He rolled on the soft grass. Not out of a desire for mindless fun, or of his will for that matter. No, he simply fell while he was training.
Nothing new, happens all the time. He thought as he rose from the ground. His ears twitched in irritation at this point. This has been happening way too often now. It's so boring!
But hey, it's not like he could do anything about it either... He grumbled to himself. Most of them could Emilia, Garfiel, and even Otto could. Yet he couldn't. The only person with whom he can share this inability was Petra, the twelve-year-old maid. The sun was high above him, shining down on the green grass.
When he got up, he looked around himself. He was currently inside the forest near the Roswaal mansion. There were hardly any people in sight, though one could see some houses and fields far away. A few hours ago, he had come here to conduct his training. The "secret spot" as he and Garfiel liked to call it. Even though this place was as far removed from secret as possible. The mansion's residents knew it, the local villagers knew it, and even children knew and came here to play often. He didn't mind them. Why would he? If the kids want to play let them. After all, even though he didn't like to admit it Subaru was quite fond of children.
But, what he did mind was his inability to complete this obstacle course. ' Julius can' the thought crossed his mind as he observed this challenge. Like always this thought brought forth feelings of doubt, inadequacy, of failure. Unfortunately like always after all those feelings only one thing remained, Envy. Like always he heard the siren's voice deep inside his soul, calling to him, giving promises, making demands. Yet it all came down to a single promise, the promise of Power.
Power is everything; the heart of everything. So many things revolve around power, and he couldn't move forward if he didn't have it. He was worthless without it.
He couldn't win against the other knights, or anybody else for that matter, because he lacked the ability, the strength to defeat anybody in a fair fight.
But, the siren's voice promised the solution, power so great no swordsman or mage could ever hope to match. His authority offered him the ability to manipulate time, to bend faith to his own desires.
Even the most powerful of magic users would be helpless before him. He would command their every action, control their lives, and become a god amongst men.
If he could get this power he wouldn't need anyone's help. He would be able to take care of everything on his own, but it required getting closer to the Witch Factor. To let it influence him to surrender himself to it.
The unholy thing made sure that such a proposition appeared as pleasing as possible. It showed him the images of Julius lying dead on the floor, as he stands above him the "greatest of knights" being nothing more than a corpse before his feet.
Subaru would be left with no choice but to follow the advice and act on the impulse.
Somewhere deep in his mind, he would think he knew what was going on. The reason why the Witch Factor wanted to make him its host was clear. It is a selfish being desiring only for its convenience, and the envy that would like poison flowing through Subaru's blood would make for great sustenance.
He thinks of Emilia, of other candidates, of the divine dragon Volcanica. He envies the dragon maidens own knights for being so much stronger than him. But he envies the women themselves for having it so much easier than Emilia. He curses the dragon for making it so difficult for somebody so pure as Emilia.
The Siren's song reaches his ears once again and just like with Julius a picture clearly shows itself in his mind. He sees the dragon, once mighty and proud, lying blooded before his feet. The scorch marks of this beast's flames were visible everywhere but on him. To the people of Lagunica this thing was a god, but to him, it would be no different than an ant. So the Witch Factor claims, and so it would appear when Subaru, seemingly effortlessly, destroys this creature.
When that is done he will once again stand before the throne and the kingdom's nobles will observe and hear him once again. With their god's head as proof of his power, he will declare... No command, Emilia be made queen. They will obey, for that is the only thing they could do if they appreciate life. The number of people present will be halved, the eternal reminder to those present that disobedience equals disappearance. So the ones remaining with fear in their eyes and shaking hands will bow before him as they accept his command.
To them, the god that protected them and their kingdom has been murdered and usurped. The usurper who was once a foolish boy ignorantly defending the girl he loves now transformed. From the blood and ashes of their merciful dragon this dark god had arisen, and he demands that same girl be made their ruler. So what can they do than obey?
Then in his moment of triumph, he will once again hear Julius's voice. Will that be a real voice, or just a memory of a man long gone changes a lot. Nevertheless just like when he made a fool out of himself the voice will give him a simple challenge again, "Turn around".
But unlike that time when he was too afraid to meet the consequences of his action, so he chose to insult the knights. Now he will gladly accept.
He will do it and look at his lovely Emilia. She will carry her famous smile, the one that made him fall in love with her. But when he looks closer he will notice her beautiful, like amethyst, eyes. Those eyes will carry only one thing, Fear.
He will step back for a second, and his mind will race, but ultimately only one thing remains in him, Envy. ' She is not afraid when she is with them' He will think as his mind makes his veins fill with poison once again. Envy will flow through him as comes to, what to him will appear, as the only sensible solution, ' I need more Power.'
That is when the Witch Gene's job will be truly done, the moment Subaru Natsuki becomes its slave.
That is why he will not listen to the siren's song, that is why he will rise from the grass when he falls, and that is why he will continue to train despite it bringing not a one billionth of the power his authority could. Because if he raises he will be weak, but free. Because whenever he ignores it, he is being its Master and not the other way around.
"Master Subaru..."
"Yes?"
The voice came from behind him. As he turned his head back to look, he saw a girl dressed like a maid with her short hair decorated by a red bow.
" Petra, what are you doing here?"
The girl answered with a big smile, " The lunch will begin soon. So the big sister sent me to get you."
With a cheeky grin, she added, " Lady Emilia was also worried about you . She thought you might get hurt."
"What does she think I am, a child?" with a playful annoyance Subaru voiced his discomfort.
" Well, It doesn't matter. We shouldn't let the others wait."
So he followed Petra back to the mansion, back to his family, back to his true power.