I'm back, so anyways happy new year (Though I'm a bit late).
Goodbye 2020! You were a mixed bag of a year.
Re:Zero doesn't belong to me, I'm just doing this for fun.
Chapter 10: Journeys to the present
Subaru continued to lay low; avoiding the hunters while training with his new creations he called them Lagmite Spirits or Od Lagmites.
Some experimentation with his creations, he learned that when casting spells the Lagmite would respond with his chant and also fire off their own spells, through practice Subaru was able to use them to conserve mana as they started absorbing mana from the atmosphere and store it for later use.
He decided to test their efficiency in battle against a few people who were hunting him; he made fake tracks to lead them to a secluded place where he would battle them.
'Are you sure this is smart? I understand you wanting to test these creations of yours but this is risky.' Haji questioned Subaru as he prepared for a fight.
The hunters had followed the tracks as Subaru had predicted, this group consisted of 10 people. 6 of which were carrying weapons while the other 4 had minor spirits with them.
'This group is carrying some serious firepower, might I suggest a different group?' Haji asked still trying to convince Subaru to change his mind but the Spirit Child had made up his mind.
The hunters had reached a dead end and realized the tracks were fake, one of them holding a mace saw something pass by and warned the others.
"G-guys something's here, keep your guard up!" He said as the others took a more defensive position.
The ensuing fight was devastating to the forest they were led to as Subaru just laughed and dodged through their weapons and spells.
"Now my turn, Kaze!" Subaru chanted as the Od Lagmites glow a grey color before unleashing a violent wing that ravaged the surrounding area and hunters, only a few hunters withstood the winds.
"Whoa! Now that's a lot of Damage, I wonder if you can cast different spells at the same time." Subaru mutters as the hunters recovered and prepared to strike.
Subaru already satisfied with the results of this little experiment decides that it's time to leave, "Ah, well it's been fun but I've got to go bye, Taru." With that chant a portal appears under him and he escapes once again.
One of the hunters however managed to follow Subaru through the portal, with 2 spirits and a sword he was clearly a knight and a spirit user.
"You won't escape this time Spirit Child, we were paid to capture you and bring back to the Dresaizia Empire." The knight announced as he drew his sword and his spirits prepared for battle.
'I warned you, many of your hunters know of your portal spell perhaps next time you should run before making a portal.' Haji nagged
"Well Mr. Knight what's your name, I thought that battle etiquette was to introduce yourself before fighting." Subaru says as he and the Od Lagmite prepare to fight.
The knight introduced himself as Jin Juukulius, the current head of the Juukulius House. Subaru Introduced himself as Subaru Natsuki, Spirit Child hybrid.
"Is it true what they say, that you're a hybrid of a human and a spirit?" Jin asks as we circle each other watching for any sign that the other might strike.
Subaru seemed surprised by this question, "What? I thought you knew what you were hunting, but yes I am a hybrid but while you all see me as an abomination. I see myself as something new and interesting to this world, while that may sound narcissistic I prefer that over being an abomination."
After that lengthy answer Jin strikes unleashing a flurry of slashes with his blade while at the same time chanting Izu causing the red spirit above him to erupt in a blaze of fire towards Subaru. Seeing the attacks Subaru decided to play defensive, "Let's see you pierce this Juukulius, Rudo!"
Mana started to surround Subaru in a thin coating, completely repelling the fire and blocking the sword strikes that came afterwards. Rudo is a yin spell that manipulates mana to coat the user and protect them from spells and basic attacks, only strong spells and heavy strikes would have a chance at piercing this defense.
Jin was shocked at the boy's sudden defense and this was when Subaru strikes back chanting Kawa, water droplets form around both of them before flying towards Jin who jumped back to avoid them. The bullets of water hit the ground following the knight until the spell tapered out, seeing the holes in the ground Jin know that spell would've shredded him if it hit him.
"Reports stated you only used yin magic, so you're able to use other types of magic as well." Jin says as he reevaluates his strategy.
"Very well since you showed me something new about yourself I shall demonstrate my trump card, prepare yourself for this spell." Jin announces as he attacks dashing towards Subaru jabbing with his sword.
Subaru ducked and weaved through his attacks, as Haji had taught him the art of the wind dance which was a type of martial art where the user would dodge any obstacles in their path, always taking the path of least resistance. It took a lot of skill to perform but if there was something Subaru had it was time.
Seeing Subaru's movements Jin decided to use his trump card, chanting Tsuma the two spirits circle around his sword as he thrusts it at Subaru unleashing a gust of fiery wind, breaching Subaru's defenses and pushing the poor Spirit Child into the forest which also caught on fire from the devastating attack.
'Ouch, everything hurts. Am I burning? Where am I?' Subaru questions as he gets up and tries to see through the smoke and pain, but everything was covered. Smoke was blinding Subaru and with the force of the knight's attack completely disorienting Subaru he had no hope of making it out himself.
'Subaru I suggest you leave now use Taru and escape you clearly are no match for that knight.' Haji urges as the fire grows fiercer.
Subaru tries to use Taru when a hand suddenly grabs him and pulls him out of the blaze; Jin frantically puts out the Spirit Child in a nearby river.
Subaru looked worse for wear his clothes singed and skin burned it was a miracle he was still alive, Jin seemed to worry for the child and set him down with some wet clothes courtesy of the knight. Jin now sure the Spirit Child wouldn't perish he tried to find his way back but Subaru had transported them too far away and without a map they were lost.
With Subaru he was still barely conscious, however this didn't stop Haji from scolding Subaru, 'I warned you Subaru, you must stop being so reckless. I shall take control and escape from here, now rest I shall talk with you later.'
As Jin came back from scouting, Haji finally took control from Subaru and started standing. Seeing this Jin rushed to try and help the burned Spirit Child but the burns had healed, the only evidence that the boy was even burned was the singed clothes.
"Sir Jin, I must commend you for being able to beat Subaru even though he is a bit reckless he has faced enough enemies to become formidable." Haji said as he prepared himself for a fight calling out the Od Lagmites which were left in the forest after Subaru was burned.
Jin was shocked at not only the quick recovery but the change in voice, "So you have recovered, might I ask are you really the same kid I fought earlier? You seem different as if you are an entirely different person."
Before this Haji thought only Subaru was worth his attention due to his unique circumstance and yet he seemed to continuously be surprised by this knight's ingenuity and intellect.
'Maybe I should give this one a chance, at least before escaping.' Haji thought as realized something, he had no plan of escape.
"Before you had my disdain, now you have my attention knight. Yes I am not Subaru rather I am Haji, his Spirit half if you will." Haji explained to the purple-haired knight, gauging his response.
Jin now understanding the situation prepared himself for a fight, he had orders to bring in or kill the Spirit Child and he would follow them to his end. Haji seeing this decided to take a different approach; instead of fighting he would simply make a distraction and escape.
"I would prefer not to fight you Sir Jin, you have bested Subaru and as much as it pains me to admit it I have not taken control of this body before, so in combat I would obviously be defeated." Haji says as he sits down again gesturing for the knight to do the same.
Jin sits down still a bit confused at the current situation, but nonetheless kept his guard up in case this Haji tries anything. "Pleasure to meet you Haji-san, but you must understand I am under orders from the Dresaizia Empire to bring you and Subaru in. I hope you understand nothing you say will change my mind."
"Understandable when humans are given commands most would follow them, either for fame or honor but what about you knight? What's your reason?" Haji asked playing around with the Od Lagmite.
Seeing the strange crystal creatures again put Jin on guard, seeing as those things decimated the group he was with and they were capable knights and bounty hunters. Seeing his response Haji reassures him that they only listen to Subaru and not him for some reason, this doesn't calm Jin down at all.
"I do not trust at all Haji-san, you are still my enemy so I must take those from you." Jin exclaims as the Od Lagmite simply float about.
Haji decides to listen to the knight and let him take all the Od Lagmite and putting them into a box. Now that the only weapons Haji had were put away Jin started to relax now that there was no immediate threat.
One thing was still bothering the knight however, how it was possible to create a hybrid between a spirit and a human. Jin had pondered this for a while, when he had heard of Spirit Child he laughed until several others come back beaten and bruised that's when the emperor himself ordered his knights to capture the boy. They spent a while tracking the boy, but he was quite adept at covering his tracks until just today where they were led into a trap.
"So Haji why are you so friendly to me, considering I burned your… other half was it?" Jin asked, but all he got was silence. Turning his head he saw why Haji had gone quiet, he had fallen asleep so suddenly.
Jin looked around to see that they had spent quite some time conversing with Haji and it was quite late, 'Still to think a spirit human like him would still need rest, perhaps he is still quite human after all.'
After checking the area for any signs of life or a landmark he could use to make his way back to the empire but where ever that Subaru took them was far past any known landmarks to pinpoint their location, 'Which means I am completely lost, but what about that boy? How does he never get lost? Unless he is always lost doing this stunt, I'll ask him tomorrow but who would be in control, Subaru or Haji?' Jin pondered this for some time.
Haji was trying to talk to Subaru but it seemed that that attack hit Subaru harder than he thought, 'That attack might have knocked him out for a week, since this body is that of a 10 year old at best.' Haji thought as he kept trying to wake Subaru up to no avail, 'This body is really inconvenient, terrible at taking hits, too small for most weapons and lastly that blasted bedtime, but what if Subaru was affected by bedtime then I take control? Hmm… tests for another day I suppose.'
The next day Haji awoke at the crack of dawn, looking around he found Jin asleep after possibly standing guard nearly the entire night, 'This is my chance to escape!' Haji thought as he got up only to find his hands and legs tied.
'I should have expected this, I really do need to take control more often' Haji thought as he realized this was something Subaru would've done as well. 'We really are alike, well technically we are the same person maybe?'
As Haji continued this line of thought Jin started to stir, seeing no other choice Haji scoots to the box that had the Od Lagmite and seeing it had no locks, quickly opened it and released the Od Lagmite.
"Will you listen to me just this once? We need to get out of here so please use Taru." Haji pleaded with the floating Lagmite, they seem to respond as one of them opens a portal and Haji scoots through escaping just as Jin woke up to see a closed portal.
To be continued…
Anyways hope you enjoy, cause I'll be starting school soon.