Arc 2 Chapter 2: An Unexpected Encounter

By: ViolentBlue

Two days.

Two days Natsuki Subaru had been unconscious, leaving the Roswaal mansion in what could be described as a state of emergency.

"His chances are not looking the best, I suppose." Said Beatrice, the small girl sitting in a chair next to Emilia, who bowed her head. The two of them along with Puck and Roswaal were in one of the mansion's many sitting rooms, discussing the situation.

"Yes, it truuuly is most unfortunate that poooor Subaru has not awoken." Said the Lord of the mansion and Emilia's sponsor in the Royal Selection, Roswaal L Mathers. "You have my utmost sympathies, Miss Emilia."

"Thank you, Lord Roswaal." Emilia was quiet. She had scarcely found time to attend to her studies and duties as she spent much of it worrying and trying to figure out what had happened. She knew he was perfectly healthy physically, Emilia had seen to his healing herself with Beatrice after all. "I...I just don't know...why won't he wake up."

Beatrice spoke after, in her usual firm tone of voice. "I may know why. Earlier I did a full exam of Subaru, and I discovered that his Gate was damaged."

"His Gate? Well that's certainly strange, Subaru never seemed like the type to use magic." Said Puck, who was sitting on Emilia's shoulder, one paw gently stroking her hair. The spirit understood her concern for her friend, and had been trying to do his best to assuage her fears. Emilia appreciated Puck's comfort greatly, but it wasn't helping her all too much.

"That's not all. After seeing this I went further, and it gets worse, I suppose." Beatrice turned to look at Emilia. "When I checked him, his Od had been under a lot of duress. It's logical to say that whatever happened to him may also be responsible for his unconsciousness."

Emilia gasped. This was certainly not good news. "Is-is there anything that we'd be able to do?"

"You would need a healer who is trained in repairing Gates, I suppose. But I am not someone who is able to do that, despite my magical talent."

"Thaaat is mooost certainly a problem, Beatrice. If there's any chance at saaaving Subaru, we will need to fiiind a solution." Roswaal commented, raising a hand to his chin to think. "I do have to head down to the Roooyal Capital on business toooday. It will be a short trip, buuut I could loook into finding a healer most adequate."

Emilia's face brightened slightly. "Oh, really? If you could do that I would be so grateful, Lord Roswaal."

"It's nooo problem at all, Miss Emilia. This is the young man who saved your life." Roswaal smiled gently at her.

Emilia nodded. "Yes, he is. And when he wakes up, I'll have a lot of questions to ask him." She paused, then spoke again. "Before you go, Lord Roswaal, and Beatrice. There's...something you should know."

She looked to Puck, who nodded at her to continue.

"When he and I were fighting against the Elsa- the Bowel Hunter...she did actually manage to strike me- but Subaru somehow took the blow instead."

Beatrice looked at Emilia with an intrigued yet puzzled expression. "You're saying that he transferred the damage you took back to him?"

"Yes, that's exactly it." Emilia clapped her hands together. "I was in shock but I didn't have time to ask him given the situation, and so I focused on trying to heal him. That's when he...used his power again, to put his injury on Elsa."

"There's...no magic I know of that can do such a thing." Beatrice seemed a bit confused. "But I will consult the Library, I suppose."

Puck nodded. "How about I come with you, Betty? Maybe there's something in there. Besides...I think Lia here would like to spend some time with Subaru."

Beatrice's facial expression turned as she grinned at Puck, standing up. "Alright Bubby, I'd be more than happy to do so with you, I suppose!"

It was only in a matter of seconds before Beatrice had quickly taken her "Bubby" and practically ran out of the room, giggling. Puck winked at Emilia as he passed by.

Emilia smiled a bit more. Thanks Puck. You always seem to know how to get her to help.

Roswaal smiled slightly as well, before getting up from the chair he was sitting in. "Weeell, in that case I mooost definitely must be off. Let Ram or Rem know if you need anything, Miss Emilia." He began walking out, along with Emilia who joined him, as she was heading the same way to the room Subaru was in.

"I will. And thank you again, Lord Roswaal."

"You're weeelcome, Miss Emilia. The case of your apparent saaavior quite confuses me, as well; and I wish nothing more thaaan to make sure that he has a full recovery."

They came to Subaru's room, Emilia stopping in front of it. "Do...do you really think he will?"

"Absoluuutely, Miss Emilia. Subaru is yoooung, strong, and clearly capable. I'm sure that your spirit Puck and Beatrice will be able to find a soluuution, and I will do my own paaart as well."

"Alright. I'll put my faith in all of you, then." Emilia nodded in thanks, as Roswaal began to walk off, the two exchanging goodbyes.

She then stood in front of Subaru's room. Emilia felt slightly nervous, holding her hands together. Looking through a crack as she saw him, still sleeping there.

There's much I need to ask him, and thank him for. ...I hope he wakes soon.

As Roswaal briskly walked down the steps of the mansion, Ram approached him, holding a small suitcase. "Here's your clothes like you asked, Lord Roswaal."

"Whyyy thank you, Ram." Roswaal smiled, before his face turning more serious. "If aaanything does happen while I am out, I truuust you'll be able to take care of it?"

Ram nodded in acknowledgement, and paused, "Of course. My sister says that the boy carries the scent of the Witch more now than ever, just so you know, Lord Roswaal."

Roswaal turned to look at her, and turned his head. "I suspected that. Weeell, if it becomes necessary. You boooth may do what you must. Goodbye, Ram.

"Goodbye, Lord Roswaal." Ram waved, smiling slightly as he began to fly off into the distance.

As Roswaal looked down below at the ground far away, he thought about the recent incident, how Subaru had been transported there to the mansion after the fight with Elsa. He was certainly grateful to Subaru, as if Emilia had been killed all his plans would have gone up in smoke. And Emilia's new information that she had just given them gave Roswaal the second piece of evidence he needed to form a judgement on what was really happening to Subaru.

First, Roswaal realized Natsuki Subaru had to have an Authority.

It was the only remaining possibility, given the massive presence of the Witch's Scent that Rem, and to a much lesser extent Ram, had detected earlier emanating from him. There was no normal spell that could have allowed Subaru to do what he did during his battle against the Bowel Hunter, Roswaal knew that for certain. The power to take wounds from others and give them back had to be an Authority, there was no other suitable theory.

The second judgement was that this Authority must've resulted in an effect on Subaru that was responsible for putting so much stress on his own Gate and Od. The simplest explanation was most likely the correct one, after all.

The only thing that Roswaal had trouble figuring out was why it all resulted in Subaru effectively being in a coma. Gates were strictly magical, not physical. And while a damaged Od could have multiple consequences, it wasn't as if Subaru had nearly died or had his mana drained. He sensed that there may be something more to the picture that he was missing, although the most talented magician in Lugunica knew that it may even be beyond his understanding for the time being.

Roswaal set it aside for now. He had business to attend to, and he would make sure to talk with some of his contacts about the possible healing he mentioned to Emilia earlier. He did want to make sure that Subaru recovered, and not just because the young man had saved his Royal Selection Candidate's life.

Roswaal had great plans, and he suspected he may need Subaru in order to help achieve them.

Emilia pulled up a chair by the bed Subaru slept in, looking over him. He seemed so peaceful when asleep, and although Emilia had just met him part of her felt that she had known him for much of her life.

"Please wake up soon, Subaru." She whispered, and took his hand. It was cold, and so she took both her hands and set his own in between. A small part of Emilia hoped that somehow this might wake him, but she knew it wouldn't happen. Things like that only occurred in the fiction novels she would sometimes read instead of doing her preparation for the Royal Selection. But, it felt like she was doing something at least. That much was true.

Emilia shook her head. It had only been a few minutes. His hand was warm now, but she didn't let go. Maybe...just maybe if she stayed with him long enough, he would wake.

As she thought that, she began to sense something emanating from him. It was hard for Emilia to describe, it was dark, mysterious, like a powerful magic was in him. Her eyes opened wide, looking at him. "Subaru…?"

Is he waking up? Is it a result of that strange power he had? She didn't know and thought to contact Puck through her bond, as in one sudden moment, her vision turned purplish-black and hazy, and then both her and her vision blacked out completely.

When Emilia's vision returned, she found herself standing in an empty void. Surrounding her on all sides was nothing but an unending dark grey, and Emilia could barely see in front of herself. She looked around it in a panic. "Subaru? Where are you? Where am I?"

She tried to contact Puck, but found that the telepathy they had was blocked.

Is this one of his abilities? I don't understand, why is he doing this…"

A figure approached her. Wearing a dark purple dress decorated with gold and white. They were clearly female, with a black shroud covering their head and behind them. But there was more. The figure had silver hair, and as she moved for a split-second Emilia could see the glint of an amethyst eye. There was no question. This, was Satella.

Emilia curled her fists. This...this is who is responsible for your condition, Subaru…

"What did you do to him?!" Emilia demanded, pointing at Satella. Emilia did feel a great deal of fear, but her anger at this discovery was stronger than anything that could make her back away from the Witch of Envy She didn't care what happened, she would not let the Witch of Envy harm the young man who saved her life. She owed Subaru that much.

"I have not harmed him. I would never do so, I only love him." Satella responded, folding her hands as she stood in front of Emilia.

"Then why is he like this?! He's asleep, and nothing I can do will wake him! You have to be responsible!"

"It's understandable for you to be angry, but I can promise you I did not hurt him. All I have done is helped him, as he helped me."

Emilia blinked, "Then...then what did you do…"

"I gave him my power. My Authority. To love and save him. And so he could love and save others. I gave Natsuki Subaru the power of Return by Death."

Emilia opened her mouth to speak, but was battered back as a flood of images entered her mind. Images of Subaru dying in various ways, but always returning back to life. If it wasn't for the sheer anger and her own willpower pushing her forward, Emilia may have collapsed then and there. But she held on.

"When he dies, instead of my love being lost forever, he returns to life earlier to save himself and those he loves from the danger ahead."

Emilia grimaced, the images ceased and had been active only briefly, but even still they were nothing short of disturbing. She struggled to keep her composure.

Get a hold of yourself Emilia, you can't let this overpower you. If you let Satella do this to you, then who will help Subaru?

"Is...is that why he…"

Satella bowed her head, and Emillia noticed her frown in sadness. "He...ran against an obstacle that he could not overcome. He died over, and over again. I sent him back earlier to gain more time, but- he never could succeed. With every failure the one I love grew more despondent and disheveled. I gave him advice, any power I could reach over to grant him, and I finally sent him back to the beginning of his journey...to Zero."

"That's...then that's how he knew about where to go, how he seemed so familiar with me and Puck earlier. He'd- he'd done it all before." The recent revelation was a huge shock to Emilia, but she felt surprisingly calm despite it, and wondered if it was something to do with the mysterious area that she was in.

"Then...why contact me...why tell me about this? And why didn't he tell me before? Did I know and just forgot?"

"Before, I stopped him from telling others of this power, in order to protect him."

"Protect him from who?" Emilia was again incensed. Saddling someone with such a terrible burden, and wiping the memories of everyone each time Subaru had died, it seemed like such a cruel thing to do. But not allowing him to inform anyone, to share in his secret to allow him to get the pain off his chest? That seemed unthinkable.

And maybe...maybe that's why he's not waking up. He broke. She broke him. The thought of a Subaru trapped in his own mind sent a shudder through Emilia, she wrapped her arms around herself.

Satella turned her head up to look at Emilia. "If others found out about Return by Death, they could use it to manipulate and harm the one I love. And I would never allow that to happen. But now...I give an exception. You now have the knowledge of it, to speak with him and only him."

"Why me?" Emilia asked, looking down at her feet. "I haven't done-"

"No…" Satella stepped forward to Emilia, causing the latter to backpedal slightly. "You've done so much. I know you don't remember, but there is a reason he loves you just as I love him. You saved him."

She shook her head, looking at Satella. "Even if I did, why am I even speaking to you. Your crimes are unforgivable. You've caused this world so much anguish. You've caused Subaru so much as well. If what you say is true, then he's gone through all of this over and over, while the rest of us just forgot everything we knew."

"Please…" Satella's voice sounded with a hint of desperation, it made Emilia pause. The Witch of Envy wasn't supposed to plead. "I love him. And I know that even if you don't, you do care about him. And you are the only one who can save him again."

Emilia narrowed her eyes. As much as she hated to think it, Satella may be the only chance Emilia had at getting Subaru back.

I hope I don't come to regret this. She thought.

"...Alright. But know that I am only doing this for Subaru's sake, not yours, Witch of Envy."

"That is alright. As long as the one I love is saved. Emilia, I grant you with my power the ability to safely know about Return by Death. And while I cannot grant you knowledge of everything, I make so that you will be aware of what happens when Subaru does use his Authority, in order to save the one I love."

Emilia nodded silently. This was too much for her to take in all at once, and part of her could scarcely believe it was happening at all. Still, it was her only way forward.

However, there was one thing on her mind.

"Before I go, I have to ask. Why do you love him?" Emilia looked at Satella, staring ahead into her.

Satella paused, and then smiled at Emilia. "Because he saved me. And was there for me when no one else was. That- is why I love him."

The area Emilia was in faded, and her vision once again darkened, as before she could say anything in response she lost consciousness once more.

When Emilia came to, she opened her eyes to nothing other than Roswaal's mansion once again. She was still holding on to Subaru's hand, in the same bedroom she was before her vision had taken place.

The images of him dying and coming back sent a shudder down her spine immediately, as Emilia's mind raced to catch up with all that had just happened. It was almost too much for the half-elf, but she refused to crumble. She had to repay Subaru for all he had done for her after all, And if he really thought of her so fondly...then Emilia would do her best to make sure the trust Subaru put in her was not misplaced. Even if it meant having have worked with Satella of all people.

So...then what do I do...how do I wake him…

She shook her head. First it would be a good idea to clear her head, go and grab some water or go for a brief walk before coming back. It wouldn't be good to lose it in front of the others, especially Puck. Emilia remembered what the Witch of Envy said about her only being able to talk to Subaru about his ability to "Return by Death" as she called it. And Emilia did not want to test to see if what Satella said was true.

She stood up, about to let go of Subaru's hand. It would only be a few minutes, and Emilia looked to the door to head out. All of a sudden, she heard the sheets rustle slightly, looking down at the reason why in surprise and joy.

Natsuki Subaru was beginning to stir.

A/N: And that's the end of Arc 2 Chapter 2. I've certainly been cranking out a lot over the past few days, and it feels good to get this much writing done. The next week or two will be slower as I have some upcoming business to attend to, but I will still be continuing Arc 2 as we go along.

Overall this turned out better than I expected so far, although I can imagine the Prologue and the Interlude did seem a bit confusing. To explain, these are designed as conversations taking place inside Subaru's mind to explore his current mental state and thoughts, and will only occur after he has a death. A sort of progress check, if you will. I can promise that later on they will become quite relevant to the plot, although I won't spoil any details. Let me know in the reviews if I can improve them, as it's a pretty experimental style and I don't think I have quite perfected them yet.

Also: One question for you all. I plan on answering some of the questions from the reviews so far, and please let me know if you want me to answer them in a A/N at the end of the chapter or in a seperate one. I'll do whichever gets the most responses in favor of them.

Thank you for reading!