I Am N-not Insane!

They entered the hut cautiously, the air inside thick with the smell of old wood and dust. As soon as they crossed the threshold, a massive figure loomed out of the shadows. It was an old giant, his towering frame nearly scraping the ceiling. His eyes widened in alarm, and he raised a huge, worn club threateningly.

"Who goes there?" he bellowed, his voice like rolling thunder.

Reinhard stepped forward, his presence commanding and serene despite the tension in the room. The giant's eyes flicked to the sword at Reinhard's side, and his grip on the club faltered. Recognizing the Sword Saint, he quickly lowered his weapon, fear replacing the initial aggression in his eyes.

"What are you doing in my house?" the giant asked, his tone now cautious and deferential.

Reinhard's expression remained calm but firm. Subaru had already told him about the girl Felt. "We're looking for information about a girl named Felt. Do you know anything about her?"

The giant hesitated, his massive shoulders tensing. For a moment, it seemed like he might refuse to answer, but Reinhard's unwavering gaze bore into him, demanding truth. With a reluctant sigh, the giant nodded.

"I know a girl named Felt," he admitted, his voice low.

Subaru, still on edge, interjected urgently, "Is she coming here?"

"Y-yes," the giant replied, a hint of confusion in his voice at Subaru's intensity.

Emilia looked around the room. "We should wait for her here," she suggested, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "It's the best way."

Puck and Reinhard exchanged glances, silently agreeing to Emilia's proposal. They did not question her apparent certainty about Felt's arrival.

Minutes ticked by slowly. The tension in the air was palpable as they waited. To distract herself and gather more information about this world she was thrust into, Subaru began to ask questions.

"So, who's the current king?" Subaru asked, trying to sound casual.

"There isn't one right now," the swordsman replied. "The throne's empty, waiting for the next ruler."

"And magic? What kind of magic can people do here?" Subaru continued, her curiosity genuine.

The man eyed her suspiciously but answered, "Depends on the person. There are different types of magic—fire, water, earth, wind, and more. Each person has an affinity."

"How long do humans and demi-humans live, on average?" Subaru pressed, trying to gather as much useful information as possible.

Reinhard's eyes narrowed slightly at the seemingly mundane questions. "Why are you asking about such common things, Emilia-sama?" he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Subaru met his gaze confidently, though inside she was trembling. "I've lost my memories," she stated plainly.

Reinhard's expression hardened, his blue eyes searching hers for any sign of deceit. "What possession of yours has been stolen?" he asked, his tone serious.

Puck, hovering nearby, mentally prepared to warn Emilia not to mention the insignia. But before he could intervene, Subaru spoke up.

"I've lost my insignia," she said, her voice steady.

Reinhard nodded, taking her words seriously. "Then we must get it back," he said firmly, but there was a hint of something else too.

They settled into a tense silence, each lost in their thoughts as they waited for Felt. The minutes seemed to stretch into hours, the anticipation weighing heavily on them.

Subaru glanced around the room, her mind racing with the implications of what she had learned. This world was vastly different from her own, and yet, it offered her a chance at redemption, a chance to make things right. As they waited, she vowed to herself that she would seize this opportunity, no matter the cost.

Finally, the sound of footsteps approaching the hut broke the silence. All eyes turned toward the door, anticipation and tension rising once again.

Reinhard opened the door cautiously, revealing a slender girl with wild blonde hair and sharp, alert eyes. Felt glanced around the room, her confusion evident. "Why was I let in without the password?" she muttered under her breath. But then, her eyes widened in recognition and fear as she spotted the Sword Saint. Instinctively, she turned to flee, but Reinhard was faster. He reached out, gripping her wrist firmly but gently.

"Lemme go!"

"Return what you have stolen," Reinhard commanded, his voice calm but authoritative.

Felt sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn't escape this time. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, ornate object—the insignia. She extended it toward Reinhard, who noticed it glowing faintly in her hand. His eyes narrowed, sensing something unusual.

After taking it, Reinhard handed the insignia back to Subaru. "Keep this safe," he instructed, then turned to Felt and Rom. "Stay behind the counter."

"Why?!"

"Plesse lisren to me. "

"Tch,"

Half an hour passed, the tension in the room growing thicker with each passing minute. Subaru's mind was in turmoil. The killer woman was supposed to have appeared by now, yet there was no sign of her. Subaru fidgeted, her anxiety mounting. She felt the weight of every second pressing down on her.

Reinhard, standing by the door, began to doubt the silver-haired girl's sanity. Perhaps the pressure of the Royal Selection was too much for her. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the front door. Instantly, Reinhard took a defensive stance, ready for anything. He opened the door slowly, Subaru holding her breath, and Puck preparing for battle.

But instead of a dangerous-looking woman, an old woman entered. She wore aristocratic clothes, her demeanor calm and composed. She had blonde hair and green eyes. She looked at Reinhard and bowed respectfully.

"Who are you?" Reinhard asked, his tone guarded.

"Christina van Elsa," she replied.

"Why are you here?"

The woman straightened up and replied, "I am here because I asked a girl— Felt to retrieve something for me."

Reinhard's eyes narrowed. "Why did you ask her to steal an insignia?"

The woman's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "An insignia? No, I asked Felt to steal a necklace from a friend. My friend took the necklace without my permission, and I couldn't ask for it back myself, so I hired Felt to retrieve it."

Subaru interjected, her voice laced with skepticism. "That's not true!"

Reinhard turned to Felt, his gaze questioning. "Is what she says true?"

Felt shrugged. "The woman didn't specify what kind of jewelry she wanted. She just asked for something that belonged to her."

The woman nodded. "My friend has white hair, so Felt must have mistaken her for this young lady," she explained, pointing towards Emilia.

Subaru erupted, her voice rising in panic. "She's lying! She's the killer laaady in disguise!"

Reinhard gave Subaru a hard look, then turned back to the old woman. "You should confront your friend yourself instead of asking others to steal for you," he said firmly.

The woman bowed again and left without another word. As the door closed behind her, Reinhard turned to Subaru. "You need to leave, Enilia-sama. It's night and not safe for you to stay here."

Subaru retorted, her voice desperate. "But she is the killeeer woman!"

Reinhard's patience wore thin. "Please leave" he said with slight anger, his frustration evident.

Subaru opened her mouth to argue, but Puck intervened, giving her a hard look. "It's time to go, Lia," he said softly.

Reinhard sighed deeply, watching them leave. "Perhaps Emilia-sama is under too much pressure," he mused. "I must report this to the Council of Wise Men."

"I am n-not insaaane," Subaru whispered as she walked away with Puck.

Reinhard turned his attention back to Felt, a smile forming on his lips. The girl shivered under his gaze.

"We have much to discuss," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "Felt-sama,"

Felt gulped, knowing that her life was about to change dramatically.

oOo

Subaru climbed into a carriage, pulling a cat-ear hoodie over her head to obscure her distinctive silver hair. The gentle clopping of the horse's hooves and the soft sway of the carriage did little to calm her racing thoughts. She leaned back, her mind replaying the chaotic events that had just unfolded. Everything had changed so much in such a short amount of time. The relief of knowing no one had died was overshadowed by the overwhelming uncertainty of her situation.

As the carriage trundled along, Emilia tried to piece together what she had to do next. The weight of her new reality pressed down on her: gender swap, species swap, and a completely new world. It was almost too much to process. She hugged herself tightly, trying to find some semblance of comfort in the unfamiliar body she now inhabited.

Suddenly, a more immediate concern arose. Her bladder felt uncomfortably full. She blushed, realizing she hadn't considered how she would deal with such a mundane necessity without... well, without Subaru Junior.

"Oh… maaaan!" she muttered under her breath, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Emilia shifted uncomfortably, trying to distract herself from her pressing need. She glanced out the window, watching the scenery pass by in a blur. "Fooocus, Subaru," she whispered to herself. "You've got bigger problems than needing to pee."

Puck, who had been quietly observing her, floated closer. "Lia, are you alright?" he asked softly, his concern evident.

Emilia forced a smile, not wanting to worry him. "Yeah, Puck. Just... getting used to all of this."

Puck tilted his head, studying her closely. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me. We're in this together."

Emilia nodded, her heart warming at his words. Despite the bizarre and terrifying situation, she was grateful for Puck's unwavering support. "Thanks, Puck. I'll remember that."

As the carriage rolled on, Emilia took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever challenges lay ahead. She knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but she was determined to face it head-on. After all, she had already died twice. How much worse could it get?

oOo

A tall shadowy building silhouetted against the night sky. Inside, the old woman who had visited the hut earlier stood by a large window, the city lights casting a faint glow on her face. She smirked as she removed her wig, revealing a head of sleek, dark hair.

"I wonder why Roswaal changed the plan," she mused, her voice a mix of curiosity and irritation. Her eyes glittered with a sinister light as she continued, "I really wanted to gut them." She chuckled maniacally, the sound echoing eerily in the empty room.

Elsa's mind continued to churn with malevolent thoughts. She paced the room, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Soon," she whispered to herself, a wicked smile spreading across her face. "Very soon."

TBC

Revised: 29/06/2024