AN: New chapter is here! And 'Lamb of God' wins the title for their album name! And it kind of fits what sort of happens. Want to find out how, well, then go on and read. ENJOY!
Arc Two: A Deadly Meeting
Chapter Four: Resolution
Otto continued viewing ahead...seeing the dark sky remain the same, as it did a few hours ago. He sighed, relenting a bit on going behind Subaru's back. Ram had earlier asked him to get her into a carriage and ride to the Sanctuary in the middle of the night, all the while everyone else was sleeping.
"Ram-san, are we getting closer?"
"Yes. Also..
"Hm?"
"You will refer to me as Ram-sama, remember that for your own sake."
"Gosh, you're not nice at all like your sister!"
"Speak of my sister again, and I'll have your manhood, snapped."
Otto cringed at her tone and sharp glance, before he played with some of his hair.
"So, you really think I can have an audience with the Magrave."
"I gave you a promise, that for your services, you would be able to earn a few minutes with Roswaal-sama. Ram-sama doesn't go behind her words."
"Great...I just…"
"Hm?"
"I just don't know if Natsuki-san would have done the same."
Ram lost her voice as she looked out to the passing woods.
"I assume so, as well."
She had wondered about it as well. The very much unuseful man that she had known about for over a month, was essentially gone.
She saw in her mind an image of Subaru, in his butler uniform, making a flamboyant 'pointing to the heavens' pose, laughing annoyingly as he do ever since she met him.
Now, it was replaced by him, obscured in shadows; save for his scowling eyes and the red ring adorning his finger, on a clenched fist.
She wondered...was that really him? Was this an imposter? Because the Natsuki Subaru she knew, was only a man capable of good timing. Not someone who could do the things she saw two days ago.
Nor was he capable...of the vicious killing intent, he would unintentionally, emit.
"Ram...uh, Ram-sama."
"Yes dust mite?"
"Oof! Well, has Natsuki-san always been like that?"
"...No. He was much more aloof and clownish, in the month I have known him."
"He does at some points, seem to show that side of him, but-"
"-It's buried under all that bravado he's gained."
"After all, killing the White Whale and a Sin Archbishop can do that to someone, at least I think so."
"Right-"
Ram soon went wide eyed as she stared back at Otto.
"WAIT! What do you mean the White Whale?!"
"Yes, on the way to the village, we ran into it. Natsuki-san flew out there and killed it. It was truly an amazing spectacle!"
"No way, something even the previous Sword Saint was unable to accomplish, that goof of a man did it?"
"Ram-sama you are making it abundantly clear one of the reasons why Natsuki-san is always angry."
"Quiet worm!"
Ram whacked him across the head, making a large tear droplet, form on the edge of his eye.
"I may have treated Barusu like a mere grub, but I never did squish him like one."
"See? This is what I mean!"
"I SAID QUIET."
"...Yes, I'm sorry."
Otto shrunk under her glare, until more time passed. The night skies began to brighten up as the sun was beginning it's ascent.
"There it is."
"Oh, we're here!"
Up ahead they could see it, the large but cracked, and somewhat withered walls that protected the village inside. Otto noticed someone standing on top of the wall, at the entrance to the village...a young blonde haired man in dark purple clothing.
The young man leaped into the air and landed a few feet in front of them, making a crater right under his bare feet.
The carriage came to a halt.
Ram looked to Otto and nodded, she jumped out and made it over to the...seemingly excited guy.
"Oh man! Ram! Good ta' see ya again!"
"Easy now Garf, we saw each other a few days ago, did we not?"
"True, bu' bein' so far away from ya', for so lon,' is real hard on my hear' ya know?"
"Ahuh. In any case, the green suited man inside is my driver, so go easy on him."
"Hmmmm."
He took a glance at Otto, as the poor out of loop man waved at him meekly.
"Hi there, I'm Otto Suwen. I guess as, Ram-s-sama said, I'm her driver."
"'Kay, my amazin' self is Garfiel Tinsel, the Strongest one out there!"
"You do seem to have strength to boost Garfiel-san."
"Heh, flatterin' me ain' gonna ge' me ta be sof' on ya!"
Garfiel rubbed his thumb on his nose as he cracked a smile. Though, both of them turned to see Ram tapping her foot with her hands on her waist, her annoyed expression told them to end the conversation.
"Ahem! Yea' so le's ge' ya inside already!"
"That would be good."
So Ram returned to her seat and Otto whipped the reins, following a running Garfiel, who was simply beaming with happiness, seeing Ram again.
The carriage entered the village, and as Ram and Otto exited. Otto looked to her.
"So, a promise is a promise?"
"Yes, with you bringing me here, you will gain an audience with Roswaal-sama."
"Thanks, I've been looking forward to having this happen for me. Getting to speak to someone with such influence like him, is the ultimate chance for me! Heck, for anybody!"
"Roswaal-sama is truly great, but do not forget that it was I, the great Ram-sama, that made this all happen for you."
"Um, yeah."
As Ram sighed to Otto's weak smile-
"Oh? You thought I wouldn't notice you two going behind my back?"
Ram froze as her iris shrunk, as did Otto. Garfiel stopped his walking, all three looking up, to see him.
Subaru was floating down, staring down at them, with a clearly aggravated expression.
"B-Barusu?"
"N-Natsuki-san…"
Otto walked over to he had slowly landed.
"Natsuki-san, please listen. Um, there is a reasonable reason for-"
"-Otto, if I want an excuse, I'll beat it out of you."
Otto held his breath, almost choking out of fear. Subaru turned his attention back to Ram, pointing at her.
"Ram, big sis. Just why would you leave me behind like that?"
"...Barusu is a heavy sleeper, so we thought you should let you rest, lest you hamper with our departure time."
"Haha, even if that is a hugely stupid lie, it was pretty funny."
"...Listen-"
"-No, you listen to me."
Blood floated out of his mouth, putting Ram on edge, making Otto begin to slowly panic, and all the nearby villagers quickly backing away out of fear. So it fell onto Garfiel to step up.
"Hey! Who th' hell do ya think ya are, talkin' to Ram like tha'!?"
"Hm? And you'd be?"
"The name's Garfiel, jackass! And I think you'd best scram th' hell outta here, before I give ya a ol' fashion' beatin'!"
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Oh, so my amazin' self, is going to bea' ya black and blue?"
Garfiel scowled at Subaru, just as the Red Lantern began gritting his teeth, letting blood float out of his mouth.
Ram stepped between them.
"Garf stop! This is one of the two, Roswaal-sama sent me to go get!"
"Even if he is, he don' have th' righ' to be speakin' to ya like tha'!"
"It's fine, don't ever think words like his would get someone like me riled up."
"...Fine then."
Garfiel eased up, but still stared daggers at Subaru, who shrugged off his stares. Subaru walked forward, but once he was just passing by Garfiel...they both locked eyes,
Green locking with hazel. Their eyes reflected the other, as one could cut the air between them with a butter knife. Ram made it next to Garfiel as they watched Otto take the carriage inside, but could clearly see he kept his distance, fearing the man walking alone into town.
"Ram, tha' guy is bad news."
"Barusu shouldn't cause too much trouble...well, at least in the past he wouldn't be able to."
"And now?"
"...That remains to be seen."
Subaru kept his eyes peeled as he looked around the entirety of the shabby town. It seemed Rem's info was true and demi-humans were indeed wandering around, making up the entire population. While he got curious glances from some of the younger ones, everyone else kept their distance. Subaru pondered on why this town was specifically hidden from the rest of the world, as if...it was hiding something.
Subaru leaned against the town's water well, and focused on his ring. Activating a mapping mode, he was able to see every nook and cranny of the village...he could see the interior of the houses, the the cabins near the edges of the trees, the bushes and shrubberies...and-
"What's in this cabin?"
His mapping made out what looked like a huge crystal in the middle of a cabin in the corner of the town, hidden among trees and fauna. He suspected something was up, but he wanted to test something.
"Alright, let's see how honest you're going to be, Roswaal."
He deactivated his mapping, unaware of a small pink haired girl armed with a staff peering at him from the corner of a building.
It was now a few minutes later, Subaru had now entered the cabin where Roswaal was staying. He opened the door, to see Ram, Otto, Garfiel and…
"And who may you be?"
"Th' names Lewes. Lewes Meyer trut' be tol'."
"Well nice to meet you, I'm Natsuki Subaru."
"Good mannas, but...creepy vibe goes agains' tha' a bit."
Subaru ignored her small comment in the end, and saw as Ram opened the door to the room. Inside, Roswaal sat up on his bed and smiled, both eyes closed. The sorcerer was covered in bandages, but Subaru sensed little to no blood, so he wondered if he was actually injured.
"Ahaaaa, welcome back you two."
"...Roswaal."
Roswaal finally opened his eyes to see Subaru. His eyes widened seeing quite the difference. A week ago, he knew Subaru as hot headed boy who actually had no power. Now, something was different about him, the color of his clothes were just the physical indicator of his changes. His eyes were telling a story, and they meant no comfort for Roswaal.
"Subaru-kun, whaaaat ever has happened to you?"
"...I got a hold of something that really saved my skin, along with everyone else's."
"I am happy to hear that things are alright baaaaack home."
"...And may I ask what you were doing here?"
:Hm?"
"The village and mansion were in grave danger and you were here doing God knows what! Wasting time with something that should've been not as important!"
"It was important."
"MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LIVES BACK HOME?!"
Roswaal closed one of his eyes, having his bright yellow one gaze at Subaru, which only ticked him off more. Subaru tapped his foot and looked out the window.
"So, what is this place exactly?"
"This place is an area handed down to my family for generations, Subaru-kun. It is aaaaaa grave."
"A grave? A city integrated with a grave?"
"Yes, the grave of the Witch of Greed."
Roswaal made a soft smile as he said that. Then creepily uttered the name of that very Witch.
"Echidna was her name."
What made Roswaal stand over the edge was when he looked back to Subaru. He could see him with one eye closed, staring back at him with a bored expression. Not only that…
"Ram...why isn't Emilia-sama with him?"
"...He didn't bring her with him."
"WHAT?"
Subaru finally opened his eye as he tapped a finger on his chin.
"Oh, did you expect me to just follow along with whatever it was you were planning? Nah, you see that's now how it works, Roswaal-san."
"I did all the work. I saved everyone and had to almost get killed doing it. I decide what goes down right now, do you hear me? And for starters, I won't let Emilia or Rem, anywhere near this place until I know more information."
"...Well! Subaru-kun has truly changed from the last time I saw him! Howwwww children change in the flash of an eye."
"...What was it we were doing here then?"
Roswaal kept that info to himself as the others, remained ever silent. So Subaru became more agitated.
"Minus Otto there, if I ask these other two, they'd probably won't tell me, other than what you just told me right?"
"...Why not try?"
"...Roswaal, listen."
Subaru rubbed his hair, as he did a small tired breath allowed blood to escape his mouth and float around his head.
"What is…
Roswaal finally got to see this in person and it was obvious they were startled by it. Lewes kept her eyes on him, gripping the staff she had with her.
"Alright. Well let me ask you one thing."
"Gooooo on."
"...Is there anything you haven't told me, that I should know about, before bringing Emilia here?"
"Hmmmm...nothing comes to mind."
Roswaal cracked one his usual smiles, as...did Subaru.
"Okay, well let's see then…"
Subaru headed for the door, he quickly opened it, turning back to look at everyone with a flashy smile.
"Emilia is not coming anywhere near this place."
Roswaal tried to get up from his bed, but stopped when he saw Subaru began to float up and zip through the air, flung open the main door and flew up into the air.
"Ram...did Subaru-kun just-"
"-Roswaal-sama, there is something you should know about Barusu."
Subaru flew up till he got a good look at the entirety of the Sanctuary.
"That son of a bitch. Lying through his teeth! He didn't mention once about the giant crystal in that cabin, in the neck of the woods. Nor why he wanted Emilia specifically to come, he looked panicked when he didn't see her with me! That fucker. Fucker...Bastard...UGH."
Subaru held his head as he tried to quiet the raging voices in his head. But he peeked an eye at a citizen walking around, so he flew down to meet with him.
"Hey, excuse me sir."
"Um, yes?"
"I'd like to know something about the village here...is there something that pertains to why only demi-humans live here?"
"Um, well after the demi-human war, we all decided it was best to live seperatly from regular folks you know?"
"Oh...is that all?"
Subaru narrowed his eyes, and had his red aura envelop himself...making Wolgarm constructs walk around him.
"Is...that all? Nothing else? Nothing at all? Not a single, other reason?"
"Um, listen to me. I-I just…"
One of the Wolgarm constructs growled at him, making him finally give.
"Okay! Okay! There is a barrier here! It keeps half demi-humans from leaving! I swear that is all!"
"Oh, well that honesty is admirable."
THe constructs dissipated and Subaru patted the terrified man on the shoulder.
"Keep up with that honor mister, it'll get you ahead in life."
"...Sure."
Subaru walked past him...hiding from sight, the vicious scowl on his face.
Subaru continued walking, all the while Garfiel was atop a nearby rooftop, glaring down at him.
"Ya bastard. I don' know who ya are, Nastuki Subaru...but I ain' lettin' ya hur' my home, not one bi'."
He clenched his fists, keeping watch of Subaru, someone he instantly knew was a dangerous enemy.
Subaru kept up his tour, glancing around. The village was indeed shabby looking, nothing to be impressed with, all the while he could see eyes looking through curtains, hiding from him, but still staring. Subaru really didn't care, he had to figure out why Roswaal was trying to essentially trap Emilia in this place.
"Echidna. Roswaal seemed to be gushing about that Witch, like he knew her. But hang on...the Witches before Satella, they died at least before that Worst Calamity, that would be, four hundred years ago."
He scratched his chin, thinking about the circumstances of Roswaal and how this place was 'passed down' in his lineage.
"Did one of his ancestors know this woman? If so...then maybe, her grave holds the key."
Activating the ring, he once again looked at the mapping he had made earlier, Subaru noticed that in the edge of town was a large structure...it was obvious what it was.
"A tomb? Safe bet I'll get some info out of it."
He quickly flew high into the air and boomed through the sky, quickly making it to the tomb.
"Just a regular old tomb, huh?"
He had his ring inspect it…
"What, it's just a single hall, a large room and then, a smaller hallway, leading to a pretty cramped room, with something inside."
Subaru couldn't ascertain what was so special about the Tomb, but he knew one thing only.
"I have to take a closer look."
Something about this tomb was giving Subaru a nasty feeling, not only that, but thinking that Roswaal's family had been watching over this specific place, meant there was something he still didn't understand about it. So he flashed in there, leaving a trail of red light behind him.
Garfiel landed nearby, watching as the torches on the interior wall, lit up.
"Oh FUCK!"
Garfiel jumped into the air, panicked, as he went to go get Ram and the others.
Unknown to him, Lewes had managed to show up, dropping her staff as she watched the torches go out.
"Su-boy...wha' do ya plan ta do?"
Subaru blinked.
He blinked again.
He rubbed his eyes.
Still the same.
"The hell is this?"
No matter how hard he tried, it was obvious.
He was in a grassy hill on a brisk summer day.
"A spell? Teleportation? The fuck is going on?!"
He ran around, his feet crunching the fresh grass covering the land around him.
"Don't tell me I got transported to another world again!?"
"Hmm? What's this about another world?"
Subaru flinched, before turning around, aiming his ring to the source of the voice.
There a woman with an extravagant beauty to her, one who had an air of elegance to her that could capture a man's attention instantly. Hair that was bright white and a dress probably meant for a funeral.
She sat, waving hello to Subaru.
"I am sure you have a lot of questions."
"And I hope you'll be answering them as honestly as possible."
Subaru lowered his fist and flew over to the coffee table, making the woman raise her brows.
"Flying without magic? Now this is something else."
"Yeah yeah, I get the whole 'Gee, that's something' phase. Now here, take a look at it and answer my questions."
"Oh? What if I try to pull something-"
"-You'd be dead, trust me."
But that threat made the woman pause, before smiling at Subaru, somewhat creeping him out a bit. The woman took his fist and ogled at the ring and rubbed her soft hands over it.
"This is not a metia, yet it has some form of energy flowing through it. Hm, not mana. This is amazing. Fascinating! In all my years of existence, I have never come across anything like this at all-"
She was exploding with excitement over the discovery of a lifetime, her eyes sparkling, brows raised, grinning happily and of course, cheeks turning a bit pink.
"See you having fun there is nice and all, but still need some answers."
"Ah, allow me to introduce myself. I am Echidna."
"...Damn, a ghost?"
"Not exactly, simply put, my spirit resides here is all."
"Hahhh, then again this is the Tomb of the Witch of Greed, and in a world like this, I shouldn't expect anything less."
"Now you?"
"Natsuki Subaru. Knight of the Silver Haired Candidate, Emilia. Red Lantern."
"There! What exactly is a Red Lantern?"
While Echidna, for a moment, did seem to frown when she heard the name Emilia, she perked up again when she heard the term Red Lantern.
"Is that pertaining to your ring?"
"Well, when I got chosen by it, I heard that term."
"Wait, you were chosen by it?"
"Yup. It was pretty random too, said I belong to the Red Lantern Corps."
"Explain!"
She raised up from her seat, almost like a child would when seeing their favorite show come on the tele.
"Easy there, Echidna-san, I don't know much, all I know is that Rage is a key component of this ring's power, not only that but I think it's definitely from another world, maybe beyond my own."
"Now hold on...are you saying-"
"-Yeah, beyond the Great Waterfall."
Echidna seemed to be absolutely ecstatic about the prospect of meeting someone from, 'another world', it was an all new experience for her.
"But wait, you said this Ring is from a world, beyond your own?"
"Well yeah, it's not magic based, but where I am from, nothing like this exists...shit, even I'm starting to think things are much bigger than I thought. Being summoned here, I thought maybe it was just my world and this one, coexisting. Something moronic like that."
"Well, it appears you viewed this situation like a double sided coin, thinking the world you are from is the opposite of this one. But it appears the best example would be some multi sided dice, and within that, there are countless other dices similar, going and going almost endlessly. AH! My head is spinning! It's delightful!"
Watching as the woman almost squealed in excitement over the ideas he was bringing up, Subaru glanced around the world he was in.
"So are we in a different world or something?"
"No no, we're in the dream of the tomb."
"Dream huh? So I'm asleep?"
"A good way of describing it."
"Hm."
Now, Subaru sighed as once again blood flowed out of his mouth.
"Fascinating. Simply fascinating."
"Glad you're interested in this. Now, can you tell me how I'm supposed to bring down this barrier?"
"You want to free the Sanctuary?"
"The sooner I free it, the sooner I can get back home."
Playing with her hair, she gazed at Subaru, who was still uninterested.
"Ahem. Well, I'll tell you then. Basically you must face the three Trials set up here."
"Trials?"
"Yes, the trials consist of facing the past, present and future."
"So I have to accept the realities I see then, huh?"
"Precisely."
"Ugh, can never be an easy task can it?"
"I suppose so."
"Maybe Beatrice or Roswaal could've fucking told me. Give me a hint at least."
"...Beatrice. ...Roswaal?"
"...You know them don't you?"
Echidna waved back her hair as she had her stare sharpen at Subaru.
"Well, I know Beatrice, because I created her."
Both went quiet from the information.
Until Echidna once again gave a sharp smile.
"Yes. Tell me now, is she still guarding the library?"
"Yup, hardly ever leaves the mansion because of it."
"Hm, so she is continuing the task."
"Task? Wait, you're the one who asked her to wait there?"
"Of course, a test to see her true loyalty."
"You...YOU BITCH."
Subaru got out of his seat and flipped the coffee table over, but Echidna still sat there, unfazed by his temper, still holding onto to her cup of tea.
"You died four hundred years ago, right?!"
"That is true."
"So that means...Beatrice has been guarding that place for four hundred years?! What the fuck is so important that she has to wait there for so long!"
"I told her to wait for 'They'."
"'They?'"
"Yes, the person who will obtain all the secrets of that library, all my work. Everything, including her-"
"-She is not some object!"
Echidna tried to take another sip of her tea, only for it to be smacked out of her hands by Subaru.
"Who is it then?! Who the fuck is making her wait for so long?! Another spirit? Some guy we haven't met yet?! WHO?!"
"...I don't know."
She waved up her hands and shrugged her shoulders...clearly infuriating Subaru further.
"What the hell...do you MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!"
"As I said, don't know. In reality, there never was anyone to begin with. This was all merely a test to see if Beatrice was loyal to me. And seeing the results, my oh my, it is wonderful to see that."
"The fuck is this supposed to mean!? Of course she'd be loyal, you're her mother! How dare you use that kind of bond to force her to do whatever you fucking want!"
"It was all to make Beatrice move her own-"
"-Like I wanna hear a fucking excuse like that!"
Subaru kicked up some dirt before actually puking out more of his napalm like blood, burning the grass beneath his feet. Echidna looked thrilled seeing this, but Subaru was once again, unamused.
"So what? All I gotta do is lie to her right? Say I'm the one who she's been waiting for?"
"Would that be alright? A lie to save someone, is still a lie."
"Oh? Like how you lied to her in the first place?!"
Both of them were now glaring at each other, to the point anyone would think they were about to come to blows.
"Listen to me Echidna, I'm gonna free the Sanctuary, drag Beatrice out of there and send your soul to wherever the fuck it needs to go. I'm tired of all this hushing and whispering going on behind my back. I'm putting an end to all this!"
"...You are fascinating, Natsuki Subaru."
"Bite me."
He growled as soon as he picked up the table and set it back to its original spot.
"Now sit back. Hell, relax. Because soon this place will be freed and you have to skedaddle."
"I know.'
However.
Subaru sensed something from that eerie smile of hers.
He instantly knew.
"Are you hiding something from me?"
"...Perish the thought."
"Okay. Start the Trials."
"...They already started, Natsuki Subaru."
The world around him broke apart like glass, letting the man who housed rage itself, watch Echidna fade away...a smile still on her face.
"Tired of this shit. Everyone going behind my back."
His circle of trust was collapsing, shrinking before he knew it.
"Ram lied. Otto lied. Roswaal is a lying sack of shit. Echidna is lying. Lying bastards."
He saw an image in his mind of Puck at the mansion, the stern look he gave off…
"Puck knows too! He's lying to me as well! This is bull! So in the end…"
Emilia. Rem. Hell, Petra and Irlham Village.
They were the only ones he could trust, in a world out to get him, ruin him and destroy everything he wanted to cherish.
He had to be the stern one.
He would never let Emilia or Rem get their hands dirty again.
He would never let Petra get hurt because of him being powerless.
He would never allow Irlham Village to perish.
No.
He'd let the Capital burn to the ground before he would let that happen.
They were enemies.
Were they?
Of course they were.
They hated Emilia.
Ridiculed them.
Rem and Ram were hurt by the outside world, he wasn't sure how, but he could tell it had to do with the Witch' Cult.
Enemies.
They were everywhere.
"I'm ready."
Subaru's eyes darkened, with an ever so slight red dot in the middle of them.
Because now he knew.
The ring chose him for this purpose.
To fight. Fight those who would seek to do evil, condemn others and continue the horrid nature of things.
He had to.
He has to.
If that means people have to die so be it.
Because...yes, that's it.
Subaru no longer felt the morality his own parents built into him, within him anymore.
If things get worse, so would he.
Now, the dream changed and Subaru found himself, in his room from all those years ago. Subaru sighed loudly.
"Easy."
Now he would face his past, but this time...he would do so easily.
Hours passed.
Garfiel tapped his foot over and over again. Waiting for something to happen. Lewes had finally brought Ram and Otto along to see what was happening.
"Garf! Where's Barusu!?"
"He-He's inside the Tomb."
"No, that's not possible! Garfiel get in there and stop him!"
"Can't do it! When someone is taking a Trial, it's dangerous to try and interfere. We gotta wait until he comes out."
Otto twiddled his fingers as he looked nervously ahead.
"So, what does the Trials pertain to?"
"Facin' your past, present and future. Crazy stuff like tha'."
"Do you-"
Just then, the torches inside went out and from the darkness, small soft sounds could be heard.
Footsteps.
Someone was walking out.
And with frozen breaths, everyone watched Subaru stroll out of the Tomb, with a nonchalant expression.
"Well, the gang's all here."
"Barusu...what happened?"
"What does it look like?"
Subaru spread his arms out wide, grinning as blood flowed out of his mouth.
"The first Trial is passed."
Ram instantly flinched when she heard this, but also looked to Garfiel, seeing her collegue beginning to tremble. A moment flashed in his head, a singular event...of the day, as a child he bashed his own head on a stone, right outside the Tomb.
If one looked, they could see it still there.
Garfiel clawed at his scar and stared up at Subaru.
"Now, we'll have to wait until tomorrow so I can take care of Present."
"Natsuki-san, how did you manage to face your past?"
"Easily."
There was no way Subaru could tell them what he did. No...how could he tell them that he used his Red Lantern powers to spare his parents and condemn almost anyone that came close to him. He accepted the past, but only because he accepted the powers he had, powers that could help him face the coming tribulations of the future. He buried the past as ashes and in doing so accepted them.
Subaru chuckled.
"Alright everybody let's head back. I gotta get some food in my belly."
As Subaru strolled down the steps of the Tomb, Garfiel kept muttering inaudible phrases towards him. Subaru put his hands into his pockets and gazed up at the late evening sky.
"Gotta get this place freed and quick. I can't leave Emilia and Rem by themselves."
He sighed and once again, more blood fluttered out of his mouth. Looking ahead, he could see Roswaal's cabin, contemplating about what to do about Roswaal. Then, he thought about it…
"I should really free Beatrice from the library too. Man, so much to do."
The others followed closely behind...Ram seemed utterly disappointed by Subaru's success, as if she was anticipating something else.
Otto was obviously nerve wracked by Subaru's eerie smile, as if he could easily be crushed by those molars of his.
And Garfiel continued his muttering…
"I'll protec' th' Sanctuary. I'll keep em' safe. Even-"
His fist slowly became furry and claws began to form, his shimmering green eyes focusing on Natsuki Subaru's back.
"Even if I have ta get rid a' ya."
The next morning, Subaru flew around the sky for awhile, peeking through some clouds and watching the villagers do their usual morning routines.
Maybe if things were different, he'd be showing them how to do Radio Calisthenics or even chatting away with the younger ones.
But now. He didn't know if someone was a sy for Roswaal or would just outright lie to him. And as he took a meditating poise in the air, he thought that only thing he could do was investigate, before the time came to take the Trial.
"Hm, I think maybe...I'll go see about that big ass crystal."
Subaru shot down and found the cabin he sensed the crystal in. He looked around, just to be sure he was not being spied on. With the coast clear, Subaru opened the door, aiming his finger inside, just in case. Sensing no danger, he continued...down the hall, he found a jail cell, thinking nothing of it he found a door. Opening it, it became a staircase that spiraled downward. He made his way down, making cautious steps as he did.
Once reaching the bottom he found one last door. He opened it and found the giant crystal.
"What the hell?!"
He found Lewes Meyer resting inside of it. Energy flowed around it as Subaru shook his head in surprise.
"Or wait, it's not the same clothes on her...and I could have sworn I saw Lewes heading home. Then, a sister? No. Something else."
He had his ring scan the structure, he discovered that it had an intricate layout within it. Not only that, but it seemed to have a network like connection with something. Using the mapped out system he had the Ring show him where exactly it was connected to, magically at least.
Once he did, he almost chuckled.
"Oh Echidna-san. That's very clever."
The Tomb.
It was connected to her Tomb. But even Subaru could tell that the crystal was not the source of power for the Tomb, that was in fact within it. Still, Subaru knew Echidna was up to something with this.
"Hmmmm...a piping system? Like, whatever burst of energy exudes out of the Tomb will come straight here? Okay...Hey now...That'll work."
Subaru grinned from ear to ear.
"Thanks Echidna. You saved me a whole lot of trouble."
Subaru moved away, only...to run into Lewes Meyer, she stood in the doorway. But Subaru noticed something…
"Wait, where's your staff?"
She aimed her palm up at him, once he saw the light begin forming into her hands. He took no chances. His life was too important.
He flew forward and impaled her through the head with a pole construct. Once he did, she bursted into orbs of light. However, out of the corner of the doorway, two more showed up.
"Fuck! Clones?!"
They fired beams of light at him, but he created a orb around himself, breaking apart the beams on contact. Subaru shot forward, creating a fire ace construct, swinging it with such force it broke into one of the Lewes clones. Feeling the lightness in her body he lifted her over his head and slammed her down onto the other. Stuck, it was unable to protect itself from a powerful stomp on the back of the head by Subaru. Both dissipated into light.
Not taking anymore chances, Subaru flew out of there, closing all the doors behind him.
Now outside, Subaru took a deep breath, all the while blood flowed out of his mouth.
"Okay, alright. Now we're dealing with Lewes clones, though these ones seem dumb in comparison with the original one. So...that's another person I really can't trust."
He flew into the air and noticed Garfiel leaping around in the forest below him. In that instant, both men locked eyes with each other...only for both of them to ignore each other completely.
Subaru got in a meditation pose again and gazed out to the afternoon graced landscape.
"I seriously hate this place."
In Roswaal's cabin, the sorcerer was utterly delighted with the news he received from Ram.
"The writing is clear theeeeeen. Subaru-kun will free the Sanctuary and I will be so much closer tooooooo my goals."
"I am happy for you, Roswaal-sama."
Roswaal smirked as Ram was helping put his underwear on, blushing as she did. Once that was done she helped him put on some pants as he patted her on the head.
"Now I wonder what the writing will tell me next, hmmmmm?"
"If it works in your favor, I am sure it will be something soon, Roswaal-sama."
"I love that positivity."
"However-"
Roswaal watched as Ram stood up, now fixing his pants and walking over to retrieve more things.
"The writing never mentioned anything about the Red Ring. And Barusu, seems much more aggressive and paranoid than ever. If he...I worry if he finds out anything."
"Relaaaax Ram, he won't-"
"-But if he does!"
He was silenced by her scream…
"Roswaal-sama, I saw how he fights now, and now that we both know he killed the White Whale...he might…'
"Might what?"
"Might become a threat to everyone here."
Roswaal watched as Ram calmed herself down, but at the same time he wondered too. Her words gave him something to think about.
Still he cradled that ever cherished book in his hands, as if it was worth more than his life.
Ram could wince in pain, seeing that…
Otto sat in his carriage, trying his damndest to think of a plan.
Should he stay?
Should he go?
He had to make up his mind.
It was finally late evening again, Garfiel stood in front of the Tomb along with Ram, but both Otto and Lewes did not show up. The young fanged man tapped his bare feet anxiously.
"Hope he don' show up!"
"Garf, no matter how much you don't like it. This is Roswaal-sama's desire-"
"-I' ain' his home! Thi' my home! Tha' guy reminds me a bunch a' Roswaal."
"Of Rsowaal-sama?"
"Yea', how he don' take others feelin's into consideration."
"I don't think so."
Garfiel raised his brows hearing this, watching as Ram lowered her head and shoulders.
"Barusu, cares. He really does...but only to a select few. It appears he has thrusted those feelings of trust, upon Rem and Emilia."
"Your Sis?"
"Yes, and with that, and whatever happened to him in the capital. He is much more scrutinizing, suspicious of everyone except those two. That kind of paranoia...is-"
"-Fuckin' dangerous."
Garfiel spat this last line out, as Subaru slowly landed in front of them.
"Looks like it's time, huh?"
"Then please do hurry Barusu. It's late and I wish to go back to bed."
"Right, right."
Subaru tried to get in the Tomb, but Garfiel stood in his way.
"Excuse me."
"Hey, are you listening? Please move."
"..."
Subaru chuckled at this predicament as he rubbed his hair, not noticing Ram's incredibly nervous expression.
"...I'm not gonna ask you again."
"Move me then."
Subaru narrowed his eyes, as did Garfiel.
The overwhelming pressure between them was so fragile in fact, one would think a feather alone could cut through it.
Luckily, Ram stepped between them.
"Knock it off! Both of you!"
"R-Ram."
"Garf, please let him through."
"But-"
She then gracefully placed her hand on his chest, making the agitated boy simmer down.
"Do it for me."
"...TSK."
He threw his shoulders down and ceased his aggressive tendencies, making Subaru do the same.
"I'm doing what's best for everyone."
"Yea, sure you are."
Subaru soon let out a hollow sounding growl as he walked up the steps, but stopped right at the entrance of the Tomb. He stood there for some time, feeling the sharp gazes at his back by the two people behind him. The chill air of the near night time made him peek back or just a few miniscule seconds.
"I'll be back."
Subaru finally entered through the Tomb, the torches in the main hall lit up as he passed through.
Garfiel kicked up some dirt and moved to sit atop the steps.
"Ram, I really hope you know what you're doing."
"I-I hope so too."
Walking through the dark void surrounding him, Subaru sighed as blood flowed around him.
But just then, it had begun.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
He heard his own voice say this to him.
"Here goes nothing."
Subaru witnessed it all.
First, he saw himself, dead on the ground, from having killed himself to defeat Petelgesue.
Emilia ran through the brushes and leaves to reach his body and cradled it into her arms. Ram followed suit and froze seeing Subaru's body.
"Subaru...Subaru."
Her weak shrill voice echoed in this, dream, and she began to slowly cry hugging his head.
"Why? Why did you do this?"
She questioned the purpose of his self sacrifice, all the while Ram looked around and saw the devastation left behind. The only signs of what had occured.
Ram let out soft breath, closing her eyes as she did a slight bow.
"I'm sorry, Barusu."
He saw more.
Subaru was there in the plaza of the main castle. It was on fire.
No everything was ablaze and he stood there, a little girl was in his arms, but he gently put her down. Ahead of him, was Reinhard, his sharp blue eyes narrowed to a point of appearing beast like.
"Poor Sword Saint, didn't think you were capable of a look."
"Yes, even I'm surprised to see I am capable of such feelings."
"Aw, you discovered a new you."
Subaru clapped his hands as he snickered at Reinhard, the fires around them continuing around them.
"Happy birthday."
"Today is not the day of my birth, but today is the day you will die, Pride."
Subaru smiled, with such a foulness, that it almost stretched from ear to ear.
He was responsible for all this, and as far as he could tell...he was the Sin Archbishop of Pride.
The country was burning, and who knows who besides Reinhard and himself were still alive at this point. The fires caused some buildings to collapse, flags burned away and corpses turned to piles of ash. Screams, breaking glass, vicious howls and panicked cries mixed together into a melody of despair.
But that would be all Subaru would see of this world.
In this one, Subaru seemed to be wearing a light blue traditional japanese outfit. He was walking through a large crowd, looking for something.
"Yo!"
"Hm? Oh crap it's that guy who pretends to be a dad! Quick, maybe he hasn't seen us!"
"Haha, very funny."
Subaru hopped over and hugged the young blue haired boy, ruffling up his hair. The boy did not seem to enjoys whatsoever, but he didn't fight back all that much, so it must have been a normal occurrence.
"Dear, please don't ruffle his hair too much. Rem wants him to look presentable when Tia and Halibel-sama arrive tomorrow."
"Oh, right."
Subaru smiled as he set down this, Rigel kid down.
There, stood Rem. Long luscious blue hair, different from her usual self and wearing a pink kimono instead of her usual maid outfit. In her arms was an adorable baby girl in a cute pink bear uniform.
"Want me to help you out?"
"No no, Rem is more than capable...but Rem would like to hold hands, if you wouldn't mind."
"Hell yes, your wish is my command."
Subaru did a humble bow, making Rem giggle. And so Subaru took her free hand and held it affectionately as one could. Soon they both smiled at each other, and as Rigel led the way, the family continued forward.
Here, Subaru was wearing clothes akin to the previous vision, but these were dark in nature and left no ski exposed. He even wore a long yellow scarf around his neck. This person, looked so sickly, so skeletal, it was as if he went to hell and somehow made it back to the world of the living.
He sat there doting down notes, as he did he would flip a coin. Evey time he caught it and it would land, he doted something down. His droopy, dark circles eyes analyzed, counted, but also were scanning every speck of dirt and letter.
"Frederica, come in."
A golden hair maid, one whom Subaru had never seen before...but instantly knew she had some relationship with Garfiel, came in and bowed.
"What is it you require, master?"
"Take this paper and have Halibel make copies of it."
"And this is?"
"You know what it is."
Frederica almost did not move any closer to Subaru, but took a deep brave breath and took the paper.
"Names with O's next to them are to be visited, the one's with X's are to be purged. Do not forget to inform them."
"I will tell them."
"Good, now get out."
Frederica did a bow, one like a toy would do, and as she turned around, she made a disgusted expression. Hiding it well, she left the room, leaving Subaru to take the coin and flip it again.
"Heads."
His eyes narrowed, but he also made what was a weak smile.
"You get to live, Frederica."
Subaru floated there for a while absorbing what he had just seen.
The loss.
The evil.
The joy.
The depravity.
Subaru could only look around the void, around himself, and ask for one thing.
"SHOW ME MORE."
His anger unable to hidden...Subaru watched, everything.
All of it. Every single hidden world beyond his own. He had secretly hoped this would not be the case, he had to, otherwise he would lose his sanity. But here was the proof.
"Return by Death doesn't send me to the past. Fuck. It sends me to another timeline!"
Subaru had blood rush out of his mouth as he glared up.
"Go ahead. Do it! Show me everything! I can take it! Piss me off then! I'll relish in it!"
And so he did.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
And as the Trial continued.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
He would bear it all within himself.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
All of it.
The love.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
The horror.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
The death and betrayal.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
The failures and successes.
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
[Witness the unobtainable present.]
This would be what Subaru had to do.
The second Trial would end.
Only for Subaru to witness, two thousand and twelve different worlds.
Echidna sipped on her tea, waiting for the trial to end...then she felt a small gust of wind blow her hair.
"Oh, he's done."
She saw Subaru standing there, looking out into the distance. His eyes were blank as was his expression.
"Congratulations, you passed the second trial how was it? Did you learn something from it?"
"Hm? It's no fun if I'm the only one talking here you know?"
"...Ha…"
"Huh?"
"Ha...ha….haha…"
Subaru held the top of his head with both heads...only to swing himself back and-
"AHAHAHA! AHAHAHA! AHA! AHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"What an odd, but humbling, reaction."
IN his head, Subaru was of course thinking to himself.
"Of course I learned a lot! The ineptitude of the other me's! It's laughable! But now I have this Ring! And now...now I'll use it to forge my weakness! None of those scenarios will happen to me! I won't lose Rem or Emilia! I won't lose to the Candidates! I will be on top of things! I…"
He finally ceased his laughing and peered over at Echidna.
"Hey there!"
"Hello."
But once again…
"I saw what you're going to try to do...and I won't let it happen. Roswaal, you dumb fuck, I know about your Gospel and Garfiel, I see that you're gonna try to kill me at some point. Oh no, not like those worlds. Not a damn. Chance."
Subaru sat with Echidna, speaking about what he saw, interesting her to no end...but inside his own heart and mind...Subaru was sealing her fate.
With the Trial over, Subaru stepped out of the Tomb, having his moment, he looked down at the glaring Garfiel and the emotionless Ram.
"Well Barusu?"
"...No dice, I didn't pass."
"Oh?"
"Maybe I can try again, tomorrow."
Ram took some time to think about it, but merely nodded.
"Very well, I think we should all head home for the moment. We are all tired."
"Right, lead the way."
But as Ram lead the party back, Garfiel sneered back at Subaru for a few seconds...and then spat some spit to the ground where Subaru was going to step, before continuing forward.
Subaru saw this and quietly giggled, and he stomped on that spit, his eyes reflecting the town of the Sanctuary.
"My turn."
Rem placed some dishes away, looking out the window at the dark night sky.
"Rem."
"Emilia-sama, can I help you with something?"
Emilia entered the kitchen, also having an expression of worry.
"Are you sure, you're okay?"
"Yes and no."
"Rem is simply worried to death about Subaru-kun, he..hasn't come back yet."
"I know, Subaru, I worry about him, probably more than ever."
"...Emilia-sama."
"Yes?"
Rem faced Emilia with a serious expression.
"How do you feel about Subaru-kun?"
"Me? Well, let's see…"
"..."
"He's like a good friend?"
Rem sighed, but then smiled acceptingly.
"Yes, Subaru-kun, is a good friend. But he also feels the same way about us, so let's, trust him."
"Right, I'm sure everything is going to work out."
The two girls nodded, unaware they were being watched.
In the forest a woman spun her blade around and around.
"My, both of them sure look healthy. I'm sure their intestines will be such a delight to see."
Elsa licked her lips as Ma-beast also began to slowly march forward.
"And we can attack them, tomorrow night!"
With a beaming smile, Elsa could not wait for the oncoming festival of blood.
In the further distance, closer to the Sanctuary, but still far away at the moment...a deer was grazing around, only for it to poke up it's head, hearing the coming destruction barrelling towards it. It tried to run, but something ripped apart its front leg, it fumbled to the ground. As it looked up...a single white rabbit, eyes red like the blood escaping its grizzly wound...stared at him.
Only for countless more to appear from nowhere and tear it to shreds.
Countless disasters were careening towards one another…
To Be Continued...