WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World, Season 2, Episode 2, "The Next Location," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World is well on its way to something big if Episode 2 is any indication. Following a successful if not somewhat tragic journey during which fan-favorite Rem was once again subjected to memory erasure, Subaru and Emilia have finally returned home to Roswaal's mansion only to find an eerie atmosphere, fresh mysteries and new faces.
As Subaru, Emilia and Otto ride up to the Roswaal mansion's entrance, the tone is rather sedated. The grounds, while tidy, are devoid of life -- a strange homecoming as noted by the trio. Subaru and Emilia naturally attempt to waltz through the front door only to find it locked, but upon knocking, are greeted by Frederica Baumann, a demi-human with a sharp, ominous smile. As Subaru jumps at the sight, Emilia corrects him painfully and Frederica explains that she once worked for Roswaal but was on a sabbatical until recently when Ram requested her assistance.
Ram, oddly enough, has not yet appeared and is nowhere to be found when the group meets in the common area. It's because of Frederica that the mansion looks rather tidy, apparently, as she takes credit for trimming the hedges and keeping things neat while Ram accomplishes as much as she can. With no memories of Rem, neither of the mansion's staff truly realize why they are shorthanded.
Frederica mentions a letter that she found from Roswaal stating his intentions for Emilia when she should return. Without actually giving up the letter for the two to read, she tells them that the only two people Roswaal truly trusts are Ram and “the great spirit” that resides in the library -- Beatrice. Subaru, the only resident of the manor who treats Beatrice casually, decides to pay her a visit.
It's in the moving, mysterious library that Subaru questions Beatrice on her knowledge of the inner workings of Roswaal's mind -- and presents to her a book collected from “the enemy.” The “enemy,” in this case, being Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti. Beatrice is shocked to see the book and perhaps reveals a bit too much information while her guard is down.
Beatrice asks how Subaru came into possession of the book, to which Subaru says that he took it from the body of his enemy. Her face becomes sullen as she remarks, “Then you've left me behind, too, I suppose... Geuse.” Oddly enough, Subaru does not question her further on her reaction. Given that the mansion itself came under attack from Witch Cult members at the direction of Petelgeuse in Season 1, Beatrice's mild grief when learning of the leader's death should have been an indication that she knows more than she is letting on and would have been a worthy line of questioning to pursue.
Perhaps it's his ignorance that allows Subaru to move on from the revelation so easily, or that Beatrice brings up another mysterious item, the so-called “Witch Factor,” but she fails to elaborate as to what that is, exactly. When Roswaal's whereabouts are brought up, the pair move on. Subaru mentions that Roswaal is at the Sanctuary and Beatrice tells him that all of the answers he seeks are there, too, before she violently ejects him from the library, where he crushes Otto returning from the toilets.
Frederica concurs with Beatrice that the pair should head to the Sanctuary, a hidden place within a dangerous forest. Again, without revealing the contents of Roswaal's letter, she begins preparations for the journey that Emilia and Subaru will need to embark on without her. When the day comes, she gives Emilia an amulet that she says will allow them to cross the protective barrier into the Sanctuary.
Of course, nothing is ever as straightforward as simply entering a forbidden place, and as the pair cross into the forest, the amulet Frederica has given to them begins to glow brightly. Subaru, sensing danger, removes it from around Emilia's neck. The half-elf faints as Subaru is transported alone into a clearing in the forest where a mysterious, red-haired Elvish girl leads him to a truly terrifying encounter with a mysterious woman named Echidna -- or, as she says, who may be better known as the Witch of Greed.
Greed -- not to be confused with the Sin Archbishop Greed -- bares a striking resemblance to Emilia herself and seems to understand what Subaru truly desires. As the witch gives a sinister smile, Re:Zero's new title theme is introduced, signaling that the prologue is over and from here on, there be monsters.
Beatrice's off-the-cuff revelation paints a dangerous picture for the inhabitants of Roswaal's mansion and Frederica's loyalty isn't as guaranteed as it may appear. As mystery abounds, answers are in short supply and are in no hurry to reveal themselves.
New episodes of Re:Zero premiere Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. ET on Crunchyroll.