Tiamat looked at Subaru, her gaze steady and curious.
"You work here as a butler now?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Subaru scratched his cheek, flashing a sheepish grin. "Yeah, well, I couldn't just sit around all day freeloading. It didn't feel right, you know?"
Tiamat blinked. Working despite being a guest? She mulled over the thought. Is this a trend among youth these days? So eager to take on burdens…
She glanced away, murmuring to herself, "Living here and doing nothing…" Technically, that described her as well. She, too, had settled into Roswaal's mansion without so much as lifting a finger.
Should she be working?
Beatrice, still holding her hand, tugged gently and looked up at her mother with a pout.
"Mama doesn't need to work, kashira. Mama is an honored guest… and my family," Beatrice said, her voice firm, as if defending a precious truth.
"Is that so?" Tiamat murmured, not entirely convinced.
Emilia stepped in with a gentle laugh. "Subaru's just special, Mom. I told him he didn't need to work, but he insisted. He wanted to help however he could."
Tiamat considered their words in silence. It was kind of them to make room for her presence, but wasn't it a mother's role to support her children—not the other way around?
Perhaps… it's time I gave them something meaningful in return.
Her pink, star-shaped pupils glimmered faintly as a decision settled in her heart.
Without a word, she parted her lips—and a soft, ethereal melody began to flow.
The sound, barely louder than a whisper, wove through the room like a gentle breeze. It shimmered in the air, painting the walls with warmth and stillness. Even the light seemed to pause and bask in its glow.
From deep within Emilia's crystal pendant, Puck stirred. He emerged instinctively, his eyes wide.
"What is that…?" he whispered, the fur on his body standing on end.
The atmosphere around them shifted—soft motes of light began to flicker into being, swirling through the room like tiny stars. Spirits. Dozens—no, hundreds—of them, each fluttering with the same gentle rhythm of the melody.
Beatrice gasped audibly. She clutched her book tighter against her chest, her butterfly-shaped pupils dilating in astonishment.
"She's… summoning a spirits…?" she whispered. "No, that's not summoning… That's actual creation…"
Tiamat's body glowed faintly, radiant with a quiet power she hadn't felt in a long time—pure, ancient, and maternal. A soft warmth pulsed outward from her core.
Subaru, blinking rapidly as the luminous spirits danced around him, laughed with giddy confusion. "Whoa! What's going on? I feel like I just drank ten energy drinks at once!"
The melody reached its final note and faded into silence. The spirits slowly dispersed, but the warmth lingered.
Tiamat closed her mouth and looked around at them, her voice gentle.
"This is the gift of a mother," she said. "My blessing… for my children."
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Puck, still hovering beside Emilia's shoulder, muttered under his breath, voice trembling slightly.
"…What a monster…"
---------------------------
Tiamat let out a soft yawn, rubbing her eyes lazily as she stared up at the open sky above Roswaal's garden. She wasn't tired, nor was she sleepy—it was boredom, pure and simple.
Emilia had been busy with her duties, and Beatrice had buried herself in her studies after receiving Tiamat's blessing. That left the primordial mother without company, without anything to do… and that left her bored.
A familiar voice broke the stillness.
"Madam Tiamat!"
She turned to find Subaru jogging toward her, his usual grin plastered across his face.
"Would you like to come with me and Rem to the village?" he asked. "We're heading out to buy something."
"Village?" Tiamat repeated thoughtfully. Her pink eyes sparkled as she imagined all the children who might be in need of affection. That thought alone was enough to stir her.
She smiled. "I would like that."
"Alright! That's great—Rem's already waiting for us!" Subaru said, clearly pleased.
Tiamat followed him down the dirt path that stretched beyond the Roswaal mansion. Up ahead, Rem stood near the gates, her hands neatly folded in front of her. As they walked, Subaru launched into one of his usual rambles, half-talking to Rem, half-to himself. Rem responded only with short, polite nods or simple acknowledgments.
Eventually, Subaru slowed his pace, turning toward Tiamat with a slightly hesitant smile. He scratched the back of his head, clearly pondering something.
"Hey, Madam Tiamat… can I ask you something?"
She glanced at him, nodding wordlessly.
"It's just…" He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Your name—it sounds a lot like that goddess from Mesopotamian mythology. You know, the primordial goddess of creation and chaos? Madam Tiamat. I was just wondering… are you really that Tiamat?"
He laughed awkwardly, but his eyes searched hers seriously.
Rem's ears perked slightly at the question. She didn't turn her head, but she was listening now, every word taken in carefully. Knowledge, after all, was the best way to measure a potential threat.
Tiamat's gaze slid toward Subaru, calm and unreadable. Her star-shaped pupils seemed to shimmer as though she were peering through him, rather than at him.
Subaru flinched, a shiver running down his spine at the intensity of her stare.
Then she looked away, her voice soft and almost playful as she answered:
"My child… why ask something so obvious?"
With that, she walked past him, her white dress fluttering behind her.
"Eh?" Subaru blinked, watching her move ahead. "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"
Rem, still beside him, glanced after Tiamat, then back at Subaru.
"Did… she just admit to being a goddess?" Subaru muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Or was that a denial in disguise?"
Subaru sighed in defeat. "First Roswaal with his cryptic speeches, and now her... I'm surrounded by riddles."
Up ahead, Tiamat hummed softly to herself, a knowing smile on her lips. Whether she was the goddess of myth at the end she just a mother that want to show affection to her child.
-------------------------
The dusty path leading into Arlam Village welcomed them with warm sunlight and gentle rustling winds. Tiamat stepped forward quietly, her eyes scanning the humble homes and wooden stalls that lined the streets. The villagers, busy with their daily routines, paused momentarily—some out of curiosity, others out of unease—as their gazes landed on the unfamiliar horned woman walking beside Subaru.
"I'll go handle the groceries," Rem said softly, giving Subaru a quick glance.
And just like that, she disappeared down one of the shop, leaving Subaru and Tiamat standing alone in the village square.
"Well," Subaru said, scratching his head, "didn't you say you wanted to meet the children around here, Madam Tiamat?"
"Mm." Tiamat gave a small nod, her pink eyes gently surveying the surroundings. Yet, oddly enough, there wasn't a single child in sight.
Until—
"Is that a real horn?" asked a small, curious voice from behind her.
Tiamat turned and saw a short girl with reddish-brown hair and a ribbon tied neatly atop her head. Her amber eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Kid!" Subaru scolded lightly. "You can't just walk up to someone and ask that!"
"But she doesn't look like an adult…" Petra muttered, looking back and forth between her and Tiamat. "Aren't she around the same age as me?"
Subaru stiffened. Now that Petra mentioned it… from a distance, Tiamat did appear young—almost deceptively so. Her face was ageless, but delicate. Her stature, slight. If not for the regal bearing she carried with her every step, one could easily mistake her for just another girl from the village.
Tiamat, unfazed by the comment, knelt slightly and offered a gentle smile to Petra. "Yes, child. My horn is real."
"Whoa…" Petra stepped closer, inspecting it with fascination.
"And what's your name, little one?"
"Petra Leyte!" she announced proudly, puffing her chest out.
Before long, more children appeared, forming a small ring around Tiamat. They buzzed with excitement, whispering and laughing in awe at her appearance.
Subaru could only sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "So much for a quiet village visit…"
Then—whump!
A sudden weight landed on his back. "Hey, weird-face onii-san! What are you staring at?"
"H-Hey brat! Get off!" Subaru yelled, twisting to see a sniffling boy clinging to him. "Don't call people weird-faced, and wipe your nose first!"
"I'm not a brat! I'm Lucas!" the brown-haired boy declared before promptly using Subaru's coat to clean his nose.
"You little gremlin!" Subaru groaned. "That's disgusting!"
Tiamat chuckled softly as she watched the scene unfold. "My child is quite popular with the young ones, it seems."
Just as she turned to continue playing with the children, she noticed Petra still staring at her with wide, curious eyes.
"Is something the matter, child?"
"Um…" Petra pointed toward Subaru. "Is that big brother your son?"
Tiamat nodded solemnly.
"Whoa! You're so young and already have kids?!"
Tiamat smiled, her tone gentle and amused. "My appearance may seem young… but child, I could be your ancestor."
Petra blinked. "Wha—?"
Just then, Tiamat's gaze sharpened. She sensed it—something watching her. Her head turned slowly.
Across the square, near the fence that bordered the flower field, stood a small girl with icy blue hair. In her arms, she clutched a fluffy dog that now whimpered quietly, ears flat and tail tucked.
Tiamat's star-shaped pupils locked with the girl's violet ones. For a fleeting moment, the world felt still.
The creature in the girl's arms—a seemingly normal dog—tensed. Its instincts were sharp enough to know: this woman wasn't ordinary. It let out a low whine, trembling under her gaze.
"Meili! Why're you just standing there? Come meet this kind onee-chan!" Petra called out, waving her over excitedly.
The blue-haired girl hesitated, her grip on the dog tightening. But after a moment of silence, she cautiously stepped forward.
As she did, the dog began squirming uncontrollably, as if desperate to escape the growing proximity. Meili frowned, confused.
Tiamat, meanwhile, watched the girl's approach without moving, her eyes unreadable.
Tiamat gently extended her hand and softly ran her fingers through Meili's pale blue hair. The girl blinked, flinching slightly at first, but then slowly leaned into the touch, closing one eye. Strangely… it felt warm. Comforting. The kind of touch that didn't demand anything from her—just acceptance.
And yet, Meili remained puzzled.
Why was the Witch Beast trembling?
It should have remained still in her arms. It should have obeyed her. But instead, it squirmed with panic, reacting as if threatened by something it couldn't understand. Just as Tiamat's hand moved to pet the dog, a voice interrupted.
"Madam Tiamat!"
Subaru's voice rang out, slightly breathless.
The horned woman turned her head, hand retreating instinctively. Subaru was making his way toward them with four children clinging to various parts of his body—one on each leg, one on his back, and one tugging at his hair like a determined mountaineer.
"Ohhh, what a cute little dog!" Subaru said, eyes landing on the trembling puppy in Meili's arms. He crouched down, carefully reaching a hand out to pet it—only for one of the kids to yank his hair with a victorious cheer.
"Hey! Stop pulling my hair!" Subaru cried.
And then—
Snap.
The puppy lunged and bit his hand.
"OW—! What the hell?!" Subaru yelped, jerking his hand back in surprise, blinking down at what still looked like an ordinary, harmless little dog. Blood began to bead from the wound.
The dog—now free—sprang from Meili's arms and bolted down the street, disappearing into the narrow alleys of the village.
"Wait—! Come back!" Meili called out and took a step forward, only to stop short, confused. Why did it run away like that?
Tiamat's gaze lingered in the direction the beast had fled. Her expression remained unreadable, but her eyes—those star-shaped pupils—narrowed briefly into slits, a silent predator's instinct flaring before returning to calm.
"Are you alright, child?" she asked Subaru as he stood there, cradling his bitten hand.
"I-It's not that bad… just a scratch," Subaru muttered.
"Better get it checked, Nii-san!" one of the kids said, staring nervously at the red bite mark. "Dog spit can be super gross!"
Just then, Rem returned, carrying two bags filled with vegetables and dried goods. She blinked as she saw Subaru's bleeding hand. "Subaru? What happened?"
"Ah, it's fine. Just a little bite," he said with a sheepish smile.
Tiamat approached calmly and gently took Subaru's wrist in her hands. "Stand still, my child."
Her voice was low, soothing.
A soft green light enveloped Subaru's hand as her magic flowed through him. The pain dulled immediately, the bleeding ceased, and within moments, the bite wound vanished entirely, as if it had never happened.
Subaru flexed his fingers and stared in awe. "Seriously… no matter how many times I see it, magic really is incredible. Thank you, Madam Tiamat."
Tiamat, however, wasn't smiling. Her eyes remained distant, watching the alleyway where the dog had run.
"After this," she said quietly, "I suggest you visit Beatrice."
"Huh? Why?"
"You may not understand now. But I trust my daughter will explain it properly," she replied.
Subaru tilted his head, confused, but nodded.
Meanwhile, the children around them stared with wide eyes.
"Whoa! Sister's a magician?!" one of them gasped.
"That was amazing!"
"Can you make me fly next?!"
Tiamat smiled faintly at their reactions. Meili, however, remained quiet, her brows furrowed slightly as she looked at her now-empty hands.
(A/n: tbh my hand itch to write Tiamat in her beast form.....)