When Subaru opened his eyes, he found himself immersed in a vast, consuming darkness. It was not the mere absence of light, but a heavy, smothering void that seemed to press in on all sides. Though his limbs still ached with lingering fatigue, his awareness had become unnaturally sharp, as though his consciousness had been forcibly peeled from slumber and thrown into this place. He inhaled slowly, the air feeling thick and unreal, and muttered to himself with a groan, "At least let me rest for a bit, for god's sake."
His voice barely echoed, swallowed entirely by the suffocating blackness around him. It was as if even the abyss had grown tired of his complaints, granting him neither solace nor acknowledgment. There was no ground, no sky, no horizon—just the crushing silence.
Then, piercing through the stillness came a voice—familiar, composed, and steeped in ancient authority. "Your body rests elsewhere, Natsuki Subaru. What stands here now is your soul."
Subaru turned swiftly, the tension in his chest rising. Seated atop a throne seemingly molded from darkness itself, Flugel regarded him with the same enigmatic gaze Subaru had come to know. His eyes, keen and unyielding, reflected a wisdom far beyond time. The throne beneath him looked more like a natural extension of the void, shaped by will rather than design. Around him, the shadows that once drifted aimlessly now pulsed with a strange rhythm, drawn into orbit by his presence.
"Well," Subaru said as he stood up, brushing imaginary dust from his pants. "Feels like it's been forever since we had one of these chats. Face-to-face and all."
Flugel raised a brow. "Hardly what I'd call a long absence," he replied with an indifferent tone. "But if it pleases you to imagine so, go ahead."
He then lifted a single hand, making a subtle motion. Instantly, the shadows around them began to stir, swirling like mist caught in a silent storm. They coiled and contorted, forming ever-shifting patterns before receding once more into calm.
"Time doesn't function here the same way it does in your waking world. This moment, brief as it may feel, is a rare opportunity. Let's not squander it. It's time to awaken your Mana Heart."
Subaru's brows rose in surprise. The phrase stirred something within him—a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. He crossed his arms and took a small step forward. "Mana Heart, huh? Sounds like it could be important. Maybe even game-changing. Could use a few wins for once."
Flugel didn't turn, his voice flat yet resolute. "With power comes burden. You've experienced the weight of that truth before. I won't carry it for you. I'll light the path, but walking it is your task alone. The rewards, the failures, the suffering—they're yours to own."
Subaru tilted his head with mock exasperation. "You keep borrowing my body, least you could do is help carry the baggage once in a while. A little sympathy wouldn't kill you."
Flugel allowed himself a faint smirk. "My body is still sealed, Subaru. The reason I can act through you at all is the resonance we share—a mirror of spirit, fractured but aligned. I won't interfere unless your life hangs by a thread. That's the rule we both agreed to. This isn't my journey. It's yours."
Subaru let out a dramatic sigh and raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I get it. Responsibility, soul growth, inner strength... classic hero nonsense."
Without another word, Flugel snapped his fingers. Reality cracked, then shattered. The oppressive darkness fell away like broken glass, and in its place bloomed a meadow of impossibly vibrant green. Grass danced in a breeze that hadn't existed a second before. The sky above was a surreal canvas, painted in dreamlike shades of violet, peach, and gold, like the eternal moment just before dusk.
Subaru instinctively tensed. The colors, the softness of the air, the strange familiarity of it all set off alarms in his mind.
"Wait a minute... isn't this Echidna's place? That whole Tea Party dimension thing? Don't tell me we're meeting her again," he said, clearly alarmed.
Flugel exhaled slowly, exasperated. "No. This is merely a replica, a projection shaped for this exercise. The real domain of Echidna is far too... exhausting. Her personality alone is a headache I prefer not to relive. This is a controlled environment."
Subaru cautiously walked a few steps into the field before slowly lowering himself to the ground. He crossed his legs into lotus position, the grass cool beneath him. He let his fingers trail through the blades absently.
"Alright, I can live with that," he murmured, the words barely above a whisper. The place felt peaceful, but not empty. There was a hum in the air, a vibration that hinted at power—and at trials yet to come. Deep inside, something told him this was just the beginning.
Even here, surrounded by fabricated serenity, Subaru could feel it: a gathering storm on the edge of his awareness, waiting to break.
Flugel stepped behind Subaru, his voice steady and deliberate, echoing in the tense silence of the chamber. "I'm going to inject a massive amount of mana into you. To prevent your body from being torn apart, I'll reinforce your mana channels using the Yin element. Forcibly activating your mana heart will be agonizing—more than you've ever experienced—but it will also make you stronger. This process won't just test your physical limits, but your spirit as well. If you can survive it... you might be able to become something more. Something closer to what you were meant to be."
Subaru gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. His breath was shallow, tension building in his chest like the calm before a storm. He didn't respond aloud—his voice might have betrayed the fear laced deep within. Yet somewhere inside, he knew that growth always came with pain, and this was the path he had chosen. Flugel reached out, pressing his palm gently yet firmly against Subaru's back, his fingers glowing faintly with dark energy. The contact was enough to make Subaru's body flinch involuntarily.
A wave of heat surged through him without warning. It wasn't just warmth—it was like molten fire poured directly into his veins. Energy rippled violently through his core, an uncontrolled torrent that made every inch of him scream in resistance. He gasped as his lungs felt like they were being scorched from the inside, and for a heartbeat his vision flickered into darkness. The mana coursed through his body like an untamed river during a flood. "Flugel... if it's going to hurt like hell, just do it already," he growled, his voice tight with clenched teeth.
[DING!!]
Mana Core Infusion: 20%
Dark, heavy shadows spiraled upward from beneath Flugel's feet. They weren't merely mana—they moved with the weight of something ancient and sentient. The black tendrils slithered up his legs, coiling like serpents before sliding up to his outstretched arms. As they reached his fingers, the shadows surged into Subaru's body with a violent lurch. The mana spread through him with terrifying speed—first muscles, then bones, then nerves—each layer being forcibly awakened and rewritten.
This wasn't ordinary magic. It felt older than language, deeper than instinct. The pain was beyond comprehension. Subaru's heart felt like a fragile crystal being struck by countless steel needles all at once. Each beat of it came with a quake that rippled through his spine, and the mana's corrosive touch left a trail of searing agony in its wake. He wanted to scream—to let it all out—but the Yin element coursing through his throat numbed his voice, silencing him at the source. The silence only made the torment feel more suffocating.
[DING!!]
Mana Core Infusion: 30%
Flugel's face remained unmoved, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp, relentless focus. He increased the mana flow again, this time with even greater density. Subaru's heart now resembled a pressure vessel on the brink of rupture. Steam-like energy pulsed through his chest, each wave bringing more internal chaos. The veins in his arms bulged unnaturally as mana filled him past his threshold. Every breath became a new trial—each inhale was a dagger, each exhale a collapse.
The pain stopped being physical. It began to eat at his thoughts, at the corners of his consciousness. Memories flashed—faces he couldn't name, screams he couldn't place, tears he didn't remember shedding. His very sense of self felt unstable, crumbling beneath the pressure.
[DING!!]
Mana Core Infusion: 60%
"I'm a damn spirit right now, but this still hurts like I've got nerves! This is insane!" Subaru bellowed, voice cracking as his hands dug into the stone beneath him. There was fury there—but also fear. The kind that came when a soul approached its edge.
Flugel's expression softened ever so slightly. He exhaled slowly, his breath shimmering with mana particles. Adjusting the spell's matrix, he began to blend the influx with a purer form of Yin. This wasn't the oppressive Yin from before—it was smoother, almost gentle. Its soothing resonance danced alongside the chaotic energy inside Subaru, tempering it, shaping it. It wrapped around his core like a protective shell, preventing internal collapse while anchoring the unstable construct of his mana heart.
[DING!!]
Mana Core Infusion: 80%
For a moment, Flugel hesitated. His hand faltered mid-gesture as thoughts clashed in his mind. He was fully aware of the curse sleeping inside Subaru's heart—intertwined with it, breathing with it. Using that essence now could accelerate the process dramatically, but it also risked inviting chaos far beyond anything they'd faced. Still, time was short, and the current strain on Subaru's body was reaching critical levels.
Making a split-second decision, Flugel's eyes hardened with resolve. His voice rang out, sharp and commanding:
"Hey, idiot. Activate the curse. I know it's dangerous, but you need to trust me. Let it awaken—only then can you survive this. Just trust me."
Everything fell into a still silence, save for the thundering rhythm of Subaru's mana-infused heart, echoing like a war drum preparing for the final strike.
Though Subaru couldn't fully grasp what was happening, a primal instinct stirred within him—a compulsion to answer the call, a call that seemed to echo from the deepest corners of his very soul. A spark ignited deep in his chest, flickering violently as it resonated with some unseen truth. Struggling to push the words through a tightening throat, his lips trembled before forming a broken whisper:
"I-I... return by dea—"
And the world stopped.
Time shattered like glass under pressure. Colors drained into pale shadows, fading to a dull monochrome. Sounds evaporated into a void, and the air grew so dense and silent it felt impossible to breathe. The moment hovered between life and death, suspended like a single drop of rain refusing to fall. Subaru's eyes locked onto a distant shape moving in the dense fog of stillness. It wasn't walking—no, it glided through the frozen world, its very presence bending space and mana like a black hole warping light. Reality itself trembled at its passing.
"Ah... no matter how many times I see her, her beauty never fades," came Flugel's voice from behind Subaru, hushed and reverent. But beneath that awe was a sorrow so old it sounded like it had forgotten how to weep.
"I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you..."
The mantra grew louder, more insistent. The Witch of Envy. As she drifted closer, her obsession flooded the space like poison, each repeated declaration dragging the temperature lower and lower. Time itself felt as if it were molasses, crawling slower with each heartbeat. Her mere presence radiated a curse—an affliction of existence itself. The mana surrounding them twisted violently, either fleeing or turning brittle from the contact.
But Flugel stood undaunted. He had prepared for this moment. Drawing on the cursed energy residing deep within Subaru's heart, he wove a luminous barrier. It wasn't just made of light or force—it was forged in the spiritual realm, a bastion against corruption itself. Symbols flashed across its surface like prayers locked in time.
"Sorry, Witch. I'm only here for Satella," Flugel said. His voice cut through the air like a blade—calm, steady, and absolute.
The Witch of Envy halted. For a moment, her form twitched as though it resisted comprehension. Then, slowly, like smoke in wind, she unraveled into strands of darkness and vanished into the nothingness. Her presence faded, leaving behind only a lingering chill.
Flugel wasted no time. With precise focus, he channeled the final, lingering remnant of her cursed mana into Subaru's mana heart. It wasn't a gentle transition. The injection came like an explosion.
Subaru's body arched violently as a torrent of pain erupted through his entire being. His muscles convulsed, nerves screamed, and blood vessels pulsed with chaotic energy. His consciousness trembled on the edge of collapse, his heart pounding against the limits of its endurance.
[DING!!]
Mana Core Infusion: 100%
[New Ability Unlocked!]
[Exceptional Event Detected!]
[Structural Changes Initiated.]
Finally, Flugel pulled his hands away. Even he was trembling, the energy he'd poured into the process having taken a toll. Sweat dripped from his chin, and his eyes were heavy with fatigue. But despite it all, there was a quiet satisfaction in the curve of his mouth. It was done. Subaru teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, but his soul still sang with power—raw, untamed, and new.
Flugel sat down heavily on the ground, letting his limbs relax. His eyes turned skyward, watching the heavens shift ever so slightly. Thoughts drifted to a different age, a different world, and a name that clung to his heart like ivy to stone: Satella.
"Two souls in one body... Sounds familiar, doesn't it, Subaru?" he murmured. His voice was soft, wistful, like the dying chords of an old melody. He smiled faintly, then gave a short, dry laugh, resting his hands on his knees. Above him, the sky shimmered with quiet luminescence, as if marking the arrival of something new, something sacred.
When Subaru awoke, it was as if he were reborn. His body felt lighter, no longer weighed down by fatigue or pain. His internal organs hummed with quiet energy, as if they'd been roused from slumber. Each breath was clean and effortless. He could feel mana gently circulating through his body like a second bloodstream.
Sunlight pierced through the canopy above, falling in dappled patches on his skin. He blinked slowly, his eyes adjusting to the golden morning light. He groaned softly as he stretched, half expecting pain to greet him—but none came. Instead, a gentle warmth spread through his limbs, a signal of renewal, of transformation. Every fiber of his being thrummed with the promise of change.
Gradually, he pushed himself up to a seated position. The world was still, quiet, as if it too were waiting to see what he had become. As his gaze wandered, it fell upon a familiar silhouette—Flugel, just a few steps away, seated with his back turned. The man stared up at the sky, motionless, though the tension in the air suggested his thoughts were anything but still.
Subaru didn't speak. He didn't have to. For now, it was enough to breathe. To be. To begin again.
Just then, a screen flickered to life before Subaru's eyes. Translucent and softly glowing, it hovered in the air like a phantom memory, etched with luminous lines that shifted and shimmered as if alive. He recognized it instantly—a familiar system window, one that marked the crossing between life, death, and something far more strange:
Natsuki Subaru
Age: 17
Titles:
• From Another World (current)
• ???
Current Soul Coins: 20
Authorities:
Return by Death (Passive)
When Subaru dies, he is forcefully returned to a fixed point in the past, known only to him. Memories and experiences from the timeline that led to his death are retained, giving him a decisive edge—but at a cruel cost.
Restrictions:
-Any emotional, physical, or material loss that occurred before the checkpoint remains permanent and cannot be undone
-The fixed checkpoint cannot be changed manually
-Subaru is completely unable to speak, write, or even imply the existence of this authority; attempts are punished by the materialization of the "Witch's Hand," which crushes his heart with relentless precision
Resonance by Death (Passive)
Every time Subaru dies, he gains a fragment of power from the being or entity responsible for his death. The deeper the trauma, the clearer the echo.
Restrictions:
-Repeated deaths to the same entity increase synchronization, allowing stronger and more refined versions of the copied ability
-Each ability has a strict growth ceiling; pushing beyond may lead to mental instability, physical distortion, or worse
-Subaru may not always understand or be compatible with the stolen abilities, making control and mastery a risky endeavor
Skills:
Advanced Dagger Technique
Type: Passive Skill
Effects:
-Grants innate and near-instinctual mastery of dagger-based combat
-Improves reaction times and close-quarters agility significantly
-Serves as a foundation skill with branching potential, allowing further development of specialized techniques
Mana Blade
Type: Active Skill
Synchronization Rate: 100%
Effects:
-Channels raw mana into the blade, reinforcing edge sharpness and cutting potential
-Capable of bypassing conventional armor and magical barriers when executed correctly
-Strengthens the physical resilience of the weapon, improving durability under strain
-Mana flow becomes more efficient as the user's proficiency increases, reducing cost while boosting output
-Critical hits scale directly with total mana density at the moment of impact
Phantom Drift
Type: Passive Skill
Synchronization Rate: 100%
Effects:
-Allows Subaru to subtly perceive the faintest intentions in an enemy's movements during vulnerable openings
-Acts as a pseudo-precognitive reflex, enhancing timing and counterattack precision in high-stakes duels
Yin Step
Type: Active Skill
Synchronization Rate: 50%
Effects:
-Permits Subaru to move swiftly and silently through connected shadows using yin-aligned mana
-Functions as a short-range teleportation blink when shadows are plentiful
-Due to natural affinity with yin mana, energy expenditure is unusually low
-Requires fine-tuned control over dark-elemental energy to activate without destabilization
Fade
Type: Active Skill
Effects:
-When activated, Subaru's visibility fades dramatically, blending him into his surroundings
-Reduces detection chances, particularly among non-magical opponents or in dim environments
-No mana consumption is required, though prolonged use can mentally fatigue the user
Cursed Heart
Type: Passive Skill
Effects:
-An evolved form of the traditional mana heart, cursed and restructured by the essence of the Witch of Envy
-Functions both as a mana reservoir and a circulating core, drastically increasing mana storage and flow speed
-Bolsters curse-based techniques and dark element spells, enhancing compatibility and effect strength
-Greatly reduces waste in mana usage, allowing for strategic efficiency during extended combat
Usable Elements:
Primary Affinity: Yin
Secondary Affinity: Fire (Copied from the beast of the end, Puck)
Current Weapon: Etherfang (Twin Daggers)
-Forged from condensed ether alloy and imbued with mana-conductive runes
-Designed for high-speed, dual-handed combat
Subaru's eyes flew open, breath catching in his throat as if he'd emerged from underwater. His heart pounded as he took in the window's contents, voice trembling in disbelief.
"What...? Nearly every skill's synchronization is at max...? And... this 'Cursed Heart'... what the hell is going on here? How is this even possible?"
Behind him, Flugel exhaled deeply, his expression unreadable, as if gazing into a shadow from centuries past.
"The heart in my original body—long before it was sealed—was like this," he said slowly. "A Cursed Heart. What you now possess is its mirror: a near-perfect replica crafted from soul-binding essence. It is vastly superior to the common mana core. Complex, turbulent, and filled with destructive potential."
He paused, stepping forward. "But such strength is not without cost. You'll find your emotions run deeper, your anger burns hotter, your sorrow more bitter. Your mana is your blood now, and that blood is stained by a legacy of curses. Dangerous, yes. But in your hands, I believe it can become more than a weapon. It can become your will made manifest."
Subaru stared at his hands, as though seeing them for the first time. They trembled—not from fear, but from the quiet, electric certainty that the road ahead would never again be the same.
Subaru was still struggling to steady his breath. Each inhale felt shallow, jagged—his body caught between shock and disbelief. He shook his head slowly, as if to clear the fog, and stepped toward Flugel, his boots crunching faintly against the cold, stony ground. His eyes, wide and searching, locked onto Flugel's face. They burned with questions, with desperation.
"What exactly is going on between you and Satella?" Subaru asked, voice trembling. "When you saw her, there was something... different in your expression. You looked—happy. Relieved, even. Like you'd been waiting a long time. And... the Witch of Envy and Satella—they are the same person, right?"
Flugel's eyes fluttered shut, his expression turning solemn. The shadows on his face deepened as old memories washed over him like a tide. "My relationship with Satella... is not something I can define with simple words. It's messy. Painful. Beautiful. Who knows—maybe I just love her. The way you love Emilia. Not out of obligation or logic, but something deeper. Irrevocable. Unshakable."
He took a step back and looked skyward, as if searching for something lost long ago. "Satella was once a gentle, innocent girl. Kind-hearted, curious. But fate had cruel designs. One day, everything shattered. Pandora—the Witch of Vainglory—forced the Witch of Envy's Authority into her. It wasn't her choice. The moment it entered her soul, she began to fracture. Her essence split in two: one half became the Kişkançlık Cadısı—the Witch of Envy—consumed by uncontrollable affection and boundless destruction. The other... remained Satella. A girl burdened by guilt, by sins that were never hers to bear."
Subaru's body stiffened. He straightened up so abruptly it was as if a lightning bolt had run through him. His voice cracked as he spoke. "You're telling me Pandora is the one truly responsible for what happened to Satella? For the destruction of half the world? That cold-eyed witch—Echidna showed her to me during Emilia's trial. Her presence... it was terrifying. Her eyes..."
"Yes," Flugel replied, nodding gravely. "Pandora. The Witch of Vainglory. She manipulates reality with terrifying precision. Words are her weapons—words that twist, corrupt, reshape truth itself. Weak minds crumble before her. Even strong ones find themselves doubting. She is subtle, elegant, and unimaginably cruel."
Subaru staggered back a step, as if the realization had weight. "But where is she now? Someone that dangerous—if she's still out there, why is no one talking about her? Why do the records ignore her existence? And you... you know so much. More than anyone should. You said you were once Natsuki Subaru—but you're also the Great Sage from four centuries ago. Just who are you, Flugel? No more riddles. I deserve the truth."
Flugel's eyes opened, and this time, they glinted with the dim light of exhaustion—a soul worn thin by time. He exhaled slowly, his voice low and deliberate. "I... lived your fate. I carried the same curse. The same loop. The same despair. I died, over and over, in more ways than I can count. Burned, crushed, torn apart. Betrayed. Forgotten. Millions of deaths, each one carving something from me. But I never gave in. I had to become stronger. There was no other choice."
He began to pace, the weight of the past dragging behind each step like a chain. "I crossed every kingdom, every border. I saw destinies unravel and entangle. Priestella's siege. Vollachia's bloody civil wars. Aldebaran's treachery—unthinkable at the time. Volcanica's sudden fury that turned mountains to ash. The war—no, the cataclysm—between Reinhard and Satella... I was there. I witnessed every collapse. Every turning point."
Flugel paused, lowering his head. The air around him seemed heavier. "And in the end... it was always Satella. She was the one who brought me back. Again. And again. And again. But despite everything, I failed her. With my own hands—I let her go. She fought to the bitter end, trying to hold onto what remained of her soul. I tried to save her... but I was too late. In that moment, I lost everything. My hope. My purpose. My reason to keep fighting."
He looked at Subaru then, his expression haunted. "But time didn't stop. The world moved on. One by one, the Sin Archbishops were defeated. The Witch Cult collapsed into dust. Only Pandora remained—untouched, watching. My body, meanwhile... began to change. I became an anomaly. I attracted the Authorities of the dead witches without meaning to. They clung to me. Infused into me. Until I became the bearer of all their powers."
He held out a trembling hand, as if feeling the weight of invisible chains. "But that power came with a price. I stopped aging. My soul, unable to pass on, became tethered to this plane. Eternal life—not as a gift, but a sentence. And with it, a torment that never ends."
His voice dropped to a whisper. "Subaru, what you are now... what you're becoming... I was once there. And I know where that path leads. That's why I'm here now. Not just to warn you—but to help you break the cycle."
Subaru stood frozen, overwhelmed. For the first time, he truly saw Flugel—not as a mysterious sage or a relic of the past—but as a mirror of himself. Broken. Burdened. And still fighting.
Flugel fell silent for a moment, his gaze narrowing with a gravity that weighed the air between them. Slowly, he fixed his eyes on Subaru, as if measuring whether the truth was worth sharing. "Emilia? I've never truly been fond of that girl—not in the way you were, or Pridebaru was. My presence by her side was nothing more than strategic alliance. In the reality I lived through, even when she ascended to the throne and became queen, she failed. She couldn't save the elven people. Her ideals—noble, yes—but hopelessly naive, collided with the brutal machinery of politics. In the end, her dreams were crushed under the weight of compromise and betrayal. Before the final flicker of light in her soul faded, the darkness swallowed her whole."
Subaru's chest tightened. He didn't know what he was supposed to feel—was it sorrow? Anger? Helplessness? Perhaps all of them at once. A tangled knot of emotions churned within him. As he looked at Flugel, it was like gazing into a mirror from a parallel world—recognizable yet utterly foreign. This man was once him, and yet, he had walked paths Subaru couldn't yet fathom.
Flugel's voice grew quieter, reflective, as though the memories themselves were sacred. "Longevity is not a gift. It is an endless cycle of loss. Everyone I cherished—friends, comrades, even enemies who'd earned my respect—they all vanished. Some succumbed to the slow erosion of time. Others were taken by violence, by meaningless wars, by betrayals too painful to recount. One by one, they disappeared. And I was left behind. Alone. A shadow clinging to the echoes of the past. I didn't just survive—I endured. Through centuries, I became a ghost haunting a world that had forgotten me. I hunted down the remnants of the Witch Cult, not out of duty, but to silence the screams of memory. But no matter how many victories I claimed, the emptiness remained unfilled."
He paused briefly, eyes distant, the weight of centuries pressing on his shoulders. "Then fate played one of its cruel games. Pandora appeared again. It wasn't just another battle—it was a calamity. A war that shredded space and time. When she unleashed her full power, I was cast out of this reality. Her body split into countless reflections, self-replicating endlessly. Every time I struck her down, another rose in her place. I was trapped in a perpetual nightmare. Each death frayed my sanity, and each resurrection wore down my resolve."
He clenched his fist slowly. "I killed her over and over—with my hands, my blades, my fangs, my fury. I lost myself in agony and rage. But I never gave up. Finally, I reached her true form. I ended it. Escaped the torment. But she must have known. She must have prepared for defeat. In her final moments, she activated an Authority I couldn't comprehend—ancient, possibly older than this world itself—and banished me into a void beyond time."
His voice took on a hollow resonance. "In that timeless abyss, there was no direction. No seconds, no minutes. Only me. My thoughts. My soul. At first, I thought I'd rot there. But in that silence, something changed. My mind expanded. I reached beyond limits. I bent that empty dimension to my will. I carved open a rift in space-time and walked back into existence. That was five hundred years ago. But the greatest revelation wasn't just survival. In that space, I saw it—the truth. Our universe is not alone. I witnessed endless alternate realities, infinite variations of us. Some of those versions of you were titans. Others, brittle as glass. All shaped by different decisions, different outcomes. You've heard me say this before, but now you know I speak from the edge of everything."
He exhaled, weariness thick in the motion. "When I returned, I took a new name—Flugel. I abandoned my past. I erected the Tower of Pleidaes, not as a monument, but as a safeguard. A vault of knowledge for the one destined to inherit the burden. For a while, I traveled with Echidna, Reid, and Satella. It felt like hope might be real again. I thought maybe I could prevent what I knew was coming. I believed I could save Satella from becoming the Witch of Envy. But hope is a cruel jest. Because Pandora returned."
His tone darkened. "This time, it was different. She was prepared. Worse—she remembered. With chilling precision, she lured Reid and me away, isolating Satella. And then... she forcibly injected the Witch Factor of Envy into her. It was a moment that broke the future. Satella began to unravel. Her kindness turned inward, then decayed into obsession, madness. The rest... the rest followed as prophecy. The world crumbled. Destiny fractured. Pandora vanished, leaving chaos in her wake."
He leaned forward, as though sharing a secret with the universe. "But she was only a prelude. I saw what lies beyond her. In the spaces between realities, there are entities whose very existence bends the rules of creation. Some can erase entire timelines with a whisper. And those beings... they are coming. That's when I realized—I couldn't face them here. So I left again. Sealed myself once more in that timeless place. I let the Authorities I had absorbed diffuse into my physical form, leaving behind only a husk tethered to this world."
Flugel's eyes now gleamed not just with wisdom, but with something deeper—resignation, perhaps, or conviction tempered by tragedy. "And so began the long wait. Decades turned to centuries. Until the day you were summoned. From that moment onward, you've lived it all. But understand this, Subaru. What you've seen so far? That was only the prologue. The real storm hasn't even begun."
Subaru was at a loss for words. The silence that followed Flugel's revelations was dense, almost suffocating. It stretched out between them, filled with a weight that neither dared disturb. Finally, Subaru found his voice, though it emerged hoarse and trembling, as if scraped from the bottom of his soul.
"I always thought of you as someone who just put on a role," he admitted slowly. "Someone who spoke in riddles, someone who wore the mask of wisdom. I never really questioned it—I thought it was just your nature. But now I see it... I see the pain behind those cryptic words. There's a history there, a burden I couldn't have imagined. To think that you've carried all of that... for so long... and all by yourself. That's not just strength, Flugel—that's something far beyond it. I feel like anything I say now will fall short. Words just... they aren't enough. And I—I feel useless. Like I can't do anything. But even so... here you are. Sitting across from me. Talking. Sharing this. It means more than you know."
Flugel turned toward him slightly, his expression quiet. A faint smile curved his lips—not one of joy, but something softer, carved from grief and long-forgotten tenderness. "At the very least," he said gently, "you won't have to go through it, Natsuki Subaru. That's enough for me. Be as happy as you can manage. Truly."
Subaru took a long breath, letting it fill his lungs, and then slowly exhaled. He lowered himself to the ground beside Flugel, his eyes anchored to the earth beneath their feet. The moment felt sacred, suspended. "Thank you for telling me all this, Flugel. I can't imagine how hard it must've been. There's... one more thing I have to ask, though. After everything that happened to you... was there really no other place you could've gone? Another world, another life? Why choose this one? Why stay here?"
Flugel lifted his gaze toward the stars, his features illuminated by the faint glimmer of a distant celestial light. For a moment, he was silent, as if searching the night sky for the right words. Then he spoke, voice low, distant. "I probably could have gone elsewhere. I've had the power, and I've had the chances. But this world... it's not like the others. There's something unique about it. A pull—like gravity, but stranger. This place intersects with countless universes, more than most. The borders between realities are thin here. It made getting here easier than other worlds. And more than that... our sister might be here too. I've felt it. Seen signs of her. Subtle traces that couldn't have been accidents. The convergence that brought me here may have brought her as well. That's why I stayed. That's why I'm still here."
Subaru's eyes wandered toward the horizon, where sunlight filtered through the leaves like shards of gold. His voice dropped to a whisper. "She must feel so alone without us. We were her home once, and now... she's had to keep going on her own. I can't even imagine how long it's been since she left that world. Or what she's endured since."
Flugel's tone grew softer, like a breeze whispering through memories. Yet sorrow still tugged at each syllable. "Don't worry. The version of us from that world is still living. That's one of the fundamental laws across these realities—nothing truly vanishes. Nothing is created from nothing. Everything that exists echoes somewhere else. There is always a counterpart, a shadow, a reflection. Even when we are torn away... a part of us remains."
Subaru closed his eyes, letting the words settle into him. In the silence that followed, they echoed—deep and resonant, threading through the corners of his mind. He didn't respond. He simply breathed and listened. And one quiet thought rose to the surface:
How can someone who's suffered so deeply ever find peace?
The question lingered, unanswered.
For a while, the world held still. The wind rustled the leaves in slow, rhythmic waves. Birds called in the distance, a lullaby for the forest's breath. Their silence wasn't awkward—it was a sanctuary. Their hearts beat in tandem, soft and steady beneath the hush. Time itself seemed to slow.
Then, without warning, the ground beneath them began to tremble—just slightly, like a pulse. The air grew heavy with a strange energy, as though the world itself had shifted its gaze. Something was calling Subaru. Urging him forward.
Flugel's eyes opened fully, sensing the shift. He turned to Subaru, his voice calm but alert. "It looks like your time here is over. You'll be heading toward Kararagi next. That road... it won't be easy. In fact, it may be harsher than anything you've faced before. Be careful. The demon beasts in that region have grown more aggressive, more numerous. You won't be alone on this path, but don't let that make you careless. Stay alert. Always."
Subaru rose slowly to his feet, brushing dust from his pants. For a heartbeat, he stood in hesitation, unsure whether to leave just yet. Then he turned and bowed his head deeply, a gesture of sincere respect. "Thank you again—for everything. This conversation... it's given me something I didn't know I needed. Perspective. Hope. Maybe even strength."
Flugel's brow furrowed, and he scowled, though his eyes betrayed the warmth his voice tried to conceal. "Tch. Don't start getting sentimental on me now. You're making it weird. I didn't open up just to get flattered. Now go on—get out of here before I change my mind."
With a sharp snap of his fingers, a glow enveloped Subaru's body. Light clung to him like mist, gradually lifting him from the ground and pulling him toward another place. Just before the transition completed, Subaru caught one final glimpse of Flugel's face.
It wasn't the usual guarded expression. For just a moment, Subaru saw something pure—a rare, fragile smile. Sincere. And full of sorrow.
Then the light took him, and the grove was quiet once more.
As the first gentle rays of morning filtered through the window, casting soft golden hues across the wooden floorboards, Subaru's eyes slowly fluttered open. His body was still, but his mind raced, burdened by the lingering weight of last night's revelations. Everything he had witnessed and heard felt dreamlike, surreal—as if pulled from a fragmented vision. Yet the sensations coursing through his body were all too real. His muscles thrummed with latent power, mana flowed through his veins like wildfire, and every sound, scent, and shadow was rendered with uncanny clarity. This wasn't simply the residue of a sleepless night. This was something more profound. A metamorphosis.
He sat up, hands clasping his head, attempting to collect himself. His breath came deep and steady, but beneath that calm lay a storm of realization. Swinging his legs off the bed, he planted his feet on the cold floor and rose. Each step he took was deliberate, echoing a new certainty. The weight of this world might still press down on him, but for the first time, he felt capable of carrying it.
His body operated in a rhythm that defied natural laws. He could feel it—his heart didn't just beat. It pulsed, each throb a dual explosion of blood and mana, as though his very core had become a conduit of two worlds. The resonance within him was foreign, ancient, and somehow... alive. Every heartbeat whispered a truth: he was no longer the same boy who had stumbled into this world. Something deeper had taken root. Something awakening.
Despite the awe and unease stirring within him, Subaru remained grounded. He didn't yet grasp the full implications of this evolution, but he recognized its significance. This was no ordinary development. Just like the deaths that had reshaped him before, this was another threshold. A door had opened, and there was no going back.
He began packing in silence, grabbing the modest suitcase he had picked up the day before. His wardrobe was meager—just a few shirts and pairs of trousers, none in perfect condition—but he folded each one with care. His fingers trembled, not from fear, but from emotion. Every crease he smoothed, every item he packed, felt like he was sealing away a piece of the life he'd lived so far. A life defined by trial, by error, and by relentless survival.
"I should probably get new clothes at some point... but with what money?" he murmured to himself, letting the words dissolve into a sigh. Then a dry laugh escaped his lips. "Though maybe I shouldn't be thinking about clothes anymore. Maybe it's armor I need now."
He turned, scanning the room one last time. The wooden beams overhead, the scuffed floorboards, the simple furniture—all of it radiated a quiet farewell. He had spent so many restless nights here, filled with confusion, pain, fleeting hope. Now, it felt like even the room itself was urging him onward. "I was so lost when I first came here," he whispered. "So utterly powerless."
But he wasn't that person anymore.
Just as he reached for the door handle, a familiar voice resounded in his mind—clear and commanding.
"Go to Roswaal's office. Demand your due. Payment for your protection of Emilia, and compensation for your inventions. He will take credit for your work in your absence. You know he will."
Flugel.
The name struck like a tuning fork in his spine. Subaru's jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. He exhaled sharply through his nose. "Yeah. We need to talk," he muttered. This time, he wouldn't let it slide.
The hallways were eerily silent as he made his way through the mansion. Each step echoed with purpose. The ornate frames and dimly lit chandeliers overhead failed to distract him; his focus was razor-sharp. When he arrived at Roswaal's office, he didn't pause. He pushed the door open.
Inside, Roswaal sat hunched over his desk, fingers flipping through a collection of sketches and notes—Subaru's sketches and notes. Some of them had been replicated down to the margin details. The sight made Subaru's blood boil.
"Roswaal," Subaru's voice cut through the room like steel. "Before I leave, I want what's mine. Payment for being Emilia's protector. Commission for the inventions I brought to life. I know what you'll try once I'm gone. Don't. They belong to me."
Roswaal's eye twitched. He looked up slowly, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Now now, Subaru-kun... such accusations. I assure you, I would never dream of stealing your creations. I was merely... drawing inspiration."
Subaru stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "Don't insult me. These ideas weren't the product of idle fantasies. I built them under pressure. In desperation. To stay alive."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Roswaal didn't respond immediately. His usual smugness faltered. Subaru's stance was unshakable.
After a beat, the margrave leaned back in his chair, eyes studying Subaru like one might a sudden storm. "Very well," he said finally, voice tinged with caution. "How much are you asking for in commission?"
"All of it."
The word rang out like a thunderclap.
The temperature in the room seemed to dip. Roswaal blinked, clearly caught off guard. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came at first. When they did, they were hesitant.
"I can't possibly give you all of my funds, Subaru-kun. That would be... unwise. Unreasonable, even."
Subaru didn't flinch. His silence was more damning than any outburst. He simply waited, gaze unrelenting.
The negotiation had only just begun.
Subaru smiled faintly, though behind the slight curve of his lips burned a razor-sharp determination. It wasn't just confidence—it was the revival of something that had once been buried under failure and doubt. Now, reborn and refined, it radiated from his every movement.
"You've got two options," he said, his voice cold and composed. "Either you give me every last coin you have, or I hand over every single copy of my projects to Anastasia. I don't need to tell you how generous she can be with the right incentive. She knows worth when she sees it—both in business and in people."
From the corner of the room, a dry chuckle rose. Flugel leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed. "You're talking like a highwayman. What is this, a shakedown?"
Subaru's eyes didn't leave Roswaal. "Call it whatever makes you feel better. Extortion. Bargaining. Strategy. All I care about is the outcome—and this time, I won't be walking away empty-handed."
Roswaal's painted smile faltered for a moment. Words failed him as he absorbed the steel in Subaru's tone. The young man before him had changed—less a servant, more a tactician. But more than the words, it was Subaru's eyes that delivered the message. They burned with more than greed—they carried a warning, laced with finality. Reluctantly, Roswaal moved to his safe and retrieved a leather pouch, heavy and clinking with gold. Five hundred Gold in total. He handed it over in silence.
Subaru took the pouch and placed it neatly in his suitcase, the weight of it both literal and symbolic. His triumphant smile wasn't one of mockery but of hard-won resolve. As he turned and walked out, his steps echoed not just with the sound of victory—but with the subtle ring of a gauntlet thrown.
Once he had left the office, Roswaal leaned back in his chair and exhaled a long, weary breath.
"Too sharp for his own good... Sensei, is it possible the vision you showed me was incomplete? Or worse... is that boy truly the anomaly we couldn't predict?"
Meanwhile, Subaru entered the main hall. The moment he stepped through the archway, the atmosphere shifted palpably. The buzz of conversation dimmed. Elsa and Meili, seated near the fire, immediately stood at attention. Across the room, Emilia, Ram, and Rem paused their discussion and turned toward him.
Elsa's eyes narrowed. She moved with the grace of a predator, each step deliberate. As she approached, her nose lifted slightly, subtly sniffing the air. A flicker of unease crossed her face—she could smell it. Something lingering around Subaru, invisible yet potent. She stopped just short of him, leaned in, and whispered:
"The scent on you... it's thicker than before. Heady. Strange. Is it the curse clinging tighter... or are you hiding something new inside you?"
Subaru parted his lips to respond, but Flugel, ever the intruder, answered instead:
"A side effect of the [Cursed Heart]. It increases the output of miasma. Think of it like a storm cloud getting ready to burst. And this is only the beginning."
Subaru sighed heavily. "It's just the curse's scent, Elsa. Nothing more. You've seen me handle worse. I've got it under control—for now."
Elsa held his gaze, searching his expression. After a few seconds, she leaned back, lips curling into a curious smirk. "Control is temporary. But if you ever lose it... I'll be nearby. To stop you, if I must. Or maybe... indulge a little."
Subaru offered a weary nod. There were no absolutes in this world—not in loyalty, nor fate. But one thing had become terrifyingly clear: he was no longer just a player on the board. He had become a force capable of flipping it entirely.
He took a few steps forward, glancing over his shoulder at the others. When he spoke, his voice was clear and calm, but it carried a sorrow that clung to his words like mist:
"Meili, Rem, Elsa. We're heading out soon. If there's anything you forgot to pack or say—do it now. We're not coming back."
Rem stepped forward first, her posture neat and hands clasped behind her back. She wore a warm, proud smile.
"I'm all set, Subaru-kun. I even made some snacks for the trip. Tea, some sweet buns, a batch of little cookies... everything you like."
Her words struck a soft chord in Subaru's chest. He smiled, not out of obligation, but from sincere gratitude.
"Thanks, Rem. You always think of the little things."
She tilted her head down, cheeks tinting with a rosy blush. It was as if that small compliment was the crown jewel of her day.
"You don't need to flatter me~ But still... I'm glad you noticed."
Subaru laughed quietly and reached out to pat her head, fingers running gently through her hair. The contact was brief but filled with affection, and Rem's expression lit up with quiet joy, her eyes shimmering.
From across the room, Meili pouted. Clearly jealous of the moment, she stomped a foot and called out with a huff:
"Subaru-nii! We're all ready! Can we please get going now? I'm going to shrivel up if we keep waiting around like this!"
Subaru turned, chuckling at her exaggerated frustration. The journey ahead would be dangerous, uncertain. But in that moment, surrounded by those he trusted—he allowed himself one breath of peace before the storm returned.
Meili lowered her head, stealing a shy glance at Subaru from beneath her lashes. Her small fingers twitched nervously at her side, as if unsure whether to reach out. Subaru, ever perceptive to the subtle language of those around him, responded with the same tender affection he had shown Beatrice. He reached out and gently patted Meili's head, his touch steady and kind. Her eyes widened slightly at first, but then softened with a serene comfort. The room, bathed in the mellow glow of late morning sun, seemed to freeze in that fleeting moment. There was an unmistakable warmth in the air—two young girls being pampered, cherished in silence, and a boy who bore the weight of countless deaths offering them peace in the only way he knew how. Time didn't merely pause—it honored the stillness, capturing a small eternity in a breath.
Then came a whisper, light as a breeze yet distinct, curling within Subaru's thoughts like a curl of smoke: "I'm considering granting you a skill called 'Headpat.' Surprisingly effective, especially when morale is low."
Subaru didn't respond aloud, but the corners of his lips quirked into an involuntary smirk. Inwardly, he made a mental note—half a joke, half a real strategy.
When all the packing was finally done and the last bag had been closed, Emilia rushed over, her silver hair fluttering behind her as she approached with the air of a worried parent. "Subaru! Are you sure you've got everything? Clothes? Money? Mana stones? Extra socks? Innerwear? A blanket in case it gets cold? Wait, what if it rains? Should we add an umbrella? And food! Did you pack snacks? Can you sleep alone?"
Subaru let out a long sigh and exaggeratedly rolled his eyes. "You sound exactly like a mother seeing her child off to school. Should I be calling you 'Momlia' now?"
That quip drew a ripple of laughter throughout the room. Even Elsa, ever the poised and stoic assassin, let out a faint chuckle and shook her head, her expression softening for a brief moment.
"Seriously though," Subaru continued, his tone more gentle as he turned to Emilia, "I've got everything I need, Mili. No need to stress so much. I'm not going off to war."
Emilia folded her arms and squinted at him, then stepped forward and gave him a light flick on the forehead. "Dummy… I worry because I care about you, that's all. You know that, right?"
Subaru smiled in reply, the kind that made his eyes crinkle at the edges. "Oho~ Is our noble candidate for the throne finally declaring her love to a commoner? This is a momentous day indeed, Emilia-tan."
Emilia turned beet red in an instant. She began waving her hands frantically. "Wha—No! I didn't say anything like that! Stop twisting my words, you absolute troll!"
He couldn't help it. Watching her flustered reactions always made his heart feel lighter. Without thinking, he pulled her into a heartfelt hug, one arm wrapping around her shoulders while the other resumed its now-symbolic head-patting. This time, she didn't protest. She simply stood there, eyes closed, clinging to the moment. There was more than just affection in that embrace—it was a silent promise, one too deep and sacred to be said aloud.
As the time to depart finally arrived, Subaru walked over to the dragon carriage—and stopped short when he noticed someone already seated inside.
"Um… Beako? Why are you sitting there already? You weren't even saying goodbye?"
Beatrice sat with arms defiantly crossed, her nose tilted up at a proud angle. "Hmph. Betty is coming along, obviously. Master Flugel said Betty was no longer bound. Betty is free now. So, Betty chooses to be by Master's side—because that's where Betty wants to be."
This time, Flugel's voice was less mischievous and more affectionate, a tone Subaru rarely heard from him. "Still just a little girl who wants to stay close to someone she trusts... How endearing~"
Subaru smiled and nodded, already expecting this outcome deep down. "Then welcome aboard, Beako. You know I'd never have the guts to say no to you."
Beatrice gave him a sideways glance, her lips twitching upward. "Ha! Of course not. You'd better not."
With Rem climbing into the driver's seat and taking hold of the reins, the dragon carriage was nearly ready. Inside, Subaru sat down with Elsa, Meili, and Beatrice. The interior was quiet, but not empty. It was a shared silence, filled with gratitude, courage, and a growing sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.
Outside, Emilia, Ram, and Puck stood in place. They remained motionless as the carriage's wheels began to creak into motion. Dust began to stir underfoot. Emilia's eyes shimmered, and though she tried to hold it back, a tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly and took a breath that trembled.
"He's coming back to me. I just know it," she whispered to herself. Then she looked at Puck, eyes pleading for reassurance. "Right, Puck?"
Puck floated closer and gently nuzzled her cheek with his paw, his voice soft. "Don't worry, Lia. I know that boy well. If anyone can return, it's him."
Inside the carriage, Subaru turned slightly and gazed back toward the mansion one last time. Every detail of the place—the windows, the garden path, the towering walls—seemed to whisper old memories and silent farewells. Then his eyes caught movement on the upper floor. Roswaal stood in the window, expression unreadable, watching them go. His gaze seemed distant, as if already calculating futures and probabilities.
The dragon carriage creaked forward, slowly at first, then steadily building speed. The road ahead was long, and the past clung faintly to the dust they left behind. But within Subaru's heart, a quiet fire burned—fueled by hope, determination, and something deeper.
"I'm coming for you, Hikari," he murmured, barely audible over the wind.
The carriage rolled into the horizon, and with it, the beginning of something new.