Chapter 3: What it Means to be Human

It's been a week since that "thing" decided to blow a boulder for no apparent reason. While the week itself has been uneventful in Astrea mansion, reports coming from the city started to worry Heinkel. The old man seemingly died of natural causes in his cell. Heinkel worried for a moment if he had gone too far with the old man but the healer's diagnosis and personal notes reassured him that, it was a natural death, nothing more. Meanwhile, the city guards only managed to find the body of a merchant named Wazo. With having no leads remaining Heinkel decided to wait for the artisan to salvage the ledgers. It was his eleventh day of sobriety and he hated it with a burning passion in his heart and mind. His memories and long-forgotten emotions were getting more and more vivid. While he started to consider drinking something else other than his preferred drink he quickly dismissed the idea. He didn't get to choose his situation, his wife's condition, his mother's survival against the white whale, his … offspring but he wasn't going to let anyone choose what he drunk. He had already been forced to renounce his right to choose a lot of things. But he wasn't going to late something trivial as an investigation gets in his way to choose his drink. Because of that, he decided to order from the source, near the border of Gusteko, by sending a letter. It was going to take 10 days for it to arrive but it would be worth it. Since there wasn't much to do besides walking around the mansion he started developing a habit to watch a particular brat play together with the "thing". He didn't know why but watching them just … felt right. Today he finally realized why watching them felt right. The kid was a … normal kid. He made mistakes, did ridiculous things, and didn't become a master at sword by picking it up. His form was wrong, his grip was too tight, his legs were too close to each other. Okay okay, even for Heinkel this was too cruel of an evaluation. He did seem to have a decent talent with the blade. He definitely wasn't going to be the next sword demon but with enough work, he could easily end up being a proper knight. He decided to leave these two to their own devices and visit his wife.

Reinhard was "training" Subaru for a week now and it seemed like his friend enjoyed their lessons. He first decided to show Subaru how to use several weapons but after the incident with bow and arrow, they decided to stick with the melee weapons. He knew if he used his Divine Protection of Training Mastery his friend would reach his full potential with whatever weapon he was using in no time but he decided not to. He was having too much with Subaru, not to mention his friend seemed to prefer to learn something by himself rather than having help. His father also started to observe their lessons, possibly to make sure he didn't accidentally break Subaru by any extent. Reinhard was also scared of this. Subaru, while seemed decently skilled, still had the body of a normal 10-year-old. Reinhard on the other hand was having trouble finding weapons that lasted longer than one fight.

[Subaru: Hey, what are you looking at Haruo?]

[Reinhard: Haruo?]

[Subaru: We'd been friends for a week now, sooooo I decided to give you a nickname.]

This was Reinhard's first time receiving a nickname, at least a positive one, so he felt a bit moved by this. His friend on the other hand simply focused back at his attempt do a proper slash against the training dummy standing in front of him.

Subaru was having a hard time trying to find something he was good at. First, he wanted to try bow and arrow since they seemed cool in movies but after his "special" move, a shot that pierces heavens, only manage to pierce two sheets on the drying rack and an old maids dignity, he involuntarily ended his career as an archer before it has even begun. After a proper scolding by the said maid, Reinhard suggested Subaru use a melee weapon. He was still too young to use an axe properly, there was also no pike's short enough for his size so they decided on the sword. It also made sense to Subaru since it would be too stupid even for him to try to learn something other than the sword when he had a master as a friend. Truth be told he was only doing this to pass time. There wasn't much else to do in the mansion. He tried to read some books in the library but quickly realized that he couldn't read these weird runes they used to write. Reinhard offered to teach him but he rejected the idea for now. He was still feeling sad and scared being so away from his parents so he needed something to take his mind away from feeling sad. He hated to admit but he was still crying at night to calm himself down. Reinhard's father was also observing him from time to time. He found it to be a weird first but since he never made any comments Subaru just assumed he was bored out of his mind as he is. There was nothing to do in a medieval setting manor. Subaru always thought that there would be tourney's or knights joking about the next battle while adventurers on the roads passing nearby but everything was awfully calm. There were no sounds of passing cars or sounds of electronic billboards. There wasn't even electricity. There was at least something called mana stones similar to batteries. Hearing the word of mana, Subaru asked his friend if he could use magic. His answer was both exciting and disappointing. Reinhard stated that Subaru should be able to use magic but he couldn't teach him since he himself couldn't use it. Apparently, Reinhard had a problem with his door … or gate. Subaru was too disappointed to listen to the rest. While he was trying to swing the sword properly he had his first genius idea. Since he was in another land. They probably did not have any mayonnaise. He decided to confirm this by asking his friend.

[Subaru: Haruo, do you know what mayo is?]

[Reinhard: Mayo?]

[Subaru: Its name is Mayonnaise. It's the best thing to ever exist. Apart from my parents of course. It makes eveeeerything taste delicious when you use it.]

[Reinhard: I never heard something like that. Do you want to make it together.]

[Subaru: Do you also know how to cook? How're you gonna make something you don't know anyway?]

[Reinhard: I have some experience in cooking. I also have several Divine Protections that could help us as well.]

[Subaru: What's divine protection and how can I get one?]

[Reinhard: It's a type of blessing given by Od Laguna. I'm sorry but you can't get one. You have to be born with it.]

[Subaru: That's … sad. Does everyone has this blessing thing or is it rare. Like some rare hero superpower or you have to be the Chosen one or something like that.]

[Reinhard: Well, people do have it but it's rare not to mention having a useful one is even rarer.]

[Subaru: Useful ones are rare … You just said you have several ones. How rare is that?]

[Reinhard: I'm a … special case. As long as I feel like I need it in a specific situation I will receive a new one.]

[Subaru: ehhhh … that's not fair. It must be good to be this op. You literally have plot armor.]

[Reinhard: I don't know what you said but sorry.]

[Subaru: Sorry for what?… You know what never mind. I will forgive you if you help me to make mayo, let's go to the kitchen.]

[Reinhard: Subaru kitchen is on the other side.]

Subaru was too embarrassed to look back to see Reinhard's smiling face.

When Heinkel was going to visit his wife, he would usually stop drinking for a day in advance and go to the room after taking a bath. He didn't want to be around Louanna smelling Alcohol. She was still sleeping like she was frozen in time. Heinkel could only look while yearning for her voice. She was so close to him yet so far. He remembered the first days she fell into this seemingly asleep state, only to never wake up again. No, she would wake up again. Heinkel was sure of it. He was never going to give up on her. When she first fell asleep Heinkel even started to write diaries to tell her what happened while she was asleep. But he quit after … he didn't even remember when quit writing them. It probably was around the time when Galic Fabless told him there was nothing he could do about his wife's condition. Ah yes … Galic the Blue.

"What the HELL you mean by you can't do anything!?"

"I'm sorry but …"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"

"I've seen people with her condition before. There's no known cure."

"What DO YOU even mean there is no CURE. You even go around calling yourself the best healer YOU OVERPRICED WHORE!"

Looking back Heinkel regretted saying those words. He heard from others that Galic had a relationship with a noble in exchange for a contract but that was his personal life. Sadly he never gets a chance to apologize since Galic got murdered by one of his disciples. Another regret to add to his already long list of regrets. He started thinking that it was around this time he started to drink. Little by little first. Just to ease the pain. But it never stays little, since then cups became bottles and beers turned into the highest proof alcohols he knew. He decided to cut his visit short. He didn't want to be around Louanna with a sad frown on his face. She deserved all the happiness in the world. Something he could never provide.

Reinhard was having the time of his life. After they sit down to talk about the recipe it becomes apparent that his friend had no idea how to make so-called mayonnaise but at least he knew two of the ingredients. After hearing the description of the sauce from Subaru he started to prepare the utensils.

[Subaru: When did you learn to cook? You look like a professional. Don't tell me you are also a kitchen saint.]

[Reinhard: I don't think there is a title like that. I learned it on my own. My divine protection also helps me.]

Well it was true he had learned it by himself but he didn't want to tell Subaru why he did. After he killed his own grandmother by accident he was too disgusted with himself to be seen around. Because of that he usually got up late at night to make himself dinner. His father used to accompany him at first but after he managed to beat him in a duel he also stopped showing up. His father realized what kind of monster his son was.

[Subaru: Haruo, why are staring towards the wall. Do you have x-ray eyes or something like that?]

[Reinhard: Sorry, I was lost in thought.]

[Subaru: You say sorry too much.]

They continued talking about mundane things while Reinhard continued making dinner.

[Reinhard: Subaru could you give me the salt and white pepper?]

[Subaru: Is the white pepper-like black pepper but white… nevermind found it and here is the salt.]

Reinhard started to wonder how good this mayonnaise stuff is. According to Subaru, it should taste better than anything he tasted before. His friend was also starting to look even more excited as the smell of the sauce started to fill the room. Reinhard also started to hurry up. His friend must have been hungry since a small drool started to form at the edge of his mouth.

…

[Subaru: Haruo, this is too sweet to be mayo. It tastes good somehow, but it's too sweet to be mayo.]

[Reinhard: I'm sure I got everything right. The sour taste might not match with the one you mentioned but it shouldn't be sweet. Let me check.]

After tasting, Reinhard realized his mistake. He checked to "salt" jar to make sure it was salt. After lifting the lid he was sure of it. He mixed sugar with salt. Reinhard suddenly felt the sensation of receiving new divine protection. He had hundreds of blessings with him but the blessing he just received was by far the weirdest among them. He knew that Od Laguna's interpretation wasn't always perfect but he never thought there were blessings this specialized.

[Reinhard: I think I mixed the sugar with salt Subaru. I also received a strange blessing because of it.]

[Subaru: Don't worry accidents happen. What new op power you just received?]

[Reinhard: Divine Protection of Salt Reasoning. It helps me to never fix sugar with salt.]

Before Reinhard finished the second half of his sentence. His friend started to roll on the ground with laughter.

[Subaru: We have been BLESSED by the Heavens above!]

He barely managed to get on his feet.

[Subaru: Go forth, kitchen saint. With the blessings from the above start making us the hoooolllly mayo.]

and fell down again.

Reinhard also started to smile while looking at his friend rolling on the ground continuing to laugh.

[Heinkel: What's the cause of this ruckus?]

Reinhard instinctively raised to pot in front of him filled with mayonnaise and answered his father with a smile on his face.

[Reinhard: We're making mayo!]

Reinhard immediately realized he acted to rashly, so he corrected himself with an emotionless look on his face.

[Reinhard: We were making a sauce called mayonnaise, father.]

His father momentarily stared at his face then spoke;

[Heinkel: Get the sword and change your clothes for something more formal. We're going to the garrison.]

After hearing out the messenger Heinkel dismissed the guy. It seems like artisan actually managed to salvage some pages out of the ledgers. While messenger didn't specify what it was. It would be safe to assume it was something important. The messenger also stated that he might need to question someone after they got there so Heinkel decided to use Reinhard for the job. He knew Reinhard could tell if someone was lying or could read emotions. While these powers were really creepy Heinkel decided to make the best of it. While he was looking around the mansion trying to find Reinhard he heard the laughs coming from the kitchen he decided the check there.

[Heinkel: What's the cause of this ruckus?]

[Reinhard: We're making mayo!]

Heinkel was surprised by Reinhard's reaction. It's been a long time since he saw Reinhard not speaking with a callous look on his face. He almost looked like a kid … almost.

[Reinhard: We were making a sauce called mayonnaise, father.]

[Heinkel: Get the sword and change your clothes for something more formal. We're going to the garrison.]

…

While they were on the way towards the garrison Heinkel decided to ask about Subaru's origins to Reinhard. They were together more than a week now and Reinhard probably figured out where was he from.

[Heinkel: Did you manage to figure it out?]

[Reinhard: I'm sorry but I can't understand you, father.]

[Heinkel: Ughh … I'm talking about the kid. Did you figure out where he is from?]

Reinhard paused for a moment before answering;

[Reinhard: I believe Subaru is from a land beyond the great cascade.]

Needless to say, Heinkel was shocked to hear Reinhard's statement. That changed things … that changed a lot of things. Heinkel heard about some stuff coming from above the great cascade but most of them are were too trivial stuff to even bothered about. There were a lot of fakes as well but the really useful stuff that could give information about what was there could go for ludicrous amounts and that was for small stuff. A human on the other hand … Heinkel didn't want to think about it. He was planning to give the kid to Carol and Grimm if his parents never showed up. But after hearing this he knew the kid was in great danger just because of his origins.

[Reinhard: We arrived, father.]

Being the sole artisan of the garrison was alone and underwhelming but he never would've changed to anything else.

His job was secure and safe. While these thoughts were in his mind he heard a knock on the door. He didn't expect the commander to arrive this soon. Well, it wasn't important when he arrived, since his job was already done.

[Artisan: Come in.]

After getting of the carriage Heinkel was surprised to see the soldiers of the Golden Wing Faction. They were actually supposed to be in capital to supplement their garrison but here they were. Before Heinkel could go to ask one of the soldiers why they were here Reinhard spoke;

[Reinhard: Father there is a dead body in one of the rooms on the second floor.]

Before Heinkel could ask anything Reinhard immediately dashed towards the building's entrance and quickly neutralized the healer standing there.

[Reinhard: He did it.]

After what Reinhard said and done the whole yard of the garrison fell into chaos. Heinkel immediately ordered the garrison's soldiers to arrest and search the guy. While they were doing what they ordered he rushed towards the artisan's office with Reinhard on his side. He was too late … again. The guy was sitting on his chair while his head was lying on the desk without a motion. The ledgers he worked on were burning in the fireplace at the corner of the room. Heinkel called one of the soldiers to get the artisan to another healer for autopsy and left to inspect the questioning of the healer that was responsible for it. He also brought Reinhard with him to make sure the guy was telling the truth. When they got down, they found the man battered. Truly the garrisons guards wasted no time.

[Heinkel: What is your objective here?]

[Healer: ehe … ]

The guy coughed up some blood before continuing

[Healer: I just … settled a … debt with him.]

[Reinhard: He is lying. He did this under orders.]

The healer looked at Reinhard in shock while Heinkel continued;

[Heinkel: In whose orders you did this?]

[Healer: Wouldn't you like to … AAAHhhhhhhh.]

Heinkel couldn't stand the guy's cocky attitude so he decided to be a bit more … convincing.

[Heinkel: Last time I will ask nicely, In whose orders you did this?]

[Healer: I just found the letter on my ... Ughhhhhh.]

[Reinhard: He is lying. He has been given a letter by someone he doesn't know.]

[Heinkel: Is that all?]

[Reinhard: Yes father.]

[Heinkel: How about you dimwits. Did you found anything on him?]

[Guard: We only found this ledger sir but there are only booze orders in it.]

Heinkel quickly got the ledger from the guard's hand. It was probably encrypted but he wasn't going to say that out loud. The healer was working with the garrison for around five years and even he seemed to be obeying them. He wasn't going to risk his only chance. He decided to return to Astrea Manor to work on this or at least call people who can work on this. With Reinhard on his side, he got on the carriage the return towards the Astrea Mansion.

He thought his client was a madman. No one with any sense of reason would attempt to do something near the Astrea Mansion but here he was watching the mansion. While he first rejected the job offer. His client increased the amount to such an extent, he had no choice but to agree in fear of his band accepting it behind his back. Hundred holy dragon coins and that was before the job. His client also said him the perfect time to get into the mansion and get what he wanted. While also didn't believe him at first he started to realize his client was right. Even the exact numbers of mansion residents and guards were correct. The guards' positions were also easy to ambush. There were only 3 guards for a mansion as huge as this. This was going to be easy for him and his man.

Subaru was having trouble sleeping. There was no one to play with after Reinhard left. He decided to walk around the house or watch maids and butlers attend to their duties but eventually, it became too boring. He decided to check his atlas until sunset and now he was too bored out of his mind to sleep properly. He decided to lay down with his eyes closed. Maybe that would help him sleep. He tried to ignore the footsteps in front of his room. It was probably the maids returning to their rooms to sleep. While he was slowly drifting towards sleep he also heard a door being opened… his door. Before he could turn around to look who opened his door a hand covered his face with a wet cloth.

[Subaru: mPPhmmmmmm …]

Natsuki Subaru's consciousness left him in familiar darkness.

Heinkel was feeling tired after a long day. Even Reinhard was leaning back, eyes closed. Heinkel could tell that he was still awake but he didn't bother talking with him. His mind too busy trying to make sense of what was happening in Flanders. He decided to watch out of the carriage's window to distract himself. His attention turned inside as Reinhard suddenly got up and jumped out of the carriage and started to run towards the manor. Heinkel immediately got up to close the door he left open.

[Heinkel: What the hell you are doing you energetic …]

Heinkel's words suddenly came to a halt when noticed what was ahead. One of the mansions guards a dead body. His mind suddenly comes to a halt and he also started to run towards the mansion. If the guards were dead his wife … no she should be alive … she has to be alive. When he managed to reach the mansion after 5 minutes and he found Reinhard covering some dead bodies with sheets while also helping the surviving servants to recover.

[Heinkel: WHERE IS LOUANNA … DID YOU CHECKED FOR HER!?]

[Reinhard: I checked on the mother, father. She is alive and untouched. A group of people killed two of the servants and all of the three guards. Subaru is missing.]

Heinkel started to curse to himself even further. He knew the Astrea mansion was way too big to be guarded with three guards but he never bothered hiring more since Reinhard was always at the house. He also started to blame himself for the guards and servants' deaths. It was probably retaliation for his investigation.

[Heinkel: Wait you said the kid is missing?]

[Reinhard: Yes father Subaru is missing and I'm sure he is kidnapped. I'm planning to track the people who did if you allow me to.]

Heinkel had to take a deep breath to calm himself down. His mansion was assaulted, servants and guards were killed and seemingly a kid he randomly found was kidnapped. He thought if Reinhard was wrong about him being above the great cascade but he quickly disregarded that idea. When it came to knowing something he somehow had a weird intuition that was always right. Heinkel really didn't want to think or find out what that kind of people do to a kid, so a part of him wanted to send Reinhard against them but he also had a wife to worry about and she came first over everyone else. So he decided to compromise;

[Heinkel: I will go to the Flanders to search for the kid. I will also send the garrison cavalry to the mansion for defending it from future attacks. Stay there until you see them in the horizon and then come to the capital with an earth dragon or running … whichever is faster for you. Also, stay by your mother until soldiers arrive and reinforce her room's door and windows.]

[Reinhard: Yes father.]

[Heinkel: Also bring that sword with you and do not let anything slow you down while going towards Flanders. Understood?]

[Reinhard: Yes father.]

[Heinkel: Very well, I'm going to take one of the earth dragons and leave.]

With that said Heinkel started to run towards the stable.

A certain clown was inspecting his book while relaxing in the carriage. Since the kid's early arrival there were already … ripples from the previous timeline. While it seemed favorable to act fast, he wasn't someone who rushed things. He first had to sure what was … the asset's capabilities are before testing its boundaries. He also wanted to test something so he always kept his eye on his teacher's gift. Since the future would change because of the kid's ability how would the book react? Would it always change depending on the kid's decisions or would it only show to the final timeline everyone remembered? If the latter was the case and the kid's ability rivaled his teacher's gift… His smirk grew even wider with the thought of it. Either way, this was going to be an interesting experience for him. Roswaal "L" Mathers might be the lucky Roswaal after all.

My god, this chapter was hard to write. I decided to increase the length even further (4k+) and checked for grammatical mistakes. Sadly I could only write chapters while taking a break from studying. The story itself is only ready (until the Canon Arc 3) in my head and this going to be the middle ground of Arc 1 of my fic. There are going to be 2 more arcs before we enter the cannon story (Like the original Arc 1 is going to be Arc 4 on this one).

I also want to thank everyone for following or leaving reviews. I read all of them (not that there are a lot of them but still) so feel free to write suggestions on how to improve my writing or which part story has a grammatical mistake.

I also plan to go cannon-friendly while not sticking to it too much. As the saying goes "The butterfly flaps its wing in New Mexico, It creates a hurricane in China" and Subaru is way heavier (and important) than a butterfly.

Just correcting some grammatical mistakes

These chapters will be rewritten when I have extra free time

...

My god... the grammar mistakes ...

They are everywhere

I'm sure there is still some remaining but it should be more readable now.