And the lost lambkin returns like the dumbass I am!
My apologies for the extended wait, but the more meaningless details will be presented at this chapter's end.
More importantly: Please, enjoy!
'And extend your prayers, hopes… to the Sage'
"'S about time ya got your shit together, don't ya wager?" A man heartily shook a prone figure by the shoulder.
Scarcely revealed, by candlelight, his taught expression pulled at his cheeks.
In response, though not from his source of interest, an offended voice spoke against his urging.
"Tis about as urgent as I may deem it. Therefore, politely for the last, I insist to desist, sir." The level tone brokered no room to see it any other way then hers. Quite fierce, to commend her on the defiance shown.
"Did I ask you anything?" With what seemed to be attention, at last, the man deigned it to reply directly to the irritated woman. "See to your own maid, and learn when to speak contrary!"
With a scowl, the man sharply retorted, gesturing with his head for the woman to be silent.
Though it didn't seem to make her budge on her decision.
"As humorous as it m-yay be for Ferris to liste-nyen in on this sizzling argument between ranks so apart, Ferris would appreciate silence to focus first and foremost on import-nyant matters." Swiftly butting in with a tray of fresh cloths, the medic willfully nudged the looming man aside to swap dirtied wrappings.
"My-oh-my… Nyo wonder why Commander-san is only fit for steel and barking, can't even fast-yen properly a wound."
"Make less waste of breath and work faster. Maybe now you can do something instead of loo-…! Hurry it." Turning away, the man ate his bitter remark and hid his scorning eyes. Tentatively yet, he turned back to scrutinize the patient's mien. Signs of movement over the wounded's ashen likeness drew his attention. And as he inched closer… only for the woman he deigned a nuisance to shoo him off.
"Continue like this! Continue, and then see…" The man left his warning in the air as he leaned toward the laid figure.
…
He was roused from an ebbing flow of headache and comfort. Nothing short of being thrown right back in the thick of it, one could label it. No great fanfare or prelude to this wake, but a rude thrust in the present.
The first things he could hear were arguments. Likely a quarrel.
"The authority I have to follow lies not within you, sir. With respect, do not further insist."
"A~nd nya-th's how nya ruin crucial silence right here…" Disappointedly murmured with irony the medic as he neatly fastened a particularly wide cloth over a pinkish and tender spot.
The spots were considerably raw. Ferris's crucial intervention having not been performed long ago. This last process was like therapy for the demihuman, so to say.
Like the wrapping of a gift for sendoff. This was the part where his utmost work and dedication was finished and he could, with certainty, say he did it! A neat stamp of approval, to better call it.
That is his natural process.
But as it were now, with this patient it was but merely a tidy little stopper. A quaint little practice he adjusted in hopes of lasting. Mere finesses placed in awareness to see them once more ruined by the end of this day.
He should be used to it, you'd reason.
But reason, did not seem to follow his current patient in the first place to begin with.
The demi-human noticed the stirrings. Leaning over, he whispered to the recently awakened.
"If nyo-u'd be smart then you'd play numb a smidgen longer." Uttered lowly the cat eared doctor in his hunched pose, glancing from the corner of his eye at the where he knew the enraging man watched like a hawk.
"But if nyo-u'd bee smarter nyou wouldn't reach me like so this often, nyes?" Patting his patient's head with one closed eye, Felix could not stop but irately point out his grudge on their reunion's meaning.
"…nm…" With eyes barely opened and huffing more than replying, Subaru began to distinguish shapes from the stains of dim colors in view.
"Took your time…" The man, redheaded, huffed with a calmer air, standing up and leaning tiredly with an arm against a wall and the other propped at his hip. "Brought any of us a souvenir from the World Beyond?"
"-" A scathing glare flashed across the woman set on Subaru's right side. She stood seated at his bed, seemingly disgruntled by the man's earlier untimely joke.
"Nyow, nyow, Subaru-kyun is yet to be recovered, why don't nyou nicely leave, hm?" Awkwardly clapped Felix his hands and made a weak attempt at shooing off the ones present.
"Mhm, well said. Now make off, spat-furs. There's shit to do, and ya'll are only in the way."
With a smidgeon more use of effort, Subaru identified the vocal man as the one and only Heinkel.
His pale and taught face, with dark circled eyes, glimmering from the candle's light, told an urgent story. Behind Heinkel, through the window he blocked view of, weak sunlight radiated in blue hues.
The man of distant cares to so boldly demand privacy? At a time like this, it was nothing to shirk off, Subaru determined.
Much like a mirage, it would have taken a properly awake Subaru a good slap across the face to adjust to this behavior. Yet as addlebrained as he was, nothing seemed better now than rolling with the punches.
"Mhm… yes… Mh. Heinkel, 's right." Mumbled the young man his accord through heavy lips, he nodded aimlessly. His head, swaying slightly left and right, along with distracted eyes gave few good signs to the inspecting physician.
Finding himself pressed by a small weight to be gently laid back down, Subaru languidly looked around in search of the source denying his quick reply. But only a sea of gold met his sight the second his ghastly visage turned fully to the right.
Beyond the color as a clue, what else was there to identify the third presence in the room?
Their hair was quite long. So much so, the earlier metaphor was more than accurate enough. His sight was indeed blinded by a sea of gold. Whoever it was leaning over him to glower at Heinkel, also gave him a face full of gold.
But hearing that person speak allowed Subaru, who steadily returned to his faculties, to identify her.
"I have repeated myself more than enough." Frederica's severe tone could be physically felt by Subaru, as his chest thrummed from the soft rumble in her speech. And to experience such a thing, only reminded him of her bestial ability in likeness to Garfiel's. This was a threat.
"Your arrival and its condition has served as enough proof for me. Begone now." With just that cutting reply, Frederica pointed off the Knight Commander to leave the room.
"I- have to speak with-…" Subaru coarsely bumbled a few misplaced words. The burst of urgency from possibly greeting a more violent sight giving him enough of a surge to gather himself.
"Subaru-sama, you must be confused from the attack, please refrain from speaking up." Frederica however did not seem to even want acknowledging his input. To speak frankly, Subaru felt she spoke on the principle that he was delirious. And to be understanding of the woman, he normally should be under those debilitating wounds.
But how does one go about explaining these kinds of circumstances weren't anything new and all should be considered well and off? Clearly, saying anything along the lines of 'it's nothing new to me' probably wouldn't have worked any better.
"I'm not bickering with a demi-maid!" As if writing his own fate, Heinkel already decided loudly what he had no desire to engage. The notably distressed man moved Felix over and harshly shoved away the distrustful maid.
"Heinkel…" Subaru still at a loss of his surroundings, became aghast when the Deputy Commander spoke to him dead in the eyes. His voice grave and secretive.
"The gutter rat, Felt… She along with Reinhard and Wilhelm pressed me for answers on you-know-what…" His tongue almost stuck against his mouth's ceiling, he hesitated. "I leaked small stuff. Crumbs to stave them off from getting too hungry. But they're suspicious of us. And they will ask about what went down in Vollachia this time, for all of its truths." The redheaded knight scowled the second Frederica stomped her foot and forcefully pushed him away. She obviously had no issue doing so if her strength was to be considered.
Biting back a foul retort, the man breathed deeply and walked again to the bed while pointing. Unfortunately for him, Felix deigned it to block his path and insist he left.
But Heinkel knew what he had to do even then.
His speech, just like before, vague and senseless to the medic and maid, sent all the few quintessential fragments to Subaru.
You'd think they almost perfected this pattern.
And who knows? Perhaps now, only Aldebaran could tell. Either that or he'd play the same game.
"Reinhard and Wilhelm, I got them busy. They're off scouting or consoling soldiers about. The blue one… eh, she's hard to manage, so she's right outside on the hall. The candidate brat isn't any farther either. Don't let your guard down." Heinkel spoke quieter at the end. "We ran on our way here against 'mommy's' deformed escapees. And around the dutchy groups of weirdos are looking for your faction. People of the cloth, by how they act, you'd agree at first sight of them."
"Sir Deputy Commander, nyou should dial it back; with respect, of course. Nyou can't assault Subaru-kyun so soon wi-" Felix swiftly tried to but in Heinkel's information vomit, unfavorable to exposing someone recently treated to further stress.
"Silence, Argyle!"
Heinkel's eyes bulged and his teeth grit in hardly subdued anger. His raised fist trembled and served enough to cut off the medic.
"This is enough! Leave the room, knight!" Frederica, without even a sign of fear spoke again and louder. The pressed sound of her heels echoed with an ominous force.
With the maid having steeped to obstruct the Astrea's vision of Natsuki, demanding him to leave, and the healer set beside him to plead for the same goal, Heinkel sucked his teeth and reconsidered.
Craning his neck over the two, he looked clearly at Subaru. However, despite this contact his last words felt in no measure aimed at the youngster. Chilling enough, the speech mirrored one talking to a reflection.
Heinkel was contemplating. Just in a very shrewd method.
"If times like these are anything like what you lectured about and 's true, then maybe I'm starting to get why insanity suits describing your approaches at times." Heinkel began stepping away, with no room left to backtrack by the other two. "Think over what I got to say. It's important. Vincent grade of important, for urgency's sake. Look for me after yer done licking yer wounds."
With this little managed to be slithered by before hearing the door slam shut, Subaru drearily began regretting not acting in any way sooner. Maybe jump out of bed or suddenly scream to change the mood, but… he felt like absolute shit. Having lost the immediate chance to get every little detail from Heinkel was like a death sentence in itself.
No, it was worse.
If shit was the golden standard he could always call to compare when in the thick of it, then now it didn't exactly apply.
Subaru's many personal Hells, were quite the noteworthy libraries of experiences. Vast, if anything to describe them by. Vast and detailed.
And it only continued to grow even to this day. Ending in situations like these. Where always something new was 'documented'. He felt almost like an explorer.
A morbid thought.
But this somber humor had its benefits. Now was one such time. Making itself useful in diluting budding fears.
Trying to move was astoundingly torturous!
Earlier he managed to raise halfway his torso, before being pushed back by Frederica, and that seemed to be that. That single effort marked the limit. It was all the range of motion that pathetic attempt revealed to him.
His body felt not made of flesh, but led.
His blood felt acidic, like millions and millions of tiny ants traveling up and down through his arms, legs and body, biting all at every second.
His bones felt shattered, popped open and protruding through him.
He could barely move his fingers, an act eerily familiar to a frostbitten end experienced long ago.
But he looked 'intact?'. Wrapped in cloth, bloodstained cloth yes, but in one piece! He looked every bit the part of recovered, Subaru wagered. A little more patience and maybe he'd earn the all-clear to start working about.
But yet…
"Breath slowly now, with me, yes? Nyow… In. And out…"
Quickly however, his alarming state of being, exacerbated by the panic of an incoming danger Heinkel tried warning him of, was momentarily postponed by the knight of Karsten. Meeting the amber eyes of the fragile Ferris, Subaru tried whatever he was coached through to reclaim a cool outlook. This much was something vital he came to treasure.
Breathing and stilling as instructed, the sudden episode of panic washed off steadily. And realization slowly filtered back into his reasoning. This should be nothing to be afraid of. He shouldn't panic or fear this.
This wasn't 'a first'. No.
He went trough these kinds of events before. He was by no means unexperienced. Waking and facing another matter, indeed.
In fact, he could easily recall from the top of his head numerous such instances. This… this wasn't anything to get lost over. How could he cower now?
So, there was no reason to panic.
This was a norm. Nothing to be worried over.
This, like all the other advents lived and died through, was solvable.
"Felix…"
"Yes, yes, this is Ferris. Subaru-kyun is in mistress Karsten's domain. All is well. And no one is in danger. Subaru-kyun can relax, yes?"
If possible, Subaru made a bet in the silence of his inner thoughts that he definitely could find it in himself at this moment to somehow reward the cat eared doctor. Screw it, be it another favor or help extended to his candidate, but having heard what he just did was like a godsent!
For having provided him the absolute essential he looked after or was at the front of importance, Subaru could breathe out easier. Suddenly, he didn't feel all so bad. Maybe still nowhere near peaceful, but acceptably relaxed. If needed, he could start thinking up something. That much wasn't beyond him anymore. He much preferred making no excuses for himself, indifferent of the surroundings.
"Nyow…" Having quelled Subaru's simmering anxieties, unspoken as they were, Felix assumed a calmer tone. Bringing a hand to his mouth to cough, the physician sat at the bed's foot and grimaced side to side with his mouth in contemplation.
"Miss Bauman, I incline to believe this is the best of times to go fetch for Great Spirit-sama…" Felix gulped in dry and smacked his lips no different from how an old scholar would do after long nights of meaningless research.
"Forgive my reticence, sir Argyle, yet…" With her eyes set over the closed door, Frederica had not budged for even a moment at the request. "Would it not be unwise to do so now? I am much rather willing to attend Subaru-sama in present and leave you bringing his arrival to miss Emilia's attention."
"And meet with the rest after…?" Felix mumbled with his head down, slanting sideways his eyes to look out the window behind. "After yesterday's depart… I think it best for them to hear of Subaru-kyun from you, miss Bauman." The physician brought back his head with a wide smile and joyous attitude. If possible, light flickers of light could have radiated from his sudden change in attitude.
"More than anything, best to do is leave myself in close proximity to Subaru-kyun. We know enough of this one's record-" Felix turned to wink at the silent Subaru "-than to not leave someone capable to handle this issue."
"H-hey… you're definitely rubbing it in now…" Weakly whizzed Subaru an irritated observation.
"Nyou see! Oh~! How is poor ol' Ferris supposed to treat this handful one if far away?" Palming his forehead and crying to the wooden ceiling for an empty beg at absolution, Felix methodically got up and busied himself by rummaging through spare supplies he used.
"Very well then…" Frederica hesitantly agreeing, breathed in and out before leaning towards Subaru.
The young man seeing her telltale-tired countenance chose to hear her out first.
"Please, Subaru-sama-" leaving her sentence in the air, the maid continued with a certain familiarity she seemed out of touch for months now. The change in nuance to her tone, hit Subaru with a wave of guilt for perhaps already knowing he'd go about disappointing whatever she'd wish. It was compulsory, suspecting this.
"Emilia-sama and our faction have long since sought you. Please, find it in yourself to wait for us. I believe everyone has already experienced sufficient panic. I shall return shortly to help you. Once more, please do not needlessly strain yourself."
Frederica's smile told him about all the worry she had harbored for God knew how long.
Her delicate hand, tempering a beast's strength within, gently pat his head. The nature of her gesture was nothing but blissful. To Subaru, having been welcomed so, by a true member of the group he separated from: it was unbelievable!
Did they know?
Had anything of his most recent escapade reached them?
Was it commonly known about the things he'd done? About how he left Chisha be judged?
Most likely not.
Maybe because of this ignorance, Subaru felt so miserable. Receiving this worry from the purely loyal Frederica; Frederica that new nothing of his true colors; weighed heavy on Subaru's conscious.
Subaru did not sit there out of gratefulness for receiving Frederica's heartfelt report.
Subaru sat there unmoving out of petrifying fear.
When the time came, for everyone to learn the truth, he saw himself again alone. The kid running on a moonlit path with toys in hands, stumbling over and confronting the emptiness behind, was a dreaded future.
Frederica, unaware of these thoughts, swiftly left the room.
Leaving behind only the medic to keep company to the knight.
Outside the small chamber, Heinkel, royal knight's Commander, met the cold and dreary wooden hall he instantly came to dislike.
Beside this place being located within the first inn Felix spotted and barged through to operate, Heinkel experienced a great revulsion once the whiff of alcohol invaded his nostrils.
An all too familiar scent that burned with a smoldering comfort inside his head invoked this disgust.
After coming so far and even fulfilling a goal he long began to think impossible, the vices of old returned now to haunt him. It was ironically contemptable. Not even a few days apart from Louanna, well and lively, awake once more! And the first things to welcome him were monsters, nightmarish nights and holing up in a place oozing this pitiful stench.
"…"
"…"
He didn't hear them speak, but he sure as hell could pick up on their rattled breathing. In the deathly silent hall, Heinkel, was accompanied by two who came to profoundly detest him.
He didn't care.
These types of results were ironed out with Subaru long ago. Mere formalities in their agreement.
Come whatever it may be, high or low waters, he'd shoulder whatever. As long as he had Louanna… he didn't care. His soul was bought. It didn't belong to him anymore.
"…"
"…"
The insistency he sensed burning on the back of his head became annoying.
Turning and taking steady steps to leave, Heinkel passed by the contrasting onlookers of red and blue.
The golden headed brat and the defying idiot oni.
Let them simmer silently for all he cared.
His business lied not with them. And his agreement with Subaru should not be their interest either. And that was that.
"Did you fuck this one up too? Or ya somehow kept your trap shut?"
How unfortunate. He almost even got out of their sight. But Felt didn't seem to care enough if her vindictive tone meant anything.
Her scowl and twisted lips, a scathing frown to look upon, did enough to represent her emotions.
"Mind your business, brat." Heinkel uncaringly retorted.
"Looked in a mirror anytime recent?" Oh-ho! Now she even wanted to bicker. Like he always thought, he seemed to be proven true about her character.
"Dumb, and stubborn to stay dumb, also. No wonder the fucking kingdom rots on its feet, if all hope is placed by a lunatic dragon in brats like you." Heinkel did little to conduct himself, professionally at least.
"Sir Astrea, please watch your words." Great, now the blue one found herself pissy all of a sudden. "You're in no place to criticize. Have the decency to speak no more."
"'Have the decency to-'! Look who's talking, creature! I didn't see you this thoughtful in Rupgana."
For what seemed to not be the end of it, Heinkel turned with hostility dripping from his tired voice.
If the two bastards would continue this arrogant show, he'd paly foul too. What was a few more such moves from him? He wasn't a stranger to those tactics. If he had to go through this bullshit with those cretins anymore right after having to leave Louanna's side out of obligation, then-! Od keep them safe, should that be the case.
"Keep your shithole shut, asshole!" Felt didn't seem to be doing any better. "This is all you can do! Bitch and whine all day! Throw blame and scurry off, the hell are you supposed to be? Can't fuckin' believe yer s'pposed to be Rein's dad!"
"Filthy rat-!"
The second Felt began spouting her unfiltered thoughts, Heinkel quickly felt himself swathed by rage and raised his fist the moment he stepped closer to the girl.
!
Unfortunately, or better considered fortunately, his moment was cut off before becoming a bigger problem by the sound of a creaking door.
Frederica, having left the room Heinkel came out of not long ago, stopped him from acting on a surge.
Now don't think this a gesture of grandeur form his heart.
For all he cared, the irritable brat deserved nothing less from what he tried to do. Even if the blue oni thing would've intervened, he didn't have to reconsider. And judging by the angered oni's countenance, she surely would've jumped before him to fight.
But Heinkel showed control out of a sentiment of shame.
Not from his conscience guiding him. And definitely not from the fact he was about to hit two girls. Rather…
Because Frederica's golden, flowing hair, and sparkling green eyes shocked him once more this day.
Who the fuck knew… That this, demi-beast maid… would be such an annoying curse to him?
Seeing her haunting visage, only summoned the true likeness of his wife to the forefront. And in tow with it, the thoughts of what she'd say, seeing him this way.
He left the room not out of respect to Felix's request, or Subaru's condition. And neither out of consideration to the maid's insistence.
But he left and controlled himself, again this second time, out of regard to his wife's better judgement.
He fought, struggled, hid, dirtied himself, acted, dealt and swore everything until this day for the sake of returning Louanna to a vibrant life. …Not a miserable one. He could disappoint any further.
Heinkel turned on his heels to leave.
"Gah! Cowered! Can't even do a bad thing right! Yo-you scummy piece of shit! I don't want to see you again!" Felt raged on. Her tear stained face, boiling with rage, made for a heart wrenching sight.
"Miss Felt…" Slowly, Rem approached the blonde and wrapped her dainty fingers around the distressed girl's shoulders. "Do not waste your breath. Move past it. It does not deserve you wasting effort over it."
"Whatever…" Felt gulped a sob as her teeth grit close together. Turning to the once-maid, she quelled the ugly frown distorting her appeal. "You tell me if you feel any different after what the asshole did. And big-b-… he even agreed! This isn't fucking right, what's so wrong to say it?!"
"Felt-sama." Looking to her side, Felt dragged a palm along her cheek to rid herself of traces left by dried, angry, tears. Frederica seeing her, crouched just enough to be leveled with her crimson eyes. "I thank you kindly for showing such consideration. However, as Rem has spoken, it does not suit you to remain in this unsightly sadness."
"Don't treat me like a kid." Tentatively stepping back from the maid of Emilia, Felt tried to think nothing of it. "I know what I should do and when I should do. That bastard deserved it, and deserves worse too."
"Miss Felt, pardon me for seeming this insensitive. Yet…" Rem, lightly breathing in, leaving her soft rhythm to hang in the air, glanced between Frederica and the room she left. "Should we not wait further and see why precisely Subaru-kun even tolerates so much that man?"
"Rem-san…!" Frederica was left quite stumped. How could she hear this from someone that allegedly saw Heinkel's loathsome character first and foremost? She merely needed today's events to gather the image she labeled to this 'Commander'.
"Subaru-sama has been harme-"
"Forgive me once more, miss Frederica." Rem repeated, hanging her head low so she could highlight her regret. However, her eyes didn't show remorse upon looking back. "But I would hate to once more prove a burden merely due to not knowing the context behind hardships. For the sake of Subaru-kun, I believe we should firstly hear out his reasoning also."
"That guy screwed all his chances the moment he said what he wanted out of my brother. You don't give guys like them second chances!" Felt harshly rebuked this stance.
However, Rem replied with another heavy viewpoint.
"Rem also committed loathsome actions against Subaru-kun and… Rem is here, and not hated." The oni girl's hands wrapped together. Rem shuffled in place, nervous and apprehensive. "Rem left much… much to be wanted from her character and deeds. But Rem was heard out and found a point of understanding. Rem was not hated."
"Don't compare yourself, under amnesia and surrounded by threats, to that asshole." Felt wasn't being unreasonable now, far from it. It was better to say she saw through the circumstances that could lead the poor girl to believe herself someone no better than Heinkel.
"Felt-sama, be it as it may, you should still go now and find your answers. However you see fit." Frederica sighed and gently spoke, directing the conversation away from the frustrating individual.
Gazing at the royal contender, hearing her worry and complete belief of kinship with Subaru, brought Frederica at a standing point to a dear past's mirror. Perhaps, this was a reason in itself why she sympathized this much with Felt.
"I shall leave to search for Emilia-sama and my friends. And Rem, please take care for the time I am gone. I should have much to tell you. But I'm afraid I will require everyone present to go about it."
With an endearing smile, Frederica managed to smoothly alleviate the two girl's festering emotions. The sheer gentleness radiating off her worked as a wonder medicine to their most recent strife.
"Then I shall trust you with this, Miss Frederica." Rem gracefully accepted and lightly bowed her neck. "Oh, and to bother once more… would you please make sure Louis behaves nicely while in the care of the Dutchy's maids? I hope she won't cause trouble with her occasional tantrums."
"Ah, think nothing of it, Rem-san." With a beautiful smile, albeit sharp, Frederica agreed.
Without other issues in the way, the blonde maid departed. Leaving the two girls to prepare their questions to the knight that seemed to harbor a world of secrets.
What else had he kept so dearly close to his heart that no other soul could uncover?
"I think…" Speaking with a huff, Felix approached the bedridden. Out of his make-pretend activity the second Frederica left, the servant of Karsten pulled a chair and tapped his fingers as he went over a dilemma. "With this, nyow, Subaru-kyun should not be managed any further. Ferris knows with certainty-" Sparing a glance behind his shoulder, notably apprehensive for possible disturbances, the one baring title of Blue continued. "Ferris is sure Subaru-kyun knows of his troublesome gate."
"If only troublesome was enough to describe it, I'd be over the moon with the news." Subaru grinned slyly, craning his neck to better look at the knight. "But Felix isn't the type to repeat old stuff. …Want to talk about the mana?"
"I think it's worse than merely needing to talk about it."
The physician's speech lost its penchant of playfulness.
"Well… I have been a little busy… for some time now." Awkwardly, Subaru made a shallow attempt to change the mood with vague answers.
"Busy and far apart from Great Spirit-sama, yes?"
"Something like that. Yup…" Blowing some air through pursed lips, trying to toy with his disheveled hair, Subaru looked over the wooden ceiling. "Before going over old news." He chose to better label it as things of the past. The mana-sickness was not something to worry over, now that Felix was here. "How's it been going for you? Tough times? Hopefully better, though?" With thinned lips and wizened cheeks, Subaru revealed a small smile.
"…" Felix watched him with a great focus, eventually caving in and blowing a huff, grinning all the while. "Typical to hear this, hm?" In some ways, Felix was elated of the exchange between them. Less political and considerably personal; leisurely. And most definitely, dumb. Yes, dumb. …Because that was what Subaru was being currently. "I- hu-huhahah!" Maybe things changed around, but for better or for worse, at least this hopeless knight still treated him all the same. "Ferris has had some good amount of work to pull. But, nya know! No way I may disappoint Crusch-sama, n~o way."
His eyes shimmered with relief, and Felix could confirm to himself at least a major consequence was yet to trouble them. Subaru, bereft of his typical vigor, certainly was nowhere near the danger he feared.
"Nya, it's good to see Subaru-kyun still so full of life! For a while now nyou worried poor Ferris with the worst since return! But, I'm glad to see you still going strong."
"Thanks. I may not look the part, but I have taken the doctor's orders in consideration, you know? Harder at time to keep it, I won't lie about that. But I've definitely given it some thought." Subaru meekly laughed in kind.
"Some thought, huh?" With a smile still gracing his mien, Felix wrapped his arms around his chest and glanced at his feet. The knight boots of his official garb clanked against the hardwood floor in his mindless tapping. "Nyou really gave a big shock along with Sir Commander, you know?"
"I did? Well, what's one more on the list?" Fortunately, Subaru could assume his usual rhythm with steady practice. "Did it give you troubles, doc? Don't tell me Felix is losing his touch in work."
"Hm-hm, I mean, no biggie for Ferris on that. Rest assured." With a sensible amount of pride, the medic patted his chest and closed an eye in mock modesty. "Though that didn't also mean indulging in better conditions." With an irked expression, Felix gave the room they occupied a once over.
"Had to work in a hurry?" Having caught on the meaning, Subaru finally noticed the frugal room and its humble appeal. The simple candle placed over a nightstand having fully melted off, left smoky trails wafting in the room.
The conditions told as much about a makeshift intervention place.
"Blood loss, susceptible to infections, cold, in terrible posture and coming from a pretty long road? Nyou tell Ferris." Rocking on the chair, Felix grinned and poked Subaru's nose. "Couldn't exactly waste time and relocate to Crusch-sama's residence, could I? But I still would say not a bad job, hm?"
"'Would say'? Felix, this is your work, alright?" Gaining a little more color in his skin, Subaru mustered a greater effort and managed to bring himself in a sitting position. Dragging himself in the bed, the young man gave his torso a good look. "Now if can only convince you on sharing that secret technique we used in Priestella to neatly take care of everything, I'd be in your debt."
With a wink, Subaru cheerfully clapped his right leg and nonchalantly mentioned the time Felix numbed all pain in the limb Regulus and Capella made sushi out of.
"Subaru-!" Felix's jaw hanged reflexively, and just as quickly clamped shut. His eyes widened and the cat eared doctor shook his head in a daze. "Th-that… is heresy."
"?"
A lightning fast realization swept over Felix's expression. His words quickly changed.
"I mean… please, don't ask something like this so lightly." Felix reiterated uneasily. "In Priestella, no, rather in battlefield, even old-man Will can say the same: exceptions can be made. But. …Outside, to ask that? Subaru-kyun shouldn't go searching for it. It seems Subaru-kyun is as insensitive as always, hm?"
"Felix, you talk about it as if it's a taboo…" Subaru's brow lightly frowned. A faint sheen of sweat coated his skin. "Is it so out of ordinary to find painkillers this day and age?" However, as if under natural charm, Natsuki swayed the mood of the conversation on its head.
"Painkillers? You refer to dealing with aching ailments? Ah, no…"
"Then, should I be aware of some difference between the two? What you said earlier doesn't seem to fit with my category of labeling it." With another huff and puff, Subaru supported his torso on an elbow, laying sideways to look at Felix.
"It's just-" Felix seemed to be caught on the wrong foot. For reasons unspoken, the healer mouthed, like a fish, hollow words before deciding on an answer. "Healing practices, or rather some of them, cannot be all considered wise to perform. Sparse methods are better fit for situations like we faced in the Watergate. Others, even less. I trust Subaru-kyun will respect this much at least on what I advise, yes?"
Upon his last mentions, Felix took on a rather crestfallen nuance, a warning tone oozed from his speech.
"Alright. Whatever done then, I won't think on it." Conceding, no doubt out of necessity not out of willingness, Subaru nodded his head. If on better terms, physically at least, Subaru would've stayed true to his personal values and undoubtedly bugged the saddened healer until satisfied with answers.
Obviously, he'd have pursued this alleged taboo until uncovering whatever kept Felix so hesitant on the matter. From there on he'd maybe even help the demi-human to some degree… Maybe.
But again, right now, going with the flow of necessity seemed to be all he was allowed.
"So then, tell me Felix. Are there other ways to help with, well-" Miraculously even to Subaru himself, he managed to wave with appreciable dexterity his free arm over his freshly mended figure. "Help with pain, that is?"
"Mm… Subaru-kyun…" Frowning with distaste, Felix almost growled as he rose from his chair with indignation. "I pestered Heinkel enough to know you bit whatever was aimed his way. Take this as the n-th lesson to be mindful of yourself! I won't provide an easy way out, nuh-uh!"
"Come on, Felix, don't be this stingy!" A little disheartened but no less undeterred, Subaru put a little more life in his voice.
"You expect me to wheelchair my way to greeting everyone after this long?"
"Ack!" Grasping his chest, Felix squinted his eyes and thinned his lips. "To put this pressure on innocent Ferris so dastardly! …Mn, I'm sorry but Subaru-kyun needs to learn his lesson."
With a smug expression and shut eyes, Felix rose his nose up and turned backwards.
"I'm sure Crusch-san would just get fur~ther reason to lauder Felix for performing exemplary once more~." With a roughish smile, Subaru spoke with regret towards no one in particular. Though his aimed words definitely hit their target just right.
"…How cruel!" Naturally, Felix was caught flustered with such an out of blue offer.
And, not that it wasn't welcomed. After recent blunders it was definitely something that would alleviate some of his regrets. It certainly was a tempting offer.
"Besides, earlier with Frederica you whispered something about disagreements with the others, even if you didn't explain more. If you can bring me back to being enough of a loudmouth, I'm sure I can keep everyone more than distracted from any kind of displeasing thoughts."
Oh, he was good!
Slyly good!
When did he even acquire this finesse over, in-the-face, blatant, but honestly tempting, manipulation?!
"Just help on aches, right…?" As if talking more with the walls, Felix swayed on his heels left and right without glancing back at the smiling Subaru.
"You see, I already have these hell'ova stories since Vollachia that would take me days to finish, but they're just so exhausting to go over them now… I fell like I'd need a bit of help." Lamented with false regret Subaru whilst with a hand he massaged his temple. His radiant demeanor shining through the entire act without even an effort made to hide it.
"Hu~uf… Alright~y then." Sighing with a hard to suppress amusement, Felix turned back to Subaru and leaned over to thoroughly mend as much as permissible of his body. "You already know the source for the big issue here, right?" Peering through his eyelashes, with a slanted head as he worked, Felix tried making sure the black-haired knight knew at least the source of his suffering.
"I know-I know, doc. Too little time spent with Beako and I need to preorder a coffin."
"Pre-ord? Uhm, I guess? But, no, that isn't what I referred to. Stop playing dumb, Subaru-kyun!" Scowling lightly as he tapped with the back of his hand Subaru's head in chiding, Felix sighed.
"… Reinhard tried to delay the mana accumulation." For what felt like the first time in his conversation with the elven's knight, Subaru responded seriously. The game he played, of constant joy, momentarily set aside. "Since, you know, Rein can just sponge up the mana in the environment and even from people, he thought that maybe he could even reset my problem."
"And? How'd that turned out? I've never had the chance to need hearing this." A little half-attentive once pushing a wave of mana through Subaru's right arm, Felix obsessively analyzed said limb.
Although yet afflicted by the draconic cessblood, it was astounding how much healthier it was compared to Crusch's doused flesh. The degree of difference was as between night and day.
However, fortunately, that time of worry was over. Slowly, from the benedictions of Volcanica's talon, Crusch knew remedy.
"Well… not so useful."
"You're serious?! Reinhard couldn't expel the excess?" Felix, for but a second broken out of concentration, leaned back and blinked before resuming.
"We tried a few times on way from Vollachia. Oh well, we figured it juts wouldn't work. Rein only mentioned that trying more forcefully would just cause a severity. Whatever that meant, I haven't thought about it."
"Huh, and we just finished debating over that lesson moments ago." With a wry expression, Felix met Subaru's dark eyes with his own amber. A sense of disappointment filtering through the physician's look.
"Hey, you can't re-apply that on something from the past now that we already went over it! But, in all honesty, I just didn't feel like looking into it. …Any clue?"
"To speak frankly, Subaru-kyun, I am amazed." With an appraising voice, the knight of Karsten retracted his hands, finished with the lighter administrations. And upon moving to grasp Subaru's cessblood ridden arm, Felix went in slavish detail, earning Subaru's undivided attention.
"Considering the months of time apart from proper treatment, and even laden with the curses, you've stayed the path in entering the illness' incurable phase. I've never seen another like-case, but I have found comparable, time-wise. By now, you experience occasional seizing episodes, yes? Normally, this late your whole body should've succumbed. I would've believed to find you almost paralyzed."
"Well… that's not alarming at all, Felix…" Notably chilled at the descriptions, Subaru slightly backed away his head, contemplating over what the fully focused medic mouthed. "Anything you know about that 'incurable phase' as you and Beako called it. She never elaborated on it in the past."
"Mnm… that, is indeed very difficult to go about talking. I can't blame her not exploring further." The healer reached a hand behind his head and rubbed uncomfortably his neck.
"Better aware and afraid to not experience it then, right? I agreed to follow through with your lesson." A little quirk of his mouth clued Felix in on Subaru's interpretation.
"Just because you're curious now doesn't mean I'll enable you to search about it!"
"But I am right, aren't I? Come on, put the fear of Od in me! Who knows? Maybe I'll prove to be a good student and listen to your 'wisdom' then?"
Waving a hand in the air while an arm rested over his chest, Subaru ironically continued to nudge Felix over his knowledge.
"You really have gotten worse over this absence." With a warbly look, and uncertain feeling, Felix agreed to speak.
"Subaru-kyun, this type of illness is rare. Very rare. Rare enough for physicians around the kingdom, noteworthy ones, to cross upon one in a lifetime." Started to speak the demi-human with a lower voice, almost whispering.
"However, you're titled Magic Blue. And that means you faced more cases, didn't you?"
But Subaru did not seem to yield in front of the precursor of this horror story. In fact, he seemed so sharp witted that he already deigned it to puzzle together through Felix's talk.
"Unfortunately, this time. Yeah…" Felix tapped a finger over Subaru's right arm. The tarnished vein beneath his skin lightly highlighted under the pressure. "Unfortunately, because there was very little I could do to mend. Loath as I am to admit… but in this field? Mn-mn, this is the domain for the clergymen and priestesses of Gusteko."
"Gusteko?! Wow! Now stop for a moment, you've just- woah, ok, just! What do they have to do with this sickness?" Understandably amazed at the reveal, Subaru's eyes glimmered with anticipation. "I didn't expect this!"
"It's simple, if you have the clues like us. But, Subaru-kyun, you already know how to cure yourself, yes?"
"Yes… only Beako can hea-…"
A flicker of realization struck through the witch-knight's mind.
"Correct. You guessed it, if that look tells me right. From Gusteko, those contracted with spirits have learned ways to put a stopper to mana-infection or depravation. In the academy, where I earned the color of Blue, I met speculations to be Odglass and the Great Sage to having lend over these teachings."
"Again! That bastard!" Subaru's hand harshly collided with the side of his bed! The wooden skeleton lightly creaked and the noise caused Felix's ears to shoot up in alert.
"Wow, hey! Some consideration for recuperating, you heathen! …Nyow take this displeases you be~cause?" With a little indignation in his voice at the sudden act, Felix covered his ears defensively and tentatively questioned the knight.
"From the Tower…"
"Ah, so the grudge is against the Great Sage then. How like Suabru-kyun…" With a downtrodden but content mien, Felix nodded to himself knowingly.
"Ok… rude. But you weren't there. I have no clue how that guy earned the right to be hailed a hero for so long. But he certainly fooled everyone too well if it still works today." With spite, Subaru barely spoke the title. Anything more in his speech and it might've been believed he tried to invoke poison from his lips.
"Subaru-kyun! The Great Sage Shaula-"
"-Flugel."
"Not you too! Julius was bad enough, no-"
"Anyway, Felix, continue please." Instructed smugly Subaru with closed eyes.
"Uu~ghh…!" With hands over hips, Felix scowled petulantly. "The Great Sage is said to have sacred ties to the Od Laguna itself. Thereby, extension to the very Great Spirits. What I was trying to say was…" Scratching an ear, Felix bit his lip lightly. "The Great Sage's wisdom was extended as a blessing towards his followers. In those, numbered the Great Spirits too."
"He had followers…?" Yet grudging, and now learning how the individual he despised assembled a fellowship, Subaru snarled his stiffened cheeks.
"Of course!" Stunned of this reveal, Felix quirked an eyebrow up in surprise. "Why is Subaru-kyun so amazed by this? You already knew religion consists of masses. Why is someone so important this hard to accept having had adherers?"
"I…! Religion?! Felix, wait…" Subaru felt like a cold sheen of sweat dripped down his back. His cold hands moved towards the healer and shook him. "Care to explain on this guy? No one seems to talk about him, but expects you to know already everything on this dude. I see him every which way, but without any reason. On coins, in legends, in writings, in events… Just, who the hell is this guy to the people?"
"This guy?" Felix confusedly shook his head. "Subaru, this guy established the order and coexistence of the current kingdoms. The Great Sage mended the World after disaster and imparted wisdom through the Spirits."
Carefully, Felix unloaded the common shared knowledge of this consecrated figure to Subaru as if committing a great act of defiance. He seemed rattled upon learning Subaru had no inkling of this elder hero.
"I know, I know. He, Volcanica and Rein's sex offender of an ancestor sealed the witch in hell or close enough. But what made him so memorable beyond that? I don't get it."
"It's because, Suabru, the Great Sage is at the heart of Gusteko's religion."
"…"
"For a time, it was said to have been the very center of the World's reverence. The type of figure even Gods envied and conspired against. Being the bridge between Od Laguna and everything else, it was only to be expected. What you're asking about as in details is… well it's just, nothing more specific is known. Eventually, before resigning in the Tower at the World's end, the Great Sage inhabited the snowy mountains of Gusteko. From where eventually, the veneration of spirits sprouted. Ever since, Odglass is as close as possible to the carrier of the Great Sage's will. And inherently the closest in relation to Od Laguna."
"Felix… but Lugnica. I see only people worshiping Volcanica everywhere. No place of this… Flugel."
"Because this was the change." Felix, at a loss of a better explanation, shrugged his shoulders. "The Sage left, and in his stead appointed the Divine Dragon. Nothing more about it is known."
"And everyone just took things in stride without a question? You can't be serious. You're telling me all this and everything is just supposed to be true? Felix, stop joking around." Subaru however, didn't want to believe this. His unnerved tone cracked as he hesitantly jested.
"If Subaru-kyun doesn't want to believe Ferris, he isn't forced to believe Ferris. However, the old sayings aren't there for senseless drivel. Why would they be written otherwise?" Felix clapped his hands with a tired air and perused his eyes over imagined text only he could recall.
"'Leave violence for the Saint to judge. In the Dragon, trust the lands to bear. And extend your prayers, hopes… to the Sage'."
"…"
"I'm honestly surprised Subaru-kyun is so completely clueless! Nya'd think you'd be more witted to learn something so crucial~" Felix let a simper bloom across his face in a manner smugger than ever before. His mocking tone stung a little at Subaru's uninformed perplexity.
But the real surprise was just now experienced as Natsuki retorted.
"Felix." His eyes blinked slowly. "What the fuck is all that bullshit?"
The black knight's dry reply sapped all the amusement from Felix's chance at laughs.
"Tsk-tsk. Now that's not how you should treat your kind physician." With a mock sadness, Felix got up. "I shall leave you to gather a little more life in your carcass before we try and see if you can start moving on your own."
"Just like that, you're leaving from an opinion disagreement?! How childish is that?!"
"Oh relax, Subaru-kyun, I just have to first announce the details of you know: Having you along with Felt's camp present in Crusch-sama's domain!" Fumed the healer with jaded eyes towards his patient. "I'll return later."
"Right… now you have to go. Right before even explaining more over how the mana-infection works." In equal part, Subaru sent a judgmental sneer Argyel's way.
"Like I said… I'm hesitant about you knowing this. More so when seeing how clueless you are. Consider it very carefully until I return. If you're still headstrong about it even then, I don't see why I shouldn't inform you about what you have to live with."
In the end, Felix repeated his warning with a rarely shown seriousness.
Thank you everyone for reading this chapter!
No doubt I've slacked off and left you waiting. My apologies, but as everyone no doubt has this explanation shoved at some point, I am no different: unfortunately, day to day issues have appeared and made free time a little more sparse to have.
Now, aside with my excuses, I have started entering the culminating chapters of this short story.
Hopefully the experience I will have gathered by the end of this project will enable me to put together a more enjoyable and proper journey I have planned. As this current one, serves more as a testing ground and introduction to the mythos I try and sew along. Ideally, it should work out. Ideally.
So, please cross your fingers I manage to invoke something admittedly enticing!
Until next time, take care!