Author Note: Okay wow over 100 follows and favorites! First off guys thanks for this, I greatly appreciate all that have read, followed, favorited and reviewed this story. I greatly appreciate everyone that has done this. To commemorate this special occasion I am going to do a Q&A. Put a question as a review and I will answer it. Can be for any one of my fics whether it be dead space, revolutionary, spec ops or Martyr I will answer any question. Once again thanks for reading, remember to follow, favorite and review it greatly helps with my motivation. Also thanks to the people that have posted the chapters on reddit and would you kindly do it again I would greatly appreciate it!
Chapter 8
It was nighttime at the mansion. The rows of stars filled the sky as the Emilia camp huddled inside of their mansion. The gold lined blinds shuttered the room in a dark hue, the Emilia camp didn't like the feeling of sunlight anymore.
They all sat along an ornate table. The table itself carved by the finest of carpenters, lined with a table sheet of pure white elegance. Plates lined the table filled with the most delicious of delicacies, it's smell alluring but even then, no one ate.
Emilia, Ram, Rem, Otto, Garfiel, Frederica, Beatrice and Roswell sat along it. They stared downwards. Emilia still holding the note as her voice broke with the tears that followed, Beatrice's small hand resting on her shoulder as the girl nearly caved into the table.
After the…incident. The Emilia camp was in taters, to the people of Lagunica there Natsuki Subaru was a hero, there camps reputation and fame following and rising. Even then, the Emilia camp was a mess.
Roswell himself was borderline catatonic. The man that had dedicated centuries of his life for his one goal to only squander it in the end, his own fist were the ones that broke Natsuki Subaru's bones. The boy that gave him hope, that same hope which was dead. The old margrave could hardly move anymore, he would simply confide himself in his office and stare into the wall. Ram herself would have to feed him his meals otherwise the old wizard would simply starve himself to death.
Otto stood slumped over his plate. His hat dislodged off the back of his head, the front of his shirt riddled with dried bile and throw up. His habit of drinking had only gotten worse after the loss of his best friend, succumbing to his vice of alcohol. It instead became a necessity. He would frequently browse and drink himself nearly to death each night. Rem and Beatrice would frequently have to heal and resuscitate him.
The drinking had only gotten worse after Emilia's trial. The weight of their sins to only be absolved only furthered his bad habits. His eyes half narrowed as he stared at a seat that was vacant, the seat of Natsuki Subaru.
Frederica herself didn't sit down. Her gaze always directed at her shoes. The once attentive maid of the mansion had long since given up, only pushing herself harder into her duties as she would train Petra in the ways of being a maid. She had also been teaching the girl other things, the process of tailoring.
She would try to aid her brother, to help him with his resurfaced anger and resentment only for him to further push her away. She wouldn't stop trying to help him, she knew that Natsuki Subaru would of have wanted that. Her brother to find happiness again, so she further pushed herself into making that dream a reality. She had also been saving her funds and money, making an account for Petra and finding connections of any master seamstress to take the young girl on in the capitol.
Frederica wiped the tears away from her eyes. Almost too harshly, she knew that the charm and appeal for the camp was gone. This was no place for a child, it never was a place for a child to begin with. Without Subaru, the true hero of the camp who had helped them scrap by the skin of their necks all those times. Petra, this innocent girl needed to leave to have a better and safer life.
Emilia laid the note down. Wiping away her tears. Garf's breath echoed, his breathing far more erratic as the muscles on his right arm further tensed. The seat broken underneath him, the weight of it nearly crumpling along dust.
He leaped up. His back straight up as he slammed his right fist into the wooden table, the table instantly caving in on itself. "Garf!" Frederica cried out. Grabbing her brother around the waist as he screamed, the weight of his scream carrying through the sealed windows. His breathing rasped and etched like a knife.
"This is bullshit!" He cursed out loud, his foot slamming into the table. The table further caving in on itself as the pristine plates broke into glass fragments. The food sloping together into one hot sludge of stench.
"Betty, she agrees!" Beatrice added on. Her gaze fixated on the half elf in the room. Emilia got up planting both feet down. The whole camp could see what was around her waist, a jet-black whip attached to her belt. A reminder of her first and only knight.
Rem nodded her head with the spirit's statement. She remembered everything…after Volachia her memories were back and her love for her hero as well returned. She wanted to reunite and be with him forever, though the incident happened.
She rose with Emilia her gaze filled with determination as she followed the half elf's lead. They all had just finally read through the letter that the council of wise men had just sent them all. The letter detailing that due to the time they had been expended towards finding Natsuki Subaru.
By their wishes they had decided to classify Natsuki Subaru as deceased. The half elf knight would formerly be pronounced dead, he would receive a hero's funeral in the capitol. All of his allies and friends would be allowed to come.
The people of the world would be told the story of how Natsuki Subaru, the half elf knight died by protecting his allies. The story would recount how Subaru went into a mabeast infested forest to save a bunch of children, reminiscent towards the situation with Rem in his loop in the mansion.
Though, there would be a massive difference. Natsuki Subaru would die in that note, the half elf knight himself sacrificing himself for the children of Lagunica. A martyr for the country. Instead of being betrayed by his camp, left to die in the cold and in the rain, Natsuki Subaru would be framed as a hero doing his final heroic duty.
Such a thing would hopefully ease the tension created from a demi human camp being involved with the death of Natsuki Subaru. This would most likely as well help keep the peace agreement with Volachia, an agreement made by Subaru himself.
The Emilia camp was told to come to the capitol in one to two weeks to figure out the details. In other words, to hear there alibi and to stick with it. Even Emilia herself felt sick reading the note, she knew her Subaru was alive somewhere.
Even then, they all knew of the causality that would follow if they didn't heed the council's note. If they did say anything or call out for Subaru, if the truth of what happened was revealed then…imprisonment would be a gift to them. Execution, torture or…worse.
The council was not overlooking this for their sake, rather due to the necessity and Emilia's standing were the only reason they were not getting punished for the weight of their sin. "Okay, then…" Ram spoke up, the pink haired maid hurriedly picking up the plates. Roswell didn't eat and she would most likely have to carry him to his room. "So, when is the funeral for Barasu." She spoke up plainly, the absolute lack of care etched within Ram's words. Otto for the first time, raising his head. His cheeks a rosy, red as he locked his gaze onto the maid.
He once again tried to slink his fingers along one of the expensive wine bottles that weren't smashed under the shield of sanctuaries fury. Even spilling it a couple times on himself as he pressed the bottle to his lips. Red liquid seeping down his chin and decorating his already dirty jacket into crimson.
"Really, Ram…you don't have to be so cruel like that." He drunkenly slurred the words, parting his lips as he pointed at her. "I didn't expect that you would so be apathetic towards Natsuki, if I knew you any better…I would say that you didn't care that he's gone." He turned around towards the pink haired maid, the alcohol clouding his thoughts and giving him newfound courage. "I bet you were the only one…the only one that didn't need an urge to hurt Subaru."
His words were laced with bile and poison. Emilia was about to walk over to stop Otto, even then she was far too late. A resounding smack etched through the dining room halls, Ram's open hand ricocheting off Otto's cheek as the boy without any real sense of balance was about to fall over, rather she grabbed him by his collar.
For the first real time, Otto saw Ram angry. Her pink eyes narrowed and full of unbridled anger as her teeth were gnashed together. "Don't…" She spoke up, her words fixated through her squelched teeth as Otto felt the fear within him. "Don't you ever dare say I enjoyed what I did to Subaru!"
Ram let go of Otto, the boy colliding to the floor as the red mark was still across his face. His gaze fixated on the searing maid as she turned away from him. He curled into a ball turning away from his camp, tears starting to fill his eyes.
"Why…" He motioned. His words still slurred as the rest of the camp turned away. Garfiel couldn't take it anymore, he grabbed some food to feed Subaru's ground dragon. He grabbed some of the food scraps and pulled them together into a pile.
Ram was still simmering with unbridled fury, even then she held no anger towards Otto. More so of the situation and at herself, he was drunk and stupid. She and the others were lucky as well not to fall into the dark abyss that Otto fell into after what happened with Natsuki. Someone like Otto couldn't deal with the guilt of it all.
Rem with tears in her eyes at the thought of her hero. At what she did and the monster she was didn't say anything, they were all monsters…they deserved to be punished for the great sin they had committed. Even then, Rem nodded her head towards her sister. Lifting Roswell by the shoulders and carrying him to his room.
Emilia glossed her fingers along Subaru's whip, his weapon a cool reminder of what he did for her and the camp. He wouldn't let him get away that easily, she strained her gaze out of the peak of the window. Seeing the small but bright stars that littered the skies. Beatrice cupped the half elf's hand, smiling at her.
"Betty knows that you must be feeling sad and hopeless, yet we know he is still alive. Soon, we shall all be united, and everything will go back to the way it once was." Beatrice lectured, the small spirit giving her a tighter grip. Emilia smiled, knowing that her Subaru was out there. Her gaze fixated on hope, rather the opposite was going to come. Her Subaru was far closer, and the only thing that was there, was more heartbreak and loss.
Move
"Ah, how much longer, Subaru!" Tozka screeched, her back slouching as the large poncho covered her frame, the hood pulled up over her auburn hair. Subaru was in front leading the way as he covered himself with his very own poncho.
"We're almost there Tozka, just a couple more minutes." Subaru replied.
The girl rolled her eyes, gathering up enough strength to finally push her way to walk steadily with Subaru. She yawned as Subaru just sighed, it had been annoying. Ever since they left the capitol, they had taken minimal rest or breaks further pushing themselves farther ahead so they could reunite with his ground dragon…one of the only members of his camp that did not betray him.
He combed through his long hair that was getting in his eyes. His orange orbs piercing the way forward on the dark road leading to the estate. He didn't have time for this, yet there was still a level of guilt that Subaru himself was dealing with.
The loss of life and finally…the guilt of leaving his ground dragon behind. 'Damn it, what the hell is wrong with me.' He berated himself in his head. He hated that he didn't think of his ground dragon, they were monsters the whole lot of them, he worried for Patrasche and what sort of hell they could've put her through.
He pounded further ahead, nearly breaking into a sprint. Tozka breathlessly pushing next to him. "Subaru, relax we'll make it there, even then we need to talk." She spoke up. Subaru turned around to face her, gesturing for her to continue.
"First off, after this we need to get supplies. Actual food and medicine to make such a journey, secondly we have to train you with the sword, properly train you." She spoke. Subaru stared at her, in shock at the fact that she said he had to learn to use the sword. In that strange area with pandora he was forced to learn the sword and control the Mana that was within his body. Almost like she was able to read his mind she continued.
"Listen, I get that you know how to use a sword. Even then, you need proper training with it, learning proper sword form. As well as that…" She pointed at Subaru's chest, her finger implanting into the breastplate of Todd's armor.
The act caused Subaru to slow back down into a walk. "What's wrong with my armor?" Subaru blankly spoke, almost like he was completely absent to what had been going on with it.
Tozka sighed, closing her eyes as her fingers went towards her temple. "Okay, fine." She nodded her head as she opened her eyes. "Your armor is black, Volachian armor is red…it's charred to the point where it's barely recognizable. There are chips in it that need to be repaired and don't get me started at how you don't even have a weapon."
Subaru knew that Tozka was right. Her dark brown eyes shadowing his form, he was lucky that Ricardo didn't cleave through him. Todd's axe was gone, and it was practically destroyed. He was lucky that he soaked in the blow with his armor and Tozka helped heal him.
Without her help, he would've died then. "Tozka, before I forgot to thank you for helping me out. Without you, I would've died." Subaru answered.
Tozka took a step backwards. Her eyes slowly widening. "Oh, thanks." She spoke up. A small red blush over her face as her fingers combed through her short auburn hair. The pair still walking towards the village. "…I don't really get appreciated much, wait were you just trying to butter me up!" She screamed out, Subaru shaking his head.
"No…just accept the thanks." He spoke. The words like weights as Tozka and Subaru both pushed through the final edge of the forest. As they finally pushed away the brush, they were able to see the sparkle of village lights.
Tozka and Subaru both approached. The weather was dipping, the snow would start soon, and the winter months would soon be upon Lagunica. Subaru and Tozka both walked through the vacant streets, the weight of everything dawning on Subaru as he remembered these roads…especially the mansion that was at the very end.
It had been months ever since he had set foot here, now he was grappled with new purpose and new allies. "Subaru, I am going to stop by the blacksmith and the general store. I'll be back soon." Tozka said, the words unbridled as she quickly left, Subaru staring at the blank spot.
"Okay…then." He murmured underneath his breath his eyes fixated on the road ahead as he began to walk through the road. His gaze fixated solely ahead once again, he didn't know what Tozka was going to get or buy. Hell, he didn't really care.
His own thoughts whirred within his own head. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know if he was strong enough to take the next steps forward. The betrayed him, they beat him to the point where he thought he was going to die. Yes, he was stronger but was he strong enough to fight back against them?
He planted both of his feet down, pushing himself towards that road as he approached the hill Infront of them. He was so in his head he didn't see the small figure that was around him. The figure bumping into his stomach as he took a step backwards. "Sorry, I just got a lot on my mind." He spoke up quickly, he took a knee. Raising his hand towards the…
"Subaru…"
The confused voice was childish, maybe around the age of twelve or thirteen even then Subaru knew who it was instantly. "Petra…"
The young girl was wearing a heavy jacket that went down to her knees. Her eyes were beginning to be beckoned by tears as her wool gloves went to her face to wipe them. Her orange hair was longer and some curls fell in front of her face. Yet, she still smiled at him. Petra ran towards Subaru, the pair embracing as he rested his hand on her head. "Petra, I am…"
"Subaru, where have you been?" She parted from his grasp, her eyes still leaking tears as she stared into his own orange eyes. "Frederica, she mentioned that you left for a mission in the capitol. It's been so long, and I've been so worried."
At those words, Petra did not expect Subaru's response. His face twisted as his gaze went up the mansion, the beckoning lights began to change and contort. The red that Subaru was seeing overlapped any feelings that he felt.
"Mission, so that was their excuse…" He spat out. Petra watched Subaru's fingers roll into his fist as he got up. The girl watching him as she pointed towards the mansion, almost like she didn't even realize what was going on.
"Subaru, everyone is in the mansion. I'll go tell them that you're here…" She spoke. She was about to run, only for Subaru to grab her by the shoulder. She saw fear in his eyes, even then she didn't believe it. She just stared into them.
Subaru shook his head, trying to fix his face as he threw up a fake smile. "Oh, Petra…that's fine." He waved off. He nodded his head almost instinctively as Petra eyed him. "I got to get a gift for Rem and Emilia before I come ho…back to the mansion." He stuttered as he assured his words.
Petra eyed him once again, she felt like something was wrong. Even then, she chooses to believe in Subaru. Sure, everything after he left was bad but now things would come back to normal. So, Petra nodded her head and began to race back up to the mansion.
Subaru after a minute followed. Going around the perimeter of the mansion and rather sticking to the outlier of the forest. As he approached, he dug himself onto the floor. He began to shimmy with his elbows and knees as he approached the backyard.
That was when he saw it…or rather him. Garfiel, he had to press his mouth to cover his gasp as he saw the boy once again. The angry blond-haired boy that used to call him captain, the same one that nearly beat him to death.
He was wearing leather armor that covered his chest and his arms. Holding a shovel which at the end was covered with food. 'What the hell, I fed pastrche before and I never needed that.' Though, unknown to Subaru his ground dragon had been lashing out ever since his disappearance.
This only became evident as the ground dragon snapped and grunted at the former shield of sanctuary, even latching it's teeth along the end of the shovel to pull him into her pen.
The members of the Emilia camp now needing to employ different methods to treat the ground dragon, Garfiel still had the scars from the prior time Pastrche went berserk, it was almost like the ground dragon knew of the sins they had very well committed.
To think you were the one to save sanctuary. To believe I even respected you, I am ashamed to even think of you of anything less than a failure.
Subaru bit his lip as he remembered the young warrior's words. He turned onto his back, calling his spirits to him as he knew that if he was caught this would be something he would truly need them for. During his travels with Tozka from the capitol to the estate he had corrupted two more spirits to his arsenal.
Now he not only had a Yang spirit. Even a Yin and a Fire spirit as well was added to his arsenal, even if they were corrupted. Subaru took a heavy breath as he called his spirits to him. The three orange sized balls of pure mana circulated around Subaru.
The fire and yin spirit followed in the abnormalities of Subaru's corrupted authoritie, there size and appearance changing in shape as well. While the fire and yin spirit would appear the size of the marble in tones of red and black, his spirits were different.
The fire spirit followed the yang spirit in its horrid feeling. The spirit the size of a small baseball could fit in the base of his palm. The fire spirit radiated a dark crimson, it stood static, yellow electric lines of pure mana radiated along the surface of the spirit.
The yin spirit was the most unique of his spirits. It was slightly smaller than the yang and fire spirit, even then it looked strange. An orb pulsated like an eye; sparks of purple electric currents radiated along the strange spirit. It's gaze peering into his very core. It was hollow in a strange way, surrounded by dark black mist that circulated around the orb.
Subaru took his gaze off his spirits, an air of relief coming from his mouth as he felt the weight uplifted from his shoulders. Garfiel was gone. He got up from his crouch, trying to be as quiet as possible even as his feet crunched along the frozen grass.
His ground dragon's head snapped towards him; the orange eyes of his dragon peered over his figure. Subaru raised his hands in alarm, the ground dragon orange pupils staring into his own. "Pastrche…" He called out to his dragon; the sound of his voice quickly caused the beast to stir.
It peeked its head over the fence it was stationed in. Her neck straining upwards as it hesitantly stared at Subaru. "Oh, right." He ascendingly replied, Subaru tossing off his hood as the ground dragon was able to get a good look at his face.
He rested his hands down. Planting both of his hands on the fence, he watched his ground dragon. He saw for the first time; tears leak from the animal. "…you really missed me that much, Pastrice." He softly spoke, taking his palms to the side of the animal as she rested her forehead against his own. "I'm sorry. I've been gone so long, don't worry." He raised her head towards him. "I won't leave you again…especially for this journey we have to embark on."
His words stirred Pastrche, this whole time she believed that her master was gone and now he was back. She had been lashing out, barely eating as she didn't know what else to do. Now he was back, she was clever enough to understand that this journey would be one that would last a long time, she could also feel the uncertainness of her master.
"Alright then, lets get your saddle on and embark." He spoke up, Pastrche separated from him as Subaru tossed himself over the railing. He began to search the little area around Pastrche for the saddle and the reins.
He felt her forehead brush against his left hand, he rolled his eyes in response. Knowing how jealous his ground dragon would get after being gone for a long time. Until he heard her purr into it. Attentively as he turned around, her gaze directed towards his missing fingers.
"Ah, don't worry about it…" He spoke up, turning away from her as he continued looking. "I've been through far worse, honestly I'm lucky that I lost two of my fingers on my left hand…it could've been really worse."
Brief memories of the loop in which he had to go through with only one eye circulated through his head. Once again, his fury towards the bowel hunter shot through him like a searing hot poker jammed into the base of his abdomen.
"Bitch…" He muttered underneath his breath, the weight of the bowel hunter even after her death still left a mark within the Archbishop of Envy. It was a horrible situation, another situation in which he gave it all for his friends and the woman he loved…only in the end for it to be proven fruitless.
Subaru finally found it, cobwebs and dirt lined the overall saddle. It had been obvious that Pastrche had not been letting anyone mount her during the time he was gone. He knew from Crusch that Pastrche before was a ground dragon that was ferocious and never allowed anyone except him to ride her.
She was surely a might ground dragon. Subaru began putting on the reins and saddle, softly patting her as he grabbed her sides and lifted himself into the saddle.
"Feels like old times, right?" He muttered, trying to break through the tension of the cold night, lightly patting the base of her head. The ground dragon taking two steps forward, even then they were both happy. There reunion of both rider and mount coming together.
Even then, all good things must come to an end. "Capn…"
The voice lacked the coldness he heard before; it lacked the ferociousness of anger. Instead, it was the sound of a fifteen-year-old boy being reunited with his hero. The same hero he hurt…the same one he lost all that time ago.
Garfiel before heard someone unlock the gates letting Pastrche out. He didn't expect to see the man that had lost all this time ago, the same one that would be getting his very own funeral soon to cover up there and the countries mistakes.
"Capn!" Garfiel repeated his title once again. This one with more anguish behind it. The cold wind fluttering his yellow hair as his eyes began to fill with tears. "It's really you…"
Subaru was mounted on top of Pastrche. His ground dragon stirring with something else…a choice. She was smart enough to feel the way her master stared at Garfiel; she could feel the tension that was so heavy it could cut through the air like an executioner's blade.
Subaru's eyes tensed up, widening in alarm as he felt the pain soar through his body. Pain from his camp…pain from his enemies…and pain from all the times he had died. They shot through him, the phantom pain, it caused him anguish to even look at Garfiel. The boy being alive a reminder of what he had to do to make sure they could get that happy ending.
"Garfiel." Subaru spoke up. It was the opposite of Garfiel's emotions, his words laced with hate and grief. The culmination of all their failings and betrayal a result to the man they see now…Natsuki Subaru, the Archbishop of Envy.
Subaru shook his head. Closing his eyes as he watched the boy who once called him hero speak to him again. "Capn, where have you been…mine self and everyone has been trying to find you!"
Garfiel began to inch closer as he spoke up, almost like Subaru was a scared animal. Even then, Subaru knew what he was doing. "STAY AWAY!" He screamed; he didn't care if the people in the mansion heard him. He didn't want him to come even a step closer, he wanted him to stay away.
Garfiel heeded his words. His feet planted as he stood still towards his captain. Garfiel, he knew what him and the camp was forced to do. The "Urge" something that he still did not understand. Subaru was different to him; he almost didn't even recognize him at first.
"Capn, I need to tell you something. Mineself and the rest…we got hit with this feeling, we don't under…"
Garfiel was cut off, Subaru's laughing roared through the night…almost like a manic. He threw his head back as he laughed. "Are you kidding me!" He spoke up, his words once again going to the young warrior. "You're going to blame this on a feeling. No, I know why you did it. It's because its you!"
Subaru threw his thumb to his chest, his gaze staring at the boy. "Because you've always hated me…haven't you. You've never liked me, and I remember in those loops how quickly you were willing to turn. I know your true nature Garfiel!"
Garfiel didn't know what was going on. The feral way his captain was acting didn't make sense as the words looped and came from one ear and out the other. Subaru on the other hand, even then he couldn't comprehend it.
For those you loved and believed to love you back…to just turn on you so suddenly. Natsuki Subaru, the boy with an already deteriorating mindset had only a couple ideas but the only one that made the most sense to him. Was how they remembered there true nature, and there true feelings towards the boy that gave there all for him.
Garf gritted his teeth. He pressed his hands over his chest. "Capn, please I am begging you!" His feet crunched under the dirt, breaking it into two with the pure pressure he exceeded. He didn't want it to end like this…no he wouldn't let it end like this, he wouldn't allow his captain to run away.
"Capn, it will be fine…alright, mineself will get Sis and the rest. We can explain everything. But please…"
The demi human collapsed to his knees, tears falling from his eyes. It was the first time…he had seen Garfiel cry. He was obsessed with being like a hero, believing that a man needed to act and had to tell everyone that he was alright.
Even then, Subaru watched Garfiel collapse in front of him. A torrent of tears falling out of his eyes as snot went into his mouth. The guilt Garfiel had was plunging out of him. "Mineself is sorry…please…just please Capn!" He begged. His hands on the floor as his head went to the dirt.
Subaru, he didn't know what to do. The boy that once called him hero, even after the betrayal he dealt to Subaru still stung like poison. Subaru…still felt pity. He wanted to hug him, to tease him and to let him know it was alright.
That he still loved him like a little brother, how grateful he was to have him. He wanted to believe those words…he wanted to believe that they could explain everything and how everything would be fine. Even then, Subaru was still conflicted.
Would he take a gamble to hear their explanation…possibly have them absolve their sins and everything going back to normal, or risk death? To not be able to go back home to his family. "I'll even get Emilia; she kept your whip captn…to remember you by!"
'Emilia…' He heard her names, the weight of such a name stirring the coldness of his heart. The purple eyed half elf's face for only a second still ringing within him. It had been so long Even then; he couldn't remember the sound of her voice.
Subaru's eyes narrowed at Garfiel once again because he couldn't remember the sound of her voice…rather it was dulled out by a stronger voice, it was dulled out by the cries of his parents. The cries when they saw him again.
Garfiel and the rest…are just stones in the road
His narrowed eyes stood orange; his heart was set. He thrown away his allegiances as he parted his lips to speak. "Get out of my way." He commanded once again. Garfiel getting up, his tears still decorating his face as he stood on his own two feet.
He raised his hand in front of Subaru. Terror outlining his face, the worst possible outcome coming true. "Please…Capn just wait!"
He purposefully screamed louder, his words ringing so he could alert the rest of the mansion that something was wrong. So Subaru could peer at the people that loved him, that wanted him back…that didn't understand what happened so they could make amends.
Subaru gritted his teeth harder. His right palm loosening as it felt colder. "You and I were brothers…your only fifteen, right?" Garfiel watched as three spirits began to form around Subaru. The witch's scent along all four of them, how they were each steeped within the witch's magic.
Garfiel didn't answer him. He just watched as Subaru's right hand began to pulsate with energy. The fire magic began to change, the spirit regulating its temperature as it screamed within Subaru's head. Even then, it couldn't compare to the screams and sobs of Subaru's parents.
Subaru forcefully pulled mana from the spirit. Ice began to form, it whined down his hand as the spirit arts fueled his movements. A short sword crafted from ice, Subaru didn't gloss down. The weight of the item in his hands giving him enough of an answer to what it was.
A short sword, it faintly resembled the gladiuses of his real world. He read about the roman empire in school, he subconsciously pulling a sword from the history books. The sword had a one handled hilt that fit cleanly in his right hand, it had a rectangular guard with a flat pommel. The blade of the sword was between twelve to twenty inches in length.
"Don't make me hurt you, Garfiel!" Subaru screamed once again. His weapon in his offhand slowly layed down. Pastrche herself feeling the tint of madness and bloodlust radiating from her master, her eyes directed towards Garfiel.
She knew this was insane. She knew that Garfiel was her master's friend, she knew that her master and the spirits around him weren't acting normal even then, her eyes dilated. The only way she could describe those feelings were like…
His impulse to fight, to attack…was mirrored within her as well
Garfiel planted both of his feet down. Wiping the tears from his eyes as he watched Pastrche get ready to move at her master's command, any source of reasoning with the dragon was gone. Vacant in her orange eyes.
"No, I won't leave you…" Garfiel shouted. His arms ready in his defensive position. "Not again, I will stick by you, and we'll smile once again, Capn!"
Subaru gritted his teeth forward and nothing was said. Garfiel was forming a plan, to use his strength to overpower pastrche and to throw Subaru from her. Still, he was smart enough to read Subaru. There was something off with him, he was stronger than before.
Even then, that proved he need to act quicker. After throwing him off he would restrain Subaru and bring him to everyone. He and the camp would explain to Subaru about what happened, and they could even get Crusch or the sword saint to come to prove their loyalty.
Garf smirked, his arms raised as he came together with the plan. Though, that smirk was something else to Subaru. A smirk that said that Garf knew this was going to be an easy fight. 'Well, I won't make it so easy for you Garfiel!'
Subaru's thoughts exploded. Pastrche charging as Subaru lifted the blade over his head. The weapon was cold to the touch, but Subaru's rage and determination pushed right past it.
Everything went by as a blur. Pastrche rapidly pushed towards Garfiel and when he raised his hand to grab the dragon, something else happened…
He felt searing hot pain like a thousand screwdrivers were implanted into his right arm. He couldn't hold back his pained screams as he stared at Pastrches clenched teeth. The ground dragon remembered Garf's prior attacks.
She lurched for his arm. Sinking her razor like teeth into the base of his wrist. Before he could even parry or to throw her off with his Capn. His dreams and hopes were shattered…
Subaru swung downwards, the ice blade dug into the base of Garfield's abdomen and towards a slant into his upper right chest. A shallow cut but Garfiel didn't predict his captain's movements or newfound strength.
Pastrche let go of his grasp, Subaru's mana infused strength dug deeper as Garf lurched into the air. The young warrior flying as his back collided with the dirt outside. The air upturned from him as blood pooled from both Garf's fresh wounds. His breathing was hollow as he planted a knee into the earth using his right palm to keep him steady.
Subaru, he wasn't sure if this was real…he glossed down at the sword blade. One of the edges decorated with the crimson of demi human blood. It seeped and dropped onto the strands of green grass like red raindrops
Subaru's breathing was etched into the air as his hollow breath was visible. 'I…did…it.' His thoughts were jumbled as he glossed over towards the warrior of sanctuary. He was expecting rage, rather what he got was the confused gaze of betrayal and confusion.
"Capn…why would you…"
But before he could finish his sentence. Two figures busted through Subaru's spirits alerting him first to the attacks coming to his sides. The fire spirit surrounding him with a wave of flame magic as the ice pikes aimed at him quickly dissipated. "Stop, villain!"
Emilia's voice rang through the courtyard as her and Beatrice stood with both hands holding onto the other, the nature of there contract nearly identical to the contract her and Subaru formed all that time ago.
Subaru gritted his teeth as he stared at the pair. "Damn, you didn't even wait to start fighting didn't you, Emilia."
His words were brash and unconfined. "Princess!" Garfiel shouted, trying his best to deal with his bleeding wounds, his face turned into one of terror as he realized what Emilia just did. "Princess…it's Subaru!"
The name of her knight rang within her ears. The wave of flame mana dissipating as she saw the figure in question, the one riding on Pastrche…
He had long black hair that went down to his neck, faint tendrils falling in front of his orange eyes that reeked of horror and uncertain battles. He wore standard volachian armor, even then the armor was worn and burnt to the point where it was on the brink of shattering like glass. The dark grey hood of his cowl was off, the cowl wrapped around his overall body as it hung like a cape.
Even then…
She recognized him, even with the animal like impulse and his heavy breathing. Her purple eyes sparkled to life as she realized that her knight had returned home. "Subaru!" Beatrice screamed; the small spirit's hands went to her mouth as tears of happiness fell from her eyes.
Her Subaru was back…dirtier than before but he was back. The one who took her hand and saved her from centuries of loneliness was there. She lov…
"Wow, Beatrice…" He snickered, the ice sword still in his hands. The maliciousness of his actions shocking both of them. "…you've made another contract with Emilia, guess all that talk about someone special was all just talk!"
Jealousy, it soared and cut the air around the pair. Beatrice's hopes dashed to the ground just as quickly as Subaru stared at her…the hate in his voice filling her with dread. "Betty, she has waited for you. But she needed Mana so her and Emilia had to make a contract…"
He was the one that saved her. He was the one that took her hand and saved her from centuries of loneliness, he heard all that shit from her about being someone special and was even rejected in prior loops. Even then, she just chooses Emilia.
"Capn, he isn't thinking straight!" Garfiel wheezed. Emilia still frozen like a deer in headlights as she didn't know what to say.
"No!" Betty screamed out, waving her arms wildly. "It's not what you think!"
"Oh, I get it…" he spoke up. His words unbridled and hate filled. The prior loops he had suffered wrenching every feeling he held for the girl as his envy boiled over. "You rant about needing someone special, but the moment you DISOWN me you choose the next one in line, you never cared!"
Beatrice's breath hitched. Her words drawing as a lump boiled in her throat as his words came out harsh. Words that shouldn't never be said, even then he wanted to hurt her in the way she hurt him.
"You know what Beatrice, I've met Echidina and she told me the truth. You were never meant to wait all that time for someone special…all these hundred years you have waited have all been for nothing!"
Beatrice's tears clouded her eyes. Subaru's words wretched as they cut like a knife. "Don't you get it Beatrice. Your nothing more than a failed experiment to Echidina, your nothing!" The blade of ice began to dissipate, the rage he was feeling causing the spirit to burn through mana.
"Even then, I don't want you anymore. You motherless wretch!"
The final words brought her to tears. Abandoned by her mother and after betraying her contractor…he chosen to leave her as well. His words came out brash and unrelenting. She didn't know what else to do without her Subaru.
She grasped along her heart, her voice hollow as her eyes darkened. Her knees along the cold dirt as she felt the weight of the world break under her feet. She didn't want to live anymore without her Subaru.
"Subaru…" Emilia repeated his name, her eyes focusing on her knight. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what else to do. Though, she pressed her palm to her chest. She felt the weigh her heartbeat to her Subaru. Even then, she knew what she had to say.
"Subaru, lets speak okay…just like how we were all that time ago." She spoke up. Her words almost like honey, even then Subaru didn't care. They might as well be laced with poison.
Subaru shook his head at her. The half elf rendered mute as she saw Subaru for one of the only times choosing to disobey her. "No…we're done." He grunted.
She took another deep breath, Beatrice staring at her. "Girl, Subaru is not in a good place right now. You mustn't say anything too…"
But Emilia didn't listen, she spoke from her heart. She thought that if she appealed to Subaru and the way she felt towards him, it would save him. It seemed reasonable, if she reminded him of what he lost then he would come to her…he would come back to them.
"Subaru, this whole time you've been gone me and everyone else has been so worried. It was so hard to breath at times. Everything has only gotten worse. You're the glue that kept us all together and I wanted you to…" Emilia was still speaking, her words laced with love and music within her ears. Even though her eyes radiated with pure obsessiveness.
Beatrice grabbed the girl's dress. Pulling on it to shake the girl from her daze. She saw Subaru's face, her words of passion and love were filling him with the opposite reaction. Revolt, disgust…anger. Her words of love coming out like one of an obsessed stalker.
Even then, she pressed on. "I know, Subaru. I know we've hurt you badly, but it wasn't our fault. We had this urge to hurt you and we didn't know what else to do." She pressed her hands on her sides. "It wasn't our fault; I get that your angry, but we should move on. I'll do anything it takes to make it up to you."
Garf and Beatrice's eyes both widened at the words. Subaru's breathing becoming more animalistic as his fingers curled once again into two steady fist. "Princess!" Garf yelled, trying to stop her maddened speech but once again was ignored.
Emilia was far too naïve; she couldn't read the room and was most especially not able to read the way her Subaru was feeling. To Emilia, she believed that she could lock Subaru's issues up in a box and to sort through very said box. The box would take time to fix and clean but with enough time anything was possible.
Emilia was far to misinformed to understand how messy and convoluted that box really was…she believed that this was something that Subaru was still dangling with, though his feelings on the matter were never as clear.
"Subaru, I know it has taken me so long…but I know for the fact that I…"
LOVE YOU
Emilia held both her hands out, almost like Rem did after her speech to him all those years ago. Almost like she wanted him to leap off his ground dragon and run into her very arms.
…but it had the opposite reaction. The weight of those words that Emilia through of was love, to Subaru briskened on obsession and possessiveness, her appearance as well messing with his eyes.
Emilia and Satella…blended. Her purple and white dress blending into the very shadows of the night, a cowl along her face as those words repeated within the very shadows. They called to him like the monsters in the dark, willing to sink their teeth into his very skin if he let them get even one step closer.
"Forcing your feelings on others. Your no better than Satella herself!"
Emilia's heart shattered, her knights face…his words. They smashed into her heart like a semi-truck as she collapsed to her knees just like Beatrice. No tears leaked from them; her hands immune to the cold as her dress fluttered in the wind.
The comparison to Satella…Subaru was one of the only people to never do that to her. Even then, that was when she realized how badly she hurt her, Subaru. She reached out to him, her hand in the air in a final plea to get him to come back to them…to come back to her.
Love, it was the only thing that could save him now. She knew that, but she didn't know what to say or do to show him how much she cared for him. To prove to him that her love…that their love before the urge was true.
Her eyes narrowed, a purple glare forming as she locked onto Subaru. "I won't let you leave, Subaru." She spoke up, a horrific chill etched within her very words. "Even if, I have to hurt you badly…"
Beatrice grabbed onto her leg. The rejection of her knight causing the girl to go Berserk. Beatrice felt a cold palm forcefully push her off her leg. Beatrice falling onto her back as she bumped her head into the dirt.
Subaru was once again going to call onto his spirits. To either produce another weapon, though he was conflicted. Memories, they dawned on him, breaking through the cold persona that he was trying to push onto himself.
Memories of his friends and happy times. Yes, he was able to cut Garfiel but was he willing to kill him…was he able to kill any of the members of his camp?"
Would I be able to kill…Emilia?
Emilia was about to charge, the mana infused within her was going to throw her near Subaru. Hoping to recreate what Garfiel did before. She would then get rope and tie her Subaru, then she would force him to see things the way he once did before.
"…I am doing this for you, Subaru. It's for the best for everyone, even you!" She spoke.
Garfiel watched on, too afraid to do anything. He saw the glint of anger within his captain's gaze, the air of confusion and conflict that was eating away at his soul. The real question would be…if Subaru had the stomach to become the person Pandora wanted him to be.
Though, right before Subaru was faced to make that choice. A lone bottle was flung in the center, a blanket of fire sparked to life as it separated the enraged half elf from her prior knight.
"Damn, would everyone please just be quiet!" Tozka's voice arose, her fingers going towards the sides of her head as she lightly massaged it. "I'm getting a really bad headache."
Tozka threw off her hood, letting the curls of her auburn hair fall freely. She held a large sack over her shoulder, Subaru eyeing a sword scabbard that poked from the lone opening. "Come on, Subaru." Tozka said.
She walked over to Subaru, attaching the sack to the ground dragon. The makeshift firebombs arranged along her belt. "Subaru, come help me out." She spoke up, Subaru eyeing her as he rested his right hand.
Emilia watched, she watched as the girl and Subaru's fingers intertwined as he lifted her up. Her hands going towards the sides of his stomach to balance herself. "Goodbye…Emilia."
Her throat hitched; her gaze uncertain. The cold chilling everything around her as the very same grass and wildflowers began to wither under her cold might. Tozka eyed the half elf, the girl noting the strange silver hair and purple eyes. "This is, Emilia?" She muttered underneath her breath.
Pandora's words popped up within her mind. A memory of her mission…not to kill or hurt Emilia, but to make Emilia hate her, to fear her.
Tozka smirked. Her chin resting on Subaru's shoulder, small tendrils of her hair falling in front of his face. Her right hand going towards and resting on his chest as she smirked. Emilia's mouth slowly gaped at Tozka's actions; Subaru was just as confused.
"Don't worry, Emilia…" Tozka assured, her smile only enlarging. "I promise, I'll keep Subaru warm for ya. I'll keep him on top of things if you know what I mean."
Emilia's neck cracked, the cold wafting as snow began to generate around her. Pure and unbridled envy following her movements as Pastreche felt it within the air, the ground dragon darted into the opposite direction.
Her memories of Subaru cracked like the frames of glass, the waves of hate and anger circulating around her. Tozka, the girl that touched her Subaru…the one that said she would do those things for him. Tears began to clumsily leak from her eyes.
Heartbreak…a disgusting and pitiful feeling welled within Emilia for the first time, she wouldn't allow this to happen. "Where do you think your going." She snarled. Ice pikes beginning to form as she saw Pastreche run and begin to duck in response to the feeling of Emilia's impending attack.
"STOP, YOU'LL HURT SUBARU!" Beatrice screamed, her fingers locking along Emilia's waist, Garfiel as well gaining enough strength to wrap his arms around the girl. Her concentration broken. Emilia, she didn't know what else to do.
She just watched her Subaru reject her…she just watched him run away with a girl. Tears welled up, her fist striking her head so hard it created a bleeding wound. She howled from the pain of losing the one she loved once again, the fear would come soon.
The fear of what her Subaru was doing…the fear of what he and the girl was. Even then, there were three people riding away. A ground dragon breaking through the brush of the forest as they had a map to follow. An intricate piece in the path…the path to return back home.