Re Zero The Sage and The Crow

All rights belong to the original series creator, Tappei Nagatsuki.

Underlined Text: Represents English

Normal Text: Represents Japanese

Chapter 12 Another Dance

Dank air, dim light, crushing shadows, the same sight greeted him as he walked down the prison aile. Night seemed to permanently reside here, as no matter how many times he came, no one made a sound. He had died twice so far, and based on where he was and how he had managed to orient himself, he realized that this would be his "second" conversation with Damian. The day right after the trial. Before, he had come alone, but now, he came with backup.

"Honestly, this place is so dreary I suppose." Beatrice grumbled. "Couldn't they have brought him to us I suppose?"

"They would rather die than do that, and I mean that quite literally."

That didn't even cover half of it. He had seen the faces of the guards and the knights and he and Beatrice walked by. Judging by their demeanor, it was only respect for his achievements and his name that offered him the slightest protection from their ire.

They made their way down the same path that he had used before. Eventually, the familiar sight of the lone cell lay before him. Damian sat in his usual spot, back against the wall, eerie eyes unfaltering in their observance.

He titled his head. "Oh joy, and here I thought I was gonna get some visitors. Then i looked up and saw it's just you." He spied Beatrice holding Subaru's hand. "And you've brought a friend."

"Glad you've noticed." Subaru responded. "This is–."

"At-tut-tut" Damian held up a hand. "Lemme stop you there, because I could give a rat's ass who she is."

"This man just opened his mouth and I already feel irritated in fact." Beatrice grumbled before pouting at Subaru. "What did he say I suppose?"

"Uhh." Subaru pursed his lips. "Best you don't ask." He turned back to Damian. "Listen. Damian. There's something I want to ask you."

"Not interested." His eyes flashed. "Frankly I see no point in–*Cough!* – this." Damian pounded his chest a couple of times and cleared his throat. "You'd honestly have better luck looking for a needle in a haystack."

Subaru jerked his head up and scowled.

Looking, he said. So he already has an idea of what I'm gonna ask.

"I'm sure that the star chapel can be found, but only if you can give some hints."

There was a long pause. Damian's head tilted to the side as Subaru's statement caught him off guard.

"How–?" He shook his head like he was snapping himself out of a dream. He threw his head back and guffawed a short laugh before hacking another fit of coughing. "Well then. If you already know then I don't know why you're talking to me."

Subaru smirked at his quick recovery. His shock transitioned seamlessly into light amusement as he lounged in the cell. The fact that he could remain comfortable in such an environment was honestly more alarming than not.

"It's not that we know about it. We know of it." Subaru responded.

"That means the exact same thing dumbass."

Subaru sighed. He supposed he was right on some level. Still, it did little to dissuade him.

"Something is coming." Subaru said plainly. "Within the next few days if I'm right."

"Are you talking about my execution? *Cough!* Sorry, but I'm already aware of the deadlines." He said in condescending sarcasm.

Subaru shook his head. "No. No this is different. An attack on the palace."

Damian snorted. "Good. One less problem to worry about for me. Hopefully you and the annoying red haired monster get done in when it happens."

Subaru huffed through his nose in annoyance. "You think that but you're wrong. It's gonna be everyone's problem."

"Ahh see there you're wrong." Damian grinned. He scratched his chin before snapping his fingers and pointing at Subaru. "I have very little to worry about."

Subaru narrowed his eyes. "What makes you so sure?"

Damian shrugged. His mouth twisted and he coughed a few times before spitting mucus on the floor. "Simple common sense is all, something you lack. Who in their right mind would bother– *Cough!*- a bunch of sad prisoners in the dark?"

"Would someone tell me what's going on right now in fact?" Beatrice wore a miffed expression at being left out of the conversation. Crossed arms adorned her chest as she blew steam from her puffed up cheeks. Subaru pet her on the head. She moved her arm to swat it away, but let it rest on her head.

"I wish you would tell me what he's saying I suppose." She pouted.

"I will." Subaru promised. "But right now translating would be a hassle. Besides, I'm not sure how long until the guards come to kick us out."

"I'll blast them in fact."

"Please don't, that'll only get us in trouble."

"Are you two done? Acting like dumbasses?" Damian spat. "What am I taking about? Fools will only ever be fools."

Subaru was getting used to his insults and took it in stride. "Let's get back on topic–."

"That's what I was saying." Damian's voice was irritated. "Clearly if you have time to joke around then this attack must not be a big deal, no? Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do."

He turned around, keeping his back to Subaru.

"This isn't something you can just laugh off." Subaru called out. "The palace will fall to madness. Everyone will start killing each other."

Damian's head, which had been drooping down, suddenly jerked up. He glanced over his shoulder, his bright point eyes flashed in the dark.

"Killing each other…" He muttered. He seemed to be lost in thought. He remained in this still state for several moments before regarding Subaru again. "You seem to know an awful lot about what's going to happen."

Subaru hesitated. "I have my sources."

Damian's eyes narrowed in the darkness. It was clear that the pause was not lost on him.

"What do you know about game theory?" He asked after a long silence.

Subaru shook his head in confusion. "What?"

"Game. Theory." He spoke slowly like he was talking to a child. That gesture was enough to earn a frown from Subaru. "Analysis of different strategies in a competitive situation."

Games again. Subaru didn't understand what this guy's obsession with games was. The last time he had had a conversation like this he had mentioned something along the lines of life being one big game. It was a sentiment that Subaru found more in common with Roswaal's ideals than his own. He had never really understood the idea of that thinking, but something told him he was about to find out.

Subaru looked off to the flickering torch. It danced and smoldered almost in accordance to Damian's whims. "No, I can't say I have."

Damian coughed into his jacket before an unnerving smile crossed his face. "There are two types of games; a finite game, and an infinite game. A finite game is a game with an end. Think baseball or conventional warfare. An infinite game is a game without end. If I had to use an example from Earth, think business or the Cold War."

Subaru made a face. "But you just said–"

"Shut up and let me explain you dumb bitch. You might learn something useful." Damian took a shallow breath before continuing. "In the infinite game, there are no winners and losers. So, players do the only thing they can do, keep the game going perpetually. An infinite player doesn't lose, they simply run out of resources or the will to play and drop out. When a finite player is pitted against a finite player, the system is stable, and the same for two or more infinite players. However, problems arise when a finite player is put up against an infinite player, and vise versa."

Subaru crossed his arms. "What are you getting at."

"What I'm getting at, is that, you are under a misconception that you are ending the game by catching Gale. You are not. What you are doing, in fact, is perpetuating the game."

Subaru was still. The idea of an infinite game made sense to him, but for some reason it didn't seem to apply here.

"Wouldn't he be a finite player then? He only has one life." He asked.

"See, there you'd be wrong. He is an infinite player to be sure. That asshole has enough resources and men to count as its own small nation."

Subaru widened his eyes in shock. "I thought you didn't know anything about the Blood Dragons."

"I don't know about them." A sly smile crept over his face. "I know of them."

Subaru grit his teeth at Damian's sarcastic turn around.

"But, I digress." Damian waved his hand dismissively. "The way to beat him isn't to play to beat him. You can't do that because he doesn't play to win either." He leaned forward and whispered. "All that he's done. All of the death, all of the orgies of torture and sacking of different villages. It's all a game to him. A game of chaos and destruction."

"Are you saying he doesn't have an end goal?"

Damian laughed before breaking into another coughing fit. "Oh he has an end goal alright. What it is? I have no idea. But the fact of the matter is that an infinite game can quickly devolve into a finite game if the proper conditions are met. Therefore, the infinite players can be dragged down to finite players, where they're more vulnerable to defeat."

Subaru stared at Damian for a painstaking amount of time. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you act like you wanna win, but if you wanna win then you have to play the game. Also…" His voice trailed off. "On second thought, I forgot what I was gonna say."

Subaru raised his brow. "I thought you said winning was impossible in an infinite game."

"It is, but you still have to play regardless. And to do that you have to know the rules, be you a player or piece."

"And those are?"

Damian shrugged his shoulders. "I honestly don't know, but you're–*Cough!*- welcome to ask any Blood Dragons you–*Cough!- come across. But for now, all I can really say is to keep the game going. And… when the time comes, and the game changes to a finite one. Then, take your chances and play for a win."

Hmm.

Subaru was surprised at this unprecedented advice. He wondered what changed form this loop and the last, but thought better of it. Sometimes, people changed within a flash. Yet, Subaru figured that this wasn't the same as that. Damian had that look in his eyes that he knew all too well. It was a look he recognized in people like Russel, or Roswaal, or even Anastasia. A look of assessment, of weighing the pros and cons of something and taking a risk.

Or maybe not, it was hard to tell with people like them.

Subaru shared a look with Beatrice. He took comfort in those butterfly eyes before shooting off another question. "You said that capturing him would only perpetuate the game right? Would killing him do the same?"

Damian scratched his head. He took a long hard look at the moldy ceiling before responding. "Yes, it would. Because." He held up his finger. "Because because… It is not the act, not even his own life that he represents. He represents a way of life, an ideal. To destroy the Blood Dragons, you must destroy the ideal."

"Destroy an ideal…" Subaru whispered.

"What in fact?" Beatrice looked up at him.

"N-Nothing." Subaru waved his hand dismissively. "Just talking to myself." He waved his hand in gratitude at Damian. "Thanks, really this–."

"Don't mention it."

"No really I–."

"Ever."

Damian made it clear that he would accept no thanks and went back to idling in his cell. The conversation was over. Subaru turned to leave, but hesitated.

He turned and left one last statement for Damian. "You're… A good guy aren't you? You don't have to hide who you are."

Damian's head twitched. He didn't turn around to regard Subaru, but he responded anyways.

"Don't assume anything about me!" He snapped. "You don't know who I am! What I've– *Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!*" He took deep, ragged breaths. His strained breathing belied his militant attitude. "You know nothing. I do what I do because it benefits me. Nothing else! I don't care about the whims of you monsters."

Subaru frowned at his back. "But you do care about something…"

Damian remained silent. The rustling of his clothes the only telltale sign that he was even in there. He lay down, his head cradled in his cloak.

Subaru shook his head sadly and turned around to leave.

"You ready?" He asked Beatrice.

"I'm always ready I suppose." Beatrice said with passionate fire.

The two left the prison. Both having felt that progress had been made somehow.

"I did…" Damian's voice wafted so quietly it was inaudible. "Once."

This, Subaru did not hear. Damian would have preferred it to stay that way.

Subaru pushed through the engraved doors. He had to find Julius now. The fact was that someone affected the minds of all the knights in the palace. There was no way for Subaru to know who, although he had his suspicions currently. Telling the council would only put the entire castle on alert, and it might not even stop the assailant from enacting their fell ritual. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try in some way.

He would tell Julius. Hopefully he would be able to get the message across to the others.

"First we need to find him first…" Subaru muttered.

"Huh I suppose?" Beatrice said from his side.

"I said we need to find Julius." Subaru repeated.

"Oh… The beautiful man in fact?"

"Huh?" Subaru looked at her in horror. "What did you say?"

Beatrice offered him a confused glance. "Just that he's–."

"Oh!" Subaru covered his face. "Not you too! Now my beloved Beako is falling for him."

"Quit saying stupid things I suppose. Just because he makes my heart waver slightly doesn't mean that Subaru doesn't have his charm about him in fact." Beatrice glared daggers at the meek Subaru. Her eyes boring into his very heart. "Subaru has a nice face too in fact. A nice, squished, lopsided–."

"Ok I get it!" Subaru exclaimed. "I know I'm not winning any beauty pageants but you don't have to crush my already low self-esteem like that!"

"It's too early in the morning for you to be this loud I suppose." Beatrice covered her ears.

"Oh man!" Subaru rubbed his face. "If you think this, then I wonder what Emilia-tan is thinking about right now. I hope I perforate her dreams with my likeness."

Beatrice took a step away from him. "Not only is that extremely narcissistic, it's profoundly creepy in fact."

"Oh, but Beako." He pinched her cheek much to her chagrin. "I learned it from the best."

"Wha–?! How dare you I suppose!" Beatrice pounded Subaru with her fists, but she might have well been blowing on him. Subaru just looked at her in pity as she punched his chest before stopping to catch her breath.

"Are you done?" Subaru asked the panting Beatrice.

"Take this I suppose!" She went back to pounding his chest. Subaru just stared at her.

"Pwah! Hah! Hah!" She doubled over. Catching her breath in short bursts.

"Oh? You two seem to be having a good time." A handsome voice interjected.

"Ahh!" Subaru jumped.

"Eek in fact!" Beatrice hid behind him.

Julius stood behind the pair. He raised his eyebrows at the two's reaction.

Subaru shook his fist at him. "What did I tell you about sneaking up on me?! We went over this last time! And you!" He whirled on Beatrice. "Why are you hiding behind me?! That's what I'm supposed to do!"

Julius frowned disapprovingly. "I was not sneaking. A knight does not sneak. As for me startling you." He knelt and smiled at Beatrice. "I'm sorry if I scared you miss. I mean no harm."

Beatrice regained most of her dignity and stepped out from behind Subaru. "B-Betty knows that in fact. Hmmph! Be grateful we didn't blast you by mistake I suppose!"

Her voice rang with such conviction, but her body and eyes trembled. It wasn't out of fear, no. This was something else, some unknowable attraction that could only be described as Julius' blessing.

"Seriously Julius." Subaru grumbled. "That blessing of yours is a pain. Am I gonna wake up one night and find her have left me to sleep in your bed?"

Julius furrowed his brow at that suspicious statement. "Why she would be in your bed? Nevermind, I don't want to know. The lolimancer must have his reasons."

"Loli– Huh!" Subaru's eyes bugged out. "Is that what they call me?!"

"Well, it's among your numerous nicknames. But I must say it's one of the more palatable ones."

"I can't talk to you right now Julius. I'm just thinking about how my life in this new world is ruined."

Subaru sighed at the thought of that abysmal nickname. Who thought of things like that? Didn't they have any idea how hard it is to get people to respect you with a stupid name like that? He might die of embarrassment. Actually, now that he thought about it, he was having a lot of those moments lately.

"Maybe I'm just having bad luck…" He mused.

"Your luck before contracting with me was pretty bad I suppose." Beatrice nodded her head in agreement.

"Oy." Subaru pointed at her. "You weren't supposed to agree with me."

The sound of a lighthearted laugh drew their attentions. Julius wiped away at his eyes before smiling at them. "Apologies, It appears I still have much to learn in the ways of etiquette. Now then, I don't think you've sought me out just to share a few jokes now."

Subaru knew he shouldn't be astonished, but he was. Julius easily could sense that there was a reason that he sought him out.

Subaru took a deep breath. He had already explained to Beatrice the details. As usual, she didn't question where he got his information, instead asking how she could help. There were times when Subaru wondered if someone would ever not believe him. He expected this to be one of those times.

"Soon. Very soon. Someone will attack the Royal Palace and drive the knights mad."

Julius widened his eyes slightly. He placed a finger on his chin in contemplation before nodding his head. "Alright, I'll see what I can do."

"Wait hang on!" Subaru flailed his hands around. "That's it?"

"What's it?" Julius cast Subaru a confused look. "Subaru, if anything I should be asking you that question."

"But– You just– You believe me like that?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

Subaru pinched the bridge of his nose. He had done things like this before, telling others of something that was bound to happen. Those times he had a convenient excuse in his back pocket for how he knew what he knew. This time, however, he had no such excuse. His whims and memories couldn't convey something that they might believe. Maybe, just maybe he could say he overheard a conversation, but the fact that Julius just believed him like that… It was too much.

Subaru sighed, he supposed he would go with the convenient excuse method. But even now it seemed like he didn't even need to use it.

"Another thing Julius." He said. "I don't know how the person did it, but I saw something. The entire castle was pitch black. All of the guards and knights were killing each other. It was like something out of a nightmare."

"Hmm." Julius looked at one of the burning mana lamps on the wall. Subaru could see him imagining the lamp extinguished, the entire castle befallen to darkness. "Madness you said? The first thing I can think of would be a poison of some kind."

"Betty agrees I suppose." Beatrice piped up. "There are many hallucinogens that can be made in the world in fact. They're not hard to get your hands on them I suppose."

"But to mass produce something that can affect the entire castle…" Subaru shook his head. "It just doesn't make sense. Not to mention, the light gone from the whole building? You're telling me poison did that too?"

"I'll admit that there are holes in this theory." Julius admitted. "But as of now, this is the first thing I can come up with." He looked Subaru in the eye. "When will this attack be coming?"

"The last day that we have. The window where Damian will be convicted and executed."

Julius rested his hand on his sword, a gesture that jogged Subaru's memory about another matter.

"Julius." Subaru said. "You need to talk to Heinkel. Get him to grant us access to Damian's spirit. If we can talk to it, then perhaps we can get something out of it that Damian doesn't know. He also needs to know about the attack. Not that I think he'll do anything about it. Actually, I think it'd be best if you just get him away from his office."

Julius' yellow eyes flashed inquisitively. "What for?"

"I have an idea, but it requires… privacy."

Julius nodded. "I'll do what I can."

"Right." Subaru turned to Beatrice. "Now, we need to go this library Otto told us about."

Beatrice tilted her head. "Library? Betty would have remembered him talking about a library I suppose?"

Subaru nearly bit his tongue off. Of course! This was a new loop. That event didn't happen yet. Trying to save face, Subaru sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "W-Well you see! Otto told me about this library thing he saw! We need to go visit it really quick to see if we can find anything worth using."

Beatrice nodded like that made sense. Subaru mentally pat himself on the back before turning to Julius. "Well, we're off then. Let me know when you have Heinkel busy. It'll be good for the both of us."

Julius nodded. "I'll let the guards know to keep their eyes open for any suspicious individuals."

"Ugh, finally…" Subaru stretched. "I feel like we might actually get it done this time."

"I odn't know what you're talking about." Julius raised an eyebrow. "We've been getting it done for the most part."

"Yeah my bad." Subaru responded. "Poor choice of words. Well we're off then. Best to… go and keep looking for stuff to do I guess."

Julius nodded.

The pair separated, determined to find a way out of this mess.

Damian sat in his cell, doing the one thing he could do.

Thinking.

He sat crossed legs and his hands resting in his lap in silent meditation. He alternated between deep and shallow breaths. Occasionally, the silence would be broken with pained coughing and mumbled cursing. Turning his head, he spat the mess that he hacked up on the dirt floor. The mucus glistened in the dim light. It was an ugly reminder of consequence, and of spent luck.

He frowned at the goop. Drawing a tentative hand towards it, he touched it before bringing it closer to his face. He sniffed it. It smelt metallic, like blood.

"Gross." He wiped his fingers on the floor before returning to his meditation.

Time passed. How much time, he didn't know. All he knew was that every second that passed was time spent. Time he was unable to get back. It was as they said; time is money.

Well if time was money, then he was broke.

BANG!

A loud thud reverberated through the prison walls. His eyes snapped open. He wasn't the only one to notice it, the other prisoners shuffled in their cells as they woke. They were unaware of what made that unnatural noise. Damian flit his eyes to the torch. The flame danced and jumped as if mocking him.

BANG!

Another thud, this one loud and foreboding. Damian felt the vibrations in his bones. The other prisoners started to panic. They yelled and banged on their cells. The thuds came more frequently the more they cried out. Damian kept his eyes on the spot in front of his cell. Unblinking, unwavering, stoic.

BANG!

One by one the screams of the other prisoners became more erratic. They started to sound more like wild animals than actual people. Then, even those cries were silenced. Cut short in a flurry of violence contained in those cells. The torchlight flickered sporadically. It danced and jumped in bitter glee.

The torch extinguished. Damian was left in darkness for several moments. He kept his heart steady, his breathing even.

Suddenly, the torch burst back to life and graced the cell with its light. And there they were. A figure standing not in front of his cell, but inside it. A figure close enough for him to wrap his hands around and snap their neck. One that he recognized all too well.

"Hello Crow." The figure crooned.

Authors Note: Originally when I redrafted the story, I wanted to keep Damian's perspective out of it until his named chapter came around like a traditional Re Zero character. But, when I was thinking about this chapter, I just couldn't help myself because I just loved the idea of this last scene. I hoped you guys enjoyed. As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns don't forget to leave me a message or review of some kind!