Signed!

Kingdom of Lugnica,

The Sanctuary,

Samuel POV,

Standing near the central cathedral of the village, a silver haired teenager could be seen stretching his arms as he looked at the rising Sun. Though Samuel noticed the weather was getting unnaturally cloudy and dim and that, in all honesty, made him fairly wary. Naturally, he forgot some things about the series he had watched over time and didn't quite remember anything to link this phenomenon too but, still though, considering the strangeness, he was wary nonetheless.

"You notice it too don't you boy? That is not normal." Ryuzu spoke out from beside him, having arrived just a few moments earlier to check up on the guest. "Yeah, I think I should hurry it up." Samuel nodded somewhat seriously, who knows what was making it's way towards them at this moment.

"Betty knows, in fact, I can explain all about it." Beatrice folded her arms with a somewhat strained look on her face, they were in a lot of trouble. "Then can Betty explain?" Samuel asked with a small smile, it really was useful to have her around when it came to in-world knowledge.

Betty looked at him for a few moments before shaking her head in denial, "I can I suppose but... it would be better if you didn't know before completing the trials." She said in a serious tone, knowing him, he would try to deal with the problem before heading for the trials and would suffer for it. Beatrice didn't want that to happen.

Samuel nodded, choosing to trust the older Great Spirit regarding the matter but at the same time, immediately made his way towards Echidna's tomb, not bothering with breakfast. In truth, he didn't even require sleep anymore for some reason, it was just for self gratification. While not entirely so, adaptation is a great part of evolution.

His footsteps made noise as he walked at a hurried pace, a side effect of the increased muscle mass built during his 'fight' last night, though on the outside, his body was still the same. Soon he arrived at the Tomb which was in all honesty, not that far from the main village. Only taking a few moments to take in the sight, Samuel quickly walked in and sat down with his back against one of the walls, this time making sure that no vines would get in his hair.

And then Samuel closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming meeting with the strangest person he had met ever, period.

"See the unimaginable present." Echidna's voice entered his head, a few visions, and soon the darkness was replaced by a vast expanse of green.

-x-X-x-

Castle of Dreams,

Samuel POV,

Samuel deadpanned at the pouting girl sitting on the hill, "You know you could at least take some time with the trials." Echidna sighed, seriously, two trials had passed and no turmoil at all. He accepted what was shown to him with no trouble at all! Then he claimed to be normal too!

"...Well, what you show me is what I already expect..." Samuel sighed taking a seat across from the Witch of Greed, this time it was a vision of his family without him being present there. Samuel knew and accepted that they'd do much better without him so no, he wouldn't be having any breakdowns.

"That's hurtful to my pride as a witch, you know." Echidna folded her arms, looking away seemingly upset, it wasn't nice to be hearing that... "....." Samuel narrowed his gaze, somewhat suspicious, who wouldn't be? This woman acted like one thing one moment and another the next.

"Now that gaze of yours is hurtful." Echidna giggled seeing him facepalm at her words, this was certainly amusing.

"Yeah right." Samuel muttered out taking a sip from the tea she had served him, he wasn't even going to try to understand anymore.

"You should know I'm still a maiden at heart." Echidna looked down, seeming somewhat distraught, even if strange, she was still capable of having feelings for people.... She was incredibly greedy too..

"Uh huh." Samuel looked around disinterested, yeah he wasn't going to be buying it at all.

Echidna gave him a bright smile, "Maybe that's for the best though, I'm a greedy woman you know. I'd want you all for myself."

"Huh?" Her words threw Samuel for a loop and the tea cup slipped from his hand but vanished into particles of light before it could hit the ground as the witch once again started giggling at his reaction, it really was amusing.

"So *ehem* I trust you've made up your mind." Echidna turned somewhat serious, this contract was of incredible importance to her, granted, she would be giving up her freedom as a result...but, she didn't really mind that.

"Well yes." Samuel nodded seriously, he was ready to accept the contract that she offered.

"Then, I get to know what you think, what you feel, what you see and in exchange, you get my very being, use me as you like. At the same time, I would obey any presets and commands you may have for me, or rather, I would be forced to do so by our contract." Echidna listed out the general points of the contract, there would be no written form, she would bind her very soul to his, a simple contract was it not?..... Was knowledge really all that could motivate one into this..... or was there something else?

Samuel rubbed his chin in thought, ignoring the 5 other witches that seemed to appear one after the other, wishing to witness and oversee the contract and.... interfere if need be.

In theory, this contract gave Samuel absolute power in their 'relationship', things like, 'You're not allowed to do something to harm me.' weren't even necessary, she'd be obeying his commands. He could just order her to not do so and she wouldn't..

"That's all there is to it?" Samuel asked, slightly surprised by the witch's offer, was this the same contract she offered to Subaru?

"Yes, that's all there is to it." Echidna smiled at him, the other witches chose to stay silent, that really was all there was to it.

"Then.... I accept." Samuel said solemnly, there was nothing to lose here.... almost as if, she knew exactly what he'd reject and changed her offer..... He wouldn't put that past her.

The Castle of Dreams shook, it's corners started crumbling apart, replaced by an empty darkness. As if nothing existed past that there. At the same time, immense waves of magical energy rolled off the tomb in the real world alarming certain people.

"I'll bind my soul to you then." Echidna smiled at him before looking to the other witches, "I guess you all are finally free." She said receiving varied reactions, their souls had been dragged here by Echidna and forced to remain instead of passing on. Now with the Castle of Dreams gone, their souls would be set completely free, they would be able to perhaps pass on or be finally put to rest centuries after their deaths.

"Are you sure about this, Echidna?" Minerva asked with a difficult expression on her face, that was a very outrageous contract. "I thought about it, you know, I'm perfectly content." Echidna answered, a small smile plastered on her face. With this, she could st- *ehem* obtain knowledge from a theoretically infinite number of worlds! What was there to lose? Of course there was the chance that her contractor would simply lock her away or release her, forcing her soul to pass on .....but, you had to take that much risk at least. She wouldn't be the Witch of Greed if she wasn't ready to have that done to her on her quest for knowledge!

"Boy, why keep trying?.... Two lives and yet you... refuse to give in, but rather.. try to improve. Why?" Sekhmet asked with a yawn followed by a sigh, she wanted to know this before she passed on at least.

"That's just how I've become I guess." Samuel smiled widely at her, he really had changed hadn't he? Changed from what he was all those years ago.

"I see...." Sekhmet looked thoughtful for a few moments, even as the land crumbled away and so did her body, but in the end, she smiled, "Well... keep at it." With that, the Witch of Sloth disappeared.

Typhon held his hand with both of hers, her head hung low, "I'm.... sorry. You aren't a bad person at all." With those words, the Witch of Pride too disappeared.

"U-Um..." Carmilla looked around in slight panic, not knowing what to say before bowing her head as she disappeared.

"I wanted a bite at least. Maybe if we cross paths again, let meee kay?" Daphne licked her lips as her body dissolved into particles of light. Minerva had long left after disagreeing with Echidna on something Samuel didn't disappear and ran away.

Now, only the two of them were left behind, standing in darkness yet their figures were still clearly visible. "I look forward to what you can show me." Echidna smiled, her form turned ethereal before latching onto Samuel, hugging him before completely disappearing. Samuel tilted his head in slight confusion just before he too disappeared... was it his imagination or did he see a blush?

If there was one who could see souls, they would notice that another being was latching onto Samuel's soul now in a way that the two souls seemed one. Intertwined with such complexity that if Samuel's were to be removed, the other one would simply be deformed and fall apart.

Outside the now destroyed space, back in the real world, the barrier of fog that had been present around the land for centuries slowly dissipated.

With what was sustaining it gone and the thing it was to protect removed, there was no way for the barrier to stay active any longer.

At the same time though, a somewhat ominous clicking could be heard all over the Sanctuary as snow started falling from the sky.. If one paid close attention they would hear.... rabbits?

=================

Share your thoughts please.

The Castle of Dreams belonged to Echidna and was the place keeping the souls of the other witches, apart from Satella of course, when the contract was forged between them. That Castle lost the person that made and sustained it and subsequently fell apart. The souls of the witches now freed from their 'captive' state simply passed on.

About the contract, it's like she can't do anything without his permission hence why he even shares thoughts and feelings. She can't share or do anything with them either.

Hopefully that clarifies any doubts.

Re Zero arc is ending soon.

Extra chapter per 175 powerstones?