Hello again! Good to see you! Please consider leaving a review, it keeps me motivated!

Enjoy my friends.

Right after the events of the battle, Subaru retreated to his room to shower and freshen up before going to the after party.

As the winner of the event, Subaru was at least expected to make an appearance, and maybe a speech about the 'greatness' of the academy. Although he wasn't so keen on that part.

After freshening up, the raven haired boy turned his uniform back to a timeline where they were fresh off the drying rack.

Subaru's authority is not only suitable for battle, but also very convenient in his mind.

Snapping his fingers, he opened a portal to the Forbidden Library and stepped through.

"Subaru!" A certain loli spirit yelled, jumping into his arms.

"Haha! I missed you Beako… I wish you could have seen me! I won the graduation event!" He said, putting her down on the floor.

"Betty had no doubt Betty's Subaru wouldn't lose in fact." Subaru beamed a smile at her for the compliment.

"Beako, none of this would be possible without you. Everything I did out there, were things I copied from you… So, thank you… Beako." A sweet smile grew on the great spirits face at her contractors thanks.

"Subaru needs to give himself more credit I suppose. Although you copied Bettys spells, Betty's Subaru was the one to utilize it in battle. Don't think for a moment that there is no effort on Subaru's part in fact." She chastised.

Subaru nodded and smiled softly.

"I know that… It's hard to think that way though, from my point of view." Beatrice pouted at this.

"Grr, Subaru should just listen to Betty and shut his mouth I suppose!" She teased, making her contractor chuckled.

"Yea yea… By the way. I talked to Roswald about your contract." Beatrice grew a serious aura at his words.

"And?" She prodded, Subaru let out a sigh.

"He promised to help me release the contract if he helped me revive your mother." Beatrice took a step back at this banger of a response.

"H-How? How could that be even possible!? She's been dead for over 400 years in fact!" She yelled, making Subaru frown.

"He said her body is being suspended in a magic device. But that in itself is not able to revive her… He needs dragon blood." The great spirits eyes lit up in realization.

"The half elf… That's why… Now it all makes sense! The soul transfer was completed! Every Roswald has been the same person hasn't it!?" She yelled in anger.

Subaru nodded at her sharp deduction skills.

"That's right. I don't know why he didn't tell you but I'm sure he has his reasons…" Subaru said, getting on his knees to hold his spirits little arms.

"He didn't specifically tell me not to tell this to you, but I don't want there to be any secrets between us… So I'm going to have to ask you to keep what I told you about secret. I don't need Roswald angry with me." He pleaded, to which Beatrice nodded.

"All this time… That stupid annoying Roswald!" She yelled, tearing up in anger and frustration.

"I'm sorry Beako… Everything I do is for you. I will do anything to get your freedom… Nothing will get in my way, not even you." He said with a confident smirk.

"Don't make Betty put her foolish contractor in his place I suppose." She teased, wiping away her tears with her arm.

"I have to go now Beako. They are expecting me to show up for the after party. Plus I get to see Emilia in a formal dress! Kya, what a day!" Beatrice rolled her eyes at her contractors perverted tendencies.

"Will Betty's Subaru be back tonight I wonder?" Subaru nodded at her question.

"Yea, I'm officially graduated so I can leave whenever I want!.. I'll see you tonight." He replied, opening a portal with a wave of his hand, the raven haired boy went back to his academy room leaving the great spirit to her thoughts.

'Perfect.' Subaru thought, adjusting his usual knights uniform Rem made with the help of a random mirror hanging on the wall of the castle hallways.

He stopped himself before opening the double doors to the dining hall. He could her the popping of a bottle, people conversing, some polite laughter and the clanking of silverware.

Bracing himself one last time, he took a deep breath and opened the doors, taking in the sight.

The normal benches were cleared away and replaced with fancy table sets and expensive eating utensils. Some were already eating, some just chatting.

'Fuck, I can't wait until this is over…' Subaru cursed.

This kind of environment wasn't his strong suit. His brash personality came across as rude to the pompous ways of the nobles that he would inevitably be forced to talk to.

Gracefully sifting through the conversation groups, the raven haired boy searched for his Lady in hopes to speak to a familiar face.

"Ah sir Natsuki!" A random voice spoke up from behind, making Subaru turn to face it.

It was a well fed noble around his height, dressed in the most extravagant of formal wear.

"Ah, hello there. Is there anything I can help you with?" Subaru asked, not forgetting the knightly manners he was taught for such occasions.

"Yes in fact there is my good boy. My name is Kal Telayun. I'm a noble who owns land just outside the capital. I saw your performance earlier today and was very impressed! I was hoping we could talk some business?" He offered, shaking Subaru's hand.

"I'm honored you would even consider someone such as myself… But I am already bound by a conflicting agreement. I'm terribly sorry Mr. Telayun." Subaru replied, bowing slightly.

"Ah… Are you serving the half-devil? I thought it to be just rumor, but I guess it is true. Truly a pity to be forced into such an arrangement." He said bitterly, immediately taking his leave.

'Fucking asshole…' Subaru thought, resisting the urge to smite him.

Shrugging it off, he continued on his original path and finally found the table the special guests dined at.

As he approached, he noticed Crusch and Anastasia, they seemed to be rather friendly with his Lady, which made him happy. She needed girls her age to talk with. Even if they were rivals.

"Greetings honored guests." Subaru said with a bow and hand to his chest.

The first to take notice was the merchant.

"Hey ther' nice ta metchya. I'm Anastasia Hoshin, this is ma knight, sir Julius Juukulius." She mentioned, gesturing to the purple haired knight behind her who bowed politely, which Subaru returned.

"I got some othr' members of ma camp aroun' here somewhere. Probably causin a ruckus I reckon." She said with a sly smile.

"It's an honor to meet you Lady Hoshin, and you too, knight Juukulius." Subaru replied.

"Please, we are fellow knights. I hope you would call me by my first name." Julius said with his charming smile that Subaru was jealous of.

'Guh… So handsome.'

"I wish you would call me Subaru then." Julius nodded at his request.

"Subaru…" Said Emilia who was awfully quiet.

"Yes my Lady?" He said with a deep bow, making Emilia pout.

"Haah, just take a seat already." She chided.

Unfortunately, the only seat left was a lonely one that sat across from the three dragon candidates and their company, Julius, Felix and Roswald who sat on the far left who had his usual smirk.

'I feel like I'm about to be interrogated…' Subaru thought, taking a seat.

Luckily Reinhart came to the rescue and sat a plate of food down in front of Subaru.

"Here you go, friend." He said softly, taking a seat.

"Hooh? Is this De ja vu?" Subaru asked his red friend whom gave him a confused look.

"Uh, never mind."

Emilia opened her mouth to speak but Crusch beat her to it.

"I would introduce myself, but I'm confident you remember me as I do you." She said, folding her fingers together on the table.

Subaru became noticeably unconformable but quickly recovered into a small smile.

"Yes, we met during that bandit subjugation… I was terribly rude, I… Apologize for that." Subaru apologized, to which the Valkyrie raised her hand.

"Don't trouble yourself with it. You were grieving, I understand completely." She comforted.

"No, You saved me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart…" Subaru said, bowing his head.

Emilia became downtrodden. Here was a rival to the throne, knew more about her knight than she did. Well, it didn't help he kept it hidden. But that didn't stop Emilia from feeling terrible about it.

"Perhaps it was an inappropriate question, I too apologize." Subaru shook his head at her apology.

"No, I needed to thank you anyway. This was a good opportunity." Subaru and Crusch smiled at each other much to long for Emilia's comfort.

"Ahem. Subaru, I just wanted to say how proud I am. You're training truly paid off. I'm glad that you are my knight." She said, rather aggressively for Emilia.

'What? is she marking her territory or something!?' Subaru thought, sweat dropping.

"I'm sure you toooold Beatrice of your succes. She must have been soooo elated her contractor did not dissapooooint." Roswald said.

"Yes! She threw her arms around me and praised me until I almost died of embarrassment!" Subaru replied, exploding his spirits reaction.

"Um, I doubt that's what happened." Emilia deadpanned.

"Guh! How could you doubt me!.. I was just joking. As Roswald said, she was glad I did not disappoint." He said with a fond smile.

Julius perked up after hearing about THE great spirit of Yin.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is the great spirit of Yin like? I mean Beatrice." A proud smile grew on Subaru's face at the spirit knights curiosity.

"Although she looks like an 11 year old girl, she is actually 400 years old! But she is the cutest thing you will ever see on the planet! Blond hair with curly twin tails, blue eyes, pink dress and adorable round face! Kya, sometimes I jus-! Ahem, She is a dear friend and I cherish her very much…" He finished seriously which was a complete turnaround from his original description.

"I… See…" Julius said awkwardly. Subaru rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

Subaru dug into his food before it got cold. The candidates made small talk and Julius took a seat to the right of Reinhart upon Anastasia's request , who was now in between the spirit knights.

"Subaru." Reinhart spoke.

"How did you manage to make a original spell? At such a young age that's quite impressive." Subaru sure could get used to all this praise. He didn't get much of it back home.

"Well, I wouldn't actually call it an original spell." He started. Reinhart and Julius were now even more intrigued as the others across from them were lost in their own conversations.

"What do you mean?" Julius asked.

"It's a mixture of three spells. Al-Shamak, El-Vita, and Minya." He explained as his plate was taken away by a servant.

"I take a Minya crystal and cast El-Vita on it to increase mass and weight drastically. Then I make two portals that are connected to the same dimension facing each other horizontally, one is the entrance and one is the exit. Subaru explained, he activated the seals on his eyes, snapped his fingers and demonstrated a miniature version of how he set up the portals.

"Because they are in the same dimension, the crystal will free fall in a never ending loop. The longer it falls, the faster it gets. Once it reaches super sonic speeds, I move the exit of portal to the sky and let it strike my target." Subaru moved the top portal to the ceiling of the dining room to demonstrate.

"I see, It's incredible how such a small Minya spell could have such a devastating effect." Reinhart said, impressed.

"Yea, hopefully the arena is okay. I didn't think it would be that damaging." Subaru said sheepishly, deactivating his portals and the seals on his eyes, stopping the pink glow.

"Worry not, Reinhart here has done much worse." Julius teased.

"Ah, I apologize." The sword saint replied, guilt evident on his face. Causing Subaru to laugh at him.

"Hahaha! You don't know how to handle a little teasing do you Rein?" Reinhart apologized again, making Subaru chuckle and pat his shoulder.

"Ah, hello esteemed guests." A voice said from the raven haired boys left.

The man had flushed cheeks and smelt like liquor. He went to sit down to the left of Subaru and almost missed the chair, but he managed to get seated properly with a few grunts.

"I hope you don't mind if I join you." He said, grabbing the wine in the center of the table and poured himself a glass that he did not need.

'You're already here…' Subaru thought, annoyed at the drunk man's actions.

"I am marquees Hilgard Coy. I own the city Hanumas… I have a very interesting proposal for you young knight." He bragged, putting a hand on Subaru's shoulder.

"I see… Maybe we can speak anoth-" Subaru's attempts to get him away failed as he was interrupted.

"I am in need of some merchandise that needs to be moved in a… Timely manner. You're advanced Yin magic would do just the trick! Lord Roswald is wealthy but I can guarantee to pay much better. No offense." He gestured to Roswald, whom just waved it off as nothing.

"Aha… Well, I have had previous arrangements with lord Roswald and Lady Emilia. I'm afraid I cannot help you. I will be busy very soon." Subaru explained, removing Hilgard's hand from his shoulder.

The drunk man looked at Emilia with disgust.

"You are serving this thing? Please! A half devil should not be in the presence of someone like yourself. You should value yourself more!" He said with a laugh.

Subaru clenched his fists as he saw Emilia shrivel up from his prejudice comments.

'If that's how it's gonna be… Then fine.' Subaru thought, activating the seals in his eyes.

Reinhart was about to speak up but Subaru held up his hand and stopped his friend.

"Mr Coy." He said aggressively, stood up and looked down on the drunk man with glowing eyes.

"You say you're impressed with me right?" The man began sobering up at the look Subaru gave him.

"O-Of course I am! That's why I wish to hire you."

"I may be decent in battle… But I pretty much flunked all the other classes. Especially the one where they teach you about the courteousness of a knight… Care to take a guess why I failed?" The cowering man gulped.

"Um… Why did you fail?" He asked awkwardly, as if Subaru forced him to ask.

Subaru then lifted his hand and held his middle finger and thumb together to snap them.

"Because I lacked restraint." Subaru growled.

He finally snapped his fingers and the obnoxious man fell straight into the floor through a portal, chair and all. He didn't even have time to yelp in shock. Subaru deactivated the seals and waved his hand, closing the portal.

Subaru was louder than he thought and noticed everyone in the dining hall staring at the winner of the event. He could clearly see Captain Gildark in the distance pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Is there something on my face?!" He yelled out. Making them rush back to their conversations.

The raven haired boy straightened his knight uniform and pat down his black shawl before taking his seat again.

"Apologies. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had ignored it." Subaru said, bowing to the resident's at the table.

Felix started laughing.

"Are you kidding? That was great nya!" Subaru was thankful for the tension breaker and cracked a smile.

"Although I think it was deserved, I wouldn't exactly call it knightly behavior." Julius teased.

"Subaru… Where did you send him?" Reinhart asked a bit worried for the rich man's well being.

"Haah. Let's just say he will have to get along with the ground dragons." Roswald let out a chuckle at this and Emilia was awfully quiet.

'Why are you so pathetic Emilia? You can't even stand up for yourself… How can you possibly expect to be a ruler with such a weak constitution?' The half elf berated internally.

"Don't let it bother you my Lady. If any other jerks try and pull crap like that just tell me and I'll set them straight." Subaru assured with a confident smirk.

Emilia didn't know why but she felt the need to avert her gaze.

"T-Thank you." Subaru nodded, accepting her thanks.

The night went on, the three candidates and their knights conversed in small talk before they all decided it was time to retire for the night.

"Subaruuuu." The jester called out as they left the dwindling dining hall.

"Yes Roswald?"

"I know it's so tempting to gooo back to the Manoooor with your dimension crossing. But I woooould really appreciate it if you would goooo back with Rem and maaaake a stop. She's waiting at the frooont gate of the castle." Subaru winced at his request.

"Guh, you know we don't get along well…" He reasoned.

"Yes yes, Rem haaaas some issues, but thiiiink of it as a boooonding opportunity. Try to get clooooser, your such a people persoooon after all." He said with a wink, heading off into the hallways.

"Haah… Alright." Subaru said to himself, snapping his fingers he made a portal to the front gates and found the Mathers carriage.

"A pleasure to see you tonight Rem." Subaru said with a slight bow.

"Stop being pretentious and get in the carriage." She said in a cold tone.

"Shyeesh, yes ma'am." Rem rolled her eyes at Subaru's antics.

"Why are you on the coach seat? Get in the carriage…" She hissed, making the poor boy sigh.

"Listen Rem, I'm a knight now. How could I let a girl be by her lonesome in the middle of the night?" He reasoned in a dramatic voice.

"Tsk, whatever…" Rem slapped the reins on the ground dragon and they left the capital of Lagunica.

The silence was suffocating. It's been 30 minutes since they left the great walls and Rem sat there in misery. Hating that she had to be sitting next to a supposed Witch Cultist.

"Rem… I know you suspect me of being a Witch Cultist… I know me smelling like the Witch is pretty good proof… But I'm not! If I were such a powerful Cultist, why would I wait this long to do you harm? I have had so many opportunities to do so! That fact contradicts what proof you have. So tell me, what do I have to do in order for you to trust me?" Subaru pleaded, the oni took a while to respond.

"Rem trusts no one who smells of the Witch." She said with a glare, making Subaru sigh in frustration.

"I guess it will just take time." Rem huffed as if he didn't just hear what she said.

"Roswald told me you needed to make a quick stop?" Rem was hesitant to answer, but decided to.

"There's a small merchant stop between Mill Gray and Bonobo. Lord Roswald needs me to deliver a letter and pick up a few supplies." She said flatly, Subaru hummed in affirmation.

About 2 hours later, Subaru and the oni could see smoke on the horizon.

"Rem!"

"I know!" She yelled back, slapping the ground dragon with the reigns. The carriage lunched forward at impressive speeds. Subaru almost fell backwards.

Rem led the ground dragon up the pathway to the merchant stop.

"Stay here! That's an order!" He yelled, irritating the oni for being ordered around.

Subaru casted Murak on himself and jumped off the coach seat, summoning his javelin as he landed in the middle of the chaos.

Dark robed individuals ran around, massacring the residents who lived there.

Buildings burning, screams echoing nearby. Suddenly, everything went quiet. The robed individuals surrounded Subaru who prepared himself to attack.

'Ten attackers. Fuck.' Subaru was then surprised at their actions. Instead of attacking, they bowed to him in unison. Despite the villagers running for their lives, well what little hadn't been killed.

"Lord, we didn't know an honored one such as yourself would be with us on this mission. I'm terribly sorry as I haven't seen you. Are you perhaps, Archbishop of Pride?" The one directly in front of Subaru asked.

"What the fuck do you even mean!? Why did you kill all these people!?" He yelled in fury gripping his javelin.

They cowered on the ground, groveling to the raven haired boy.

"W-We are terribly sorry for offending you! If we did not carry out our instructions properly then we wish to be punished!" He yelled, smashing his forehead on the cobblestone multiple times.

"I only need one of you to tell me who you work for and what your purpose was here. The rest of you will die. Who will volunteer first?" Subaru threatened, impaling his javelin in the ground.

The robed men were clearly confused.

"You… Who are you? You clearly have the love of the Witch, but you know nothing of your own cult? Imposter!" He yelled in fury. All of the ten Cultists rose to their feet in unison, ready to attack.

Knives flew out of their long sleeves forcing Subaru to jump up with Murak.

"El-Vita!" He cast on himself, making him crash into the ground at great speeds, causing the ground to tremble, knocking the Cultists off balance.

Subaru swung his javelin like a baseball bat at the cultist closest to him, obliterating his head into a mush of brains, blood and bone.

Not wasting anytime, he crouched down dodging two flying daggers from behind. Grabbing the dead cultist, he got away from the kill zone so he was no longer surrounded, and used the body as a meat shield to avoid getting hit from their seemingly endless amounts of daggers.

'Are they magic?' There's no way you can fit that many daggers in a robe and have it flow so freely.'

A Cultists charged at him, Subaru threw the meat shield to block the attackers view, then penetrated his javelin through the meat shield and into the Cultist charging, leaving 8 left alive.

Subaru swung his javelin forward, so the two dead Cultists impaled on it, flew off into another. Now they finally started thinking and dispersed amongst the surrounding burning buildings. Just waiting to land a sneak attack.

"Finally gonna use your heads huh? Alright… So be it, Minya!" Subaru casted. His eyes blazing pink in the night.

The crystals struck the houses, covering all of them in solidified Minya magic, forcing the Cultists to jump away. The blast from Subaru's attack extinguished most of the fire burning the home's

They still were much more spread out than before, everything was much darker due to the flames being mostly extinguished.

"Okay, play time is over… Al! Shamak!" The Cultists prepared themselves after hearing and Al level spell being casted.

With the help of the seals, Subaru memorized where every Cultists was standing. Snapping his fingers, a portal engulfed him from above.

"Where did he go!?"

"How the hell am I supposed to kno-!?" The robed man never finished his sentence as a golden javelin ripped open his head from behind.

As the dead Cultist fell, the attacker was nowhere to be found.

"What!? Come out you coward!?" One of them yelled.

"Okay." He heard a whisper.

The cultist found it difficult to turn around though. Looking down, that damn javelin held him in place via piercing his chest.

"Satella, will avenge me…" She gasped out, losing her breath as She died.

"Yea yea, keep telling yourself that." Subaru deadpanned.

"Everyone! keep changing positions!" One yelled from the shadows. A good counter to Subaru's strategy.

'Tsk, they caught on.'

Changing tactics, Subaru went with the good old charge and destroy them with brute strength.

The raven haired boy charged the one that was constantly throwing daggers at him.

"Your so go damn annoying, ya know that?" He said, punching the enemy in the stomach, grabbing his neck and slamming him into the ground, breaking his neck.

'Four left.' Subaru thought as he dodged a dagger aimed for his head.

He stomped the ground with El-Vita then jumped high in the air with Murak to get a birds eye view of there position.

The dust blocked their view of his position, but Subaru could see them clearly as they avoided the dust cloud.

After months of training, Subaru's Authority had evolved. Now he is able to not only manipulate things around and above him, but now also below, making air combat much more viable.

He snapped his fingers, creating a portal behind a cultist and one below him. Dropping down he exited behind the robed man and choked him out silently until he died.

'Three left.'

Subaru heard screams of pain, sounds of chains and crunching of bones.

'What the hell is it now?' He thought coming out from behind cover.

Rem furiously killed two of the cultist. Blowing ones guts straight out of his body with a morning star, and the other ripped in half with the chain.

Subaru hurried as the furious oni was about to kill the last cultist, but Subaru got in between the morning star and the cowering robed man.

He watched it come at him in slow motion. Reaching out his hand, he made sure that his fingers avoided the spikes. The moment it touched, he casted Murak, making the weapon weightless. Allowing him to stop it seemingly instantly to Rem.

"What are you doing!? That's a Witch Cultist! He needs to die!" Rem screamed, violently pulling back her weapon. Ready to throw it at any moment.

"Take a look around you! I killed them rest of them. I need answers!... Let me interrogate him!" Subaru pleaded/ordered.

Rem was hesitant but thankfully complied.

"I'll give you ten minutes… Then I don't care what you say." She hissed, putting down her weapon.

"Yes ma'am." Subaru nodded, grabbing the Cultist by the throat.

"What was the Witch Cults plans for here?" The Robed man laughed wickedly.

"Why should I tell you? Your gonna kill me anyway." Subaru smirked and ripped off the man's hood.

It wasn't some horrifying ugly being like Subaru was expecting. He looked like a completely ordinary person. Which means a Witch Cultist could blend in anywhere. Which is a disturbing thought.

Subaru slammed him on the cobblestone, making him moan in pain. Ripping up the man's hood, he tied it around his head and gagged him so he didn't try to bite off his tongue.

"You're right. We are going to kill you. But it's up to you whether it will be a quick… Or excruciating death." He threatened, putting his hands on either side of his head.

"I want you to tap my shoulder when you want to start answering my questions…" Subaru began to push inwards on his skull with his hands.

The Cultist could feel cracking noises as Subaru pushed in further. Making him scream in pain through the gag.

"Look into my eyes!" Subaru yelled, adding to the stress.

Then, something unexpected happened. Not to the Cultist, but to Subaru. He found himself laying on his back, staring at a warm light.

The light had millions upon millions of threads cascading downwards into the dark abyss which were the edges of this large circular dimension he lay in.

The raven haired boy stood up. The floor seemed to be made of glassy water, but did not get him wet. Every step he took made a ripple. The color of the ceiling was a sky blue which eventually faded to white in the center of the ceiling where the threads cascaded.

"M-My magic! Its!... Its gone! What have you done mongrel!?" the Cultist yelled from behind.

Subaru noticed he also had no magic or any use of his authority.

"Look bud, I got no idea. But while we are here. Might as well continue our interrogation…"

Subaru said kicking him to the glassy floor, causing it to ripple outwards.

Subaru didn't have his supernatural strength anymore, so he had to resort to beating the shit out of the guy for information, but he absolutely refused to talk.

"I gave you the chance for an easy death and you didn't take it! Well then, so be it… Say hello to your comrades in hell for me."

"No! Wa-!" Subaru crushed his neck with an stomp. Letting out a huge sigh.

He then noticed a faint shimmer. A thread coming out of the dead Witch Cultists body. Subaru touched the thread and he saw images, memories. Horrible, awful things that the dead man had done in the name of the Witch.

Subaru eventually found that they were looking for a hourglass shaped artifact. But they didn't know what it did. Looking into his memories was a complete waste and burden on his mental health.

After the viewing, Subaru broke down and cried. Not necessarily because of what he had seen, but the fact that he had done some of the same things these terrible evil people have. How was he any better? How could he even have the right to judge them?

'Hypocrite…' He heard a menacing voice echo in his mind.

"Take me out!" He yelled in rage.

As if listening to his pleas, his vision distorted and he was back in reality, still in the middle of crushing the man's head.

Subaru's arms went limp. Blood dropped from the Cultist eyes and nose.

'Did killing him in that strange place also kill him in real life?' Subaru pondered as he got up from his kneeling position.

"He's dead…. Let's look for survivors." Subaru whispered, deactivating his eyes, walking off unsteady. Puzzling Rem.

'He only questioned the Cultist for a few seconds. What happened?' Rem thought, walking the opposite direction, looking for survivors.

"Anyone there?" Subaru called out.

The raven haired boy could barely pick out a wheeze from underneath some rubble. Throwing a half destroyed wall to the side, he picked up the small girl in his arms, maybe around 11 or 12 years old.

Looking at her closer made Subaru let out tears of pity. Both of her eyes had been gouged out by the cruel Cultists, and a sharp piece of wood ran through her lung. Barely allowing her to breath.

"REM!" Subaru yelled, running back to the village center with the girl in his arms.

She met him there and he handed her to Rem carefully. Taking off his knight uniform jacket which he turned back time to make clean, lay it on the ground and had the oni set the injured girl down on it.

"Can you heal her!?" Subaru asked frantically as Rem concentrated on her healing magic.

"Well!?" Rem became irritated at the knights impatience.

"No… Rem can't." Rem whispered, deactivating her healing magic.

"What do you mean no!? She's still alive!... Fuck!" Subaru yelled, his fists grasping the cobblestone.

"I-Its… Okay. I…. I don't have anything to live for… not anymore. Ple-ease, let me die." She grunted out, regaining consciousness from Rem's healing magic.

"T-Thank yo-u… for tr-."

Subaru closed his eyes tight as the girl died thanking them. His chest quivered as he was about to explode in anger and frustration.

"I should have let you come with me Rem… If you were here with me you could have saved her!" Subaru berated himself.

"No, Rem couldn't. Rem's healing magic is not advanced enough to heal an injury that bad. Not to mention the amount of time that had already past. Even if Rem had gotten here sooner." She corrected. But this didn't make Subaru feel any better.

Subaru got to his feet slowly and walked towards the dead Cultist bleeding from his open eyes.

Subaru wanted to scream and shout at the corpse for how terrible of a person it was. But he felt he would only be a hypocrite in doing so.

He exhaled a shaky breath and raised out both hands, a golden javelin appeared in each one.

Subaru pierced the duplicated weapons into the corpse's chest, lifted it into the air and with a roar he ripped it in half by forcing them away from each other.

Rem gasped at the random display of brutality. Subaru just stood still as blood showered him.

"Did that make you feel better?" Rem asked warily. Subaru exhaled loudly.

"No, it didn't." He admitted, dropping the two weapons.

Rem wanted to ask how he had two of the same weapon, but decided he was not in the right state of mind to answer such a question.

The raven haired boy engulfed himself in a portal, and a few moments later, walked out completely free of blood and a freshly clean knight uniform.

"We should go back… Whatever it is you needed to pick up, it sure as hell isn't here anymore." Subaru muttered, gesturing for the oni to go inside the portal."

"What about the carriage?" Rem questioned, leaving the dead girl on the ground.

"I'll take it home… Please. Go… Tell Roswald and Emilia what happened." He whispered, on the verge of having a mental breakdown.

Rem nodded and walked through the portal, she instantly found herself standing at the front door of the manor.

"Did I have him wrong all along?"

The raven haired boy waved his hand, closing the portal. Slowly walking back to the ground dragon, his mind was numb, feet heavy and exhausted.

As if sensing his distraught, the ground dragon growled and nudged him as he went by, prompting Subaru to pet the creatures neck.

"If you only could understand… The things I've done… You would run away." He said somberly.

Subaru looked at the starry night sky as the ground dragon remembered it's way home. Contemplating his decisions since he arrived in the world.

The stars twinkle in his eyes as he gazed upon its beauty. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he shut his eyelids.

"If only they knew… I would be abandoned…"

"Rem!?" A pink haired oni yelled in worry as she embraced her sister.

"What happened to you!? Why isn't that idiot Barusu with you? Why are you so dirty?" Rem looked down with guilt, as her sister bombarded her with questions.

"I think sissy and Rem should speak to Lord Roswald and Lady Emilia." Rem said, talking unusually serious with her sister.

"Whatever you say sister."

"What do you mean you left him!?" Emilia yelled in worry.

"Apologies Lady Emilia, Knight Natsuki asked Rem to leave him to bring back the carriage and inform Lord Roswald and Lady Emilia.

'Hoo? Knight Natsuki? Interesting…. Did Subaru succeed in getting through to her?' Roswald thought as he intertwined his fingers while sitting in his office with the two maids and the dragon candidate present.

Puck then decided to join the fray before his daughter could overthink things.

"Lia, You saw how powerful Subaru is now, he can handle himself… As much as I hate to admit it." Puck said, patting his daughters cheek.

"I know but… This is the Witch Cult! They could want revenge…" She finished with a quieter tone.

Puck sighed at her never ending worry for her knight.

"Haa… Lia, It should only take a few more hours for him to get back, the ground dragons know the way home. Also, why isn't Betty here?" Puck questioned, causing the oni sisters to look at each other in confusion.

"Master Puck, Knight Natsuki is the only one who can easily find Lady Beatrice…" Puck did a cutesy face and knocked on his head.

"Oh! Right, forgot about that." Roswald smirked at the little cat.

"Doooont worry, Subaru will tell dear Beatrice of hiiiis dealings with the Cuuuult."

Emilia gathered her bearings and nodded.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for him until he gets back. I don't have anything going on tomorrow anyway."

"You don't have to wait long…" Emilia gasped, whirling around she saw her Knight with a smirk on his face.

"How did you get the ground dragon back Barusu?" Ram questioned/warned.

"It was taking too long so I used dimension crossing to get it here. It's already in the stables and put away so rest easy." Subaru said waving his hand.

"Subaru! Thank Od your okay…" Emilia said, getting very close to his face.

'Although it is very welcomed, I don't think Emilia knows anything about personal space…' He thought taking a step back.

"It's going to take more than a few small fry Cultists to take me down my Lady." He said with a deep bow, making Emilia pout.

"Gosh! This is what I get for worrying about you? Hmph!" Emilia turned her head away from the knight teasing her.

"Okay okay. I'm back, Emilia…" He said in a more tender tone, making Emilia take a step back and put her hair behind a ear.

"T-That's what you should have started out with… Dunderhead." Subaru almost exploded from how cute Emilia was being.

Why is she so clingy all the sudden? Not that he didn't like it, quiete the opposite.

"Roswald."

"Yes dear Subaruuuu?"

The Cultists were looking for a artifact with an hourglass shape, about the size of an open hand. Do you got any ideas?" Roswald put a hand to his chin in thought.

"Hmm, I haaave never come across any such information. I'm terribly soooorry I couldn't be of mooore assistance." Subaru shook his head at the jesters reply.

"Don't worry about it. It wasn't much information to go off of… I'm pretty tired so I'm gonna see Beako then hit the sack… Good night." Subaru informed, walking out into the hallways shortly after.

Subaru only took a few dozen steps before he heard Rem call his name.

"Please wait Knight Natsuki." Subaru turned around and looked at her with hallowed eyes.

"I'm tired… Make it quick." Rem looked away in guilt with how she had treated him for Subaru to react this way.

"Rem is sorry… Rem was convinced that anyone with the Witches scent was evil, but… Watching you cry for a little girl you didn't even know, not wanting to give up saving her even though Rem knew she couldn't… There's no way an evil person would do that." Subaru was stunned at the maids confession.

"Rem doesn't know why Knight Natsuki smells like the Witch… But she is willing to overlook it as long as it's you." She explained, avoiding his gaze.

"I'm also sorry for being so blunt just now. I… Wasn't expecting that response." Rem nodded in understanding.

"If Knight Natsuki decides not to forgive Rem, then she understands." She replied with a deep bow.

"There is a way." Rem looked up with a glimmer of hope, awaiting his offer.

"Call me Subaru."

'Hah?'

"Betty thinks her Subaru did a good job, I suppose." Beatrice complimented as she sit on his lap in the comfy chair they snuggle in together in the library.

"I don't know… I feel like I was missing something… I feel like I could have done more." He admitted, clenching his fists.

"Betty thinks Subaru needs to start focusing on head pats per the contract, I suppose."

"Sorry, I'm out of rhythm today."

"Yes, Betty agrees Subaru's rhythm is extraordinarily bad today in fact." She teased, making her contractor roll his eyes with a fond smile.

"You never fail to make me smile… Beako." He whispered.

Beatrice could sense the unease in her contractors heart. So she turned around and snuggled into his chest.

"Betty is more than happy to fulfill her contractors perverted masochist fetishes, I suppose." Subaru chuckled at her feistiness.

"Hey, you used a word from my homeland." The spirit nodded as she started draining Subaru's mana.

"Only around Betty's contractor. Betty won't allow anyone else to know more about Betty's Subaru than she does in fact."

"Gosh, such a tsundere…" He teased, pulling on her curly hair.

"Grr… Why won't Subaru tell Betty what that means I wonder!?"

A couple weeks has past since the Witch Cult incident. Things have calmed down in the manor and Subaru is about to go on his first official mission. Walking with Emilia in Lagunica…. How hard could it be?

"Please watch your step." Subaru said as he offered his hand to his Lady as she got in the Mather's carriage.

"Thank you Subaru." He nodded and closed the door, then helped Ram with the luggage.

"At least you learned how to speak properly Barusu. Whether you decide to do it or not is going to be a mystery." The oni jabbed.

"Ouch words hurt Ram… And your also completely right, I'm not one for all that eloquent speech bull shit. I'm just practicing."

"Ram stopped listening halfway so don't expect her to remember what you said." Subaru sighed at her deadpanned reaction.

"Just drive the damn carriage you mean girl."

"Hmph."

Subaru rolled his eyes as she went to coach the ground dragon.

Subaru closed the carriage door behind him with a click and sat opposite to Emilia.

"Subaru, why don't we just use your… Um dimension crossing? To get to the Capitol?" She questioned as the carriage started moving.

"I wanted to use it too, but Roswald said not to make a habit of doing it. Apparently it's a big deal and if I'm not careful, those old coots on the council will make a fuss about it." Subaru explained.

"Ah, that's a shame... Rem packed us a snack for the way there in case you get hungry."

"Hoh? How nice of her." He said with a small smirk.

Puck then decided to come out from behind his daughters hair.

"It's good that you are getting along now… I heard she thought you were a Witch Cultist… It was really awkward watching you two." Subaru nodded in agreement.

"Yea, The Witch Cult incident may have been a blessing in disguise for the sole reason of clearing things up of course… I'd rather it not happen at all, but it did…" Subaru said, Emilia gave him a soft smile at his thoughts on the matter.

"You did your best Subaru. I know you did." Emilia assured.

Subaru believed her. But he didn't believe in himself.

Subaru didn't respond, instead avoided his gaze out the window of the carriage, looking at the passing scenery. Emilia became a bit downcast as she knew she failed to get through to him again.

She wanted so bad to know what had happened between Lady Karsten and her knight with this bandit camp, but so much has already happened recently that she felt it inappropriate to ask him. But maybe he would be willing to talk about the Witch Cult incident?

"Do you want to talk about it? What happened at the merchant stop." Subaru didn't dare to look at her, lest she see his hallowed eyes.

"No." He whispered, to which Emilia nodded in understanding.

Emilia felt bad for Subaru but was also frustrated. In her mind it wasn't fair to hide so many things from her when she was so open with him. But that was just because Emilia had a very young naïve understanding of human emotions.

"I'm sorry Emilia." Said girl tilted her head in confusion.

"What for? I don't understand." Subaru looked at her, finally taking his gaze away from the window once he composed himself.

"I must seem like a complete mystery to you… You're probably frustrated that I won't open up… Don't feel like your alone in that. I didn't even open up to my parents." He said, looking away in guilt.

'Subaru's parents?' I wonder what they are like!' Emilia thought briefly.

"You try to hide it Subaru… And you do it very well. But I have been around you long enough to see the burden you are carrying… Don't apologize to me. If anything I'm the one being too nosy." She admitted, making Subaru chuckle softly.

"What is it!? I'm trying to be serious here!" She exclaimed with a pout.

"You are too kind." He said with a fond gaze, making the half elf flustered.

"D-Don't look at me like that!"

"Like what?"

"Haah, never mind…" She said, avoiding his gaze.

'Man, Emilia is being extra cute today!'

Lagunica was busy as usual. People of all different races. Went up and down the streets, going about their business for the day.

Coaches stopping their ground dragons yelled at some of the less considerate people to get out of the way. Which was met with dirty glares.

Subaru observed the crowds carefully as he walked behind his Lady, whom against his asking, had a white concealing cloak to hide her identity.

Finally getting free of some of the thicker crowds, the knight was able to walk side by side with his Lady.

"Man, that was a little rough, hopefully it thins out by the time we leave." Subaru said, getting a nod from Emilia.

The raven haired boy could tell Emilia felt a bit down. Probably having to do that she felt it necessary to wear the cloak.

"Gah! How I wish you would show your face. How am I supposed to see those beautiful amethyst eyes underneath that hood?" Emilia shook her head at his antics.

"Gosh, your teasing me again!" Subaru could tell the way she sounded that she was smiling.

"Hoh? I managed to get a smile didn't I?" The half elf looked away from his gaze as they walk.

"You will never know, Dunderhead." She responded, eliciting a chuckle from her knight.

"You want to get a late lunch? I'm kinda hungry." Subaru proposed.

"I guess that's okay, but… I don't have any money…" Subaru sighed at his Lady's forgetfulness.

"Haah… I guess you will have to take out a loan from me then. I charge 300% interest." He jested, making Emilia concerned as she didn't really understand the concept of that yet.

"I-I'll pay you back when we go back to the manor Subaru." She said, obviously nervous at what her knight may be asking for in return.

"Relax. I'm just kidding. Wait here and I'll go over to the food stall there, looks like they got some pretty tasty dishes." He said, taking in the lovely scent of the food.

"Okay, I'll be here." Subaru nodded at her response and walked off. Leaving Puck to keep an eye on her.

"You okay Lia? Puck asked from behind her hair.

"Yes… Just nervous, you know I'm not good with crowds. Especially since I'm a hal-

"I know Lia, me and… Subaru will keep you safe!" He hesitated speaking about her knight.

"I wish you would be nicer to Subaru, Puck. You two will be around each other a lot more now." She pleaded. Making the great spirit sigh.

"Okay okay…" He muttered, going back into his crystal.

Emilia then had someone bump into her, a small girl with blond hair.

"Excuse me, I didn't mea-" Emilia didn't bother finishing her sentence as the girl with a little amount of clothing ran off at great speeds.

Something was off… She opened her cloak and noticed the strap of her purse had been cut off and the bag had been taken!

"Thief!" She yelled, running off towards the direction the blonde went, albeit at much slower speeds.

"Emilia?... Emilia!" Subaru called out.

"What the fuck Puck! God damnit!" Subaru seethed.

Subaru turned to a random couple at a table enjoying a drink.

"Good evening. Something urgent just came up. If I'm not back in five minutes, you can have that." Subaru said, leaving the food on their table.

"Um… Okay?" The man said as he saw the mysterious boy jump straight into the air as if he was flying, making multiple people gasp in surprise.

"I'm gonna ream that cats throat when I find them…" Subaru mumbled as he frantically looked around. Hovering in the sky with Murak.

Subaru saw a flash of white turn into an ally not far and activated 'vision' is what he calls it now.

He burned the location into his memory, luckily, it was in range of his targets.

Subaru closed the distance by simply stopping Emilia in her tracks with a one sided portal, then he made another underneath himself, dropped down and appeared through the portal in front of his Lady.

"Might I ask what the actual hell your doing?" Subaru asked nonchalant with crossed arms.

The girl was about to speak but he heard a crass voice behind him.

"This stupid bitch is blaming us for stealing somethin from her! We didn't do shit!" A scrawny kid with buck teeth yelled.

"They are telling the truth Lia." Puck mentioned from the necklace.

Subaru was getting more and more pissed off at this situation.

"Okay! How about this… Do you know who could have stolen it? Anyone notorious that comes to mind?" The three blockheads gave him a smug smirk.

"Hoh… And what's it to ya? What's in it for us!?" The short one said, annoying the knight further.

The three found themselves suddenly very compliant, when three golden javelins impaled the ground inches from there feet with just a flick of the knights fingers.

"O-Oh yea! Something suddenly came to mind! Felt! I'm not sure if it's her or not but if they managed to catch someone of your magnificent skill off-guard. It's probably her!" The scrawny one sucked up, rubbing his hands together nervously.

"Where can we find her?" Emilia piped in.

"In the slums! We don't know exactly but if you have a little coin people will talk!" Luckily for the three thugs, Subaru was satisfied with this answer and he let them go with their tails between their legs.

"Emilia… What happened to calling my name when you needed something? Subaru said turning around to look at her.

"I'm sorry… It slipped my mind…" Emilia avoided his gaze as he closed the portals and returned the javelins into their correct timeline.

"Don't be too hard on her Subaru!" Puck yelled playfully, punching him on the cheek, which felt more like a tap.

"And you, why didn't you stop-! Haah, whatever. Let's go to these slums and find this Felt girl before it gets too dark." Subaru said, walking off with Emilia to get directions.

"I'm sorry Subaru… I just got so focused. My pendant was in my bag that was stolen, and I just panicked. I should have called right away…" She apologized, hanging her head. Subaru waved it off.

"Relax, it all turned out okay, we have a lead. We'll get it back, I promise." He said with his usual Subaru smirk.

"O-Okay, I trust you, Subaru."

The two, well three if you count Puck, got directions and found themselves walking into the slums.

The colors of the main part of the Capital seemed to turn dull, everything was dirty and people were curled up in the alley ways as they walked by.

Sometimes the breeze would bring in a putrid smell to his nostrils. Most likely human waste or dead animals. Or both…

"How terrible… Emilia said, now with her hood down, exposing her lovely face.

"Yea… Take it in, this will be something you will need to address when your king." Emilia looked forward in determination.

"I will… Thank you… For helping me. Not just for all that you've done so far, but you know erm.. For serving me." She said awkwardly, making the knight crack a smile.

"Hoh? I'm so honored to be praised by such a beautiful elven princess guh!"

Puck then came out of his crystal to 'defend' his daughter.

"Hey! That's enough flirting today!" He yelled, floating in front of Subaru, making him roll his eyes.

"Puck! Subaru and I aren't flirting, he's just teasing me." She yelled, getting annoyed at the two of them constantly contending.

"Relax Puck. I'm just messing around, but that's enough of that. I think I found someone to ask, stay here." Subaru said, walking up to a child no older than 10.

The poor demi-human boy looked scrawny, practically dressed in rags. Subaru knelt down to the boy curled up on the side of a building.

"Hey kiddo, I'm in need of some information, and I think your just the guy." Subaru said with what he thought was a charming smile. Nothing like Reinhart's though.

The boy looked at him skeptically before getting up to walk away, but Subaru grabbed his arm.

"I'll pay you." This had a great affect on the child as he held out his hand awaiting said payment.

"Payment in advance. Makes sense for information… Feels weird paying a kid so young though." The knight muttered as he put a silver coin in the boys hand.

"I'm looking to buy stolen goods… Where should I go?" The boy looked both ways before answering.

"Take a left when you reach the water. There's a large building called the loot house. Old man Rom runs it. Everyone here knows him." Subaru stood up and nodded at the boy.

"Thanks kid. This place is miserable… That much is easy to tell. But better days are coming. I promise." Subaru replied, ruffling the demi-humans hair.

"See ya kid!" The boy ran off with his easy money and a little hope filled his soul.

"Did you find out anything?" Emilia asked.

"Yea, some guy named Rom runs a loot house. Not sure if it's our guy but the kid says it's well known in the slums so theirs a good chance… Follow me. Don't wander off this time." He teased.

"I said I was sorry!" Subaru laughed at her reactions.

"I can't help but tease you my Lady, you give the best reactions." He said with a chuckle.

"At this rate I'm not going to pay you back for treating your Lady so poorly. What kind of knight does that?" She jabbed.

"Ha! Your knight does. We take a left up here."

The sun was just now setting over the horizon, the housings long shadows started to disappear as night drew close.

"This has got to be it…" Subaru murmured, looking at the shady looking building.

Stepping onto the porch with his Lady, the knight knocked on the door.

"What's the password?" A gruff voice questioned from inside.

"I've come to buy your… Merchandise." He hesitated.

"Says who?" They replied.

"Someone with a lot of money." Subaru heard heavy footsteps approach at his response, a few moments later the door barely creaked open.

"How much we talkin?"

"More than you could make in years selling stolen shit." The man opened the door fully, revealing him to be a massive demi-human.

"The names Rom, everyone just calls me old man Rom, you can use whatever, come take a seat." He said, gesturing them inside.

Subaru and Emilia, who had her hood up at her knights request, sat at a bar as Rom served them some drinks.

"Can I offer ya any ale? Alcohol?" He offered, to which they both declined.

"No, I'm sorry to be rude, but we are in a bit of a rush. Do you know a girl named Felt?" Subaru asked, the giant paused for a moment and looked at him cautiously.

"Did she cause you some kind of trouble?" He asked, picking his words wisely.

"Haah, she stole a pendant from my companion here. We need it back and I'm willing to pay a high price." Rom rubbed his chin at the knights explanation.

"Well Mr?"

"Subaru."

"Subaru, Felt did take a job recently she should be back any time now. She had a few other things to… Take care of today." Rom said ominously.

"Uh huh… Okay, we will wait here then, thank you for the hospitality." Subaru said with a small bow.

"Don't mention it kid."

Emilia remained quiet as her knight and the demi-human made small talk, only a few moments later did the same thief that bumped into her earlier, entered from behind the back room of the building.

"Rom! What the hell? Those are the people I stole from today!" She berated to which the old man just rolled his eyes.

"Aw shut yer yappin Felt, they came here to buy it back. And how the hell was I supposed to know they are the owners of the item from first glance you brat!" Rom said ruffling her hair.

"Geh, whatever… The actual buyer should show up any time now, so if you don't have over 10 holy coins then you can scram." Felt said, shooing them off. Making Subaru have the urge to hit the little shit.

"I assure we do have more than that…" Subaru said pulling a giant bag of gold coins out from seemingly nowhere in their eyes.

"They aren't holy coins but if you count them all up it should be more than enough."

"Oh? I didn't know there would be competition… How unfortunate for me." A sultry voice said from behind.

Subaru spun around and quickly got to his feet. Something didn't feel right. The woman was dressed like a prostitute and looked like a typical female build. But there was something about her, a strength that a normal person could not detect.

"Puck, be ready to protect Emilia, this fight will probably be tough." Subaru warned, walking a few steps closer to the mysterious woman dressed in dark purple.

Her tight dress accentuated her curves, and the deep cleavage went all the way down to her stomach.

"If you weren't so hostile I think I'd ask you out for a drink. But then again, my mother always warned me about crazy chick's like you." Subaru joked.

The woman's eerie smile never left her face. Making Subaru feel uneasy.

"My my, aren't you just a charmer. It makes me want to see your guts…"

Felt then walked beside Subaru, completely oblivious to the danger.

"Oi! What the hell!? You trying to scare off my client? Get the hel-" Felt stopped mid sentence as Subaru caught a kukri aimed right at her face.

"Get back, all of you." Subaru said in a low tone, Emilia didn't like this situation one bit.

"Subaru I can help! You know I can!" She protested, but Subaru never left his eyes off of the hostile woman.

"Emilia, this is my job… I know your strong but if something happened to you… I'd fail as a knight and as your friend. Please, stand down." Emilia hesitated but nodded and did as he said.

"Kid are you sure? This is not your fight. She's clearly here for the pendant, just give it to her." Rom suggested, to which Subaru shook his head.

"No, she's already hostile, she will not leave until we are all dead… Isn't that right Ms.?"

"Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter… And yes you are correct, you will all die this day." She said, licking the blade she didn't throw.

"Bowel Hunter huh? That's a stupid ass name… Come at me Bitch." Subaru taunted, to which the assassin smiled wickedly and did just as he asked.

Elsa went right for the guts, to her surprise, not only was it parried with the kukri she threw at Felt, but she was pushed back despite her super human strength. She skillfully retreated to reassess her opponent.

"You are more extraordinary than you look." Subaru gave her a dead pan expression.

"Gee thanks, you too I guess." He replied fiddling with her kukri.

The assassin pulled out a spare blade, now wielding two weapons.

"Please, do entertain me." She whispered, charging at him again with violent, unrelenting attacks.

Sparks flew from the clashing blades. lighting the room in flashes

'We are about equal in speed, even when using Murak to move. What a monster. She's stronger than me, but as long as I have momentum I can push her back with Vita. The rest is down to who is better with blades…' Subaru thought, barely keeping up with her attacks.

"Yes, excellent! Give me more!" She yelled with a flushed face, an expression of pure joy graced her features.

"Okay you fucking freak, Minya!" Subaru casted, forcing Elsa to pull back from her confrontation with the knight and dodged the incoming minya crystals.

"Oh, a yin mage to boot? I think I might just fall in love…" Subaru grimaced at what her sick version of love probably is.

"But look at what you've done, your crystals leave you no room to move, but for an assassin like me it's all but an advantage." She purred.

"Yes, normally I would be in a pickle, but I am not most people." Subaru snapped his fingers and the minya crystals flooding the loot house floor burst into purple dust, removing the obstacles.

Emilia watched in worry and awe as the two went back at it in close combat.

'Subaru… You are amazing, to remain so calm… Please be careful.' She thought to herself as her knight clashed blades.

'This is going nowhere, I'm just going to wear myself out at this rate.' Subaru thought, switching strategies.

Elsa went in for another slash to the gut, but Subaru was going to block it with his hand.

'Foolish boy.' Elsa was again shocked as her kukri turned to ash when it made contact with the knights palm.

The short distraction allowed Subaru to fling the ash into her eyes. Elsa jumped back to buy time for her vision to come back.

Before she could escape something penetrated her gut and pinned her to the wall of the building.

"Wow, I'm surprised that worked." Subaru chuckled, slowly walking up to the assassin impaled into the wall with a golden javelin.

Blood streamed from Elsa's mouth as she walked out of the javelin stuck in the wall, the hole in her stomach closing shortly after.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me…" Subaru groaned.

"Sorry darling. Your going to have to try harder than th-" Elsa barely dodged out of the way when the golden javelin flew back into the knights hand.

"It's not polite to interrupted a lady." She scowled.

"It's not polite to kill people who are just trying to do some casual shopping." Subaru jabbed back with a frown of his own.

Elsa's eyes grew wide as the floor boards exploded underneath her, large purple minya crystals incased her foot, making her fall to the ground after her failed attempt to dodge.

Subaru wasted no time, he waved his hand down and a blanket of minya crystals crashed down on the assassin, making a dust cloud of debris.

He threw his javelin immediately after in attempts to impale her to the floor, but her form dashed out from the dust, indicating he had missed.

"Tsk, how in the world did you avoid that?" Subaru asked, genuinely curious.

"Just a trick I learned." She replied, throwing off a small cloak that is now destroyed.

"You cut off your own foot to get out huh? Not that it matters, it will just grow back. Must be nice…" Elsa looked like a normal human being for a few moments after he said that.

"Not as much as you think darling… Let's continue." She said, charging forward aggressively once more.

Subaru was starting to see a pattern in her wild fighting style, exploiting it, he kicked her using Murak for speed and Vita for force at the last moment. Sending her into the wall and smashing a table set along the way.

As Elsa picked herself up, she noticed her opponents eyes now glowed a fiery pink in a star shaped magic circle.

"How pretty, have you finally decided to get serious? I've been waiting soooo long…" She said seductively.

"I suppose I have no choice… Emilia!" He called out.

"What Subaru!?"

"Take them out back… You will need to evacuate." Emilia nodded and quickly urged Rom and Felt to follow, which they earnestly did.

"So, who hired you?" Elsa laughed at the boy.

"Oh I don't rat out my clients… To tell you the truth, I don't even care about the insignia anymore… I care about you. I want to know what your guts look like, the consistency, the warmth!" Elsa hugged herself at the thought of his guts which grossed him out immensely.

'She knows about the insignia? Is she from an opposing camp?' Subaru thought.

Elsa paused her perverted thoughts and had a gut instinct the boy was planning something…

'What is that fluttering noise outside?' She thought, now keeping on guard.

The raven haired boy snapped his fingers and a portal the diameter of a basket ball opened in front and behind the assassin, confusing her.

"Recover from this bitch." Subaru snapped his fingers again and Elsa literally exploded from a fist sized minya crystal hitting her at 3,500 miles an hour.

The wind pressure from that short amount of time the projectile was in the air blew Subaru off his feet and made his ear drums ring, and blew out the windows of the building.

"Fuck I should have covered my ears." He thought, dazed as he got to his feet.

Subaru watched the small chunks of the remains of Elsa to make sure they didn't come back together and revive, but the last attack seemed to do the trick.

"Haah… What a shit show." Subaru said as he heard a knock on the door.

"Uhh, come in?" The sword saint himself then walked in through the broken door and Subaru started laughing. He laughed till his stomach hurt.

"I'm glad you laugh in such a dire situation, but I'm afraid I don't understand why. Perhaps I'm too incompetent." Subaru wiped the small tears in the corners of his eyes as his laughing stopped.

"Ah Rein, only you would knock before entering a crime scene… Haa… Anyway, I'm guessing the explosion caught your attention?" Subaru questioned.

"That and the enormous amount of mana coming from your portals. What happened here Subaru?" The sword saint replied.

Just then the three who previously evacuated walked in.

"Elsa Granhiert. She calls herself the Bowl Hunter. This young man saved our lives." Rom informed.

"And is this… Her?" Reinhart hesitated, looking at the sop of meat on the floor and walls.

"Yes, She was able to regenerate but apparently complete disassembly does the job."

"Incredible Subaru, Elsa Granhiert was a notorious assassin known for being immortal. This feat will not go unnoticed my friend." Subaru smiled at the sword saints praise.

Emilia then swiftly walked over to Subaru and checked him over.

"You're hurt! Remove your shirt and I'll treat it." She urged.

Subaru looked down and sure enough, there was a minor cut vertically across his chest.

"Ya know, you should really be careful how you say that in the future." Subaru said, making Emilia pout.

"I'm being serious!" Subaru avoided her gaze at her chiding.

There was no way he was taking off his shirt and have everyone see his humiliating past on display. So he came up with an ingenious deflect.

"I'm pretty sure there are more important things right now than a minor cut, for instance." Subaru gestured to Felt, referring to the pendant. Emilia gasped in realization, as she turned around to the thief.

"Normally you should go to jail, but I'm willing to forgive you if you stop living a life of crime." Emilia said firmly, holding out her hand.

"Okay okay… I'm sorry, here." The dragon crest pendant glowed red as Felt handed it over, prompting the sword saint to grab her wrist.

"What's your last name!? He asked urgently.

"I don't know I was an orphan.

"How old are you!?"

"Like 14, listen man let me go!" Felt said, struggling to get free of his iron grip.

The red head then touched her neck and drained her mana, knocking her unconscious.

"Oi What's the biggest idea!? Give er back!" Rom yelled in anger.

"I'm terribly sorry, but this is of great importance. I assure upon my name, that no harm will come to her.

"So what am I supposed to do!? Give her up!? Ta hell with that!"

Reinhart smiled at the caring man who was obviously a father figure.

"I will return tomorrow with Lady Felt, please trust me this once." The sword saint said with a bow.

"Tsk, if you don't show up tomorrow, I'm coming to the Astrea manor myself." He warned.

"Of course, Lady Felt will have the utmost care. I assure." Rom seemed to be satisfied with the red heads response.

"You should really be more careful with girls Reinhart, you might come off as abusive." Reinhart hearing this from Subaru stammered.

"I...I would never do such a thing I assure you Subaru!" The raven haired boy simply chuckled at his friends dismay.

"Relax buddy I'm just joking." To which the sword saint relaxed.

"I really whish you wouldn't tease me so much… But then again, you wouldn't be you if you did not." Reinhart remarked, smirking at each other in a friendly brotherhood.

Subaru snapped his fingers and opened a portal.

"This is about 100 feet above the Astrea manor, I trust you can stick the landing?" He asked as Reinhart handed him back the pendant with Felt hung over his other arm.

"Of course my friend, thank you. Good night everyone." He waved.

"Yea, see ya around buddy."

Subaru winced at the cut he received from the assassin as he closed the portal, but the pain was bearable.

"I suppose it's about time we go back my Lady." Emlia shook her head.

"We have to find Ram first. She must be looking for us."

"Geh, Trust me Emilia, she's looking for you, she would abandon me if given the chance." Emilia sighed at their rivalry.

The knight walked up to his lady and touched her shoulder.

"Murak."

"S-Subaru! What are you doing!?" Emilia squeaked as he picked her up bridal style and jumped into the sky.

She hugged onto him tight with her face buried into his neck.

"It's okay, I'm not going to drop you, two eyes are better than one when looking for someone." Subaru reasoned as Emilia slowly took in the view of the night capital for a birds eye view.

"It's so pretty."

"Yea sure is." He said, looking directly at her, but she was oblivious to this.

"Subaru, don't you ever get scared of… All of what happens to you?" She hesitated, Subaru took a few moments to respond.

"When I first came to this world, I've never been more scared in my life, but the things I've been through, the decisions I've made… Have made me pretty used to all that stuff."

"I… See. She replied, a bit downcast at the thought of her knight suffering.

"I know your curious to learn more about me, which makes me truly happy… But the things I've seen, will only corrupt your pure soul. And that's the last thing I want. I want an innocent Emilia, a Lady who's oblivious to the horrors of the world. Even if you don't like it." He explained, making Emilia think.

"You can't protect me from that forever Subaru…" The knight nodded at her reasoning.

"Maybe not, but I'm going to try. To be a 'Protector.'

Hello friends! Wow, that was longer than I thought!

As usual thank you for reading! I really enjoy reading your thoughts on the story and it keeps me going, so feel free to express yourself in reviews!

Have a good day my friends.