As the screen went black, silence fell upon the theatre. The only thing that could be heard being sniffles and sobs from every corners of the room.
"Are you all okay?"
Some people turned their eyes to the screen again, only those who had the strength to raise their heads again. Even if a few decided to speak.
"Do we look okay…?" Growled Al, holding his helmet. This last viewing really was hard on him.
A man who lived 18 years without a glance of his own world, only to see this side of it when he finally had the chance to glance at it once more.
Al was on the verge of being broken.
But the thing that made him truly despair this viewing out of all…
Was how Subaru, the only one who was like him, the only one he could attach himself to as sharing the same origins…Truly never had a damn break, may it be this world or the ancient.
Truly, that was infuriating.
Priscilla glanced to her knight, holding her fan to her face, as her main focus didn't move from the black-haired boy in the front row.
The same boy who just took the decision only he could. A boy who didn't fail at his task to entertain her all along since the beginning of this viewing sessions she lived. That last thing she saw disgusted her to an incredible level, so disgusting she wouldn't even have gave this screen the honor of having her eyes directed to it. The only thing that kept her attention to it, was him. That brave one. That bold one. The one soul who decided to face an army by himself for the sole purpose of saving the lives around him. Truly one of a kind. Yet... Somehow, she was the only one praising him for that.
The fiery princess closed her eyes and sighed to the fools around her, as she knew some of them…Would resent him for this.
Truly a bunch of disgusting fools.
"I think a break would be much needed for now." Voiced the princess out loud to the screen.
"…If you are the one asking miss Priscilla, I suppose it's necessary."
In normal circumstances, some people would be taken aback by someone like her asking for this or for the seemingly tired tone of the warden that just spoke.
But for now, no one had their minds for this.
Everyone went ahead to join the people they were the closest to. Starting by Frederica and Petra going down to meet their camp. The older maid taking her little brother in her arms, more for herself than him.
Garfiel was proud of his captain. He understood his choice, he understood his burden. The reason for his tearful eyes were the deep respect he held for him. So, for the first time, it was him who had a duty to soothe the nerves of his big sister, crying in his shoulder for the lives cruelly taken she saw before her eyes.
Petra just looked at the both of them hugging and smiled a bit, a little bit, as she was happy for her big sister's relief, even if it meant for her to be lonely for a short moment.
Something that couldn't be tolerated by someone, who wrapped her arms around the little maid and held her close, to the surprise of the little girl, startled by the sudden hug.
"E-Emilia-sama…" She stuttered as she looked up to the silver haired half elf.
Emilia simply smiled to her, her eyes still crying tears as she held Petra as close than she could.
The little maid tried her best to smile to her as well, her best to hold the face of a strong girl. She fought with all her might to not let those tears go out of her eyes.
She tried.
And ended up burying her face in the princess's chest, holding her tightly as well.
She could try and claim herself to not be a strong woman, deserving of Subaru's love…But she was still a child. She sure lived more than anyone of her age…She remained innocent from most of the horrors they saw today.
Of the horrors Subaru had to fight.
Again.
Emilia…Emilia didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to do. She was seated near her knight, her wonderful, goodhearted, kind knight. The one she loved, the one she cherished so much…
She didn't even know what she was seeing. It was Subaru's world, it was him on this screen again. But he was…So different.
Was it her Subaru?
Was it a fake?
She was confused. He was still a hero…Saving people, doing his best, not caring for his own self.
But…
"It doesn't look like any of you can continue for now…I would suggest you to all take a break. Go to your rooms, sleep a bit, maybe have a drink, I don't know. But rest. You'll need it."
In the theatre, everyone looked at each other with tired eyes and rather blank stare. The viewings they saw until now didn't give them a possibility to think things through…Some of them knew war and battles yet nothing could have prepared them for this.
Brutality is a thing.
Madness was another.
So they all obliged to the warden's request.
As they all gained their room, slowly the only ones left were nothing but the front row.
Garfiel and Otto nodded to one another as they retired to their respective rooms, needing a good break from what they saw.
Why would their brother always go through such pain?
Beatrice let her grip loose to her contractor's jacket to go and rest as well. She didn't feel like letting go of her contractor, but she definitely needed rest.
Ram and Rem did much the same. Ram having to push her sister to move, as she didn't want to let go of Subaru just yet.
In the end, only few were left inside the dark room.
"Crusch-sama…" Felix voiced with a weak tone, at the sight of his lady not moving.
Crusch was standing there, her forehead stuck to the back of Subaru's head, her eyes closed as her mind was nothing but a storm of thoughts.
"It's okay, Ferris…Wilhelm…" She slowly replied. "I will join you in a moment…"
Felix looked quite a bit disheartened at his mistress's sudden request, as such he wanted to step closer and actually comfort his lady, only to be stopped by Wilhelm.
The old butler held a hand on the cat boy's shoulder, looking at him with a tired gaze, shaking his head.
It wasn't difficult to actually understand the meaning of these actions. Sometimes, one just needs to be alone with itself.
Yet, Felix didn't feel like acknowledging her lady's demands. He was worried, he was troubled. This isn't the usual look his strong lady harbored on her face.
It was the look of a hurt person.
A look she wore only once in the past.
Felix's eyes slowly turned towards the one she was holding, seemingly without any intentions to let go, as he started to feel anger grow in within him.
"it's your fault…" Felix growled between his teeth.
Why? Felix grew to respect Subaru after everything he went through. So why was he so angry towards him?
"Felix-dono…" Wilhelm said again, tightening his grip on the boy's shoulder.
"We have to give some time to our lady…" He continued.
Gritting his teeth and tightening his fists, Felix walked away with his head low, followed by Wilhelm, who glanced one last time towards the boy he cherished as much as his mistress. Though, probably not to the same extent.
Because Wilhelm was old and lived a long life, he came to recognize some faces and expressions.
Like someone worrying for their beloved.
"Crusch-sama…"
As she was soothing her nerves, face buried in Subaru's hair, the Duchess slowly raised her head to meet with the soft voice calling for her.
"Crusch-sama…We need to go and rest…" The half elf spoke, bringing her hand to hold the gloved one of her friend.
Because she knew exactly what Crusch was feeling right now, as she kept holding onto the boy with her eyes closed. She knew it perfectly.
It was fear.
"Emilia-sama…" Crusch replied, pearls of tears forming in her eyes.
Emilia softly smiled as she nodded to the Duchess, both sharing silent words as they came to let go of the boy and walk towards their rooms.
It wasn't something to discuss anymore. For both of them, that boy was very dear. They loved him. Their heart beat for him.
"But…Wait…" Crusch stopped, looking at Emilia.
"Are we really going to let him here…While we go to rest?" The Duchess said, frowning a bit as she found the idea quite rude.
Emilia's eyes widened as she realized how unbecoming that was, to let this poor boy stay seated for this long.
"Oh…W-well I guess you are right…Maybe I should…Bring him with me…? Subaru is a good boy, he deserves to rest too…" Emilia proposed, her eyes uncertain.
Those words echoed in the duchess's mind, as her eyes widened to the half elf, her mouth slightly open as something struck her. She didn't understand at first, it was like something so impossible to believe she thought she might be dreaming or seeing things because of exhaustion.
But it was real.
"Emilia-sama…" Crusch growled in a threatening tone.
The silver haired half elf looked at her with worry and alarm, she recognized an angry look on someone's face when she saw one. And Crusch was definitely angry.
Emilia tried to search quickly in her mind what might have caused this, how she could have done anything to earn such a glare from someone she was sure, she could call a friend.
The duchess…Crusch…Karsten.
And she began to take a step back, holding a hand to her mouth as tears streamed from her eyes again, intimidated by the green haired woman glaring at her with her fists shaking.
She understood.
And Crusch exactly understood what was happening as well.
"Don't you have any shame…" Crusch growled again, hardening her gaze against the half elf.
Because what she saw was the last thing she could ever bear to see. The last thing she would ever except from Emilia.
The wind blowing over her.
Emilia started to cry even more. Not bearing to look into the amber colored eyes emanating nothing short of wrath towards her.
It was a genuine feeling of anger that Crusch felt.
Because she wasn't only hurt by Emilia's words.
She felt betrayed.
Not being able to hold this much pressure, Emilia turned around and ran off to her room, tears of guilt soiling the floor, slamming the door behind her in the process and leaving the duchess behind, holding her hand slowly raised in the air…As she tried to stop her.
Like she wanted to catch her up, perhaps to try and fix things.
But it was too late.
She quickly felt guilt and sadness fill her. This wasn't the outcome she wanted at all. But on the moment her heart ached. So, Crusch hung her head low. Holding her arm in anger towards herself, cursing the world, the universe and the others, for bringing such pain over the one she loved.
Slowly, she turned around.
"Miss Karsten."
Even if the screen was calling her out, she kept walking towards him.
"Miss Karsten, you need to go and-"
"Please." Crusch weakly said.
She then raised her head towards the screen, with a tired and broken look in her eyes.
"I will…But for now…For just a little longer…" She continued.
"…Just don't break any of his bones. I'm tired of healing him every damn time."
Nodding to the screen with a small smile, as to show her gratitude to his blessing, she kept walking until reaching him. The one she cherished, the one she loved. Asleep and innocent.
She leant a bit forward, elevating the handles of the chair next to him and took her seat, before grabbing the boy and delicately pulling him down…Resting his head on her lap.
She then gently took of her gloves and put them on the side, as she wanted to feel his touch for that moment.
Slowly…She approached her hand to his sleeping face and posed it on his cheek, feeling his soft skin with her surprisingly delicate fingers, always hid in those gloves. As she felt his skin, a smile formed on her face, a warm smile of a woman contemplating something that made her heart flutter.
"I…Am sorry, Subaru." Crusch murmured, caressing his hair.
"It seems this version of you…Is filling people's heart with doubt…"
The duchess continued to play with the boy's hair as she melted to the warmth of having him so close to herself.
"But…I won't." She strongly stated, staring deep to the boy's sleeping eyes.
"I am ready to vow it. What we will see…Won't change how I see you. How I feel about you." She continued, closing her eyes as she remembered the precedent viewings.
"To be honest…It is only making me respect and cherish you even more than I originally would…Living such things, from a place to another and still keeping this smile of yours for those you care so much for…"
Tears started to fall on the boy's face, leaking from the duchess's eyes. She quickly put a hand to her eyes, trying to stop herself…But the mere thought of thinking about it was enough for her to crack.
"You really are one of a kind…Subaru…" She softly whispered, wiping his face with her fingers to erase her tears.
"Mmhh…."
Crusch's breathing hitched, her eyes widened in alarm as she panicked with all her soul, to the sight of the young boy still on her lap twitching his eyes and mumbling something between his lips, as he started to move and turn to his right, his face directed to the lady's front.
The green haired woman stood frozen, her heart beating so fast under the pressure she thought it was about to burst.
"Woops, that's my bad. I lost control for a moment."
She glared at the screen with fury and gritted teeth, her face red in shame, then breathed out loudly with a hand on her chest, relieved to know things wouldn't go as far and difficult to deal with that she initially thought.
Calmed down, her eyes fell on Subaru again, sound asleep as she could feel his warm breath hitting her clothes, covering her belly.
"Are you sure about the road you're taking, miss Karsten?"
The duchess closed her eyes as she thought about this whole situation again, smiling as she caressed the boy's head.
"Yes. I am." She confidently replied. "This is the first time I have ever felt like this. And this is a feeling I do not wish to let go of."
"You do realize, you will have it hard to obtain what you wish. Needless to say he himself, might not return your feelings."
Crusch nodded her head to the words she was hearing, still with her confident smile and soft gaze pointed towards the boy.
"I do. But I feel like my life will be filled with regret would I ever let go of him. I always trusted my instincts and never walked away from my dreams. I do not wish to start cowering now." She gently exclaimed.
"…Mh. I guess you are true to yourself."
"Is it wrong?" She asked with a smile, head raised to the screen.
"I observe, miss Karsten. I do not judge."
The duchess chuckled to these last words, as she finally decided it was time for her to go. She raised Subaru's body to sit him on his chair correctly, putting the handle down and her gloves back to her hands.
"I wish I could bring you with me, but I feel like I might start a war would I ever do this…. So this is the least I can do." She softly added.
Crusch kept looking at the boy for a few seconds, her eyes softening every time she got to look at his cute sleeping face. If it was her body moving unconsciously or herself, no one knows.
But she leant forward, grabbing the boy into a last embrace, his face buried in his chest as she wrapped her arms around his head.
"If it is for your wellbeing…I am ready to see whatever will be shown by that screen…Subaru." She whispered to his hear, before pulling back.
There she stared at his face, gently, slowly, leaning forward…And for a moment…
She met the boy's lips with hers.
It was a short and quick meeting, but for her, the time felt like it stopped all around them two, as she melted to the explosion of emotions she felt right now. A part of her wanted more, while another was sure things would only go to the worse if ever she would do so.
She stopped and recoiled, opening her eyes slowly as she realized what she just did. Her eyes widened and her face was as red than the color of her sleeves. She immediately stood up and walked towards her room in a slow pace with a hand on her lips, thinking over and over of the feeling she felt by kissing a man for the first time.
She definitely wanted to feel it again.
"…Did she forget I was there?"
"I'm disgusting…" She whimpered.
Hidden under a blanket as her eyes streamed tears of pain and guilt, was the silver haired half elf, Emilia.
The candidate of the throne, the one wearing the same physicals traits as the witch of envy, the one who destroyed an entire part of the world and made her entire race hated.
A woman who always lived alone. Away and hated from people. Even the members of her camp that she was sure she could call them all friends, still unconsciously avoided her sometimes because of her appearance.
Except one.
He always walked alongside her, he always cheered for her, he always told her how much he loved her and how much of an amazing woman she was. He never looked at her like any of the others ever did. He was Subaru.
And her…Upon seeing him on a screen fighting people, killing people…Upon seeing him going through unbearable lengths to save the lives of people again…
She was scared of him.
She was scared, afraid, frightened.
She couldn't believe her Subaru could fight with such brutality and rage.
And she didn't like that at all.
But more than that…She didn't like how she felt reluctant towards him now. How she didn't feel like being near him, how she didn't feel like hugging him, praising him or kissing him.
Because of how much she was scared of him.
"I am so disgusting…" She cried even more, holding her hand close to her heart as she felt it beating in pain.
"You died so much for me…You suffered so much for me…You continued to face the entire world for my sake…You saved all those people there by taking beatings after beatings… " she stuttered between her sobs. "And just by seeing this I'm doubting you!"
She felt horrible. She felt guilty, disgusting, gross, reluctant, distasteful…
She was exactly like the world viewed her to be.
After a long moment, while people either took a nap or rested their mind, the theatre's lights started to lit up again, inviting the cast to take back their seats inside the theatre.
As she went out of her room, Emilia met with the honey-colored eyes of the duchess walking past her, suddenly stopping as she noticed how the half elf was looking at her.
Both just stood there, looking into each other's eyes. None was really able to say anything as the earlier events was still fresh in their minds.
So the half elf simply hung her head down and passed the duchess, going towards her seat, leaving her friend and ally behind, clenching her gloved fists.
She advanced towards her seat and began slowing her pace as she came near to Subaru, her eyes fixed on him as she came closer and closer…
"Move."
All eyes of the theatre turned towards the stern, feminine voice who just spoke to the half elf.
Turning back…Emilia met with the scarlet eyes of the fiery princess.
Priscilla Barielle herself.
"W-what…?" Emilia stuttered.
"You heard me well. Move aside. You're not taking this seat." She replied with a cold tone.
Felt's face contorted in a scowl as her eyes were glowing in fury. She remembered really well how that distasteful person treated Subaru. Thus she was on the little princess's list of people to take care of.
Reinhard, Julius and Felix looked to one another, worried and troubled about the situation getting a bit heated inside the theatre. Not knowing how they should really react, they turned towards the princess's knight himself, who was holding his helmet and shaking his head, desperate of his lady's actions.
Anastasia narrowed her eyes to the scene, glaring towards the half elf and the fiery lady arguing in the middle of the theatre. Priscilla was smart. That's a fact Anastasia knew pretty well, thus she might not be acting on impulse right now.
She was merely putting her chalks on the deck. She had to move too.
"What the hell?!" Roared Garfiel, aiming to the woman attacking the leader of his camp. "Who the hell do ya think ya're?!"
"It's true!" Continued Otto, anger clear in his voice as well. "I don't know why you should be the one to seat near Natsuki-san!"
The fiery princess glanced towards the two boys and huffed before aiming the half elf with her dazzling eyes again.
"You know exactly why you won't take this seat." She lowly admitted to the elven princess. "Do you really think you are worthy of staying by his side at the moment?"
She said it. The words that struck Emilia, made her shiver to the depths of her soul, paralyzing her.
Priscilla hatefully glared towards the half elf; her eyes akin to fire as her furious aura was emanating from her. That woman did nothing but bring death to this boy and after seeing a fragment of his past, where he acted more as a hero than anyone, she was doubting him?
Truly, Emilia could not be more disgusting in the eyes of Priscilla.
Emilia…And the duchess situated near Priscilla were the only ones who heard those words, as such, the entire theatre was left speechless to the sight of the discussion between the two candidates, especially since Emilia seemed to not be able to argue anymore.
Crusch clenched her fists and stepped forward to face Priscilla, glaring at her with the same fury.
"And why would you be more worthy than her, than us? Emilia-sama is his lady. Moreover, do you think we forgot what you did to him?!" She growled between her teeth as she faced her.
Emilia widened her eyes in surprise, surprised…And happy, to see the duchess standing up for her. Their last interaction convinced her they would feel nothing but resent now.
"Are you in any rights to speak, since you did something akin to my actions or, even far worse, as you had the power to tell if he was lying or not and still decided to let those people die in that loop?" She answered as her face was hidden behind her fan.
Crusch gritted her teeth as the princess closed her fan and stared right in the eyes of the duchess.
"Do you think the boy have forgotten about your actions, "Duchess" Crusch Karsten." She added.
Those words struck the duchess so hard, she felt like her heart would not take it. She felt so horrible and heartbroken by this. She betrayed him, she left him to die. Even if this was something that never happened for her, Subaru would always remember it.
Defeated as well, Crusch karsten could only look down in shame, as the princess walked pass her and took the seat, left to the boy.
However when she turned to her seat, she widened her eyes and clicked her tongue in distaste, at the sight of a purple haired lady seated to the right of the boy, smirking innocently to her.
"W-when did she got there?!" Yelled Rem at the sight of her seat taken.
Several people turned their heads to see what was happening, including Emilia and Crusch looking at one another and the seat back and forth.
"W-what?!" Garfiel screamed.
"We were so taken by that argument we didn't notice it!" Otto yelled as he facepalmed himself.
Julius and Ricardo glanced toward one another, looking at the empty seat at their side and their lady.
"That shrewd little…" Ricardo bit his tongue in shame to his lady's actions while Julius held a hand on his forehead, disappointed.
"Why did our lady did that?!"
"Does she not love us anymore?!"
Ricardo sighed as he caressed the twin's heads in shame and worry for them to really believe this.
"No. She's just being…Well, herself I guess." He stated with a tired voice.
"Would you mind explaining me why you took the seat belonging to my sister, Anastasia-sama?" Ram said, glaring heatedly to the merchant princess.
Anastasia smiled at her as she held a finger in the air while winking to the pink oni.
"Why? Well, I'm a greedy gal, ya know? I didn't steal my title and as a merchant, I have to cease any opportunity." She cheerfully said, making the oni twins glare to her in sheer anger.
The fiery princess herself looked down upon her with a displeased glare, as she didn't want to share the front row with this rat. But figures she didn't have a choice.
The situation was becoming more and more tense, the two princess who just got defeated were about to unleash their wraths towards those two pests who dared to steal what was rightfully theirs.
"What is that ruckus, I suppose?" A little loli voiced as she stepped forward the group of people in the theatre.
Roswaal, who has been smiling to the scene until now, frowned a bit at the sight of the little spirit. Beatrice seemed…Tired, down…It was like she didn't get any rest these past hours.
Everyone looked at her as she came in front of the 2 princesses and the oni sisters, looking at her contractor with 2 new hands by his side.
Immediately, she started to glare hatefully to both of them, her beautiful butterfly shaped eyes couldn't even give her some cuteness at all. She was truly terrifying.
"What are you doing here, I suppose?" She growled to them.
Priscilla, who wasn't interested at all by her, simply huffed as she titled her head with a confident smile to the little spirt.
"Mine self simply desired a better change of settings." She voiced with a smile.
"Mmh! Likewise! I mean, no one ever said those seats were belonging to whoever seats first, right?" She cheerfully added, making all of the Emilia camp frown to her.
Not only the Emilia camp now. The Crusch camp and the Felt camp was also about to make hell broke loose to those two vixens.
Otto and Garfiel looked at each other with a nod of approval, as they were stepping forward to make them understand their brother wasn't a plaything.
"Alright, everyone calm down."
Everyone in the theatre turned their heads to the screen. Garfiel and Otto were stuck, not able to move any further as they glared heatedly towards the front row.
"Damn it, I literally left for a moment and you're already all about to declare war to each other? You're all a bunch of savages."
"Have you not seen how they behaved towards us?! This is clearly provocation!" Crusch shouted.
"I'm sure it is miss Karsten. But please, act like adults. You're not a child anymore."
A moment of silence took place in the theatre as they get to hear the Warden sigh loudly and tiredly.
"I don't have time to play games. Since they are already seated, please take another seat, I'm loading the next one."
"W-what?!" Emilia shouted. "You're going to let the-"
"Yes. I will, miss Emilia. First because I'm tired to always heal that boy's hands after every episode. Second because I think both of us knows what's on your mind at the moment and third, because this is my god damn place and I do whatever I want, now seat your ass somewhere else."
The sudden change of tone and bitterness in the Warden's voice made everyone frown and wince a bit for the poor half elf, deprived of her loved one. They were also confused and troubled to know what the warden meant by his second statement, except for certain people.
But in the end, most were resigned to believe it was the best to not dig into that situation any longer, as the master of the place himself gave his approval. They were also reassured about the boy's hands.
However, right after the warden was over, a little blonde hopped from her place to land right behind the seat of Subaru, sitting down with a determined and slightly upset expression.
"Felt-sama?!" Gasped Reinhard, not wanting to start the fire again.
"The place near big bro should belong to me in the first place! Since everyone is changing, I'm saving one too. That's my right, after all!" She sternly stated, her eyes closed as she hung her head high.
Emilia and Crusch looked at one another. Both had attristed and defeated eyes, but they knew this was pointless to push the discussion further.
"Big sis! Tomboy noble! You can come and sit near me!" Felt pointed, showing the seat to her left and right, where Anastasia was previously situated and near Felix.
Some people chuckled when they saw Crusch glaring to the little thief, while Emilia laughed along with Felt.
"Come on, Crusch-sama." She said as she smiled to her. "The viewing is about to start."
Crusch softened her eyes as she saw Emilia smiling again. She knew both of them would need to have a discussion at some point…She truly preferred it to be in a friendly mood rather than anything.
"You're right." She answered, making some people skeptical to their friendly banter, starting by Felix and Wilhelm glancing at each other in surprise.
Before joining the row behind, Emilia turned to the 2 very dear comrades of Subaru.
"I'm counting on you to keep an eye on these two." She pointed with a tired smile.
Garfiel and Otto glanced to one another before nodding and smiling confidently to the silver haired lady.
"Yeah, you can count on us!" Garfiel exclaimed as he puffed his chest.
"We will be sure to keep watch, Emilia-sama." Replied Otto.
With those words exchanged Emilia and Crusch directed themselves to the upper row, as Ricardo and Julius moved to make place for them, taking the seats near the little blonde.
Still pouting and angry about losing her seat, Rem angrily went ahead to sit near Reinhard, between him and the merchant princess.
Ram glared in anger one last time to the two thieving princesses and walked up to join the seat near her lord.
Beatrice walked forward and hopped on her contractors lap, her face expressionless as she was seated between two ladies she despised.
"I'll be watching you, in fact." She growled without looking either of them. "Don't try anything funny with my contractor, I suppose."
The fiery princess huffed and did much the same as the spirit, keeping her eyes on the screen. Anastasia simply pouted, disappointed at the little girl not being cute at all in her taste.
Frederica and Petra looked at one another, ready to join their seats.
"Wait, Frederica-san!" Otto stopped. "Maybe you and Petra could stay here with us, there is still two seats in the front row, after all…" He said with a smile.
Frederica looked surprised to the sudden proposal, before giggling in delight to the merchant boy.
"Oh? Is this your way of stepping forward, Otto-sama?" She answered with a sly smile.
Otto flinched as he looked down, rubbing the back of his head as his face reddened on sight.
"W-well…I just find it unbecoming that you two are far behind while most of our camp is here, that's all…" He answered.
Petra narrowed her little eyes to Otto's behavior. She found it suspicious but she wasn't against the idea of being nearer to her hero at all. As such, she looked up to her big sister, informing that she was okay with the idea.
As such, Frederica bowed in gratitude to the merchant's proposition, making Garifel lifting his thumbs up to him.
Garfiel took the seat at Priscilla's right, narrowing his eyes to her. Otto seated right next him, then Frederica and Petra took the last seats in the front row.
"Everyone is set? Great. Here it is, see you all!"
"He…" Emilia said in worry.
"He sounded like he was in a hurry." Continued Crusch, narrowing her eyes to the screen.
The screen loaded finally to show what looked like a village from above.
Several houses and dwellings located in the middle of arid and rocky terrain, guarded by several people with tanned skin discussing with weapons in hand.
"These guys…" Felix perked first.
"They look like those who made the attack…" Continued Julius with gritted teeth.
Everyone hardened their eyes to the screen, realizing they weren't following Subaru, but his enemies.
The camera continued to advance, past a metal gate, to approach a group of people chatting outside a door, until they turned and saluted, appearing to be a man. wearing a yellow shirt who approached them, greeting them in turn.
they started to speak in Arabic.
"Is the wolf here brothers?"
"He is. Right inside."
"We saw him before too." Wilhelm said as he closed his eyes. "The one who claimed himself as a killer."
"I don't like this…" Felix replied, trembling a bit.
"It's that same language we heard before…" Pointed Felt, remembering where she heard something similar.
Many nodded their heads as they remembered where they heard this as well
"The wolf…" Reinhard whispered as he searched in his memories.
"Yes." Priscilla growled as she leaned in her seat. "This was the name pronounced by the people who attacked the plaza we previously saw."
"It's true…" Anastasia hardened her glare. "So he is their leader…"
"He's called a wolf uh…" Al spat under his helmet.
A wolf didn't remind anything good to him. Rather, it was now nothing more but a symbol of bad luck he hated.
Priscilla narrowed her eyes, slightly upset as well. A wolf also reminded her of things she could never forget.
He nodded to them before entering the house.
When he entered, he met with several others soldiers, speaking and planning around a large table. Which at the end, was a grey bearded old man.
"That man..!" Ricardo shouted.
"That's him!" Mimi added.
"That's the mean looking old man we saw at the beginning!" Tivey continued.
"So he is the wolf…" Crusch narrowed her eyes. That old scum was the reason the man she loved had to endure such things.
Emilia glared to him with an equal anger as she remembered very well what the followers of the wolf did to her man.
"What a repulsive scum, I suppose." Beatrice spat with a glare.
The old man raised his head to the one who entered and smiled. The others looked at him and greeted him as well.
"Butcher. What news are you bringing me, my friend?" Spoke the old man.
"He is named the butcher?" Commented Julius in distaste.
"What an explicit name…" Reinhard winced as he didn't wish to know why was this man named as such.
The man grimaced as he sighed and stood before the man and his comrades.
"Unfortunately, wolf…The news I have, are rather bad." He spoke.
The old man raised an eyebrow, as he looked to the butcher pulling out papers from his bag.
"The attack in London…Didn't go as well as we planned it. Looks like they were fast to react." He said, as he put photos and newspapers on the table.
"London?! The place big bro was?!" Felt exclaimed in surprise.
"The drawings show the places we saw in the last viewing…!" Rem added, eyes wide.
"So…That means…!" Anastasia widened her eyes.
Several people in the theatre started to understand as well.
"We didn't get to record any of the executions as well. All those who were supposed to send us videos, have been killed before they got to accomplish their tasks." He growled, showing the subway entrance.
"That's the place where big boss bro took down the bad guys before they execute the people!" Mimi shouted, throwing her arms in the air, remembering the heroic acts of Subaru.
"Mh….So it waaaaaas really because of him..." Roswaal wondered to himself.
"Hmpf…I suppose you did well, Barusu." Ram said in a low voice.
"I'm not sure I'm following. What where they supposed to do? What's a "video"?" Stuttered the dogman as he scratched the back of his head.
As some people were still confused by the meaning of these events, a woman smirking widely in the front row leaned a bit closer.
"Mh…It seems you were an element they weren't expecting." She whispered behind her fan, making the merchant princess glance at her with wide eyes.
The old man gazed upon the different photos in front of him, showing multiple policemen and bodies covered by white sheets. Photos of the fountain and Piccadilly Circus, along with all the place that got attacked like the bookstore.
"Those are all the places big bro went to!" Felt said as she leaned closer to see better.
"Indeed, that's the place where we saw Subaru earlier." Reinhard continued, grimacing at her remembered his friend and his actions.
And suddenly, his eyes stopped on one photo.
The camera focused on the old man widening his eyes and smiling maliciously, as he took the picture and brought it closer to his eyes as he started laughing.
"What the hell is he smiling for?" Al growled, not reassured.
"I somehow don't like this as well." Julius continued
"What did he see to make him smile like that?" Crusch said in a low voice.
Much like several people, she was worried. This man was smiling in a confident way. A gross way. The kind of smiles the likes of a certain clown could do, a smile that makes you reluctant to look at him, that disgusts you to the core.
"Wolf…?" Asked the butcher, confused along with the others soldiers in the room.
"Of course…" He voiced loud.
"If he was there…It is only understandable." He continued, before dropping the photo on the table.
"He?" Emilia murmured, her eyes wide.
Priscilla narrowed her eyes as she glanced towards the boy on her left.
The photo, was a picture of Subaru standing in front of the fountain.
"…What…?" Anastasia stuttered, unable to close her mouth.
"This man…!" Julius exclaimed.
"He knows Subaru-dono." The old man stated with a worried gaze.
People in the room look at each other and the old man in confusion, wondering why this man would know about Subaru.
Some people, like a certain duchess and an elven princess, started to perk up.
The group leaned over to look at the picture properly, showing the injured young man, as the old man got up to look at the window in front of him, caressing his beard as he was lost in his thoughts.
"So we're meeting again in those circumstances…Sage?" He said to himself.
"Sage?!" Emilia exclaimed with wide and worried eyes.
"Sage…Like sage candidate…?" Reinhard replied, looking at Subaru on his side.
"It can't be…" Beatrice murmured, earning the glance of the fiery princess.
Priscilla narrowed her eyes towards the screen as she was lost in her thoughts, face hidden behind her fan.
Who was that boy?
The scene changed to show a car rolling in the streets of a city, a black car with Crowley and Fowler seated in front.
Everyone's eyes widened as they saw the modern city shown by the screen. If only it was the time for sightseeing.
"Those are capn's squad!" Garfiel pointed out.
"What are we seeing…?" Wondered Julius with a hand on his chin. "We still hear the people of the last scene…"
Scene changed again to the butcher approaching the wolf.
"Wolf?"
The old man turned around to meet his second with what seemed like an amused and nostalgic grin.
"Who…Who is "sage", wolf?" The butcher said, with a bit of bewilderment in his voice.
"Question of the day…" Felix grimaced, glancing towards Subaru and his lady full on worried.
"We're about to find out the truth, are we…?" Al thought, readying himself to hear about his bro.
Scene changed again to the car, as the camera came closer to show the inside and finally show Subaru at the back. It was impossible to see his face as his head hung low.
"Subaru!" Beatrice exclaimed, holding her contractor.
"We can't see his eyes…" Anastasia mused, narrowing her eyes.
"Mh…" Priscilla pursed her lips, waiting for the thing that was about to get revealed.
"Big bro doesn't look okay…" Felt commented, wincing a bit.
Crusch and Emilia both felt a tug in their hearts to see him again like this. Head hung low and seemingly beaten.
Scene changes again to the wolf looking at the picture on the table.
"Listen close, my friend." The old man said, as he looked right in the eyes of the butcher.
"In this world…There is some people, who have no soul, who feels nothing. People you shouldn't get in the way by any means…"
"People who feels nothing…?" Julius said as his eyes showed how confused and troubled he was. What could that mean? Why did he say that after seeing…?
"People you shouldn't get in the way…" Anastasia continued, her face contorting in worry.
"What the heck is he talking about?" Mimi hissed; she was somehow angry with this old man.
"Yeah, I don't get it!" Tivey continued, seemingly angry as hell.
Ricardo gently tapped the twin's head as he looked down.
He was one of the first to understand.
Or rather, to accept it.
Scene changes to show Subaru closer, his forearms covered in white bandages, now soaked in red, his body still covered in blood and traces of smoke, his clothes torn to shreds in several places.
Everyone winced and grimaced to the state Subaru was in. Some were so stuck they felt like they were about to cry again.
However...
Scene change to the wolf again.
"And he…He is one of them."
And the theatre fell silent.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…W-what…" Emilia stuttered. Trying to cope with the man's words.
Everyone's eyes widened in fear and confusion. Except the fiery princess in the front row, all were confused, all were astonished by these words.
They saw Subaru suffer, bleed, cry, scream…Die.
How could he feel nothing?
"I don't understand…" Growled the butcher as he stepped closer. "He is just one man…"
The old man shook his head, still with his amused grin.
"Sage, is no man."
Scene changes to show Subaru's shredded gloved hands, clenching in anger, as the wolf talks.
"I saw him, butcher. With my own eyes. I saw him roaming through battlefields, spreading nothing but death and desolation, taking the lives of many men like it was nothing. It stills haunt me to this day."
Saying everyone were shocked, would be an understatement…Their eyes where wide, their mouths fell as they were unable to close their jaw, paralyzed, some were shaking, trembling, trying to catch their breath as they were processing what they just saw and heard.
They couldn't comprehend this, they couldn't understand this, they couldn't proceed this!
What was this man talking about?
Why was Subaru the target of such claims?
Subaru, their Subaru…
"Spreading death and desolation…?" Emilia said as she covered her mouth with both hands, tears running on them.
The one they knew, loved, and cherish.
"Taking the lives of many men like it was nothing…" Continued Wilhelm, hanging his head low as he covered his face with his hands.
The boy he cared so much for…Fell on the same path as him.
The boy they all grown to care and wish to protect, for his golden heart was the reason they were all alive.
"Still haunts him to this day…" Whispered Otto in sheer disbelief.
The only one that wasn't surprised by this statement…
"I wonder what kind of paaaaast you hid from us?"
Scene change to show the butcher, eyes wide, bewildered and slightly angry.
"Then he is a threat! Let's hunt him down, brother!" He pointed, stepping closer to the thoughtful old man.
"How many men can you send?" The old man asked.
"He is in London right? We still have many forces, I can send around 20 killers afte-"
"Then we would lose 20 more men." He sternly cut him.
"This look in his eyes…" Crusch spoke, her gaze wide in alarm.
"Yes…" Wilhelm continued. "This man knows Subaru-dono so well, he doesn't even show fear anymore."
"W-what does that mean, old man?!" Garfiel asked, his eyes showing shock and worry.
"That means he is accepting the boy to be his end, should they ever meet him." Priscilla explained, her thoughtful eyes directed to the boy by her side.
Everyone turned their eyes to her, waiting for her to continue her explanation.
"He saw the boy's skills beforehand. He knows him to be an extremely competent warrior. The look he is wearing on his distasteful face…" Priscilla closed her eyes before she turned around to face the crowd.
"Is the look of acceptance."
Everyone felt a shiver run down their spine to the princess's words. If the warchief of the enemies, who resorted to such horrible tactics to meet his goal was so afraid by Subaru that he accepted his inferiority towards him…
"What…What have you done…Subaru?" Reinhard wondered, his eyes crippling in alarm.
"I don't get it…I don't get it…" Emilia murmured, her hands shaking.
"Just who are you, Barusu…?" Ram said as she held her arm in worry.
She belittled and insulted this man every day.
But she had no idea of who he was.
The butcher grunted as he looked to the side, as the old man took back his seat, taking the photo again in his hand.
"He is coming for us." He voiced slowly.
Scene change to show the camera slowly going up from Subaru's hands to his face with the wolf's voice in the back.
"Our best chance, is to wait and find the opportunity to take him down."
Scene changes again the wolf, narrowing his eyes to Subaru's photo as the camera pans down to him. The scene comes back to Subaru again, making a parallel as Subaru raised his head to show his battle hardened eyes.
Now, it was fear that filled the hearts of everyone. Everyone, even Roswaal, even Priscilla, all were distraught and deeply afraid by these sharp eyes piercing their very souls.
They felt it in their core.
The threatening aura emanating from Subaru.
"Wait for the devil to come."
"The devil…" Emilia whispered, trying to stop her tears and calm her beating heart.
"Devil..."
Her voice trembled with fright as her heart clenched in her chest, feeling nothing but a suffocating cloak tightening around her entire soul, forcing her to feel pressed against herself, unable to breath, unable to cry, unable to speak, unable to look away from scene as disbelief covered her expression.
"S-Subaru…"
The girl that was frozen choked out in a half heartbroken, half guilt-ridden sob as she held her hands on her mouth to stop more of her confused sobs from streaming out of her open mouth.
The beautiful girl's amethyst eyes stared up at the screen with pity and sadness.
"He isn't a devil." Emilia's lips trembled as they parted to show her trembled teeth.
Confused, troubled…The half elf clenched her fists so hard, her knuckles began to turn white, as a part of her refused to believe him as the monster he was just described to be…But…
Beatrice, with threatening and hardened eyes towards the screen, took a hold of her contractor's jacket.
"Who do you think you are, in fact…" She growled between her teeth. "Who do you think you are to call Betty's Subaru a devil, while you are yourself…"
The little spirit's eyes started to leak tears of rage, as she lowered her gaze and hugged her contractor.
"It doesn't matter anyway, I suppose. Betty will always be with her Subaru." She whispered to him.
"Oi…Oi…Capn'…!"
Garfiel whispered those words in a dread tone, his heart beating fast as he saw felt the piercing gaze of his captain shaking his very core.
"Why…Why are you lookin' like that…" He continued to whisper, eyes twitching manically.
"Why are you looking…Evil…" He continued with a hushed and broken tone.
His captain was a hero…Heroes were not supposed to have such a look in their eyes.
Such a murdering attempt.
"What are you doing…" Otto said, holding a hand to his heart to his brother's eyes still sending shivers down his spine.
"The devil…To come…" He said again, looking down with crippling eyes.
Petra just hid her face onto Frederica's embrace, trembling in fear to what she just heard. First about her hero having spread death everywhere he went…And now…
"Why…" She sobbed. "Why are you calling him that…?"
Frederica hardened her eyes, trying to hide her fear as she glanced towards her distraught little brother. Her heart ached…It truly did. For him, for her younger maid…And for the one asleep boy she was supposed to respect so much.
She looked towards her brother. She wished he would be close to her right now so she could hug him…As she clenched her hand into a fist.
'Maybe…Maybe Garfiel should stop to look up to you…If you truly are what you are called…' She thought to herself.
Up in the back, a certain clown just leaned forward in eager to see more. A wide smile on his face, as he loved what he was seeing right now.
Subaru Natsuki…Falling into anger.
"Truly delightful." He said to himself.
Ram tightened the grip on her chair handles as her hands were trembling in fear…For the eyes that scared her, for the name he was given…And for her sister, having to see and hear this.
"You stupid Barusu…Why didn't you ever…" She whispered, biting her tongue in frustration.
Her sister, Rem…Was on the verge of being broken. Her love and her savior…Her hero…Harbored a look in his eyes that was nothing like she ever saw before. Eyes reflecting wrath and anger…Worthy of bearing the name he was just given…
"Subaru-kun…Why?!" She cried loud, her hands covering her face.
"You're not a devil…. You're not, are you?!" She sobbed.
Reinhard's was breathing heavily and slowly, his sky blue eyes fixed on those of his friend, pupils glowing in sheer anger.
It was safe to say that between all the people in this room, the sword saint was the most affected of all. Why would a hero such as Subaru…Be called a devil? Be exactly like the thing he was fighting against?
Why was this hero…
"A monster…" He whispered to himself…Only to cough out his words as he nearly chocked at the end of it.
Subaru wasn't like that.
"Right…?"
Crusch felt a tug in her heart, her face lifted and her eyes staring to Subaru's. She wouldn't back down. She wouldn't look away. She hated to see this face, she hated to hear that wolf talk about him like this, she hated to see him become what he was described to be! She was angry, towards the man and towards Subaru.
"I won't let you harbor that face." She growled between her teeth.
"I swear that I won't."
In the middle of the duchess and the half elf…A young, blond little girl, gritted her teeth in fury. Glaring at the screen in an anger nearly comparable to the eyes of the one shown to her.
But this wasn't for him.
"How dare you call him a devil…" She growled as she clenched her fists.
"How dare you even speak about big bro…?!"
Wilhelm looked away, hurt and unable to see more. He knew that look. God only knows he knew it all too well. And to see it on the face of this young hero whom he respected above all ...
"Why…" He grunted.
"Why, Subaru-dono…? You weren't supposed to be like this."
Felix didn't say anything as he couldn't look up to meet these eyes…They were too scary and too disgusting to his taste.
"So that's what you really were…" He spoke in a low voice.
The twins did nothing but hide their face in Ricardo's chest, scared about Subaru.
Ricardo gritted his sharp teeth, as he hated what he was seeing. The one he respected being called a devil and the past he held…
He was one of the few to understand.
Julius lowered his head and winced in such a strong way that he instantly lost his good face. He had learned since arriving here how special his friend was. And that was something he admired him for.
The fact that Subaru never became like his enemies.
The fact that he always held his head high and ready to fight in an honorable way…
But knowing this…
"Really now…You damned fool…" He growled to himself.
Up above, Al shook his head in disappointment and tiredness.
Not because of Subaru, even if the eyes he saw sent shivers down his spine as well as the others.
But rather because he knew they would all understand this wrong.
"I really shouldn't be impressed anymore. But damn, everything works just way too well for her uh?" He said as he leaned in his chair, looking in the front row.
"At least I will have your back bro."
And in the front row, near the boy…
A certain princess sighed in disappointment and annoyance.
Annoyance towards that damned warden who put her in this room along with all these despicable fools around her.
Worthless swans, not able to see through things, not able to pierce something so simple right before their eyes. Her beautiful ruby eyes lightened in anger as she breathed out heavily to appease her nerves, as she was truly furious towards them…
For holding the boy responsible and taking him as the one he was not.
Like the time they passed in here didn't teach them anything.
Of course, such a situation was bound to happen since she gave an order plain and simple for the world to follow.
She just wished it would have been done in a better manner.
So…The fiery princess glanced down to her left, and slowly directed her hand towards the one of the sound asleep boy to her side, taking it in hers delicately.
The feeling she felt when their skin met…Wasn't half bad.
"At the very least, you won't ever need to be called as such by my side." She spoke behind her fan.
On the other side, Anastasia grimaced in distaste to the eyes that were shown to her. She slowly lowered her head to hide behind her scarf. Scared of that look, that felt like judging and taking her as a target.
Quickly looking around her…She wondered if seating here was a good idea, after all.
The scene shows now Subaru stepping out of the car, going inside a building with a dead, tired stare. His eyes showed no will, no life.
Everyone in the theatre winced to the sight of the young man. He seemed so…Done. Defeated.
"Subaru…" Emilia spoke in a hushed tone.
Crusch winced at the sight of him being this beaten…But in a way, she felt as it was justified after what he took.
"Just why is it happening to him all the time…" Felt wondered, a tear running down her cheek.
His entire body now in view, multiples injuries could be seen added to those he already had, his pants were shredded and cut at several places, his neck was covered in dried blood. He bled from a cut up his left eye on his forehead and his hair was a mess.
"Hell that's even worse that we thought!" Ricardo exclaimed in fury.
"They didn't give him any time to rest after all…" Julius grimaced, holding his chair handle tightly.
Priscilla widened her eyes to this. Such injuries, such blood and such suffering…But still he was standing.
Truly a wonder.
Subaru walked inside the building and came close to someone seated behind a desk about to call him out. His breathing hitched as Subaru turned his eyes to him, until he dropped his weapon to his desk and walked away, leaving the man gulping in fear as he took his dusty weapon.
"He looks scared!" Mimi pointed out.
"Wimp!" Tivey continued.
"I mean, both of you were pretty much cowering like never before when you met that stare. So maybe you shouldn't judge…?" Otto said as he turned to the twins.
They both huffed and looked away, not willing to admit that.
The scene changes again to Subaru entering a room with a white floor tile.
"What is this room?" Anastasia asked, curious to see what is was.
"It looks like…" Ram started as she narrowed her eyes.
Rem didn't really know what to think as she understood as well.
How should she feel about this?
He started taking off his plate carrier, and then his bandages, showing his numerous cuts and injures on the forearms.
"Oh dear dragon…" Reinhard winced at the sight of such injuries.
"That's…" Felix stuttered, not willing to know how painful would these wounds be if ever he would be the one having them.
"Subaru…" Emilia sobbed, not bearing to see her knight so hurt.
She looked down as she was surprise to see a little blonde girl holding onto her loose clothing, not preying her eyes off the screen as well.
He continued as he took off his vest, and then his shirt, showing off his muscular back, covered in numerous cuts, new and old. Battle scars of each size harboring the entire surface of his back.
Numerous people were staring at it, in awe and pity to what this man had to suffer…
"How come I never saw those…" Ram wondered, looking at the boy in the front row.
Frederica held a troubled expression as a light shed of red found it's way to her face, all the while she was covering her little's maid eyes, who was herself trying to get free to see more.
Felt stared at the wounds in shock and awe, even if she was a bit red herself.
Rem held a hand on her mouth as a huge blush covered her face. Sure she was feeling bad for her Subaru, but nevertheless...This sight was truly having an effect on her.
Anastasia's mouth fell as she analyzed his back, leaning forward. She was wondering what kind of weapons or situation could have lead to cause such wounds on someone's skin, in what kind of battles this young man found himself in…So she stared and looked at it, focusing as hard as she could, not realizing that she leant a lot forward to see it more clearly. To have more information.
Certainly not for another reason.
Crusch winced as she wanted nothing more than to take the boy in her arms right now. This pain, those wounds…He had to feel it by himself and survive them…And some of them didn't look simple at all! Her heart ached as she held a hand near to it, trying to appease herself, staring deep to the screen in pity and understanding. What she was seeing really made her respect and cherish him even more. Just looking at him like that made her feel warm inside.
Emilia widened her eyes in alarm as she tightened her grip to her chair handles. Her eyes crying again in pain and agony for everything her knight went through and what he would have to face again. For what would come and scratch that skin again, wound that skin again, mark it again…
The skin of her Subaru…
The silver-haired royalty couldn't help but let the disgust overwhelm her once again.
Priscilla widened her eyes, face hidden behind her fan, as she stared at these scars in absolute awe. She didn't care much about the physical wonder that the boy was, no. What made her this impressed…Was to know about such pain one could take…And keep standing up whatsoever.
She wondered, deep in her thoughts, what kind of marvelous, mighty, and powerful look he had to bear when he stood up once more after gaining such wounds. Just like she saw earlier…The one who kept moving forward as he wouldn't allow himself to fall without accomplishing his duty.
The princess bit her lip as she held the boy's hand a bit tighter.
He was truly impressive.
They all stared at it, more or less with the same thoughts in mind…
Until…
"HOLY HELL, HE'S RIPPED!" Screamed Ricardo out loud.
"Yeah! Man, I knew he wasn't a mere soldier but that's another level!" Whistled Al, laughing a bit.
Immediately after…
Rem looked down, trying to hide her extremely reddened face nearly fuming in shyness, holding her dress down.
Emilia felt like a sudden snap as she covered her face with her hands, hiding her red cheeks as she realized how she had been staring at him, repositioning herself in her seat properly.
Crusch instantly looked away as she coughed into her fist, also trying to hide her red face as some memories flashed into her mind. She widened her eyes and sat down immediately, glancing multiple times to the Subaru in the front row and cursing the two ladies who took these seats with all her soul.
Anastasia glanced around her with an eyebrow raised and a dead stare, disappointed by the people around her as she shook her head to these weak minds.
Her hand wasn't slowly crawling towards another one.
Absolutely not.
Priscilla only giggled in delight as she found that statement to be very true. In fact as she realized what was happening, the fiery princess decided to clearly state her dominance in that situation.
So she put her fan away and slowly turned around, looking at the two ladies with a wide smirk as she leaned to her side…And stuck the boy's arm on her chest, all the while she gently caressed his hair with her other hand.
A direct challenge to absolutely all of the girls around her, who were fuming in outrage and anger while the men where either looking to one another in worry or pity for the young man.
And the fiery princess loved that.
"OI! YOUR HANDS OFF MY CAPN" Garfiel screamed.
"Would you mind putting your hands away from betty's contractor, in fact?!" Beatrice screamed, forcing Priscilla to retract her hands.
Finally naked, Subaru turned around, which showed his muscular front as well, as he entered the shower and rolled up the handle, making the shower rain water on him.
Several women cleared their throat at this sight.
"Well, was to be expected." Al scoffed, truly impressed by his bro's musculature.
"He truly looks way more…different…" Julius said as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
Subaru is shown passing his hands in his hair, making them fall down in front of his eyes as he breathed out, showing his tired eyes in the middle of his downed hair.
Al whistled as he made a rapid head move, impressed by his bro's looks.
"Woah! He looks really better with his hair down…" Felt pointed out with a smirk.
Emilia and Rem had a troubled smile as they couldn't deny it all the while they knew they needed to calm down.
Crusch softly smiled as she closed her eyes…Softly remembering about the feeling she had after meeting the lips of the boy. She unconsciously brought her fingers on her lips again as she readjusted herself in her seat, putting her head slightly down to avoid people to see her reddened face.
Yes. Hair down truly suited him better.
Near her, a certain catboy glanced towards her with pain in his eyes, as he felt his heart hurting him.
Felix Argyle knew he lost that battle for a long time now. But it was not easy.
As she finally had the courage to look up again, she meet with the narrowed, malicious eyes of the merchant princess who looked at her with a wide smirk.
Crusch got taken aback at first as she stared at her with a confused expression…
Until Anastasia slowly brought up the hand she was holding to her with a large, triumphant grin.
She then turned around, leaving the outraged Duchess behind as she caressed Subaru's hand with a chuckle.
"Each their turn, Duchess Karsten." She whispered to herself.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, in fact." Beatrice growled to her as she noticed this entire interaction.
Anastasia simply huffed and looked away. That little girl wasn't being cute at all.
Priscilla softly and slowly tapped her fan under her lips as she softly stared to the boy in the screen and the one near her.
Pondering a bit, she finally seemed like she took a decision as she leant on her side again, in front of everyone in the room who stared at her, as she combed the sleeping boy's hair with her delicate hands to make them fall in front of his eyes.
Finally done, she leant back to have an overview and smiled wide.
"Yes. As I thought, you are truly handsome enough." She softly voiced as she leaned back in her seat.
Crusch and Emilia looked at each other with widened eyes…What did she meant by that?
Otto and Garfiel glared at the woman with hardened eyes as they didn't like their brother to be toyed like that between every powerful woman of this camp.
He was their brother, not a stress relief!
The camera focused on the side of Subaru's face, his head was hung low as the water poured on the back of his head. He breathed heavily and hoarsely as he closed his eyes, remembering the Piccadilly attack.
"Wait…" Otto said, confused about what was happening.
"It's him…" Ricardo said in a hushed tone. "He is remembering…"
Voices started to echo in his head, along with the memories.
"Hm…I woooooonder what is happening…? Roswaal thought loud, with a smug on his face.
Brooks getting shot in front of him.
"GUN! GUN!"
Al, Felt and Petra grimaced as pearls of tears formed in their eyes. He didn't deserve this. No one did.
Ram widened her eyes as her mouth fell, looking at Subaru in alarm. She was the first to get it.
The screams of a woman in the middle of the place, near the fountain.
"Help! Help me!"
"Oh by the gods…" Frederica winced, wanting nothing more but to covers her ears to these horrible sounds.
"Subaru…" Petra started to cry as she remembered these events herself.
The terrorist in the electronic store, ready to execute civilians.
"For the wolf!"
He started to breathe louder and louder.
"What…" Reinhard was the first to speak as he started to perk up with was happening.
"He is…" Felix's breathing hitched.
"No…" Wilhelm spoke in a broken tone. "My boy, no…!"
the voice of the bomber running to him.
"For our leader! For the wolf! You will die here!"
Priscilla hardened her gaze hatefully towards the screen, with fury so great it was a good thing she let go of the boy's hand at the moment. Anger so threatening and so great it couldn't be scaled… That was for the memories she saw.
It was another feeling that she held for the one having them.
"You must overcome it." She whispered. "Because there is none but you..."
The screams of people.
The cries of children.
The corpses all around him. The blood around him.
"Big bro!" Felt cried out, holding onto Emilia's cloth, and gritting her teeth. She understood as well.
"Big boss bro!" Mimi shouted in worry.
"No…" Tivey spoke in a low voice, holding onto Ricardo.
"They're everywhere!"
Shot, exploded, burned, wounded.
Everyone stood absolutely horrified as the bits of images of the dead people in Subaru's memories were shown. Most of them looked away. Others closed their eyes in solemn respect and anger.
Anastasia hardened her eyes and her grip on the boy's hand as well, as the memories of those who wasted their life to cause nothing, but pain and suffering brought nothing but sheer fury to her mind.
How could such disgusting being even exist…?
And why…Would HE always have to be the one dealing with them?
All the lives who perished, all the lives he couldn't save.
The pressure was growing, the sounds becoming more and more loud as everyone started to feel bad, as the atmosphere around of the room became intense and unbearable.
They heartbeat increased, their breathing were fast and loud as they remembered themselves about these horrible memories they saw not so long ago.
But a question was dandling on the lips of absolutely everyone…
"Why…" Emilia whispered, trying to stop her heart from beating this fast.
"Stop…Subaru, please!"
And…
"I don't want to die mate!"
"I want to see my girls!"
"Please! Please help me!"
The lives he took.
"S-Subar-" Crusch couldn't finish her sentence has an unknown pain paralyzed her throat, as tears streamed out of her eyes again.
"Don't…Please, don't blame yourself!" She cried out quietly, wishing to take him in her arms.
Subaru is shown trembling and shaking, his head hung low and his teeth gritted, and when he opened his mouth, the screen went black.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
The chill that ran down everyone's spine paralyzed and scared all those present. Their blood itself froze as they all watched the screen with crippling eyes. Even Roswaal grimaced to the scream of a broken man he heard.
"He will now carry it…This pain and this guilt…I suppose…" Beatrice whispered, hugging her contractor close.
Priscilla closed her eyes in respect and understatement, her hand over Subaru's.
Anastasia lowered her head in her scarf, as she leaned in her seat, face turned towards the sleeping boy at her side with a pitying look.
Emilia curled up in her seat, holding both her hands over her chest and crying with her head hung low, disgusted about herself to the core. She had no claim and no place by his side.
After all…
In what right did she ever dared to doubt Subaru?
Crusch put a hand to her mouth as she cried silently, the scream she heard echoed in her mind over and over. The scream of pain and guilt…What sounded like a call for help.
Rem cried her heart out as she curled up in her seat, wishing to be here for him. To prevent him from ever feeling this pain.
Garfiel clenched his fists so hard, he was nearly about to shred his own palms. How could he had ever thought of his captain as evil?
"I'm pathetic…" Garfiel whimpered in silence, held against his own sister's trembling arms as Frederica quickly engulfed him, embrace as tight as the love she had for him, as painful as the phantom poison running through her lungs while screams of the people mixed up with the soul crushing soul from the boy. She was really choking herself with her last thoughts now…
As strong as their training and duty to their code was, most of their grim-filled faces couldn't hide the shame and horror that showered them as the haunting event finished playing before their desperate eyes. The fire of hatred and spite filled their veins for the sheer dishonor and cruelty shown from these inhumane, sickly men.
"Truly," Sliding his purple-flocks away from his narrowed forehead, Julius glared through his blurry eyes with nothing but pure hatred for everything he had such witnessed. "These monsters are truly no better than the Witch's Cult!" Shouted the greatest of knights as he held his fists on his damp clenched knees.
"Monsters…." Whispered the young red-haired, as he hid his furious blue-eyes behind a trembling palm. "How could such rancorous beings exist in our skin… " The Sword Saint's tone was filled with malice for a moment of surprising weakness. The raw scream sending the hero's instincts and desperate habit to jump in and help everyone and anyone he could torturing his nerves as he couldn't do anything but watch, hear, and remember the suffering everyone of these people went throw… especially the dark-haired boy that had just broke before him.
The boy he called a friend.
Many of the other warriors felt exactly the same as the two greatest knights sitting beside them, feeling the same anger and disgust at the scene. Nothing filled them with such hatred as this scene they had witnessed.
With a grim look in her eyes, Felt let go of Emilia's cloth as she got up and leaned forward, carefully taking a hold of Subaru's as she wrapped her small arms around his neck and cried silently in his hair.
"I'm sorry…" She whispered. "I'm sorry…."
"How're ya dealing with all this and still goin'?" Ricardo huffed out, expression of tiredness and grief clear on his bestial face.
"Because he has to." Priscilla answered for herself at the words of the dogman.
Beatrice looked up to her, tears in her eyes, as she wanted to know why the princess said those words.
Priscilla breathed out as for the first time, she gently smiled to the little girl near her.
"Because if he doesn't…Who will?" She continued for her.
Beatrice widened her eyes…Staring to the twinkling ruby-colored ones of the princess by her side as she held a hand to squeeze the clothing she wore near her heart.
"You are right…I suppose." She ended up answering, turning back to the screen.
"Betty's Subaru…Is amazing, after all." She said as she smiled, with a hushed tone.