Diligence
On the apex of a hill, the Sage gazed at the horizon, marveling at the myriad of colors that the sunset provided. He took a deep breath as the magic in the air brushed across his skin.
Subaru loved the mansion and the Tower. However, he desperately needed a break, and there was something about Lugunican natural wonders that made his heart sing with joy. Case in point, this… completely empty field.
Oh, sure, there were some weeds, but the field was nothing special. Perhaps that's exactly why he chose this setting. There was a certain peacefulness to something so untouched by man, and yet –
"It's so boooring! Can't we do something about it, Master?"
A woman clad in orange and black stood beside him. Her forest-green eyes and chestnut-brown hair enchanted men and women alike. She was truly stunning, but to look upon her felt sinful. Part of it was her attire, yes, but to lust after her was to desecrate something sacred and innocent.
Subaru would never look at her in such a way, but he had already fought off many desperate suitors. Not that anyone would be good enough for her, of course, for she was impeccable in every way.
His apprentice. His friend. His daughter. The one he vowed to protect and never leave behind.
Shaula, the finest creation of the Witch of Gluttony and the Sage. It had only been half a year, but Subaru couldn't imagine life without her.
Shaula was made from his love, but it was a different kind of love than the one he shared with his wife. It was indulgent instead of passionate, gluttonous instead of temperate. That love was reflected in her personality, for better or for worse.
He grinned at his partner-in-crime. "You see boring, I see potential. Tell me: what can we do with an open field, so far removed from humanity?"
She frowned, and he cursed himself for marring such an adorable face. Suddenly, she lit up, and the feeling went away. "Target practice, yep!" she cheered.
He snapped his fingers as he playfully said, "Bingo! I knew there was a reason I liked you."
She blushed at the compliment before putting a hand to her chin. "But what can we use for targets? This field is so... empty. "
Magic danced between his fingers, as the power of the world itself was at his beck and call. He grinned. "You forget who you're talking to."
She slapped a hand to her chest and gave a dramatic gasp. "Me? Forget Master?! You wound me!"
Satisfied that he had successfully impressed his mannerisms onto her, he vowed, "You won't have to forget me because I'll never let you go." He couldn't imagine leaving the side of such a sweet, wonderful girl.
Cracking his neck, he ordered, "Now, watch this."
He made a finger gun and pointed it at the far-left end of the field. "Firing" it, he shot a blast of magic at even intervals, creating an eight-by-eight grid. At each point, a sprout appeared; a living, breathing plant created out of nothing.
He pretended to blow off smoke from his finger gun as she gaped. "Such power of creation…" she murmured in awe. "You might even rival Mother and Other Mother."
His smile wavered at the latter. "Y-yeah… Would be nice if they could have made it on our little outing."
She grinned brightly, ignorant of her Master's inner turmoil. "It's totally fine, yep!" she chirped. "Mother is out eating, and Other Mother is resting. They'll come next time, I'm sure of it!"
Resting. Yeah, right. It had been a year and Satella's condition had deteriorated even further. She slept almost fourteen hours a day and had minimal energy while awake. Casting any kind of magic caused her intense pain.
Something was seriously wrong, and he had no clue what to do about it. He was the Sage; he had access to more information than anyone else, but he could not solve their problems. Even the Od Laguna was silent on the matter. Whether it was because it could not help or because the issue would be solved in other ways, Subaru did not know.
Earlier that day, he had made his way to the Sanctuary – he was not half-human, or even human at all, so the barrier did not affect him – and begged for help from the only person who had access to more information than him: The Witch of Greed, Echidna.
He lauded himself as being stronger than the boy who cowered before her, but there he was: on his knees, pathetically pleading to the woman who tried to murder his wife.
The one who, undoubtedly, was the cause of his woes.
"How interesting," she had said. "Your love has not faded, even after all these years."
She didn't understand genuine emotion, and he wanted to curse her for it, but he needed her help. "Please," he begged. "You're the Witch of Wisdom. You must know something."
With a wistful sigh, she mused, "Prostrating yourself before me, beseeching me for knowledge whilst looking at me with those greedy eyes… You are cruel to a pure maiden such as I."
He tensed but held his tongue. All those years ago, when she looked into his eyes for the first time, she fell in "love." He didn't know why, or what she saw, but the look on her face… The need in them to take what she believed was rightfully hers… It sent shivers down his spine.
"So, you'll help me?" he had asked, hoping her strange, twisted feelings would allow him some leniency.
The response was simple, flat. "No."
He couldn't help it; he let out a growl. "Why not?" he ground out.
A thin smile spread across her lips as she confessed, "With Satella gone, there will be nothing to stop you from falling into my arms."
In a rage, electricity danced between his fingertips. Just a wave of his hand and she would be blasted to bits. Nothing, not even a Witch, could stand before his fury.
…But Satella wouldn't want that. His wife was sweet, forgiving.
"It's in her nature as the Witch of Greed," she would say as she tried to mask the pain. "It's not okay, but it's not her fault."
So, he took a deep breath, turned his back to Echidna, and walked away. Walked away from the Witch, from the Sanctuary, and from his problems. He grabbed Shaula and teleported them away with nary an explanation.
And that's how he found himself on the apex of the hill, gazing at the horizon as a colorless sunset fell upon him.
He plastered a smile on his face as he looked at Shaula. "She'll definitely be here next time," he said, cursing inwardly at how his voice wavered. "For now, let's work on your attacks."
Shaula jumped for joy. "Woohoo! Which one am I doing first?"
"I was thinking Hell's Snipe."
"Then Hell's Snipe it is, yep!" With all the force of a supernova concentrated into a single laser, she fired. A moment later, the entire field was a massive crater.
His jaw dropped. "I'm so glad you're on my side," he muttered.
As she admired her handiwork, she innocently asked, "Hmm?"
"N-nothing." He waved his hand, restoring the field to its previous state. "Why don't we try hitting the specific targets, one at a time?"
With the giddiness of a child, she complied. A few seconds later, and there were sixty-four miniature craters evenly spaced throughout the field.
He gulped. "Shaula…"
With a broad smile, she asked, "Yes, Master?"
He looked her in the eye and quietly said, "You're incredible, you know that? I'm so proud of you."
She blushed. "Heh, I know. It's all because of you, you know that? I love you, Master."
He shifted uncomfortably. There was a reason she called Daphne "Mother" but never acknowledged Subaru as her father.
Shaula went from a newborn to a fully-grown woman in the span of three days. On the third day, she began to look at Subaru differently, but he still saw the baby in his arms. She saw her beloved Master, and he saw his daughter.
He used to wonder if it was his fault. Did he have some sick, subconscious desire? Was she a projection of the tropes from his homeland? Perhaps this was the Od Laguna's way of telling him that he was not meant to have children.
Eventually, he realized that it wasn't any of those things. Authorities often held jurisdiction over the Od Laguna, and Shaula was created with Daphne's Authority of Gluttony.
The single-minded love of the Sage and the exuberance of the Witch of Gluttony… What a bizarre, yet fascinating combination. Shaula's unbounded, uncontrollable affection was merely in her nature; she was a glutton for love of all kinds. It may have unnerved him, but he understood that romantic and sexual love were to be expected from her… even if it were directed at her father figure.
Unable to lie while looking at her forest-green eyes, he solemnly told her, "I won't say it back."
At least, not in the way she wanted.
Over the last year, Subaru learned what it meant to truly love someone. Love was when you dedicated your entire life to a single person and every action was dictated by their existence. Love was when you would sacrifice a friend to save your beloved. Love was when you were willing to destroy the world for the health of one.
He wasn't capable of truly loving anyone but Satella. That's what it meant to be the Sage.
Slowly but surely, his love for others was fading. There was too little time for that. He shouldn't even be here now, he needed to search for a ritual to heal Satella and –
"L-look," he called out, changing the subject lest he spiral into anger yet again. "That sapling is still standing!"
Shaula whipped around. "No way," she breathed. With eyes full of determination, she shouted, "All right, Hell's –"
"No!" he cried, grabbing her arm, and directed it upwards. Her Hell's Snipe fired into the air, where it would travel infinitely until it hit something.
With morbid amusement, he realized, 'Some poor planet just met its fate at the hands of a cute scorpion lady.'
She looked at him, confused. "What's wrong, Master?" she asked, a bit hurt that he stopped her attack. "Did I disappoint you?"
"None of that," he said quickly as he pointed to the sapling. "To think that it could survive an attack from the mighty Shaula, the Sage's Apprentice… That should be celebrated, don't you think?"
She adopted a thoughtful look. "I suppose… Yeah, I'm okay with that."
"So, what should we do? Decorate it?"
"Nah," she said dismissively. "Just make it bigger."
He grinned. "I like the way you think."
With a stray thought, the sapling grew into a bush, then a hedge, and then a tree that would never die. He spread his arms wide. "I dub these –"
"The Master Tree, yep!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
He cast her a sideways glance as he disappointedly muttered, "I was gonna name it something cool, like Yggdrasil, or the World Tree."
She pouted. "But I love naming things after Master…"
He sighed. He was a sucker for the pouty face. "How about the Flugel Tree?" he compromised. "That's close enough, right?"
She considered his proposal for a moment before deciding, "It's still named after Master, so it's acceptable, yep." With a grin, she asked, "Ooh, can we carve our names in it?"
He grinned right back. It sounded like a wonderful way to commemorate their partnership and bond. At the base of the tree, he wrote their names in the language of his homeland. With a satisfied smile, he grabbed her hand and teleported them home.
But something unfortunate happened. Over time, the tree grew and grew, and the names moved farther and farther apart.
"Flugel was here" stayed at the bottom, for the world to know that he planted the tree.
"Shaula was here" was moved to the top, hidden by the clouds, as the Sage's Apprentice was abandoned.
The capital of Lugunica was abuzz with excitement. Heated debates, passionate claims, excited conversations… Everyone had something to say, and they wanted to make sure everyone else knew their opinion.
What better place to loudly express one's opinion than in a dimly lit, run-down tavern?
A wolfin – a massive, humanoid wolf with brown fur and a mohawk – slammed his fist on the countertop. "Thirty gold for a shot of your cheapest whiskey? This is why Anastasia Hoshin should be queen!"
The woman a few seats away shot him a glare. Scathingly, she asked, "My brother is risking his life on the Vollachian border, and you're more worried about a few coins? We need Crusch Karsten!"
A feline demi-human, already drunk in the middle of the day, raised his head off a nearby table. "Eh, war's always ov'r resources 'n shit," he slurred. "The purple-'aired bird's gonna fix tha' righ' up."
The bartender, a giant, washed a glass as he frowned. "The war with Vollachia started because of a diplomatic disagreement, right? Not the economy. There was a meeting or somethin', and the Lugunican royalty never showed."
The wolfin rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, because they all died," he pointed out helpfully.
"Which is exactly why we should choose Fe- Freya Lugunica." The giant averted his eyes, hurriedly correcting his mistake. "Havin' the Royal Family back would solve everythin'."
"Nonsense," a bearded man scoffed. "All these issues will just come back next year cause of the Cult. We need Emilia to be queen!"
At his side, the woman that announced her support of Crusch incredulously asked, "Are you insane? She's a half-elf!"
"I don't give a shit, and neither should you!" the bearded man shot back. "She has the support of the Sage, so clearly we were wrong about half-elves as a whole!"
The woman had no rebuttal, but another drunk patron enthusiastically agreed with the bearded man. "Hear, hear!" he cried. "That war with Vollachinian had… had a… Cult interveenshun… Not roooyal… So, if we… They go… Emiliaaa…"
He abruptly broke down sobbing as his (considerably soberer) companion patted his back. "Forgive my friend," he said sincerely. "But you have to understand: his son was murdered by the Cult."
He gulped. At length, he shakily said, "And my wife… Well, I'll be joining my friend in voting for Emilia."
A chorus of sympathetic nods filled the tavern. Many had lost loved ones to the Cult, and that alone was enough to make them vote for Emilia.
But to think that she also planned to kill the Witch of Envy… That was a sentiment that everyone could get behind.
A dwarf took a seat at the counter and sighed, a mopey expression on his face. "I don't know why you all bother arguing about this," he said morosely. "We all know Priscilla Barielle's gonna win."
"That brat?" the wolfin asked with raised eyebrows. "No one will vote for her!"
"You all know how good her luck is," the dwarf pointed out. "A gust of wind and you've marked the wrong box."
"D'ya 'ear yerself? Gust o' wind my ass! We need… need…" The drunk demi-human, still lauding Anastasia as the rightful ruler, slammed his head to the table as he began to snore.
The bartender let out a hearty laugh before saying, "This'll be an interesting year, that's for sure." He then directed everyone's attention to a hooded stranger in a dark corner of the bar by asking, "What about you? You've been quiet this whole time."
With pride in his voice, the stranger announced, "I've merely been thinking about how Lady Emilia is the best candidate, is all."
One of the other patrons piped up, "Course she's the best. She's got the backing of the Sage, and she's gonna kill the Witch!"
"Not just that," the hooded stranger told them. "You saw it yourself: Lady Emilia is kind, strong, shrewd, and wise. She'll bring this country into an era of peace."
Murmurings of agreement filled the bar. He could have sworn that he heard someone mumble that Emilia was an "angel."
He couldn't agree more.
With a raised eyebrow, the bartender mused, "It seems that many people are plannin' to vote for her. I wouldn't mind livin' in a world where people are okay with demi-humans, even if I myself am already partial to Freya."
With a chuckle, the hooded stranger conceded, "The girl's got spirit for sure. There will certainly be a lot of changes around here if she's queen, but the same could be said for Lady Emilia." He walked over to the counter and tossed a small bag of coins at the bartender. "Keep the change."
The giant eyed him strangely. "You didn't even order anything," he pointed out.
"So? I like you, and I don't like the man who gave me these coins."
He handed the coins back with a chuckle. "Thanks, but I don't need it. I live rent-free with some fancy folk; I just run this bar cause I like doin' it."
"Heh, I know." With that, Subaru turned and left with a wave. "See you at Reinhard's, Old Man Rom."
Rom rolled his eyes, muttering fondly, "That kid, I swear…"
Subaru walked out of the tavern and inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air. He let down his hood, revealing a massive grin. He'd been hearing responses like that all day: they hate the Witch's Cult, and they want the one who has the Sage's backing. Some were outright praising Emilia and convincing others to vote for her. This was better than he could have ever hoped for.
Last time, the Emilia Camp was a joke. Now, they had a fighting chance.
He headed to the alleyway that served as their designated meeting place; it wasn't the one he met Emilia in, but he couldn't help but notice how they looked almost identical.
Leaning against the wall, an annoyed Beatrice was impatiently tapping her foot as she grumbled, "Was it worth making Betty wait, I suppose?"
"Absolutely," he said happily. "Tons of people are thinking about voting for Emilia."
She crossed her arms as she scathingly asked, "Did you need to check seven places, I wonder?"
With a nod, he said, "Of course. It's been a while since the public respected a silver-haired half-elf, and I needed to prove to myself that this was actually happening."
Her eyes softened as she conceded, "Betty understands, I suppose. Even back then, when people were saying nice things about her, I wasn't around to hear it, in fact. I only heard…" She trailed off as Subaru began to look uncomfortable.
"You need to stop blaming yourself, I suppose," she said quietly.
He glared at her as he incredulously asked, "Are you seriously trying to say it's okay?!"
"You know I'm not," she said in the same soothing tone, "but if you were to constantly punish yourself, you'd never get anything done, I suppose. Betty needs her Subaru to be fully functional, and there are more productive outlets for your remorse, in fact."
His hand drifted to his arm, but he put it back down. It was oddly comforting to hear Beatrice say that.
Satella told him that he was forgiven and redeemed. She genuinely believed that everyone understood his motives and wouldn't blame him.
'Utter bullshit,' he thought reproachfully.
He knew she honestly didn't blame him and just wanted him to feel better, but she also let go of her anger towards Echidna for torturing her for a decade. That didn't bode well for how a normal person would view his actions, let alone those directly affected by them.
As the Sage, he committed unthinkable crimes. That shouldn't be brushed off. One person forgiving him wasn't enough; he needed to spend his entire life repenting for his sins.
Beatrice understood that. She didn't hate him, nor was she angry; she simply wanted to help with his atonement.
Still, she once tried to claim that others might have done the same in his situation. She even pointed out that others were equally at fault or even more so. He… didn't react well. That was the first time he yelled at her. However, instead of running away or getting angry in return, she merely hugged him and let him cry.
He didn't fully understand why, but despite everything, his family loved him.
"Thanks, Beako," he said earnestly. "I'm glad I have you to talk to."
Softly, she told him, "That's what Betty is here for, I suppose."
He let himself smile. "Well, you're also here for me to do this…"
He grabbed one of her pigtails in each hand and pulled. They vibrated like springs as she squealed in protest. With great indignation, she cried, "Why would you do that, I wonder?!"
"You're adorable," he stated.
"That's not an answer, in fact!" she fumed. "You didn't even say, 'because,' I suppose!"
"What if I said, 'You're cute,' instead?"
"That doesn't solve the problem, I suppose!"
Subaru laughed just as Emilia and Rem entered the alleyway. When Emilia saw him, she turned bright red and gave a shy smile.
He was sure he was matching her expression as he called out, "H-hey, Emma, Rem."
"Hi," Emilia said softly. "I, um… Yeah."
"Eloquent as always, Emilia-tan," he teased.
Some of her blush faded as she shot back, "Says the man who stuttered out a 'hey.'"
With matching grins, their embarrassment faded as she went to stand before him. After all, it's not like anything untoward happened the night before. It was merely… different.
A very exciting kind of different, and it made her giddy.
'Baby steps,' she reminded herself. 'He's not ready yet.'
"Why did you call us here?" she asked, pushing away her thoughts. There was a time and place for everything, after all. "You said there's a mission, but we didn't have a war council."
"We did," he admitted, "but we didn't want to distract you from the Royal Selection."
She was a bit hurt, but she understood their mindset. She had been struggling enough with her nerves; he was only looking out for her, as always. So, she promised him, "Then I'll get even stronger, so you won't have to worry about me."
He gave her a wry grin. "Nonsense. I'll always worry about you."
With a coy smile, she reminded him, "You seem to find yourself in far more trouble than me, mister."
He coughed and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "insignia."
Emilia blushed and was about to respond but was interrupted by Rem, who coldly said, "Are you two done flirting? We have business to attend to."
Subaru gave Rem an apologetic look. She was always serious like this when thinking about their target. Well, that or angry. "Sorry, Rem. You're right. This is way more important."
Emilia tilted her head to the side as her face regained its normal color. "You never did say what we were doing," she noted. "Why are we on a mission?"
He grimaced. "Rem smelled a Sin Archbishop in the capital and discovered his identity."
She gasped. "A Sin Archbishop?" she asked, horrified. "You mean… like Regulus?"
He thought for a moment before admitting, "We don't know anything about him. All we know is that he's one of the candidate's knights."
Realization settled on her features. "It's Felix, isn't it? Oh, I should have known! He was so mean to you!"
He shook his head, saying, "It's not Felix. He's a good guy, I swear, but he holds a grudge against people why try to kill themselves." He forced himself to ignore her flinch and started walking. "Let's go. Something tells me that there's more to this story, so I'd like to talk to him, first."
She frowned but followed anyway. A short time later, they found themselves in front of a mansion. It was not quite as large as Regulus's, but it towered over most estates. Red and orange banners lined the building like pillars, and the same statue was placed all over the garden. A great beast pierced by three swords – the Royal Emblem of Vollachia.
Crusch's front gates had strict security; after all, a large portion of her campaign budget was purely to prevent assassination attempts. Priscilla, despite being less popular, held no such fear. The opulent front gates, painted red like blood, were open and unguarded.
However, it was not inviting. It was a challenge.
"Come and get me," it said.
Accepting the challenge, Subaru marched right up to the front door and pounded his fist on it; Rem, Emilia, and Beatrice following behind him. Not a minute later, the door opened to reveal a figure towering over all of them. Clad in yellow and green, he wore a helm but no other armor, choosing to leave most of his torso exposed.
However, his most distinguishing feature was his lack of a left arm.
With bated breath, Rem, Emilia, and Beatrice prepared for battle. Their auras lashed out as power filled the air and –
"Can't say I was expecting visitors," the man said lightly as if they were old friends. "But hey, I'm always up for a chat. Come on in, Subaru."
Subaru grinned. "Thanks, Al." He waved for the others to come in. They gaped at him and sputtered incoherently.
Beatrice was the first to regain her speech. "What are you doing, I wonder?" she hissed. "Are you forgetting who this is?"
He chuckled. "Course not. This is Al, Priscilla's knight."
"That's not what I meant, I suppose!"
Al waved with his non-existent left arm. "Nice to see you again! You as well, Miss Emilia, Beatrice. Can't say I've met the blue-haired one."
Rem regained her bearings as her flail appeared in her hands. "That's because I don't introduce myself to scum," she spat. Her knuckles turned white as her grip tightened. "I'm going to ask you a question. Answer me honestly. If you lie, or I don't like your answer, I will kill you."
He rubbed the back of his neck, taking everything in stride. "I may hang around Priscilla a lot, so my idea of politeness is a bit skewed, but I'm pretty sure that's not how you introduce yourself. But hey, it's still nicer than what I'm used to. Go ahead, shoot." Noticing how she pulled her flail back, he hurriedly added, "It means ask your question."
She retracted her flail but didn't stop glaring at him. With her tone threatening untold horrors if he was anything but truthful, she asked, "Are you the Sin Archbishop of Pride?"
He tilted his head and thought for a moment before shrugging his shoulders, casually saying, "Hell if I know."
Silence. Al seemed content to let it reign.
Emilia regained her senses and whirled around to face Subaru, demanding, "Explain. Now."
He raised his hands defensively, asking, "What makes you think I know anything about this?"
With her hands on her hips, she deadpanned, "Because you're Subaru Natsuki."
"I can't exactly deny that," he conceded. "I mentioned that Rem discovered a Sin Archbishop – well, someone with a Witch Factor, at least – and she figured out that it was Al. The location of only one Witch Factor is unknown, and that's Pride. So…"
He looked to Al, nonchalantly asking, "Do you have the Witch Factors of Pride?"
Al shrugged. "I was never informed otherwise," he said indifferently, "but it would certainly explain a lot."
Subaru grinned triumphantly. "There you go. Al's a good guy."
Emilia gaped at him. "How did you get that from his statement?!"
His smile widened as he saw his opening. "You know, you're starting to talk like me, Emilia-tan."
The honorific was uttered with a stronger emphasis than normal, and Al stiffened. Carefully, like he wasn't sure it was possible, he asked, "Did you just say what I think you said?"
"I did," Subaru said smugly.
"So… You're from…"
"I am."
Al paused for a moment before letting out a breathy laugh, letting it rattle around his helmet. "I can't believe it," he said excitedly. "I thought I was the only one!"
They rapidly fired a bunch of words Emilia didn't understand; things like "eeseckaiy," "Juhpan," and "monguh." She was about to ask what in tarnation was happening when someone beat her to the punch.
"Sir Subaru," Rem cut off. Her voice was cold as her icy-blue eyes pierced him. "I do not know what you are speaking of, but you should not be treating this thing with such levity."
Al chuckled. "Man, that's harsh," he said, unfazed by the insult. "You really are like your sister."
Subaru's eyes widened as his excitement dissipated. "How do you –"
But he never got to complete his question. Rem had already decapitated Al, for he had made the same mistake as Subaru did all those months ago.
"How do you know how my sister would act?" Rem had asked dangerously. Subaru had died less than a minute later.
And now, Al was gone.
Subaru turned to yell at Rem, but he couldn't speak. The space around them twisted and spun as his mind, body, and soul were flung back in time…
…right back to when Al opened the door.
Subaru collapsed to the ground as he vomited up his breakfast. He gasped for breath, trying to stay conscious.
He faintly heard someone calling his name, but it was as if they were yelling through a tunnel. Flashes of silver and purple covered his vision as a bright yellow came from his right. There was a faint glow and his wounds –
Twist, spin, distortion, his very soul, caught in a loop again again again again
Emilia called his name, sheer terror in her eyes. She desperately reached for him, but never made it, for he had looped again.
Blue, at his left. A flail, thrown at the speed of sound. An armored head leaving a body. Distorted space, shifting time again again again again
On and on he tumbled as reality crashed and burned.
This was not Return by Death. This was something else entirely.
Blue. Flail. Head leaving the body. Flung back in time. Rinse and repeat. It happened every time Rem killed Al. Subaru needed to stop her, but how? There wasn't enough time to get his bearings and call out to her before the world reset.
For the hundredth time, he collapsed and vomited. Pain exploded in his head as his temple crashed into the stone. He had no time to scream, for Rem's attack was faster.
This power was clearly an Authority, and no one else – barring Al, most likely – was aware of the effects. However, Subaru could see Sloth's hands and could remember Gluttony's victims. It was only natural that he knew Pride's failures.
Invisible Providence was no use, for they were too far away. He had no magic because Beatrice was out of reach. The only thing he could do was use Cor Leonis. He focused on Rem's light and –
Subaru screamed as gashes appeared all over his body. Al's Witch Factor had detected the interference. For that, Subaru was punished, for how dare he disobey the origin of all Sins?
The world flung back in time yet again, and he deactivated Cor Leonis. Now, he was in an even more precarious position. He was still vomiting from vertigo, but he also had to contend with life-threatening injuries,
Minutes, hours, days… He didn't know how long it had been. He couldn't call out. He couldn't scream. He couldn't move.
There was no escape.
Was this how it ended? An eternal loop of suffering? Would he keep going until he bled out and Returned by Death?
Was he just going to give up?
…No. He would not.
It wasn't because he would be missed. It wasn't because of his promise.
It was because he wanted to live. To see the next morning alongside the ones he loved. It didn't matter what he was facing, for they would overcome it together.
After all, if he gave up in the face of adversity…
That would be truly slothful.
Deep within Subaru's soul, an old friend was given new life. A Guiding Hand burst out of his chest, stopping Rem's flail in its tracks. Forest-green, like Shaula's eyes, and bursting with her immeasurable strength; the Guiding Hand slammed the flail into the ground, forming a crater at the point of impact.
Rem's horn was out, so she barely registered the lack of a weapon. She darted towards Al, desperate to harm the one who hurt her friend, but a second Guiding Hand pinned her down.
Al stepped forward, his weapon raised, but two more Guiding Hands lifted him into the air by the throat.
"Stop," Subaru whispered, but it echoed across the now-silent courtyard. "Please. No more fighting."
With that, he lost consciousness… and found himself in another place.
The Shadow Garden.
He been here before. Sometimes when he slept or when he was unconscious, but it was always there. He just had to reach for it.
He had no body, no legs to walk with, but he moved forward. In front of him, sitting on a chair, was a white-haired boy around ten years of age.
Subaru had no mouth, but the words came forth. "Hey. Been a while."
The boy turned to Subaru, his eyes bright. "Hello," he said airily. "How is my vessel doing?"
"I'd be doing better if you didn't refer to me as your vessel," Subaru grumbled good-naturedly.
"Well, it would be weird if I called your soul my 'home,' especially when my real home is right…" The boy waved his finger slowly yet erratically, finally landing on his heart. "…here."
Subaru chuckled nervously. "You have no idea how creepy that is, coming from you."
Golden eyes gleamed mischievously back at him. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said as he waved a hand dismissively. "We can talk later. After all, you're here for someone else, aren't you?"
"…Yeah. Guess I am."
Subaru once hated the being before him. It had taken the form of an angry man, insane and delusional. It would scream and rage, haunting Subaru's dreams, and even some of his waking moments.
But one day, when everything was being taken from him, Subaru realized that what little he had was all he needed. He had Emilia and Beatrice at his side. Even when Subaru lost his memories and they were clearly in pain, they were there. Unwaveringly. Unconditionally.
He had an older sister in Ram and younger ones in Petra and Meili. He had older brothers in Reinhard and Julius (that one was the hardest to admit) and a younger one in Garfiel. He had a best friend in Otto, and motivation in Rem.
Subaru held nothing in his hands, but his heart had everything he could ever want, and he wanted to share that love with the world.
After that revelation, the angry being reverted to that of a child. He was no longer angry, for he had no need to be. His father had poor earnings but would always save money to buy him gifts. His mother complained often, but only after making sure that others weren't troubled. He had brothers that looked out for him. He was filled with love, and he had love to give.
The child had no greed.
"See you around… Regulus."
The shadows wrapped around Subaru, granting him legs. He used them to walk forward, and came across a blonde child, no more than five years old. She ran towards him as fast as her little legs would allow.
"Subaru!" she called out happily. Her laughter was unrestrained and joyful. "Look what I found!"
He had no eyes, but he looked and saw a butterfly cradled in her delicate fingers. The shadows granted him hands, and he used them to ruffle her hair. "That's incredible!" he said, genuinely happy. "I bet you find all kinds of cool things in this place."
The girl jumped up and down, doing a little dance. Her ruby eyes gleamed in delight and admiration. "Yep, but nothing is as cool as Subaru!" she cheered. "You should come back to play more often!"
She was kind, pure, innocent, and sweet. This was the age before she had any malicious thoughts towards another, let alone a lustful one. He had never seen the girl in any other state, for he had long ago learned to see past his own lust, choosing instead to love the True Face that lied beneath.
"I will. I promise," he said with a wink, and she giggled. "I'll visit soon, Capella."
She flashed a toothy grin and skipped away, presumably to go play with Regulus.
Lust and Purity. Gluttony and Temperance. Greed and Charity. Sloth and Diligence. Wrath and Forgiveness. Envy and Admiration. Pride and Humility.
The Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Just as one personality trait can shift from one to another, so can a Witch Factor.
Sometimes, one can find a balance between the two, creating… something else. Something pure. Something that would not go to another if Subaru died.
The shadows granted him a torso, and he strode towards his next destination: a woman of unspeakable beauty and unending sorrow.
"I love you I love you I love you I love you"
Bearing the visage of his imprisoned wife, the demon before him tried to drown him in her love. Part of him was tempted to submit.
"I love you I love you I love you I love you"
Even if he were to fall into temptation, it would all be for naught. This wasn't Satella or even the Witch of Envy. It was merely his mind's manifestation of her Sin.
"I love you I love you I love you I love you"
The effects of the Witch Factors still afflicted Satella to this day, but Envy was no longer hers alone. Subaru would need to overcome it to save her.
"I love you I love you I love you I love you"
But he said nothing.
The shadows granted him a face and lips, and she used it to kiss him, softly. He did not kiss her back, for this was not the soul he loved.
The Witch Factor of Envy disappeared into the shadows, leaving him with a full body. He stretched his fingers and creaked his neck, for it wasn't often he could experience such a thing in the Shadow Garden.
Slowly, deliberately, he turned to face the fourth and final being. A Witch Factor that screamed louder than Regulus ever could. An untamable Authority, causing endless pain upon usage. A mess of a man, trembling and crying as he begged for the Witch's love.
The manifestation of the Witch Factor of Sloth, bearing the visage of a twisted Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, was missing. Instead, there was a quiet, introspective man, smiling fondly at his old teacher.
Subaru gave a casual wave. "Hey, Geuse. It's been a while."
Geuse bowed respectfully as he said, "It is an honor to see you again, Master Flugel."
Subaru rolled his eyes at the alias. "None of that. It's just Subaru."
"As you wish, Master Just Subaru," said Geuse with a straight face.
With a chuckle, Subaru muttered, "I hope the real Geuse isn't this much of a pain."
There was no bite in his words. Just fondness and relief at seeing his friend sane and healthy. Then:
"I'm sorry."
"My apologies."
They looked at each other in surprise. "The hell are you sorry for?" Subaru asked incredulously.
Geuse looked down in shame. "I failed in my duty. I broke my vow and absorbed the Witch Factor that was meant for you. I was truly slothful."
Subaru flinched and quickly said, "If you're actually sorry, then please, never say those words again."
Geuse smiled thinly. "I see. Then how about, 'I should have been more diligent'?"
"That's –" Subaru shook his head to clear it. "Look, you have no reason to be sorry."
"Is that so?" Geuse challenged bitterly. "The blood of thousands is on my hands."
"And on mine," Subaru shot back. "You wouldn't have been in your situation if not for me."
"Perhaps," Geuse conceded, "but the same could be said for you. It's not your fault."
Narrowing his eyes, Subaru stubbornly declared, "It became my fault the moment I took the devil's hand."
There was a brief lull in the conversation as the two men ruminated on their mistakes. Then, finally, Subaru asked, "What took so long?"
Geuse gave him a look that said, "You'll need to be a bit clearer."
Running a hand through his hair, Subaru pointed out, "Invisible Providence was utterly useless compared to the Unseen Hand. Even when I stopped being lazy, the Witch Factor didn't change." Looking at the man he once thought of as his best friend, he asked, "Why didn't you change like Capella and Regulus? Why change now?"
Geuse didn't answer directly, choosing instead to say, "You are smarter than you think, Master. The answer is within your grasp."
Subaru frowned. He did know the answer, but it was painful to admit.
When one absorbed a Witch Factor, one of three things could happen.
One: You're not compatible with the Sin. As a result, you obtain some form of insanity and a powerful Authority. Satella and Geuse were prime examples.
Two: You're compatible with the Sin and you accept it as part of yourself, showing no desire to change. As a result, you keep your sanity but still obtain the Authority. Someone like Sekhmet was always slothful, and she merely gained an ability that she was too lazy to use.
Three: You're compatible with the Sin, but you don't accept it. You're willing to change and become a better person. As such, the Witch Factor changes with you, becoming stronger as you change for the better.
The only known instance of that was Subaru Natsuki.
There was a time when he wanted everything. Power, women, recognition… His avarice held no bounds. Through many trials and tribulations, he learned to resist his greed. Sure, he still wanted things – unbearably so, at times – but he was happy with what he had and he wanted to share that joy with others.
As Subaru came to that realization, the spirit of Regulus reverted to a child, and the Witch Factor of Greed became… something else. It was the Witch Factor, but it wasn't. It was uncorrupted, pure, for he no longer let it control his life.
When Subaru first fell for Emilia, he didn't know her. He knew her looks, and how she made his body feel. He lusted after her and nothing more.
Over time, he came to see that she wasn't an object. She wasn't a doll, built to give him cute looks whenever he wanted. She wasn't the end goal of the protagonist. She was kind, forgiving, selfless, strong, reliable, earnest, loyal, and honest. She was Emilia, and he loved her.
Of course, he still lusted after her, but it was now a symptom of his love for her. It was healthy, chaste, pure. So, when the Witch Factor of Lust came into his body, it had already become… something else.
Subaru was once envious of everything around him. He envied Reinhard's strength, Julius's honor, Emilia's kindness, Otto's shrewdness, and Rem's loyalty. Now, he accepted and loved them for their virtues, despite his inability to match them.
…But he was still envious.
He envied everyone with a family. Everyone with children of their own.
He loved Beatrice. He really, truly did. She was his daughter, and she meant the world to him. But… she was relatively unchanged from the day she was born.
He loved Shaula. He hated himself for what he did to her, and he didn't deserve her love, but he still viewed her as his own. But… Shaula was fully grown within three days.
He loved Meili as his own, but... after what he did to her, he had no right to feel that way.
Subaru wanted children of his own. A baby to hold, to love. To watch their first steps and hear their first word. He wanted to bear witness to every single milestone.
He and Satella had wistfully spoken of such moments, but it always ended in tears. They would never have that, for they were cowards, controlled by their fear. All they could do was cry as they spent lonely nights in the mansion.
And so, the Witch Factor of Envy held firm.
Then there was sloth. It was a sin that Subaru was intimately familiar with. He was once a shut-in that slept until noon, then went back to sleep. He didn't go to school. He didn't work. Even when his life was upended and he was sent to Lugunica, he expected everything to be handed to him due to his mere presence in the world. However, he learned to work hard. He pushed through countless challenges and came out on top.
Even so, he remained slothful. The Witch Factor held firm… until mere moments ago.
"The Deadly Sins come in many forms," Subaru began slowly. "When taking in a Witch Factor with the intent to purify it, one must overcome one specific aspect of the corresponding sin. So, I can be greedy but can overcome the Witch Factor. I can become less slothful, yet the Witch Factor would still hold firm." He eyed Geuse carefully. "Am I right so far?"
Geuse bowed his head slightly. "I only know what you know, Master Subaru. After all, I am merely your mind's representation of the Witch Factor of Sloth."
"You say that, but that was the most Geuse-like answer I've ever heard," he grumbled good-naturedly before letting out a sigh. This was the part he was most uncomfortable with, but he was unafraid to show humility.
With careful consideration of his words, he said, "To be slothful is to give up… and I had given up on life."
He tried to save them, but he almost destroyed them. Sloth truly was a Deadly Sin.
Gazing at him critically, Geuse asked, "What about now?"
Now, Return by Death was no longer an option. Subaru wouldn't let it become one.
Holding his head high, he declared, "I won't give up on anything. Not on my goals, nor on life."
That was a promise to those he cherished: Emilia, Satella, Beatrice, and his Rem.
And… maybe himself, too.
"I will always believe that some things are worth dying for, but there's a difference between sacrificing yourself to save a loved one and giving up on life while you still have a reason to live."
With a fond smile, he admitted, "Every day, I find new memories to live for. As such, I will push forward."
Because of his resolution, the Witch Factor of Sloth had become… something else. Something pure. It was still the Witch Factor, but it held none of the corrupting influences that made them so deadly.
His Authority was not Invisible Providence, draining his Od upon every use. It was not the Unseen Hand, dictating his life from the shadows. Instead, he had Guiding Hand, gently pushing him forward through strife. The world would see what drove him to success.
Cor Leonis. True Face. Guiding Hand. When Subaru died, his Authorities would not go to another. The Witch Factors would die with him, freeing the world of their influence.
"To meet strife head-on and come out on top… That's what it means to be Subaru Natsuki."
That's what it meant to be diligent.
Sharing one last smile with his old friend, Subaru closed his eyes…
…and opened them in the real world.
'An unfamiliar ceiling,' he idly noted. 'Not Reinhard's or Crusch's.'
The bed was large and plush, so it wasn't an inn. Did Al let them stay over? Priscilla must have thrown a fit.
Were Emilia and Beatrice okay? Hell, was Rem okay? There's no way she'd willingly stay with a potential Sin Archbishop, but she'd never leave Subaru alone with one, either. Somehow, Al must have convinced her that he wasn't their enemy, or at least got her to agree to a truce.
The dawn crept through the window. So, he'd slept almost an entire day. They'd have to leave to fight the White Whale that night. He had missed some valuable preparation time, but he often went into battle unprepared, so he was okay with that.
A flash of silver caught his eye, and he looked down to find a gorgeous half-elf cuddling with him, sleeping with her head on his chest. Warmth flowed through him as he realized that Emilia must have refused to leave his side.
He brushed some stray hairs out of her face, gently coaxing her to wake. Part of it was that he wanted to know what happened, but he mainly wanted to see those amethyst eyes he loved so much.
They fluttered open, eyelashes covering bleary irises. Unfocused, she looked in his general direction and murmured, "Um… Hi."
He smiled softly. "Hey."
She looked around, confounded. "What's… Huh? Where am… I don't… I'm sooo sleepy…"
"Heh, you always were bad at waking up," he said fondly.
She drowsily reached a finger up and placed it on his lips. "Shh… Five more minutes, Subaru," she mumbled. She began to lay back down before her head shot up, her eyes wide as saucers. "Subaru! You're okay!"
"Yeah, I'm – Mmph?!"
She darted forward and smashed her lips to his, desperately trying to get as close as possible. She threaded her fingers through his hair, and he wrapped his arms around her back, deepening the kiss. She gave a light gasp as his tongue met hers, and he reveled in the new sensation. She eagerly dove in, giddy at the thought of exploring such unknown, forbidden territory.
He was surprised at the sudden display of affection, but he was not about to complain. 'Maybe I should get injured more often,' he thought with amusement. Then again, this wasn't the only time she had acted in such a way.
After the Royal Selection, their emotions were running on overdrive, and they went back to Reinhard's mansion immediately. She had slammed the bedroom door shut and pinned him to the wall with inhuman strength, kissing him like she never had before. It was incredible, intoxicating. He had never felt such warmth.
She had pulled back to tell him how much she loved him. She knew how hard it was to talk about Shaula; he didn't have to do that, but he did. She appreciated her knight more than he would ever know. She told him that he was the best thing that ever happened to her.
He had drowned in her love, her gratitude, and he reciprocated every drop. He made sure she knew that she was so brave, so strong. He was so proud of her. He was the luckiest man in the world.
They had kissed before, yes, but it was nothing compared to that wonderful night. He didn't know anyone, let alone Emilia, was capable of such raw emotion, and he loved her for it.
Now, she attacked his lips with reckless abandon, like she had thought she'd never get this chance again.
Subaru was used to Satella's kisses, which were gentle, graceful, and soft. They exuded love and trust, and they attacked his heart with their purity. His soul ached for the sheer amount of love that the slightest touch of her lips bestowed upon him. Even the cold touch of the Witch was not enough to drive away those memories.
But this energy, this passion, was something he'd never experienced in either of his lives. He was filled with a fire that lit up his entire body as their hearts melded together. This was purely Emilia, and he never wanted it to end. He wanted to spend his life with her, and he would never, ever give her up.
Choosing one or the other? Don't make him laugh. He'd find a way to save them both, for he was done with giving up.
Her soft hands moved from one place to the next: squeezing his biceps, stroking his cheek, and twirling a lock of hair around her finger. Everything she loved doing but thought she'd never do again.
She wanted more, desired more. They both knew that. Still, despite her need, she was careful to not take things too far.
'Baby steps,' she reminded herself. 'He's not ready yet.'
That was fine. As long as he was by her side, she would wait for him. She would help him overcome the scars of his past.
He drew circles on her back as loose strands of silver hair tickled his face. She was warm, unbearably so, but the feeling of her bare legs moving against his sent shivers down his spine. His heart raced as his thoughts ran a mile a minute, trying to figure out what he did to deserve her. Their lips and bodies moved in tandem as she melded into him. Her lungs screamed for air, but her heart begged for more. She was so warm, so happy, so full of love and life.
He could feel her fighting off a smile. Neither wished to break the kiss, but it was a losing battle. Soon, he was also grinning, and they pulled back, laughing at nothing.
It was exhilarating, being in love.
Her porcelain skin was a bright red as her chest heaved, trying to make up for all the lost oxygen. Her silver hair was a mess and she wore a dopey grin on her face. Her amethyst eyes were filled with wonder as if she couldn't believe how lucky she was.
He'd never seen a more beautiful sight. No matter what happened in the future, he would remember this moment. It truly was a memory worth living for.
She held herself up by her elbows as she looked down at him with lidded eyes. "I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered. "I was worried about you."
He laughed. "You said that exact line a few months ago, and all I got was a hug." With twinkling eyes, he teased, "I gotta say, I love the upgrade."
"Dummy," she said fondly.
He reached out to cup her cheek. "I love you, Emilia. I'm glad I'm here."
Her smile widened. "Mhm. I love you, too. I know there's a lot to discuss today, what with everything that just happened, but…"
"Yeah. I'd like to stay here a little longer, too."
The kiss she gifted him with was yet another new sensation; it was tender, sweet, and hopeful for the future. It said, "If I have you, I can overcome anything."
Subaru may be under an unfamiliar ceiling, but he was home.