The first light of morning streamed through the thin curtains, spilling golden beams across the room like liquid sunlight. As always, Hikari was the first to awaken, her body attuned to the quiet stillness of dawn. She stretched languidly beneath the blanket, letting out a long yawn before tossing the cover aside. Sleep still lingered over her like a heavy curtain, and her eyelids fluttered drowsily. But the moment she turned her head, any trace of that lingering haze vanished instantly.
On the bed beside hers, her brother Subaru and Emilia were curled up together, their bodies pressed close in a peaceful embrace. Subaru's face carried a serene smile, one so relaxed it seemed untouchable by worry. Emilia's silvery hair cascaded over his shoulder like shimmering threads of light, catching the dawn's gentle glow.
At first, Hikari thought her sleepy mind was playing tricks on her. She rubbed her eyes vigorously, even gave her head a little shake as if to banish the image. But nothing changed—it was no dream. Her heartbeat stumbled and quickened, a flush creeping across her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something, but words failed her. How was she supposed to make sense of this?
"Well… Onii-chan always did have a thing for silver-haired girls… I guess I forgot. I do remember a few posters in his room," she murmured to herself with an amused curve to her lips. Rising quietly, she padded across the floor to the window and unlatched it. Cool morning air rushed in, filling her lungs, while the early sun painted the walls in warm, honeyed light.
Not long after, the quiet rustling of blankets signaled that Beatrice and Meili were waking. Meili sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes with small fists—until her gaze landed on Subaru and Emilia. She froze, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open in shock. Just as a startled gasp began to form, Hikari swiftly closed the gap between them and pressed a hand over her mouth.
"Meili! Shh. They're sleeping, can't you see?" she whispered sharply.
Meili mumbled something against Hikari's palm, flailing her arms until she was released. "Hikari-chan, this is so weird! I mean, look at them—does this mean Subaru-nii and Emilia-sama are, like, actually together now? Beako, what's your take?"
Beatrice slipped from her bed, her small feet padding softly against the floor as she joined them. She folded her arms, tilting her head with mild disinterest. "Betty couldn't care less, in fact. If Subaru's happy, then Betty's happy," she said evenly.
Hikari gave a small shrug. "I'm with her on this. Emilia-sama can be a bit childish, sure, but she's not the kind of person who would hurt Onii-chan. That's all I need to know."
Meili's lips pressed into a pout. "But… what if things don't go the way you think they will?"
Beatrice and Hikari exchanged a knowing look, their smiles faint but firm. "Then we'll deal with it," they replied in unison, their voices leaving no room for doubt.
With a sigh, Meili let her shoulders slump and quietly slipped out of the room.
At that moment, a faint draft stirred in the far corner. The air rippled, warping like water, and a figure stepped through the shimmer—Flugel, eyes gleaming with playful mischief and a sly smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh? Up with the sun, are we?" he said, voice carrying that familiar teasing warmth.
Hikari immediately brightened. "Good morning, Flugel-nii."
He reached out, fingers ruffling her hair in an affectionate, almost careless gesture. "What's got you three so riled up? Don't tell me you missed me so much you can't hide it."
Beatrice simply lifted a hand and pointed toward Subaru. Flugel's eyes followed the gesture, and the moment they landed on the sleeping pair, he froze. His eyelids lowered, and he dragged a hand down his face with a long, drawn-out sigh. "That idiot… seriously?"
Both Hikari and Beatrice moved in close, tugging at his sleeves.
"Master? Is something wrong?" "Flugel-nii, what's with that reaction?"
Flugel sank down on the edge of the bed, his gaze distant yet thoughtful. "No cause for alarm—at least, not right now. I'm just… surprised. I wouldn't have expected Subaru to take such a bold step. Am I wrong?"
Hikari crossed her arms with a huff. "He's unpredictable, sure—but so are you, Flugel-nii. So you don't get to judge!"
Beatrice nodded firmly, siding with her.
A quiet laugh escaped him, and with a mock gesture of defeat, Flugel lifted both hands. "Fine, fine. I surrender."
A few hours later, the stillness of the room was broken by the gentle, sleepy murmurs that escaped Emilia's lips. Her delicate lashes trembled faintly before her eyelids parted with languid hesitation. The early light of morning filtered through the thin curtains, painting her face in a soft golden glow that carried a sense of quiet bliss. She lay still for a moment, basking in the warmth, before her gaze drifted to the figure beside her. Subaru was sprawled peacefully on the bed, lost deep in the embrace of sleep, his breathing steady and slow. Emilia turned toward him, her movements unhurried, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, shaking him softly.
"Subaruuuu… mmh… we need to get up," she murmured in a voice that was tender and soothing, tinged with a playful note.
Subaru cracked one eye open, his face still heavy with the weight of exhaustion. Without responding, and still halfway between dreams and reality, he shifted closer, wrapping an arm around her. Emilia let out a startled, breathy gasp. "Hah!.. Subaru?"
"Just a little longer… please. It's warm… it's perfect," he muttered, his voice muffled as he buried his face against her shoulder. His arms tightened around her, clinging as though to keep the morning at bay.
Emilia's lips curved into a small smile. She lifted her hand and slowly combed her fingers through his messy hair, letting them glide along the soft strands. She could have stayed there forever, but the day awaited. "No, you sleepyhead… We can do this later. If you get up now…"
The words had an almost magical effect. Subaru's eyes snapped open and, in a sudden burst of energy, he tumbled out of bed, landing on the floor before springing upright. "Promise?!"
Emilia laughed in surprise at his transformation. "Mhm, of course, Subaru! That's a promise."
Subaru, grinning in triumph, raised his fist in the air—only to freeze as his gaze fell on three silent witnesses in the corner: Flugel, Beatrice, and Hikari. All three had been watching quietly, their expressions betraying more than words could. Beatrice and Hikari's lips were pressed into tight lines as they struggled to hold back laughter, while Flugel wore a look that suggested he would rather unsee the whole scene. "Seriously?"
Beatrice finally let out a small, amused chuckle. "It seems Betty missed Subaru's absurd little performances."
Hikari bit her lip, clearly fighting a smirk. "Onii-chan, at least make sure you're alone next time. And you, Emilia-nee… please take good care of him."
Emilia's cheeks flushed crimson as she brought her hands up to cover her face. "Umm… well… I—"
Subaru opened his mouth to speak, but Flugel raised one hand in a firm gesture. "Enough embarrassing yourself. You've overslept. Both of you, get to the witch's tomb. Now."
With a sigh of surrender, Subaru gathered his things. Emilia slipped her arm through his as they left, holding onto him like a child seeking comfort. He didn't mind—on the contrary, he matched her steps with a quiet contentment, stealing glances at her every so often as though checking to confirm the happiness he felt was real.
The path to the tomb was lined with trees whispering in the cool morning breeze. The stone archway loomed ahead, the air around it carrying a subtle tension. At the entrance stood Garfiel, Ram, and Ryuzu, waiting.
Subaru lifted a hand in apology. "Sorry we're late."
Garfiel crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Damn right you are, punk. Would it kill you two clowns to be as responsible as the great me?!"
Ram rolled her eyes before delivering a sharp smack to the back of his head. "Garf, you literally just arrived yourself. Are you sure you're qualified to talk about responsibility?"
Garfiel, rubbing the back of his head, conceded with a quick bow. "Fair enough. My bad."
Subaru raised an eyebrow. "That quick? What do you think, Mili?"
Emilia tilted her head, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Hmm… Garfiel is definitely more respectful to Ram than to anyone else. I wonder if there's a special reason for that."
Before either could say more, the sound of quiet footsteps approached. Rem stepped into view, her voice calm. "Nee-sama, I'll take over your watch. Roswaal-sama requests your presence. You should go."
Ram rose to her feet with a calm yet commanding air, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as if measuring the weight of the moment. "Hmph, then there's nothing to be done. If it's Roswaal-sama's order, so be it." Her voice carried a firm finality, and with a subtle flick of her hair, she turned on her heel and strode briskly out of sight, her footsteps fading into the corridor beyond.
Rem's gaze lingered on her sister for a moment before she turned back to Subaru, the corners of her lips softening into a warm, reassuring smile. There was a quiet sincerity in her eyes, the kind that wordlessly conveyed trust.
Subaru met her smile with one of his own, a spark of determination flashing in his eyes. "Alright then," he said, adjusting his stance, "we'll be heading into the trial now—if you'll excuse us."
Ryuzu, standing a few paces away, gave her staff a delicate, almost ceremonial wave, her old eyes studying the two with quiet expectation. "I wish you both success, young Subaru, young Emilia. May your hearts remain steadfast."
Garfiel, leaning casually against a wall, folded his arms and burst into a loud, cocky laugh. "I bet neither of ya will pass! In the end, I'll be the one clearing those trials! Just you watch!"
Rem's expression shifted in an instant. With the swiftness of habit, she reached up and smacked Garfiel sharply on the head. "Garf, if you keep spouting nonsense and being rude, I'll tell Nee-sama about what you did yesterday." Her voice was calm, but the weight of her threat was unmistakable.
Garfiel froze mid-smirk, his cheeks flushing crimson. "H-Hey! That was totally natural, Rem! Ain't nothin' to be embarrassed about! And… fine, fine—I accept your terms. Just… don't tell anyone, alright?"
Subaru couldn't help letting out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "Wouldn't dream of it."
That small laugh seemed to reignite Garfiel's irritation, and he spun toward Subaru, jabbing a finger in his direction. "Oi! Shut it, freak! You're a guy—you should get it!"
Rem's eyes sharpened into a dangerous glare, the air around her seeming to chill. "Quiet, Garf."
Her tone alone was enough to snuff out his bravado. His grin faltered instantly. "…Alright," he muttered, retreating a step.
With the chatter behind them fading, Subaru and Emilia set their sights once more on the looming entrance of the Witch's Tomb. The air grew heavier with each step they took, shadows stretching long over the ancient stones. Emilia's grip on Subaru's arm tightened subtly, her slender fingers trembling against his sleeve.
He tilted his head toward her, his voice low but steady. "We've got this, Mili. Don't worry—I'm right here with you." His smile was small, yet deliberate, a silent promise that he would not let go.
Emilia's eyes searched his for a moment, as if looking for something solid to hold onto. Finally, a faint but genuine smile broke across her face. "I hope you're right, Subaru… I really do."
They crossed the threshold, stepping into the cold, dimly lit chamber within the tomb. A hush fell over them as the oppressive stillness wrapped around their senses. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, their thoughts began to blur, their bodies growing weightless as the pull of the trial took hold.
The first trial had begun… once again, and this time, neither of them could be certain what awaited in the depths of their own hearts.
To be continued....
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I sincerely want to apologize for the short length of the chapters and the extremely slow pacing of events in my work. I know it might be frustrating for readers who are expecting more rapid developments, but I've been facing some significant personal challenges that have made it difficult to keep up the momentum. About two months ago, I took the university entrance exam—a milestone I had been preparing for and dreading at the same time. Unfortunately, the results were far from what I had hoped for, and my score wasn't good enough to easily secure a place at a university. This outcome has put a heavy weight on my plans, making it much harder for me to move forward toward higher education.
What's even more disheartening is that I can't get into the program I've been dreaming about for years. The thought of spending another full year preparing for the exam again feels overwhelming and exhausting. I find myself caught between two difficult options—retake the exam and endure another year of stress and uncertainty, or choose a different path that may not be what I truly want. I am deeply conflicted, unsure of which choice will lead me to a better future.
My family, while meaning well, can be quite strict at times. Their expectations and their tendency to apply pressure affect both my study environment and my motivation to push forward. It's hard to stay focused and positive when you feel like you're constantly under scrutiny. On top of that, the education system itself feels deeply flawed, adding another layer of anxiety to the situation. If I do decide to retake the exam next year, there's no guarantee that things will improve. In fact, there's the very real possibility that I could end up with an even lower score than before. That scenario would feel like a complete disaster—a total collapse of everything I've been working toward.
In the middle of all this uncertainty, I often find myself thinking back to the days when my mind was free from these burdens. I miss the times when my thoughts were clear, my heart was lighter, and I could sit down to write with genuine inspiration. Those moments of peace and creativity feel so far away now, yet I still hope that I can find my way back to them someday.
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