A Pact Beneath the Calm

By morning, Roswaal had summoned everyone for a strategic meeting. The conference hall was dimly lit, the soft golden glow of chandeliers casting long shadows across the wooden floor. Everyone present looked worn and sleep-deprived—everyone except Subaru and Meili, who seemed oddly untouched by the long night's strain.

The night before, Subaru had entered his room to find Elsa and Meili waiting for him. Elsa, ever composed and unreadable, had delivered her explanation with the same calm she wore like armor:

"I'm going on patrol."

No further words had been needed. She had left, as silent as a shadow, and Subaru had stayed behind with Meili. After a few hushed words and shared yawns, the two had quietly drifted into sleep.

------------------------------------

Now, Roswaal stood before them in his usual dramatic pose, his voice carrying that familiar theatrical melancholy:

"Welcome, everyone... I'll try to keep this brief."

The air still held the weight of the previous night—an unspoken heaviness clung to the walls, thick as fog. Roswaal's expression was hard to read, but his tone was uncharacteristically grave. Every word he spoke felt deliberate, weighted.

In summary, his announcements were as follows:

-In two days' time, they would depart for the capital. Preparations needed to begin immediately.

-Due to the increased threat of enemy activity, nightly watches would be established.

-Subaru and Elsa were assigned as the lead sentries for the upcoming nights.

The information was practical, even mundane on the surface—but the tension beneath it was undeniable.

Meili, seated comfortably in Subaru's lap, was gently rocking back and forth. Her bright eyes blinked slowly, then shimmered with a rising hint of discontent:

"Subaru-nii, I wanna help with the night watch too... it's not fair..."

Subaru chuckled softly and reached down, brushing her hair with affectionate fingers.

"Not this time, Meili. Elsa and I have it covered. You need your rest."

Meili gave him a pout that could have melted a stone wall. But Subaru's gentle tone and steady hand slowly melted her resistance. She let out a tiny huff and mumbled a reluctant, "Fine..."

That small, almost familial moment settled a warmth over the room, like a fire crackling quietly in the background.

Yet as that peaceful scene unfolded, two pairs of eyes quietly observed from across the room—Rem and Emilia. They didn't speak, but they didn't need to. A shared flicker of emotion passed between them, subtle yet unmistakable: Jealousy. It wasn't loud or overwhelming, but it was real.

Later, Subaru found himself in the Forbidden Library with Emilia, Beatrice, and Puck. The air inside the sealed space was thick with dust and the scent of ancient parchment. Candles burned low as Beatrice sat ensconced in her fortress of books, barely glancing up as they entered.

Without looking, she mumbled: "Unless you're bubby's guest, Betty's not particularly pleased to see anyone..."

She clutched the book in her hands tighter, as though it were a shield. Subaru, not one to waste time, stepped forward with firm resolve.

"Puck, I want to try magic. Will you help me train?"

The spirit floated gracefully through the air, his small frame spinning once before settling. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"That depends... What's the reason?"

Without hesitation, Subaru summoned Etherfang. The dagger appeared in his hand, its surface glowing faintly. The moment it sliced through the air, it gave off a subtle hum—like a whispered promise of power. A faint aura danced around it, not quite visible, but undeniably present.

"I've been reading the book Beako gave me," Subaru said. "It said I might be able to enchant my dagger with magic. I want to see if it's true."

Puck drifted forward and examined the blade with careful eyes. Then, without a word, he hovered over Subaru and gently placed a paw on his head.

Subaru shuddered.

A rush of mana poured into him. It was different—unlike anything he'd felt before. The energy was cold, but not lifeless. Familiar, and yet somehow alien. It felt like something ancient had touched him.

Puck spoke softly: "You have a natural affinity for Yin magic. But it's a tricky element—subtle, demanding, and dangerous if mishandled."

He paused, then added: "You also have a slight resonance with fire. It's weak, but it's there. With training, you might be able to harness it."

As Puck withdrew his paw, the chill lingered in Subaru's body.

"Yin... I knew that," Subaru murmured, still dazed. "But fire? That's... new. Unexpected."

And then, from deep within his mind, a voice echoed—low, resonant, unmistakably Flugel:

"In one of your timelines, Puck froze you to death during a battle with Elsa. 'Resonance by Death' cannot absorb skills from spirits. But it can imprint their elemental affinity."

The voice became sharper, like a blade slicing through fog: "What you copied wasn't power—it was potential. A seed. And now that your mana sensitivity has grown, that seed has started to sprout. Fire magic... lies within your reach."

Subaru slowly lowered his head, eyes closed, feeling the conflicting energies churn inside him.

A new kind of mana flowed through his veins—chilled like frost, yet carrying a smoldering spark at its core.

As Subaru mulled over Flugel's words, a realization crept into his mind: this was something he had never known before. Not once had that particular detail been brought up in any of their past conversations.

"Why didn't he mention this earlier...?" Subaru wondered silently, eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Still, the possibility of gaining access to an element beyond Yin stirred something inside him—an unfamiliar sense of anticipation. Despite everything, despite the deaths and failures, there was still room to grow.

"Puck... I can add Yin magic to my daggers," Subaru began, his brow furrowed as he held the Etherfang in his hands. "But it doesn't last. It feels like... like it fades right after I apply it. Mist evaporating the moment I try to grasp it."

Puck hovered nearby, his tail twitching lazily. He looked at Subaru for a beat longer than usual, his gaze unreadable. Then, with a soft, amused huff, he spoke.

"The fact that you can even do that without a mana heart is already a miracle, Subaru," he said, eyes twinkling with irony. "And yet you still hunger for more? How insatiable."

The air in the room subtly shifted. Puck's voice wasn't particularly loud, but the underlying judgment in his words carried weight. Enough to prompt a reaction.

Emilia, who had been quietly seated beside a bookshelf, tilted her head sharply.

"Puck! Don't be rude," she said, her tone firm yet caring.

Subaru blinked, only mildly surprised. He had seen this dynamic play out before—Emilia playing the gentle counterbalance to Puck's bluntness. There was a strange harmony in how they clashed and reconciled.

Trying to ease the tension, Subaru raised his palms in mock surrender.

"It's okay, Mili. He's right. I've got a lot to learn. Don't be too hard on him."

Emilia lowered her eyes, brushing a silver lock of hair behind her ear.

"Ah... sorry," she murmured, barely audible.

The strands of her hair shimmered in the soft light. Subaru, caught in the tenderness of the moment, reached out. His fingers lightly grazed the silky threads.

It was a delicate, innocent gesture. Yet it carried weight. A quiet pause settled over them.

Emilia didn't move away. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, as if savoring the warmth in his touch. And then— The temperature in the room dropped. Sharply.

Puck's voice rang out, cold as glacier ice: "Oi. Are you seriously flirting with my daughter right in front of me?"

A frosty wind circled them. Subaru's hand recoiled as if scorched—by ice rather than fire.

"Keep that up and I'll make sure that hand of yours becomes a permanent icicle."

Subaru leapt back with a nervous laugh, eyes wide.

"S-sorry, Great Spirit-sama! It was just—really—I wasn't—"

But Puck was already in mid-rant. What followed was a blizzard of spirited scolding. His voice rose and fell like a storm surge, washing over Subaru again and again, with Emilia occasionally caught in the splash.

Subaru, caught between guilt and amusement, imagined a spectral paw delivering comical punishment from the air. And then came the eruption.

Beatrice, who had been silently enduring the scene with visible irritation, slammed her book shut.

The sound cracked through the room like a thunderclap. "YOU'RE ALL TOO LOUD, I SUPPOSE!! THIS IS BETTY'S LIBRARY, NOT A TAVERN! GET OUT!!"

In the same breath, she cast a powerful wind spell. A sharp gust howled through the room, lifting the trio off their feet and hurling them unceremoniously toward the door.

The Forbidden Library, once a sanctum of quiet, was now a whirlwind of chaos.

When the world stopped spinning, Subaru found himself flat on the floor.

And Emilia—flushed, breathless—was sprawled on top of him.

Their faces were dangerously close. Her silver hair fanned out around them like a curtain.

"S-Subaru?" she whispered, startled.

Subaru's brain short-circuited. A thousand thoughts tried to escape at once, and none made it past his lips. He looked away quickly, his cheeks heating up.

And then— He felt it. A surge of mana. Cold and unforgiving. Rising behind him like a tidal wave.

An icy aura crawled up his spine.

Puck's voice, now calm and deathly still: "Any last words?"

Subaru froze. But then, his eyes sharpened. For once, he didn't retreat. He turned around, resolve etched into every line of his face. "Puck... I'm not planning to die today!"

In a fluid motion, he channeled mana into his legs and burst into a sprint, the wind of his escape whipping behind him.

Puck floated in place, watching him go with unreadable eyes. He didn't give chase.

Instead, he turned his attention back to Emilia, still recovering on the ground.

He let out a long, slow sigh.

"Keeping my daughter safe from shameless boys... is a full-time job," he muttered, the grumble of a weary parent trailing behind him like the last gust of winter.

Elsa had approached Subaru after some time, her eyes unreadable as always, and suggested they have another sparring match.

They had only invited Meili to observe as an audience member—a decision born from a mutual desire for a quiet and focused session. But of course, nothing stayed simple for long.

Roswaal, Ram, and Rem and Emilia had also made their way to the training area—uninvited, yet carrying themselves with the entitlement of seasoned performers taking the stage. Their presence changed the air immediately.

Despite everyone but Meili arriving uninvited, Subaru couldn't muster the resolve to send them away. Their curiosity, or perhaps their concern, overrode any sense of etiquette. Even Elsa, usually indifferent to such things, showed visible discomfort.

"I would've preferred to be alone," she muttered under her breath, eyes drifting over the assembled group.

"Same here..." Subaru sighed, voice low. Both of them stood with awkward rigidity, their shared sentiment unspoken but clear.

Then, Roswaal stepped forward from the cluster of onlookers, voice sonorous and theatrical as ever, a smug glint in his gaze.

"Only two rules for this bout!" he declared grandly. "One—no lethal damage. Two—no use of mana..."

That second rule was delivered with a flourish—and a pointed look straight at Subaru.

His smile danced on the edge of mockery and challenge.

Subaru inhaled slowly. he faced Elsa Her posture had shifted—loose but alert, like a panther before the pounce. Her eyes glinted with hunger, though not for blood. Not this time.

The rules were simple.

No mana. No death. But make no mistake—it was real.

[Advanced Dagger Technique – Active]

Elsa moved first.

Fast didn't describe it well enough. She appeared. One blink—and the dagger was already aimed at Subaru's side.

He flinched, instincts overriding thought. A backstep, fast and wide, his boots shrieking across the floor as they scraped to regain control. Balance barely restored, he felt the threat pass him by.

But Elsa didn't wait. The next strike came faster, lower, deadlier. She dipped left, blade glinting as it arced toward his legs in a fluid sweep.

Subaru had only one response—up. He jumped. Mid air:

[Fade – Active]

The world softened, outlines blurred.

Every sound stretched out, like echoes in a cavern. No one could follow him now—except her.

Elsa's gaze locked.

"You hid," she murmured, her voice reaching through the haze. "But that doesn't mean you disappeared."

And Subaru was there. Suddenly. Inches from her. His blade shot up, intercepting her next swing.

Clang!

Metal screamed. Sparks burst.

He turned, pivoting hard, attempting to slip behind her guard—but Elsa was water. She flowed with him, twisted, and punished his gamble with a brutal knee to his thigh.

Pain spiked. Subaru dropped to one knee.

But Etherfang reversed in his hand, and he rose again with fire in his veins.

"Tch... This is hell without mana," he grunted, jaw clenched.

"Ah~ But that's when you find out who you really are," Elsa sang, tone syrupy with menace. "Instincts before magic, always."

She struck again. From above. Twin daggers sang down in an X.

Slash!

One missed as Subaru ducked. The other found Etherfang's edge.

From the gallery, voices surged:

"Subaru! You can do it!" —Emilia's voice soared, full of emotion.

"Elsa-nee! Slice him clean!" —Meili countered with childlike glee.

Ram and Rem watched silently, unmoving but far from still. Their eyes tracked each motion, calculating.

Roswaal stood with fingers on his chin, his gaze a mirror—blank, but deep.

Elsa spared them a glance. "Motivated by an audience?" she teased.

Subaru exhaled sharply. He was sweating, his breath ragged—but his eyes were alight.

"HELL YEAH."

[Advanced Dagger Technique – 100%]

Something inside him broke—or unlocked.

A door in his mind swung wide. Memories he didn't own flooded him. Years of practice he never endured.

His body moved like it remembered. Not from experience—but from inheritance. Footwork, angles, pressure, muscle tension—all laid bare.

Elsa's smile widened. "You are enjoying this."

But Subaru didn't flinch. His focus cut through her words. This wasn't a game.

Then she paused. And flipped a dagger. Fingers twirled it once. Then—

She threw it.

It shrieked through the air. Deadly. Straight for Subaru's chest. But He didn't blink.

[Fade – Active]

The world vanished. A curtain of fog rolled in. Silence fell. The dagger passed harmlessly through a ghost. But Subaru didn't vanish to escape. He used it to advance. As the blade struck the ground, he was already within reach. He emerged from the mist like judgment itself.

Left hand gripped Elsa's wrist. Right hand drove Etherfang to her throat—

And stopped.

Cold steel kissed her skin Elsa's breath hitched. Eyes flickered.

"D-Did I... win?" Subaru whispered, voice trembling.

[Fade – Deactivated]

Elsa paused for several long seconds, the silence between them taut and electric. Then, with a faint, teasing smile curling on her lips, she finally broke the quiet.

"Congratulations, Subaru," she said, her voice silk laced with steel. "You can now officially call yourself an assassin. Your stealth, your dagger technique... quite impressive."

She leaned in ever so slightly, her face tilting toward his with a glint of amusement in her eyes, her tone hovering playfully between mockery and genuine admiration.

"I wonder... should I give you a reward?"

But before the tension could deepen, before Subaru could even think of a reply, the moment shattered.

Three pairs of hands suddenly pushed themselves between him and Elsa, severing the invisible thread that had connected them.

"Subaru-nii! Stop flirting with my sister in front of us!" Meili shrieked, her glare sharp enough to cut.

"She's right, Subaru! / Subaru-kun!"

Emilia and Rem's voices overlapped in perfect harmony, as if rehearsed, their tones filled with disbelief and a hint of jealousy.

Still panting from the fight, Subaru found himself more startled by the sudden appearance of the trio than by Elsa's deadly presence moments ago.

"W-What just happened..."

He didn't even have time to fully gather his thoughts before all three girls began grumbling in irritation, each with their own interpretation of what had just occurred.

From a quiet distance, Roswaal stood with arms crossed, observing the scene through narrowed eyes. His gaze remained locked on Subaru, but his thoughts ran far deeper than mere curiosity.

"This boy... he's stepping closer to something beyond the grasp of ordinary men."

The scene slowly settled. The battlefield's echoes faded into memory. The excited murmurs of spectators and the burning stares of competitors dissipated into the wind.

Now, Subaru sat alone in the training field. The sky above was tinged with the golden glow of a sun beginning to set, and shadows stretched long over the worn earth. He stared at the ground, yet his mind remained entangled in the memory of the duel.

What had just happened felt almost otherworldly. His body had moved on its own—fluid, precise, deadly. Every motion executed with a grace and power that felt alien to him.

It was like watching a stranger wearing his skin.

The memory replayed again and again, as vivid as fire behind closed eyes.

"Flugel..." he murmured softly. "What exactly happened during that fight? What did it mean when I hit 100%?"

No answer came right away. Instead, the air shifted.

The shadows on the field rippled faintly, as if disturbed by a breeze that couldn't be felt. The temperature dropped. A cool wind curled through the field like a phantom.

Then, Flugel's voice echoed, deep and layered, like a whisper crawling through a dream.

"100% means your body has fully harmonized with the ability. You've achieved advanced mastery of dagger combat. Your mind and muscle memory are now aligned. The techniques that once flickered in your imagination... are now etched into your being."

Subaru's hands tightened on his knees. He stared down at his fingers. They were steady—too steady. Yet beneath that calm, he sensed an invisible weight, like unseen chains wrapped around his bones.

"Is there more to this?" he asked, his voice almost too soft to hear.

He wasn't afraid of the answer. He was hungry for it. Desperate to know how far the path ahead would stretch.

Flugel's reply came slower this time, worn but sure.

"This ability... has nearly infinite potential for evolution. But whether that growth will ever bring you peace... that, I doubt."

Subaru let out a breath, shaking his head slightly. "I figured as much," he whispered. "It can't end here. It never does."

His voice wavered between determination and fatigue, as if pulled between two tides.

Just then, a sound like wind brushing across parchment slithered through the field. A whisper in the dark.

Flugel's voice sharpened, losing its ethereal edge and adopting a more clinical, focused tone.

"Since you've reactivated... it's time to update your mission protocols."

[DING!]

A bright screen burst into life in front of Subaru. Its glow contrasted the darkening sky, its presence unnatural—foreign. Lines of text gleamed like inscriptions carved in cold fate.

Main Mission 1: Declare Emilia's camp during the Royal Selection assembly.

Reward: +20 Soul Coins

Main Mission 2: Eliminate all Sin Archbishops and acquire their Authorities.

Archbishops Defeated: 0/8 Authorities Obtained: 1/7

Reward: +100 Soul Coins Bonus: Unlock a new Authority

Side Quest 1: Get the Mana Heart.

Reward: +5 Soul Coins

Bonus: Unlock a new skill

Subaru's eyes moved slowly across the screen, taking in every detail. Each task felt like a looming death sentence, dressed up in glowing text.

"You really need to stop throwing impossible quests at me, Flugel... seriously," he muttered, a crooked smile tugging at his lips.

Flugel's voice returned, thick with amused sarcasm. "You'll finish them all eventually, Natsuki Subaru. Quit whining."

With a dramatic groan, Subaru rolled his eyes and allowed himself to collapse backward onto the ground.

The weight of everything—past, present, and future—pressed down on his chest.

The soil was cool against his back. The scent of earth and steel still lingered. Above him, the sky transitioned from warm hues to deeper tones. Violet bled into navy as the sun dipped further below the horizon. Clouds drifted slowly, heavy with secrets.

"I need some rest," Subaru whispered to no one in particular. "Tonight... I'm on watch."

And as the first stars began to appear in the twilight, Subaru closed his eyes. The world remained uncertain, but for now, he had earned a moment of stillness.

It was late into the night.

Subaru and Elsa were on watch at the mansion, following Roswaal's latest orders. The halls were quiet, wrapped in a stifling silence that weighed heavy on the senses. Shadows cast by the moonlight danced across the stone walls, distorting with the occasional gust of wind slipping through the old glass panes. The air was crisp and still, and the mansion itself seemed to hold its breath.

Subaru stood by a window, arms behind his head, his breath fogging the cool glass as he stared at the moonlit grounds outside.

"What's the point of standing guard if no one's coming? I just want to sleep..."

His voice, heavy with boredom and fatigue, broke the silence. It made Elsa glance sideways at him, one eyebrow arching slightly in response.

She stood at another window, her frame relaxed but always ready to spring into action, like a blade waiting to be unsheathed.

"subaru" she said, her voice cool and smooth, "you do know assassins prefer to strike under cover of night, right?"

There was a trace of irony in her tone—just enough to suggest amusement but never enough to soften her sharp edges.

"Silence doesn't mean nothing's out there. It just means they're better at hiding than you are at watching."

Subaru sighed heavily, a low groan escaping his throat as he slumped slightly.

"If only there was something—anything—to do. At least I wouldn't be dying of boredom."

And then, it happened. That familiar ripple of darkness slithered into his mind, like ink spilled across a blank page.

Flugel. "You could start practicing for the Mana Heart," the ancient voice echoed within his mind, its tone a blend of condescension and instruction. "Training enhances your senses. The flow of mana makes you more... attuned. To the world. To danger. To life."

Subaru's brow furrowed as he focused inward. "You mean I can train mana flow even while doing this? Even now?"

"Most masters meditate in silence, legs folded, seeking inner stillness," Flugel replied with a dismissive snort. "I find that ridiculous. Stillness is a luxury. Real training begins in motion. Draw mana from your core. Let it pulse through your blood. Let it coat your bones. No strain. No force. Just flow."

Subaru took in the words, uncertain but intrigued. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides. "If I end up exploding like a magical firework, you're taking the blame," he muttered and shut his eyes.

He inhaled deeply. From somewhere deep inside, behind the cavity of his heart, he felt it. A cool energy, dense and foreign, yet somehow known. It uncoiled slowly, sliding through his veins like icy liquid fire. Down to his fingertips, curling through his spine.

It wasn't comforting. It wasn't calming.

It burned. A tight, prickling burn, like a thousand needles pressing outward from under his skin. His legs grew stiff. His chest locked up. His breath hitched.

He tried to move—nothing. His body refused. "Flugel... can't move... is this normal?"

His voice was hoarse, nearly a whisper. Panic flickered just beneath the surface.

Flugel's reply came with a dark chuckle.

"You're not simply pushing mana into your arm or leg anymore. You're enveloping your whole body. Your blood. Your sinews. Your marrow. This is your first full-body mana circulation. It overwhelms you. It shuts you down. That's expected. But keep going. Your body will learn."

Elsa had turned by then, her gaze landing on him. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes sharpened with interest.

Subaru stood there, frozen mid-breath, sweat pouring down his face. His hands were clenched. His arms rigid. Every muscle locked in a futile attempt to resist something invisible.

"Subaru," she called out, her voice as calm as ever, yet there was a subtle edge to it now. "You're overstraining. If you keep that up, you'll injure yourself before anyone else can. You need to relax. Let go, or you'll collapse."

He wanted to reply, to explain that he couldn't, that his body simply wouldn't obey. But all that came out were broken syllables:

"If... I... could... I... would..."

Elsa sighed softly and rolled her shoulders. With a shrug that conveyed both disinterest and experience, she turned away.

"Suit yourself. I'm going on patrol. Don't drop dead while I'm gone."

Her voice trailed off as she walked away, footsteps vanishing into the far corridor.

Subaru remained. Rooted. Still. But it wasn't failure.

Within him, the mana continued to move. Sluggish. Uneven. But moving.

Like a river carving a new path through frozen earth. His legs refused to lift. His arms wouldn't bend.

But somewhere deep inside, a shift had begun.

His body was learning. And soon… it would respond. Not because he demanded it. But because it understood.