The group of four wandered the streets, asking passerby's if they had seen a young blonde girl. Unfortunately, they were ignored thoroughly by the residents of whatever city Subaru had been summoned to, this led to a severe lack of information. He had also learnt that he couldn't read this world's language and that his currency had no value whatsoever. He was in a precarious situation, but he knew he'll be fine.
He was the protagonist after all.
Despite their best efforts, the sun had already passed its highest arch several hours ago. It was well past noon, and with each second, Satella's mysterious artefact had a higher chance of being sold off. Their time was only hampered by Satella's kind nature, in which she helped a young girl find her mother. Subaru, despite his want to help her, knew that time was of the essence and that such kindness had to be retained.
The small group rested on a small stone bridge, which was located overhead of a small river that ran down the city streets. Subaru rested against the stone wall, sweating in the warm sun. Jean wasn't that far, it seemed that she had developed a habit of always being by his side, her eyes distrustful of anyone who wasn't a known ally. Satella and her spirit, Puck, rested no more than a metre away from Subaru, watching the river's stream.
"Jean, Subaru... thank you."
"Nah, you don't have to thank us. After all, we're doing this out of the goodness of our hearts." Subaru spoke, waving his hand to dispel her obligation to thank him. After all, he was helping her because he could, there was no other reason for it.
"No, I really should- no one else would've helped me. So thank you."
"I don't see why no one wouldn't want to help a pretty girl such as yourself."
Blushing, Satella twiddled her pale, delicate-looking hands. She looked away until her face was once again its normal pale colour. "I'm a Half-Elf," she stated, her tone flat as if waiting for the impending array of insults and curses. Subaru was oblivious to this, not fully understanding the situation because of the difference in culture.
"No wonder your so pretty- elves are usually like that, right!" Subaru responded without missing a beat. Satella shocked expression flew over his head, but he caught the raging blush on her cheeks. The Half-Elf grasped her hands tightly in embarrassment and shouted her foremost thoughts.
"Subaru, you nincompoop!"
"Who even uses the words nincompoop anymore?" No one he knew used such an outdated sense of vocabulary, except Jean. The group was once again silent, watching the water of the river flow towards the centre of the Capital City, of a country named Lugunica (which he had learned only three hours ago). Jean stretched arms, her sword rattling against her thigh as she did so.
"So, what are we even going to do about this thief?" Her voice was calm, but Subaru was sure that she was still very much annoyed at him. Her arms were crossed over her chest, the soft breeze moving her dirty blonde locks. Satella, pondered for only a moment before she replied, her fists clenched in frustration. "I'll ask for it back- or take it by force, but I hope it doesn't come to that."
"That's always a plan, but, if you don't mind me asking- where are we going to find this thief? She obviously isn't in the city centre." Satella looked downwards, all her pent up frustration replaced with an unhealthy dose of anxiety. She was probably scared of losing whatever she held so dear, Subaru deduced. He wanted to help her find that precious thing, it was his job as the protagonist, and such he should be able to overcome such obstacles. Smiling, he answered Jean question with logic. "Maybe we should check the slums. The thief's clothes weren't in the best shape, so maybe we'll find her there."
Jean sighed in annoyance, clearly displeased with his answer. Did she really want to leave Satella to her own devices? "That's our best bet," she rubbed her forehead with her left hand, her right gripping the hilt of her sword. "... Satella, where are the slums?" Satella looked shocked that Jean had spoken to her- the knight hadn't uttered a word to her after their introduction. "... The slums are located on the outskirts of the Capital City. But I've never been there before though."
"Then it's decided, we'll head to the slums to get Satella's item and complete this quest!" Both Satella and Puck seemed confused at his words, watching him leave the bridge and head in a direction he had neither a clue nor idea of where it led.
"Subaru, your heading towards the city centre." Satella called.
"Of course, I knew that." He turned around and followed Half-Elf and Puck, Jean waking by his side.
Jean never left his side, blue eyes watching the worse off citizens of Lugunica's Capital City. They wore tatter clothes, but despite Subaru's expectations, they didn't beg for spare change. Their houses were in a state of disrepair, some missing roofs, or having mold growing off their walls. He had never been in this kind of place before, his hometown was devoid of such a depressing air. Or maybe he never realised such an atmosphere through the comfort of his room.
Shaking his head, Subaru looked ahead, towards where Satella and Puck walked (or floated) calmly, although the Half-Elf's shoulders were a little tense. Then he looked towards Jean, who was preparing for an onslaught of fatal attacks.
"Jean... these people aren't harmful."
"Of course," the knight bit her lip, breathing through her nose as she did so "It's just... I'm a bit wary. Something just feels off about this whole situation."
"I don't think so, Satella's item got stolen and we're going to retrieve it- I don't think it could be any simpler." Subaru placed his hands behind his head, his amber eyes trailing back to Satella, admiring how her silver locks moved gently in the soft breeze. Jean grunted, her displeasure at their current situation clear. She was only here because he was trying to help a complete stranger- her only reason was to protect him and she thought this an unnecessary risk.
"Anyways, it's five- so I'm off." Puck spoke, yawning into his small paws, as they walked across a small, cheap wooden bridge that was built over a small stream. "You'll be okay, right?"
"Of course Puck," Satella nodded, smiling softly- this precious moment between father-figure and daughter was harshly spoiled by Subaru.
"Hey, hey, hey- The way you make it sound, it's like you have a nine to five work shift!"
"Ahh, Subaru," Puck spoke lazily, yawning into his paw, obviously very tired and annoyed at his outburst. "I'm a great spirit and thus, I draw extreme amounts of mana from the atmosphere, but such a precious resource isn't infinite. So thus, I can only be tangible for certain hours of the day, you understand this right?"
"Of course, of course- please take your well-deserved break, I'll be sure to protect Satella." Pointing his thumb to himself, Subaru smiled a cocky smile that was worn by those who overestimate their abilities. Puck turned to Jean, giving a kind smile "Jean, I'm counting on you."
"The total disregard for my promise is outstanding!" Subaru exclaimed, placing a hand over his forehead in a dramatic way. Jean, however, gave Puck a small glare as he dissipated in blue light. She gave a soft sigh, most likely releasing her pent up annoyance before the group once again begun to move onwards.
They needn't walk far, as they found the location of their thief with the help of an old drunk who had been sipping a cheap bottle of whisky. The Lott Cellar, the old man had called it, was old and very much in a state of disrepair- just looking at it seems dangerous. Swallowing thick saliva created from nervousness, Subaru gained the courage that he couldn't die- at least not at the beginning of his story.
He was a protagonist after all.
Playing an air of calm and collectedness when he was in reality, nervous as all hell, Subaru looked toward Satella and Jean. "Hey, I'll go in first, so you two sta-"
"No," Jean bluntly said, the knight didn't even let him finish, her pretty blue eyes narrowed as she drew her iron long sword from its sheath. Unlike last time, the metal didn't glisten in the sun, as it had already reached the stage of twilight. The greys of the sky seemed eternal, even if Subaru knew that darkness will eventually cover the sky. "I'll go first." There was no room for argument, and the boy's pride was left damaged.
Jean opened the huge wooden door and disappeared into the darkness that swelled within the Loot Cellar. The sound of steal on steal echoed loudly throughout the building and resounded throughout Subaru's eardrums. Instantly, concern flooding his chest and all sense of caution was gone, he charged into the building.
A sharp pain burned in his left shoulder, the bones in his shoulder cracked underneath the strength of it, a bright red liquid gushed from the wound. Screaming, which was canceled put by the sound of despicable laughter, Subaru barely dodged another weapon.
Throwing needles!
"Subaru get out of here!" Jean yelled, ordering him to retreat and leave her to her death. Subaru couldn't do that, for this woman had given him her loyalty- he couldn't let her down. "You should really stop taking your eyes off your opponent!" This voice was unfamiliar and it took a couple of seconds for his eyes to pick up a black-haired beauty. Clad in all black, she was bake to perfectly camouflage herself in the abyss within the aloof Cellar, her pale complexion was desirable but she stood a few metres in front, an air of total clam could be sensed. It was obvious who was at the top of the food chain. In her right hand was a purple kukri and in her left was a hand full of sharp objects in her left hand.
She's going to throw them at him. Subaru realised this in an instant and ducked to the floor with such desperation that any onlooker would feel a little pity at the sight. He dodged another set of dangerous needles, flying overhead but in doing such an action, a sharp scream that was obviously choked on came from a voice that sounded familiar echoed through the darkness and a loud thud followed instantly.
"S-Satella!"
He looked behind him, still laid flat on the floor, and saw a sight that horrified him. The Half-Elf laid on the ground in a flower of blood, her chest housing three needles, and her lips open in a silent scream. Her amethyst eyes looked at him, staring at him with the coldness of death. That image was burnt into his mind, like steel being forged. "{Dandelion Breeze}!" Jean bellowed, using her sword, she was able to block another array of strikes. The air inside the Loot Cellar became dense with yellow dandelions and the pain in Subaru's shoulder eased.
"Ouch... that's a unique set of magic- but I've already killed the half-devil, the boy will soon follow. Of course, I'll save you for last." The woman charged with speed that couldn't be rivalled by Jean, she appeared in front of Subaru, her pale complexion bloody with at least a hundred cuts from the dandelions in the air, her right hand already in mid-swing with her purple kukri.
"{Favonius Bladework}!" A powerful breeze of wind pushes the woman off course, her knife touching nothing but air, Subaru felt a little relief, the woman glared the Jean, her black eyes losing their set of clam and were instead, replaced with anger. "I've reconsidered- I'll deal with you first," she disappeared and not even a second later, the sick sound of metal slicing flesh echoed in his ears, a soft whisper that promised his death. Jean sighed, a sigh that release all her available oxygen, and dropped her sword as her brain stopped sending signals for her hand to clutch her weapon. Jean fell to the ground with a loud thud and Subaru bare witness to the sight of the knights intestines spilled across the Loot Cellar's floor.
Next to Jean rested a young girl with short blonde locks, gutted from her gut to her chest, her corpse laid in a pool of blood and at the very corner rested a middle-aged man, his gut was slice open and just like Jean, his intestines were visible for all to see. Those images were burned into his mind, resting with Satella's own corpse. Instantly, he vomited, releasing his lunch in pure disgust and indescribable fear. The woman stood over him, having walked casually towards him, deeming him of little threat. Her pretty face held a sick, pleasured smile and bright red dyed her clothes the colour of death.
Subaru felt dread, as this was the Grim Reaper. His Grim Reaper. "Might as well finish the job," she murmured, a kukri moving with such speed that he couldn't have hoped to respond to. His gut was sliced open, the pain of his intestines leaving him was horrible and he released tears and screamed in agony. The woman laughed, kicking him as of en was a sack of potatoes, releasing more blood from his person as she did so. His vision was degraded into a black blur and he knew that very soon, he would die.
"My, my, my- What beautiful intestines you have," she murmured softly into his ear, the woman bent down to mockingly stroked his hair, tugging every strand as hard as she could. Her voice was sultry and full of pleasure as she whispered insults and comment about his insides. His body felt very cold and felt himself release his bodily waste in an embarrassing display. His vision became black, detach claiming him.
"I.. Love... Y-"
Subaru felt a pull and the darkness resided back into the alleyway where he had first summoned Jean. The knight who he had seen did a gruesome death standing before him. "Good evening, Master." She bowed, much to his shock "I am Jean, Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius. My sword is yours to command."
"... What is going on."
—
2,399 Words