I don't own Re:Zero or any of the characters.
Waiting for Use
Ian watched as the lights went out. Within seconds of Lewes confirming that they were supposed to stay on while the trial was in progress, Subaru charged into the tomb, the lights blazing to life for him as they had for Emilia. Lewes and Garfiel gasped, and Ian's eyes widened slightly, but he chocked it up to it being Echidna's doing. Ian glanced at Lewes and Garfiel, but he decided that it was better not to try sending them into the tomb after Emilia and Subaru. If anyone could bring Emilia out, it was Subaru. Lewes had already reassure them that the trials weren't life-threatening to someone with the Qualifications, so he didn't have to worry about whether or not Subaru would respawn. At least, not yet. Slowly, time ticked by. Then, finally, Subaru emerged with Emilia, who was sobbing.
Ian's gut dropped, and he rushed forward, helping Subaru guide Emilia back to Lewes's house. After a few minutes, Rem and Ram emerged from the bedroom, closing the door, and Rem sighed.
"She's resting now," Rem said softly. "Physically, she's fine, but whatever the Trial was, it obviously took a toll."
"Subaru, any idea what it was?" Ian asked, looking at him.
"Yeah, I took it, too," Subaru said. "The first part is to face your past and your regrets to find some kind of solution."
"Hold on, you took the Trial?" Otto asked. "But how do you have the Qualification? You're not a half-blood!"
"It's because he entered the tomb with me yesterday," Ian said. "I'm not sure how, exactly, but he gained the Qualification by doing that. I didn't though. But Subaru, did you pass the Trial? And was it the only one?"
"Yes, I did," Subaru nodded. "But no. There are three Trials. I don't know what the other two are."
"What was this one?" Ian asked. "What did you have to do specifically?"
Subaru frowned for a moment, thinking. "I saw my family."
Ian sucked in a breath, eyes going wide. Rem glanced at him, then turned back to Subaru.
"So, if that's what you had to face, does that mean that..." Rem glanced at the bedroom door again.
"She'd have it worse than Subaru," Ian said. "Subaru's human, but not only is Emilia a half-blood, she's also a half-elf specifically. Her Trial will be infinitely worse than Subaru's."
The others all nodded in agreement just as something moved inside. Ian looked at the door as the sound of footsteps slowly grew louder. Then, finally, the door opened and Emilia glanced around at them all.
"Um...I'm sorry I...caused you all to worry," Emilia said.
"It's not a problem," Ian said.
"Are you alright?" Subaru asked, stepping up in front of her.
Emilia smiled tiredly, but nodded. "I'm alright now."
"Then we should probably get you up to speed now," Ian said. "I'll make it as brief and painless as I can, since I imagine you're probably exhausted."
Emilia nodded.
"There are three Trials," Ian said. "We only know because Subaru somehow got the Qualification, too. Then when he went in to get you, he had to take the Trial, too."
"You took the Trial?" Emilia asked, staring at Subaru. "You faced your...past?"
Subaru nodded. "I passed mine alright, but...I imagine yours didn't go so well?"
"You...you passed?" Emilia asked. "So, then...wait, you said there are three?"
"That's right," Subaru said. "Not sure what the others are."
"How do you know there are two more specifically?" Ram asked.
"The person responsible for the Trials told me," Subaru said. "The..."
He blinked several times, staring off into space for a moment before frowning in confusion.
"Was the person there?" Ian asked. "In the room?"
"No," Subaru said. "In the illusion that the Trial takes place in."
Ian nodded. "Well, now we need to decide how to proceed."
"What do you mean?" Emilia asked.
"I have the Qualification, and I've already passed the first Trial," Subaru said, understanding what Ian meant. "So...I need to ask, do you want to continue taking the Trials?"
Emilia frowned in confusion.
"If you don't, then I'll take the trials for you," Subaru said. "I don't care about it being supposed to be your achievement, or all for your glory. Whatever achievements I get, or whatever praise, I'll give them all to you."
"You would...for me?" Emilia asked.
"Of course," Subaru said firmly.
"But...why?" Emilia asked.
"Don't you remember?" Subaru smiled. "It's because I love you. I really love you. So I'd do anything for you."
Emilia stared at him for a moment before dropping her gaze to his hand, only to suddenly realize the tips of her fingers were tangles with his at his side, her hand being the one reaching. She shrieked in surprise and embarrassment, yanking her hand back.
"I didn't want to say anything, since I didn't mind, but you did that near the beginning," Subaru said.
"Subaru, you blockhead!" Emilia wailed, covering her face. "You should have said something!" She sighed, lowering her hands. "You're such a dummy, Subaru. If you're going to say all of that like that, there's no way I can just hide in here, can I?" She forced a confident smile. "You'll see. I'll catch up to you in no time, then pass you! You won't even get any achievements. I'll take them all for myself!"
"Hey, that's no fair!" Subaru said. "I need at least one or two so I can come ask Emilia for a reward!"
Ian smiled slightly, shaking his head. "Rest for now. You can try again tomorrow."
"I feel fine," Emilia said.
"That doesn't matter," Ian said. "Rest. We're not accepting any arguments about it."
Emilia hesitated before sighing and nodding, returning to the bedroom. Everyone else left the house, scattering to find something to do. However, Ian's feet guided him back to the tomb, and by the time Rem caught up to him, he was standing at the entrance, a single step from either having his body ripped apart or being pulled into the another tea party with Echidna. However, he stood motionless.
"I know why you want to go, but would you be able to see her?" Rem asked. "You said you still don't have the Qualification."
Ian shook his head. "I don't have it. I wouldn't be able to see her, but..."
Rem nodded. "I know."
Ian sighed, turning to her and wrapping his arms around her. "Come on. I need to talk to the pervert for a minute."
Rem nodded. "Try to be nice."
"I will if he does," Ian said.
They walked silently to Roswaal's borrowed house and Ian walked in without bothering to knock, finding Ram checking his bandages.
"Isn't it cuuustomary to knock before eeeentering?" Roswaal asked.
Ian regarded him silently for a moment before speaking. "I think I finally understand why you did it."
"Did what?" Roswaal asked.
"Went into the tomb," Ian said. "It had nothing to do with making Emilia look good if she can get through the Trials. Part of it was to keep the villages docile, but it was a small part. The rest of it was because you wanted to face your past. There was someone you wanted to see."
"You're as sharp as ever," Roswaal said.
Ian nodded. "You know, it's almost sickening to find that you're actually human after all. I'm ashamed to be one myself."
Roswaal's eyes narrowed, as did Ram's. "What a low opinion you have of me. You must have so little respect that it's hard to find."
"Oh, no, finding the respect I have for you isn't a problem," Ian said. "I have none. I respect your abilities, and I respect how dangerous you are, but you, as a person, I don't respect at all. I was able to respect Regulus Corneas more. I'd actually go so far as to say I respect Lye Batenkaitos more than you."
Roswaal's eyes narrowed dangerously, but he held out a hand to stop Ram from drawing her cane-sized wand from her waist. "A man is entitled to his own opinion, Ram. Besides, I have done enough to him to deserve it. It's not a problem."
Ram released her wand, and Ian watched her for a second, before turning back to Roswaal.
"Remember our agreement, Roswaal," Ian said. "If you can keep that agreement, you will have earned my respect as a person."
Roswaal nodded silently. Ian turned, leaving the house with Rem and walked away from the village before pulling his Gospel out of his coat, sitting on a tree branch to read it. Rem sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder, and stared down at the book silently.
"Can I skip to the end?" Rem asked.
"You'd just forget it anyway," Ian said, flipping through the book quickly to the last page.
Rem read it, and her mouth fell open. "That's..."
"I know," Ian smiled. "I wasn't even sure it was possible."
Rem nodded. "I'm surprised, but if we can do it...It's worth the trouble of trying to arrange things as necessary."
"We don't have to arrange much, actually," Ian said. "I can steer Subaru, most of it involves helping Emilia, and very little will be hard, except for this."
He pointed to a specific part a few pages earlier and Rem's eyes widened before she nodded.
"That will be hard," Rem nodded. "But we can manage it."
Ian nodded. "We'll need to plan and prepare ahead."
"Agreed," Rem nodded.
She closed her eyes, and Ian settled in to study and memorize the book from cover to cover. After a couple of hours, he closed it and turned sideways, wrapping his arms around Rem to hold her against himself before both drifted off to sleep.
Ian stared up at the clouds. Three days had gone by since Subaru passed his Trial and Emilia had failed. Since then, Subaru had been barred from attempting the second Trial while Emilia was actively attempting, and failing, the first, as she did every night. As such, there had been no progress. On the other had, Ian and Roswaal were being civil and Ram seemed a little less protective of Roswaal around Ian. He'd also apologized for angering her when he brought up Roswaal wanting to see someone from his past, and Ram apologized for having been planning to attack him on Roswaal's behalf.
"We're running out of time," Rem said. "The villagers and half-bloods won't sit around much longer."
"I know," Ian said.
The two factions were peaceful right now, but with each passing day, it grew more strained. Soon, it would boil over. Just then, a bush rustled to his left and he turned, seeing Ram step out of the bushes, dark circled under her eyes.
"Ram!" Ian gasped, rushing over. "Are you alright?"
"Just tired," Ram mumbled. "I couldn't sleep last night. Headache."
"She needs mana," Rem said.
"Hasn't Roswaal been giving you any?" Ian asked, beginning to channel his mana into her through where her horn should be.
Ram trembled, pressing her head against his finger a little harder and letting out a soft breath of relief, then waited for a moment before replying. "He's too weak and wounded to have to worry about me."
"Did he say that?" Ian asked.
Ram didn't respond right away.
Ian took his hand back, cupping her cheeks and making her look at him. "Ram, did he tell you that you're less important than his wellbeing?"
Ram shook her head. "It's just something Ram already knows."
Ian shook his head, returning to giving her mana. "Rem, would you please spend today looking after Roswaal? Your sister needs rest."
Rem nodded and kissed him before leaving toward the village. Ian spent a few more minutes slowly channeling mana into Ram before leading her into the village ad to the house he'd been sharing with Rem. Once there, he took her to the bedroom and gently guided her into the bed. Ian knelt on the bed beside her, taking her face in his hands.
"Don't get any funny ideas," Ram warned.
"Relax," Ian smirked. "I'm just giving you a little more mana to be safe."
Ram nodded and closed her eyes as Ian began to channel more into her. As always, she shuddered, her left hand fisting in her skirt this time as her right clenched the sheet. Ian smiled slightly, more than happy to see how much she enjoyed the feeling of his mana. The less innocent side of his brain offering the rest of his brain a suggestion for what else she'd enjoy the feeling of, though he ignored that. Finally, as Ian had expected, Ram's entire body went slack as her exhaustion finally claimed her.
He lay her down gently, brushing her hair aside and placing a light kiss on her forehead. However, as he turned to get out of the bed, Ram's hand suddenly caught his. He looked back at her, but she was still fast asleep, though her brow was furrowed slightly. He sighed, slipping his shoes off before slipping into the bed with her, slipping his left arm under her and wrapping it around her before slipping his right hand into her left. She sighed quietly, curling into him a bit before settling in to sleep. Ian smiled, kissing her forehead again before allowing himself to drift off to sleep.
Ian looked up as Rem stepped into the room. One of her eyebrows rose upon seeing Ram asleep in Ian's arm, but she smiled nonetheless and walked over, kissing Ian.
"Subaru made an agreement with Lewes and Garfiel," Rem said softly. "The villagers are being taken back, then Subaru will return before Emilia continues the Trials."
"I think Subaru's going to do them for her," Ian said, also keeping his voice low. "Are they leaving now?"
"Soon," Rem said. "Otto's finishing preparations now."
Ian nodded and gently shook Ram awake. Ram yawned adorably before looking up at him. Then, she promptly shrieked in surprise and flung herself out of the bed, grabbing her wand.
"You grabbed my hand before I could leave and wouldn't let go," Ian said. "And it seemed like you were having a nightmare."
Ram glared at him for a moment before calming, slowly allowing herself out of her battle stance. "That is...acceptable. This never happened."
Ian nodded. "Rem says all the Irlam villagers are heading home. I'm going to help escort them."
Ram nodded. "I'll go tend to Lord Roswaal."
"No," Ian said. "I'm going to need both of your help escorting them."
"Why?" Ram asked.
"The last time we took a dragon carriage with civilians, we met Regulus and Lye," Ian said.
"Good point," Rem nodded. "We need you, Sister."
Ram sighed, then nodded. "I'll let Lord Roswaal know."
Rem hugged her sister before Ram left. As she did, Ian opened his Gospel and held it out to Rem.
"We need to find Subaru," he said.
Rem frowned, staring at the page.
"Ask Subaru about previous chain of events before leaving."
"What does this mean?" Rem asked.
"It means that he and I desperately need to talk in private before we go," Ian said.
Rem nodded and they left the house, finding Subaru looking for them. Rem branched off toward the Dragon Carriages immediately and Subaru walked over, face entirely serious.
"Elsa Granhiert and Meili Portroute attack the mansion," Subaru said quickly. "This makes three. We figured out how to get Garfiel on our side last time, but then were killed by the Oosagi, a horde of small white rabbit Mabeasts that attack the Sanctuary later. I'll deal with everything here. You said you can handle Elsa and Meili. Meili's the little blue-haired girl that disappeared after the Mabeast attack on the village. She controls them, and will have a horde of them with her, not the rabbit."
Ian nodded. "I'll handle them."
Subaru nodded. "Be careful. We're outside of Roswaal's Gospel, so he's furious."
"I will," Ian said.
He walked over to the carriages, climbing onto his Ground Dragon in front of Rem just as Ram walked over, climbing up beside Otto.
"Lord Roswaal was displeased, but agreed to allow me to go," Ram said.
Ian nodded and looked to Otto. "Everything ready?"
"Yeah," Otto nodded.
Ian flicked his dragon's whiskers and it surged forward, Rem wrapping her arms around him, though he could feel her tense.
"Don't worry," Ian said. "We don't fight anyone on the trip. But two assassins are going to attack the mansion, which is why we need Ram."
Rem nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Is it that assassin from the day you met Subaru?"
"One of them is," Ian said.
"You said that even with your Preceding Memories you couldn't have beaten her," Rem said.
"That was before I learned to control my magic, trained with Wilhelm van Astrea, and gained an Authority," Ian said. "I can beat her this time."
"And I'll be right there beside you," Rem added.
"Exactly," Ian smiled. "I'll keep her attention, you finish her."
Rem nodded, face growing serious. "This won't be like against those Sin Archbishops. This time, we'll win outright."
"Yes, we will," Ian nodded.
Leave a review.