Jens yawned as he woke up. He felt an immense pain in his head and felt a little bit nauseous. Jens opened his eyes and noticed a ceiling. It was a marble ceiling and was decorated with roses.
"Where... am I? Don't tell me this is Satella's castle."
Jens realized a couple seconds later that he was laying on a bed. He stood up and walked towards the only door in the bright room. The room had six windows with every window looking different.
Jens opened the door and noticed he entered some kind of library. It was a giant library with thousands if not hundred thousands of books. All possible outcomes of Jens' Return by Death ability were able to be written in all of these books, but of course, that wasn't the case.
Jens: "Hello? Is someone here? I'm Jens!"
??? : "Stop screaming, otherwise you'll ruin my tea, I suppose."
Jens heard a lovely and charming voice coming somewhere out of the library. Jens closed the door behind him and right when he closed it, the door vanished. Jens ignored that fact, even though it was indeed strange. He walked towards he thought the voice was coming and saw a young girl sitting on a chair, reading a book and probably drinking tea.
Jens: "Ah... Hello."
??? : "How did you enter the Forbidden Library? In fact, how did you unseal the door?"
Jens: "I'm sorry. But I'm not really sure what this all is and where I am. Is Emilia around here?"
??? : "Yes. She currently resides here, I suppose."
Jens: "You speak... differently. I like it."
??? : "What kind of pervert are you? In fact, what kind of dirty thoughts are you thinking about?"
Jens: "We–– What?! None! I'm trying to find out where the fuck I am! You're twelve, maybe thirteen! I would never think like that about you... eh... what's your name?"
Beatrice: "My name is Beatrice. A Better question would be what that girl saw in a person like you, to care enough to bring him here."
Beatrice is a petite girl with long cream colored hair that she has tied in two twin drills along with blue eyes that have a butterfly pattern at the center. She wears a frilled dress with pink ribbons, tights, and shoes. A tiny crown lays latched upon the rear right side of her hair, with a butterfly-shaped ribbon joining her cape at her sternum.
Jens: "What? Wha–?! What do you mean by that! I helped her in finding the Insignia!"
Beatrice: "Betty doesn't really care what you did there, I suppose."
Jens: "Ugh! Well, what are you reading?"
Beatrice: "A stupid kid like you wouldn't understand it, in fact, you would get confused."
Jens: "Just say the title Beatrice."
Beatrice: "Hmph! The title is 'The Sunlit Garden', I suppose. In fact, it's a book about a garden where people are being raised, trained and made to become the children of God."
Jens: "Sunlit Garden, sounds familiar for some reason..."
Beatrice: "It is? I heard you had a serious amnesia, I suppose."
Jens: "Yeah that's right. But I keep remembering some things. Somethings sound familiar, somethings give me a weird feeling and others are just things that I'm not familiar with."
Beatrice: "I see. Memories are difficult things, I suppose. In fact, there are only a limited amount of things that are able to bend reality like memories."
Jens: "Ah. Wait, can I sit down next to you? I would love to talk with you and have some tea."
Beatrice: "––"
Beatrice pointed at a chair not far away from hers. Jens took that chair and placed it in front of Beatrice.
Beatrice: "What kind of tea do you like?"
Jens: "Green tea please."
"Wait–––"
Beatrice: "You... remember what kind of tea you like?"
Jens: "Uh, yeah. I remember someone offered it to me once and I started to love it."
Beatrice swung her hand and created green tea with her magic. There were five cups on the table where Beatrice was sitting. One was gray, one was gold, one was blue, one was pink and one was cream colored.
She pored green tea in both the gold and the cream one. She took the cream one and gave Jens the gold cup.
Beatrice: "How funny, I suppose. One of my best friends used to love gre-- Sorry. In fact, what did you want to ask?"
Jens: "I have many questions. First of all--"
Jens took a sip of his tea.
Jens: "Is Emilia safe?"
Beatrice: "Yes, I suppose. You're currently in the Roswaal Mansion. She's probably still sleeping or having spare matches with your friend."
Jens: "Ah okay. That's good. Who or what is Roswaal?"
Beatrice: "Roswaal is... it's hard to explain. Roswaal L Mathers is his full name and he's the head of this mansion. In fact, the Roswaal family is a family which is part of the Lugnician Nobility which specializes in magic."
Jens: "He's the boss? Then what is Emilia here?"
Beatrice: "She didn't say, I suppose. Emilia is a candidate of becoming the 42nd King of Lugnica."
Jens: "What!? She's a princess?"
Beatrice: "No, I suppose. She is one of the four candidates of becoming the 42nd King."
Jens: "W––What happened to the 41st King?"
Beatrice: "You don't know, I suppose. Well, one day, the 40th King of Lugnica became really sick. His name was Randohal Lugnica, I suppose. He was often admonished by the council of wise men when he tried to carry out his ideas, but he was a good person who was trying to help the people of the kingdom. The best healers of the world came to Lugnica and tried to cure Randohal's disease, however it didn't work and he died, I suppose. Couple days after his death, the royal family of Lugnica died one after another until the last member died. Quite tragic, I suppose. The 41st King, Jet Lugnica is still alive, for now. He's too sick to get children or even travel. He and his council will hold a Royal Ceremony and he'll introduce the four candidates to Lugnica."
Jens: "Yikes! What kind of disease is that?"
Beatrice: "I wish I knew."
She started drinking her tea and closed her book and stood up. She grabbed another red shelved book on the bottom right of the bookshelf of her right.
Jens: "What... is the name of that book?"
Beatrice: "You do have a lot of questions, I suppose. In fact, you're quite curious."
Jens: "Beatrice, I'm really not sure what happened to me in the past and I want to learn more. I can't even remember my family."
Beatrice's eyes narrowed when he said the word 'family'. She didn't narrow her eyes out of frustration, but out of sadness.
Beatrice: "That's... sad. In fact, it's quite depressing."
She looked at her cup of tea and a second of silence embraced her.
Jens: "What's the name of that book? I certainly can't read that."
Jens pointed to the red book she just grabbed.
Beatrice: "This one is called "The Pedals Of A Rose"."
Jens:: "Are all those books about actual stories that exist in this world?"
Beatrice : "The Sunlit Garden really exists. Most of these stories did actually happen, why?"
Jens : "I started thinking and I've a small plan. Beatrice, can you use magic to find a certain name in one of all these books?"
Beatrice : "I can, I suppose. In fact, I do that all the time."
Jens : "Can you look up the name 'Lethias Greenway' and the event or thing called the "Rose Extermination?""
Jens was thinking about the conversation he had with Lethias in the bar. Lethias actually claimed he knew Jens. But how did he knew him was the question that Jens' mind couldn't let go. The thought that there actually is someone that might know him couldn't leave his thoughts.
Beatrice : "Hmm..."
She closed her eyes and in a split second––
Beatrice : "Lethias Greenway doesn't exist."
Jens : "What do you mean doesn't exist? In these boo––"
Beatrice : "It means that there is no individual who's name is actually Lethias Greenway. It had to be a pseudonym if you actually met a person with that name. The Rose Extermination doesn't exist in a single of these books. However, the word "Extermination" is mostly used in Volakia."
Jens : "Volakia? What is Volakia?"
Beatrice sighed and drank her tea. She calmly put the cup on the table and looked at Jens curiously.
Beatrice : "Well. You know that this is Lugnica, right?"
Jens : "Yes, I know Gusteko, the Northern Country and the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica."
Beatrice : "Correct. We've the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, which is the northern country. We've the Kararagi City State, which is the western country and we've the Sacred Volakia Empire, which is the southern country. The capital country is currently cursed. It used to be called 'Icathia'. But after Satella fought during the Great Calamity, Icathia got completely destroyed and is still recovering. There are two more countries, The Great Kingdom of Mistral and another country which disappeared from existence and is currently unable to be found for some reason."
Jens : "I see. Where is Mistral?"
Beatrice : "It's northern of Lugnica and western of Gusteko."
Jens : "I see. Beatrice?"
Beatrice : "What is it Jens?"
Jens : "Would you---"
Jens stood up and bowed towards Beatrice.
Jens : "Would you mind teaching me Yin Magic?!"
Beatrice : "You... You are a Yin Mage? That's a rare affinity, I suppose. In fact, it's the rarest along with Yang Magic."
Jens : "I am. I activated some kind of spell and released a great shadow which paralyzed the Blood--"
Beatrice : "That is a spell named Shamak, I suppose."
Jens : "So uhh..."
Jens sat awkwardly on his chair was looking at a thinking Beatrice. He picked up his cup of tea and took a sip.
Jens : "Do you want to teach me... or not?"
Beatrice : "Maybe. We'll talk about it, I suppose."
Jens : "Alright!"
Beatrice : "Now, leave my library please. I'm going to read those books if you don't mind."
Jens : "One more question!"
Beatrice : "Ugh! What is it you fool?"
Jens : "What do the colors of these cups mean? I assume that cream is yours and the others are for someone else, am I correct?"
Beatrice : "Don't question that!"
Beatrice turned her hand towards Jens and released a shockwave of shadows. Jens was fired towards the closed door. Few meters before Jens reached the door with his back, the door opened and Jens fell on his back in another room. He closed his just for a second as his spine hurts a lot.
In the library, Beatrice sat on her chair sadly and kept saying words as if her heart broke into multiple pieces.
Beatrice : "Mom... I want to meet you again..."
Jens opened his eyes in another room. This room was grassy, a lot of plants were around. A few trees and one table with tea cups on it. Jens stood up and noticed that there were a lot of blue roses there.
Jens : "Ugh! How did that freaking loli do that?"
??? : "Sister, I assume that this is the guest Emilia-sama was talking about."
??? : "Rem, I assume that you're right. This might be the fool that saved her."
Jens : "Huh, who are you calling a foo---"
Jens turned around and noticed two maids. The one that responded has medium length pink hair that covers her left eye, large red eyes, and young features. She is nearly identical to the other one except that her eyes slant upward slightly and has a smaller chest. She wears a maid uniform which she wears neatly.
The one that started talking has medium length sky blue hair that covers her right eye, large light blue eyes, and young features. She also has hair clips towards left side of her hair, flower-shaped ribbon on the same side of her hair, and a maid hairband. She looks nearly identical to the one that responded apart from her hair, eyes, and ribbon coloring. She wears a maid uniform.
Jens : "Woah! Emilia has her own cute maids!"
Rem : "Ram. I sense lustful feelings."
Ram : "Rem. I sense it too. A true pervert."
Jens' face started to become more red as he started to feel embarresed.
Jens : "I don't have any dirty thoughts at the moment! Don't think like that!"
Rem : "You're Jens, right?"
Ram : "Rem, of course he is Jens."
Jens : "I am Jens indeed. I assume that you're Ram and you're Rem."
Ram : "Correct."
Rem : "It's almost time for Roswaal to return, we might wanna go to the diner hall."
Jens : "Roswaal? The head of the mansion?"
Ram : "My My. This clown doesn't even know the head of the mansion. Emilia-sama made a huge mistake taking him with her."
Rem : "My My. Ram you're just like always."
Jens : "Are you... twins?"
Rem & Ram : "We are. Ram is the older one."
Jens : "I see. So what is this place?"
Rem : "This is the Constellation Garden. You might wanna leave this place."
Ram : "Right. Let's go to the diner hall so you can see Emilia-sama and the other ones."
Jens : "Alright!"
Jens followed the two twins and after a couple of minutes walking, they arrived at the dining hall. The dining room, all the people in the mansion gather to eat. In this place there is a large table covered with a white tablecloth, on each side there are several chairs, and regardless of the time, lights are placed on the table. The wall is green and has certain white spaces. Behind the table there is a figure in a painting, possibly a relative of the Roswaal family.
He noticed immediately Beatrice sitting at the table. Emilia, Nathan and a clown.
Jens : "Emilia! Nathan!"
Emilia turned around and looked at Jens happily. She ran towards Jens and gave him a hug. Nathan however didn't show any emotions.
Jens : "Nathan? What's wrong?"
Nathan : "You traitor! You promised me that Felt would remain unharmed!"
Jens : "What are you talking about? She is unharmed, isn't she?"
Nathan : "Reinhard van Astrea took her with him."
Jens : "We'll find her. I'm sure she's safe."
Nathan : "I hope so too."
Emilia : "Jens, Ram, Rem, let's sit down and have breakfast!"
??? : "Aaaahhw!! How gorgeous this is. Jens. The Knight of Stars finally shows his face!"
Jens : "Excuse me?"
Roswaal : "My name is Roswaal L Mathers. The margrave of Lugnica and the Head of the Roswaal Mansion. Known by my alias' like Red, Green, Yellow, Mage among Mages and way more! I'm also the current head of the Roswaal family."
Jens : "Ah, nice to meet you."
Roswaal : "I've heard that you saved Lia and her Insignia few weeks ago? That's truly an achievement."
Jens : "What?! Few weeks ago?! How long did I remain unconscious?"
Roswaal : "Exactly eight days. Beatrice, Ram and Emilia healed you every day."
Beatrice : "Roswaal! Mentioning our healers isn't the best move, I suppose."
Emilia : "He is one of us. I promised that I would repay him."
Jens : "What are you all talking about? I don't get it."
Emilia : "Let's sit down before talking."
Emilia sat down again and so did everyone. Ram brought the food and placed it on the long table. She poured everyone Kararagian Tea, which had a great odor.
Emilia : "I promised I would repay you for saving everyone. I'll give you a choice, okay?"
Jens : "Uhm... okay? What's the choice?"
Emilia : "Join the Emilia Camp and help me becoming the 42nd King of Lugnica or leave and don't return, because we've shown you way too much information."
Jens : "Are you threatening me Lia?"
Emilia : "No---"
Beatrice : "She isn't because she's too stupid to understand. But I'll threaten you, because I'll do anything to protect this mansion and the residents of this mansion."
Jens : "Then my answer is easy. I'll join the Emilia Camp!"
Nathan : "Great."
Roswaal : "Truly extraordinary."
Emilia : "Yay!"
Beatrice : "Hmph! Sparing Magic Fight tomorrow morning. I'm going to read some books, I suppose."
Ram : "Tonight I'll teach you anything about the Royal Election and more."
Rem : "I'll make a sword for you in a few hours."
Emilia : "I guess your agenda is full already. Hahaha."
Emilia laughed and Jens started to noticing more and more cute features.
Jens : "Haha. I think so."
Roswaal : "Great! Only two weeks before the start of the Royal Election! Everyone go start with their jobs. Emilia, today you'll have to read the conditions about Volcanica."
Emilia : "Got it!"
Jens : "What am I supposed to do?"
Roswaal : "Go with Rem and keep asking anything you're curious about. I'll go to Mistral, so I'll return in a few days! Waaaghh... The Emilia Camp keeps expanding, it's glorious!"
Rem : "Jens, come with me."
Jens : "Ah! Okay Rem!"
Jens followed Rem entering the hallway. They kept walking for over twenty minutes until he saw Rem opening the door and they entered a dark room. The room was giant and it existed of one huge bridge with at the end of the bridge a shiny yellowish anvil.
Rem : "Now, you must walk towards that anvil and put your hand on it. The anvil will create a sword that fits your Aura.
Jens took a breath and walked towards the anvil. Nervous, his thoughts were filled with things that could happen. He didn't trust Ram and Rem at all. They looked like murderous twins.
Jens arrived at the anvil, he kept looking around him as he couldn't see anything except the anvil, blue flowers around it, a stone bridge and shadows. Jens looked at the anvil and noticed glyphs written on it.
He placed his and on the glyphs and a shockwave of energy was released. The flowers trembled and pedals of the flowers flew away into the abyss near the bridge.
Rem : "Jens! What is the meaning of this? What's going on?"
Jens : "I don't know!"
The shockwaves were insane, it felt like an earthquake was approaching the two. However, Jens quickly noticed that something was wrong. He turned around and saw a nervous Rem. Jens thought that she was casting a spell. However, he soon realized that the shadows approached him and that he lost his consciousness. He fell flat on his face and started bleeding out of his eyes, nose and mouth.
Rem : "JENS! BEATRICE-SAMA PLEASE COME!"
Soon after Rem started screaming, Beatrice arrived out of the shadows.
Beatrice : "I assume that he didn't listen to your instructions?"
Rem : "He did Beatrice-sama! Please help!"
Beatrice : "Stupid fool, I suppose. In fact, such an idiot!"
Beatrice : "Dureka!"
She threw a dark purple fire into Jens' body, but nothing happened.
Beatrice : "What?! My healing magic can't heal him. What happened?"
Rem : "A shining light appeared and shock waves started to shake the ground as soon as he put his hand on the glyphs."
Beatrice : "We've to inform Emilia. He isn't dead yet. But he is losing too much blood, I suppose."
Beatrice swung her hand and a rift in time and space appeared. It was a portal to some place.
Beatrice : "I'm going to help him. Go inform the others, I suppose."
She fired Jens into the portal and followed him right after. Rem ran away from the anvil and searched for others.
In the meantime, Jens' soul remained somewhere else outside of his body.
It was a dark place, it was the dimension of Satella.
Jens : "Ugh... I haven't been here in a long time."
Jens saw Satella's silhouette and looked at her.
Jens : "Satella. What's going on?"
Satella : "Everyday, I keep falling even more apart. You've to kill me."
Jens : "I won't kill you!"
Satella : "You don't understand! Raven Branwen is coming! You've to save yourself. Return by Death can't help you too many times, you've to save everyone!"
Jens : "Raven Branwen? I don't even know who that is! Satella please--"
Satella removed the shadow in front of her face and started screaming. The whole dimension started to collapse and Jens fell into the darkness of the abyss. At least, Jens' soul fell into the darkness. The roar of Satella kept echoing inside of Jens' skull.