[AN: So cannon Subaru spends two months at the mansion before they go to the Royal Selection, so I'm going to use this enormous amount of time to be able to allow Subaru to gain more abilities and knowledge to help him since he lacks RBD and will be reliant on both his intelligence and strength to protect those he cares about and others.]
Subaru has made great strides in his growth and development in the past three weeks at the mansion. With the help of Roswaal and Beatrice, he honed his wind-imbued sword technique. He even received a higher quality sword from the Capital, which Roswaal commissioned explicitly. Beatrice has also been working with Subaru on his concept of phasing through attacks, which he has named "Kamui," inspired by his favorite manga, "Naruto." With her help, he has nearly perfected the ability, though it still requires her presence and focuses on activating.
Subaru has also extensively supported Emilia, helping to boost her confidence and self-esteem. He installed mirrors in her room and frequently visited Arlem Village with her, using his Kamui ability as a party trick to entertain the children. This not only helped improve his use of the ability but also strengthened his bond with the villagers. Emilia has become much more open and confident about her appearance, no longer feeling the need to hide it.
Subaru has also taken the time to learn about the history of Luginca, gaining a deeper understanding of the demi-human civil war, the covenant with the Dragon, and the current Sword Saint Reinhard Van Astrea, among other essential details. Roswaal has yet to see Subaru's name appear in the Tome of Wisdom. Still, he has developed respect for him due to his similar worldview and admiration for his teacher. Subaru also shares that you cannot save everyone Roswaal has, thus not requiring Roswaal to attempt to force that ideal from Subaru. However, Subaru does not like how Roswaal does things and is already plotting a way to make Roswaal his puppet, as he ruled out his death advantageous due to his role as Emilia's sponsor.
Subaru woke up from an odd dream he had. He remembered his different life in this world almost as if it had happened. The dream was very vivid, and Subaru was unsure what it meant or if it was a manifestation of his fear of the reality he was in being nothing more than an illusion. Subaru woke up sweating in a state of panic for a moment before regaining his composure.
Emilia, who was previously cuddling the sleeping Subaru, then noticing his panic waking up, asked, "Subaru are alright?"
This must have been a dream, but it felt so real. I can still remember every detail, from the physical sensations to the emotions I experienced. It felt like I was living a different life, like another person named Subaru Natsuki. He acted so differently from how I would work, making foolish decisions that ultimately led to his death, only to repeat the cycle repeatedly. It was like I was watching the events unfold from a third-person perspective. This must have been a dream, but it was unlike any previous one. It was too vivid, too long, and felt too real. I can't shake the feeling that there was something more to it.
"Subaru?" Emilia asked, her voice filled with concern as she noticed the lack of response from her beloved.
"I just had a bizarre dream," he said, trying to reassure her. Subaru shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He looked up at Emilia and saw the worry in her eyes.
Emilia leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Subaru, remember that you have me and Beatrice to help you. I know you're scared about this world being fake, but I want you to know our relationship is real. Nothing can change that fact."
Subaru returned her kiss. His love and gratitude for her were apparent in how he held her. Breaking the kiss, he looked into her eyes and said, "Thank you, Emilia. I love you."
Emilia gave him a devilish smirk, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I love you more," she said, teasing him playfully.
Morning sex after that dream? Not really in the mood.
Before Emilia could advance, the door of their room opened to be Roswaal with an aura of both frantic and excitement, "Subaru, your name… just look."
Roswaal extended his hand, offering the Tome of Wisdom to Subaru. The two of them often spent time together, reading the Tome and discussing the information. Roswaal held a great deal of respect and admiration for Subaru, who appreciated and honored Roswaal's teachings and possessed a remarkable ability to apply the knowledge provided by the Tome in innovative and creative ways. While Roswaal himself was highly gifted, he acknowledged that Subaru had a unique talent for developing innovative concepts that exceeded his abilities. Additionally, Subaru's magical skills were awe-inspiring, and it was a delight for Roswaal to be able to act as his mentor and teacher.
Subaru read what the Tome of Wisdom said.
"Echidna wants to meet you, Subaru. Please come to the Sanctuary. Once you arrive, go to the area known as the trial area, so Echidna can speak to you. "
What? That breaks my whole theory about the Tome of Wisdom, not to mention, is this person still alive? I was told about the Sauntary being a town within the Mather's domain. Still, I had no other information about it. Echidna was the person who created a book that could use the concept of cause and effect, probability, and likelihood on a world-level basis. The idea of using that to achieve your goals disgusts me, but the creator of such a thing doesn't. The user of the invention is different from the creator of the invention. However, by mentioning my name, it almost seems the Tome of Wisdom sent a request rather than anything to do with achieving a goal.
Subaru sighed in exhaustion as his mind was overwhelmed, "Roswaal, have you ever seen such a strange request in the Tome of Wisdom? It seems more like a request than anything to do with achieving a goal."
Roswaal wasn't sure how to respond since Subaru was correct. The Tome of Wisdom never has asked something like that before. Still, Roswaal thought the reason must be important if his teacher wanted to meet Subaru.
"Nooo~ it hasn't ever made a request like this ~ however, I think you should go as if my teacher wants to meet youuuu~ it must be for a good reason," Roswaal said as he regained his own composure as Subaru did the same.
Emilia stood in disbelief as Roswaal revealed the existence of the Tome of Wisdom to her and Subaru. Usually, this book was kept closely guarded, and its information was only shared with a select few. However, Roswaal saw Emilia and Subaru as allies and believed that sharing the knowledge contained within the book would benefit all of them. He was particularly impressed by Subaru's ability to analyze the information within the Tome and combine it with his own knowledge and creativity to develop even better solutions to problems. Each time Subaru used this approach, the outcome was far superior to what would have been achieved if Roswaal had simply followed the instructions in the book to the letter. This made Roswaal realize that Subaru's unique perspective and thinking were an invaluable asset to their team.
Roswaal quickly realized, "Subaru, you should understand ~ a few things before going. For oneee, ~ Emilia cannot go with youuu~. The Sanctuary acts as a barrier, and those demi-humans, including Emiliaaa~ since she is a half-elf, will not be able to escape the area unless they complete three trials. I suggest you go with Beatrice to see what my teacher wants to tellll~ you then come back."
I don't understand much of what I just said other than Emilia cannot go due to some barrier that does not allow demi-humans… all of this is strange. First, I have a dream that almost felt like I watching a different version of myself living a life in this world, and now this? However, perhaps Echidna… the witch of greed, can give me the answers I lack.
Subaru nodded, "Alright. Beatrice and I will go to the Sanctuary so I can speak with Echidna. When I come, I will inform you, Roswaal, of what she told me since I'm sure you would want to know. I'll also be sure to mention your accomplishments to her. I'm sure she'd be happy to know what you have been able to obtain with her gift."
Honestly, at this point, Roswaal might already be a puppet. His infatuation for his teacher is so blatant it's almost too obvious. Yet I don't see anyone understand what is going on except me. Emilia becoming the King will likely allow Roswaal to revive Echidna. However… playing with laws that guide this world, like returning the dead to the living, always has severe consequences. Returning a person to life is the very definition of tampering with fate. Fate does not like when you attempt to tamper with what is alright done.
Roswaal beamed with excitement, "Thank you, Subaru. I have already arranged for a ground dragon to transport you and Beatrice to the Sanctuary."
Subaru nodded, "Alright, I'll leave in five minutes. I just want to say goodbye to Emilia first."
Roswaal nodded in understanding and left the room.
Emilia looked at Subaru worriedly, "Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to go if you don't want to."
Subaru smiled at her, "I know, but this is a chance for me to gain more knowledge and understanding of this world. I don't want to miss this opportunity and regret it later. I'll be fine, Emilia. Beatrice will be with me too." He leaned in and kissed her before changing into his knight-mage outfit.
Subaru's sword was indeed one of a kind. It was made from scarce metals and allowed for the transfer of mana into the weapon with ease. This made using the sword much more efficient and allowed for a more natural flow of mana through the weapon. The unique properties of the metals used in the blade made it stand out from any other ordinary sword.
Subaru's uniform was also a gift from Roswaal, and it was just as impressive as his sword. The uniform was a step from his previous one, with better quality materials and a more refined design. Despite the cost of these gifts, Roswaal never hesitated to give them to Subaru, showing his deep respect and admiration for him. Subaru couldn't help but wonder just how much these gifts were worth and how much Roswaal was willing to spend to help him.
Subaru was already in peak physical condition before coming to the new world. He worked out daily and did weight training four days a week. However, because nobody within the mansion had any sword technique or training, he was left to his own devices to create his style. His direct approach was simple. He would use Kamui to dodge any coming attack and then use all of his strength combined with the wind magic imbued to give one massive strike on the opponent. The concept worked in theory, but he could not test it in a real fight against another Knight or an enemy.
Having finished getting dressed, Subaru walked over to Emilia, sitting on the edge of her bed. He wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, feeling the softness of her hair against his cheek. He pulled away slightly to gaze into her eyes, noticing the love and affection that shone within them. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, giving her a goodbye kiss filled with love and promise. The kiss lasted only a moment but was filled with emotion and commitment to each other. Subaru finally pulled away, smiling at Emilia. With a final wave, he set off on his journey to the Sanctuary.
Subaru and Beatrice, we're coming close to the Sanctuary. The trip was shortened due to the use of yang magic from both Subaru and Beatrice to make the ground dragon much faster. Subaru also noticed that it seemed this ground dragon seemed to be unaffected by the wind. Normally in quick turns, you would encounter wind resistance.
"Beatrice, you said the name of this ground dragon was Patrasche, correct?" Subaru asked.
Beatrice nodded. "Yes. Why ask, I suppose?"
Patrasche, that name sounds familiar. But from where… I don't get it. Wait, in the dream, I had the Subaru. That dream had a ground dragon with the same name. Now that I think about it, the ground dragon looks identical to that in the dream and also can avoid the effects of wind resistance… no dream should be able to tell you things you aren't already aware of.
In most cases, people think dreams can tell you things you are unaware of, but only your subconscious mind is aware of things your conscious mind isn't. In other words, there is no way to explain this. Unless dreams function differently in this world or allow precognition of events, something else is happening.
After almost a minute of thinking, Subaru responded, "I had a dream last night that was quite strange. But I will explain it to you later. I'm more curious about what Echidna wants to tell me or why she wants to meet me first."
Beatrice nodded in confirmation, and the two arrived at the edges of the Sanctuary. They were greeted by a blonde-haired boy with a scar that resembled an X on his forehead. The ground dragon stopped as Patrashe sensed hostility from the person before them.
The blonde-haired boy asked with hostility and pride in his tone, "Who the hell are you? And why are ya here?"
Great. This guy is the type to only back down when defeated. His body language is that of a person with a competitive mindset. In other words, he is the type who will always try to beat you, in this case, more than likely a fight. Good thing I have Beatrice, and I brought my sword.
Subaru responded, "I've come here to go to the area where trials are supposed to be done. Roswaal sent me. I have no interest in completing the trials I simply have to go in. My name is Subaru, and this is Beatrice. What is your name?"
The blonde-haired boy thought for a moment about what Subaru had stated. The idea of him coming here to do a trial and then leaving made no sense to him let alone why Roswaal would send the boy to do so. He also is not a demi-human, so he couldn't take the trial even if he wanted to.
"My name is Garfiel. Ya story doesn't make sense. I'm the shield of the Sanctuary and-"
Subaru cuts him off, "If you want a fight, you'll get it, but I have no intention or desire in conflict. But I doubt you'll back down if we don't fight, so why don't we get that over with, Garfiel."
Garfiel was surprised by the quick response, let alone to know precisely what he was about to say and was thinking. He didn't like that Subaru could understand what he was about to say before he could even say it himself.
"Fine then. It'll be ya funeral." Garfiel said as he prepared himself for the clash.
'This will be a good time to test Kamui and my Wind sword in an actual conflict. I will do my best to mitigate damage and won't kill him. He may be a good asset for the Emilia Camp once the Royal Selection begins.'
'Betty dislikes conflict. But do as you must.
Subaru stepped off the carriage and prepared for battle, his movements catching the attention of Garfiel. The young mage's stance was unlike any Garfiel had seen before, with his sword held behind him and his hand extended forward. Despite its unconventional appearance, it left many openings for the attack, causing Garfiel to wonder about the reasoning behind such a seemingly flawed position.
Garfiel was the first to engage, running towards Subaru to punch him in the head. Still, his hand simply phased through Subaru's head, and the momentum made his back open for a strike. Subaru used this window and realigned his legs to be in a position to land a single decisive strike. Subaru landed a devastating blow on Garfiel's back and didn't even imbue wind magic within his blade. Garfiel was injured, but he continued by quickly switching his previous stance. Garfiel had no idea what happened or how Subaru phased through his punch. His only theory was that he moved at incredible speeds that he couldn't read and then used the opening to strike him.
Garfiel then decided to aim for Subaru's chest as it would be harder to move out of compared to a strike to the head. Garfiel ran towards Subaru and faked an uppercut before kicking Subaru in the chest. Still, the attack phased straight through him, and the momentum of his kick continued as he lost his balance again. Subaru decided to aim for a knockout as he could tell Garfiel would not stop until he was either dead or knocked out. Subaru imbued wind magic into his sword and hit Garfiel in the head with the hilt of his sword knocking Garfiel out on impact.
Well, this technique works well. I forgot to even think about the enemy's momentum being another benefit of Kamui. Since each strike he did would generally bounce back from the impact so Garfiel would not lose his balance and regain his stance by phasing through his punches and kicks each time Garfiel lost his balance and his stance making him open to attacks.
'I knocked him out, Beatrice. Let's continue to find this trial area.'
'The technique we created is impressive to watch in a real confrontation. Subaru, you did good, I suppose.'
'Couldn't have done any of this without you, Beatrice.'
Beatrice and Subaru had been searching for the trial area in the Sanctuary for some time now, following the instructions they received from Roswaal. They were determined to find the Shrine where they could take the trials and prove their worth. They encountered a structure that caught their attention as they explored the Sanctuary. It was a large building with intricate carvings and symbols covering its walls, with a roof that reached high into the sky. The building was surrounded by lush greenery, with flowers and shrubs growing around it.
Beatrice and Subaru approached the structure cautiously, taking in the beauty of the architecture and the peaceful atmosphere surrounding it. As they got closer, they noticed that the entrance was guarded by two large stone lions, their eyes seeming to follow their every move. The door was made of solid wood and was adorned with intricate carvings and symbols, similar to those that covered the walls of the building.
'This looks like the spot.'
'Perhaps I suppose.'
'I guess I'll go in. Wait for me outside, and I wouldn't be surprised if Garfiel comes back wanting another fight.'
'Betty will protect you, Subaru.'
Subaru approached the Shrine with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He had heard rumors about the trials held within its walls, and he was eager to participate in them. As he got closer, he noticed a strange blueish glow that seemed to be emanating from the Shrine. He felt drawn towards it, and as he reached out to touch the door, his vision became hazy, and everything went black. He felt himself falling, and he was lying unconscious on the ground the next thing he knew.
Subaru opened his eyes to bright light. He begins to stand up noticing the grass underneath him.
So this is a form of a false landscape or reality. Or I could compare it more to Genjutsu or something similar. Where is Echidna, and why did she want me to come here.
Subaru walked around for a bit before seeing what appeared to be a table and two seats. He stepped closer and saw the white-haired woman in one of the seats with two cups of tea and some cookies prepared. The woman smiled at Subaru walking towards the table.
That is Echidna. Different from what I would imagine, but still, all of this is so strange. Not to mention the dream… I can only wonder what Echidna will tell me.
Subaru sat in one of the seats before speaking, "The Tome of Wisdom Roswaal had stated you wanted to speak with me. Is that correct?"
Echidna grew a smile, "How strange. You are different from your variants to the point that the Tome of Wisdom seems broken due to your very existence."
Variants? What the hell is she talking about?
Subaru remained composed, speaking with confidence in his tone, "Since you are the creator of the Tome of Wisdom, I must ask if my assessment of how it functions is correct. It uses the concept of cause and effect, likelihood and probability to come to the most likely conclusion for what will happen and then gives the owner of the book the actions to take to reach whatever goal they may have."
Echidna smiled once again. She was surprised that Subaru had a decent understanding of how the Tome of Wisdom functioned. However, Subaru was missing a very crucial detail of how it operates.
"You are correct for the most part; however, you missed one key detail. I wonder if you can figure it out on your own… perhaps I'll give you a few minutes to try." Echidna said with a slight smirk.
As I think about it, the words that Echidna spoke about "variants" and that strange dream I had about the information I wouldn't have known, but that turned out to be accurate about Patrasche only further cements my suspicions. There are three possible explanations for this situation.
First, this entire world is a fabrication, some kind of illusion. The second is that both this world and Earth are simulations or similar, in which case they are both fabrications. However, the usual argument against the world being a simulation is that it doesn't matter if it is, as it doesn't affect anything. There is no way to prove it unless one were to die. The third is that the Subaru I saw in my dreams was a variant of myself, which would mean that this is a time loop situation.
Echidna asked me if I could figure out the other key detail, which doesn't necessarily imply that I'm wrong about how the Tome of Wisdom works. The function of the Tome itself is to orchestrate specific events to ensure that certain criteria are met. This would mean that the other purpose of the Tome of Wisdom is to control and manipulate events in the world to achieve a desired outcome rather than simply providing the best decisions for its owner.
Subaru paused, collecting his thoughts before speaking again. "The Tome of Wisdom must have some purpose beyond simply guiding events. It must have a goal, a destination it's trying to reach. Otherwise, why bother having it at all? But I can't seem to understand what that goal could be."
Echidna listened intently, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "You've grasped the essence of the Tome of Wisdom with remarkable speed, Subaru Natsuki. But you're not entirely correct. The Tome of Wisdom does have a goal, but it's not one set by a single person or entity. It results from countless events and decisions leading to a certain outcome."
Subaru nodded, "So the Tome is like a record of the world, documenting everything that has happened and will happen. And its purpose is to ensure that the right events occur so the world can reach its ultimate goal."
Echidna gazed at Subaru, her expression a mixture of excitement and concern. She had never encountered someone like him before, with such a unique ability to deduce complex concepts despite having limited knowledge of the world he was in. Seeing the extent of Subaru's intellect and intuition was impressive and intimidating. Echidna wasn't sure whether to be in awe of his abilities or wary of their potential consequences.
Echidna smiled at Subaru's response. "How fascinating," she said.
"You are correct in your deduction, somehow. I honestly can't believe you would figure out so much with so little information you were provided," she continued.
"When you first arrived, I was going to offer a contract to make, but that's not necessary at this point. The only question that remains in my head is if you'll be the one to stop this never-ending loop, or if you'll fail as the previous variants did countless times."
What? Then she can hint at a deduction I made but didn't mention in my response. The idea is that this is a time loop or form of one. Variants of myself could be the only explanation, along with her responses. How do I even react? Not to mention how I would stop such a thing?
Subaru's body tensed up as his mind was consumed with the overwhelming amount of information he was receiving. This was the first time he had a physical response to the information he was processing instead of his usual composed demeanor. At the same time, his mind raced to find the answers. Despite the discomfort, Subaru was determined to understand more about what he was experiencing.
"Echidna, if this is a form of a time loop or something of the sort, how exactly would I stop it? And if it was that, how exactly are you aware of it being so. A time loop would reset all memories, including your own, even if you are dead, and this is some form of your project or an echo of your consciousness."
"Subaru Natsuki," Echidna said, addressing him by his name. "You're correct in assuming that I would forget, but time works differently in this world. The key to stopping the endless loop of events is to find out why it started in the first place. I am not sure, but I can tell you this: the purpose of the Tome of Wisdom is to stop the time loops."
Echidna paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "The book you're familiar with is an imperfect version. I alone have the perfect, complete version. From what I can tell, the events being orchestrated are to create a future where the Volcanica is killed. However, I'm unsure how that plays into stopping the endless cycle of time loops."
She looked at Subaru with a thoughtful expression. "But I will give you one piece of information that you may find helpful. Duality functions identically to how you view it in this world. The endless cycle of time restarting creates an imbalance in the world. Duality is a concept, but the world will attempt to correct itself. So far, it seems it has failed."
Echidna smiled warmly at Subaru. "That's all I know, Subaru. It was fascinating to meet you."
Subaru was just about to speak when the world around him suddenly began to shatter and crumble apart as if space itself was being torn apart at the seams. The intense feeling of disorientation and vertigo washed over him until he suddenly woke up in the trial room, completely overwhelmed with a barrage of information. His mind was racing as he tried to process and comprehend the sheer amount of information that was being thrown at him all at once. It was a state that could only be described as complete information overload.
Subaru passed out, and when his eyes opened, he was back at the mansion, staring at what was Emilia's ceiling.
What just happened? This world is throwing so many concepts at me, and expect me to figure it all out and stop some endless time loop? Echidna… she knew my full name. That only can mean either my experiences on Earth were also somehow calculated by the Tome of Wisdom or that this reality is nothing more than a fantasy. But regardless, that would mean my life on Earth would be different. Killing the Dragon? Variants of myself like what I saw in that dream… but Echidna made a valid point. Duality should have resolved this long ago either by destroying the world itself or stopping the source of the time being restarted. Perhaps I'm thinking about this wrong maybe duality in this world is instead a being rather than a concept. However, a personification of duality would be more like a god than a concept. I don't understand…
As Emilia noticed Subaru's eyes opening, she cautiously said, "Subaru?"
Subaru's thoughts were racing as he tried to make sense of what just happened. Was everything he experienced just a dream?
He composed himself and asked Emilia in a calm tone, "Emilia, did I go to the sanctuary?"
Emilia looked at him with confusion, tilting her head to the side. "No? You just woke up. Are you alright?"
Subaru surveyed his surroundings and realized that everything was exactly the same as when he had first awakened earlier that day. He looked at the walls, floor, and ceiling, taking in every detail, trying to see if anything had changed. But to his disappointment, everything was exactly the same. The room was still the same small, cramped space with the same blue, glowing walls and the same strange, unsettling atmosphere. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration, as he had been hoping for some sort of change or clue to help him understand what was going on. But it seemed that he was no closer to solving the mystery than he was before.
Subaru looked at his hand and noticed it still had small indents in the skin that wasn't there when he woke up originally, which could only have been there if he had fought Garfiel with his sword.
What the hell is happening?
Okay so this chapter is pretty insane and fun to write.
I think Subaru having that same effect that cannon Subaru had with the memories was something good to add.
Next chapter will be like Subaru regaining his sanity or maybe not I'm sure if at this point Subaru just doesn't even care if reality is fake or not but still lot of shit for him to take in.
Not sure if I'll even write far enough to use this early plot point in the story but I thought it be good to add.