The Shadows of Fate
Of all my years of experience, I can confidently say that the Roswaal I now face bears no resemblance to the one depicted in the novel.
In fact, from the very beginning, he was no longer the same person I thought I knew. My hands tense, unable to come up with a coherent response. At this moment, it is impossible for me to understand Roswaal L Mathers.
"This world is a failure, but its reconstruction won't change anything. The root of the problem isn't just you; it's existence itself." Roswaal throws a hook at my face, but just as I try to dodge it, a surprise kick forces me back.
I spit on the ground, my stomach burning with intensity. Seeing Roswaal approaching again, I leap back, unable to predict his next moves. My body feels heavy, my heart aches.
"I could only think of trying to solve it on my own." Roswaal advances towards me again; just as he's about to strike, I quickly block his fist, our eyes locking in a silent duel.
'He's holding back, but I can use that to my advantage.'
His words are filled with a venom that tangles in the air, a toxicity I don't need in this critical moment. I need a distraction so Ram can intervene.
"The Book of Wisdom was wrong, that's how I knew the Echidna of this world is a fake." I understand, I get it now. From the very beginning, from that death that occurred when I tried to confront him.
'I already knew that I wasn't the one who should have come.'
"My love is for the real one, that's why I must have her." Roswaal's gaze is distant, focused on a horizon beyond our reality. "I know she'll be pleased when she sees everything I've done; I'll give her exactly what she desires."
"Your old and rotten soul?" I smile, but he seems determined to remain silent.
Roswaal charges at me with unrestrained fury, aiming a powerful blow. Skillfully, I slide to the side, avoiding his fist as it cuts through the air violently.
"Damn it!" My leg gives way, making me kneel. Roswaal lunges at me, but I see it: the imposing figure of Garfield, approaching with the determination of a predator in full hunt.
Roswaal turns to see Garfield, and I don't waste the opportunity. In an instant, my leg rises with precision, aiming for the back of his neck. However, I'm met with an electric shock throughout my body. I feel something break, and when I realize it, I'm lying on the ground.
"You're just a mistake, you shouldn't bother trying." Roswaal wipes the elbow he used to defend himself. He approaches, and I grab his hand to stop him. "You can't touch me."
A brutal impact crashes against my face, making me release the hand I had on Roswaal. Blood flows from my nose, weaving a crimson pattern that drips from his hand.
"Die!" Garfield, without hesitation, launches himself fiercely at Roswaal, his knee transforming into a battering ram that violently strikes Roswaal's face.
Roswaal steps back a foot, but at that very moment. "Fura!" A whirlwind lifts both of them into the air, Garfield is shot towards the sky, while I remain on the ground, imposing.
"This world must be restructured!" Roswaal expels more and more mana. Garfield begins his transformation, his body growing in the air. Roswaal shows no signs of nervousness, his confidence is palpable.
'My body... doesn't respond.'
"ROAR!" Garfield's scream resonates in everyone's ears. He joins his two arms and, as he falls, tries to crush Roswaal.
I try to move, but an electric shock shoots through my nerves. My muscles cramp, and my vision blurs, but even so, I can't give up. 'I have to stop Roswaal's movements so Garfield can kill him.'
'Looks like I'll have to rely on that power once more.'
"Listen up!" My smile is clear. I close my eyes to endure the pain, and with all my strength, I shout, "I can return from the..."
In the pause that follows, the silence takes on a peculiar density, as if the entire universe is holding its breath for what is about to happen.
Time, subtly but tangibly, seems to take a prolonged pause, stretching the seconds until it feels as if time has stopped. Luckily, I haven't been transported to another place; Garfield is about to hit Roswaal, who uses a magic barrier as a shield.
My gaze, inquisitive, explores the static landscape around me. The absence of any other being, the stillness of the atmosphere leaves an impression of solitude, as if only I were real.
However, a presence materializes behind me.
"It's been a while." I quickly recognize her voice. Pandora, the witch of vanity, is here again.
She steps into my field of vision, but I can only watch. Her expression is as I expected, a smile that assures she has everything under control.
"You seem used to this, I thought you'd be more bothered by seeing me again." She still looks like an adult, so I know nothing has changed. She crouches, gently touching my nose. "It was a headache getting this possibility, but it was worth it. Too bad she'll eventually get it back. Won't you miss me?"
I try to speak, but my voice can't come out. I can only look at her, but with just that, she seems to understand me.
"You must long to know her whereabouts, but don't worry. I've only interrupted her connection to this world temporarily." Pandora points at me, her eyes dripping with arrogance. "The only connection she has to this world is you, Marco Luz."
The logic is clear. The space Satella is in allows her to observe all the timelines that happen. This world is just one of them, and that's fine. I don't care if I'm a mistake, what matters to me is living.
'There has to be something more, Satella is the most powerful entity. She should be able to correct irreparable errors.'
"No, she can't." Pandora begins to fade. "You still don't understand, but I don't blame you. You don't know what you are, nor do you know what happened. You think that story is the truth, but you don't even know the truth."
Pandora's face doesn't change, she just keeps her smiling expression. She looks like a robot, like the emotionless monster I once wished to be.
"Your existence will make this reality a living hell. Whether you're alive or not, the fact that you exist has already condemned this reality." Pandora caresses my cheek as she looks at me, her eyes like two abysses from which light does not escape. "You know nothing of this world, you know nothing of yourself, nor of your other half."
'My other half...' I know this world is not the same one I know.
"Reality isn't always the truth, because reality can also be constructed. In that way, a lie can become reality." Pandora stands up, turning her back to me. "I look forward to the day we meet in person. On that day, I'll tell you a big secret."
Reality regains its dynamic, and I feel the miasma within me dissolving and multiplying with renewed intensity. In that very instant, I feel I recover some of my strength, turning my body and moving away from the fight.
Boom!
A cloud of dust envelops me completely. Garfield has unleashed a colossal blow. My head throbs with pain, a discordant symphony as I struggle to regain my balance. I focus my gaze ahead, and through the dust, I distinguish a silhouette approaching, a monster I must defeat.
"I don't need much skill to defeat you," Roswaal declares, launching a fist directly at my face. Just as it's about to connect, I unleash the hidden reach.
The fist finds its mark, landing squarely on Roswaal's jaw and sending him spinning several meters into the air. Garfield leaps again, taking advantage of Roswaal's trajectory to land another punch.
Roswaal regains consciousness, using magic to alter his course and evade Garfield. With Garfield's transformed weight, it will be difficult, but: "I won't allow it."
I gather several hands and project them towards Garfield's feet. When I feel the hands touch his feet, a smile forms on my face. Garfield begins to bend his legs, preparing to leap at full speed.
"Do you think I'll just stand by and watch?" Stakes of ice and stone shoot through the air towards Garfield, and I use more hands to block the projectiles.
The miasma continues to grow within me; no matter what happens with my gate, I have to give it my all right now or we'll die. As I block all the projectiles, I create hands to support myself on the ground.
"ROAAAAR!" Garfield leaps, propelling himself like a bullet straight towards Roswaal. His speed is nearly instantaneous, but it's not enough.
Roswaal's demeanor reveals sadistic enjoyment; while we fight for our lives, he maintains an unperturbed smile, as if he knows no one can harm him.
"UL HUMA!" Roswaal unleashes a massive stake towards Garfield, nearly the size of two of the gigantic, transformed Garfield's arms.
Without hesitation, Garfield swings his fist at the stake. The collision generates a fog explosion that envelops us completely. Even from above, the fog quickly descends to the ground.
Garfield falls with fury in his eyes, bloodshot, and his mana overflowing throughout the area.
But then, the worst happens.
"Absolute Zero!" Garfield's body is instantly trapped in an icy prison as Roswaal holds a steady smile. "Thanks to observing her training and listening to your instructions on how to perfect spells, I've become a more skilled mage than I ever was. Thanks again, Marco Luz."
Roswaal's chest begins to emit a peculiar luminosity.
"Time is running out. I suppose it's time to pay the price." Roswaal approaches, gripping my neck firmly; I try to throw a punch, but it's like hitting a steel barrier. I deploy the hidden reach, but none of my strikes seem to affect him.
His chest glows intensely, the forms of the contract acquiring red hues. Even though Roswaal expels blood, his face shows no pain.
"It can't be..." My gaze focuses on Roswaal's chest, where the forms of the contract are changing color.
While my own chest glows a vibrant blue, his sinks into a red that spreads throughout his being. Roswaal shows no signs of pain, but his eyes begin to bleed profusely, a spectacle he seems to ignore.
"As you know, I have multiple souls within my body." Roswaal throws me to the ground; just before impact, I activate the hidden reach to soften the blow. "The soul contract can only affect one of them."
My lips tremble, my hands feel heavy and fatigued. Yes, I was a complete fool. His soul isn't just the original one he possesses; he made the contract as Roswaal L Mathers, thus sacrificing the soul of Roswaal L Mathers, not his own.
Though the contract begins to fade, it persists as a faint light resisting extinction.
"Damned monster..." My gaze shifts to his back, where I see Ram approaching at full speed.
I stand up, advancing towards Roswaal with a smile, extracting all the hidden hands within me. If I can't hurt him, I can at least try to restrain him.
Due to the fog and the sunlight beginning to filter through, the arms become visible. Roswaal initiates an evasive dance, quickly destroying each hand. Each one annihilated cause intense pain in my body, as if my real arms are being amputated.
'It's just an illusion,' I repeat endlessly in my mind, battling the dissonance between distorted reality and my mental resilience. 'You have to endure, my mind.'
"The authority of sloth seems quite useful, if I had the real one I'd be very happy." Roswaal, skillful with his words and lethal with his magic, throws fireballs in my direction, but I begin to dodge them agilely.
I leap back, seeing that Garfield remains frozen, showing no signs of life. I approach the crystal where he's trapped, placing my hand on it.
"You're just an obsessed bastard, I don't know why you keep rambling, monster." I spit on the ground, using my hands to block his vision for a moment. Just before all of them are destroyed, I seize the opportunity.
I try to use mana and notice a small reaction. An opportunity arises, though the situation is critical. Garfield is still alive; his mana fluctuations are evident.
Time is of the essence.
If mana is comparable to air, then to absorb it there must be a pressure change. Normally, I visualize my gate as a battery, but this time I imagine it as a wind machine, a device that harnesses the power of the wind.
I imagine a breeze passing through me to boost my mana, converting the environmental energy into a generating source.
"If my body replenishes its mana from the environment and food, then I can do it manually."
Thousands of needles seem to pierce me from within, running through my veins with a sharp sensation. I grit my teeth as I see Roswaal approaching after destroying all my hands.
'Not yet.'
Ram finally appears; it seems she has recovered enough to walk. She holds the crystal in her hand, ready to attack when the moment comes.
'I'm sorry, Ram, but I have to betray your wish for all of us to survive.' Even if I have to deceive her, even if she hates me. 'I'll kill him the moment he loses his mana.'
"Who are you?" My question seems to confuse him, and a smile forms on his face as he extends his arms to the bright blue sky.
"I am the most authentic version, the only one capable of achieving his goal." Roswaal keeps smiling while I struggle to maintain my composure. "Unfortunately, thanks to you, I was born in an error, but that won't last much longer. I'm just waiting."
I can't hold back any longer.
"My appearance might be a mistake; I might not be the one who should have come." I stare at him, holding back the urge to vomit. "But I can do it; I can help this reality. Unlike you, I accept the reality I'm in."
"Someone's manipulated reality, making you..." Roswaal clenched his fists, then threw a punch into my stomach. "Unnecessary."
I fell to the ground, unable to anticipate his move.
'I didn't even see it coming.' Pain reverberated through my body, but determination still shone in my eyes as I tried to pull myself together. There was no chance; it seemed like no one could hurt him right now. I gritted my teeth and then let out a piercing scream.
"EL FURA!" I felt my mana drain completely, but in a whirlwind of air, the dense fog abruptly vanished.
Surprise showed on Roswaal's face as he quickly stepped back.
I unleashed air bullets, but he blocked them with a mana shield.
Then, a smile spread across my face as I realized that just a few steps away, they were there, with a determination that suggested they had always fought bravely. She came running, the crystal glowing brightly in the sunlight. This was the crucial moment.
Noticing, Roswaal turned his attention, but I used my Unseen Hand to immobilize his limbs. Ram stared at him, barely able to open her eyes.
"It's for your sake!" Ram screamed, spitting blood, and plunging the crystal into Roswaal's abdomen.
Roswaal didn't react, simply watching as the crystal sank completely into his body. But suddenly, he began to exert desperate force, breaking the unseen hands holding him.
'Does he still have that much strength?' I looked ahead as I tried to move. "Run!"
Roswaal hugged Ram, pulling her close to his body.
I tried to stand, but my body wouldn't respond. My legs felt paralyzed. I struggled to do something, to open my mouth, to move, but it was in vain.
Even in Roswaal's arms, he hugged Ram with a suffocating intensity, his fingers gripping her shoulder firmly. The visual connection between them was palpable, and she responded with a faint smile, as if accepting her fate.
"Solar Ray." Roswaal's words hung in the air before an unyielding, blazing beam of light pierced through Ram's abdomen. Her smile remained even as she fell.
'No...'
Just as I was about to move forward:
"ROOSSWAAAAL!" Garfield shattered the crystal with a deafening roar, charging ferociously at Roswaal. Chunks of his skin stuck to the ice, but he seemed indifferent to the superficial pain.
Garfield charged with unleashed fury, but Roswaal rose into the air with supernatural grace. The crystal in his abdomen didn't light up, as if something was preventing it from absorbing mana.
"Get up!" The echo of the command resonated in my mind, and with a strength that seemed to come from the depths of my being, I slowly managed to move my arms in a desperate attempt to stand.
Ram, her body bloodied, kept her gaze fixed on Roswaal. Despite the pain reflected in her eyes, her determination remained, unwavering like a beacon in the storm.
Garfield, with contained fury, prepared to lunge at Roswaal, but before he could take a step, Roswaal launched two ice stakes one after the other in Garfield's direction.
Garfield shattered them all with just the strength of his fists. Regardless of their size, in this moment, his transformed body exerted force fueled solely by his rage. He slowly approached, preparing to strike.
"Here's a gift for you, kid!" Roswaal exclaimed, firing a stake directly at Ram.
"Watch out!" I shouted, but my voice was lost in the intensity of the moment.
Garfield, in a desperate attempt to protect the one he loved, intercepted the stake, grabbing and breaking it. Yet, two stakes pierced his knees.
'When did that happen?'
"Damn it!" Garfield growled, looking at Roswaal with absolute hatred. "You were supposed to protect her! She loves you!"
From a distance, Roswaal observed the scene with a look of satisfaction, relishing the chaos he had unleashed.
In that moment of despair, Garfield's attention shifted to Ram, who was on the brink of death.
"Above you!" My shout echoed in the chaos as I saw a colossal ice stake descending toward Garfield.
Garfield, with his knees pierced, couldn't do anything but stay where he was.
"Garfield!" My voice, filled with helplessness, dissolved in the air. Garfield, in a desperate gesture, pushed Ram away with brutal force, propelling her through the air and out of the deadly stake's reach.
"General! Heal her now!" Garfield, enveloped in a crimson aura so dense and powerful that it eclipsed his entire figure, shouted, "I AM THE SHIELD OF THE SANCTUARY!"
With raised fists, Garfield collided with the stake in a massive explosion that dragged me across the ground.
I used Unseen Hand to grab Ram, shielding her from the impact as I crawled along the ground. She fell to the ground, blood spreading rapidly as I fought to stay conscious.
"Ram..." I dragged my body along the ground, ignoring Roswaal as I used Unseen Hand to reach Ram.
The blood loss should have taken Ram's life, but there she lay, sustained solely by her determination and an inexplicable will to keep fighting.
I reached Ram, staring at the hole in her abdomen. The potion seemed useless as it had passed through part of her stomach.
"Spirits, please, help her." My plea resonated within me, summoning the spirits that emerged from the ground to enter Ram's battered body. "Recover the blood she's losing, just do that."
Without her stomach, my mind raced for options. Finally, I decided to administer the potion another way.
I watched as her body gradually began to heal.
Ram's body recovered slowly, but my attempt to move was futile, trapped in the paralysis of helplessness. I didn't know if she would survive, but there was nothing more I could do at that moment.
In that crucial moment, my eyes fixed on Roswaal, who was holding Garfield in his hand. Garfield had lost his transformation, covered in bruises and blood on all his limbs, looking on the verge of death.
"Look, here's another victim of yours." Roswaal threw Garfield beside me, who lay completely unconscious.
Roswaal began to conjure a fire spell, and as I saw his smiling face, a wave of fire seemed to consume my own being. Roswaal got closer, his hand glowing brightly, as if it were another sun.
"Errors will never surpass the originals; you should give up." His gaze made me tremble, and helplessness started to seep into every inch of my body.
'Maybe I should surrender, take advantage of the other life.'
"LIKE HELL I WILL!" In a burst of strength, I launched myself at Roswaal, feeling every muscle in my body burn with fury.
At that critical moment, I seize the opportunity to pull the crystal lodged in his belly. The stone reacts, infusing me with a renewed flow of mana, granting me the power needed to cast one more spell.
"Cut!" I shout with determination, channeling my energy into creating several compressed air spheres, so intense that they start tearing apart my fingers.
Pain overwhelms me, my nails shatter, and the tips of my fingers are destroyed. Nevertheless, I fire successfully, watching blood begin to gush from multiple holes that pierce Roswaal's back.
"Is that all?" His disdain is evident as his fist hits my jaw like a rock. "Do you think that's enough to kill the best mage in the kingdom?"
My vision blurs, and I fall to the ground. Roswaal's blood mixes with purplish hues, as if his vitality is rotting.
"You're not human..."
Reality fades, and the world turns blurry before I momentarily lose consciousness. When I regain clarity, I see Roswaal heading towards Ram, who lies on the ground unmoving, just looking at Roswaal with a faint smile.
"You're the last error that will allow me to be myself again," Roswaal declares, pointing a powerful beam of light at Ram. "That's why you must die."
The resigned expression on Ram's face indicates she is prepared to face her fate.
But sometimes destiny is determined to change.
At that instant, the sound of an earth dragon and the clinking of chains resound.
"ROSWAAAAL!" From among the trees, another demonic figure emerges, this time with blue hair and a perfectly visible horn.
Rem's mana explodes, resonating deep within all of us. Roswaal fires the light beam at Rem, but she creates a white ice crystal that deflects the attack, piercing a tree in the distance.
"You too, my dear Rem." Roswaal smiles, but the brave Rem counterattacks, launching her morning star.
Roswaal, without any sign of fear, catches the mace with his bare hands and, squeezing it, destroys it to pieces. I see Roswaal's blood on the ground, immediately recognizing what's happening.
'Miasma...' I slowly extend my arm, placing my nearly destroyed hand in Roswaal's blood.
"Ugh!" My hand contracts, feeling similar to when the Ley crystal pierced my belly.
I try to use the Unseen Hand, but a sense of oppression completely overtakes me.
My gaze turns to Ram, and I see the spirits beginning to scatter. Desperation engulfs me, and my mind repeats an internal lament: 'Shit, shit, shit.' In an act of desperation, I dig my bleeding fingers into the ground to keep moving. The pain doesn't matter; what matters is being able to get Ram away from the battle.
I feel the weight of guilt on my shoulders as I try to keep advancing. Amidst the uncertainty, Grímnir grabs me and takes me at lightning speed, like a bolt in the dark.
"Haha, you came to rescue me," I whisper as I see her taking Ram too, pulling us away from the battle. She stands between us, protecting me with determination.
Even though I can't hear her voice, I can feel her appreciation.
Rem attacks Roswaal with fury, her horn shining with a light that barely competes with the monster Roswaal.
"How could you?! How could you betray us like this?!" Rem cries out in anguish while skillfully dodging Roswaal's attacks.
Roswaal, with his mocking smile, responds coldly, "Betrayal is just a tool, dear Rem. It's necessary to sacrifice some pieces to achieve the grand game. Didn't you play with us already?"
Rem's fury intensifies, her horn glowing brighter as she channels her mana, her tears falling in desperation.
"You're a monster!" exclaims Rem, attacking with impressive speed. "My sister loved you!"
"Her love doesn't interest me," Roswaal responds indifferently, easily deflecting Rem's attacks.
Rem looks completely lost, her gaze only expressing pain, anger, and resentment.
"We were, we were like a family, and you... you're killing her!" Rem cries out in desperation, launching a powerful ice attack that Roswaal barely dodges.
"Loyalties change, dear Rem. It's time to accept it. This is a cruel world," Roswaal responds, his eyes shining with indifferent malice.
The battle becomes more intense, but Rem's mind is elsewhere. She sees her sister on the brink of death, fighting for her life.
"You can't win, Rem! Accept reality," Roswaal taunts, launching deadly spells that Rem barely manages to dodge. "You've always been the weaker link of the two. After all, you took away your sister's power."
"You're a ruthless monster!" Rem cries out, her tears mixing with the fury in her eyes.
As they fight, Rem's desperation is reflected in every blow and spell. Roswaal, cold and calculating, seems to enjoy her suffering.
It's a truth I knew, so I didn't expect this to happen. We are no match for Roswaal's overwhelming power.
Ram's forehead begins to radiate an intense light, her eyes fixed on Rem, who fights tirelessly in her fierce battle. However, Roswaal violently drives his fist into Rem's face, causing her to be forcibly knocked back.
Rem's horn, on the other hand, emits an even more intense glow, her eyes turning red, and the mana surrounding her becomes denser. Ram, with a desperate gesture, extends her hand toward her sister, but the magnitude of the events eludes my understanding.
'Did their connection strengthen?'
"AAAAHHHH!" Rem screams, releasing a colossal amount of mana that even forces Roswaal to retreat before her overwhelming power.
The magical explosion illuminates the battlefield, revealing the ferocity with which Rem is willing to fight.
A card emerges from Rem's dress, fluttering in the air like a mysterious banner.
The card shines with energy that seems to resonate with her mana. Roswaal's gaze becomes more cautious, and his eyes light up, forgetting Rem's existence.
"What's that? A card?" Roswaal murmurs incredulously as the card continues to flutter in the air.
Rem launches into an almost imperceptible speed attack, her determination burning bright. However, Roswaal, in his ruthless serenity, remains unmoved by her actions.
Roswaal counterattacks, using multi-attribute magic to attack Rem's horn. The sphere of elements impacts her, but to everyone's surprise, it causes no visible reaction.
"Die!"
With a skillful move, he throws himself forward, taking a direct punch to his stomach, crawling on the ground until he stops against a tree. Rem falls to her knees, her horn beginning to shrink.
"Do you think that's enough to defeat me, Rem?" Roswaal asks, emerging from the rubble while wiping the blood from his mouth. "Have you forgotten what you did?"
Still on the ground, Rem looks up with determination and pain. The letter, now in Roswaal's possession, glows with ominous energy, turning jet-black.
"Your struggle is admirable, but I'm bored of this game," Roswaal says disdainfully, pointing at Rem, who struggles to stand.
In an instant, reality twists. An overwhelming force presses down on her, leaving her defenseless against Roswaal's power.
'Yin Magic?'
"Goodbye, demon. This was your destiny from the beginning, the destiny from which your sister saved you," Roswaal pronounces as Rem falls to the ground.
No one can face him; if anyone can, even fight him hand-to-hand, it's only her. Only Emilia can face him.
Then, alongside the great rays of sunlight, something invisible begins to appear. The barrier created by Echidna starts to crumble completely.
Thousands of mana particles travel through the air, applying a healing source to everyone present.
"So many unpredictable things happening, it's annoying." Roswaal reads the letter, then smiles excitedly. "Indeed, it's fascinating."
Roswaal looks around, his gaze filled with malevolent satisfaction, as if savoring the despair he has sown. The sunlight highlights the details of his face, the blood stuck to it cleaned with magic, leaving him gleaming, while the holes I made seem to have closed around him.
"The soul contract is not undone. Today I've lost much, but I've gained enough." Roswaal points at me, his penetrating gaze piercing into my eyes. "You are a mistake, Marco Luz. Know that all the deaths I cause from now on are your fault. Your mere existence disgusts me. If I were you, I would consider freezing myself for eternity."
Every word Roswaal pronounces seems to resonate in the air, like an ominous echo hanging over me.
'An error...'
I don't want him to keep killing people, but it's not like I can die. No, this psychological trick isn't that simple; it's not like he'll stop, since his desire isn't me; his desire is the "True Echidna."
I almost fell for his words, but I won't do it again. I considered that we could be allies, but that's no longer possible.
"Your hands will be stained with blood, Marco Luz. Everything you do will be laden with death. Every life lost will be a direct consequence of your presence in this world," Roswaal declares, his voice resonating with twisted certainty.
The repugnance he feels toward me seems to emanate from every pore of his being, as if my mere existence is an unforgivable affront to his worldview. Roswaal's smile widens, revealing unrestrained malice.
"There is no redemption for you, Marco Luz. You are a mistake that cannot be redeemed," he adds, his words floating in the air laden with a sinister weight. "You shouldn't exist. You shouldn't have come to this world. You should have died in your world, and none of this would have happened."
Roswaal launches a fireball at me, but before it can reach me, an ice stake pierces it, neutralizing the attack.
I smile, feeling the pain spread across my cheeks.
"Fuck off!" I spit blood and extend my hand to give him the finger.
The Ryuzu emerge, carrying Otto, Luan, and Crusch, while others direct Ram toward Rem. I smile, feeling a comforting security that invites me to rest.
Illuminated by the golden rays of the sun, Emilia appears, radiating pure and powerful mana, a manifestation of her inner strength.
The sunlight highlights her visage, but it's her gaze that surprises me. Instead of the usual calm, her eyes express a storm of emotions: anger, rage, and unwavering determination.
It's as if all the weight of the injustices she has witnessed is reflected, transforming her into an overwhelming force.
"Emilia..." I whisper, but my voice is lost. This isn't the compassionate Emilia I knew; her eyes burn with a thirst for blood. Courage mixes with the resolve to face evil, and her mana, once serene, now vibrates with a fierce energy that soars beyond the trees.
Emilia's hands are tense, her eyes fixed on Roswaal, and her dense mana creates a suffocating atmosphere. The killing intent is shocking. 'I think this is the first time I've seen her like this.'
I tremble, knowing that this is part of her too.
"Miss Emilia, I see you've passed the trials. My highest congratulations!" Roswaal applauds, striking his chest with his one hand, but the celebration is interrupted by thousands of ice stakes heading toward him.
He uses a shield to protect himself, but the stakes pierce his arms, unable to contain Emilia's unleashed force.
"Without a doubt, you are strong, Miss Emilia." Despite the blood gushing from his wounds, Roswaal shows no signs of wavering.
Emilia says nothing; instead, her face reflects a mix of rage and determination, set on ending this.
But, to my surprise, a deep sigh escapes Emilia's lips, revealing an internal struggle between her unleashed fury and her responsibility.
'If they fight here, we won't last much longer.'
"I made a mistake trusting you. Now, if you don't want to die, you better leave." Emilia's words come calmly, with all possible determination.
Roswaal nods, and before disappearing, he speaks his last words.
"You have grown a lot, Miss Emilia."
Grímnir takes me to his side, and in his eyes, sadness is palpable. Despite my state, I manage to perceive that emotion in his gaze.
I give him a smile, an expression of gratitude and connection amidst adversity, sealed by the sparkle of our bond that will never fade.
"We survived." My vision begins to darken, my strength slowly leaving me. "Thanks for leaving me those spirits..."
I extend my hand, and when I'm on the brink of falling, she envelops me in her arms with a tenderness that warms my soul.
Her affection pierces my soul, dispelling the last reserves of energy. I'm flooded with a sense of peace, as if, somehow, I fulfilled my purpose in this battle.
'A mistake...'
If what was supposed to happen followed the script written in this story, it remains a mystery. However, I won't give it too much importance; what's truly essential is that now a path is visible, a flickering light in the midst of darkness.
Despite all the chaos and pain, I experience a strange but genuine sense of happiness and peace.
Finally, a path clears, a clear route to the future; an uncertain future for me. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, I find satisfaction in having contributed to this outcome.
Then, I feel a soft kiss on my cheek, asking me to let go.
"It must have been hard, right?" she whispers in my ear. I smile, and everything starts to darken. "You can rest now; I'll take care of everything."
I thought my destiny was to live in the shadows, but seeing Emilia, witnessing how she rises as the light illuminating my past, I understood something profound.
The shadows are but the echo of the light, and within the shadows of fate lie lessons waiting to be learned, stories to be told, a past eager to be illuminated by the light of the present.
It is the light that reveals the hidden secrets in the shadows, and just as my eyes are about to close, the golden rays of the sun caress her face. The concern in her gaze is like a soft whisper that soothes my soul as she gently lays me on the ground.
Then, everything turns to darkness, leaving a final ember of consciousness.
Almost a year has passed since I arrived in this world, and during this time, I have experienced more than I could have imagined. The future seems uncertain and challenging, but I understand my duty.
'I will be a light, a light that will not be extinguished.'
Like the sun that dispels the night, though darkness persists, it is our duty to illuminate the darkest corners of fate.
From today onward, I will honor my name. Amid the uncertainty, our light can become a beacon, guiding others through their own shadows, creating a path toward hope and resilience.
Because in the journey of life, every light, even the faintest, can make a difference.
SS-Echidna
That family clothes
This room offers me the chance to explore a new world, fascinating in its complexity, a terrain I long to examine personally. From its first manifestation, it piqued my interest.
At first, my attention was just superficial curiosity, but over time, that feeling evolved into an insatiable desire. My goal is to unravel the limits that someone like him could reach, to observe the choices he will make, to detect similarities and differences between us.
Love, perhaps.
Even more than that fool's.
After the test concluded, my fascination intensified.
His way of being, of thinking. We're so different yet the same. I wanted to discover through his body what I lack, what I think I understand but still don't quite grasp.
"Don't you find it intriguing?" I ask Carmilla, but she just sips her tea while watching the sky.
"As long as there's love, everything will be fine." Carmilla disappears, leaving me in my solitude.
I smile, anticipating the moment I'll see him with my own eyes. I imagine the sensation of breathing real air again.
However, what bothers me is that I'll have to meet her again. Her face, her attitude, her voice; everything about her repulses me.
'I like your expression,' her words echo in my mind, causing a shiver in my blood.
I glance at the sky, look at my tea and cookies. I sit in the chair, patiently waiting for the moment to leave. I wonder what will happen, intrigued by the feeling of forgetting something.
I have to discover it. Having Marco Luz's memories for a moment made me realize, seeing that man's presence made me remember. The hatred, the first time I came to hate and love.
Despite that, I couldn't recognize him.
It's like someone played with the connections in my head. My memories are mixed with falsehoods. 'A global spell.'
'Seems like I'll have a lot to uncover.'
"Interesting," I murmur, as I watch the world around me disintegrate.
Soon it will be time to leave, but I can't get him out of my head.
"What an intriguing nuisance."
The only thing I clearly remember is his outfit, which seemed peculiar given the circumstances. I can recall it in my mind as vividly as if he were present.
'As if my body were telling me something.'
He wears sportswear, white with black, and orange stripes on the sleeves. An "N" adorns his chest, and his neck is abnormally long.
What I do know is the reaction, the hatred that emanated from my body upon seeing that person for the first time.
I guess it's part of this world's flaw. Who knows, maybe being with them I can discover more about it. The world slowly dissipates, and when I blink, I see my body has changed.
Surrounded by crystals, I watch that person's hair, their silver mane fluttering as they leave the lab without a word to me.
The glow in my chest reveals the soul contract is complete. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
'Dona, Dona, where are we?' Typhon asks curiously.
I look at the shattered Glintstone crystal. I pick up a piece and place it around my neck. All my friends' souls are here.
'Did you bring all of us?' Minerva asks, curious.
"Calm down, we're in the real world." I clench and relax my hands, stretching my small body. If only Ryuzu Meyer were a little bigger.
I look at the exit, noticing I'm not alone here. Beside me, one of Ryuzu's copies stands watching me. I ask her to show me the way, and she starts walking.
"Let's see what you can turn this world into, Marco Luz."
SS-Roswaal
Those Ghost Letters.
Day after day, I've patiently awaited the moment when I could finally act. That day came when I decided to transfer my soul, and my fate was sealed when I saw the opportunity.
Beatrice didn't recognize me, so I decided to pretend to be a descendant of mine.
That event marked the beginning of my true purpose. I started a series of shrewd investments and political maneuvers to uncover the kingdom's secrets and its whereabouts.
Hector crossed my path once again, but my weakness then prevented me from eliminating him. I continued on my path, following the teachings of the Book of Wisdom, knowing I was being manipulated.
That my future was being guided, but honestly, I didn't care.
If that path led to a reunion with her, I was willing to endure any suffering.
There were events that had to happen, but also those I had to orchestrate to make them happen. I worked tirelessly to maintain the order of the future, all in the hope of being able to see her again.
But the "Error" appeared, ruining everything.
I watch through the window at the storm I've unleashed, a reflection of the tempest brewing inside me.
Beatrice's fate lies in her ability to accept her purpose. Her luck will depend on the strength of her spirit in the face of the trials to come.
As I look at myself in the mirror, I check my makeup, aware that the moment to act is inexorably approaching.
Walking to my desk, I use magic to open the drawer in front of me.
Dozens, no, hundreds of letters fill the space, detailing a future that unfolds in a predestined manner. I wonder if I already knew this destiny or if, somehow, I'm forging it with my own hands.
For years, someone has been sending these letters, revealing an astounding knowledge of the world and of me.
A mysterious confidant who seems to perfectly understand Echidna, Emilia, Marco, and me. In this game of wills, I immerse myself, determined to unravel the threads that bind our lives and to discover who the puppet master guiding our shared destiny is.
It was he who explained it to me, the architect behind the veil of truth.
I pull the Book of Wisdom from my suit, opening it with determination, scrutinizing its pages with a mix of eagerness and desperation. The climax comes with the fulfillment of my purpose, but after the arrival of the Error, things took an unexpected turn.
The future, meticulously written in the pages of the Book of Wisdom, was completely distorted.
My most reliable tool became obsolete, leaving me with nothing but the enigmatic letters as a guide. There is a predestined fate, but it is no longer in my hands to shape it.
My Echidna doesn't make mistakes; the mere fact that this happened indicates she is false.
That's why, following the instructions in the letters, I plunged into the desperate task of investigating who she was, but every attempt resulted in the death of the investigators.
The mystery deepens, and uncertainty looms over my existence.
When I decided to shelter those girls, I remembered the words of that individual. "Give them a home and raise them," was the order. I complied, and one of them became dependent on me.
A sigh escapes my lips as I accept the relentless reality. The last letter I received, terse and ominous, reminded me of the reason I still persist: "Kill Ram." Without any explanation, the task was clear, I had to eliminate her following a series of predetermined steps outlined in the letter.
My gaze rises to the sky, cloudy like my own tormented consciousness. The door opens, revealing her worried face.
She knows me, beyond what I understand myself. She serves two cups of tea with a thoughtful gesture before sitting across from me. The tension in the air is palpable, like an impending storm, foreshadowing the inevitable outcome of this twisted game of fate.
"Do you think the war will end well?" her attempt to start a conversation makes me laugh. I pick up the teacup and examine it intensely before looking at her.
"I don't know, Marco Luz will have to make a decision." After a sip, I release a sigh laden with longing. "But everyone will pay the consequences of their actions."
The future, a dark enigma that consumes me, worries me, but at the same time excites me. Maybe, just maybe, things can change. My eyes rest on Ram, and my mind toys with the idea of leaving the shadows of the past behind.
Beatrice, rescued and now radiant with happiness, eclipses even her former glow from four hundred years ago.
Ram watches me with her sharp gaze, and I look away. The crossroads loom before me, and the decision I must make pulses in the air, like a promise of chaos and delight.
I am before her, the one I have protected with great devotion.
All for this miserable moment.
"Solar Ray." With a brief spell, I'm about to unleash the storm that will end her existence. Everything I have built, everything I have plotted, will reach its culmination. And yet, the image of her lips remains etched in my mind, a flame that fuels my obsession.
I must fight, I must struggle for what I crave, for what I desire to possess.
I won't let anyone stand in my way, not even her. The certainty that the future I long for is within my grasp intoxicates me, delights me.
"I am the one who destroyed your village," I whisper, letting the lie seep between us. "I kept you by my side to use you in a future that now doesn't exist."
Now, that the future has taken an uncertain turn, she is no longer necessary. Everyone, absolutely everyone, is an error.
'Except me, I am the only authentic one.'
This world, every fragment of this distorted reality, should not exist. The only future I pursue is one that allows me to possess the perfect Echidna, the original, even if it means tearing the very fabric of reality to obtain what I desire.
I don't want miserable copies.
The ray, unleashed by my own hand, pierces her abdomen.
"I love you," she whispers, blood pouring from her lips.
It's a pity those words are nothing more than an illusion, another part of the error that envelops this twisted world. Aiming without a hand is difficult, but the satisfaction I experience seeing her fall surpasses any difficulty. Ram lies on the ground, Marco screams and despairs trying to reach her.
I can't understand how his mere existence has caused so much chaos. If he didn't exist, none of this would have happened.
I don't know why that person wants Marco Luz alive. I don't know what my role is in this deathly game. After exterminating everyone else, I'm surprised by the predestined presence of another, a connection between sisters that grows with each second. But she, like the others, is just another useless pin in this distorted world.
Since discovering the falsehood of the book of wisdom, this farce has become even more uncomfortable. She is just that, another mistake. Her attacks are fast, but they no longer interest me. I don't know where I should go, but I know that person won't let me go without fulfilling their words. No one can stop me; nothing can defeat me.
That girl, Luan, managed to destroy my hand. I must admit I was surprised, but I don't care anymore. Right now, I must be a machine, waiting for instructions to get my prize, crawling wherever necessary.
To get my delicious prize.
A letter emerges from the demon's pocket that throws me flying. I recognize it instantly and take it in my hands. After composing myself, I open and read it immediately.
"Don't kill anyone, but before you leave, attack Marco Luz. Come to Miload mansion, I'll be waiting for you."
I don't need anything else, no other word. I thought I had overcome this facet of myself, that I had suppressed my emotions to the maximum. I look at Ram, barely showing signs of life. This world is an error, and therefore there is no need to retain it.
'I have nothing to lose from this world.'
Joy springs from my heart, knowing that I will finally get what I want. I'll allow them to use me however they want because their letters are engraved with their unique way of expressing themselves. It's as if I'm talking to her herself. That's why I know she's real.
"You've grown up a lot, Miss Emilia."
The irony of those words reverberates in my mind, a reminder of a distorted past. The figure before me is the greatest error, probably the one I should fear the most right now.
However, now is not the time to act.
I take a potion and start traveling, passing through Irlam and briefly considering the possibility of destroying it. But that fleeting thought fades; it's not worth sacrificing another soul.
Throughout my journey, I have lost much, but I have also gained enough. The wounds on my body begin to disappear, and the crystal that lay on my neck integrates with my skin. It seems it's time for a new transformation, for a new Roswaal. Or perhaps, a new me.
Finally, I arrive, and Clint directs me to the room where he waits for me. Over time, I have received his letters, but I have never seen his face. All I know is that he is a man. Curiosity invades me, I want to know what kind of person he is.
"My lord, this person is dangerous." Clint looks at me seriously, and I understand what he means. It means we can't do anything to him. He opens the door, and I enter, finally seeing him. He looks young, maybe around seventeen or even younger. The sunlight distorts in the windows, indicating he just used a spell to silence the place.
He looks at me with an enigmatic smile.
"What did you think?" he asks, showing no fear.
"Wonder~~ful," I reply, and he sighs.
His suit doesn't seem to belong to this world. The shape of the threads he uses radiates a perfection that has not yet been achieved. If I'm not mistaken, only the blue error has achieved something similar. He wears an outfit similar to that of the servants, but with different modifications, shorter, and his white shirt gives him a more elegant touch.
"Well, that was really interesting." He starts playing with the collar on his neck, a collar I recognize very well, as it is the same that adorned my chest.
"Who are you?" I ask, and he begins to smile.
The shadow on the wall surprises me for a moment, but then I start to smile. I wouldn't forget that shadow, her long hair, and her pure smile. Without a doubt, this is the person I'm looking for.
"You don't need to know; the important thing is that this story is finally starting." He takes the collar in his hands and looks into my eyes with a smile. "Right? Roschi."
Author's Words Part 1 (Pls read this part)
Hello, it's been a long time.
I'm the author, and it's the first time I've decided to create an "Author's Words" segment. First, I want to say that this is the end of the story for now, as the next arc is still in the initial stages. Yes, I know I've had time, but I've been quite busy looking for internships; my country is terrible with jobs, so it's been tough.
Author's Words Part 2
I hope everyone is doing well. If you've made it here, I believe it's been quite a journey for you. I suppose many of you might be wondering:
"Why did it take so long since I said the chapter was ready?"
There are several factors, but only two of them are significant.
Firstly, my thesis project is taking up a lot of my time. I was told my project advisor was good, but she's actually terrible. She left my partner and me to fend for ourselves. I've had to scrape together money to fund the project. She originally said she would cover it, but it's turned out really badly. I've already spent approximately $500, and that's been frustrating.
The second aspect is much simpler. The arc in its initial version had around 50k words, from Chapter 14 to SS. We could say it was already a long chapter to begin with. The thing is, I took on the task of rewriting it twice because I wanted it to be perfect, or at least as perfect as it could be for my current self. In the end, the chapter ended up being 86k words long, and of course, the quantity of words doesn't define the quality. For me, it means I'm detailing the things I want well, although I know I tend to elaborate on details, but I feel they make the scenes more vivid.
I'm not a professional writer, so there are many errors. Writing this FanFic also involves reading and researching about Re: zero. This, while including my own elements, as my intention is to bring something different.
Now, about the story, there are several aspects I want to mention.
Unlike the original story, where Crusch and Marco fall in love, here Emilia has been the focus from the start. I wanted to show how a person changes depending on who they surround themselves with.
Emilia has gone through many phases; she's the character that has changed the most throughout the entire story. I'm proud of the current Emilia, as well as all her previous versions. The fact that she realizes her love for Marco is part of herself.
Maybe many think, "But isn't Emilia absent-minded?" There were several things I had to consider, the first being: "How does someone love?" I didn't know how to answer that, since I've never been in love myself.
I didn't know how to portray romantic love in the novel, so it was a complete writing challenge for me. If I did it in a way that wasn't true to her character, I would have felt bad. I wanted to convey love. But I also wanted to convey Emilia's love.
Most of this arc is about her, about how she becomes the light that disperses the shadows. So, first, she dispelled her own shadow. Then true love was illuminated.
Emilia's maturity doesn't come without foundation; we all change depending on what we experience. Emilia has lived through many things, so it was time for something to change.
That was my part in writing this chapter. The title of the arc is noticeable in each chapter, so it concludes at the end.
The fact that she saw Marco's parents was something I thought about later. I wanted someone, people who could understand both Emilia and Marco. Then it came to me. "Why not have Emilia see Marco's parents?"
It was then that I realized that it would be the moment when Emilia would speak of her emotions, not because someone else told her what she felt. Emilia had to find her own answer.
It was then, as I wrote Emilia's feelings, that I realized her love. I realized what Emilia felt in her heart.
The moment between Marco and Emilia was always planned, but I realized that making it emotional and full of details was something Emilia wouldn't do. She's clumsy, yes, and dense in most situations. But no one can take away her desire to help.
The fact that she accepted both of her selves comes from this phrase: "In the eternal dance between darkness and light, we find our truth. Do not fear the twilight; it is only the canvas on which our inner light paints its path. Every color, every plot, every choice, is part of the art of your interior. In this way, darkness is not an enemy, but a silent companion that allows us to appreciate the beauty of light. Just as stars shine brighter at night, our actions and decisions define our existence."
I wrote it when I was going through a crisis; when I realized its potential, I saw that it was what Emilia needed.
Accepting yourself means accepting the shadows within you; you can illuminate them, just as you can turn them back into shadows. Emilia was trying to imitate Marco, but clearly that wasn't the answer. Should she be as she was before? That's what I reflected when she changed her outfit, as well as returning to her old words. But that wouldn't be an answer either.
So, the answer was that "it didn't matter." It doesn't matter if you think you're someone different; in the end, you're still yourself. Changing doesn't mean you'll stop being yourself. That's why you must accept yourself and keep changing, just as you shouldn't change the things you like about yourself.
Without further ado, I wish you all the best of luck. As Subaru said, "The story is finally beginning."
I hope you've enjoyed an excellent read, and I wish you all the best of luck. Be a light for yourselves, just as you are a light for those in the shadows.