By the time they reached the inn, the tension from the long and wearying day had finally begun to ease. They had trudged through dense woods, fought off danger, and faced uncertainties that gnawed at the mind. But now, wrapped in the quiet comfort of wooden walls and flickering lantern light, they could breathe again. The warm scent of baked bread and seasoned broth filled the air, mingling with the crackle of the fire in the hearth. Plates of simple but satisfying food were set out before them, and for the first time in days, their shoulders relaxed, and their eyes softened. Even if just for a brief while, it felt like peace. The tired but genuine smiles that crept across their faces bore the subtle relief of survivors. For today, at least, they could call it a "good day."
As the meal wound down, the sturdy door of the inn creaked open on its iron hinges. All heads turned as an elderly blacksmith named Marcus stepped inside, followed closely by his youthful apprentice, Alec. Marcus's broad frame cast a heavy shadow, his hands worn and scarred from decades of labor. Alec, in contrast, looked fresh-faced and unsure, his eyes wide as they scanned the room.
At the sight of them, Hikari's face lit up instantly. Her eyes gleamed, and she practically leapt from her seat with childlike energy. "Onii-chan! That's Marcus-jii-san and Alec! I want you to meet them!" she chirped, clutching Subaru's sleeve and tugging excitedly.
Subaru gave a quiet chuckle, nodding calmly. "There's no need for introductions, Hikari. We've already met."
Hikari blinked in surprise, her excitement faltering. She gave a small pout, puffed her cheeks, and let out a soft grumble before plopping back down next to him. Alec, meanwhile, was completely transfixed. His gaze lingered on Hikari, though it nervously dipped to the floor every few seconds. His cheeks burned with embarrassment, and he fidgeted with the hem of his tunic, clearly unsure how to speak.
From across the table, Meili noticed. She arched a brow and smirked before nudging Hikari with her elbow. "Looks like someone's got a little admirer~" she whispered with a teasing lilt.
Hikari rolled her eyes with practiced indifference. This wasn't the first time Meili had made such comments, and it likely wouldn't be the last.
As the evening deepened into night, Subaru kept his earlier promise and joined Marcus in the inn's small back bar, a cozy alcove dimly lit by lanterns. Though Marcus tried to hide it, Subaru could tell the old man was worried about him. Still, the blacksmith said nothing, choosing instead to pour two drinks and toast to their survival. They exchanged stories—memories of old battles, lessons learned in heat and fire, the stubbornness of iron and men alike. Subaru listened, sometimes smiling, sometimes falling into brief silences as Marcus spoke.
Alec remained in the common room, awkwardly hovering near Hikari despite Meili's smirks and sideways glances. He seemed unable to decide whether to speak or run away, and ultimately did neither, simply remaining in her orbit like a moon to a planet.
Eventually, the inn grew quiet. Guests retreated to their rooms, the fire dimmed, and outside, the wind rustled through the trees like a distant lullaby. Subaru, though exhausted and aching from head to toe, kept his discomfort hidden. He had grown used to suppressing pain, locking it behind his eyes where no one could see. He wouldn't allow weakness to show—not now.
In the shared room he now occupied with Hikari, the two sat in silence for a long time. Shadows danced across the walls as the lantern flickered. Finally, Hikari turned to face him, her gaze steady, her tone more serious than usual.
"Onii-chan," she said softly. "Can I ask you something? Why are you pretending? I mean... if you're trying to look strong, you don't need to. You already are. So what's the point in acting like it?"
Subaru exhaled slowly, the weight in his chest stirring. "I figured you'd ask me something like that," he admitted, voice low and worn. "You've always seen through me, Hikari. I just... I don't want people worrying about me. Not when there's so much else going on.
Hikari tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Then maybe... I can help. There's something I want to try—only if you're okay with it."
Subaru narrowed his eyes slightly. "Try what exactly?"
The girl looked down at her hands, fingers curling slightly as she took a breath. "Do you remember the woman I told you about? Lunaria? Back in the forest, when you were unconscious... she appeared to me. She said I was her successor. And then she gave me something. I don't know what it is, not really, but I can feel it. Something inside me changed. I think I can use it—but I don't understand it yet."
Subaru's expression darkened with concern. Something about the way she said it stirred a familiar unease in his gut. Almost instinctively, he reached inward, calling out to Flugel in his mind. Did you forget how to speak, great sage? he asked silently, hoping for the usual sarcasm or wisdom.
But no voice came.
He tried again. Then again. Nothing. It was as if Flugel had simply vanished. Subaru still felt the presence of the system—he knew it was there—but the voice that once guided him had fallen utterly silent.
Subaru swallowed and adjusted his posture. He had no choice now but to proceed with caution, relying solely on what he knew.
"Hikari, when that woman—Lunaria—spoke to you... how did she refer to herself?"
Hikari blinked and looked up at the ceiling, searching her memory. "Hmm... I think she called herself the 'Witch of Purification'? Why? Does that mean something?"
Subaru's brows furrowed deeply. The idea of his sister having any sort of connection to a witch—especially one who named herself like that—made his blood run cold. "It might. If she gave you something that altered you... it could be an Authority. That's what I'm worried about. Do you have any idea what it actually does? Even a hint?"
Hikari hesitated, her expression thoughtful but unsure. "Only that... when I think about it, it feels warm. Like it's meant to protect, not destroy. But I don't know if that's just wishful thinking."
Subaru's gaze remained fixed on her, his mind already racing through possibilities. Something told him they were on the edge of discovering something dangerous—maybe even irreversible.
But it was already too late to turn back now.
Hikari's hands suddenly began to glow, softly at first, then more intensely. From the center of her palms, a radiant energy of white and gold shimmered into being, swirling in delicate patterns like ribbons of light dancing in the air. The brightness cast a warm glow on her face and made her silver hair shimmer with a gentle luminescence.
"I never wanted you to die," she said quietly, her voice almost trembling. "Before, I could only use a little bit of healing magic. Just enough to close small wounds, stop a bit of bleeding... nothing like this. But ever since I received this... thing, it's like something inside me shifted. The way my power flows, the way I can feel it—it's different now. Everything is easier. Faster. Stronger. More precise. It's like I finally understand what I'm doing."
Subaru remained silent for a moment, his brows furrowed and his eyes clouded with thought. Then, slowly, wordlessly, he began to unbutton his shirt, revealing the bruises and gashes crisscrossing his skin. His voice, when it came, was calm but edged with caution.
"Alright... This might be similar to the Witch of Wrath's Authority—Minerva's. Her power also had a healing aspect to it, though it was explosive, emotional. I'm hoping yours is gentler. Safer. Just healing, and nothing more. Go ahead, Hikari. Try casting it on my wounds."
Hikari's gaze sharpened. She nodded firmly, resolve burning in her eyes.
She took a deep breath and reached toward Subaru's back. Inside her, the chaotic swirl of power pulsed and churned like a storm waiting to be unleashed. With effort, she isolated just a sliver of it—so thin and delicate it was like teasing a single hair from a tangled braid—and funneled it through her fingers. As the magic activated, the golden-white light pulsed brighter and spilled from her hands, cascading over Subaru's battered form like warm rain.
The light wasn't wild or chaotic. It moved with eerie precision, gliding along the scars on his skin, curling into the edges of each wound as if examining the damage before sealing it. Deep gashes slowly knitted together. Torn muscles reconnected. Bruises faded like ink washed away by water. The magic worked swiftly but gently, as if it respected the body it was healing.
Subaru clenched his teeth as a strange warmth surged through him. But it wasn't pain—it was release. His body, once heavy and aching, began to feel light. Strong. Renewed. He realized his instincts had been right. Hikari's healing wasn't just working—it was astonishing.
Then, just as the last of the light dimmed, Hikari swayed. Her face paled, and she dropped to her knees, clutching her head with both hands as her breath caught in her throat.
"Hikari! Are you alright?!" Subaru dropped down immediately, pulling her into his arms, concern etched across his face.
Hikari opened her eyes slowly and managed a weary smile. "Casting magic just tires me out,
nii-nii... Don't worry. I'm okay. Just a bit dizzy. But... how about you? How are you feeling?"
Subaru helped her sit comfortably before standing up. He took a deep breath and began doing simple stretches—raising his arms, twisting his torso, squatting lightly. Movements that would have once sent jolts of pain through him now felt smooth, even easy. There was no strain, no stiffness.
"Honestly, this was more effective than any healing magic I've ever experienced—better than Beatrice's, even Rem's," he said, throwing a solid punch into the air. The sheer force of it created a rush of wind that blew dust from the ground. "It's like every fiber of my body is brand new."
Hikari beamed with pride, still catching her breath. "I'm really glad, nii-nii. Knowing it helped you... that means a lot. But I still want to improve. I want to get stronger. There's so much more I can do—I just know it."
She paused, then glanced at him with curiosity. "You seem to know a lot about Authorities... Do you have one too?"
Subaru's expression darkened. His smile faded, replaced by a look of inner conflict. A part of him wanted to confide in her, to finally speak freely. But another part—the wiser part—knew better. Return by Death was a forbidden truth. Even hinting at it could draw Satella's gaze, her wrath. And he couldn't risk that. Not when his sister's safety was on the line.
"Yeah," he said at last, his tone casual but guarded. "I do. Mine lets me control Yin magic pretty well. It's... complicated. But it has its uses. Here—I'll show you."
[Yin Step - Active]
In the blink of an eye, Subaru vanished. Shadows enveloped his form, and he melted into the darkness like smoke in the wind. For a few seconds, it was as if he had never been there at all.
Hikari's eyes widened in shock. She stood up quickly, scanning the clearing. "Whoa! Nii-nii?! Where'd you go?! I can't see you!"
Suddenly, arms wrapped around her from behind. Subaru emerged silently from a pool of shadow, hugging her with a cheeky grin. "Right here, Hikari."
Hikari gasped, then laughed and hugged him back, relief washing over her. For a moment, all the tension vanished. They both laughed together, the bond between them growing stronger in that brief pocket of joy.
But the moment didn't last. Subaru's smile faded, and his voice dropped to a serious tone.
"Hikari... You mustn't tell anyone about this Authority. Not a single person. It could bring real danger—more than you can imagine."
Hikari tilted her head, still smiling but clearly confused. "Why? Is it a bad thing? It's just magic, right? Something amazing... something good."
Subaru looked at her for a long moment, then slowly shook his head. "Some powers... come with a price. And not everyone sees them the same way. Promise me, Hikari. Say nothing."
She hesitated, but then nodded. "Okay. I promise, nii-nii. I won't say a word."
Subaru gently reached out and stroked his sister's head, his fingers brushing through her soft hair with a familiar tenderness. A quiet sigh escaped his lips, heavy with unspoken thoughts. "Yes, it might look like magic from the outside... but in this world, the things known as 'Authorities' are anything but ordinary. They're powerful, yes, but not in a way that brings comfort or joy. They're rare, elusive—and most importantly, incredibly dangerous. Those who hold them are rarely kind people."
He paused for a moment, then continued, his voice quieter, almost as if speaking the truth aloud might summon old ghosts. "Do you remember the man with white hair who kidnapped you? The one with that hollow smile and lifeless eyes? His name was Regulus Corneas. He wasn't just some madman—he was the Sin Archbishop of Greed. He represents the Sin of Greed itself."
Hikari's eyes, once wide with curiosity, began to droop as the weight of the day settled on her. Her small frame curled slightly under the covers, and her voice came out in a sleepy whisper. "Sin of Greed... Is that like the Seven Deadly Sins from the stories?"
Subaru nodded slowly, his eyes gazing at the flickering lantern casting shadows on the walls. "Exactly like that. The Seven Deadly Sins aren't just concepts in this world—they're real, living threats. Each one is bound to a specific Authority, and those Authorities give their wielders powers beyond what normal people could even comprehend. But with that power comes corruption, madness... destruction. Those who carry them almost always fall into darkness."
He leaned back slightly, resting on one elbow as he looked at her. "That's why we have to be careful. You mustn't tell anyone about what Lunaria gave you. Not even the people we trust. Powers like this... they attract attention. Dangerous attention. Do you understand, my little sister?"
"Understood, nii-nii..." Hikari mumbled, her words blurred by the pull of sleep. She let out a soft yawn, her body relaxing into the bed. "I don't want to tell anyone anyway. This... this will be our little secret, okay?"
A warm smile formed on Subaru's lips, touched by the sincerity in her voice. He slowly lay down beside her, pulling the blankets over both of them. Carefully, he wrapped an arm around her and drew her close, just like he used to when they were younger and the world felt a little less complicated.
Hikari instinctively nestled against him, her head coming to rest over his chest where she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Her breathing slowed, syncing gradually with his own. For the first time in so long, the two of them—separated for years by time, danger, and fate—were simply a brother and sister again.
Outside, the wind rustled through the trees, and the soft creaking of the inn echoed like a lullaby. Inside their room, everything was still. Peace, though fragile and fleeting, had found them tonight.
Subaru closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the small body in his arms. The exhaustion in his limbs, the sting of hidden wounds, the weight of decisions yet to come—they all faded, if only briefly. All that mattered in that moment was the soft rise and fall of his sister's breathing and the unspoken promise they had just made.
That night, for the first time in what felt like countless seasons, they fell asleep together, held in the safety of each other's presence. No curses, no enemies, no fear—only the quiet comfort of being home, if only for a single night.
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Late into the night, Beatrice awoke with a sharp gasp, her breath caught in her throat as if she'd been drowning in darkness. Her body jerked upright in bed, eyes wide and glassy with fear. Her lips parted in a silent cry, her heart pounding so violently it echoed in her ears. Every inch of her delicate frame trembled. Her small hands clutched the bedsheets with white-knuckled intensity, slick with sweat. Thin pajamas clung to her skin like a second layer, soaked through, and her long, golden waves of hair stuck to her clammy skin. Her breathing came in short, shallow bursts, her lungs struggling to draw in the cold air of the room. Her gaze darted frantically across the pitch-black interior, scanning the shadows with the desperation of someone convinced something unspeakable had followed her into the waking world.
She had known no peace since leaving the Forbidden Library. Each night was a new descent into horror—a relentless cycle of haunting visions that seemed to gain strength the longer they persisted. At first, she'd dismissed them as fragments of old memories, trauma echoing through her dreams. But denial had melted away, replaced by dread. The nightmares were not fading. They were evolving, tightening their grip on her, becoming more vivid and cruel.
Every night, without fail, her mother's voice would return. That cold, emotionless tone stabbed into her heart like a dagger: "You are a disappointment. A failure. I never wanted you."
The words lacerated her soul. No matter how much she tried to convince herself they weren't real—that they didn't matter—they echoed louder with each passing dream. Her mother's judgment, whether imagined or not, wrapped around her like chains. They made her question every part of herself: her worth, her purpose, her very existence. She felt fractured, as though something fundamental within her had splintered beyond repair.
But it was never just the voice. The most unbearable part came at the end of every nightmare: the image of her mother's lifeless body. Pale skin, blood-matted hair, eyes wide open and unseeing. A corpse splayed across a cold floor, staring into an abyss. That vision returned again and again, imprinting itself deeper into Beatrice's mind. No matter how tightly she shut her eyes or how frantically she tried to forget, the image always returned, brighter and more grotesque.
She felt cursed—as though her failure as a daughter had caused that death, and the dream was her punishment.
Flugel had given her freedom. After centuries of solitude, she was finally released from the ageless prison of the Forbidden Library. He had promised her a life beyond the endless waiting. But what was freedom, really, when it came hand in hand with emptiness? Outside those walls, the world was vast and uncaring. She had no instructions, no guidance, no one to lean on. All she had ever known had been waiting—waiting for "that person." The one who would come. The one who would save her. And they had never arrived.
What was she supposed to do now? What was she supposed to become?
She wandered through each day like a ghost in her own life. A doll with no master. A guardian with nothing left to guard. There was no purpose. There was only absence. The silence that filled the spaces once occupied by hope was deafening.
And the nightmares followed her into the daylight. They lingered in the corners of her thoughts, clinging to her like a second shadow. Every moment felt heavier. Every breath harder. The world outside seemed colorless, muted. There was no comfort, no anchor to keep her steady. Not even the memory of her time in the library could shield her from the emptiness creeping into her soul.
The idea of death began to lose its sting. It no longer felt like a tragedy. It felt... restful. A stillness where nothing was demanded of her. No expectations. No voices. No pain. Just silence.
With great effort, her trembling legs swung over the edge of the bed. Her bare feet met the icy stone floor, and a chill shot through her body. Her joints ached. Her breath felt shallow. Slowly, as if pulled by invisible strings, she made her way toward the window. Her fingers touched the cold glass, and she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against it.
Outside, darkness reigned. The sky was devoid of stars, swallowed by heavy clouds. The moon was hidden behind a thick veil of mist. In the garden below, the trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves whispering secrets to each other. But even nature's quiet song could not reach the hollow inside her.
A lump formed in her throat, sharp and immovable. Words would not come. She could not cry out. She could not even scream. The mask she wore for so long—the voice of reason, the wise demeanor, the cold intellect—had cracked and fallen away. Beneath it was a child. A lonely, broken child who had waited too long, hoped too hard, and received too little.
Tears began to gather in her eyes. She didn't try to stop them.
They slipped down her cheeks one by one, warm against her chilled skin. There was no dramatic sobbing, no collapse to the floor. Just silent tears, like falling stars that no one would ever see. This grief was quiet. This pain was ancient. Her shoulders trembled with every breath, and yet she made no sound.
She thought of her mother, of Flugel, of the library that no longer waited for her. She thought of the countless days she had stood by that door, expecting it to open. Expecting someone to step through. Expecting a reason. Expecting love.
And now, she feared the truth: perhaps no one would ever come. Perhaps no one had ever planned to. Perhaps her story was never meant to be told.
The wind outside howled louder, and the cold slipped through the glass and into her bones. But she didn't move. Didn't flinch. Just rested there, still and small.
In the silence, as her tears continued to fall, one soft thought curled through her like a whisper:
"Is there anyone out there... who could ever truly see me? Who could ever truly care?"
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The first gentle rays of dawn had just begun to stretch their way across the wooden floor of the inn when Subaru was abruptly yanked from sleep by a chorus of raised voices. Still wrapped in the warmth of slumber, he groaned in protest and attempted to burrow deeper beneath his blanket, hoping to escape the incoming chaos. But the high-pitched squabbling only grew louder, echoing off the wooden walls like the clatter of mismatched instruments.
The source of the disturbance was no mystery: Meili and Hikari were at it again.
Apparently, Meili had taken it upon herself to sneak into the room sometime before sunrise. Without a word, she had curled up on the opposite side of Subaru, cozying herself into the warmth of his bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But Hikari—ever watchful and unafraid to speak her mind—had caught her red-handed. And just as Subaru could have predicted, sparks had flown almost immediately.
"I was here first!"
"In your dreams! This side's mine!"
Blankets were pulled in opposing directions with enough force to nearly unmake the bed. Pillows soared through the air like weapons in a battlefield. What began as sharp whispers soon evolved into full-on shouting, each girl determined to win the territorial war.
Subaru let out a long-suffering sigh and finally pushed himself up from under the covers, his hair sticking up in every direction. He reached forward and delivered a light flick to both of their foreheads—more symbolic than painful, but firm enough to silence them.
"Honestly... If you keep yelling like that, it won't just be me you wake up. The whole inn's going to think there's a monster attack."
Both girls recoiled, rubbing their foreheads indignantly.
"Onii-chan, Meili started it! She tried to steal your side again!"
"Tch. It's not like there was a name written on it," Meili muttered, sticking her tongue out for good measure.
Subaru shook his head and threw off the rest of the blanket, stretching his limbs with a groan. Whether he liked it or not, the day had already begun—and clearly, it wasn't going to be a quiet one.
He stumbled toward the door, still half-asleep, only to bump into someone standing just outside. The impact nearly knocked them both over, but Subaru instinctively reached out and caught the person around the waist before they could fall.
It was Rem.
She blinked in surprise, then looked up at him, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "S-Subaru-kun... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was just—"
Subaru steadied her gently and offered a curious smile. "What were you doing out here so early, Rem?"
Rem hesitated for a moment before straightening her posture and composing herself. "Today's the meeting with Ricard Hoshin—Anastasia-sama's uncle. Remember? It might involve Witch Cult activity or trade negotiations. Either way, it's important. I was worried you might forget... and I thought I could help you get ready."
Subaru blinked. In truth, the meeting had completely slipped his mind. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, grateful once again for Rem's meticulous nature.
"How much time do we have?"
"Roughly two hours—if we're lucky," she replied. "But it wouldn't hurt to start preparing now."
He nodded and stepped aside to let her in. Inside, Meili and Hikari had gone from yelling to sulking in opposite corners of the room, their arms crossed tightly.
"Girls," Subaru said, his voice firm but calm. "We've got an important meeting today. Get dressed and let Elsa and Beatrice know. We need to be ready."
The two exchanged one last glare before shuffling out of the room, their pride barely intact.
Once the door clicked shut behind them, Rem released a sigh of relief. "Finally some peace. Sit down, Subaru-kun. I'll pick something for you to wear."
Subaru dropped into a chair while Rem moved to the modest wardrobe. She examined his neatly folded clothes with practiced eyes and selected a clean, coordinated outfit: a white V-neck shirt made of soft cotton, a long-sleeved cardigan with black and gray stripes, and a pair of fitted black trousers. The look was casual yet respectful—just right for someone trying to balance nobility with practicality.
As Subaru changed, he glanced down at the outfit and smiled. The fabric, the fit—everything reminded him of his old world's casual wear. Jogging suits, weekend clothes, the kind of comfort that had once felt so mundane. And now, oddly precious.
Rem walked over and gently adjusted his collar, her fingers brushing his neck. "It really does suit you, Subaru-kun. You look... dependable."
He chuckled. "You make it sound like I've got my life together."
Just then, the door swung open again. Meili and Hikari had returned, both dressed in matching but color-swapped outfits. Hikari wore a thick white sweater layered under a woolen cardigan adorned with oversized pom-poms, giving her an innocent, wintry charm. Meili had selected a nearly identical style, but in a cool palette of blues and lavenders that matched her hair and highlighted her aloof grace.
Rem smiled warmly. "You two look like sisters."
Instantly, both girls recoiled as if insulted.
"Me? Like her? No way!"
"Ugh, don't lump me with her!"
Subaru and Rem couldn't help but laugh, the tension in the room melting into something far more pleasant. The chaos of the morning still clung to the edges, but a renewed sense of energy hummed in the air. Despite the early argument, the looming meeting, and the unpredictability of the day ahead—there was something comforting in the familiarity of it all.
For Subaru, that feeling meant everything. In a world where danger could strike at any moment, small moments of ordinary life—arguments, laughter, shared rooms—were priceless.
And with that, the day truly began.
Before long, Elsa and Beatrice entered the room, summoned by Hikari with an eager tone that made the air stir with anticipation. Beatrice had chosen to dress for the season without compromising her usual sense of dignified elegance. Her winter gown was made of thick, luxurious fabric that shimmered slightly in the light, the pastel purple tones blended with intricate gold embroidery that traced the edges of her wide, fur-lined sleeves and full-length skirt. The texture of the fabric was clearly of high quality, designed not only for beauty but for warmth. Her twin braids were neatly styled and adorned with small, star-shaped clips at the ends—subtle, yet whimsical touches that added a softness to her otherwise regal presence. There was something a little more thoughtful in her expression, a distant look that didn't match her pristine attire.
Elsa, on the other hand, surprised everyone with her choice of outfit—far more modest than her usual daring ensembles. She wore a deep violet and black dress that hugged her frame in elegant restraint, its length falling gracefully to her ankles. Over it, she had a fitted coat made of tough, reinforced fabric, tailored to allow ease of movement. It stretched down to her knees and was equipped with hidden compartments for her daggers. Her sleek black hair, usually tied back in a dramatic fashion, was instead worn long and loose, concealing the tools of her trade. Though the mission ahead didn't hint at violence, her cautious readiness reminded Subaru of just how seriously she took her craft. The care she had taken in preparation didn't go unnoticed by him.
Seeing the two of them—so different in aesthetics, yet both commanding attention in their own ways—Subaru couldn't help but grin. "You both look incredible. I mean it. I'd feel underdressed if I didn't say something."
Elsa laughed softly, her gloved hand rising to her lips with a playful elegance. She mimicked the refined air of a noblewoman to exaggerated effect. "Oh, Subaru-dono, you flatter me so."
Subaru tilted his head and smirked. "Nice acting, but if you had a fan instead of your hand, it would totally sell the image."
Elsa's eyes sparkled with sudden inspiration. "Actually, that's genius. Imagine a fan that doubles as a concealed weapon. Graceful when closed, deadly when opened. I could slice someone open and still look stylish doing it."
He chuckled at her enthusiasm, the image vividly playing out in his imagination. Then he turned his attention to Beatrice. Her quiet demeanor hadn't gone unnoticed. "Beako? You seem a little out of it. Everything okay?"
Beatrice quickly averted her gaze, clearly caught off guard. Her lips pursed, and she replied almost defensively, "Betty is fine... probably."
Subaru didn't push, but his eyes lingered on her, reading the subtleties in her tone and body language. He made a mental note to speak with her alone later—this wasn't something to overlook.
Once a simple but nourishing breakfast had been shared among them, the group set out toward the central district of the city, where the headquarters of the Hoshin Trading Company awaited. The streets were bustling with early-day activity—vendors shouting from their stalls, wagons creaking over cobbled roads, children weaving through the crowds. Yet, as they approached the towering structure at the city's heart, the noise seemed to fade. The Hoshin building stood taller than most others, an elegant fusion of beauty and defensibility. Its architecture blended curved balconies and intricate stonework with thick, fortified walls. Guards in polished armor patrolled the entrance with subtle vigilance.
As the group arrived at the main entrance, Subaru took the lead, his hand reaching toward the finely crafted brass door handle. The sun caught the metal just right, casting a flash of gold across the threshold.
"Let's hope we're not running late," he murmured, half to himself.
Before he could knock, the door swung open. Standing there to greet them was a cheerful, orange-haired catgirl who radiated energy like a living sunbeam. She was short in stature but made up for it in personality. Her ears perked up, and her emerald eyes gleamed with excitement. She wore a crisp blue-and-white uniform that gave off both a professional and irresistibly cute vibe. Every gesture she made seemed full of enthusiasm.
"Hiya! You must be Subaru, right?"
Subaru smiled and nodded politely. "Yep, Natsuki Subaru. We've got an appointment with Anastasia Hoshin."
Behind him, Beatrice, Meili, and Hikari peeked over his shoulder with curiosity. Meili in particular tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly before whispering to Hikari, "She's really that bubbly? Ugh, she's too cute. That should be illegal."
The catgirl twitched her ears and beamed even wider. "Perfect timing! You're exactly on schedule. I'm Mimi! I'll be guiding you to Anastasia-sama. Come on, follow me, everyone!"
Mimi spun on her heels and began walking down the hallway with a pronounced bounce in her step, tail swishing behind her like a banner of energy. The group followed close behind, walking in silence that contrasted Mimi's vibrancy. As they moved through the corridors, the interior of the building revealed its splendor—thick carpets woven with delicate patterns, fine art depicting both historical figures and abstract designs, and chandeliers that bathed the space in warm, crystalline light.
After several turns and a short staircase, Mimi stopped before an ornate pair of double doors. The hallway widened into a vestibule that hinted at what lay beyond. The doors themselves were carved with the Hoshin insignia—an elaborate crest resembling a fox entwined with a lily. With a practiced flourish, Mimi turned and gave them a wink.
"Alrighty! Anastasia-sama is waiting for you inside. Try not to look too nervous—she's really not as scary as people say."
She pushed the doors open, revealing a grand chamber beyond. The ceilings stretched high above, arched and gilded, with sunlight pouring through wide windows. Plush furniture, a massive hearth, and an oversized desk completed the space. The room exuded both luxury and command.
Subaru took a slow breath, steadying himself. Whatever this meeting held, he knew it would be important. But for now, he stepped forward, leading the group into the lion's den with cautious optimism.