human
Subaru:  Right in front of Subaru, the flowers that had put him through a terrifying experience were burning. Petals, vines, roots—all were enveloped in crimson flames, burning black and falling to pieces. And the one doing this was a flickering red light floating right above the burning flowers—a minor spirit.
gpt
Subaru:  "You again…"
human
Subaru:  It was the red minor spirit that had also saved Subaru earlier when he was the madwoman’s captive. While he gasped for breath, the spirit that had rescued him from peril came right before his eyes. Subaru immediately put his hand out, receiving the light’s warmth with his palm.
gpt
Subaru:  "—! This means…!" He took in that heat at the same time that the flowers finished burning away. The petals had become ash and the sweet aroma had been swapped for the stench of something burnt; immediately after, the world changed. The highway he had thought infinite began to waver, bleeding into the sky and the forest to the left and right. The world was warping like a painting being dissolved by water. Then, in an instant, it seemed to snap right back. The world had reconstituted itself—no, he had been freed from the illusion, and returned to the real world.
human
Subaru:  "—Subaru!" A voice called out to him. Raising his head at the sharp voice, Subaru returned to the world as it was. Standing right in front of him was Julius, calling to Subaru as the red spirit rested upon his shoulder.
gpt
Julius:  "So it was you…"
human
Subaru:  "There is no mistaking that abusive tongue. I do not believe anyone could reproduce your invective toward me this faithfully." Subaru was sour at Julius’s face being the first he saw upon his return;
gpt
Julius:  Julius responded with mild sarcasm. However, Julius immediately pulled Subaru’s arm, bringing him to his feet, and motioned with his chin toward the surrounding area. When Subaru followed suit and looked around the area, he stood dumbfounded, gaping at the state of the expeditionary force. All the neatly lined members of the expeditionary force, man and mounted beast alike, were at a complete standstill.
human
Julius:  "Someone has attacked us. An illusion-type incantation, but it only sent my mind astray for several seconds. At present, only you and I have returned from it. How did you come back?"
gpt
Subaru:  "A few seconds? On my end it was minutes. Maybe ’cause it was all in my head?"
human
Julius:  "I never would have thought that you possess the power to resist such magic. How did you make it back?"
gpt
Subaru:  "Wait, everyone got trapped by this? Seconds or minutes, at this rate we’ll all be stuck in place and make a real nice target. We’ve gotta do something!"
human
Julius:  "That’s why I’m asking you how you came back!" With their mutual doubts clashing, the lack of headway aroused Julius’s anger. The rare reaction shocked Subaru.
gpt
Subaru:  Realizing it was no time to argue, he switched gears. "It was burning the flowers inside the illusion that caused it all."