Inexorability Chapter Three
10 YEARS EARLIER
Julius swung his sword around in a semi-circle fashion pointing towards the sky which summoned his spirits right next to him. Julius squared his feet, preparing to fight the menace that was in front of him. The Black Serpent was said to be an indestructible menace, going from place to place only to leave behind toxic waste and uninhabitable land.
Though Julius did not witness the attack on the White Whale, to which was an event that he regretted not taking a part in, nor did he witness the death of the Great Rabbit by the hands of his friend, he knew full well that the great mabeasts that plagued the world were no easy fight.
"In, boost!," Julius screamed, commanding his Yang Spirit In to enforce his body and strength.
Subaru slapped his whip on the floor in clear frustration, seeing that no escape could be made. He had too little time to plan anything substantial so now was all or nothing. The Black Serpent had no obvious weaknesses except for freezing. Even then, Emilia's stories about freezing the venom of the Serpent only applied to the venom, not necessarily the snake as a whole body.
Perhaps some classic astronomy could come in handy as it had before?
No, all Subaru could think of was of Daphene. He was secretly and unknowingly angry at her for creating such horrid beasts and all in the pursuit to satiate her and the world's own hunger.
Now that he thought about it, it was quite interesting how this serpent was closely linked to Roy Alphard in a sense. After all, the star Alphard was in the Hydra constellation… and the Hydra was a serpent.
And the only way to stop Hydra was to somehow prohibit it from regenerating itself. In this situation, however, it seemed like this monster was more horrific than the famed Hydra itself. After all, the Hydra did not inflict any unfortunate soul with an unending barrage of unknown and painful diseases.
Subaru, semi-confident that he may be able to come up with some unorthodox strategy just like he did with the rabbit, whale, and even with Regulus, sprinted alongside Julius to ensure that he had protection while coming up with a plan.
The Black Serpent roared with great intensity, it shocked the two knights that their eardrums had not ruptured by its loudness. It raised its ooze-like tail and swept across the street, knocking out stalls and the like high up in the air only to crash down, littering the ground with specks of wood.
Luckily, while Subaru latched onto something with his whip as to avoid the attack, Julius too jumped high up into the air, glaring at the abomination before him.
"Subaru, I would very much like if you have a plan," said the finest.
Subaru scoffed and shouted in a fake angry tone…
"What makes you think that I have any clue!? I've never seen this thing before."
Though it was true that Subaru appeared to always have a vast knowledge on anything witch-related, quite suspiciously, his knowledge relied upon strict and careful observation, unorthodox planning, and the dreadful Return by Death.
Subaru had only looped once thus far, dying the first time from a mysterious force which he now identified as the disgusting Serpent.
Either way, it was clear why Julius, despite being the finest of knights, depended on Subaru for information on situations such as these.
Julius, with his superior strength and speed, charged at the serpent with his spirits flying close to him. He dashed in accordance with the Serpent's move, making sure not to be touched as its consequence was made apparent earlier when the two saw the merchant burn away.
"Al Clarista!" shouted Julius, his body got lighter and his sword was now able to cut through anything. To Julius' hope, he desired this fight to finish quickly.
However, as Julius' sword got in contact with the large serpent, the serpent merely split at the exact point of impact of the blade, effectively dodging Julius' barrage.
"Hey, you! Follow me you douche!" yelled Subaru, grabbing the Serpent's attention away as to prevent it from attacking Julius' when the opportunity to do so was obviously open. The Serpent, though the strongest of all the mabeasts was not particularly the smartest even if not the dumbest either.
It chased Subaru with great ferocity and what chased it was the finest of knights. As the Serpent charged forth, Subaru clung onto a ledge with his whip and swung onto a roof, skipping a set of stairs and saving much time.
With hurried steps, he shouted to Julius who took a detour as to meet up with Subaru elsewhere.
"Meet me near that Appa Stall you always visit!"
Subaru nodded, unsure of the finest of knights' plan as he was usually the one to come up with them. Subaru jumped off from the roof to crash onto a little booth, his impact softened by the cloth of the roof and his practice with parkour coming more in handy.
He quickly got up and continued to run before activating Cor Leonis and breathing in and out heavily as to prepare to use Invisible Providence.
With Cor Leonis, he was able to locate Julius' position as white dots accumulated in his vision. Looking back to face the palace building, he could see a group of white dots moving towards a stable near the entrance of the capital. He smiled in relief as that indicated that Ferris must have warned the others.
Subaru's attention snapped back to the scene to see that he was running directly towards a house. In an effort to reach Julius as directed, he snapped back to where Julius' white dot could be seen standing. Running towards a house, he yelled.
"Invisible Providence!"
And just like that, he pushed his entire body and the invisible appendage against the floor, boosting himself up in the air on top of the house as he continued to bolt towards the purple-haired bastard.
Julius had set up a trap-inspired entirely on Subaru. During an incident in Kararagi, Subaru had "borrowed" oil from Anastasia to use in a trap. What Subaru had done was splashed oil on various pillars and ropes so that when said pillars or ropes were burnt, different parts and traps would activate. This allowed the group, in which Julius and most of the heavy fighters were already injured, to beat a group of strangely strong, pursuing marauders.
Julius' trap though was more rudimentary as he was going to rely on his fire spirit Ia's help to set it up ablaze. The oil was splashed on market stands and some carriages and moved as to block the main street. Julius intended to burn the serpent or at least obstruct its vision with smoke as to allow Subaru or him to escape. He just hoped that his dear friend, regardless of whether Subaru accepted him as such, would make it.
"JULIUS!"
Subaru glided down a set of stairs and ran on the open street where Julius had constructed the improvised trap.
"Subaru, pass through here!"
Subaru did as he was told, smirking for a while as he realized what his friend was planning to do. Perhaps Subaru's hopes would not be crushed by the Serpent behind them. After getting to Julius' position, Subaru immediately ordered Julius to set it all off at an instant.
And setting it off was exactly what Julius did.
"IA! UL GOA!" yelled the knight, demanding his spirit to unleash a torrent of flames.
The bullets of fire hit the perfect marks and set ablaze the carriages and market stands. The Serpent's screams seem to indicate that the fire was at least doing something to it.
"We have to make it to the others, let's go!" ordered Subaru, anxious for his Emilia-tan's safety.
They turned their backs and ran towards the palace.
And it was then that the ooze started rising up from the ashes and struck forth.
"We can't leave Subaru! He must be in danger, I'm not leaving him again and especially not here!" screamed the provoked Emilia, her feelings attacked by the pink-haired oni.
"Cap'ns girl is right! If what ur said is true then the Cap'n needs us."
"Barusu said to evacuate and if that good for nothing man can do anything right, it's telling us what we should do in times like these," shouted Ram, showing great trust to Subaru and unknowingly surprising the others with her rare praise.
Wilhelm then stepped up from behind Crusch, staring at the pink-haired oni and the half-elf.
"If Subaru-dono told us so then it could still very well be an order as to get us away from the battlefield," stated the old man who was too experienced in the matters of Subaru Natsuki.
Subaru was the kind of man to do things himself and his way despite the fact that he required the additional firepower and the input of others. To Wilhelm and most likely to everyone in the room, Subaru's strategic ability and commitment reigned supreme above all else. But also known to Wilhelm and most likely everyone in the room was also the fact that the lolimancer was the weakest of all knights.
Subaru would not have beaten Regulus for example without Reinhardt, similar to how Reinhardt would not have been able to defeat Regulus without Subaru. Subaru's success requires the help of others and others' success requires the help of Subaru.
Subaru and all his devious enactments and plans required others, in short. Subaru sending others away was simply a sign that the boy knew something wrong was going to occur and that their input was required.
Sure, it was true that the boy made do with far fewer allies when trapped in a cave at Gusteko or when lost in the chaotic, violent lands that were the Vollanchian Empire, but it is also true that the boy could do far better if he let others in his plans.
So for Wilhelm…
And for so many others who the raven-haired boy helped, which was quite literally everyone in the damn room, they knew that they needed to assist the young lad.
"I agree with Wilhelm-dono, we should gather the carriages while some of us head out to spot Subaru and Julius," commanded Crusch, her old personality having been regained and now shining brightly.
"That's what my amazing self is talking about!" exclaimed Garfiel, glad that his allies stood by him to repay and help their Captain.
Even Ram seemed to be in a pickle before giving up her previous stance. If Subaru had risked his entire being to save her sister and to make her master see the true purpose and vastness of his own life then why couldn't Ram repay him back just this once? That deplorable Barusu should give her praise for her greatness and should be paying her back, not the other way around!
Ram tightened her fists and gave a nod to all those looking at her so that they enacted their great plan.
It wasn't until halfway to the stables when they split apart, having Garfiel, Reinhardt, and most of the other heavy hitters move to find Subaru in the sandy capital.
It was then a few minutes after splitting apart that a much more clear obstruction made itself apparent to the retreating group.
The winds chimed around her as if fate demanded it and the world appeared to have stood still.
A woman appeared in front of them with a white cloth as her only piece of clothing.
All those in the group were confused by the women's appearance, both awed and confused, while Emilia bit her lip as in a sense of hatred, extraordinary deep hatred, and distaste.
"Geuse…"
Flashes of the trails replayed themselves in her head. Her figurative dad had sacrificed himself to save her aunt and herself. Emilia remembered that moment and the image of Geuse ripping himself apart in despair and denial to which continued to haunt her dreams even if not every day.
Emilia's mind then went blank and started reminiscing on all the good days as if it was instinct.
The time Subaru took her to a gorgeous field that had enamored her senses and filled her eyes with color.
The time where Subaru jumped in excitement during the snow festival.
The time when her first kiss was stolen by the greatest man she'd ever known and the one she loved.
The time when she celebrated with Subaru at Priestella.
The time when she ran to Subaru when he had invaded Regulus' humble abode.
The time when Emilia opened up to Subaru after his time in Vollachia and told him that she loved him.
The time when she opened up about Geuse to Subaru, catching him in surprise and hidden conflict.
The time when they even planned their wedding once the Selection was over regardless of who won.
Despite all that though, the question still remained. Why was Emilia reminiscing?
It was simple really. It was because she knew of the probability of winning.
"My, how interesting," said the Witch of Vainglory, her wretched yet beautiful smile covering her face.
"JULIUS!"
Shrapnel of wood burst everywhere as the Serpents body smashed through the surrounding area, catching the two off guard and sending them flying.
Subaru, who was hit by a barrel from the force of the Serpent, crashed through a wall, receiving heavy injuries.
From Subaru's perspective, Julius' condition was unknown. He hoped the best for the knight but his thoughts were overcome with great pain. Any normal person would have utilized Cor Leonis to pass on their pain to another as to subside the current pain felt, but Subaru couldn't allow such pain to intrude on any of his allies.
As he bled and prayed, he accepted his death.
Only for it to never to come…
Why hadn't he died yet? Why was Satella sparing him this way and right now? Why was the Serpent sparing him and did it ignore him even though the scent was clearly laced upon him? It was supposed to be deceitful and dangerous, ruthless and brutal, and yet Subaru remained stuck with his two legs buried under debris.
"Julius?"
The silence was all that could be heard, all noise was gone except for the sandy winds that brushed up against the walls of the houses. Regardless of that, none of the noises were indicative of the Serpent's appearance.
Subaru tried breaking free from the debris, only to fail miserably. Once activating Cor Leonis, Subaru looked around in the effort and simply couldn't detect his friend's presence. It was then that Subaru began to panic.
"Julius! Julius! I know your alive you bastard, Julius!"
And all that was received was an empty response, filled with no distaste nor warmth as it was simply silence that permeated the atmosphere. Subaru tried harder to break free, straining his body and even using Invisible Providence to lift up some debris off of him to the point of being able to free one leg. However, he was already getting too tired to use it anymore.
Desperate to know the condition of the purple-haired bastard, Subaru activated an authority he both detested and appreciated as it was both somewhat used against him by a certain cat and belonged to a disgusting little archbishop, but was still quite useful during the Emilia Camps visit to Gusteko.
It helped Subaru determine or at least gave him hints towards a person's true intentions and the scope of their manipulation, It showed Subaru a person's true color and the perspective which they held.
Authority of Lust, Truest Thought
Subaru's ears went deaf, for all the sand rubbing against the houses and all other ambient noise was blocked due to the authority. All he could hear was whatever he wanted to hear. What he specifically could and wanted to hear at that moment was Julius' thoughts.
For the first few seconds, nothing could be heard except for static. It was like television static almost, a chaotic yet oddly consistent sound with a sort of nostalgic ring. This happened every time he used this power as static ringed before he actually starts hearing anything.
And then he heard it…
"It burns, it burns, it burns"
Cries could be heard, soft sniffles that were fully aware of the inevitable fate that it faced. Fate was never kind in the world that Subaru and the others inhabited, everyone had learned that lesson the hard way regardless of previous fortunes and circumstances.
"Subaru… I need to save him, save Anastasia...It burns"
The cries were nowhere near Subaru as Subaru was still stuck under the debris but it was through his authority that he could connect to Julius' personal thoughts. To his misfortune, all he could hear was the guy's despair.
Subaru had seen the finest of knights vulnerable before, both in his time in Gusteko, Priestella, and at the Pleiades Tower. He remembered the fear ingrained onto the knight's face when everyone around him forgot him and his contracts were intruded upon by the gluttonies. He remembers the hopelessness and worries that shattered the knight's previous courage during the tribulations at Gusteko. Subaru remembered how he, and the Anastasia Camp, worked hard to build the knight up back to his previous stature and poise.
And so they helped him as if there was no tomorrow so that when everyone started remembering Julius again, their love and care for the knight would only grow. Anastasia too was left vulnerable and sorrowful when she realized how much pain she could have potentially inflicted upon her knight.
"It… burns"
Said the displaced voice, echoing in Subaru's ears and its volume decreasing as the phrase was said. Subaru's authority then started flickering once again until all that could be heard was static.
Subaru opened his eyes to face the sandstorm seeming to calm down in intensity. It did not get rid of the atmosphere nor did the atmosphere itself get calmer. Smoke from the previously lit fire and from other areas in the capital polluted the air. It was early afternoon and yet everything seemed so very dark. The air felt cold and the warm sensation of sand brushing against a person's face was gone.
And it wasn't just cold as in winter cold, it was an empty cold. There was no snow, no flakes or even hale or rain, it was the kind of cold where there was no wind blowing and the air stood still.
Subaru lay trapped there for a minute or so even though it felt like hours stuck in denial.
Julius couldn't be dead, he just couldn't right?
Subaru's eyes grew cold, a deathly stare looking up into the sky as his tongue had been bitten off and allowed him to choke on his own blood. Julius couldn't die because Subaru wouldn't let him. Julius didn't spend enough time with Anastasia as he'd hoped, he still had Reinhardt to console, he still had people who cared for him. Julius didn't deserve and couldn't die just yet.
It reminded Subaru of the second trial where the supposed lesson was that people did, in fact, care for him and that his death, as such, would greatly affect them negatively. Julius' death would do the same thing.
So when Subaru jumped back from the abyss after dying and restarted, he fully expected to go back to standing in front of the palace with Reinhardt, Felix, and Julius by his side. Only to be met by dust and wooden debris over his body.
"It burns, it burns, it burns"
Subaru heard those phrases again and all the other ones that followed suit.
Tears sprouted from the raven-haired knight's face, genuine tears for the man he considered a friend despite the attitude they gave each other.
Cor Leonis started flickering on-again, freaking Subaru out as he did not command it to do so. He saw the white dots at the palace start moving sporadically as if they were fighting and each turning off one by one like the light bulbs they were.
Then his authority of lust, Truest Thought, activated unknowingly as well.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts… Ricardo, attack her!"
This time it was in Anastasia's voice, crying for help and yet holding the courage to command those by her side. Had a conflict sparked up at the capital? What was happening?
"Murak, I suppose!"
This other time was a certain loli's voice, screaming at the top of her lungs to activate a spell to support her teammates.
"Rem! Stay with me! AL FURA!"
Cried a pink-haired oni, clearly angry at something for having supposedly harmed her sister.
"no...nonononono….NONONO!" screamed Subaru, budging up from the debris gradually as wooden splinters and spikes overcame him. He screamed both in agony for the pain and for the ones he loved.
It took a few minutes before Subaru finally broke loose and limped to the palace. The sands had finally dissipated and the capital was gained an even more silent visage.
The authority of Lust, Truest Thought, then flickered off.
The authority of Greed, Cor Leonis, flickered off as well.
Subaru's hopes were being crushed and he knew that his power could not connect with as many people as before.
Subaru was aware of it but paced forth either way.
10 YEARS LATER
SOMEWHAT OUTSIDE OF THE LUGUNICAN CAPITAL
It was a dusty but structurally integral cabin in the middle of a forest, not too far from the capital but not too close either. The weather had slowly gotten more and more normal to the group, less sand and dust were present in the air and all that was left was a dimly lit sky and an eerie silence as no one wanted to talk or were simply too engrossed within their thoughts.
The group recognized this place as what this Warden Subaru identified as his "base of operations." He turned around to look at them as if making sure they all had made it together and nodded his head in affirmation and relief.
"Well… We're here."
"Of course Barusu would live in something as messy as this. It looks like you truly were only pretending to be a butler then," scoffed Ram, trying to lighten the mood in her own special way.
Subaru chuckled for the second time. His chuckles seemed too scarce and rare than the one sleeping on Emilia's shoulders. For Subaru had once laughed and talked much to his heart's content both in the intent to genuinely enjoy himself and keep up his facade, now he just frowned with occasional smiles, chuckles, and occasional dialogues similar to their Subaru.
It was clear this Subaru had something happen to him and that his old personality still resided within him regardless of how much he tried to hide it or deny it.
"Subaru-sama's house surely looks rundown, but I'm sure it's comfy on the inside," stated Frederica, catching onto Ram's idea of lightening the mood, this time with no intent in insulting Subaru's abode.
As the Warden, also known as Subaru, walked towards the door, an unexpected noise was heard from within. At the same time, smoke was rising through the chimney as if someone inside had been or just started using a stove.
Subaru, in opposition to the panicked expressions of the others who believed his house may have been burning down, simply grinned and smiled.
"Your house is burning, in fact!" yelled Beatrice, not wanting Subaru's abode to befall the same fate to which Roswaal's original mansion experienced.
"My house isn't on fire, don't worry. I just hope whatever she cooks tastes good."
Her?
Her!?
"Who is Subaru-Kun living with, is it me!" questioned Rem, hoping that answer would be what she wanted and desired. Though, unfortunately for her, it was not.
All the girls in the group, or at least most of the girls, started getting jealous. The question of whether they were more jealous than the witch herself was something that was still unanswerable.
The guys, in general, started giggling. In their minds, it seemed as if Subaru had caught yet another woman through his amazing charm and luck. Though, in a VERY technical sense, that idea that Subaru had a woman inside in which he deeply loved was oddly true even if not in a romantic fashion.
"Did Subaru move on from me?" Emilia hesitantly stated, her thoughts overcoming her mind and causing her to state her thoughts in a verbal format.
The awake Subaru turned around, confused by her statements, and started shaking his head at the nonsense that was said.
"Don't worry Emilia-tan, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't someone I care about."
Instead of bringing his hand to the handle to turn it, he brought it up higher and knocked on the dark spruce door in a specific rhythm similar to that of his ringtone. Such detail was only picked up by those who personally participated in the battle against the White Whale as that ringtone was what indicated the presence of the whale. They now knew though that the metia was not what told Subaru of its presence.
The shuffling noises from inside ceased and though the smoke was still rising from the chimney, it seemed as if sounds of hurried footsteps indicative of excitement increased as the mystery person inside got closer and closer to the door.
To the surprise of everyone in the group, the one who opened the door was a blonde-haired little girl who wore a small and cute white coat. At the sight of Subaru, her face beamed with excitement and pure happiness as if she had seen the most important person in her life.
She, without apparent hesitation, ran towards Subaru and hugged him with all of her childlike strength.
"Dad!"
"Hey Louise, did you miss me?" asked Subaru, to which he rubbed her head in a rough fashion immediately after as he did with many other loli's.
Meanwhile, everyone was rabid.
In normal circumstances, the guys would probably laugh in shock and delight while the women would stand there shellshocked. This time, however, both sides seemed to be losing their minds.
"Mah Cap'ns a daddy!" yelled Garfiel, grabbing Otto close as if he was intimidated by Subaru's amazing skill in capturing the hearts of women. In his mind, he had subconsciously assumed that his amazing captain had done the doing-do with someone to result in the girl. He was also beaming at the possibility that he was an uncle in the future.
Garfiel and Otto were secretly praising their captain, glad that their brother could find a source of happiness and hope despite the apocalyptic scene at the capital and all the things he experienced beforehand. They silently cursed Return By Death as well.
Wilhelm, as if he was witnessing the birth of another grandchild of his, started tearing up, paying no heed to the women's wrath and surprise. He also had seen Subaru's happiness flash at the sight of the girl. He was glad that Subaru may be finding a sense of happiness through the child and said things had inspired Wilhelm to want to spend more time with his grandson.
"To think that Subaru-dono has a child… This is just too beautiful," said Wilhelm, gaining chuckles from Ricardo.
"The kids really done it!" yelled Ricardo, clearing congratulating the lolimancer with his now legitimate loli/daughter.
The girl, unphased by those behind Subaru, rose her arms up near his face, begging for her dad to carry her. It seemed to the group that this was simply habit and routine for the two.
As Louise got up on Subaru's shoulders and sat there in a piggy-backing position, she finally noticed those behind him. For the first few seconds, she stared at them with glassy, focused eyes.
"Daddy, are they… them?" asked the girl, her sharp teeth clear and her voice ringing in the ears of everyone.
"They are. Those viewings are over."
"Can you let me down, daddy?"
Subaru blinked, wondering why his daughter would want to get off so quickly when she otherwise would have stayed comfortable on his shoulder considering her engrained attachment.
However, Subaru would not force someone to stay on his shoulder obviously and though pretending to act hurt for a few seconds, let her down.
Louise walked slowly to the crowd and stared directly at Rem who too looked at her back.
In Rem's mind, she had assumed that she must have done something wrong to the little girl as the girl's stare was relentless. Ram was getting anxious and was about ready to jump in front of her sister for protection. It didn't matter if this kid was the disgusting Barusu's daughter, she was not about to let her sister be insulted.
It was such a narrow mindset in all honesty, that the girl would insult Rem that is.
All that occurred was in direct opposition to that presumption.
Where Ram expected insult, she saw warmth. In where Garfiel feared rejection, he saw hope and pride. Where Otto feared the worse, he saw the best. Where Emilia expected the worse, she felt jealous and yet happy all the same.
The blonde-haired girl wrapped Rem in a very tight hug, making Rem open her eyes wide while she made a squeal in surprise.
Subaru, witnessing the chaos that his daughter could potentially ensue, did nothing but laugh at the cast's reactions.
"You can let it all out Louise, it's not like I'll hold it against you. I won't ever do that again"
Louise began to smile while water started pouring out of her eyes, dampening Rem's maid outfit. All that was occurring in Rem's mind, however, were questions concerning the girl's actions. Did Rem's future actions hurt this girl so deeply that it caused her to pour out tears?
Though Rem's mind at the moment was plagued with thoughts on her own actions and blaming herself for the girl's behavior, the others were confused as to what connections the loli really had with the blue-haired oni. After all, why would she hug Rem if she had hurt her? An action that of a hug implied an opposite relationship, one of care and health.
"I miss you so, so much mom!"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Eh?
"Ma...Mam...Mom...Momm...ma...mo...mi...AH!" said Rem, nearing insanity as the seconds passed. Her face got redder and redder until a point of impossibility was reached where her entire face heated up too much, making her fall down to rest.
Louise, letting go of her adopted mother as Rem fell down, squealed in worry for the oni.
"Mom get up! I'm sorry! Did I hurt you!"
"Mom… I'm a mom"? With… with Subaru-Kun?" asked the sanity-less Rem.
Ram grunted…
"I can't believe that my beautiful sister's innocence was stolen by the criminal Barusu. Truly this world has lost all hope and color," scoffed Ram, making a clear misunderstanding apparent.
"Mineself is disappointed that the commoner made the decision to bed that demon," retorted Priscilla, having both a sense of pride and of annoyance at the revelation.
But after a few more seconds passed, something become increasingly apparent.
Louise had blonde hair, blue eyes, relatively sharp teeth, and also relatively soft-ish shapes for said eyes.
Subaru had sharp eyes in the shape of almonds, hazel-ish eyes, black hair, and an interesting stature.
Rem had blue hair, soft-ish eyes, and a relatively rounded-ish face.
This Louise hosted none of the features present on the supposed parents and that deduction was quickly made by the group, giving the women sighs of relief.
"You guys take things way out of proportion"
Subaru said that with a chuckle.
Tea was served which was ironic, to say the least considering the almond-eyed man's distaste for the beverage.
A large table was seated in the middle of the living room as it was the only way to have enough space for all of them. Everyone seated and sat silently.
It was extraordinarily awkward, especially when the only noise emitting from the room was a certain person's purring and giggling noises.
"Louise is so cute, isn't she?" complimented the oni, patting her supposed daughter's head as Louise sat softly on Rem's lap while also getting her hair done by the oni.
Al couldn't hold it in and simply chuckled.
"Way to go, bro, I don't know who you did to get that but as long as you're hap-"
"It's not what you think!"
The rest turned to face the lolimancer, being surprised that he had shown more emotion than he had earlier. For the guys, the ones making the room the most uncomfortable were the women who continued to stare at the oni and the child, some even imagining what their child would look like if Subaru decided to help conceive one.
The mere thought made some of the women's faces explode in red.
It was Priscilla and Ram specifically who scoffed in disgust at the imaginations of the others.
"Subaru, how did you get a child?" asked the innocent Emilia, her eyes getting glassier each second as she immediately assumed that Subaru abandoned his love for her.
"I...I suppose you could say I unknowingly adopted her"
"You kidnapped her!" yelled Ricardo, making Mimi and Tivey hide behind the big man as they were now aware of this Subaru's questionable acts.
"Natsuki-san, I know you're not entirely OUR Natsuki-san but I think you need to lay down this lolimancer thing," worriedly stated Otto.
"Sniff, Sniff, Betty's Subaru has gone down a dark path, in fact"
For the first few seconds, bickering flooded the room on what the lolimancer had stated…
"I…"
Seeing that he couldn't get their attention normally, he resorted to chuckling, unnerving them once again.
"It's not like that either…"
"Well you see, in the future some things get complicated. I visit another country with this girl, Rem's with me, and we essentially become her parents."
(I have read only the first three chapters of Arc 7 so I'm guessing here)
"Ah"
"So Barusu kidnapped a child while innocent Rem was unaware and then visited another country," stated the ever-observant Ram, making Subaru sigh in despair.
"Mineself is bored of this tireless and useless banter, mineself believes that we talk about our purpose here," recalled the now serious Priscilla.
The others snapped back out of the blissful moment, even Rem despite her great urge not to, onto more serious and prominent matters.
Subaru, witnessing the room got more silent, decided that he might as well get into business.
"I would first like to start on your opinions on the viewings."
Everyone brought their heads down on that comment.
"Well, we all unanimously agreed that it is in our greatest interest, for both the kingdom and for Subaru himself, for Subaru to be put under the protection of all the camps," stated Crusch, making everyone else nod their heads in agreement and consensus.
"We still are somewhat shaken up, I think your mere presence has helped us keep sane or, at least, distracted from the viewings," stated Crusch.
"My presence?"
"Lady Crusch is correct, Subaru-dono. Your mere presence here took our minds off of the viewing. The viewings were about you, were they not? We wouldn't be interested in the viewings if it wasn't about you," analyzed the old man.
"I see"
Emilia stood up alongside her entire camp and some of the other candidate's knights.
"We apologize Subaru for our incompetence, we couldn't protect you when you most needed it," said the knight trio, begging for forgiveness and trying to keep up a knightly stature.
Julius, though he had dealt with his problems back at the theatre, could only truly forgive himself if the man himself could. In Julius' eyes, Subaru seemed more of a hero than everyone in this room combined. The kingdom would have literally fallen if it had not been for his actions, commitment, and will.
Reinhardt felt similarly as well. Scared of being abandoned and being disregarded by those he cares for, Reinhardt quietly begged for his dear friend to still consider him as one as well.
Subaru seemed also quite surprised by the sudden reaction and movement as well.
"We are all sorry, Subaru. You are what holds this camp together and is someone that can never be replaced in my heart. I… We all love you Subaru and we are sorry, please forgive us," pleaded Emilia, her volume and composure disintegrating as she dragged on.
Perhaps Subaru shouldn't forgive them, perhaps they didn't deserve forgiveness.
"We KILLED you more than even the enemies have and we don't deserve you! You are such a great person and you need to realize that yourself too," continued the silver-haired half-elf.
"You do realize that my forgiveness was already presented on screen, right?"
Their eyes began to open and Rem stopped patting Louise's head as she had heard the most outrageous words in the entire world.
"How could YOU forgive us just like that Subaru-Kun!" cried the oni.
"Huh? Then why did you apologize for the-"
It was then that Subaru realized that Rem had not stood up with most of the others in the camp to ask for forgiveness.
"We can not forgive ourselves for what we've done to you. We stabbed you in the back, we let you be cursed, we left you at the capital, we didn't listen to you at Sanctuary, and we were blind to your silent suffering. You can not let this slide Subaru-Kun, you are more deserving than that!"
"From what mineself remembers, half of those things were your doing," spat the princess.
"Priscilla, that is uncalled for. Rem is still trying to get over the extent of her act-"
"You really think that it is still okay for the boy to forgive?"
"What? Weren't you just fighting against her?" Crusch asked confused.
"The oni needs to know her place and accept that her camps or her own incompetence are the sources of the boys suffering. Mineself doesn't disagree with her though, the so-called "dunderhead" can't be as stupid to forgive these brutal murderers"
"Oi, what are you trying to provoke, sassy!?" questioned the tiger boy, escalating the situation.
"Big sis, you will actually try to help big bro, right?" asked Felt, her knight having a hand over her shoulder as the red-haired Saint desperately wanted to be forgiven.
"Of course! I'll protect him every second, I-"
"Disgusting"
"I'm sorry princess, but you left Natsuki-kun to fend for himself and didn't help him whatsoever thinking that he was just some mongrel under you. Do you have the right to call her plan disgusting?" questioned the merchant queen, glaring at the crimson princess and her self-righteous attitude.
"Mineself does have the right to do anything mineself wants. The half-elf wants to protect her knight and maybe even let him talk about it all, but the wretched half-wit can't see that her actions and presence hurts her knight by default," declared Priscilla.
"She's right," said Al, giving support to his candidate.
"I agree."
"Ram?" shockingly said Emilia, had one of her allies not believed in her either?
"How do we tell Barusu that we know of his curse once he does wake up? Trapping him and telling him that we know won't work, it'll set him on a constant course of paranoia. Telling him outright, however, leads him into a frenzied attack. Having someone like Emilia-sama talk to Barusu about it will remind him of all the times where he "failed" us."
"But I did fail you guys, did I not?"
Everyone turned around to see the man sipping his tea, right before scrunching his face in disgust and grabbing his stomach.
"Sorry, I still don't like tea. However, it is true. Considering I'm me, I suppose I'm experienced in the matters of Natsuki Subaru. If you were to let a reminder of my failures talk to me about Return by Death…"
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"Subaru?"
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"Oh sorry, I'm not used to speaking about Return by Death that much either. If you were to have Rem consult me about how to deal with Return by Death, for example, I'd probably start panicking and no progress could be made. Trust me something similar, non Return by Death related, kind of happened."
"Even the commoner himself agrees with mineself. Having the half-wit or anyone who hurt him consult and personally assist him makes it seem as if they forgive him."
"But why would we forgive Subaru-Kun!? Subaru-Kun has done nothing wrong in the first place," yelled Rem…
"Mommy, you're gripping my shoulders too tightly," wined Louise.
Louise seemed used to this type of banter to the observations of some in the room. Perhaps in the future, Subaru and Rem bicker a lot about their child and how to raise her. It would make sense and it brought a quick sense of humor within the atmosphere. Thinking about Rem wanting to protect their child at all costs and Subaru, wanting to do something reckless with said child, was all that could come up.
"Oh, sorry," whispered Rem, loosening her grip and rubbing Louise's shoulders gently.
"Just like the hands, huh? My past self's poor hands..."
"Back to what mineself was saying before you dogs interrupted, one must realize that the commoner does not see it like that. The commoner, as in the one sleep and maybe even the one here, blames himself for our deaths. Having someone who he's witnessed die consult him harms him. Mineself seems like one of the only candidates to properly help"
Everyone seemed to be getting it now, even the awake self-deprecating Subaru here.
"I'm a greedy gal, but if I may ask…"
"Yes?"
"Why'd you send us here in the first place then if you didn't have a plan to help yourself? If not simply for forgiveness and if not for helping you but rather our Subaru, why have us here then?"
"My intent is to change the past. I'm just making sure I've done everything I could."
What?
"You guys see it now, don't you? Time isn't a definite linear path as going backward is possible. Affecting things that were once set in stone in the past can, in fact, be affected."
"But bro, if you're here… doesn't that mean that this future is inevitable?" asked Al, familiar with classic time-traveling stories.
"Look at the if stories for example. They can very well be different timelines entirely, can't they? I intend to fix yours so that I prevent this ruinous state. I told you that I pulled you out of your time and space and placed you here to watch some viewings. This is still your timeline, this future is still yours, but what if this action of telling you Return by Death somehow deviates it like the if stories did?"
"But that doesn't ensure tha-"
"That the plan works or fixes this situation. I know it doesn't but I have to try to prevent this. I can not let this fate befall your Subaru."
The Royal Candidates nodded their heads in agreement. From their quick assessment of the current status of Lugunica, it seems that things don't seem to be going well. Even the roads seemed desolate and any nearby outposts or villages appeared either raided, burned, destroyed in some other fashion, or straight up deserted.
"So my Cap'n is planning on saving the world again," smiled Garfiel, puffing his chest in pride that his Captain was taking yet another heroic role.
"I suppose it could be called that. When you guys do go back and if this plan does fix everything, then I'll gladly rest here all day knowing my efforts saved you guys"
"Always saving people, Natsuki-san? You really need to start paying attention to saving yourself," stated Otto, staring at Subaru with pitiful and sorrowful eyes.
His friend desperately required both help and assistance in boosting his self-esteem.
However, on another end of the table, heavily thought a purple-haired knight.
When you guys do go back?
I'll gladly rest here all day?
"Subaru, may I ask a question?" asked Julius.
"You…"
Everyone's eyes stared at him for a while.
"Sorry, I just kind of miss his annoying-ass voice is all, been a long time since my last visit with the "other you" Julius. Anyway, yes you may."
"What happens to you after you send us back?"
Felt perked up...No….
Everyone perked up at that question. If they went back, what would happen to the Warden? Would the action of fixing the timeline and preventing Lugunica's current state imply that the Warden never would exist or come to fruition?
"I… you see"
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"When you go back, I will stay here forever regardless. You will deviate from the timeline..."
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"I won't"
Author's Notes:
I hope you enjoyed that writing spree. Unlike the first two chapters, I actually went on a limb here and made up stuff while writing. I think the product seems good enough in terms of quality and personal satisfaction and I hope that same feeling applies to those reading it.
Also, if you are wondering what exactly is going on, in case my writing is confusing, essentially it goes like this:
Cast escape theatre, meet older and future Subaru in future placement on the timeline, the future is not good, telling RBD to cast with the viewings is to prevent not good status in the future, WardenBaru can send them back soon but wants to make 100% sure that things are okay, WardenBaru very sad.
So yeah…
Other than that, have a wonder-filled day and, for those celebrating, Happy Thanksgiving! Eat as much as you damn can!
Yorelis, signing out.