Re Zero The Sage and The Crow

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

Underlined Text: Represents English

Normal Text: Represents Japanese

Author's note: Another one gone and another one gone and... I'm done with this one now. Enjoy. Also, on another note, if you were to make an OC, what would their theme song be? I'm genuinely curious. Mine would be the Doom 2016 main menu theme. If you have any comments questions, concerns, be sure to contact me!

Chapter 19 I Am The Devil

"Minya in fact!"

Flashes of energy dotted Subaru's vision. Beatrice's quick chanting had initiated the counterattack before Spider had the chance to throw them on the defensive. His heart soared with pride at her quick thinking.

"How mediocre." Spider scoffed as the shards flew towards her. "Minya."

Crystals of her own blossomed in the darkness, each one identical to Beatrice's except for a slightly darker hue. They matched each other in speed and violence. The resulting collisions kicked up so many mana particles that the room was clouded in a thin veil. He raised his hands to protect himself from the onslaught of magic dust.

He had to squint his eyes, but he could still see the elegant silhouette of their adversary. Of course she could use Minya. She was adept at both light and shadow magic. She had to be for the spell she relied on to work. Strangely, he felt more indignant than distraught.

"Hey! Don't go copying our moves you third rate maid!"

Shaking his fist angrily, he shouted this through the dust cloud. They worked hard on that move. No wait, actually, that existed for hundreds if not thousands of years. But they had kind of made an identity out of minya. It was one step below shamak in those terms, so it was practically copyrighted at this point.

"Could you quit messing around I suppose?!" Beatrice snapped as she blocked more minyas with a transparent shield. "You're not helping at all!"

"Ohh. You don't want me to use this move?" Spider chuckled. "Very well. I shall oblige you this request."

"Huh?" Subaru blinked. She was doing what he wanted? That couldn't be right… Was there something else that she–.

"Jiwald."

A bolt of light zipped by Subaru, missing his face by a hair's breadth.

"Yep! There's the catch I was looking for!"

The volleys of minyas being discharged was replaced with rays lancing through every which way. The density of lasers was so great it was blinding. He could scarcely tell the smallest detail, much less call out to the others.

"Beerin!" He called out.

"What." An anxious voice squeaked from beside him.

"Can you see anything?"

"No."

"Ugh! Beako! Can you make an opening?"

Beatrice was somewhere ahead of him, blocking the incoming fire.

"I suppose! It's not like Betty has much of a choice in fact!"

He imagined her with palms raised chanting quietly under her breath despite the pressure. She was skilled enough to keep them all safe, but it wasn't like they had infinite reserves. Time was ticking before she lacked the mana to put up even a feeble defense.

"Beerin, on my mark, you make a break straight to her."

"You want me to run towards the person trying to kill us?!"

Indignation rising in his voice. Although he couldn't see him at the moment, he could tell that the face he was making was less than pleased.

"It's either that or die by laser beams!"

"What's a laser?"

"Just do it!"

Subaru had gotten on all fours now. He was prone army style over the ground under the flying death.

"...Fine."

There was hesitation in his voice. Obviously he would be having reservations, but Subaru was in no and never would be in any condition to pull this sort of maneuver. He had to compensate some other way for asking Beerin to be so reckless. If all went accordingly then the seeds would sprout and bear enough fruit for him to share.

"You hear that Beatrice?"

"Of course in fact."

"Ara, ara. You all seem quite talkative over there."

Laughing maniacally, Spider continued the incessant barrage.

Subaru grit his teeth. Her psychopathic disregard for them was keeping this battle one note. And if it was one note, then he could figure mess up her symphony with another note.

"Now!" He yelled.

"Murak!"

As soon as those words left Beatrice's mouth, he braced himself, expecting the shackles of gravity to come undone immediately. Only, that never came. His feet remained planted. To his surprise, the oncoming jiwalds ceased.

"Oh? That's strange." Spider's slightly annoyed voice sounded from across the room. "Perhaps you're of higher stock than I thought."

Subaru's eyes widened. She had cast the spell on Spider, not them. With this realization, he nodded his head towards Beerin.

Beerin crouched down. Yellow lightning sparked over his uniform and filled Subaru's nose with an acrid smell. Bolts arced over the stone floor, jumping with glee despite the lack of a conductor anywhere. There was a loud clap and the young knight vanished with explosive force.

He was able to see thanks to the lack of blinding projectiles everywhere. Spider was floating in the air. Her hands weaved an impeccable defense from Beatrice's assault. They didn't appear to be doing anything to scare her, but that one moment had allowed them a lapse in her offensive.

Beerin sparked over her with a fearsome war cry. His two swords drawn and crossing with downwards force towards her head. She couldn't turn, the murak didn't allow for such complicated maneuvers. Not while she had nothing to grab and turn herself with.

"Creative, but not enough I'm afraid." She chuckled. "Vita."

Beerin's yell was cut short with an unknightly yelp. His body and swords dropped like heavy stones. Face first he plunged into the floor. It didn't look like he fell that hard, but the stone splintered from the impact.

"Curses in fact! She raised his weight!"

She had done the exact opposite to him as they did to her. What a bad show of luck.

"I'm not d-done!" Beerin struggled to his feet. Power surged through his blades. "Take this!"

He swiped and thrusted with blinding speed despite his trembling, fearful voice. Pride as a knight compelled him forward through the terror. His swords became arcs of light from the storm he channeled through them. But they failed to do any damage. Shields of white and purple light materialized right before his blows would land.

"Ara. Ara. Aren't you persistent? Very well, I shall reward your hard work."

With one hand she conjured the shields to block, while her other disappeared into her skirt. What she drew was a short scepter of barebones appearance. It had a simple stubby shaft of black obsidian, and a gem that swirled with black and white hues.

Subaru's heart froze. He recognized that scepter.

"Beerin!" He yelled. "Watch out!"

It was all he could do to spur his voice to action. His desperate voice overrode every other sound. Beerin, understanding the danger, bent his body backwards in an unbelievable show of flexibility. His hands landing on the dirt floor, he sprung up in a perfect back tuck. And just in time too.

Cackling in an ugly way, Spider struck the air with her scepter. A wave of dark light expanded from the gem, warping everything it touched. Decayed rock and vibrant life sprung from the potent magic, and some parts of the room switched places entirely. It was a simple gut feeling that told him that being hit by that wave would result in him ceasing to be who he is.

"Run! Run, little knight! The more you struggle the more excited it makes me!"

Beerin continued his evasive dance. As she sent bolts of light and crystal at him and waves of changing energy, he managed to thread miniscule gaps in the onslaught. His blades crackled with thunderous energy, parrying any stray shots. There were no openings that Subaru could find to exploit. Magic permeated the atoms to a deadly sheen. Interfering now would only bring tragedy.

"Is there anything we can do?" He lamented.

"I'm running low in fact." Beatrice stated. "While Betty hates to admit it, that woman's power is profoundly strong. There's only so much more he can keep dodging, and I keep firing, before a mistake is made I suppose."

Subaru grimaced at the dismal news. They were low then? This battle wasn't sustainable at the rate it was going. They needed to think of something, and fast. Come to think of it, Spider's power had been surprisingly lax in taking them out. Something told him that she was holding back for the sole purpose of toying with them. The scale and skill she displayed in previous loops belied her current abilities.

"We need to give him an opening."

"Easier said than done I suppose. Unless Subaru wishes to place his body on the line in fact."

She said this matter of factly. Her grim expression telling that it was getting to the point where she could be completely serious. The slight glimmer in her eyes told him otherwise, however. She would be distraught if he threw himself in harm's way.

"One more time then!" He yelled defiantly. "Let's show her what we're made of!"

"El Minya in fact!"

Another barrage, this one as inconsequential as the last, but it succeeded in grabbing Spider's attention.

"My, my, aren't you struggling so delectably hard right now? Makes all my special places tingly!"

"This is a fight to the death! Keep your weird fetishes out of it! You're gonna corrupt my Beako!"

He shouted this with purpose, enough to keep her focus on him. Taking the opportunity they presented to him, Beerin once again appeared in a blink. Yellow flashes sparked towards their adversary. The hair stood up on the back of Subaru's neck; the air was so charged. It brightened and brightened, filling the darkness with an explosive sun where there was none.

He couldn't see anything, only the white expanse of the impact. Baleful shockwaves buffeted him. Without his senses he couldn't even react as he was thrown backwards like a ragdoll. A dull pain greeted him as he slammed into the floor. Throbbing. Terrifying. Only these ideas could he sift through clearly.

The ringing in his ears subsided as he hacked up dust and spit. It was all he could do to crawl upright so he was sitting.

"...Beako! Beerin!"

He yelled into the clearing air, but tinnitus made it difficult to make out even his own voice. His arms ached where they landed. Thankfully, nothing felt broken. Talk about a stroke of luck.

He pushed himself up, blinking the last of the white out of his eyes.

"Beer–! Gk!"

The smoke cleared… and he sucked in his breath at the horrid sight. Beerin was standing, but he was in grave peril. His arms were outstretched against the walls, which had pushed up to him and now squeezed him in a vice grip. Veins popped from his beet red face, his breathing was quick and full of fear as he was steadily crushed.

"Ahh child. You're just not any fun to play with."

Spider stood in front of him. Her black scepter waved in the air, and the walls jerked closer together. Beerin strained, but there was nothing he could do.

Subaru scanned the room for Beatrice. Her body was limp, but she was stirring enough that he could feel the tiniest bit of relief.

They locked eyes before she flit a glance to the ground at her feet where the magic circle was pulsating with power. It was a fragile thing she said. It was unstable and could blow up if they didn't take it apart correctly. An inkling of an idea came to him, one that he knew he shared with Beatrice.

She raised her hand and materialized a single ribbon of mana. It was insignificant compared to the feats she had performed until now, it was a step below weak. That didn't discount any of its potency, and he knew it. All it took was one spark…

"Gah!"

"Shhh… This'll be over soon. Just close your eyes."

"Hey! Asshole!"

Subaru screamed full force, once again drawing her attention away from the struggling Beerin. Her sadistic gaze rested on him for only a moment before stopping on Beatrice and her outstretched hand. For the first time, he saw surprise cross her delicate features.

"You wouldn't dare."

"You have no idea what Betty would dare to do in fact." Beatrice snarled. "I'm much more experienced than you. Take care to remember that when you die I suppose."

Her hand dropped and struck the magic circle with a fizzing spark. Just the tiniest surge of power, but it was enough to throw the whole algorithm out of wack. The circle aggressively flickered like a dying light.

"You fool! What did you do?"

Panic laced Spider's usually calm and collected voice. Her eyes flickered with the same uncertainty as the magic circle. As she spoke it grew more and more erratic until the energy shook the foundations of the palace itself.

He didn't know what was coming. The circle popped and crackled. It was like a bomb was about to go off. There was only one thing he could do. Scrambling up to his feet, he shook off the pain and sprinted towards Beatrice. There was no time. He could feel it. He picked her up and jumped as far away from the swirling mass of mana. Her small form felt so fragile.

Sorry guys. I failed you again. The warmth from her body was all he could think about. It ebbed into him, a warmth he had to protect no matter what. He laid on top of her and closed his eyes. Whatever happened happened, but this was how he could compensate for his weakness.

"No… No! No! No! What have you done?!"

Her voice shrieked and grated on his ears. She was genuinely distraught. Heat raised around him. The energy grew unstable until it spread outward in a roiling explosion.

I've really had enough of explosions today.

But it didn't matter what he thought. He closed his eyes and tightened his grip on Beatrice, waiting for the end. Raging heat washed over him. A last sensation before he Returned by Death.

The violence stopped suddenly. His skin no longer felt scorched, but cool and soothed. Was it over? Was this death? It felt surprisingly… well… material. He could feel the earth below him, the feeling of hugging something tight… Something didn't seem right.

He opened his eyes. Everything looked so familiar. They had been transported back up to the surface and were now in the palace proper. Down in his chest Beatrice was nestled, her eyes closed as she had come to accept the end as well.

"Ahh… Beako."

His trembling hand settled on her unresponsive form. They were wet. No, they were becoming wet. His relief swirled and bubbled up until he couldn't stop himself anymore.

"I'm… So glad."

Gently, he picked her up and let his head rest on her chest. She was ok. She was ok! His eyes swam with tears of joy. Thank goodness. He couldn't bear it if…

"Subaru…" A familiar voice cut through his emotion.

The voice was oddly elegant and refined, but it held a shock and confusion that didn't seem to belong to it at all.

His blurry eyes raised briefly and traced the outline of a purple haired knight.

"What…? How did you get here?" He said guardedly.

Subaru ignored him, instead he continued tending to Beatrice. She seemed alright. A little out of it but it would pass. Hopefully. No it would pass.

Another figure groaned next to them. The young gray streaked knight that had slipped from his mind. When last he checked he was being squeezed to death between two walls. Now he was fine, huffing and out of breath, yes, but other than that he was alright.

"Ugh in fact." Beatrice stirred in his arms. He couldn't help but smile. "What happened I suppose?"

"She–." Beerin clutched his chest. "She used her power to try to save herself, but it inadvertently spit us out back up."

Subaru blinked his eyes clear as he processed that information. They survived then. He was spared using Return by Death just this moment. He glanced at Julius, who narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"We heard something like a huge earthquake. Then you three were in front of us."

"We found her Julius-sama!" Beerin staggered up to a standing position. His voice sped up until it was almost a disconnected babble. "We-we found the one doing this! She's down under the castle! We need to send a force down there now! We need-."

"Calm down." Julius said matter of factly. "As much as I would like to discuss the whereabouts of this woman, we have more pressing matters at the moment."

"W-What?"

Beerin sputtered as he couldn't understand why it wasn't taking a top priority. While he remained confused, Subaru took the time to check Beatrice for any external wounds. She swatted his hand away, her feistiness indicating that she was in fact unharmed. A great relief that brought a huge sigh from him. But there was something around that gave him pause in his happiness.

"Gk! What the–?"

His eyes beheld a grisly sight. He was so focused on Beatrice that he hadn't noticed it before, but it was now laid bare for him to see. Julius wasn't alone. He was surrounded by at least a dozen other men, all knights and soldiers clad in uniform and armor. Their swords drawn and at the ready, and their eyes lost and full of shock and trauma. Even worse were the bodies. All slumped against the wall or on the floor. Their weapons remained limp at their side, and it was clear to see the end of their mortality. He could only stare. How had this happened? They stopped Spider from enacting her spell. Why was this still happening?

"I see you've noticed." Julius said with a grim expression. "There has been a situation. The prisoners escaped and are now wrecking havoc across the palace. I fear they may be headed to the sage council."

Subaru sprang up with Beatrice in hand. "Then we need to stop them! We've come too far for this to happen! How did they even break free?"

Julius winced. Regret laced his handsome face, making it seem to age twenty years. "That's the thing. The one who freed them… is also the one who's leading them."

He refused to meet his eyes. Why? What was he afraid of saying?

"I apologize for my failure, but Damian escaped and is now leading the prisoners."


The heavy iron doors were pushed open. Subaru and the others all saw the trail of blood leading into the throne room. Horror settled deep in his chest. Why would he do this? What did he stand to gain from this? More importantly, how could he do this? Damian was a normal person amongst superhumans, same as him. There was no way that he could do this…

"Do you hear that?" Julius' words pulled him out of his thoughts.

All of the guards with them shared glances of unease. They heard it too. A soft, sad melody, but one discordant with poorly concealed fear.

"Singing in fact." Beatrice murmured.

They pushed deeper into the throne room. The half-dozen guards forming a tight knit perimeter with shields raised and swords drawn. Subaru didn't blame them, the ground was a river of blood. Bodies of guards and knights that stood in Damian's way littered the once pristine floor. Some were cut to ribbons, others were burned to a crisp. Subaru remembered the red carpet that had been there the whole time. It seemed like a highway to grace and nobility, now it resembled a warzone.

"We're… We're too late." Beerin's devastated voice rang out. "H-He killed them all."

The singing grew louder as they approached the throne. If he listened closely, he could hear broken sobs in between the words. A simple maid stood by the throne. Her hands clasped to her chest as she sang and cried at the same time. Her voice was beautiful, but tears gushed down her face, throwing a grating note in the song every so often. They weren't tears of sadness for the song, or tears of joy. These were tears born from a fear for her life. As if her song was begging for her to be saved.

And who should be the culprit but Damian himself. He sat on the very throne of the kingdom. His eyes were closed as he savored the sound of the maid's singing. A knight's sword was resting in his lap, its tip sullied the floor with blood fresh enough that it ran like water. He had reclaimed his red cloak. That fell mantle spilled over his shoulders and clothes.

Seeing him like this, without a care in the world. He just butchered people with families, people who were just doing their job. Flames of anger boiled his blood to a bursting point.

"DAMIAN!" Subaru screamed in rage.

Damian's eyes opened. He regarded Subaru's anger with a smile.

"Took you long enough. I was beginning to wonder if you'd gotten scared and ran."

"How did you get out of your cell?! Why?! Why did you do this?!"

Damian opened his mouth to respond, but the woman hit a high note at that moment. He frowned, raising his hand and indicating for her to stop. She fell silent. Her head bowed as she tumbled into full despair. Now only her sobs remained.

"How I got out eh? Well, let me tell you a little secret about me. I was studying to be an engineer back home. So, as it happens, I have a lot of knowledge of little things. Like, say, the chemical requirements to make a bomb or fire. And it just so happens that flour is incredibly high in sulfur… You get me?"

Subaru felt his face pale. The realization of what he had done, it all came crashing down. This… was his fault? He had given him, handed him the means to escape without even an inkling of what he might have been trying to pull. His eyes swept across the bodies. They would be alive… They would be alive… They would be alive if it weren't for him.

"That's right." Damian said. "You're finally starting to understand."

Subaru felt his very sanity slipping. This was too much, it was too much. This was too much. Was it too much? Yes it was too much! Why? Why?! Why?! Why?! The dead, they looked at him with accusing faces. They whispered their broken dreams to him. Promises they could never keep, loved ones they could never see again. W-Why?! Wh–?!

The dead rose. Whithered fingers and stumps for arms pointed at him. He was just as guilty, he had let this monster loose. The fault lies with him.

A small hand clasped his own. It clung to his fracturing mind, pulling the pieces back together. Beatrice gave him a sympathetic but supportive smile. She was there for him. She knew he may have messed up, but she didn't blame him for it.

A deep breath restored himself. He pierced Damian with the fiercest glare he had ever produced.

"So this is the seat where the king sits…" Damian adjusted himself, sitting up straighter and attempting to look more dignified. "I feel powerful here. If I wave my hand and tell you to go die, will you?"

"Subaru." Julius urgently spoke from beside him. "He's committed a grave crime. We can't reason with him anymore."

"Agreed." Beerin stepped up, flashing his saber in anger mirrored to Subaru's. "I'll take this man's head myself! Screw whatever the hell he's saying!"

"Wait! Are you blind?!"

Subaru raised his hand to stop the gung ho Beerin. His demeanor and fragile constitution didn't permit him to see the situation in front of them. While he had confidence in everyone's capacity to act, whether or not they could get there in time would be another matter. Damian's hand rested just inches away from his stolen sword, and they still didn't know how he managed to do this or where the other prisoners were.

"What are you guys muttering about I wonder? Planning on taking me out? I wouldn't risk it. My hand's a little jumpy, I think I might have a disease that accidentally… KILLS SOMEONE!"

His fingers wrapped around the hilt of the sword. The blade jutted out sloppily but with jagged precision. The guards surged forward, but stopped right as his blade stopped mere millimeters away from the young maiden's neck.

The girl's eyes were frozen. Her legs trembled as she conveyed her fear to the others. She could only cry, and they could only watch. No one was willing to risk this girl's life. And Subaru knew that Damian knew it.

Subaru clenched his teeth. He felt so powerless. He was sure the others felt it too. A normal man had done all this to them, and their order. How inadequate they must feel right now.

"Now you get the big picture." Damian sneered.

"Why are you doing this? You escaped. You could have left."

From what he understood, Damian wasn't the one to carelessly risk his own life, not unless there was some gain that outweighed the risk. This behavior was unlike him.

"Yes. I could've. But, I have a few grievances and demands first."

"What's he saying I suppose?" Beatrice asked without ever taking her eyes off of him.

"He says he has demands."

"Demands? We'll give him a quick death if he lets the girl go." One guard growled.

"Fuck that. Let's do to him what he did to our friends!" Another roared.

"No one wants to give in to this man. I doubt anyone ever will, regardless of this situation."

Amongst the anger, it was Beerin who sounded the cold truth. There was no doubt, he had miscalculated. They wouldn't let him go, not after what he's done. There was only one thing Subaru could do at this point…

"Really? Hostages?" Subaru held up his hand as he tried to diffuse the situation. "Honestly, that really doesn't seem like your style."

Damian's eyes hardened. "Since when do you know about my style? You know nothing about me, not the principles I hold nor the damn ambitions I have. Cough! Cough! Cough!"

He glanced at the maid after his coughing ended. Tremors ran through her body. Her eyes were closed, as if not seeing would make the problem go away, but the tears still flowed freely. To Subaru's shock, his glare softened slightly. He pulled the sword away from her throat. When she opened her eyes, he inclined his head. She stared at him, unsure of what to do.

"What? You need a sealed invitation? Go!"

His hands waved her away, and her shock lasted only for an instant. She nearly tumbled down the stairs trying to reach the group. Upon reaching the last step she fell, and one of the guards rushed over to her and wrapped his cloak around her body.

"I was just reminded of a dear friend who loved to sing. You can forgive me if I wished to hear more, no?"

Julius looked at the whole exchange with a shocked face.

"What did you say to him?" He said with awe.

"I-I just– I just told him it's not his style?"

"You dumbass!" Beerin growled. "Now there's nothing stopping me from running you through!"

He bolted forward. His saber became a blur of lightning wreathed gray that hurtled towards Damian's neck. Subaru widened his eyes at the sheer ferocity of the blow. He expected Damian's head to come flying off with a spray of blood.

The impact never happened. The blade clashed with two more weapons that appeared out of nowhere right before it could strike its target. A long slender spear, and a huge undulating sword.

"What?!" Everyone was shocked at the sudden turn of events.

The owners of the weapons stood with their weapons crossed, protecting Damian. They grated against Beerin's sword with flying sparks and pushed him back. The one with the spear launched a barrage of thrusts at his retreating form. Holes were left in the very air that Beerin was once standing, but thankfully his reflexes and speed were enough to get him out of the way. There was a loud whoosh as the air rushed to fill the gaps that were left behind. Subaru dug his heels in, the pull was that powerful. Only Damian and the man next to the spear wielder remained unaffected from this strange battle art.

"Ahh? Don't end it so quickly." The man with the curved sword laughed. "You're gonna spoil the fun."

The one who spoke had a strange voice. It was nasal and slightly regal, but the person it belonged to was anything but… The man was tall and slender, his sword a long, thin crescent of steel that rippled like flame was trapped within. His pants may have been a good quality once, but now were stained black with soot. Other than that he had no clothes to speak of. Bandages wrapped around his bare feet and chest. Up and about they went. Over and over his face and revealed nothing but frenzied eyes of maddened yellow.

He swung his massive curved great-sword with wild abandonment until it rested on his shoulder. "A good fight. I wouldn't want it to be over so soon."

Tiles moved as if they were alive. No, they were alive. From them melted around half a dozen individuals, all ugly of face and countenance. Their garb was that of prisoners, but they had armaments befitting that of knights within their possession.

Julius rested his hand on his sword. The guards took a defensive position to protect their charge and livelihoods.

"Well, this solves how he managed to get in this position." Subaru said as he eyed the new assailants.

"Agreed, although it doesn't explain how he managed to hide them so effectively. My spirits would have warned me if they sensed them."

Julius' grave warning gave Subaru pause.

Just how did he manage to weasel his way in with this group? As their leader no doubt. This plan of his had his was successful on whether he could control them or not. He must've offered them something, but how? He thought Damian couldn't speak the language.

"How…?"

"A lot can be said if you wave your hands around." Damian spread his arms. "Time consuming, yes. But the results are pretty fucking worth it if you ask me. Also, we made a quick stop at your guys' armory. Some toys ya got there. I'm actually pretty jealous."

The answer was laid out in front of them. Damian's wishes had been granted by this group of criminals. An exchange of blood, for whatever price he offered in return.

"You lost your bargaining power." Subaru pointed out. "You have nothing after releasing the hostage."

"Do I not?"

Snickering those words, he snapped his fingers. Two of the prisoners dragged forth two bodies. They were old and dressed in noble clothes, but they remained regal in defiance of their mistreatment. Julius and the others gasped at the sight.

"Bordeaux-sama, Miklotov-sama…"

"Don't give in to this thug's demands!"

Bordeaux angrily shouted this, but his appearance belied his hot-headedness. A gash on his forehead wept, Miklotov too looked worse for wear.

"Did you really think I hadn't thought about something like this? I wouldn't give away my only hostage now. That's just poor decision ma- Cough!-king. I figured if you were the kind of people to value a random maid's life as less than someone of noble blood, then I better have some nobles on hand. Just my luck that it's the two shits that handed down my sentence."

He crossed his legs, resting his head upon his hand he smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

Beatrice pursed her lips at the sight. Her anger was felt even by the hardened prisoners, and they took a step back from this ancient spirit.

"You have forfeited your right to a quick death I suppose. With this stunt, there's no amount of searching that my foolish contractor can do that will ever save you. Too be honest, we should have left you to rot from the beginning in fact. Betty has no idea what Subaru saw in you."

"You won't get away with this!" Beerin howled. His other hand drew his idle knight's sword. "No amount of prancing or hiding behind these goons will save you!"

He turned towards Subaru. His eyes held so much disappointment, so much regret. They said that he told him so. This was the result of Subaru's foolish belief that Damian was good. The fact was that he wasn't. This was the second, no third, time that he had taken something. Whether it was Subaru's life, or the lives of others… Was there no end?

Spinning towards Damian, he charged himself with lightning.

"Oh, this should be good." The bandaged man stepped forward. His eyes literally glowed with fiery energies as he swung his sword from his shoulder.

The spearman stood back, content to let the bandaged man do all the work.

"Beerin wait!" Julius grabbed him by the shoulder before he could make that rash decision. "That man… is Fargon the Mad Flame. And the one beside."

The spearman didn't even twitch as he was mentioned. His arms and legs were clad in simple leather greaves. There was no special ornamentation that adorned him, only a small chest plate over a forest green shirt. His face had an ethereal beauty that Subaru found strikingly familiar. The expression neutral, but his eyes were that of a dangerous predator. Red orbs that were used to catching the smallest details. His hair was wispy blonde, but the most notable thing about him were his pointed ears. The ears of an elf. That was why, he was the same species, or more so, than Emilia.

"A warrior." The man said. His voice was as soft as cotton "Nothing more. But for simplicity's sake, you may call me Ghost."

His stance and bearing indicated no enjoyment of the task he was undertaking, unlike the Mad Flame and the others. He seemed more like he was performing a solemn duty, like a debt unfulfilled.

Subaru stared at Damian. He had been busy. That only really left one thing to.

"What do you want?" He said flatly.

"What do we want." Damian corrected. "Each of us has a demand. Some are more straightforward I'm sure, but I'll let them share the details."

"Subaru-dono. Don't listen to this man! Forget about us! This insult will not stand, it cannot be allowed to!"

"Shut the fuck up!"

Damian shot up from his relaxed position. He stomped on Bordeaux's head and ground it into the ground, his face contorted in rage.

"La!" Julius called.

The fire spirit appeared, basting tongues of flame towards Bordeaux's assailant. Before they could incinerate him, however, Fargon jumped in front of the blast with a gaping maw. Violent flame sputtered and faded. The attack failed to reach him as he devoured the flame out of thin air.

"Now now. Let's behave. He's a little on edge, I can tell that much. So just do as he says."

Rubbing his stomach, the Mad Flame said this with a smile.

"You pieces of shit!" Damian roared, stomping his foot down. "I don't have to understand you! I saw your eyes! You enjoyed letting the guards beat me! You enjoyed handing out my sentence! Nobility my ass! You're no more noble then this scum I freed from the prison!"

He stomped with no sign of stopping. Bordeaux's head was bloodied as it slammed in the ground. Cries of pain no longer resounded from him,only a terrible crunching sound.

"Stop!" Subaru yelled. "Damian stop!"

"Cough! COUGH! COUGH!"

All of a sudden, Damian stopped. It was as if his strength suddenly abandoned him. He collapsed onto the throne, clutching at his mouth through the subsiding fit. Removing his hand revealed blood on his palm. It dribbled from the corner of his mouth and on to his plaid hoody where several new stains were already decorated. He seemed a lot worse than usual.

"You guys follow him? He's weak. Look at him, he can barely stand."

Beerin shot that observation at the criminals, but it was Ghost that spoke up.

"I don't follow him because of strength. He freed me, and is offering me a path to my desire. That alone earns him my loyalty for the time being."

"He's got nice eyes." Fargon scratched his head. "Terrifying, a hell of a vendetta too be sure. He's fun to be around. After all, who else could give me this?!"

He spread his arms around, indicating the carnage around them. "I haven't had this much fun since I was captured! To think I'd be trodding all over the Royal Capital with all of these fine steaks. All just waiting to be cooked well done…"

Sparks popped and sizzled from the sockets as his eyes flared with malevolent flame. His grin widened, stretching the bandages that concealed his face. Despite this, Subaru could glimpse a nasty looking burn scar under there.

The others had little to say, but it was all similar. They followed him because of some shabbily concocted plan to extort the kingdom, but none said for what.

"Enough…"

Damian's voice was strained. Sitting up straight he attempted to look as dignified as the bloodstains on his clothes would permit.

"My price, for letting these two bastards go… Is my bird for a start."

"The crow…"

"What? Subaru what did he say?"

Subaru turned towards the inquisitive Julius. His eyes held flickers of controlled anger. He hated this situation and the embarrassment it would cause them. Whether Damian and his crew succeeded and escaped, or failed and were killed, it didn't matter. The damage had been done. A group of prisoners had escaped and made short work of the Imperial Knights, and it wasn't long before the rumors circulated through the kingdom.

"His price for letting Miklotov and Bordeaux go is the crow. His spirit."

Beerin pointed his swords threateningly at Damian. "Fat chance that's happening! You're not getting anything out of us!"

Damian narrowed his eyes. "What did he say?"

"They don't want to give you anything. Frankly, I can see why. You've harmed them already, not to mention we don't know why you would do this in the first place."

A lie, of course Subaru knew. He wanted to hear it from Damian's own mouth. Affirmation to his own suspicions, no more.

Damian took a deep breath. Ragged. Strained. His eyes looked terribly sunken and tired, but his gaze spared none of its harshness. Subaru had never seen him like this. Maybe he had been used to seeing him in the dark that he never noticed it to this degree.

"Every so often… you have to make a deal with the devil to get what you want."

"Is that what you're doing? Making a deal with the devil? Honestly, I'm a little offended you think of us as so."

He smiled. No teeth, but deep and sinister. "You seem to be mistaken about something. I'm not man here. No, that part of me was torn from me and murdered…"

He leaned forward in the throne, his voice became a deathly quiet whisper. It was just loud enough for Subaru to hear.

"I am the devil. And you best believe I'll collect my dues."

He returned to his neutral position in the throne. The vicious gaze that he turned towards so many was directed towards the ceiling in deep thought.

"I feel powerful here… Emperor Malak has a nice ring to it don't you think?" He shook his head, as if saying those words cleared his mind of all childish thoughts. "The bird… and my knife. Then I will leave this place and never return. They can tell you what they want now."

Satisfied, he rested his head against the back of the throne. Nodding to the others. Even without verbal understanding, they knew that he was giving them the ok.

Ghost stepped forward, his spear planted in the ground with a sharp clang. His next words were gentle, but commanding.

"In the North, along the border of Gusteko and this kingdom, is a small village called Arhen. It and its inhabitants are afflicted with sickness. You will provide the aid that was denied us for so long. Carriages of food, medicine, and healers will be sent to treat the populace for free. Any attempts to extort them for money, or any mistreatment of them…"

His spear bolted through the air, stopping just shy of Miklotov's face. It didn't stop the breeze from shaving off a few inches from his beard.

"Will result in their permanent… end."

Finished, he stepped back, becoming nothing more than a vigilant statue.

"Hmmph, ever the show-off, huh Ghost?"

"..."

Fargon swaggered to the center of the proverbial stage. He swung his curved great-sword and cleaved a trench in the expensive looking floor. His eyes literally blazed with excitement.

"I am Fargon! The Mad Flame! But you peasants know that enough already, I'm sure! Hahahaha! My wish is simple. The choicest steaks, raw… and untouched. The more innocent, the better. Will be delivered to a yet to be decided location. I'll get to you on the details about that. I will walk free! And you cannot touch me, or my hunting grounds, again."

Smiling, he turned towards Miklotov. Globs of fire burst from his eyes, landing in burning pools all around him. The pools disappeared after a few seconds, but the message was clear.

"Failure to do so will result in me cooking them well-done!"

The rest of the demands were simple. Money, and lots of it. Around one million golden coins. Subaru swore he never heard so many zeros in a request before. Like the two before them, they all took turns displaying their skills on poor Miklotov. Demonstrating what would happen to him should the kingdom fail to deliver the ransom. When they managed to save them, Subaru would make sure to console the old man.

"I believe everyone is done." Damian stated flatly. "Now go get the shit. You have three hours, then heads start rolling."

"Three hours to get this amount of stuff? You can't possibly be serious."

"That's not my problem, it's yours. Figure it out."

Subaru turned towards the others. They all had worried expressions on their faces.

"What'd he say in fact?"

"We have three hours to bring everything, the spirit, the knife, and everything else. Otherwise he's gonna kill them."

Beerin glared at Damian, who had the audacity to smile and wave at the young knight.

"We can't trust him. We can't do anything he says."

"It's not like we have a choice. Unless you wanna test his capacity for violence? I personally don't."

Subaru fired this statement at him. It wasn't just that he was already crazy, there was something off about him. He was cornered and he knew it. Subaru had no doubt that he would kill them as a last FU to them.

"Julius?"

Julius was staring intently at Damian, keeping a close eye on his bodyguards.

"Based on the current circumstances, I believe we should do as he says…"

"Julius-Sama! You can't be seri–!"

"For now." Julius held up his hand. "We have three hours to come up with a solution. For the safety of these two esteemed members of the Sage Council, this is the best course of action."

"Uwah. If only Betty had most of her mana in fact. I would blast those ingrates into oblivion I suppose."

Julius smiled wryly. Impressive given the situation.

"Someone find Heinkel-sama. Tell him to bring the spirit."


Time ticked by. Julius had sent two of the guards to locate Heinkel and make sure that there was an attempt to get everything in order. That was a while ago, and now Subaru lost track of time. He hated not knowing when the deadline was, all he could do was watch Miklotov and Bordeaux lay there with bound bodies. The prisoners had formed small cliques, discussing what they would do with their share of the cash. But it wasn't them that worried him. Fargon paced back and forth along the raised platform, daring any to try and fight him. His power was no doubt of a high quality. It flared and dimmed with his mood, becoming more active as he grew excited, and falling as he calmed down. He was beginning to understand how he earned his nickname.

Ghost stood stoically next to the throne. He never said a word, never moved from his position, but most importantly, he was never lax in his duty of protecting Damian. He was a true honor guard. Honestly, Subaru was worried about him the most.

"Where's Heinkel-sama?" Beerin paced around the perimeter. "He should've been here by now."

"Maybe he's collapsed with a bottle in hand I suppose."

Beerin shot Beatrice a dirty look. It was a gesture that only earned him crossed arms and a tongue stuck out. The debacle was enough to make Subaru's eyes roll.

Julius stroked his chin as if he was actually considering it. It was his sense of duty that compelled him to take everything seriously, annoying at times, but needed now more than ever. The stress was grating on the others, he could tell. They would need him to be their calm center so their tempers didn't rage out of control.

Subaru regarded Damian. He was tapping his finger against the arm rest rhythmically. His eyes were closed. Was he sleeping?

No.

His thoughts corrected themselves as Damian opened his eyes and surveyed them. His body language didn't make him out to be at ease, but he wasn't overly tense either. The steady tapping of his finger continued, it was almost like he was counting.

"I thought you didn't care for that material stuff."

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Subaru directed this statement up to the throne.

"You don't know me." Damian responded quietly.

"Do I not? Why do you want that spirit anyways? You seemed content to continue alone."

The tapping paused. Damian directed a flat stare towards him.

"You know nothing. I said it before, and this will be the last time I ever say it again." He rested his chin on the palm of his hand. "Honestly, you dumbasses wouldn't understand survival if it hit you in the face. We all make do with the things we have. As another one from Earth, you should understand this better than any of them."

Subaru couldn't help but make a face. It was perhaps the closest thing he had said that even resembled a compliment, but it felt gross coming from him.

"What does any of this have to do with sur–?"

His eyes widened slightly. Coughing, killing, weakness. Spirit. Spirit. He needs that spirit or? Or what? Or he'll die. What's the connection, and why does it sound suspiciously familiar?

"It's almost as if…" He glanced at Beatrice. Then back at Damian.

"You're sick…" Subaru said as the pieces came together.

Damian smiled. "I'm sure someone around here has told me that before."

"No, not that. Like… Cancer."

The tapping stopped completely. His flat eyes bored into him. Eyes that had nothing to lose anymore. The eyes of a walking corpse that knew it would be dead soon. It all made sense… why he did all this.

"This is a last effort on your part." Subaru proclaimed. "It's your last chance before you succumb isn't it?"

Damian cast his eyes skyward, not bothering to correct him. The sun radiated through the skylight, creating eerie shadows, but also warm rays that he seemed to savor on his skin. Eventually, he had his fill and returned his attentions to Subaru. That reaction told him everything.

"...Lung cancer." He said bitterly. "Been with me for a while now. It…" He scowled like he didn't want to talk anymore, but an exhausted sigh escaped from his lips and he stopped fighting the urge. "It got my mom before me. It was just random chance. Her job uh… She worked in a chemical plant… that didn't really help much in her condition. By the time the diagnosis came it was too far gone for them to do anything. Wasn't long after she passed that I got the news that I had it too…"

He glared at the floor. His eyes held so much hate, hate indiscriminate. It lashed out at anything that could feel its wrath. Including the one that bore it.

"It wasn't too late for me. In fact, it was an easy fix. Really, really early in the development. All I had to do was do a few treatments, but…" He shrugged his shoulders. "I got sucked here instead. It festered and grew over the months, tumors that gnawed and killed me from the inside out. I would've died… If not for the bird, Raeon."

"He saved you." Subaru said as understanding dawned. "Raeon?"

"His name… I could figure out that much. He… kept the cancer at bay. It wasn't long after that I learned that I would only survive a few days without him."

A few days? Subaru's heart clunked with even more guilt. No wonder he hated them, they were practically killing him. Even more so, his situation was almost exactly like his own. He needed Beatrice just like Damian needed Raeon.

"Is that why you hate this world? Because it almost killed you."

Damian snickered. "Kid, I wouldn't hate something for such a stupid reason. No, it's more like…"

He stopped, his eyes glowing distant. Privy to memories and experiences that Subaru couldn't ascertain.

"Ahh you two." He whispered. "You two were my..."

His calloused hands covered his face for a brief moment. Dispair creeped into his voice as he rocked in the throne.

"What would you two think of me now?"

It was a moment of humanity, one that lasted for a split second. It was a crack in that apathetic skin he wore, but he instantly sealed the breach.

"RAAAH!"

He slammed his palms on the sides of the throne, glaring at him and the others. Glancing around, Subaru saw that a good amount of the prisoners and knights noticed this display. Damian was quick to dash out any suspicions.

"I made a promise. A long time ago I made a promise. I will not die–I can't die… not until I've seen it through. Which is why…"

His shoulders sagged, sickness apparent in his eyes. It did little to discourage him. He clenched the sides of the throne before sighing in resignation.

"I will sink to the depths of depravity to get what I want. If you get in my way… then I'll kill you without a second thought. I'll kill you dead."

"You don't have to keep on fighting. It's killing you."

"Don't you want it to end?" Subaru pleaded with him. He didn't know what he was pleading to, his humanity? "Don't you want this violence to end? It's been long enough. You've made your point ten times over. Just let go."

"Heh… Let go huh?" Damian's voice was surprisingly mellow. "And what? Give up? I won't do that, not now, not ever…"

Subaru could hear the exhaustion in his breathing. It wasn't as if he would forgive him. No, Damian didn't seek forgiveness. The crimes he committed today were to serious for him to be forgiven, but he understood him, at least partially more than yesterday. A man fighting with every ounce of his being, despite the disease ravaging his body, despite the odds being against him. Damian reminded him of himself, with a few key differences, but the similarities were there. Subaru truly wished he could find peace with whatever promise he made.

His fingers were numb, but he raised them all the same. Slowly, slowly, Subaru led his hand until it lay outstretched in the air.

"Let me help you… I know you hate them as much as we do."

"So what? You can turn on me? I've been there, done that. I don't trust you."

"You don't have to trust us. As a person from Earth, same as you, I swear that we can work something out."

His voice was calm, calmer than he felt. His heart raced through the calmness, yet he found it strangely soothing. His hand remained still, reaching for Damian. He had to fight the urge to clutch it to his chest from the anxiety.

Damian's right hand twitched on the armrest. First the fingers, then the palm. He stared at Subaru's hand, his eyes unreadable, but not unwilling. It raised from the rest a few millimeters, inching its way in the air.

"Hmm?"

Damian's eyes slipped past Subaru and narrowed. He was looking at… something behind him. His hand faltered in its rise.

"...You almost had me there."

Subaru's heart faltered. "Huh?"

What did he mean? Did he change his mind? Why did his eyes harden into unfe–?

A cross bolt zipped by Subaru's head, passing just inches from his back and flew straight at Damian. He had barely enough time to process what just happened before the bolt was snatched out of the air by Ghost. There was silence, unbearable silence. It was only broken by the sound of the elf snapping the bolt in two and tossing the shards aside.

He whirled around. Who shot that? Beerin and the others looked just as confused, even Julius' face paled. The tension in the air rose as he sputtered and struggled to find the words.

"Damian– I… Wha–?"

"Save it." His voice was harsh. "I half expected this to happen… and yet I…" He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why do I do the same thing over and over again? Isn't that the definition of insanity?"

The hand he was outstretching changed direction. Instead of reaching agreement, its fingers curled around the bloody blade at his side. He rose from the usurped throne, his bloodlust boiling to the surface. As he rose, so too did the other prisoners, all drawing their weapons.

"Ahh, What am I talking about? I knew all along…" His voice sounded resigned, simultaneously lost and full of purpose. Someone consigned to a path of violence. "I'm mad, I'm insane. I haven't been sane since that day…"

He stood over the two old men. Both Miklotov and Bordeaux were frozen with terror as he stared at them with murderous intent.

"Now, who's dying first?"