I sat on the bed with Betty perched in my lap. The others had left after ensuring I was all right and asking a few questions that I answered vaguely.
Emilia insisted on staying, but I told her I needed to discuss a delicate matter with Echidna. I promised I would have lunch with her, which settled her mind.
Besides Betty and me, the only people remaining in the room were Echidna and Rem, who stayed by my side to care for me and attend to my needs.
I said nothing for a while, merely stroking Betty's head with a distant expression. Rem and Echidna stood motionless as statues, simply waiting.
"Are you alright?"
Betty was the one to break the silence, her butterfly-shaped pupils gazing up at me with an innocent yet worried look. She wasn't naive; she knew something was wrong.
Furthermore, she should be able to sense the total lack of magical activity in my body. That was one of the main reasons I decided to keep her with me for this meeting.
"Not entirely, Betty. My powers are gone."
"Huh?"
She looked at me, seeking confirmation that she had heard correctly. I merely gave her a nod. I could feel the grip of her small hands tighten on my clothes.
With a furrowed brow, Betty closed her eyes to concentrate and began analyzing my condition. After about five minutes, she opened her eyes again.
I swallowed nervously while waiting for the diagnosis. I hoped it was at least a known issue—something with a cure or a treatment.
"How strange… There is nothing wrong with your body, nor your gate, nor your od."
It was the worst possible scenario: an undetectable affliction. Perhaps it wasn't even an injury or a disease, but rather something like a seal.
I sighed and leaned my head back.
"Holy shit."
"I am sorry. I could do nothing for you. I am a useless spirit, I suppose…"
Betty murmured in a distressed tone.
"Oh, no, no, no, not at all."
I forgot my frustration for a moment and hugged the girl, finding a bit of comfort in the warmth of her small frame as she clung to mine with her tiny arms.
"Don't blame yourself for this. Besides, you've helped me immensely, because now I know my condition isn't related to anything physical or magical. That narrows down the options significantly."
I turned my eyes to Echidna.
"What about the Witch Factor of Sloth? Is it still with me?"
"Yes, it remains rooted within you."
Apparently, the authority was still there, but I couldn't feel it, let alone use it.
"I see… Any idea why this is happening to me?"
"Hmm."
She placed a finger on her chin, assuming a thoughtful expression.
"Reid's attack. If he severed the connection between your soul and your body, it might take time for that connection to fully re-establish itself. That, in turn, would explain your weakness and your inability to use your powers."
"Can he really do that with a simple slash?! How ridiculously powerful is that guy?!"
"Was."
Echidna corrected me, smiling strangely.
"And isn't there…?"
I began, but she cut me off, reading my mind and anticipating my question.
"I know of no method to help you regain your powers faster. What Reid cut is not something concrete, but abstract. A conceptual 'wound' does not heal in the same manner as a physical one."
I clicked my tongue.
"Right, it's like trying to feed my ego by literally giving it food. It makes no sense."
This was like having a quantum disease that could only be cured by performing mathematical equations as surgery.
"However, I might suggest attempting symbolic actions to feel more anchored to your body."
Unexpectedly, Echidna offered a remark that brought back a glimmer of optimism.
"Like what?"
"Do you remember what you did shortly after waking up?"
The hopeful smile on my face twisted into a grimace of discomfort. My eyes darted fleetingly toward Rem, then back to Echidna.
"…"
"What are you two talking about, I suppose?"
Betty raised her head, looking at us with suspicion.
"That sort of thing—intense physical sensations—might help you re-establish the connection faster."
Echidna completely ignored her daughter's innocent curiosity.
"Are you sure?"
"It is merely a theory, but surely it is better than nothing, is it not?"
She shrugged.
"Besides, I believe you might regain your powers gradually as you restore that connection. You will not be completely helpless."
"That is… much better than nothing."
I breathed a sigh of relief. Anything was better than remaining permanently stripped of my abilities.
Still, Echidna's suggestion was downright scandalous. It surprised me that she blurted it out so casually, but then I remembered she had complete access to my mind.
Perhaps it was my fault her personality had become so much more twisted than the original.
"You know, if you ever need help with 'intense physical sensations,' I am only a thought away."
She took her leave right after saying that, taking Betty along under the pretense that I needed rest.
I was left alone with Rem. I wanted to say something, change the subject, or crack a joke to lighten the mood, but my mind was a total blank.
"So she wants to help you."
My girlfriend's voice echoed through the room. I didn't need to look at her to know what kind of expression she was making right now.
"Yeah."
"That's good. If you can truly trust her, I think…"
"That doesn't matter. You're my girlfriend."
Obvious as day, Rem was striving to hide her emotions. For my part, I had conflicting feelings, remembering my earlier conversation with Ram.
This seemed like a good opportunity to talk to Rem about our relationship. Yet, the mere thought of asking for something so brazen, so selfish…
I would practically be asking her permission to be unfaithful. At best, it would turn our relationship into a simple number inside an equation.
Besides, I wasn't even sure if I wanted that.
Rem was the woman of my life; I had no doubt about that. The problem was that I had already been unfaithful to her with Satella and Pandora.
Even though Rem was dead at the time, it didn't change the fact that I betrayed my feelings for her.
And what worried me most was that if I chose to be completely faithful to Rem, Satella or Pandora might retaliate. After all, Satella was a yandere of sorts, and Pandora was far too unpredictable.
Or maybe I was just making excuses to fulfill a stupid, lustful harem fantasy.
Whatever the answer was, I had to be honest with Rem.
"Listen… I've never had a girlfriend before. I had never kissed a woman."
Nor a man, don't get me wrong.
"All of this is new to me. They say you never forget your first love, no matter how much time passes or how many people you meet… Uh, what I mean is that what we have is deeply special, deeply important to me. Death literally separated us—twice—yet we came back together."
Hearing my clumsy speech, Rem smiled warmly, as if her cold resignation from moments before had never existed.
"And believe me, if I have to die a million times to protect you, I'd do it without a second thought."
"I know. I'd do the exact same for you."
She sat down beside me and placed her hand over mine, looking at me in a way that made me feel blissfully happy and overwhelmingly guilty all at once.
To top it off, she spoke the words every human needs to hear at least once in their life.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Rem."
But I'm a scumbag who doesn't respect the woman he loves.
I didn't hesitate to voice my feelings, but I bit my lip immediately after, tasting the hypocrisy in my words.
"What's wrong? Tell me what's troubling you."
She tilted her head, giving me a look of almost maternal love and concern. She wasn't just a girlfriend; she was a partner—the kind of woman you'd want to make your wife, the mother of your children.
The kind who would never abandon or betray you.
I didn't dare look her in the eyes. I smiled with a grimace of pure irony at the cruelty of what I was about to do to the woman I loved.
"Rem, I… I can't be with only you."
I was direct. I could have beaten around the bush and played the victim, saying it was unfair, that I didn't want this, that circumstances forced my hand, blah, blah, blah. That would have only been more insulting to her.
I was prepared for any reaction. I decided that even if she grew angry and left me, it would be fine. In fact, that would have been the best thing for Rem.
Because I didn't deserve her.
"I know."
Her answer left me stunned. I reflexively furrowed my brow and stared at her.
"You know?"
She nodded slowly, still wearing that breathtaking smile, though it was tinged with melancholy.
"I always knew, right from the start. When you first arrived here, you already showed signs of being in love with Lady Emilia. I could tell by the way you looked at her and spoke to her, how you acted whenever she was around. Later, when you interacted with Lady Crusch. You claimed to be in love with Lady Emilia, yet that never stopped you."
"Yeah, but what I feel for Emilia doesn't compare to what I feel for you. Besides, I don't have that kind of relationship with her. It's not the same with you—I couldn't justify myself if I did that now."
Rem gently shook her head, refuting my claim.
"You're looking at it as if you want to be with other women. You said you can't be with only me, not that you don't want to. That means you already have commitments. I assume you're referring to the Witches."
"Yeah, exactly. In fact, there's another one I haven't told you about."
"Another one, huh? I can't say I'm surprised…"
Rem sighed. It was clear she was trying to be understanding about it. Of course, saying it was one thing; enduring it was quite another.
No one would be comfortable with something like this.
"If I said it didn't bother me, if I said it didn't hurt, I would be lying."
Her gaze was fixed on the floor, her expression one of pure sadness.
I wanted to say "I'm sorry," but apologies would do nothing to repair the damage I was causing her.
"But I chose this. I knew what I was getting into."
She said it as though she had no right to feel hurt, no right to want exclusivity. I shook my head vehemently.
"Don't say it like it's your fault. I don't intend to pretend I'm innocent in this. If it were up to me, it would be just the two of us for the rest of our lives."
"Then what's stopping us?!"
She wrapped her arms around me, leaning her body against mine and looking up with the hopeful eyes of a child.
"If I asked you to look only at me, to love only me, and to forget everything else… wouldn't you do it?"
"I would. Of course I would, but…"
I swallowed hard.
"It's not that I wouldn't do it out of lack of desire—it's because I'm terrified of what might happen."
"What could possibly happen?"
"The Witches…"
"I don't care about the Witches. If death couldn't tear us apart, neither will they."
I hadn't expected this. Rem had put me against the wall with a bold proposition.
It was a sudden, unexpected shift. I thought she had resigned herself when she said she knew what she was getting into, but now she hit me with this.
As I struggled to process her words, she leaned in closer, pressing her lips against my ear and whispering.
"Just you and me. Nothing and no one else matters. Let's run away somewhere far, where no one will bother us."
Her hands clung to mine, squeezing subtly. She looked at me, her expression practically begging, desperate.
"Alright?"
Abandon everything for her. For the woman of my life. For the only person who made me feel alive and happy in this world.
Was there really anything to think about?
Satella might fly into a rage and slaughter us both. Pandora might trigger another catastrophe. Echidna probably wouldn't care either way.
But the greatest risk of all, the most critical one, was losing Rem—and if I refused right now, I would lose her anyway.
Finally, I made my decision.
"Alri—"
My response was cut off by the pressure of her lips against mine. The kiss caught me completely off guard, but I didn't resist, even though I was thoroughly confused.
When she finally pulled back, we both took a moment to catch our breath.
"Relax. I was only testing you."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
A test.
So she wasn't serious.
Her smile seemed to confirm it, but her eyes were entirely devoid of light.
"Rem, why…?"
"I spoke with my sister about us—about the three of us."
When she said that, I choked on my own spit and started coughing violently.
"When?"
"Before you came back."
"Oh…"
I felt utterly duped. All this time, they had been in agreement, planning… this whole development. Or something along those lines.
"I assume you already know how my sister feels about you."
I nodded awkwardly.
"When you went to notify everyone about me. She and I had a rather… deep conversation."
Rem smiled.
"My sister and you are all I care about. Nothing would make me happier than for all of us to be together and united."
I choked again.
"You mean…?"
"Yes."
Inevitably, my mind conjured up a very lustful image related to that proposal. However, the sudden surge of excitement was quickly overshadowed by guilt.
"Rem, are you sure about this? I was completely serious when I said I would give up everything if you asked me to."
She blinked, and only then did the sparkle return to her smile, reaching her eyes.
"That's precisely why I'm sure."
Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open—once again. The place was starting to feel like a public lounge.
When I saw who walked in, my mouth went completely dry.
"Tsk. I don't know whether to feel happy or annoyed. To think you'd actually be loyal enough to Rem to accept running away with her."
Ram clicked her tongue and sat down right beside me. I was trapped between the two sisters in an unexpectedly promising sandwich.
"Were you… behind the door the entire time?"
"Of course. I had to make sure you made the right choice."
"Sister, you're not being honest. If he had actually agreed to run away with me, you would have been heartbroken."
"Quiet, Rem! Do not embarrass your older sister!"
Ram scolded her, though the deep blush blooming on her cheeks robbed her words of any real weight—a fact proven by Rem's soft giggle.
"Anyway… That Witch said you need intense physical sensations, right?"
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with…?"
I froze as the pieces clicked together in my head.
Ram huffed, exchanging a knowing glance with Rem. Both of them nodded in unison and took my hands.
"Rejoice, Leandoor, for you shall have the privilege of receiving service from two beautiful flowers."