"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Time... Time is said to be mans greatest enemy. It is an unstoppable force that no man has ever overcome, its power unmatched.
Time will forever last when everything else always has an end. Even the things made by the gods themselves.
If such a power could be wielded, then only the gods could stop them...
"Ooohh, this is where they really suck you in." A certain 15 year old raven haired boy whispered nonchalant.
The young teenager exhaled a big sigh and left the 7/11 without buying any of the manga he sifted through.
Subaru gazed across the stars, remembering the nights spent studying the constallations with his parents. He let out another loud sigh, which he seemed to be doing a lot lately.
The boy slowly walked back home, contemplating just how much of a disappointment his parents must think he is.
'If only I were better, smarter, faster, stonger and couragous, like my father... Maybe mom and dad would think better of me...'
Subaru wasn't always like this. He was a bright and cheerful boy with high hopes and dreams... But as he got older, the more he realized how extremely average he was, whereas his father was exceptional in every aspect in Subaru's eyes. He would constantly live in his shadow.
The teen cursed under his breath.
'Dont be so hard on yourself mr sage!'
Subaru spun on his heels violently as he heard the childish voice.
"Whose there!" he yelled.
The raven haired boy spun around again, but what he saw was so shocking he fell right on his behind.
He sat in a green lush forest. Luckily, when he fell, there was a nice soft patch of moss to embrace his buttocks.
"Wha... What the hell is going on!?" Subaru flinched the moment he yelled as he heard a blood curdeling roar that bellowed not far away.
He quickly put his back to a tree and peeked around over his shoulders to see what made such a frightening sound.
'What the actual hell was that? A bear? A lion? No, this is more of a tigers territory.'
Subaru didn't have to wait long. Squinting his eyes, he could see brush and small trees being pushed over by the creature. It came into the opening and stood up from all fours.
It resembled a bear, but it was at least 10 feet tall, with 5 deadly claws on each paw about a foot long.
Its coat is midnight black, and it had a large blood red V shape that started from its forehead all the way to its mid back.
Most noticeable of all is the red horn that jutted from its forehead.
Subaru quickly hid behind the tree in terror while covering his mouth, trying to suppress his breath.
But the bear had impeccable senses, and it quickly found the boy hiding.
It looked like a mountain. Its red eyes were filled with nothing but the desire to kill the boy cowering bellow.
Subaru couldn't move. His legs wouldn't listen to him. His knees shook uncontrollably. It raised its paw and brought it down to obliterate the puny human before it.
Luckily, Subaru's knees gave out just as the bears paw was about to lob off his head, and instead, the beast shattered the tree behind him.
The wood shrapnel hitting Subaru's face knocked him out of his frozen state, and he ran. He ran and ran as fast as he ever had before.
The bear roared and chased after.
'Think Subaru think! What are bears bad at!? What slows them down!?' Just then, he remembered watching National Geographic about bears.
'They are bad at running downhill! Their loose mass prevents them from going quickly. otherwise, they will roll over!'
The teen then frantically ran looking for a steep area where he could hopefully get away.
The beast quickly caught up, but it still found it difficult to hit the boy as he weaved between the trees.
Then, the worst and best possible scenario happened. Subaru tripped, but he went toppling over a steep hill and rolled over and over. Wincing and moaning as his body was beaten by gravity.
Once he finally stopped rolling, the adrenaline allowed him to feel none of the pain. He didn't even check to see if his plan worked. He just kept running.
After Subaru could run no more, he collapsed, and there was silence. No brush moving or footsteps. He lost the bear.
Subaru checked himself over and was covered with minor cuts and bruises from going through brush and rolling down the hill.
"I need to find civilization... Wherever this is, it's most likely not earth... Perhaps... I'll rest for a bit." Subaru slumped to the ground with his back to a tree, still breathing heavily.
Some time later, Subaru jolted awake. He had no idea how long he rested, but it is definitely darker out than before. He quickly got up, ignoring his aching muscles.
He walked for no more than 20 feet and heard growling behind.
Slowly turning around, he expected the bear, but alas, it was something worse.
They resembled Doberman breed dogs, but much larger with red stripes in between their ribcage and a subtle sharp horn jutting from their noses and along their back.
Subaru sprinted from the five demon dogs chasing him. The first thing that came to mind was climbing a tree, but he shook off the idea, realizing they would kill him before he even got the chance to get high enough.
He could feel their breath on his heels as they tried to snap at his tendons. His lungs burned, begging him to be rested. But he had to move, or he would die.
Subaru covered his face with his arms as he jumped through a brush patch, scratching open his track suit even more than it already was.
Suddenly, Subaru came to an abrupt stop as he hit a tree that he didn't see in the now dark forest.
He looked up in horror as he saw it was the bear chasing him earlier.
'This is where I die... I didn't do a single good meaningful thing in my whole life, and this is how I die!? How pathetic I am... Mom, dad... I'm sorry for being a terrible son. I should have just told you what I was struggling with instead of stubbornly holding on to my pride to get through it by myself.' He thought while waiting for his death.
But nothing came, he opened his eyes and everything around him was a dull blue color.
'It's... Stopped? No, it's moving really slow! Subaru was shocked. All sound is muted except for a constant subtle swooshing.
After a few seconds, the raven haired boy noticed he could also move but only as fast as the bear... Time has slowed.
It was agonizing how slowly he moved as he watched his impending doom closing in inch by inch. His brain working in real time begged his body to get out from under the bear.
Alas Subaru was not fast enough. Just as Subaru scooted out from his death, 4 of the bears sharp claws sheared the skin off the upper middle of his chest, leaving gaping wounds.
The poor boy felt every moment of excruciating pain as the claws slowly ripped open his skin.
Time then returned to normal, and Subaru hit his back against a tree as he scureed from underneath the bear.
Luckily, the demon dogs chasing him just moments ago decided to switch targets, and all 4 sank their teeth in the bears thick hide.
It roared and spun around in an attempt to fling off the dogs. Subaru didn't stick around to see which would win, but he hoped that they had killed each other.
Subaru then heard flowing water. He rushed to it as a potential escape. The teen stopped at the edge. It had to have been a 50-foot drop.
"Damnit! The other side is too far to jump shit! He cursed, frustrated.
The boy ran along the cliff, looking for a lower drop. His vision was starting to fade from the constant running. His body was not used to such a sudden need of endurance.
It wasn't looking good. No matter how far he ran, the cliff stayed the same height as before.
'If I land wrong or it's not deep enough, I could die or be injured and then die!'
Subaru was knocked out of his thoughts as a demon dog shoved him off the cliff.
He plummeted down, blood seeping from the wound on his chest. The boy slapped against the water, and everything went black.
Meanwhile, a cloaked man watched him float down the slow-moving river, caught up to the wounded boy, and dove into the river to save him.
"I'm sorry... This is going to leave a scar. I'm not skilled enough to heal all of it." The cloaked man apologized to the unconscious Subaru as a blue light emanated from his hands.
Subaru's wounds closed after a few minutes, and it indeed left some scarring. Making the man cringe.
Taking off his hood, it was but a small boy. He struggled to lift Subaru in a bridal hold but managed to take him to the riverbank further down towards his carriage.
--
Subaru gasped as he woke. Jolting up, he winced in pain as his muscles screamed at him.
He sat in a small cot in a plain room with a wood floor wall and ceiling, a single window poured in the sun, lighting the room.
Some bandages and different types of what looks to be medicines lay on a shabby wooden table in the corner.
"Where am I-" Subaru brought his hands to his temples as a painful headache throbbed for a few seconds as his memory returned to him.
"Ahh... It's not a dream... Fuck."
Shortly after, the door creaked open, and a small boy no older than 12 held Subaru's arm, and blue light emanated from his other hand as he hovered it over multiple places on his body including his chest.
"Erm.."
"It looks like everything is okay now." The small boy said relieved.
"I'm Terrance. It's nice to meet you." Subaru shook his hand, still wondering how and what the hell that blue light was.
Looking closer, Terrence was a little shorter than himself, sky blue eyes, and very blond hair. Clothed in something a peasant would wear.
"I'm Subaru, Natsuki Subaru... Are you the one who healed me? I mean, how long was I out. Must have been a while for it to be already closed up." Terrance looked at him as if he grew a third arm.
"Uhm no, I used healing magic. It's a commonly known magic, friend. And you just woke up this morning. Are you perhaps missing any memories or feeling abnormal?"
'Magic? Then I really am in a fantasy world! This... This is my opportunity to be a new person, a hero!' Terrence waved his hand in front of Subaru's eyes and snapped him out of his grandiose thoughts.
"Sorry, I'm feeling fine. My muscles are just really sore from running from those... Things." He finished with a cringe.
"You mean the Mabeasts that chased you off the cliff? Thank the Od I found you. Otherwise, you would have certainly died."
'Mabeast? That's what those demons are called, huh...'
"Well, I'm extremely grateful to you, Terrence. Those damned things are really scary!"
Terrence showed a smile of understanding.
"Going in that forest is practicly suicide. It's relatively safe by the cliff side. But you must have led them over. I was collecting herbs when I found you." Subaru nodded at his explanation.
"So where are we anyway?" He asked, glancing out the window.
Terrence gave him a guilty look.
"I tried to take you to the next town, but I got stopped by my... Comrads... So we are at their camp right now. They are rough around the edges, but I hope you give them a chance." He explained, refusing to look him in the eye.
Before Subaru could converse further, the door burst open.
"Shrimp! It's time for breakfast! Get your ass mo- Well well, looks like blacky finally woke up." The burly tan skinned man said as he grabbed Subaru's chin and lifted it up.
"You will make a fine sparring dummy. Don't worry, we will give you on the job training!" The bandit looking man roared in laughter after roughly releasing Subaru's chin.
'Sparring dummy? Is this actually one of those villains I have to defeat?' He thought, glaring at his back.
"That's Lykon. He's 3rd in command here and is in charge of weapons and training the other members... I'm not sure what he means by sparring dummy, but I'll ask and see if I can make it a bit easier here for you."
Terrance's worry did not go unnoticed. Lykon again yelled from the hallway for Terrence to make breakfast.
The raven haired boy followed behind and saw many rooms in the long hallway which then lead to a open dining area with a large arena in the middle, where he could see 2 men duking it out with their bare fists. With Lykon and those waiting for breakfast watching closely.
Terrence urged Subaru to take a seat in the corner and wait.
The two fighters were brutal. No protective great, no gloves, no mercy.
'Is this really training? I thought these guys were on the same team.'
Subaru was then slapped upside the hide so hard he fell over the side of his chair.
"What the fuck dude!?" He yelled as he quickly was on his feet.
The man he yelled at was huge. 7 feet, bald, scars everywhere, and one eye.
Your typical bandit bastard.
Subaru gulped at the giant, he grabbed Subaru by his arm and threw him in the middle of the arena where the two men were fighting.
He slammed into one of them and toppled him over. The fighter quickly got to his feet and looked at the boy moaning on the floor in rage.
Without a word, he picked up Subaru by the throat and lifted him with only one arm.
Once again, just like yesterday, time slowed as Subaru saw the fist of the fighter slowly move towarfs his gut. But he could do nothing to avoid it.
He could see the distortion the hit made on his bare abdomen and the pain that came with it.
Once he took the hit, Subaru was dropped to the ground, and time returned to normal.
'Again! Last time was not my imagination! Is this my power?' Subaru thought curled up on the ground.
The 2nd fighter picked him up by both arms and made him face the man who hit him.
The dining hall laughed and cheered as he was mercilessly beaten. But to Subaru, it was much different.
Every time the bastard went in for a hit, right as he drew back his fist, time would slow. This caused Subaru to be disoriented from the constant shifting of time and the painful strikes.
Lykon roared in laughter as he watched nearby.
"This is what a sparring dummy is, blacky! You can look forward to more of this every day!"
Subaru knew he said something, but the constant slowing of time made it almost impossible to fully understand.
'Why... Why is this happening to me!? I... I was supposed to be the hero! The main character! But... it looks like I won't change even with this second chance.' Tears streamed down Subaru's cheeks as he kept taking the blows.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Terrence begging for Lykon to stop the fight.
"Alright, let him go!" He ordered waving his hand.
Subaru was dropped to the ground in a heap, his body black and blue, blood running from his nose.
Terrence rushed in and started healing him as fast as he could before Subaru died.
The fighters lost interest and went elsewhere.
Others in the room sneered at the boy for being so small and weak. But Subaru already knew that. And those thoughts hurt more than the beating he just received.
Once again, he lost consciousness.
--
"I don't know this ceiling." Subaru muttered as he opened his eyes.
He once again lay in the room he woke up in last time. Terrence wasn't there, but Subaru wasn't eager to go look for him.
'Why... Why would Terrence bring me here if they were just going to treat me like shit? Did he not know? He's just a kid... Heh, what could I possibly expect from a naive kid.' He thought bitterly.
Not long after, the kid in question entered the room and hugged Subaru in a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry... If I had known this would happen, I would have just left you at the riverbed instead of trying to take you to a hospital."
Some of the anger Subaru held towards the boy subsided as he heard his heartfelt apology.
"You and I need to escape this place. Do you know of a way?" He asked as Terrence stepped back from the embrace
"I wouldn't recommend it. Anyone who has tried has been caught and burned to death or eaten by Mabeasts." Subaru looked at him in horror.
'What kind of people - no, animals, are they!? Burn people alive?'
"I'm the youngest son of the chief. I'm treated fairly well, but I'm discriminated against because I'm nothing like my father... I'm small and can't fight. But I'm useful because I can heal injuries, which happens a lot around here."
"I don't think you understand... If I don't escape, I'll be trapped here as a... Sparring dummy. How am I supposed to live like that every day!?"
Terrence broke eye contact and didn't reply for a while.
"Last year. I helped a boy my age escape... He got caught, and Father found out I helped him... He made me watch as Mabeasts ate him alive."
Terrence lifted his shirt to reveal a burn scar in the shape of an X.
"I was branded with a execution mark. 2 more marks, and I will be immediately executed by fire..."
Subaru's knuckles turned white as he balled his fists. Listening to Terrance's story caused a curdling rage to boil from within his soul.
'What kind of world did I get transported to? It's not fair... How, what am I going to do!?' Subaru thought as he pulled on his hair in frustration.
Tears streamed from Terrance's eyes as he thought of the painful memory.
"I'm sorry, Subaru... Even if I help, your chances are so slim that both you and me may be killed if the father is in a bad mood."
Subaru contemplated this and let out a deep sigh.
"I'm sorry you went through that Terrence... I could only imagine... If I do escape this place, I'll be sure to tell the authorities about the atrocities that happen."
Terrence turned around and faced the door.
"I wish you luck, Subaru, but I doubt you will get the chance as only trusted members are even allowed outside the compound. You would have to swear your loyalty. Ever since I helped my friend escape last year, I have been put on watch and can't even leave... I'm no more than a prisoner. You can use this room to sleep, whenever you need help I'll be there to heal you. But I recommend you climb up the ladder before you do something that will get you burned alive."
Terrence closed the door behind him, leaving Subaru to contemplate his words of advice.
--
"Is that all ya got blacky!? Cmon! Get up, you little prick!" Rody taunted.
Subaru winced back to his feet as the chiefs 2nd son beat the shit out of him.
Unlike the fighters 3 days ago, Rody is a swordsman. He was playing a game he liked to call. "Hit the prick."
Subaru tried his best to dodge the wooden sparring sword. Sometimes, he was able, but most times, he got hit by the straight sword.
Subaru shouted out in pain and fell to his knees after his thigh was hit yet again.
"By the Od, how much can you suck at this!? Even little Terrence would do better!" He sneered.
Rody pulled back his sword and landed a devastating blow to his chin, knocking him out cold.
--
"Behold gentlemen! The sinning heathen who couldn't even land a blow on my magnificent self! Why is he a sinner!? Because he is weak! Now I shall give divine punishment to this fool for being the weakling that he is!"
Hydi was a flamboyant bastard who was much different from his 2 older brothers. He liked to wear expensive clothes in comparison to others who were typicly dirty.
No one dared to offend him as he was the most sadistic of them all.
Subaru was yet again in the middle of the dining room for their entertainment. He was chained to a pole with his back facing Hydi.
Subaru's breath hitched when he heard the unique swhoosh of a whip.
The sadistic man then mercilessly whipped the poor boy, ignoring his screams of pain.
Every lash tore skin from his back. Terrence could only watch from the side as he saw his friend be beaten every day, only for it to continue the next day after he was healed.
Terrence couldn't stand it anymore. He rushed towards his brother and begged him to stop.
Hydi looked at him with disgust. He stopped lashing Subaru and punched Terrence right in the face.
The young boy went skidding across the ground from the punch of his much stronger older brother.
He then started whipping his brother instead. Terrence knew he was not favored by his father, so he dared not fight back against him.
Subaru could hear Terrance whimpering. He wasn't being hit nearly as hard as he was. Probably because they were brothers.
A few moments later, the giant double doors that led outside burst open. The chill night breeze frisked Subaru's wounded flesh.
Heavy footsteps stepped close, and the room went quiet.
The man was tall and muscular with animal fur clothing that kept his chest exposed.
His expression is cold and emotionless. Not a hint of affection when he laid eyes on his sons.
They both quickly walked closer and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Father." They said in unison.
The father said nothing back. He raised his hand and slapped Hydi across the face. Causing him to drop his whip.
He only looked down in shame as his father bore his disappointed look at him.
"That's for fighting your brother." He said in a deep authoritative tone.
He then slapped Terence, who fell to his knees due to his smaller build.
"That's for being so damn weak."
Terrence nodded.
"Sorry, father." They said in unison.
The intimidating man turned to Subaru chained to the pole and had him removed from it.
"And who are you?" He asked in genuine curiosity.
'This guy didn't even know I was here!? This whole time? I bet he will not care for my name by the way he treats his sons. What am I to him?'
"I am... the sparring dummy. Also called blacky..." He replied with his head down in respect.
Not that it was genuine but simply out of fear.
"Hmph, I see you know your place, boy. I apologize for my son's... Hobbies. I'm the chief. That's all you need to know for now. If you show your worth as a capable sparring dummy, then maybe I can promote you to a stable boy." Subaru grit his teeth as he hears everyone snicker at the comment.
"Thank you, I will try my best." He managed to reply in a shaky voice.
"Hydi! Terrence! Come with me." The two sons listened and followed obediently behind their father to do who knows what.
Luckily, Lykon dismissed Subaru.
'Fuck this shit! What did I ever do to deserve this!? To be a prisoner that's beaten and tortured every day just for their sick entertainment!? Haaah... Mom... Dad... I miss you. I've never believed in a god... But if you're out their, please help me...' Subaru lamented as he limped back to his quarters.
--
2 MONTHS LATER
'Left hook, uppercut, liver jab, chin hook. A fighter and a raven haired boy could be seen sparring once more in the middle of the dining area. People cheering and booing all the same.
"What the hell man hit him!" A watcher yelled.
'I'm fuckin tryin!' The opponent thought frustrated.
After two months of beatings and torture, Subaru decided to fight against his fate and work in mastering his slow motion power.
He didn't know exactly what it was or if it differed from normal magic as no one else seemed to notice.
Even though Subaru slowed when he activated just like everyone else. His mind worked the same speed as it would in real time.
'Spin kick.' Subaru thought as he bent his torso over backward, avoiding the kick and almost falling over.
"Stay still, you bastard! He yelled as he finally managed to land a hit.
Instead of falling, Subaru staggered backward, which is an improvement.
"That's enough!" Subaru snapped his head back as he heard the booming voice.
It was a large man. He looked pretty similar to the chief but was still smaller in stature.
"Impressive boy. I am Kyte, Fathers first son." He introduced crossing his arms.
"It's an honor to be in your presence." Subaru said, holding in his heavy breathing and taking a deep bow.
"Enough with the bull shit. I know you hate every single one of us. And I would in your situation too."
'He seems to be much more reasonable than the others.' Subaru thought avoiding eye contact so as not to disrespect him.
"Tell ya what. Take one punch from me. And I'll promote ya from from being sparring dummy." He offered.
Subaru met his eyes that were filled with amusement.
"I would like to try." Subaru replied.
Kyte nodded and pulled back his fist.
'It's a feint.' Subaru noticed
Kyte went for a right hook, but instead of hitting, he used the momentum of his arm to spin on his left heel and deliver a devastating spin kick.
But there was no contact. Subaru had simply jumped back and avoided.
"Why did you dodge?" Did I not say to take the hit!?" Subaru barely hid a smirk.
"That was a kick, sir."
Kyte roared in laughter.
"Good! Good! At least you're clever. But, the deal has not been closed. This time, I'm gonna be serious." He finished in a dark tone.
Subaru gulped and raised his arms to guard his face.
The poor boy saw in slow motion as Kyte's fist plowed right through his arms and smashed him right in the face.
Subaru went flying backward. Blood gushing from his nose, and mouth.
"Looks like you will be a dummy after all..." Kyte hissed as he wiped the blood off his fist.
The men watching sneered at the boy on the floor.
Kyte turned to leave, but.
"Wait. I'm not done yet."
The large man was astonished that such a scrawny small boy wasn't knocked out cold from such a punch.
Subaru spit out the blood in his mouth on the ground and wiped his nose, getting his forearm bloody.
"Terrence!" Kyte yelled.
Terrence immediately came out from the kitchen and bowed respectfully in front of his brother.
"Heal him." Terrence obeyed his words and went to work.
"This young man is now recognized by me! Kyte, first son of the great Chief! Any who dare lay a hand from this day forward, shall insure my wrath." Suabaru looked at him incredulously as he was healed by Terrence.
"Soon, he will go through the trials to prove his loyalty and earn his privilege to serve the Chief outside these walls."
Gasps and grunts could be heard shortly.
The crowd was confused by his words. 'The first son favored a mere sparring dummy? What is this boy?'
Kyte turned his attention back to Subaru, completely ignoring his brother.
"What is your name boy?"
"Subaru."
"Hm, interesting name. We'll then, next week you will go through trials. Be prepared boy." Subaru nodded at his words.
Kyte walked out of the room, the double doors leading outside were slammed shut and locked from the outside.
"Congratulations friend. You have finally earned your opportunity for freedom." Terrence said in a quiet voice.
"I'm not sure what these trials entail but I hope it's nothing too serious." Subaru said as Terrence finished up healing his face.
"The trials can differ... I'm not allowed to tell you what they could be but as my brother said... Be prepared."
Subaru noticed his somber tone and anxiety started building up inside his already troubled mind.
--
The days after where much better. No one talked to him except Terrence.
His food was much better compared to the slop he was given before as well.
"I was expecting everyone to be a suck up since I got the first sons favor, but I'm glad that they are avoiding me. Maybe they can feel guilt in their twisted minds." He said aloud to Terrence dining with him.
His companion chuckled.
"I'm not sure. They are very afraid of all my brothers. And my brothers and I are afraid of Father. This is the sixth day Subaru. Tomorrow is the trial. I know you have a strong sense of justice and have a good conscience. But, no matter what it is, you must do it... Otherwise, you will be branded like me..." Subaru steeled himself at his words.
--
1 DAY LATER
Subaru stood in attention. Terrence graciously gave him a much needed white shirt that he had been missing for a long time as it would have been destroyed the next day anyway as a sparring dummy.
The double doors opened in front of him as he stood in the middle of the dining area.
Kyte walked in first as two of his men drug another man behind him. The man being drug was gagged and protesting incoherent words vigorously.
"Welcome, gentlemen! To the trials for our dear sparring dummy Subaru!" Kyte bellowed.
Everyone in the large dining hall cheered at the mention of the trials. Subaru could see Terrance wince from afar.
The gaged man was forced to kneel in front of Subaru.
"Do you have any idea the sins of this man Subaru?." He asked, smiling.
Kyte's temperament is completely different from the last they spoke.
"Did he steal or something?" Subaru guessed.
"Yes! Not only did he steal, but he also deserted!" The man kneeling violently shook his head side to side with tears streaming down his eyes.
He was promptly kicked in the face for doing so.
He looked to be no more than a beggar with his clothes dirtied and ripped from being tossed around.
Subaru was becoming skeptical weither Kyte was telling the truth.
'Those tears... and his reactions seem to be too eradic. He looks to have no signs of guilt. Only fear.' Subaru observed.
A real straight sword was handed to Subaru.
"The first trial. Is to purge this sinner from this earth." Kyte ordered darkly.
The kneeling man screamed through the gag and was kicked again.
'Kill him!? H-How does he expect me to do that!? I'm only 15! I... I can't.'
Subaru then caught Terrance's pleading gaze from across the room as he knew what the outcome would be if he didn't kill the man.
Subaru slowly approached the man. He was torn. Sure this man stole but he didn't deserve to die.
The injustice. The savageness. His conscience tore apart his mind as tears begged to stream from his eyes from the very thought of killing this stranger.
The two men with Kyte picked him up by his arms to make it easier for Subaru to run his sword through.
"That's it, Subaru... Run him through. Right in the heart." Kyte urged.
Subaru wanted to release his grip and drop his sword but he remembered the horrors he went through this past two month as a sparring dummy.
The beatings, the torture, the humiliation broke him free of his stupor.
'Won't this man be killed anyway? Even if I don't do it, he's still a dead man... Right? It's not my fault... It's not my fault... It's not my fault.'
Subaru let out a way cry and charged through the man. The blade made a sickening sound as it pierced his heart.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Subaru whispered in his ear as the man's eyes lost its color.
The crowd cheered so loud it was almost deafening. Terrence looked at Subaru with pity.
The raven haired boy wanted to scream, kick, cry and wash the blood from his hands as he pulled the sword out of the man who was thrown on the floor.
Subaru knew if he showed any emotional change there would be consequence.
"Throw this trash to the Mabeasts. And bring in the next trial..." Kyte ordered.
The man was drug out. Shortly after a cart with various tools as well as a pot of smoldering hot coal with a red hot brand iron inside, was brought to the middle of the dining room near Subaru.
A moment later another person was brought in but he was not gagged. Fear was clearly evident in his eyes.
"This man has refused to tell us where his belongings are! Including his wife and daughter. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to show us your dedication to the chief...Retrieve the information." He ordered waving towards the tools.
'These are! He wants me to!?'
"You want me to torture him..." Subaru said darkly.
"Tsk tsk, I hate the word torture. I prefer... persuasion." Kyte said sadisticly.
Chains came down from the support beam above and the man was locked in. His feet barely touching the ground.
"Just kill me." The shackled man spat.
Subaru flinched at his vehement response.
Subaru set the sword down on the cart and contemplated what to do.
'I have just killed someone and now I have to torture? If... If I do this then.' Subaru looked down in thought, his eyes shadowed.
"Well, go on... Persuade him. Kyte urged.
Subaru looked from Kyte, to the prisoner and back to Kyte.
"No."
Kyte's smile fell from his face. He walked behind the chained man, drew his sword, and cut him clean through his right shoulder and out his left thigh.
Blood spurt on Subarus face making him flinch and walk back into the cart.
"Two execution marks... Chain him up! Kyte ordered.
The man cut in half way taken down and thrown out while Subaru took his place.
Subaru's heart raced. He knew what would happen. A hot burning iron would etch an X in his skin.
"Hold him!" His two henchmen held him by the arms to stop his struggling.
A wicked smile grew on Kyte's face.
"Terrence!" His brother quickly navigated through crowd and presented himself infront of his brother.
"Yes, brother." He bowed.
"Two execution marks..." He ordered, handing him the iron.
Terrence was aghast.
"Brother. I-If you could pardon him this one time I'm sure he will learn from this."
Kyte was not pleased with his response.
"Terrence... My cute little brother... If you do not do it, will you take his place?"
Terrence was torn. Fear, and anxiety riddled his face as he looked back and forth between the two.
Then Subaru had a moment of courage.
"Do it Terrence." Subaru said with a small smile.
"If you take my place you will die."
Terrence nodded in understandment.
"Just make sure you put it in a place that will look cool for the lady's to swoon over, chick's dig scars." Subaru said with a smirk.
Terrence chuckled bitterly.
"Only you could say that in this situation..." He replied lifting the red hot iron to his left ribcage cage, right below his pec.
Subaru screamed in pain as the hot iron made contact with his skin.
The smell and sound of it melting to form the mark was disgusting. But all Subaru could think of was the pain. The worst pain he had ever felt in his life.
"I'm sorry Subaru..." Terrence whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The iron went into the pot once more to heat back up for the second mark.
Subaru panted with his eyes shut tightly in agony from the burn.
"D-Dont worry about it... Just get it over with." This made Kyte frown at their conversing.
"Shut up you two." He said slapping Terrence upside the head.
Terrence put the second X mark underneath the first and Subaru once again screamed in pain.
Once Terrence was done, Subaru had two X marks the size of a golf balls underneath his left pec, one below the other.
Terrence went to heal him to ease the pain but Kyte slapped him away onto the ground.
"Foolish brother. What is the point of punishment if you heal him idiot." He said sneering at him.
"Ya know what little brother. For interfering in the punishment for this sparring dummy... You get another execution mark." He said grabbing the hot iron.
Terrence backed away on the ground but Kyte pushed his chest down and ripped off his shirt.
Subaru saw his only friend cry as this monster tortured him.
'Unfair... Unjust... Violence... Death... Kill...'
Subaru's thoughts were dark.
The world moved in slow motion as his soul dropped into a deep ocean of despair and misery.
'If only I was stronger! If only I was the one to be chosen! Why am I never chosen!? Am I forever going to be a loser!? My friend is about to be tortured and I can do nothing because I'm so weak! This world... I hate it... Why am I even here?...'
'Dont be so hard on yourself mr sage!'
Kyte turned around as he heard the raven haired boy chuckle. Then it turned into full blow maniac laughter.
"Kill this fool." He said to his two servants, turning back around to face Terrance.
Rustling of chains and frightened yelps from the onlookers fell upon Kyte's ears as Subaru's shackles turned to dust.
One of the servants attacked with his large curved sword but Subaru slowed time. When he touched the blade with his hand, the metal sword turned to dust.
The other Servant took a step back in suprise. Subaru took this opertunity to unsheath his straight sword and kill him, and then slash the throat of the other servant with a smile on his face.
Subaru slowly turned around to face Kyte with a expression that only a mad man would have.
"Your dead kid..." was all Kyte said as he drew his sword.
Subaru saw everything much more clearly than ever before in his slow world. He easily parried and deflected and even counter attacked.
Kyte was pushed back.
"Who... Who are you?" He asked exasperated.
"I am your end!" Subaru said through his creepy smile.
The two went at it again. Subaru hated this man and everyone else who wronged him. But he had this feeling... He was having... Fun.
Suddenly a sword from behind tried to slash down on his right shoulder.
Subaru threw his sword at Kyte making him deflect. He then turned half of the second attackers blade to ash, punched him in the chin, disarming his sword and stabbed him with it.
By this time Kyte had recovered and almost slashed the teen through his back but Subaru pulled the half sword out in time and deflected the strike from behind his back.
The deflect wasn't very strong so Kyte went in for a big over head attack. But Subaru was faster.
Before the man could swing down Subaru got under his arms and stabbed him under his jaw. The sword blade clearly visible in his mouth. Kyte coughed blood on Subaru's face.
The teen pushed in the half sword and pulled down, slashing his jugular in half, killing him.
He fell backward, everyone watching gasped with their weapons drawn. Not wanting to interfere in the fight.
Subaru roared and pounced on the first man he saw. They stood no chance for the unusually agile boy. He slashed stabbed and punched his way through every single member in the large dining hall.
Once Subaru was out of his rage trance, he looked around the room. Tables were broken, bodies thrown and gashed open.
Subaru was covered in blood, his shirt was torn beyond repair and his track suit paints had many cuts in it but was still usable.
He also notice he was riddled with wounds, mostly small cuts and bruises that he barely managed to avoid due to fighting so many people at once.
Looking around he saw Terrence laying on the floor.
He sprinted and noticed he was wounded.
"Terrence! Terrance can you hear me!? We have to get out of here before the others come I need your help!" Subaru said leaning his friends upper body in his arms.
Terrence said nothing. He reached out his hand and started healing Subaru's face.
"Don't blame yourself Subaru... T-This was bound to happen to me anyway. Thank you for being my friend this past couple months... In the next life, I hope we can be friends again..." Terrance's hand dropped from his friends face as life left his eyes.
'I... I killed him! No... I didn't mean it! It wasn't me it was! It was... Me...' Subaru berated himself as he wept over his dead friend, holding him tight.
He didn't have long to mourn as the double door to the outside burst open due to Lykon.
"We're under atta-? What the fu-!?" A sword stabbed Lykon through his chest before he could finish his sentence.
Subaru looked over and saw an old man weilding twin blades in a butler uniform.
He was stoic with white hair and had a beard.
The man raised an eyebrow as he gazed the room and laid his eyes on the boy.
Subaru watched him carefully as the old man approached.
"Is this your doing, lad?" He asked, sheathing his two straight swords.
"Yes." Subaru said simply as he cradled Terrence.
The old man noticed the scars and wounds that lay on the boys skin and assumed he was a prisoner.
'Absolute savages. Keeping a young boy and mistreating him. They deserved death.' The old man thought as he reached out his hand.
"I am Willhelm Van Astrea, may I ask your name lad?"
Subaru looked at his hand skepticalay and decided to take his dead friend bridal style and walked away towards the double doors.
Willhelm, pitying the boy, decided to do nothing to stop him from leaving to go outside.
The compound was large. Huge wooden poles that were wittled into a spike on the top surrounded the building he was imprisoned in with watchtowers on all 4 corners.
It was midday, and the sun shone bright. Quite the opposite of how Subaru felt right now. Considering he just killed his friend.
The further he walked, the more bodies he found. Including the chief who was lying headless. It was a blood bath. They didn't stand a chance. There were strange cuts on some of the wooden walls. It was too clean for a blade to make. But Subaru wasn't too concerned about that.
"Halt!" Subaru slowly turned around with a hollow expression.
A beautiful green haired girl his age in a military uniform stood before him. Usually, Subaru would be flustered, but he really didn't care for anything right now.
"Are you one of these savages? She demanded with a blade drawn.
"No." He replied, turning around, walking towards the exit.
A sharp gushing of air went by his face and slammed into the wood barrier, making a deep cut.
"Do not take another step!" She yelled through gritted teeth.
"Lady Karsten, if I may. This lad seems to be a prisoner, grieving the loss of his friend." Willhelm explained.
"So? We were told to apprehend or kill everyone who resists!"
Wilhelm gave her a warm expression.
"In this instance... I think we can make an exception." The green haired maiden nodded and walked infront of Subaru.
"My condolences for your friend. I am Duchess Crusch Karsten, would you perhaps be willing to answer some questions?"
Subaru didn't even look at her.
"No." He said. And walked away.
Crusch was flabbergasted, no one has ever said no to her like that.
The mysterious boy raised his hand to the barrier and a portion turned to ash, allowing him to walk through into the forest down the hill.
His mysterious power rubbed Crusch the wrong way.
"Are you sure it was wise to let him go, Willhelm?" He nodded.
"That lad is lost and needs to find himself. I am confident he will find his way... Afterall, everything inside the compound is his doing." He reasoned, pointing to the compound.
Crusch nodded and continued on with their investigation.
--
Subaru sat cross-legged in front of a pile of rocks that sat above a tall cliff that was overhanging a waterfall.
"My friend... No, I don't deserve to call you my friend... I killed you. It's not fair. You should be here with me! Free from those bastards who tormented us! But I took it! I stole it from you! And I'm... I'm sorry."
Subaru poured out his heart in front of Terrance's grave. He wept in anguish and guilt.
"When I came to this world... I thought I'd be the chosen one. The main character!.. But all I ended up being was a weak murderer... If only my parents could see what I've become! They would disown me!.. I don't even know who I am anymore! Who am I!? What am I!?"
Subaru's thoughts now said aloud, hit him like a truck. What was he to do now? A murderer like him? He was just supposed to move on? He simply did not know.
"I hate this world!" He screamed in despair.
Subaru finally fully broke down and wept like never before. A never ending stream of tears. And a guilt that would remain on his conscience till the day he died.
--
2 years later
A fancy carrage surrounded by guards are in a precarious situation. Their strongest fighters were injured by Mabeasts and now bandits have decided to take advantage and take the spoils.
The guards were quickly dealt with as the bandits weren't completely incompetent, some even knew magic.
"Run Lady Penelope! Take the ground drag-GUH!" A bandit ran his sword through his back before he could finish his warning.
Penelope was a blue haired red eyed beauty. She wore a yellow sun dress with a white hat and blue bow.
She tried to run away from the carriage but was held by the arm from the bandit who killed her guard.
"Oooh, look what pretty lass I got here, boys! Looks like we will have some fun tonight, too!" He said with a perverted tone, knocking off her hat.
"No! Please! Anything but that! M-My father has money! I'd go for a high ransom, but you can't touch me if you hope to get any money!" She pleaded.
The bandits looked at eachother and laughed.
"You think we care about that? We're gonna have our fun and then hold ya for ransom how about that!?" He said laughing
The girl tried squirming free but the bandit held her arm tight.
That was until a spear ripped through the air and caved in his chest, pinning him to the carriage and killing him instantly.
Penelope screamed in suprise and fear.
The other bandits didn't have much time left to live either as a blur came from the forest not far away and beheaded the last 5 bandits with ease.
Penelope put her hands to her mouth and shut her eyes closed, in hopes that everything would just go away.
When she opened her eyes a figure stood above here huddled form.
He was shadowed and muddy. He wore a Mabeast bear head hood and fur jacket and trousers.
His arms were not in the jackets sleeves so they blew lazily in the wind.
His spear was crude. It was made of bone and looked to have large claws attached at the front that currently impaled a bandit.
He also adorned a necklace with different varieties of teeth, some even... human teeth.
"P-please don't kill me." She pleaded.
The mysterious man ignored her and started looting the bandits pockets for money and other trinkets.
Penelope built up some courage and approached the man looting the dead savages.
"U-Uhm... Thank you for saving me! I-I'm Penelope Shritin. From house Shritin. My father would be happy to reward you if you were to escort me back to my home...?" She offered but the man ignored her until he was done looting the bandits.
"I'm Subaru... And I kill bandits." He stated looking at the girl intensely, making her shrivel back a bit.
Unbeknownst to both, a oddly dressed man that looked like a clown watched from the sky in amusement.
"It is tiiiime Subaru. I hope the book is riiight about you." He said aloud in an interesting accent.
--
Subaru, now 17, sat by a night fire, eating his Mabeast steak. It was terrible. But it was better than starving.
He remembered the first time he had eaten it. He had no choice, if he hadn't he would have starved to death.
The moment it went down his stomach he had a grand mall seizure and hallucinations.
After that didnt go well, he tried eating berries but they just made him vomit.
It seemed like everything in that forest was out to kill him. Subaru forced himself to eat the meat. Every meal was excruciating and tortured.
But eventually his body prevailed. He gained an immunity to it. He noticed over the last 2 years of eating the meat, he had become much stronger, and is able to move faster in his 'Time Zone' he calls it.
He has maintained the ability to turn things to dust. Subaru was under the assumption that it fastforwarded the object he touched to a future so far that it turns to dust. However it unfortunately does not work on living organizims.
"You can come out now!" Subaru yelled, taking a large bite out of his steak using just his hands to hold it.
"My myyyyy. It seems I have been spoooted..." The man who came out was very... Weird.
"A clown? Are you here to kill me too?" Subaru growled lowering his meal onto the log he sat on.
The clown put his hands up to his chest in surrender.
"Oh how couuuld I? After all, I am need of your serviiiiice." Subaru laughed bitterly.
"Oh yea? And what could I possibly offer a... Distinguished man like you?"
He said sarcastically.
"Oohh my. It seems I forgot to intorduuuuce myself. I am Roswald L. Mathers, and I am in need of you Mr Subaru." He finished dropping the accent.
"You know who I am?..." Subaru said grabbing his spear.
"Well yeeees. I have been waaaatching you for quiet some tiiiime.
Subaru glared at him.
"Enough beating around the bush! What do you want?" He hissed.
"I need you to protect someone of great importaaaance. I saaaaaw you escort that lady Penelope yesterday, and was quiet impreeeesed." He praised.
Subaru put his head down, his bear head hood shadowing his eyes. The light of the fire flickered on the two men conversing.
"No." He said looking Roswald in his miss matched eyes.
Roswald frowned and then let out a sigh with a smirk following.
"Look at how your living Subaru. No friends, no purpose, your only hobby is killing bandits and stealing their money. The food you eat is the same every day, not to mention I can't imagine how lonely it gets out here." Roswald said, his accent completely gone.
Everything the clown said was one hundred percent accurate. Subaru was lonely, he was sick of the same food and activities everyday. He missed modern bathrooms and showers. He missed being a normal functional human being in society.
Roswald let Subaru ponder these things, the clown knew he won him over once he jabbed the facts in his face.
"Fine... But don't expect me to be a frilly prick, its not my style." He said, accepting his offer.
Roswald beamed a large smile.
"Why of course Subaruuuu. I wouldn't haaaaave it any other waaaayy. If you would, please folloooow me." He said walking away out of the woods.
Subaru was expecting a carriage when they reached the road, but the clown suddenly grabbed him and put him over his shoulder and started flying!
"What the fuuuuuck!" Subaru yelled in suprise.
Roswald simply laughed flamboyantly.
It was a short flight. Roswald descended too quickly for Subaru's liking but they finally touched the earth.
Roswald put Subaru on the ground. His legs shaky, barely allowing him to walk.
A huge manor stand before him.
"Weeeelcome to my home." Please follow me." He gestured to follow.
Subaru listened and entered the manor. The difference in lighting made him squint until his eyes adjusted shortly after.
A blue haired and pink haired maids stood bowing before himself and the clown.
"Welcome, Lord Roswald."
"Welcome, honored Guest." They said both in perfect unison.
"Subaru, this is my two maaaaaids, Ram and Rem. They will look after your neeeeeeds and give you a tour of the manooooor." He said, waving as he walked away.
The pink haired maid spoke up.
"Rem, I think the honored guest is having lewd thoughts of you." She said, holding her sister in a hug.
"Ram, I think I am going to be violated." She replied.
"I'm right here... Aren't you going to show me around?" Subaru reminded.
"Of course perverted guest." They bowed and urged him to follow.
Subaru grit his teeth at their remarks but decided to hold himself back from berating them.
The manor was giant. It took a good 20 minutes to show Subaru everything.
"This is your room honored guest." Rem said bowing.
Subaru opened the door, but it was not his room, but a library. The smell of old books wafted into his nostrils, strongly calming him. A little girl in a pink dress with blond drill twin tails sat on a stool, reading a black book.
"How rude, I suppose." She said as Subaru walked in.
"This isn't my room, is it?" Subaru questioned sarcastically.
The little girl looked underneath his bear head hood and noticed his hair.
"Black hair? Are you from Gusteko, in fact?"
"I assure you, I am not from... Gusteko, in fact." He teased.
The girl flushed.
"What a oaf! Get out of Betty's libray I suppose!" She flicked her hand and an invisible force pushed him out the doors into the hallway, the doors shut shortly after.
Subaru marched back over and opened the door only to find his own room.
"What?" He said flabbergasted.
"That's Ms Beatrice's door crossing magic. She can make any door connect into her library. I'm suprised you found it on your first try." Rem informed.
Ram no longer accompanied her sister, leaving the two alone.
" Honored guest, please enjoy your stay..." She said with a passive-aggressive tone and a glare.
Subaru raised an eyebrow at this but decided to just take a bath and go to bed.
--
Subaru is at staring himself in the mirror in the large bathroom, big enough to be a spa. His clothes lay on the ground. He traces the scars on his body, the execution marks on his left ribcage, the whip marks on his back, his black hair long and wild from not being cut for two years.
It brought back memories he wanted buried. He was unrecognizable compared to his past self. He looked down in shame.
"What have I been doing all this time?" He said to himself.
"I'm not sure what you mean by that honored guest but I have come to wash your cloths. Here are some to use in the meantime." Ram said picking up his dirty clothes.
Ram's expression fell as she saw Subaru's scars.
"It's not good for a woman to walk in on a man bathing. People will get the wrong idea." He joked.
Ram rolled her eyes.
"You could only wish Barusu." She said, walking out of the bath.
"Barusu?"
--
Subaru, now being properly cleaned after such a long time. Felt like a new man. He was wandering around the mansion in his white pajamas. Soon he was outside the manor.
He found himself drawn to these little lights floating in the air. It reminded him of fire flies.
He walked to the gazebo where it was originating. What he found just about made his heart stop.
Standing in the gazebo with her arms outstretched was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Silver hair, amathyst eyes, elven ears and a wonderful smile. Little lights of different colors hovered around her head and hands, she looked like an angel.
Suddenly some of the lights floated towards him. He tried to wave them away but they persisted.
"It seems the spirits like you." A bell like voice said.
Subaru stared at her and looked away scratching his neck in embarrassment.
"Haah, sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I have just never seen anything like that before. So these things are... Spirits?" Subaru asked finally looking into her eyes.
She nodded.
"Yes, I talk to them everyday. They are just so cute. Spirits have the purist of thoughts and say many loving affirmations." She informed.
"Subaru frowned. Heh, they probably wouldn't like talking to me then." He said with a weak smirk.
The girl gave him a confused head tilt.
"I'm Subaru, Natsuki Subaru."
The girl gave a small smile.
"I'm Emilia, just Emilia. You must be the guest Roswald told me of. He said you would be coming today."
'The clown had just assumed I would come along? Conniving bastard.' He thought.
"Ah yes. I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing here but I guess I'm going to find out tomorrow... Erm, well... Good night." He said awkwardly leaving her quickly.
"Good night? She responded, wondering why he left so quickly.
'Oh my god Subaru your so fucking awkward!'
He didn't have much time to berate himself further as when he opened his bedroom door he was greeted to the loli and her library.
"Gah! It's you again, how do you keep getting past Betty's door crossing, I suppose!"
Subaru simply shut the door and reopened it and it revealed his room.
Just out of amusement he opened the door next to his room and saw the library again.
"This is impossible in fact! Stop this at once before Bet-" Subaru shut the door before she could finish.
The moment Subaru's body hit the bed, it was pure bliss.
'It feels like forever since I've been in a proper bed. Whatever happens tomorrow... I hope it has something to do with Emilia.' He finished his thoughts and drifted into a deep sleep, hoping his usual nightmares didn't ruin it.
--
A/N : I am back everyone! After season 3 I have regained the the motivation to make another fiction.
Been reading some other fics and just couldn't hold it in any longer! I was working on one in like 2022 but I lost interest because it was boring writing a OP character.
Please leave a review! Let me know what ya think! Peace yall.