Subaru opened his eyes. The dim, golden light filtering through his lashes gently told him that the battle had come to an end. He lay still for a moment, feeling the weight of exhaustion crushing his limbs. Every breath he drew came in uneven, shuddering gasps. Pain radiated from deep within his muscles, crawling like fire beneath his skin. The rough stones digging into his back were sharp and unforgiving, but compared to the agony in his soul, they were a mere whisper. And yet, despite it all—he had survived. He had endured. At least, this loop... he had won.
"Yue... you can come out of Rem now. The danger has passed," he said, his voice hoarse but composed, every syllable laced with the gravity of his fatigue.
His words acted like a gentle command. The yang spirit, Yue, began to separate from Rem's body. Her form shimmered with radiant orange and gold light as she rose, a glowing wisp of pure energy swirling above them. There was a warmth to her presence, a feeling of comfort and protection that lingered in the air like the fading heat of a hearth fire. Her voice chimed, vibrant and youthful, tinged with wonder and awe.
"Master, what just happened?! That thing—someone who looked exactly like you beat it! It was amazing! You were like a different person! Even your shadow... it wasn't the same. It was darker. Scarier. But powerful!"
Subaru let out a breath and scratched the back of his head, offering a crooked, slightly embarrassed smile. There was something unsettling about being seen like that—transformed. Every time someone noticed that side of him, it left a ripple in his chest, a whisper of fear that even he didn't fully understand.
"I'll explain everything later, Yue. I swear. But right now... do you sense anything else? Anyone dangerous still nearby?"
Yue's bright eyes narrowed with focus as she hovered closer to him. She reached out with an invisible touch, gently borrowing a stream of his mana. With a soft hum, she channeled it through a short spiritual detection spell. Her glow dimmed momentarily as she closed her eyes, feeling the vibrations around them. Energy rippled outward like waves across still water.
A few long moments passed before she opened her eyes again.
"Hmm... Master, I don't feel anything threatening. It's all quiet. The only thing I sense clearly is the stench of death. So many corpses... But there are four living presences in the village. Four lights... and one of them is strong. Very strong."
Subaru's gaze lowered to Rem's unconscious form. He bent down and gently scooped her into his arms, cradling her carefully. Her once-pristine hands were now burned and blistered, skin cracked like scorched parchment. Her breathing was faint. As he looked at her face—still serene even in pain—a pang of guilt stabbed through his chest. Again, he had let someone be hurt. Again, he had allowed someone to pay the price in his place.
"It's probably Elsa and Beatrice. Maybe Emilia and Hikari. I can't imagine Ram stayed behind... she's most likely with Roswaal by now. Wouldn't be surprised if she dragged Meili and Frederica with her. Honestly... maybe that's for the best," he muttered, voice weary.
Yue drifted gently above him, her light humming softly. The names meant nothing to her, but the sadness in his voice did. She could not read his mind, but she could feel the heavy, aching pulse of his heart.
They walked in silence through the ruins, Subaru holding Rem like something precious and broken. The village square came into view, framed by burnt-out homes and shattered fences. The wind moved through the remnants of the town, carrying with it the bitter smell of charred wood, scorched iron, and blood long dried. Every step he took echoed in the silence, a solemn drumbeat through the devastation.
Then—two figures broke through the haze.
"Onii-chan!"
"Subaru!"
A small blur raced toward him. Hikari flung herself into Subaru's arms, careful not to touch Rem but clinging tightly to her brother's waist. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent as if to reassure herself that he was real. Her tiny fingers clutched at his coat. Behind her, Beatrice approached more slowly. Her wide eyes locked immediately onto Yue. She froze.
Something in the spirit made her heart stutter.
Hikari eventually pulled back and caught sight of Rem. Her breath hitched, and her entire expression crumpled in horror.
"Onii-chan... what happened to Rem-nee?! Her hands—they're burned all the way through! Her skin looks like... like it melted!"
Subaru crouched and slowly, reverently laid Rem on a patch of grass. Every motion was filled with gentle care, a reverence that bordered on sacred. His hands lingered on her arm for a second longer than necessary, unwilling to let go.
"She got hurt protecting me. It's my fault again... Can you help her, Hikari? Please."
Hikari wiped her eyes and nodded, her small face hardening with resolve. She brought her hands together, forming a seal, and closed her eyes. Magic began to gather around her in a soft glow. Though she was still a child, her aura was calm, focused. Almost regal.
"I'll do my best. But I need space—please stand back. I have to purify the area first."
Subaru rose and stepped away. Beatrice followed beside him in silence as they crossed to the far side of the square. Emilia and Elsa stood there, watching. The battle may have ended, but the ground beneath their feet still trembled with echoes of conflict. Blood stained the soil. Air still hummed with spent magic.
As they stood watching Hikari from afar, Beatrice spoke again, her voice quieter this time, nearly a whisper:
"Subaru... what is that spirit floating near you? I've never felt you form a bond like that before. Not even with me."
Subaru turned to her. His eyes were tired, but in their depths was warmth. Fondness. Even a flicker of guilt. "That's Yue. A yang spirit. She saved my life when I was on the edge. I would've died without her. We made a pact... and now she's with me."
Beatrice's lips parted slightly. Her chest tightened, as though something invisible had wrapped around her heart. Her eyes shimmered—not with anger, but something softer. Sadder. A flicker of jealousy. A whisper of loneliness.
And deep inside her, a voice she didn't want to acknowledge asked:
"Has he found someone new? Someone better? Is my place... already taken?"
Subaru seemed to understand her feelings completely. Without a word, he leaned down slowly, gently lowering himself to Beatrice's eye level. His movements were deliberate, filled with a quiet tenderness, and when he wrapped his arms tightly around her, the embrace felt more like an apology than any spoken words could offer. It wasn't just physical comfort—it was a promise, one anchored deep in the heart.
"Don't worry, Beako," he said softly, his breath warm against her shoulder. "Your place will never change. We've talked about this before, remember? No matter what happens, I'll never leave you alone."
Beatrice's lips trembled, her body stiff in his arms. But she didn't pull away. The heat of his presence, the certainty in his voice—it began to melt the layers of frost that clung to her doubts. Her fingers clutched his coat lightly, as if testing the reality of the moment. Even when the hug ended, a piece of it lingered in her chest, burning softly.
At that very moment, Yue drifted gracefully toward them, almost weightless in her steps. She hesitated a second, as if afraid to intrude, but then took a small step forward. With a quick but respectful bow, she addressed Beatrice directly:
"Um... Hello, Great Spirit. I... I'm Yue. It's truly an honor to meet you."
Her voice wavered, but the sincerity behind it was clear. Despite her nervousness, there was no deceit, only admiration and humility. Beatrice turned her eyes to the girl, observing not just her face, but the aura that shimmered faintly around her. There was a faint, golden glow to it—subtle, but unmistakably genuine.
Subaru let out a short chuckle, unable to contain himself despite the gravity of the moment. "Yue, you don't have to be so formal. Beako's not going to smite you from the heavens."
Yue's eyes widened and her shoulders shot up as she stammered:
"B-but she's a Great Spirit! There are protocols! Ancient laws! You're not supposed to just—just speak casually!"
Subaru shook his head, amusement in his expression but warmth in his tone. "Those ancient laws are important, sure. But sometimes, they build walls between us. And if there's anything I've learned... it's that true friendship breaks those walls down."
Beatrice watched the exchange quietly before finally offering Yue a soft smile. Her expression didn't change much, but in her eyes, there was a shift—a curiosity, perhaps even the faintest spark of hope.
"You're strange," Beatrice said, her voice flat but not unkind. "But I don't hate that."
Yue blinked, unsure whether she had just been insulted or accepted. But before she could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps disrupted the moment.
Emilia came running through the haze of dust and fading tension. Her silver hair flowed behind her like a comet's tail, and her violet eyes were wild with emotion. The sight before her—Subaru, bruised, kneeling, clearly drained—sent a jolt through her heart. Her breath caught in her throat. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees beside him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as she clung to him.
"Subaru... are you okay?" she whispered, her voice cracking. Tears welled up in her eyes, shimmering as they threatened to fall. Panic surged through her words, barely restrained.
Subaru blinked slowly, surprised by the urgency of her touch. He tried to raise a hand and managed, barely, to rest it on her back. His smile was small, but carried the same familiar comfort.
"I'm okay, Mili... really. You don't have to worry about me."
But Emilia wasn't convinced. Her gaze roamed over his battered face, the way his fingers twitched involuntarily, the paleness in his cheeks. His mana was thin—so thin she could barely sense it. She grabbed his arms and gently pushed him back, just enough to look into his eyes directly.
"Don't lie to me," she said, her voice rising. "You always say that—'I'm fine, don't worry'—but look at yourself, Subaru! I can barely feel your mana! Your skin is freezing cold! Your eyes—they've lost their light! It's like... like you're about to collapse at any moment!"
For a long second, Subaru just looked at her. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but the words never came. He blinked, slowly, and his shoulders sagged.
"Ah... about that..."
Before he could finish, his body gave out. His legs crumpled beneath him. Emilia gasped, barely managing to catch him as he fell forward. His head rested against her shoulder, limp.
"Subaru!"
Her scream echoed, bouncing off the silent walls of the ruined hall. She knelt there, clutching him desperately. Her hands flew to his face, gently slapping his cheeks, her voice rising in panic.
"Subaru! Please! Say something! Look at me! Open your eyes, please... Please don't leave me!"
He didn't move. Didn't flinch. The stillness around them became deafening, pressing down on everyone present. It felt like the world itself had come to a halt.
Beatrice arrived first, her small figure rushing forward with unusual speed. She dropped to her knees, her hands moving with clinical precision as she took Subaru's wrist and searched for a pulse. Her face, usually so calm and sharp, was overcome with worry.
Elsa followed right behind, her pace measured. She knelt beside Subaru's body, her eyes narrowing slightly. Though she appeared composed, her jaw was tight, and her gaze refused to leave him.
Emilia was weeping openly now, tears streaking down her cheeks as her voice trembled:
"Subaru... Subaru! You said you'd stay with me! You promised! Wake up! Please, please wake up..."
Then, without warning, Elsa reached out and gave Emilia a surprisingly sharp flick on the forehead.
"Get a grip," she said, her voice cool but not unkind. "He's not dead. Look—he's breathing. Watch his chest. See it? The rhythm's steady."
Emilia gasped softly, her teary gaze snapping downward. Sure enough, Subaru's chest was rising and falling in slow, even breaths.
He was alive. But just barely. And all around them, the world held its breath, waiting to see what would come next.
Emilia froze, her hand trembling as it pressed gently to her forehead. Through the shimmering veil of her tears, her gaze locked on Subaru's chest. And indeed... it was rising and falling ever so faintly—slow, but steady, each breath a fragile whisper of life against the backdrop of silence.
"I... I thought he was... gone..." she whispered, the words cracking as they escaped her lips.
Beatrice, her expression unreadable yet her eyes gleaming with a hint of urgency, turned her head toward Yue and whispered a few words only she could hear.
Without a sound, Yue stepped forward. Her movements were smooth and ethereal, like drifting silk in moonlight. She knelt beside Subaru and leaned in, then her body shimmered and collapsed into a beam of radiant light. The brilliance streamed into Subaru's chest, disappearing within. For a moment, a warm glow pulsed beneath his skin, casting a faint halo over his features. The sensation was fleeting, but it was enough—his aura had returned.
Beatrice rose to her feet, her tone cold and cutting through the air like ice. "Betty will be taking her contractor now."
The ground beneath them lit up in a complex web of runes, a magic circle flaring to life in golden light. Subaru's body lifted from the earth, supported by an unseen force, as if tenderly carried by invisible hands. His eyes remained closed, but something deep within him stirred, as if his soul was knitting itself back together.
Emilia's lips parted, an objection forming, but before the sound could escape, the brush beyond the clearing rustled. A figure emerged.
His stride was deliberate, every footstep ringing with intention. His robe rippled in the wind, trailing behind him like a shadow given form. Each step seemed to dim the surrounding noise until all else faded. In garments dazzling with color and style, moving with the poise of a seasoned performer, Roswaal entered the scene, his sly, painted smile perfectly intact.
"Ohoho~ How wonderful to see you all safe and sound," he drawled, his gaze sweeping the gathered souls as though their every unspoken thought was an open script. His eyes landed on Subaru and lingered, narrowing slightly. "But it seems... we have a bit of rot in our midst."
Elsa's jaw tightened. A faint twitch crossed her face before she turned toward him, her stare as sharp as a blade's edge. "While Subaru fought three damned Sin Archbishops, you were nowhere to be found... and now you show up to mock him? Choose your words carefully, Roswaal."
Roswaal stepped forward, spreading his arms wide like a showman before an audience. "Huhu~ I was busy rescuing the villagers. As the lord of this land, is that not my duty? I am here to escort Emilia-sama and Rem to the Sanctuary—where it will be far safer." His gaze drifted toward the small hikari still tending to Rem. "As for you, Elsa, little hikari, and Beatrice..." He released a short, mocking laugh.
The false courtesy in his tone couldn't disguise the derision beneath, and it chilled the clearing. Trust was absent, tension thick. With Subaru suspended in the air between them, the clearing felt less like a battlefield's aftermath and more like the stage for a new conflict—silent, but no less dangerous.
Emilia's heart wavered. Her eyes shifted between Subaru's still form and Roswaal's piercing gaze. She bit her lip, her voice quivering with a tenderness edged by steel. "Roswaal... I... I'm not sure I want to go. I need to stay with Subaru. He needs me."
Roswaal's laugh erupted, theatrical and consuming. He spun the hem of his robe outward with a flourish, stepping forward as his mirth filled the air. Then, with a tilt of his head, his tone slipped into mockery.
"Ohoho~ Emilia-sama, you are... most entertaining. If Subaru were still in my employ, perhaps—under certain conditions—I would allow you to remain by his side. But alas, that is no longer so. You are not some common girl. You are a princess... perhaps soon to be a crowned queen."
His eyes darkened, his voice lowering until the weight of his words felt like an unspoken threat. "The villagers need you. You are their beacon. You cannot abandon them. And besides..." He leaned forward ever so slightly. "You and Subaru share no official, defined bond. Your devotion to him is sentiment, not duty. And sentiment... is a dangerous flaw. He has left you behind more times than you can count. His loyalty, his will, his reliability... all are uncertain. Tell me, Emilia-sama—knowing this—do you still wish to remain by his side?"
Emilia looked away, her gaze distant, as if trying to retreat from the chaos unfurling inside her. Her heart trembled, trapped between the searing cries of her emotions and the cold, persistent whispers of logic. Every word from Roswaal struck not just her mind but reverberated deep into her soul—each syllable was a dagger, each phrase a wound reopened. Yet, amid the storm in her chest, a constant remained: Subaru. Her heart screamed to stay with him, to never leave his side, no matter the cost. But Roswaal's poisonous words, like smoke, clouded her conviction, seeping into every crack of doubt.
And then came his final blow, cold and deliberate:
"In the end... you will either come with me willingly, or I'll have to take you by force. As your sponsor, I would truly hate to see our relationship deteriorate. But should you refuse, I will choose for you. I sincerely hope you won't drive me to that."
Emilia's breath hitched in her throat. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. What could she possibly say? Roswaal had her trapped like a butterfly pinned to velvet—still alive, still aware, but helpless. Her instincts screamed to run. Leave everything behind. Abandon the throne. Forget the people. Forget Subaru. Just escape.
But her heart... it clung desperately to his name.
Nearby, a delicate sound whispered through the air. Beatrice, ever silent and composed, had knelt beside Subaru. Her petite hands hovered inches above his chest, fingertips glowing faintly as they traced invisible pathways of mana. She probed gently, cautiously, mapping the energy within him. Her brow furrowed, her mouth tightened. Roswaal's voice still echoed in her ears, each word stoking the fire of her anger. Her eyes shimmered, brimming with pain and fury—but she forced it down. She knew: striking now would bring ruin. Subaru was still broken, still healing. He needed more time.
But the fury remained. It smoldered beneath her skin like a curse.
Not far from them, half-swallowed by the dimness of the hall, stood Elsa. Her figure was motionless, cloaked in shadows, like a statue carved from darkness itself. She was death in waiting, silent but undeniable. Her gaze fixated on Roswaal, piercing and murderous. It was a look devoid of humanity—a predator studying prey. Cold, calculating, and cruel. Her very presence pressed upon the air like a phantom blade.
Roswaal did not meet her gaze. He turned his head away, feigning indifference. But the tension was thick, nearly suffocating.
Across the room, a subtle warmth flickered and rose.
Hikari, who had just completed healing Rem, rose slowly to her feet. Her movements were graceful, deliberate. Twin golden irises shone like blazing stars—not kind, but harsh, like the noonday sun in a scorching desert. Her entire form radiated intensity. The ground beneath her groaned, cracks spidering out from her feet. Power rolled off her like heatwaves.
She took one step forward.
"Talking about Onii-chan like that... So easily. So casually. Where do you find that kind of courage, I wonder?" Her voice was calm, almost quiet, but behind it was an inferno. "It amazes me, really. But no matter how much I try to understand it... you disgust me. The very core of you is rancid. Just like the body you stole, your soul is rotting. You think you can judge his worth? You don't deserve even to speak his name. You're nothing. A corrupted shadow crawling out of a pit where hearts go to die."
Roswaal blinked.
His pupils contracted. For a split second, his composed facade cracked. Mana within him surged violently, twisting and lashing out like a storm of blades. Blue light flickered along his arms, his fingers twitching, preparing to summon something devastating.
"Who... Who told you that?! WHO?!"
Hikari tilted her head, her expression calm—disarmingly calm. She exhaled slowly, like she were ridding herself of a foul odor. Her gaze didn't waver. It pierced him, without hate, without fear—just certainty.
"No one told me. I saw it. I feel it. I know it. You can't hide what you are. Not from someone who sees truth in everything. Every particle of you is polluted. Every thought is vile."
Roswaal vanished.
There was no flash, no sound. One instant he was there—and the next, only the gust of displaced air remained. The wind lashed out, tugging at Hikari's hair, flaring her dress.
He appeared behind her. Hand raised. Magic concentrated in his palm, radiating lethal promise. His face twisted in fury. No hesitation.
"FU—"
"UL Jiwald."
Hikari's words were soft, barely more than a breath. Yet the space itself seemed to respond.
In an instant, the atmosphere ruptured. A colossal surge of mana erupted around her, distorting the very air. Then came the lightning.
A divine torrent struck Roswaal like judgment made manifest. It descended like the wrath of a god, a roaring column of searing white light that ripped through the hall. The marble floor exploded, shattered into fragments. Walls cracked. Portraits were torn from their frames. The windows imploded, raining glass across the room. Thunder, raw and apocalyptic, boomed like the growl of a furious beast.
Roswaal's body flew back, crashing into the ground with tremendous force. His robes were in tatters, burnt and torn. The power behind Hikari's spell hadn't just struck him—it had hollowed out the ground beneath him.
For several long seconds, he didn't move.
In that moment, silence devoured everything. It wasn't just a pause—it was a suffocating, unnatural stillness that blanketed the world. Time itself seemed to freeze, each second stretched thin as if reality were holding its breath. The battlefield, a storm of chaos just heartbeats earlier, had fallen into a fragile, unnatural calm. The only sound that remained was the low, eerie hiss of smoke rising in curling tendrils from the massive crater left by the cataclysmic clash moments before. The sky was dark and trembling, as if unsure whether to rain or to burn.
Emilia took an instinctive step back, her eyes wide with disbelief, pupils dilated. Her hands flew to her chest, pressing over her heart in a vain attempt to calm the rapid thudding. She had seen many horrors—but the sheer magnitude of what had just unfolded had shaken even her. Beside her, Beatrice narrowed her eyes, her small body tense. A hard line formed on her lips—no fear, only razor-sharp focus. The tension in the air wasn't merely oppressive; it was tangible, vibrating in the bones.
Elsa's lips curled, but what formed wasn't a smile. It was a slow, deliberate twist of her mouth that reeked of predatory satisfaction. There was something primal in her expression—a glint of violence, of pleasure taken not in victory, but in the hunt. The corner of her mouth lifted as if drawn by bloodlust itself. Her entire stance seemed to hum with anticipation.
And then, Roswaal moved.
"UL HUMA / MINYA!"
His voice cracked the sky like thunder, a spell woven not just with mana but with fury. Magic erupted from his outstretched arms like a tidal wave, carving through the clouds in jagged streaks of radiant blue. A glowing sigil seared itself into the heavens, pulsing with power. From its blazing center, an unrelenting rain of crystalline arrows exploded outward—hundreds, perhaps thousands—shimmering shards like daggers thrown by the stars themselves.
They were not scattered. Each and every one honed in on a singular target: Hikari.
Hikari's breath caught. For a split second, time slowed for her alone. She could feel each heartbeat pounding in her ears. Her instincts screamed at her to move—but she didn't run. Instead, she stepped forward. Her expression hardened, all softness vanished. She reached deep—into the very core of her soul, where her Authority resided, humming like a living flame.
With a sharp breath and unwavering focus, she thrust her hands forward.
Around her, the world shifted. Elemental forces surged to answer her call. A brilliant weave of five concentric magical barriers bloomed into being—spinning layers infused with fire, water, earth, wind, and finally, pure unbreakable will. They locked together like a living machine of protection, resonating with her heartbeat.
The arrows struck.
The impact was cataclysmic. The forest groaned beneath the weight of the attack. Trees cracked and bent, their leaves torn into a whirlwind of emerald shrapnel. The first barrier shattered instantly. The second followed in a burst of boiling mist. The third burned away in a scream of flame and air. The fourth cracked like a drum, a deafening pulse echoing through the earth. The final barrier—a shimmering lattice of sheer willpower—held. Barely. Cracks split across its surface, glowing with the heat of resistance.
Hikari trembled. Sweat ran in rivulets down her brow. A thin line of blood leaked from her nose, the cost of channeling such immense power. Her legs buckled, knees shaking, breath shallow. But her eyes—they burned. She hadn't broken.
It had taken only seven seconds.
Emilia did not hesitate.
She surged forward, her eyes ablaze with fierce protectiveness. Without a thought for herself, she stepped between Hikari and the few remaining arrows. Her hands rose, forming the complex signs of her magic with practiced urgency.
"HUMA!"
Light burst forth from her palms, weaving into a radiant shield—a dome of warm, golden energy that shimmered like morning sunlight through a stained-glass window. The last of Roswaal's deadly barrage collided with the barrier and scattered like ash in the wind.
Only when the final shard vanished did Emilia release the spell. She collapsed to one knee, gasping—but forced herself to stand. Her body screamed for rest, but she refused to let it falter.
Then, in a flicker of motion, Roswaal stepped forward.
He was close now—just steps away. His posture remained proud, but his breathing was uneven. His robes were torn, ash coating his sleeves. He looked like he was about to speak, to make one of his signature condescending remarks—but the words never came.
Because something cold and deadly pressed against the base of his neck.
Elsa.
She had appeared behind him without a sound, her presence a sudden void of light and warmth. One blade rested against his spine, the other at his throat. Her expression was serene—terrifyingly so. There was no hesitation in her posture, no tension. She could end him in a breath.
Roswaal froze. His muscles locked. Slowly, reluctantly, he raised his hands in surrender. The weight of his ego bowed before the reality of death so near.
From behind, Emilia rose. Her face was a battlefield of emotion—grief, fury, defiance. Her lip trembled, but she bit down hard, forcing herself to hold steady. She stepped forward, voice low, cracking.
"Roswaal... Enough. I'll go with you. Just stop this. No more fighting. Please."
Elsa's eyes glittered. Her blade pressed forward just enough to draw a bead of blood from Roswaal's throat. The cut was small—but the threat was anything but.
"I don't believe him," she said, almost conversationally. "But if he makes a move... well, I'd love to see how far his pride takes him before his blood stains the ground."
Her voice was soft, but it coiled with menace.
Roswaal let out a sharp, lilting laugh—far more brittle than usual. The bravado was there, but the power behind it had thinned.
"Ohoho~ Emilia-sama, as decisive as ever. Very well. This way, if you please."
And so, beneath the scorched sky and among the ruins of a battlefield nearly turned graveyard, a strange calm descended. Not peace—never peace—but an exhausted ceasefire. A moment of breath before the storm's next howl. A fragile thread holding bloodshed at bay—for now.
Emilia cast a sorrowful glance toward Elsa, her eyes lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary, as though searching for some unspoken assurance. Elsa merely rolled one shoulder in a casual shrug, but the motion was deceptive—her hand slid instinctively to the hilt of her dagger. The steel whispered softly as it left its sheath, catching a glint of moonlight, and the look she leveled at Roswaal was not mere defiance—it was a promise of danger. "Don't forget—I'm watching you," she said, her voice low and edged.
Roswaal, unfazed, moved with a languid grace, extending one hand in a delicate gesture. Magic flowed from his fingers, curling into intricate runes that shimmered in the cool night air. Rem's unconscious body rose gently, as though cradled by invisible arms. Her chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, her expression serene, yet a quiet melancholy clung to her like a shadow.
Emilia's gaze drifted back to Subaru, still lying motionless where he had been left. She drank in every detail—his stillness, the way his hair fell across his forehead, the faint traces of battle that marred his clothes. A storm of words pressed against her lips, but each one died before it could be spoken. Regret pooled in her chest, heavy and suffocating. Turning away felt like tearing something from herself, yet she followed Roswaal without a sound. Their footprints stretched behind them, soon to be devoured by the darkness under the trees.
Hikari sniffled, forcing herself upright even as her legs trembled beneath her weight. Her body was weary, her shoulders sagging, but stubborn determination burned in her eyes. Within moments, Beatrice appeared at her side, the hem of her dress whispering over the forest floor. Her voice was sharp but laced with an undercurrent of fear.
"Hikari... you shouldn't have done that. You pushed yourself too far. You could have died! Do you understand what that means?!"
Hikari's breath came in slow, deliberate pulls. Her reply was quiet but unyielding. "I couldn't just stand there and let them talk about Onii-chan like that. Not when I could do something. At least now... I can live with myself."
Elsa's footsteps barely disturbed the fallen leaves as she approached. She came to stand beside Hikari, her expression unreadable until she allowed the faintest of smiles to cross her lips. With a flick of her fingers, she tapped Hikari's forehead.
"You should leave things like this to the adults, Hikari-chan. No matter how proud I am of you... what you did was reckless. There's a fine line between bravery and foolishness, and you nearly crossed it."
Hikari rubbed her forehead, pouting slightly. "But you didn't do anything! You just stood there watching. Ahh... forget it. Elsa-nee, please carry Onii-chan. After that flick, I realized how strong you are—you're like a monster."
Elsa glanced down at her own hand, as though considering the truth of those words. A faint, almost reluctant smirk curved her lips before she crouched. Without another word, she slipped her arms beneath Subaru and lifted him with surprising gentleness. In her eyes, just for an instant, there was something more than duty—an indistinct glimmer of respect, tempered by quiet sorrow.
The group began to move, their steps measured and careful. Hikari led, her small frame cutting a determined path through the undergrowth. Beatrice followed close behind, her gaze darting often toward Subaru, while Elsa brought up the rear, silent and watchful. Between them stretched an unspoken understanding, heavy and tangible. Moonlight streamed through the canopy in fractured beams, painting silver shapes across their faces and the earth. Each step carried them deeper into the forest's embrace, where shadows whispered and the night held its breath. Somewhere ahead, uncertainty waited. And somewhere above, fate's unseen hand continued its silent work.