"Julius… Please kill me. Draw your sword!"

He uttered the words that made the other two's heart sank. It cut through their thoughts, completely wiping off all other traces of hope.

"What are you saying Subaru…"

"If you don't stop me now, we can't win…"

Frustration grew upon Julius' face as the boy's struggle for control of his own body grew more and more desperate. With each breath he took, so did the Archbishop of Sloth. For every word he uttered, he felt like his head was being crushed.

"Before that happens… Please!"

Anxiety took hold of the knight as he tried to think of ways to peacefully take care of the madman who's trying to control Subaru.

"I refuse! I cannot do that! You told me you had something to tell me and that it can wait until this is settled! Will you toss that aside?!"

The boy's body contorted in multiple ways, both showing his grasp upon his body was growing ever weaker.

"I apologize, but it looks like I won't get the chance to say it."

Subaru faced the other boy who was wearing rags, their eyes met as both of them knew what he was going to say.

"Ferris! Please…"

Subaru's eyes faltered as the shine that was once there glossed and flickered away, akin to a flame that's about to die. All the while Julius grit his teeth as he balled is fists tighter than a metal clamp whilst his other friend's eyes started forming tears around his eyes, understanding that this may be the only solution.

He steeled himself for what was about to come as he prepared his mana while walking towards the nearly possessed boy. The person who gave the opportunity to subjugate the beast that terrorized the Kingdome of Lugnica for many centuries was about to die by his hands.

"You can resent me for this, Subaru-kun…"

More tears fell as his hand touched his cheek, fully knowing what he was about to do.

"I will resent myself too."

As his magic activated, a distinct and grotesque sound of flesh contorting in impossible directions could be heard. Subaru coughed up blood in the wake of the activation as he screamed his lungs from the sheer pain that he had to feel from the overload of mana surging through his body that continued to make his organs tear each other apart.

The Spirit Knight's eyes widened at what happened as his frustrations grew again but also replaced with another sense of dread. He thought to himself on the way to the Mathers territory that he and the boy would've made for good friends for each other.

"Ferris! Why?!"

"There's no others that can do it is there?!"

The beastkin turned to look at the other knight as he also let out his frustration with influx of tears also washed over him.

"This is what Subaru wants! Are you telling me to not respect his wishes?!"

Taken aback by his friend's words, his resolve grew cold and cut.

"But… Even so, there must have been some other way."

"Do you think I wanted to do this? To use my power for Crusch-sama, the power I swore to my liege, for this?!"

As Julius was about to also retort to his friend, they were cut off by the mumbling of the madman.

"It can't be, it can't be! Just when I've found the perfect vessel! Just when the Ordeal's completion was at hand…"

The madman continued to utter meaningless words as Julius finally drew his sword to the once body of someone who could be considered as a hero who helped take down the White Whale.

"My lack of virtue was what forced this undesirable situation upon you and Ferris."

He steeled himself for what was Subaru's unjust execution, as he readied his sword.

"I'm sure I will also be punished for so."

As his sword glistened in the sky's red and orange infernal-like hue, an overhead swing took place.

"I will never die!"

The sound cutting flesh rang through as the boy's heart was pierced by Julius' sword

"W-we're sorry for ever doubting you Emilia-sama! We were just scared; would you please forgive us?"

A tall and well-built man with a red scarf approached the half elf, begging for forgiveness for not believing her words of danger and instead sending her away. After realizing that she had been running around trying to repair and strengthen the barrier of the town, remaining villagers felt severely guilty.

"Please raise your head. You've not wronged anyone, you were merely scared were you not?"

Pangs of guilt resonated within the villagers that were left in the commotion, though with some varying amount of frustration at the situation with others still resenting Emilia's existence being so near the village.

"We're forever grateful for your actions! I hope someday that we may be able to repay this!"

Her contracted spirit gave a mischievous smile that quickly faded as he yawned, with his energy drained for the day.

"I'm afraid this is it for the day Lia. Sorry I can't stay around for a bit more. So if you find yourself in a bit of trouble, do go to Beatrice, she'll definitely help you."

"It's OK Pack, I doubt that the witch cult would be trying to do anything else after this disaster for them. So you can rest yourself for now."

Pack yawned again as he gave his words of farewell to his contractor as dusk began to settle around, dyeing the sky in an ominous purple hue from the sun not quite set yet but it being in the middle of progressing to night.

With the sky darkened, she could barely see the figures of the two knights with one of them carrying a cloaked object that extended further than both of the Knights' shoulders combined.

"Julius and Felix? Why do they look so downtrodden?"

She found herself quite anxious and very nervous at the reactions of the two knights as they continued to carry the cloaked thing. As she was about to walk up to the two, she was cut off view by others of the same company as the two as a crowd had gathered around the two as Julius carefully settled the cloaked object down, quite easily now identifying that it was in fact a dead body.

The half-elf could not pass through the people who had told her that this is not something she should see yet. Although discontent with what preventing her from seeing what the commotion was about, she complied and instead asked around if Subaru was around.

"I… I do not recall seeing Subaru-sama's presence around the village. It's quite possible that he is with the merchants as he doesn't possess much combat ability."

With a growing suspicion on her chest, she decided to leave it be for now and went to ask the merchants that were near the gates of the village. A seed of doubt beginning to root hold into her heart, however dismissing it as feeling of dread after such a battle.

As Julius and Felix arrived at the town, they both noticed that Emilia was still there. Not wanting to cause severe discomfort and anguish for the half-elf, both had decided to call upon the station reinforcements to block her path to inquire about what is happening.

"How could you let this happen?"

Wilhelm's words cut through the air much like the swords he carried with an overpowering amount of dread that was mixed in his words as well as frustration at what had transpired.

"!-I fa-failed in my duty. I'm sorry, I truly regret having to do so…"

The company of soldiers and mercenaries looked at the scene with disbelief, shock, sorrow, anger and regret.

"Dammit! WHY?! Of all time why must that have happened!"

Ricardo with all of his frustration pounded his hulking fists to the ground, creating shockwaves around. So much so that each of the knights felt it akin to a small earthquake. Each shockwave they felt, a pang of regret filled them which got the attention of several villagers.

"What's happening? You drove away the witch cult didn't you so why are you so sad?"

With a quick reveal, all eyes turned away from the body of the boy as others had gasped, others simply wept.

"Subaru-sama? It can't be…"

"It's not true right?"

"That's not possible… How?"

The mumblings of the disbelief of the villagers filled the air as a sombre atmosphere took hold.

"Was it wise to try and withdraw this crucial information from Emilia-sama?"

Julius turned around to the Sword Devil with a complex expression that portrayed many emotions, all of which were negative.

"I'll take full responsibility for what happens afterwards. I just want to take this moment to rest my mind so I could ready myself for what's to come."

The aged man nodded solemnly, a pity for someone so young and with so much vigour to be taken so early on. To Wilhelm, the boy had been a godsend. Someone who had given him the chance to finally get his satisfaction of avenging his oh so wonderful wife, Theresia. So to say that the man was filled with regret and sorrow, was a severe understatement.

"Then I shall accept your judgement. This old man is already filled with so much regret, to say that I want to honour the boy to be acknowledged as a hero would be saying too little of what he's done."

Julius nodded in agreement, recalling all the things in which Subaru had made possible due to his foresight and great judgement. Even at the forest, his judgement to have himself be executed was the best possible course of action as it would not only ensure that one of the Archbishops of Sin from the Witch Cult is in fact dead but also it also deal a huge blow to any forces left around the area, ensuring total victory for their side.

However, at the cost of a promising teen that would be seen quickly as a rising star amongst the people of Lugnica would be gone. He gave the opportunity to subjugate a beast that had terrorized the people of Lugnica for many centuries and also managed to help in its subjugation. Even more so, his foresight of the Witch Cult's attack on the Mathers territory had prevented any more lives being taken unjustly by them. If he wasn't a hero, then what would that make of the knights who had not shown such movement beforehand?

"Do you understand the situation?"

The pink haired maid nodded solemnly, fully grasping the implications of the situation at hand. Or more accurately she knew exactly that the death of such individual would very much leave the village that interacting with him frequently downtrodden.

"Yes, Julius-sama. I shall leave the matter of informing Emilia-sama to you then."

"I thank you for your cooperation."

She bowed as the figures of the knights strolled to the mansion as a sigh of exasperation and disappointment with small pangs of angst left her. As she thought, the self-proclaimed dog of the half-elf died.

"I guess that was where your abilities would get you, Barusu. Maybe I was wrong about you after all…"

A mumble escaped her lips as she performed her duty of informing Rosewaal of what had transpired during the day.

"After all that searching, I still couldn't find him… I wonder if Subaru is avoiding me?"

"You realize that he's probably just embarrassed to see you after what happened right? I mean I don't blame him because all of that would just be awkward for the both of you."

Emilia still dissatisfied with Pack's answer, nodded anyway. She thought of what happened back in the capital and that Subaru is now back in the Mathers Territory. For sure it was due to her words that clearly upset him but to her it was just as painful to push away a friend.

"I guess you're right. The next time I see him, I guess I'll apologize.

"Tut, tut, tut. Lia are already forgetting what you lectured him in the beginning. What was it again? It was something like 'It's better to say thanks to someone instead of endlessly apologizing" wasn't it?"

The girl bushed a pink hue stained her face as she felt severely embarrassed by the rat-coloured cat's words. Emilia was about to retort but she heard the firm but soft knocks that came from the oaken door, signifying the appearance of a visitor.

"Yes? Who is it?"

Firm and strong, the voice of the spirit knight came through the door requesting permission for him and the healer to enter. Confused, Emilia reluctantly accepted their requests to come in.

"Greetings Emilia-sama. I see you're well rested after such a long day yesterday, I thank you for your cooperation and I apologize for what you had to see yesterday."

She shakes her head as the apologies that the Spirit Knight were dismissed. Much like a worthy candidate, she had pressed on for the reason for their presence.

"May I request for Pack-sama's time for a little while, I have something I wish to discuss with him beforehand."

Deeper layers of confusion settled down to her nerves as the act of asking for her contracted spirit's time was very rare to have seen. Naturally the spirit accepted Julius' proposal as they quietly went somewhere else to talk, leaving herself with a rather dispirited healer.

"We've driven off the Witch Cult, why do you looks so sad Felix?"

He flinched at her words of worry, knowing full well on the event that transpired with the climax of yesterday's battle. A sharp stabbing pain entered his heart yet again as the image of Subaru's heart being pierced by Julius' sword replayed on his mind.

"You'd be correct Emilia-sama if not for the casualties we've gotten…"

Her mood dropped even lower as she thought about the many people killed in the battle, innocent or not each one of those lives had been taken and cannot ever be brought back.

"However, you've still prevented the massacre of even more lives right? It must account for at least something."

A sad smile appeared onto Felix's face expressing a bittersweet reminder.

"Thank you Emilia-sama. However, I cannot take those words for my own… after what I've done…"

As he mumbled the last part, Emilia could not hear the words he spoke that portrayed self-hate and guilt.

"Why shouldn't you? You were one of the people who saved many lives, after all you've healed so many people that wouldn't have survived without so."

"You'll understand soon enough."

As those words were uttered, Julius and Pack came back into the room as both of them seemed to be frustrated.

"Lia, we're going to the town."

The small town of Arlham village was strangely quiet. All village folk gathered around the village heads Muraosa and Milde with both having pained looks as they spoke to the folk of what happened.

"And it was because of an unfortunate young boy that we're still alive. It was his initiative and foresight that we had managed to save a majority of the people here."

Many of the folks soon realized who the two meant with varying amounts of sorrow appeared to their faces. Some cried, others sobbed, many gritted their teeth and all of the children hugged their parents whilst they bellowed in anguish.

To the people of Arlham, the only butler of Rosewaal's mansion was not just some friendly face that came three times a week, nor was he just some person who was amiable with everyone in the village. No he was their hero for once already during the attack of the beast tamer, someone acknowledged by both the children and adults alike as a somewhat of a role model or at the very least a charismatic figure who would bring people together.

The three members of the Leyte family wept with Petra being devastated by the news.

"Why did he have to go, dad? Didn't he promise us that he'd go and do those fun mornings with everyone? Did he lie about keeping that promise?"

"It's not like that Petra and you know it… I bet you that he would've came running back her the day after the battle to play with you guys."

Their cries resonated with another as their parents and the adults tried to calm them down.

"Don't cry children. I'm sure that he would be sad right now if he saw you crying like this. And as such all we have to do is not to think that he's gone, but rather he's always with us as long as you remember him."

It wasn't that he was strong or that he had power or any of those sorts of things but rather it was all due to the effort he made that pulled on the townsfolk's hearts.

During side, a subtle yet infinitely louder sound of a certain half-elf's heart breaking could be heard.

"Th-this was all my fault… I-I was the one who caused all of this."

"Lia… It wasn't your fault."

As more and more words flowed through Emilia's self-hate, in became increasingly apparent that the two knights near her were growing more and more frustrated while the contracted spirit kept them at bay.

"I-I pushed him away. D-drove him into deep sadness while I remained doing my routine half-attentive of what's happening…"

"But in equal parts that was also his fault wasn't it?"

"I would have to also say that I was also to blame for that as the one who pushed him to the duel. I looked at him with disdain at first but with my short time of knowing him, he's was much the good man my good friend Reinhard had described at first."

"No… H-he was doing it all for me. I should've realized that, yes maybe that was maybe his fault. But was it justified of me to just toss aside his reason? To just disregard his circumstances and not even listen to why he acted like so?"

With the final straw being drawn the Spirit Knight snapped. Pack who had known of his emotions intervened with a wall of ice appearing between them.

"Stand back Spirit Knight. You're better off cooling that head of yours I don't want anyone even having those emotions near my daughter."

He gritted his teeth as he punched the wall making cracks appear in a web-like fashion.

"What? You think that I would've used my powers against Emilia-sama of all people? No! I was frustrated that for all of her sadness, she had not once even acknowledged what Subaru had done!"

"As far as I can tell he hasn't. He's been running around like a headless chicken all throughout the time I've seen him."

This time it was Felix who intervened with flaring clear anger present in his eyes.

"Maybe at the time of the capital, with my impression of him I may had agreed with you. I would explain what's been happening, but seeing as though you haven't seen a reason why these village folk are in tears then I guess you wouldn't even understand."

"Ferris… Though I agree with sentiment, I believe that was a little too much."

His friend looked at him as well with flickering frustration.

"No! I of all people understood how much he did! He made himself bait for the subjugation of the White Whale, he kept trying when almost all of the people who took part felt despair, he was even crazy enough to stand on the White Whale and provoke it to come after him! He doesn't deserve the words you throw at him because you haven't seen what he looks like when doing that! None of the Knights can compare to what he did because in truth for all our strengths, we couldn't do what Subaru-kun did!"

Astounded by the information that the grey cat had heard, pangs of guilt stabbed through his heart regretting his words. All the while Emilia remained stunned but the images of Subaru going through the subjugation of the White Whale as an aged man approached them.

"That's enough Felix. They've heard enough."

"But Wil-"

"But nothing, you should respect Subaru-dono's liege and honour what he's done. I for one is all too indebted to him and the least I could do I provide respect for his master to preserve his memory."

I only hope that people would also do the same to honour his great actions.