hollow of Astrea lover

What could be worse than Gluttony victims falling asleep forever? Well what if they didn't? What if they kept walking around with zero understanding of who they are and zero people to tell them?

Those who lost only memories were still connected to the world by memories of other people. But those who lost everything are completely cut off from the existence. What if they felt it? Every second of every day knowing that you've lost something of such importance that it's hardly comprehensible. The first thing you register when you wake up and the last one you feel before falling asleep. You keep dreaming about filling this gaping hole in your soul but in reality it only grows bigger.

You cannot think about anything else.

If you look at these two, you'll find that they fulfill the same role. And I don't mean the role of a warrior or a loyal follower of their master.

Goz and Julius are exemplary figures. The perfect soldier and the perfect knight. No one else could take their place or do it as well. For instance, someone like Reinhard is certainly powerful and graceful, and Cecilus literally embodies the philosophy of the Empire, but you can't hold them up as examples because they're more like forces of nature than people, and they've always been that way. (Sure, they worked on themselves—though in Reinhard's case, he was more learning restraint than anything else—but what was merely the first step for them is simply unattainable for most of other people.) And if you look at other generals or knights, it's just that none of them are as inspiring as these two.

Goz started as a common soldier and rose to the rank of Divine General. Julius was born and raised among commoners until he was taken into the Juukulius House. Both of them possessed extraordinary qualities—incredible hearing, divine protection, and overall talent—but they were able to flourish only through sheer hard work. They give their all to what they do, and it shows.

They set an example of loyalty, of how to find and develop your strengths, of how to be noble. Looking at them, you want to follow their lead and strive to be just as worthy.

A) In a situation where I (like most people) had never met them in person and could only judge by their achievements and words—

Emilia and Felt have no background at all. At the start, there's literally nothing to base trust on.

Crusch is a Karsten, and in any other situation, she'd have all the rights to be on the throne. On top of that, she's a good leader and a respectable person. But she wants to break the covenant with the Dragon. And even if she's right that people have grown weak under the Dragon's wing, it's still the Dragon's wing that protects. It exists for a reason. In the short term, the Dragon's invisible presence could be replaced by the Sword Saint and other talented warriors. And overall, that might even work, because later new talents would emerge, driven by the need to protect and fight by their own hands, since there isn't anyone to do it for them.

But it's still too risky, especially with a literal nation of warriors right next door—cough, cough, the Empire. I'd wait until she proves she can really keep the country from falling without the Dragon and perhaps revive what existed before the Great Disaster.

Anastasia and Priscilla are clearly capable. Their company/territory is thriving. But Anastasia is from Kararagi (and Priscilla is from the Empire, though we commoners don't know that), which raises doubts: would she be a good king of Lugunica if she doesn't even know what it means to be a Luginican?

So, right after the election announcement, I'd lean toward Priscilla.

B) In a situation where I somehow had the chance to talk to the candidates or at least see how they handle things—

Emilia, sorry, but you're out immediately and permanently. Tappei gave her a bunch of "cute" traits and made her an "angel." But he didn't made a King, and it shows. She could take a role in civil governance—someone with good ideas and the will to carry them out—but definitely not the very top of the state apparatus.

My opinion of Crusch stays the same, and I'd trust Anastasia more. Merchants are associated with greed, cunning, and calculation—and she truly has all those traits. But beyond that, Anastasia deeply cares for those she considers hers. As a ruler, she would nurture her state, and Lugunica would resemble a well-groomed cat with a glossy coat (though the cat would still have to run around so it doesn't get fat).

Priscilla is one of those rare, impossibly arrogant people who have every right to be that insufferable because they really are that good. She's proud and strong like a true King and can back up her words. It makes you want to stand in her light and never worry about anything again.

Felt is surprisingly good at leadership and communication. And that's because she's sincere and never afraid to speak what's on her mind. Coming from the slums, she knows Lugunica's problems all too well, and someone like her won't let them continue. Felt is no fool and promises to be a great reformer (and even though times of change are always hard on common people, you can expect Felt to take that into account).

Power is almost always detached from the people and looks out for its own interests—and in its theatrical attempts to pretend otherwise, it only spits in the faces of those on whose shoulders it stands. Felt comes from the bottom and will never forget that. She can be trusted not just as a politician, but as a person.

In this case, I'd most likely follow Felt.

Actually, all Astreas are numinous and so, so terrifying

So imagine him randomly letting some of it slip. Like him randomly making comment that only Priscilla can understand because it requires reading experience of 3 whole libraries. Or imagine their camp was invited somewhere and one moment Heinkel is just "ha this painting is fake" in some hallway and only Al can hear him. Or he's helping Schult with some tricky part of the etiquette. Or Heinkel correcting someone in history or whatever subject, he couldn't care less actually but if he's a bit drunk and/or if it's Schult...

——

Schult had been serving Lady Priscilla for some time, but he had never attended a reception before. Now, one was scheduled for a few days later.

One evening, in an empty room, Schult practiced his bows, introductions, and everything a servant needed to know for a formal reception.

He had to perform perfectly! Otherwise, he would disgrace Lady Priscilla!

The door opened, and Schult froze mid-greeting to an imaginary gentleman with an extravagant cravat.

"Oh, Schult-kun. I thought no one was here." Al tapped his helmet awkwardly with a finger.

"Al-sama, do you need this room? I'm sorry, I was just—"

"Ah, don't worry." The man gave a thumb-up with his only hand.

Schult had known him long enough to understand the meaning of that strange gesture.

"Hard to believe, but I come here to read when I've bored the Princess and she sends me away," Al waved toward a small table where, sure enough, a book lay. "Am I interrupting?"

"N-not at all!"

Al sat on the couch, picked up the book with his single hand, and started reading. Remarkably, he did even this while wearing his helmet.

Now Schult practiced only the movements, a little too embarrassed to speak.

Both he and Al were distracted by the sound of the door opening. A tall, red-haired man poked his head in.

"Damn, not here," he muttered, and was about to close the door when he noticed Schult.

...The door swung open again.

"Are you practicing a bow?"

Schult nodded.

Heinkel looked at him and signed.

"That's not how you do it..."

He entered the room and stopped in front of the startled boy.

"Watch. I'll show it just once."

Schult's eyes went wide as he watched Heinkel-sama placing his left foot behind him, drawing the right toe in a small scraping arc against the floor. He pressed his hand to his chest, then swept both arms outward in a wide, graceful gesture as he bowed low from the waist.

The whole movement was oozing with sharp sarcasm, yet mixed with astonishing elegance.

The sequence itself was the same as Schult's, but the execution... Neither his unshaven face, nor his worn-out clothes, nor even the bottle of alcohol in his left hand could overshadow that grace.

"Whoa. I keep forgetting you're from nobility, old man, and then you pull something like that," Al whistled. He himself lived at a respectful distance from etiquette.

"Tch." Heinkel shot Al an annoyed look and turned back to the boy. "Got it?"

"Y-yeah..."

So after Rem's speech Subaru decides to rise and fight like in canon but he's not really sure if he can get candidates to help him. It already failed before... Although he has new info it doesn't guarantee success right? He's on timer and he don't want for all of those horrible things to happen yet again so he needs someone who will help him no matter what, even if Subaru wouldn't be able to give much in exchange. He needs someone with principles, strength and kindness. But who can it be if not Reinhard who is not in the city?

Well...

In this universe he triggered Felix and the latter told him (angry spilled) about Julius's true intentions behind the duel. Subaru was not really fine with it until some cycles later

Julius became a person of chivalry in his head. Like Reinhard but more fancy and much more annoying. Subaru (after a mental fight with himself) thinks that it's safer to seek help from Julius because he believes that Julius wouldn't refuse.

So he and Rem tried to visit Juukulius mansion but didn't really succeed because Joshua opened the door and he wasn't really happy to see person who resulted in troubles for his brother. So naturally they tried other ways. Like trough the window.

There is a pattern in my latest favorite male character

Ah so if you need to kill Heinkel you need to starve him to death. Of course!

Now I'm sure that he's locked in some cave during Pride IF. Maybe he's even slightly alive during the fire because you know it probably took him a looot of time to die

Raksha tightened the strap on her travel bag and nodded to herself with satisfaction. In the morning, she would leave the manor to see the world for herself.

She was her father's daughter, after all.

A knock came at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal Heinkel—her older brother/master/friend. All these words fit him and didn't, simultaneously.

They weren't true siblings, not sharing a single drop of blood. By blood, they were supposed to be master and servant, but for them, it was more of a formality. Having gradually grown apart with age, they weren't as close as her mother and Theresia-sama or her father and Wilhelm-sama. Maybe it was the age gap. Maybe not.

They were different. Even too different. But they grew up together and knew each other well. Even too well.

"I thought you might need it," Heinkel said, holding out a dagger in a leather sheath.

Sentimental, as always.

The blade was solid and looked simple, nothing extra—just the way she liked it.

"Thanks! I'll use it."

And she really would. With this very blade, Raksha would mark her husband's face, giving him an even more rugged look. But that was for later. For now, two teenagers awkwardly tried to say goodbye and use their last chance to talk.

And talk they did. For hours on end, recalling old funny stories and telling new ones, pondering the future, asking about the past, but living in the present.

"So you'll just leave without saying goodbye to the others?"

Dawn was already breaking, but the whole manor was still asleep. Except for them, of course.

"I've already said everything that needed saying. And what I haven't said, everyone knows anyway." Raksha shrugged, grabbing her bag.

Heinkel shrugged too. He would've said goodbye. Though, he wouldn't have needed to. An Astrea didn't have the freedom to go where and when they pleased.

"Don't forget to write letters."

"And don't you forget to introduce me to your wifey later, Astrea-sama," Raksha said with a sly smile.

In a few seconds, Heinkel's face went from pale to pink to red, matching the colour of his hair.

"Y-you—I'm just escorting Louanna home after her work! And anyway, how do you even know?" Heinkel jabbed an accusing finger at her.

Wow, he was so embarrassed he even let "Astrea-sama" slide. That form of address turned him into a deer with darting eyes, as if he didn't deserve the name.

"I was just out for a walk one day and stumbled upon you two, walking together."

It must have been one of those "after-work escorts" Heinkel talked about. The two looked cute together and seemed happy just from being near each other. Maybe they just hadn't realized their feelings yet?.. It was amazing how Heinkel managed to find a girl just as hopeless as he was.

Well, Raksha would definitely drop by for the wedding. With that thought, she waved one last time and jumped out the window, landing silently on the dew-wet grass. She vaulted over the fence and disappeared into the morning mist. A whole world awaited her.

Stars in rz are basically big chunks of mana, and they can be used (and, as always, Echidna already thought of that with Al Shario). She was just throwing stars like nukes and it worked fantastically BUT what if you catch a star and charge your spell or metia with its energy? What if you can use stars to "charge" yourself? What if you can swallow a star?