CHAPTER 21: WITH RESOLVE RENEWED
Subaru opens his eyes. The first thing he feels is the sensation of something dusty inside his mouth.
The second Subaru registers the spit and gravel built up in his mouth, he forcefully spits it out and gets his body upright. Subaru: “Ghheugck! Ptooptoo! Weird, rock in my mouth... oueehgghh” He pats his body of dust as he pukes up the shit, straining his eyes and looking around the darkness.
Lights are off. Subaru remembers that he's inside the tomb, and simultaneously that, Subaru: “Right, I took the TRIAL...” Subaru thinks back on the trial and being able to convey his apologies, thanks, and farewells to his parents. Rather than homesickness and sadness, remembering it gives Subaru bravery and resolve. Subaru: “It's okay. I didn't forget. I remember everything I told them.” Worst case, he wouldn't have gotten to remember that, but fortunately he remembers all of the
TRIAL fine. So next his attention turns to— Subaru: “Right! I came in here because, Emilia!” Scolding himself for his slowness, he finds Emilia collapsed in the back of the room. He runs over, her silver hair and pale skin standing out in the darkness, and Subaru feels some relief—until he notices her expression.
Emilia: “...hk. ...n, no... sto...” Her face is twisted in agony, and sweat has risen on her forehead. But her arms and legs are rigid, perhaps to stop her from moving about in distress, so only her face clearly shows her suffering. If Emilia's TRIAL is the same as Subaru's,
Subaru: “A past you don't want to see... no, or is it facing something you have to make a final conclusion about?” Subaru doesn't know how much time's passed, but Emilia entered the tomb over 30 minutes before he did. Being that Subaru still finished first, Emilia's must be the peak of awful difficulty. In complete honestly, what he should probably do is keep waiting and believing in her until the TRIAL's done, but,
Subaru: “Wouldn't have any troubles, if I was the kinda guy who could say something that cool while looking at that face.” Emilia looks about to start crying. Subaru's fingers reach for her face, hoping to ease at least some fragment of her suffering with the gesture. But the instant his fingertips touch her cheek,
Emilia: “——hk”
Emilia's once-rigid limbs go into huge convulsions. Her expression stiffens, and Subaru quickly props up her head with his hand. He holds Emilia in an embrace, pressed to his chest, as she shakes.
Subaru: “Emilia!? Hey, get a hold of... Emilia!” While patting her back, he frantically calls her name. Subaru feels his heart freeze in terror at the violent convulsions, but they slowly subside and her body settles.
Emilia: “—u, baru?”
Subaru: “—! Ah, uh-huh, that's right. Are you okay? Do you know who I am? I'm the one you vowed to spent your future with together, Natsuki Subaru.” Emilia: “We didn't, discuss that far...” Looks like her memories and consciousness are fine. Emilia gets out of the hold, her attention slowly coming to fix on Subaru. Emilia: “Uhhh... wha? Why am I...?” Subaru: “Take it slow, Emilia-tan. Put the tricky stuff off for later and for now, take a deep breath.
Then move your arms and legs to check they're not numb, and if it feels like you can stand, try standing.”
Emilia: “ah, uh, mm.” Emilia goes along with what Subaru says and takes a deep breath. She moves her arms and takes Subaru, who's standing,'s hand and stands up. She looks around the darkness, mystified.
Emilia: “In a dark place... alone with Subaru...”
Subaru: “If you crop out just that bit this starts turning into a pretty racy situation, but this place being this place alone makes it way too damnable.” It's a witch's tomb after all. Kinda kills the mood for any lovers sneaking about. But hearing
Subaru's words, Emilia suddenly hugs her shoulders. Subaru shivers like 'oh crap did I go too far with that one' but,
Emilia: “Ri, ght... I, took the TRIAL, and...” Subaru: “Mm, yeah, that's right. This is inside the witch's tomb. Man, I was bested. When you went inside, Emilia-tan, the cemetery lights suddenly went out. So I panicked and kinda followed you in, but...”
Emilia: “a, nn, no, that, I, I didn't... mean to... tha....”
Subaru: “Emilia?”
Subaru finally notices there's something off about Emilia, her voice still shaking. She keeps holding her shoulders, and with her teeth chattering as if it's cold, she shakes her head, saying, Emilia: “I, it wasn't, me... no. I, I didn't, do it... but, I told you, I, no...” Subaru: “Emilia. Hold on, Emilia? Calm down, what's...” Emilia: “...No. Don't look at... me like... stop, nono, stop, no... don't leave, don't, leave me... alone...” Emilia covers her face with her hands and breaks down to the ground. Her voice is stained with tears, and hearing that silver bell shake with sobs fills the heart with pain and pity. Subaru's too shocked to speak. Subaru: “It's okay. You're okay. I'm with you. I'm here. You're not alone. It's okay.” He simply takes her whole body in an embrace, soothingly, protectively, lovingly, and gently pats her back as she shakes and cries. During that time, her face hidden in her hands, as if she can't hear Subaru's voice,
Emilia: “...lp, dad. He, lp... Puck, Puck... pahkk...” She calls not the name of the worried boy at her side, but the name of the spirit who won't show himself before her.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Ram: “—She's been calmed down and put to bed.”
Says Ram, her gaze as she looks at Subaru suggesting that she's looking at an undisciplined dog. Subaru can't reply to that and just gives a quiet “I see”. Ram gives a small sigh.
Ram: “That expression's unlike you, Barusu. Your face is usually so sloppy, but once you add a shadow to it, it becomes even more unbearable to witness.”
Subaru: “Sloppy or whatever's none of your business... I'm sorry, for worrying you.”
Ram: “...How could your judgement have become good enough to notice when people are worried, Barusu?”
Says Ram as if she's honestly shocked. Subaru pokes his tongue out at her, putting his previous emotions and attitude on hold. He takes his gaze off Ram and looks behind her, at the door to the room she only just exited. Beyond that door, Emilia should be sleeping.
Subaru: “Either way, I apologize for this happening two days in a row. It must be causing trouble for you too, Lewes-san.”
Lewes: “If yer worrying about caursing troubles, then don't yer mind. She's someone who faced the TRIAL bercause of our selfish wish.”
Says Lewes in an even voice from behind Subaru. This room they're in, which connects to the bedroom, is the living room if you're going to call it that. Lewes' house is made up of two rooms, and a third room dedicated as a library. Subaru finds this an incredibly plain setup for someone who's essentially the village head of SANCTUARY. But guess you could also say that this size is enough for her, as she sits there with her tea in the corner of the room. Anyway.
Garfiel: “Ha, now ain't yer all worried, granny. Though speakin' honest, my amazin' self's feelin' pretty ASSUMING GOUNZUN GOT NO HOME.”
Subaru: “That doesn't really tell me what you're feeling, but.. it's tells me enough to get it doesn't mean anything good.”
Says Garfiel, who also has some tea, as he sits across from Lewes. Subaru doesn't really get the meaning of that idiom, but judges it as being something close to 'being let down'. Garfiel opens his mouth to speak but Subaru,
Subaru: “Just saying, if you've got insults or whatever else to say about Emilia-tan I'll be the one to take them. You have to get through me, the manager, first.”
Garfiel: “Ain't feelin' like talkin' bad behind her back in the slightest. I ain't actin' like that kinda dick. If I got complaints I'm tellin' them right to her face. And with a free punch thrown in too if she wants.”
Garfiel waves his non-tea-holding hand, giving a nasty smile, letting Subaru's challenge just wash off him. Subaru feels some tension at this. Meanwhile, the only person who hasn't said anything here puts up his hand and,
Otto: “Um, excuse me,”
Otto: “Then, could I ask just what exactly happened in the end? I sincerely don't intend to become too deeply involved, but since I'm beginning to have some doubts about this perilous atmosphere, I'd like to volunteer for the post of moving things forward and then be making my way out.”
Subaru: “Mn, sorry. Yeah, you're fit for that. You have the shallowest connection of anyone here and have nothing to do with anything important, so you're a cheerful bit-piece side character who doesn't need to shoulder a single piece of responsibility. Leaving it all to you.”
Otto yells about how fucking brutally whittled down that sentiment of 'leaving it all up to you' is.
Subaru shushes him what with sleeping Emilia in the other room and Otto hurriedly closes his mouth.
Otto starts off by asking whether anything happened while Subaru was inside the tomb.
Subaru puts his hand to his chin and looks up at the ceiling in thought, reflecting on the trial and what happened in the tomb after. Subaru: “The TRIAL was definitely going on inside the tomb. I ended up facing the same thing when I went in after Emilia-tan. I safely conquered the TRIAL, but it looked like Emilia-tan was having a hard time. It seemed pretty painful for her so I wound up calling out to her... and so she woke up, and once her consciousness came back clearly, she was like that.”
Otto: “Nononononono, wait a moment here.” Subaru raises his head like 'what' and Otto's like 'nononono' again. Otto: “I just nodded as you casually passed by something that should truly be delved into deeper, but... what? Natsuki-san, you took the TRIAL as well?” Subaru: “Uh, yeah, yes, I have taken it. A friend signed me up for it so had no choice.” Otto: “It's clearly impossible that you would have friends, please be more serious, Natsuki-san.” Subaru: “You know, there's things that're okay and not okay to say to people!” Subaru glares at Otto, but Ram podonks her arm out between the two of them before they can start a war, and looks up at Subaru. Ram: “Then, you have taken the TRIAL, Barusu. Correct?” Subaru: “Uh, uh-huh. Correct. Forcibly dragged into it when I went inside. Wasn't something on a level where you could say no.”
Ram: “How it started is irrelevant. The more important issue... is that you wound up conquering the TRIAL, Barusu.” Ram puts a finger to her lips and closes her eyes, in thought. She then looks over at Lewes. Ram: “That is what our household's idle choresman has said, but do you sense any change? If the
TRIAL has truly ended, then the restriction on SANCTUARY should be uplifted.”
Lewes: “...Nerr, my body ersn't feeling anything in perticuler. Could be a different story if we actually try going outside Sanctuary, though.” Ram: “I see. Then that makes the story simple. Will you come along with me? We'll test to see if
SANCTUARY has been released, and if it does appear so, then...” Subaru: “Waitwaitwait, you're going too fast. And you're jumping to conclusions. My explanation wasn't perfect, but you're way overdoing it with that split-second decision.”
Subaru grabs Ram's shoulder before she can drag Lewes away, Ram's brows crinkle in discomfort at what Subaru's saying. But she immediately pulls herself together with a 'what do you mean?'
Ram: “If the TRIAL has safely ended, then it's surely necessary to check whether the citizens have been freed as according to the covenant. If what you say is true, Barusu, the people of Arlam village may return to the village as soon as tomorrow, and for Roswaal-sama's recovery, the mansion may be...”
Subaru: “Your true intentions slipped out at the end there and the critical point for you's obvious. ...I'm sorry to get your hopes up, but SANCTUARY isn't released. The TRIAL still isn't over yet.”
Ram's eyes open somewhat wider. She looks away, thinking over the meaning of what Subaru's saying, and gives a nod after seeming to have reached some conclusion.
Ram: “You deceived us, now die.”
Subaru: “Conclusion and punishment're too fast!!”
Ram immediately draws her wand and takes a stance for administering PUNISHMENT. Subaru puts his hands up in surrender and frantically shakes his head.
Subaru: “And I didn't deceive you! I really did overcome the first TRIAL! But there's still two more TRIALs left! The cemetery's TRIAL is three parts in total. So unfortunately, Lewes-san and the others aren't freed yet.”
Ram: “Put a hold on that blather pouring from your mouth... How do you know this?”
Subaru: “Because the Trial's concocter the—”
Witch, is what Subaru's going to continue with, when a chill suddenly runs through his whole body. His arms and legs feel weighted down with lead, his thoughts feel dull as if drowned in mud, and his veins feel cold as if being injected with icewater. What arises in Subaru's mind is a dumb, white void.
Subaru remembered someone told him the TRIAL's content, and that there were two more TRIALS waiting. The witch. But,
Subaru: “I can't get it out what that person was like at all...”
Subaru's surprised at the flaw in his own memory. He remembers everything from his conversations with his parents. And he remembers the witch, but not anything about the witch's character. Seeing Subaru's stupefaction, Ram gets out of BATTLE POSTURE and puts her wand back on her hip, sighing.
Garfiel: “Ehh? Things're lookin' like they were gettin' interestin', then you didn't do nothin'. Was wonderin' if I was gonna get to see you get violent again after all this time.”
Ram: “My elegant and tender self would surely never conduct such savage behaviour. And I generally understand the situation from Barusu's current status, so it's unnecessary.” Subaru: “Understand what?” Ram tilts her head. Ram: “That you're not lying, Barusu. If we take that alone as credible, then it is acceptable for now.
Barusu, continue now to answer Otto's questions.” Subaru: “Uh, uh-huh... right.” Otto clears his throat. Otto: “Well then,” Otto: “We took some digressions, but let's return to the topic. Leaving your stepping into the contents of the Trial for later... Would you have any ideas regarding Emilia-sama's being distressed?” Subaru: “...Yeah. I think it's probably an issue with the Trial's content. The particulars of the TRIALS me and Emilia-tan took are more than likely different, but I think the main gist's the same.”
Otto: “The contents... Would it be alright for me to ask you about them?”
Says Otto with concern but Subarus lol no it's cool man. Garfiel and Ram stare at Subaru, pressing him for an answer. Subaru: “The first Trial's to face your past. Straight up, its content is facing regrets or remorses or stuff in that vein, and sorting it out.” Otto: “I, I see... and that's why the particulars would differ.” Because duh of course different people would have different pasts to face. So Subaru wandered into a nasty blow, while Emilia got a critical hit, and—
Subaru: “Actually no, considering the qualifications, feels like the TRIAL's content oozes dickishness.” Fundamentally, the only people who are supposed to have these qualifications are half-bloods. That would be people isolated through stigmatization from either same or different races, or otherwise through fear. It's extremely likely for half-bloods to have painful pasts they'd get faced with if they tried challenging this TRIAL.
Subaru: “So inevitably everyone who could beat the TRIAL'd be distressed. That's black-hearted.” Otto: “Commenting on the examiner’s unkind personality isn't going to move current events forward. More importantly... although this is difficult to mention, but if we consider what would put Emilia-sama out of sorts...”
Otto shuts his mouth and glances at Emilia's sleeping room, which gets across what he's trying to say. Emilia's appearance. She resembles the WITCH OF ENVY on many factors, and is also a half-elf. You can infer that she's someone subject to baseless scorn and persecution because of this. That Subaru and the others, who aren't in her position, are able of sensing it just shows how much of a high-tier outlier her case is.
It's not a topic to discuss lightly. Otto's decision to go quiet is incredibly humane, or otherwise phrased, fatally not suited to the personality of a merchant. Subaru: “You're never gonna succeed as a merchant, but I'm thankful man.” Otto: “Why are you abruptly crushing people's dreams!?” Subaru: “I'm too shy to give an honest thanks without throwing a joke in, try feeling a little.”
Otto: “How about you try feeling a little just how deeply you wounded my heart!!” Everyone puts their fingers to their lips, shushing the yelling Otto. Otto hurriedly closes his mouth, but it's too late. A quiet sound echoes out from the bedroom, and before anyone can speak, the door opens.
Emilia: “Um... I'm sorry, for causing trouble.”
Going by that statement, she doesn't seem all whack anymore, which is a relief. Subaru quickly half-runs over to her. Subaru: “Thank goodness, good morning. Does your body and stuff feel okay now, Emilia-tan?” Emilia: “ah. Yeah, I'm fine. My body has nothing off at all. Sorry for making you worry.” Subaru: “Right, that's good then. See, since I wasn't with you when you first collapsed I was worried not knowing if you'd been banged somewhere and all. Yup, I'd say us never ever being apart'd keep us both good and at ease.” Emilia: “—yeah, you're right.”
Subaru: “Hm?” Being that he'd prepared for a comeback to his joking, Subaru's brows furrow at Emilia's unexpected reply. She lowers her eyes, staring at Subaru's hand. Subaru tilts his head in confusion and presents his hand to her.
Subaru: “What's wrong? You've gotten yearnings for the feeling of my palms now? But I mean I'll hold your hand all through the night if you want.” Emilia: “ah, uh... I-I'm fine. That's not it. I'm just kinda um, still half-asleep.”
Right before she can touch Subaru's hand, Emilia shakes her head, like she's changing her mind about something. Ram steps forward. Ram: “Emilia-sama. It is greater than anything that you have awoken safely. If possible, I would appreciate if you could speak with me regarding your physical condition without putting on a bold front.”
Subaru: “Hey. You're making it sound like Emilia-tan's hesitating to speak with me sincerely.” Ram: “When speaking before someone who is not a fellow woman, or otherwise seeks to put on affectations, even sincerity can be impermissible. Show enough consideration to gather as much and leave the room.” Subaru: “Well I'd really like to show that consideration, but...” Subaru looks down, Ram follows his gaze to where Emilia's fingers are timidly grasping Subaru's lowered hand. Emilia: “Ah, uh!” Late to notice their gazes, Emilia hurriedly releases the hand. Her face goes red, and panicking as if what she just did was an entirely unconscious act,
Emilia: “N-no. Ah, that was weird. I, didn't mean to do that at... I mean, and I'd even just decided against touching it.” Subaru: “You did draw back, but in the end you know you immediately reached back out? I mean I got some bonus benefits so I didn't say anything but, are you actually okay, Emilia-tan?”
Emilia gives a firm nod. But her cheeks are still red, and even Subaru can figure that it's not due to shyness. Emilia doesn't notice anything off about herself as she goes on. Emilia: “I'm sorry for interrupting your talk. But there really is nothing wrong with my body anywhere. I'm not half-asleep anymore, so I'm dandy now.” Subaru: “Who says dandy anymore?” Emilia: “Hmp, you're doing that again, Subaru.” Emilia puffs out her cheeks. It feels the same as usual, so Subaru decides that he was being needlessly anxious and puts the breaks on making too much of things. But, Ram: “Emilia-sama. I am aware that you have only just awoken, but regarding the TRIAL...” Emilia: “—hk” Subaru catches Emilia's expression freeze for an instant, but Emilia immediately covers it up beneath a smile.
Emilia: “Right... umm, does everyone know about the TRIAL's content?”
Ram: “We heard it from Barusu. Of course, we did not intrude so far as to hear the details. I'm certain there are things you would rather not be asked either, Emilia-sama.” Emilia: “R-right. Subaru... wha? Why Subaru? I mean, Subaru isn't a half-blood so him taking the trial isn't...”
Everyone's also wondering what's up with the Subaru-taking-trial-thing and again their gazes all fix on him. Subaru: “I told you before I went in. I got the qualifications. Saying who from's a little tricky, but if it's a 'where from' then... probably, last evening at the cemetery.” Garfiel: “If yer sayin' 'evening' you know it means when ya fainted and got carried here, yeah?” Subaru: “Yeah, that's right. I'm not totally certain if this's why I got qualified, but... 'say it's one of those things. Like even unqualified guys who step in there get baptised or something and then they can go inside afterwards. So surprise, maybe Roswaal can go inside too?” Garfiel: “'D be funny t'see Roswaal burst tryin' t'test that.” Something something PLINPA DRIPPINGS TOO SHARE BLOOD'S HUE.
Garfiel opens his mouth, laughing. But Ram aims her cold gaze at him and he instantly closes his mouth and his expression changes to nonchalance. Ram: “Either way, that Barusu went inside and retrieved Emilia-sama is fact. Further, Barusu then received the same breed of trial as you, Emilia-sama, and provided that it isn't babble, overcame it.”
Subaru: “Babble. That's sure cruel.” Emilia: “Overcame it... Subaru did? He, the TRIAL?” Emilia: “Did you truly pass it, Subaru? That... past?” Subaru: “The one I saw would've been different from yours though, Emilia-tan. Mine was... well, wasn't like I got all the way through just on my own strength.” His mom and dad, which were supposed to be the big obstacles here, ended up giving him maximum support and let him clear the Trial. And most importantly, Subaru'd already been given the answer before he took the challenge. Subaru: somethingsomethingsomething accidentally good test results “Anyway the problem's
Emilia-tan. Going by how things are I'd kinda say it didn't work out, but...” Emilia: “N-no. It, didn't... I tried my best, but it suddenly got interrupted half way though.”
Subaru: “Think that's cause I woke you up, sorry. ...Actually, is re-challenging the TRIAL even possible? I didn't take the second TRIAL either, kinda just came back here.”
Subaru asks Lewes, who touches her cheek. Lewes: “There errn't many precedents ter work off, but... yer can probably make a 'challenge' itself multiple times. I've never been able ter pass the first TRIAL either, but I've challenged it twice. What bothers me more here though is Lil' Su getting these qualifications.”
Subaru: “Me?” Lewes: “People suddernly developing the qualifications just ain't something that happens. Least never to my knowledge, me being erround since the cemetery was ferst made... nherr. Do have a rough idear, though.” Lewes falls quiet after that. Subaru feels some discomfort from her statements and behaviour, but he decides to put that on hold for now and turns back to Emilia.
Subaru: “Either way, we have it certified that re-challenging's possible. Next problem is you yourself, Emilia-tan.” Emilia: “M-me?” Subaru: “Yeah, that's right. Asking's pretty something, but—Emilia-tan, do you think it's possible for you to resolve yourself to challenge the TRIAL again?” Emilia's breath catches and her eyes open wide. Subaru's prepared to be yelled at and take blame if this question pisses her off or disgraces her, but what flickers through her eyes is unease and fear. Negative emotions are eating at her heart to the extent she can't give an immediate reply. Subaru: “If for assumption you're unable to take the TRIAL, I'll take it instead.” Emilia: “—!? But Subaru, that's...” Subaru: “I've cleared the first TRIAL, at least. That should ideally indicate that clearing the remaining two TRIALs isn't impossible. So if you're thinking twice about taking the TRIAL, I'll step in and do it. That's why I'm here.” Emilia: “Why you're... y-you mean, for me?”
Subaru: “Exactly.” Emilia looks to be seeking Subaru's denial on that question, but Subaru's response is clear. Emilia's eyes open wide, emotion intensifying, as Subaru looks her dead in the eye.
Subaru: “If you're scared, I'll do it for you. Roswaal or whatever might say you be the one to free SANCTUARY, that the achievement has to go to you personally, but... If the results of my actions are commendable, then I give all those commendations to you. I don't mind if there's nothing left for me.” Emilia: “Why are you doing... so much for me?” Subaru: “Didn't I tell you? Because I love you, super love you.” Emilia's breath catches, everyone else in the room has their respective reactions, but Subaru doesn't register them and just shrugs, his gaze still fixed on Emilia.
Subaru: “And so, I'm thinking of challenging the TRIAL. What about you, Emilia-tan? If it's really hard, I'd say it's better to just sleep in the house?” Emilia: “Subaru you, idiot.” Emilia raises her downcast head and rubs her eyes with her sleeve, her lips breaking into a smile. Emilia: “When you tell me that, I can't just stay closed up in a room waiting. You're just... sooo mean. Sooo dumb. ...Thank you sooo much.” Subaru: “Huh? What? I didn't hear that last one. I love you sooo much?” Emilia: “No! It was thank you sooo much...” Subaru: “Got it. I heard it but let's have it one more time!” Emilia: “Subaru you idiot!!” Subaru gets his ear close to her, and Emilia yells at volume high enough to be a sonic weapon on his eardrums. Although almost feeling about to faint, Subaru shoots her a smile, her shoulders heaving up and down. Subaru: “That's me exactly. Well, time to do our best again. Me from stage 2, Emilia-tan from stage 1.”
Emilia: “Hrrmpf. I'll catch up so fast, pass you, and leave you all the way behind. You're not gonna have a single achievement left.”
Subaru: “I don't have one left, and that gives me a chance to nag a reward out of you.” Emilia pouts and pokes out her tongue at Subaru. During this back and forth, Subaru figures that he's helped Emilia a little to get back on her feet. Either way, this is where the real attempts at the Trial begin.
Subaru: “With me and Emilia-tan's loveydovey power, this TRIAL'll be a breeze.” Subaru clicks his fingers and gives a thumbs up. Emilia just sticks her tongue out Subaru's statement and—
Emilia: “I'm more than enough for it. Subaru, I'll prove tomorrow that I'm fine even without you looking after me.”
—is how Emilia puts on a tough façade.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
While watching Subaru and Emilia piss about with each other and pump each other up, Lewes puts her already-cold tea to her lip. Drinking, she watches fondly over the silver-haired half-elf and the black-haired boy's talk.
Lewes: “Where're things going next, what with this. ...Wonder if it'll all go erkxactly as the Mighty Witch expects.” Garfiel: “Dun'care. Either way 'sdone things'll turn goddamn nothin' nice fer me.”
Mutters Lewes, and Garfiel responds without hiding his displeasure. Lewes: “Forcing burdens on kind children. Inflicting these ails on the young, I'm... we're far beyond saving.” something something too foreshadowy for me.
And some artsy line about a ripple rising and disappearing in her tepid tea.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login