Inexorability
The timbre of the wagon's wheels echoed throughout and it was the only thing that many of the cast could hear on their journey as most were silent as in deep thought or with excited breaths.
Anastasia, for example, looked like she was about to explode. Meeting not just a future version of Subaru but perhaps even Reinhardt and Felt obviously meant that she could gain information on the status of the potential future world. Merchants only succeed when they have an upper hand in the market, Anastasia was simply following her instincts.
Others, however, simply were in thought about either the sleeping Subaru's tragic journey or the Warden Subaru's mysterious aura.
But if the entire cast were to give their entirely non-bias opinions on the currently awake Natsuki Subaru, they'd all say one thing:
For a man with a broken gate, no currently contracted spirit, and with almost zero physical capability, regardless of skill with the whip, he sure could be intimidating as hell.
Sitting in the three traveling carriages were the greatest of knights, the strongest of knights, the greatest of healers, the sword demon, and the 'Glacial Witch.' To say that a man with no apparent strengths intimidated such people spoke leagues.
Regardless, the carriage with the Warden was far less active than the carriage behind that held the sleeping knight. The carriage with an overprotective half-elf, a worried spirit knight, a rambunctious princess, a prideful authority, a calm and shocked maid, and the greatest power the world had ever known would soon shake in the discussion.
All thoughts in that carriage were on the sleeping Subaru as no other subject deserved such attention at the moment.
"It's so awkward in here!" Exclaimed Felt. "Big Sis, can you stop rubbing his head creepily every two seconds!"
Emilia, as if once stuck in an irreversible and accursed trance, stepped back into reality as the usual and gemlike glow of her eyes began to reform. She looked around as if still shocked by the intruding of Felt's voice upon her time with Subaru.
"Mineself agrees with the slum rat, the half-wit seems to continually get more attached to the commoner"
"Subaru has had a difficult journey, this is the most I can do," retorted the half-elf, looking at each member of the carriage with deep insight and confidence.
Though each member in the carriage, save for Priscilla due to her unique views on the boy's situation, agreed or understood the elf's want for compensation towards the mean-eyed boy,
That obsession still was concerning, nonetheless.
Felt bit her lip as she looked at her big sis. Ever since they had entered the theatre and started watching the detrimental and horrid tribulations of the hero named Natsuki Subaru, Felt… felt two things: jealousy and forebode.
Emilia continued to caress her hero's head but it became apparent to Felt that what truly motivated the half-elf to care deeply for the boy, in an obsessive manner in a sense, was not necessarily due to the tribulations but rather the idea that Subaru could lose his own self and, therefore, Emilia would lose her hope. It was a selfish viewpoint but a view that Felt could not hold against Emilia.
In a way, the if stories held odd precedence over many of the known and definite events of Subaru's actual time in their world. Subaru in those stories proved that the power of Return by Death could corrupt and, indeed, could corrupt someone as lovable and determined as Subaru. Felt noticed, however, that each journey in the if stories showcased different versions of determination and how different aspects of the same thing show different lights.
Determination is characterized as the want to accomplish something regardless of the disadvantages put in front of oneself. The pride if showed an unrelenting determination towards the death of Reinhardt and the approval of Emilia regardless of her acceptance of it.
Perhaps that was why Emilia was simultaneously scared of Subaru and yet so clingy.
But Emilia's newfound view of Subaru had not made her a better person, rather it gave her another trail much needed to be completed. Emilia had found a regret, just in the trails, which she truly regretted. The incident of Elior Forest was something out of Emilia's control and Subaru's experiences could be too if it weren't for the fact that their camp's incompetence was continually shown. It blinded the camp; it made them believe that their incompetence was not only a direct consequence of their true selves and personalities but was also a reflection of how undeserving they are of anything.
Priscilla, for example, held such a view. If the half-elf's camp, which, mind you, includes the country's greatest magician, an abnormally strong tiger man, a skilled minister of affairs, two extraordinary strong onis, and many other competent members, could not protect a commoner who held no negative opinion or detriment to them, then the camp must be, by every definition and exclamation of the word, be the most horrid example of incompetence and instability.
Huh, what a mouthful!
If the only thing holding the camp together was a commoner whom they found on the side of a damn street inside some random alleyway about to be mugged, then the camp's true standing was nothing more than a joke.
Many in the carriage would agree as well, despite their pities towards the half-elf.
But then… would they do any better if Subaru had been given to them in the beginning? Priscilla, in prideful intelligence and arrogance, would believe so but the rest of the cast believed that they'd be the same way. Had Subaru been in Priscilla's camp first, would he have actually developed himself or would he be damned still?
The few others simply desired a solution to the situation, Felt being a perfect example of such.
"Big Sis, I hope you know that the second we get sent back, my camp will need to spend more time with Big Bro."
Emilia looked down with a self-deprecating gaze, clearly acknowledging that Felt's comment was in direct connection to her own inadequacy.
"Lady Emilia, please don't take offense to my lady's words," spoke the calm red-haired man. "She wants Subaru to be safe and if the cost is for some 'custody' over him is to be removed from you, then she believes it to be worthwhile. I do too."
Julius looked at his friend with glee and joined the conversation as he held a similar stance.
"The theatre must have sent all of us for a reason. It didn't just send the Emilia camp or our camp or the sort. The Warden must have desired all of our input."
"Lady Emilia," Reinhardt said in direct continuation to Julius' speech. "Perhaps Subaru's safety and future happiness depend on us accepting his situation as we ALL try to help it. If he continues to only stay in your camp, we can't help him as quickly."
Emilia nodded her head sideways, shaking it in an almost defiant manner. Her eyes had not dilated but their wide nature seemed to indicate a fear ingrained within her. Her mouth was closed as if in a perpetual frown and her body exemplified her earlier response by shaking sideways as well. She was mute the entire time.
But it was clear what she felt. What if Subaru abandoned her? Others would suggest that he wouldn't considering he's stayed with her so far. But was that truly what he wanted, what he truly deserved? To be cast aside and stuck in a camp that was a direct symbol of his deaths?
"Perhaps you fools should think of the present," said Priscilla in an insulting manner.
Felt scoffed at her as in usual annoyance of the princess. Regardless, all within the carriage paid attention to her apparent discovery as she had continually done that during their time in the theatre. The princess was far more observant than initially anticipated.
"It is sad for mineself to admit that the merchant queen in the other carriage seems to be one of the few to understand the greatness of the situation. Can thee not see that the future will tell us our next steps?"
Everyone looked toward Priscilla for further clarification.
"If the commoner is allowed to speak about Return by Death freely in the future," Priscilla inquired. "Then it is likely he's already told this timelines versions of us of his depravity and despair. If that is true, then whichever camp helped him the most in the endeavor to heal him must be the best choice for us as well."
But even with that logic, it was clear that all of them were simply being selfish.
Emilia's gaze became even duller as Priscilla's sentence got dragged out. What if the future implied her further incompetence; proving that their nightmarish thoughts were true? If Warden Subaru's future condition and if the information on his future achievements indicated that the Emilia camp hadn't improved at all in their competence, it would be enough evidence to discredit them and give an extremely strong reason for the other camps to take him away.
Perhaps Subaru wouldn't agree at first and he most certainly would not, but perhaps a slow transition was necessary. Maybe they could even integrate the half-elf's camp into another and keep an eye on Subaru that way without having to take his love interest away.
But then maybe that is for the best, perhaps Subaru would be better off without her. It was clear throughout the viewings that Subaru would be otherwise miserable or, at least, somewhat unhappy without Emilia's presence. However, abandonment from Emilia's camp could very well mean the difference between true happiness and death.
"Of course, it is clear that mineself must be the one," pridefully suggested the rather prideful princess.
Everyone in the carriage looked down as if in synch. It was quite an interesting sight in all apparent honesty. No one in the carriage truly felt prideful or necessarily 'excited' for their future contributions to help the man named Natsuki Subaru. Everyone in the carriage felt heavy guilt except for one… Priscilla.
The rest just started downwards in silence, especially Julius whose lips were getting quite dry.
Julius may have overcome most of his self-deprecating manners in the theatre but just because one stopped for a few days does not imply that the entire habit disappears, similar to how despite Subaru promising Satella to love himself more…. He did not necessarily follow.
Many others similarly, like Reinhardt, felt immense guilt for how their powers far exceeded Subaru's, and yet they were still useless in the endeavors to actually help the guy.
Priscilla held confidence that her entire being in itself would be enough to rehabilitate the boy and make him recognize the truest extent of his worth.
However, there was one singular problem with the argument.
"Subaru didn't really treat you better, did he?"
The confident princess opened her eyes to stare at the half-elf in front of her, both with a glare of confusion and also of resentment.
"If the future Subaru had chosen you or if you had helped him more in the future then surely he must have treated you with higher standing than the rest of us," explained the half-elf, trying to vent her anger and low self-esteem in the only way she could come up with.
"He didn't do such a thing whatsoever," Emilia retorted. "Subaru will always be my dunderhead of a knight and THERE IS NOTHING YOU WILL DO TO PREVENT THAT!" lashed out the silver-haired princess, turning a few objects in the carriage to cold, dreadful ice.
A flower of ice seemed to pop out from the floor as well, much to the confusion of many others in the carriage.
"Calm down, Emilia-sama!" said Frederica as she stood up in the moving carriage and waved her hands to lessen the tension.
Frederica had not wanted to enter the carriage to which many conflicts could arise. She merely entered that competition earlier as a precaution in case Garfiel had won and gotten on the carriage. Sadly, Rem's… pride? Shame perhaps? Nonetheless, Rem had prevented her from simply ceding her victory as Frederica originally intended.
"We've all been through a lot and some more so than others so I can understand why Lady Emilia lashed out bu-"
Priscilla's mouth gained a momentary smile…
"See, even the half-elf's subordinates view her as some uncontrollable mes-"
"You're no better either, miss Priscilla," interrupted someone.
Felt looked around the carriage to identify the source of the voice, almost shocked in its interruption. It took her a minute or two, at least in her head, to realize that the source came from an unexpected person who never had the rudeness nor the audacity to interrupt Priscilla… or anyone, now that she thought about it.
Reinhardt stood up straight which by itself gave an immense atmosphere of power. With Reinhardt's divine protections slowly regaining their strength and potency since the departure from the theatre, he made everyone in the carriage shut up. Priscilla, despite not knowing when to close her mouth, decided to silently observe another supporter of the elf.
Reinhardt stood there in silence for a few seconds and with a slow turn of his head, asked Felt for approval with a simple gesture of his eyebrows and hands.
Felt, having been shocked but also quite excited for the rare occasion, raised her head in an extremely exaggerated manner and shook it up and down with unparalleled ferocity. Reinhardt was about… to speak up!
"Sorry Miss Priscilla," said Reinhardt, provoking Felt to moan in disappointment and critique Reinhardt on his approach of talking back… or at least that is what she would have done if the conversation went that way.
"Sorry, Miss Priscilla but it seems that you misunderstand greatly. During our time in the theatre, you barely had any control over any of us and you continually provoked us as for your entertainment."
"Subaru is my friend and I fully admit and accept my past inadequacies, but, Miss Priscilla, are you so blind that you can't see what shines in the other Subaru's eyes?"
Priscilla stared at the red-haired knight with acute observation and overwhelming attention.
Felt listened with joy and full support for Reinhardt's message, whatever that may be.
And Emilia widened her eyes as if shocked that others, despite witnessing her mistakes, still supported her. Perhaps she could change for the better.
"Mineself does, in fact."
"The commoner's eyes hold some emptiness to them similar to how he must have looked in some of the viewings. He did call me 'Pris' though and wouldn't that imply that we must have worked together in our future?"
"That's just a nickname he must have come up at the time! Big Bro would never stoop down to help someone like you!"
"Or perhaps I help him?"
"That is enough Lady Priscilla. Subaru's eyes are indeed blank most of the time, especially toward Emilia. Every time he's said 'Emilia-tan' has had less and less emphasis on the 'tan' part and has also gotten duller and duller in volume," explained Reinhardt. "Subaru may be the greatest hero I've ever met, the first person to ever see me as Reinhardt and not simply a monster or the Sword Saint… but he is stubborn."
"Subaru is so incredibly stubborn that not even one of my divine protections can even comprehend it. Subaru has seen me use my powers first hand but he didn't delve into the depths of madness like the Pride version of him did. Perhaps it's because that version died more times than Subaru ever deserves but we know that OUR Subaru can't leave Emilia."
"Lady Emilia is one of Subaru's largest reasons for fighting. If the Warden refuses to speak her name with the same level of enthusiasm as our sleeping one does then what must that Warden Subaru currently see in the rest of us?"
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"Reinhardt is right," continued the finest of knights. "I wish Subaru would have me as one of his reasons to fight and continue, but I know that either way, his stances are very difficult to change. I agree with Lady Priscilla that learning of the future through the Warden is our best bet of helping ours, but you, Lady Priscilla, need to understand that Subaru's continuation and happiness now rely on all of us."
Priscilla scoffed as if rejecting the knight's declaration of certainty and inspiration. The commoner was someone with unimaginable potential and someone who deserved confidence to be ingrained into them. After all, to Priscilla, to accept one's achievements and to have pride in them is the only way to show your superiority and standing. It was through her infinite wisdom, in which she called it, that the boy deserved such standing.
But while Reinhardt used his argument to support the fact that all of them must be needed to help Subaru, it also set forth another idea. One concocted by Frederica, in fact.
"Or we all fail in helping him," she muttered.
All turned her way, begging her to continue.
"Warden-sama, I could tell by the way he acts that he still maintains his mask. That facade he refuses to break is still there, those nightmares he must have, even though he is aware that we know, still are there. Either, one of our camps succeed, everyone succeeds, or-"
"None of us do," finished Emilia, wishing she had done better in the past as to not ever have gotten in the conversation in the first place.
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"What are you guys giving up for!?"
In the corner of the carriage sat Felt, once again disheartened by the state of the others.
Frederica beamed an eyebrow upward as in confusion, confused by the growing integrity and charisma emanating from the young princess.
Felt looked at all of them angrily, upset that they were letting all of this get to them so easily.
"Why are you guys trying to worry and work the people and not the problem!?"
"Reinhardt and I were hoping to snatch Big Bro for his own safety. He saved me so… SO MANY TIMES. He saved US so many times. Sure, he faulted lots. Big Bro almost gave up on all of us when he wanted to run away with Rem, but he didn't. Maybe Warden-sama didn't receive the help he needed, but my Big Bro can!"
"He deserves everyone's help," finished Reinhardt, turning to smile at Felt and surprisingly getting a smile returned as well.
"Subaru-sama never walked into anything knowing he'd win. Why should we stop just because we don't know what happens?" asked Julius.
But the doubts still rang in their minds as Julius's statement still implied that their future selves could have still failed at aiding their friend.
But then the carriages stopped. Considering that they were informed of traveling to the Mather's Estate, it was clear that the time they spent in the carriage did not align with how much time it actually took to arrive. It, however, had not been long enough for the ground dragons to have gotten tired either. Why had they stopped?
"Give us all of your merchandise and this won't have to get dirty!" shouted a commanding voice outside of the carriage.
Reinhardt and Julius, already too used to the voices knights hear every day during a patrol, stood up in the instinct to deescalate the situation. It was apparent that the people outside must be thieves or bandits.
"Those within my carriages, please do not fear, and please stay inside. I will handle this," said a voice, it must be the Warden.
Reinhardt and Julius could not let such a thing stand but, at the same time, refused to deny the orders that a more experienced Subaru had stated. Perhaps he truly could handle the situation. But Subaru, at the same time, could very well be bluffing and hold the same self-sacrificing attitude kept by the sleeping one.
And so they peeked outside, ready to pounce on the many bandits outside at any sign of further and lethal hostility.
There were at least four bandits in Reinhardt's direct line of sight but he could 'feel' three more. They were in front of the carriages and ready to attack but had their full undivided attention on the owner of all the carriages… Subaru.
"Look, I am on a very important mission and I do not want to see myself interrupted, understand? If you are out here for food, however, then we can talk," said the Warden, pulling his scarf a bit downward in the attempt to show the bandits his face.
Subaru was never particularly the most intimidating in of himself, the only thing relatively intimidating would be how he appeared to his enemies. But at the sight of Subaru's face, the bandits recoiled in worry and regret.
"Subaru-sama, we didn't know it was you. We are sorry for our interruption, thank you for your services, man," said one of the bandits, immediately kneeling at the sight of Subaru.
It was a sight to see. Especially considering the bandit's incredibly muscular, absolute buff stature bowing down to the far skinnier man named Natsuki Subaru.
"Thank you, Richard, but it still does seem like you guys are on a food shortage… here," responded Subaru, going back into his carriage and reaching into a compartment underneath. It was a box of food it seemed, most likely canned foods of soup and other such things. After all, the Warden did keep many inside the theatre.
"But sage… I mean Subaru, we couldn't accept such a generou-"
"When did bandits have such manners? Don't worry, we all have to stick together and especially now," responded Subaru, handing over the food and smiling brightly towards the pleading man.
"Ah… Thank you, so much… I don't know how we could feed our families if you hadn't been this kind," retorted the bandit, his eyes red and about to burst into a mass of tears.
"Trust me, I once and occasionally still face the same worries. Please take it, just make sure not to eat it all in one night," said Subaru, believing in the man's integrity and leadership.
"But that was whe-"
"You were getting married to Elena? Yes, I know and I congratulate you for it but still… don't eat all the food at once," responded Subaru, quite quickly as well.
The bandits sniffed in joy at the Warden's kindness.
"You know, Elena is actually, you know, sh-" said the bandit before being interrupted.
"Pregnant?" continued Subaru.
Their eyes widened for a bit before chuckling as if Subaru's mystic guessing powers were a normal occurrence every time they met. It was.
As the bandits walked away in gratefulness, all those within the carriages, all peeking, were shocked that Subaru's kindness appeared to have grown over the ages. Or perhaps was it some other plot? They couldn't tell the difference but perhaps his heart wasn't as cold.
As Subaru walked back to his carriage, he was met with many eyes on him and mouths salivating, desperately wanting to ask some questions.
"Why'd you give them that, Subaru-Kun?" asked Rem, curious about whether her Subaru-kun was still in there somewhere.
"Didn't you hear? They needed food."
And with that they continued their journey, all the cast surprised at yet another heroic act made by the person Natsuki Subaru.
The wagon's wheels continued to be the only source of the sound. This time, however, the discussion was to be held in the wagon containing the kind, cold man named Natsuki Subaru. The Warden.
"Rem sees that Subaru-Kun is still as kind as ever," admired the oni.
"It was nothing, times are always hard during famines," responded Subaru, brushing away any kind of compliments directed toward him.
"Famine?"
"Yes, famine," said Subaru. "The attack on the capital is obviously the result of some powerful being, their power affected the entire area really.
The cast behind him shook their heads in annoyance at his vagueness.
"They seemed to extremely admire you, Subaru-dono. It is a happy sight to see you gain much-needed respect," stated Wilhelm.
"Wilhelm, why do you always sound so formal? Thank you anyways though. A lot of people around here are like that, some more so than others. Did I mention the story of Merilla during that encounter earlier?"
"Merilla?"
"Did bro catch another chick or this entirely unrelated," laughed Al, who was sitting silently and tightly in the back of the carriage.
"It's entirely unrelated. You see, there was a woman, recently married to one of the Bandits in fact, that acted extremely fanatically when she had first gained sight of me. It was not in crazy admiration or a witch-cult kind of way, but it had introduced me to the mindset of the people around here after the attack."
"My incompetence back then resulted in horrid consequences, I guess."
"Would you mind explaining, we don't exactly understand the whole situation," explained Anastasia, curious about the implication of the Subaru's words.
"Crusch, let's say you all were sent back to your current time during the Royal Selection. Let's say that the capital was attacked, how would this affect the nation's entire opinion on their source of protection? The knights? The court mage? The council?"
Crusch looked up to deeply be intrigued by the question before her mouth went wide agape in amazement of such a question. She responded with a singular word.
"Dragon. If the dragon didn't protect the kingdom when the threat seemed too adamant and needing of his attention then-"
"People would stop believing that the dragon was or is even active, nya?" continued Felix.
"Correct. Now we have factions that believe in the dragon's eventual return, factions that hate the dragon with all their heart for failing to protect their loved ones, factions that remain dependent on the return of the sage council, and there also is the cult," continued Subaru.
"The cult is still active!? Well, I guess their power must have resurfaced then," sadly claimed Anastasia.
But the Warden chuckled as if not even worried about the situation.
"Oh, I wasn't talking about the witch cult. I was talking about the sage cult."
"The sage? If the dragon was seen to be incompetent then what makes the citizens believe that the sage would?" questioned Otto, trying to understand as much of the conversation as possible.
"Because they see proof that the Sage is active…" Wilhelm shockingly replied, turning his head towards Subaru as if he had realized something truly incredible.
"The sage has returned!?" exclaimed Anastasia. Even though she would have held more excitement had Hoshin still been alive and running, the fact that a legendary hero returned to aid the country the dragon themself failed to protect was certainly a sight to see.
"Shaula has not returned, no. In fact, she won't return in a long time. They seem to mistake the sage for someone else. They've become desperate. Incredibly desperate," continued Subaru.
So it was an impersonator?
"Who would they mistake it for?" asked Mimi all the way in the back.
It wasn't too soon after that question that Rem's eyes widened in astonishment as if some revelation had been secretly revealed.
"Who else?" sighed Ram, knowing very well who the people mistook the sage for. And goddamn, did she feel disappointed on how low the world had gotten.
"They mistook a 400-year-old, magical-superpowered, nigh-invincible and wise individual for an idiot like me."
"Eh!?"
The Mather's Estate appeared to be in a state of cleanliness and gloriousness but it was clear to the cast upon their arrival that the mansion had certainly seen far better days.
The carriages rolled up to the mansion slowly, the surrounding trees subject to a gentle and meditating breeze. It was a far different atmosphere than the previous desert-like wasteland that was their capital. But they wouldn't complain.
"Garf… just wait a minute!"
"AH, SWEET TO BE BACK HOME!"
Garfiel had jumped straight out of the carriage at the sight of the bright green grass that presented itself in the mansion's front yard. He was sick and tired of having to sit in some boring carriage with nothing to do.
He is a cat after all and laser pointers were yet to be invented.
At the sight of her rambunctious brother excitingly jumping out of the carriage like an uncivilized animal, Frederica felt the overwhelming need to scold him.
"Garf, wait for the Warden's orders!"
"Whatcha' mean, sis? It's home sweet home, we're safe here, right?"
*snap!
A twig seemed to have snapped behind Garfiel, prompting him to immediately jolt at the sound and get in a defensive position. Had someone intruded on the mansion's grounds? Garfiel would not stand by it if that was the case, no one would be allowed to hurt any of his friends. The Shield of the Emilia Camp forbade it!
And yet, as Garfiel scanned the area, he could find no one who could have been responsible for the source of the sound. But upon using his acute sense of smell to identify the potential intruder, he was overwhelmed by the aroma.
Perhaps it was because during their entire travel that Garfiel had been breathing in the driest and most dusty air out there, likely due to the carriages' lack of usage by the Warden. But this aroma had shocked him as it was the direct smell of flowers, something rarely seen on their journey to the manner.
Garfiel adored the smell but his priorities were centered first and foremost on protecting his allies.
"Whoever outa there, better pop out or my amazing self's gotta pummel ya!"
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"Now, now ~Garfiiiiiiiiiiel. No need to become so hostile," teased Roswaal, appearing next to Garfiel and patting him on the back.
"Aw, shut yer mouth ya damn clown! Stay in the carriage and away from my amazing self!" Garfiel refused, immediately bouncing away from the clown hated by most of the cast.
It was odd though when Garf looked back upon the clown, had he always worn such a weird outfit. Roswaal appeared to be wearing a black robe lined with an almost purple and gold lining with an ever so slight tinge of orange around his shoulders. Hadn't Roswaal been previously wearing his iconic, though honestly bothersome and silly, jester outfit back at the theater?
Perhaps he changed?
"Of course, you're the first to greet us, Ros-chi," the Warden sighed, almost looking annoyed that it had been the clown and perhaps not some maiden.
And though Garf was yet to realize it, those still in the carriage scowled at a revelation all the while Ram squealed in delight.
After all, right next to her, inside this deplorable carriage, was her beloved and yet right outside, was another!
"I'm sure you don't really need introductions, but whatever. Ros-chi meet 10 years ago, pre-pubescent Garfiel and Garfiel meet old, weird Ros-chi."
"Heh? Cap'n, my amazing self hadta' sit with him in a carriage for hours! Of course, my amazing self knows who he is!"
"~Subaruuuuuu-kun, still teasing me to this day. My heart just might ~break! Nice to see your plan is ~worrrrking."
The Warden then turned around, looking at Garfiel with a perplexed face. Until realizing the crux of the situation.
"Oh, you think this guy is… you know what? Hey, stupid version of Ros-chi, get out of the carriage!"
"Heh?" questioned Garfiel, wasn't Roswaal already in front of them?
"How ~intereeesting, ~Subaruuuu-kun," stepped another Roswaal, from the carriage.
Everyone at that moment dreaded the confirmed fact. The dastardly Roswaal survived the apocalyptic wasteland before them and now there were two of them. One past, one future.
"Shit, I suppose"
"Beako!" yelled Emilia.
Regardless of the cast's annoyed expressions, the Warden and Roswaal exchanged looks as if secretly confirming and trading information. Had they concocted a plan without the cast's knowledge? Perhaps, but either way… both the Warden and Roswaal felt saddened by the cast's presence.
The entire cast walked inside the manner, it looked quite different. The atmosphere was certainly off-putting and it was clear that though the future Roswaal-sama certainly tried to keep everything nice and tidy, without the proficiency and necessary maids the mansion could never achieve its one ecstatic and shining nature.
But it was fitting for such a desperate world that the cast had been unknowingly transported in. Even the Warden gave off that desperate and depressing vibe even though he, Subaru, had been perhaps the exact opposite of that the first time they met.
"Looks like the clown can't keep a single room clean," angrily stated Julius, still greatly disliking Roswaal.
Roswaal, the future one that is, looked back with slight discomfort.
Normal people might assume that he was saddened by Julius's remark, as any teasing and negative remark usually do to a person. But that wasn't the case here.
The Warden informed him of his plan for the theater years ago, an extremely jeopardizing and risky plan but a plan nonetheless. In a world filled with zero thought and order, a plan felt reassuring. After all, Roswaal had been following a plan most of his life.
It felt welcoming, cathartic to have a plan once more even if it wasn't granted by the gospel. He supposed it was also nostalgic of the old days in which things were so much easier, even if he still did follow the gospel once given to him by his teacher.
So no, he wasn't sad because of Julius' remark.
No, what made him uncomfortable, sad even was the maid walking near the back of the group. The one who stood and walked close to her master in her non-sensical yet still very apparent love for him. A love he never understood, not in the past, not now.
Ram.
Ram.
"How long had it been?" asked the future Roswaal to himself.
Roswaal looked back once more, the Warden noticed his sad and deprecating look. Roswaal was an amazing actor for most of his life, pretending to be someone else and yet focused on his goal. But even here it was clear to the Warden that the act was slowly melting. The Warden would never admit it either but he felt pity towards the jester.
Roswaal continued to look back occasionally at the maid who was now holding her master's hand. Or at least, that is what he believed he saw. In truth, what he was seeing was what could've been. What could've been?
Had Roswaal abandoned his gospel years ago, could he have perhaps been more transparent? Freer? More capable of actually protecting what was in front of him rather than what was already dead? Would he even be more capable had he just moved on sooner?
The future Roswaal looked back at Ram once more…
What could've been?
"Hey Ros-chi, have a break in your office. I'll lead them to the dining room, is that where they are too?"
Roswaal snapped out of his trance. He gave a nod to the Warden, silently thanking him for having saved his composure.
"Yes, Subaru, they are in the dining room. They might be a little shocked," responded Roswaal, dropping all his honorifics and accents. It was clear he was grateful.
And as they reached a fork in the road or rather a fork in the hall, Roswaal turned left in the effort to walk to his office. Subaru looked onwards at the jester, amazed and pitying how he fell even further with the death of his two beloved persons. Subaru took a deep breath and walked in the opposite direction, leading the others to the dining room.
The Warden never forgave Roswaal for what he had done to him, but it was rare for someone, especially for someone in the cast apart from Ram, to understand his character. The Warden, known as Natsuki Subaru, nodded his head towards Roswaal and walked onwards.
Sorry, this chapter sucked. I've recently gotten back into Lined in Orange and Black too so don't worry about that. I've realized that I become inconsistent with my writing the more words I dump into it. I think it might be better to do shorter chapters but more consistently, you know?
Either way, have a wonderful day.
Bye! Yorelis, signing out.