The population of Arlam Village had grown considerably after Emilia overcame the Sanctuary's trial and freed the demi-humans who had been trapped there. Of course, rebuilding was still underway—there was plenty of damage left behind from Regulus's rampage and Petelgeuse's madness. But even so, spirits were high.
Subaru, Roswaal, Emilia, Rem, and Ram stood before the Roswaal Estate, prepared to finally rest after everything they had endured—
—or at least, that would've been the case if the mansion and its once-grand garden hadn't been utterly pulverized.
Subaru let out a low whistle, turning his head away from Roswaal's painted face, which twitched with thinly veiled irritation.
"…Satoru Gojo. Truly… a vexing man until the very end…"
Emilia stepped forward, clenching a small fist with a bright smile.
"This is nothing, you guys! No need to dampen the mood. Let's get to rebuilding!"
"Tsck. That arrogant white-haired man seems to have no concept of restraint." Ram muttered with a scowl.
Subaru? He wasn't about to explain a thing. Nope. Let Roswaal wallow in anger—this was payback for all those times Gojo flicked his forehead.
"Hm, hey, Rem?"
Her eyes lit up the moment he addressed her.
"Ah, y-yes, Subaru?"
"I was just wondering where you'd been. It's been a while since we really talked you know!"
Rem nodded gently.
"Rem was assisting Lady Crusch and her soldiers with returning the corpse of the White Whale. The chances of bandits interfering were low, and even without my assistance they wouldn't of been in trouble, but even so… I felt the need to help."
Subaru gave an approving nod.
"I see, I see. That's very like you to say the least. Alright then—I'll leave you to it. Got someone I need to check on."
Rem tilted her head in confusion but didn't press for details. Subaru slipped off, climbing over rubble, weaving through the battered interior, and finally leaping up through the fissure torn between the mansion's first and second floors.
"Mmmm… where are you? Where oh where are you…"
Eventually, one door stood out to him. His chest eased with relief. Subaru turned the knob and stepped inside, into the familiar library.
As always, Beatrice sat in her chair with a book in hand. She lifted her head and raised a brow at his entrance.
"Hmph. Here I was wondering what had happened to you as it had been unusually quiet. At least you didn't die, I suppose."
"Ahh, nope!"
Subaru replied with a grin.
"…And what brings you here, I wonder?"
She asked, her voice softer than usual, with surprisingly little bite. As if she had been waiting for this.
Subaru simply smiled.
"Just to see you, of course."
—————————————————————
"…I could've simply teleported the both of us back, Rein."
Gojo muttered, wiping his forehead with a half-smirk as he glanced at the Sword Saint seated stiffly across from him in the carriage.
Reinhard shook his head, crimson hair catching the lantern light.
"I must disagree. That would indeed be faster—but after so many days of your absence, I will not gamble on you vanishing again."
"Tch." Gojo leaned back into the cushioned sofa, arms crossed like a sulking child.
"Well, no worries then. I've had my fill of cursed towers for a lifetime. You won't be losing me to some sandy hellhole again anytime soon~."
Reinhard's gaze sharpened at that.
"…A tower? By that I suppose you mean the Pleiades Watchtower, I presume? That isn't a place anyone can just enter on a whim."
"Mmhm. Let me tell you about the crap me and Subaru went through." Gojo leaned forward, grin widening. "Actually—better yet, let me tell you about everything. Though fair warning, this puts us, and possibly even Emilia way up in the running for top dogs in this royal-selection circus."
So he did.
The words spilled from him as only Satoru Gojo could manage—casual, unhurried, like a man describing the weather rather than trials of legend. A desert that folded space. A trial locked beneath the sand. Shaula, ever-loyal and ever-tragic. A duel with Reid Astrea, his red mane burning against endless dunes. The gluttonous Archbishop. The ancient dragon Volcanica, broken, repeating the same two lines like a cracked bell.
Reinhard listened, expression gradually shifting from polite attention to wide-eyed disbelief.
"…Truly? Volcanica—the very guardian of the covenant? You faced him?"
Gojo just nodded, almost bored.
"Yeah. Though honestly? Felt like he was stuck in a loop. Kept saying the same things over and over. Old age maybe. Like a… radio skipping."
Reinhard blinked.
"…I do not recognize that analogy, but… I see. That is… grave news indeed."
"Eh. Could've gone worse." Gojo shrugged, then tilted his head. "Anyway—what about you? I heard you weren't exactly lounging around while I was gone."
Reinhard's features hardened, and he nodded.
"Of course. The stone tablet warned of a calamity to rival the Witch of Envy herself. One that would bear the Witch Factor of Pride. I departed under the Wise Men's order to confront it, only to…"
"—Run into Subaru."
Reinhard's frown deepened, the memory flashing behind his eyes.
"…Yes. I was not prepared for it to be him. The look he gave me back then… It was not one I ever wished to see from him again."
Gojo stretched, cracking his neck.
"Probably just trauma in all honesty. Poor guy's been through hell. Fought a redhead maniac while we were at the Watchtower too—ancestor of yours."
"…So I have heard."
The carriage rattled on, time slipping away in the rhythm of dragon feet clattering against dirt. Eventually, Gojo tilted his head to the window, watching fields give way to familiar roads. The looming shape of the Astrea Estate grew in the distance, its walls and impressive stature catching the suns light like a beacon.
"…Finally." Gojo exhaled, a boyish grin creeping back. "Thank god. I'm gonna stretch my legs 'til they snap."
Reinhard allowed himself the smallest smile, though his eyes remained shadowed by thought.
The carriage slowed. The gates creaked open.
And for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, there was no battle to fight, no cursed trial to overcome—only the brief, fragile peace of return.
—————————————————————
Entering his room, Gojo had already asked for a specialized tank to be set up—a broad, glass structure reinforced with enchanted steel, filled with magically-regulated sand that shimmered faintly under heat-spells. It gave off a warm haze, desert-like, the way Shaula had no doubt grown used to.
The reason he had the scorpion instead of Subaru was simple: Roswaal's mansion was still in disarray after recent events, hardly fit for housing delicate—or more likely, a dangerous creature.
"…Wonder how that one happened~" Gojo muttered dryly, lips quirking upward.
He wiggled his finger free of the stubborn little creature's grip as it wrestled with infinity and plopped it gently onto the warm sand. The palm-sized scorpion scuttled a few paces, pausing, claws twitching, tail curling. It seemed to test its new environment before settling down. Gojo just stood there in silence, arms folded, watching it with an unreadable expression.
"…Finally home. Thank god."
Only then did his body sag into the chair beside the window, eyes drifting to the garden outside where the breeze rustled roses and ivy. He hadn't even realized how much the Watchtower ordeal had eaten at him until the moment he allowed himself to sit still. His eyes closed, and all the thoughts, promises, and battles melted into a heavy, dragging weight.
Sleep came instantly.
—————————————————————
He awoke hours later, stretching out with a cavernous yawn, scratching absently at the bandages around his face. His stomach growled. Fumbling for one of the sweets he'd had custom-prepared, he plopped it into his mouth and sighed in bliss.
"…Oh man. That's it. That's it. I never realized just how good normal food actually is until I started living off that horrific mystery meat."
Dressed in his usual deep purple garb, humming a light tune to himself, he strolled down the hall. Yet everywhere he passed—maids with laundry, a chef balancing trays—he caught side-eyes. Not bashful admiration (the kind he was used to, obviously). No, this was different. People ducked their faces, shoulders shook with stifled laughter.
"…That ain't the 'wow that guy is so handsome look' people often give me. Just what's going on here?"
He slowed, glanced at a polished window—and froze.
A huge, poorly drawn smiley face stretched across his bandages. Squiggly lines covered his cheeks. Someone had even doodled exaggerated blush marks and a clown nose.
"…Ergh—what the…?" He leaned closer, blinking. "…When the hell did proper pens like this even exist in this world? Tsk, I know exactly who did this…"
—————————————————————
In the mansion's makeshift bar, Felt swayed on her stool, little boots kicking at the counter while Rom polished glasses behind it. Her grin was wide, mischievous.
"So yeah, I went into his room and found him snoring, dead asleep, totally KOed! So guess what I did!"
Rom's hands stilled, the glass slipping slightly. His eyes widened as he looked past the golden-haired little girl, smirk faltering into dread.
"…Oi, Felt… what did you do?"
"I covered his whole face with a marker Reinhard lent me!" Felt cackled, throwing her arms wide. "You should've seen it, old man, he looked stupid! That's what he gets for being so smug all the time—"
"Don't mind me~."
The singsong voice floated in, sending a chill down the girl's spine as her entire form seized up like a deer caught in headlights.
Felt slowly turned on her stool. There Gojo stood, leaning lazily against the doorframe, marker still staining his face, expression hidden but presence alone heavy enough to silence the room.
Rom just sighed and shook his head, one massive hand rising in surrender.
"…Felt, girl… I'm not sure I can save you this time. You've brought this on yourself."
"Wha—O-Old man, come on!" Felt squeaked, shrinking as Gojo's shadow stretched across the floor as he drew closer. "Don't abandon me now!"
Rom gave her a pitying look, then reached for the milk jug.
"I'll pour you a glass when you're back, at least."
"Back—!?"
Suddenly, the air warped. Both Gojo and Felt blinked out of sight.
—————————————————————
They reappeared in the garden, sunlight spilling across the manicured hedges and flowers. Birds chirped overhead, a stark contrast to the ink still smeared across Gojo's bandages as he loomed forward, grin obvious even without showing his eyes.
"Yo~" he hummed. "I heard you've been training with Reinhard a lot while I was away. So… how about you show me what you've learned?"
Felt flinched, stepping back.
"W-Wait, this is bullying, you know! I'll complain to Reinhard! Or—Or Subaru the next time I see him! This isn't fair!"
Gojo crouched to her height, tilting his head with exaggerated patience.
"Consider it payback."
Felt groaned.
"I knew I should've drawn glasses on you too…!"
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