Shattered Path

Chapter 3: Two Broken Souls

"I see that you still have that terrible habit of yours." Beatrice said.

Both Subaru and Beatrice were in their room sitting beside each other on the bed. The spirit was healing up Subaru after an incident taking place in the workshop involving fire runes.

While Beatrice was healing up her contractor, she noticed several cuts and scars all over his wrists and arms, a good number of them were recent.

Subaru stayed silent which was more than enough to confirm the great spirit's suspicions. She let out a sigh before following up, "Betty will heal your arms as well."

Despite the gloomy boy's shame for having Beatrice see that, he was left confused why she seemed to brush it off so easily. She was so pushy when it came to keeping better care of himself so this threw him for a loop.

Despite his unwillingness to talk about this, he had to ask, "You're not mad...?"

The short spirit was working on healing Subaru. It took her a moment to answer as she considered her words very carefully. "Betty isn't mad. Disheartened is a better way of describing it, I suppose."

...

"I'm sorry, Beako." Subaru muttered.

Beatrice stopped for a moment and rested her chin over her hand. "If you still plan to continue that habit, at least do it where Betty can see you, I suppose."

Once again, Subaru was tossed into another loop. "You mean right in front of you."

The spirit nodded. "That would be preferable."

This didn't sit well for Subaru one bit. He felt very uneasy about this. Despite him feeling uncomfortable with this topic, he couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

...

Beatrice looked at her contractor with a dead serious look. "Are you able to guarantee or even promise that you'll cease this habit of yours?"

"I..." Subaru hesitated. He wanted to lash out at her. He wanted to yell at her and say stop it. But, something was preventing him from doing so. Eventually, he continued, "I can't promise that..."

Seemingly expecting that answer, Beatrice started, "I am aware that I can't force you to stop. If you can't control those urges, Betty would prefer you to indulge yourself under her surveillance, I suppose."

Beatrice tensed up before continuing. "The thought of you going too far while out of Betty's reach is... it's... Betty just can't handle that thought."

Subaru understood it now. She just wants to be there to heal him in case something goes wrong. "Alright, Beako. Could you keep this between us...?"

Beatrice nodded. "Of course, Subaru."

The remainder of this time was eerily silent as Beatrice finished up healing the boy.

...

"There, you're healed up. You should consider leaving your fire rune experiments to someone experienced with magic, I suppose."

"I sorta assumed that you'd fit that role..." Subaru grimaced. Beatrice was with him during the incident after all.

The spirit crossed her arms and let out a humph. "Does Betty have to remind you of all the times when you insisted that 'it's fine' or when you said 'I know what I'm doing'? Why must Betty's Subaru act without common sense, I wonder?"

"Oh, right... I guess it is my fault, isn't it?" Subaru sighed before continuing, "Sorry again, Beako..."

Beatrice waved her hand dismissively. "As long as you're capable of correcting your behavior, then it should no longer be an issue, I suppose."