Chapter 10: This is how I am possibly going to die

20 June 422

I yawned as I felt the boredom of this little 'pilgrimage' starting to slowly chip down at my energy.

Leading the small convoy of the two carriages, as the mayor, I was currently driving something that wasn't a horse.

Earth Dragons were barely described in the Canon timeline, Patrasche being the closest thing that one could study... from afar.

Not much was given about those reptile-like creatures and I was quite surprise at how... funnier it was to have one compared to a horse.

The little green-skinned raptor just gave off the kind of sass only someone like me could only love and respect. And that is why I picked him as my 'noble' steed for this 'grand' adventure.

Sharing the same lack of initiative for this long walk in the woods, I knew that our bond was growing without me doing particularly much.

We both wanted to be in our respective cozy homes, thinking about lazying around either with paperwork or pranking the poor dude assigned to...

Actually I forgot to introduce you all to my trusted companion. Lads and lasses, I present to you all... Bob.

Okay, kidding over there and I bet someone has already associated the color and the name to a very unfortunate sidekick but his real name is Lime.

A bright shade of green that only shared something with the reptile the color, which was green. Maybe I am circling around this useless detail but... yeah, this is Lime. Either that or Foxtrot.

Now that I think about it, maybe I should have accepted Fourier's offer to accompany me during this boring event and got someone to keep me somewhat entertained during this trip.

But the risk of bringing one of the heirs to the throne near the Witch's sealing zone? That would be completely irresponsible and careless from my part.

I am trying to make sure he survives this timeline, not to make the schizophrenic elf take care of him personally.

Glancing back, I sighed at the sound of the horsed behind me.

The two carriages behind me were carrying two important figures to the city. Two individuals that were so unique and prepared to see if there were any issues with the seal and promptly act to repair it to working conditions.

The High Priest of the Flugel's Church and the Arch-mage of the city, two elders that have long oversee to those operations without dealing with any particular problem, which was why I had been cautious enough to read a book about basic sealing the night before.

While in a bad situation my ability to intervene in a re-sealing of the dangerous threat was abysmal, it was still something.

And something is most of the time better than nothing. Yawning again, my half-closed eyes were once more on the light path, trying to keep track of the seemingly endless line of rocks delimiting the road from the weeds and mere foliage.

Few moments later, I felt something... different. A sudden chill went down my spine as Lime straightened up, almost tripping as his eyes went wide open in alert. Looking around, action that I followed with my own sight I finally stumbled upon the cause of the weird sensation that was now influencing my body.

Down the path I could see a massive... dome of light. A dark-purplish semi-transparent barrier that stretched for a large piece of land, covering it from anyone looking at it from the outside. Was that the-

"We are almost near." One of the older guards stated with a grimace, justified by the unpleasant dread the mere sight and proximity of this magical construct was causing.

The younger members escorting the group looked paler and I could easily understand the need to run away from that thing written on their faces.

Minutes passed and, after dismounting from Lime and giving him a shelter away from the 'scary thing' I was supposed to be around, I decided to give a proper glance at the portion of magical arrays I could see on the ground right by the edge of the dome.

I could recognize signs I have studied: Pure Creation, Blessed Protection, Holy Restraint and... the last one was something I couldn't recognize.

It looked very close to 'Confinement' but the sudden curves it took by the edges were sharper than it. I felt someone approaching me and I turned to see the Arch-Mage, Preacher Caralde, stopping right few steps behind me. "I see that you are studying the sealing array, Mayor Bukharin."

A quick nod and a sigh. "I was trying to make sense of that sign there. It looks like 'Confinement' but-"

"It is weirdly written, an inexperienced practitioner would even dare to define it wrong."

"But it isn't." I muttered as a reply to the implicit question of the older man. He hummed in agreement, walking right to the visible sign and... closer to the barrier.

"I-I know I don't know much of this, but is it wise to be that close?"

Another hum. "The seal is working." A single statement that made me frown even more. "The Witch is not perceiving our current presence."

I shouldn't approach him. Knowing how unforgiving this world is, I shouldn't even be considering doing anything this dangerous and... and yet something urged me to make steps. I couldn't decipher it, it was... alluring.

I crouched near the sign as the Arch-Mage started to explain it. "This one is 'Lovely Prison'. It is a particular rune that use positive emotions coming from within the barrier to solidify the composition of the main spell."

...What? You mean that this-

"This barrier is possible because the Witch-"

"Is capable of feeling good emotions? It isn't something that strange, it is reported that Witches would once in a while accept in some feeling related to humans. Satella..."

He paused a moment, scrunching his face as he thought about the following words.

"Satella was known for having held love within herself. So much love to bring together the rest of the Witches to her back before the world risked to end."

"But why would she decided to end this? Is it known why she went on this spree?" My question, albeit legitimate and understandable related to the context, were met with a sad sigh from the Preacher.

"Not many annals of that era survived today and the few ones around are mostly about the foundation of the Kingdoms." He paused again. "Still I think it could have to do with her heart being broken."

"Uh?" Was he talking about Flugel and Satella having been... together? It was still theoretical as the allusions in the Light Novel gave little more than that. Allusions.

"The bigger the heart of a girl, the greater her fall will be when she will face rejection." Another sigh. "Years of having known good people let you know more of the past than any of those self-proclaimed historians."

I nodded as I continued to stare at the sign, memorizing its pattern for eventual... needs. It could be useful, maybe an altered one in case of dire need.

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I felt something was incredibly wrong when I heard the first animal-like screech. Chain yanking, Lime was screeching towards me. I could feel it, a presence of sort hovering above me.

Without turning around, I rolled on the right while shouting loudly. "Move!" The elder was quick on his feet as he rushed forward and away from the sneaky attack. Something terribly powerful slammed on the ground, turning pure rock in fine dust.

Gulping nervously, I could see something moving in the air, something transparent to the sight.

Goddammit, not now! My hands gripped at the hilt of my fine sword of steel. Master swordsman I was not, but I knew well enough how to cut thin things like disembodied arms with a penchant of murdering people.

Pressure built up by the dreadful wait was shattered as I felt wind bending at the first assault, my sword lifting up in the air well above where they were going for and...

*SWING*

I could feel some minor *thud*s going right beside me but I didn't waste time to check if I had indeed severed the floating limbs of pure doom as another volley went right for me.

*SWING*

*SWING*

*SWING*

*SWING*

I was getting tired with this little murderous mini-game but I noticed one thing from this skirmish. While Preacher Caralde had joined in the fight by drawing several runes that unleashed torrents of water and powerful thunderbolts to deal with part of the attacking force, the attention was mostly directed at... me.

Yep, this is Re:Zero alright. Don't focus on the minor characters, take out the anomalies first.

"I-It wants only me!" The elder glanced briefly my way, a little surprised but soon nodding in agreement. Gulping nervously, I found myself facing a difficult choice.

Either I continued to fight endlessly with the Witch and hope to tire her out or do make use of that incredibly powerful technique I had learned from that amazing Anime which I will not tell for good reasons!

I made my decision, it's time to reveal the true power of such a glorious act!

Legs pumping ready with energy and my eyes taking note of the specific details of this area, I gave a final nod as I rushed away from the opening and... WE ARE LEAVING!

"Joseph Joestar Secret Technique!"

Blitzing away from the never-ending arms trying to reach for me, I almost tasted victory after few moments of sweet relief. Then a sharp pain in the leg made me trip and... I was slowly dragged back towards the barrier and... thrown into it.

Gasping at the little damage I suffered in this little move, I checked if I had lost my hurting leg and- nope, still there but bleeding a lot.

The newly opened hole in the dome was pretty high and making the jump was nigh-impossible for me in this state. Just as I assessed the fact I was sitting on some rotting land one could find in a decaying cementery, I felt a voice.

Y-You are here.

It started soft, with a stutter, and concluded with a twitchy note of happiness. The kind of happiness that only deranged people would give to their tones and I barely glanced at the origin of this little 'Cthullian' situation.

Standing several feets away from me, a short shadow that oddly reminded me of a certain young elf slowly approached my current location.

I couldn't see her feature, her face, the darkness covering everything about her as I slowly backed away from the being, minding the pounding pain in my hurting limb.

You smell like him but...

In a blink she made several steps towards me. "S-Stay away!"

...you are not him?

I was moving as quickly as I could with the injury that I had, but there wasn't a place to hide or stop the Witch to catch on to me. My heart was beating to an insane rate as I continued with my futile attempt to distance the shadowy girl and then-

Who are you? Wait-

Blinking in surprise, I looked back the moment I noticed the hand I was using to drag myself away not touching the usual ground. I wasn't even touching anything, it was standing above a... hole?

A blinding white light came from the large entrance that went underneath the place, surprisingly alluring and... familiar. I blinked for a moment when I felt a gust slam onto me.

NONONONONONONO!

But the very effects of her sudden tantrum did the trick, throwing me onto the hole and... I felt my eyes close.

DON'T LEAVE ME! D-Don't leave meeeeeeh!

The last whine felt strange, yet my attention was fully disrupted by the slow descent. I felt one last thing before losing completely my consciousness. The blood I was losing further accelerating the faint but I can say for sure...

*Thud*

...that I landed in some soft grass, footsteps approaching my body...