Does death only come once? (Part 2)
It is warm. Riz‘s hands carefully slide across the soft sheet with a smile across his still sleeping face. He had a very strange dream, one in which he was alive again, saw his mother and ended up in a snowy forest.
He cuddles his pillow enjoying the warmth. This is when something clicks.
„Since when can an undead experience warmth and softness?“ His inner voice questions: „There isn’t even a bed in the coal mine. Also why do I sleep as an undead? I haven’t slept in ages!“
Slowly he opens his eyes and blinks tiredly. He is inside of cozy shack. A fire is about to die down in the fireplace. With slight disorientation he sits up.
„Good morning, Riz.“ A very motherly voice calls out to him. He turns to the left. The undead elf is standing in the kitchen. „Fortuna“, his mind reminds him.
He slurs an almost inaudible: „Mornin“. He was never really a morning person. He tries to stand up by leaving the bed and almost falls down to the ground, barely he is able not to by supporting himself on the frame of the bed. Moving around with a sleepy living body is difficult, he realizes.
„Everything ok?“ Fortuna asked worried.
„Everything is ok. I haven’t slept so well in a very long time.“ He smiles at her. It wasn’t exactly a lie.
„You should make yourself something to eat.“ She tells him in an almost stern voice: „After all growing boys and girls need to eat. I know I am not the best host, but as you can see, I cannot really touch anything. So you have to help yourself.“
Tiredly, he walks torwarts the kitchen shelf. He opens it. He reaches inside and pulls out some kind of jerky. Is it even from some kind of animal he knows?
„Alright, time to eat.“ He muses. He hasn’t eaten in a while, one of the perks of being undead. With caution he takes a little bit of it. „Salty“ is his first thought. „Tasty“is his next. He smiles, maybe it tastes so delicious because of the kind of meat it is, maybe also because he hasn’t eaten in a while. After tasting nothing for so long maybe regaining your taste buds makes you quiet sensitive for any kind of flavor.
He continues to munch on the piece of meat.
„Use the sink for some water to drink, don’t forget drinking, it is important. Glasses stand directly next to it.“ Fortuna reminds him gently.
Maybe it is out of ecstasy of finally tasting again, maybe out of being sleepy, but without thinking Riz‘s mouth moves: „You know Miss Fortuna, I could simply make a contract, which would allow you to interact with the physical word.“
It is only now that he wants to bite his tongue of for running his stupid mouth. He again pushes his knowledge of the other word on her. Like that it is only a matter of time when she will realize I am not an ordinary child. Get a grip! Corpse God was then, Riz is now.
„A contract?“ She asks with an uncertain voice interrupting his inner monologue: „ Isn’t that for spirits? You know I am not the same as a spirit, do you?“ confusion is clearly laced all over her face.
Instead of searching for an excuse his mind replays one word over and over. „What is a spirit?“ he asks with such curiosity that he really seems like a little kid. It is a trade he never lost in all his years and hopefully never will.
„Ah, you know a spirit is… Oh how can I put it fitting.“ Fortuna clearly struggles for an explanation: „ You called me a ghost back then, can you remember that?“
„Yes!“ he impatiently answers.
Fortuna smiles slightly: „ You really are a quit curious one, little Riz.“
Her face turns more serious again: „Well if I have to explain it, let us start with something you know. Like I understand your divine protection grants you the ability to communicate with somebody who once lived.“ He nods.
„But a spirit is different from a ghost like me, foremost they were born as spirits. They are an organism running on mana. Therefore they are special, the do not need food nor water to survive.“
Riz looks in awe. They are almost like a ghost defined by their traits in his opinion, the only difference to a ghost is that they startet this way. His mind runs a million miles per hour. Can spirits and ghosts really be so similar? He knows plenty about ghost. For example there are different kinds, they can form as s simple shade mostly an imprint left on the world of someone, then there are traditional ghost nearly resembling a copy of they once were forced to wonder the world without being able to interact with it.
The next type is a poltergeist, they can be quite nasty followers, they are able to interact with the world around them and clearly abuse this chance. They form normally out of abandonment or betrayal with a certain desire keeping them running.
Lastly, in very rare cases an entity is created. They are a whole lot stronger that an average poltergeist. The biggest giveaway is clearly the fact that while only Beates of the Evil eyes can see the first three types, the entity can be seen by everyone. Usually, the posses a lot of power in mainly one field like controlling plants, the flow of water or even the weather. Often he was seen as a death entity, but to be honest he never tried to think about it, because back then he was just Corpse God and nothing or less.
„Miss Fortuna, I mean Fortuna, Are there different kind of spirits?“
She smiles at him: „What a smart question, yes there are. For one they can be classified after the type of element they represent. Do you know which elements there are?“
He shakes his head, he could guess, but any kind of information can be helpful. After all he is quiet sure he will be confronted with spirits in this world.
„ That’s ok, I will tell you.“ She says almost like some kind of teacher. There are six elements in total. The four common ones are fire, water, earth and wind. The more uncommon ones are yin and yang magic. Typical people are born with an affinity for one element, If they possess a divine protection they are usually linked to their affinity. In rare cases some people can even have multiple affinities, therefore they can use different kinds of magic. But in contrasted to other beings spirit can only use magic fitting for their born affinity.“
Riz looks thoughtful: „ Could you tell me my affinity?“ he asks with big eyes. He doesn’t want to show it but he is almost overflowing with excitement.
She blinks at him thoughtfully: „ Well you see, only something like a great spirit could tell you something like this without a doubt. If I had to guess based on your divine protection maybe earth or even Yin.“
„Whoah“ he truthfully awes at her, but again his mind is confronted with an unknown word: „So what is a great spirit?“
He scratches her head with a sheepish look: „ You really are perceptive for someone your age. If have already told you that differentiating spirits by there element is possible, but often it is also done by power. Depending on how powerful and old they are you can also classify. Spirits begin their lives as lesser spirits, they can be seen as small balls of mana only being able to understand emotions.
As the mature and grow more powerful they can evolve into a quasi-spirit. They start developing a sense of self and even begin to understand emotions, you could compare them to a baby growing into a child.
After some more time or after forming a contract with someone powerful enough they eventually grow into a full fledged spirit. They can communicate and think, even their form changes, sometimes resembling an animal or even a human being.
Finally after gaining even more power the become a greater spirit, but only a handful of spirits have reached that step. Like all beings spirits can die, but when they die the completly cease to exist relinquishing their mana back into Od Laguna.“
„You really now quiet a lot about spirits“ he smiles at her. He still has many questions but thinks it would be better to take a small break. After all he enjoys all this new things and it would be unfortunate if he rushes learning everything about this new world. He smiles because this time he will enjoy learning about the world.
„Come to me Riz, I want to show you something“ Fortuna says with outstretched arm walking to the window near the door. He does as he is told, not because he would ever follow any kind of order from a ghost (even thought it sounds to friendly to be one), but because out of mere curiosity. As he stands in front of the window he can see clearly for the first time how could it must be outside. The window is fogged up and on each side trails of frost surround the glass.
„Try to look out of the window.“ She says to encourage him.
He uses a peace of his cloth to clear it up. At first he sees nothing worth mentioning, that is until he looks more closely at a pine in near the shack. It almost looks like a small flying snowball. With awe his eyes follow it around.
Fortuna smiles: „ I am glad you enjoy the view. It is a lesser water spirits. They can be used to perform healing magic. My niece Emilia once had a contract with one called Rius. She used it to heal her knees after she scraped while playing. And belief me, she was so energetic back that she had to count on their spirits help almost daily. She is such a dunderhead sometimes.“ She smiles while talking about it.
Riz still watches the lesser spirit and without really thinking about it he only replies: „ Who says still dunderhead in this day and age.“
Fortuna laughs: „Probably this old girl here.“ She points proudly at herself. The she gets a more serious expression: „Riz, I want to ask you about this contract again. You said I could use it to interact with the physical world again. What would that entitle?“
He blinks at her: „Well you now, firstly both parties must come to a mutual agreement. Both the contractor and the ghost have to gain something from it. For example you would gain the ability to touch things again, while I could demand that you complete a task. To put it in a nutshell I give you some of my energy and you do something for me.“
„So it works just like with artificial spirits.“ She whispers almost inaudible. Then she looks at Riz: „Would you like to enter a contract with me?“
„Are you sure that’s what you want? If you want to we could try a trail run, we could specify the contract so that it last only for like a week. After that we could renew it if you want.“ He can feel the uncertainty radiating of her.
„I think a trail sounds nice, you know without being able to do anything it can be quit boring.“ She mostly tries to assure herself.
Riz nods. He holds her hand and looks in her eyes. His eyes start to turn crimson and with an almost professional tone he speaks aloud: „With theses words I commence a contract within seven days it ends. The ghost Fortuna shall become part of the world once more, the contractor Rizdilusia Redrazhalf therefore will be cared for.“
A small glow lightens the cabin. He can feel it, the now established contract. It feels like a small splinter in his body- it is not exactly painful, but if he concentrates on it he can clearly feel it. It is not the first one he has formed, usually he can control many of the undead without one, but a ghost with a sense of self always requires one. But he has to be careful. He magical reserves were nearly down to a third after appearing in the forest. It definitely is enough for one ghost, but without an energy source he has to be careful with using other spells.
Fortuna blinks: „ Somehow I know something is different.“ She takes a step back, turns around and reaches for the door handle next to her. She stops shortly before it, looks Bach to Riz and then finally holds it and tries to turn the nob around.
With a small screeching it opens: „It really works!“ She cries out in delight. Then she turns her head in all directions, probably thinking about what to use next.
Riz smiles: „I am glad you like it.“
Fortuna smiles back and looks him up and down as if assessing something: „ You know, I think I got something for.“ With that she walks torwards the closet on the other side of the room. She opens it and bows down: „I think you are about Emilia’s size when she was about thirteen. Ah here is it.“ Fortuna pulls out a thick white cloak, you can see wool was majestically sawn on the inside. It looks pretty warm. Then Fortuna bows down again: „ And here is also a fitting pair of boots and pants. Come on, give it a try.“
With a nod he walks over. Fortuna helps him with changing even though he wants to protest. The only reason why he did not is because he doesn’t know which the appropriate age again was it to change by yourself. That also includes the question how old Fortuna thinks he is. They fit perfectly, almost as if made only for him.
„There you go, why don’t you go play a bit outside. Because of the coldness there should be no meabeasts around. Let me cook you something, after all I have to care for you if I understood the contract right.“
He wants to protest, but playing outside is something appropriate for his age, he believes. He also wants to now what meabeasts are, but before he can Fortuna gently pushes him to the door: „But don’t walk to far off. It will get dark soon, be back before than. I will cook you something, I think I saw some Manashrooms the other day, she muses to herself.“
With that he is again outside. Thanks to the warmer clothes the cold doesn’t affect him to much. He walks around slowly taking everything in: „So that is the world I live now in, what should I do?“
After walking some more minutes he reaches the frozen lake from yesterday. Deciding to take a little break he sits down on small boulder near the shore. In the distance he can see multiple frozen elves. He forgot to ask Fortuna about that.
He stands up and decides to turn around, the setting of the sun convinces him to go back. How long did I even sleep if the sun is going down again or are the days here just shorter.“
Suddenly he comes to a holt. There is a present of a ghost and he is certain that it is not Fortuna. They feel about the same strength, it he cannot feel the contract he Helds with Fortuna. He turns around. The ghost is standing there watching him. How did he not notice he sooner? It is another elf. Was he lost in thought? He has to be more careful.
With a childlike voice he calls and waves: „Ah-A H-hello!“
The elf ghost looks around as if expecting someone else being there. Then he points at himself to which Riz only nods. In a blink of an eye the ghost runs to Riz and bows down: „Can you actually see me?“ Riz nods again.
The ghost has a very serious face, with an almost hopeful face he asks: „How did you unfreeze. Are there others getting freed?“
Riz blinks: „ I- uh wasn’t frozen?“ he answers confused. I am not really from around here. Sorry. What du you mean by frozen?“ he believes this could be his chance to learn more.
The hopeful light in the elf‘s greenish eyes dims: „ You are not? But you are clearly of elven descent, you even wear the traditional clothes for children from our village.“ He turns around and goes two steps back. He looks torwards the sun which almost completely disappeared.
„It was an accident which caused this, the result of a part of the witch cult attacking this village. As a result all inhabitants were imprisoned in ice. They are still alive. After seeing you I hoped maybe it was something that could be overcome by just waiting. But now that I think about it I have never seen you around here. Still I am glad she is not the only one left.“ He smiles slightly.
„Well, Fortuna gave me this, I hope it is ok that I wear it.“
The sun now completely disappeared: „Fortuna? Yeah she still is like a mother for us all. But where are my manners. My name is Archi Elior, what’s your name.“ He bows down. It is just now that Riz realizes that something about the elves foot looks wrong. It is glowing faintly with a certain darkness.
„You can call me Riz, I suppose.“ he says a bit uncertain. He still has to get used to be called Riz again.
„Well you should probably go back Riz, if Fortuna cares for you she certainly doesn’t want you to be out this late.“ With that he turns around and walks back into the forest.
Riz grits his teeth. He still has so many question like what is the witch cult or a meabeast. He turns around and starts to go back to the cabin.
While walking a certain feeling forms inside his guts. He feels a little lightheaded.
The next thing he notices is that he losses consciousness.
Everything turns dark.
Slowly Subaru‘s eyes start to upon. He doesn’t know why but he feels a kind of happiness he has never experienced before. Was it because of the dream?
Being not fully awake and disoriented by the dim light in the alleyway he has to use his senses of touch. His head is on something soft, almost fluffy: „Is my head on someone's lap?"
„You are finally awake?" a soft voice answers. He blushes. „It must be the cute girl. Am I lying on her lap?“ His blush deepens from a soft shade to a more crimson shade.
„But something is not quiet right“, he realizes. „Why does it feel so hairy? That cannot be right!Wait a minute…“. Subaru immediately stands up and looks at his pillow person. Sitting there is not the beautiful elf he imagined, but the cat. It grew to a more humanoid size and gives him a very smug smile
Subaru internally screams, but his eyes must have betrayed him, the cat‘s smile only widens. It has something eerie with a hint of mischief.
With a fake sweet voice the cat finally speaks again: „I hope you enjoyed feeling my magnificent fur. You were pretty happy in your sleep up until now. What, imagined someone else?“ It is obvious that the cat has to hold back from laughing out loud
Subaru feeling greatly irritated and annoyed stammers out : „F-First of all, don't talk like that. I have heard you before, that is not how you sounded. And Second like I would confuses a cat for a beautiful lady!“ he weakly tries to defend himself. His eyes must almost seem desperate for just moving on to a different topic. The cat only grins. Clearly angered Subaru shouts: „ I was not happy, I was just out!“
Trying to lessen his anger he wants to distract himself. Like being run over by a car he remembers that there is someone else there. Nearly falling over again he turns to the person sitting next to the enormous cat. The elven girl looks at him with a cold look, almost as cold as the icicles she fired before.
„I'm sorry about this, you stayed with me while I was unconscious.“ But Subaru‘s apology falls on deaf ears. The elf coldly interrupts him : „Don't get the wrong idea. I have still some questions to ask you. Healing your wounds and making Puck your pillow are for my benefit. So repay the favor by telling me what you know about my insignia. You must have some idea who stole. Tt has a jewel in the center.“ The girl almost desperately asks him.
„Sorry but I still don’t know anything about it" The boy shook his head with a guilty expression.
She sighs disappointedly: „Well, there is nothing to change that. I accept your answer as repayment for healing you.“ She turns around: „I'm in a hurry, so I'm going now. Next time don't walk into alleys alone. I'm only warning you because saving you won't be of any benefit to me, so don't expect any help from me." The elf leaves no possibility for Subaru to respond and simply walks away.
But Subaru only feels guilt: „ She was in such a hurry to find what was stolen from her, but she stayed to help me. Then she comes up with a lame excuse for a favor so I wouldn't feel like I owed her anything.Anyone who lives like that…"
Subaru picks up his bag and runs after her : „… is gonna end up wasting their whole life!"
„Hey, wait up!", he calls for her. She stops and turns to him slightly annoyed: „What? Just so you know, I cannot lose any time, didn’t you say you knew nothing, what do you want?“
„But I remember her face at least! If I see her again I'll know!"
The girl appears to be thinking as she looked him over : „You are strange, I cannot repay you if you help me."
„I don't need you to. I just want to help you like you helped me.“The japanese boy smiles encouragingly towards her.
„I didn't do anything deserving of that. You already repaid me for healing you.“She tries to refuse him.
Then Subaru begins to smile at her: „Then I'm going to help you for my own sake I will do it as my one good deed per day!" The girl looks away with a confused look on her face. Puck shows up and smiles at her: „I can’t sense any malice from him, so you can accept his offer.“ he throws a teasing look at Subaru: „After all you can at least use him as a meat shield."
„That's what you want me around for?!" Subaru glares offendedly at Puck.
For one more time the girl tries to convince him to just leave her: „I mean it,I really cannot do anything to repay.“ But Subaru is not deterred. Together they go through the city searching for the girl. After some time without luck they take a short break.
„This town is really big, isn’t it? It is almost impossible to find one person." Said Subaru with clear disappointment.
„Of course it is. It's the capital of Lugunica. You didn't even know that, ummm..“ the girl pauses with a flustered look.
„That's right. We haven't asked your name yet. Should we introduce ourselves?" Puck tries to overplay the fact that they forgot to ask for Subaru‘s name.
„Alright, I'll introduce myself first then." Subaru answers. He does his iconic weird pose with a smile: „My name is Natsuki Subaru. Not only am I clueless, I'm also broke beyond compare! Nice to meet you."
The cat grins mischievously at him: „You really do sound hopeless, Subaru. And I'm Puck! Nice to meet you!" Puck floats really fast towards Subaru. Then he holds out his paw as if to attempt to shake hands. Without hesitation Subaru shakes it. The girl looks at the exchange with a surprised face: „It's very unusual to see someone who can touch a spirit so casually. Where are you from?"
At that Subaru freezes. He had no time since arriving to lay out his backstory, telling people he is from another world would probably be a one way ticket to this worlds kind of asylum. A bit hesitant he stammers: „Well, following the usual pattern, a small island nation to the east.“
The girl looks at him confused : „Lugunica is the easternmost nation on our continental map. There is no island nation to the east. Are you sure you know what east means?“
Subaru looks surprised at this, but also a bit tense: „No way, really? there's nothing east of here?"
After that the girls expression shows pity:“ You have no idea where you are and you have no money. You might be in an even more precarious position than I am.
The silver-haired half-elf moves gracefully and picks one of Subaru's inspecting it carefully. As a reaction Subaru only blushes: „Your fingers have no weals, you certainly did not live like a peasant.“
Nervously, Subaru takes a step back: „You know, I know Puck’s name now, but I haven't heard yours yet."
After a moment of awkward silence and hesitation she finally introduces herself: „I'm… Satella.I have no family name. You can just call me Satella" the girl waits like she is expecting some kind of grand reaction. Puck looks at her with disappointment.
„So Satella is your name? I see. That is a cute name!“ Subaru smiles at her. He doesn’t know why but the name sounds familiar. It almost feels natural to call the silver-haired elf that, almost like a long-lost friend.
The now named Satella looks shocked at his reaction as if she waited for a different one. Puck floats closer to her ear, he whispers: „You have terrible taste."
After walking around they finally encounter a crying girl standing alone: „Hey Subaru, does she look lost to you?", asks Satella.
„Are you sure we have time to help her?“, Subaru asks with mixed feelings.
„My insignia is important, but if she's lost, we cannot just leave he. And the girl is crying, isn’t she? We have to help her.“ The silver-haired girl looks convinced at Subaru. He only smiles. After all this kind of attitude is the reason why she helped him.
„Thank you for your help, Subaru. After we help that little girl, I'll handle it on my own from here. That can be your good deed for the day.“ She says firmly without leaving an opportunity to argue. For him it is painfully obvious that she tries to get rid of him. He doesn’t know why, but this rejection is quiet painful even though he knows her for only one day. At least he thinks so.
Carefully Satella walks with a warm smile to the crying girl, when she notices Satella she almost runs away full of fear. But the half-elf is not deterred almost as if she expects it, she kneels in front of her and gently asks: „I'm sorry if I frightened you. Have you perhaps lost your parents?“
Although she is very gentle with her, the child seems to be terribly afraid of her, the child‘s crying only increases.
„Oh um, please don't cry alright! I will not do anything to you, all right?" , Satella starts to panic. She is unable to calm the girl down.
Suddenly, Subaru holds his hand in front of the little girl showing her his foreign coin:
„What I have here is one grooved-edge ten-yen coin. I will now clutch it tightly in my hand. Tight,like that. And now imagine that.“, he speaks softly with a soothing voice.Then he opens his now empty. At that the girl forgets her fear and looks amazed at Subaru. He smiles proudly and moves his hand to her: „And this is where the coin was hiding." He carefully shows the kid his yen coin. The girl smiles full of astonishment.
He extends his hand to her and places the coin in her palm: „You can have this one. Its a rare coin so don’t loose it.“
The little girl smiles happily at the coin :“ T-Thank you."
Carefully he bends down and assures her: „You got separated form your mom, didn’t you? Don’t worry, leave it to me and this lovely lady here. We will find her for you in a blink of an eye.“
Together they walk through the streets of the capital, Sabaru and Satella walk next to each other with each one holding one of the hands of the little girl between them. Subaru smiles with a dreamy stare: „ If somebody sees us, people probably would think we are a married couple and she is our daughter. Heh that would be something straight out of a novel, getting a wife and child just like that. I must be some kind of protagonist.“ he jokes
The silver-haired girl looks at him weirdly: „At best, I could see you as her older brother, nothing more.“
„What makes you think I'm so much younger than you?!" Subaru cried out, he looks like a kicked puppy.
„Mommy!" the little girl suddenly cries out and lets go of their hands. She runs to an older woman with a relived expression.
Satella turns to Subaru: „I am glad we found her.“
Then the mother turns to them, she bows down: „Thank you for bringing my little Plum back to me. I can’t thank you enough. Is there any way I could repay.“
Before the silver-haired girl could say something Subaru chimes in, he is afraid Satella would out of kindness miss this opportunity: „Something important was stolen from us today, you wouldn’t perhaps know a place where a thief would hide here?“
The mother looks thoughtful, carefully she reaches for her daughter’s arm. After a few seconds of silence she answers with uncertainty: „I don’t know a place where a thief would hide, but what I heard the other day is that in the slums a place exists dealing with stolen goods. One of my neighbors retrieved something from a loothouse there which was stolen from him in exchange for money.“
„Finally a clue.“, Subaru shouts in delight. He turns to the elven girl: „We should go, soon it will get dark.“
She looks at him like she regained some hope: „We should hurry, the slums are on the other side of town.“
They say goodbye to both mother and daughter. Then the start walking fastly Torwarts the slums. After a few minutes Satella finally speaks up: „Since you helped the little girl isn't your one good deed over? You have no reason to help me anymore.“ They stop.
Subaru sweats slightly. He weakly tries to argue back: „That is a way too logicalapproach on life. And even still couldn’t I just do one more good deed today? I could count it for tomorrow, you know like paying in advance.“
„Subaru, you're the type that basically wastes your whole life, aren't you?" The silver-haired girl pitiful remarks.
Subaru tragically sighs : „You're probably the last one I want saying that to me and who should even say it.“
As if trying to cheer him up she adds : „At least you are a good boy.“
The word boy kind of sets Subaru off: „Why are you treating me like I'm so much younger than you? You don’t seem much older than me.“
Looking down with a gloomy face she argues: „Trying to estimate my age is pretty difficult, especially by human standards alone. I'm a half-elf, you know.“ Suddenly she starts covering her face with her hands as if expecting some kind of punch.
For the first time Subaru takes in her features with more scrutiny while trying to ignore his brain calling out „cute“ the whole time: „Now I understand… " He whispers like he just solved whether the chicken or the egg was first there. Her face only darkens as if waiting for a long overdue reaction of his.
With a shining smile he finishes his sentence: „No wonder I thought you were so cute! Elves are always beautiful huh?"
She lets her hands fall down and stares at him in disbelief. „What? Did I say something wrong or offensive?“Subaru asks nervously.
Like a broken record she mutters: „But I mean… I'm a half-elf…", her ears slightly reddens.
Now Subaru turns confused to her: „Yeah I heard you.". In the following moments he grows even more confused when Puck comes from the behind the girl, flys up to his face and punches him in the face with his soft paws.
„What was that about ?", Subaru asks with a tone shifting to slightly annoyance.
„I just had to do something about this unbearable tingle I feel!", the flying cat-spirit remarks with a cheerful tone.
„I can't accept being hit for a reason like that. Though I forgive you because it was fluffy."
„I didn't hit you out of anger or anything. The opposite in fact.", Puck tries to assure the boy.
„Subaru, you're such a dunderhead!" The girl suddenly cries out with a flushed face.
As a reaction Subaru slightly teases her: „Who says Dunderhead in this day and age?“
„Hmph!“, she pounds: „We have to get back to our search. Let’s just go.“ The continue their way to the slums.
Finally they arrive at their destination, a very run down neighborhood. It almost seems like a completly different world in comparison to the rest of the capital. Many people with worn out clothing and covered in dirt and scares were sitting hopeless on the ground. The stare at the new arrivals like they are fresh meat ready to be devoured.
Satella carefully looks around: „The atmosphere here is suffocating . Are you sure we have to be here. Maybe someone will tell us if we ask if they know the thief.“
„No one would sell out one of their own, so I don't think that would work." Puck interjects.
Subaru wears a worried expression on his face, since he arrived here he hasn’t seen anything as awful as this place: „Maybe we should come back later."
„Whether you stay or leave, you should decide quickly. I'm almost out of time." Puck casually mentions. He flys up on top of the elf‘s head and sits on her hair.
Subaru looks at Puck with confusing written all over: „You are what? Out of time?"
With a condescending smile he looks down on Subaru: „I have a cute appearance, but I am a spirit. It takes a lot of mana just to maintain physical. That is why I return at night into my crystal. On average, my ideal staying time is from about nine to five."
„Nine to five? You sound like a civil servant. Employment conditions for spirits are severe." Subaru tries to joke. But also dreads starts to form in his stomach, what if something happens, the protection of a spirit seems like a clear advantage.
„We'll be fine without Puck. We have to move forward." Satella tries to assure him as if she noticed his inner concern.
„Yeah. I'm at my limit… " Puck yawns and disappears.
„It's almost like he's dying." Subaru whispered as he watches the spirit fade-out before them.
Before disappearing completly Puck turns to his contractor: „Don't do anything reckless, if it comes down to it, use the Od to summon me again."She nods.
Puck then turns to Subaru: „Alright! I leave it to you, Subaru.“ With that, he completely disappears.
They walk further. It is just then that Subara realizes that they are alone together: „Hey, I haven't been alone with a girl since I was in grade school!" He whispers with a small blush on his face.
„Don't get any weird ideas. I know magic.“ The half-elf almost instantly almost shouts. She must have heard him.
„I won't! The bigger issue here is how we find the thief girl now." Subaru tries to change the topic.“
The continue walking without a word. It is already past sunset. They now empty streets changed to a more eerie atmosphere.
„This place is getting lonelier and creepier every minute . Do people really live in a place like this?" She looks almost scared around.
Subaru sees a man walking close. He takes all his courage and asks him: „Hey Bro! Is a loot house anywhere here here?"
„Huh, loot? The only one here is old man Rom's loot house."The man points down the road. The man then laughs as he understood: „Did Felt steal something from you guys? Well, go try negotiate to get it back. Live strong."
„Why do I have to pay money to get back something stolen from me?" Subaru mutters as he watched the laughing man walk away from him.
Not even a minute later they finally reach said building:“ Well, at any rate. We are finally here." Subaru looks back to Satella: „I'll negotiate with him," he says with a dreadful tone, he cannot wrap his head around how creepy it seems, especially in the dark.
With a leap of faith the girl nods at him: „All right, I will leave you to it.“She gives him a smile.
„You agreed to that too quickly. The way you've been acting I thought you'd say, 'Leave this to a useless boy like you?! That's so ridiculous, you dunderhead.'and I would be hurt, but still decide to help you." Subaru imitates the silver-haired girl with a ridiculous voice.
„I wouldn't say something so mean. Of course, I would be lying if I said you haven't been holding me back" She looks sheepishly at him: „But I will try believing in you.“
Subaru blinks at her: „If you'd look up at me and say 'Do your best for me' I would feel a lot more motivated."
„Just do your best." She says with little motivation.
„Yeah. I will. I won't be back too late, but you can have dinner without me." Subaru jokes like they are married.
„Stop being dumb and be careful."
„Suredo not come in until I say it's all right, Satella.“ Subaru starts entering the loot house, but looks back at her. She flinches by hearing her name.
Taking the final step, the only thing he hears is her muttering: „If you can get my insignia back, I'll apologize." She smiles at him full of guilt.
The door is heavy. Inside it is pretty dark, Subaru looks around warily. He takes out his phone and turns on the light: „Excuse me. Anyone here?“
As if trying to dissociate he jokes: „So am I walking into a thief hideout or a cursed dungeon? In a fantasy world, either is highly possible"
Subaru is looking round the dark house, aiming the light at various objects from bookshelves to cabinets filled with obscure looking objects.
Something isn’t feeling right: „Why is here nobody, kind of bold to leave so much stuff unsupervised in a place like this.“
Subaru walks further.
He stepped into some kind of puddle. He aims his phone down. It is a red puddle.
Like on autopilot his mind supplies: „Blood“
He aims with his light further down the trail. More and more blood.
Finally the light reaches the source. It’s a mutilated enormous body. It’s cut open, missing one arm. Subaru steps back with a look of pure horror.
Suddenly a smooth voice is heard from within the darkness : „Oh, dear, you found that?"
„Well, I have no choice, then." the voice sounds almost glad.
Subaru finally locates the source of the voice behind him. He turns around.
„Yes, I have no choice.“ The voice almost sings.
The only thing he realizes is that he is kicked down to the floor. He looses his phone. It is dark. Almost completely dark. He struggles to stand up: „It burns…“, it is the only thing he can make out.
His hands feel wet. Is he bleeding. It feels like a lot of blood is beneath him: „Is this… all mine?“ He asks out loud. Then he starts puking. He tries to get up, but the pain forces him to drop back down: „It hurts, it’s bad“, his mind wants to scream out.
Suddenly the door to the house opens and in comes Satella with a worried look: „Subaru? What's Wrong?“
„Run! Hurry!" Subaru tries to speak through his bleeding mouth.
He looses consciousness a bit. The sound of a slash by a blade is the only thing he could still make out. Then something falls next to him. It is the girl‘s body. The pain is excruciating.
Subaru's face glares with determination. Still in pain he reaches for her hand : „Wait there I am…"
It starts turning darker.
„Going to…“ He squeezes her hand.
„Save you…“ He looses consciousness.
Everything turns dark
in a place of complete darkness two figures can be seen on the ground almost as if the are asleep.
over them looms a figure concealed by a veil.
a shadowy voice halls trough the void:
„Wrong!
I love you.“
the shadowy figure looks at the large person on the ground.
„Again!“
The turns to the much smaller form.
„I love you.“
Then the shadow steps between them, with each hand it strokes one head gently.
„Love me.“
Rubbing his eyes, Riz wakes up almost instantly. How did he get back in the back, he wonders. Did Fortuna carry him?
As he tries to stand up he looks up. Hopefully he didn’t worry her to much by fainting. It seems like he still has to get a grip on being alive again.
„Good morning, Riz.“, calls Fortuna‘s voice from the kitchen.