Chapter 12: The Empress' Name

Emilia was smiling. Lelouch felt his mood improve. He snuffed that feeling out like a lighter's flame during a storm. Irritation didn't even begin to describe the feeling that bubbled up now. Something was dragging him towards Emilia, and he would bet that he knew just what.

If anything, he now had to be suspicious of anything favorable he was doing for the half-elf. Russell Fellows took a seat as the food was put onto the table, and Lelouch swallowed, his appetite gone.

"Are you sick?" Emilia asked. Lelouch shook his head.

"I'm afraid that I've been on my feet for far too long. The last few days have been very… eventful, to say the least."

Emilia nodded. "I've heard news that the capital was having trouble lately."

"None that the good knights couldn't handle, I'm sure," Lelouch said, smiling.

Roswaal smiled. "Oho? But wasn't it you that took care of the would-be assassin?" he asked. Lelouch's lips twitched upwards. "I've heard they gave you quite the title for it."

"I'm not too attached to such nicknames," Lelouch said. "And the situation with the assassin was luck, I'd say. My magic is not quite up to the level where it should impress Margrave Mathers, the Sorcerer of this generation."

Sorcerer, named after the divine blessing of the Mathers family. It made them strong, maybe not quite at the level where they could take on the Astraea family, but the kind of person that Lelouch wouldn't want to face in a direct fight. Roswaal's family had been described as one-man armies, and one of the many reasons Lugnica is unlikely to face invastion from outside forces.

"I'm not too attached to my nickname either," Roswaal said. Emilia spoke up. Russell was already eating, seemingly unconcerned but nonetheless very attentive. "A nickname?" Emilia asked. Lelouch twitched. Of course she'd be interested in things like that, considering her own names. Half-devil, the witch's relative, he heard some of the nobles whisper.

"The Golden," Russell said, a grin on his lips. "It was quite the display, I've heard, so I can't say the name doesn't fit, but it does sound like a name that would be better suited to a master Yang mage such as the Lady Barielle."

"Perhaps so," Lelouch said. "It's not a noble title, so I don't see what the fuss is about."

"Those are easily earned during wars, so you're out of luck if you're pinning for one," Russell said. Lelouch waved him off.

"With the right amount of land and money, that could be solved too, but I'm looking for something different," Lelouch said. "My studies of magic have been… fun, I suppose that's a word to describe it."

Without any direct goals besides surviving and find out what has been going on over in his world, Lelouch could take it slow. Considering he was in three for three now, it'd not be to far-fetched to assume that the points he returned to were very specifically designed to let him survive future events, however far they were.

If the save point was right after the assassin, it'd be a 'victory' that decided the point moving forward. Sadly, it wasn't, which meant that Crusch Karsten and Priscilla Barielle were still problems that could crop up in the future.

"Yang magic is quite something," a higher pitched voice said. It was Puck, appearing from behind Emilia and sitting down on her head. "But spirit magic is what's really incredible!"

"It's quite something, yes," Lelouch said. "Drawing mana from the atmosphere creates a few possibilities."

"So you recognize the spirit's greatness, huh?" Puck said, the right side of his mouth twitching upwards, one eye open. "You're not too bad of a guy, even though you should take a shower."

Lelouch grimaced. Emilia let out an exasperated sigh. "Puck."

"I'm afraid I haven't had time to take a bath yet, I'll be sure to do that after lunch."

Puck stared at him, and Lelouch refused to shrink away from the stare of a cat, mighty spirit or not.

"Puck," Emilia said, flicking Puck on the back of his head. "Please don't insult our guest. We owe him a debt."

Lelouch stared at the food in front of him, and he became aware of Rem's stare. It was unlikely she was going to poison him so blatantly, but if looks could kill, he'd probably be dying right about now. Taking a bite, Lelouch forced himself to continue eating despite his lack of appetite.

He was going to die in this route. He was sure of it, if not, he'd kill himself - the plan to deal with Betelgeuse was only to delay the inneivtable and get more information.

So he'd have to grasp for information where he could.

"I'm not going to ask for much," Lelouch said, making the rest of the table perk up. "There's been nasty rumors going around that I'm hoping to investigate, if you were to give me information on it, there's no need for me to hold onto something as a debt."

"That's very generous," Russell said, confusion evident in his voice. "To trade something like a debt of saving a life for information…"

"The Witch Cult," Lelouch said. The tension grew, and Rem's glare was mirrored by Ram as well. Roswaal put down his cutlery and leaned forward. "I'm afraid that I've become a target for them, and I'd like to know just what I might be dealing with."

"You're not joking," Russell said. Lelouch's stare was the answer to the statement. "I thought you were more subtle, the people at the capital clearly stated so."

He would be if he had to be careful with his words. Emilia shrunk into her seat, and Puck looked angry.

"I apologize for bringing the topic up," Lelouch said, sighing. "But after assassins and the headaches involved, I'm sure that you understand. I can't afford to be clueless, so I'm gathering all kinds of information."

"Why not simply stay in the capital, then?" Russell asked.

Roswaal shook his head. "Because the capital isn't safe," the margrave stated. "The assassin Elsa got in without rising alarm. Another assassin, even less competent than her managed to sneak into a safe place for nobles."

"It's not a surprise," Lelouch said. "That I'm not trusting the knights of the capital with my safety."

"The road you walk seems to be a lonely one, then. What about your friend, sir Reinhard?"

"I can't rely on him for protection when he has his princess to worry about," Lelouch answered. Lonely road, no. That wasn't quite it. Lelouch had friends, at least he'd like to call Reinhard such, maybe even Felt, but what he needed was more than friends. He needed people he could trust unconditionally, subordinates.

And amassing power was going to draw the attention of Crusch Karsten. It might even draw the attention of Priscilla Barielle. Amassing wealth was gonna draw the attention of Anastasia Hoshin.

And dealing with the witch cult was without a doubt going to raise some flags for Emilia and Roswaal.

But if it was to survive and stop looping back, there was no way he could sit behind the lines now. Permanent damage to his relationship with the candidates has already been done, though his problem with Priscilla seemed more one sided than he'd like to admit.

"The Witch Cult," Roswaal said, "is a four-hundred year old cult worshipping the Witch of Envy, Satella. Emilia, dear, if you wish you can leave the room for this conversation."

Emilia shook her head. "I don't need to leave. I'll-"

"It's alright," Puck said. "People like that won't touch my daughter. There's nothing to fear from them."

Emilia relaxed, though it was more a resigned shrug of her shoulders than actual calm.

"Four-hundred years since the witch has been defeated, and they immediately cropped up?"

Roswaal shook his head at Lelouch's question. "They've been active since she was. Their presence has made the situation before he was defeated worse, but the first reported appearance of an Sin Archbishop was two weeks after that event."

"Sin Archbishops?" Lelouch asked. He read a bit about them, but the information was flimsy, barely information, it described them as leaders of the witch cultists.

"Individuals who hold powers that Satella used in her rampage," Puck said. "They're named after the six witches that Satella murdered. Pride, Wrath, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth and Lust."

"But not Envy," Lelouch said.

"Envy is the witch, and they are working towards her return," Puck said. "I've dealt with them for long since before you've been born. As a spirit, my memory has been filled with many gruesome events that happened over the years, and they are almost always in the middle of it."

"I see," Lelouch said, a pit in his stomach. Four-hundred years, and powers that were used by Satella herself.

"All of them are marked by the gospel," Roswaal continued where Puck left off. "A black book that gives them the authority to hold the witch's power, anyone who reads it goes mad. A popular theory is that witch cultists have been forced to join by reading those."

"I'd disagree," Lelouch said. "Obviously some people join out of some enjoyment for destruction and bloodshed. So they've been active this long, and the information on them is sparse?"

"Most people who face the witch cult don't live to tell the tale," Roswaal said. "They're dangerous because they don't fear death, and move in small numbers. I've had to displeasure of fighting them once."

His eyes moved towards Rem and Ram. Lelouch grimaced, a story for another day. If they had a past with the cult, it'd explain the behavior.

"It's hard interrogating a corpse," Russell said. The man grabbed his chin in thought. "That's quite the cake you put on your plate, Lelouch. What makes you believe the witch cult is out for you?"

"Because this isn't the first time people have mentioned that I need to take a bath," Lelouch said. Puck's glare darkened. "And I've been wondering if it meant something."

Russell shrugged. "Maybe that you should visit a bathroom. If it's something magical, I'm probably as clueless as you are."

The man knew exactly what was going on, though he couldn't be aware of the specifics. Lelouch smiled, hiding it behind his hands as he put his elbows onto the table and clasped his hands.

"I'll keep that in mind, Russell."

"Now," Roswaal said, his voice tinged with some kind of lighthearted humor. "I'd hope that we can relax now that this nasty topic is over with. Emilia?"

She didn't look very well, though the determination in her eyes was something Lelouch took note of swiftly.

Someone like that would obviously not get along with the cult. If anything, the cult might be against her or even do things in her name because of her appearance.

"I apologize for bringing it up," Lelouch said again. "I'm a man of my word, however, there's no debt between you and me, Lady Emilia. Please, consider us even."

"But I didn't actually-" Lelouch raised his hand to stop her.

"You're a candidate to become queen, Lady Emilia," Lelouch said, smiling. Rem's glare darkened. "Considering the distress I've caused you, I believe this has gone on for far too long. Please don't consider me as someone you owe a debt to, but as a friendly acquaintance."

Puck measured him up, his inquisitive stare as throughout as Rem's glare, but softer. Then, suddenly, he stood up and floated over to Lelouch as if he had found what he was looking for.

Raising his paw forward, Puck spoke up.

"I thank you," he said. "For saving the life of my daughter when I was unable to react, and for your generosity."

Lelouch blinked. "You're welcome, Puck."

"I apologize for my earlier behavior, you seem aware of the problem, and I can understand your caution of the witch cult due to it," Puck said, a bit quieter. Lelouch wasn't sure it was quiet enough for the others to miss it, but that wasn't the point of the sudden discretion. Lelouch took the offered paw in between two fingers and shook it.

It was probably looking ridiculous for others.

"If you're not the kind of person I think you are, though, and abuse our goodwill, I will kill you."

The threat was clear, and Lelouch couldn't help it. Breaking out in a soft laugh, the tension in the room bled away, and Puck actually looked confused for a moment before laughing with him.

In the absurdity of the situation, Lelouch's heart felt lighter.

And Rem, too, relaxed, as the stench began to recede.

###

Lelouch held the book in one hand and read through the description of the spell again. From what he had read of the communication metia's, this spell seemed to be some kind of predecessor. A spell to project the thoughts of someone as a message and create a 'mirror' that allowed people to communicate through it.

There was no incantation, though. No information about how to cast the spell. Only a description. Back onto the first page, Lelouch concentrated, trying to decipher the start of the book first.

"I don't know what day, what month or what year it is…" Lelouch read the words again. "Can't find a way home…"

His mutters trailed off as the text began to become intelligible, and he read further, the message becoming clearer and clearer.

"Nature doesn't suit me. I reached a village, the people were kind but their homes were the trees. Trees don't have a lot of space for another person. They told me to try it further down the stream, houses were there."

If this was Flügel's diary, it was describing his journey from the first time he arrived in this world up to some point. If Flügel also just arrived in this world... then perhaps there was more going on than he knew. Aldebaran, too, was from Britannia.

The message was simple, the diary entry was telling his journey down to the houses.

"I found someone to stay with…" Someone to stay with. Who? The words became readable. Berries and nature. "The woman with the silver hair looked lonely, and she didn't hesitate to invite me to stay when I said I had no place to return to."

Silver hair. There was no way it was a coincidence. Considering the possessiveness he described on later pages, Flügel must have witnessed her descent into Envy.

Flügel and the Witch of Envy used to live together. It was such a weird concept that a man famed for getting rid of her was the person who witnessed her fits of jealousy.

Lelouch's chest tightened. The witch's hands reached out inside him, as if begging him to stop reading. Lelouch didn't.

"I fell in love," Lelouch read aloud. It had an effect, the words seemed to calm her, as if she was noticing that the diary was speaking about her. "When she smiled at me today, I felt that I had found my place. I've decided-"

He'd stay here and start in a different world, start his life from zero.

If Lelouch could simply do something like that, he'd have it easier, but his attachment to his old world, to his family and friends, it was something that made him human.

It was something that made him different from his father, who would sacrifice his children and his own brother to achieve his goal.

The fourth page, completely empty, filled out with a magical formula. A detailed description of the spell.

Flügel's diary wanted to tell a story before offering him something up. Either it was aware, or Flügel created it this way to justify what he did.

Creating a small circle on a paper, Lelouch filled it out with Flügel's symbols and held his hand over it, releasing mana, and he could immediately hear the footsteps of Rem outside the room.

The bright light that shined through the room was white, not golden. The symbol appeared on his hand, like a tattoo, but barely visible on his skin unless held under the light.

Focusing mana into it, Lelouch spoke the incantation.

"Mandillia. Reinhard."

The mirror appeared in front of him, a hole in the space, and it reached out.

The white circle began to fill with a familiar face, a red-haired knight who looked surprised. He was also topless.

"I think I tested out this spell at an unfortunate time," Lelouch said dryly. Reinhard laughed.

"I don't think I've heard of a spell like this. Is that you, Lelouch?"

"I'd hope so, I don't know who you'd expect to bother you during a bath besides me," Lelouch said. Reinhard shrugged. "Actually, it'd be better if you don't tell me."

Reinhard laughed again. "How have you been?"

"Some advantages and disadvantages, I've found out how to decipher the book. This spell is quite useful, I should teach you and Felt for emergencies."

If possible, he should teach it to as many allies as possible. Communication over long distances was hard to do here, and something like this beat any letter."

"That'd be too kind," Reinhard said, smiling. Lelouch smiled back. "Best not to tell Felt about this incident, though."

"Why take away her fun?" Lelouch asked. Reinhard muttered something under his breath. "I'll keep practicing the spell for a bit, goodbye Reinhard."

"See you in a while," he said. Waving his hand through the mirror, he vanished it and smiled. Step one, complete.

###

Lelouch stepped out early in the morning after taking a bath and stared at the sight of Emilia, surrounded by hundreds of lights.

Spirits, Lelouch took note of them.

His mood improved steadily since the success of the spell, and even the impending doom involving Betelgeuse wasn't bothering him too much.

He had died far too often to care at this point.

Morbid, perhaps, but nonetheless true.

When the lights vanished, he approached, taking note of Puck's head turning towards him.

"Good morning, Puck, Lady Emilia," Lelouch said. Emilia turned around quickly.

"Good morning!" she said a bit too loud. Puck nodded towards him. "Why are you awake so early?"

"I don't sleep very long," Lelouch said. "I'm used to stay awake for a long time too, it's kind of a skill I've acquired over the years."

Being in a war zone and then leading a revolution can do that to you.

"You reek less," Puck said. Emilia sighed at him, but Lelouch just smiled.

"I've just taken a bath, so I'd hope so," Lelouch said. Puck laughed, sounding exaggeratedly diabolical.

"There's nothing that the nose of the great spirit Puck misses, I am like a bloodhound!"

"Maybe the dog would like a shower," Emilia said, creating a bit of water that dripped down on Puck.

"N-no, don't do that!" Puck said, flying away from the water and landing on Lelouch's shoulder, leaving part of Lelouch's shirt damp. Lelouch let it slide. "You've been practicing magic all night, aren't you tired?"

"Strangely enough, this magic doesn't seem to strain me as much. It's been quite interesting, actually."

"Oh?" Emilia asked. Puck stared at him curiously.

This loop was his chance to see where he stood, how far he could push it to find out things.

"It's a book that came into my posession recently, it seems to be a diary by the Sage Flügel," Lelouch said. Emilia's awed 'ohhh' was as entertaining of a sight as Puck's incredulous stare. Lelouch released some mana through his hand and watched Puck move away from his shoulder before speaking up again. "Mandillia. Puck."

The mirror appeared at the same time next to both of them and opened up an image.

"It works over long distances," Lelouch said. "I've spoken with Reinhard just yesterday night. I need a name and a face to use it, however."

"That's… that's impressive!" Emilia said. "Magic like this has been lost for a long time, metia's are incredibly expensive! Something like this could allow people that can barely use magic to communicate-"

"Yes, it's my intention to release information about the spell," Lelouch said. "And perhaps make a profit."

"But why make people pay if this could do so much good?" Emilia asked. Puck shook his head.

"Because people need money to live, Lia," Puck said. "There's nothing wrong in making some profit before everyone shares the spell. There's more to it than the incantation, right? It's not something you can do just on a whim."

"Yes," Lelouch said. "There's need of a formula that's engraved on the skin. It might be why it doesn't drain me as much, it's a focus, taking only as much mana as it needs."

"Interesting," Puck said. "What's the limit on it?"

"I don't know," Lelouch answered. "The capital is about two days away while using the dragon carriage, that's quite the distance, though I wouldn't know if I could call a person in Kararagi."

"This could revolutionize the communication of the whole kingdom," Emilia said. "Orders could be given to knights at any distance, there would be no need for letters anymore-"

"Perhaps so, but it'd also mean that criminals have an easier time communicating," Lelouch interrupted. "And enemy armies will be more organized than before. There's disadvantages to every good invention, Lady Emilia."

A bomb to blow up everything to kingdom come built on the technology to power bipedal tanks that were used for war.

"Nothing comes without a price," Lelouch continued. Emilia's shoulders slumped and Puck sighed.

"Making my daughter sad, what a vile man you are, Lelouch Lamperouge."

"I apologize," Lelouch suppressed his urge to grin. A point he could use. She would be very interested in the spell.

But so would Crusch Karsten. And he was the only one who could decipher the book, which left him safe from anyone who might want to abuse it.

The rest of the day would have to be spent relaxing and preparing.

Lelouch had a fight to lose.

###

Opening the door to his room at night, Lelouch didn't even flinch when the first thing he noticed was Rem's remains, the maid twisted into unthinkable shape.

Betelgeuse stood there, his face pressed against the wall and humming a tune. Lelouch considered the situation.

He could do this two ways. One would be to simply surrender and let Betelgeuse take him instead of antagonizing him. The other one would be calling himself a cultist and saying he had been expecting him.

This time, he'd have to take the easy way out.

"Hello," Lelouch said. The man turned around. "Sin Archbishop Betelgeuse Romani-Conti. I've been expecting you."

The man's head turned around like an owl's, and Lelouch resisted the urge to look away from the disgusting sight of the cult leader's face.

"Ahhh, what a lovely smell, how strange, deceiver of love- you know who I am?"

"Of course," Lelouch said. Betelgeuse seemed… calm. More calm than before. Something had changed? Or perhaps the way he approached the situation made it change radically already. "I knew you'd come, and why you came."

"Ah, what dilligence, truly!" Betelgeuse swung his arm outwards, his other hand on his chest. "What a shame that you're a heretic, a person such as you can only be pride. You are, aren't you?"

"I've not received the gospel," Lelouch said. Betelgeuse's face twisted into something like a snarl.

"Of course you haven't!" Betelgeuse shouted. Lelouch was lifted into the air and as if light flickered, dark hands appeared around him, coming from Betelgeuse's body.

He could see them now.

Not commenting on the appearance of the hands, Lelouch hissed in pain as they held him tightly.

"Take me wherever you wanted to take me, Sin Archbishop, I don't have time for your shenanigans."

"I take it back, you're slothful," Betelgeuse said. "I want to kill you, deceiver and rejecter of love! Kill you so you can no longer be the heretic you are now- but she won't allow it! You're needed for the sake of love!"

"Then bring me to her," Lelouch said. "And let me in on that love you wish to spread through the world."

"Ahhhhh, you're the worst! The worst! The WORST! WORST! WORST!"

Though Betelgeuse's black hands were still holding Lelouch up, the man himself began hitting his head against the wall, the sound would without a doubt draw the attention of the others.

"But of course, you'll see the light, the glory, the beauty, the breathtaking existence! Come!"

Betelgeuse's hands formed into one large hand, grabbing him and pulling him out of the window. Both of the men were flying through the air at high speeds.

It was no wonder that they were in and out of a flash, leaving nothing but destruction behind. WIth a power such as Betelgeuse's, they had an incredible advantage.

###

When they finally arrived, it was beyond mountains, and Lelouch couldn't even tell in which direction they were going after a while.

They reached a temple. Something that looked like a temple, at least, and he was dragged inside, slammed against a wall and his back scraping against it as Betelgeuse dragged him towards the central room.

People in black clothes with pointy masks stood around the room, and Lelouch was all but hurled at a throne in the middle. When he hissed in pain at the treatment, the hands appeared again and fixed him to it.

"Watch!" Betelgeuse shouted. "The rejecter of love! Deceiver of the Witch!"

Lelouch took a deep breath and forced himself to relax.

Information. This was a lost cause. There was nothing to be gained from this loop but information.

"Alright, you had your fun," Lelouch said. "You wanted me for something, get to it. Where's the person that asked you to drag me here."

"Patience. Stay PATIENT. Why can't you just stay QUIET and PATIENT, why do you expect everything to come to you like that, ahhhh, how slothful! You're truly the worst kind of sloth!"

Lelouch watched as the man removed the white book from his pockets.

"The deceiver's gospel! The pretender's book!" Betelgeuse shouted. The man threw the book onto the ground and grabbed a torch. Before he could burn it, however, he vanished.

Then a woman stepped in.

Her hair was the color of platinum and her eyes were a deep blue. If Lelouch had to describe her in one word, it'd be 'disgusting'.

She was without a doubt the most beautiful person he had ever met. By any standards, someone like that was beyond logic, unreachable and impossible, and compared to the first time he met Elsa or the strange pull he felt towards Emilia, all that his body did was refuse to even look at her.

"Hello," she said with the voice of an angel's chorus, or perhaps it was the sound of a hundred nails scratching a blackboard. "I apologize for my subordinate's treatment. He was the only one who could've brought you here this quickly."

"You might want to choose your servants more carefully then," Lelouch said, his body free from the pain of being restrained. "You're the leader, then?"

"To a certain degree," she said. "I don't think you'd know my name. I'm Pandora. If you can hear it, he grabbed the right person, at least."

Hear it? Why wouldn't he?

"What a fitting name," Lelouch said. She looked confused for a moment, before shaking her head. Her hair bobbed left and right.

"Ah, something from your world," she said. Lelouch pursed his lips. Someone else who knew. "Pandora's box? What a… vain story. I need your help, Lelouch vi Britannia."

Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "My help?"

She took the book off the ground, Flügel's diary began to burn her hands at her touch. "This book. I want you to translate it for me."

It was a simple request, but it opened up questions. He was probably the only one who could read it for one reason or another, but…

Why did she need what was inside the diary?

There was one clear answer to it. The witch cult's ultimate goal was the revival of the witch Satella, so Flügel's diary could hold the key. If he described the spell used to defeat her, they could reverse it. He couldn't let that happen.

How did she know his name? Was she the one responsible for bringing him here? Maybe to translate the book? Did she give him the power? No. It was likely Satella, but until he had all the information, admitting his ability to return by death was detrimental.

But that was what he was here for.

"What do you hope to gain?"

"Everything," Pandora said. "The book holds everything I need."

"And what would I gain from it?"

"I wouldn't kill you."

Lelouch resisted the urge to laugh. She didn't know, then.

"I don't fear death," Lelouch said. "And you know a name that I hold no love for. If you want me to help you, you'd have to offer me the world."

"Why don't I offer you yours?" she asked. "If I know that name, if I know you come from another world, perhaps you should consider the implications. Our strength does not simply lie in our eagerness to revive Satella."

Lelouch's eyebrows twitched, and he leaned back in the throne of stone.

"You're offering me to return?" Lelouch asked. Pandora shrugged. "There's nothing for me back there. I'm a dead man."

"Then," she said, and her tone shifted. It was as if she was waiting for this moment, her appearance giving of a certain vibe of arrogance. "Perhaps you'd be more ready to help us so that the world you died for won't die by our hands."

Full stop. Lelouch felt a shiver go down his spine, his hands gripping the sides of the throne until his knuckles turned white. Standing up, Lelouch glared at Pandora.

"You would dare to threaten them?" Lelouch asked. He had to be sure. Her words were clear, but the one in a billion chance that he might be wrong was there.

"I would," she said. "Translate, and we let them go. Don't, and the might of the witch cult will enter your world and wreak destruction."

Lelouch grit his teeth, grinding them together and taking the book out of her hand.

"Do you think I'd believe such a flimsy excuse of yours? If you had that power, you'd have long since found a way to bring back Satella without this book."

"Ah, but do you want to risk it for the off chance that you're right and I'm lying?" she asked. "Or perhaps you'd expect me to admit I was bluffing when I was really not?"

Lelouch gathered mana around his hand, grabbing the emblem and opening the book. She looked satisfied. "There are so many people who depend on you, Lelouch."

Lelouch vision grew red. White hot fury coursed through him.

There was nothing in this world someone could threaten him with. His friendships were minor, the people he met enemies or acquaintances at most.

This woman. No, this monster.

She knew how to push all his buttons. She had some sort of power that made her an impossible enemy, all the information she found must be from somewhere, maybe even his own mind.

Maybe from a portal to another world.

"I won't do it," Lelouch said. Pandora sighed, wiping a strand of hair away from her face. "Not because I feel obligated to protect this world from Satella, not because I have some sort of worries about doing what is right or avoiding to do what is wrong."

"Then your sister will die, and you're to blame."

"There's something I've learned over there," he said. "I don't negotiate with terrorists."

Needles shot through the book, destroying it. Pandora actually looked surprised for a moment, then angry. She tried to repair the book with some sort of magic, but it rejected her just like her touch.

Lelouch felt the satisfaction bleed away when she slapped his head off his body.

###

Lelouch came by as he stumbled through the door to the dining room, his thoughts hazy. Roswaal helped him stand up straight, but before he could say anything, a flail came flying through the hall, about to rip open Lelouch by the spine.

A shield by Roswaal stopped it, and the man looked livid.

"Rem!" he shouted. "How dare you-"

"The smell of the witch!" she said. Her horn was out, shining brightly, Ram rushing in behind her. "He smells like an army of mabeasts!"

Roswaal shook his head, closing the door quickly and letting Ram calm down her sister. When he turned to apologize to his guest, however, he noticed something.

Lelouch's face was twisted in an expression of fury and scorn.

The young man all but snorted in anger, his teeth visible.

He had it. A purpose for this new world.

Annihilate the witch cult.

And leave no trace of their existence.

For Nunnally.