Re:Life Within Pride
Chapter 1
It was the time that Subaru opened his eyes on a crowded street. There were wagons pulled by animals that looked like giant lizards and the people riding them were quite strange too.
Where the hell was he? How did he get here?
As he was processing what was happening to him he realized more strange things among the crowd. There was "Humans" with animal ears and tails, even more, there were humanoids looking, creatures looking nothing but a mere human, their skin was covered with scales
He finally realized he was far away from his home.
He has been summoned to another world!
He was happy about it, he wasn't the shut-in loser he was back home anymore. As he thought about this he felt the intense joy inside of him, he felt like he can hug everyone he sees right now.
He started to laugh like there was no tomorrow then;
"Excuse me, Sir, are you alright?" a masculine yet warm voice asked.
Subaru quickly come down to himself and realized. There was a small crowd around him and they were looking at him with quite a concern. Except for one person. He looked at him with a genuine smile like he was sharing Subaru's joy.
Subaru quickly comes to his senses and he formed a big smile on his face.
"I'm great!" he said while his eyes were filled with joy and excitement.
The crowd around Subaru was quickly dispersed. Only left Subaru and the young man with red hair. Subaru looked at the young man.
He was wearing some kind of a uniform. It looked expensive. Subaru was still looking at the young man when he realized the young man was carrying a sword at his side.
The young man realized Subaru was looking for his sword and he spoke.
"I'm a knight of this kingdom that's why I carry this sword. Don't be scared of me," he assured Subaru he was not a threat to him and continued.
"My name is Reinhard van Astrea, may I know yours?" he asked kindly.
Subaru pointed his finger up to the sky and gave his pose with no shame.
"My name is Natsuki Subaru and it's a pleasure to meet you," Subaru shouted with the same smile before and continued.
"I don't know how did I get here. I have no money, no friends and I'd be dammed if I know what I'm gonna do next."
Reinhard looked at him with concern now, after hearing all of this and seeing Subaru's smile while saying those kinda things.
It made him question the boy's sanity but his divine protections assured Reinhard that Subaru's joy was real.
"You said you were new at the capital and I assume you have nowhere to spend the night. I'd be happy to offer you help with that."
Subaru kept his smile while looking at the young knight
"Thanks for your kind offer Reinhard-sama."
Then Reinhard continued
"I still have a guest I need to do, you should visit Astrea Estate and tell them I sent you, we would be most delighted to host you."
"That sounds great. I will certainly be happy to be with you Reinhard-sama. I'm looking forward to it."
Subaru said with a small chuckle and friendly punch to Reinhard's shoulder.
The moment Subaru touched Reinhard his divine protection got activated and Reinhard sensed the small power in him, it was not strong right now but Reinhard saw its potential.
Reinhard only looked at him from behind.
Subaru kept walking through the street he found himself in front of a stand filled with apples and other fruits. Subaru looked at the man behind the stand. He had green hair and a scar on his face. He was looking quite strong. The merchant looked at Subaru and asked.
"Hey, kid you want appas?"
Subaru looked at the man and then he looked at the apples.
"He should be talking about apples." he thought.
He took some coins from his wallet and handed them to the merchant.
The green-haired man looked at the coins and opened his mouth.
"What are those boy?" he examined the coins
"Are you some kinda traveler? these coins mean nothing in this kingdom. If you don't have anything else on you that means you are broke. I don't want broke people in front of my stand."
Subaru was quite shocked by the man's behavior but mostly he got angry by this occasion, the was dismissed him was an insult to him
"Heyy, The way you talk to me is quite rude don't you think?"
"Huh?"
"You are hurting my pride over nothing."
Subaru said this while keeping his nasty mean eyes on the man. The green-haired man looked a bit scared after this. He thought to himself he might be insulted a noble's son as he was processing what the young boy meant Subaru started to talk again.
"Do you know where Astrea Estate is?"
The moment he finished his sentence Subaru realized the horrified face of the man. The green-haired merchant gave him the position of the estate and wanted nothing more to do with the nasty-eyed boy. But after he stops talking, he saw the smile on the boy's face.
"Thank you for everything appa guy. I promise I'll buy some appas next time I get here"
He looked at the boy with a surprised face. He was trying to understand. Did the boy threaten him or was he genuine about what he said? He looked at the boy and saw nothing but joy in his nasty eyes.
Subaru walked along to street and saw an alleyway that looked like a shortcut to Estate. He entered the alleyway, as he was walking he sensed something. Something was looking for him. He turned to his back but saw nothing there. The moment he takes a step forward he felt an intense pain in his heart. He fell to the ground. He tried to scream but nothing came out of his throat. He tried to breathe but his lungs gave up on him. He felt something other than his blood in his veins he grunted in pain as the black pitch runs inside of him.
His left eye stopped seeing anything for a moment but a few seconds later his left eye started to see again but there was something wrong with it. He couldn't see any colors from his left eye. He panicked and crawled towards to puddle on the ground.
He looked at the water and saw himself. He wanted to scream when he first saw his left eye. His eye had lost its brown color.
Subaru looked at his grey left eye with a horrified look on his face and he realized there were some white hair strands among his black hair. The pain has stopped. He got up to his feet again. He was still in shock because of what happened to him as he was still processing he felt some words engraved in his heart with flames.
"The Authority of Pride", "Touch of Redemption" and "Undefiable"
Subaru was still in pain but now there was a big smile on his face
Subaru felt... complete.
"What the hell was that? "The Authority of Pride", what kinda name is this, are those are my abilities. "Touch of Redemption" sounds cool enough I think. I can't say the same thing to "Undefiable"
it sounds weird but what that mean?
As he was thinking this he felt something in his hand, he was holding something. He looked at his hand and saw a medium-sized whip. He looked closely at it and felt a real connection between them. The whip was mostly pitch black but there were blood-red symbols engraved at the whip's handle and also there was a hook at the end of it.
"Hey, what do we have here"
One of the thugs spoke. Subaru looked at them and saw three thugs looking at him with their twisted smiles. One of them was really small, the other one had a medium height but his smile was the most disturbing one the last one was a large and bulky man but his eyes were a bit normal than the other two counterparts.
The trio looked Subaru and the medium one shouted with a taunting smile on his face.
"Give us everything you have or you will get hurt.
Subaru just looked at them with a blank face and closed his right eye leaving only grey one to see. There were no colors except the trio but their colors were also a bit faded. Most pale-looking was the medium-sized thug almost the same color as everything else. Subaru opened his right eye and smiled. The thugs only realized now that Subaru had two different eye colors and his nasty eyes. The bulky one spoke.
"Maybe we should leave guys. This boy clearly isn't worth the trouble"
Then they all saw a girl who was running as fast as she could. The girl had golden hair and crimson red eyes. She passed Subaru and kept running as the boys watched him behind. The medium thug turned around and took out his knives and pointed towards Subaru.
"Why are you scared of this little faggot. He can't do shit to me. Watch me as I gut him like a fish just wat..."
He couldn't finish his sentence before the intense pain hit him.
His whole body was on fire. He couldn't breathe. He realized something was around his neck. He looked at the black thing around his neck and his eyes followed the black line and saw Subaru smiling.
"Holy shit! I didn't know I was this good with a whip. I didn't use it before but I feel like I trained my whole life with this.
The medium one was on the ground trying to cry but nothing came out from his throat only tears were falling from his eyes.
"Stop right now!"
A voice demanded from Subaru's back
"Return what you have stolen from me!" She said in a clear authoritative voice.
"Did you steal anything from this girl?" Subaru asked the bulky thug.
"..."
Subaru raised his whip and swung to the ground only to make a loud noise. Thugs were shaking from this.
"Well, I'm not going to ask again" Subaru spoke.
The bulky thug was trying to say something but nothing came out. Subaru saw his mouth moving so he came closer to him.
"We didn't steal from her I swear. The girl we saw is an experienced thief, Her name is Felt. She lives with Old Man Rom at the slums"
Subaru looked at the thugs and spoke
"Don't ever come here ever again."
Thugs quickly got their friend from the ground and ran fastest as they could.
Subaru turned back and saw the girl standing middle of the alleyway, tall and proud, looking back at him. He didn't know why but he felt like they met before. He felt nostalgia while looking at her. When Subaru looked at her with his grey eye she saw her colors intact. She was shinning with colors in his colorless view
"Did you learn anything from them?" she asked.
"If I just tell her what that thug said, she would just leave me here." Subaru thought.
"He did give me some ideas about who might that thief be. I can help you if you want. I think I can find her." Subaru smiled.
"He's telling the truth and I can't sense any malice in him." came from behind the girl.
Subaru saw the flying cat over the girl's shoulder.
"But I can say the same thing for your weapon, I can sense the dark miasma coming out of it. Where did you find it?" the magical cat asked.
"I don't remember I just found myself holding it," Subaru answered.
"Hmm, you are not lying I guess it's okay just keep that thing away from me." the cat growled.
Subaru took his whip and put it inside of his jacket and looked at the girl again.
"At least we can introduce ourselves before we look for the thing o yours" Subaru smiled.
"I'm Natsuki Subaru. I just got here this morning. Actually, I don't even know where I am but I'm happy to be here.
"Strange... He isn't lying again." the magical cat spoke.
The girl looks at the boy in front of her with a confused look. She started to examine his look. When she looked at his face first thing she saw was his brown eye full of joy and excitement, then she looked at his left eye, it was grey and devoid of all life and also she felt like the eye was looking at her soul. She also saw some of the white hair on his head. She found it strange. The boy in front of her looked like he was no more than eighteen but his hair already started to grow white. She also looked at his clothes. She never saw anything like that.
"This is Puck," The girl explained slowly, taking Subaru's hand.
"And my name is… Satella," She finished.
"That's a pretty name," Subaru replied.
Satella's eyes widened.
"Alright, shall we head for the slums then?" Subaru asked, beginning to walk out of the alley.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Puck shaking his head at Satella. "Why?" The small cat asked.
As they got to the slums. He looked around with shock there were no intact houses all of them had holes in their walls.
Subaru turned to Satella and spoke.
"I guess we deep inside of the slums. Can you tell me how that stolen thing of yours looks?" Subaru asked.
"It a silver with a red jewel in the middle of it," Satella answered.
"So it's only jewelry then they would want to sell it." he talked to himself.
"Why would they wanna sell my insignia" Satella panicked.
"Don't worry I got a plan" he said with a confident smile.
"Satella do you have any money on you?" Subaru asked.
"I only have two silver coins but I don't think that's enough." She sad look on her face.
"Don't worry I have other plans with your insignia. Can you give me those coins," he asked.
Satella gave her coins to Subaru. Subaru and Satella continued walking. Only to stop at some kinda stand. Subaru walked to the stand and looked at the merchant.
"Good evening sir, how can I help you?" the merchant asked.
"Got any clothes? Like a long robe, maybe something hooded?" Subaru asked.
Merchant pulled out a long white robe with a large hood and red triangles emblazoned on the fabric
"That works," Subaru said. "How much?"
"How about three silver pieces?" The merchant replied.
Subaru knew that the merchant had likely given him a ludicrously high price for the robe and he had expected Subaru to haggle with him. Subaru looked at the man from his left eye and saw his pale colors. The merchant got a bit scared from the gaze that came from Subaru's eyes.
"Make it two." He said coldly.
"As you wish, sir." The merchant quickly gave the robe to Subaru.
"And also where is the loot house ?" Subaru asked.
The Merchant hesitated initially, but he preferred to deal with Old Man Rom than messing with this boy. He gave the location of the house and hoped to never see those eyes again.
Subaru returned to Satella and found her waiting patiently in the square with Puck.
"Here put this on," Subaru said, handing her the robe.
"Why should Lia wear that?" Puck asked suspiciously.
"Because if the thief is in there, she is going to recognize Tella immediately," Subaru told him with a sigh.
"If the thief spots Tella, she is going to run. So the choice is for Satella to either wear a disguise or to wait out here.
Satella had already pulled on the robe without question. It was much too big for her and the hood covered almost her whole face while the voluminous sleeves concealed her hands.
"Alright, Lia," Puck muttered.
"I'm going to hide in the crystal for a bit then. Call me if you need me."
After a little walk, they got to the Loot House. Subaru told Satella to be quiet and to keep her head down a pounded on the door. A few seconds later a couple of heavy footsteps a deep voice talked to them.
"What's the password?" A gruff voice asked.
Password? Great. Subaru sighed. The merchant didn't mention a password! Subaru thought to himself.
"Open up! I ain't some Nobel. Subaru shouted.
The door slowly opened and a simply enormous man with brown skin and gray hair peeked out suspiciously.
"That's not the password," He growls.
Subaru looked at the man with a bit scared face but he continued.
"We're looking to purchase a valuable item and someone suggested that a fellow named Rom was exactly the person we should talk to about that," Subaru explained.
The old man stepped out onto his front porch. He had to be nine feet tall at least.
"And just what exactly are you looking for?"
"I assume you're Rom, then?" Subaru asked.
The old man didn't respond.
"Nice to meet you. It's a private matter and perhaps one best not discussed on the doorstep," Subaru said cheerfully.
"Could we persuade you to pour us a drink while we talk?"
The old man considered it for a moment and then turned around.
"Fine," He grumbled, leading them inside.
"So who are you guys anyway?" Rom asked.
"My name is Subaru, this is my sister Tella," Subaru replied.
He glanced at Satella but if she had reacted in any way to being called his sister the robe covered any sign.
"Alright, so what are you looking for?" Rom asked.
"My boss sent me here to procure a very special piece of jewelry," Subaru lied.
"We want to buy it from you" Subaru spoked calmly.
Rom looked at the boy, he didn't know if he can be trusted.
"We don't have any possession of any jewelry right now" Rom growled.
" I know," Subaru said with a smile.
Rom was confused and angry towards the boy's behavior.
"Hey, Old Man Rom. I'm back !" She shouted with a big smile on her face.
Subaru looked at her with a smile.
"Whoa! Who is this scary-looking guy, Gramps?" she yelled with her finger pointing Subaru.
Subaru laughed at the girl's reaction.
"Hey, Felt, I'm Natsuki Subaru." he said with a smile.
"How do you know my name?" She asked.
Rom was feeling threatened by the boy's presence.
"Sit down Felt, we have a business to discuss."
Felt slowly got closer to the boy. She looked more closely at the boy and realized she was right about the boy. He was scary-looking.
Then she saw his right eye, She felt like the person in front of her actually cared about her. She felt the warmth in his right eye.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"We want to buy something from you Felt," Subaru stated
"What that would be?" Felt was a little disturbed.
"The insignia you stole today" Subaru smiled.
"There is another buyer for that insignia, it's only fair if we wait for her, I was promised 20 gold coins for that insignia.
"Oh you already found a buyer this quick, I admire you." Subaru smiled.
Felt was about to reply but the door opened again and a woman walked in.
"Oh, my other buyer has arrived," Felt said.
She was tall and very beautiful with pale skin and flowing dark hair.
Subaru looked at the girl with his left eye to see her color but all he saw was a colorless view and a girl with no other color than grey.
"Other buyer? Does that mean I have competition?" The woman asked mildly, taking a seat near the end of the table.
"I can say the same thing." Subaru looked back at the girl.
"How interesting. And who might you be?" She asked. The woman had a warm smile that Subaru instantly distrusted.
"I'm Subaru Natsuki and this is my sister Tella," He replied.
"You have a unique look," She stated while looking at Subaru's face.
"Your eyes... your eyes are beautiful." She spoke in a bit seductive way.
Subaru was confused about this, He never heard a compliment about his eyes before. He knew his eyes were looking mean and after the incident with his left eye, he knew his gaze will be disgusting, but this girl was giving her compliments with a blushed face.
"This can't be good." He thought to himself.
"Thanks for the compliment Elsa, I also see you have a beautiful face I think you should smile more, so that beautiful face of you doesn't go to waste." Subaru gave a big smile and blinked his right eye leaving only a grey one for Elsa to see."
He felt a squeeze in his hand and looked at Satella. He could see she was blushing under the hood she was wearing.
"I think that's enough. You two can flirt elsewhere let's end this now." Rom said in a clear authoritative voice.
"OK," Felt said sounding impatient.
"If everyone is now properly acquainted, can we get down to the sale?"
Subaru and Elsa glanced at Felt and then back at each other. Rom was rubbing his forehead and grimacing.
"I already made you an offer," Elsa said carelessly.
"Twenty gold pieces for the trinket."
Felt pointed at Subaru. "And what have you got?"
Subaru took his cellphone from his pocket and put it on the table.
He started to talk with a smile on his face.
"This device is coming from my hometown its something special. There is only one that exists and you all are looking to it."
Subaru looked at his side. Satella was squeezing his hand.
"Don't worry." He whispered to her.
Old Man Rom took the phone from the table and examined it in his hands.
"It looks like the metias they are talking about" The giant talked to himself. It should be worth more than 20 coins easily. The giant turned and told Felt to take the metia.
"I guess I'll go with the metia then." then she turned to Subaru and gave the insignia to him.
"But there is one question I'd like to ask you," Elsa interjected.
Felt pulled back the insignia, perhaps hoping she could yet squeeze more money out of the transaction.
"What's that?" Felt asked.
"What do you want to do with the trinket?"
Subaru blinked, realizing that she was talking to him.
"I think you know." Subaru bluffed.
"I see, even our goals might be the same but I cannot let you leave with that insignia. I cannot disappoint Mama!"
Satella quickly throw the hood on her and shouted.
"That's more than enough. We are leaving." She said while looking at Elsa. She started to laugh.
"That's amazing! You were lying to me the entire time and I never even caught on! How delightful. I can't wait to see what color your guts are!" She drew a pair of short curved swords.
Elsa rushed at Subaru and Satella almost too fast to see but before she got close, ice crystals appeared out of thin air and launched themselves at Elsa like tiny missiles.
"Just a heads up," Puck said conversationally, appearing out of nowhere.
"Threatening my daughter is a really bad idea."
Elsa danced away managing to dodge the projectiles.
Rom tried to smash the woman with his club but she leaped at him and, with seemingly no effort, Elsa nearly sliced Rom's club in two causing him to stumble backward.
Elsa bounced off Rom and threw herself at Satella with blades extended but Subaru smacked her with his whip causing her to fall on the ground. Subaru used "Undefiable" for the first time and felt something like confidence but it was much more cynical and powerful.
Elsa looked up and saw Subaru's taunting smile. She rushed towards Subaru with a blade in her hand. She smiled and swung her blade to Subaru's throat.
"Subaru!" Satella shouted in horror.
Elsa's blade came closer and closer but the boy was standing still.
Elsa thought maybe he did give up on living and excepted his fate.
The moment the blade touch his skin, the blade broke to pieces. Elsa stood in front of him with a confused face. She looked at him and saw his frustrated face.
"Did you think your blunt knife can cut my skin, this is an insult to my mere existence. What did you think, you whore!"
Before Elsa can dodge Subaru placed a punch on Elsa's chest and sent her flying across the room. Everyone was shocked to see Subaru like this. He started to walk towards her but he felt like his heart was going to explode. He had to deactivate "Undefiable". He realized he can use this ability only for 10 seconds, after those 10 seconds the pain increases. Elsa rushed again to Subaru and Subaru used "Undefiable" again but this time Elsa was prepared, she started to throw some small knives towards Subaru any of the knives were touched Subaru but he started to feel the pain in his heart before Elsa was cut out by ice crystals from Satella. Subaru started to bleed from his eyes and nose also he coughed up some blood. Elsa turned to Satella and spoke.
"I see that you are loved by this world. I haven't seen anything like your magic in years." Elsa spoke to Satella and turned towards Subaru and blushed.
"I cannot say the same for you. You are loathed by this world. You are loved by the Witch." She said with a smile.
The door opened and fresh air filled inside as everyone saw the red-haired knight at the door.
Reinhard calmly walked into the loot house, his uniform spotless. "What's going on here?" He asked in confusion, then he saw Subaru and his bloodied face he looked tired. Reinhard looked at the girl in the black dress.
"You're the Bowel Hunter aren't you?"
Elsa retreated a step and fell into a guard stance.
Rather than draw the long sword belted at his side, Reinhard stepped forward and quickly picked up a rusty old sword that was lying on a nearby crate.
"Please, aid me in this battle," Reinhard asked the sword politely. He turned to Elsa and his voice became stern.
"You are a killer, a marauder, and a danger to the people of this kingdom. As a knight of the realm, I shall bring justice upon you myself."
Reinhard swung his blade and the world dissolved into blue flame.
When Subaru could see again, half the building's roof was gone. Elsa perched on the rafter like some kind of impossible spider. Then she leaped away and fled.
"Ow!" Subaru whimpered as his side throbbed and his legs nearly buckled.
Reinhard had been about to go after Elsa but upon hearing Subaru's pained cry, he was at Subaru's side in an instant.
Reinhard knelt down and looked at the Subaru with concern, he looked nothing like the boy he saw this morning.
"We need to get you treated," Reinhard said gravely.
"Good advice," Subaru repeated, breathing shallowly.
"Just let me do one thing first."
He took his phone from the ground and gave it to Felt with a smile.
Felt stared at the metia with wide eyes. "You're giving me this?" Felt whispered.
"Well, we had a deal, didn't we? Subaru shrugged.
Felt looked up at Subaru, her red eyes filling with tears.
"Hey, no crying," Subaru chided with a smile. "I'm the only one who got hurt in this fight so I'm the only one allowed to cry."
Subaru painfully limped his way back over to Satella. Reinhard was standing near her with a confused expression.
"Lady Satella," Subaru began formally.
Subaru noticed everyone around him jump when he said this but he didn't know why.
Satella just looked away from Subaru awkwardly.
"I promised you that I would return your insignia," He held it out to her in his hand. "I've fulfilled my promise,"
Subaru said with a proud smile. The pride he felt right now almost eclipsed the pain in his head. He felt like he'd accomplished something and that he'd done it well. It wasn't slaying the dragon. It wasn't saving the world. But he said he would help Satella and he had done so.
"Let me see that!"
Reinhard demanded, grabbing Subaru's hand and staring at the tiny red jewel glowing on the badge.
"Impossible," He whispered.
Subaru gave Reinhard a pained look. "Look, Reinhard, I am super grateful to you for your timely rescue. Seriously, I owe you big time,"
Subaru said as Reinhard looked at him with his mouth agape.
"But I'm trying to have a moment here with Satella and you're kind of stepping all over it."
Subaru looked back at Satella and smiled at her. Satella stood there seemingly frozen in place. "Here you go, Satella," Subaru said, depositing the insignia in her palm.
Satella's face twisted with guilt and shame. "Subaru," She whimpered. "That's not my real name."
Subaru blinked. "It's not?"
Subaru felt something was wrong and he fell to the floor. Blood was pouring out of his eyes nose ears and mouth. A lot of blood.
"Hang on, Subaru!" Reinhard said.
Satella knelt down beside him in tears and Rom and Felt hurried over as well.
"Subaru!" Satella cried out.
Subaru reached up toward Satella's face and she caught his hand.
Her face was divinely exquisite even when it was covered with tears, even when the rest of the world was growing red and blurry around him.
"Satella?" Subaru asked in a confused and sad voice.
"Yes, Subaru?" Satella asked crying.
"Why did you lie to me?" Subaru asked gently as the darkness took him.