Chapter 21: Part 21: Beatrice
FYI
Scene/ POV
: Speech
- Thoughts
[Flashback]
"Quoting"
(Author Note)
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Mansion
We walked together into the mansion.
Rem: Kiyotaka-Kun... you're back!
Frederica stood in the doorway shocked.
Fredrica: Garf?
Garfiel: Yeah it's me. I'm here.
The two hugged.
Frederica: Then...
Koji: Lady Emilia passed the trials. The Sanctuary has been freed.
Frederica: You came here Garf.
Garfiel ruffled his own hair in embarrassment.
Garfiel: I had someone beat some sense into me so I'm all good now.
Frederica smiled.
Koji: There's going to be an attack on this mansion so we should all be prepared.
Frederica and Rem looked at me as they instantly realised the seriousness of the situation
Koji: You all stay together and keep an eye out. I'll go talk with Beatrice.
They nodded. Suddenly Elsa arrived walking towards us.
Koji: She's here. She has an accomplished that uses Mabeasts so don't get caught off guard.
Rem took out her flail and Garf and Frederica transformed.
Koji: Wait... the villagers.
Garf: Oh shit.
Koji: Rem. Frederica go. Me and Garfiel will deal with Elsa.
Garfiel: Let's kill her.
Koji: Ideally.
I created my two swords.
Elsa: Oh my. I've never seen a Knight using two swords like that. Can I ask what it's called?
Koji: It's the Heaven and Earth Sword Style.
Elsa: Heaven and Earth? Care to explain? I'd love to hear about it.
Koji: Sorry but we have allies to assist after we're done with you.
Elsa smirks.
Elsa: Do you really want to spill my guts all over the floor that badly? Oh... to have my feelings reciprocated. It feels so... good!
Her smirk turns dark as she rushes at us. I rush in as well entering an exchange of slashes with her as cuts appear on both of our faces. Garfiel rushes in as he slams his fist at Elsa who dodges backwards as do I.
Koji: Careful of friendly fire Garfiel.
Garfiel: I know you'll dodge. Lady Emilia told me you have some kind of Mana dodging sensey thing.
Koji: Very well then attack with reckless abandon. I'll make sure to compensate.
Garfeil smirked.
Garfiel: Got it.
I rushed in locking blades with Elsa as she crossblocked my right sword. I pushed against her as I thrust my left sword at her. She was about to jump back. I could sense it.
Koji: Sloth.
I swapped paces with her.
Elsa: What?
I cut her in two diagonally as her body fell to the floor limp.
Koji- Die.
Garfiel undid his transformation.
Garfiel: That same trick you used on me. It's nasty thinking that that is what you could've done to me.
Koji: I suppose so.
We walked towards the village when I pushed Garfiel to the side.
Garfiel: What the?
He made a horrified expression. I looked down. I'd been stabbed. I coughed up blood.
Elsa: My my did underestimate you but that's not the proper way to gut a girl.
Garfiel: Hold on! What the hell? How are you alive?
She tried to gut me injuring me even more severely as Garfiel attacked her as she jumped back. I fell to the ground.
Koji- It hurts so much.
Koji: Ugh!!!
I coughed up more blood as I fell to the floor.
Koji- How is she alive? I'm so confused. How?
Suddenly I saw Beatrice walking towards us as she cast a spell teleporting me away.
Koji: Beatrice wait! Don't do...
I got teleported away.
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Sanctuary
I found myself in the trial room where Emilia was.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun?
She looked at me with a deranged look.
Koji- What? What is this?
Emilia: Right after you left Puck left me too you know. I was so scared you know, that everyone was just leaving me behind.
Koji: That's... ah... not.
Koji- Her past is that bad that it left her in this state? I ... I miscalculated. But how? Wait... did she say that Puck left her? What is going on?
Koji: Emilia.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-Kun. I passed the trials. I saw stuff I didn't remember before Puck left but...
Koji: Emilia...
My wounds were worsening by the second.
Emilia: I love you.
Koji: You what?
Emilia pulled me into a kiss.
Koji- She...
She began rambling as the pain in my abdomen intensified.
Koji- She's gone completely insane.
I coughed up blood into my hand. Emilia took my hand holding it to her cheek.
Emilia: I love you.
Slowly I died in her arms.
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Trials Temple
I woke up my arm was shaking so I took a deep breath.
Koji: It happened again.
I touched my hand to my lips.
Koji- Not like that. I don't want it to be like that.
I looked at Emilia. I comforted her and returned to the house as Ram looked at me perplexed.
Koji: What is it Ram?
Ram: Nothing. You just look a bit... shaken.
Koji: Shaken?
Ram: Your arm. It's shaking.
I looked down to see it was. I gritted my teeth.
Ram: It's not normal to see you like this. What's troubling you?
I sighed.
Koji: It's nothing.
Koji- How did Elsa survive? I want to know.
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Witch's Tea Party
Echidna: Welcome back Ayanokoji.
Koji: Echidna. Do you have the answer? Of how to kill Elsa Grainhart?
Echidna: I do.
Koji: Then tell me.
Echidna: Very well. Elsa Grainhart was cursed by a shaman that makes her effectively immortal however if you can decapitate her or use fire she should die. Of course you could just vaporise her if you had the means to.
Koji: Decapitaion or fire. Got it.
Echidna: I did say it didn't I? That there would be something to discuss?
Koji: Yes you did. Go on.
Echidna: How about we form a contract?
Koji: A contract? Tell me the stipulations.
Echidna: Our souls would be tied together. Whenever you need to as questions you can ask me and I will answer.
Koji: what would you receive in return?
Echidna: Your thoughts. Your feelings. Rour Rebirth By Death.
Koji- She intends to get me to die more often. It's as I expected.
Koji: I'll have to refuse that contract.
Echidna sighed.
Echidna: Well I did try my best.
She walked up to me placing her hand on my chest.
Echidna: Even still. I am fond of you. If you change your mind then just call out to me.
I woke up.
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House
I woke up in a bed. I got up and met with Emilia.
Koji: Puck. Come out already.
Emilia: Kiyotaka?
Puck came out.
Koji: What exactly are you doing?
Puck explained himself and what would happen as he left. I comforted Emilia as I knelt down to talk to her.
Emilia: There are so many things I remember now. I'm scared.
Koji: I know but... you have to face them anyways.
Emilia: But...
Koji: A ruler must face their past. Emilia you have to do this.
Emilia: I know but I don't know if I can. I...
I touched my hand to her cheek.
Koji: I know you can.
Emilia: Why? You know that if I was on my own I would have died several times. Without you I'm useless.
Koji: That's true. You're not perfect after all. You're a girl just like every other girl. You have things that scare you and make you want to run away and things that you don't know how to deal with.
Emilia: So why do you believe in me?
Koji: It's because... I love you.
Emilia: What?
She looked at me shocked.
Koji: I love you.
Emilia: You just told me about things that are wrong about me but now you ay you love me? How can I believe it?
Koji: Love is not so simple that you can only love people who are brilliant. Love is about accepting a person entirely. All of their strengths and weaknesses. Being there for them when it counts and putting them above yourself.
Emilia: You... feel that way... about me?
Koji: I do.
Emilia: I don't really understand love... I don't know how it...
Koji: It's okay. You don't have to respond to my feelings or anything yet. What I want is for you to understand something else.
Emilia: Something else?
Koji: Loving yourself is similar but different. You can't let your flaws drag you down or make you feel small. You should feel the need to improve yourself. There's nothing wrong with that but those flaws should never make you feel that you are worth less than someone else.
Emilia: Love... myself? Isn't that too... selfish?
Koji: Sometimes being selfish is okay.
Emilia: I...
Koji: Just love yourself enough that your past can't haunt you like it does right now.
Emilia stood up.
Emilia: Kiyotaka-kun. Just leave the trials to me.
Koji: Okay.
I smiled at her. This shocked her.
Koji- The last loop was mostly a few unlucky mishaps.
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Mansion
I repeated my interaction with Garfiel finishing the interaction faster as we rode to the Mansion. We met with Rem and Frederica.
Koji: So do you understand the situation?
Frederica: Yes we do.
Rem: We'll go guard the village.
Koji: Good. You two Garfiel.
Garfeil: Got it.
I walked towards the Library.
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Library
Koji: Beatrice.
Beatrice: You're here I suppose.
I walked towards her.
Koji: I want to understand you.
Beatrice: You can't understand me I suppose! What would you know about me!?
Koji: I know that you and I are alike. Both us, trapped in a place we can't escape. I know of the darkness of the feeling.
Beatrice looked into my eye able to confirm the truth in my words.
Beatrice: Then kill me.
Koji: No.
Beatrice: You should understand then! So kill me!
Koji: No. While I was trapped not once did I think of ending my own life.
Beatrice: Why? Wasn't it painful?
Koji: It was.
Beatrice: We're you scared?
Koji: At first... yes.
Beatrice: Then...
Koji: I didn't want to die. Not because I wanted to live but I because I didn't like the idea of dying.
Beatrice: I don't understand. How can you?
Koji: Whatever reason I had the results remain the same. I didn't die but in the end, no one came to save me so I had to save myself.
I outstretched my hand to her.
Koji: Let me save you in like how I wanted to be saved in the beginning.
Beatrice: You want to... save me!? Then why! Why didn't you take so long? It's been 400 hundred years that I've been stuck here! Why appear now when I no longer have the will to live!?
Beatrice was crying.
Koji: I don't know but I promise you that I'll make it up to you. The time you spend with me. You won't forget it. You'll be able to hold it close to your heart for at least another 400 years.
Koji: Form a contract with me Beatrice. I'll treasure you for the rest of my life and in exchange you'll abandon your previous contract.
I smiled.
Koji: I promise you won't regret it.
Beatrice took my hand. We formed a contract and we left the library.
Koji: You can stay here. Me and the others will deal with Elsa and her accomplice.
Beatrice: No. I... I want to help.
Koji: Alright then. Let's go.
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To Be Continued
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