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Chapter Text

Theater of Reactions - SUBARU Constellation

The theater was in a contemplative silence after the latest revelations about Subaru's world of origin. In the center of the front row, the young knight slept soundly in his armchair, oblivious to the occasional gazes of concern and affection from the others.

The familiar voice of the Warden echoed through the speakers in its usual relaxed tone:

"Well, well! I hope everyone has properly absorbed the previous lessons about our sleeping hero's world. Today, we're going to explore something particularly fascinating—names of constellations and stars from his world that, curiously, are the names of people here in your world! Let's start with something very special..."

Emilia tilted her head with genuine curiosity:

"Excuse me, but... what exactly are constellations? Is it something related to the stars?"

Petra also timidly raised her little hand:

"Petra doesn't know much about it either..."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, adjusting her posture in her armchair with a slightly superior air.

"I suppose I should briefly explain, I suppose. Constellations are groups of stars that form patterns in the night sky. My contractor taught me a lot about them during our conversations... he has a peculiar passion for astronomy, in fact."

"Perfect, Betty! Now, watch the screen."

The large theater screen lit up, displaying two images side by side: a stunning photograph of the Pleiades star cluster—seven bright stars grouped like cosmic jewels against the black velvet of space—and next to it, a photo of Subaru smiling with his characteristic determined expression.

"SUBARU! In his world, this constellation is known as the Pleiades—one of the most easily recognizable astronomical objects in the night sky. This open star cluster contains over a thousand stars, but the seven brightest are visible to the naked eye. In Greek mythology, they represented the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas, turned into stars to escape the pursuit of the hunter Orion. In various cultures, these stars have been seen as symbols of unity, destiny, and celestial guidance. Ancient sailors used them to navigate the seas, and there are legends that say only those with special vision can see all seven stars clearly—a sign of an extraordinary destiny."

The silence that followed was heavy with meaning. All eyes shifted between the screen and the sleeping young man.

Emilia was the first to speak, her voice soft but full of admiration:

"Like seven stars shining together... Subaru really has brought us all together, hasn't he?"

Rem felt her chest tighten. Guidance for lost travelers... She remembered all the times Subaru had been exactly that for her—a light guiding her when she was lost in the darkness.

"Subaru-kun has always guided us when we were lost," she said softly, her words filled with emotion.

Ram crossed her arms with a sarcastic smile.

"Hah! Extraordinary vision and a special destiny? Well, the fool certainly has a peculiar destiny, even if his 'vision' is questionable at times."

Otto leaned forward, curious:

"Wait, so his name literally means a group of stars that shine together? That... that makes a lot of sense, considering how he's always trying to bring people together."

But it was Crusch who made the connection that silenced everyone:

"Pleiades... isn't that the name of the tower where the Sage supposedly lives?"

A collective shiver ran through the theater. Wilhelm frowned, his memories stirred:

"The Pleiades Watchtower... where Reinhard couldn't reach when he sought help to save the royal family..."

Reinhard lowered his head slightly, the old pain still present in his eyes.

"I apologize... I failed that mission. The tower remained inaccessible."

Julius placed a hand on his friend's shoulder:

"It wasn't your fault, Reinhard. But... this coincidence of names..."

Anastasia leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with commercial curiosity:

"And wasn't it the Witch of Greed who called the boy a 'Sage candidate'? This can't be a coincidence."

Felix wagged his tail nervously:

"So Subaru-kyun has the same name as the tower where the Sage lives? That's kinda scary, nya..."

Garfiel slammed his fist into his palm:

"Damn! So the captain's got the name of a super important star AND the mysterious tower!"

Beatrice looked thoughtfully at her sleeping contractor:

"Sage candidate... Pleiades Watchtower... his name truly carries a lot of weight, I suppose."

On the other side of the theater, Al became visibly uncomfortable, nervously adjusting his helmet and looking anywhere but at the screen.

"Stars... it always comes back to the damn stars... and now this connection to the Sage..."

Priscilla noticed Al's discomfort, but merely arched an eyebrow elegantly:

"How fascinating. The commoner is named after a sacred constellation."

Petra, her eyes shining with admiration:

"Subaru-kun is named after pretty stars! Like seven sisters in the sky!"

Frederica smiled maternally:

"It's truly fitting for Subaru-sama. He has always been like a guiding light for all of us."

Mimi jumped in her seat:

"Mimi thinks it's beautiful! Mimi-boss is like shining stars!"

Felt crossed her arms, looking at Subaru with a thoughtful expression:

"Heh, so my big bro really is named after an important constellation. And on top of that, it's connected to the mysterious Sage..."

Wilhelm observed thoughtfully:

"The seven stars that guide the lost... yes, that describes Subaru-dono well. And if there is a connection to the Pleiades Watchtower..."

Roswaal murmured, his enigmatic smile more pronounced than usual:

"Thaaat coincidence is quite disturbing... Our young hero continues to surprise..."

The tension in the air was palpable. The simple coincidence of names had opened up a new layer of mystery about Subaru and his destiny.

The Warden watched the reactions with satisfaction, noting how the revelation had planted seeds of doubt in everyone present. The young hero continued to sleep, unaware of the growing speculation about his celestial destiny.

Chapter Text

The theater still held that air of contemplation after the revelations about Subaru and the Pleiades. The young man continued sleeping deeply, oblivious to the speculations about his celestial destiny that still echoed in occasional whispers among those present.

The Director's voice sounded over the loudspeakers again, this time with a particularly amused tone:

"Well, well! Did you find Subaru's connection to the Pleiades interesting? Then prepare yourselves, because now we are going to explore another fascinating star - one that has a very special relationship with the Pleiades we just discussed. And believe me, the coincidences only get more intriguing..."

The theater screen lit up again. This time, it displayed the image of a bright, reddish-orange star, almost hypnotic in its intensity, clearly marking a luminous point in a constellation that formed the silhouette of a bull.

"ALDEBARAN! In Subaru's world, this is one of the brightest and most important stars in the night sky. Its name comes from the Arabic 'al-dabarān', which literally means 'The Follower' - because this star follows the Pleiades on their journey across the sky."

Al, who was casually leaning back in his armchair, suddenly started shrinking into his seat, as if trying to merge with the upholstery of the chair. His entire body retracted, his shoulders curving inward, and he seemed genuinely to be trying to become invisible.

'Damn it,' he thought miserably. 'I KNEW my stars would turn bad sooner or later. Why didn't I pretend to be asleep too?'

Priscilla, sitting near him, arched an eyebrow upon noticing her servant practically trying to bury himself in the seat.

"Al, are you trying to disappear?" she asked with poorly concealed amusement.

"...Maybe," came the muffled reply.

"Pathetic."

"Yes, Princess."

Emilia tilted her head, curious:

"The Follower? So this star... follows Subaru's constellation?"

"Exactly, dear Emilia! Aldebaran marks the eye of the bull in the Taurus constellation, and it is a red giant - an ancient star that has already lived most of its life and now burns in crimson tones."

Priscilla arched an eyebrow, casting a calculating glance at Al. She already knew where this was going.

"Aldebaran is one of the four 'Royal Stars' of ancient Persian tradition - guardians of the heavens, associated with the seasons. It was called 'The Watcher of the East', a symbol of leadership, courage, and protection."

Wilhelm frowned, memories being awakened:

"Aldebaran... that is Al-dono's name, isn't it?"

All eyes turned to the helmeted mercenary.

Al gave a nervous laugh, raising his single hand in a casual gesture:

"Heh, guilty as charged. Though I prefer 'Al', everyone. 'Aldebaran' is a bit long and pretentious."

Anastasia leaned forward, her merchant eyes gleaming:

"So you also have a star name from Subaru-kun's world... and one that literally 'follows' the Pleiades."

"Coincidences happen," Al replied in his usual relaxed tone, but his body language was defensive. "It's just a name. It doesn't mean I have some mystical connection with the boy."

Otto adjusted his glasses:

"But considering that you both came from the same world, and both have names of celestial bodies... that is a lot of coincidence."

"Welcome to the world of absurd probabilities," Al countered. "Look, I know it seems strange, but it is literally just that - strange. Nothing more."

The Director, observing the rising tension with apparent amusement, continued:

"Ah, but the story gets even more interesting! You see, among the indigenous peoples of the plains in Subaru's world, Aldebaran has a fascinating legend..."

The screen changed, showing artistic illustrations of an ancient story.

"The legend says that Aldebaran was the son of the Sun and a bright blue star - Rigel. He was not like the other stars, but a being with an ardent desire to hunt the White Buffalo..."

Al became completely motionless and thought:

‘Ah, he really had to mention that, didn't he? This director just wants to see the circus catch fire [i.e., see chaos erupt]. What rotten stars, man.’

"...which represented the Pleiades."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Beatrice rose slightly from her chair, her eyes fixed on Al:

"An 'ardent desire to hunt the White Buffalo' - which represented the Pleiades, kashira... To hunt Subaru's constellation, kashira?"

An uncomfortable silence fell over the theater. Several eyes turned to where Al was sitting.

Roswaal tilted his head, his smile widening in an entirely unnerving way:

"What an interesting observation, little sister~. Indeed... in the legend, Aldebaran didn't just 'follow' the Pleiades. He hunted them."

"It's a legend," Al said quickly, his voice defensive. "Ancient mythology. It has nothing to do with me personally. I didn't choose this name."

Garfiel frowned:

"But you have the same name as that star that wanted to hunt Captain!"

"It wasn't my choice of name!" Al gestured in frustration. "There's no point blaming me for my name!"

‘Damn it, that's not even my real name!’

Julius observed carefully:

"Still, Al-dono, you must admit that it is... unsettling."

"What's unsettling is all of you getting paranoid due to an ancient story," Al countered.

The Director continued, relentlessly:

"The legend proceeds. One day, while Aldebaran was trying to make a spear to hunt the White Buffalo, he tore a shoot from a sacred tree. Looking at the hole left in the trunk, he saw all the people of the world below, living their lives."

Al muttered something incomprehensible from behind his helmet.

"Distracted by the view of the world below, the White Buffalo - the Pleiades - took the opportunity and pushed him through the hole. Aldebaran fell from the sky to Earth, where he was found and raised by an elderly woman. Because of this, he became known as 'The Grandson of the Elderly Woman'."

Felt heard this and looked at Priscilla:

"Ah, so that elderly woman must be you, you red bitch?"

Priscilla looked at Felt and replied while trying to summon her sword:

“Do you want to die, gutter rat!?”

Felt merely stuck out her tongue, knowing she couldn't receive damage inside the theater.

Ram crossed her arms, her expression sharp:

"You claim you are innocent, but you still demonstrated peculiar knowledge about certain people. Like when you confused Rem with Ram and were shocked to discover that Ram was alive."

The atmosphere in the theater changed instantly.

Al tensed up:

"This again? I already explained that. It was a misunderstanding."

"You gave excuses," Crusch corrected gently, but firmly, her eyes observing Al carefully. "Not satisfactory explanations. You reacted as if you knew one of the twins, but did not expect to see the other."

"And you were specifically surprised that RAM was alive," Rem added, her voice cold. "As if you expected it to be Rem who... wasn't."

Al did not answer immediately, his hand clenched into a fist.

Felix nervously wagged his tail:

"Al-chin... how did you know about what happened to the twins, nya?"

Al did not answer immediately, clearly measuring his words. Crusch was there, and he knew she could detect outright lies.

“Tch. I simply have my secrets, okay? Secrets I am not obligated to answer for.”

Roswaal smiled that disturbing smile:

"~~Someone who knows things they shouldn't... who has a name intrinsically linked to our hero... who demonstrates impossible knowledge... makes me wonder—"~~

"Enough."

Priscilla's voice cut through the theater like a blade.

She stood up, her presence instantly dominating the room:

"All of you are interrogating MY servant as if you have some right to do so. You do not."

Anastasia blinked in surprise:

"Priscilla, we merely—"

"You are accusing Aldebaran based on a legend from another world and on assumptions," Priscilla said imperiously. "He has already answered your questions. If you are not satisfied with the answers, that is your problem, not his."

"But Priscilla-sama—," Reinhard began respectfully, "the coincidences—"

Priscilla turned to Al. "Al, do you pose any threat to Subaru?"

"No, Princess!" Al answered immediately. He is no longer a follower star. He did not need to lie about that.

Priscilla continued: "Are you conspiring against him or against anyone present here?"

"No." True again. He was not conspiring against anyone.

Crusch observed Al during the answers, and although her eyes narrowed slightly - indicating that there was something unsaid - she did not detect outright lies in his statements.

Priscilla turned back to the others:

"It is established. My servant is not a threat. You did not ask my permission to question him, you have no authority over him, and frankly, you are acting pathetically. An ancient legend is not evidence of malicious intent."

Julius stood up elegantly:

"With all due respect, Princess, we are merely being cautious—"

"Cautious?" Priscilla laughed humorlessly. "You are being paranoid. Al has been in my service for a considerable time. If he were a threat, I would have dealt with it."

Garfiel still looked suspicious:

"But what about that thing with the twins? That was very strange!"

Beatrice crossed her arms, still unconvinced:

"Betty still finds it suspicious, I suppose..."

"Your suspicions are irrelevant," Priscilla declared. "Unless you have REAL evidence of misconduct - not legends, not coincidences, REAL evidence - then this discussion is over."

In truth, Priscilla knew that the coincidences regarding this star conversation were too much to simply ignore and her court jester's reaction was suspicious, but that was something she could extract from him later; these commoners had no right to judge what was hers. She herself would decide Aldebaran's fate after hearing his story.

Al remained quiet, clearly relieved by Priscilla's intervention, but also visibly uncomfortable with the entire situation.

Emilia, ever the peacemaker, spoke softly:

"Priscilla-san is right. It is not fair to accuse Al-san based only on coincidences. If he says he is not a threat, we should give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Emilia-sama..." Rem began, but Emilia shook her head.

"Rem, I understand your concern. But Subaru would trust Al-san until he proved himself unworthy of that trust. We should try to do the same."

Ram watched her sister for a moment, then sighed:

"Well, Emilia-sama has a point. Although Barusu is notoriously terrible at judging character sometimes."

"Hey," Otto protested. "Subaru is not THAT bad at it."

"He is terrible at it," Ram, Felix, and Julius said in unison.

Despite the tension, some low laughs echoed.

The Director, who had watched the drama with evident satisfaction, continued:

"The legend proceeds! On Earth, Aldebaran discovered that there were monsters terrorizing the people. He used his abilities to become a monster slayer, protecting the people and gaining a great reputation. His most notable feat was defeating a giant serpent that caused a terrible drought. When he finally killed it, an enormous flow of water was released from the beast's body, forming what is known today as the Mississippi River - one of the largest rivers in the world."

Garfiel pounded his fist into his palm, his suspicion momentarily forgotten:

"Damn! This star was like a legendary hero! Giant monster slayer!"

"A star that fell to another world and became a protector," Wilhelm observed thoughtfully. "There is something noble about that."

Petra, who had been quiet, finally spoke:

"So Al-sama has a hero's name?"

"It's a legend, little girl," Al replied, his tone returning to his usual relaxed one now that the pressure had lessened. "It doesn't make me a hero just because I share the name."

Frederica smiled gently:

"But it is a name with noble history. Protector of the people, monster slayer..."

"And hunter of the Pleiades," Roswaal added softly, his smile never wavering.

Priscilla turned to him with sharp eyes:

"Roswaal. I suggest you stop with your insinuations."

"~~Oooh, I ammm not insinuating anythingg~~," Roswaal hummed. "Just observing the fascinating facts that have been presented to us."

"Your 'observations' are starting to annoy me," Priscilla said dangerously.

"My apologies~~," Roswaal tilted his head, but his smile did not diminish.

Crusch intervened diplomatically:

"Perhaps we should simply accept that there are inexplicable coincidences in the world. Al-dono has not demonstrated hostility. Until he does, it would be unfair to continue suspecting him."

"Thank you, Crusch-sama," Al said sincerely. "Finally, someone sensible."

"However," Crusch continued, and Al felt the 'but' coming, "I hope you understand our initial caution. The coincidences are really remarkable."

"I understand," Al agreed. "I don't like it, but I understand."

Ricardo let out a laugh, trying to lighten the mood:

"Well, at least now we know that Al-san has the name of a legendary hero! That's cool, isn't it?"

Mimi jumped in her seat:

"Mimi agrees! Al-chin has a cool name! Like a strong, red star!"

Hetaro and Tivey nodded in agreement, making Al give a more genuine laugh:

"Thank you, boys. You are cooler than these paranoid adults."

"Hey!" Otto protested.

Felix tilted his head:

"Ferri-chan still finds it a little suspicious, but will give the benefit of the doubt, nya~"

"How generous," Al murmured sarcastically.

Beatrice finally leaned back:

"Well, I suppose we won't get any more information now. But Al-san, know that we will be watching."

"Great. I always wanted an audience," Al countered.

Julius sighed:

"Al-dono, please understand that our concern comes from a place of protection. Subaru-dono is... important to many of us."

"I know," Al said, and there was something genuine in his tone. "The boy has that effect on people. He throws himself into danger and somehow makes everyone care about him. It's annoying, honestly."

"You talk as if you know him well," Rem observed carefully.

Al hesitated, weighing his words:

"I know his type. I've seen people like that before - young, idealistic, stubborn enough to believe they can make a difference even when everything seems lost." Technically true, and vague enough not to reveal anything specific.

"In yourself?" Wilhelm asked softly.

Al was quiet for a moment, aware of Crusch's eyes on him:

"...I've seen this kind of person before. A long time ago." True. "People who throw themselves into danger thinking they can change the world." Also true. He was speaking in general terms, not specifically about Subaru.

The Director made one last comment, his voice echoing through the theater:

"Aldebaran - The Follower of the Pleiades. An ancient red star that chases that bright cluster across the night sky. Some say he is a pursuer. Others, a guardian. But everyone agrees - Aldebaran and the Pleiades are eternally linked, one way or another. The meaning of that connection... well, that is up to each person to interpret."

The screen showed one last image: Aldebaran and the Pleiades in the night sky, the red star shining intensely behind the cluster of seven stars.

Follower. Guardian. Hunter.

The ambiguity was clear and intentional.

Felt looked between Al and the sleeping Subaru:

"So... are you two like linked by destiny or something?"

"Destiny is a strong word," Al replied. "I'd say more that we are victims of a series of absurdly improbable cosmic coincidences."

"Which is basically what destiny means," Otto muttered.

"Philosophy is not my strong suit," Al admitted.

Petra looked at Al with renewed curiosity:

"Al-sama... do you really dislike your name?"

Al seemed to consider the question, aware that he needed to be careful:

"It's not about liking or disliking it. It's about... weight. Names carry meanings, stories. Sometimes you wonder if the name molds the person or if it's just coincidence." Vague, but honest enough to pass Crusch's Divine Protection.

"About what?" Emilia asked gently.

"About meanings. About whether names define destinies or if they are just... identifiers we receive," Al replied carefully, keeping his words vague, but true.

Beatrice observed her sleeping contractor, then Al:

"Subaru and Aldebaran. Pleiades and their follower. Betty wonders what this means for the future, I suppose."

"I hope nothing," Al said honestly. "I have my life, he has his. It would be good if it stayed that way."

Roswaal, who had been relatively quiet after Priscilla's reprimand, made one last observation:

"The universe has a peculiar sense of humor, doesn't it? Bringing two from the same distant world, giving them names of connected celestial bodies, placing them in the same kingdom during the same critical period of history..."

"You really need to stop talking like that," Al said, but there was less heat in his voice now. "You give me the creeps."

"~Thaaat iiis my specialtyyy~~," Roswaal smiled.

"Well, now that we are done with this unnecessary theater, can we proceed?"

"Princess, this literally IS a theater," Al pointed out.

"Don't be literal with me, Al."

"Yes, Princess!"

Garfiel still looked at Al with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity:

"Dude, you're kind of strange, you know?"

"Thanks. I try," Al replied dryly.

Frederica sighed:

"Garfiel, be polite."

"I am! Strange can be a compliment!"

"No, it cannot," Ram, Felix, and Otto said in unison.

"You are all very synchronized with these things," Al observed. "It's scary."

Ricardo laughed:

"Al-san, when all this is over, you have to tell me what it's like living eighteen years in this world, having come from somewhere else!"

"It's... a long story," Al replied. "And not all parts are appropriate for young audiences."

Mimi jumped:

"Mimi is not a child! Mimi can listen!"

"Mimi, you literally ARE a child," Tivey pointed out, adjusting his monocle.

"Mimi is a STRONG child!"

"It still counts as a child," Hetaro added.

Aldebaran, who was finally starting to relax, thought:

“Man, I can't believe I finally managed to get through this ‘ordeal’. I better pretend to be asleep so I don't get questioned anymore, then I-”

Emilia, who was frowning as if thinking deeply, suddenly asks:

“But Al-san do you also have an Authority like Subaru?”

Al's body completely froze.

'SHIT!'

Out of all people. Out of ALL the people who could ask that question - it had to be the gentle, innocent half-elf. The worst part is that she probably doesn't even have ulterior motives. Which somehow makes it worse…

The theater, which had begun to relax, instantly returned to maximum tension. All eyes fixed on Al again, and he could feel the weight of every gaze.

Especially Priscilla's eyes. He turned his helmet slightly in her direction, hoping — praying — for another intervention.

But Priscilla merely stared at him with renewed interest, her closed fan tapping softly against her palm. She said nothing. She did nothing to stop them.

'Ah, so now you want to know too, Princess? Great. Wonderful. Perfect.'

Crusch leaned forward, her shrewd eyes fixed on Al. Reinhard was also paying full attention now. The two who could detect lies or falsehoods.

Al felt cold sweat dripping down the back of his neck. He couldn't just deny it - Crusch would catch the lie. But he also couldn't admit it - it would be opening a Pandora's Box that he had kept locked for eighteen years.

He needed to be smart. Very smart.

Al let out a laugh that sounded just slightly too forced:

"Ah, you want to know if I have the Witch giving me some crazy power like the dude's?" He gestured casually with his single hand. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm not that loved. Only he is truly special."

Technically it wasn't a lie - the Witch of Envy didn't give him power. Echidna, yes, taught him some tricks, but that wasn't the question.

But then Beatrice asked:

“But do you have an Authority?”

'Damn it, the smart loli is catching the loopholes!'

Al maintained his casual tone, but internally he was panicking:

"Look, I spent eighteen years in this world. If I had some special power like an Authority, don't you think someone would have noticed? That I would have used it? I'm just a normal guy with one less arm trying to survive."

Roswaal tilted his head, that disturbing smile back:

"But Al-kun~... you survived alone for eighteen years in a completely strange world. You lived in a place like the Gladiator Island - a notoriously deadly place - and yet you are still alive~. That requires either exceptional skill..., or something more~."

'I JUST WANTED TO STAY QUIET AND GO UNNOTICED! WHY DOES THE UNIVERSE HATE ME?!'

Priscilla continued watching in silence, her eyes fixed on her servant like a hawk watching prey. She wasn't helping, but she also wasn't hindering him. She was... waiting to see what he would do.

Al realized he was completely cornered. Every word, every evasion, only dug the hole deeper. Crusch was there. Reinhard was there. Priscilla was waiting for an answer.

And he was tired. Very tired.

'Eighteen years... eighteen years guarding this and now... damn it.'

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of all eyes on him.

"Fine. FINE," Al raised his single hand in surrender. "You want the truth? Yes. I have... something. An ability. An Authority, if you want to call it that."

The theater exploded in whispers and muffled exclamations.

"I KNEW IT!" Beatrice exclaimed. "Betty KNEW you were hiding something, I suppose!"

"Al-chin HAS power!" Mimi jumped.

Garfiel pounded his fist: "I didn't trust him from the start!"

"SILENCE," Priscilla commanded, and everyone obeyed immediately.

Al continued, his voice tired:

"It is what kept me alive for eighteen years in this crap world. It helped me survive when I shouldn't have survived. But," he raised his arm stump, "it wasn't enough to save this. So no, it's not some incredible, invincible power."

"What type of Authority?" Anastasia asked eagerly.

"I am not going to explain," Al said firmly. "It's the only advantage I have. The only thing that keeps me alive. Revealing how it works would be... foolish of me."

"But-" Julius began.

"No." Al cut him off, his voice hard. "I admitted that I have something. That should be sufficient."

He turned his helmet toward Priscilla, and there was something almost pleading in his posture:

"Princess... is it enough?"

Priscilla stared at him for a long moment, her calculating eyes evaluating every detail. Then she closed her fan with a decisive snap:

"Yes. It is sufficient."

She turned to the others, her presence dominating the theater:

"My servant admitted to having an ability that keeps him alive. He refuses to explain the details for reasons of personal safety - which is completely sensible. This discussion is over."

"But-" Julius began.

"IT IS OVER," Priscilla repeated with finality. "Unless you want to reveal all of YOUR secrets and weaknesses to a room full of strangers?"

Silence.

"I thought not," Priscilla sat down elegantly. "Al, sit down."

"Yes, Princess," Al muttered, dropping heavily into his armchair.

'What rotten stars... what HORRIBLE stars. I knew this day was going to end badly. I KNEW IT.'

He sank into the seat, his helmet turned slightly to the side like a sulking child.

'Eighteen years. Eighteen YEARS guarding this secret and now half the theater knows I have an Authority. Perfect. Wonderful. Could it be worse? Of course it could, but let's not push our luck.'

Emilia spoke softly, with genuine compassion:

"Al-san... thank you for trusting us with this. I know it must have been difficult."

"It was," Al admitted bitterly. "And I hate every second of it."

Ram crossed her arms:

"Well, at least now we know you aren't completely ordinary."

"Thank you? I guess?" Al murmured.

Otto adjusted his glasses:

"So you also went through hardships... like Subaru."

"Everyone has their crap to deal with," Al replied vaguely. "Mine is just less... public than his."

Garfiel still looked suspicious:

"And this Authority... isn't it dangerous for the Captain?"

"No," Al said with firmness. "I already said - it's not about him. It's about MY survival."

Crusch observed carefully. The statement was not a lie.

Wilhelm spoke respectfully:

"Having an ability that kept you alive for so long... that explains how you survived alone."

"It explains BUT it doesn't justify interrogation," Al grumbled. "You are worse than inquisitors."

"We were worried," Rem said simply.

"I know," Al sighed. "I still hate it."

Roswaal smiled that enigmatic smile:

"An Authority that keeps someone alive even in the worst circumstances~... fascinating~..."

"Stop being creepy," Al complained weakly.

"Impossible~," Roswaal hummed.

Felix tilted his head:

"Ferri-chan still has doubts, but at least Al-chin was honest in the end, nya~"

"How generous," Al murmured sarcastically.

Anastasia looked thoughtful:

"Al-san, may I at least ask - does your Authority have anything to do with how you knew about the twins?"

Al tensed:

"...Maybe. Or maybe not. I will neither confirm nor deny."

"How convenient," Ram said dryly.

"I tried," Al sighed.

Priscilla tapped her fan against her palm:

"Enough. You have had your answer. Al has a survival ability. He will not explain details. End of discussion."

"Thank you, Princess," Al said with genuine sincerity.

"Don't thank me. You are still going to explain EVERYTHING to me later," Priscilla said dangerously.

"...Yes, Princess," Al replied, resigned.

'Great. I escaped the public interrogation only to earn a private interrogation with the scariest person I know. What a wonderful day.'

Felt looked at Al with curiosity:

"Then you're like... secretly strong?"

"Secretly too stubborn to die," Al corrected. "It's not the same thing."

Reinhard observed carefully:

"Al-dono, your Authority... does it cause you suffering?"

The question made Al pause. When he answered, his voice was lower:

"...All Authorities do, don't they? There is no power without a price."

"True," Beatrice murmured, thinking of her contractor.

Julius spoke diplomatically:

"Al-dono, thank you for your honesty, even if reluctant. This helps alleviate some concerns."

"Great. Can I go back to being forgotten now?" Al asked hopefully.

"Unlikely," Anastasia smiled.

"Perfect," Al murmured sarcastically.

Al sank even further into his armchair, crossing his single arm over his chest in a clearly sulking posture.

'What rotten stars... what truly HORRIBLE stars. Eighteen years hiding this and now half the world knows.'

He looked at Subaru still sleeping peacefully in the front row.

'At least I managed to hide the main part. Nobody specifically asked about... that. About returning. About dying. They only know that I have "something that keeps me alive". Technically true. I just didn't mention that it involves dying repeatedly to activate.'

A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

'If they discovered that I also can return through death... even if it's different from his power, even if it's limited... no. NO. That secret goes with me to the grave. Or graves. How many have there been anyway? I lost count.'

Al laughed bitterly to himself.

'At least I managed to keep THAT hidden. Small blessings and such.'

He closed his eyes behind the helmet, pretending to relax, but his mind was racing.

'Survival Authority. They will assume it's something like regeneration, or increased resistance, or some crap like that. Let them think that. Better than the truth.'

The truth that he dies. Repeatedly. In a limited area loop. Always returning to try again until he manages to survive.

It wasn't Return by Death. It was smaller. More limited. More... pathetic, actually.

But it was HIS secret. And he was going to keep it that way.

'Eighteen years of secrets. They ripped one out. But they won't get the rest. At least not today.'

Al opened his eyes slightly, observing the theater through the slits of his helmet.

They were observing him with curiosity, suspicion, worry. But not with complete knowledge.

And so it would remain.

'May my stars continue to be rotten. At least this part I managed to protect.'

The theater gradually relaxed, the tension of the interrogation slowly dissipating. Although doubts remained, Priscilla's intervention and Emilia's words had changed the tone.

Al remained a mystery. But for now, it was a mystery they were willing to leave unanswered.

The Director observed everything with evident satisfaction. The seeds of questioning had been planted. The mysteries had been presented.

And the stage was set for future revelations.

But for now, Aldebaran and Subaru remained - one awake and uncomfortable, the other sleeping peacefully.

Two stars from another world.

What did fate have reserved for them?

Only time would tell.