10

Red Dead Redemption

"The Matthers Domain, why the hell would ya wanna go there anyway? Can't be anything that important." Hienkel spoke crudely as he rose, rubbing his head slightly, both to ease the pain from his hangover and out of a genuine curiosity.

"There's a library there, big and expensive, B.A.E" Subaru in abbreviation spread his hands wide out in front of him, still his back was turned to his red-headed compatriot.

"Subaru.." now the knight stood up, rubbing his head still while he looked down adjusting to the lighting of the room. "You cant go, you're on parole." Coughing, "Those elders won't let ya. Far as I'm concerned"

"I'm on parole but I also have things to pick up." He paused, now to look back to the Astrea. "Which one do you think is more important to me?"

Heinkel only stared back; he was silent.

"The latter.." Now the raven turned back to the door, he picked up a bag near to him and began to walk, "Besides, if anybody takes fault, we can say it's me. Something along the lines of a knight fulfilling his duty and returning the rouge back to the capital."

Grunting with the boy now out of the room, Heinkel would speak to himself and hold his arm closely in observation "Whatever you say kid.."

"Does anybody really keep track of a journal?" Writing to himself, Subaru was composed mostly in darkness, however provided the service of a dim lamp, the young raven found himself in relaxed state. "Who knows, least I'll do is write in Japanese, like I do with that little thought book.." A pause, a pencil to the mouth, a refrainment in his right wrist, but nonetheless a continuation. "Stride can't speak to me, who knew he'd have to recharge?" a scribble, "So with out his influence, what can I afford to think about?" another pause, "Well for starters, I'm bored out of my mind." Continuing, "Maybe I'm being too harsh on people? At the same time, I need to be, to achieve my goals at least." Slight anger, "I remember how people treated me, how lowly I was, (with those knights) but now I'm strong, strong enough for people to care, so I can overcome them, and this world, this terrible isekai world. It can't be terrifying, there can't be anything to threaten me if I'm strong." Followed by a "Tch." A sigh, focus, "I need to be stronger than my enemies, stronger then anybody coming for me. Maybe its paranoia, or maybe that paranoia helps me see the truth." Sckirk, the paper, "Roswall, he's a traitor. The witch cult? There's still others left." Vindication, "To my enemies, I can show them VERY little mercy." Another use for them? "Perhaps stored up. Power ups. My powers reliable just not without faults, a contingency plan is always good." It was after all, in his new identity, "I need to be better, greater, I have what I need now, but come the time, to do what I must do, I'll need more." The page was almost full, "And this in full is something that I Natsuki Subaru must admit too."

They rode at dawn. Two men accompanied with a mission set out north. Natsuki Subaru had expectations, he would confront Matthers if he had to but his main goal was reaching the mansions library. Accompanying him, Hienkel was on another dragon, red with black stripes. Too the raven-youth he seemed miserable, not thrilled to be dragged out of the capital on short notice but he would do what he had to do. Now thinking about the whole Astrea situation, Natsuki Subaru had time to reflect, the morning was still young and he now had reached a route he had taken numerous times along the Laifus highway.

Recalling a memory; there lied Henkel's wife in the forbidden room, Louanna. Louanna Astrea was an inhumanly beautiful women with long blonde hair. However, she's in a dormant state. From what Subaru could pick up on; Rienhard was a boy when she entered into her current condition.

Really, Subaru couldn't do anything, at least not in the moment, so reasonably he was heading off to enemy territory to meet the smartest person he knew; Beatrice.

And while not ideal for him, Hienkel would have to come along, akin to something like a body guard, but more so as a supervisor as too make sure the raven-youth stops blowing up large swabs of national land.

Arrival; it was later into the evening.

"Slowly, Patrasche." Subaru announced as the dragon came to a halt in front of the familiar manor. A long stare accompanied his view as the raven boy looked sturdily to analyze the building. "Talk about nostalgia.."

Hienkel on his dragon stopped beside the boy, "You done gazing?"

"Give me a second." a fake whine and then a sigh as Natsuki Subaru got off his ground dragon, the duo of men getting both on there feet as their dragons backed down.

"Where's the library?" The deputy chief spoke, "Rather we'd get these things done quickly."

"It's.. complicated?" Subaru groaned in a reply.

"Complicated?" mean eyes from the man who spoke first, "What do you mean by complicated?"

"Well." Teetering, "It's magic, it shifts around, swelling up and down, side to side, one door there another there-" a pause too look back and relax his hand gestures, "You know, that type of thing."

"Right." A squint in response from the red-headed man.

"Trust me though," the raven responded, "Im lucky, so I sh-"

"SUBBBARU!" a roar came from the entrance to the manor, with teary eyes and open arms, Petra, now at first glance a maid, ran towards the raven boy.

"Petra- omph!" a hug encompassed Subaru before he could reply.

"Where have you been!" she cried, burying her head into his chest. "We were-" a pause in sobs, "All so worried-" another sob, "But after we heard what you did-" now she rose her little head upwards to look at the nasty-eyed boy, "Everyone at the- the village was shocked!" A weary smile through tears.

"Woaah. Calm down Petra. It's not like I died. (yet)" Now meeting her gaze with a calm impression he wiped the girls tears away. "How are you any-"

Slowly the girl backed off calmly, "Fine, but." Eagerly, "Is it true? Did you really kill the whale? And- well, defeat the witch cult?"

"Ahh," Subaru remarked, "A childish inquiry with many not so surprising questions." Jokingly Subaru clasped his hands together, "Too put it blatantly, all those rumors- the good ones at least, are true." A cocky smile to aid his answers.

"Ahhh!" Petra gasped, "So your super strong now?"

"That's right!" a prideful smile with the raven youths thumbs to his chest, "I once was weak but now I'm strong."

Now the young girl with cyan eyes and reddish hair smiled, "That's super amazing! You'll have to explain everything!"

"Well er-" Subaru was hesitant on how he would explain his contract, not that he had not put thought into it before, but exactly what was he supposed to explain- that he had contracted an archbishop of the witch cult? Now to think of it, did he not have a trial coming up? Or at the least an examination? That with the heads of Lugnica? Panic. Well he-

"Err subaru?" Petra spoke up to fill the silence, "Are you okay?"

"Ah-" to come bac from his overthinking, "Well yah- just got lost in the details for a second- I'm fine"

"Well, okay!" Replying innocently as her reddish hair swayed in the wind, Petra pushed forward, "You should come inside, I bet big sis is just dying to meet you!"

"Big sis?"

She was a beastly women, beautiful despite it, but still beastly. Sharp teeth, blonde hair, an intrinsic figu- {No, no, snap out of that.} Subaru announced to himself in his head.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." The blonde hair, blue eyed, supposedly demi-human women announced with a friendly tone. "Petra and- many others have been saying a lot about you, Natsuki Subaru."

An awkward laugh in reply from Subaru, "Have they now they now?" he looked to Petra who sat opposite to him on a sofa who blankly smiled. The child sat beside the blonde women and afar from his vie to the side, Hienkel stood skeptical, slightly bored and eagerly was looking around. "Hopefully my reputation precedes me, the good at least."

"To an extent." The women smiled while laughing slightly, "Although given the stories of your heroics. I expected you too be a bit taller."

Subaru laughed, "Maybe my bravado can fill in that gap?" laid back at the very least, he would think. You have to make a confident impression, do what aligns with your identity. A sigh, (although it is good that there's a light mood, perhaps she doesn't know of the conflict between me and Roswall?) a look to Petra, (Her too.)

Light subtleties before the blonde maid perked up, "Oh, I seems that my attempt at indmitating you through me off a bit!" a smile. "My name is Frederica Baumann, the current head maid of the Matthers domain, as I fill in for Ram in her absence."

"I see." Subaru acknowledged her meaning that the Oni maids were not around, "Well- you already know me, but I'm Natsuki Subaru. Me and my, err, escort." Looking over to Hienkel who only nodded in reply with his arms crossed as the two maids looked to him. "Are here on important business."

"I see." Frederica replied, "That being?"

"We need to see the great spirit, Beatrice. I already have a past here as a butler, so you understand my history. I know that she does things on the account of her own interests." A look to the side hallway and back, "Which is why I came here on such short notice."

The beat women understood, "Well, we aren't the ones who will stop you." Earnest eyes, "If you wish too see that spirit you can do so. I doubt anyone will care too much anyway."

"alright, awesome." Subaru announced as he rose up, "Im going to find her now."

"Right." Frederica replied.

"Alright." A pause. "I'll be going.. er- that way." As he pointed to the hallway on the left. "Oh- and Hienkel"

Stoically the Astrea looked back.

"You stand guard or something." And off he set to find the great spirit.

The kid was awkward, more so then he has seen before. The man, Hienkel could piece together multiple bits of Natsuki Subaru's story, and clearly the nasty-eyed kids has a history with this place. Of course it was not any of his business, but what's one to do when stuck miles away from his home? "I need a drink-" The Astrea groaned as he rubbed his temples. Whatever the kid was doing too day, it better be worth it- one more fault could lead to the complete loss of his status. Already speaking, the deputy commander had fallen from grace, there's a reason for the deputy part. Really none of this seemed the risk- but his wife- she was. Hienkel knew this, so the best thing he could do? Keep too himself. Apparently however, the night had other plans, and with a sharp sense and the sudden change in the atmosphere. Followed by a "My, my-" this knight was going to be anything but peaceful.

"This is the door!" a prideful annunciation, a barge and- and in-fact, it was the door. The sudden aroma of books, the latent dust floating around, and a not so bothered little girl with blonde pigtails and distasteful dress proved this was the library, "Still got it." Gleam in his eyes with his victory Subaru rose a fist to his heart.

The spirit did not acknowledge the raven-youths antics. Merly she focused on her book in the same position on the same stool that she always sat.

"Hey beako! Didcha miss me?" Natsuki Subaru moved into the room. Smiling with a dumb look. "Notice anything new?"

"…" a sniff. "You smell worse I suppose, with a- new scent.." The girl looked up with her butterfly eyes, "What have you done I suppose? What in fact have you done too have even Betty concerned with the matter of fact?"

"Oh?" Subaru looked back at the girl, "Beatrice you're finally concerned for me?"

"Of course not." Irritation in her eyes, "Betty couldn't care less perhaps."

"Oh- how you're breaking my heart!" a fake, culk! A tch of sorts in his throat as the raven youth 'dramatically' Re-enacted getting stabbed in the heart.

"Hmph." A scoff, a look back to her book "What are you here for I suppose? Betty wonders just how long you plan on irritating her!"

"ah- gotta get to the point" in a nonchalant tone, "gotta find the cure too Sleeping-Beauty, you know anything about it?"

"…" Beatrice flipped to the next page in her book, "Have you considered it a curse I suppose?"

"Well yah- that's what it is." Subaru announced, "A healer revealed that years before I came into the picture."

"hmm." Beatrice now looked up and put her book down as she moved to the shelves. "Matter of fact, Betty may know of this."

"Wouldn't expect less of you Beatrice." Subaru smiled as he unfolded his arms.

Pulling out a large green book the girl skipped through multiple pages, a long pause.

"Say anyway-" Subaru spoke up as instantly the spirit girl looked back to him, "Are you happy here Beatrice?"

Silence.

"…" The girl frowned, "What a stupid question, Betty has everything she needs I suppos-"

"No." Earnestly the raven-youth spoke, "Are you seriously happy here- in this room- at this mansion? Are you genuinely content here?"

"…" another pause before the spirit replied, the girl looked downwards, "Betty gave you an answer Subaru, why don't you understand that?"

"It seems so lonely." Subaru replied as he gazed around the library, "I get it- if it is your thing to be a hermit- all the power in the world too you Beatrice. But don't you ever wish for more? Like rather than reading about things in those big books, you could go out? Experience life through, well, life, rather than text?" A convincing point tone in his voice as to look back at the blonde.

"Betty wonders than-" But she paused, now with a new sense of conviction in her voice, "Bettys mother has assigned her a role in this library, too guard it I suppose. Until Bettys They arrives in fact." With a weary voice the girl looked earnestly back towards the nasty-eyed boy.

"A role?" An eyebrow raised, "And how long have you been here for?"

"Not that it would matter.." Beatrice announced before speaking once more. "Betty has been here for over 400-years."

Subaru almost gawked, "Four hundred years?! Alone in this library?"

"It is what Betty said, what her mother made her do I suppose." The girl could only reply, but Subaru could sense the sadness in her voice, the change in mood.

"Hey, Beatrice. That's not right," slight anger, "I'm not one to get involved in other peoples issues, but this mother of yours- talk about the worst parenting possible."

"Bettys mother is not a bad parent I suppose." Irritation her voice. "Betty is waiting for her They, They will choose Betty. All her responsibilities will be given to her They I suppose."

"Your they?" Subaru questioned, "Do you even know this they?"

"No." Beatrice spoke.

".." Subaru squinted, "Then how do you expect to be saved from this containment? In fact, how can you wait for somebody for four-hundred years are still not get any results?"

Beatrice could only stay quiet, what Subaru was saying, ultimately it was true. But Beatrice was loyal to her mother, down to her dying command. It wouldn't be right to just leave her outpost. But, to the spirit, Subaru was the first person she had spoken too of this, outside of Puck. Was it possible that maybe in fact, Subaru was Bettys Person? "Are you?" Tearfully looking up to Natsuki Subaru. "Betty's They?"

… "Well, I better be!" Subaru roared, "Who out of their right mind would leave a poor little girl confined and alone for half a millennia?!"

Beatrice's eyes widened, it made sense after all he was the first person to seamlessly open through all of her doors, as if the spell were nothing. He talked to the spirit on grounded terms, and despite his hyper attitude, he was genuine. "Is it true than? Is Subaru really Bettys person?!"

{Oh what the hell.} Subaru would think to himself. {This girls been here alone, if this They of hers was genuine theywould have shown up by now!}. In full confidence, Subaru announced, "I am, Beako." Hand to heart, "and I promise I'm never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, or never run around and desert you. You won't have to stick to here and be sad, I'll save you from all that misery."

Beatrice begun to cry, "But Subaru is only human." A stream of tears, "Betty will out live you!"

With resolve in his eyes, "Than will make so many memories they'll last you several lives!"

Hiccups through her words, "Betty has been here for so long!" more tears. But Subaru embraced her in a hug.

Comforting her, he spoke softly, "I know and it's not right, I'm so sorry it took this long for me to get here. But I promise you Beako." He kneeled down to meet the great spirit at eye level. "I promise you from starting now, you can forget about the past, we'll be starting her from zero."

Beatrice sneakered, but the butterfly girl was in obvious relief, "Beako? I stupid name I suppose, but Betty is glad I suppose, that she can finally be saved by her Subaru." Rubbing her tears, "Will you form a contract with Betty? I suppose she already knows of her Subaru's dark deals. But that doesn't matter all the fact to her."

"You.. do?" Subaru perked.

"Betty could sense the divide in your gate the moment her Subaru entered the domain I suppose." She looked quietly to the nasty-eyed boys chest. "More in sense that her Subaru is an authority welder in fact, up close, too feel your mana Subaru, its that there's to different kinds inside of you."

Subaru was surprised, "You know that I hold an Authority of sin. And about my contract?"

"Yes in fact." Beatrice affirmed, "But Betty could not tell of the contract till now I suppose."

"Ahh, wonderful." Subaru sighed, this had the opportunity to make his life difficult. "Is it a common skill to be able to tell manas and contracts apart?"

"No, in fact one muse be extremely talented." The girl replied, "Regardless, Betty will form the contract through your mana alone, long as her Subaru's counterpart does not get jealous."

"He won't mind." Subaru teased, "he just want's me too win."

"Betty sees I suppose," the butterfly girl now grew eager, "Subaru's gate is also repaired." She announced, "A benefit of his contract?"

"Right." Subaru replied, "It should be enough to handle basic magic now, I suppose."

"Don't mock Betty." The spirit rolled her eyes, "At least for now in fact." The girl grew serious and Subaru accepted this, the two would now have to lay out the details of their contract.

Hienkel was fighting for his life.

"My my!" the assassin in an eccentric tone, "You move swiftly for a man of your stature? Just what do those entrails look like after all these years?~"

"Entrails?!" the Astrea roared, "That's why you've been aiming for my belly you crazy bitch!"

"Ah how disappointed I am!" her knives clashed against the blade of the Astrea's. "While you prove formidable, I was hoping for the Sword Saint once I saw those eyes and that flaming hair~"

"My son? You wouldn't stand a chance against that monster, nobody would!" Hienkel announced as he dismantled the omens blade play and slashed at her neck. A clean cut, she was dead. "Huff-" out of breathe the man backed off. "Fuckin' crazy." Slowly, "I'm gonna need a drink-" but it wasn't over, the vampire rose.

Alive once again, "You speak of your son sooo poorly? It has me wondering just what type of man you are?~"

CRASH! BOOM!

"What's going on!?" Subaru rose as he ran through the manor.

"Invaders I suppose." Beatrice announced calmly as she ran beside her contractor. "Two of them, a child and women."

"Wonderful!" the raven-youth announced sarcastically, "Another problem too resolve."

"Subaru!" screamed a young feminine voice- Petra.

"Oh you- be queit!" and standing at what was the front entrance of the manor, an even younger girl. Purple hair, a bad costume, and atop of what looked to be a boar, but give any fair indication, was a mabeast. "Oh hey big bro- it's been a while?" She announced holding Petra in her arms. "If ya don't mind my Hippo heres gon' destroy you."

"Wha-" but before he could reply the animal rampaged towards Beatrice and Subaru.

"El Minya!" and what seemed like hundreds of magical crystals instantly ripped the mabeast boar to shreds. Subaru traced back the voice to meet Beatrice who had a smug look. "Nothing but an animal infact."

"Whaa-" Meli was now revealed behind the mess of gore. "No! That's not fair!" a hissy fit, "That was my friend!" anger, "No, you're the ones that are supposed to be getting ripped to shreds! Get'em!" and as she pointed, dozens of mabeast were revealed, braking the ground, shattering windows and coming through the walls and ceilings.

Minya became a phrase increasingly common in Subaru's vocabulary, he could not rely on his authority, so, using his new toy, that being Beakos magic, he was able to deter the unwelcomed invasion of his former residence. Melis situation was just how awful. Essentially the girl lost her entire arsenal of abominations and as she was about to flee, a beaten but alive Frederica picked her up and put her in place.

"Isn't there- two?" Subaru looked back to his Spirit.

Beatrice nodded, "Yes, a women and child."

"Meaning we have no time to talk!" In a rush Subaru looked around, Frederica who was holding the now unconscious child Mabeast User with Petra to her side swiftly pointed too the front yard. Where there had been an entrance, now held a giant hole. "Talk about an open concept!" As Subaru ran in that direction.

"Errk" blade by blade they matched, twice he had to parry the blows of daggers thrown to him, and twice only nearly had Hienkel been cut.

"You keep up well for someone at your age~" The black haired women announced.

"Can it bitch." Hienkel, honest.

Blow after blow after blow, this situation was deteriorating for Hienkel, he was getting cut more and bruised. He was running out of stamina and was tired from the days travel. This bitch though? Endless amounts of energy. Horribly unlucky, the Astrea tripped, and the women took a full swing- that was untill-

Shhhirk-, the women had her legs frozen. "Huh-" geniuniely taken off guard. Frantically the black haired women looked around. Hinekl was on the ground, at the momment the two were unmovable and slowly but assured a figure became present form the direction of the manor.

"Ellllllsaaaa" a voice crude in tone.

"Who?" The women looked to the figure undeterred, Hienkel knew him.

Jet black hair, nasty-eyes, and a prideful posture, "It's been a while. Still obsessed with guts?"

Slight terror in her eyes, "You- you're the boy from the loot house!"

"I am." He smiled.

"…"

"Anyway!" Subaru looked slightly disappointed, "Glad you didn't kill Hienkel, he's the closet thing I have to a best friend right now!" he teased as he moved closer, just enough for Elsa to- slash! But he nearly dodged it. "Bit rude when someone's talking to you?"

".." Silence, what was the bowl hunter supposed to do? What could she do? She was stuck, but always her mind was scheming. Being stuck in ice before, she'd let that arrogant man talk, than- that'd be the end of him right after.

Disappointment on his face, "Thought we were going to have a warmer reunion? Specially considering all the trouble you gave me all the way back than.." a pause and a sigh, "Well, whatever."

"You're cocky." The bowl hunter replied, "That will be the death of you boy."

"So I've been told." He could only stare her down and then up, "Let this be a testament to my strength." Then, the nasty-eyed boy smiled once again, "Once I was weak, now I'm strong!" Quickly he grabbed the women's shoulder, and spectacularly in a display of purple and green crystals then the women evaporated.

Silence, the wind.

"Subaru-" Hienkel grunted, as he struggled to get up, Subaru offered his hand, the deputy commander looked back to the raven-man with disbelief in his eyes, a major hesitance in the knights demeanor.

"Don't worry." Subaru smiled, "I' don't bite if I like ya." The two met hands and Hienkel stood up.

"Subaru- that, was brutal.." announcing Hienkel who looked disorientated, he was tired from his fight, and slightly hurt. "Think I'm gonna need a drink.."

"We might as well get this day over with." Confidence, "Hienkel," the raven youth stared to the man who loosely held his sword, "I'm closer to finding cure for your wife. I contracted just now, a great spirit with extensive knowledge of curses, who holds a library of ancient knowledge."

"Have you now?" out of breath, he came used to Subaru coming out with these big revelations. It was increasingly obvious that Natsuki Subaru was someone great, someone who had endless opportunity, truly it seemed the boy might one day come to rival the monster that is his son. "Really. I'm not surprised."

Subaru laughed in response, "Yah- my bad. But in saying that, I want to ask you for something."

Hienkel earnestly raised his eyes in anticipation for the raven-youths request.

"Become my right hand man."

"What?" the deputy commander was confused.

"You heard me. I have a dream, I'm willing to do anything to make it come true. Sure its ambitious, sure it seems so huge, but with one step after another, no matter what I believe it can happen. So, that's why I'm asking you- even if it seems like everything's done, that you don't have a lot of hope left, I want you to work for me. I want to establish a company, I want see the world, I need people who share this similar aspiration." Subaru looked earnestly now with a smile.

Hienkel was taken aback, he dropped his head, he held shame, "Subaru- you don't understand." A pause, dim demeanor, "There's no hope for me- I'm worthless, I couldn't even save my wife- and you expect me too help you? How could I..?"

But the Raven-youth was determined, "Alone, we live in an echo chamber, trust me Hienkel, I know how terrible that can be." He moved his right hand forward, "That's why I'm asking you, trust me, I've done much, I can do a lot for you too- I saw how you fought, how dearly you love your wife. You can grow!"

"I CANT" Hienkel roared, "I'M a mess! My families a.. mess! Everyday- that monster- these demons that plague- I just can't trust myself." Depressive eyes, "I just can't"

"Then." A soothing confidence came from the boy in front, his black hair swayed, and his posture unmoved, "If you can't trust yourself, then trust me." In continuation as Hienkel slowly looked up again, "If you can't believe in yourself, believe in me." And a nod of empathy, a comforting yet exhilarating tone, "So that through me, you can believe in you."

Alone, now Al could get some time to himself. It was late. Priscilla was asleep and for the most part, this part of the country was quiet. So Al the knight of Priscilla Barielle left, and in place, Al the man, found himself to his own devices staring into the midnight sky…

A brief moment…

"Its wacky." He announced as he stared upwards into the night, "The stars are just all over the place."

Arc 4

Finished