The next morning, Crusch, Felix, Felt, Garfiel, and Rem all sat around the war table in Crusch’s command tent.

“Damn it, Rem. Why didn’t you fucking tell us?” Garf demanded smashing his fist down on the table.

“We could have brought Subaru home!” Felt yelled.

“I didn’t tell you, Garf, because your ‘plan’ was idiotic,” Rem said calmly, “If you had attacked the witch, you would both be dead right now.”

Crusch was drumming her fingers on the table, “Your very heroic intentions non-withstanding, Master Garfiel, it is highly unlikely that your proposed course of action would have broken the enchantment this witch has placed on Subaru Natsuki,” She said in a conciliatory tone.

Garf folded his arms across his chest with a scowl.

On a personal level, this whole mess might actually benefit me. Subaru Natsuki being captured or ensnared by the witch has got to be damaging to his potential appeal as king, if anyone believed it, that is. My scouts have been tearing the woods apart for days with little sleep and they’ve turned up nothing.

While the scouts have been scrupulously professional in their debriefings, there is also plenty of grumbling echoing up from the ranks. The mabeasts in the forests are all stirred up right now, possibly by the Witch Cult deliberately. The scouts are in considerable danger when they go out and they need to search in larger groups than I’d prefer in order to protect themselves. After days of frantic searching with nothing located, the scouts are beginning to wonder if this is some kind of snipe hunt. They’ve been told that Subaru Natsuki, the newfound hero of the land has been kidnapped by the legendary Witch of Envy, a storybook monster used to make small children behave.

I suppose I wouldn’t believe it either.

“Did he give you any indication of where they were going?” Crusch asked Rem.

“I didn’t ask,” Rem replied carelessly.

Garf and Felt both scowled at her.

Interesting. Garf and Felt are desperate to get Subaru back but the blue haired maid appears happy to be shut of him. Some dissension in the ranks? Subaru’s people always seemed fanatically loyal to him. This maid who seems to resent him is an abnormality. Perhaps she could be useful to me.

I wonder why she resents Subaru. She seems angry that he left with the witch but if he was bewitched then he had no choice, did he not? Or… does she doubt he was bewitched? Perhaps she thinks that Subaru Natsuki is working with the witch willingly?

That opens up a whole world of new possibilities and none of them are good.

“Have we received any word from Reinhard?” Crusch asked Felix.

“Nya, the fight is over for the moment. Reinhard and his foe did so much damage to one another that they were both sent flying. Reinhard eventually returned to the battlefield but his foe did not reappear. He’s searching for him now but it’s been close to two days since the fight ended and not a trace. Reinhard is most unhappy at our lack of success locating Subaru Natsuki. He’s threatening to call off the search for the enemy and go look for his master himself if he doesn’t pick up some sign of the Archbishop’s trail shortly,” Felix replied.

“A foe who can fight Reinhard van Astrea to a standstill. Terrifying,” Crusch muttered rubbing her face, “Do any of you know anything about this threat?”

“Regulus,” Felt and Garfiel said together.

“I’m sorry?” Crusch replied.

“This has to be Regulus,” Garfiel grumbled, “The Captain told us about how dangerous and powerful he was.”

“Was this one of the Archbishops that Subaru Natsuki believed that he had killed?” Crusch asked.

“Nah. The Captain says that he fought this guy to a standstill and they both wound up having to withdraw,” Garfiel explained. “I saw Regulus rip up a whole forest with no effort at all at the Sanctuary and the Captain claimed that he was completely invulnerable to any kind of attack.”

“Reinhard related a similar report, nya,” Felix said. “He never managed to so much as wound his foe. I did a little digging. Someone matching Regulus’s description was reportedly responsible for the destruction of the fortress city of Garkla in Vollachia about fifteen years ago. He slaughtered the entire city, the Vollanchian champion, and thousands of soldiers singlehandedly and emerged without a scratch.”

Crusch stared at Felix.

Completely invulnerable to attack? Destroying one of the most fortified cities in the world singlehandedly? What madness is this? And Subaru Natsuki fought a foe to a standstill that Reinhard van Astrea battled for almost two days before the contest resulted in a draw? What does that mean? That Subaru Natsuki is as powerful as Reinhard? More powerful than Reinhard? And perhaps aligned with the Witch of Envy? Could that be why he is so powerful?

Of course! What else could offer Subaru such incredible power? He must have formed an alliance with the Witch of Envy…

Good Gods. What did he promise her in exchange?!

Crusch shook off her reverie and drummed her fingers on the table, “Then it seems we have two problems: The released Witch of Envy and this Regulus person. We need to locate both of them.”

“Reinhard has been searching for any trace of Regulus for the past two days but he’s found nothing, nya,” Felix replied.

Crusch sighed, “Very well, then we must concentrate on Subaru Natsuki and the Witch of Envy. Did any of you get any impression of the witch’s goals while she was with you?”

Felt shook her head, “Well, for the most part, we avoided her as much as we could. All she seemed to do was sit there looking sad. The witch seemed willing to do whatever the boss asked without question.”

Crusch stared hard at Felt, Isn’t that interesting. Even if Subaru Natsuki was working with her by choice, shouldn’t the witch be the one giving orders? If Subaru was the one giving orders…

Things might be far worse than I dared to imagine.

I better not tip my hand about this yet. This needs to be phrased carefully…

“Alright,” Crusch said calmly, “Let’s assume that Subaru Natsuki is the one making the plans in their group.”

“What?!” Garfiel scoffed.

Crusch spread her hands in a placating gesture, “I am more aware than most of Subaru Natsuki’s remarkable intelligence. Perhaps the witch is attempting to leverage this brilliance by allowing him to make the plans for her. She may be using magic to… instill certain desires in him and then just standing back and letting him carry them out.”

Felt and Garfiel looked thoughtful while Rem simply stared straight ahead, stone faced.

“I remember that the boss did start talking about ‘dragon blood’ after we escaped the Sanctuary,” Felt remarked.

“Dragon blood?” Crusch replied.

“Yeah, I don’t remember him ever bringing it up before but since we left the Sanctuary, he mentioned it several times. He claimed that he had promised to get the dragon blood for the witch but I don’t know why,” Felt explained.

Crusch got a sinking feeling in her stomach but she pushed it aside, “Interesting but not terribly useful at the moment. I don’t think Subaru Natsuki is likely to find a dragon while he’s wandering around in the woods. Can anyone think of anything else?”

“The Captain was mostly talking about trying to fix everyone’s memories,” Garfiel added.

Fix them? Isn’t the whole story about memories being modified just a pretext to try to confuse his allies? Why would he be so committed to the notion once it was apparent that no one believed it?

It’s a ridiculous strategy anyway. If Subaru simply claimed that the girl was under his control and never mentioned anything about memories being modified, it is more than likely his companions would have believed him. Why even talk about modified memories? It just put the thought into everyone’s mind that Subaru had been bewitched and didn’t realize it. For a tactician of Subaru Natsuki’s caliber, this is a very clumsy mistake.

If nothing else, maybe this is a sign that the witch really did affect Subaru Natuski’s mind. Subaru would almost certainly have a better plan in place even if he was thrown off balance by the Witch Cult’s attack at the Sanctuary. However, even if the witch is supremely powerful, maybe she’s not all that clever. Maybe she initially made the mistake of using her magic to give Subaru Natsuki a plan to follow instead of setting the goal and letting him develop a strategy on his own.

“Hm,” Crusch muttered, “Perhaps we should adjourn for the time being. We have much to think about and we’ll doubtlessly all think better on a full stomach. The cooks are already preparing breakfast.”

As Crusch expected, the thought of ‘food’ got Garfiel’s immediate attention and he left the tent without comment. Felt followed him but cast a suspicious look back at Crusch.

Crusch opened her mouth to try to speak to Rem but the maid deliberately turned her back on Crusch and left without a word.

“Nya, this is crazy, Crusch,” Felix said quietly.

“It might be even worse than we think, Felix,” Crusch said staring at the map spread out before her with a dark expression.

“What do you mean?”

“It bothers me that everyone claims the witch is following Subaru’s lead,” She said.

“But I thought you said-”

“That was just a ruse to keep them quiet,” Crusch replied, “If I suggested that Subaru Natsuki was not bewitched but was working with the witch by choice, Felt and Garfiel would have stormed out and left. Worse still, they would have told Reinhard that I couldn’t be trusted and he’s our only hope against this ‘Regulus’ if he emerges again.”

“I don’t get it, nya. Why would Subaru Natsuki be working with the witch? What could she offer him? The throne?” Felix asked.

“No,” Crusch shook her head, “He was likely to gain that at a walk all by himself. Subaru Natsuki isn’t going to jeopardize a sure thing with an alliance with a witch for something he could accomplish all on his own.”

“Then what did he want, nya? Besides, what could he possibly offer the witch to gain her assistance?”

Crusch thought for a moment, “Let’s imagine that Subaru somehow made contact with the Witch of Envy. Let’s say that he was able to offer to free her from her prison. After four hundred years imprisoned, I’d guess that freedom is what she really wants. What if they signed a contract enforced by magic: Subaru frees the Witch of Envy from her prison and in exchange, she works for him. She uses her magic to make him emperor of the entire world.”

Felix’s eyes grew wide, “But how could Subaru have possibly set the witch free?”

“Who knows? More to the point, who cares? We know that she’s back and wandering the world. How she got out really isn’t relevant right now,” Crusch replied.

“If she got free, nya, I’d expect her to immediately kill her ally. Why would she accept being in a servile position to Subaru Natsuki once she didn’t need him anymore?” Felix said.

“Perhaps that’s part two of her plan,” Crusch admitted, “We don’t really know anything about their relationship so we can’t say for sure what the balance of power is. Maybe things are not as they seem and Subaru is the one following instructions. Maybe their alliance is enforced by magic that neither can break or maybe Subaru is threatening to re-imprison the witch if she disobeys. Or,” Crusch paused meaningfully, “Maybe she’s still too weak.”

“Too weak?”

“The ice spell that Felt described, the frost flowers that tried to eat her alive, sounds absolutely horrifying. I shudder to even imagine it. But on the scale of sorcery belonging to world destroying monsters? Those frost flowers are just a parlor trick,” Crusch said.

“Maybe she was holding back for some reason,” Felix said.

“Maybe,” Crusch allowed, “But maybe she wasn’t. Maybe what they saw was all that the witch is currently capable of because four hundred years sealed away have caused her magic to wither. Hence the dragon blood.”

“I don’t understand, nya.”

“The dragon blood is reputed to be able to heal any ailment. In extreme cases it’s said to be able to restore the dead to life. Do you think it could possibly be used to revivify the powers of an ancient witch?” Crusch asked.

Felix looked horrified.

“If this theory is true,” Crusch mused, “Then Subaru Natsuki is not merely a political threat or even a threat to the safety of the nation. He’s a threat to the entire world.”

“But, Crusch,” Felix murmured, “If Subaru needs the dragon blood for the witch to complete their bargain then why is he wandering around in the woods seemingly aimlessly? How does that advance his plan?”

“Perhaps it doesn’t,” Crusch shrugged, “Remember, Felix, no plan long survives contact with the enemy. Even Subaru Natsuki’s luck was bound to run out sooner or later. Maybe his plan went awry and he’s now attempting to improvise because everything went wrong,” Crusch paused, “We don’t know very much about the Witch Cult. Few members will surrender even to save their own lives and fewer still will disclose any information about the Cult under questioning or even torture. The little information we have suggests that there is a large schism in the order between those who worship the Witch of Envy and those who fear her. The Witch Cult has been quiet for years but right before the witch reappeared, the Cult showed up in numbers never seen before and armed for battle.

“Perhaps Subaru crossed a line with the Cult when he tried to actually free the witch. Maybe all this fighting is because they’re trying to hunt down Subaru and the witch before they get too powerful. The Witch Cult caught all of us by complete surprise so it’s not impossible to imagine that they took Subaru off guard as well. Perhaps Subaru wasn’t prepared for the Cult to attack the Sanctuary when they did and he had to abandon his original plan and start improvising. On a hunch, he probably wanted to keep the Witch in seclusion, hiding her from the world while she was still weak. The Sanctuary would have been a perfect place to do that. But then the Witch Cult attacked and made that plan impossible so Subaru had to get the witch out of there quickly before the Cult could kill her. Unfortunately this meant that a bunch of people saw her and things spiraled out of Subaru’s control.”

“Crusch!” Felix gasped, “We need to warn everyone!”

“Warn them of what?” Crusch sighed, “This fever dream of mine? We have no evidence, Felix. Like it or not, Subaru Natsuki is the hero of the land right now. Worse yet, he’s my political rival. If I denounce him it will just look like a slander campaign. Any accusation against Subaru Natsuki will need to be supported not just by evidence but by overwhelming evidence. Otherwise it will just look like a desperate, childish attack from a struggling foe. Most of my own officers are profoundly skeptical that the Witch of Envy is free at all, much less that Subaru Natsuki has been kidnapped by her. If I tell them that I suspect he’s become her accomplice, they’ll call me delusional.”

“What if we convinced, Felt, nya? If she denounced him then people would-”

“People would wonder what I gave her to make her betray her lord,” Crusch dismissed, “That’s all that they would wonder.”

“How are we going to get evidence then, nya?”

Crusch rubbed her face, “Let’s try to think like him for a moment,” Crusch mused, “If I was in Subaru Natsuki’s shoes, what would I do next?”

Felix thought about it, “I think I’d use my original plan, nya. I’d try to find a safe place to hide the witch for a while and then come back claiming that I escaped her. Or maybe claim that I’d killed her? I’d look like a hero and the witch could rest in safety until I got the dragon’s blood to restore her, nya.”

Crusch glanced at Felix, “That is a very shrewd plan, my friend.”

“I had a good teacher, Crusch,” Felix smiled.

“OK, so assuming that is what Subaru Natsuki does, how can we counter it?” Crusch asked.

Felix looked awkward.

Crusch sighed, “I fear we may be once more out of our depth, Felix.”

Late the previous night, Subaru and company had marched south while deep in the woods. They were no longer following the road. Subaru knew that the army was likely to be sweeping through the forest shortly so he urged them all to move quickly and continue on without rest as they hid deep in the forest moving more or less south toward Arlem.

They found a running stream and Emilia and Subaru quickly refilled the water gourds that Rem had placed in their pack.

Subaru heard a growl and quickly glanced up. Across the river were three wolf-like animals with spikes running down their spines and glowing red eyes.

Subaru felt a chill. He’d read about creatures like this: mabeasts. Creatures formed long ago from witchcraft. Creatures that existed to torment and slay living beings.

“Emilia, watch Puck and Beatrice,” He muttered slipping Beatrice off his shoulder and stepped forward, placing himself between the mabeasts and his family.

“Subaru, maybe we should get out of here!” Emilia urged.

Subaru triggered Reason and Judgment.

Hm. Only three. If they live similar to wolves back home that’s a very small pack. Scouts? Probably not, wolfs don’t usually hunt that way and if they are scouts then why have three traveling together?

Two of them have slight injuries. Have they been fighting? Were they driven out of their pack for some reason? Or did some animal not go down quietly?

Regardless, running is a very bad idea. They have slender lanky bodies. These animals are built for chasing prey and running them down. They really want us to run so they can wear us out and finish us off when we’re exhausted. No, against animals like this you take a stand. You ask them if they’re willing to bleed for their next meal. Animals that make that calculation will probably back off, especially if they don’t outnumber or outweigh their prey.

Subaru restarted time.

“You guys want to start something?!” He yelled stepping forward with a raised fist.

The mabeasts growled but they didn’t try to cross the shallow stream. They looked at each other, their canine faces both angry and reluctant.

Subaru was coldly furious. The stress, fear, and exhaustion of the past few days came to a head and he found himself hoping that they would try something. Indomitable would let him smash the mabeasts easily and he would finally have a foe that he could actually fight instead of one he had to run and hide from. Or one that cut him with words in ways that might never heal.

The mabeasts growled a bit but then they turned and walked away from Subaru, casting him many looks of loathing from burning red eyes. As the distance between them increased the mabeasts went from walking to loping to running and then they disappeared over a hill.

Subaru sighed, uncertain if he was relieved or disappointed, “Alright, let’s keep going,” He muttered to the others. He lifted Beatrice back onto his shoulder.

“This is an odd place to find wolgarm, in fact. Betty wonders what they were doing here,” Beatrice said as they resumed their trek toward the south.

“Why? Is this not wolgarm territory?” Subaru asked. “It seems like they’d do fine in the forest so far from any towns. There should be plenty of animals to eat.”

“Mabeasts don’t hunt out of hunger, in fact. They are nourished by ambient mana and do not require food. They hunt because they enjoy killing, I suppose. The mana in this forest is very weak. Wolgarm are known to live in areas without strong magic but they make up for the deficit in their diet by killing people and draining their mana. There are no people near this area. If the mabeasts lived here for any length of time then they should starve to death, I suppose.”

“Well, they didn’t look starving and if they had been starving I don’t think they’d have backed down that easily. Maybe they’re not from around here?” Subaru asked.

“Hm. Maybe the Witch Cult is using them to hunt us, I suppose,” Beatrice muttered.

“Oh no,” Emilia whispered.

“I doubt it, Beako,” Subaru replied, “If they’re scouts then I doubt they’d go off in sets of three. Maybe they were driven out of their territory and are now looking for new homes?”

“Driven out by what, I suppose?”

“I don’t know,” Subaru shrugged, “There was that huge battle up north. It certainly spooked me, maybe it spooked the mabeasts too. If that battle is still going, or roaming all over the area the mabeasts might have decided to get out of dodge.”

Beatrice frowned, “It’s possible, I suppose.”

“Subaru, if that’s true,” Emilia frowned, “Then we might run into more mabeasts on our way south.”

“Yup. Because that’s how our luck goes: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” Subaru said with a weary laugh.

Subaru was exhausted and his legs felt like rubber but he kept on marching, carrying the spirits on his shoulders.

They marched most of the night only pausing to sleep when clouds swept in from the west, hiding the stars and making it impossible to be certain which way they were going.

The group had collapsed in exhaustion in a glade of soft moss, Beatrice and Puck using Subaru as a pillow while Emilia lay nearby but not so close as to make the spirits uncomfortable.

“Subaru,” She whispered quietly staring up at the cloudy sky, “Are you alright?”

He gave a weary chuckle, “I’m pretty tired, Mili,” He admitted.

“Me too. But I meant… are you alright after what Rem said to you?”

Subaru glanced at her, “I was actually about to ask you the same question. I mean… you’re the one she called a witch.”

“And you’re the one that she called a betrayer,” Emilia replied calmly.

“Wow. We’re really nefarious, aren’t we? Maybe we should do the whole Bonnie and Clyde thing.”

“Who?”

Subaru chuckled, “They’re a famous pair of criminals were I come from. A pair of lovers who robbed their way across a nation. They were kind of a romantic icon, I guess. Two people who were absolutely obsessed with one another even though the whole world was against them. I mean, they were really just crooks but people romanticized them and their love story until they became folk heroes,” He said quietly so as not to wake the spirits.

“What happened to them?”

Subaru coughed, “Um, I think the law finally caught up with them and killed them.”

“Sad,” Emilia murmured.

“Yeah, sorry I brought them up,” Subaru muttered.

Emilia lay on her back watching the clouds roll by and the stars come out overhead, “Subaru, did what Rem said hurt you?”

Subaru hesitated, “Well, yeah a little. But it also made me pretty angry.”

“I can understand that. Rem was doing her best to hurt you.”

Subaru was quiet for a moment, “Well, yeah, I was angry at Rem but… I think I was also a little angry at myself. I didn’t like the fact that she called me out and I didn’t have any real response.”

“What do you mean, Subaru?”

Subaru sighed, “Rem accused me of being willing to sacrifice her and the others to protect you.”

“It was a horrible thing for her to say; a very cruel lie. I can understand why it would bother you so much.”

Subaru opened his mouth and debated his words for a long moment, “…Yeah,” He said weakly. He changed the subject, “What about you, Mili? How are you feeling?”

Emilia gave a tired laugh, “Don’t worry about me, Subaru. Rem is far from the first person to call me a witch.”

“She might be the first person you thought was a friend doing it though,” Subaru paused, “Although for some reason I do remember calling you ‘Satella’ a lot the day we met. Still not sure why I did that.”

Emilia giggled and cover her face with her hands, “Oh Gods, I still don’t know why I told you that.”

“In hindsight, it was kind of funny though,” Subaru chuckled, “When I blacked out after Elsa almost sliced me in half, I was worried that I was going to die without knowing the name of the girl I’d died trying to save. That would have been lame.”

Emilia didn’t respond right away, “Subaru, please stop talking like that.”

“I guess you don’t see the humor in that situation?”

“Subaru, I have a hard time seeing the humor in any situation where you could have died. Especially if it would have been all my fault,” She replied.

“If I had died that night, I’m pretty sure we both should have blamed Elsa,” Subaru said.

“No, it would have been my fault. You wouldn’t even have been there if not for me. You almost died trying to help me,” Emilia muttered, “And now everyone is trying to track us down because they think I’m a witch. Even Rem wants you dead.”

“For the record, Mili, Rem wants me dead again. So really this is just coming full circle for the two of us.”

Emilia was quiet for a moment, “Subaru, I keep imagining someone attacking us. The Witch Cult, the Lagunican army, our friends, even just a mob of angry peasants with pitch forks. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you or Puck or Beatrice because of me.”

“Nothing is going to happen to us,” Subaru scoffed, “We just breezed right through the main army camp! We’re running rings around all of our opponents. Sure, all this tromping through the forest isn’t exactly fun but we’re making do.”

Emilia took a deep breath, “Subaru, I think maybe… I should go.”

“Go where?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe back to the forest?”

Subaru gave her a warning look, “Emilia, that’s one hell of a walk from here and you’d have to go back through the army camp. I don’t think you’d have much luck sneaking back on your own,” He said in a calm tone.

“Subaru, I’m stronger than you think.”

“I know that,” Subaru agreed, “That doesn’t mean I want you to go off alone when it seems like everyone in the whole world is coming after you. We’re staying together because I think it’s safer for all of us that way.”

She was quiet for a moment, “Subaru, they’re only after you and Puck and Beatrice because of me. If I left, you’d all be welcomed back with open arms. I keep imagining something horrible happening to one of you, and it would be all my fault.”

Subaru sighed, “Mili, can you please do something for me?”

“What is it?”

“Stop taking credit for what terrible people do!” Subaru snapped.

“What?”

“Look, Mili,” Subaru sighed, “Elsa tried to kill me and, yeah I guess she wouldn’t have been doing that if I had never met you, but that’s what makes her trash, not you. You’re not responsible for what Elsa did or what anyone else does. The fact that people behave badly when you’re around isn’t your fault and you don’t have to feel guilty for it,” Subaru explained.

Emilia paused, “Subaru, do you honestly think that I could watch one of you die and not blame myself?”

Subaru sighed, “No. I guess I’d do the same thing. But you walking away alone isn’t the solution. Because if you did sneak off, I would just follow you no matter where the trail led and we’d both be more vulnerable because when we ran into serious trouble we wouldn’t be able to deal with it together.”

Emilia didn’t reply and a few minutes later Subaru fell asleep.

Subaru woke up the next morning and saw Emilia sitting there with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring off into the distance.

Subaru gently shook the spirits awake.

Beatrice yawned, “Betty misses having a bed, I suppose,” She muttered.

Subaru kissed the top of her head, “Maybe we could get you a gem like Puck uses,” He twitted.

“Good idea! It’s actually pretty comfortable once you get used to it, Betty,” Puck agreed.

“Betty believes that she will pass,” Beatrice grumbled as Subaru took some dried fruit out of the backpack. He ate some and then handed the rest to Emilia.

“It looks like we’re running low on food,” Emilia murmured.

“Yeah, but I’m hoping to solve that problem today. I think we’ll reach Arlem early this afternoon.”

“OK, Subaru,” Puck asked settling on his shoulder, “What’s the plan when we get there?”

Subaru sighed, “Well… honestly, Puck, I’m not sure. We’ll need to feel things out. Hopefully we can get a good view of what’s going on down there without revealing ourselves or maybe find a villager we can trust. After that… we’ll just have to wing it, I guess.”

“Subaru, not to criticize, but I really miss your old plans. They were much better thought out,” Puck grumbled.

“Can we stop at the manor on our way,” Beatrice asked, “Betty misses her library, I suppose.”

Subaru wrapped his arms around her, “I’m sorry, Beako, I just don’t think that we can. Fredericka is definitely still at the manor and you know that she’d report us. And that’s the best case scenario. Garf and the twins might be there too. Even if Fredericka was alone, she’d rat us out and we’d have an army on our trail in a few days. I think going back to the library is going to have to wait,” He said sadly.

Beatrice sighed, “That’s fine, I suppose. Betty has her Subaru and her Bubby. Betty can deal with everything else.”

“That’s my brave girl,” Subaru whispered, cuddling her.

The group saw the manor house in the distance around lunch time. Subaru and Emilia ate some more preserved fruit and noted that their bag was almost empty.

They passed the manor house and continued south toward Arlem village, still hiding deep in the woods.

As they approached the village they began to move closer to the road that led between the manor house and the village, hoping to keep their eye on things.

As the village came into sight through the trees, Subaru gestured for quiet, “I heard something,” He whispered.

Subaru and Emilia crouched down as Subaru peered through the trees and saw a young girl walking down the road. It was Petra.

“Petra!” Subaru called quietly.

The girl jumped looking around until she caught sight of Subaru waving at her from the bushes.

Petra’s face lit up and she was about to cry out when Subaru put a finger to his lips and gestured for her to come closer.

Petra ran over and flung her arms around Subaru’s waist with a bright smile.

Subaru heard Beatrice grumbling from his shoulder.

“Subaru!” She cheered quietly, “When did you get back?!”

“Just now, Petra,” He said wrapping an arm around her.

She wrinkled her nose, “Subaru, you smell terrible.”

He actually laughed, “Yeah, I know. Did everyone get back here from the Sanctuary OK?”

“Not everyone yet, a lot of people are still missing because of the fighting near the Sanctuary and us all getting split up but the chief thinks that everyone got out of the Sanctuary safely at least,” Petra replied.

“Well that’s good,” Subaru replied.

“Subaru, what are-” Petra stopped talking and her face turned white as she looked at something behind him.

Subaru glanced over his shoulder and realized that Petra was staring in open mouth horror at Emilia. Her hood had fallen down and she looked back at the little girl with resignation.

“Subaru!” Petra gasped, “Is that-”

“Petra,” Subaru interrupted keeping a firm grip on Petra’s shoulder. It wouldn’t do for her to run off in a panic right now, “I would like you to meet Emilia. She is a very close friend of mine,” Subaru said pulling Petra over closer to Emilia.

“Your… friend?!” Petra squeaked.

“That’s right,” Subaru said calmly, kneeling down in front of the girl, “Petra, one thing that you’re going to have to learn is that very often appearances are misleading. Emilia is a wonderful person even if she looks like someone you’ve been taught to be afraid of.”

Petra looked back and forth between Subaru and Emilia, “Really?”

Subaru nodded, “I’ve gambled my life on Emilia being trustworthy several times. I haven’t regretted it yet.”

Petra looked doubtfully at him.

Emilia coughed, “It’s very nice to meet you, Petra. My name is Emilia.”

Petra didn’t answer. She looked back at Subaru uncertainly, “Subaru, are you… sure?”

Subaru sighed, “Petra, I’m not going to tell you that you can trust everyone. We don’t live in that kind of world. Some people will trick and betray you as soon as you give them the chance. You can’t trust someone you just met. You need to watch them and decide what kind of person they really are but you should always give them the chance to prove that they’re worthy of your trust.”

Petra looked unconvinced and Subaru silently gave up on this plan. He moved onto more important subjects with a sigh, “Petra, there’s a reason that we’re hiding in the forest right now. I can’t get into the details but it’s very important that nobody knows that we’re here. Have any of my friends come through Arlem in the past few days?”

Petra shook her head, “No. I haven’t seen any of them since we left the Sanctuary.”

“OK. Petra, I need you to bring the village chief here. I need you to make sure that he’s the only one who knows that I’m here. And please don’t tell him anything about Emilia. Can you do that for me?” Subaru asked.

“Sure!” Petra nodded, “I’ll be right back!”

She took a last confused glance at Emilia and then took off running.

Subaru sighed as she left.

“Subaru, are you sure that involving the chief is a good idea?” Emilia asked.

“No,” Subaru admitted.

“Then why didn’t we just ask Petra-”

“Because we need supplies, Mili!” Subaru reminded her, “If we asked Petra to grab everything that we need, she’ll be punished as a thief.”

“Oh. I suppose I hadn’t thought of that,” Emilia replied.

“Also, Mili, you should probably keep your hood up. Petra’s reaction was… less promising than I hoped,” He sighed.

“I guess we’re not going to bother introducing me in Arlem, then?” Emilia murmured pulling up her hood, “I thought that Petra would believe you if you said the sun would came up in the west tomorrow. But she was still skeptical about me not being a monster.”

Subaru sighed.

Fabulous. I brought us on a three day journey south and it looks like it was a massive waste of time. I hope I can get supplies because my only remaining option is to flee over the border. Reinhard is forbidden to cross the border by law and the army doesn’t want Emilia badly enough to risk starting a war with Gusteko. I hope.

A few minutes later, Petra returned, physically pulling the village chief along behind her.

“Petra,” He said in irritation, “Why did this need to interrupt my lunch? Is this some new game that you’re playing?”

“Good afternoon, chief,” Subaru called out.

The village chief jumped, “Lord Subaru! Forgive me,” He said with a low bow. Petra started at the chief’s bow and dropped into a curtsy as well.

“Please don’t trouble yourselves. My companions and I are traveling in secret right now. Are you aware of what has been going on since you left the Sanctuary, chief?” Subaru asked.

“We’re heard lots of strange and contradictory rumors, my lord. I can’t say for certain which ones are true,” The chief replied.

“Great. Then you’re just about as well informed as anyone else right now,” Subaru drawled, “Anyway, my friends and I are in desperate need of supplies before we depart. Do you have any that we could purchase?”

“I wouldn’t hear of it, Lord Subaru! You are the savior of your village twice over! Anything you desire shall be yours with my compliments,” The chief replied.

Subaru sighed, “I have gold and I do intend to pay fair value, chief. The village needs funds to rebuild after the recent disasters so please do not argue with me on this point,” Subaru warned.

The villager chief caught his tone, “Of course, Lord Subaru. What is it that you desire?”

“Are there any earth dragons in the village? A wagon? Or maybe some riding earth dragons?”

“I’m afraid not, my lord. The wagons have all gone away to fetch resources so that we can rebuild our village. If you could wait here for a few days I am certain we could acquire some for you.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have time for that,” Subaru sighed, “Forget it. What we could use is some packs of preserved food. A map of the continent would be wonderful. We also need a few warm hooded robes for traveling in the cold and if you have a tent or something similar, I’d be grateful.”

“Of course, Lord Subaru,” The chief said, “I will fetch them for you straight away.”

“One more thing, chief, it’s vital that my companions and I travel in total secrecy right now. I need you to keep our visit strictly confidential,” Subaru informed him.

The chief looked confused but bowed his head, “Of course, my lord. You may consider Petra and myself the very souls of discretion.”

“Thank you, chief,” Subaru replied.

The chief hurried off to gather supplies.

Petra walked up to Subaru, “Subaru, I made you something.”

Subaru raised an eyebrow.

Petra took his hand and gently deposited a white cloth handkerchief in his palm.

Petra looked away from Subaru, blushing scarlet, “Miss Fredericka told me that… it’s proper for a lady to give a gentleman she cares about a handkerchief before he leaves on a dangerous journey. It will help keep him safe if he keeps it and remembers to return it to her.”

Oh man, this has got to be the cutest thing ever. Well, except for the fact that Beatrice’s grumbling keeps growing louder the longer Petra is here. Then again that’s kind of cute too.

“Thank you so much, Petra,” Subaru told her with a smile, “I’ll cherish it and make sure to bring it back to you when I return.”

Petra’s smile was like the sun coming up.

Emilia chuckled quietly from behind them.

Petra turned to look at her and Emilia quickly wiped the grin off her face, looking gravely serious.

Petra approached Emilia who suddenly looked nervous.

Petra stared at Emilia darkly and then handed her something, “Here.”

Emilia took the item. It appeared to be a a small bracelet made out of beads.

“What is this?” She asked.

“I made it,” Petra said awkwardly, “I want you to have it. I… I don’t trust you. I don’t have any reason to trust you. But if Subaru says you’re OK then maybe… maybe I could learn to trust you. Maybe some day we could be friends so… I want you to have it.”

Emilia’s eyes filled up with tears. She tied the bracelet around her wrist, “Thank you, Petra. I will treasure it always.”

Petra smiled awkwardly and stepped away from Emilia to stand next to Subaru again.

The chief returned a moment later carrying two heavy backpacks, two robes, and a bag.

“Here you go my lord,” The chief said panting for breath, “Two bags of preserved food, the robes you requested, and my personal tent. It’s due to your heroism that I’m now sleeping in my own house instead of in that tent so take it with my gratitude. I also put the map you requested in your food bag.”

“Thank you, chief,” Subaru said pulling fifty gold coins out of his pouch and handing them to the shocked chief.

“My lord! This is far too much!”

“It’s not for the goods,” Subaru replied calmly, “You told me those were free. The gold is an investment in rebuilding Arlem. I want the village rebuilt as soon as possible.”

I’d like to give him more but we may need gold ourselves the way we’re running without any support. I might need to get us situated for the long term somewhere.

The chief had tears in his eyes. He bowed his head, “You humble me, my lord.”

Subaru knelt down to look Petra in the eye, “Petra, I need to go now. It’s possible that I won’t see you again for a while but I’ll always think of you very fondly.”

Petra bit her lip, her eyes watery, “Take good care of that handkerchief. It will keep you safe.” She directed.

“I’ll keep it with me always,” Subaru promised giving her a tight hug.

Subaru stood up and shook the chief’s hand as Emilia started to gather the bags while keeping her hooded face turned away from the chief. Petra helped her with the bags.

“Thank you for your kindness, chief. I depart in good conscience knowing that the people of Arlem are in your hands,” Subaru said.

“Thank you, my lord. When you return from your journey, I promise you, the feast will truly be splendid!” The chief promised.

“I look forward to it,” Subaru smiled trying to pull on his new, much heavier backpack without dislodging Beatrice.

Subaru waved goodbye to them and then, hand in hand, Emilia and Subaru walked away into the forest.

The pair walked hand in hand, feeling happier than they had in many days while Beatrice quietly cuddled with Puck on Subaru’s shoulder.

Emilia carried the tent bag in one hand while Subaru used his free hand to steady Beatrice on his shoulder.

“Little Petra grows more charming by the day,” Emilia commented glancing down at her bracelet. She gave Subaru a smirk, “Do I have competition?”

“Do I?” Subaru chuckled, “I saw the look on your face when she gave you that bracelet.”

Emilia laughed, “It certainly did put a smile on my face. Petra looked so afraid of me, and then you told her to take a second look and she actually did. It was the best news I’ve gotten in days.”

“She’s a good kid,” Subaru agreed.

“Betty is thinking that she has heard more than enough about that girl, I suppose,” Beatrice grumbled.

Subaru and Emilia both laughed.

“Alright well, we got some supplies,” Puck yawned from Beatrice’s arms, “So what now?”

Subaru sighed, “I think we may need to go underground for a bit, guys.”

“Subaru, you want to live in a cave?” Emilia asked.

“No! I mean, we’re going to have to lay low. Keep out of sight for a few weeks, maybe even a few months. Give everyone a chance to calm down,” Subaru explained.

“Could this also give Betty and Bubby a chance to rest, in fact?” Beatrice sighed.

“I’m pretty sure we’re all desperate for a rest, Beako,” Subaru agreed.

“Well, Subaru, we can’t just hang out in the woods for months. Our supplies won’t last,” Puck said.

“No, we are absolutely not going to camp out in the woods for months on end. A few more weeks of this and we’ll all be willing to surrender just to get a hot bath,” Subaru replied.

“When we use to live in the forest, Puck used to use magic to keep me clean,” Emilia mused, “I’d just take all my clothes off and then he’d use a special fire to clean all the dirt and grime off my body without burning my skin.”

From his seat in Beatrice’s arms, Puck looked at Emilia incredulously, “What are you talking about?!”

Subaru glanced at Emilia with a sly smile.

Emilia noticed his expression and looked annoyed, “Subaru! Are you having lewd thoughts about me right now?”

“Oh, yeah!” Subaru cheered.

“Subaru,” She sighed, “You are such a child!”

Subaru wrapped his arm around her shoulder and nuzzled her neck for a moment, “But you love me anyway.”

Emilia gave him a resigned smile, “You know I do.”

The two separated, walking through the woods hand in hand.

“Puck, any chance of a ‘fire bath,’ or whatever you call it, tonight? Emilia and I both smell pretty funky at the moment,” Subaru asked.

“Betty didn’t want to say anything, but you absolutely do,” Beatrice said.

Subaru chuckled and kissed Beatrice’s cheek.

“I don’t know, Subaru. I don’t know how she knows that I can do that-”

Subaru and Emilia shared an exasperated look.

“-But I don’t think it would be a great idea. Betty and I are still exhausted. I spent most of my mana recharging Betty and we’re both still pretty weak, especially after healing everyone from the frost flowers and the fight with Ley. We should save our mana for serious problems not ‘Subaru and the witch smell bad’ problems.”

“As always, Puck, you’re probably right,” Subaru replied.

“My wisdom is both a blessing and a curse,” The magical cat replied sagely, licking his paw.

“Well, maybe we can find a lake or a river to bathe in tonight,” Subaru suggested to Emilia.

“That would be nice,” She agreed.

“Do you think you’d need help any washing your back?” Subaru asked solicitously.

Emilia rolled her eyes heavenward with an exasperated sigh but Subaru saw her hiding a smile.

“Subaru, not to interrupt this fascinating discussion about bathing habits but can we get back to explaining our plan?” Puck asked.

“Oh. Right. So our current problems, in order of danger, are: Reinhard van Astrea, the entire Lagunican army, and the Witch Cult,” Subaru said.

“Betty wants someone to explain how we are in so much trouble that the Witch Cult pursuing us is only number three on our list of problems, I suppose,” Beatrice muttered.

“Just natural talent I guess, Beako,” Subaru chuckled. “Anyway, two out of three of these problems can be solved by us just getting over the border for a while. The closest border is Gusteko so my plan is to head off to the north east and sneak across; hopefully while everyone thinks we’re still heading south or hiding around Arlem.”

“Subaru, I don’t think they like you very much in Gusteko. You killed or captured several of their troops,” Emilia said with a worried frown.

“Mili, we’re not going to pay them an official state visit,” Subaru told her with a pained expression, “We’re just a small family on the road. If I remember the map correctly there’s a large city not far across the border called Orcos. We still have plenty of gold so we’ll go there, find an inn, and just settle in to wait for everything to calm down. We’ll start writing letters to Felt and Reinhard explaining the situation and we’ll open a dialog with them.”

“Do you think they’d really listen?” Emilia asked.

“Sure! One of the reasons that everyone flew off the handle like that was because we were trapped in a war zone and they needed to make snap decisions to protect their lives. Panic is a common reaction to rapidly changing situations, especially if you’re worried that said situation involves a world-ending witch. However, as time goes on and things calm down and the world doesn’t end, Felt and Reinhard will start to become open to the idea that maybe they overreacted. We’ll talk it through and once they believe that you’re not a threat to me or them, we’ll all work together to figure out how to fix everyone’s memories,” Subaru finished.

“OK, I guess that makes sense,” Puck muttered, “How far to Orcos?”

Subaru sighed, “That’s the lousy part. If I remember correctly, I think we’re talking about at least a six day walk to cross the border and then another day or two to get to the city. And we may have to add more time because the trail will probably get rough and hilly.”

“So eight to ten days, I suppose,” Beatrice sighed on his shoulder.

“I don’t know why you’re complaining, Beako,” Subaru teased, “I’m the one walking on this trip. You have a nice comfy chair.”

Beatrice smirked at him, “Betty likes this chair, I suppose, but Betty would like a nice soft bed even better.”

“Oh, yeah,” Subaru agreed, “When we finally get someplace safe, I don’t think I’m going to want to move from the bed for a month.”

“I think that staying in bed that long might get boring pretty quickly, Subaru,” Emilia smiled.

“Oh, I’m sure I can think of some way to keep you interested,” Subaru smirked at her.

Emilia blushed.

Subaru and his companions made camp that night near a small clear pond.

They were deep in a grassy plain not far from the eastern mountains and they hadn’t seen a sign of humanity since leaving Arlem.

It took Emilia and Subaru over an hour to figure out how to pitch the tent and Beatrice’s ‘constructive’ criticism hindered more than it helped.

Eventually they got the tent up and, due to their isolation, Subaru decided to risk making a small fire, relying on the nearby bushes and shrubs to shield the light from anyone’s gaze.

Subaru and Beatrice gathered a pile of dried sticks and branches and brought them back to camp.

Subaru piled the kindling together.

“Want me to start the fire?” Puck offered.

Subaru looked up at Emilia who was quietly sitting next to the tent, “You know, Mili, you haven’t used your magic since the… frost flower incident.”

“Of course not.”

“Do you think you could start the fire tonight?” Subaru asked.

“No,” She answered flatly.

“Subaru, are you really sure we want to do this?” Puck growled.

Subaru ignored him, “Mili, you realize that you’re going to have to use your magic sooner or later, right?”

“I wish that I never had to use it again,” Emilia muttered, “I wish that it was all gone.”

“That is a very foolish wish, I suppose,” Beatrice grumbled. “The elf should try to be useful to Betty’s Subaru. If the elf had no magic she’d only be Subaru’s baggage on this journey.”

Emilia flinched.

“Beako!” Subaru complained.

“If the elf wishes to be less dangerous to others, then she must learn to control and harness her own magic so it only hurts those she wishes to hurt,” Beatrice concluded matter-of-fact.

Emilia looked conflicted.

Subaru sighed, “Beako is telling you the truth, Mili, even if she’s doing so with all the tact and delicacy of an axe-thrower.”

“Hm,” Beatrice sniffed.

“We’re on the run and people are looking for us with the intent to hurt us. We’re going to have to fight sooner or later. You need to learn to control your magic again,” Subaru told her.

“I really don’t want to have anything more to do with magic, Subaru,” Emilia told him.

“Fair enough, I really don’t want to have anything else to do with the Witch Cult, but I think that neither one of us is going to get what we want right now,” He replied.

Emilia stared at the pile of kindling under a rapidly darkening sky, “What if I lose control of the magic again, Subaru? What if I hurt you again?”

“You won’t,” Subaru said calmly.

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“The same reason I was sure that you’d pass the Sanctuary trials after Roswaal explained his plan. I knew you loved me too much to fail when I needed you to succeed,” Subaru replied.

Emilia stared at Subaru for a long moment.

She extended her hand over the pile of sticks. Her hand was trembling violently.

The spirits were glaring at Emilia; tensing, ready for action.

Subaru reached out and gently placed his own hand over hers, steadying it. “We just need a little flame. A tiny flame. There’s nothing to worry about,” Subaru encouraged.

Emilia took a deep breath and nodded, “A tiny flame.”

Subaru imagined that he could feel the magic flowing out of Emilia’s hand and onto the dry wood below. The heat surged and the small pile of sticks burst into flame becoming a respectably large campfire.

Subaru and Emilia both snatched their hands away from the flames quickly and Subaru quickly fed the blaze with larger sticks to keep it going while blowing on his hand.

“Nice job, Emilia,” Subaru complimented.

“Yeah, but maybe next time reduce the power you use a little,” Puck grumbled.

“Honestly, Puck, I thought I barely used any mana at all,” Emilia replied rubbing her singed palm.

“You have an enormous reservoir of magic. A little bit goes a long way,” Puck pointed out.

Subaru held his hands up near the fire. The warmth felt wonderful, “Well, this might be the cheeriest night we’ve spent in days.”

“Betty can not believe she is saying this but Betty is looking forward to sleeping in a tent, I suppose. It’s much nicer than sleeping on the cold dirty ground,” Beatrice said.

“I totally agree, Beako. I think Emilia and I should go wash up at the pond before bed. Do you guys know how to feed the fire while I’m gone?” Subaru asked.

“Betty has never fed a fire before, I suppose. Do fires prefer dried peaches or apples?” Beatrice asked seriously.

Don’t you dare, Subaru! Don’t you dare laugh! Oh God, I don’t know if I can hold it in…

“It’s OK, Subaru,” Puck replied with a wink, “I’ll walk Betty through it.”

“Thanks, Puck,” Subaru said with a chuckle as he and Emilia walked away from the fire toward the nearby pond with the new clothes from Arlem in hand.

It was too dark to see much of anything, but Emilia taking her clothes off just a few feet away was the the high point of Subaru’s past three weeks.

Subaru got naked and quickly waded out into the pond. The pond’s bottom was a soft gravel and it was just deep enough to actually swim in.

Subaru tread water for a moment and then sunk under the surface almost with relief. He stayed underwater for a few moments trying to scrub his hair clean with his fingers. Subaru imagined a brown cloud of dirt spreading out from him in the clear water.

When Subaru came up for air he felt clean for the first time in weeks.

Subaru looked around for Emilia and saw her silhouette standing in the shallows, the water only up to her waist.

“Don’t go under the water like that!” Emilia scolded him, “I was worried! I thought that something might have grabbed you!”

Subaru glanced around the tiny pond not much bigger than a swimming pool and tried to imagine a crocodile or similar animal living in it.

“Do you want to come for a swim?” Subaru asked treading water.

She shook her head, “Let’s just get clean and get back to Puck and Beatrice. I don’t have much of an appetite for playing right now,” Emilia sighed.

Subaru looked at her with concern and then a wicked smile crept across his face that he quickly concealed.

Emilia blanched as he waded over to her, “Subaru! I know that look! What are you scheming right now?”

“I’m not scheming anything,” Subaru assured her in a completely insincere tone as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Subaru!” Emilia said sounding increasingly nervous.

“Oh, don’t worry, Mili,” He said casually, “I just want to help you get clean!” He said grabbing her legs and sweeping her up in his arms.

“Subaru! What are you doing!” Emilia demanded wrapping her arms around his neck to try and hold onto something.

“I’m just helping you get clean!” Subaru said in an innocent voice walking out into deeper water, “I thought that’s what you wanted?”

“Subaru! Don’t you dare!” Emilia hissed.

Subaru pressed their lips together.

Emilia stiffened in surprise but then she melted and kissed him back.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

It was a long lingering kiss and they both pulled away with regret.

She shook her head, “Subaru, what are you doing?” She asked ruefully.

“I’m helping you get clean,” He answered dropping her into the pond.

Emilia got to her feet spitting water and there was roaring fury in her eyes.

Subaru laughed and tried to run away.

“Subaru Natsuki!” She cried out chasing after him, “You get back over here right this instant!”

Subaru hadn’t made it very far before Emilia caught up with him. To his surprise Emilia picked him up easily, lifted him high over her head and then flung him out into deep water.

Subaru surfaced chuckling.

“Serves you right!” Emilia sniffed but Subaru heard the smile in her voice.

“Of course, you realize this means war,” Subaru said calmly.

Emilia blinked, “What does that-”

Subaru shoved a huge splash of water at Emilia.

“Subaru!” She cried splashing him back.

They played for almost half an hour, dunking and splashing one another, until they were both completely worn out.

Subaru and Emilia were sitting in the shallows by the pond’s edge. They were both still naked and sat there with an arm wrapped around each other.

Emilia sighed, “Subaru, that was completely ridiculous! We’re on the run for our lives and you wanted to have a splash fight! Are you always going to act like a child?” She said trying to suppress a giggle.

Subaru kissed the top of her head, “Every single opportunity I get!”

Emilia shook her head with a rueful smile, “Subaru, you dummy.” Emilia paused, “But I have to admit that… I needed that. I feel better. This whole thing… it’s going to be OK, isn’t it?”

“Of course it will,” Subaru agreed, “The four of us are together. What else do we need? We’re going to be fine. We’ll get across the border quietly, set up shop in a town and then plan our next move. Hell, maybe we’ll really like living up there and we won’t even want to come back. It’s possible.”

Emilia chuckled, “If I wanted to be surrounded by ice and snow all the time, I think I’d just go back to the forest,” She paused, “Subaru, do you really think that we can find a way to make everyone remember me? As much as I desperately want Puck to remember who I am and what we mean to each other, the bigger problem is that as long as nobody remembers me, they’re all going to think that I’m really Satella and keep hunting me down.”

Subaru sighed, “I wish to hell that I’d put together what was going on sooner. If I hadn’t told people that I brought you out of the tomb, everything might have been different.”

Emilia shook her head, “I doubt that, Subaru. The Witch Cult was rampaging through the area so everyone was always going to assume I had something to do with the Cult. And you couldn’t have kept their modified memories a secret either because they’d keep referencing things that you didn’t know about. There was nothing you could have done.”

Subaru chuckled, “When did you get so smart?” He said resting his head against hers.

Emilia giggled, “I’ve always been smart, you big dummy. You’re just finally smart enough to notice!”

“Maybe that’s it,” Subaru allowed. He sighed with a moody expression on his face, “I can’t help but feel that I screwed all of this up. I feel like if I had handled things better, Felt and Garf might have believed me.”

“Felt and Garf wanted to believe you,” Emilia corrected, “When you told them that I was a friend, they were willing to accept that on faith. The problem was me, Subaru. When I cast the… frost flowers, they knew I was too dangerous for them to be near. When you refused to admit that I was a threat, they concluded that I must have bewitched you somehow.”

“Emilia, that wasn’t your fault,’ Subaru said.

“This mess is entirely my fault, Subaru,” Emilia disagreed, “I completely lost control of my magic and made poor Felt feel like she’d been in a torture chamber. Garf and Felt… came to see me while you were unconscious Subaru. They… Garf was very angry. And poor Felt looked like…” Emilia trailed off and shook her head. “Puck and Beatrice were ready to kill me.”

“You were trying to save our lives from Ley,” Subaru reminded her, “You didn’t know that your magic powers had increase by a factor of ten; hell, maybe a factor of a hundred! Puck suppressed your power to try to protect you and he didn’t let you grow up into them properly. Don’t get me wrong, I love Puck but the guy is overprotection personified.”

“Daddy…,” She sighed, “Some days I wish he could take all my magic away from me. Every time that I use it the people around me suffer. First, cursing the forest seals everyone I know in solid ice and now my frost flowers have wounded you and our friends and made the entire kingdom want to hunt us down.”

“You’re not a quitter, Mili,” Subaru reminded her, “We are going to fix this. We will restore everyone’s memories. We will help Felt heal from her trauma and we will end the curse on the forest.”

Emilia looked at him skeptically, “Subaru, do you have any idea how we’re going to do those things?”

“Not a one,” Subaru admitted, “But, in my defense, I’ve spent most of the past five or six days fighting to survive and that didn’t leave me a lot of time for planning.”

I have no idea how to fix any of this. The only possibility I see is to use my Authority. That would be fine except I don’t even know how to get started. I wish I’d asked Roswaal a few more questions before he vanished.

Actually, considering how desperate we are, this would be a perfect time for Roswaal to reappear and try to form an alliance. He could demand almost anything and I’d have no choice but to accept. Gee, that’s a happy thought, considering what he wanted last time.

So why isn’t he doing that? Was he wounded in the fight? Ley implied that he wasn’t killed so I assume he got away safely. Maybe he’s hiding out someplace and he doesn’t know what’s going on? Or maybe he does know what’s going on and he’s trying to find us but can’t. That would be somewhat flattering.

How do the twins factor into this? Rem wants me dead so can I assume that Ram does as well? I was originally planning to keep them both close since I could expect them to be feeding Roswaal information. That way he’d be able to judge when to come back and make his offer. That plan’s flown out the window but now that I think about it, maybe it wasn’t that a great plan anyway. I’m acting like Roswaal would show up for negotiations but he’s just as likely to watch and wait for a situation where we’re desperate and try to take Emilia hostage again. It was dumb luck that we escaped his Sanctuary trap. I doubt he’ll screw up a second time.

“Subaru,” Emilia said startling Subaru out of his reverie, “It’s getting late. We should go to bed.”

Subaru and Emilia put on new clean clothes with relief. The chief had provided them with hooded robes and these were the first clean clothes either of them had worn in weeks.

Emilia started back toward the fire but she noticed that Subaru wasn’t following her. She looked back and saw that Subaru stayed had behind to pick up their old clothes.

“Subaru? What are you doing?” Emilia asked.

“Trying to cover our tracks,” Subaru explained. “I don’t want to leave anything behind that could potentially tell people that the folks here were us instead of some other random group of travelers.”

“How would our clothes tell them that?”

“Rem,” Subaru answered. “I don’t really understand this ‘witch miasma’ stuff or how it works but yesterday Rem proved that she’s able to track us by it pretty easily. If it lingers in the forest maybe it lingers in clothing too. If Rem found this robe or if a scout brought it back to her, she might be able to confirm that it belonged to us and then they’d all know where to search.”

Emilia sighed shaking her head, “This whole situation is…”

“Yeah, I get it,” Subaru agreed taking her hand as they walked back to the fire.

The spirits there were both pretty sleepy and the fire was dying down.

“You guys ready for bed?” Subaru asked.

“Bubby and Betty have been ready for some time now, I suppose,” Beatrice yawned.

“You guys made an awful lot of noise down there at that pond,” Puck pointed out. “I know that we’re supposed to be alone out here for miles but still, Subaru, you need to remember that we’re supposed to be hiding.”

“You’re right, Puck,” Subaru replied, “It was a bad idea.”

Subaru opened the tent flap. It was a small tent but Subaru and Emilia could share it easily, especially with the spirits sleeping practically on top of Subaru as usual.

“Mili,” Subaru whispered, “Do you think you can put out the fire?”

Emilia bit her lip for a moment but she obligingly held out her hand toward it and the fire quickly faded away.

“Nicely done,” Subaru complimented her.

“Much better,” Puck agreed, “You’re starting to learn to control your magic. Maybe Betty can give you some pointers to make sure you don’t let it explode out of you again.”

Emilia looked startled at receiving praise from Puck.

“Betty can do that I suppose,” Beatrice yawned.

Emilia crawled into the tent and laid down beside Subaru.

“Come on, guys,” Subaru whispered and the spirits wearily got up and came over to him.

Puck nestled in Beatrice’s arms and Subaru held Beatrice close. He offered the crook of his other arm to Emilia as a pillow and she accepted with a smile.

The spirits seemed to have some misgivings about sleeping so close to Emilia but they didn’t say anything.

“Betty misses her book in fact,” Beatrice grumbled.

“Yeah,” Subaru agreed. He paused, “Beako, why don’t I tell you a story from my home?”

“A story from another world?” Beatrice said sounding intrigued.

“Yes. My mother… showed me this story when I was small and I never forgot it. It’s actually a story about a mouse named Fivel.”

“A real mouse or a mouse demi-human?” Beatrice asked.

Subaru hesitated, “A regular mouse,” Subaru explained wondering how that would have affected the story, “Anyway this mouse and his family were living in a country where they were regularly attacked by cats.”

“Not sure I’m liking the role felines have in this story,” Puck yawned.

“Anyway,” Subaru continued, “His family was in danger so they all grouped up and decided to go live in another land where they heard that there were lots of homes to live in, plenty of food for everyone, and most importantly of all, there were no cats.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Emilia said.

“Hey!” Puck complained.

“Oh, Puck, that wasn’t what I meant. But right now being able to escape all our problems sounds like a perfect dream,” Emilia replied.

“So his family got on a boat and sailed away to their new country but the boat was caught in a terrible storm and poor Fivel was washed away before anyone could save him. His family thinks that he’s dead but Fivel managed to wash up in the new country. He’s just a little boy and he has no idea where his family is.”

“But at least he’s safe in the new country while he looks for them since there aren’t any cats,” Emilia said.

“Unfortunately, no,” Subaru replied, “He discovers that in his new country people are forced into overcrowded living spaces, most are struggling to get enough to eat, and worst of all, the place is full of cats.”

Emilia looked horrified.

“Next time can we tell a story where the dogs are the villains, please? I hate those guys,” Puck muttered.

“Really?” Subaru asked.

“No, Subaru. I’m just joking. I’m not actually a normal cat,” Puck explained patiently.

“What happens to him?” Beatrice asks, “Does he find his family?”

“Eventually. It’s a long scary journey for him. He meets people who try to hurt and take advantage of him but he also meets true friends who try to help him. Eventually the mice all get together and come up with a plan.”

“They’re all going to go back home?” Emilia asked.

“No, that wouldn’t help them. They left home to escape the same problems they found here. The same problems exist everywhere and they’ll never go away unless someone tries to fix them. So the mice all get together and they build a machine.”

“Oh! Betty likes machines! Was it a dragonless carriage?” Beatrice asked.

“No. It was a fire breathing mouse the size of a house,” Subaru replied.

Beatrice’s jaw dropped.

“The giant machine scares all the cats away and Fivel finds his family and they all live happily ever after,” Subaru finished, “Unless you watch the sequel but the less said about that the better,” He added.

Puck was snoring quietly against Beatrice’s chest. Beatrice’s own eyes were closing, “That was an… interesting… story, I suppose. Tell Betty another… story from your world.”

Subaru gently kissed Beatrice’s head, “Tomorrow, Beako,” He whispered as Beatrice nodded off.

Subaru looked at Emilia with heavy eyes. She seemed to be digesting the story, “Subaru, are we doing the right thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s just like you said: the same problems exist everywhere. If we go to Gusteko, isn’t it only a matter of time until they accuse me of being a witch as well? Gusteko isn’t exactly welcoming to demi-humans.”

“I’m not sure that we’ll stay in Gusteko for very long. If we decide we need to stay out of Lagunica for a long while, then we’d probably move west to Kararagi. I think we’d do better there. We’re headed toward Gusteko right now because it’s the closest border and our enemies are surrounding us.”

Emilia thought about it, “I guess that there’s really no way for us to stay here and fix these problems instead of running away, is there?” Emilia whispered.

“Not right now,” Subaru agreed, “Remember, if any one mouse had tried to fight the cats, he would have been lunch. The secret was getting all the mice to unite together to fight the cats.”

“What are the cats in this analogy?” Emilia asked, “The Witch cult? The Army?”

“I’d say that at the moment the cats for us are racism and ignorance, things that we’ve said we wanted to fight almost since we met. Everyone is judging you by your race and your hair. If you were a human, none of this ever would have happened to you and that’s wrong,” Subaru whispered.

Emilia thought about it for a moment, “I keep fighting with myself about this,” Emilia admitted, “Part of me knows that I should be willing to fight for a better life for everyone, not just me, but another part just wants to cut my loses and disappear; find someplace where our little family can be safe and happy and forget about the rest of the world.”

Subaru nodded, “We’re all exhausted. We’re all frustrated and angry. Nobody wants to fight the good fight right now. We need to find our safe place and recover our strength before we could even think of helping anyone else.”

Emilia nodded, “Subaru, we should probably go to sleep.”

Subaru kissed her gently, “Goodnight, Mili,”

“Goodnight,” She gave him a shy smile then closed her eyes and went to sleep cuddled up in the crook of his arm.

Subaru liked the notion of his entire family sleeping this close to him but it was pretty far from comfortable since he couldn’t move. He was beginning to wonder if he’d be forced to stay awake all night when his body overruled him and he felt asleep between thoughts.

Two days later, Subaru and company continued to travel north hugging the eastern mountains and passing far to the east of the army camp. This led them through a wide open grassland with little cover but they didn’t see any other humans.

What they did see were mabeasts, lots and lots of mabeasts. The mabeasts all seemed to be traveling south east and they were all in a bad mood. However the mabeasts they encountered were all fairly small. While the mabeasts’ glares all wished Subaru and company a cruel death, none of them seemed able or willing to deliver on that threat.

Subaru and Emilia had encountered a deep, wide river in a marshy grassland and were searching for a shallow area to ford it.

They had found some promising shallows and were about to cross when a short distance away six mabeasts appeared stood up and rose out of the river. They were huge hulking animals that looked like hippos but twice as tall with rock-like skin.

Subaru swallowed hard. Beatrice tried to slip off his shoulder but Subaru wouldn’t let her.

“If they try to attack us, we run,” Subaru whispered to Emilia, trying to shield his family.

The enormous beasts glared at the group and made strange growling sounds like a wild boar.

After a long moment the mabeasts turned around and slowly walked away, casting several dark looks back at Subaru.

“Well, that was unexpected,” He muttered.

“Why did they walk away?” Emilia asked.

Suabru shook his head, “I don’t know but I’m not going to let this go to waste. Let’s cross the river and keep going.”

Subaru and Emilia crossed the shallows and kept walking across the grasslands. Subaru saw the hippo mabeasts wallowing in a wider part of the river. They were still glaring at him.

“Beako, do you think the mabeasts might be able to sense my Authority and that’s why they’re backing off?” Subaru asked, “I remember that they were supposedly created by witchcraft so maybe they were designed to be submissive toward Authority holders?”

“Betty doesn’t know, I suppose,” Beatrice replied, “People can’t detect the presence of an Authority but it’s not impossible that mabeasts could.”

“Hm. Maybe the next time we bump into a mabeast I’ll see if I can tell it to roll over,” Subaru mused.

“Betty recommends practicing with a small one first, I suppose. Before trying to teach your mabeast to ‘shake,’ make certain that it can not bite your hand off.”

“Your sister is very smart,” Emilia said to Puck with a smile.

“Thank you,” Subaru and Puck said together.

Emilia laughed.

The sun was starting to set behind the mountains when Subaru heard a bellowing roar.

They all dropped into a crouch and in the distance Subaru saw an enormous mabeast shaped like a chimera: it had a lions head, the body of an enormous goat, and a long tail that looked like a snake. It had large bat-like wings.

The creature was roaring and attempting to seize a group of people that had sought shelter in a small cave. The cave was too small for the beast but the monster was slowly but surely digging his way inside.

“Beako, what the hell is that thing?” Subaru whispered, irrationally afraid that the creature hundreds of yards off would hear him.

“It’s a Guiltylowe, I suppose. The Black King of the Forest. It’s terribly dangerous, in fact,” Beatrice answered.

Subaru watched the beast drag huge clumps of dirt away from the cave mouth. The people inside were screaming for help.

“Well, it hasn’t noticed us yet…” Subaru said in an undecided tone.

“Subaru,” Emilia murmured.

He looked at her with resignation.

“We can’t just abandon those people,” She said simply.

Subaru sighed, “No, I don’t suppose we could. And honestly, I’d think less of us if we did.”

“Subaru! A Guiltylowe is extremely dangerous!” Beatrice reminded him, “This is not a good time for your ‘taming mabeasts’ experiment, in fact!”

“Don’t worry, Beako. I don’t think a Guiltylowe would make a good pet. For one thing, where could we get enough kitty litter?” Subaru muttered.

He watched the creature then triggered Reason and Judgment.

The creature is large but also extremely agile and it’s clearly powerful going by the way its digging up all that dirt. Your main advantage will come in surprise. When given the opportunity it will leap at you because it sense no threat. You’ll get one clean shot at the Guiltylowe then. You should definitely make it count because if the Guiltylowe survives you’ll never last thirty seconds to use Indomitable again.

A pretty poor plan to be sure but pretty much the only option. The spirits are still low on their mana and probably can’t be of much help and Emilia is just learning to control hers.

Subaru restarted time.

“OK, here’s the plan,” Subaru said, “We’re going to sneak over there,” Subaru pointed at a small grove of trees not far from the Guiltylowe. I want the three of you to wait there.”

“What?!” Emilia demanded.

“You’re all going to wait there,” Subaru repeated firmly, “I have a plan.”

However, it is a shit plan because those are the only ones I can come up with these days.

“I’m going to approach the Guiltylowe and it should think I’m a helpless easy meal and jump at me. Then I use Indomitable to shatter its head.”

“Subaru! That’s stupid!” Emilia hissed, “Why don’t we all fight it together?”

“Because one, if we all attack it won’t take the bait and it might go after any one of us, three of whom can not become temporarily indestructible; and two, I don’t want those people in the cave to see a silver haired half-elf. I have a nagging suspicion that their gratitude for saving them won’t prevent them from reporting you. Let me try to coax it into a rash attack,” Subaru explained.

“What if it doesn’t work?” Beatrice demanded.

“Then you three will need to conjure up whatever magic you’ve got and hopefully kill the thing,” Subaru said simply, “I’ll risk the frost flowers over being that thing’s chew toy.”

“Subaru, Betty and I are still pretty weak,” Puck warned him, “We can probably kill that thing but it won’t be a quick fight. We’d have to chip away at it. You wouldn’t last long enough for us to do that.”

“I know. That’s why I’m counting on Mili and her magic if I get into trouble.”

“Betty doesn’t love this plan, in fact,” Beatrice grumbled.

“Don’t worry, Beako, Emilia has never let me down yet,” Subaru replied.

Emilia swallowed hard.

The four crept over to the grove without the Guiltylowe seeing them. The creature sounded immensely frustrated that digging the people out of the cave was taking so long.

“Alright, you guys wait here. I’m going to try to get close to it before it sees me. Then I’ll get my shot. If it doesn’t work just throw your magic at it, Mili. I survived the frost flowers before I can do it again,” Subaru said calmly.

Emilia looked almost sick.

“OK, wish me luck,” Subaru said sneaking off toward the Guiltylowe.

The three watched him go.

“If anything happens to Subaru because you can’t control your magic, witch, I just might have to kill you,” Puck muttered.

“If anything happens to Subaru because my magic runs wild, Puck, I just might ask you to,” Emilia replied watching Subaru intently.

Subaru crept closer and closer to the enormous monster. The creature had to be twelve feet at the shoulder and including its long tail it might have been twenty feet long.

Subaru sneaked close to the monster without issue. This was due less to Subaru’s skill at stealth and more to the monster’s single minded focus on the cave and its frustration with it.

Subaru had gotten close enough that a rush might have been possible when the Guiltylowe stiffened and sniffed the air.

The monster whirled around and saw Subaru standing there. It let out a savage roar.

Subaru braced himself for a rush but the Guiltylowe stood there, considering.

This thing is intelligent. It recognizes me as food but food that isn’t afraid of it. That makes it cautious. That’s bad for me.

Rather than run and pounce as Subaru had hoped, the Guiltylowe got low to the ground and slowly crept over toward Subaru growling, apparently waiting to see what he would do.

Subaru took a step closer and the creature froze tensing itself.

It’s a cautious hunter. Not sure what something this big could be afraid of, and maybe I don’t want to know, but it’s not going to make a move until it’s sure.

The creature could be all over Subaru in a heartbeat and the stress was intense.

“Go away!” Subaru ordered.

The creatures’ glowing red eyes narrowed a bit.

Well, it was worth a try anyway. Apparently my Authority doesn’t let me command these things.

Subaru stared into the monster’s eyes.

What is this? Is it playing a game or does it really think I might be a threat? Can it sense my Authority? And if it thinks I am a threat, why doesn’t it just back off? Is it really too hungry to give up the men in the cave? Or maybe it’s just too pissed off.

The tension mounted and Subaru became frustrated.

OK, I can’t take this. I need to make something happen here. If I make it happen at least I’m ready for it. If I sit here and wait I’m just giving this thing a chance to catch me off guard.

Subaru took another step toward the Guiltylowe and it sprang at him almost too fast to see.

Subaru triggered Indomitable just as the beast’s jaws closed around his head. It bit down hard but the teeth wouldn’t pierce his skin. Subaru drove his fist into the monster’s chest and the creature flew upward a good twenty feet, its chest cavity ripped wide open and bits of viscera raining down.

The creature crashed into the earth making no attempt to soften its landing. It was dead.

Subaru let out a huge breath.

I hope I can find another pond to bathe in tonight. That thing’s breath smelled like a garbage truck in summer.

“Thank you, stranger. Your action was most heroic. We are all deeply in your debt,” A man called emerging from the cave.

A man in full armor.

Shit! Subaru, you fucking idiot! Why didn’t you consider this possibility?! That man is wearing Crusch’s colors. He’s from the army that’s searching for you!

Subaru quickly spun away and tried to cover as much of his face with the robe as he could.

“Think nothing of it, young man,” Subaru replied trying to make his voice sound old and wheezing.

“Is something wrong, sir?” The man asked. His voice sounded vaguely familiar.

“I’m afraid I have recently come down with a terrible illness,” Subaru coughed and crouched down rubbing his chest, “I am attempting to isolate myself so that I don’t pass it on to any of my loved ones. Please sir, do not come too close. I would truly lament having given this disease to the country’s fighting men.”

The soldiers muttered among themselves.

That’s right. You don’t want an epidemic in camp. Just go away guys, you thanked me, you’re done.

“Silence,” The leader said firmly.

Oh, fuck! I know that voice. It’s Captain Falric! If he sees me I’m toast!

“Grandfather, we are all deeply in your debt. You have saved our lives. To have slain a Guiltylowe single handed is a feat that should be sung in many a hall. You are truly a man of great power! I would invite you back to our base to be honored and rewarded for your valor by the Lady Karnstein. We have extremely capable healers back at our army camp. It would be my pleasure to escort you back there and offer you treatment for this illness,” Falric offered.

“I am grateful for you kindness, sir,” Subaru wheezed, “But I have lived out in these wilds for a long time and I have no desire to leave them. I am happy to have done you gallant gentlemen a service but now I must suggest you depart quickly. There are more mabeasts in the area and something strange is affecting them. They all appear to be agitated recently. Something has stirred them up. It’s dangerous to be out here right now.”

Falric paused, “Thank you for your gracious warning, grandfather. However, all the more do I urge you to accept our hospitality. You must be extremely vulnerable out here.”

“I’m far from vulnerable, young man,” Subaru said coughing again, “I simply came out to try to save your lives. But please depart this place quickly. I might not be able to save them a second time and there are worse creatures out here than the Guiltylowe.”

I have no idea if that’s true or not. I fervently hope not but it might get them to leave quicker.

Subaru felt a huge shadow fall on him and he looked up he see an enormous bird at least forty feet from wingtip to wingtip with burning red eyes, diving at him with talons outstretched.

Subaru leapt to his feet.

“Stormcrow!” Falric shouted. “Get ready men!”

Subaru triggered Indomitable as the bird dove at it him but the bird simply grazed him as it flew by.

Fuck! It saw me fight the Guiltylowe so it’s feeling me out before attacking. I just used Indomitable! Thirty seconds before I can use it again.

“Fall back into the trees, men!” Falric shouted, “Let the grandfather handle this monster! He has the power!”

Gee, thanks so much, Falric. Oh well, I guess at least I don’t need to worry about you guys now.

Subaru felt someone stepping up next to him, “Grandfather, it will be an honor to fight at your side,” Falric proclaimed drawing his sword.

Oh, great. The worst of both worlds.

The enormous bird had made a lazy circle and was now diving at them again full speed.

Shit! It’s figured out I can’t hurt it! Twenty seconds until Indomitable!

The bird plunged toward him with talons outstretched, each talon was bigger than Subaru.

Falric raised his blade and Subaru prepared for what he knew to be a futile dive for cover.

The bird suddenly lunged forward striking the rock face and falling down in front of the cave.

An enormous icicle at least eight feet long had embedded itself in its back.

The bird staggered to its feet but more icicles pelted the bird. It screamed in agony as the icicles were driven like enormous stakes clear through its body.

The bird was battered by the spell and it crashed against the rock face again and again as it futilely tried to regain its feet and take off.

Finally a large chunk of ice resembling a buzz-saw flung itself at the birds neck neatly decapitating it.

It’s body crashed to the ground not far from the Guiltylowe and lay still.

Subaru looked up and saw Emilia standing there surrounded by the spirits. Her hood was thrown back and her silver hair fairly glowed in the dim light. Her entire body was luminous, the magic surging through her making her glow like a radiant star.

Oh my God… She looks like an angel. A goddess. If somebody set up an altar, I’d bow down!

Then Subaru noticed the large patch of frost that Emilia was standing in and the delicate frost flowers growing inside.

Shit! …OK, I guess those flowers are still a trigger for me. Fuck. Well, at least the frost isn’t coming close to anyone so the flowers won’t hurt anybody.

Alright, Emilia still has some issues to resolve with her magic but being able to control that much power sure seems like good progress!

“It’s the witch!” Falric cried out, “To arms, men!”

Shit! Subaru thought rushing back over to Emilia’s side in order to protect her and the spirits.

“Grandfather! Get away from-” Falric stared at him for a long moment, “Lord Subaru?!”

Shit, again! Subaru realized that his hood had fallen back during his frantic rush to Emilia. He started to pull it up then let it go as pointless.

Subaru sighed, “Hey, Falric, how have you been?”

Falric stared at him, “Lord Subaru, do you realize who this is?!”

“This is Emilia, Puck, and Beatrice. They are my family,” Subaru replied.

“Lord Subaru, this is Satella the Witch of Envy and you have been bewitched by this woman! You must come-”

“Falric, I have in no way been bewitched and I have prior obligations so I will not be going with you. Incidentally, this ‘witch’ did just save your lives which might be something for you to think about,” Subaru said flatly.

Falric hesitated for a moment, “Lord Subaru, I,” He shook his head clearing his thoughts, “I have strict orders to kill this witch!”

Emilia took a step back but Subaru didn’t budge.

“You will die trying,” Subaru warned him, folding his arms, “You have no chance against us. None whatsoever. Surely you all can see that?”

“Lord Subaru,” Falric gasped, “Would you truly-”

“Anyone who seeks to bring harm to Emilia is my enemy. It’s just that simple. Attack her and you will die,” Subaru said simply, “You are a man who cares about the soldiers under his command, Captain Falric. I saw that time and time again during the Whale Hunt. You are not a man who will blindly follow orders that force his troops into a meat grinder for no true reason. I think I know Crusch Karnstein pretty well. She’d much rather you all go back and report that you saw us, that’s valuable intelligence after all, rather than you all die here pointlessly.”

Falric digested that, “Lord Subaru, am I to understand that you’re letting us go?”

Subaru sighed, “Yes,” He said, “I won’t cross the line into butchering good men that I have no quarrel with. You will return to Crusch and you will report to her that you saw us. That’s just how things will be,” He said ruefully.

Falric stared at Subaru, “Lord Subaru, I am in your debt and not for the first time today but I implore you not to be fooled into giving the dragon blood to this witch!”

“The dragon blood?” Subaru echoed in surprise, “Why? What’s so bad about giving Emilia that?”

“The dragon blood will restore the witch’s true power! She’ll be able to end the world completely this time! Lord Subaru, she must not acquire it!” Falric said.

Puck drew in a hissing breath, “Is that why you wanted the blood?!” He demanded.

“Puck!” Emilia snapped. For the first time that Subaru could recall, Emilia looked truly angry with Puck, “Even if the blood could make my magic stronger, why would I want it? My magic has brought nothing into my life but misery. If Subaru offered me a potion that could remove my magic forever, I’d drink it without a second thought!”

Puck blinked in surprise.

Falric stared at Subaru’s family in confusion.

“Look, Falric, it doesn’t matter anyway. The blood is all gone. I couldn’t give it to Emilia if I wanted to,” Subaru sighed.

“Gone?”

“All gone,” Subaru replied, “Otherwise they would have used it to heal the king and his family. Unless I want to go dragon hunting, and no I don’t particularly want to do that, I’m not getting any more blood so you don’t need to worry about it.”

Falric didn’t reply.

Subaru sighed, “Look, we’re not going to come to an agreement so we might as well just go our separate ways. However I’d like you to deliver two messages when you return to the camp.”

“Very well,” Falric said in a cautious voice.

“During your report, please make it a point to tell Crusch Karnstein that your lives were saved by ‘the witch,’” Suabru said pointedly.

Falric looked awkward but he nodded.

“Also, please tell Miss Felt that I am truly sorry for everything that has happened to her. She’s right, it was all my fault. She needed me and I was too distracted by other people’s problems to help her. I can’t do anything about it right now but I promise I’ll try to find a way to make it up to her,” Subaru whispered, looking away in shame.

Falric stared at Subaru then hurriedly nodded.

Subaru sighed, “Alright, then we have come to the parting of the ways. I don’t really care which way you go, but don’t try to follow us.”

Falric nodded.

Subaru put Beatrice on his shoulder and took Emilia’s hand. They passed the soldiers and continued moving to the northwest. The soldiers watched them until they were out of sight.

Subaru waited until the soldiers were far out of sight and then changed course. If he kept going this way he’d probably wind up back at the army camp. He’d only gone this way to mislead the soldiers. Rather than going north toward Gusteko, Subaru swung north east hoping to get out of the likely search area as quickly as possible before marking a dash for the safety of the border.

“You really were amazing back there, Mili,” Subaru told her.

“You think so?” She smiled.

“I don’t think you’ve ever used that much magic before and you kept control of it. Also, you looked amazing! You were glowing like a star!” Subaru cheered.

Emilia shook her head with a laugh.

“I’m really proud of you, Mili,” Subaru said, “I know you didn’t want to use magic but you did and you saved a lot of lives.”

“Like you said, when someone you love needs you to succeed, failing isn’t an option,” She said proudly.

“Oh, does that really work?” Subaru asked, “I thought I was just bullshitting you.”

Emilia scowled at him, “Subaru, I will hit you,” She warned, “Actually, I will hit you twice just so I know that Indomitable is off for one of them!”

“Something tells me I should consider that a legitimate threat,” Subaru mused.

Emilia snorted looking annoyed at him but Subaru saw a smile in her eyes.

“Yeah,” Puck murmured, “You used a lot of magic and you mostly kept control of it. It was… impressive.”

Emilia’s face lit up, “Thank you, Puck!”

“I was scared that the Stormcrow was going to hurt Subaru. I knew that Betty and I didn’t have enough mana to stop it,” Puck added, “If you hadn’t killed the Stormcrow, Subaru might have been badly hurt so… thank you, Emilia.”

Emilia smiled and her eyes became watery.

“OK guys, this is going to be a long night,” Subaru apologized, “I doubt that Crusch will send out search parties this late in the day but we need to be miles and miles from here by morning.”

“I can go as long as you can, Subaru,” Emilia promised.

“Great, then we just need to worry about how far I can go at this point!” Subaru snickered.

Subaru glanced at Beatrice and Puck sympathetically. They were clearly exhausted.

Subaru took Beatrice off his shoulder and cradled her against his chest.

“What’s all this about, I suppose?” Beatrice asked.

Subaru kissed the top of her head, “Emilia and I need to walk but you and Puck are tired. So try and get some sleep if you can,” He said cradling the spirit as he walked.

Beatrice yawned, “Beatrice isn’t sleepy yet, in fact,” She said as Puck drifted down into her arms and cuddled against her.

“I know,” Subaru said keeping the smile out of his voice.

A moment later Beatrice’s face pressed against his shoulder and she began to gently snore.

Subaru smiled down at the sleeping spirits, “They’re so cute,” He mouthed to Emilia.

Emilia smiled back.

“Well, it looks like Puck is finally warming up to you,” Subaru commented.

Emilia had a broad smile even though her face was wet with tears, “I know that it’s going to take a long time for Daddy and Beatrice to learn to trust me.”

“We have all the time we need for that,” Subaru shrugged. “We either undo whatever this is and they’ll both remember you, or they’ll just spend some time with you and realize what a wonderful person you are.”

Emilia chuckled, “It’s really hard being around Puck when he wants you dead.”

“Oh, cry on my shoulder!” Subaru snorted, “Do you have any idea all the crap that Puck did to me when we met? He threatened to kill me the moment we met!”

“He did not!” Emilia protested, “You just passed out.”

“He absolutely did! He knocked me out and then as soon as I woke up he told me that I had better behave myself cause next time he wouldn’t let me wake up!”

Emilia looked shocked, “Why would Puck do that?”

Subaru coughed, “Um. There’s just the slightest possibility that I was having… inappropriate thoughts about his daughter.”

Emilia gave him an annoyed look.

“What?! It was love at first sight,” Subaru protested.

“No, that was lust at first sight,” Emilia corrected. “It serves you right. You’re just lucky I love you or I wouldn’t have the patience to put up with all of these lewd comments of yours.”

Emilia realized that Subaru was grinning at her.

“What now, Subaru?” Emilia said rolling her eyes.

“Nothing,” Subaru replied. “It’s just that you just said you love me.”

“I’ve said that lots of times, Subaru.”

“And it always makes me smile,” Subaru replied.

Emilia smiled back at him and took his hand.

“Subaru,” Emilia murmured, “When did you and Puck start to get along better? Was it when we got engaged?”

“No. That made us get along much worse,” Subaru replied. “Honestly, I thought he was going to kill me the moment we told him about that.”

“Then what did it?”

“Well, a couple of days after we got engaged I went to talk to him. You’d gotten pretty sad about all the fighting that we were doing so I decided to go and try to make peace him. He was pretty annoyed at me at first but after a while I convinced him that my goal was to make you as happy as I possibly could. I convinced him that I didn’t want to take you away from him because I knew that Subaru and Puck would make Mili happier than just Subaru could. He thought it over and he finally decided to accept me.”

Emilia stared at him, “You never told me about that.”

Subaru shrugged, “Well. It was… I don’t know. I guess it was a special moment between the men in your life, if that makes any sense.”

Emilia looked off in the distance, deep in thought.

The two walked hand in hand long into the night.

“How much further before we reach the border, do you think?” Emilia asked quietly.

“I’m not sure. Three days at least. If we keep going this way we should reach the King’s Highway and that leads up into Gusteko. Maybe if we’re lucky we can pay someone to give us a lift,” Subaru said.

“Oh, that sounds heavenly,” Emilia sighed.

“Yeah. If we walk most of the night I think we can reach the highway by morning. Then we can try to bum a ride and sleep on the wagon,” Subaru said.

“Will people be willing to take us?” Emilia asked.

“For a few gold coins? I think so. You’ll probably want to keep your hood up though,” Subaru said ruefully.

Emilia sighed.

“I’m sorry, Emilia,” Subaru said helplessly, “I wish I could do something about all this.”

“What? Subaru, you’re doing everything you possibly can,” Emilia replied.

“No, I mean… the prejudice. The way people look at you and think ‘witch.’ It’s not fair. I know you talked a lot about demi-human rights and the abuses they suffer but… I guess I never realized how bad it was until this happened,” Subaru sighed.

Emilia shrugged and gave Subaru a half smile, “I’m used to it.”

“Yeah, and that’s another tragedy,” Subaru replied.

They walked in silence for a moment.

“It might be even worse in Gusteko,” Emilia commented, “I should probably stay in hiding while we’re there.”

“Well, we’ll all be in hiding while we’re in Gusteko to some extent. But yeah, you should probably stay out of sight as much as possible. If we don’t think we can come back to Lagunica for a while, then we should probably buy a wagon and go to Kararagi. I think you could expect better treatment there.”

“Maybe,” Emilia replied, “Kararagi is friendlier to demi-humans on the whole but no matter where we go I don’t think I’ll be very welcome.”

Subaru sighed, “I wonder if there’s any way to bring us back to my world.”

“Do they not have witches where you come from?” Emilia asked.

“Hm. You know it suddenly occurs to me that I never told you much of anything about my world,” Subaru replied.

“I suppose I never really asked,” Emilia shrugged apologetically.

“Well, in my world, there are no demi-humans, no magic, and no spirits,” Subaru said.

Emilia stopped in her tracks looking at Subaru in shock.

Subaru gave her a tired smile, “I’m not playing a prank on you. My world doesn’t have any of these things. Where I come from, all of these things are storybook fantasies,” Subaru sighed, “I remember I told Beako once that I need to remember to be more grateful to be here. Even in this mess…”

Emilia started walking again, “I can’t even imagine a world like that. What’s wrong with your world that it doesn’t have any magic?”

“No clue,” Subaru replied, “There’s plenty of shit wrong with it but I don’t think most people would claim that ‘no magic’ is particularly high on the list.”

“They don’t miss it?”

“Well… they don’t really know it. Like I said magic and elves and things are only known from books and people’s imagination back home. They can’t miss something that they never knew,” Subaru replied.

Emilia looked off in the distance thoughtfully, “I know that I said I’d love to be rid of my magic, and I meant it, but a whole world with no magic just sounds wrong. It feels like something is missing there. Like something is broken.”

Subaru shrugged, “I don’t know. I’ve only ever seen two worlds. One has magic and one doesn’t so your guess is as good as mine as to which world is ‘normal.’”

Emilia thought for a moment, “Subaru, how do you think I’d fit in on your world?”

Subaru laughed, “I don’t know why you’re asking me. I never fit in there!”

“I was just wondering.”

“Well, you’d be the only elf in the world which might make fitting in difficult,” Subaru admitted, “On the other hand you’d unquestionably be the most beautiful woman on the planet so me trying to keep all the other guys away from you might end up being a full time job.”

“Subaru, quit teasing me,” Emilia complained.

“I’m not! You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen! If I brought you home you’d redefine the standard of beauty for an entire planet!”

Emilia stared at him, “Subaru. You’re not joking, are you? You really believe that.”

“Yes, in the same way that I believe that fire is hot, rivers are wet, and that Garf isn’t too bright,” Subaru replied.

“Subaru,” Emilia muttered reproachfully.

“Oh, come on, Mili. We’re on the run from whole kingdoms right now. We need to take our laughs where we can get them,” Subaru said.

Emilia looked off in the distance.

“Subaru, do you really think we’ll be safe in Gusteko?” She asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, what’s stopping everyone from following us there?” Emilia asked.

“Well, if the Lagunican army comes after us in Gusteko, that’s called an invasion and I don’t think the locals would be amused,” Subaru chuckled, “Reinhard isn’t allowed to cross the border by law so really the only people we’d need to worry about finding us is the Witch Cult. That’s still a big problem but it’s one problem instead of three. I suppose Felt, Garfiel and maybe the twins might come looking for us, but I think that they’d come looking for a parley not a fight. Alone, their odds against us aren’t very good.”

“But what if Lagunica just tells Gusteko that the Witch of Envy is wandering around in their kingdom? Wouldn’t they try to hunt me down too?”

“Maybe,” Subaru admitted, “They might also think that it’s a trick or some kind of practical joke. Besides, once we cross the border our trail should go cold so even if they do tell… whoever runs Gusteko about us being there, they’ll have no idea where we are or where to start looking for us. I’m not saying that we can stay in Gusteko long term but we all need a break. Even a couple of days to rest and recover would do us a world of good. If we detect that the wind is shifting against us, we’ll get out of there before the heat comes down. We should have plenty of time to come up with exit strategies.”

Emilia shook her head, “Subaru, how do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“How do you come up with all these plans? If you weren’t here, I don’t know what I would have done. I’d probably have tried to go back to Elior, gotten lost, and ended up wandering around in circles until I got caught,” She sighed.

“Err, I think maybe you’re giving yourself too little credit, Mili. I think if you were in that situation you’d surprise yourself. You certainly surprised everyone at the Sanctuary,” Subaru said.

“After you got there,” She pointed out.

“Hey all I did was provide some extra motivation to complete the trails. You did the work all on your own,” Subaru said.

“No, it was you, Subaru. You showed me how to beat the trial.”

“I did?” He asked in confusion

She smiled at him, “Yes, you did.”

Subaru scratched his head, “Umm, how exactly did I do that?”

Emilia laughed, “Maybe I’ll tell you someday. I like it when you feel confused.”

“No wonder you like me so much then,” Subaru chuckled.

That evening, Crusch stood over the map in her command tent. It was marked with numerous pins connected by a thin red string.

Felix stood next to her. Felt and Garfiel stood on the other side of the table.

“Alright,” Crusch murmured, “Let’s go over this one more time. Subaru and the witch left the trailer here and headed off to the north west when last you saw them,” Crusch pointed at a yellow pin in the map.

“Yeah,” Felt agreed.

Crusch looked at the map, “Assuming he kept going in that direction he would have reached Miseri in a couple of days. Could the witch have had some reason to go to Miseri?”

Felt shrugged, “I guess so but if she did, she picked a weird time to sneak off. We passed way closer to Miseri a day earlier.”

“Well,” Garfiel scratched his chin, “Maybe it was like Marty and Emmett after the lightning struck.”

Crusch stared at him, What is this buffoon talking about now?!

“Translation, Garf,” Felt sighed, “We didn’t all grow up reading those weird books in the Sanctuary you keep talking about.”

“You know, maybe the witch needed to go someplace really badly but Subaru was unconscious after the fight with Ley and the frost flowers-”

Felt shuddered.

“And that meant that she couldn’t leave until Subaru woke up,” Garfiel finished.

Crusch mulled that over, “Possibly,” She admitted.

“Hey, what’s this pin?” Garfiel asked pointing at a red pin to the northwest.

“That’s where Reinhard fought Regulus the other day, nya,” Felix replied, “Currently the site of a very large crater. The blue pins nearby are where Reinhard searched for him after the fight but he didn’t find anything.”

“So,” Crusch continued, “After the fight, Reinhard van Astrea searched all across the north for Regulus and for Subaru Natsuki,” Crusch pointed at a forest of blue pins between the trailer, Miseri and Priestella.

“And he found nothing,” Felt added, “The next day Subaru and the witch manage to sneak through this whole frigging army camp undetected. We wouldn’t know about it at all except that Rem told us that she smelled a cultist.”

Felix raised his hand, “Question: if Rem had no intention of letting you confront Subaru Natsuki and his witch, then why did she tell you about smelling the witch in the first place, nya?”

Garfiel growled.

“Apparently, Rem wasn’t sure at first,” Felt grumbled folding her arms, “Originally, Rem thought it was a witch cult spy. It wasn’t until we had found the cave that she told us that it smelled like Su… the witch.”

“Anyway,” Crusch sighed, “We inform Reinhard of this incident and he travels down south to search,” Crusch taps the map at a group of blue pins in the north Kremaldy forest.

“And then, three days ago,” Felt added, “Reinhard passes through Arlem to check on everybody and Petra told him that Subaru and the witch had been there.”

“Although apparently, this ‘Petra’ had been warned by Subaru not to reveal this information,” Crusch muttered, “I don’t like faithless people.”

“Whose side are you on, Crusch?!” Felt objected. “Besides, it’s not her fault. She’s a child! She knows that Red is Subaru’s best friend and a hero besides! He said he was trying to rescue him and she took him at his word!”

Crusch shook her head, “Well, whatever the reason, now we know that Subaru headed further south so Reinhard investigated there and I repositioned my scouts,” Crusch grumbled pointing at a swarm of blue pins between Arlem and Costuul and around the surrounding mountains.

“Then last night, Captain Falric and his troops were investigating the mabeast disturbances in the area. He’s attacked by a Guiltylowe and trapped in a cave. He and his men almost die but Subaru Natsuki rescues him and kills the Guiltylowe with a single blow.”

“That’s our Captain,” Garfiel chuckled.

Crusch glared at him, “Then,” She continued, “A Stormcrow attacks them and the witch intervenes, killing the beast.”

“Do different kinds of mabeasts usually hunt together like that?” Felt asked.

“Nya, Stormcrows don’t hunt with other mabeasts. They try to poach their kills,” Felix explained, “The Stormcrow probably wondered what the Guiltylowe was so interested in inside that cave so it waited for the mabeast to dig it out and then planned to steal it.”

“In any event,” Crusch said, “Subaru tells Falric that the dragon blood is all gone, which is a ridiculous statement-”

“Actually, he told me the same thing,” Felt murmured.

“What?” Crusch asked.

“He told me that the blood was all gone and he seemed pretty upset about it,” Felt explained.

“Yeah, Capella told him that during the fight,” Garfiel elaborated, “The Captain looked shocked. The bitch told him about the blood like she thought it would break him and it looked like maybe it did but I don’t know why.”

Crusch’s mind spun. The blood is gone… What does that mean? Didn’t the royal family get more blood from the dragon regularly as part of the pact? How could the Kingdom have run out of blood like this? And couldn’t Subaru Natsuki just get more blood once he becomes King?

Crusch shook off the questions. They weren’t relevant right now.

“Finally, Captain Falric reported that Subaru was deep enough under the witch’s spell to offer violence against anyone attempting to harm her. Falric last saw Subaru headed back toward the northwest,” Crusch finished pointing at a red pin.

Felix studied the map, “If he kept going that way he’d miss our camp and eventually get to Miseri, nya.”

“Possibly,” Crusch sighed, “He might also have changed direction as soon as he was out of sight so that Falric wouldn’t know which way he was going.”

Felix pushed blue pins into the area near the latest red pin, “Scouts have been dispatched to the surrounding area, fifteen miles in every direction. However the swampy grasslands are bad terrain for riding earth dragons so our scouts are on foot and the grasslands also make for bad tracking. The area is too wet and green to have many marks of their passing. The scouts haven’t come up with anything yet. Reinhard should return soon and we can brief him on the new information, nya” Felix said.

Crusch slammed her fist into the map, “Damn you, Subaru Natsuki. What are you planning?” She whispered.

“Don’t you mean what is the witch planning?” Felt asked with an edge in her voice.

“Yes, of course,” Crusch replied in a repentant tone, “I did indeed misspeak.”

Felt glared at her suspiciously.

“Hey, what does the witch want anyway?” Garfiel mused.

“What do you mean?” Felt asked.

“Well, what is she trying to do? The witch is just wandering aimlessly in the woods as far as I can tell. The only time she pokes her head out it’s to rescue somebody from a mabeast. Maybe… maybe she’s not as bad as we thought,” Garfiel suggested diffidently.

“Garf!” Felt yelled in exasperation.

“I”m just saying, shrimp!” Garfiel held up his hands in surrender, “Falric says that the Captain convinced her to save his men’s lives. Maybe the Captain can control her.”

“Garf, listen! I know that you’re stupid. Frankly that’s one of the only endearing things about you but this is dumb even by your standards. The witch has Subaru under a spell that dominates his mind and twists his memories! Who do you think is controlling whom? On top of that, do you remember what she did to us?!” Felt demanded.

“Of course I remember! I was there too! But the flowers that attacked you also attacked the Captain and the witch seems to care about what happens to him if nothing else!” Garfiel said helplessly.

“What are you saying?” Crusch asked.

“I’m just saying, maybe the witch was telling the truth, you know? Maybe the frost flowers were an accident and the spell just got out of control when she tried to save us from Lye,” Garfiel shrugged.

“And what? That just makes it OK?!” Felt demanded.

“Shrimp, I’m not saying that! Look, all I’m saying is that… if the Captain can make her behave herself, then maybe we can negotiate with her… with him. Convince the Captain to come in out of the woods and then we could all solve the problem together,” Garfiel shrugged.

“Garf! Subaru is freaking enchanted by the witch! He’s her puppet and will probably say whatever she wants him to say!” Felt glared at him and Garfiel shrank in on himself.

Garfiel looked hurt, “So, what then?! If the Captain isn’t the one calling the shots then explain what happened to Falric. The evil witch made the decision to rescue those soldiers?!” Garfiel demanded.

Crusch looked at him coldly, Garfiel’s loyalties are impressive. Normally I would respect that but Garfiel’s dedication to Subaru goes beyond the point of reason. If Subaru says the Witch of Envy is under his control, then Garfiel seems to be willing to take his word for it. Then again, the even more concerning possibility is that Subaru’s statement might not be a lie. I need to make sure that Garfiel doesn’t go off looking for Subaru alone. If he met his ‘Captain’ without Felt there to hold his leash, I’m worried that Subaru Natsuki could convince him to switch sides.

“Before we can do anything, we need to find them,” Crusch said in a conciliatory tone, “My scouts are in the field. Hopefully they can pick up the trail. We’ll brief Reinhard as soon as he gets back.”

“We can’t keep using Red this way, Crusch, ” Felt complained, “He’s barely sleeping! The poor kid is going to burn out!”

“This is an emergency, Felt,” Crusch replied, “We need to get control of this situation before the witch regains her power.”

Felt glowered at Crusch but didn’t respond.

Crusch sighed, “It’s getting late. We’ll all think better in the morning.”

Felt nodded and left the command tent with Garfiel and headed back to their own tent, now with only two sleeping rolls inside.

They both sat down on their rolls with a sigh.

“I think Crusch is losing it,” Garfiel confessed, “What kind of evil witch goes skipping through the country side doing good deeds? What kind of evil witch rescues soldiers from mabeasts?”

“Fleabag, will you please stop talking about the witch like she’s the good guy? It drives me crazy!” Felt growled.

“I’m just repeating what actually happened, shrimp!” Garfiel snapped back.

“The witch completely rewrote Subaru’s memories! What kind of ‘good witch’ does that?” Felt demanded.

“What if the Captain was right? What if it’s all of our memories that got warped and his Authority thingy protected him?” Garfiel asked.

“Oh Gods,” Felt said, covering her face and barking a bitter laugh, “Do you really admire him that much, kid? If he told you that you could fly by flapping your arms really hard would you believe him?”

“You know, what? Fuck you, shrimp!” Garfiel snapped.

“Nobody remembers the stuff he talked about. Not us, not the twins, not even Crusch who on the other fucking side of the kingdom when we found the witch. If Subaru was right then there is some kind of ridiculous magic that modifies the memories of everyone in the fucking world except for him. So you tell me, how likely is that?” Felt asked him with an exasperated sigh.

“I don’t know!” Garfiel spat, “I’m just saying, if this witch is so evil then why is she devoting so much time and effort to doing good things?”

“So that idiots like you, fleabag, will do exactly what you’re doing!” Felt snapped, “She wants us to think that she’s OK so that we’ll lower our guard and stop chasing her! Then she has all the time in world to use Subaru to carry out her plan!”

“Yeah, what plan is that again? Cause it seems like all the witch is doing is following the Captain around the woods,” Garfiel said sarcastically, “You keep talking about the evil witch and her evil plan but it doesn’t seem to me like you have any idea what that plan is-except for the fact that it’s evil. You’re obviously very clear on that point.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Felt demanded.

Garfiel stared at Felt and then took a deep breath, “I’ve been thinking-”

“Oh man, Garf’s been thinking. I’m sorry that Ram isn’t here to see this,” Felt snorted.

Garfiel glowered at her, “I’ve been thinking that maybe you’re not seeing things clearly anymore, Felt” He suggested quietly.

“Excuse me?!” Felt gaped at him.

Garfiel sighed, “Look! You’re not acting like the Felt I know. You’re not using that enormous brain of yours to view the situation objectively. This whole thing has gotten personal for you.”

“You’re goddamn right it’s personal!” Felt shouted, “The witch tortured me, kidnapped Subaru, and is now doing who knows what to him!”

“That’s the problem, Felt! She didn’t kidnap him! He decided to leave with her and she followed him. We’ve got no evidence that she’s doing anything to him at all. If anything the reports seem to indicate that she’s following his lead, the same as she did when we were in the trailer!” Garfiel yelled back, “You’ve lost perspective, Felt, and you’re not thinking clearly. You’re frustrated, angry, and exhausted! You’ve barely slept in three days! You need to get some fucking sleep and take a fresh look at things.”

“I can’t sleep, you enormous blond prick!” Felt screamed.

Garfiel blinked. He was used to having screaming arguments with Felt. They were all in good fun. But now that he looked closely at Felt, he saw her big red eyes were filled with tears.

Felt bit her lip, “I can’t close my eyes, Garf. Every time I try, I feel those horrible flowers creeping all over me, turning my body into a briar patch as they eat me alive. I’m not sleeping because I fucking can’t! Every time I try to close my eyes I just want to start screaming!” She shook her head. “Felix says there’s nothing more he can do for me. Physically I’m fine but the nightmares…”

Felt wrapped her arms around her body, trembling. She took a ragged breath.

Garfiel opened his mouth but he couldn’t think of what to say.

“Good evening,” Reinhard said walking into the tent, “I heard your discussion when I entered the camp, as did most of our comrades I expect, and wished to bid you both goodnight before retiring to my own roll.”

“Red,” Felt said with a tired smile.

“Nice to see you again, Reinhard,” Garfiel said standing up to shake his hand.

“To you as well, Master Garfiel. And you, of course, Miss Felt,” Reinhard replied.

Garfiel looked at Felt and he thought hard for a moment. It took a rather long moment.

“Hey, Reinhard, do you think you could do me a big favor?” Garfiel asked slowly.

“Of course, my friend. You don’t even have to ask,” Reinhard replied smiling.

“Mind if we swap sleeping rolls tonight? See, I need to sleep on that side of the camp tonight because, uh, reasons,” Garfiel finished lamely.

Reinhard blanched and then looked at Felt with a blush, “Please understand, I’d love to accommodate you, my friend-”

“Great! Thanks, Reinhard!” Garfiel said, walking out of the tent.

“…But I am not altogether certain that this is appropriate,” Reinhard murmured to Garfiel’s back.

Reinhard looked at Felt in confusion, “Why did Master Garfiel do that?”

“Maybe the dumb lug just wanted to do me a favor,” Felt shrugged.

Reinhard looked puzzled and Felt hid a fond smile behind her hand.

Reinhard cleared his throat as he turned to Felt, “Miss Felt, it is a warm and clear night. I can simply take my roll outside and-”

“Knock it off, Red,” Felt snickered, “You’re not going to sleep outside, there’s plenty of room right here.”

Reinhard frowned looking awkward, “You are certainly right, Miss Felt. However, even though I would die before pressing attentions on you that would be unwelcome, I am concerned for your reputation if I sleep-”

“You’d be amazed how hard you’d have to work for your attention to be unwelcome to me, Red,” Felt replied.

Reinhard blushed.

“Besides I don’t have a reputation. I’m a girl from the slums,” Felt shrugged.

“Anyone who dismisses you as such will answer to me personally, Miss Felt. You are gracious in victory and defeat, kind to the undeserving, and steadfast to friends in need or in plenty. You are a remarkable woman and you stand second to no one,” Reinhard assured her.

Felt wrapped her arms around her knees and pressed her face against them, “Reinhard, could you do something for me?”

“Of course.”

“Could you… could you just hold my hand while I fall asleep?” She asked.

Reinhard hesitated for only a moment, “Of course, Miss Felt. It would be my deep honor.”

Felt laid down on her sleeping roll and Reinhard knelt down beside her.

Felt rolled her eyes, “Jeez, Reinhard! Just lie down!” She ordered.

Reinhard looked awkward but he laid down on his sleeping roll as he was directed.

Felt reached out and took Reinhard’s hand. Reinhard blushed as red as his hair.

“Gods, Red,” Felt whispered, looking up at the dark tent’s roof, “You’re so awkward about simple things. You’re just lucky that you look so cute when you blush.”

“Miss Felt?” He asked in confusion.

She sighed, “Reinhard, did I ever tell you about… what the witch did to me?”

“I don’t believe so,” Reinhard replied.

“I guess I didn’t really want to talk about it,” She took a deep breath, “We were fighting a Sin Archbishop named Lye. Well, Subaru and the others were. I was standing in the trailer helplessly. The witch threw a spell of some kind at the Archbishop but she wound up cursing me and Subaru too…”

Reinhard gasped, “What happened?”

Felt squeezed his hand tight and bit her lip, “It,” She choked and then took a deep breath, “It spread frost flowers all over the area. Beautiful delicate flowers of ice that grew out of the frozen ground in seconds.”

“This was a curse?”

“And then they started growing on me…”

Reinhard looked at her in concern.

Felt swallowed, “I felt them growing inside of me, Red. They started by bursting out of my skin and then their roots dug deep into my body and,” She swallowed hard, “I watched my blood flow up into the stems until the ice blossoms turned red from my blood. Their roots,” Felt chocked, “They sank deep inside of me and they started to crack open my bones the same way the roots of a tree split stone. And they… they… I could feel them sucking out my marrow…”

“Miss Felt…” He whispered in horror.

Felt squeezed her eyes shut and began to sob, “I can’t live with it, Red. I see it, I feel it every time I close my eyes. I felt them growing all over me. One grew from my tongue and another grew out of my eye. A few grew out of my finger tips and their roots cracked through my nails like they were breaking a cracker! One of the largest grew out of my back and I heard… I actually heard my spine crack open. I thought I was going to die but I just kept living and more and more plants kept growing all over my body. They were everywhere, touching me everywhere, drinking me, sucking me dry. I stopped being afraid that I would die and started to pray for it. I just wanted it to stop!”

“Miss Felt, please don’t speak so!” Reinhard urged.

Felt took a moment to steady herself, “Reinhard,” Felt whispered, “Could you do something for me?”

“Of course, Miss Felt,” He swore, “You have my word as knight. No matter the challenge, I will not falter!”

Felt bit her lip, “Could you… could you just hold me tonight?”

Reinhard looked shocked.

Felt’s eyes were swimming with tears. She knew he would reject her request as completely inappropriate and she had no strength to insist.

She saw his mouth open to refuse and then close it again.

“Of course, Miss Felt,” He replied, “Not even the Witch of Envy herself can harm you so long as you are in my arms.”

Felt choked back a sob and Reinhard awkwardly wrapped his arms around her.

Felt buried her face in his chest and began to cry, “Red, what the fuck am I doing?” She demanded, “I don’t cry! I don’t think I’ve cried since I was five years old!”

“A wise man once told me that we are the sum of our tears. Too little and the soil is barren; nothing can grow,” Reinhard whispered as he awkwardly stroked her hair.

Felt lay there sobbing into his chest.

“Miss Felt,” Reinhard whispered, “This entire matter is all my fault. If I had been by your side, none of this ever would have happened. Subaru would not have been bewitched and abducted by that woman and her curse would never have afflicted you.”

“It’s nobody’s fault but the witch’s, Red,” Felt whimpered, “She’s the one who cursed me and bewitched Subaru. Besides,” She half chuckled, “I could never stay mad at you for anything.”

“Why not?”

Felt took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, “Reinhard, you are very, very stupid.”

“What did I say?”

Felt lay there quietly for a time.

Felt sighed, “Reinhard, do you ever think about the future?”

“Not really, why?”

Felt sighed, “I don’t know I… I guess the witch’s curse has just made me feel more fragile than I used to. I’m starting to realize that if I don’t tell people certain things now, I may never get another chance to tell them...”

“Words of wisdom, Miss Felt. You should unburden your mind about such things.”

Reinhard felt her smile against his chest, “You really think so?” She asked in evident amusement.

“I sense that I am once again missing the joke. Or perhaps am the butt of it.”

“No to both,” Felt replied, “I was just realizing that there’s something we need to talk about when things settle down.”

“I am ever at your call, Miss Felt.”

“I know,” She whispered, “Thank you, Reinhard.”

They were quiet for a moment.

“Reinhard, I think… I think maybe I can go to sleep now but…”

“I will guard you all night, Miss Felt,” He promised.

“Don’t do that, you dummy. You’re tired too. Just let me rest here while we sleep, OK?”

“… Of course,” Reinhard replied.

“Reinhard?”

“Yes?”

“I’m still afraid of the nightmares…” She confessed.

“Alas, Miss Felt. I can not enter your dreams and protect you from them unless you dream of me as well,” Reinhard answered helplessly.

Felt looked up at him with a broad smile, “You know what? That’s a great idea. Thanks, Red,” She chuckled, “It’s weird, Reinhard. I’ve only know you for a couple of weeks but somehow… I can’t imagine my life without you… Or maybe I just don’t want to…”

Felt laid her head back down on his chest and drifted off to sleep.

Reinhard lay there stroking the back of her head until her breathing became deep and even, a steady drone that lulled him off to sleep as well.

Subaru and Emilia walked long into the night.

God, I’m exhausted! How is Mili doing this so easily? Oh, she’s probably using mana to sustain her muscles.

Crap. Why can’t my Authority do that? Or can it do that but I just don’t know how?

Great.

God, this has been the week from hell. Marching all day everyday, barely any sleep, lousy food, and always worried that we’re about to be caught.

I can’t handle much more of this. A few more days like this and I’m just going to collapse just from the stress. Every time I close my eyes I jerk awake when I hear any sound. I worry anything could be someone coming to take Emilia.

I keep imagining a group of soldiers surrounding us late one night. Or Reinhard stumbling over us.

Or Regulus.

OK, knock it off! You need to stay focused right now! You can go all to pieces later but first you need to get your family to safety. Then you can have your big breakdown and cry yourself to sleep in Emilia’s arms.

Just keep picturing what will happen if your enemies or your friends catch up with Emilia. That should keep your legs moving.

You have one priority right now: You have to keep Emilia safe.

You have to keep Emilia safe.

You have to keep Emilia safe.

A few hours later Reinhard was awakened by Felt struggling in his arms.

He opened his eyes in shock and saw Felt sound asleep but thrashing, whimpering, and moaning. Tears streaming down her face as she slept.

Reinhard stared her at helplessly. He had no Blessing that could soothe her wounded heart and his skill with a sword was useless. No blade could slay the demons in her mind.

In desperation he held Felt closer, “I am with you, Miss Felt. Nothing can hurt you so long as I’m here. I give you my word as a knight of the kingdom.”

Felt murmured in her sleep and then began to settle, “Reinhard,” She whispered and a faint smile flickered across her face as she quieted.

“Miss Felt,” He whispered, “What kind of demon could do such horrors to a noble hearted woman like yourself? Much less bewitch and enthrall one of the kindest and bravest men it has ever been my good fortune to know. I will resolve all of this, Miss Felt. The witch will pay for her crimes. I give you my world as a knight.”

Reinhard looked at the tent ceiling, his thoughts dark.

This entire matter is all my fault. If I had not left Subaru alone, none of this ever would have happened. Could the witch have been planning this? That vast dark power that Subaru possesses, I know that it can be tamed under his will, I’ve seen him do it. But that same power must make him an extremely tempting target for the witch. Perhaps she’d been waiting for someone like Subaru for centuries.

Subaru Natsuki has the power to change this world. I’ve seen the evidence of it with my own eyes. Miss Felt has seen it as well. When she told me about Subaru’s ‘engine’ I initially dismissed it as a toy but Miss Felt instantly understood the world shattering potential of this device. What would Subaru Natsuki be capable of in just another year? Ever since the attack at Arlem, I’ve been beset by visions of Subaru changing this world into a paradise, leading whole nations into harmony, prosperity, and justice. But under the witch’s influence, what if my dear friend Subaru was corrupted and sought to set the world aflame?

No. Things haven’t gone that far yet. All the reports I’ve received suggest that even under the witch’s influence, Subaru has preserved his integrity. He lured the Sin Archbishop Capella away from his friends, he spared the lives of Captain Falric’s company when it would have been far easier (and perhaps objectively wiser) to have done otherwise.

Subaru can still be saved. I sense it. I simply need to separate him from the witch and give him time to recover.

However this is easier said than done. If Subaru has truly fallen so into her thrall as to choose the witch over Miss Felt, his treasured friend, then I must assume Subaru will also be unwilling to listen to me.

Such thoughts lead me to a dark place. Subaru being lost to shadow would be a catastrophic loss, both to his loved ones and for the world at large. And that doesn’t even take into consideration the consequences of granting the Witch of Envy access to his staggering well of magical power and his considerable genius.

Given the extreme consequences of failure in this case, there can be no half measures. The needs of the world outweigh the concerns of my own heart and even those of my cherished friend. Subaru must be separated from the witch, even if it is against his will. Even if he Subaru comes to hate me for it. There is no other solution.

The witch much die.