That figure behind the window, with only a pair of ice-blue eyes showing, was none other than the mansion's number one tsundere, the Great Spirit Beatrice.
Even though she always puts on a show of not caring, she still came to see us off. What a stubborn girl, Natsuki Subaru muttered under his breath, but he couldn't stop himself from waving toward the window.
Unsurprisingly, the curtain was immediately yanked shut, leaving only the sight of the slightly swaying fabric.
Inside the Forbidden Library, Beatrice clutched the book in her arms in a panic, her slender fingers nearly digging into the spine.
Why... why did Betty wave at that boy...? Her eyes trembled, and a sharp pain pierced her chest. That black-haired boy wasn't the one she was waiting for. He could never put her first, nor did he possess the necessary resolve or grace. And yet...
"You already have Emilia, and Rem, and so many people you need..." she whispered, flipping open the Gospel of which she was the guardian. "You're not... the one Betty is waiting for..." The pages were blank, empty of any words, just like her hollow heart, where no answers could be found.
For four hundred years, she had been waiting. Her mother... why had "that person" not yet appeared? The sound of the dragon carriage faded into the distance. Beatrice unconsciously clutched the fabric over her chest.
The endless faces of those she knew had long since vanished into the river of time. The ones who promised to stay with her forever, the ones who swore they would return, all had turned to dust in her memory.
Only she remained, guarding this empty library, guarding a promise that would never be fulfilled. The only thing that never left was this book, a gift from her mother, Echidna. But as the flame of hope had slowly died, its pages had become blank.
Perhaps... even her mother had abandoned her. Beatrice slowly closed her eyes, and a single, crystalline tear silently fell, landing on the blank page and spreading into a tiny, dark stain.
At the mansion's entrance, Rem and Frederica maintained their perfect maid-like composure, watching the dragon carriage until it disappeared from view.
A gentle smile played on Frederica's lips. Her slender fingers unconsciously reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a neatly folded letter. With this, everything has proceeded according to Lord Roswaal's instructions.
Next, it all depends on whether Lady Emilia can overcome the trials of the Sanctuary. Beyond praying, there is nothing more I can do.
"There will be no problem," Rem said from her side, her voice filled with an unshakeable certainty. Frederica turned to her in surprise.
"With Subaru-kun there, Lady Emilia will definitely pass the trials." A gentle arc formed on Rem's lips, her eyes shining with a nostalgic light. "Subaru-kun... he always creates miracles. When everyone else has given up, he is the only one who keeps moving forward."
"I thought you would ask me why I kept the truth of the Sanctuary from Lady Emilia and Subaru-sama," Frederica said, a complex emotion in her emerald eyes.
"Since it was Lord Roswaal's command, Rem will not ask questions," Rem replied calmly, her voice soft yet firm as steel. "Besides, Rem believes in Subaru-kun and Lady Emilia more than anyone else."
Frederica couldn't help but recall her first meeting with the black-haired boy yesterday. Standing in the light of the setting sun, he had seemed exceptionally steadfast.
Though he had only been at the mansion for a little over a month, he had already achieved a string of unbelievable feats—subjugating the White Whale, defeating the Sin Archbishop of Greed, and even single-handedly slaying the Sin Archbishop of Sloth.
Any one of these accomplishments was enough to be recorded in the annals of history. It was no wonder Lord Roswaal had given him such a special evaluation, calling him a "world-changing person."
"Because Subaru-kun is Rem's hero!" Rem's voice suddenly rose with pride, interrupting Frederica's thoughts. "He brought light to Rem on a night of deep despair."
A gentle breeze rustled the wind chimes in the courtyard. Frederica quietly gazed at the blue-haired girl beside her.
The unwavering trust in Rem's eyes made her truly understand for the first time what it meant to entrust someone with everything, without reservation. It seems I missed a lot of important things while I was away from the mansion, she thought with a hint of regret.
"It's time to prepare lunch," Rem said, her tone becoming cheerful as she turned gracefully. "Today, Rem will bake Subaru-kun's favorite apple pie, so they can enjoy it when they return in triumph."
"Do you need help?" Frederica asked, carefully putting the letter away and hurrying to catch up. "While my cooking skills can't compare to yours, I can at least assist."
"Then I'll be in your care, Frederica-senpai," Rem said with a smile, her blue eyes curving into crescents. "And I would love to hear stories about your time in the Sanctuary."
The dragon carriage trundled along the winding mountain road. Leaning against the window, Natsuki Subaru's thoughts had already turned to the challenges ahead.
My goals are to protect Emilia and Rem, completely liberate the Sanctuary, and ensure everyone can return home safely.
He recalled his own painful experiences in the Sanctuary arc from the original story, his fists clenching unconsciously. My past failures were, at their core, due to a lack of information and strength. But things are different now.
He looked down at his own hands, feeling the shadow power surging within him. Fear? Powerlessness? Those were luxuries for the weak. The me now... can even trifle with death itself.
With a subtle thought, the shadow beneath his feet flowed like a living thing. A few tendrils of shadow silently seeped into Emilia's and Otto's own shadows. They were his shadow soldiers, now lying in wait like the most loyal of guards. A smirk touched his lips. Let's see what kind of surprises you have in store for me, Sanctuary.
The breeze carried the fresh scent of the forest, but Subaru's keen senses picked up the distinct magical fluctuations of a barrier.
"Subaru? We're almost there..."
Emilia's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. The scenery outside had changed. The ancient trees grew denser, and the air was thick with a magical aura that made even the ground dragon antsy.
"Emilia-tan, don't tell me you're nervous?"
"H-How did you know?" Emilia asked, her amethyst eyes widening in surprise.
"I'd love to say something cool like 'I know everything about you'..." Subaru said, watching her tense profile. "But right now, anyone could tell from your expression."
"I'm sorry, did I worry you...?" Emilia touched her own stiff cheeks. "It's just that, we're about to arrive at the Sanctuary... Frederica said it's a place for 'special' demi-humans. That means..."
"There might be other half-elves like you there," Subaru finished softly.
"I've never met another half-elf," Emilia whispered, her fingers twisting the fabric of her skirt. "I don't want to think about it too much, but in the Sanctuary, there might really be..." Her words trailed off, unsure if the feeling stirring in her heart was anticipation or anxiety.
Subaru gazed at her slightly trembling shoulders. He desperately wanted to tell her everything, to tell her not to be afraid, that he would be there no matter what. But some paths had to be walked by her alone.
CRUNCH!
With a sharp jolt, the dragon carriage lurched violently, its wheels apparently hitting a large obstacle. Caught off guard, Emilia lost her balance and pitched forward. Subaru reacted instantly, his arm shooting out to steady her.
"Emilia!? What... what is this!?"
The two exclaimed almost in unison. The source of the commotion was Emilia herself. A blinding blue light, like ripples on water, was pulsing from beneath the collar of her clothes, flooding the carriage. The influence of the Sanctuary's barrier was beginning to show...
Panicked, Emilia fumbled at her chest and pulled out the blue gemstone Frederica had given her. It
was now glowing with an unprecedented radiance, pulsing in her palm as if it were alive.
____
Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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