Subaru's date!....Rip. (Ch:10)
For the next three days, Kaeya followed the same routine.
Each morning, after breakfast, he created thirty clones—ten to study in the library and twenty to train.
The first two days were spent improving what he had already learned. The clones working on magic focused on refining his wind slash, reducing the time it took to cast and making the technique smoother. He noticed that while his control over the spell had improved, there was still a slight delay between channeling mana and releasing the slash. It was a small issue, but against stronger opponents, even a minor delay could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
The ten clones working on swordplay split into pairs, sparring against each other repeatedly. They tested different approaches—Through them, Kaeya could feel every movement, every misstep, and every adjustment. By the end of the second day, his overall precision had noticeably improved. His footwork was smoother, and his reaction time in battle had sharpened.
On the third day, Kaeya decided it was time to work on something new. Since he had already learned Akra, Shamac, and improved his wind slash, he felt it was best to expand his abilities. Ten clones continued with sword training, while the remaining ten focused on developing and refining his new spell—Zoltraak.
Zoltraak was a lightning-based spell, created by combining wind magic and yang magic. The wind magic created movement and friction in the air, while yang magic added energy and transformation, allowing the friction to generate electricity.
The first few attempts were failures. The clones would manage to generate a spark, but controlling the discharge proved difficult. At times, the electricity would disperse before reaching its target, and other times, it would arc unpredictably, hitting areas it wasn't intended to.
Kaeya observed as one of his clones attempted to shape the lightning into a more controlled form. The clone extended his hand, gathering mana, and the air around him crackled as sparks danced across his fingers. The moment he tried to release the spell, however, the energy flickered out.
Another clone tried a different approach, compressing the mana before release. This time, a thin bolt of lightning shot forward, striking a tree. The bark blackened on impact, but the damage was weak.
"Not enough power," Kaeya muttered to himself.
He dispelled two clones, absorbing their experience. Immediately, the knowledge of their attempts flowed into him. He could feel what had gone wrong—the mana distribution had been unstable, and the release had lacked precision.
Refining Zoltraak took the rest of the day. By the evening, the spell was functional, though not yet perfected. Kaeya could now fire a controlled bolt of lightning, but the speed and intensity weren't at the level he wanted.
His clones dispersed, returning their knowledge to him.
Four days had passed since he arrived at the mansion.
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Roswaal sat comfortably in his chair as he addressed Ram.
"How have our guests been faring, Ram? It has been five days since their arrival. We should be seeing something by now."
Ram, standing beside him, maintained her usual composed expression, though there was the slightest hint of irritation in her voice.
"Subaru-kun has been... hopeless. Cooking, laundry, cleaning—he is useless at all of them."
Roswaal chuckled, resting his chin on his hand. "How strict of you..." He reached out, gently patting her head.
Ram accepted the gesture, her expression softening for a brief moment before Roswaal's tone shifted slightly.
"And what of his potential as a spy?" His mismatched eyes narrowed.
Ram tilted her head slightly, leaning into him. "I cannot deny that it exists, but I believe the possibility is slim. For better or worse. For worse, in particular, he is far too conspicuous," she said, closing her eyes.
Roswaal hummed in thought before continuing, "And what of Kaeya-kun?"
Ram remained silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts.
"...He is different from Subaru-kun. He does not seek attention, nor does he interact much unless necessary. I have observed his training and studies—he does not waste time. If he were a spy, he would be a competent one, but he has not made any suspicious moves."
"Hmm, interesting..." Roswaal mused, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "He is detached. He does not align himself too closely with us, nor even with Emilia-sama. It's as if his only goal is to make the most of what has been provided to him due to his wish. Quite an interesting contrast to Subaru-kun, wouldn't you say?"
Ram gave a small nod.
Roswaal smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. 'If he is difficult to gauge, then that means he may not be as easy to control.'
Ram remained silent at that statement, simply resting her head against his shoulder.
Roswaal let out a soft chuckle. "Regardless... It would be wise to keep an eye on them both, don't you think?"
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Subaru was walking down a dark hallway in the mansion with his hands in his pockets, humming to himself with a drugged smile on his face.
He suddenly stopped and opened a door to his side, revealing...
"Hey, Loli girl! you're still up?"
Beatrice looked annoyed.
"So now you can break through my door crossing like it's natural, I suppose."
Subaru entered the forbidden library with a smile. "Oh, I just wanted to say hello before going to bed."
He saw her playing with one of her drills and started pointing at them.
"Can I touch them?"
Beatrice glared. "Only Bubby may touch me, I suppose."
"No fair that only you get to have all the fun. Well, I'm in a good mood so I'll let it slide-"
"Enough! Just get out of here!"
Subaru was shot out the door and into the hallway.
.
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"For our date tomorrow, I'll have to come up with an excuse to ditch the kids in the village. Oh! First, I've gotta find out where all the good views and flower fields and stuff are... "
Subaru sat upright with a disturbed look on his face, He couldn't help but think about his date with Emilia the next day.
"Crap! I can't sleep while I'm thinking about this! Oh, I know!"
"One Puck... Two Pucks...
A hundred and one Pucks..."
and Darkness....
Subaru's eyes opened up suddenly as he smirked on his bed.
"A new dawn has come! A dawn of hope!" Subaru jumped up on his bed to reveal himself standing in... robes.
"Natsuki Subaru is going to make giant strides today!"
He looked at the two maids that were present with him and hid behind the covers of his bed with a blushing face.
"What? You were in here?! I'm so embarrassed! You should've said something!"
He glared at the two maids. Rem and Ram looked down at him with deadpanned looks. "Sister, Sister... our guest appears to be confused."
"Rem, Rem... It looks as though our guest has gone crazy."
"Why are you calling me a guest? You two and your jokes..." Subaru froze.
His hands.
They were....
Subaru shook as he stared at his hands.
The wounds are... gone.
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The dense forest stretched endlessly, the towering trees casting long shadows in the early morning light. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves.
Kaeya wiped the sweat from his brow, his silver-white hair clinging to his forehead. His breathing was steady but heavy, his arms slightly sore from the continuous repetition of his training. Across from him, his father stood with his arms crossed, watching with his usual calm, unreadable expression.
"Again," his father instructed, his voice firm but not harsh.
Kaeya exhaled slowly, planting his feet more firmly into the ground. His father raised a hand, and a sudden gust of wind shot toward him, sharp and swift. But before it could reach him,
A black energy flickered around Kaeya's body, moving like smoke yet shifting like liquid. The moment the wind magic neared him, the black energy expanded, swallowing it whole. The gust vanished into nothingness, as if it had never existed in the first place.
His father lowered his hand. "You're getting better at responding to it, but your control is still lacking. If you can't regulate it, you'll disrupt your own flow as well."
Kaeya nodded, He understood. Every morning started like this—training before the sun fully rose, before they turned their attention to the daily necessities of survival.
After another hour of training, his father finally called for a break. Kaeya sat down under a large tree, stretching his legs and rolling his shoulders. His father joined him, sitting on a nearby rock.
"You're improving," his father said after a moment. "You need to keep refining your control. Carelessness will make it just as much of a weakness as it is a strength."
Kaeya didn't respond right away. He stared at his hands, flexing his fingers. The black energy that had appeared around him was gone now, but he could still remember the sensation—the strange pull, the way it erased everything it touched.
His father didn't say much more, allowing the silence to settle between them. In the distance, a stream could be heard trickling over rocks, blending with the distant calls of animals moving through the forest.
They lived off this land, hunting when necessary, gathering when they could. It was a quiet life, but not an easy one.
When they needed things they couldn't find in the forest—clothes, tools, medicine—they went to the village.
Kaeya never looked forward to those trips.
His father always reminded him to keep his hood up, to speak only when necessary, to avoid drawing attention. He followed those rules without complaint. Even though he was only half-elf, that half was enough for people to despise him.
He had seen it before. The way villagers whispered to each other when they passed, the way their eyes lingered just a little too long. They never stayed longer than necessary.
Kaeya didn't care.
He had no interest in changing their opinions or seeking their acceptance. As long as he could get what he needed, that was enough.
His father stood, brushing the dirt off his clothes. "We'll head to the village tomorrow. We need supplies before winter sets in."
Kaeya nodded, staring out at the endless stretch of trees. He wasn't looking forward to it, but it had to be done.
"For now," his father continued, glancing up at the sky, "let's catch something for dinner."
Kaeya pushed himself up from the ground, following his father as they disappeared deeper into the woods.
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Kaeya's eyes opened slowly, the faint morning light filtering into the room.
The feeling of rough bark beneath his hands, the scent of damp earth, the way the black energy had moved around him—it all still felt real. But he knew it wasn't his own past.
It belonged to this body.
The half-elf child who lived in hiding, training every day, staying out of sight.
Kaeya lay still, staring at the ceiling. He had wondered about this body's past before, but this was the first time he had seen something personal.
His fingers curled slightly. That power he had seen in the memory—the way magic disappeared at his touch, swallowed by the black energy—he had never noticed anything like that before. Did he still have it?
He focused, trying to feel something, Without knowing what and how. But nothing happened.
He sighed, pushing the thought aside. He didn't feel like testing anything yet.
His motivation was always low in the mornings.
Instead, he stayed in bed. The mansion was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of birds from outside and the distant rustling of leaves.
His thoughts drifted back to his training. Zoltraak still needed work. He had to refine the mana control further. And there was still much to learn from the books in the library.
Thirty minutes passed in silence.
Then, without warning, the door swung open, and someone rushed inside, their movements quick and frantic.