How long has it been since he saw sunlight? Days, weeks, months, maybe years? He himself doesn't know. Did he stop counting after the fifth loop maybe?
It is not relevant anymore. He doesn't count his deaths. He did until that fateful day. Until then he died 20 times, but now that may be in the hundreds.
But again, it doesn't matter. Soon this nightmare ends. Soon he is going to escape and no one can stop him. He planned this second to second. He lived through it multiple times, knows every corner building, and knows every strength and weakness of the guards.
Subaru would escape on the day of his execution. It is the best opportunity he has. He will be guided out from his cell, in chains, of course, but because he could still move because he wasn't locked to anything also will be bought outside, to be executed publicly after 2 months of captivity. And there will be a rainstorm that day too, so there is less chance that they will spot him.
Now the only thing remaining between him and his freedom was him executing his plan.
The last two hours have been spent with his torture, so it was just the usual. By this time Subaru stopped screaming or begging. While he did in the first month, he was just pretending.
He found out that they would only execute him if they couldn't get any information out of him, so in the second month, he stopped showing signs of caring about his surroundings. They could cut him, break his bones, burn him, gauge his eyes out, make him drink melted iron, he wasn't phased by any of it. Pain was so usual feeling for him that it was like breathing for Subaru. He couldn't even notice it anymore.
After Felix was finished frying Subaru, he started to walk out of his cell, but before he crossed the iron-bared door he turned back towards Subaru and stated in a happy voice that he will be executed tomorrow.
But as the door closed, Subaru slowly smirked to himself. He was ready for his escape. He will be finally out of this hell of a loop.
„It is your time, nyah." Opened Felix the door of the cell with the escort of other knights to retrieve Subaru.
„Oh, I thought we will going to have more fun time together." The supposed „Cultist" answered back to the catboy in a slightly disappointed tone.
This answer aggravated „Blue" as he thought that this psychopath enjoyed the torture, but he was wrong, as this was still part of Subaru's plan.
Felix was gritting his teeth as he took off Subaru from the chains on the wall and put him into a smaller one, which the „Cultist" was able to walk.
When the healer was done, he took Subaru out of the cell and started walking him down the corridors of the underground prison facility while the knights had prepared spells and readied themselves to attack the „Cultist" if he did try to attack or escape.
Even under these many loops, they were not able to figure out the „Cultist's" ability even one time.
Subaru was hiding his authority of Sloth and Greed from his torturers. While he could use Invisible Province at this point pretty well, he still did not conquer the authority of Greed. He just hoped that by the time it will show itself and it will help him at some point.
They slowly started to reach the door to the outside. The cheering of a crowd could be heard. Subaru knew this is the crowd waiting for him to be brought out and executed. While it was a bad thing that there is a crowd wanting him to be killed, it was a really good chance for him to blend into it and escape through it.
As they stepped out into the fresh air, raindrops began to fall on them. The people around them started to throw curses and spit on the „Archbishop" while he was guided to the gibbet standing in the middle of a larger open space.
In front of the gibbet was the seating area for the royal candidates. Of the five camps, only three were attending his execution, the three camps whose members tortured him.
The main torture sessions were with Felix and Julius, the Blue wanting a cure for the dragon blood while the Finest Knight wanted to know how to cure himself from Gluttony's curse.
Sometimes other members of the Emilia, Anastasia, and Crusch camp came to torment him. While on the first loops it really hurt Subaru, but after some time he cut them off mentally. While he didn't hate them, he didn't want to be with them anymore.
His love for Emilia faded fully after the second loop when she told him for the second time that he is not her knight and if he was, he is not anymore.
Subaru was brought up onto the gibbet by the knights and passed down to Wilhelm. Through the loops, Subaru experienced fights with the Sword Demon and while he died multiple times during that, he found out when it is the best time to finish off the fight.
As a knight started to take down the chains and put the rope around Subaru's neck Wilhelm started to address the crowd watching the execution.
„People! We may have sealed the Witch of Envy but her cult has been terrorizing the lands of Lugnica, but we successfully defended the Watergate City of Priestella against overwhelming power and now we're going to fight back! Let us start by executing one of the Archbishops of the cult!" His voice was full of ambition and power that made the crowd cheer.
„What are your final words, Cultist?" Turned the Sword Demon towards the „Archbishop".
„Authority of Sloth, Invisible Province" Said Subaru in a deeper, cracking voice than he would speak in.
Within moments all the guards were swept away from the gibbet as Subaru used his Unseen Hands.
Subaru had trained himself to use Invisible Province while he was alone in his cell. The more he used it, the more he got into it and by the time of his escape, he was able to summon the same amount of hands that Sloth was able to. It also helped him that his nervous system was total chaos because of the constant inside-out burns by Felix.
He tore the rope apart around his neck with two Unseen Hands, as spells started to fly towards him. Subaru knew those ones that would hit him if he didn't do anything, but the ones that would pass him were left untouched by the boy.
The „Cultist" started catching spells with Invisible Province and at the same time, he managed to sweep off all knights trying to jump back onto the gibbet.
He knew that if he would try to run at this moment Wilhelm would catch him, so he needed to wait until the Old Man jumps back and then fight him.
Seconds later the Sword Demon jumped onto the gibbet with a sword in hand. Subaru picked up one too from the ground with an Unseen Hand and stepped into an attacking position.
He knew every move of Wilhelm from his many, many tries, and knew when will be his best chance to knock the Old Man out.
Wilhelm attacked Subaru, who deflected it with his own sword. Again the Sword Demon attacked, and the „Archbishop" defended.
This went on for 2 minutes when Subaru let himself be cut on purpose. Wilhelm didn't know this and thought that the „Bishop" is getting weaker, so he charged.
Subaru knew well that Wilhelm will charge so he dodged to the left and pulled on Wilhelm's leg with Invisible Province, then smacked him in the head with it, effectively knocking out the Old Man while keep sweeping off the knights off the gibbet.
He jumped down into the crowd while knights were chasing him.
„Authority of Sloth, Invisible Perseverance." As he finished his sentence his body turned fully invisible, even for him.
He found this new ability while experimenting with his authority in his cell. Between the 10th and 20th loop, when he lost all will to live or go on, this ability showed itself. With it, Subaru was able to make an escape plan. A way to reach the sun.
The only downside to Invisible Perseverance was that it took off a good portion of Subaru's mobility.
As he maneuver between the bystanders he was moving on to the next step of his plan.
He knew that he can't run for long because of his weakened legs, but he needed to get to the outskirts of the city to use Invisible Province to fly.
Subaru found out in one of his earlier loops that if he makes a bigger Unseen Hand and stands or sits on it, he can use it as a flying platform to transport himself. He estimated that he could fly for approximately 10 minutes before he totally exhausts himself.
So he fought himself through the angered crowd, trying to not bump into anyone because if he kicks somebody over it would be easy to assume that the invisible „Sin archbishop" was the one who did it.
He slowly reached the end of the street, the end of the crowd and so the end of his cover. He needed to be fast and escape before the guards locked the gates of the city.
From now on there was no plan, from now on this was sheer improvisation.
Subaru started to run. He disabled his authority giving him greater mobility. While running was painful for his weak and tortured legs, he knew that if he makes it, freedom will be there.
Soon he could see the gates, secured by two unsuspecting guards. They probably weren't informed of his escape yet.
He was almost there when his foot started to give up and started to bleed from the running. But he was almost there! He just needed to keep his shit together and he will escape!
As he reached the gates, one of the guards turned towards him. Subaru needed to act fast, so he activated Invisible Perseverance again and sneaked past them. He could hear the guard who saw him for a second ask his friend.
„Have you seen that?" said the guard in a confused tone.
„Seen what?" Answered back the other one. Subaru was lucky on this one. He made it out without anyone behind him wanting to kill him.
When he was out of the guard's range he combined the hands around him and sat on the big Unseen Hand. He made it so the large hand lifted him, making him fly.
It was really hard for him to keep it going, he got nauseous and he would have vomited but he didn't have anything to vomit up. But he needed to get far enough from the city because if the knights find him, he would get thrown back into the prison cell or be executed.
Subaru still didn't know how surely how he will survive after he lands. He didn't know how he will make ends meet. His best ideas were to sew at a shop or work as a butler at some richer guy's mansion for housing.
He couldn't stay in Lugnica for long since his escape will be known by the entire kingdom soon, and he couldn't settle down in Kararagi like when he wanted to run away with Rem because the borders between the two countries are open and it is just question of time when a search team crosses the border for him. Gusteko was out of the question as it was the harshest country and in his current weak state, he will be killed for sure and could start from his cell over again.
So Vollachia it is! The borders are closed so no search team for him to hide from, but he could cross through some forest at the borders. Also, the vollachian people are probably not even informed of him being a „Sin Archbishop".
While he was thinking he flew through a good portion of land, so he decided to land. He touched the ground at a clearing in the middle of a forest. As the Invisible Hand disappeared from under him he fell to the ground from exhaustion. He was tired, thirsty, hungry, and injured, but he needed to push forward.
Subaru slowly pushed himself off the ground, and looked around. He saw a little water stream and some berry bushes on the left side of the clearing. Maybe his luck wasn't so bad after all!
He slowly started limping towards the stream and the bushes. He just hoped that the berries won't be poisonous and he can eat them without getting sick.
As Subaru got closer he could see that the stream was pretty clear, and the berries kinda looked like some raspberry. Really, maybe Satella felt sorry for him finally?
He ate the raspberry-looking things fast. It even had the familiar taste from his home. Subaru didn't eat normal food from the start of his imprisonment, the only thing he got was a disgusting brown-green thingy that had the same taste as looking.
The water was also much clearer than the one that he got in the prison. While this stream had crystal clear water, the one that he was forced to drink back there was an almost black, dirty water, probably straight from the stable of the ground dragons.
After he was done replenishing his stomach he started building himself a makeshift tent. At least those survival TV shows are proving useful now!
He didn't have anything to treat his wounds with. He was full with them, his face was scarred, parts of his limbs were burned and big chunks of them missed skin. Also, there were wounds on his feet from running to the city gate. Subaru only could pray that they will not get infected too.
He climbed into the tent, and almost instantly fell asleep. The giant leaves and grass under him were still better to lay on than the cold ground of the cell. The Forgotten Knight was also really tired of abusing his authority too much. But at least he was free. He was finally free from that hell.
It is been 2 weeks since Subaru's escape. By this time, he crossed the border between Lugnica and Vollachia without getting caught, yet he still needed to lay low due to not having any papers or proof that he was from Vollachia.
Also, some of his wounds healed too. The one on his foot closed in one week after his escape, and this made walking much easier for Subaru. The skin was slowly healing on his limbs, but the scars will probably stay in their places for a long time.
When the time came to 3 weeks, he found a larger village. It was noticeably larger than Arlam village, and the houses were in better condition.
Subaru spoke with some people who lived in the village. He got directed to the elder of the hamlet. He was a tall old man, with a short white beard and hair, and he was dressed in long dark-blue robes.
Subaru bowed in front of the old man giving respect. Now that he is trying to start a new, more silent life, he didn't want to repeat the same thing that happened at the start of the royal selection of Lugnica.
The villager escorting Subaru whispered something into the elder's ear who nodded once the villager finished the sentence. The elder gestured with his hand, and the villager left the room.
„So, you say you want a job, am I right?" the voice of the elder was deep and thoughtful as he spoke.
„Yes sir, I could provide butler services or make clothes with the right equipment."
„You look like you are pretty weak even without those injuries, and you know that weak shouldn't get options of what they do. Weak like you should become slaves to die." The elder furrowed his eyebrows, judging the Forgotten Knight before him.
„You could prove your power if you want to, and do the job you wanted to. We have a mabeast problem in the nearby forest. Bring me two dead mabeast before sunset and you can become a villager." With this, the elder made a sweeping motion towards the boy signaling him to leave.
Subaru bowed again and left the building, and walked back into the forest where he came from. He fought some mabeast when he came through it so it shouldn't be a problem.
After one minute of walking a mabeast tried to jump on him and kill him, but Subaru extended an Unseen Hand and pierced the beast with it right through the hard. He put the body of it up onto his shoulder, supporting it with another Unseen Hand since his legs were too weak to carry it.
Some minutes later another beast jumped on him and got pierced through the heart. Subaru picked it up with the same method and started walking back the way he came, back to the village.
It was an understatement to say that the elder was surprised. He didn't expect the weakling to come back alive.
As known, Vollachia respects and puts strong people first. They are in the upper ranks, in fact, weak people can't even join the military, or fulfill any important job.
The black-haired boy came out from the forest carrying two dead mabeast on his shoulders and without new injuries. When he reached the old man, he dropped the two mabeast bodies from his shoulders.
„As you asked, sir." The Forgotten Knight said monotonically.
„Well kid, you surprised me there, I didn't expect that you would come back alive." The elder raised his eyebrow at Subaru while eyeing him.
„You proved to have power, to have your place in society, so welcome to my village! I could give you a room in my house if you want, too."
„I would be touched, sir." Subaru answered back, but now with a smile and a slightly happy voice.
One month has passed since Subaru escaped, and it was going pretty well for him. He made a bunch of money by selling clothes and dolls to merchants coming from Kararagi.
Subaru's injuries were fully healed by this time, but scars remained. There was one going through his face, smaller ones across his legs and arms, and three large ones on his torso and back.
The Forgotten Knight was loved by the children in the village, and most adults liked him too, they spoke with him every day.
It was a very peaceful and easy life. He hoped that nothing will happen, he didn't want it to end.
Yet, there was news of uprisings, protests, and unrest across the Empire, which gave a reason to believe something bigger will be happening soon…
A/N:
Hi, Modno here. This fic will continue with a new chapter, but I don't know when I will be releasing it. I hope that I will be done with it in August because if school starts there will be less time for me to write.
Also sorry if some parts were not understandable in this fic, my first language is not English!
And I accept criticism so please write your thoughts in the reviews or comments (depending on which site you are reading this on)
I also want to thank Edo The Plague Doctor Crow and Draco from Lemonman12's Discord server. They helped me a lot and they also gave me a lot of ideas for the later chapters coming!
If you want to join the Discord you can do it with this link:
/7WnntMC8T6
Cover image made by me.
We will meet in the next chapter!