It's been difficult over here. Personal things are going a bit shitty, so… yeah. Updates might slow down considerably due to IRL things on my end.

Though, please enjoy.

Chapter 3, The Mabeast Incident.

"Subaru kun…" Rem whispered to herself just outside his door, she had already woken Emilia up so now her task was to wake him, and she stood with her hand hovering over the knob. She then finally opened it, taking a look at the still room inside.

Though, what she saw first thing on his bed? It made her gasp, as the figure seemingly cuddled closer to her master's back, she was taken aback by the figure's blond hair and vivid red and white dress… "L… Lady… Beatrice?" she questioned, honestly shocked by what she was seeing.

"Ugh… This is so uncomfortable, Betty should have chosen her own bed, I suppose…" Beatrice mumbled a bit, slowly shaking her head as she sat up and wiped her eyes a while. "Betty is still regretful, that… Ugh, he infuriates me to no end, I suppose." she said, noticing Subaru sleeping peacefully there next to her.

Rem decided to close the door lightly then knock on it, then heard a gasp from inside, then some quick and light footsteps hurrying to the door. "What is it, I wonder?" she asked as she opened the door, then deadpanned as she saw Ram standing there. "How long did you listen, I wonder?" she questioned, making Rem go stiff.

"Whatever, Betty doesn't care. Wake him up, I suppose. He is contracted with Betty for magic training until he goes off with the other one and Astrea, I suppose…" she said, leaving the room and quickly going through another door.

"Good morning." another voice to her side startled her, making her turn to see Reinhard. "Subaru sama seems to have pacified Beatrice, hasn't he?" he happily asks, her nodding. "Yes, I was surprised… Lady Beatrice… It may be hard to get used to, Rem thinks." she says, putting a finger to her cheek.

She then opened the door and woke up Subaru, as Reinhard flipped through a new book that Subaru would be learning out of. "Of these books only the beginners stuff is actually geared for teaching… This one records the experience of using a kind of negation technique, but doesn't mention what it's called or what to visualize… What it does though, cancelling out the use of one's gate so long as they're within the effect range… And cancels out magic entering the zone as well?" he said, flipping through a few more pages.

Subaru sleepily walked out of the room to see Reinhard reading the book. "You sure it's alright to skip out after breakfast?" he asked, Reinhard nodding. "Yes, I even prepared some clothes for you." he said, leading Subaru to sigh. "Honestly, you do way too much, man…"

Magic training commenced, with Beatrice… Not being snooty, actually she was lulling about while kicking her legs forward as she sat on her stool, with Reinhard and Subaru sitting across from her… Inside the gazebo.

Emilia was actually sitting with them, watching over the studies as she herself learned a bit about shadow magic as well, something she herself couldn't use.

"So what you're saying now is, that if I were to figure out how to form a negation spell, that…. I could even strip somebody like Reinhard just to his own physical strengths?" he asked, Beatrice nodding. "Astrea… while I doubt losing his magic self boosting, whatever that is called, would do you any good when he has so many useful divine protections… Feasibly yes, you could do so." she said.

"It's actually far better for stopping anyone not skilled in hand to hand combat, so long as its up nobody inside the area can use magic at all… Which would also make spirits not casting it completely defenseless as well."

That comment made Beatrice flinch. "Ah-" "Oh, so I can render the all powerful Beako powerless? Awesome!" he laughs a bit, poking at Beatrice's nerves and Emilia happily watched with a smile on her face from the interaction.

"If you'd stop poking fun at me, I could actually teach you something, I suppose..." she angrily says, puffing out her chest with a 'hmph' as well. "Okay, okay. Beako, do you have any spells for negation?" he asked, but she shook her head.

"Betty never had a use for negation magic, it may prevent others from using magic but for a spirit… We don't have strong physical forms, so…" "Aah, right. I guess I overlooked that aspect… But you'll help me with making one, right?" "Nuh uh, Betty refuses, in fact." "Please? I'll buy you candy from the town later today!"

That caught her attention, but soon she just huffed again and turned away, making Subaru hunch over in defeat. "Well alright, I guess i'll persuade you later… Beyond that, what else?"

This question led to Reinhard taking over 'class' and Beatrice filling in the things he explained by casting example spells for him, then him attempting to cast the spells himself afterwards.

Thus may not be a very good way of doing it, but Reinhard's teaching divine protections honestly make it impossible to forget… So, it was the most efficient.

"Shamak." he aimed his hand at a somewhat far away distance, and then a strange black cloud shot towards it and enveloped it, then dissipated… But left something as well, the plant was left covered in this kind of dark aura, signaling that the Shamak worked wonderfully.

"I was a little curious about this one, in fact. For being such an easy spell, it uses a high amount of mana… making it oddly difficult to master despite how easy it is." she said. "Yeah? I could feel that pull whatever out of my gate pretty well unlike the other things, but the use seems pretty well worth it for the cost."

Beatrice nodded. "Yes, I suppose. Pair that with a follow up offensive spell properly and it should end most any fight… But." "But?" "Anyone versed enough in magic should be able to break the effects, though they still can't see through the mist it leaves behind, I suppose."

Subaru nodded to the new information. "Ah, yeah. So the stronger the opponent, the stronger the spells you gotta use…" he said. "Hmm. It's also why we're training you this way, so that you're on par with the royal guard or similar once we go back to the capitol. Who knows, maybe you'll want to spar with one, or challenge one to a duel?" Reinhard asked in an uncertain tone, most of his thinking was based on Subaru's possible actions in the future.

"I don't see myself sparring with knights, but what you've taught me… Yeah, being prepared for anything is probably the smartest thing you can do." he said, testing meenya now. Beatrice sighed and waved her arm, a mostly translucent shield appearing in front of her. "Woa…" "With magic that you summon and control, like earth, water, some kinds of light and shadow magic, it is easy to change what you want on a whim, in fact." she said, as the shield morphed into a spear.

"Is that just with meenya?" he asked, but she shook her head. "Its true that you can change the overall shape of the spears in meenya, but making them into different objects like a shield require great imagination, and to make it stronger, to resist against other magics better, you must also learn to solidify it." she said, and the spear then went pitch black.

"Ooh." he just looked at it as it refined into a perfect cone, pitch black as ever, it was majestic to see compared to the crudeness if the regular spear. "Solidification? I thought that was just a myth." Reinhard added, looking quite impressed with the result. "Yes, lost to the grasp of time, I suppose. One can even make it permanently formed, though once that happens it is impossible to reverse…"

Reinhard pondered that. "Oh, that's dangerous." he said. "Yet he looks like he doesn't care if it's dangerous at all, I suppose." she said, pointing to Subaru. "Eh.. Yeah, I was thinking… If you can solidify one in say the shape of a cup or a knife then… Would it be as strong as the counterpart? Or am I just being stupid with my possible business ideas?"

She sighed. "So dense, I suppose. Yes, they would be far stronger than whatever you could craft using normal methods, but I forbid marketing my magic for retail use, I suppose!" "Alright alright, I wont. But that's cool that it's totally possible."

As the hours passed on, more of this banter ensued with random magic testing, eventually getting to healing magic… Something that Subaru could, miraculously, cast… Albeit terribly. Beatrice's comment on it was - "Your affinity for water magic is so low that you're best off forgetting you even know it, but at least you could maybe heal basic wounds with it… Over enough time, of course."

Subaru was now in his room, looking down at himself and in the mirror, the mostly black outfit with gold and white thin striped lines making neat designs along the arms and at the sides of its length. The pants were somewhat fit yet comfortable, and… The ring, a platinum ring with many white diamonds surrounding a larger one in the center, that was also his…

"Geez, isn't this overkill?" he asked Rem, the one now by his side with other articles of clothing. "No, Subaru kun. It makes you look the part, wear it proud." she says, smiling at him. "Right… I wish I could complain about it being uncomfortable or something but these feel better than my tracksuit, and… The cape?"

A black and white cape, one that matched his suit almost perfectly with a gooden bottom as well. "Rem wished to help Reinhard sama make these, but he did them by himself… Though I agree with this result, it is better than what Rem was envisioning." she said, watching as he added the cape to his attire.

"Huh, so Reinhard did this? Seriously he does too much… And don't you and Ram do everything else in the mansion single handedly?" he questioned, and she was hesitant to nod. "Ah… But Roswaal sama will be hiring more because I have become yours and Emilia sama's personal maid, however Reinhard offered to fill in where I can't… Roswaal refused to accept his offer."

Subaru nodded. "Huh, so he really is how I think he is. Reinhard is Reinhard, to the beat." he sighs, taking a twirl and watching in the mirror, he nodded to himself. "I'm as ready as i'll ever be, I wonder though… How will Emilia tan fair with them, being her… Image, to them?" he could only wonder about it, he was concerned for her well being, and having people hurting her feelings was something he disliked to think about.

"When I left Emilia sama, her face was red after presented the engagement ring. I… Don't know if she's put it on yet." she told him. "Ah… I would be hesitant too, in her position just going to the village sounds scary… wearing a ring in public is like a whole different level, though…"

And that was true, she had taken the ring and was waiting just inside her room while staring at it in deep thought… About everything, and what she should do. "It's alright, Lia." Puck sat on her shoulder, rubbing her cheek with his paw. "But… I am not worried about Subaru, a litter nervous.. Maybe, but…"

Puck nodded. "He's worried about that too, I think he's figuring a way to solve it.. But if they learn better, they won't…" "I know, if they can trust me, then… Everything will be fine, they might even like me…" she was still in deep thought, making Puck sigh. "Yes, yes… I'll help with as much as I can, Lia. Just don't get overwhelmed, okay?" "Mhh." "Alright."

The cat disappeared into the crystal, it glowing brightly as she looked again to the ring. "I can do this, I can." she say to herself, taking on a look of bravery, and heading outside her room.

She immediately looked to Subaru's room, and then saw him walk out followed by Rem soon after. "So… We're good to go?" he asked, and while it took a moment she nodded. "E… Yes."

This being somewhat awkward, they decided just to go next to each other, though whenever their hands collided they both retracted them quite hastily, to anybody watching that it'd seem they were trying to force the other into grabbing theirs… Which both were very inclined to do, though never came to doing it.

Altogether both maids, the couple and Reinhard travelled down to the village, the maids splitting off and the three looking around at everything that was new to them, or rather to Subaru.

Though, most expectedly, their view of Emilia usually made them quiet, and seeing Subaru scared them a bit, and seeing the sword saint? With a supposed noble, a half elf and the sword saint together, what could a person come to think? It was odd beyond proportion, and everyone was hesitant to even approach them… Until Reinhard played damage control.

Telepathy is one hell of a way to talk out plans, and now Subaru and Emilia were mostly enjoying looking around at stuff more towards the outskirts of town closer to some open fields.

A good say twenty minutes rolled by until someone, an older looking man with balding silver hair came up to them. "Subaru sama, Emilia sama?" he called their names, catching their attention. "Oh?" "Y-yes?" they responded.

"Ah, so you're the ones they're all scared of…" he chuckled a bit. "Aah, i'll go talk to them. But before I go…" he eyed the rings, the two started blushing a bit as they realized what he was making a connection to. "Haha, Young ones… Neither of you know what to do, huh?" he asked, slowly getting nods from them.

"Well, you do have quite a long time to learn." he started. He pulled Subaru aside for the end. "You've chosen a hard path, I think. I'm glad you know what to do, though." he then backed away and smiled as he waved, leaving the two behind.

Emilia looked at Subaru curiously. "What did he say?" she asked him. "That you're super cute and may we have many, many wonderful dates." she just stopped to think about that. "W-what? That can't be right!" she jerked her gaze over to the leaving man while displaying both shock and disbelief on her face.

Subaru then bobbed her nose with a finger. "It's what I said, but they guy is pretty nice." "Subaru!" "Ehehe…" Red faced and a little angry with that, she then sighed and let it go. "Alright, but after this… Ahh…" "No dessert for a week?" he asked her jokingly, but then instantly regretted it from the shine in her eyes.

"Yes! Exactly that!" "Woa woa! Backfire, I take it back! No wait… No, you're still super cute!" he kept fumbling around in his own words, which Emilia just giggled to. "Okay, so now what?" she asked, the two of them beginning to stand.

"Aah… Well, give that some time to sit, meanwhile…" he tilted his head a bit. "Ah." he slammed a fist into his other palm as he figured something to do. "Kids! Where were those kids? We should play with them!" "Kids? Are you sure?" "Absolutely!"

Essentially from here, he pulled her along as she remained nervous and also eager to follow his devices, and while she was embarrassed by his random praises and pointed comments towards her, she found it all that much fun. She could enjoy this, and she was.

Finding kids in such a small village… Isn't very hard to do. Subaru could hear them playing from a ways away, and towed Emilia to them as well. Of course they shied away at first, but then came around to enjoying the two's company.

Though most of them were being brave with acting fine around Emilia, but… At least they didn't comment on it, and when she interacted with them they began to warm up towards her.

"Emily san! Emily san! Over here! Look, a puppy!" - they chose to call her Emily, a cute change of her name… Much like the Miload that she knows. "Oh? A puppy? Where?" she looked to the children with a kind of childish gaze, she was having as much fun as they were, and Subaru repressed a grin of triumph, his gamble worked out.

A girl named Meili showed them to a small clearing near the forest, and then a puppy ran out to her hands. She picked it up and brought it over, showing the other kids and the two. Emilia enjoyed petting it, while it wasn't nearly as soft as Puck, the thing was definitely a treat to feel.

Then, Subaru. He went to pet it and it growled, which was a bit odd. "Eh? And I thought animals liked me?" he said. Emilia felt it was strange as well, it somehow singled out Subaru and was hostile to him.

But, it yawned, closing its eyes and looked calm… So he then took the chance, and also pet it then. "I wonder why it-" but it suddenly bit him as his fingers crossed over an odd spot on its head. "Ouch!"

Emilia was worried seeing this, Subaru held his hand as blood started to trickle down it, and the kids looked terrified… Probably because they think that they hurt a noble. "Geez Subaru, here…" she took his hand and healed it for him.

Sure enough, after that incident, the kids wanted to spread out and leave before anything that causes real damage could happen, so they waved them off, and was soon joined by the maids… Reinhard was still nowhere to be seen.

Beyond talking about their experiences at the town on their visit, it was probably Emilia that struck it the best. She came in feeling nervous and shy, knowing how people normally react to her appearance, yet the townspeople were relatively friendly and the children were indifferent towards her, and she even played with them a bit.

So, for Subaru, it was a mission success.

It would be almost sunset now, Subaru spent most of his time with Emilia, more specifically trying to romance the girl, which.. While it wasn't exactly working, it wasn't not working either, getting more 'young' reactions to things, so he changed his methods accordingly.

"Hey Reinhard, where are you?" Subaru said, while it interested Emilia she remembered that Reinhard has the divine protection of Telepathy, so it made sense. "Nearly back at the mansion, I noticed a few of the magic barrier stones near the village were broken, so I fixed them. Also there was a small group of Ulgarm near there as well, so I also eliminated them."

"You said Ulgarm? The uhh… Demon dogs, yeah. Why do you think they were near the village?" he asked. "I can't be certain, but I believe they were being controlled. They definitely showed odd behaviour for being wild, at least." "Huh… Maybe we should look into that." "Yes, Subaru sama."

He sighed. "Ulgarm? Near the village?" Emilia asked worriedly, her face showing concern. "Eyeah, Reinhard said there was a few nearby the village and that some of the barrier stones were broken, so he went and fixed em. I was wondering why he was taking so long but… Now we know."

"Ahh… Okay, I just want to keep them safe… If I know they're in danger… I can't let them get hurt!" she says. "Mh, you do have that spirit, I wouldn't want them to be hurt either."

They sat there for a while longer, at least until Reinhard came back. They were all in the living room, at least four people were, the couple, Reinhard and Beatrice all sat at a table enjoying tea. "Tea isn't really my thing, but it's pretty nice now that I think about it." he says, drinking a bit more.

But, both Reinhard and Beatrice had somewhat confused and worried looks. "Do.. Do I sense a curse?" Beatrice said, looking around the room a bit cautiously. "Yes, I sense it too…" Reinhard added, but after staring at Emilia for a few seconds, his eyes widened when they landed on Subaru. "Subaru sama, were you injured recently?" he suddenly asked.

Subaru was a bit thrown. "I mean, uhh… Yes? A puppy bit me and Emilia healed it, but… Oh, the mark never went away?" he looked at his palm, and sure enough two round marks were still there on the surface. "You've gone and gotten yourself cursed, I suppose…" Beatrice sighed, touched him and then a dark aura spread out from the marks.

Emilia just watched as Reinhard stood up and Beatrice grabbed the smoke, it dissipating the second she did. "A puppy? I believe that was an Ulgarm taking shape as a puppy…" Subaru was finally caught up on what was going on. "Oh shit… OK we gotta hurry, some kids have it!"

The two, Subaru and Reinhard, start running off at once. Emilia wanted to say something but they were already out the door, leaving her with just Beatrice. "I would help, but Betty's contract binds her here…" she said. "Get Subaru to contract you, Betty."

A familiar grey cat appeared, hovering in front of her. "B-Bubby!" she squealed, grabbing the cat and affectionately playing with it. "But… Betty can't just…" "You can, it's just a matter of if you want to or not, right?" she looked a little gloomy. "I suppose…"

Emilia again wanted to say something, but Beatrice took Puck away in an instant. She was left alone in the living room, and realizing this, she felt… Lonely. "Subaru… Please come back…" she said, and then waited at the door for their return.

"Reinhard, over here!" Subaru called to his knight, they were cutting through the village that was in somewhat of a panic, heading right to the spot that the puppy was found… And when they got there, they saw one of the brand new barrier stones was laying on the ground, looking like it was thrown from its place. "Yeah, i don't think a puppy did that." Subaru commented. "So there is a Mabeast user… I have to find them…" Reinhard made that an objective.

Subaru hopped the fence, Reinhard following behind. "See those?" Reinhard pointed to a group of varying footprints, definitely the kids. "Mhmm, looks like we're going in…"

From behind, man that was running past saw the two heading in and took that as a hint, so went to alert the others.

Back at the mansion, the news had already spread...and Rem was already leaping her way towards them at fast pace.

Aside from her, the two were already trudging through the forest. Moving at fast pace, they didn't encounter much… Save two or three Ulgarm at random, not controlled at all.

Rem caught up to them fairly quickly, just in time for then to all reach the clearing where the children were. "Damn… Ah… We need to get them back to the village fast…" Subaru was thinking, he was short something - Gate Crossing, he could try, but he never learned how to actually use it yet, so they would have to do it by hand.

"Su… Baru…" - The girl with chestnut hair called for him, getting his attention. "Oo… Petra, right… You're a strong girl, just hang in there…" "One more… in the forest…" she said, then passed out.

Looking around, they were definitely missing one.. Meili, they were missing her. "Subaru sama, I can take them to Lady Beatrice, she has agreed to cure them." he said, so Subaru looked to Rem. "Yes. Ahh.. Rem, will you help me with this?" "Yes, anything for Subaru kun." she said.

He felt it was.. Odd, at least. He pat her head, and after checking the kids one last time they two ran off towards where Petra pointed them towards. "Good luck, Subaru sama… I'll try my best to return before anything happens…"

Rem and Subaru now moved through the woods by themselves, Rem playing navigator as Subaru followed behind, yet the silence was killing him. "Geez.. Yeah, I can smell dogs alright…" Subaru commented silently, but a sound from Rem indicated she heard it. "I smell something alive." she said, and then stopped.

"I take it, that it's really bad?" "Yes." Subaru could feel it, in fact you could probably see it if you looked hard enough… That feeling that you're walking into a trap. They two credit forward, and then could finally see it - a clearing with a downed tree on their end of it, yet nothing noteworthy in it beyond that.

Oh, besides the girl, the unconscious one near the tree. "What do you think, is it a trap or is it a trap?" he asked. "Ahh… Both?" "Why not b- why was I going to say that? Nevermind, but even if it is without a doubt a trap, it looks like we're doing it."

She had no response to that, she knew they were going to. They had to. So, they did.

Running out into the open and grabbing her, Subaru then turned ti where he heard some growling to see a lone ulgarm glaring at him with glowing red demon like eyes… Then it was suddenly hurled as if it was a piece of paper, the sounds of bones breaking and flesh tearing filled the area as Rem's morningstar collided with its chest, effectively the thing was dead instantly… If not, it would suffocate to blood.

He was already moving towards where they came from when he then saw dozens of pairs of eyes staring at them from that direction, it was impossible for them to escape on foot… that way, at least.

So, Subaru grabbed Rem's arm, something she didn't expect, and said "Murak, Minya." It would probably be impossible for him to carry them if he didn't use murak, now in total the two weighed maybe ten pounds at most, them jumping into the air, high up above the treeline right onto a… Not so wide platform.

"Subaru kun… That was smart." she said, looking down at the ulgarm swarming where they just were. "It might be smart, but… What way is the village? I still can't see lights…" if you looked around, that would be the case.

She sniffed the air, the pointed off towards the left. "That way, though…" "We can't stay up here too long, i'll run out." "I… I know." so, the two were in a bad spot. They could get a decent distance away from the ulgarm up here then continue on foot, and it was looking like it'd be just like that.

So… They did just that. Jumping from platform to platform over large expanses at less than a tenth their own weight, they made it a ways ahead of the pack and then touched down to the ground.

Seven minutes… That's all it took, seven minutes and they were now fighting their way through the forest towards the town. Subaru could see lights, and was casting minya at the dogs every time he looked back. As for Rem? She.. Wasn't doing well, or at least that's what it looked like. Most of the tears in her uniform and scuffs on her arms and face were caused by her jumping through brush, not by any of the dogs, and he was somewhat the same.

"Not much further, Subaru!" "I see it!" the two said, but then they both heard an impossible roar, freezing them in place. Turning over to see the origin point, they saw it… The puppy, it glared at them with yellow glowing eyes as a yellow glow began to form around it, and at least two dozen ulgarm started charging from multiple directions as well.

A rumbling sound followed, and seeing what was coming towards them… A rock slide, definitely caused by the puppy. "Oh shit…" it was already too close to jump to the side, so… "El minya!"

He shouted, a large V-like wall formed in front of him and Rem, just as the dit and rock impacted… Rem was staring at it in disbelief and Subaru fell to his knees, that took pretty much all he had left, all in one cast.

Rem picked him up and got him out to the side of the slide, and then the barrier vanished. Where they were standing, was now covered in five feet of dirt and rock. Rem sighed, looking up the many ulgarm… She would have to do something she hoped she didn't have to do for them to make it now.

She stepped out and drew her horn, pulling back her morningstar and then swinging it forward, she huffed as her eyes flickered between full blue and her normal orbs… Then lost it to full blue.

Subaru could only watch as she started outright slaughtering the things, but he noticed it… She was not being cautious, she didn't notice the five or six ulgarm that began to head around to the upper ground to her left, so he tried casting Minya.

The bolts… Disappeared. He was out, all he could do was watch as he called to her, but she didn't' react… So, he tackled her. "Uh.. S..! NOO!" she saw what he just pushed her out of the way of, four of them were now on top of him as she landed, her mind in a state of panic… she had to save him.

The morning star flew over him and hit two, killing them, the others scattering as she ran up and help him, he was unconscious… And she prayed that he live.

A/N. I wanted to make the whole thing go into just one chapter, but… Meh. My writing is getting bad, I gotta change some things on my end. For now, let this sate your desires.

Ah, hmm… well, see you guys whenever I post the next chapter. o7

Oh, right... I forgot!

[EoC Discussions]

[King Sub] "Well, man... that took a long time, you OK MNR?"

[Knight Sub] "Yeah, you okay man?]

[MNR] "No... everyone is sick around me, the animals are not calming down and I gotta deal with it all. I think there might be a hiatus in all posts for a while..."

[Both Subs] "Please don't kill us!"

[MNR] "I'm not that mean, if I had to, i'd hand you guys over to somebody else."

[Red] "Aye! Nu uh, you do it."

[MNR] "Ha, tisn't like I wouldn't do it, just give me some time, it sucks here."

[Red] "Ugh... Alright, but still..."

[Reviewr] "Get well soon, MNR."

[MNR] "Thanks, I feel I might be getting sick now too... Mmh, time to drink some salt water."

[Knight Sub] "That sounds... very very dumb."

[MNR] "Because it is. ah, seeya next time!"

[Subs] "Seeya!"