Past Likes To Repeat It Self

The witches observed in amusement as Subaru weaved through the battlefield with Yang Step, disappearing into the shadows before striking from unexpected angles.

Sekhmet smirked, resting her head on her hand. "Mmm~ Not bad. You're actually using your tools properly now."

Minerva grinned. "He better be! If he keeps this up, he might even survive next time!"

Subaru clicked his tongue. He knew they were teasing, but they weren't wrong. He was getting better, but these shadow beasts weren't pushovers. He had to keep pressing the advantage.

Subaru spun midair, activating [Light Manipulation] again. A pair of glowing spears formed in his hands, humming with energy before he launched them forward. They streaked through the darkness like shooting stars—

—And pierced two beasts directly in their chests.

The creatures shrieked, their bodies contorting as they exploded into black mist. But Subaru had no time to celebrate. The remaining beasts were already shifting, adapting to his movements.

Subaru landed, exhaling sharply. "Alright... let's step it up a notch."

He raised his hand, chanting a quick incantation. Wind and fire surged together, spiraling into a roaring fire tornado that engulfed the battlefield.

The searing flames roared through the area, consuming the creatures in their path. But Subaru wasn't done yet.

Ding!

[Veil of Innocence (70%) Activated.]

Subaru vanished. His presence faded entirely, his emotions erased from the battlefield. Even the witches, who were watching from the sidelines, could barely sense him.

Pandora raised an eyebrow. "Oh my~ He's getting creative."

The shadow beasts hesitated, their glowing eyes scanning wildly for a target. They couldn't see him, but they weren't stupid—they knew something was still there.

Then—

SLAM!

A massive invisible hand crushed one of them into the ground.

SHIIING!

At the same time, Subaru reappeared, his Witch's Edge slicing clean through another beast's neck. Its body collapsed into dark mist before vanishing.

Carmilla gasped. "H-he's... he's actually winning!"

Echidna smirked. "Indeed. He's adapting faster than I expected."

Subaru exhaled, sweat dripping from his forehead. He could win this. He just needed to keep up the momentum—

But then—

The last remaining beasts howled, their forms shifting as they fused together into a massive, towering monstrosity.

Subaru's eyes widened. "Oh, come on! That's just cheating!"

Minerva laughed. "Nope! Time for the final boss!"

Subaru sighed, gripping his sword. "Fine. Let's finish this."

As Subaru activated [Vainglorious Illusion] and [Law of Deception], the battlefield shifted. The towering shadow beast roared, but its movements suddenly became sluggish, as if it were second-guessing itself.

Pandora smiled, watching with satisfaction. "Oh? He's using my Authority now... Good. He should use them more."

[Vainglorious Illusion] distorted reality itself. The massive beast saw dozens of Subarus appearing all around it, each one charging in with lethal intent. It lashed out, swiping at the illusions, only for them to vanish like smoke.

[Law of Deception] further enhanced the effect—Subaru's real body became indistinguishable from the fakes, his presence seamlessly blending into the illusions. The beast's eyes darted wildly, unable to track the real target.

[Echidna smirked, nodding in approval.] "He's layering his skills well. If he keeps this up, he can take it down without getting hit once."

Subaru didn't waste time.

Using the confusion, he teleported directly above the beast with [Yang Step], his blade coated in the essence of [Witch's Edge].

"You're not dodging this," he muttered.

With a swift motion, he plunged the blade straight through the beast's skull.

A deafening screech echoed through the Hanging Garden.

The beast convulsed, its form flickering as it collapsed into a pile of dissolving shadows.

Ding!

["Shadow Trial Completed."]

Subaru landed on the ground, breathing heavily. His hands trembled slightly, but a victorious smirk tugged at his lips.

[Sekhmet yawned, stretching lazily.] "Mmm~ Well, you actually won. Good for you."

Minerva grinned, slamming her fist into her palm. "Alright! Now let's make it harder next time!"

Subaru groaned. "Can I get, like, two minutes to enjoy my victory first?"

Daphne chuckled. "Nope. Training never stops, Subaru~."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Of course it doesn't."

After that training was done Minerva looked at Subaru as he spoke. "So what is happening".

Subaru looked at her as he spoke. "Just helping Carmilla get over her Stutter"

Minerva then spoke looking at him as Carmilla was seating on his lap. "Then why is she seating there".

Subaru looked at her as he laughed Nevers face. "Will I told she can seat anywhere near and um she chose this".

Minerva crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Right..."

Carmilla, still sitting comfortably on Subaru's lap, fidgeted slightly but didn't move away. Instead, she buried her face into his chest and mumbled softly. "I-it's... comfortable h-here..."

Echidna smirked, sipping her tea. "Hmm, this is interesting~. Subaru, you do realize that Carmilla clinging to you like this is highly unusual, right?"

Subaru chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. But it helps her, right?"

Sekhmet yawned, watching from the side. "Mmm~ If it helps her, then who cares?"

Pandora tilted her head, amused. "Still, if Carmilla is getting over her stutter thanks to you, maybe we should all take turns sitting on your lap, Subaru~."

Subaru choked. "Okay, let's NOT make that a thing."

Carmilla clutched his shirt slightly tighter, her face still hidden. "N-no one else..." she whispered.

Minerva let out a sigh, shaking her head. "You know what? Fine. As long as she's actually improving, I'll allow it."

Echidna chuckled. "How generous of you, Minerva."

Subaru sighed in relief, then looked down at Carmilla. "Alright, let's keep working on this, yeah? You're already doing great."

Carmilla nodded, her grip relaxing just a little. "O-okay..."

Sekhmet then looked at the date as she spoke. "I see, so that why she is clingy".

Subaru looked at him as he spoke. "Why?"

Echinda looked as he spok. "Remember Carmilla Story".

Subaru looked at her as he spoke. "Once upon a time there was girl so beautiful that people thought she was goddess, everyone was taken away by her breath taking beautit, and how everyone wanted her, but trh girl was kind and nice and she didn't want anyone too fight for her, then her father the king chose a man for her, that she also loved, but then a different person from a different kingdom came too talk too the king, his saw his daughter beautiful so he kidnapped her aka Carmilla, as he wanted too make her his wife, seeing this her lover a prince of a different kingdom got mad, as so did the people of her kingdom, and so a war started for this one girl, in the end the prince came for her, but seeing how much destruction she caused by existing she ran away never too bee seen again".

Sekhmet then spoke lazily as she looked at him. "Later on this story became the tale of the witch of lust".

Subaru's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. He looked down at Carmilla, who was still clinging to him, her fingers tightening slightly around his shirt.

"So… today's the day that happened, huh?" he muttered.

Echidna nodded, her expression unusually serious. "It was around this time that Carmilla lost everything. She doesn't talk about it much, but... well, it's obvious that she still carries the pain."

Carmilla remained silent, her face buried against Subaru's chest.

Subaru sighed, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair gently. "You know, you're not alone anymore, Carmilla."

She flinched slightly at his touch but didn't move away. "I-I know…" she whispered. "B-but…"

Minerva clicked her tongue, crossing her arms. "It's not like the past can be changed, but it doesn't mean it has to control you forever."

Pandora smiled slightly. "She just needs reassurance, Minerva. And right now, Subaru is doing exactly that."

Subaru sighed. "Then I guess I'll just have to be here as long as she needs me."

Carmilla's grip on him tightened again, but this time, it felt a little different—like she was holding onto something solid instead of fading into old regrets.

Echinda then spoke looking at Subaru. "So does hee story remind you of a tale from your world".

Subaru looked as he looked at Carmilla as he spoke. "Yeah the Trojan War".

Echidna raised an eyebrow. "The Trojan War?"

Subaru nodded. "Yeah, it was a war that lasted for ten years, all because of one woman—Helen of Troy. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and her abduction, or elopement depending on the version, sparked a massive conflict between two powerful kingdoms. Thousands died, cities were destroyed, and legends were born… all because of a single person's beauty."

Carmilla flinched slightly, her grip on Subaru's sleeve tightening.

"T-that… sounds like m-my story…" she murmured.

"Exactly," Subaru said. "But you know, Helen of Troy is often blamed for the war, but it wasn't really her fault. It was the people who fought over her, their pride, their greed, and their refusal to let go. You didn't cause that war, Carmilla. You were just caught in the middle of other people's ambitions."

Carmilla trembled slightly, but Minerva smirked. "Well said, Subaru. Took you long enough to realize it."

Pandora chuckled. "Humans—no matter the world—seem to repeat the same mistakes, don't they?"

Subaru exhaled. "Yeah, but that just means we can also learn from them."

Carmilla, after a moment, slowly pulled away and looked at Subaru with teary eyes. "T-thank you…" she whispered.

Subaru smiled. "Anytime."

Daphne then spoke looking at as she spoke. "Now sense we are here, do you wanna learn something about this world

Subaru got a nervous laugh as he spoke. "What is it".

Echidna spokee looking at him. "We have Pathways"

Subaru took a few seconds too processes as his jaw dropped. "Like Pathways form Lord Of The Mystery".

Minerva looked at Daphne as she spoke. "What the hell, we all agreed we will tell him this ones he is much older, maybe when he was going too be 25".

Subaru's mind was racing. "Wait, wait, wait—you're telling me that this world has Pathways? Like from Lord of the Mysteries?"

Echidna smirked. "Surprised?"

"Of course, I am!" Subaru exclaimed. "That changes everything! If there are Pathways, then that means this world operates under a structured progression system for power!"

Minerva groaned and shot Daphne a glare. "Seriously, we were going to tell him this later. He's barely handling his Authorities as it is!"

Daphne just tilted her head. "But he's going to find out anyway. Better now than later."

Subaru took a deep breath. "Okay, okay, explain. How do Pathways work here? Are they the same as Lord of the Mysteries, with Sequences and Potions? Or is it something different?"

Echidna crossed her arms. "It's similar but not exactly the same. There are different Pathways tied to concepts, and beings who fully ascend their Pathway can reach an existence close to divinity."

Pandora smirked. "And guess what? Many of the Witches were on their own Pathways before their ascension. Even the Sin Archbishops are unknowingly walking incomplete Pathways tied to their respective sins."

Subaru pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great. Just when I thought I had a handle on things…"

Sekhmet yawned. "You're already walking a Pathway yourself, you know."

Subaru stiffened. "Wait. I am?!"

Carmilla nodded shyly. "Y-you just h-haven't realized it yet…"

Subaru groaned, rubbing his temples. "You guys are killing me. Alright, what Pathway am I walking?"

Echidna smirked, leaning in. "Guess."

Subaru the spoke looking at them. "So how many people use Pathways in this world".

Satella looked as he spoke. "Will us 8, Reinhard, Roswaal and a few other's around the world and one of Sin Archbishop, but we don't know which Archbishop".

Subaru then though as he put a few things together as he spoke. "I am either following the death pathway or Salvation Pathway correct".

Echidna smirked, clearly amused by Subaru's deduction. "You're quick on the uptake, as expected."

Pandora nodded. "Yes, you are walking the Salvation Pathway. However, certain abilities you've gained lean towards the Death Pathway as well."

Subaru sighed. "Figures. With all my connections to death and revival, the Death Pathway makes sense. But what does the Salvation Pathway entail?"

Satella gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "The Salvation Pathway is tied to those who bear the burden of saving others, even at great personal cost. It is the path of martyrs, saints, and those who transcend mortality to guide others to salvation."

Subaru's eye twitched. "Great. So basically, I got stuck with the hero role again…"

Minerva smirked. "You say that like you weren't already playing the role before knowing about Pathways."

Subaru sighed. "Yeah, yeah… What about the Death Pathway?"

Echidna's expression turned serious. "The Death Pathway is one of destruction, rebirth, and the mastery over life and death itself. It is an extremely dangerous Pathway, and those who fully ascend often become existences that transcend mortal understanding."

Subaru muttered, "So basically, the kind of thing that would make Reinhard want to stab me…"

Sekhmet chuckled. "Probably."

Subaru looked up. "Alright, so how do I advance in the Salvation Pathway?"

Pandora smirked. "That, dear Subaru, is something you'll have to figure out yourself. Every Pathway is unique to its user, and your Salvation Pathway will reveal itself through your actions."

Subaru groaned. "Of course it's cryptic. Why did I even ask…?"

Ding!

[Pathways Unlock, Death, Salvation, Fool pick one Host]

Subaru looked at his sin system. "I am picking the pathway of thr Fool, I have read LOTM I have what Klein does with it".

Carmilla hold his hand stopping him from picking. "D-don't something y-you will regret l-later love".

Subaru hesitated as he looked at Carmilla, her normally timid expression now filled with genuine concern. The other witches were also watching him carefully.

Echidna adjusted her glasses. "Subaru, the Fool Pathway is... unpredictable. It's different from Death and Salvation. It doesn't follow logic or reason, and its ascension methods are the most chaotic."

Minerva crossed her arms. "Not to mention, if you take that path, you could end up with powers that defy the rules of this world completely. That's not necessarily a good thing."

Subaru frowned. "But isn't that a good thing? I mean, if it breaks the rules, then I can fight things that shouldn't be beatable, right?"

Sekhmet sighed lazily. "Sure, but at what cost? The Fool Pathway twists fate itself. You might survive impossible situations, but you'll also attract disasters that shouldn't happen."

Pandora smirked. "The Fool is a wildcard, a being that can flip fate on its head. It's powerful, but unpredictable. Are you willing to embrace true chaos, Subaru?"

Subaru gulped. He thought about Khalid in Lord of the Mysteries, how the Fool Pathway let someone break the rules of reality but at the cost of becoming something unknowable.

He glanced at Carmilla, her hand trembling as she held his. "D-don't do something y-you will regret, l-love..."

Subaru took a deep breath. The Fool Pathway was tempting, but... he wasn't just fighting for himself. He had too many people relying on him.

Subaru then spoke looking at the Option, The Fool, Death and Salvation. "I will take time, think about which Pathway I wanna follow then I will pick".

The witches nodded, some in approval, others in amusement.

Echidna smirked. "A rare moment of patience from you, Subaru. I approve."

Minerva huffed. "For once, you're not charging headfirst into danger. That's a relief."

Pandora, on the other hand, chuckled. "Oh? So you're leaving fate undecided? Interesting..."

Satella gently squeezed Subaru's hand. "No matter what you choose, I will support you."

Subaru took a deep breath. He wasn't going to rush into this. Choosing a Pathway wasn't like picking an ability—it would define him, his growth, and possibly his future.

For now, he would gather more information.

To be continued

Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones and enjoy