Subaru, Halibal and Shaule walked too the half destroyed base that Ivan was in charge as Subaru. "IVAN!"
Ivan, the white-haired, blue-eyed man, peeked out from behind a pile of rubble, waving casually. "Yo, Boss! You're finally here!"
Subaru sighed, scanning the half-destroyed base. "What the hell happened here? I left you in charge for a few days, and now it looks like the Witch Cult threw a party."
Ivan grinned sheepishly. "Well... kinda? We did have a party, but then the Witch Cult actually did show up, and things got a little ssy."
Halibal facepald. "Idiot. What about the object you ntioned in the letter?"
Ivan's expression turned serious. "Right. Follow ."
He led them through the wreckage, past broken furniture and scorched walls, until they reached a secured chamber. Inside, resting on a stone pedestal, was a strange, black cube pulsing with ominous energy.
Subaru narrowed his eyes. "What... is that?"
Shaule, usually composed, frowned. "I've never seen anything like it before. It feels... wrong."
Ivan crossed his arms. "The Witch Cult was after this. They called it the 'Keystone of the Forgotten.' No idea what it does, but it was important enough for them to throw an army at us."
Subaru felt a chill run down his spine as he stared at the cube. Sothing about this... feels familiar.
He exhaled sharply. "Alright. Pack it up. We're taking it back to the Roswaal Mansion. If the Witch Cult wants it, then there's no way in hell I'm leaving it unguarded."
Little did Subaru know, the mont he touched the cube, everything would change.
Subaru looked at all groups as he spoken. "All of you go too base 3, I am telling Isabelle about our arrival, as for the key stone". Subaru looked at the Cube, as it was moving with dark energy.
[Minerva then spoke. "Yeah no we are not dealing with this shit, use Yin Magic and Light Minuplation"]
Subaru then blasted the hell out of it, as it purified, as when trh dark spoke and lighting was done it looked like Rubik's Cube.
Subaru blineked as he ntally spoke. "Ok the hell".
Halibal looked as he spoke. "What is this"
Subaru then actived [Witch's Lie] as he looked at them, as they all believed his world's. "I don't know what this is either, but I am keeping this for safety Reasons, rest of you move too base 3".
They nodes, later that night Subaru looked at the will the ancient Rubik's Cube to say the less, as he was in his room in Roswaal Manchine.
Subaru then spoke in his mind. "Ok how did a Rubkis Cube ended up in this world".
[Echidna then spoke in his head. "Oh I rember now, no wonder it looks fermilier, it was one Flugle object"]
Subaru then spoke in his head. "Wait what".
[Pandora the spoke. "Oh right we never told you, Flugle was also originally from your word".
Satella then spoken. "As for the key stone of the immortal part, it was more of joke between him and , because he like too call it that"]
Subaru stared at the cube in his hands, his mind racing. Flugel was from my world?!
He exhaled sharply, gripping the ancient Rubik's Cube. "You guys are seriously telling that the Flugel—the legendary sage, the guy who made the Flugel Tree—was actually an otherworlder like ?"
[Echidna sighed. "Yes, Subaru, try to keep up. Flugel was from your world, but he ended up here ages ago. The cube in your hands? That was one of his experints."]
[Pandora chuckled. "He was... eccentric, to say the least. He loved puzzles and riddles, so it's not surprising he made sothing like that."]
Subaru rubbed his temples. "And the Keystone of the Immortal thing was just a joke between you guys?"
[Satella's voice was soft. "Yes... he liked to tease about my title, so he nad it that."]
Subaru groaned. "You guys really like screwing with history, huh?"
He turned the now purified cube in his hands, studying its design. It looked like a normal Rubik's Cube, but the pieces didn't move like they should. Instead, when he touched a square, it glowed faintly with different colors.
Subaru narrowed his eyes. "So... what does this thing actually do?"
[Echidna smirked. "Why don't you solve it and find out?"]
Subaru froze. "Oh, hell no. Last ti I ssed with so ancient artifact, I got dragged into a Death Loop from hell. No thanks."
[Pandora laughed. "Oh, co now, Subaru. Where's your sense of adventure?"]
Subaru stared at the cube. If this really belonged to Flugel... maybe it holds so kind of secret.
He sighed. "Alright. Let's see what this thing is hiding."
And with that, he twisted the first piece.
Subaru imdiately stopped turning the cube and shoved it into his inventory.
"Nope. Nope. Nope," he muttered. "If I'm gonna solve this thing anywhere, it's gonna be in the Hanging Garden—sowhere secure, with every possible counterasure in place."
[Echidna raised an eyebrow in his mind. "Oh? Worried you'll awaken so ancient Flugel-related catastrophe?"]
[Pandora smirked. "Smart choice, but a little boring, don't you think?"]
[Minerva huffed. "If it turns out to be dangerous, I'm punching you for even thinking about touching it."]
Subaru rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Look, the last thing I need is to solve this thing in my room, only for it to open a dinsional rift or so nonsense like that. So for now..."
He puts in his inventory and stood up. "We put this on hold. Tomorrow, we focus on relocating everyone and rebuilding the base."
As he walked out of his room, he could already hear Halibel and Shaule arguing about logistics.
One problem at a ti, Subaru thought, shaking his head.
Next morning in the Roswaal Machine. As Subaru looked at Emilia. "Um Emilia why are you looking at like that".
Emilia looked as he spoke. "First of all where were you yesterday, your my body guard, you can't vanish".
Subaru laughed as he looked at her, as he told the half truth. "With a few after that, I stay at a friend's house sense of was getting late".
Emilia sighed as she spoke. "Suspicious but ok, and second.... How are you getting so tall".
[Minerva then spoke in his head. "Hahaha, if she knew about the training you do in every night in your dreams in the hanging garden"]>
Subaru awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Uh, growth spurt?"
Emilia narrowed her eyes. "Growth spurts don't happen overnight, Subaru. You were shorter than a few months ago, and now you're almost Reinhard's height."
[Minerva laughed harder in his mind. "Hahaha! Yeah, no way she's buying that excuse."]
[Pandora smirked. "Should I tell her how many dream battles you've had? Or about the Authority stacking on you?"]
Subaru ntally groaned. "Nope. Shut up. Not happening."
Emilia crossed her arms. "You're up to sothing."
Subaru put his hands up in defense. "Hey, hey, let's not get crazy! I just eat well, sleep properly, and, uh, exercise!"
Emilia tilted her head. "That doesn't explain why you suddenly have Reinhard-level muscle definition."
Subaru froze. "Wait, you were checking out?"
Emilia blinked, then imdiately turned red. "Wha—No! That's not—I just noticed! I an—ugh! Never mind!" She turned away in a huff.
[Satella softly giggled in his head. "She likes you noticing that she noticed."]
[Minerva snickered. "Oh, this is too good."]
Subaru sighed, shaking his head. "Great. Now I have to deal with a 'Why Are You So Buff' interrogation on top of everything else."
Late that day in the Capital, as Emilia, Subaru and Elsa were there getting things, as this point Subaru have up on wearing a hoods, because no matter what people will sohow learn he is Subaru and then screams of "Hero Of Black Smoke" will start, as he moved with them they heard music being played, as they stopped a girl was playing music in the capital, but she was seating in the fountain, as she was smiling, Subaru had blinked a few and all the witch in hanging garden as well, Emilia moved too get a good look at the as she got a good look at a petite girl with long blonde hair tied into a ponytail and blue eye, she was wearing sothing Nobles will probably wear, but what cought Subaru eyes was that she looked like a one to one copy of Minerva not including the dress.
[Minerva then spoke in Subaru. "Ok what the hell are we dreaming".
Echidna then spoke also blinke. "No, if Emilia look like Satella then... Yeah I am lost"]
Subaru stared at the girl in disbelief. His mind was racing, and it wasn't just him—every witch in the Hanging Garden was equally baffled.
[Minerva spoke in his head, still in shock. "Nope. No way. I refuse to believe this. I don't have a long-lost kid running around."]
[Echidna sighed. "Then why does she look exactly like you, Minerva? Even her posture and aura scream 'Warrior Saint of Healing.'"]
[Satella softly spoke. "She... she does resemble Minerva a lot. But I don't feel any connection to her like I do with Emilia."]
anwhile, Emilia tilted her head, unaware of Subaru's inner chaos. "She's really good at playing music. Maybe she's a noble from another country?"
Elsa folded her arms, analyzing the girl. "No noble I know would sit in a fountain so casually."
Subaru finally shook off his shock and decided to act. He walked toward the girl, stopping just a few feet away. "Hey, uh, nice music. But, uh... who are you?"
The girl opened her eyes, still smiling. "Oh? Soone finally asked." She then stood up gracefully, her noble outfit barely getting wet. "I am Celeste Astrea, the Saint of Restoration."
Subaru's eye twitched. "Astrea... Saint... Restoration?"
[Minerva shouted in his head. "OKAY, NO, THAT'S JUST MY TITLE WITH A DIFFERENT WORD. WHAT THE HELL?!"]
[Echidna snickered. "Ooooh, this is going to be fun."]
Subaru groaned internally. "I swear, if Reinhard tells she's his long-lost cousin, I'm done."
"didn't expect too see you cousin".
They turned there head too see who the Voice ca from as it was Reinhard.
Subaru spoke in his head. "I was kidding".
[Minerva deadpanned. "Nope. Nope. I refuse. I demand a rewrite of reality."]
[Echidna mocked. "Oh? But it makes sense, doesn't it? The Astrea bloodline is full of monsters, after all."]
Subaru ntally sighed. "I swear I was joking! How does this keep happening?!"
Celeste smiled brightly. "Ah, Reinhard! It's been a long ti. How's the family?"
Reinhard walked over, his expression calm. "They're fine. Grandfather will be happy to know you're well. But why are you here in the capital?"
Celeste tilted her head playfully. "Oh, just wandering, playing music, healing a few people. You know, spreading joy and all that."
Subaru rubbed his temples. "So let get this straight. You're Reinhard's cousin, you're called the Saint of Restoration, and you look like Minerva."
Celeste blinked at him, then giggled. "Oh, I see! You're the famous Subaru Natsuki! It's a pleasure to et you. And yes, I have been told I look like the Witch of Wrath before. Kind of flattering, don't you think?"
[Minerva grumbled. "Tch. Who even is this girl? I don't rember having an illegitimate bloodline."]
[Echidna smirked. "You did punch a lot of people. Maybe you accidentally punched genetics into soone."]
Subaru groaned. "I am way too sober for this."
Emilia walker up too her as she spoken. "You also look one of the Witch's".
Celesta looked at her as she spoke. "I see, I have the books as well, tell you didn't have good early life as well did you".
Emilia froze for a mont, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. "W-Well... I wouldn't say it was great..."
Celeste smiled softly, her tone gentle. "I see. You and I might have more in common than just appearances, then."
Subaru crossed his arms, eyeing her suspiciously. "Okay, hold up. First, you're Reinhard's cousin. Second, you look exactly like Minerva. And now you're acting like you know exactly what Emilia went through? I don't believe in coincidences this big."
Celeste tilted her head, amused. "Then what do you believe in, Hero of Black Smoke?"
Subaru clicked his tongue. "A lot of things. But not fate, and definitely not weird long-lost relatives appearing out of nowhere."
[Minerva huffed. "I swear, if she turns out to be so sort of descendant of mine, I will riot."]
[Echidna smirked. "Oh, please do. I'd love to see it."]
Reinhard sighed, placing a hand on Subaru's shoulder. "I understand your skepticism, Subaru. But I can vouch for Celeste's identity. She's my cousin by blood, and she has been under the Astrea family's care for years."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "Then why does she look so much like Minerva?"
Celeste laughed softly. "That, my dear Elsa, is a mystery even I don't fully understand."
[Subaru ntally groaned. "Great. Another headache to add to my growing collection."]
Reinhard then spoke. "Anyway, and Celeste will going now, Felt does sothing".
Emilia then spoke. "She is royal candidate, what can she do if she is left allow with Gareth".
Reinhard smiled wryly. "That's exactly why I'm worried. Leaving Felt alone with Gareth ans there's a high chance she'll either pick a fight, scam soone, or challenge an entire noble family for fun."
Celeste chuckled. "Sounds like my kind of entertainnt."
Subaru sighed, shaking his head. "You people are insane. But fine, go babysit your royal gremlin. Just don't let her start a rebellion again."
Reinhard nodded. "That's the plan. See you around, Subaru. Emilia, Elsa."
Celeste gave a playful wink. "Nice eting you, Hero of Black Smoke. Try not to die before we et again, okay?"
Subaru rolled his eyes. "Wow, such a comforting farewell."
As the two walked off, Subaru rubbed his temples. "I swear, my life just keeps getting weirder."
[Minerva muttered. "If she really is connected to , I'm going to need answers."]
[Echidna smirked. "Oh, you poor thing. Welco to Subaru's life."]
Emilia then looked at Subaru. "So is he even gonna learn that Felt is in love with him".
Subaru then spoke looking at her. "There is no amour or Divin Blessing in the world that can fix how Denise soone is".
Elsa chuckled darkly. "You say that, but aren't you just as bad, Subaru?"
Subaru pointed at himself, mock-offended. "Excuse ? I'm very aware of my surroundings, thank you very much!"
[Minerva snorted. "Yeah, and that's why you're stuck with half the won in your life constantly clinging to you."]
[Echidna smirked. "Truly, an expert in self-awareness."]
Emilia tilted her head. "I don't know, I think Reinhard's case is different. Maybe he just doesn't think love is for him?"
Subaru shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he thinks Felt's just a kid or that it wouldn't be right. Either way, I'm not going to be the one to explain it to him."
Elsa grinned. "Oh? Afraid he might cut you down in embarrassnt?"
Subaru deadpanned. "No, I'm afraid I might die of secondhand embarrassnt watching him try to process emotions."
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