I do not own Re:Zero or any of the characters.
Capitol: Day 2
Ian sighed heavily, resting his face in his hand as Subaru stared hard at Rem in an effort to make her let him go after Emilia. Subaru was even muttering "Stare" to himself every couple seconds.
"Subaru, do you remember why Emilia asked you to stay?" Ian asked.
"She doesn't want me pushing myself and getting hurt," Subaru said.
"Not that," Ian said. "The other bit. The bit about giving her a reason to trust you."
Subaru dropped his gaze to the floor.
"If you go, you're going to hurt Emilia by betraying her trust and breaking your promise," Ian said. "Whatever may or may not exist between you and her, you're going to ruin it, or at least set it back a lot if you do this." He paused before sighing. "That said, we won't stop you."
"What?" Subaru and Rem both asked.
"When asked why we didn't stop you, I'll only have to say that you snuck out while I was teaching Rem to make pie," Ian said.
"Thank you!" Subaru said, running out of the room.
Rem frowned, turning to Ian. "We shouldn't have done that. And what's pie?"
"Grab the appas, solte, butter, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and two eggs," Ian smiled, walking into the kitchen area.
Rem collected the listed ingredients and joined him in the kitchen where he began to teach her to make a pie. She picked it up quickly enough, and while her pie wasn't perfect, it was very close. He smiled as he took another bite of hers.
"It's really good," Ian said. "A little practice with the crust and it'll be perfect. And you can experiment with what you put inside of it. Appa pie is just the most common and we had a ton to use."
Rem nodded, smiling proudly. "Where'd you learn to make these?"
"My sister and I make them..." He stopped, throat suddenly closing off.
Rem stepped forward instantly, wrapping her arms around him, and he shattered, holding her tightly as tears rolled down his cheeks. Rem remained silent, allowing him to let it out. Ian didn't try to fight the tears. He'd tried before but it had just made it worse, and then he'd felt awful for days. After a long while, he finally managed to regain control of himself, wiping his eyes, though Rem didn't release him.
"What was she like?" Rem asked.
"Annoying," Ian said, smiling in spite of the pain in his chest. "She was the little angel of the family because she was the daughter, and the youngest. She got away with everything, and I couldn't even get away with stealing a cookie when I wasn't supposed to. But despite that, and even though we were always arguing, I was still her idol. She looked up to me more than anyone, and bailed me out of trouble a few times by taking the blame."
"She was with you when you were summoned, right?" Rem asked.
Ian nodded. "We were walking home from the store. Our parents died about a year before I was summoned, so it was just us. Now...Now she's all alone. And I can't even imagine how afraid she must have been when I disappeared. I don't want too."
Rem nodded. "I'm sure she's alright."
Ian nodded, tucking his face into her hair, slowly calming the rest of the way. Finally, he pulled away, kissing her on the forehead for a moment before taking a shuddering breath and smiling.
"We should probably go bail Subaru out of trouble now," Ian said.
Rem nodded and they turned heading toward the door. Ian grabbed his sword on the way before they left the inn and started toward the castle. They identified themselves as Roswaal's servants, Ian lying through his teeth that they'd been sent on urgent business and needed to speak with their lord immediately in order to get through. Then, they made their way to the throne room. From outside the door, they could hear Subaru making a fool of himself and humiliating Emilia.
"...Emilia's best knight!" Subaru was shouting.
"You signal Roswaal and Emilia to stay quiet, I'll clean up Subaru's mess," Ian said, Rem nodding before Ian pushed the door open.
"You just declared, before everyone, that you're a knight," a knight with purple hair was saying, ignoring the doors groaning open. "And you did so here, audaciously and without reserve, before the Knights of Lugunica!" He swept a hand out to the side, toward the assembled knights, and they all stomped a foot and drew their swords as one, holding their swords vertically in front of themselves.
"Oh, man, that was a pretty well-coordinated move," Subaru mocked. "So, did you guys practice that just for this meeting, or what?"
"Of course we did," the knight said. "To make known the dignity of our empire, we are highly conscious every day of who we are. Tell me-"
"Didn't I tell you not to start trouble, Subaru?" Ian said loudly, drawing everyone's attention to him, now halfway across the room. "Honestly, every time you open your mouth you offend someone. Please forgive my imbecile friend for his disrespect. If you would allow me, I'd be glad to clarify this buffoon's rambling."
"Who are you?" the knight asked.
"My name is Ian," he said. "Former knight, as is Subaru, despite his appearance and lack of brains."
"So you, too, have the audacity to claim to be a knight?" the knight spat. "You have some nerve."
"I never said I was a knight of Lugunica, nor did I claim to currently be a knight," Ian said. "Subaru is in the same position as me, but he has trouble accepting that we are no longer knights."
"Explain yourself," one of the elderly men seated at the two tables to either side of the throne said.
"Gladly," Ian said, glancing at Roswaal, who had one eyebrow raised. "Subaru and I are not originally from Lugunica."
"Wait, what!?" Subaru shouted. "You can't tell them that!"
"Subaru, you've already said too much on your own," Ian said coldly. "Shut up."
Subaru swallowed hard.
"As I was saying, he and I are from a small island nation far out to see, one which doesn't appear on any maps," Ian said. "In our home nation, knights are trained from the time they are old enough to understand the concept of a weapon, and gain full knighthood as children. While they could not hold a candle to the Knights of Lugunica, that was the order to which we belonged. As I'm sure you could guess, Subaru was always the black sheep and the shame of the order, and was kept on cleaning detail to keep him out of the public's view."
"Knights of a foreign land have no business being a part of the royal selection!" one of the elderly men snapped.
"As I said, we are no longer knights of that country, in fact we will never return there, either," Ian said.
"Fugitives have even less right to be a part of it!" Someone on Ian's right shouted.
"If I may explain, I believe you will understand our situation a bit better, as well as how we came to be involved with Miss Emilia," Ian said.
"We have no need to listen to the words of a fugitive or possibly a spy!" the elder who had spoken first said.
"Lord Elder," Reinhard spoke up. "If I may, I believe it would truly benefit all to hear what he has to say."
The elder pondered for a moment before nodding. "Make it quick."
"Thank you, Lord Elder," Ian said, bowing. "As you assumed, Subaru and I are technically fugitives, but not because we committed a crime. Before we left, our nation's order of knights had become...less than honorable. The day we left the order, it was because they had fallen far enough to no longer deserve the title of knight. That included nearly the entire order, save for a handful that served with myself and Subaru."
"What did they do?" Reinhard asked.
"After one particular celebration, the order...shall we say, enjoyed the company of a vast number of women who most certainly did not enjoy theirs," Ian said, everyone staring at him. "Subaru, myself, and the rest of our usual companions refused to have any part of it, but in doing so, we drew the anger of the entire order. As we did not take part in the...activities, the order knew that we would inform the king of their actions, thereby making us a threat. They decided to silence us, and only myself and Subaru escaped alive."
"Your story is preposterous," the knight with purple hair scoffed. "What would have stopped the women from telling the king?"
"That would be the blade that was planted in each of their chests once their use was fulfilled," Ian said.
"You've explained how you came to be in Lugunica, but how did you come to be associated with Miss Emilia?" Reinhard asked.
"The first day she met us, she saved Subaru's life," Ian said. "Shortly thereafter, she saved mine twice. As a result, we are indebted to her. I swore to protect her, and Subaru, overly ambitious fool that he is, swore to do everything in his power to ensure the success of any enterprise or endeavor Miss Emilia wished to undertake, such as becoming the Ruler of Lugunica, for example. I will agree that as knights, former or otherwise, of a foreign nation, we have no business aiding a royal selection candidate. However, as indentured servants of Miss Emilia, I believe we are, in fact, entitled to aid her, should she command us to do so."
The room was silent for a long few moments, Emilia looking unsure and Subaru remaining silent, thankfully.
"Very well," the elder said. "We accept the explanation. If that matter is settled, we will-"
"Enough of this farce!" the purple-haired knight snapped. "A pretty sword and a silver tongue do not make you a knight! I will prove it!"
He reached for his sword and Ian gripped his own, only for Reinhard to suddenly be standing between them.
"On the subject of his ability with a sword, I can personally attest to his skill," Reinhard said. "I witnessed him face off against Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter, in single combat and hold his own. He was not likely to be able to defeat her, and so I stepped in, but I believe everyone here can agree that facing that foe alone and living are proof enough of his claims at knighthood."
The purple-haired knight glared at Ian for a moment before releasing his sword. "Very well. I retract my challenge."
Ian nodded, releasing his own sword before grabbing Subaru by the back of the jacket and shoving him toward the large man with the helmet and cape from the day before.
"I am deeply sorry for wasting the council's time," Emilia said.
"Miss Emilia," one of the older men said. "If that young man has done nothing else, he has shown us all that you are not one to be feared. You have a fine attendant."
"Thank you," Emilia said. "However, Subaru is not my attendant."
Subaru's eyes widened in surprise and pain, but he couldn't speak.
"Mr. Subaru Natsuki and Mr. Ian, please leave the room," the head of the Knights of Lugunica said.
Ian held a hand to his chest and bowed, then led Subaru out of the room, Rem following. A couple minutes later, the door opened again and the large, elderly man from the loot house walked out.
"Hello again, Subaru," the man said.
"Old Man Rom?" Subaru asked.
"Let's go somewhere else to wait," Ian said.
Subaru and Rom nodded and they walked to a small room of chairs off to the side, in sight of the throne room door. There, they explained the situation to Rom. Rom thanked them and left the castle. Finally, after about twenty minutes, Reinhard and Felix, the knight who was supposed to heal Subaru's Mana Gate, walked in, both smiling.
"The time has come," Reinhard said. "The Royal Selection has finally begun, Subaru."
"Hey," Felix said. "You're Miss Emilia's knight, aren't ya? Let's both do our best for this, okay?"
"You heard her," Ian said. "We're not Miss Emilia's knights. Or her attendants."
"Not being her attendant doesn't mean you can't help," Reinhard said.
"Forgive me for interrupting," the purple-haired knight said from behind Reinhard and Felix."
"What the hell are you doing here!?" Subaru demanded.
"I wish you wouldn't make such an unpleasant face," the knight said. "I didn't expect you to warmly welcome me, but if you take that attitude, then-"
"But if I take that attitude, then what?" Subaru challenged.
"The propriety of those in your company will come into question," the knight said. "I would suggest that you be careful."
"Enough, Subaru," Ian said. "You've caused enough trouble today. Just look what your interference has gotten you." He turned to the knight. "I didn't catch your name."
"That's because I never told you it," the knight said, glaring at him. "Julius Juukulius. You asked me why I'm here, Subaru Natsuki. I'd like you to come with me for a bit. There's something rather important we need to discuss. You, too, Ian."
"Just a moment," Ian said. "Felix, how long would it take you to repair a damaged Gate?"
"Not too long," Felix said. "Yours?"
"There's a good chance, yes," Ian nodded. "But Subaru's is the one I'm concerned with. There was an...incident a few days ago, and he needs treatment."
Felix nodded. "I'll just check them for now, but when we have time later, I'll repair them."
Ian nodded, and Felix, who Subaru said was actually a male, despite appearances, scanned them both, telling them that Ian's Gate was strained but undamaged and would be fine in a couple days. Subaru's, on the other hand, had severe damage to his, and would need longer to be treated. Once he was done, they followed Julius out of the castle and through the city to an arena. Inside, the entirety of the order of knights were assembled. Ian glanced at Subaru, seeing he'd brought his sword.
"Be ready to redo things," Ian whispered. "Do things the same way as before and only warn me if you respawn after we get here."
Subaru nodded subtly. As Ian turned back to them, Reinhard walked over to Julius with a wooden sword. Ian glanced at his own sword, then at Subaru before removing the belt and passing it to him.
"I'm facing him first," Ian said. "I'll wear him down. But my sword helps me control my power, so things might get interesting."
Subaru nodded as Felix walked over and stopped in front of them, handing Ian a wooden sword as well.
"Be careful," Felix said.
"I administer the death penalty to this insubordinate man who sullied the knighthood's honor!" Julius said. "And to this lying scum who was so bold as to weave an entire lie background in order to cover up for his disrespectful friend." He looked to Ian and Subaru as the knights cheered. "Now, it wouldn't be uncommon for you to be slain for such offenses, but much to my dismay, one of you is Miss Emilia's attendant, and the other is indebted to her. Therefor, we will fight using wooden swords. I will allow you two to fight together if you wish."
"No," Ian said. "I'm fighting you first. If you still want to fight Subaru after I beat you bloody, you're welcome to it."
Julius's face turned into an infuriated glare. "Still you claim to be a former knight? Still you claim to be my equal?"
"Equal, no," Ian said. "Using all of my abilities, I claim to be more than capable of beating you."
Julius glared at him before turning sideways, left arm behind his back and right arm holding the sword upright in front of himself, tilted toward Ian. Ian adopted the same stance, seeing the irritation in Julius's eyes. Then, Julius shot forward. Ian stepped forward, only to be watching Julius adopting his stance again. Ian's eye twitched in irritation before he took a slow breath to calm himself, retaking his stance. Julius's knees bent, and he was suddenly in front of Ian again, as he had before Ian skipped backward. His sword slammed into the side of Ian's head before Julius was just beginning to charge. Ian met his charge this time, focusing harder to try and control his power. He had to clamp down, or he was going to wind up in a very bad situation. He reached Julius and deflected his slash, slashing back. Julius spun, nearly as fast as Elsa, but not quite. And his attacks, while both powerful and fast, lacked the monstrous power of Rem's. Julius's blade knocked Ian's away before he drove his own into Ian's gut. And suddenly, their blades were just meeting the first time. As Ian began to pass, Julius spun, only for Ian to jump, flipping over him and slashing from above. Julius leaned out of the way, stabbing upward at Ian, but Ian managed to deflect it by angling his sword, allowing himself to flip onto the ground and spin, slashing at Julius. Julius stepped backward, Ian's blade breezing past in front of Julius's face. Julius's eyes widened before he lunged, his sword slamming into Ian's side. Ian staggered to the side, gritting his teeth as he felt a welt already forming. He began to turn just in time for Julius's blade to slam into his eye. Then, he was just missing his slash at Julius's head.
Julius lunged, slashing, and Ian blocked the strike. Julius spun, slashing again, and Ian squatted under it, then stood, slashing upward and catching Julius between the legs. He howled in pain, staggering backward, and clutched at his groin. "You have no honor or dignity!"
"That's something I learned as I watched my comrades be massacred," Ian said. "If you handicap yourself by fighting with honor and dignity, you allow countless opportunities to defeat your opponent to pass you by. When you're fighting for a reason that matters, honor and dignity don't. When it comes down to it, and you're fighting for a cause that truly matters, it's win or lose. Honor doesn't matter."
Julius looked furious. He straightened up and bellowed in rage, streaking forward, his sword crashing into Ian's in a blistering series of strikes. Ian focused, and Julius was just staggering backward. He opened his mouth, and suddenly he was slashing again. Ian narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, blocking two of the strikes before he was suddenly lying on the ground, blood running out of his mouth as Julius sneered at him from above.
"Is that it?" Julius asked. "How could someone of your pathetic skill ever face Elsa Granhiert?"
Ian narrowed his eyes, then focused hard, clamping down on his curse's power. He would beat Julius. He would make him choke on his pride. He pushed the curse's power and Julius's foot landed in front of him at the beginning of his last string of attacks. Ian focused, recalling the exact strikes in order.
Left, right, left, up, left, stab, down, up, stab, Ian recalled, deflecting each strike.
The last stab was at full power, and was the strike that had thrown Ian both times it hit him, sow when he deflected it off to the side, Julius stumbled. Ian shot forward instantly, slamming his blade into Julius's gut hard enough to lift him into the air, then jumped and spun outward, his foot swinging around and crashing into Julius's face, hurling him backward. Julius bounced off of his back and flipped to his feet, only for Ian to reach him, going on the offensive. Julius blocked this first two slashes before Ian stepped forward, ending up barely an inch from Julius before he slammed the butt of his wooden sword's hilt into Julius's gut, making him stagger backward and double over, only for Ian's foot to crash into his face, flipping him backward onto his back. Ian kicked his sword away and held his own to Julius's throat.
"Yield," Ian said, glaring down at him. "Yield and concede that you were wrong."
"I concede nothing!" Julius snarled, kicking Ian between the legs.
Ian grunted, staggering backward before focusing.
"I concede nothing!" Julius snarled, kicking at Ian, only for him to step back, then slash Julius's leg, breaking his shin.
Julius shouted in pain as Ian knelt on top of him, pressing the edge of his wooden blade to his throat, hard.
"You've lost, Julius," Ian said. "Admit your defeat with honor."
Julius glared at him for a moment before nodding slightly. "I yield."
Ian stood and stepped back, Felix running over and beginning to heal Julius's shin. After a few minutes, he stood, glaring at Ian.
"I will admit, you have skill with your sword," Julius said. "But you are no knight."
"Then what does it say that someone of your knighthood lost to a nobody with a wooden sword?" Ian asked, then turned, walking back to Subaru.
"Your turn, Subaru Natsuki," Julius said.
Ian stopped, glancing at him, then walked the rest of the way to Subaru, passing him the wooden sword and taking his sword belt, feeling his curse settle as soon as he had it on. He took Subaru's sword as well and set a hand on his shoulder.
"You're going to lose," Ian said. "Badly. Remember what I taught you, and do your best, but don't expect to be able to win."
Subaru nodded and walked forward to meet Julius. Subaru charged first, but within two swings, Julius had gotten past Subaru's blade and began to brutally beat him with his own. However, no matter what he did, or how badly he hurt Subaru, Subaru continued to get up and fight. His form was okay, but Julius was vastly more powerful than Subaru. Within minutes, Subaru's face was swollen and blood was running out of his nose, mouth, and several cuts, and he was likely bruised under his clothes as well. Ian glanced at Rem, who he was standing with by the door, and saw she wasn't going to be able to watch much longer. Ian slipped his hand into hers, and she squeezed, clenching her teeth. Finally, a door on the upper level burst open and Emilia ran to the railing.
"Subaru!" Emilia shrieked.
Subaru grinned instantly, and Ian sighed.
"He's suicidal," Ethan decided.
"Shamak!" Subaru roared.
However, just as he was nearing Julius, the cloud dispersed and Julius slammed his sword into Subaru, hurling him backward to the ground, Emilia shrieking his name in fear.
"You are irredemably powerless," Julius said. "You do not deserve to stand at her side."
Ian slipped his hand out of Rem's and walked over to Subaru as Felix healed his worst injuries. He picked up the wooden sword Subaru had dropped and glared at Julius, who tensed. "What business of yours is it who Emilia keeps in her company? You have no business deciding who does and doesn't deserve to stand at anyone's side. You think you're so high and mighty because you're a knight? Why don't you take a good long look in a mirror. Yes, Subaru insulted your order. Yes, he claimed to be a knight when he isn't one anymore, but take a look at yourself and your own actions. You proved someone was far inferior to you, but instead of finishing the duel quickly and proving yourself better, you decided to try and beat him to death. Where's the honor in that? If you're such a noble, honorable knight, then tell me how it's honorable to beat someone who clearly can't defend themselves against you to the state he's in? Your precious honor is nothing more than hypocrisy! You weren't defending your honor against Subaru, you were just making him suffer out of spite!"
Julius swelled with rage, but Reinhard stepped between them.
"This challenge has been concluded," Reinhard said. "And either way, he's right. You went too far."
Julius glared at him as well before huffing and turning to the door, leaving the arena. Felix finished tending to the worst of Subaru's wounds and also left. Reinhard offered to help them get Subaru somewhere to rest, but Ian shook his head.
"We can manage," Ian said, lifting Subaru into a seated position, Rem helping lift Subaru onto Ian's back.
The two of them walked to the door, where Reinhard was waiting, but as they passed him, Ian noticed Reinhard's eyes widen and his hand move toward his sword's hilt a couple inches before stopping. Reinhard said nothing, however, and they met Emilia outside the arena and headed to their inn together before putting Subaru in one of the beds. Then, they left Emilia to be alone with Subaru, heading outside instead for Ian to wait for the Witch's scent to fade.
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