Chapter Text
Greetings!
Author here. I'm gonna be honest. I dropped this story. Something irl happened to me that made me realize something: Multiverses that year were oversaturated and boring! lmao
During the time I was writting this, I didn't realize this was actually a multiverse thing. It kinda just didn't crack on my head. But when the fact hit me, it felt extremely cliché and cringe, so I moved on to the next thing in my life.
However... well, I really like my story. I'm really interested in show it to other people because I feel like this is going to be a good fic. Even if re:forgotten stuff is really, really over-saturated too. lmao. Besides, S3 was AMAZING!
Oh, for some reason, people are still giving me kudos, lmao.
If you like my story, then I suggest you to start from the beggining, even I, the author, forgot a lot of stuff when writting this chapter.
And lastly... just wanted to say, life is beautiful.
That was everything I wanted to say.
PD: Seriously, if you came back after 2 years, don't start here, let's just start over... from zero! (or ch. 1)
The view outside the window revealed the enchanting transition of the twilight gracefully caressing the structures of the city. It presented a scene of serenity and an abundance of radiant orange hues that could captivate even the most inattentive passerby. Indeed, Priestella's sky views never failed to amaze with their breathtaking beauty.
As the impending night drew near, the city's denizens concluded their daily routines. The recent battle, not too distant in memory, had significantly thinned the number of pedestrians traversing the streets. Especially in this time of the day.
The night was coming soon and the recently settled curfew was about to take place. Now, the lone souls gracing the streets were the guards of the city and perhaps a straggler or two, rushing to reach the safety of their abodes before the city's curfew took effect.
Unfortunately, the calm view outside the window stood in a dark contrast of what was happening inside of a particular dorm:
“Please, Felix-dono. As much as it pains me… she already accepted it. There is nothing we could do.”
“You don’t understand, Will-san! She’s not in her right mind! I still have a lot of mana to spare, I-“
“You have already depleted it. It’s no use to try and deceive me.”
Wilhelm's care for her liege was geniuine and absolute. You could even say her well being was his top priority in this world right now. But Felix's own health -Both physical and mental- was a priority, too. The Sword Demon had already come to understand that her master, Duchess Crusch Karsten, was nearing the end of her life as Felix’s healing magic proved ineffective. The prolonged effort to sustain the duchess’s weakened body had not only drained the knight's mana but also forced his already strained gate to draw upon his own life force."
In other words, Felix Argyle was slowly draining himself to death for a meaningless act.
Felix, however, was unable to understand that simple conclusion.
“I-I can use my Od! If it is for Crusch-sama, then I will have no regrets!”
“Stop this madness!”
This time, the firm tone of the gray-haired man turned aggressive toward his companion. Initially, his own regrets and doubts had made him lenient with Felix, but enough was enough.
“Crusch-sama will not accept this! You will not stop until your own od is depleted!. I... I took an oath to Crusch-sama. For the gratitude I feel, for the duty of my sword, I would gladly give my own life for my lady, but what you are trying to do is nothing more than selfish suicide! We have to leave her to rest peacifully and-
“DON’T DARE TO SAY THAT” Interrupted Felix, with tears and his eyes. “Don’t talk to her like if you really knew Crusch-sama like me! She’s... She's not done yet, she has so much to do! And I have to stay at her side, I must stay with her…! I will not let it end, not like this!”
The tension in the room was a suffocating presence. Both Felix Argyle and Wilhelm van Astrea were simply giving vent to the frustration that had been festering for weeks. The victory at the battle of Priestella, though a triumph for many, felt like a cruel mockery to those whose souls were fractured to their core.
But then, a hand delicately shook one of the folds of Felix's knightly suit.
“Ferris…”
That voice sent a tremor through Felix. His tail and ears, visible signs of his demi-human heritage, stiffened, and his face, moments ago a mask of fury, now displayed a stark mix of surprise and angst.
“CRUSCH-SAMA… D-Did I awake you? Ferris is so sorry!"
"Chusch-sama, I deeply apologize for disturbing your rest."
"Willhelm-dono... Ferris, it's... fine..."
"But I gave you a very strong sedative this time… I’m so sorry, I will now-“
In that moment, Felix felt the delicate grip of her liege's hand grew stronger, only a little bit.
“You must… stop this”
“…hhg?”
Despair etched itself across the young man's eyes. Those haunting words encapsulated all the fears that existed in Felix's heart.
“Please…” Her voice sounded thin, almost imperceptible. She had her eyes open but her gaze was looking at nothingness, almost if she wasn’t able to see anymore. “I’m so tired, Felix… I… can't fight anymore…”
“What are you s-saying, Crusch-sama?” The healer struggled to maintain composure, but his voice betrayed his inner turmoil. “Ferris is still trying to heal you, all you have to do now is sleep, leave the rest to Ferris!”
There was a time when Duchess Crusch Karsten, brimming with vigor and strength, would never have succumbed, body or spirit, to something as preposterous as a curse. There was a time when that woman's strength, reflected not only in her skill but in her very will, would never have fallen prey to the whims of fate, nor to the Witch, nor to the Sin Archbishop embodying "Lust," Capella Emerada Lugunica.
But now, that "Crusch" was gone, leaving only an empty shell, one that had failed to live up to the expectations of those around her. Unable to bear the adversity, s̴̠̊̅͝he eventually found solance only after hearing those words: "????? ?? ??? ?? ??" spoken by N̵̨̢̓͐͌͝☐̵͊͑ͅt̴̻̩̩̗̒̔̐̚ṣ̸̈͘☐̴̘̓̄͂̈́k̵͙̀̽̂☐̷̺̖̏͑̋̔͜ ̵̙̻̅̈́̿̾S̶̥̮̺̀̚☐̵̡̥̯̩͐̅̇͝☐̷̧̜̙̾̀͆̋ã̵̲̺̅̐̕.
But now, that "Crusch" was gone. leaving only an empty shell, one that had failed to live up to the expectations of those around her. And with the little strength left in her defeated body, all that remained was to take responsibility for those who had stayed by her side until the end.
“Willhelm-dono... do it...”
"Crusch-sama..." For a fleeting moment, doubt flickered in the old warrior's eyes. Yet, the tired but resolute gaze of his mistress banished all hesitation from the Sword Demon's soul.
"What... what do you mea-Ughhk!" The cat-boy had no time to protest. A precision strike to his neck rendered him unconscious , and his body crumpled to the floor like a puppet with no strings. Willhelm lifted him from the ground and cradled him in his arms.
"Is he... okay?"
"Of course, Crusch-sama. Given his extraordinary abilities, I was compelled to strike harder than would normally be required to subdue a person..." the old man said solemnly, his gaze fixed on Felix's inert face.
It was not the first time he had been forced to incapacitate an ally during a battle, however, the blow Felix received on his neck could easily have inflicted permanent damage on an ordinary individual.
In fact, thin trails of blood had begun to slowly trickle from Felix's nostrils. Though Wilhelm had anticipated this, he had taken care to position Felix's face in such a way that his mistress would be unable to see it.
"I am well acquainted with his healing powers, and I am certain Felix-dono will wake up within a few hours." Wilhelm also knew that if the blow had been any weaker, his healing would have brought him around far too soon. Both Crusch and Willhelm understood that it was impossible to reason with Felix,
And if he were to wake up too soon, then...
"When he... wakes up, I will be gone... then..."
"Crusch-sama..." Even though the cold-blooded sword demon was not known for his emotions, this grim scenario had him on the brink of tears. He had lost so many loved ones already. The toll on the old man's heart was becoming unbearable.
"I will handle everything. I will shoulder the responsibility of the camp as my duty. Felix-dono will bear no accountability."
"Thank you... Willhelm-dono... And please, I have one last request..."
"Whatever you desire, Crusch-sama."
"There's something..." Crusch's gaze was fixed on the far wall, her voice distant. "A letter. By the bed." She paused, then, with a flicker of her old strength, her eyes met Wilhelm's. "Give it to Felix. And tell him... tell him it's everything I couldn't say."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Meanwhile, a similar scene was unfolding on the other side of town.
In a modest room, a raven-haired boy lay unconscious on the bed, his face slightly contorted in pain as if trapped in a nightmare. Sitting beside him, a blue-haired maid gently placed a cool, damp towel on his fevered forehead. Despite the healing magic already administered and her soothing care, her options to ease his suffering were limited.
Across the room, another black-haired boy gazed thoughtfully at Priestella's night sky. There was much to process, much to plan; his mind raced as he struggled to think of anything that might help them. He couldn’t help but lament the peculiar circumstances of this world, which had again set them against overwhelming odds.
"Natsuki Subaru" was now a wanted fugitive, and the city was on high alert. Although they’d managed to avoid immediate recognition by the innkeeper and other inhabitants of their temporary hideout, a lingering air of suspicion clung to them. The city, still scarred from recent catastrophe, remained vigilant against potential witch cult activity.
Rem had worked discreetly to usher Subaru into the dormitory unnoticed, but the pair couldn’t shake the feeling that unseen eyes were watching. She had even guided him to the —fortunately— empty public showers before laying him into the dorms, cleansing his battered form with tender care and hoping, against all odds, to bring him a moment’s peace.
However, Natsuki Schwartz’s thoughts were fixed on a certain conversation that took place during when he accompanied Rem to the showers.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
“Huh?!”
The girl gasped, visibly distressed as she began to undress the unconscious young man beside her.
With each layer she removed, the extent of Subaru’s suffering became alarmingly clear. His arms and legs, once strong and muscular, had withered away to mere sticks, his muscles reduced to thin, frail lines. His ribs jutted visibly beneath his skin, and bruises—both old and fresh—adorned his torso and limbs, with each mark hinting at a history of unspoken, brutal torture.
Subaru’s skin was pale, lacking its usual healthy glow, and his entire body seemed fragile, as though it had lost all vitality. As Rem washed the dried blood, vomit, and other stains from his body, she couldn’t shake the unsettling sensation that she was cleansing a lifeless form rather than a living, breathing human.
“Subaru… Schwartz-kun…”
Rem murmured as she knelt beside Subaru’s battered form, her hands moving with quiet care. She glanced briefly over her shoulder at the boy standing at the door’s threshold, watching in silence.
“You mentioned once that you were in many different worlds, right?”
“Yeah… And actually, they weren't really other worlds, they were more like another timelines"
"Timelines..." Rem muttered in response to the foreign word.
"Yeah, I mean... Sorry! Forget I said that! What I mean is, they were different versions of this same world!"
Schwartz anxiously replied, his gaze fixed on his doppelganger’s weakened state. Just as the maid, he was speechless. Just how much suffering his other self endured in this ordeal?
“How… Why did... Subaru-kun do that?”
“I… I don’t know how or why, Rem, but I was forced to, I had no choice. I was just chosen to do it,”
He hesitated, lowering his voice as he continued.
“In each world, though... The ‘me’ in those places… They always did something terrible, something wrong. Their... acts... would lead to suffering for others. Maybe… I was chosen to atone for all those other selves, somehow. But I really don’t know.”
“Atoning…” Rem murmured softly.
"No matter what Subaru-kun does, it looks like the world wants Subaru-kun to suffer"
"..."
"And what Rem wants most of this world, is for his hero, for his Subaru-kun to be happy".
Rem's beautiful words left Subaru utterly stunned. There was no doubt that, had the circumstances been different, those very words would have filled him with indescribable joy for his Rem.
"Rem... I—"
“In those worlds…” she asked, cutting off whatever Shwartz was about to say. “Was Subaru-kun ever happy in any of them?”
He faltered, ever slightly surprised by the sudden question, now recalling the horrid timelines etched in his memory.
Were those other Subarus able to find happiness, even amidst madness?
Did the one who surrendered to pride find any peace while destroying everything in his path?
Could his older, broken self—grieving and alone save for Beatrice—ever truly be happy?
He didn’t know. But one timeline, one in particular, stood out to him.
“There was one…” Schwartz replied distantly, recalling the vision of a life where he glimpsed his future with a blue-haired maid.
“One where that Subaru made... a choice. He chose someone who mattered most to him, in a critical moment. Even though his choice led to suffering for the rest, he saved the one person he couldn’t bear to lose. He… accepted his decision. And I think he was happy... yeah. of course he was...”
“I see… A world where Subaru-kun is happy does exist, then,” murmured Rem, her mood unreadable. She didn’t turn around; Schwartz could only see her hands as they gently, deliberately washed his other self’s bruised limbs.
“…In that world… did perhaps Subaru-kun run away with Emilia?” she asked.
“No. He… ran away from her. From the mansion, from the witch cult, from everyone!. And they... they all died. Everyone, except…”
Schwartz hesitated, suddenly wondering if he was telling her more than he should, but...
“Except Rem, right?”
Without looking up, Rem paused in her movements, her hands resting on Subaru’s battered form.
“Yes,” Schwartz confirmed quietly.
A heavy silence fell between them, only broken by her soft voice.
“They… moved to another country, right?”
“Yes! They... they moved to Kararagi”
“I see…” She seemed lost in thought.
"Can you tell Rem more about that?”
"..."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Still gazing out the window, Subaru from another world pondered.
Was it wise to tell Rem all of that? Since that conversation, her usual calm replaced with an alertness he hadn’t seen before. He hoped his words could at least ease some of her worries. But he wasn't sure if that was the effect it took on her.
And although he was eager to ask about what had happened before her sudden arrival, he decided against it.
Right now, his greatest concern was figuring out how to resolve the situation they were in. Each world Subaru had visited came with its own challenges and catastrophes, but somehow, he felt this one was the most complex of all.
The starting point was catastrophic, and even thought he trusted Rem’s company, the future prospect of facing his own friends and loved ones as potential enemies gnawed at the boy. Losing his "name" was one of the worst situations he could imagine.
Subaru knew the plan to save Crusch and clear his name was rushed and flawed, but for now, with no other options, it was their best chance.
To simply flee and run away was something Subaru, Shwartz won't even think of. His top priority was to "fix" this world. And he understood deeply that the victory conditions this time, was to clean his "name". Even if it didn't necessarily meant to take it back. Without Subaru's collaboration it would be impossible to even find the location of the Archbishop siblings in a short term.
If he could somehow extract the cursed blood from Crusch’s body, he might be able to convince the rest of his friends to hear him out. Then, perhaps, they could take refuge at Roswaal’s mansion, where Ram might even recognize Rem as her sister once again.
The Sage's Tower incursion could wait. He knew that. First he needed to make all of those things, to regain his friends' trust back, a reality.
Nothing assured him things would go smoothly on Emilia’s side. There were still many details he didn’t know, and the possibility that everything might go wrong, forcing him to start over, loomed heavily.
Anxiety and anguish tightened around his heart. No matter how far he’d traveled or what he’d achieved, the weight of these situations never became easier to bear.
But despite all the adversities…
“Rem.”
“Yes?”
The former maid immediately looked at him.
“I-I’m still your hero, right?”
“Yes, Subaru-kun,” Rem replied with a faint smile, closing her eyes.
“Subaru-kun will always be Rem’s hero.”
“Then… that’s all I need to know.”
Subaru from another world, replied with a newfound determination. Even with the odds against him, he was determined to defy fate.
“If it’s for you… If it’s for our friends, then, I swear, I’ll save everyone again. I will save this Natsuki Subaru...”
“Rem believes Subaru-kun will.”
“And I’ll save you, too, Rem.”
Rem gasped softly. She hadn’t expected to hear those words, and for a brief, unguarded moment, her heart ached.
“Rem will always be thankful for Subaru-kun.”
With his gaze now fixed on the windows, towards Priestella's skies, Subaru felt a glimmer of a smile return to his face.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Darkness shrouded the world.
All that met his "sight" was a black void. Gazing upward, no ceiling constrained the inky abyss. Looking down, the bottomless, black pit stretched endlessly. Devoid of mouth and eyes, an insatiable desire to cry and scream pounded just behind his brain—a persistent ache, an irresistible need to scratch. Yet, he possessed no arms, no fingers. He was nothing.
Despite being nothing, every sense his not-body possesed urged him a primal instinct: He was falling.
Time had dissolved into an absurd, irrelevant notion as he fell. Each moment stretched into eternity, yet nothing passed. It was as if he had been falling his entire life, a life without beginning or end, an infinite abyss that had become his only reality. Slowly, a dark idea began to take root in his mind: he had been born in this void, raised by nothingness, and destined to die in the endless fall. There was no other world, no other life, only this eternal descent.
He glanced at the nothingness, a desperate attempt to find purchase in a realm without form. His mind, reeling from the unending descent, sought desperately for any explanation, any semblance of logic to cling to. Fragments of astronomy lessons surfaced: The vastness of space, the colossal, swirling masses of gas giants. A chilling realization began to dawn—was this his fate? To plummet endlessly through an alien atmosphere, like a lone particle trapped in the gravitational embrace of Jupiter or Saturn? The thought was both terrifying and strangely familiar, as if his very being resonated with the chaotic, turbulent nature of these inhospitable and hostile space monsters.
Terror began to seep in, cold and sharp, like a cosmic wind. It wasn't just the fear of space, of the unfathomable immensity that surrounded him, but also the fear of its absence. The nothingness itself, the lack of stars, of planets, of any point of reference, became an unbearable oppression. He felt trapped in a terrifying paradox: the infinite fall in an infinite void, a nightmare where space and its lack merged into an eternal torment.
But then… Something shifted. A transformation unfurled in that dark and grotesque space.
Initially shapeless, purple hints of light materialized, floating and dancing around him.
They were mocking him. Judging him without eyes, laughing without mouths.
They were there for him. And he knew it. Somehow, his mind and his heart understood.
After a while, the orbs slowly took on a discernible form—gradually morphing into hands.
“…!”
The hands closed in on him from every direction, an inevitable spectacle. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to avert his gaze. No eyes to shut. All he could do was watch as an endless array of shadowy hands approached.
Natsuki Subaru would be unable, now and forever, to escape the pain and the anguish of the inexorable fate.
The hands clenched around.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
"Haaa! Haa!"
Eyes snap open, Natsuki Subaru was finally awake. His heart racing and sweating profusely, He quickly jumped in that bed and looked at his surroundings. The scenery changed, it was a dorm room now.
Beside him, a cloaked young girl was sitting at one side of the bed. She looked at him, with surprise and concern.
“Subaru-kun!”
“Rem…” The boy looked at her. She had one of her hands on her chest, and the other hand holding that hand.
The young man’s mind started to reminiscence about the events that had just transpired. He was expecting to wake up once more in that humid cell. But still, he was now in an unfamiliar room, resting in a warm bed and with the company of the beloved blue haired maid. These circumstances were still so out of the ordinary that the boy’s heart was still afraid of being deceived. But, for now…
‘That wasn’t a dream… Rem has really come to save me…’
“Subaru-kun, I’m so sorry... I woke you up!”
“Huh…?”
“You looked like you were having a nightmare, you were in so much pain, so... I tried to hold your hand, but I just made things worse and then you…”
“Huh…”
Subaru realized what just happened. Rem tried to ease his pain. Just like that time. Just like...
“Just how much… Did I sleep?”
“You have been sleeping for half a day. It’s midnight.”
Subaru looked at his surroundings, it was dark, but a small candle gave the room a faint light.
“I see… Where is... the other me?” Subaru asked. As his other self wasn’t present in the room.
“He’s outside the inn. Rem insisted for him to be careful since the guards are on high alarm. Not so long after you fell unconscious, we heard a broadcast about your escape…”
'So that did happen, after all. Now everyone knows I escaped!'
"Rem, did you or ... the other me, had any trouble while I was out?"
“We were lucky to find shelter soon. And just after Subaru-kun lost conciousness, Shwartz-kun quickly decided we needed to move. It was a close call; the broadcast went out just minutes after that..."
"I see... do you happen to know, by any chance, who are the ones searching for me?"
"Rem... doesn't know that. But now you need to rest all you can. Even if Rem loved for Subaru-kun to keep resting for all the time he needs, we need to move by the morning. This city is in alert for Subaru-kun and the people of the inn is already suspicious of Shwartz-kun.”
“That’s bad… I... could really get some more rest, but I understand.” Subaru now assessed the situation, he already heard the broadcast once, now they are actively looking for him and having not one but two identical Natsuki Subarus was enough for his runaway to be extremely complicated. He wondered how many guards and soldiers were now looking for him. He only knew that Garf was one of them.
But… what if they reach him? What would his other self do? What would Rem do? Would he be able to reason with them? Will he be killed? Or maybe… Will they capture him again? If that happens, then…
“Subaru-kun!” Rem shouted.
“Huh?”
“SUBARU-KUN, STOP”
Subaru finally realized what he was doing. He looked at his pale and skinny arms, they had red, fresh scratch marks. Was he now doing it without noticing?
“What… what are you doing, Subaru-kun, you are hurting yourself!”
“I-I didn’t realize, I didn’t…”
The girl reached to the boy and raised both her hands to touch the boy’s arms. “Let me see, I can heal-“
“Don't touch me!” Subaru rejected the girl, his entire body springed back to the bed.
The girl gasped, feeling surprise, and rejection.
“I’m sorry, Rem, I don’t know what it came to me… I’m sorry, I…”
“I... I understand, Subaru-kun. Don't apologize. It's okay to...”
“It’s not!” interrupted Subaru. “It’s not… It’s not okay. All of this! It’s not okay for me to react like this, just because you wanted to help me… to heal me. But this entire thing is not okay, it’s not! I was really glad... so glad that we fought the witch cult back... everything was going so well but then that son of a bitch appeared out of nowhere, and look how I ended!” Subaru spoke while looking at his pale, shaking palms.
“I spent days with no food or water, I did spent so much time alone in that cell that I started to get crazy, you know? I thought I was finally done for; I was going to be executed in the next days… or so I heard. I was going nuts!”
“Subaru-kun…”
“Then I screamed, I pleaded for them to listen to me, but they didn’t listen! They only tortured me even when I told them I was innocent! They told me that I just had to confess everything, no matter what I tell, they didn’t care! Then… when Felix arrived, I… I…” Subaru placed his hands on his face, as if trying to shield himself from his own memories.” I… tried to... go back... But it was useless! I was there, all alone, and everyone forgot about me! They forgot about me just like they did with you!
“To go back... Subaru-kun, what are you-”
“…And now, when I though I finally went insane, you arrive with... with other me?, and he starts spouting something about a multiverse and… and…” Subaru keep yelling. His lips contorting, forming a crooked smile.
“…”
“Just what kind of plot twist is that? I mean, what does that even mean? How is that even possible... Just how many worlds there are? This is so messed up… "hahaha!”
“…”
"Ha... hahaha... hahahaha!" This time Subaru started laughing maniacally at first. But then his laugh subdued. He then looked at rem, and held his legs with his arms inside the bed as he looked down, embarrassed after that display of madness.
“S-sorry for pushing you, I don’t know what it came to me… I just need some rest, and I will be just as good to continue, o-okay?
“…Rem understands. Don’t need to push yourself, Subaru-kun.”
“…Thank you, Rem. I was really at my limit. And you came and rescued me.”
“…”
Despite everything, the young man didn’t want to cause more concern to the blue maid. He involuntarily pushed her because he wasn’t in the mood to be touched, not after all that torture with Felix. So, he tried to ease Rem’s worry with his own words.
Some minutes that felt like hours passed in silence, with only the couple contemplating each other. Suddenly, the silence was broken by a determined Rem:
“Say, Subaru-kun…”
“Yes, Rem?”
“Do… you really want to be back to Emilia-sama’s side? After all this nonsense? I could…”
Rem question was interrupted by a single knock of the dorm’s door. Then, another three knocks were heard in quick succession.
"Hk!"
“Don’t worry” Rem stated, with a neutral stance on her face. “It’s Shwartz-kun. The knocks mean everything’s fine.” After saying those words, Rem stood up and went to open the door. Shwartz was waiting outside.
“Yo! You’re awake!” Shwartz greeted while entering the room. “Did you have time to rest?”
“Kinda… I’m still tired but I’m better now.”
“That makes things better, because we need to talk.”
“What do you mean?” replied Subaru.
“Well… things got complicated…” Shwartz spoke, with a serious tone. “Rem, did you happen to break into any other cell in that outpost?”
“Of course not, Shwartz-kun. Rem only took Subaru-kun and escaped. Why do you ask?”
“… Because that entire place is on fire…”
Both Subaru and Rem’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, I get it” replied Shwartz, who spoke as he showed a clouded brow. “Nobody knows how it came to that. I heard some guys saying the guards believe it's some kind of retaliation from the Archbishop, and that's good news for us, it started but we have no time to investigate that now.” Then, he closed his eyes and sighted. “If you were in better shape, we could have acted now that the attention is right there…”
Rem gaze narrowed.
“…But you really need to rest. I will come up with something by tomorrow.” Then, the still cloaked figure opened the door to return to his guard duty. But before he jumped out of the room, he looked at his other self, and exclaimed solemnly:
“Natsuki Subaru, remember what our goal is, okay?”
“S-Sure…” Subaru doubtfully murmured.
“And… the same goes for you, Rem.”
Then, he closed the door.
Now with his back on the door, the otherworldly young man exhaled deeply. He was tired, too. Back when they were in the alleyway, he remembered saying he hadn’t sleep in a while. In fact, the Japanese interloper couldn’t even remember when the last time he slept. Every time he looped or traveled through worlds, his mind would be back in a state when he was feeling well rested. But this definitely was taking a toll in his mental state.
“I really need some sleep, too, man…”
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
A chill, more biting-than-typical breeze for the early morning, permeated the air. The sky, which had promised a clear, vibrant blue, was rapidly succumbing to a somber, oppressive gray. Heavy, ominous clouds rolled in, casting a grim spell over the waking city of Priestella, a silent warning to those venturing out into the new day.
The trio was now outside. They left the inn a couple minutes ago, not attracting more attention than necessary. They were now directly to the place Crusch stayed.
The journey through the city wasn't to be overland, but beneath it, through the subterranean drains of the watergate city. These underground labyrinths struck Subaru and his companions as a marvel of engineering design. Both Subarus contemplated whether this technology truly belonged to this world, or if someone had brought it from somewhere else.
The path was straightforward, as Rem and Shwartz had acquired a detailed map of the facilities from a particularly inattentive guard. And fortunately, the route was without complications, save for a few patrolling guards who were quickly knocked out by Rem.
Subaru was awake, but he hadn't rested enough. His body still felt weak, and he had dark circles under his eyes, from what he'd been through. But, the warm bed and the bath he'd had while unconscious, and Rem being there, gave him a little more energy to keep going. For some reason, which continued to trouble the boy, Subaru felt that despite everything, he should have been more exhausted than he was. Though he still felt pain in his limbs, his entire body felt considerably lighter.
As they marched through the dark and humid tunnels, Natsuki Subaru still wondered about what his next plan of action was. First, his other self was going to create a distraction to get the most guards out the place. His top priority was to take the attention of Willhelm. That would be no easy task, given the exceptional abilities of the butler. But for reasons that Subaru was unaware of, his counterpart looked pretty optimistic about his own task.
After Willhelm attention were on Shwartz, then the job of Rem would start. She had to take Subaru to Crusch and deal with Felix Argyle, the candidate’s knight. Although the Blue was not recognized by a great force or ability to fight, he could prove a formidable opponent given his tenacity and resourcefulness. Besides, both Subarus knew the devotion the knight gave to Crusch, so they should not underestimate him.
Shwartz hoped that Felix would be able to be somehow convinced to receive their help. Subaru, for the other side, hoped that, for some miracle, he wouldn’t had to deal with him. The scars left in him by the healer still ran deep in his heart.
'My other self understands my situation... but he didn't live it. He didn't go through what I did.'
Natsuki Subaru was a person who had endured great tragedies. He had suffered the pain of watching his loved ones die, again and again. But this event was unlike any other he had faced. The fear of being forgotten by everyone, and of being hated by others left a scar on the dark-haired youth, one that perhaps would never heal.
But before Subaru could delve further into those thoughts, the group came to a halt.
"Up here. The Karsten mansion in Priestella should be just above us. We'll take the stairs just ahead and enter through the secondary entrance, which is on the less crowded street."
They ascended the sewer ladder, leaving behind all the stale air clinging to them. The group emerged through a hidden hatch, finding themselves in the back alley, near the Karsten mansion's secondary entrance.
The Karsten mansion, a stately two-story building, stood within the city's rich district. They approached from the rear, opting for the less conspicuous secondary entrance. The place itself was imposing, it was a mixture of an elegance household and a fortified structure. What was unsettling, however, was the complete absence of any guards or personnel outside. Despite the usual heavy security, the grounds were deserted.
"Something's wrong," Rem said, a note of confusion in her voice. "Just yesterday, around this time, there were at least ten guards stationed here!"
“Damn it! what's happening! Is this a trap? Did they found out about us?" Schwartz exclaimed.
This was not supposed to happen. He knew that letting his counterpart rest all night was a bad decision, but seeing Subaru's condition, and the look on Rem's face at that moment, he didn't even bring up the idea of leaving early.
"I think we s-should flee, this is too dangerous..." Subaru proposed.
"No! Retreating now is not an option... We have to act now, or else... It may be too late later! We heard Crusch was real bad... Please, Rem, you have to side with me on this, right?..."
"I..." Rem murmured with doubt.
"Besides, if this IS an actual trap, they might be waiting for us to run. I say we act, now!"
"Shwartz-kun," Rem exclaimed, her tone firm.
The other-world Subarhu stopped dead in his tracks. For a moment, those words triggered a sense of alarm within him, and he turned to look at is companion, who was regarding him with a serious and unreadable expression.
“Shwartz-kun, I can feel a lot of people coming here for the main street! They may be guards! What do we do!”
“Damn it! It may truly be a trap… but we will have to take the risk!” Shwartz said firmly. “Rem, take other me and get inside the mansion. I’ll set a distraction for the guards!”
“B-but… What if they catch you? What if they kill you?” Questioned Subaru, with concern and anxiety on his voice.
“Don’t worry about me, it’s not like I’ll fight or something, we both know I’m useless in a fight. But I don’t intent to get captured, either!”
“But if you die, then-“
“I don’t plan on dying!” This time Shwartz interrupted. He looked at his other self furiously. “If I die here, it’s game over for me. Understand?”
Subaru looked at them with awe. Then, he replicated his other-self serious gaze. “I… get it. Good look, other me.”
“Yeah, I’ll need it.” Shwartz closed his eyes. A single tear of sweat raced through his cheek, as he firmly strengthened the grip on his whip.
“Now Rem, go!”
Subaru suddenly felt how his body was elevated in the air, again. He was swiftly carried by Rem, who jumped through the tall fence and trespassed the estate. When Subaru looked back at his doppelganger, he was already gone.
In a quick succession of events that heavily reminded Subaru of that time with Crusch, Rem jumped to one of the balconies of the mansion and softly dropped Subaru. There, she spotted a slightly open window and she fully opened it for them to enter through the second floor. When they were inside, Rem prepared her signature morning star, and placed herself in front of the raven haired boy.
“Subaru-kun. I don't sense anyone on this floor. I’ll scout ahead. Please get behind me at all times.”
“U-understood.”
The hallway was dim, and the scant sunlight filtering through the still-drawn velvet curtains revealed an unsettling scene: The usual decor was in disarray, with a scattering of objects across the floor, as if a sudden, silent chaos had swept through. There were faint marks under the dust, almost like faded stains. And the air... was just wrong. Heavy, thick.
‘I don't like this. These are signs of a fight’
Subaru paused to open one of the doors that appeared to be one of the main rooms.
The sight inside left the dark-haired youth breathless. The dorm was in disarray, with closed curtains allowing only a faint glimmer of light to pierce the room. An unmade bed, strewn with disheveled clothes, was visible, but the most striking feature was the plethora of books scattered throughout the room. Some were stacked above the bed, some littered across the desk, and some even just sprawled across the floor.
“This… should be Felix’ room, right?” Subaru asked to himself. A partially open closet revealed a glimpse of a dress, one that could be easily recognized as the dress Felix used to wear casually every day.
He got into the room, then took one of the books that was on top of a pile. It was a thick, black book that reads:
Iris and the King of Thorns.
He left the book on the ground. Then he took another one:
Introduction to Curses of Lugunica.
Subaru left the room, feeling a chill as he saw the titles of the books he had left behind. What was Felix looking for? Did it have anything to do with Crusch’s Curse? Subaru had no time to think about that, as he had to follow Rem and find out what had happened here.
He opened the door of the adjacent room, which he assumed was Crusch's. It was indeed a clean room with the windows closed. A variety of medical instruments could be seen on a desk at one side of the expensive-looking bed.
There was no one inside, but what he saw froze his blood. On the bed, there was a pile of ashes.
Subaru approached cautiously, looking for any trace of the owner of the room. He found nothing, except for an old open book lying on the ground. He took it and then read his title:
Sacrament of the Immortal King.
What had happened to Crusch? What is the meaning of the ashes on that bed? What’s with that weird, ominous looking book?
Subaru put the book on the bed and left the room, trying to hold back the anxiety. As he left, he heard Rem's voice, calling him from the first floor.
Having heard some unsettling sounds downstairs, Rem had gone ahead to investigate.
"Subaru-kun, come quick!"
Subaru ran down the stairs, following the sound of Rem's voice. He found her in the main hall holding her weapon, watching an object on the floor. Subaru approached and gasped.
It was Wilhelm's motionless body, the legendary swordsman and Reinhard's grandfather.
"Rem! What did you..." Subaru's face contorted, full of angst and disbelief.
"Rem did not do this. He's dead, and has been for some hours"
His body face down, with no apparent cuts or wounds. A sword was just next to the body, with a thin layer of blood on it. And right next to the sword, there was a right arm, cleanly cut at the elbow. Subaru couldn't recognize who it belonged to. But it was skinny, most likely a female's.
"What... what happened here?" Subaru stammered, still in shock of seeing someone he cared about so much in that state, feeling a knot in his throat. He felt like he was about to cry.
"I don't know, Subaru-kun. I just arrived and found him. There's no one else in the mansion. Just the two of us... and... someone else." Rem said, looking up, with an alert expression.
"Someone else? What are you—" Subaru asked, following Rem's gaze.
Rem frowned and tightened her weapon. "It’s a demi-human scent. They're on the second floor. I think they are the one responsible for all this."
Subaru felt a shiver as he heard Rem. Demi-human, wouldn't it be...
'Come on... Cultist-kun... You must know more about this, aren't nya'?
Subaru's face contorted. He knew he must confront Felix Argyle sooner or later, but his heart wasn't prepared to. Not after all that.
"We have to go see him, Rem. We have to ask him what’s this about" Subaru said, with determination.
Rem nodded, but asked Subaru to stay behind. "Subaru-kun, I don't want you to risk yourself. This person may be dangerous. I'll protect you, no matter what happens. Trust me."
Subaru wanted to protest, but he saw the determined look on Rem's face and couldn't say anything. He knew that Rem would do anything for him, even give her life. Subaru felt moved and grateful for Rem's love, but also worried for her safety.
"Okay, Rem. I trust you. But be careful, please." Subaru said, sincerely.
Rem smiled. "Don't worry, Subaru-kun. I'll be back soon. I promise."
Rem headed for the stairs, ready to face the enemy. Subaru followed her with his eyes, hoping that everything would go well. He stayed in the hall, next to Wilhelm's body, feeling a mix of fear, anger, and sadness.
As moments go by, he looked at the surroundings. They were some piles of ashes, the same ashes that were on Crusch’s bed, sprawled on the floor. For some reason, those piles of ashes made Subaru’s skin crawl. Whatever what it was happening, it was no good. No good at all.
As he was having his thoughts, suddenly, he heard a scream. A heartbreaking scream, that made his entire body freeze.
‘That scream was definitely Rem’s!’
"Rem!" Subaru shouted, without thinking twice. He ran to the stairs, ready to help Rem. He climbed quickly and entered the room with the door open. Crusch's room.
"As he entered, terror silenced his body. Rem lay on the floor, eyes wide open, unmoving.
"REM!" he said as he rushed into her.
Immediately after, something touched his neck, with agility and delicacy. The moment that foreign object made contact with his body, Subaru’s entire form convulsed with an electric shock, sending him crashing to the floor, paralyzed, with a dull thud against the carpet."
On the floor, Subaru’s consciousness jolted. For a brief moment, his body felt intensely hot, then utterly frigid. His legs wouldn't respond, his hands wouldn't move, and his mouth was incapable of releasing the screams of pain he desperately wanted to express. Every cell, every membrane of his body screamed, pain! Yet, simultaneously, he couldn't move or make a sound. Even his vision blurred, barely able to make out patches of color in the distance.
What Subaru didn't know then was that the moment Felix Argyle’s hand touched his neck, every nerve in his body was incinerated by the Blue, damaged beyond repair. The damage inflicted was severe enough to leave him permanently blind.
His hearing, however, was still functioning, lest for a high pitched sound that resonated inside his head.
"Cultist-kun... Cultist-kun, so nya finally came to Ferris-chan~"
"Ghuu..."
"What are you trying to say, Cultist-kun? Ferris-chan can't hear you well, speak LOUDER!"
Immediately after, Subaru felt a kick to his side that spun him slightly on the floor, bringing his minimal to nonexistent vision to bear on the demi-human who had left both him and Rem in this state.
His partial blindness made it difficult to discern details, but something was wrong with the cat-boy healer. His body was covered in red stains, which Subaru could tell were blood. And his hair... it seemed to have changed color. What was once light brown was now ash-colored, almost white.
Of course, Subaru could just barely see this changes. He couldn't even see Felix face, just shapes of color.
"Ferris-chan doesn't like it when people don't talk to him directly, cultist-kun. Ferris-chan hates those who aren't straight with him."
Subaru's mind could barely register what he was hearing. His thoughts were consumed by other sensations like "pain," "fear," "cold," and "worry."
'Rem... Rem... please... don't die!'
"Ferris-chan hates a lot of people, you know? Ferris hate the people who looked down at him for his appearance, Ferris hated his dad and his mom. Ferris hated his teacher, his instructors during the knight training... the sword saint who did nothing to prevent Ferris-chan suffering. Ferris now admits that he hates that prince who leave everyone behind..."
'Rem... please...'
"Though, Ferris doesn't hate Old Man Will, nya know? He was a good companion, and the only thing Ferris feels for him is pity. Because he knew what it was to lose everything.
'Someone...'
"But after what Old Man Will told Ferris that Crusch had passed away, and after recieving... that letter..."
Subaru could only hardly watch as Felix’s form contorted, his single remaining arm reaching towards his head, as if he were trying to crack it open and pull something out that couldn't stay inside.
"Those... WORDS... Then Ferris realized something!. Ferris-chan realized he hated this version of Crusch-sama, too!"
'Other me...'
"That miserable thing that replaced Crusch-sama couldn't be her, no way! Crusch-sama died that day when the witch cult took her away! And now... without Crusch-sama, I will take revenge on everyone that I hate!"
'Emilia-tan...'
"And guess what, cultist-kun, I HATE YOU, TOO!"
'I can't...'
"Who... is that girl you brought here with you?" Felix's form knelt beside Rem, who was barely visible within Subaru's limited field of vision.
'Wait... don't...'
"How sad! She is already dead! Did cultist-kun cared about that girl, perhaps?"
"Ghhuaaa..."
"Oh, how nice, looks like I hit a nerve... Then, what about this..."
A faint blue light started emanating from Ferris, into Rem's corpse.
"Ghstoooop..."
"I won't. You... All of you... you stole everything for me. I will gladly stop being a person if it means to steal everything from you."
A moment later, the light dissolved. Rem's shape begin to rise, slowly.
"Kill him, slowly" said Felix.
But then—
"Guhah?"
Rem's hands firmly wrapped around Felix's neck. Her immense strength elevated him into the air, and suddenly, a loud crack emitted from the healer, rendering his body limp.
His body hit the floor with a thud, and then, slowly raising her weapon, Rem began to slam the heavy metal ball into the demi-human's defenseless body.
Whack!
Whack!
The sickening sound of metal pulverizing flesh deafened Subaru's weakened ears, still motionless on the floor, eyes half-open.
Whack!
Whack!
Whack!
Clang!
Whack!
Clang!
Clang!
The sound and splatter of blood and flesh continued for minutes.
In some point, Ferris' body dissapeared. Nothing was spared, nor bones or flesh. Subaru's vision could only see Rem, and then..."
"The only thing that Rem wants... Is for Subaru-kun to be happy."
'Rem... Rem...'
"But Rem wants to be happy, too."
'Rem... Sorry... I can't...'
Suddenly, the sound of splintering wood echoed from the first floor. Hurried footsteps sounded in the distance, too many to count. And the dull clang of metal accompanied those steps, indicating they were guards or knights.
"Don't worry, Subaru-kun. Rem won't let them take you."
Immediately after hearing those words, Subaru could make out how Rem's body seemed to be slowly crumbling. He couldn't discern details, but from the maid's bottom body, he noticed a cloud of ash beginning to rise.
Rem raised her weapon before Subaru, as she solemnly, proclaimed:
"Rigel... Spica..."
The weapon fell upon Subaru.
It was a swift, precise blow. In that sea of torment and pain, Subaru finally ceased to be.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
“I can prepare more for Shwartz-kun, but you will have to wait after Subaru-kun finishes his meal. Do... you... Subaru, are you alright?"
Subaru's face had frozen. His gaze was dead.
He had returned from death, again.
Subaru turned his gaze now to Rem, who was watching him with confusion and worry.
"Rem..."
Subaru's mind, still paralyzed by the recent events, was unable to react. He could only stare at Rem's face, this time with a clarity he had lost after Felix's attack.
But after a few moments that seemed like an eternity, Subaru felt two hands rest on his shoulders, shaking him.
"Natsuki Subaru... what happened? What... what happened in there! You have to tell me!"
"Rem..."
"Subaru, Rem, we need to get out of here, fast! We need to rethink our strategy, we have to—"
"Shwartz-kun. Stop."
"Huh...?" Shwartz stopped in his tracks. For a moment, he felt a hint of hostility in Rem's words.
"Subaru-kun... are you alright? Do you need anything? Do you want to leave?"
"I..." Subaru wondered, as his mind began to function again. "I'm fine. I just need to catch my breath. We can figure out what to do later..."
"Rem understands. Shwartz-kun, what should we do now?"
"I... well... We should leave, after Subaru feels better, of course!"
"That sounds like a good plan, Shwartz-kun!" Rem replied, her soothing and gentle voice returning.