The mansion shimmered in the golden embrace of morning as Subaru groaned and pushed himself out of bed, his limbs sluggish and heavy from a restless night. Despite the comforting pull of the blankets and the exhaustion weighing down his entire body, he forced himself upright. His face was pale, and dark shadows clung stubbornly beneath his eyes—a testament to his long, sleepless hours.
Stumbling into the corridor, Subaru's vision still a little blurry, he almost collided headfirst with a petite figure standing right in front of him.
"Still lazing about in bed, I suppose?" Beatrice muttered, crossing her arms with her usual disapproval. Her voice carried its familiar mixture of irritation and concealed concern.
Subaru rubbed his eyes again and yawned. "Beako, you know I didn't get a wink of sleep last night. Getting up in the morning is like trying to climb a cliff without gear," he mumbled, his tone plaintive yet deliberately soft. He knew better than to push her patience this early.
Beatrice narrowed her eyes and scrutinized him for a moment. "Hmph. Betty thinks you're just making excuses. You're awfully good at that."
Before Subaru could even formulate a comeback, Beatrice spun around with a flourish and strode away, her twin tails swaying behind her. There was a clipped intensity in her steps that betrayed her own weariness, though she'd never admit to it.
"That loli never changes…" Subaru muttered under his breath, a crooked grin tugging at his lips as he watched her retreat.
Moments later, a servant of the mansion located him and relayed a message: Lord Roswaal had requested his presence.
Dragging his heels but resigned, Subaru made his way to Roswaal's chamber. The door creaked open, revealing the always-dramatic noble seated with practiced poise in his throne-like chair, swathed in flamboyant colors that clashed yet somehow suited him.
Roswaal's eyes gleamed with a curious light as he greeted Subaru, voice flowing like a melody wrapped in veiled intent. "Subaru-kun~ the items you asked for have arrived this morning, fresh and unspoiled. I daresay your little project may now finally begin~ yes?"
Subaru's gaze shifted toward the box resting near Roswaal. Stepping forward, he opened it carefully. Inside were polished gears, slim belts, metal pulleys, and other intricate pieces—each precisely as he had specified. His fingers hovered over the components with awe and excitement.
"Thanks, Roswaal. I mean it. This means a lot. Anything I can do in return?"
Roswaal tilted his head, an amused smile forming. "Maa~ Subaru-kun, then allow me the privilege of observing your work. It isn't every day that one gets to witness an invention from another world take shape before their eyes. I'm absolutely enchanted~"
Subaru nodded, unsurprised. He had come to expect Roswaal's fascination with the unusual—after all, the man surrounded himself with magic, oddities, and enigmas.
"All right. I'll be setting up in the workshop soon. If you're late, you'll miss all the fun." Clutching the box tightly to his chest, he exited the room with purposeful steps.
On his way through the corridor, he passed the door to the Forbidden Library. Just as he approached, it creaked open—and Beatrice stepped out again.
"What's in that box, I suppose?" she asked nonchalantly, casting a sideways glance. Yet her eyes briefly lingered, betraying a deeper awareness.
Subaru stopped and faced her. "A project. I'm building a device called a sewing machine. It'll make stitching clothes a lot faster and cleaner. Wanna see?"
Beatrice tried to hide her reaction, but Subaru caught the brief flicker in her expression—her eyes widened slightly, just for a heartbeat. The memory of the previous night flashed through her mind. She had been near the hallway when she overheard Subaru and Elsa whispering about things that had no place in this world.
Not just the assassin's suspicious presence had unnerved her. It was something else—something even more bizarre.
The phrase "another world" had fallen from Subaru's lips like a stone into still water. The ripples had reached into the deepest recesses of Beatrice's memory.
She'd returned to the library and spent hours tearing through her mother's books, ancient tomes with worn pages and forbidden knowledge. She traced fragments of prophecy and echoes of a figure who might one day arrive from beyond the veil of this realm.
And now, watching Subaru hold a box filled with components foreign to this world, that veil lifted a little more.
It wasn't just suspicion anymore. It was understanding.
"Betty will watch, I suppose," she said at last, her voice more composed than her mind. In her hands, she held a small notebook and a feathered pen.
Subaru blinked. "The notebook and pen..? Planning to take notes on my clumsy handiwork?"
Beatrice huffed again. "Hmph. Knowledge from another world is, by definition, absent in this one. Betty intends to document it. Every piece, every mechanism—so it is never lost again."
There was a gravity in her voice Subaru hadn't heard before. She wasn't simply curious anymore—she was determined. She had realized his truth, or at least a part of it.
Subaru stared at her for a moment, heart slightly heavier than before. She knew. But oddly, he felt no fear.
If anyone were to carry his secret, he'd rather it be Beatrice.
She would not let it fall into the wrong hands. She would guard it with the weight of her name—and perhaps, her hope.
Some time later...
Subaru had locked himself away in the workshop, shutting out the world with the clank of metal and the steady grind of gears. Each bolt he tightened, each cog he aligned, carried the ghost of another life, another world. In this isolated sanctuary of tools and schematics, the scent of cut wood and forged iron permeated the air, thick and heavy like the anticipation of creation.
His current project was no ordinary device—it was a sewing machine, but designed with the unique constraints of this world in mind. A blend of his past life's knowledge and present necessities. The gears meshed with eerie precision, teeth locking into place as though the machine had always been destined to exist. His hands, marred with cuts and stains of dried blood, moved with methodical purpose. Pain was secondary; function came first.
One by one, he mounted the gears into the casing, carefully layering the internal structure. The whir of metal-on-metal filled the space as he looped the chains and secured the crankshaft. Each component had its place, each motion calibrated in his mind long before his fingers ever moved.
In a corner, Beatrice perched atop a stack of books, legs crossed, a quill dancing across parchment. She cataloged every step with intense focus, her scribbles harmonizing with the soft churning of the machine. Her usual snide remarks were absent, replaced by a quiet reverence for the process unfolding before her.
Roswaal stood silently nearby, arms folded, his eyes sharp and calculating. He watched with a furrowed brow, his mind evidently racing to decipher the foreign logic behind Subaru's design. Though powerful in magic and intellect, he now found himself grappling with a more alien form of mastery—engineering. The deepening crease between his eyebrows marked his struggle.
Suddenly, the wooden door creaked open, and Rem and Ram slipped inside. Without uttering a word, they leaned against the frame, watching with matching expressions of quiet curiosity.
Subaru tightened the final bolt and closed the machine's casing with a deep exhale. It was done. The result was bulkier than anything from his old world, but functional. A practical beast requiring two operators: one to manually turn the rear crank, the other to guide the needle through the fabric.
"Does anyone here know how to sew?" Subaru asked, still examining the machine with a critical eye.
The silence cracked as two hands raised in unison behind him—Rem and Ram.
He chuckled softly, not turning around. "I won't even ask when you snuck in. Just one question... is Meili with you?"
Rem shook her head. "No. She's outside playing. Elsa followed her a while ago."
Subaru sighed, the breath brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. "Alright then... if you're confident in your sewing, I want you to give it a go."
Ram stepped forward with calm assurance. "Barusu, we've been sewing since childhood. This will be no trouble at all."
With a rare, genuine smile, Subaru stepped aside. The twins brought over a long piece of deep-blue fabric wrapped in a floral tablecloth, along with needles, threads, and a handful of small embellishments. Ram seated herself before the machine while Rem positioned herself at the rear crank.
What followed was mesmerizing.
The moment Rem began to turn the crank, the gears came alive with a symphony of motion. Ram's hands moved deftly, guiding the needle and thread through the cloth in fluid arcs. The machine hummed in rhythm, each stitch placed with precision and grace. The synchronization between the twins was uncanny—as if they shared a single heartbeat.
Subaru leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes locked on the machine in action. "We'll need more of these," he thought. "But it's not efficient with two people. Could I build a motor? Maybe use magic crystals as a power source... or rechargeable batteries?"
His gaze wandered over the machine's core, where the driving mechanisms clicked in harmony. But in his mind, new gears began to turn—ones forged from ideas, from potential.
Time passed unnoticed.
Eventually, Ram snipped the final thread and lifted the completed piece. A small, elegant purple dress unfurled in her hands, its delicate fabric catching the light and fluttering as if kissed by wind. Every seam was flawless. The dress was beautiful.
Subaru felt a flicker of warmth in his chest. He didn't need to ask—it was clearly meant for Meili.
"Barusu can actually be useful sometimes," Ram said, the barest hint of a smile touching her lips.
That alone made it all worth it.
A quiet clapping echoed from the doorway. Emilia stood there, eyes shining with admiration as she applauded. Her presence lit the room in a different way.
"Now people can work in better conditions, right, Subaru?"
Subaru turned to meet her gaze. His eyes held a shimmer, a reflection of pride and purpose. But beneath it, buried deep, was a quiet conflict.
"Of course, Milli. That was always the goal."
His smile was soft, warm. But inside, he knew there was more to it. The real goal was to bolster the standing of Emilia's camp, to bring them strength through innovation and infrastructure. He couldn't tell her that yet—not because he didn't trust her, but because the time wasn't right.
Emilia returned his smile, but as she stepped forward into the light, Subaru's eyes narrowed slightly. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes, the weariness hidden beneath her determined facade.
She had been working herself far too hard.
"I'll check on her later," Subaru thought, resolve forming in his heart. "She's carrying so much on her shoulders that she doesn't even realize how heavy it is. Someone has to help her see it."
And so, the machine clicked softly in the background, a symbol of more than just utility. It marked the beginning of something bigger—a quiet revolution stitched together by tired hands, determination, and the hope that even small things can change the world.
(A/N:My grandmother had a broken sewing machine at home.
I got curious and opened it and saw the gears and mechanisms and thought why not use it in a story?)
Then, Subaru turned to Roswaal.
"Roswaal, I'm going to build two more of these machines. You'll take one to the capital and present it to the nobles. Use it to spread the name of the Emilia camp far and wide. But no matter what, don't let anyone see the mechanism inside the casing. For now, that detail must remain hidden. As for the second one, I'll hand it over to the village chief. And beyond that—we need to find a way to mass-produce these. We can't rely on handcrafting forever."
His voice was steady, but firm. Each word carried weight, his expression unmoving, eyes focused like sharpened steel. It wasn't a suggestion—it was a directive, spoken with purpose.
Roswaal tilted his head slightly, hands folding together with that familiar theatrical flair. A smirk, as twisted as it was amused, curled across his painted face.
"But of course, Subaru-kun~. I'll begin arranging the necessary meetings tomorrow morning. Your ability to strategize is... maturing delightfully. What can I say~? It's rather impressive."
Beatrice, without warning, snapped her notebook shut with a loud clap. The crisp sound broke through the room's tension like a blade.
"Betty's task here is complete, it seems." She looked up from her seat, locking eyes with Subaru. "If you come up with any more absurd little contraptions, don't hesitate to ask for Betty again."
Subaru couldn't help but smile, stepping over and gently placing a hand on her head. Her hair was soft—surprisingly so—but the warmth swelling in his chest had little to do with texture. It was gratitude, pure and unguarded.
"Thanks, Beako. Really. I'm grateful you showed up."
Beatrice flushed, her cheeks tinted pink. But at the same time, a small vein pulsed visibly on her forehead.
"You can't just touch Betty's hair!!"
With a dramatic huff, she turned on her heel and stomped out, her fluffy steps echoing through the hallway like indignant drumbeats.
...
Some time later, Subaru stepped out into the manor's garden to breathe. The wind of early autumn brushed past his face, cool and crisp like the edge of a blade. There was a clarity to it—a refreshing sharpness that mirrored the unease in his heart. Clean, but cutting.
He found himself drawn toward the training grounds, as if something unseen pulled him there. The air was still, the only sounds being the crunch of fallen leaves beneath his boots and the occasional rustle of the trees overhead.
As he emerged from the treeline, his eyes caught a figure dancing in the open field. Elsa.
She wasn't fighting, not exactly. Her movements were deliberate, ritualistic. Each step a phrase, each twirl a sentence in a language only the blades could speak. Her daggers glinted as they sliced the air—not with force, but with grace. A pirouette of precision. A waltz with death itself.
She wasn't attacking. She was communing.
Subaru, instinctively, began to step back. He didn't want to intrude on this haunting performance. His feet moved silently—almost reverently—until fate, cruel as ever, intervened.
Crack.
A dry branch gave way beneath his boot.
He winced. "If I had a luck stat, it'd be stuck at zero," he muttered under his breath, slowly turning his head.
Behind him, a presence—cold, but not hostile. Familiar.
"Ara? Came to check on me? How sweet..." Elsa's voice was teasing, but beneath it, something unspoken lingered. A subtle pleasure. She liked being seen. Or maybe... being acknowledged.
Subaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Honestly? Just needed a break after fiddling with the sewing machine all day. My brain needed air."
Elsa tilted her head, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Then perhaps you'd like to stretch those tired limbs... with a bit of training."
A cold shiver crept down Subaru's spine. He narrowed his eyes, trying not to look too hesitant.
"Not the brightest idea I've had... but why not. Let's go."
Elsa strode to the center of the training ground with a deliberate grace, like a predator returning to its domain. She slid her daggers back into her hands. The moonlight glinted off their polished edges, reflections of elegant demise.
Subaru drew his own blades—twin daggers of his own. The wind fluttered his cloak behind him as he stepped forward, eyes never leaving hers.
"Before we start... Elsa, how did you get this strong? Was it mana training? Some kind of combat art?"
Elsa's expression shifted. Her eyes narrowed—not with suspicion, but thoughtfulness. Then, she smiled. Small. Wry.
"Wouldn't know," she said, with a casual shrug. "But it's definitely not mana."
Her gaze drifted toward the ground. Her voice lowered, brushing against vulnerability.
"Because of a curse... my body's naturally weak to mana. Can't use spells. Magic just slips off me." She paused—not with hesitation, but with acceptance.
"I can only push a bit of mana into my daggers. That's it. My strength comes from how I fight—how I move, how I strike. And most of all, I'm not afraid."
Her voice hardened slightly. Not cruel, but clear. "I'm not afraid to bleed. And I'm not afraid to make others bleed."
She stepped forward, her silhouette now sharper under the moonlight.
"That's all there is. The rest..." Her smile returned, colder now. "It's all psychological."
Subaru stood still, the wind quiet around them. And then, with silent understanding, they raised their blades.
Subaru rolled his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose, feeling the lingering tension settle deep into his chest.
"Yeah, that makes sense. I should definitely talk to Beako about the mana stuff. Since that's settled"
Mid-sentence, he adjusted his footing, grinding his heels into the earth as if to anchor himself to the ground itself. Drawing in a slow, deliberate breath, he channeled mana through his bloodstream, feeling the familiar, electrifying pulse spread to every corner of his body. His muscles tightened. His senses sharpened. His heart steadied. Combat mode engaged.
[Active: Mana Blade]
[Active: Advanced Dagger Technique]
[Active: Phantom Drift]
His daggers pulsed, shimmering with a vibrant, cerulean glow that cast ghostly reflections on his face. His body felt lighter than air, yet solid as steel. Every thought, every hesitation was stripped away, leaving only instinct and precision.
And then, with the fury of a lightning bolt splitting the sky, Subaru launched forward!
The soil beneath his feet erupted into fragments from the sudden explosion of force. Elsa narrowed her gaze but reacted with flawless instinct, her predatory reflexes kicking in without hesitation.
Clang!
The first clash resonated like the opening note of a morbid symphony, steel kissing steel in a deadly overture. Elsa analyzed the trajectory of Subaru's blade, meeting it head-on with a graceful, almost mocking parry.
"I see you've gotten stronger~" she purred, licking her lips with a snake-like motion. But there was something unsettling in her eyes now. Something feral.
She stepped forward, slow, deliberate, like a cat closing in on its prey.
Subaru gritted his teeth. "Here it comes."
Without warning, Elsa disappeared, becoming a phantom on the battlefield. Thanks to [Phantom Drift], Subaru struggled to predict the incoming strike, but she had already surpassed the normal thresholds of speed and comprehension.
A razor-thin gust of death whispered behind him— He dove forward, barely dodging as the blade sheared strands of hair from his scalp.
"Tch... this pace... it's suffocating."
Rolling into position, Subaru raised his right dagger to block and launched a counterattack with his left. Elsa responded immediately with a second slash—
Clang! Cling! Tsshh—!
A shower of sparks painted the night with their frantic dance.
He twisted his wrist, executing a low, unexpected slash toward Elsa's knee using [Advanced Dagger Technique]. She recoiled, but not without consequence — a slender line of crimson blossomed across her left shoulder.
First blood.
But instead of frustration, Elsa erupted into laughter, her voice a shrill, fevered melody.
"More... faster... cut me deeper, Subaru!" Her voice cracked under the pressure of her madness, lips peeling back in an unhinged grin.
That look. Subaru recognized it now. The curse had fully claimed her, leaving only the carnage-addicted monster in its place.
"Fighting her like this... she's only sinking deeper into that frenzy. I have to break the cycle... end it here."
He surged forward again, altering his trajectory mid-step with [Phantom Drift] to slip behind her. He brought his blade down — Elsa spun with impeccable timing, intercepting with a crossed defense.
Cling—!
Subaru recoiled, flipping backward into the muck. Elsa lunged, her blades a chaotic flurry of glinting silver.
Cling! Clang!
Subaru blocked on sheer reflex, but the mounting pressure was undeniable. Each step he took was backward, each breath heavier, ragged.
"I'm not done yet!"
Funneling more mana into his legs, he dashed toward Elsa's left flank using [Phantom Drift]. One strike. Then another. His dagger grazed the hem of her skirt, tearing the fabric but failing to reach flesh.
Elsa flipped backward, pirouetting mid-air, her eyes gleaming with a savage hunger that seemed to pierce through the veil of the battle itself. She was feeding on the ecstasy of combat, and Subaru's stubborn defiance only added fuel to her fire.
"The more I cut you... the more alive you look, Subaru~"
His chest heaved, lungs straining, but his stance remained unbroken. Mana surged through his veins, keeping his battered body from buckling, but this war of attrition was far from over.
"I can't win in a drawn-out fight like this... but if I can stall her, stop her momentum..."
He feinted left, then rolled forward, slashing downward at Elsa's shoulder with a wild, desperate strike.
But she caught him.
Clang!
Her inverted dagger deflected his blow effortlessly, sending Subaru flying through the air, landing hard against the earth.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up from the mud. But Elsa was already there, looming over him like a grim shadow.
She thrust her knee toward his shoulder — Subaru managed to avoid the worst of it, but the glancing blow stole his balance, leaving him vulnerable.
"Now!"
Elsa sprang forth, her daggers held in a cross formation, both blades aimed directly for Subaru's chest. The predatory gleam in her eyes spoke volumes — this strike was meant to end the fight.
But in that pivotal instant—
"Subaru-nii!!! Elsa-nee!! STOP!!!"
The child's voice sliced through the tense night air, cutting the whirlwind of violence like a piercing blade. And in that instant... the world seemed to freeze, as if time itself had held its breath.
Elsa's eyes widened in shock. Her daggers remained suspended mid-air, trembling but unmoving. Her hands quivered as the weight of realization seeped in.
Meili dashed between them, her small figure forcing apart two warriors locked in a frenzied, fatal ballet. Tears streamed down her face, sparkling like shattered stars in the moonlight.
"Enough! Stop it! Why are you trying to kill each other?!" she screamed, her voice breaking apart under the burden of her emotions.
Elsa's face contorted, the savage gleam in her gaze dissolving into a blank, hollow emptiness.
Subaru exhaled sharply, collapsing to his knees as exhaustion clawed at his lungs.
"Meili... I was just... this was supposed to be training," he rasped, but his words faltered, feeling hollow and insignificant now. Elsa remained as she was, frozen, her gaze locked entirely onto Meili.
With a metallic clatter, Elsa let her daggers fall from her grip. The echo of steel meeting dirt reverberated through the night, signaling the end of their brutal dance.
"I... I was losing control," Elsa whispered, her voice so delicate it sounded like she was speaking to a hidden part of herself rather than those around her.
Meili threw herself into Elsa's arms, hugging her fiercely. Elsa stood motionless at first, but slowly... a flicker of warmth returned to her eyes. This was the Elsa Subaru knew. The deadly predator, yes—but also the woman who found solace in watching fragile flowers bloom in darkness.
Subaru stood up, brushing off the grime that clung to his clothes. "Guess... we can call this one a draw," he muttered, half smiling.
Elsa tilted her head, a faint, wry smile curling her lips. "You're lucky. If Meili hadn't been here... you would've been scattered across this garden like confetti."
Flugel's voice crackled through the silence, dismissive and dry. "Highly unlikely."
Subaru chuckled, a weary yet grateful sound. "Who says kids can't end wars, huh?"
Meili, still wrapped around Elsa, puffed up her cheeks and shook her tiny fist at both of them. "If you ever fight like that again, I'll punish you both! Seriously!"
Elsa's hands gently encircled Meili's back, this time radiating warmth — true, comforting warmth. Watching the scene, Subaru felt the lingering battle lust within him finally start to melt away, like frost under the morning sun.
"I didn't mean... for things to go that far," Elsa finally admitted, her voice trembling, as though she was clinging to something fragile inside herself.
Subaru shook his head, offering her a gentle grin. "No worries. I'm still alive, after all."
Meili looked up at them both, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, though her tiny face remained scrunched in frustration.
"You're both acting like children. Fighting to the death like idiots. Idiots!"
Elsa and Subaru exchanged a look. And then, something rare, almost magical, happened. They both laughed softly... and smiled.
"Looks like Meili... you're our protector now," Subaru said, his voice soft but firm. "Without you, I'd be buried in the dirt or drowning in regrets."
Elsa ruffled Meili's hair, her touch light and tender.
Meili blushed, lowering her head shyly. "I just... I just don't want you to hurt each other. Because... you two are like family to me."
Silence washed over them like a tide. Her words, unexpected and pure, struck harder than any weapon. Subaru and Elsa stood speechless, unsure how to respond. It was both a blessing... and a quiet, aching wound.
After a long pause, Subaru straightened his back, rolling his shoulders as he carefully sheathed his daggers.
"I've got to go. Still need to finish crafting two more sewing machine copies. Then I have to talk with Beako and Emilia."
Meili nodded vigorously. "Okay. But later, you owe me a story, alright?"
Elsa said nothing. She simply offered Subaru a brief glance. Her gaze, once a storm of killing intent, now glimmered with something gentler — though shadows still lingered in its depths. No longer a threat... but something closer to mutual understanding.
Subaru turned away, his steps leading him toward the garden through the woods.
Loneliness returned on the wind, brushing his cheeks like ghostly fingers. Moonlight spilled through the leaves, painting shifting silver patterns upon his face. As he walked in solemn silence...
A familiar voice echoed in his thoughts.
"Meili... she's quite the fascinating child," Flugel whispered, his voice like a shadowy murmur threading through Subaru's mind.
Subaru paused for a heartbeat, then resumed his stride.
"She's like Elsa's on-off switch. But she's much more than that."
Subaru grumbled under his breath, "Elsa's curse... right?"
Flugel's tone grew heavier, almost solemn.
"Indeed. The Curse Curse Doll. A vile curse that splits a person's soul in two, reducing them to creatures whose sole reason to exist is to kill. Elsa... she has resisted it many times before. But not always."
Subaru clenched his fists tightly. "So... back then, she really wasn't fighting of her own free will."
"No," Flugel answered gravely. "But today... she stopped herself. Of her own choice."
Subaru lifted his head, eyes drawn toward the distant library lights flickering like distant stars.
"Everyone in this world has darkness inside them. But some... some find a way to keep holding onto the light buried within that darkness."
Flugel fell silent once more. The wind resumed its gentle song, rustling the leaves around him.
Subaru drew a deep breath, his feet carrying him forward into the night.
A curse... A child... And two shadows locked in a dance for survival.
And in the center of it all... a man who refused to stop fighting, even when the world tried to drown him in despair.
When Subaru returned inside, he instinctively made his way back to the workshop. Though his body still carried the dull, aching echoes of his earlier duel with Elsa, his mind was honed to a razor focus, brushing aside the pain as if it were a lingering shadow clinging to him out of habit.
Two more sewing machines remained on his task list—an obligation that had transformed into a personal vow.
His hands reached out toward the familiar arrangement of gears, pulleys, and belts, his fingers dancing along metal and wood with the precision of someone who no longer thought about the steps, but simply executed them. His thoughts faded into the mechanical rhythm, hours dissolving into the embrace of routine as solitude filled the room like a silent companion.
At long last, after countless meticulous adjustments and fits of tightening and polishing, the second and third machines stood completed beside the first, gleaming under the soft, dying light seeping through the high windows.
By now, the sun was dipping behind the distant hills, streaking the sky in hues of deep orange that bled into the encroaching violet. Subaru stood, stretching his arms high above his head, feeling every knot in his shoulders protest.
One of the machines was promptly delivered to Roswaal, while the other he would bring to the village chief the next day. Beyond that, he had also arranged a meeting with several villagers to discuss the future of agriculture and the windmill construction—a project he'd been championing tirelessly for weeks, envisioning a small revolution for the struggling community.
Exhaustion crept into his bones like a persistent chill.
"I should visit Mili..." he murmured under his breath, more to the empty hallway than himself, as if hoping the words would grant him an extra reserve of strength.
Quietly, he made his way to the library where Emilia usually lost herself in books. The room was hushed, bathed in a dim, amber glow that filtered through the windows, casting slender columns of light across the endless bookshelves. The scent of ink and parchment lingered like the breath of the past.
Emilia sat exactly where he'd last seen her, but the imposing mountain of books beside her had noticeably diminished, now half the size.
Subaru approached, keeping his voice soft so as not to startle her. "Mili."
Her head lifted slowly, heavy-lidded eyes blinking at him as if from within a fog. She looked utterly spent, her voice reduced to a faint, frayed thread.
"Subaru...?"
He knelt beside her, gently easing the book from her delicate hands. The pages were still warm, as if caught between her battle against fatigue and duty. "Mili, you need to rest. You're burning yourself out."
Emilia shook her head, defiance battling with weariness. "I can't, Subaru... While everyone else is working so hard, I can't just stand by and do nothing."
Her voice wavered on the edge of tears, a stubborn child's declaration clashing with the responsibilities she carried.
Subaru watched her silently for a moment, a smile creeping to his lips, soft and full of admiration. "That's why... I respect you so much, Mili."
And then, without hesitation, he acted. "Looks like I'll have to intervene personally."
Scooping her up into his arms, he cradled her gently as if she might crumble from exhaustion alone. "Huh?! Subaru, stop! Put me down! I need to keep reading!"
Her protests came weakly now, drained of their earlier conviction.
Subaru donned his most theatrical voice, adopting a pompous tone as if quoting some long-forgotten knight:
"I'm terribly sorry, my esteemed royal candidate-sama, but as your knight, it's my sworn duty to ensure your well-being. Therefore, I must enforce the mandatory rest decree—by any means necessary."
A blend of jest and sincerity—the signature Subaru approach.
Emilia pouted, cheeks flushed with indignation, her small hand pinching his cheek in playful protest.
"It's not fair to tease a girl like this, Subaru. You're so mean..."
Yet, despite her words, her head fell against his chest, surrendering at last to the fatigue overtaking her.
Subaru simply smiled, carrying her to her room with care. He opened the door quietly, guiding her into bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin.
He leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper: "Good night, Mili."
But she was already deep in slumber, her breathing steady, her face serene as moonlight kissed her silver hair.
Subaru lingered for a moment, then gently closed the door, stepping back into the corridor where he stretched his arms with a sigh, rubbing the small of his back.
"Better check on Beako... before I drop dead myself."
He made his way to the entrance of the forbidden library. Even from the corridor, the faint vibrations of mana buzzed through the walls, whispering from the depths of the towering shelves.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open with impeccable timing.
Beatrice stood before him, her small figure framed by the library's eerie glow, face locked in its usual unreadable expression.
"What do you want, I suppose?"
Subaru blinked, caught mid-motion, then managed a sheepish grin.
"I was hoping to ask your opinion on something, Beako."
Beatrice stared at him flatly, narrowing her gaze before wordlessly stepping aside, her posture betraying neither curiosity nor annoyance.
"Come in."
The moment Subaru crossed the threshold, the oppressive stillness of the library enveloped him like a living thing. The residual magic in the air clung to the shelves, to the floor, to his skin.
Beatrice settled into her throne-like chair, her tiny frame engulfed by the massive seat, waiting in silence for him to speak.
Subaru knelt down on the floor across from her, folding his legs beneath him, mirroring the gravity of an audience before a queen.
He inhaled deeply, but when he opened his mouth, no words came out.
Instead, his gaze fell to the ground. Then slowly, to Beatrice. Then back again, as if the words he wanted to say weighed too much for his throat to carry.
"..."
"If you're not going to talk, then get out of Betty's library!" Beatrice's voice cracked through the air like a thunderclap, shattering the stillness of the room.
Subaru flinched, his shoulders jerking upward, but he quickly raised both hands in surrender, forcing a sheepish smile onto his face to disarm the tension.
"Relax, Beako, I'm just… trying to sort through my thoughts," he said, his voice low but sincere. His brow furrowed as he gathered the right words.
After a pause, he added more seriously, "I've been struggling to control and store my mana properly. Or maybe I just don't understand how it really works. Either way, I feel like I'm falling short. Can you help me, Beako?"
Beatrice didn't respond at first. Instead, she turned sharply on her heel and strode deeper into the heart of the library, her expression unreadable. Her small form was soon surrounded by towering shelves, their spines glowing faintly with latent magical energy. She stretched her hand toward one of the upper shelves and pulled out a slender, blue book embedded with luminous white stones that sparkled even in the dim light.
"As far as Betty can tell," she began, walking back toward him,
"you're only pulling mana through your gate. That's inefficient—and dangerous."
She held the book out to Subaru with uncharacteristic gentleness. He reached for it slowly, reverently.
"I suppose… I can lend you my mother's book."
The words lingered in the air. Subaru looked up, startled. Beatrice almost never mentioned her mother. The weight of the gesture wasn't lost on him.
Silence fell between them, thick and meaningful.
Beatrice's eyes locked onto his with unexpected intensity. Then she added, her voice sharpened with stubborn pride:
"But don't go thinking… that Betty actually cares about you or anything!"
Subaru gave a soft chuckle and accepted the book with care, his fingers brushing over the intricate embossments on the cover. There was an ancient warmth to it, as if it had lived through generations. His eyes shimmered, filled with unsaid gratitude.
"Thank you, Beako. Truly."
He glanced around the expansive, arcane-filled space. "Is it alright if I study here? I won't be a bother."
Beatrice rolled her eyes, folding her arms, but her tone softened just enough to reveal her approval.
"Betty's library passively generates mana, so it's ideal for practice. You can stay… but you absolutely must be quiet. This is still a sacred place."
Subaru nodded eagerly, smiling. Then, almost as an afterthought, he raised his index finger.
"Actually, one more thing. I want you to come with me to the village tomorrow."
Beatrice's lips parted, a sharp retort already forming, but Subaru pressed on before she could interrupt.
"There's going to be a meeting about a new project. We're planning to construct a machine—something from my world's agricultural technology. It's related to crop processing and sustainability. Specifically, a windmill."
He watched her carefully, trying to read her expression.
"It could be the foundation for a lot of future development in the village. I thought… it might interest you. You know, from an academic perspective. You could document it, analyze its magic compatibility, or whatever you like."
He paused, then lowered his voice slightly. "I just think it would be nice to have you there."
Subaru was certain the technical details would pique Beatrice's curiosity. But that wasn't the true reason he wanted her to come.
I know... you've grown weary of solitude, Beako. He kept the thought to himself.
Beatrice stood silently, her fingers toying with the frills of her sleeve. Her eyes, often so guarded, betrayed a flicker of emotion. After what felt like a long minute, her voice came—softer than he had ever heard it:
"Betty… will come, I suppose."
Subaru's face lit up with a genuine, heartfelt smile that reached all the way to his eyes.
He sat down cross-legged on the floor and gently opened the cover of the book Beatrice had given him.
Between its pages, he could feel it—not just powerful incantations or rare magical theory, but something deeper.
Traces of a life once lived. Echoes of love, loss, and legacy.
Magic, yes. But memory too.
AUTHOR: Echidna
- The Nature of Mana Mana is one of the fundamental building blocks of the universe. It exists within all matter—whether the tiniest pebble, the grandest mountain, or the most colossal spirit beings. Mana is not merely energy; it is the very "flow" of the cosmos—an invisible, ever-moving river that links all things in existence. It weaves through creation, unseen but ever-present, binding together the living and the lifeless, the physical and the spiritual.
- Humans and Mana Only a rare and gifted few among humankind can manipulate mana. These exceptional individuals are typically divided into two major categories, based on how they interact with this omnipresent force:
➔ Enhancers: Enhancers draw mana from a natural connection point within their own bodies known as the "gate." They circulate this mana internally, channeling it through their muscles and bones to amplify physical abilities such as strength, speed, endurance, and reflexes. In essence, they turn their own bodies into finely-tuned weapons of magical potential, using mana as fuel for raw physical prowess.
➔ Mages: Mages differ from Enhancers in that they cannot circulate mana through their internal systems. Instead, they draw ambient mana from the world around them—siphoning it from the atmosphere and elemental ley lines. Once acquired, this mana is shaped into spells and magical constructs, with the specific type of magic dictated by the user's natural affinity. For instance, a Mage with a water affinity might conjure waves, manipulate rain, or freeze enemies—but would be physically frail in comparison to an Enhancer.
+ Spirits and the Balance of the World Some entities exist entirely on mana, using it not just for power, but as the essence of their being. These are Spirits. They are born spontaneously in nature—forming from dense clusters of mana and elemental resonance. No one creates them, and their arrival cannot be predicted. Yet they have a singular purpose: to maintain the balance of nature.
Through the activity of Spirits, the world shapes and reshapes itself in accordance with mana.
➔ If water spirits gather densely in one region, swamps, lakes, or misty forests may form.
➔ If fire spirits are numerous, the area may dry out, become volcanic, or erupt into wildfires.
➔ Every natural event—storms, droughts, growth, decay—can be traced to the work of Spirits.
And those rare individuals who are capable of forging pacts with Spirits, forming cooperative and lasting bonds, are known as Spirit Knights. Spirit Knights possess the unique ability to guide Spirits and channel their elemental powers, often with the Spirits choosing to serve and fight beside them.
As Subaru read these profound passages, he cast a sideways glance at Beatrice. Though she made an effort to appear disinterested, her eyes lingered on his hands longer than necessary.
He said nothing. Wordlessly, he turned the page and resumed his reading.
+The Hierarchy of Spirits Spirits exist in a structured hierarchy based on their power, intelligence, and elemental command. This hierarchy is as follows:
Small Spirit
Mid Spirit
Full Spirit
Great Spirit
Spirit King
At this point in time, only five Great Spirits are known to exist across the world:
Artificial Spirit – Guardian of the Forbidden Library: Beatrice
Artificial Spirit – Beast of the End: Puck
The Stone – Muspe
The Sacred Beast – Odglass
The Arbitrator – Melakuera
And at the apex of all spirit-kind, the origin of spirit existence and their sovereign:
Spirit King: Od Laguna
+ Mana Control and the Mana Heart Using mana effectively is no easy feat. It demands relentless training, discipline, and spiritual awareness. Without the refinement of control, even the most talented individuals cannot ascend to greatness.
➔ Some can eventually store mana inside their bodies. This is extremely rare and difficult. Those who succeed form what is known as the [Mana Heart]—a milestone that marks the transformation of a user's entire mana system.
What exactly is the Mana Heart? It is an internal, autonomous mana circuit that continuously generates and circulates mana throughout the user's body. Once formed, it removes the need to draw energy from the gate, allowing instant access to power.
This advancement leads to significantly faster spellcasting and drastically improved stamina during prolonged combat scenarios.
➔ Moreover, users with the Mana Heart can infuse weapons with mana. Doing so grants temporary enhancements to the weapon's physical characteristics—sharpness, strength, and magical conductivity.
However, this technique comes with great risk: Overloading a weapon with mana can destabilize it, causing the weapon to explode violently under the pressure—much like a magical grenade.
Subaru halted at that chilling sentence. His hand instinctively brushed the hilt of Etherfang.
"So that's why... my daggers glow so fiercely sometimes. I've been flooding them with too much mana," he thought, uneasily.
Returning his eyes to the pages, he noticed something uncanny. The book remained silent, yet the air around it seemed to whisper. Across from him, Beatrice sat still, unblinking. Subaru could feel her gaze on him—steady and alert.
He narrowed his eyes. As more knowledge flowed before him, a thought pierced through the surface of his awareness:
"This system that Flugel left for me... it's like a cheat code."
It didn't feel like something native to this world. It was as though a foreign piece of programming had been embedded into the structure of fate itself. But now, decoding and mastering it had become his duty—and his burden.
He gave his head a faint shake, casting the intrusive idea aside, and continued reading.
+ Advanced Features of the Mana Heart Among the most mysterious properties of the [Mana Heart] is how it affects weapons when combined with elemental affinity. The weapon becomes not just a tool, but an extension of the user's essence. Here are some examples of the effects:
Wind: When a weapon is infused with wind-aligned mana, the user's attack speed naturally increases. The weapon can also act as a focus for casting the wind-element spell "Fura." The strength, range, and speed of the spell are amplified based on the user's mana output.
Fire: Fire mana transforms the weapon's temperature properties. Infusion can result in burning blades or even ones cold enough to freeze through thermal inversion. At high power levels, the weapon becomes a searing flame that can melt steel—or an arctic edge that freezes blood.
Earth: Earth-based mana enhances the user's endurance and physical fortitude. The user tires more slowly, withstands more damage, and can perform the earth-based spell "Dona." Its strength scales with the user's control and output.
Water: Water mana increases the flexibility and fluidity of both user and weapon. It adds a regenerative effect to each strike—wounds mend slowly over time. At higher levels, the weapon begins to exhibit freezing characteristics, turning each cut into a slow, icy demise.
Yin and Yang: These two mana types are shrouded in secrecy. No known individuals have wielded them, and their effects are left as enigmatic footnotes in ancient tomes. Yet many scholars speculate that if ever unlocked, they could bring balance—or cataclysm—to the world.
Subaru paused as he read that part. "Yin and Yang..." Even the name carried an air of mystery, like two sides of a coin that refused to show themselves at the same time. "Almost like Karma itself," he thought to himself, the words lingering in his mind longer than expected.
He turned the last page of the book. The parchment made a soft, reluctant sound, as if it too mourned the end of its tale. There were no more words left to read — just the silence that always came after something profound.
As his fingers slowly traced the worn edges of the pages, his eyes remained fixed on the final lines, trying to absorb every last echo of meaning.
The room was steeped in silence. Dim light from the flickering lanterns cast long, dancing shadows across the library's stone floor, giving the ancient space an almost sacred stillness.
Beatrice was still seated in her chair, a fixture as familiar as the shelves themselves, but her eyes were now fixed on Subaru. She said nothing — just watched with the quiet understanding of someone who had seen too many endings.
Subaru gently closed the book. It made a soft thump, a sound that seemed louder in the stillness. He took a deep breath, the kind that carried both reflection and weight.
"Now I have a better idea of what I'm up against..."
—
Night had fallen long ago. Moonlight trickled through the small library window, painting soft silver trails over Subaru's figure and across the polished wood of the desk.
The book was closed now. But in Subaru's mind, its pages were still turning, whispering secrets and riddles with every mental revisit.
Across from him, Beatrice had begun to doze off. Her head leaned gently against the armrest, her small frame nestled into the soft cushions like a doll forgotten in a storybook room. Her breathing was steady, gentle. Yet Subaru knew better — he knew she could wake at the slightest disturbance.
He sighed and looked back down at the book before him. Though closed, it still seemed to speak to him. The words still echoed between the lines, like an invisible ink only he could read.
"So... what I need is a mana heart." His hands rested heavily on his knees. He turned his palms upward, staring at them. They weren't trembling, but... something was still missing. A connection. A spark. A thread that hadn't been tied yet.
"But even without a mana heart, I was able to apply Yin magic to Etherfang. Just for a few seconds, though. I can't maintain it while moving... And on top of that, I'm not even attuned to any other types of magic." Subaru grumbled, rubbing his temple. This was turning out to be harder than he thought — harder than any of the battles he had physically faced. This one was internal, layered, and unforgiving.
Then... a familiar whisper stirred inside his mind. Flugel's voice, drifting from the depths of his consciousness, carried by the shadows of his thoughts.
"You don't need affinity to use magic."
Subaru lifted his head in surprise, eyes darting toward the ceiling as if trying to find the source. But to an outside observer, he was just a boy, alone, reading in a dimly lit room.
"But... how?" he asked, not aloud, but within.
Flugel sighed from within. His voice echoed like that of a patient teacher... or perhaps a cunning sage who delighted in cryptic truths.
"Here's a small example: Beatrice is a Yin spirit. But have you ever wondered why she can use wind magic?"
Subaru's eyes shifted to Beatrice. She still seemed to be sleeping — or pretending, which was always a possibility with her.
Flugel continued: "Simple, Natsuki Subaru. If you supply enough mana, you can use any magic. Affinity just reduces how much mana it takes — it doesn't decide your limits."
Those words reverberated in Subaru's mind, bouncing off the corners of his doubts and reshaping his understanding. His fingers subconsciously drifted to Etherfang's hilt. "So that's how it is..." he whispered, almost reverently.
Subaru stood up, shaking off the weariness clinging to his body like a heavy cloak. Each breath steadied him more than the last.
At that moment... Beatrice opened her eyes. She had seemed to be asleep, her expression soft and unfocused, but in truth, she had been watching him closely — sensing more than she let on.
"The one speaking to you... is it your curse?" Her voice was soft, but carried a razor-sharp intuition.
Subaru froze, caught between the comfort of honesty and the safety of denial. A silence hung in the air like a veil.
"Tch... Of course she noticed," he thought, a bitter smirk curling at the edge of his lips.
With a faint, tired smile in his eyes, he nodded. "No, Beako. I'm not talking to anyone. No need to worry."
Naturally, Beatrice knew he was lying. She always did. But this time, she didn't press him. She simply shrugged, a small movement full of unsaid thoughts, and sank deeper into the chair.
"Thanks for the book, Beako. I really appreciate it."
"Hmph... well, I suppose you should." Her voice had its usual grumpiness, but there was a barely hidden warmth behind it — a reluctant fondness, as if she wanted to be annoyed but couldn't quite manage it.
Subaru opened the library door. A soft creak broke the silence. He stepped into the dim hallway. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, echoing faintly in the corridor.
In the cool stillness of the corridor, he let out a long breath. The air filled his lungs, clearing the fog from his chest and easing the tightness that had lingered there.
"A mana heart... magic. And knowing that I'm not bound by affinity in this world... That changes everything."
He walked slowly, each step thoughtful, deliberate. The shadows in the hallway didn't seem so heavy now — not with that one truth burning in his mind like a lantern.
Yet still, Flugel's voice echoed in his head.
"You're just at the beginning, Subaru." And deep down, he knew it was true.
He walked toward the room and gently opened the door, careful not to let it creak too loudly.
The dim light from the hallway spilled inside, revealing Meili curled up on his bed, dozing peacefully. The blanket had slipped halfway down her small form, and one delicate hand was tucked under her cheek. Her breathing was slow and even, her face calm.
Subaru stepped in with quiet, deliberate movements, his footsteps almost inaudible on the wooden floor. He knelt beside the bed, close enough to feel her warmth but not close enough to wake her just yet.
His voice, when it came, was soft — more a breath than a whisper: "Meili... wake up."
She shifted faintly, sniffled a little in her sleep, and slowly opened her eyes halfway. Her lashes fluttered before she blinked up at him groggily.
"Subaru-nii... so you came..." she murmured through a yawn, her voice coated in drowsiness.
Subaru watched her struggle to stay awake, her eyelids drooping heavily. A faint, affectionate smile crossed his face. For a moment, he just watched her, the warmth in the room amplified by her presence.
But then, his expression shifted. With a serious yet gentle tone, he asked: "Why are you here, Meili? Shouldn't you be in your own room?"
Meili lifted her head slightly from the pillow, gazing at him with wide, earnest eyes. Her lips parted in a soft, sleepy pout. "You said you'd tell me a story, Subaru-nii... You promised."
Subaru blinked, then sighed. His brows furrowed slightly as he recalled the promise he'd made — and forgotten.
"Tch... I forgot about that," he muttered to himself, barely audible.
He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them with renewed resolve. Drawing a long, steady breath, he straightened his posture and seated himself comfortably beside the bed.
"Alright, then... Let's begin our story," he said, his lips curving into a small but sincere smile.
He leaned forward a little, meeting Meili's gaze directly. His voice took on the rhythm and warmth of a practiced storyteller:
"This tale... is called... The Little Witch and the Shadow King."
He glanced dramatically at the ceiling, his tone theatrical but warm.
(A/N:A small part I read in a children's book and adapted here)
Meili tilted her head slightly in confusion. "Shadow King? Isn't that kind of scary?"
Her words came out as a soft mumble, like a thought slipping into the air.
Subaru chuckled lightly. "Maybe a little. But don't judge the ending before we get there."
He began the story slowly, his voice wrapping around the words like a lullaby:
"Once, in the loneliest forest the world had ever known, lived a little witch. She was small, with eyes that shone like the sky after rain. But no one dared come near her. The villagers whispered tales about her — they called her cursed, unlucky, dangerous.
Despite the loneliness and fear cast upon her, the little witch would lift her gaze to the stars every night and send a wish up to the sky.
'Please... someone who can understand me. A friend. A protector.'"
As Subaru spoke, his eyes occasionally flicked to Meili, watching her reaction. She was still half-awake, lips parted in a quiet breath, the beginnings of a smile forming at the corners.
He continued, his voice deepening slightly with mood:
"And then, one day, from the very heart of the forest's shadow, something stirred. A presence older than memory — a king forgotten by time. His name lost, his heart sealed in silence.
But when he heard the little witch's voice, something within him shifted. For the first time in centuries, he felt a heartbeat.
He came to her, cloaked in shadow. The little witch gasped in fear.
'Who... who are you?' she asked, voice trembling.
The Shadow King smiled gently. 'Someone from the darkness. But not here to harm you. I'm here because I heard you. Isn't that what you wished for, little witch?'
From that moment on, she was never alone again when night fell.
The Shadow King would appear when the sun dipped below the horizon. Sometimes he taught her secrets of magic forgotten by even the oldest grimoires. Other times, he sat in silence, letting her lean against him when the loneliness became too heavy.
And every single night, as the little witch drifted off to sleep, he would whisper into her dreams:
'I'm with you.'"
Subaru's voice dropped even lower, becoming gentler with every word.
"But one night... the shadows grew still. The King had grown weary. His time in the world was ending.
The little witch begged him not to go, tears falling silently down her cheeks.
But the Shadow King only smiled and pressed a hand to her heart.
'I leave you something even greater than my presence: the strength to be your own shadow. Even if you falter... even if you fear... you are never truly alone.'
And so, though the Shadow King vanished into the night once more, the little witch remained strong. And whenever she was afraid, she looked up to the sky, remembering his words:
'I'll always be with you.'"
Subaru stopped. Meili was asleep.
Tucked beneath the covers, her breathing had deepened, becoming soft and steady. Her hair fell gently over her cheeks, and the moonlight streaming through the window gave her features an ethereal glow.
He smiled, but there was a distant glimmer in his eyes — something nostalgic. Maybe even sad.
He looked out the window for a moment, his mind elsewhere. "Maybe... I was like that witch once," he thought to himself.
A long silence followed.
Then, slowly, Subaru leaned back against the wall, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. His eyelids began to droop as the warmth of the room and Meili's presence soothed the tension from his body.
Within minutes, his eyes closed.
And just like that, Subaru drifted into sleep beside her — quietly, peacefully, sharing the gentle stillness of the night.
(A/N: give me those power stones.)