Chapter 17
A single day had passed since Emilia walked through the doors with a beaten Subaru. Itsuki and Rem found out that one of the knights named Julius challenged Subaru to a mock battle because Subaru disrespected the knights. As of right now, Subaru had mostly recovered from his injuries and had spent the entire day training with Wilhem Van Astrea, grandfather of Reinhard. Wilhelm was a butler for miss Crusch, another of the Royal Selection candidates.
Right now, Itsuki, Rem and Subaru were staying with miss Crusch under a contract while Subaru recovered. Emilia and Roswaal returned to the mansion, with a single request from Emilia that Itsuki and Rem watch over Subaru and make sure he gets proper rest.
Watching Subaru fling a wooden sword recklessly about, Itsuki stood with his arms crossed. There was no way in hell this guy would ever lay down and rest.
Forcing Subaru back, the old man spoke.
"Maybe we should stop and call it a day."
Subaru replied by trying to attack, however Wilhelm hit Subaru with enough force to knock the boy out.
Hours later
Slowly coming to, Subaru's first sight was Itsuki standing over him, looking down upon Subaru.
"Y'know, you should listen to Emilia when she tells you to get some rest." Itsuki told him. "With your damaged gate and injuries, pushing yourself is the last thing you should be doing."
"Like I need to listen to you." Subaru growled.
Itsuki's face suddenly contorted with anger.
"Look, dammit! I'm sorry for what I did, alright?!" Itsuki growled, crossing his arms. "I fucked up! But we ain't got time to be fightin' amongst ourselves here! Can we just agree to focus on the more important matters at hand here instead?! Feel free to be pissed at me, but can we just focus?!"
Subaru slowly blinked his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"We need to begin to prepare for the Witch Cult." Itsuki replied. "I'm not sure when it's going to happen, but I guarantee it's soon."
"What do you wanna do?"
"You still need to rest, so I was thinking that I could head to the mansion and see what's what." Itsuki replied.
"I'm fine, Itsuki!"
"No, you're not." Itsuki told him. "Just stay here and focus on healing. I can go check things out and make sure Emilia is safe along with the villagers, alright?"
Subaru let out a deep sigh.
"Fine."
"If you don't hear from me in the next couple days, assume the worst." Itsuki added. "I don't want to risk dying and leaving you alone to deal with all this. I get you're pissed at me, but neither of us can work on this by ourselves."
"Don't worry. I got your back." Subaru assured him.
"Alright." Itsuki slowly blinked his eyes. "When Rem asks where I went, don't tell her. I don't want her to worry."
"Wait. You're leaving now?"
"Tomorrow." Itsuki replied. "I need to buy some things and find a carriage driver who'll take me back to the mansion."
The next day
Walking around the shopping district with Rem and Subaru, Itsuki slid into a weapons store. If the Witch Cult is as bad as he though, he'll need protection.
Grabbing a dagger off the shelf, Itsuki approached the counter and paid for it.
"This it for you?"
"There's one thing I wanted to know." Itsuki said. "Do you know of a carriage driver who wouldn't mind transporting someone?"
"Yeah, actually." the shop owner said. "Head to the edge of town and look for someone named Otto Suwen. You'll know him by his distinct, grey hair. He's usually in the town's Inn."
Hours later
Handing over a few coins to the person that fit the carriage driver description, the grey haired boy wearing almost all green looked up to Itsuki with a confused gaze.
"Otto Suwen, right?" Itsuki asked.
"Y-yeah?"
"I hear you transport passengers? I need you to take me to the Roswaal mansion. You know where it is?" Itsuki asked.
"Yes."
"Alright. If you get me there within a day, I will pay you more. And if you return to Lugnica directly afterwards, I'll pay you double." Itsuki told the boy.
"Why do you want me to come back here?" Otto asked.
"A friend of mine might need a ride." Itsuki replied. "He'll also have pay if you take him where he needs to go."
"Who is it?"
"He'll find you." Itsuki told him.
"Right..." Otto sighed. "Follow me."
Being led to his carriage, Itsuki got in the back as Otto took the reins. However, before they took off, Rem suddenly got in the back as well.
"What are you-!"
"I overheard you talking with Subaru." Rem said. "And I won't let you do this alone!"
"What about Subaru?"
"I left him a note." Rem replied.
"Rem, you-"
"I refuse to let you do this alone!" Rem said again. "I'm not going anywhere."
Letting out a sigh of defeat, Itsuki hung his head.
"You know it's the Witch Cult we're about to go up against, right?" Itsuki asked.
"Yes." Rem nodded. "I want you to tell me how you know that."
"It's...complicated." Itsuki replied. "It may or may not even happen. All I know is that we should be prepared for anything."
"Okay. I trust you, Itsuki."
The next day
With darkness having fallen over the sky, Itsuki and Rem felt the carriage come to a stop.
"Why have we stopped?" Itsuki asked.
"The ground dragon senses something." Otto replied. "I think it's best if you two proceed on foot."
"Right..."
Getting down from the carriage, Itsuki walked to the front and gave Otto more coin.
"Head back to Lugnica. If someone by the name of Natsuki Subaru approaches you, take him where he needs to go."
"I will." Otto said as he took the coin from Itsuki.
With the dagger in hand, Rem and Itsuki began to follow the trail. Walking mainly in silence, the air felt especially cold tonight. The only sounds made were their footsteps hitting the dirt as the duo walked.
"Itsuki, do you hear that?" Rem asked.
"Huh?"
As the two stopped walking, Itsuki glanced around.
"I don't hear anything..."
"Exactly." Rem said. "Shouldn't the trees be lively with animals or bugs?"
Itsuki looked down the trail, a sudden pit in his stomach.
"We need to hurry!"
Bursting into a sprint, the two quickly made their way to the village. Seeing the structures slowly come into view, Itsuki slid to a halt as he saw some of the buildings were burning, smoke from the fires reaching into the skies.
Eyes wide, Itsuki fell into a stunned silence, his body frozen until Rem's voice brought him back.
"Let's go!" Rem dashed ahead.
Itsuki was about to follow when a robed figure appeared before him from the ground. Raising his blade, Itsuki's hand shook. He had never killed anyone on purpose before and he didn't know if he could.
Watching the person before him, Itsuki was shocked to see them bow respectfully to him before vanishing into the ground.
"Itsuki!"
Rem had stopped to get Itsuki's attention.
"Right!"
Quick to join her, Itsuki and Rem ran to the village. As the two entered, they saw Ram already fighting to defend it, using wind magic to cut down each of the robed figures who approached. Noticing her sister and Itsuki, Ram paused momentarily.
Just as she did, one of the robed figures stabbed her shoulder with a dagger. Yelling in pain, Ram grit her teeth before quickly using her wind magic to cut the person in half.
As Rem and Itsuki rushed to Ram's aid, Ram pulled the knife from her shoulder, throwing it to the ground.
"How did this happen?!" Rem asked, using her morningstar to kill one of the robed figures.
"These Witch Cultists just appeared out of nowhere." Ram said. "They've killed some of the residents. I told the rest to retreat to the mansion, but these bastards just won't let up!"
"Itsuki, help who you can! Me and my sister will hold off these Witch Cultists!"
"Are you su-"
Itsuki was cut off as the terrified scream of a girl echoed.
"Help her!" Ram shouted at Itsuki.
As the girl screamed again, Itsuki quickly rushed to the source. Seeing one of the robed figures standing above one of the kids of the village, Itsuki ran over.
"HEY!"
Getting the robed figure to look at him, Itsuki, using his entire body weight, ran into him with his shoulder, causing the figure to fall to the ground. Brandishing his blade with his hand still shaking, Itsuki stared at the figure.
"Back the hell off!"
Without a word, the robed figure sunk into the ground.
"Ki-ki!"
Looking to the girl, Itsuki recognized her reddish-brown hair and cyan eyes but couldn't place her name. She was the girl who spoke to him before he searched for Subaru and the missing child during the whole mabeast situation. Noticing her shaking, Itsuki reached out and gently grabbed her arm in an attempt to calm her.
"What's your name?" Itsuki asked.
"Petra."
"Alright, Petra, we gotta get you outta here, okay?" Itsuki told her as he helped her to her feet. "Is there anyone else still in the village who might need help?"
"I-I don't think so." she replied. "I'm pretty sure the kids and most of the adults started making their way to Lord Roswaal's mansion."
"Alright. We gotta get you outta here." placing his hand on her back, Itsuki led her to walk in front of him. "C'mon."
Heading back to Rem and Ram, the two twins were killing more of the Witch Cultists when the group suddenly just stopped their assault.
"Itsuki!" Rem said once she spotted him.
"She's the last one." Itsuki told them. "We gotta get her to the mansion and set our defenses. I have a feeling this fight is far from over."
Looking around, Itsuki noticed the Witch Cultists were nowhere to be seen.
"We should leave now while we got a moment to breathe." Itsuki said.
Minutes later
Running up the trail to the mansion, the four skidded to a halt as they saw more bodies of the village residents lined the courtyard.
Petra let out a terrified scream as she hid her face in Itsuki's shirt. Staring in shock at the massacre before him, Itsuki felt the urge to throw up.
"Get her to the mansion!" Ram told Itsuki as she saw more Cultists rushing towards them. "I'll go with you and make sure you're safe! Rem, stay here and make sure we aren't followed!"
With no time to argue, Rem just nodded her head as she turned to the Cultists.
"Understood!"
Picking up Petra, Itsuki quickly carried her to the mansion entrance. With the door slightly ajar, Itsuki bust through it before looking around. Surprisingly, the foyer was spotless. Itsuki expected there to be at least one body or one person, but that wasn't the case.
"Itsuki!" Emilia shouted his name as she rushed to him. "Where's Rem and Subaru?!"
"Rem is outside and Subaru is still in the capital." Itsuki said before glancing to the door as he let Petra down. "Where's Roswaal?!"
"I don't know!" Emilia replied. "I haven't- ACK!"
Watching as Emilia's eyes slowly blinked, and her body fell forward, Itsuki quickly caught her before she hit the ground. Keeping her upright, Itsuki saw, standing behind her, one of the Witch Cultists. Along with that, a knife stuck out of Emilia's back.
"DAMN YOU!" Ram shouted as she decapitated the Cultist with her wind magic.
Hearing Emilia grunt in pain, Itsuki removed the knife from her back before focusing his mana.
"Mana of water: heal this damaged body."
Itsuki saw her wound close through the tear in her shirt. Once healed, Emilia gently pushed off Itsuki, standing on her own.
"Itsuki, I can take care of these two from here." Ram said. "Please, make sure my sister is alright. I will protect Petra and miss Emilia."
"Don't get yourself killed."
Turning around, Itsuki rushed back outside. The first thing he saw upon leaving was Rem completely surrounded by the Cultists. With his knife in hand, Itsuki didn't have time to think if he could or couldn't use it on another living person.
Sprinting to aid Rem, Itsuki saw one of the Cultists appear from the ground behind her. Time felt as though it slowed to a halt as Itsuki saw the Cultist raise his blade above his head and drive it deep into Rem's back.
Seeing her eyes slowly close as she fell to the ground, Itsuki dropped his blade as he rushed to Rem's side.
"REM!" hovering his hands over her body, unsure of what to do, Itsuki's mind began to race. Pulling the blade from her back, he tossed it to the ground beside him, causing a waterfall of blood to flow from the wound. Itsuki tried to call upon his own mana, but couldn't focus it in his current state of mind.
As the life left her body, Itsuki turned Rem onto her back and pulled her close. "Nonononono. Please, no! Not again." tears started to flow down his face as he held Rem close to his body, his face inches from hers. "Please. Please!" brushing hair from her face, Itsuki saw she was truly gone now. "REM!" he cried her name out.
Hearing terrified screams of the children from the village, Itsuki looked over to see the Witch Cultists enter a nearby shack. Watching them, something inside of Itsuki snapped in two. His right eye began to twitch as his gaze was fixated on those who stole Rem from him.
Silently picking up the dagger that was previously lodged in Rem's back, Itsuki rose to his feet, a look of pure bloodlust in his eyes.
His mind: broken.
His previous hesitation: gone.
His vision: red.
Hearing the screams of the children cease, Itsuki slowly stalked over to the Witch Cultists, holding the blade in an iron grip. Seeing Itsuki approach, the Witch Cultists, there being six of them, all stopped to face the boy.
Once Itsuki was less than two yards away, each of the Cultists bowed respectfully to him.
Continuing to approach, Itsuki raised his blade and plunged it deep into the back of one of their necks.
With one dead, the remaining five quickly jumped back, but Itsuki only rushed forward.
Stabbing another through the throat, Itsuki quickly used their body to shield himself from a fireball that was cast. Discarding the body, Itsuki continued to push forward. Slashing the throat of another, Itsuki threw the blade towards the fourth Cultist. Kneeling down, he picked up the knife of the Cultist he had just killed. With it, Itsuki closed the distance to the fifth Cultist and plunged the blade deep into their gut before yanking it to the side, causing their intestines to pour out of their body.
With the sixth Cultist remaining, Itsuki's sanity had drained immensely. His eye twitched, his lips quivered, and his hands shook.
In the blink of an eye, Itsuki closed the gap to the sixth Cultist. Plunging the blade into their chest, Itsuki pushed the Cultist to the ground.
Sitting atop them, Itsuki ripped his blade free and began to stab the corpse again and again and again and again. More and more blood splattered onto his face with each stab. Itsuki attempted to wipe the liquid off his face but he only managed to smear the dark substance across his nose, mouth and eyelids.
Getting to his feet, Itsuki took a quick glance around before dropping the knife and stumbled back over to Rem's lifeless body.
Kneeling down, Itsuki cradled her body in his arms as rivers of tears made their way down his face. Silently calling her name and rocking back and forth, Itsuki's mind slowly deteriorated.
As he sat on the ground, night turned into day. Then day turned into night. Then night turned into day.
How long had it been? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks?
Itsuki didn't know.
The entire time, Itsuki sat, cradling Rem's cold body.
"Itsuki?"
Looking back, Subaru stood a few feet away.
Noticing Rem's body, Subaru looked to Itsuki. "What happened?"
His eyes were wide and his voice shook.
Seeing a familiar face alive brought back a bit of Itsuki's sanity as well as reminded him.
"Subaru..." Itsuki called his name, his voice quiet and laced with despair. Rising to his feet, Itsuki subconsciously gripped the knife that lay beside Rem.
"What happened?"
"Subaru..." Itsuki said his name once more as he approached him.
"Itsuki..?"
Reaching out to Subaru, Itsuki quickly closed the distance, wrapping his arms around his friend in a hug.
"Subaru..."
"Wha- HRK!"
Subaru gasped as he felt the cold blade Itsuki held pierce his back.
Itsuki was reminded that Subaru could go back in time if he died.
Twisting the blade, Itsuki tried to make Subaru's death as painless as possible and, within less than a moment, Itsuki stood back in the capital's shopping distict.
End of chapter 17