"I believe I cannot afford to underestimate you, my Master Swordsman." Elsa almost whispered. She tried to turn back her head but froze as soon as the blade made its way toward her throat, leaving on it a thin crimson line. "Oh. In this case, I guess her poor self shall surrender." The black-haired woman added, letting her arms fall down her sides.
"I'm relieved. I don't like hurting a woman, even if she is someone like you."
One of Subaru's eyes twitched. "Hey, Sir Knight! You-" *COUGH* "You shouldn't treat that freak as a woman! She's a monster, she's been trying to kill everyone here on sight!"
"Even if she is, I don't want to use my strength more than necessary." The redhead momentarily met the Japanese boy's gaze, then addressed the woman again. "Please, stay still for a moment." He stuck the sword he was holding in the ground, put his hand inside his white uniform jacket and extracted a metallic device - no, a collar - with a crimson gem embedded in it.
Elsa inhaled and exhaled slowly, her fingertips jittering.
*CLICK*
"...!"
As Reinhard closed the collar on her neck from behind, the woman's shoulder lowered and her legs suddenly buckled.
"What…?" Elsa whispered.
"And now," The redhead added, "I'm sorry but this is necessary." He grabbed her by her arms. A heartbeat later, she closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
The knight made eye contact with Subaru. "I'm sorry to bother you, but may you lend me your cape?"
"U-uh, yes." The Japanese boy nodded, then he handed his - bloodstained and ripped - cape to him. The young man wrapped it around Elsa's shoulders, covering her from ears to knees, then he put her on his right shoulder.
I'm not feeling bad for her at all, but… What does he believe he's carrying, a potato sack?
"Sadly I'm not allowed to speak about this, but right now we can consider the Bowel Hunter just a woman." He turned his head to see hers hanging on his chest. "Or, more appropriately, an injured and unconscious woman. I'd like to interrogate her, but I'm not on duty tonight. So, I should take her to the headquarters and let the right people deal with her."
"Hmm-mmm. I guess we can entrust her to you." Emilia nodded. "Even if she is quite the pernicious one."
"I'm honored by your concern, Lady Emilia, but taking care of this kind of situation is my specialty." The redhead smiled. "However," he looked at Subaru. "I'm quite impressed by your friend's recovery. He seemed severely injured by the Bowel Hunter a while ago, yet he's already on his feet and without a scratch." Ram's and Emilia's gazes followed his. The boy slightly blushed.
"Uhm, now that I'm thinking about that… Subaru, you asked Puck and me before how magic worked, didn't you?" The half-elf addressed him. "I thought you knew nothing about magic, but you have actually used fire magic."
"Aehm, I didn't lie to you before." He scratched the back of his head. "In my country nobody uses magic, and the first time I saw it was when you were chasing that girl before. I just wanted so desperately to use something against her," He pointed his finger at the unconscious Elsa. "'and I recalled the fireballs Rupert used before. The next moment, I found myself throwing a fireball." He then looked at the knight. "Same for when I got hurt. I thought I was dying, so I just thought I en-"
"-nvied her- what? I can't speak!?" He felt a slight pressure on his lips, as if someone had put a finger on them and was keeping them shut with it.
"Don't." He heard the half-elf speaking in a strangely sad and caring voice, even though her lips weren't moving. Truth to be told, for a heartbeat nothing was moving.
"Uh? Why are you telling me to stop? You wanted to know, didn't you?" He raised an eyebrow at Emilia. Even with his polite smile never leaving his face, Reinhard slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Subaru, what are you saying? None here has told you to stop." Emilia argued. Then she turned toward the maid, the giant and the little girl. "I mean, none of us said anything, right?"
"No Lady Emilia, I haven't heard anyone speaking. None other than your 'friend'." Ram reassured her.
"Hey old man, do you believe the kid over there has been brain-damaged by that freak?" Felt whispered to Rom.
He leaned toward her and put a hand before his mouth: "I don't know, Felt. He surely lost a bucket of blood."
What? But I've just heard her speak!
"Lady Emilia, maybe your friend - Subaru, right? - is just tired." Reinhard waved his left hand as if to drive away a fly before his eyes.
"Hmm, I guess you're right. Subaru told me before his home is faaaar away, and he has nowhere to stay in the capital and thereabouts." She closed her eyes and nodded at her own words. "Since it's my fault his life got in jeopardy here," She met the boy's eyes. "I believe I should give him at least a place to stay for a while."
A place to stay? Well, I had forgotten about that, but right now I don't have anything like that. On the other hand, I got my mitia back, so I will likely be able to sell it to make money.
Subaru moistened his lips passing his tongue.
Emilia is from a noble family. Pink hair over there resembles a personal maid or a private travel assistant, so her owner should likely have enough room and money for me for a while.
He passed his right hand behind his neck.
I'd doubt I'll manage to live there for too long: after all, I have no clues about how I can be useful to them.
His eyes widened.
Hold on, I came from a modern world! I may repay them using my scientific knowledge from the Earth - hell, even bringing some minor invention here will bring advantages! I got it!
"Lady Emilia, you don't have to bother this much. As a Royal Knight, I shall not leave a Royal Candidate's acquaintance homeless in a foreign place." Reinhard cut his thoughts. "Once I'll have dealt with the Bowel Hunter in the garrison, I shall take Subaru to my family mansion here in the capital." His azure gaze was now piercing the Japanese boy through his eyes. "I may also help him know and control his power for his own good if he wishes so."
You know, that-
"Reinhard, thank you for the help you're offering. I really appreciate it." Emilia quietly yet firmly spoke, getting the guys' eyes on her. "However, I feel indebted to him and I want to repay myself in person." She blinked twice, then the confidence on her face shattered. She briefly met the boy's eyes, then she looked aside, lowered her shoulders and put both her open palms before her. "I-I mean, if this is what he wants, I'll feel reeally relieved to be able to repay him. I'm not forcing him." She brought herself to look at him. "So, Subaru… what do you want to do?"
Subaru gulped.
The knight's eyes were looking into him, and the maid's ones were scanning him from his feet to his hair and back. The young girl and the giant were avoiding making any noise, likely hoping that everyone would soon forget them.
He slowly inhaled…
So, Subaru. On one hand, we have a cute gir- a noble girl, spirit user, willing to let you live with her - wait, it seems misunderstandable if I say it in this way. By the way, we have already thought about that.
…and exhaled.
On the other, this knight is OP. He created northern lights or whatever with the ripoff of his magic. That absurd psycho surrendered immediately after realizing she was facing him without her regeneration.
Maybe I can become strong under his guidance. I feel that, if I master this - my - unknown power, I can really gain a 'main character' status.
That's right.
This time, I won't be outshined easily by the ones surrounding me.
Subaru looked around. None was showing through the windows of the dilapidated buildings. Reinhard, in his candid uniform, was holding the unusually unmovable Elsa. As the boy met Emilia's gaze, her cheeks gained a faint shade of pink. Ram's detached gaze wasn't losing a hint of his movements.
He moistened his lips and then he spoke.
"..."
Pushing open the aging door, a silhouette silently entered the building. It was already night, but in these ruins that had become home to rats, there was no light burning. In the pitch darkness, depending on the starlight coming through the empty window frames, the shadow slowly made its way further and further inside. The noise of its footsteps was terribly light.
"Hey now, are you there?"
One careful step before the other, the girl examined the ruin. The weather, the passage of time or who knows what had opened more than few holes in the wall; so, it started looking through them.
"So you aren't here."
As the innermost room came into sight, she sighed, then she got closer and opened the door.
"I knew it. After all, there's no stink of blood-uh?"
Her blue and thick braid swang in the air as she turned her head to look over a seemingly wobbly table. On a corner of the dirty tabletop, enlightened by the moonlight, there was an envelope. She opened it and took the piece of paper inside, reading it.
"I see..."
The paper frayed and fell into dust. Slowly and silently as she had entered, the blue-haired girl exited the room. Several faint thuds could be heard as she made her way out of the ruin. Once outside, Meili found pairs and pairs of little red eyes paying attention to her from everywhere.
"My little ones, let's play a new game!"
"Woah, so this is your home?" Subaru's mouth was open in an almost perfect 'O' shape. "It's so huge!"
"The residence of Astrea Household here in the Noble District of the capital is proportionate to the other mansion surrounding it, so it isn't worthy of praise." The redhead walking a few steps ahead of him turned back, a weak smile on his face. "If anything, it's way bigger than the main one in Flanders."
"Is it so?" The black-haired boy looked around himself. A large building with a bluish roof was shielded by a solid wall made of white stone, tall at least three times your average lad. The only way in was through an arc closed by a gate with thick bars. In the middle of all of these, an emblem was carved on a large metal plate. "-wait, this isn't even your main residence!? You guys are richer than I thought!"
"You're rather an unusual individual." Reinhard chuckled faintly while scratching the back of his head with his gloved right hand. He pushed the gate open and proceeded, the Japanese guy closely following him. The main building of the mansion had several langer windows on the upper floors, while only a double-wing door on ground level. In contrast to the dark color of the roof, the white walls almost shone.
"I got the feeling you were more than an ordinary person, but this…" Subaru mumbled as they proceeded along a stone slabbed straight road that split the garden in two, heading toward the entrance of the building on its end. "Are you sure I won't cause trouble here? I mean," he put his open palms before him "I'd appreciate a lot staying and also getting the chance to train with you, but I don't want to be a hindrance to you and your family."
Before Reinhard could answer, one of the wings of the door was pulled open towards the inside. There, a woman - whose hair had been grayed by time - welcomed them with a warm smile. The hand that wasn't on the door handle was holding a lamp, whose orange light glowing in the darkness of the night made Subaru narrow his eyes.
"Master Reinhard, you have returned home quite late. Is everything alright?"
"Nothing too bothersome, nanny." They seemed to mirror each other's smiles. "I was just having a long walk, then I happened to find someone needing help. Even if it's my day off, as a knight I cannot overlook such things."
"I'm glad to hear that, even if…" The woman's gaze shifted to the Japanese boy. "Oh, it appears we have a guest. Please, come inside." She took a step back while still holding the door. Subaru and Reinhard exchanged gazes, the second one nodding in response to the first one's hesitating eyes. The black-haired lad preceded the knight and found himself in a large atrium, dominated by a two-floors staircase with two branches. A series of crystals, put on bronze-like metallic supports fixed to the walls, faintly lightened the room. Subaru noticed the lamp the granny was holding worked on a similar mechanism. Thick and - apparently - heavy crimson curtains prevented the light from leaking outside.
"Dear guest, welcome to the Astrea Manor here in the capital. I'm Carol Remendis and the man beside you is Grimm Fauzen, my husband."
"Behind me? But isn't there onl-uegh!" As he turned his head back, Subaru flinched. There was a man next to Reinhard. His hair and beard were white and she wore a tight smoking - even at that hour of the night. He slightly bent his torso forward, his right hand on his heart and his eyes locked onto Subaru's ones.
"..."
"I - uhm - I'm Natsuki Subaru," the startled boy almost croaked while nodding back. He turned to Carol. "Aehm - nice to meet you! Sir Reinhard…" he eyed the redhead.
"Reinhard is fine, Subaru." He put a hand on Subaru's shoulder as he spoke to Carol. "He has nowhere to go right now, so he is going to stay here for a while."
"I understand, Young Master." Carol nodded. "Please sir Natsuki Subaru, have patience for a few minutes. I believe you may be tired, but we are going to get your room ready for tonight."
"There's no need for such formalities, Subaru is enough," the Japanese boy shily smiled at her. "A-yaaaawn-" he covered his mouth with a hand.
"Don't worry, Sir Subaru, the room will be ready soon." Carol chuckled. As she slightly pointed up the stairs with her head, Grimm passed next to Subaru. The wife and the husband went upstairs together.
"You don't need to be ashamed, Subaru. After all, it's almost morning and you haven't slept at all tonight." The redhead broke the silence once the two of them were out of sight.
"May you just drop this? It was so uncool!" He covered his face with both his hands and almost fell on his knees. "It was so embarrassing!" A moment later, he got back standing and passed a hand through his hair. "Speaking about - aehm - embarrassing things… are you sure everything is ok with Elsa's situation?"
"I'm sorry I cannot give you more details but, if you're worried about her attacking the knights guarding her and breaking out free, I can reassure you. Till that device is on, she cannot harm anyone there. If you're worried about her conditions instead…"
"..."
"I guess this isn't the case but, anyway, she has been taken care of. When we left her to the knights in the guard garrison, they told me they were going to heal her and… dress her."
"It seems weird for a total frea- I mean, a dangerous assassin to be treated this well, but I cannot say she didn't need that."
"That's right, Subaru." Reinhard smiled. "Also, if she happened to die due to our insufficient care, we wouldn't be able to interrogate her about her goals or her employer."
"That's cold!" After his yell, Subaru lowered his eyes. "I hope Sir Rupert can recover well. You know, I feared that…"
"I left him under the hands of the best healer in the whole kingdom before you crossed the road with the Bowel Hunter for the second time. He will be alright."
"Hearing this is reassuring."
Some minutes later, Carol announced from the top of the staircase that Subaru's room had been prepared. The boy reached the upper floor staggering, with his eyes apparently not willing to stay open.
That's the adrenaline wearing off for you. I'm realizing only now how tired I am.
His foot didn't connect with the last step.
Oh dam-
He suddenly found himself held still by an arm wrapping him under his chest from behind.
"I guess you are really tired, Subaru. You should get a rest."
"Here, dear guest. Your room is the third door on the right."
Gently led by the person he was leaning onto, he entered a room. As he saw a large bed with crimson blankets and white sheets, he tried to jump over it - only to be stopped by another, smaller hand on his right shoulder.
"Dear guest-"
"Subaru…"
"...sir Subaru, we cannot allow you to sleep this way. Would you like to have a bath?"
The Japanese boy zoned out for a moment, then he slowly shook his head horizontally a couple of times. "Let us at least change you into more adequate night clothes."
As he nodded absently, someone he barely identified as Carol helped him get off his tracksuit, his T-shirt and his socks.
He appreciated the fact she stopped there.
He could feel a warm and wet towel moving over his arm, legs and back - then his muscles started relaxing. Her hands, gentle but firm, dressed him with a replacement of his previous clothes, except for some kind of a comfy robe he was made to wear over his upper base layer.
"Where did you… 'em?"
"Oh, these are from the Young Master's reserve guardrobe."
"You shouldn't use them for me."
"Don't worry Subaru, I've already too many of them."
Before he could ever tell, he was lying under the sheets while she was tucking him.
"Rest well, Subaru. See you tomorrow."
"Have a peaceful rest, Dear Guest."
"Than… you… 'ight."
After the guest had fallen asleep, the young master kept staring at his face for a while. His polite smile had slowly faded, so the expression he was now wearing seemed a pretty inexpressive one.
Of course, not to the ones who knew him well as us.
She exchanged a slight nod with Grimm, who was waiting in the hallway.
Most people said he was loved by the world, he was the strongest knight inside and outside the kingdom, and he was truly blessed. They didn't know his 'particular' childhood had left him with more than one invisible scar.
Once Lady Theresia left us, her family shattered. Then, the fragile thread binding her son and her grandson was severed by alcohol, pain and loneliness.
Reinhard from Astrea Household was the new Master Swordsman, but also a kid without his mother and with a father who couldn't stand seeing him. He had to face everyone's expectations and grow up quickly into the most fearsome asset in the Kingdom of Lugnica warfare. He had put a mask over his face, seldom leaving any sorrow or happiness crack it.
It had been tearing to witness, and even worse being able to do little about it.
Right now he is struggling about something. Is this boy? Or something that happened today?
"Subaru really has nowhere to go." Reinhard cut the silence while still looking at the lying boy. "He seems to know nothing about the Kingdom of Lugnica, and I could confirm he means no harm." He looked at Carol and then at Grimm, who had entered the room. "I'd like to host him here, even if I don't know exactly for how long."
"We shall assist the Young Master in all his wishes."
Reinhard nodded and briefly smiled. "I shall rest for a while. Please call me as our guests gets up." After Carol's and Grimm's nod, he dismissed them and headed toward his room. As his gaze fell on a huge painting on the hallway wall, he suddenly stopped. He seemed to stare for a moment at a crowned figure - probably one of the ancient kings - and unconsciously grabbed his chin with his right finger and thumb. Then his arm fell and he walked away.
As soon as she was going to fade to the numbness of sleep, the first amber sunrays brought a hint of warmth over her cheeks. She instinctively turned her back to them to protect her eyes.
The carriage seat is reeally uncomfortable.
She couldn't help but whisper: "How much longer?"
"We are little more than halfway towards Roswaal Manor, Lady Emilia." Ram answered. Despite her young age, she was the Head Housemaid at Roswaal's service.
Honestly, everyone here - excluding Puck and Beatrice - is almost a child from my perspective. Even that weirdo.
Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers was one of the most influential nobles in Lugnical. Most importantly, he was her only sponsor in the Royal Selection - and the very one who had brought her into it.
Nah, maybe he isn't. Something is definitely off with that guy. He is approximately as strong as Puck in his Star Beast form, and he had no fear of me, despite my appearance.
He had cornered her into helping him by fulfilling a certain task. As a reward, he had offered her a method to awaken the people frozen in Elior Forest.
I wonder how Roswaal could know I care for them.
Even if Emilia couldn't recall the details, she was sure she had been involved in turning these people into statues of ice. She knew it was her fault, but if she tried to delve further into her memories-
"...ngh!"
Ouch! It hurts!
"Lady Emilia, is everything alright?"
"...It's nothing to worry about, Ram." The sudden headache had definitively awoken the half-elf, so she got up, opened her eyes and turned toward the maid to reassure her. Even if Ram's face seemed unfazed, she had slightly leaned towards her. As she heard her mistress' answer, she relaxed against the back of her seat. Emilia could hear a faint sigh of relief.
The fake smile she had put on to cheer Ram suddenly fell. Right, she's at Roswaal's service. She cares about me in the way I can help her master.
Her twin sister, Rem, was working as a maid in Roswaal's mansion too. While Ram's pink bang covered her left eye, Rem's blue hair covered her right one. Both in their hairstyle, outfit and behavior, they surely looked like the twins they were.
The weirdo is offsetting. Ram and Rem are working for him, so they keep their distance. Beatrice is reeally cute, but she behaves nicely only towards Puck. Emilia inconsciously pouted.
The people in Roswaal's domain are afraid of me. They almost don't try to hide it so as not to upset their lord.
The pout turned into a melancholic half-smile.
If only I had a friend with me there… but again, nobody would befriend a half-elf with silver hair and amethyst eyes.
A boy with dark hair, in black and orange clothes, crossed her mind for a moment.
"Sorry Emilia, but I don't want to bother you."
"Once I stand for myself and find a place for me in this world, I'll come to visit you."
Emilia watched the trunk of Flugel's tree getting closer and closer. It was so tall - and so close - its foliage was out of the window of the carriage.
I hope that day comes soon, Subaru, so I can repay you.
Hi guys, sorry for the long wait but I've been having to deal with an academic skill issue, and I will for a while. Thus, my fanfic writing pace has been reduced to 0. something % of the initially intended one.
Thank you if you're still there.
None of the two fics is dead.
About the chapter, I tried to write two PoVs but I had minor issues with them (the shortage of Carol's PoV info and the fact I've got so used to post-time-skip Emilia that it's a bit hard to revert to her previous self). Also, I tried to use a 'flawed' narrator in both of them. Tell me your opinions and suggestions about them.
See (read) you later!