It had taken a lot of willpower for him not to react right away to the presence of the seven witches. Even more so, he tried his best not to say any of their names till they ushered him away from the crowded plaza and into an empty alleyway. Once they were all sure the coast was clear the 'Unseen Hands' released their grips from his face.
"Baru…why are you looking scared?" Typhon asked innocently.
"How are you all here? Wait why are you all here? Aren't you all dead?" He asked at a rapid-fire rate. Echidna merely laughed at him.
"You of all people have no right questioning if it's possible to return from death." The witch of Greed chuckled. "Nevertheless I can understand your confusion."
"Mind clearing up that confusion then." Subaru deadpanned. The witch of greed was about to answer when several other voices interrupted them. Subaru's eyes widened as he recognized the three thugs from the first few runs. They were in the alley he was going to be mugged in…was the universe trying to screw with him now. Wait for a second…why were those morons attacking him now? Apart from the fact that he was in a larger group of eight with some of the witches mainly Satella and Daphne being especially terrifying, it didn't make any sense for them to attack.
"Should I be worried he views me as being as intimidated as Satella?" Daphne asked.
"Um…well….it's not…like he likes you like that," Camilla said quietly.
"Wait are you hearing my thoughts?" Subaru asked as he realized what happened.
"What the hell are you talking about? We ain't here nothing you thought." One of the thugs said.
"These guys must seriously have some screws loose." Another mentioned.
"Are we sure he even has anything worth stealing?" The last one said. Subaru just ignored them as he continued communicating with the witches.
"Well as you just saw…those fools can't see or hear us…only you can," Echidna said. "Our souls are linked to you in such a way that only you are aware of our presence and we can communicate telepathically with you."
"Our souls are linked…does that mean I can use your powers?" Subaru mentally asked. Not even noticing the thugs approaching. One thug took advantage of his distraction and attempted to attack him. However…he was immediately pinned against the wall by another being. Subaru and the other thugs looked to see Apollo pinning the thug against the wall. The Demon Beast was keeping a firm grip with his claws restraining the man. The monster inched its head closer to the man's face letting its tongue come out and lick him as if to taste his prey.
"Ah Apollo excellent timing," Daphne said as she looked at her creation. Subaru could only stare at the creature. It had looked like a wolf before but in reality, it was something more akin to a werewolf or something. One could even argue it was more human-like than a beast.
"Apollo is the means in which we will aid you," Satella explained. "Your body is not suited to handle our power at least not yet…as such Apollo will be your assistant." She told him.
"Hey, you wolf. Don't hold him so tight…you'll break his wrist." Minerva said. "Release him already." She ordered. The Demon Beast did as she told and released him throwing him to his companions.
"But…Minerva….those meanies were going to attack Subaru…so they are bad people," Typhon explained. "As such, they should be punished for their sins." She told them. Apollo as if on command tensed and started walking forward, brandishing his claws like he was ready to strike.
"Yes but doesn't mean you should gut them," Minerva said and the beast stopped again. The Witches of Pride and Wrath exchange a few more disagreements much to the other chagrin and the wolf merely froze in place.
"It stopped," Subaru said as he noticed the wolf no longer moving.
"It's a conflicted," Daphne explained. "Apollo will act on our desires but because those two are contradicting each other he won't move." She told them. As if to somehow prove her point a familiar girl came running their way, Felt. Subaru recognized almost immediately what it meant this was like his first run. However, instead of colliding with him like she did the first time, she collided with Apollo instead…knocking him to the floor. Subaru tried to get to felt but the girl had already recovered and continued running. The wolf meanwhile was left unconscious on the floor.
Subaru glanced at the witches. Really? One hit and the Beast of Despair was out. Minerva and Typhon had seemed to calm down enough. Daphne seemed to look a little bit ashamed of her creation as compared to the others this one had been knocked out in a flash. Granted Apollo was made with limited resources and in rush but it was still a letdown. The thugs however seeing Apollo knocked out seemed to regain their courage as they approached the boy again.
"Well now that your friend is knocked out, let's resume business." One of the thugs said.
"That's enough." A familiar voice Subaru knew all too well. The other witches looked to the source seeing a silver-haired, half-elf girl in an elegant white dress. For some who were unfamiliar they were really surprised to note just how similar she actually looked to Satella.
"Wow…I didn't know you had a sister, Tella." Typhon cheered, unaware that the other witches; except Satella, had all moved to safety behind Subaru.
"She doesn't," Daphne answered. It took a few seconds for it to register at first but eventually, Typhon put the pieces together and immediately joined the others. As for Satella herself…she was doing her best to reel in the whirlpool of emotions she was feeling for the girl in front of her. She could feel it all. Anger. Sadness. Hatred. JEALOUSY. It was all clawing at her as she felt her other half try to surface. She wouldn't let it though, not this time. This girl had done nothing to her, not in this life anyway. If she let herself snap now then she would run the risk of scaring Subaru and she couldn't afford for that to happen.
Subaru himself had quite caught on yet to what was happening instead he just smiled as he saw Emilia standing before him. The other witches wanted to curse him and would have told him to be more considerate since Satella was right there but their fears of Envy kept them at bay in case she redirected any of her wrath on them.
"If you return it now, I'll let it slide," Emilia said. "So kindly return what you stole from me." She warned them, unaware of all the chaos that she had found herself in. Unaware that the world's Devil was practically staring her down right now in jealousy, while her self-proclaimed knight from another timeline stared in longing for his love.
"What we stole?" One thug asked.
"Now, please…. it's important to me. I'd give up on anything else but I can't let you have that so please hand it over." She said.
"You didn't come to save him?" The thief asked.
"What strange clothes. If you asked me if I had any connection to him I'd have to say no," Emilia answered.
"Meanie," Typhon said. "I don't like white Satella." The Witch of Pride said.
"Then you have no business with us." One of the thugs answered. "If someone stole from you it was the brat that ran by!" He told her.
"Yeah! So go that way! She ran right by us!" Another added.
"Well, you don't seem to be lying," Emilia said. "I have to hurry then." She told them as she ran past them. The witches all let out a breath of relief as she left. Satella herself had seemed to calm down almost immediately when the other half-elf had left. However, it didn't last too long as several shards of ice flew by hitting the villains.
"You little brat. I don't care if you're a magic-user. I'll kill you if think you can take on all three of us." One of the thugs said.
"You're right the odds are against me. How about I even them out?" Emilia said as a cat suddenly appeared at the hand of the girl.
"Kitty," Typhon said in glee as the other witches looked at her. She really was the most innocent of them all.
"You're a spirit arts user." One thug exclaimed.
"Correct. Now back off and I won't go after you." Emilia said. "Decide quickly cause I'm kind of in a hurry." She told them.
"You dirty bitch. Next time I see you, I'll make you regret this." The thugs threatened
"Do anything to her and I'll never let you live it down. Not like you'll live long anyway." The cat said as they fled, leaving Subaru, the Demon Beast, and the invisible witches behind.
"Thanks for that. You're a lifesaver." Subaru said.
"Ehem." One of the witches coughed, getting his attention. He glanced quickly to see it was Daphne. Despite still being confined to her restraints she was motioning with her neck to the fallen Demon Beast.
"Oh right," Subaru said as he rushed to Apollo's side. He cast a side glance at Emilia noting how she hadn't left yet and the witches, including Satella was watching him tend to the beast.
"Is your friend hurt?" Emilia asked as she stooped down next to him. Subaru knew where this was going. She was going to offer to heal Apollo and in exchange, he would tell her where Felt went.
"I don't know. I only met him just now. He was fine before but then a girl came crashing into him and he went unconscious." Subaru answered. To be honest he didn't quite fully understand the Demon Beast and how it was supposed to work. It was supposed to be the witches champion but it had been a one-hit knockout. Puck examined him for a moment.
"I'm not sensing any malice from him." The cat said. "Although this one." He gestured to Apollo. "Feels off somehow but I can sense no ill intent…heck I can't sense any intent at all." He said.
"I see," Emilia said as she started the healing process. "If you don't mind me asking…did you see where the girl who stole my insignia went?" Emilia asked.
"I'm afraid not," Subaru answered.
"Oh well, that's too bad." The half-elf responded. The Demon Beast's eyes suddenly shot open as it growled inhumanely startling the trio. Subaru and Emilia immediately jumped back while Puck got on the defensive expecting the creature to lash out. Instead, Apollo merely turned around and climbed up the wall with his claws before he went off on the rooftops.
"Um…What just happened?" Emilia asked as she stared where the beast had fled.
"I don't know," Subaru responded as he looked at her and noticed the witches standing behind her. "Any of you have an idea?" He mentally asked.
"I sent Apollo away for the time being. It wouldn't do us good if he was examined too much." Echidna responded. "Either way it looks like you might have thing handled with Emilia so we'll take our leave for now." She told him.
"Wait where are you all going?" Subaru asked.
"We need to go and make sure Apollo is doing okay and find out what went wrong." Echidna explained. "Don't worry we won't be far. If you need us just call and we will come." She told him as they all disappeared.
"I really hope I don't regret this," Subaru said to himself as he followed Emilia and Puck.
The witches appeared once more in the meadow, not unlike the world within the sanctuary. However, things were different this time….instead of the normal endless field, there was a building. A small house whose architecture was completely different than what they were used to. Most of the witches looked at the building in wonder except for Echidna and Satella.
"I'm impressed. I didn't think it would show up but I guess he was right." Echidna said as the others looked at her. "He really is always thinking about them." She explained.
"Do you mind explaining it for the rest of us?" Minerva asked.
"His home….what we see before us is Subaru's home from his own world. He still holds it very close to his heart even if he tries to save everyone in our world. It's his safe space, the one constant he has a world of chaos like our own." The greedy witch told them.
"You talk like you've been here," Daphne said.
"I'll admit I have managed to recreate pieces of his world within his memories but most of those were just small snippets I pulled that he was the most emotionally invested in, the baggage he had from before he came as a means to test him. I'm not curious anymore about that, but rather I'm curious about how his world works and why it's so different from ours." She explained.
"It seems you aren't the only one curious," Daphne explained, earning the other witches' attention. "Apollo is here. He's inside Subaru's home." She explained.
"What?" Echidna explained. "I thought he was on the rooftops."
"He was but he didn't know where to go from there so he just came here," Daphne explained.
"We should check on him," Satella said as she walked towards to house with the others following suit. "Daphne, do you know what happened to him?" She asked while they walked.
"It's like I said earlier when these two…" She gestured to Minerva and Typhon. "Started fighting Apollo became confused about what he should do. Minerva didn't want him hurting those thugs but Typhon's desire to judge them conflicted with that idea so he entered a catatonic state."
"So he wasn't a defect. That's good to know." Echidna scoffed as they entered the house.
"Wow…it's so bizarre." The Camilla said as they entered.
"Bizarreness is subjective, I am confident that he thought the same thing about our world when he came here," Echidna said as they looked around.
"It's a lot cozier than I expected," Sekhmet said as she got comfortable on the couch. The other witches paid her no bother, once the Witch of Sloth was comfortable it would take nothing short of a disaster to move her. While they walked around Satella and Typhon found themselves looking at photos that had been hung on the wall.
"It looks like Subaru got along really well with his mom and dad," Typhon noted. "He looks really happy here." She continued. "Whoever drew these must have been really talented." She added.
"It looks so," Satella said as she looked at the pictures showing Subaru when he was a baby. "If I recall his cell phone, allows him to capture a moment in time. I suppose they used similar means as well." She noted. "He does look quite cute though."
"Do you think my dad is as proud of me as Subaru's dad is with him?" Typhon asked. This caught Satella by surprise. Most of the witches rarely ever brought up their past although most of them were familiar enough with Typhon's. "I'm sure if your dad knew that you punished bad people for people doing bad things, he would be proud," Satella told her. "Why would you ask that?" She wondered.
"Well…I punished my dad for all his sins," Typhon responded. "I just wonder if he's mad that I punished him." The little girl told her. Satella… didn't know how to answer that. Honestly, she couldn't answer that.
"Maybe the next time you see him…you can ask him?" Satella said. "It might be a long time but I'm sure you'll see him eventually." She told the little witch.
"Yeah…you're probably right," Typhon said as they continued walking.
Eventually, the witches had found Apollo. He was asleep in Subaru's room. Minerva was the first to go in checking on the Demon Beast followed by the others except for Sekhmet who was practically one with what Echidna called the couch and Daphne who they had discovered was too big to move about the house much. Looking over the room, Echidna found a rather amusing sight one that she happily shared with Satella. "Well, I would say he does seem to have a type." She noted as they looked at the posters in his room. They saw several with white-haired and silver-haired girls, not unlike Echidna and Satella. "I'll be honest…to think being pulled from his world and landing in our world by a strange girl is not only something one can easily imagine but also write and tell stories about seems quite amusing is it not," Satella said nothing.
"Wow….Subaru has so many little statues." Typhon said as she went to touch them only for Camilla to stop her.
"Now be careful. We don't want to damage anything. This is Subaru's place after all, not Echidna's." The Witch of Lust said.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean. Are you saying you trashed my place on purpose?" Echidna scoffed.
"What…no…why would you even think that?" Camilla tried to defend herself.
After making sure the beast was alright…the witches met back up in the living room of Subaru's home around the dining table. Daphne had already started to indulge herself by raiding the various stores of food in the household while the others merely sat and sipped some tea, Typhon being the exception as she found a stash of sweets and managed to get it away from Daphne which was easier said than done for most.
"How do you propose we deal with Apollo's problem?" Minerva asked. "If he can't move then we can't really do anything." She said simply.
"It's not a matter of if he moves…it's more so why he moves," Satella said. "He's indecisive. When two or more of us start speaking to him his goals will become conflicted, it's like having two separate souls rage on inside you…it's not pleasant at all." She said.
"Not to mention we need to treat him delicately," Daphne said. "He may have been made with scraps I found in the Sanctuary but he is a part of our contract and just like Subaru I think he won't handle using all of our powers at once."
"So one Witch guides him and grants him one Authority," Echidna said. "So how do we decide to go about this then? Who gets to be one in charge?" She asked as she sipped her tea.
"I think I might have an idea for that but first we need to get Subaru," Satella said as she disappeared.
"Hey don't just disappear on us," Minerva exclaimed as she followed suit.
"Wait for me," Typhon said as she went after them.
"Oh bother," Echidna said as she followed them, leaving only Sekhmet, Camilla, and Daphne behind.
"This is going to become a regular occurrence..(yawn)….isn't it?" Sekhmet said as she lay down.
"Most likely," Daphne said before she continued to indulge in the food from the big white box.