Chapter 6
"El minya"
The voice of Fate rings out in the back yard of the manor, where Beatrice has been giving him pointers on using Yin magic for the past few days.
Beatrice stands beside him as she watches the ridiculousness.
When she found out that Fate had every magic affinity and an affinity for spirit magic as well, she considered such a feat as impressive, but if she was being honest such a thing is so extremely rare, it might as well be impossible, if she were to think of the only person she knows, knew who could use every affinity and spirit arts, only her mother would come to mind.
But what makes Fate ridiculousness even more obvious is—
"You mastered Shamak through Al Shamak, Minya and then Murak… all in 3 days?"
She questions in barely disguised astonishment, looking at the white-haired, golden-eyed boy, whose hair is on a single braid, wearing black pants and a red sweater, who looks back at her with a smug smile.
"Oh? Are you impressed, Betty?"
She would not admit it but impressive does not even begin to label the feat he had just achieved. He would be guaranteed a title for something like this… something that he no doubts considers normal for himself.
She sighs.
"You are just impossible, I suppose" she settles on.
"Betty, I think my capacity for doing the impossible should have been established by now already." He says brushing it off.
After having spent all these days with him, Beatrice has gotten a read into his personality a bit.
He is very hardworking because according to himself, not being able to do what some else can is an intolerable insult that he must rectify.
She also knows that he does not look down on people, no, he just has a very high opinion of himself.
Beatrice will reluctantly admit that she has enjoyed the past days she has spent with him, watching him learn magic at an impossible speed, theorizing spells with her and just… having someone to talk to.
…
It's been so long that she has forgotten that the world was once interesting to her eyes.
And she can feel herself getting excited to begin a new day again, but it also scares her.
Is Fate 'that person?'
Is he going to leave her as well?
Like her mother?
Like Geuse?
Like Ryuzu?
She's scared, after having colors return to her world, she's afraid of losing it. She doesn't want to lose it.
"Anyway, that is all Betty can teach you I suppo— Hey! What are you doing?! Put Betty down, why do you keep doing this?" As she starts to talk, Fate picks her in a bridal carry, swinging her around the yard and humming a tune.
"Hey Betty, did you know? I'm the type of guy who always goes for what he wants without reservations. I've been told I'm greedy before but I like to think myself as someone who acts without restraint. Why restrain yourself? If the chains are holding you back, why do you not break it?—"
The more he talks, the more Beatrice finds herself not being able to look away.
"—If you have something to say to someone, why do you not tell them? If you have dreams, why do you let people make you think you can't achieve them? If you have a wish, why do you think it cannot be granted? The world does not make sense Betty! So why do we as people try to make sense of it?—"
He sets her down and she notices that their surroundings have changed.
The chirping of birds can be heard, lush green grass fills every direction, including some flowers she doesn't recognize, the smell of salt is present in the air. Overall it gives a calming vibe.
What grabs her attention is the distant expanse of seemingly endless water. The sun reflecting on its surface.
It feels peaceful.
She is mesmerized by the mystical air everything seems to have.
She looks back at Fate as he crouches before her, his golden eyes piercing hers, more serious than she has ever witnessed him be.
"—So, what do you want, Betty? What is it that you desire?"
She understands his question.
It is something she has pondered on various times after all.
Her hands grips the hems of her gown.
She only wants one thing.
One thing she has always wanted.
After losing everyone close to her, she has been scared of forming any other bonds due to fear of losing them again.
Why did everyone leave her?
'Roswaal, Geuse, Mother, Ryuzu'
Why?!
Why?!
Why?!
…
Why is she the only one remaining?
Why does she have to live alone?
She doesn't want to be alone anymore.
As tears start streaking down her face, she tells him her wish:
I want.
"I want.."
Someone to.
"You to…"
Choose me.
"Choose me…"
…
"As you wish…" Fate responds without hesitation as Beatrice grabs onto him and cries into his chest.
All the pains and hurt of 400 years, she cries it all out as Fate hugs her brushing the back of her head.
He will make sure these tears are her last.
◇◇◇
Fate stifles a yawn as he walks through the hallway of the mansion.
After making a contract with Beatrice yesterday, they stayed in the beach for a while, she was very curious about the things in the home even though she could hardly make sense of it.
Watching her trying to make heads or tails of modern appliances was admittedly funny, but she got the hang of things rather quickly, as expected of a Spirit of his standing.
Although she had been embarrassed after everything, it was also obvious she was very happy from the way she had been clinging to him, which is why he was surprised when he woke up and didn't see her anywhere close.
As he continues his strides, he starts picking up voices.
No, not voices. Cries.
Someone was crying.
Walking towards the source, he comes to a stop in front of Rem's room.
Everyone is present inside, but what stands out is Ram who is crying over the unmoving body of Rem.
She cries about how she failed, how she wants her sister back and begs not to leave her.
As Fate walks into the room, everyone turns to look at him except Ram.
"Fate…" Emilia looks at him with a sad look.
Beatrice walks over and holds his hand tightly, he squeezes hers as well. Reassuring her.
"Tell me what happened." He orders to no one in particular as he takes in the sight of his student sleeping peacefully but she is anything but.
"Sheeee died of weaknesssss—" Roswaal speaks out.
"—It was as if she just fell asleeeeep, the method was more of a curseeee than a spell—"
"Hold your tongue, clown. Do not say anymore" Fate speaks with a tone that surprises everyone.
Sharp and contained.
He sighs.
"You see, after spending these past few days here, I've come to like everyone— except you clown, I don't like you much—. I watch you all, I see things so I know you are all good people. Pinky likes alcohol. Lia does not like vegetables but she forces herself to eat them because of Puck. Betty likes the smell of old books. And Blue, no. Rem—" he let's go of Beatrice's hand as he walks towards the bed where Rem lies.
Everyone mentioned displays varied reactions as all eyes are now focused on him including Ram's.
They are surprised that Fate has been watching them so closely.
He stops before the bed "Rem likes poetry and she reads on her spare time…"
He continues with a voice that seems to seek retribution.
"I do not like this. This heaviness that seems to permeate my being. This indignation that grates upon my ego. This, this sin. This… mockery. Ahhh, how dare this world ridicule me so…"
The world seemed to rattle as he spoke.
"I will not stand for this. Such a thing cannot be. Will not be. I do not like to be taken from. No one is allowed to take from me. I will not allow anyone to take from me."
Reality shudders.
He looks towards the grief-stricken and bewildered Ram as white patterns frame his now glowing golden eyes and a white cross appears in the center of his pupils.
He speaks with power that everyone feels.
"And, I will not allow anyone to take from you either."
Fate stretches his right hand forward and alters the causality of the world.
"Sleep no more Rem, I do not permit your death."
Everyone present in the room watches in bafflement as Rem stirs and then slowly open her eyes.
Ram is immediately on her, hugging her tight and sobbing uncontrollably even as she apologizes over and over again.
"Dearest sister?"
Rem has a confused look on her face, not understanding what is going on and why everyone is in her room. To her, she just woke up after going to sleep last night.
"Impossible, such a thing…" Roswaal whispers to himself, astonished before the power he just witnessed.
Beatrice and Emilia walk briskly to Fate in worry.
"Fate, are you okay (in fact)?" They ask together.
Fate whose eyes has returned to normal smiles at them, resting his hand on both of their heads, patting them.
"Of course, who do you think you are talking about here? As if such a thing could faze me."
Seeing his usual antics, they both sigh in relief.
Beatrice is amazed by what her contractor just did but for now she is happy that he is okay.
Emilia looks visibly happy that Rem is fine now, she also enjoys the head pat.
Fate looks towards Rem who is consoling her sobbing sister.
Sensing his gaze, she looks at him.
"Sensei…?"
He smiles.
"Welcome back, Blue."
◇◇◇
As night comes, Rem stands before the door of her Sensei.
After being told about everything that happened, she doesn't know how to feel about it, she had died due to a curse placed on her, and then she had also been brought back to life by her Sensei.
Bringing someone back to life, she doesn't know how such a thing is possible.
They had known Fate was powerful but no one knew he was that powerful.
She doesn't know what to feel, but after waking up and feeling her sister's agony through their link, she could tell her sister had been hurting greatly.
She is happy that she doesn't have to leave her sister, she is also sad that she caused her such pain.
After going back to the village with everyone and seeing the villagers fine with no sign of the little girl and the dog she met yesterday, they had made sure to check for anything amiss then came back to the manor when nothing seemed out of place except the missing two.
Her sister had been beside her all day fretting over her and she only just got time to herself because her dear sister is now asleep, although she refused to sleep in her own room.
There is still something she has to do which is why she is here.
Knock
Knock
Knock
"Come in, Blue." is the response she gets, as expected of her Sensei.
She opens the door and walks in closing it shut behind her.
Looking around the room, she notes how the air smells different, it smells clean, and while the manor is obviously clean, there is just something different about her Sensei's room.
She is in charge of tidying his room but to be honest, Rem has never seen any dirt inside, almost as if even dirt fears to draw his ire so they make sure to stay away from him.
"Come here, Blue." she looks back at him as he taps beside his bed where he is sitting.
She walks measuredly to him and then takes the offered seat.
He doesn't say anything more even as Rem squirms a bit where she seats, seemingly waiting for her to get her thoughts together.
"Sensei?" She calls to him.
"Yes?"
"Wh-why did you save Rem?" She asks with a small voice.
"Hmm… because I consider you one of my own. And I protect what is mine. That is the only reason needed." He says to her.
"B-but Rem is a powerless and incompetent person, always causing trouble for her dear sister, dear sister who has always protected Rem ever since we were children. Rem is… a terrible girl."
"Why do you hurt, Blue? Why do you look down on yourself so?"
And so she told him.
She told him the story of her childhood, how they were a race of Onis.
How her sister was powerful.
How she stole her sister's horn.
How she can never match her sister.
How she is a replacement and inferior to her.
How she was happy that her sister lost her horn.
How she felt terrible for having such a thought and being the one to keep her own.
She continues with tears in her eyes.
"—So Rem does not deserve to be saved. If only dear sister had been born with two horns, if only we didn't have to be twins, if only Rem did not—" she is cut off as she feels the hand of her Sensei on her head, she looks up at him as he reaches a hand to her face, wiping her tears away.
"Sensei…"
"You have no idea how bright you shine, Blue. You are so caught up in peering behind yourself that you do not realize what is in front of you. Tell me, what do you feel from your connection with your sister right now?"
"My connection?" She wonders how her Sensei knows about that but she acquiesces anyway.
She focuses and then.
Happiness.
Relief.
Comfort.
She feels it all from her sister.
"You are not inferior in any way, Blue. Of course you are irreplaceable as well. You are a student of myself are you not? So look in front of you, do not waste your tears on burdens from the past. It's okay to have bitter memories, but it's not okay to dwell on them and let them define you. Do not let them hold you back from being happy." he says to her in a gentle voice.
She looks wide eyed at him and speaks in a voice so vulnerable, so small, so scared.
"I-Is Rem allowed to be happy?"
"Yes, you don't have to hold back. I will allow it."
"Rem is allowed to be s-saved?"
"I'll save you as many times as you desire."
"Even though Rem is not like her dear sister?"
"You don't have to be like your sister. You are enough as you are."
"E-even though Rem is a sinner?"
Fate puts his palm on her cheek as she holds onto it with tears in her eyes.
"Then, I'll take all your sins upon myself."
He brings her head to his chest as she cries.