Of Demons and Librarians chapter 3
"You know you could just train with me, Emilia." Shirou said while finishing his warm-up exercises "It's probably pretty boring to just look at me while doing something."
The girl either didn't hear him or didn't bother responding, just kept looking at him with her head tilted slightly, Puck on the other hand was on his side punching the air he didn't need to do it but it seems the small cat was rather bored and decided to join in.
"Eh?" Emilia seemed to finally notice her friend was addressing her, blushing a bit "Sorry I wasn't paying attention, you reeeeeeeally do work a lot to improve yourself huh Shirou." smiling slightly at him in wonder.
Chuckling a bit "It's mostly just a routine at this point, I used to have a partner I could combat with but…" he looked at the back of his right hand with a nostalgic smile on his face.
Emilia immediately gave her full attention to the conversation, Shirou didn't talk about his past or rather always stopped any question she might have about it. "But…?" Emilia asked.
Shirou snapped back into reality "Oh." he gave a slight frown noticing that he gave away too much information "Well I had a partner some time ago, she's the one who taught me how to use a sword."
"She huh." Puck regarded Shirou with a smirk "I've seen how you use a sword, she must be something else." he said while scratching his chin.
Emilia's smile became bigger "That's amazing, she must be really cool." clapping her hands in front of her she began to make an image about the person who taught her friend in her mind "I can't wait to meet her."
"That won't be possible Emilia, sorry." Shirou gave her a sad smile. "She's been gone for a long time."
Emilia gasped and her smile disappeared "I'm sorry Shirou I didn't know." her eyes downcast.
The maid that was off to the side who until now was silently watching things play out simply gave the red-haired young man a slight frown.
"You have sure been through a lot huh Shirou." Puck gave him a sympathetic smile.
Shirou walked to him and patted the little being on the head "It's fine both of you, from the first time I've known her I knew she wouldn't be with me for long and it happened two years ago, I'm fine."
Emilia gave him a worried look "You know Shirou, you talk about these sort of things so easily."
Shirou stopped scratching puck and gave her a confused look "What do you mean."
"Well, it's just I don't think I'd be able to talk about it so freely like you do." Emilia fumbled slightly not wanting to offend her friend.
Shirou sighed "As much as I hate it, it's something I've gotten used to." that wasn't the whole truth but death was something that always surrounded him in some way and he knew it would happen again, that was the life he chose to live though, to be a magus is to walk with dead after all.
He looked back at the maid as her visible eye narrowed, he couldn't tell if she was growing sympathetic or suspicious over him. At this point, she passed the last few days shadowing him all over the mansion so much so that the place was slightly unkempt. The bags under her eye also showed that she didn't sleep much probably using the night to clean after her sister while during the day she made sure he didn't do anything.
"I have to do something about this, if this continues she'll probably keel over from exhaustion." steeling himself, whatever her problem was with him he would resolve it sooner rather than later, for her own good.
(Bathroom)
After doing his morning exercises, while chatting with the half-elf and her spirit he went to take his long-awaited bath. His life here was beginning to normalize in a way he found curious, he couldn't help but feel like he was getting too comfortable, or rather hopeful. This world still existed in an era where magic and monsters were abundant, knights were ready to fight for honor and people were in need of protection. This world had the potential to create heroes.
It's not something he liked to think about that's why he decided to stick to the mansion until now, if he saw more of the outside world… no he needed to get back to Tohsaka though she would probably love this place so many things to experiment.
"Oh myyy~ I hope you have some roooom~ for me, dear chef." The owner of the mansion suddenly appeared on his right with a rather big smile and without the clown makeup.
Shirou simply sighed "You own the place." as he watched the man sit down in front of him.
"We haveeen't~ had the chance to taaaalk~ yet, how's everyone treeeating~ you." Roswaal said while giving him an enigmatic smile.
"Well enough." Despite being his technical boss he didn't want to talk to him, there was something there that made him feel like he should hate him, something about the man in front of him was incompatible.
"Oh, even with Reeeem~ dearest." Roswaal's smile deepened.
Shirou simply gave him a curious glance "So you know about that, huh."
"Weeell~ of course, you don't thiiiiiink~ I would allow anything to happen inside the grounds I own."
"Well then, why exactly does Rem seem to hate me so much."
Roswaal stopped smiling it was the first time he seemed serious "I'm afraid that's not something I can answer, If you truly wish to help her that's something you have to do alone."
Shirou narrowed his eyes "How do you know I want to help her, maybe I just want a problem resolved."
Roswall started laughing "Please, maybe you see yourself as hard to figure out dearest chef, but I can easily tell you're a being who would rather extend a hand towards someone you hated rather than kicking them down." chuckling to himself he stopped to look at the redhead "The only way you would stop her is if she were a threat to the lives of others."
Shirou started glaring at the clown in front of him "You still didn't answer my question."
"Weeeell~ I already tooold~ you, It's not my decision whether or not to tell you." Roswaal returned to his normal pronunciation as he started to clean himself "I miiiight~ give you a hint it has to do with the wiiiitch~."
Shirou raised his eyebrow and started thinking "Beatrice did tell me I had her miasma whatever that is around me, is that why she doesn't trust me, I have so little information about this world I need to find a way to talk to her alone."
"Waaaas~ that helpful."
"Good enough, thanks." Shirou said while getting up, he didn't want to be in the same room alone as the man in front of him for much longer.
He heard Rooswal chuckle "My my, you don't seeem~ to like me very much."
Not even answering Shirou left the room.
"Aaaah how very saaad~." chuckling slightly to himself "After all the feeling isn't mutual."
(Kitchen)
"Seems we're low on a few things, Rem." looking back at his own little shadow with blue hair with a smile on his face.
"Very well, Rem shall go to the village." Rem said emotionlessly.
"You usually go during the afternoon right." he started thinking "Maybe having her alone outside of the mansion would be the best place to talk about our problems, she'll probably see it another way but I need to resolve this."
Shirou smiled at her again "You wouldn't mind if I went with you to the village, right."
Immediately he saw her eye narrow and her face frown, he put his hands forward while trying to calm down the maid "I'm not going to try anything I swear, didn't I already promise you."
"Your promise means nothing to Rem but it would allow me to watch you throughout the day." Rem looked thoughtful "Doesn't Shirou have a lesson this afternoon with lady Beatrice."
"Ah, that's true." Shirou said while scratching the back of his head. He could probably talk to her into giving him a day off. "Don't worry about that, I'll go with you today."
"Very well then, Rem shall await for you after lunch, don't make me wait." Glaring at him a bit more.
Giving a salute to which she simply tilted her head in confusion, he continued to make lunch for the household.
(Afternoon)
"Hpm, so after just one day you already decide to slack off, I suppose." the little girl was glaring at him so hard that he had to take a step back, almost bumping into Emilia who was just awkwardly laughing at the situation.
Puck who was in her arms started laughing "Get him, Betty."
Shirou started scratching the back of his head while glaring at the little cat "You know you could be on my side Puck."
Puck grinned at him "Yeh but it wouldn't be as funny,"
Beatrice at being ignored started to make angry noises, which just made Shirou take another step back "Oi please calm down Beatrice I'm not trying to slack off I swear, I just promised Rem we would go to the village together alright I swear I'll be here tomorrow at the same time."
At this Emilia perked up "You're going with Rem." she had a conflicted look on her face.
Shirou looked back at her "Yeah, the food's been running low on the kitchen so we need to stock up, I've decided to go and help her."
Emilia's eyes were slightly downcast before looking back at him with determination "Well you gotta promise to get back before night then, so we can spend some time toge…."
"No." Beatrice said seemingly calming down "If you wish to do this, then you will have to come to Betty's library during the night, in fact." Huffing Beatrice continued "I will not have you missing a single day of lessons, I suppose."
Emilia looked sad at this she didn't want to miss time with her new friend, talking to each other after a day of studying was what she kept looking forward to now that she had it. "I understand Beatrice."
Shirou looked at the two girls in the room before sighing "Alright then Beatrice I agree with the conditions."
With that, the little girl simply turned around and went back into her room. Shirou turned to Emilia who was still looking at the ground, sighing he patted her head causing her to blush and squirm for a bit "Don't worry I promise I'll spend some time with you tomorrow."
Emilia huffed and pouted "You better mister." before marching back to her study room with her ears tinged red.
He looked at his friend walking "I wonder what caused her to be so deprived of attention, she's almost childlike seems mentally she didn't grow up past a certain point, well not fair of me to ask about her past when I try my best not to answer any question she might have."
Not wanting to leave the blue-haired maid waiting for long he started walking to the front door where she should already be, before long though he was stopped by the different colored twin.
"Stray." Ram said rather deprecatingly "I know you're going to be alone with my cute little sister, try and not let your perverted nature run through." With that said she simply walked past him.
Shirou shook his head "You two don't have the best opinion of me, huh." before continuing to walk to the front door.
Finally reaching the front of the house he noticed Rem already walking away from the mansion, sighing he went into a sprint to catch up with her.
"You know you could've waited for a bit." Shirou said when he finally reached her.
"It's your own fault for leaving Rem to wait for so long." She was slightly in front of him so he couldn't really tell what her expression was.
Scratching the back of his head he tried to explain himself "Sorry about that, it wasn't as easy to explain to Beatrice as I thought."
Rem slowed down and allowed him to walk side by side with her "Pretty sunny day huh…" Shirou said rather awkwardly.
Rem simply continued walking without saying anything, while Shirou sighed, he wasn't that good at socializing mostly sticking alone during school with people only coming to him if they needed anything done.
So they just continued to walk through the dirt road, this could almost be relaxing if it weren't for the fact that he was trying to resolve whatever problem the girl had with him. Still, he had no idea where to start so he simply walked side by side with her.
(Village)
If Rem were asked if the person her sister called stray were to be trusted this morning she would immediately say no, now looking at what's happening in front of her she didn't know if that would be her full answer. Immediately after entering Irlam her companion seemed to start scanning the place while that had brought suspicion to her what happened afterward squashed it.
He started helping people, one old lady with too many groceries here, trying to find a pet there, even fixing a few things. This took quite some time from her afternoon since she wouldn't leave him by his lonesome, but she couldn't get irritated at him, why..?
Well, he looked happy. It was the first time seeing him this happy, this was his element helping people, was this really the person she antagonized for the last couple of days. Looking back he always tried to strike up a conversation with her, always tried to ease her burden but she was far too suspicious. She didn't fully trust him yet but maybe she could try…
Watching as he played with some kids he truly did look innocent, she still needed to buy groceries and soon enough the sun will set down and it would look badly upon herself to diminish the happiness of the kids. Turning around Rem started walking away from the happy scene.
"Rem?" She heard Shirou ask.
Without even turning around "Rem will wait for you at the entrance don't be too late." she could feel his smile even without looking back.
"Big bro, come back to play." She heard from a distance, maybe this was the correct decision.
(With Shirou)
"Neh, big brother was that your special girl." A kid with a slightly runny nose asked.
Chuckling to himself Shirou answered, "Not even close, now isn't it getting late for you kids anyway, your parents will get worried."
At this all the kids groaned, seems he had made an impression "Don't worry I'll come back to play at some point."
He felt someone tug at his sleeve "Do you promise." an orange-haired girl asked while blushing slightly.
"Yeh, don't worry about…" he heard a growl to his left as a purple-haired girl came closer to him, in her arms rested a small puppy.
"Hahaha, she really doesn't like ya big bro."
Shirou simply narrowed his eyes, this dog "Has he attacked anyone." he asked the green-eyed girl, she simply shook her head though her smile disappeared. He didn't have much to go around but this dog… he tried to pet it, but she immediately growled and tried to bite his hand "Didn't attack anyone huh." the little girl seemed to get irritated for some reason.
One of the kids seeing him try to pet the puppy decided to give his shot, the puppy immediately lashing out though before he could bite him Shirou put himself in front getting a bitten hand instead. The kid that had been attacked started crying, with some of the others laughing.
Shirou simply took a look at his hand. "Are you okay, Shirou?" Petra asked with a cute worried look on her face, he smiled and patted her head.
"I'll be fine, go with your friends alright." the bite didn't hurt or anything so it was probably nothing.
Shirou watched the kids walk away making sure they went home safely, before deciding he let Rem waiting for him long enough. Upon reaching it he waved to Rem, who surprised him waving back seems like this did resolve some of the tension she had.
Her eyes widened at the bite mark in his hand "You got hurt."
"It's not a big deal, we should go home." Reaching the maid he grabbed the groceries from her arms, the fact that all she did was narrow her eyes slightly was already an accomplishment.
While still a rather silent walk the difference in attitude made it actually relaxing, the sun was setting down and they wouldn't reach the mansion before night at this rate, he wondered if Ram could cook.
"You seemed to have enjoyed your time there."
"Yeah, it's a really peaceful village, I'm glad that I got around to getting to know it."
She looked at the ground before speaking "Why did you start helping them, you don't even know them yet you didn't even hesitate."
"Well, they needed help." Shrugging his shoulders.
At that rem stopped making him turn around to her, she looked confused "That's it?"
Shirou smiled at her "That's it, I don't need more than that."
He watched as her eye widened before she sighed and continued walking, they were close to the mansion already so shouldn't be much longer.
(Mansion)
"Dearest sister, I hope the stray kept his hands to himself." Ram looked at him as if he was the lowest worm.
"Don't worry sister, seems he can keep his hands from Rem, despite his perverted nature." Despite the wording, there was no bite to it, the fact that she was joking about him meant that he got some trust from this whole ordeal. "Is lord Roswaal not here."
"He had to leave for some business." Ram said before looking at him "Lady Beatrice is waiting for you it would be best for your health that you don't leave her waiting for long."
"Where's Emilia."
"Lady Emilia decided to go to sleep, I would make sure to talk to her tomorrow if I were you she didn't seem happy throughout the day."
"So you do care, huh." Ram simply glared at him.
Giving goodbye to Rem, Shirou started walking, since Beatrice was waiting it probably meant that he didn't have to find out which door it was, grabbing the first one he could find he opened it.
"You're late, I suppose." the little girl said closing the book loudly.
"Sorry Beatrice, the village was a lot more to handle than I thought." He noticed that she was zeroing into his hand, giving her a look of confusion he asked "Is something wrong with the bite?" he had a suspicion about the puppy but there wasn't much he could do with just a feeling and attacking a puppy probably wouldn't be the best look especially when he was trying to make Rem like him.
"Come here." she immediately grabbed his hand "You've been cursed, in fact."
Shirou's eyes widened at that "A curse, I would've noticed."
Beatrice sighed "Perhaps, but for some reason, it's not taking any effect, I can feel the magic of the spell around the bite but it's like it's trying to grab at nothing, I suppose." Beatrice shook her head a black mist appeared from where she was touching disappearing after she waved her hand "I took care of the curse for you it wouldn't be good for my student to die in front of me, in fact."
Instead of answering Shirou looked at his hand his whole body shaking in anger, he could've done something immediately he knew something was wrong with that dog now people might be in danger because of his mistake.
He looked at the great spirit who took a step back at the look in his eyes "I'm sorry Beatrice, but I'll have to postpone the lesson until tomorrow."
Shirou turned around and ran to the door not wasting any time but stopped after hearing Beatrice yell "Wait." looking back at the little girl who could only look in worry "Be careful."
Giving her a smile that made her eyes widen he grabbed the door handle and left.
Beatrice moved back into her chair deciding not to leave until she saw her door open again.
(With Shirou)
He needed to get to the village as fast as he could, preferably without anyone from the mansion noticing and following him, he could deal with his mistake alone, as luck would have it though the maids were still up.
"Stray…" Ram was about to say something insulting before she took a look at his face "Sir Shirou is everything alright."
Groaning in frustration Shirou decided to answer "I've been cursed at the village, I need to get back there before something worse happens."
The twin maids' eyes widened "I'm sorry for that, but we can't leave our post at the mansion to help you." Rem looked conflicted at that.
"That's fine I was going to do this alone anyway."
"Alright then as long…"
"Rem will go with you." Ram looked surprised at that looking at her sister. "Rem are you sure about this."
Rem looked at her sister giving her a nod, Ram looked back at Shirou "Make sure my sister returns safely."
Shirou shook his head "No Rem you should stay…" before being interrupted.
Rem glared at him "Rem will go."
Shirou glared at both sisters making them take a step back, before biting back the frustration that was mounting "Fine, but don't take unnecessary risks, if you ever feel the need, take a step back and allow me to handle things."
Before Rem could answer they heard a voice coming through the steps "Shirou you're back, what's with all the commotion." Emilia asked.
Shirou sighed "It's nothing Rem and I have some things to take care of back at the village."
Emilia looked surprised "Oh so you are going back with her huh." she looked a bit dejected at that, before noticing how serious everyone looked. "What exactly is going on."
"It's nothing don't worry everyone will come back safely, I'll make sure of it."
Emilia looked worriedly at him, hugging him before whispering "Come back safe okay." stepping away, giving her a nod Shirou looked at Rem, she gave him a nod as well.
Time to end this.
I can kinda feel like I'm going back into the fast pacing but honestly, I kinda have the chars where I want them to be right now, I could probably do another chapter but it would probably feel like filler sorry if this sounds way too fast but the first arc is rather simple at least without the abuse of rbd. Emilia is a needy friend, rem has a modicum of trust towards him, ram is well there (It isn't really the arc that she comes into her own), Puck has slight respect, Roswaal is Roswaal and Beatrice is confusing. I kinda feel the need to start to move things slightly.
As more and more eyes are coming into this story I can't help but start getting nervous each time I drop a chapter, I hope I'm doing a good enough job.