion tightening in her stomach. "Why are they suddenly so distrustful of me?" Her mind raced, searching for an explanation, worry gnawing at her.
She wracked her brain, desperately searching for a way to convince them to let her help, to let her save their village. It was all she wanted. "Ah, it's her!" A childish voice suddenly echoed through the tense air, cutting through Rem's thoughts.
It was a child, a boy with maroon hair tied back in a ponytail and wide, grey eyes. He was shivering, his small frame trembling, yet he ran towards Rem with an unwavering determination. "LUCAS! STAY AWAY!" the villagers screamed, their voices laced with panic, but he ignored them, his focus solely on Rem.
Rem, initially startled, noticed the boy's expression. It was a mask of pure horror, as if he had witnessed something no child should ever see, a brush with death itself. "Is this how I looked back then?" she thought, a chilling memory surfacing – the moment her sister's horn was broken, the moment her world shattered.
She instinctively pulled Lucas close, her arms wrapping around his small, trembling form. She fought back the tears that threatened to spill, but Lucas couldn't hold back his own. He wailed, a heart-wrenching cry that echoed through the frozen village, shocking everyone into stunned silence.
The boy's wail, a raw, unadulterated sound of terror, hung in the frozen air, a stark counterpoint to the villagers' hardened resolve. It was a sound that cut through their fear, a sound that forced them to confront the vulnerability they so desperately tried to bury. Slowly, their faces softened, their brows furrowed with a shared, unspoken grief. One by one, tears began to trickle down weathered cheeks, the ice in their hearts beginning to thaw.
From the edge of the crowd, Milde, the village elder, moved forward. Her steps, though slow and deliberate, held a quiet authority. She was a woman etched with the stories of hardship and resilience, her presence a comforting beacon in their troubled times. Rem, holding Lucas close, watched her approach, a silent plea for understanding in her eyes.
Milde stopped just before Rem, her gaze lifting to meet the maid's. Her eyes, aged and wise, searched Rem's face with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her very soul. Then, with a voice that carried the weight of years and the unwavering conviction of truth, she spoke, "She speaks as one who has seen the depths of sorrow."
A murmur of dissent rippled through the crowd. "But, Milde-sama?" a villager dared to question, his voice laced with apprehension.
Milde's gaze, sharp and unwavering, settled on the doubting villager. "She carries the same haunted look in her eyes as the pink-haired maid. A look that cannot be faked, a look that reflects a soul that has witnessed too much." She paused, her eyes sweeping over the assembled villagers. "I have lived long enough to know the difference between a lie and the truth that echoes in the eyes. I will not be mistaken."
Her words carried the weight of her experience, the authority of a woman who had guided them through countless trials. Milde was more than just an elder; she was the heart of their village, the embodiment of their collective strength. In a community fractured by fear and neglect, she was the glue that held them together. Her judgment, born from years of observation and empathy, was a truth they instinctively trusted.
"So, is there anything you would like to say?" Milde's voice, though gentle, held a firm undercurrent, prompting someone within the crowd to step forward. A petite figure, her face obscured by a dark cloak, moved into the light. Only her eyes, wide and luminous, were visible, and a cascade of long, fluffy pink hair spilled from beneath the hood. She walked slowly, her movements hesitant.
Rem's breath hitched. "Ryu...zu-san?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. She recognized the girl, had met her before, but her presence here was a puzzle piece that didn't fit. How had she left the Sanctuary? And why was she in the frozen village? A barrage of questions swirled in Rem's mind, but she knew this was not the time for inquiries. The urgency of the situation pressed down on her, demanding immediate action.
"Long time we meet again, Rem-san," Ryuzu spoke, her voice clear, cutting through the rising tension. "Oi, wait a minute, Rem-san?" a villager echoed, his voice laced with confusion. "Isn't that...?" Another trailed off, unable to complete the thought. "No, but how? Huh?" The villagers, their minds reeling, struggled to grasp the situation. They felt lost, helpless, questioning their own memories.
"Yes, it has been a long time since we met, Ryuzu-san," Rem replied, her eyes searching Ryuzu's face for answers.
"Judging by your looks, I can understand there is a lot you want to know and have answers for, but I guess now is not the right time," Ryuzu said, her words both reassuring and frustratingly vague, but giving rem a sense of confidence in her choices so far.
"Onee-san... I... I saw him..." Lucas whispered, a sniffle punctuating his words.
"Him?" Rem's heart leaped, her focus sharpening. A flicker of hope ignited within her. "Please be Subaru, please be Subaru, please be Subaru," she silently prayed.
"Rem-san, this magic is none other than Emilia-sama's," Ryuzu stated, her voice calm, yet her words shattered the fragile morale of the villagers. Fear and worry etched their faces. They questioned their decision to support Emilia. They were simple villagers, with no ties to the camps or the royalty. Their sole concern was the well-being of their home. But now, that very home was threatened by the magic of the person they had trusted.
Rem crouched down, her voice gentle, her eyes fixed on Lucas's trembling form. "What do you mean when you mentioned 'him'?" she asked, trying to decipher the child's fragmented words.
"I... I... augh... I saw... Su... Suba..." Lucas stammered, his voice choked with sobs.
Rem's eyes flickered, a spark of hope igniting within them. "You saw Subaru?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The boy nodded, his tears flowing freely. "I saw Subaru," he repeated, his voice breaking. He began to cry again, his small body shaking with each sob.
"Subaru," Rem prompted, her voice trembling, desperate for confirmation. "You mean Subaru-kun, right?" She couldn't bear the thought of another false hope, another crushing disappointment.
"Subaru?" a villager echoed, his voice laced with disbelief.
"That name... no way?" another murmured, his eyes wide.
"NATSUKI-SAN?" The name rippled through the crowd, a wave of recognition washing over them. They recalled the hero who had saved them, who had brought their fractured village together. They remembered him alongside Emilia, his unwavering support bolstering their morale, his strategic mind guiding them to excel. He was, to them, a born leader. But a shared question lingered, a shadow of confusion: "Why was Natsuki-san here?"
"I see! Subaru-sama is here to save us all, like he always does!" a villager exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over him.
"That's our Subaru-sama, our hero!" they rejoiced, their voices filled with renewed hope. Rem smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest. She felt a surge of pride, a quiet joy at being connected to a man so deeply adored by everyone.
"It seems that something or someone has made people forget about him," Ryuzu stated, her voice calm but her eyes filled with a deep concern. "As if our memories have been rewritten. Normal humans might not notice the subtle shifts, but as an elf, I can see the cracks, the inconsistencies." Her words added a chilling layer to Rem's worries, hinting at a deeper, more sinister force at play.
"Onee-san, I did see Subaru... but... but..." Lucas stammered, his small voice trembling, his eyes wide with a fear that mirrored Rem's own growing dread. "I saw him being carried... by a hooded figure. He carried him like... like he was asleep. Or... or broken."
The words landed like a physical blow, a crushing weight on Rem's chest. Her breath hitched, a strangled gasp escaping her lips. The world around her seemed to narrow, the frozen village, the worried villagers, all fading into a blurry backdrop. All that remained was the image of Subaru, limp and lifeless, in the arms of an unknown assailant.
A low growl rumbled in her throat, a primal sound of pure, unadulterated rage. It was a sound that had been buried deep within her, a sound she had fought to suppress for so long. The delicate facade of calm, the practiced gentleness she had cultivated, shattered like thin ice under a heavy blow.
Her eyes, usually a gentle blue, flickered, a crimson haze creeping into their depths. The veins on her forehead pulsed, throbbing with a violent energy, threatening to burst. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms, drawing blood. She could feel the monstrous power within her, the oni blood that coursed through her veins, demanding release.
It was a rage born of fear, of desperation, of the crushing weight of helplessness. It was the rage of a protector who had failed, of a loyal servant who had been betrayed. It was a rage that threatened to consume her, to transform her into the very monster she had fought so hard to control. The air around her crackled with a palpable tension, a silent warning of the storm that was about to break.
"Where did you see them?" Rem asked, her voice deceptively calm, a chillingly smooth tone that masked the tempest raging within. It was the eerie stillness before a devastating storm.
"Urgh..." Lucas stammered, his eyes wide with terror, his small body trembling. The air around Rem had thickened, heavy with an oppressive energy that made it difficult to breathe. He knew she was angry, but the sheer intensity of her rage was beyond his comprehension.
Every villager, Milde, Ryuzu – all of them felt the shift. The delicate balance had shattered. Rem's breaking point had been reached, and the force of her unleashed fury hung in the air, a palpable threat.
"Umm... at the flower garden near the end of the village..." Lucas finally managed to choke out the information, his voice barely a whisper.
The words slammed into Rem's mind, a wave of icy fear washing over her. "Hooded figure..." The phrase echoed in her thoughts, a chilling premonition of danger. Fear for Subaru, for his safety, gripped her heart like a vise.
"DAMN YOU WITCH CULTISTS!" Rem's scream ripped through the frozen air, a raw, primal roar of unbridled fury. It was a sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of the village, a sound that spoke of a rage beyond human comprehension.
In a blur of motion, she vanished, leaving behind only the swirling remnants of a powerful gust of wind, a testament to her explosive departure. The air crackled with the residual energy of her rage, a silent promise of the storm to come.
Meanwhile at the flower garden
Subaru's lifeless body lay nestled amongst the frost-covered flowers, a stark contrast to the delicate blooms. "Subaru, Subaru..." the hooded figure murmured, her voice a soft, melancholic echo in the frozen air.
"Here," she said, placing a flower crown on his brow, her smile a fragile, half-broken thing. "This is a flower crown for you. Remember the one you made for me on our first date? We rested here for the picnic, enjoying your mayo sandwiches." A flicker of warmth touched her eyes, a fleeting memory of happier times.
"Sorry I couldn't bring sandwiches this time," she continued, her voice tinged with regret. "But I promise, this will be over very soon." Despite her gentle words, she remained vigilant, her senses heightened. The lesser spirits she had stationed as sentinels had alerted her to a sudden, violent shift in the surrounding mana. She quickly shifted into a defensive stance, her body shielding Subaru's.
BOOOM*
The ground erupted before them, a deafening explosion that sent shards of ice and earth flying. Debris rained down, and a thick cloud of smoke billowed outwards, obscuring the already dim light.
The air slowly began to clear, revealing a figure emerging from the swirling smoke. It was a shadow, a presence that grew stronger with each step, the aura radiating from it a palpable wave of pure, unadulterated hate. The hooded figure, her senses sharpened by the threat, recognized the raw, untamed energy.
As the smoke dissipated, the approaching figure was revealed. It was Rem. Her veins pulsed, taut and swollen, threatening to burst. Her eyes, once a gentle blue, were now narrowed to pinpricks, the whites laced with crimson veins. Blood trickled from between her clenched teeth, staining her lips a dark, menacing red. She huffed, each breath a ragged, animalistic sound, her mana a chaotic storm swirling around her. It was a night of calamity, and anyone who dared to cross her path would face the full force of her wrath
"YOU WITCH CULTIST!" Rem screamed, her voice a raw, guttural sound that echoed through the frozen garden. With a swift, fluid motion, she summoned her morning star, the heavy flail materializing in her grasp. She brought it crashing down onto the icy ground, the impact sending a shower of frozen earth and shattered flowers erupting around her.
Before the debris could settle, Rem launched herself into the air, her movements a blur of furious energy. With each precise, powerful kick, she sent the chunks of ice and earth hurtling towards the hooded figure. The debris flew like lethal projectiles, each piece a miniature storm of destruction.
"AL HUMA!"
The hooded figure chanted, and a flurry of ice crystals erupted around her, launching themselves at the oncoming projectiles. The crystals and debris collided in midair, a chaotic explosion of ice and earth that sent a cloud of icy smoke billowing outwards, obscuring the figure's vision. Panic flared within her; she scanned the smoke-filled space, anticipating an attack from any direction.
"I found you," a whisper, chilling and laced with venom, echoed from behind. A pair of glowing blue eyes pierced the swirling smoke. The hooded figure whirled around, just as Rem's morning star, a blur of deadly motion, sliced through the obscuring mist. The flail tore through the hood, and a sharp, agonizing scratch ripped across the figure's face, drawing blood. Crimson droplets splattered onto the frost-covered flowers, and a few landed on Subaru's lifeless form, a stark contrast against his pale skin.
Rem stalked forward, closing the distance between them, her morning star held high, poised to deliver a crushing blow. Then, she paused. Long silver hair, and the unmistakable pointed ears of an elf. Confusion warred with a burning rage within her. "SHOW ME YOUR PATHETIC FACE!" Rem demanded, her voice a low growl.
Slowly, the figure turned, revealing a face that sent a shockwave through Rem's being. "Emilia-sama?" she gasped, her voice laced with disbelief. Her mind reeled, unable to reconcile the image before her.
Emilia lay on the frozen ground, her hand pressed against the wound on her face. A crimson stain bloomed against her pale skin, a stark reminder of the brutal scratch inflicted by Rem's morning star. The wound, a deep, jagged scar, marred her once pristine beauty, a mark that would forever be etched into Rem's memory, a haunting reminder of this devastating encounter.
Rem, her fury dissolving into a chilling wave of horror, lurched forward. "Emilia-sama! I... I didn't—" Her hands, trembling, reached out to mend the gaping wound on Emilia's face, a wound she herself had inflicted. But before her healing magic could take effect, Emilia's hand lashed out, a brutal slap that sent Rem's own hand flying.
Then, with a ferocity that defied belief, Emilia pounced. It wasn't a graceful movement, but a savage, animalistic lunge. She slammed Rem to the frozen ground, straddling her with a primal strength Rem had never witnessed. Emilia's eyes, usually pools of serene amethyst, were now burning embers of pure, unadulterated rage.
The first blow landed with a sickening thud, a fist connecting with Rem's cheekbone. It wasn't a controlled strike, but a wild, desperate pummeling. A second, then a third, followed in rapid succession, each impact sending jolts of pain through Rem's body. She raised her arms, futilely attempting to shield herself, but Emilia's onslaught was relentless.
"Emi... Emilia-sama...?" Rem choked out, her voice a strangled whisper. The sight of Emilia, her beloved Emilia-sama, reduced to such a brutal, violent fury, sent a shockwave of terror through her. The punches kept coming, each one a brutal reminder of her horrifying mistake. Blood trickled from Rem's nose, and her lip split. She could feel the swelling rising on her face, the raw, burning pain a stark contrast to the icy ground beneath her. "Please... stop..." she begged, her voice laced with a fear that bordered on hysteria. The elegant, gentle Emilia-sama was gone, replaced by a terrifying stranger.
Rem's pleas fell on deaf ears. Emilia's onslaught continued, a relentless barrage of fists that left Rem reeling. Desperation clawed at her, the realization that she had to defend herself sinking in. With a surge of adrenaline, Rem abandoned her defensive posture, her own fists flying. She landed a few solid blows on Emilia's face, the impact drawing a sharp cry of pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Rem grabbed a handful of Emilia's silver hair, yanking her head back. "ARGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Emilia screamed, her voice raw with agony. Rem followed up with a brutal blow to Emilia's stomach, the force of the impact causing her to vomit onto the frozen ground. Emilia rolled off Rem, collapsing beside her, her body writhing in pain.
With a surge of fury, Rem straddled Emilia, her hand a blur of motion. SLAP "Wake," she snarled. SLAP "Up." SLAP "Open up." SLAP "Your eyes!" Each slap was a brutal attempt to shock Emilia back to her senses, to break through the veil of rage that had consumed her.
Emilia's violent thrashing subsided, replaced by shuddering sobs. Rem, her own body aching, paused, her breath ragged. She slowly moved off Emilia, her gaze scanning the frost-covered ground. Tears welled in her already swollen eyes, blurring her vision. A familiar scent, faint but unmistakable, reached her nostrils. Her barely open eyes fell upon Subaru's still form.
"SUBARU-KUN! SUBARU-KUN! SUBARU-KUN!" she screamed, her voice a raw, heartbroken cry. She cradled him close to her chest, her arms tightening around him as if she could pull him back to life. "I missed you," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "I have been waiting to meet you, my hero."
But something was terribly wrong. He was cold, unnaturally so. The warmth that had always radiated from him, the warmth she had clung to in her memories, was gone. "Su...baru-kun?" she whispered, shifting her hold, trying to coax some sign of life from him. But no matter how she adjusted him, no matter how tightly she held him, the chill remained. He was cold, like a statue, like a body devoid of life.
With trembling hands, she gently laid him across her lap. "You loved lap pillows, didn't you?" she murmured, her voice thick with unshed tears. She wiped the blood and tears from her own face, clearing her vision, desperate to see him as she remembered him. But the image she yearned for, the smiling, vibrant Subaru, was shattered.
He lay before her, a grotesque parody of himself. One eye was bandaged shut, a dark bruise marring his pale skin. Patches of his once dark hair had turned a stark, lifeless white, leaving bald spots scattered across his scalp. A few of his teeth were missing, leaving gaps in his once familiar smile. Yet, aside from these horrifying disfigurements, his body was strangely unmarked. There were no gashes, no bruises, no signs of the brutal torture she had imagined. It was as if nothing had happened, except for the horrifying transformation of his face.
Her tears fell onto his disfigured face, each drop a silent testament to her shattered heart. "Su...ba..." she choked out, her voice barely a whisper.
"Suba...ru-kun..." she wailed, the sound raw and primal, a heartbroken cry that echoed through the frozen garden. The realization crashed over her, a tidal wave of grief that threatened to drown her. Her hero, the one she cherished above all else, was gone.
"Why... why does everything I love turn to ash?" she breathed, her voice a broken whisper, lost in the frozen air. "First, my sister... I shattered her life, and now... now I've done this to you." Her tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision, each drop a burning brand against her skin. "How could I? How could I be so weak, so utterly useless? To reduce the man who held the stars in his eyes, the man I love, to this... this broken thing?"
Her sobs wracked her body, each one a raw, agonized sound that echoed the emptiness within her. She cradled his disfigured face in her hands, her touch feather-light, as if afraid she would shatter him further. The unnatural coldness of his skin seared her, each contact a jolt of pain that resonated deep within her bones. It wasn't just the physical chill, but the coldness of death itself, a chilling reminder that the warmth, the light, the very essence of Subaru, was gone. Each touch was a tiny, agonizing death, a sharp needle piercing the fragile remnants of her hope.
Emilia rose, her movements slow and deliberate, and walked towards Rem. Lost in her grief, Rem didn't notice Emilia's approach. Emilia stopped just inches away. "Rem!" she said, her voice hoarse.
Rem, startled, turned to face her. Emilia stood before her, a stark image of the brutal confrontation. Her face was swollen and bruised, her lips split and bleeding. Her once pristine hair was now uneven, patches torn out by Rem's desperate grip. A trail of crimson blood dripped from the jagged scar that marred her face, a constant reminder of the violence that had just transpired.
"You remember me?" Rem asked, her voice laced with confusion. The people she had encountered lately struggled to recall her presence.
"Yes, of course I do," Emilia replied, her voice thick with emotion. "Subaru talked about you every day. He checked up on you while you were sick, in a coma. He never left your side... he... he..." Emilia's voice broke, and she dissolved into tears. After a moment, she regained a semblance of composure. "Rem, I need your help."
Rem was stunned. Emilia's sudden change in demeanor, her desperate plea, left her reeling.
"Help me take Subaru to the Elior Forest," Emilia continued, her voice trembling. "I will bury him there, creating a tomb for his final resting place."
"And then," she added, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "I will leave the royal selection. I won't ever leave the forest again. You guys, Ram, Beatrice, Roswaal—everyone will live a happy life. You know, so please help me out." Emilia held out her hands, gesturing for Rem to assist her in her plan to flee the manor.
Rem approached Emilia, her movements deliberate, her gaze unwavering. She stopped inches away, raising her hand slowly. Emilia's face lit up with a hopeful smile, anticipating Rem's assistance.
BAM!*
Rem's fist connected with Emilia's face, the force of the blow sending her sprawling onto the frozen ground. Emilia's eyes widened in shock, her smile replaced by a look of stunned disbelief.
"DON'T JOKE WITH ME!" Rem screamed, her voice a raw, furious roar. "AFTER EVERYTHING HE WENT THROUGH, YOU WISH TO JUST QUIT? HAVE YOU NO SHAME? DON'T RUIN MY HERO'S IMAGE LIKE THIS!"
Rem was consumed by a righteous fury, her voice laced with years of suppressed emotions. It was as if a dam had burst, and the pent-up anger, grief, and frustration were now spilling out in a torrent of words.
"HE CARED FOR YOU! HE LOVED YOU!" Rem's words struck Emilia like physical blows, sending her spiraling into a fresh wave of despair. Emilia lowered her gaze, her shoulders slumping. "IF YOU WISH TO WASTE HIS EFFORTS, EVERYTHING HE DID SO FAR, THEN GO FORWARD. I DON'T CARE ONE BIT. BUT MIND THIS: I WON'T LET YOU TAKE AWAY SUBARU. YOU DON'T DESERVE HIM IN HIS LOWEST IF YOU DIDN'T RESPECT HIM IN HIS PRIME!"
Rem's fury was a force of nature, melting the ice that had encased the flower garden. The smoke cleared, revealing Rem standing tall, her eyes glowing a vibrant blue. A shower of shooting stars streaked across the night sky, a celestial display of breathtaking beauty. Emilia's eyes widened. She looked back at Rem, and for a fleeting moment, she saw an image superimposed over Rem's form—a phantom of Subaru, his hand resting gently on Rem's shoulder. "So, this is your strength," Emilia whispered, a dawning realization in her voice. "I get it."
Rem, still glaring at Emilia, felt a flicker of confusion as Emilia continued. "I will make sure," Emilia declared, her voice filled with newfound resolve. "I will make sure to live up to his expectations. I will make sure to live up to everyone's expectations!" A sudden gust of wind swept through the garden, scattering flower petals under the moonlight. Two figures stood silhouetted against the night sky: a half-elf and a blue oni, their gazes locked in a silent vow.
"We will not let your dreams go to waste."
"Subaru/Subaru-kun."
"Look, the ice is melting!" The villagers rejoiced, oblivious to the drama that had unfolded in the flower garden. "It seems like they managed to resolve it," Milde murmured to herself. "Why do you look so worried?" she asked, turning to Ryuzu. "I simply feel the calm before the storm," Ryuzu replied, her voice laced with apprehension. "Something much bigger is in play here, and I'm sure this is just a warning." Her words cast a pall of worry over the villagers. "Look, it's a shooting star!" Lucas pointed towards the sky. Everyone looked up, their eyes reflecting the hopeful light of the celestial display. "It's real! A shooting star!"
Emilia and Rem lay side by side in the flower garden, gazing up at the star-studded sky. They silently counted each falling star, each one a whispered prayer. "You know, Rem?" Emilia began, her voice soft. "Subaru once said that in his hometown, there's a custom where they pray to falling stars, hoping their wishes will come true."
"Maybe," she continued, her voice filled with a fragile hope, "maybe ours might come true as well." Both Rem and Emilia silently prayed, sending their hopes and dreams soaring towards the heavens, carried on the wings of the falling stars. Hoping for a blessing amongst the stars.