John's Truth

18 December 423

"This is unfair! I didn't do anything- I mean, I didn't do that much to deserve this!"

Truth be told, I could see how uncomfortable it looked to be tied up, attached to a pole and kept at a safe distance from mostly everyone as we made our way through the direct path to the Watchtower. One of Echidna's shortcomings in recent times was her stupidly revealing how she planned to get through the desert through some magic that Daphne gave her. Something that, by all definition, should have made her, and anyone 'touched' by this spell unimportant to Mabeasts.

'Inedible'.

What she really didn't expect, and was perhaps the main reason why she wasn't being given the chance to play any power moves on us with this revelation was… Pandora controlled the Mabeasts. And by that logic, she would be more trustworthy and reliable considering her current interest coinciding with 'ours'. I doubted Ram counted with Emilia and me when it came to the reason why we were here but… still, Echidna was absolutely restrained for the sake of avoiding any surprises. The only drawback was that she was fairly heavy for someone her current size… and I was the one holding the pole.

"Blackmailing?" I pointed out and she scoffed, soon overwhelmed by the rest of the group's own reasons to support this decision.

"M-Manipulating me into doing bad things."

Echidna scoffed at Emilia. "It's the same as 'blackmailing'-"

"Kidnapping," A certain pinkette lamented, shooting a deadly glare at the Witch.

"Lying," Beatrice quipped, her gaze aimed anywhere but Echidna.

"Hurting people," Alice concluded flatly, remaining the calmest of the group.

Puck didn't say much, but he was caught snickering at the grilling session.

"Plus, you ain't that cool," Majima commented sharply, gaining a frustrated groan from the short woman.

"A-As if I would care about being 'cool' and good. And what's with the assault? Am I not punished enough?"

"Nope~," Pandora replied earnestly. "At least I know what I am doing is bad most of the time."

That sounded awfully 'nice' and a reason to be even more suspicious of the Witch of Vainglory. Seriously, this whole setup felt incredibly crazy and… I guess that's the 'Re Zero Death Spring' in action. The 'Spring' was literally a counterbalancing force which represented the 'the more things are stable and normal, the higher are the chances that shit will hit the fan harder as soon as something crazy happens'. So, after a fairly long time of particularly tame events, I could see how this was all going to end up in quite the messy situation.

"...I hate you all."

The feeling is mutual.

The journey was nonetheless daunting. Mabeasts or not, the desert was still something unpleasant to traverse without some preparations and so, before leaving the settlement, I made sure that everyone was ready for the trip up ahead. And, as expected, the desert was far from 'tame' when we started to walk through it.

After just five minutes of traveling, things were getting a bit sand-ier than needed. The storm wasn't 'too' horrible, but it sure made the walk fairly difficult. Pandora helped with a barrier to hold back the worst of the sandstorm, but it was almost impossible to see where we were going. It took a while but… eventually we managed to brave this obstacle with minimal issues. And while this was a good thing… It also meant we were now going to face the very situation that I wasn't that pleased about. And that was the 'truth'.

What is the truth? And why did it concern me, Emilia and possibly Subaru about it and… Why didn't Echidna kidnap Barusu too?

It felt so confusing that she would just require Emilia for this, but perhaps there was something that I was missing like the doors opened to just one of us present here- and if that was the case, why would she need me here too? I was so confused about what was going on and what might be waiting beyond the gates that… I was caught off-guard when, as the doors opened and we entered inside, I noticed a bit too late that someone had jumped off from the ceiling and dive bombed towards me, pulling me in a tight hug. As I fell, I 'carried' Echidna to the ground too. The girl groaned, pouting angrily at that sudden fall and looking fairly murderous as she stared at Shaula.

"You're finally here!"

Jovial, giddy, and… a bit scantily-clad. I was baffled by Shaula and this positive reaction to our arrival for numerous reasons. First, she was never this 'affectionate' towards anyone but Subaru/Flugel. And that's all. She shouldn't be this pleased to see anyone, me in particular, walking through the gates. Yet, she did and… she said something strange as she got up from me.

"Yes! You carry his smell. It's you alright. The one we were told to wait for."

...What?

"John? What is she-"

"Oh, he doesn't know," Shaula interjected Ram's question, her smile growing 'flatter' as she looked at her. "But he is part of something interesting. You and… Emilia, right?"

The half-elf tensed up at that bizarre introduction. "Y-Yes?"

"Perfect but… no Master. I guess… This can still work. Somehow," The young woman hummed before turning to look at the rest of the group

"Y-You brought her here? And also her? Why her?!"

To make things easy to understand, Shaula was first talking about Pandora and then half-shrieking while addressing the still tied-up Echidna.

"She is temporarily trustworthy," I replied carefully as I addressed a smiling Pandora, the girl clearly unfazed by that tone. "And she is… she is behind this visit. She tried to blackmail a couple of us to open the gates and check the library."

Shaula slowly nodded, her gaze narrowing in a glare aimed at the Witch of Greed. There was a hateful exchange that lasted a few seconds, with Shaula breaking away from it to smile at me.

"I see… but still, this is a joyous day. Let me greet you properly!" The young woman said while bowing. "I'm Shaula, and I was Master Flugel's apprentice and I am now the guardian of this watchtower."

"Nice to meet you," I hummed, my example followed by the rest as we greeted the guardian back.

Things were mostly calm and well when it came to the suddenness of that greeting, but Majima scoffed and seemed to have a different opinion on the scene.

"You're not a real human. You're a familiar, like me."

Shaula froze at the rude comment, her gaze aimed at the pup and… then back at me. The rest of the group was confused, while Ram kept her eyes aimed cautiously at the 'guardian' of this tower, clearly distrustful of her. I could tell there was an inner struggle happening, and I really panicked as this could be one of the many 'trigger buttons' that got her to switch in her Scorpion Mabeast form. Nope, I wasn't planning to get in a fight like this, not this soon at least.

"I'm-"

"I was already aware," I admitted, sounding a bit forceful in the process. "But I don't mind. You're still Shaula as far as I can see."

More tension, I thought I messed up with that pushy comment but… the ensuing deadly hug that almost broke my back definitely removed that worry altogether. Soon, the girl spoke up loudly and half-sobbing.

"Bwaaah! You're so nice! Just like him- I almost forgot how it felt."

Uhhh… that's incredibly odd. And it became odder when I unconsciously moved a hand up over her head and… rubbed her hair. She nuzzled harder, the crying actually… turning genuine. If before it was exaggerated by Shaula, now that really felt melancholic. No words were shared and I felt confused at this strangely heavier and yet softer approach. Soon, the girl pulled away, rubbing her left arm over her face to clean her tears.

"A-Apologies. I got carried away by this situation and… there is so much to say and show," The girl muttered, then nodded. "In fact, I believe there is something you should see, John."

"Uh?"

She just left, turned around and walked away and I soon found myself even more clueless than before. What is even going on at this point? Why did Shaula know me? Why was I meant to come here?

"M-Mr. Bukharin?"

I glanced at Emilia. "Yes?"

"Why… What is Miss Shaula talking about? Why does it feel like she knows… you?"

"I..." I paused, unable to find proper words to describe the situation. I still tried to verbalize my own cluelessness about the predicament. "I don't know at the moment. This is really the… first time I visit this place."

Before I could have said more about it, Shaula was back, carrying what looked to be a large frame for a portrait or a mirror.

"Here, I think… I think this will help you understand," The young woman explained before turning the item around and revealing that it was indeed a portrait.

From confusion, I developed clarity. A glance, that was all it took me to understand what I was looking at. The portrait gave me the answer I had been looking for. The reason why so many people like Pandora, Shaula and even Geuse were so certain and yet not that they knew me. It was right in that familiar confident face, those facial features so similar to mine and… the name at the bottom of it.

John Bivone, beloved best friend.

It reminded me of many things I heard years ago, of how this name was important and how this was the inspiration behind my mother's decision to call me 'John'.

"You were named 'John' after my father, your grandfather, sweetie," The woman answered as I had just asked her about it. I was… roughly ten. Maybe nine at the time, but still, the important bit was that I remember wanting to know because it had felt so unusual to see my grandmother look so sad so many times when my name was brought up. When I was younger, I thought it was tied to me, but then I realized that it was the same name as grandfather. "He was a strong and kind man, always there to help friends and family without shedding any hesitation and care for himself. A true gentleman, as your grandmother would call him, but… he is not… here anymore."

"Why? What happened?" Oh God, I also remember how squeaky my voice was back there…

"He was… sick. He was strong, but sometimes sickness can be meaner than that. It takes away people we really care about and..." Mom stopped, her eyes closing briefly in pain. I would learn later on that she lost her father when barely an adult, and that pushed her to seek a job as a seamstress' assistant to make up for the lost income. Grandma was destroyed by his departure, and it was still a sore topic even now. I didn't know back then, but I could tell it was a painful topic for my mother. "And he would… would want you to be brave. To be a good man. Okay, honey?"

"Yes, mom. I will not disappoint you!"

After that matter, I had the chance to see two pictures of my grandfather, the only ones left from the destroyed photo albums. One was similar to this portrait, and the other was with grandfather holding close grandmother. I don't know why this one felt special but… I couldn't look away. There was something about his 'eased' expression compared to the more serious looks I saw him show in both pictures back home that made it… more valuable. Within that small smile, there was… pain.

"Was he… sick when he came here first?"

I was outright ignoring the world for the moment, my gaze only aimed at Shaula as I tried to finalize that thought, to get the answers I now needed to complete that mental picture I was building of this situation.

Shaula nodded slowly. "Yes."

"What… happened?"

"My master sought someone that had the capacity to produce a counter to the Witch Factor. John Bivone was selected for this task in exchange for creating a cure for his illness," The guardian explained without hesitation. "He was around here for numerous months to get an answer to his plight all the while nurturing the entity that comes out from part of his blood. Her."

I glanced to the side and… to Pandora. The girl's blue eyes held more attention to the paper than me but… she ultimately looked right back at me, her calm becoming… right. Fitting.

"W-What is going on?" Beatrice demanded nervously. "Who is John Bivone, I suppose?"

"He looks just like you," Alice muttered quietly, shocked by the similarities between me and the portrait.

Emilia took a step towards me and… blinked. "Is this… family to you?"

I gave a nod to her, and her lips twitched.

"Someone that is no longer here."

Another nod, this time I spoke up. "John Bivone is- no, was – my maternal grandparent. He died before I was born and…" I paused, turning back to Pandora. "You… knew?"

"...Not completely," The girl confessed, looking at the floor. "There were many things I couldn't learn about what Flugel did, only that the bond I had with him, with John, was one only those blood-related could have."

...

"You are… what does this experiment makes you to… me?"

As I asked that, Shaula interjected with her knowledge on the subject. "Master argued that the biology within Pandora is unique to others, but that the best estimation of relation between her and the blood-donors is one between nice to either aunt or uncle. By that correlation-"

"We're cousins," I guessed, getting a slow nod from Shaula.

"Second-grade cousins, yes."

"You two- You two are actually related through this?!" Echidna finally exclaimed from her mighty perch, causing the group to look at her. "You and that abomination-"

"Shut. Up." I interrupted angrily and Pandora sighed.

"It's… alright. I think. She is just pissed that her prize shares blood with me."

"Her… What?" Ram asked, mildly irritated and I frowned at a very upset Witch of Greed.

"What do you mean, Pandora?"

"You're her best puzzle in years. She is just miffed that trying to solve you even more would warrant a new punishment from me."

"Weren't you the one plotting to harm John many times now?" Alice remarked. "I know that you-"

"I was unsure. At first, I didn't remember him, but then, the more I visited, the more I met him, and I came to realize he was tied to him. He had the faint smell like him, the moral alignment, the frame is mostly there, but his face and eyes- it's all John Bivone."

I blinked at that affirmation, and I was about to press more about it, but soon someone that craved answers too decided to make her stand point by speaking up on the situation itself.

"S-Still, I know this is important but… how does this connect to me, Miss Shaula?"

Emilia's question cut through the brief moment of newfound peace. It was legitimate for her to be now concerned about the truth related to her, and why it led to people she cared about to lose their lives in the past. Shaula seemed… uneasy. I could tell from the posture and the fact she couldn't properly stare at the half-elf. She felt guilty… for something.

"It's very… complicated, and I believe that it will be best if we discuss it in the dining room. I had just prepared it for you and your… friends. It's very important, and it would be best that you are at ease before I give the truth to you."

"Why?" Ram pressed. "Why would Lady Emilia need to be 'at ease' to know about this?"

"She seeks a kind of truth that, regardless of its meaning to her, is important to her current perspective on things. The reason why I am asking her to be calmer is because she could mistake the core of the explanation and misunderstand many other things."

"How bad is it?" I asked, deciding to push for the matter on Emilia's behalf, surprising the aforementioned girl in the process.

"Not really… bad. I would say that the base is technically bad, but I can already say something on the spot to soothe any worries about your true nature: you are a good person, and this will not influence that," Shaula replied with a serious tone, smiling at Emilia. "In fact, if I was to take a page off from John's own kindness, you should wear this truth as a badge that you are much stronger than you appear by being what you are now and that people are defined absolutely by their actions rather than their appearance."

…

"I… I see. Then I guess I can… wait a little more."

The guardian sighed in relief. "Once more, it's not something I would do if not necessary, to hold back the truth from someone. But bear with me about this, I don't want to harm you with it."

A tentative smile crossed the white-haired girl's face and she slowly nodded.

"Thank you."

Without much else left to talk at the entrance, Shaula started to lead the way towards the dining room, mentioning something about 'cakes' and 'having experimented making one for centuries now'. Yet, as we were walking, one last question was raised by me as I could tell part of the story didn't make any sense.

"By the way, Shaula," I muttered quietly, gaining the attention of our guide as we continued delving deeper into the watchtower. "Did Flugel actually get close to finding a cure for grandfather's illness?"

The girl's smile faltered and she looked forward, as if hiding her face from me before speaking up.

"As far as I know, the Master was far from developing a cure. The illness was unusual compared to other illnesses from this world. Luckily, it wasn't contagious."

I could only nod at this response, feeling like something was left out from the answer purposely. I decided to press more about it by the time we reached our destination, knowing that something big happened for Shaula's answers to be quite brief around this very topic.

But, unknown to me, Shaula had actually lied on that last question. She remembered what happened and why John didn't get his cure despite Flugel actually developing it. And the truth- the truth was quite unfair.

Many centuries ago...

"Why do you care about… her? Master said she is not a good experiment."

Shaula was slightly baffled by John's reaction at Pandora. There was something plain wrong about the way he handled her, the way he considered her like a normal girl. It was so stupid, and dangerous if not dealt with enough carefulness. The child-looking experiment was not trustworthy with the kind of power she held within and… she couldn't help but worry for John. He was her first best friend and he was the closest when handling Pandora's needs. He was there to play with the 'kid', and he would disregard so many concerns all for the sake of being a 'good parent' to her.

"Why shouldn't I? Don't you care for me even though I tend to be a moron in the eyes of your master?" The simple man asked back, and his words left her quiet.

"T-That's not the same-"

"And why not? Am I not dangerous myself because I can think of ill deeds and possibly go through with those?"

"You're too nice," Shaula rebuked strongly. "You would never consider something so heinous."

He chuckled. "Then why should anyone be judged by power and not personality and actions? Why should Pandora not be given a chance to make her case of what kind of person she is?"

The questions were curt, blunt and… true. As much as she wanted to support her master's perspective, there were times where Flugel tended to be incredibly illogical. Having long praised the notion of going through a rigorous procedure to determine the dangerousness of people and things, Shaula knew how to differentiate what was bad from what was good. And from the endless evidence bestowed by the numerous times Pandora interacted with John and others… Shaula couldn't help but find the girl mostly innocuous when treated appropriately. Sure, some stimuli drew her power to react, but those could be tamed and contained.

But Master… was too worried not of Pandora, but what her reveal to Satella will lead to. The repercussions of what his wife would do to him and… to her. Satella was powerful compared to her fellow witches, but Envy was weaker than Vainglory due to the potency of John's blood. The power of Envy was heightened- no, morphed – as it became something that couldn't be explained by the known rules of magic. It warped reality, how could a rule be established out of it beyond 'Vainglory is the representation of Infinity within reality, the capacity to falsify the truth and be able to impose that lie into the fabric of what is known and unknown.'.

A power so chillingly deadly, that even common morality was unable to give it a proper alignment. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. And yet John was there to handle that kind of burden with a smile and a relieved expression on his face. Pandora would giggle, she would play with him and ask him so many questions of what is beyond the walls of 'her cage'. It was upsetting how many parallels Shaula could draw between herself and that girl, both experiments that were unique to their peers but… Pandora had it worse. She was born to be despised, while Shaula was born to be beloved as an assistant.

"You know, I think you will be the first one you hear about this… but I don't think I will remain in this world for too long. I will probably be back home by the end of the month."

…

"W-What?" Her musing was ignored as the news shook her from her thoughts. "What did you say?"

"I will leave and go back home."

"But Flugel- I mean, Master didn't get you the cure for your illness. Why would you want to leave?"

He smiled once again, but that gesture lacked the usual simplicity and warmth. It lacked the pleasant note of honest happiness. It felt like John's smile now exerted… disappointment.

"He already made it. But he will not cure me."

These words brought a chilling tremor through her whole being. What? Master would have told her? Sure, he knew that she would normally speak with John but… why? Why keep quiet about this? Why not heal someone in need and…

"Why?"

John lowered his gaze to the ground. "He was convinced, by… someone we both know about, that I am plotting to take over the world through Pandora. So, he plans to use the cure as a way to 'control' me and keep me away from 'doing something so nefarious that it would ruin the world'."

"You… you couldn't plot that. I could talk to him and-"

"He would grow more upset. His own assistant siding with someone he already sees as his enemy," He argued strongly. "No, Shaula. I'm telling you this much because I trust you to not tell anyone of this conversation. Especially Flugel. At least, not until I'm away from his foolish grasp."

…

"What about Pandora? Are you going to bring her with you?"

If he said yes, which seemed logical, he would raise more suspicions to himself but… he chose the 'bizarre option'. The one John would have never gone for.

He closed his eyes, pain coursing over his facial features as he gave an unpleasant reply.

"No. Pandora wouldn't be able to grow safe and happy where I live. Her powers would remain even with her following me and it could easily turn her to hatred. She will be angry at me, at Flugel, at everyone as I leave her here, but it is only for the best."

…

"John…" Shaula's gaze turned slightly blurry as tears poured down her cheeks. "I… Will you- Will you miss me?"

He sighed, walking up to her and pulling her slowly in a hug. Her chin resting on his shoulder, his right hand ruffling some of her as she allowed the sobbing to continue, to release that inner sorrow at the notion she was going to lose someone that mattered to her.

"Don't be… sad, Shaula. You are a strong and brave young woman. The best assistant possible too," John quietly muttered, "Which is why, I can promise you, that you will find someone that will hold you like this, because this happiness you feel with me, shouldn't be just with me. I can tell this much, there will be others you will end up cherishing in your long life."

The sobbing continued, with her mind outright denying that possibility…

And yet. It happened. Ironically, it was… John's grandson.

He quietly moved a hand up over her head and… rubbed her hair just like he used to. The emotions overwhelming her state of mind, forcing her honest delight and joy to pour out without reluctance. Shaula nuzzled harder, the tears of back then now pouring once more with the same feel to it. If before Shaula skeptically rejected the chance she would find a friend once more, now she could tell that her first one hadn't lied to her.

And she was thankful for the man that was no longer there to smile at her and praise her, for his legacy was as brilliant as he was…