"Wha—!?" Subaru's own Unseen Hands where now grabbing onto his limbs. Way more hands than he was able to control, as each hand held onto a separate limb. Arm, leg, even his neck wasn't spared.

They grabbed, and held on tight. Subaru felt that if the hand on his neck held any tighter, he'd be choking right now!

"The worst! The worst! The absolute worst!"Satella was screaming out, as hot tears ran down her face.

"Nngh!" Subaru tried to break loose. Whether by struggling, or by trying to reclaim control over his authority. However, Envy simply held reign over his own power.

For a second, Subaru considered using their contract against her. To avoid situations like this... that was the point of the contract, right!?

"I can't believe you! Why would you say those things...!?" Satella's hysterics grew dim, and Subaru could see it himself.

Satella looks up to him, and her tears wouldn't stop, "You're awful! Cruel! Terrible!"

The girl, who kept calling him names, who kept crying tears that were faling from her chin, who currently had him restrained and under her mercy...

She was absolutely torn by the words they shared.

Subaru felt like using the contract was a cheap shot... he had to face the mess he made.

"Don't you know how long I waited!? It was hard! It was so hard!" She shook her head twice, "And yet, after all this time, all you do is cause me torment!"

Subaru knew that whatever was said, couldn't simply be forgiven — or forgotten — by Return by Death.

Him and Satella, they were in it for the long run, and moments like these were going to be engraved into both of them.

He knew he was serious about what he said. He was very upset with the way this witch was acting.

...

...

...And yet—

"...Fine..." Satella whispers, harshly. As if she was coming to terms with what he said, "...If you don't want my love... If I can't have your love... Then..."

"Guh!?" —Subaru felt a hand permeate inside his chest, and hover over his heart.

"...I should just..." Satella's face turns into a grimace, "...give you the ending you really want...!"

Subaru feels his face pale, and his body shake, when the icy-cold hand grabs his heart once more.

His heart beats harder, the unnatural magic making direct contact with the organ, eliciting a 'Fight or Flight' response.

With the way things were heading, Subaru knew what'll happen next...!

...However, he doesn't dare show his fear, his anxiety, towards Satella. Not even an inch.

"...It'd be easy..." Satella's voice turned quiet, watching Subaru with tearful eyes, "...It would be so, so easy..."

Subaru watched her. Satella watched him.

Sweat rolled down his cheek. Tears rolled down hers.

A long, permeating silence ran between both of them. Subaru swore he wasn't going to escape this moment alive—

Until Satella simply... drops him.

His feet touched the ground, and he stumbles a little, his knees weak.

Bewildered, Subaru passes a glance at Satella, who was looking at the ground with a defeated look.

"...If I wasn't so..." Satella's voice cracks, her eyes red and teary, "So... So—*hic*... So in-love with you...!"

Satella's admittance was enough to send her over the edge. Falling on her knees, she covered her face to hide her misery.

Subaru, watching Satella, counts his blessings. He was glad he didn't get murdered (once again) by the Witch.

But, as Satella cried, Subaru felt sick at how easy it was to upset her. The one person that granted him his wish to re-do everything once again.

Why did this have to be so difficult? Why couldn't he protect the others, and keep the Witch happy at the same time?

I love you... The words Satella kept saying to him a hundred-times over, and yet he hasn't returned them back. Not once.

...And, for a moment, he considered it.

Did he really have to say those three words? Would she believe him if he did? Would it be the key to saving everyone?

...He opened his mouth, close to giving the Witch what she wanted—

"If I were to say them now, I wouldn't be serious about them. Not until I figure myself out." –He then remembered his promise, to the other Satella, when they were riding towards Roswaal's Mansion.

Subaru bit his lip, immediately. He only wanted the easy way out.

Satella didn't deserve that.

However, the silence was deafening, and Subaru had to say something to her.

Satella's crying dimmed down to a soft sob, with a small hiccup here and there. Even so, she was still in anguish.

Subaru could only hold on to his gut-feeling, and say the next-best thing that comes to mind.

"I want to save everyone... and that includes you, too." Subaru speaks, and Satella perks up.

Don't talk about Emilia. Don't focus on Rem. Don't think about Beatrice, and Ram, and everyone else.

If he learned anything from his few encounters with Envy, it was one thing:

If you want the Witch of Envy on your side, don't make her jealous.

"...Me...?" She whispers. Her voice soft and delicate.

"Yes. You." Subaru looks at his shaking hands, his body not yet finished with the terror he experienced not too long ago,

He stomached his fear, and his pride, to hold out a hand towards Satella.

"Help me." He simply asks,

Despite their fight, he still wanted the Witch's blessing.

Satella's eyes widen, "...You..."

"Help me, so I can save you!" He speaks louder, with confidence.

A selfish-act-turned-selfless, only because he put his focus on Satella.

Subaru could see the Witch's face flush up, not used to the sudden attention.

"...You... aaaah..." She starts shaking her head, ever so slightly.

"Satella," Subaru whispers, holding on to his last bastion of hope, "Please."

And Subaru's heartfelt request sends Satella into a knot.

"Mmmmrrrggg!"Satella lets out an almost childish growl, flinging her hands to her side, "Fine! Fine! Stupid, stupid, selfish—selfless Subaru!"

Satella caves into his pressure, but before Subaru could celebrate—

"—On one condition!" Satella suddenly speaks out, making Subaru stiffen a little.

"Condition?" He repeats quietly, as Satella approached him with a frown.

Subaru felt uneasy once more. This condition could easily risk his friends lives—

No. Focus on her, Subaru.

Subaru lets out a breath, and stares back to Satella,

"Fine. What's your condition?"

Expecting an answer, he locks up when Satella holds a hand onto his chest...

"Authority of Envy—"

He then feels...

...The smallest feeling...

...Of being...

Separated.

"Jealous Possession."

If this Mabeast Cerberus had any sort of lead on Subaru's group, it was easily smashed by Rem's overwhelming power: Rem was single-handedly fighting off Meili's underdog.

Just the Oni alone could put the beast on its knees, no doubt thanks to the surging mana Rem's horn provided her. If Emilia, Beatrice or even Puck could join her, it would surely be enough to put the mutt in its place!

"Rem's really taking on that beast all by herself..." Emilia's tone was wistful at best, as she continued to take care of Ram. She wouldn't dare feel happy about this development, even if it appeared to be in their favor.

"We shouldn't let our guard down, I suppose." Beatrice, helping Emilia with her own magic, mutters a response, "An Oni going on a rampage is bad news for all of us."

Puck, finished with all the small fry Mabeasts, gently floats to the two girls, with a particularly intense look, "...Is Ram healed up yet?"

"Puck!" Emilia calls out, happy to see her surrogate father once more, before quickly dropping the look, "Y-yes... maybe. I'm not sure if she'll wake up anytime soon."

"I see..." Puck's attention was turned to Beatrice, "Betty, I want you to—"

*KHHHRACK*

Puck was cut off, as a rather meaty hit was heard. They all saw Rem fly a few meters away from the boss.

"Hggggh!" Rem grinds her teeth in pain, with the beast landing a solid blow on her with his tail. However, she isn't even winded, as she quickly stands up, and holds out her hand,

"HuuMaa!" –An intimidating tone comes from the once-gentle maid, as a barrage of piercing icicles shoot toward the beast.

The beast gives a smile, and promptly leaps up in the air, away from the barrage—which was now flying towards Emilia and the others!

"Duck, now!" Puck was quick to yell out a command, and the girls quickly brought themselves onto the ground.

Puck throws out his arm, summoning a giant wall of ice to block the maid's attack!

*THNK— THNK— THNK— THNK— THNK—*

While some icicles fly past the wall aimlessly, other icicles nail the wall viciously, shaking the sturdy defense with every hit.

Emilia, convinced the danger had passed, sits upright to find... the very tips of the icicles, poking out from the wall.

"That maid's mana has grown this dense..." Beatrice remarks, with a frustrated look on her face, "There's no telling if she's still in control anymore..."

Puck makes a grimace, before shaking his head,

"Betty, I want you to send us back to the mansion."

A shock runs through Emilia, as she hears Puck make this declaration, "Wait—!"

"I guess it was only a matter of time, I suppose." Beatrice doesn't seem fazed from the request, as she gets up and puts her focus on the three of them: Emilia, Puck, and Ram.

"Hold on! We can't leave just yet!" Emilia passes a look at both of them, "What about Rem? What about Subaru!?"

"Lia, the longer we stay here, the more we risk putting you in harm's way!" Puck is quick on the rebuttal, as all three of them glow a mystic pink light, "Subaru's 'mission' isn't worth losing you, and you know the reason why!"

"But if we leave them behind...!" Emilia's throat gets tight, as she considers the consequences, "They could get killed, Puck!"

Puck is quiet, opting to let Beatrice's magic run its course rather than answer his daughter.

"You worry matters not, I suppose." –Beatrice speaks up once more, "I will stay behind and help them."

"Beatrice...!?" Emilia whispers, clearly worried for his dear friend.

"Are you sure about this, Betty?" Puck asks her, spirit-to-spirit. The small girl simply nods.

"I have a contract that I must see through. I will not fail so easily." Beatrice replies, uncaring if Puck's contractor was listening in.

"'Contract?'" Emilia whispers, given another tidbit of info she wasn't sure what to do with.

Beatrice pushed her mana forward, and the reaction was instant; Like a comet, the trio were sent away from the battle, shooting towards the Mansion they called home.

The reaction was loud catching both the beast and Oni's attention. The brilliant colors of the magic were enough to quell Rem's rage, as she watches the comet retreat.

"...Ram...?" A whisper, as Rem almost snaps out of her daze...

The Mabeast sees this as an opening, and moves itself to launch a decisive attack on the distracted girl—

Only for a violent wave of mana to burst forward, catching Beast, Oni, and Spirit's attention alike!

The mana was dark and overwhelming, despite it being so far away from the battle!

It was coming from deep within the forest...

"Mmm... Mnn..." Subaru let out a small groan, feeling like he was just waking up from a nap. His eyes were tired, and his limbs felt weak...

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Subaru hears a voice, one of a male quality...

In fact, if anything... It sounded like him...?

"Huh...? Where...?" Subaru's own voice, one he was used to, had changed comletely. It was light and gentle; completely different from his normal one.

"Ah... You're so cute when you're waking up..." The voice — his voice — showed an unhealthy amount of joy and appreciation.

And finally, he could see 'Subaru,' looking at him with a gentle, almost eerie smile.

The smile sends a shockwave of revelation to Subaru.

"W-wait... Satella!?" He replies with his lighter-than-usual voice.

Subaru could pick up a key feature about himself that was different; His eyes were a mix of purple, brown and white... Not to mention the large tuff of hair on his head had changed to an ashen grey.

"Bingo~!" 'Subaru' gives him an big smile, "Bingo, bingo~! Ehehe..."

"Hold on...!" The real Subaru is catching on quick, as he begins to look at himself, and notice all the changes about him,

"What's going on!? Why are you, me!? And... Why am I Meili!?"

In typical Satella-fashion, she—or rather, he, dances around Meili-baru and hums a tune,

"Too many questions~!" –Satella effortlessly picks up Meili-baru, given her small size, and puts her on her feet, "Don't you have that Oni brat to save, hmm...?"

"That's not...!" Subaru wanted to press on his questions, and try to figure out Satella's logic, but is reminded of his dearest person once more, "...Ghh... Damn it...!"

Subaru tries to condense all his questions into one, meaningful request: "Tell me why you're controlling my body!?"

Meili-baru's voice made them only sound like a barking chihuahua, but their glare was intense. However, Satella's smile doesn't waver.

"Because I love you..." Subaru speaks, and suddenly gets a heavy blush, "Aaah... I love you, I love you...!"

The air gets heavy as Satella's mana gets intense, the shadows beneath her growing darker and darker.

"Your voice... Your body... Your very essence...!" Subaru's hands climb all around himself, and Meili-baru could only watch in discomfort,

"I love everything about you...!" Satella, seemingly spurred on by Subaru's voice saying 'I love you,' has fallen into a trance of her own design.

"Satella! Hey!" Meili-baru jumps up, and grabs her/his arm, "Snap out of it and give me back my body!"

"This is my one, and only, condition, Beloved." Satella is immediate with her response, despite being in a trance earlier. Meili-baru reels back a bit.

Satella turns back to Meili-baru, and sighs, "Besides... If I give you back your body, then the girl your controlling will run away." Their tone was sharp.

"Th-then... why don't you control this body!?" Meili-baru makes the request in earnest, hoping to make some sense to Satella—

"It's not the same, Subaru-kun." Satella cuts him off, grabbing Meili-baru and pulling her close.

"Huh!? Satel—!?"

"Let me have my fun, alright?" –The shadows beneath them grew thicker, and started to rise—very much like when Subaru first met Satella outside the temple,

"Just keep that girl you're controlling out of harm's way..." If Subaru wanted to say anything, he chose not to, just to avoid swallowing the dark shadows once again.

He wasn't able to see the dark glint in Satella's eyes...

"...And I'll show them just how powerful you really are, My Hero..."

From a mass of shadows, Subaru and Meili appeared in the clearing, surprising the three that was currently fighting to survive.

"Subaru!?" Beatrice calls out. Rem's eyes flicker with recognition.

Once Meili was freed from the shadows grasp, she perks up from Beatrice's call, and started to run to her.

Subaru just passes a glance, before focusing on the Oni and Mabeast.

Beatrice was quick to respond, holding out her hand immediately towards Meili, "Stop! Not another inch, I suppose!"

She quickly stopped and, remembering who she was, started waving her hands in a panic, "N-No, I'm not your enemy anymore, promise! I'm on your side!"

Beatrice blinks, but doesn't buy it for a second, "If you think I'm just going to believe that, you're sorely mistaken, I suppose!"

Meili has a cold sweat run down her cheek, as she runs out of things to say—

"Beatrice!" Subaru is quick to call out, catching the spirit's (and Meili's) attention, "Stop making things complicated and just protect her, alright!?"

Beatrice, albeit surprised by Subaru's quick intervention, was quick to retort, "Are you kidding, I wonder!? Her pet's still trying to kill us!"

Beatrice's comment sparks an idea for Meili,

"Wait, that's right!" Meili quirks up, before turning to the beast, "Um... Stand down! Please!"

The large Mabeast stares at the girl for a moment, before roaring at her in response, "ROOAARRR!"

"Ngh!?" —Meili, feeling hot air rush past her small frame, immediately decides against making another attempt at controlling the beast, "I don't understand... how did she do it last time...?"

"If I were you, I'd advise trying to get that beast's attention ever again." Beatrice, almost standing to her height, looks at her eye-to-eye... Noting how brown those eyes were—

"No, you don't understand! If he listens to me, I can—"

"Don't bother!" Subaru suddenly calls out, facing the mabeast, "He won't be a problem for much longer..."

Beatrice, about to make another quip, cuts herself off quickly when she heard how... icy his tone was. Meili gains an uncomfortable look, watching him carefully.

Subaru starts to walk toward the beast. Rem, behind the dog, begins watching the boy as well.

However close Rem was to returning back to her old self, it was quickly interrupted by how putrid Subaru smelled. The scent of the Witch was overpowering, as if he