Wilhelm walked at the front, back straight despite his age, carrying still the bearing of a man ready to wield the sword.
At his side, Crusch advanced in silence — upright but distant, as if each step didn't truly belong to her.
Behind them, Felix followed with his arms crossed, tense. Otto brought up the rear, quiet, hidden in their shadow.
As they reached the tall doors of the council hall, Wilhelm stopped. He turned slightly toward Crusch and declared, plain and direct:
Wilhelm : Emilia-dono and Guts-dono are inside. You are expected. You are still a candidate, Crusch-sama. Your voice matters.
She nodded slowly, wordless.
As they prepared to enter, Felix raised a hand to block Otto's path. His tone was calm, but firm:
Felix : Thank you for what you've done. But… we don't need you here anymore. This doesn't concern you.
Otto didn't reply. He lowered his eyes, ready to step back.
But a hand reached out and stopped him.
Crusch.
Her gaze steady. Her gesture sharp. Her voice firmer than usual.
Crusch : He comes in.
Felix froze, unsettled. Then he moved aside without a word.
The door opened.
The hall was vast, bare, washed in a cold light. No decoration, no grandeur. Just a long table, a few chairs, and a silence bordering on sacred.
Emilia already stood there, straight and dignified, hands resting on the table, her gaze calm.
Guts leaned against the far wall, motionless, arms crossed, eyes void — as if absent.
Crusch entered first. Otto followed, still surprised to be there. Wilhelm took his seat without a word, and Felix came last, fingers tight on the back of Crusch's chair.
When all were seated, Wilhelm rose. He placed both hands on the table. His voice fell into the silence, firm and clear:
Wilhelm : One campaign. Only a few days. And today, a bitter victory.
A brief pause. Then, methodically:
Wilhelm : First battle — the White Whale. Defeated… but at what cost? Men devoured, erased. Dead without names.
Wilhelm : Second — the assault on the Mathers domain. The Witch's Cult. The Archbishop of Sloth. Struck down by Guts-dono.
He inclined his head slightly toward the warrior, then moved on.
Wilhelm : Third — the surprise attack. Savage. Targeted. This time, they aimed at Crusch-sama.
His gaze fell on her.
Wilhelm : Struck. Marked. And her memory… stolen.
He raised his eyes, darker.
Wilhelm : These are the facts. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Then, heavier, almost in a murmur:
Wilhelm : Too much has happened. Nothing will be as it was.
Crusch did not answer. Her eyes drifted over the table, as though words could not take root.
Felix broke the silence. His voice trembled only slightly, but the crack was clear.
Felix : I can heal you, Crusch-sama. I'm certain… my magic can help. I'll try. I promise you… we'll recover everything.
His hands clasped together before him. His eyes never left her.
The silence dragged. Too long. Only the weight of tension filled the stone chamber.
Felix was the first to rise. His features tight, eyes bright with restrained tears.
Felix : There's nothing left to gain from staying in this alliance.
His words cut the air, sharp, almost brutal.
Felix : We've already lost everything. Crusch-sama doesn't even remember. Why keep going? For whom? For what?
He turned toward her. His hands trembled. His voice too, now.
Felix : Please. Don't go back out there. Don't expose yourself again. You've already been gone from me too long…
The last word died in a breath. He could not bring himself to look at her any longer.
Wilhelm remained seated, eyes fixed on a point no one else could see. Then he answered — cold, precise:
Wilhelm : That is no reason to retreat.
He slowly lifted his gaze.
Wilhelm : The Witch's Cult still exists. As long as it exists, our fight continues.
A brief pause. His tone lowered, sharper still:
Wilhelm : We… do not have the luxury of forgetting.
Crusch lowered her head. Her eyes wandered into emptiness. Searching for a way out, a meaning, a trace of herself within this chaos.
Silence. Long. Heavy.
Then, almost reluctantly, she turned her face toward Otto.
Crusch : What should I do?
The question fell naked. Vulnerable. A confession.
Otto froze. His hands tightened. Every gaze turned to him, heavy, demanding.
He swallowed. His voice came weak, but honest:
Otto : It isn't for me to decide. This choice… only you can make, Lady Karsten.
A breath. Almost a sigh. Crusch closed her eyes, inhaled deeply.
Then, straight-backed, she rose.
She looked around the room, slowly. One by one, her gaze met theirs. Emilia, resolute. Wilhelm, unyielding. Otto, withdrawn. Guts, stone-like.
Her voice lifted, calm, carrying a new clarity:
Crusch : Thank you. Thank you for still seeing me as who I no longer am.
Then, she turned to Felix. Her eyes steady. No false tenderness, only truth laid bare.
Crusch : And you… your loyalty moves me deeply. Even without memory, I feel it. But… I cannot live a life described to me.
She breathed in.
Crusch : If I must choose… I will not obey blindly. I will choose. For myself.
The silence in the room was absolute.
Even Otto, who had remained in the background, felt himself stiffen. He didn't know why, but something in her voice reminded him of what people once said Crusch Karsten had been.
Felix wavered. He lowered his eyes. His legs gave way.
He fell to his knees. Tears slipped, unstoppable. He tried to speak, but only a muffled sob escaped.
Crusch stepped forward. Slowly.
She knelt before him. Took his hands, wordless.
And Felix wept into her palms.
Wilhelm rose, his gaze sweeping the table before resting on her.
Wilhelm : After such words… I doubt anyone here still wishes to break the alliance.
His voice was grave, heavy with quiet pride. He did not smile, but his shoulders eased, if only slightly.
Emilia inclined her head.
Emilia : I am grateful, Lady Karsten. For my camp, you will remain a precious ally.
She paused, then spoke gently:
Emilia : Roswaal awaits us. We must depart tomorrow for the Sanctuary.
No one answered. Nothing more needed to be said.
The meeting ended in silence — almost sacred.
Guts was the first to move. He pushed away from the wall without a word. His steps were slow, heavy. His gaze, hollow.
As he passed Otto, he stopped for half a heartbeat.
Their eyes met.
An odd moment. A mute recognition. As though he had seen this man before.
Then Guts turned away, leaving the room.
Emilia followed minutes later. She said nothing. She left the hall alone, upright, silent.
Only Felix, Wilhelm, Crusch… and Otto remained.