11

The Prince

Run. Run further, deeper, they are trying to get you! Run throughout this forest, they are all after you! its coming, its rushing, endlessly. But how long can you run? How far can those legs take you before giving in? You can't run forever.. Your only human after all? Why not look back, a turn could cost you your life, but the monster? What is it? You know it, deep down, even without seeing its face. But it comes nonetheless and you must run. Rush. Rush. Rush. Branches and leaves, the sounds of the dead. Crack, Snip, Kerk. Its here, behind you! But you see it right? The other thing of hope, the light. You have seen light before, it was false, an illusion. So what about this one? Is this the right light too you? Keep running, your legs, there moving you, forward, up, an endless spiral. Can you really reach the light. Yes? Then, keep, runni-

A Gasp, a puff, "huff." A nightmare. Alone. Well, not alone. The spirit, she is- awake and she's staring intensely at-

"Subaru?" Beatrice moved to Subaru quickly, face to face, "Are you alright?" a concerned look. "You had a nightmare; Betty could feel it through our contract infact."

The raven-youth begun to rub his eyes, too stare at Beatrice, and then to feel his arms, place his right hand on his chest, and stare back at the girl while he calmed himself, "Yeah." The raven boy let out a faint smile, "Nightmares are terrible." A yawn, to overcome these feelings of dread, "I'm okay Beako, no dream could kill me."

"Is Bettys Subaru sure?" the spirit still concerned, moving to hold his right hand with her two, letting out a warm pulse. "It seemed like her Subaru was suffering.."

"No, no." a displaced chuckle, "I'm fine." Still quite due to the night, "But, its reliving to have my trusty Beako by my side!" Subaru announced embracing the girl.

Still worried Beatrice could do nothing but move on, clearly Subaru was denying his own feelings with this false façade, the spirit knew this through their contract, it was certain. In fact, it even hurt the spirit girl, that her contractor who she had grown so accustomed too over the past month was not open about his true feelings. The midnight-coloured boy would release snip-bits from time to time, mostly in frustration, but often he tended to over work himself, shutting himself into his occupations, disregarding his feelings and just continually moving, one thing to the next, busy busy.

Of course, he made time for Beatrice, that's why they were so close, they'd walk around, practice magic. Subaru would tie Beatrices hair, Beatrice would get annoyed at his terrible skill in the process. His advancement in magic had been remarkable however, in just a month at a staggering rate, Subaru could practice illusionary magic through his contract with the great Spirit of yin, the longest being an hour where the boy had practically cloned himself, making a duplicate. It was only Beatrice that was used to it, this magic of the nasty eyed boy's confused pretty much everyone else in the manor, especially the owner. But back to the present, Beatrice could only hug her contractor, despite her worry or concern, {Perhaps you'll open up to Betty eventually..} the spirt would believe as the night continued.

Subaru decided he would get up early, fortunately Beatrice was still asleep when he would do so, so he covered the spirit with the remained of the blanket now that he was out and would softly brush the girls head before leaving the room.

Dimly but certainly the mansion was lit up, it begun to even give the raven-youth flash backs to his first few nights at the Matthers domain. However, he quickly disregarded these thoughts, "Can't think about that." He muttered as he continued down the hall. Admiring the paintings he stopped to stare at what was supposedly called the first Astrea- the Sword God. "Long hair eh?" Subaru could learn than, that the Astrea's had a long history of swordsmanship, photos and paintings lined the walls of the manor, each photo contained one of two swords present; the Dragon Sword Reid; named after the Sword God, which was never achieved, and the Holy Sword of the Astrea's. If he was not to be mistaken, Hienkel held the latter. Moving to the end of the hall now; Subaru came across the training grounds. "It's at least 6:00 Am." The black-haired boy looked around, "Everyone's asleep and here I am wondering around?" So the boy sat by, on a chair. Alone. Or, rather not.

The voice came from his od, and the tone of the first of his contracted people spoke, " Subaru. Thou have been busy. Good." Stride Vollachia.

"Ah, your finally awake after all this time. What was that a month? Unbelievable really.." Subaru scoffed, placing his hands together.

"Hm." Stride would tone up, "Thou Subaru has done much. Too fight against fate, put in order thine affairs, all good." The Vollachian announced, Stride had this matter-of-fact tone, more as if he were to summarize rather than praise. "Go. Too see Fellow."

"What?" Subaru still tired, he sat on a chair facing the training field of the Astrea residence in the capital, the sun had only begun to rise, "Why would I want to listen to that man?" yawning the raven youth closed his eyes, titled his head upwards, rubbed his face and refreshed himself, "I'm not even sure if he'll pay me for my labor."

"Thou feelings do not matter in this case. Go, learn, that is what thou Subaru should do." An order.

"Ridiculous." Subaru moaned, "I don't have anything else to do today I guess." Finally embracing this destiny, "This better pay off."

Deep labor and unyielding results. A terrible way to spend his afternoon. Subaru faced his greatest foe yet; one which many had failed to fend off. The bane of his existence with any escape or hope being his own death. This terrible fate, the one in which the raven-youth faced head on… Office work.

"Ahhh."let out the boy, clarity antagonized. It's too much for me." The boy with nasty eyes placed his hands over his head, a fake cry and the papers around him shuffled about. One stack almost fell over, another did. "Oh my- urg!" dissipation in his voice.

Russell came along, checking up on the boy, he opened the room to the bright office room that had a surplus of natural lighting. "Ah Subaru." The man smiled, "How are those finance reports coming along? There are last months latest you know."

".. This months latest.." Still the boy kept his head to the desk, in an almost crazy tone, "Meaning… that I still have another month's amount of work?"

Fellow went to check the stack right to the boy. The whole office was set in a way that the main desk was facing the entrance door to the room with a large open window from behind. This was all located in a large building just near the castle. Subarus desk was set up so that new work came from his right, and once completed would be shifted to the left.

"Not bad." Rusell admitted, moving one paper over another, checking the back, reading it and then following up with the next page. "Maybe your handwriting requires work. But, in saying that, it's impressive the amount you've gotten done. Good job."

"Ah!" Subaru perked up, "Really?" he started to smile, "Well, it makes sense! This is quality work right here!" Subaru toned up, placing his hand onto the finished stack of work. "Better be- this is days of labour."

"Unfortunately." The taller man; the Financial Treasurer of the Kingdom had other plans. "It's all to be thrown out."

A pause in Subaru, "Wait? WHAT!" Subaru roared up.

Russell only laughed, shifting his gaze to the piles of work and then back to his nasty-eyed employee. "It is all old work." He then collected half of the paper and tossed in a trash can to the right of the desk.

The raven-youths mouth was agape. In shock, that was essentially hours work of his time, gone in an instant, "y- you can-nt be serious." Stuttering the boy moved up, but just as quickly as he moved upwards, he fell to his knees. "I put my heart and soul into that stuff." A deadpanned expression to aid his now melancholic attitude. Slowly the raven boy shifted his head to Fellows who still had the same blatant expression.

"Such is business." A voice full of glee. "Things like this are very common in the world of trades Subaru. Things don't go your way all the time, they backfire." He would than shift his movement too leave the room. "Mr. Natsuki. You must be prepared to face these situations in life, where hours of work turn to nothing but cannon fodder. What matters is how you react to these things." The man in red than reached his exit before turning back to speak one last time. "A word of advice, examine your work before you start it. It doesn't hurt to double check Aswell." And with that, Russell Fellow left a speechless Subaru to his own devices.

"Bullshit." The raven youth muttered. So, he took a step back, recalling his plans. "I've been here since daybreak." He sighed as he pulled up to him another paper. "Three weeks ago, eh?" red ink on the pages. Subaru had time to reflect; this morning was cooler than the past few, he met Russell for the second time at this building, it was busy even at dawn. Merchants and business brokers made their way through. The building in question was made largely out of red stone, it was four stories tall and possibly the most significant public building after the castle itself. By a fluke Subaru had met Russell who stood at the center to the massive main entrance, there he smiled, greeted Subaru under an agreed alias and proceeded to take him too the room he currently presided in. However, this was not his first hour, nor the first day. This in fact was the third, a usual shift lasted him six hours, that stack causally thrown away? The results.

The Raven youth was beyond fed up, he arose, placed both hands on the table, had a nasty gaze towards his work, sighed, released the look and calmly he walked towards the exit of the building. Taking him two minutes just to leave the current section of the building. Hurriedly he passed by staff and servants alike and made his way to the large open doors at the entrance. Practically jumping from the fourth to second floor in the process of traveling the stairs.

"Ah!" a would smile now on his otherworldly face, "I can see it" talking to himself, "The light-" harp.

Cats. Three of them, Orange, knights. Tivey, Hetaro, and Mimi. "Stop they announced."

"No further will you walk Trespasser!" Tivey.

"You've made it this far, but not any further!" Hetaro.

"I want let you get away this time!" Mimi.

"These are.." a false shock, Subaru looked up and around. A lone figure in white who smiled, amethyst hair, cyon eyes. "Anastasia, you sly dog."

Subaru looked down tot eh three children practically ho clung onto his legs. "I see you have your goons tied to me!" The raven boy spoke up, not mad, but more so cunning, with a smug smile, "Have you resulted to hit and hold tactics?"

"Nah, but ya seem to be in a good mood enough fer once. What's changed Subaru?"

"Me?" Subaru laughed, "I'm always in a good mood, just need to be safe and secure."

Now walking over, Anastasia Hoshin was in full view, she had a smile, "Safe an' secure? So ya weren't the other' day?"

"Of course not." He raised his left hand to cover his chest, the triplets still held onto him. "It was raining."

"Ah. I see." The Kagaragan slightly squinting, "What of yer little accomplice as ya put it?"

Subaru squinted back, he raised his lips to open his mouth before the youth quickly went silent. Rethinking his thoughts in a quick second, he finally spoke, "He's working on himself. We all need restarts sometimes."

The girl let out a "hm." Turning her head horizontally in a curious fashion before agreeing with a nod and than speaking as she moved her violet hair out her view and fixed her eyes on the raven boy. "Yer quite the forgiving one then?" she smirked, "Is that mercy part of who you are?"

"Mercy?" Subaru spoke as an eyebrow rose, "I wouldn't call it mercy, it's not like I would kill anybody for getting drunk and well, shaking off your responsibilities." the boy shook his head, Subaru spoke, reframing himself, the triplets still held tight. "But- in saying that-" a huff, "Um Anastasia-" Fanning himself with his right hand, "Could you get your kids off me, its getting hot."

"Oh!" the merchant girl perked up, "Yah, sorry bout that, didn't want'cha runnin' off on me." The girl looked down to the cat trio, they looked back at their mother, instantly Tivey and Hetaro shook off the boy. But Mimi, she was reluctant. "Come on Mimi, let Subaru be."

"No!" The cat girl antically roared, she shook her head, closed her eyes and furiously stayed to Subarus right leg, "Not after he got mama all cold and wet!"

"Cold and wet?" Tivey spoke, "What do ya mean by that Mimi?" a terrible look at Subaru, then a hesitant look at his mother, Anastasia.

"No." Anastasia shuffled her hands forward in dismissal. "It's nothin' serious, we just ended up alone is all." The Kagaragan sighed, "Seriou-"

Tivey was shocked, he looked back to Subaru who had an awkward face, "No, I didn't try to do anything to-"

"You.." Tivey held vice in his throat, "If Julius knew about this, you'd be as go-"

"We were in the rain!" finally the merchant-princess established proper reasoning, asserting some level of authority. "Don't ya get any wrong ideas Tivey."

Tivey was shocked out of his anger, he blushed suddenly and shook his head profusely, "Oh- I'm sorry, I thought something else. Sorry, it was a mistake- I didn't-" He looked back to Subaru, he received an awkward gaze where the nasty eyed boy held both his eyes and mouth tight.

"Maybe we'll need'a have a chat about yer thinking Tivey?" Anastasia now assumed her motherly role, "I want ya to go to Ricardo fer now. Later on I'll explain everythin' to ya and Hetaro."

Hetaro, the third of the triplets who had only been watching the situation as afar, only nodded at his mention. The Kings' candidate than looked back to Mimi, who held her firm grasp. "Mimi." Anastasia spoke, "If ya don't get off Natsuki here, he might use that strength of his ta' struggle ya off."

"Wait. What?" the cat girl slowly looked up to meet Subarus face, the nasty eyed boy smiled, "Yah, don't you remember what I did to the whale?"

"Eeep!" Quickly the girl's grip dissipated, she ran behind her mother fast. "Please Momma, don't let that mean man hurt Mimi."

"Mean?" Subaru was thrown back a bit, never once did he consider that he might be overly mean, "You guys see me as mean?"

Mimi only nodded slowly; she backed up. Anastasia however had finally decided her next action, "Mimi, Tivey, Hetaro. Go find Recardo, let em' know I met up with a' acquaintance o' mine." She than looked to Subaru, who only stood semi confused, clearly, he was deep in thought over the presumption that he was a mean person. "Ya got time by chance Subaru?"

"Time? With me?" Subaru was taken back into reality, calmly he looked around, behind him as if he were making sure that nobody was watching him, suspiciously, but then he looked back to Anastasia. "Yeah, I probably got a few hours. Why?"

The merchant smiled once more, she placed her hands together, "Yer not being antagonistic today? What gives?"

Subaru sighed, "I was in a bad mood that other day. Going to refrain myself a bit from now on" He then moved forward as a step, "If you want to talk. We can."

"Wonderful." Then Anastasia looked at Mimi, "Tell em I'll be away for an hour or two." The triplets nodded, slowly they moved away into the direction they originally came. Not once did Mimi leave her eye off Subaru, the same for Tivey.

A moment passed and the triplets were gone, "Actually." The cyan-eyed merchant spoke again, "Yer a lot more popular with em' than they show. They just want to act tough around their mother." The merchant princess admitted as she sighed, she looked at Subaru while waiting for a reply.

"Is that so?" the boy inquired, "I wouldn't blame them for being defensive, but I'm not that terrifying, am I?"

"No, yer not-" she placed a thumb to her lip, "Your more so.. unpredictable than anythin'."

Anastasia had this look on her face, she was enthusiastic and seemed bright, obviously she was smart and cunning, Subaru knew this. But despite his past betrayal by the foxy girl in front of him. It would not both him as much once the raven-boy had consulted Stride and had some time to think it over, it wasn't that terrible with what she did. Although hesitant, Subaru would give the girl a chance. Afterall, he knew both hers and his own character now. Subaru had a set of beliefs and goals, guidelines, if he followed the rules, he would be fine around anybody.

"That's.. better at least." Subaru closed his eyes, thought, and spoke out, "Do you mind if we go somewhere Ms. Hoshin?" then he looked around the building, there were a few people around the two who were staring, promptly more towards Hoshin who held a popular face. "Unless you're here on business?"

"Yes. And no." Anastasia replied, twirling her hair with her right hand, "It's nothin my camp can't' handle." Then moving besides Subaru, she walked up to him at a closer distance, "Where do ya wanna' go, Natsuki Subaru?"

"Why the fuck is everythin destroyed?" a cat surprised as he wandered about the ruins of a mansion.

"This is-." Rem stood beside the cat-boy, the Oni shocked Aswell, "Not usually what the manor looks like."

"Ya got that right!" Garfiel roared, turning up and down as he moved and pushed around rocks, "Who the hell did this?"

Roswall of all people walked up, even he was a bit irritated, looking left to right. The entire domain had holes and rocks, everywhere, at every point. "…" the jester stared up; it was obvious that he would be the one responsible for paying off the damage. "Jussst who are the culprits here?" he knew them. Playing it off in his usual eccentric tone. Then came the movement of ruble and the walk of a figure forwards, Fredrica came from what was left of the inside interior of the mansion.

"Assassins." The beast girl spoke, "Fortunately.." She looked to the small girl, Petra as she moved to her side, "We were saved by two heroes."

"Heros?" Rem was the first to acknowledge her point.

"What hero leaves a mess like' this?!" Garfiel still surprised, "Looks like a' crappy job."

"You're not even going to acknowledge your sister Garf?" Fredrica spoke, a bit surprised herself at her little brother's attitude towards her.

"Well. My amazin' self can't say I ain't happy ta see ya sis. But the hell is this?" pointing around the lion boy was still frantic.

"It was.. chaotic." The beast maid admitted, "Both sides fought unorthodoxly; a hard battle, but we won."

"And those heroes?" Garfiel continued, "Who the hell where they? and why'd they just leave?"

"Yes. Please tell us!" Rem spoke to join Garfiels inquiry.

Roswall himself was silent, he knew the answer, almost expecting it. "It wassss.." he mummered under his breath.

Fredrica sighed with a dead panned look, clearly not impressed she almost seemed reluctant to answer the question, "It was a Sir Natsuki Subaru as he put it." Then she looked to the side, a tree that had a long dash on it was freshly missing its largest branch, "And his knight."

"Hissss knight?" The magi was surprised, how in the od did the boy manage to land a knight after the blasphemous claims he made at the royal selection ceremony?

"That's right." Petra now spoke, moving her tiny frame from behind to the front of Fredrica. "Subaru brought a nasty man the smelled like alcohol here!" she pulled her face down in a mocking gesture, "Yuck!"

"Actually.." the lioness pulled out a black envelope, tacky and scratched, it looked like it was roughly sealed upon its completion. Strongly the maid handed it to the Lord of The Domain, "Lord Roswall. This is for you. Its from Subaru."

"From Subaru?" Roswall's eyes widened, what now? "I seeee." The magi looked back to the camp, Garfiel was too busy picking up and moving Rocks, Rem was looking around frantically. The young maid, Petra, she seemed nervous. Looking behind him; Rem and Emilia. "it seeeeems we have muuuch work to do~." He moved forward, "I will handle everything frooom here, Thank you Fredrica."

The maid nodded in compliance. Before looking behind her lord staring for a second with a concerned look. Said look was enough for Roswall to turn around once again. "Ms. Emillllia, is everythingggg alright?" The figure of sudden concern.

"…" the half-elf was shell shocked in appearance, before she quickly snapped out of her confusion, she looked back at the camp, "..Yah." earnestly but quiet, "I'm fine."

"oooh" full of astonishment, Ferris twirled around the marketplace, picking up multiple pieces of clothing. "All So Exotic!" The cat boy was excited, not very often to he get the chance to brandish foreign clothing, specially on such a large scale. "I'll say it. Kagaragans sure know how to dress!"

"Ferris." The duchess sighed attempting to displace her smile, "You're distracted so easily? Its starting to concern me."

"Whaaat?" The knight than moved to his green haired candidate, "C'mon Crusch… I know this would loowk purrrfect on you!" he moved a darker Kamono into view welding it so the Duchess could have view.

The women nodded her head slowly, "We can't have time to obsess over these things, if we-" But suddenly, the duchess was rushed over to the corner by the nearest stall by her knight. "Ferris what is-"

Surprised but overruled, the cat-boy placed his hand over the Valkyries mouth, "Shh- look." Quietly and discretely Ferris pointed out a corner of the market. Passed the multiple people and pass byers, their stood two figures. "That's.."

"Subaru Natsuki." Crusch's eyes widened. "And beside him is.. Anastasia Hoshin?"

"That Witch!" Ferris growled, "Before we couwld even get too him too.."

"Ferris, perhaps it's not what he seems. Be logical." But the matriarch was silenced once more, her knight was not having it.

"No, their totawally on date." The then pointed to the Kagaragan, "Lwook at that face, thwat smile. The way she looks at Subaru says it all!"

"No." The duchess in denial, she shifted her amber eyes back and forth, "Anastasia wouldn't do something like that. She doesn't seem like the straightforward type."

"No, but. Maybe Subaru is?" The cat shifted his gaze back to Crusch. "Do you think he could have asked her out?" Ferris continued. "We showld get too the bottom of this!"

The green haired women was hesitant initially, "No. Their business is their own, we sh-"

"All's fair in love and war." The knight remarked, "We can't just let the other camps win the favour of Natsuki Subaru so easily." The cat continued, "We showld confront them."

"And ruin their little date as you put it?" The duchess sighed and shook her head, "Now's not the time Ferris, just wait."

"Oh my Od!" Nyow, Ferris was shocked, "Lwook Crsuch, she's holding his arm!"

"W-wait what?" Crusch looked, Ferris's assessment was point on. This was not right, how could she let Anastasia Hoshin of all her rivals to get such a strong hold on the so thought 'prize' of Natsuki Subaru.

"She's going to run that poor boy into the ground." A false cry from Ferris. "It's soooow owver!"

"Ferris!" a slight snap of tone from the matriarch finally, "This is ridiculous, it's not like we can do anything about it."

"But eveeen so-" Ferris in his antics spoke wholeheartedly, "Its hard to watch!"

"That's it Ferris. As soon as-" but it was too late, the cat had made up his mind, consequently, Crusch had to follow in the boys footsteps.

"Subaru!" Ferris called out, raising his right arm to wave and running past the crowds.

How did they get along so well? Subaru wondered as he walked along Hoshin. He even laughed at her jokes. It was stupid yeah. But to his surprise, the merchant Princess was not as stuck up as he'd originally thought. She was acting sincere, not out of falsehood, but because the Kagaragan seemed genuinely enthusiastic about their conversations.

"No" she smiled, "You're not actually working for Fellow right now?" a tilt her head, "That's a dangerous thing to tell to yer' previously proclaimed' enemy Subaru." She teased.

"To be honest." Subaru frowned slightly before continuing with an obviously painful smile, "It's tactical. If it confused you, Anastasia."

"well." The girl gazed to her hand, then she refocused her teal eyes on Subaru, "Why? ya wanna' make money?" she sighed, "Fellow is smart. But I don't think he's the way to go." A pause, "At least for ya Subaru."

"Well." A reply. "It was a decision me and my consultants made. I'm sure everything will turn out just fine." The raven youth than gazed to the market ahead, steadily leading the pair in direction.

"Consultants?" Hoshin perked up "I thought the slayer of monsters, Natsuki Subaru worked alone?" another smile.

Squinting and titling his head, Subaru looked back to the smaller women, "Is that what people are calling me now? The Slayer of Monsters?"

"Yep!" Anastasia walked forward quickly, she turned back to the raven boy, "The stuff o' legends"

The nasty-eyed boy was able to catch up with the Merchant Princess in mere seconds, she gazed at him, to stare into his eyes for a few seconds before turning away, and walking.

"Ya could be a lil' less awkward Subaru." She spoke as the Kagaragan had decided to not look back at the raven-boy, "Tryna act all tuff an' serious?" Anastasia herself was not serious, she intended to poke at Natsuki Subaru, testing the boy's personality to see how he would react to her comments, still trying to figure out who the raven boy was entirely.

"Ah, but I'm not trying too?" Subaru walked, "Can't my attendance here prove that?"

"Attendance?" The Kagaragan looked back with a face of curiosity, pausing in her stance, "Yer still like that eh?"

"Like what?" The nasty-eyed boy was confused as well, his face showed this in an unusual alignment,

"Hmph." a sigh from the girl, she looked back forward into the previous direction she was looking and decided to continue her pace.

Something rare about the merchant's behavior, her attitude was all over the place, almost childlike now. This was a side to the Kagaragan the raven youth had never seen before. So much so; doubts of this truly being the Marchant Princess begun to strike Subaru Natsuki. "Anastasia. Your acting weird?" a tilt in tone, "Is this really the same Hoshin I met initially?"

The girl paused in her pace, she looked back to Subaru one last time, "Here." She said as she laid out her right hand, "Ya don't know me." The mer- no Anastasia spoke, "Let me show ya who I am. I'm sorry about the things I did in the past. Truly I thought I was doing what was best at the time." But she continued, vulnerability in her voice, "So let me make' up fer it?"

Subaru stood still as well. "Er." A pause in tone. The way this girl looked at him, it was not the type of eyed-up look the raven boy was used to getting from girls. Almost, it reminded him of the way Rem would look at him at points. Oh, Rem was s- no, he dismissed that thought. Back in the present, this could all be one big manipulation tactic Subaru thought. That Hoshin planned out, but it seemed so sudden, so abrupt, so… genuine. A bit awkwardly at first the raven-haired boy stumbled with his words. "Well- that's- nice?"

"Only nice?" Anastasia sarcastic, "I jus' poured out my soul into that confession." She laughed now, "Took ya aback didn' I?"

"No." Subaru clutched this. But he reached back towards the girl's hand, "Admittedly, I was a bit of a dick, but who knows Anastasia. Maybe you're trying to manipulate me?" A tease, "It's not exactly out of yer character."

"Ouch." Laughing it off, the merchant princess continued, "Guess we both have our faults. Though. I did think yer ego was too much. Might have to send Julius to knock ya down a peg."

"Don't even remind me." A role of the eyes and false sigh, "Let's not talk about that." Finally, Subaru shook Anastasia's hand.

The mauve-merchant was delighted. She had a pleasant look, but a teasing smirk. "Ya finally laid down yer Pride?"

But Subaru was quick to reply, "No." Calmly, "I'm manipulating you so it seems like I'm acting real humble."

"Exactly what I expected!" A fake astonishment in the cyan eyed girl, "How dare ya? At heart I'm just a sweet gal!"

"And I hunt monsters. Not exactly the best duo right now?" The raven youth perked.

"But It will do." The merchant replied earnestly, she smiled. Anastasia had laid a solid foundation.

Realistically the pair walked into the market, Anastasia seemed familiar with the place. "Your work?" Subaru questioned as he looked around, Kimonos and accents by the retailers. These people had to be from Kagaragi.

"Yeah. Actually." Hoshin looked back and forth between each shop, she got a few stairs, a few faces she recognized, and a few nervous glances from the merchants. "Ya led me here' though?" Inquisitively Anastasia looked back to Subaru.

The raven-boy shrugged, shaking his head, "Nah." A look around, "But it's nice to be in a familiar setting."

"Familiar?" the merchant's eyes rose, "Wha'da ya mean by familiar?"

"Well." Subaru paused to cusp his chin, "A lot of these items can be found in my homeland."

"Oh?" yje girl now curious. "Yer homeland? These items are Kagaragan Subaru. You don't happen to be-"

"Subaruuuuu!" a call out, a lead cat. "Howwww's it gowing?" Ferris Argyle.

"Ferris?" Subaru a bit surprised as he moved his nasty-eyes on the essentric cat-knight.

"Yep!" he replied, "Nice to see ya, all healed up?"

"Yes." Subaru placed his right hand to his abs in a mocking manner to symbolize that he was feeling fine now, "Guess your magic really is as potent as people put it. I was better in ust three days!"

"Ah, well, that's fatawstic!" moving his ears with a joyful smile, the healer seemed overly enthusiastic today. "Yah. Thought you died there in the process."

"Wait- what?" Anastasia chimed in, a bit shaken by that last statement.

"But I survived!" A cocky smirk as he placed his right thumb to his heart, "Death is merely an obstacle to be overcome."

"Yawh. For you at least." Ferris rolled his eyes but was happy nonetheless.

"So. Yo here ny your self or..?" Subaru looked around, curious as the catboy as seemingly come out of nowhere.

"Actuwally. Crsuch is here." Ferris turning around to look behind him. The Valkyrie not in the groups gaze yet.

"She is?" Unprepared for the occasion, Hoshin looked to Subaru. Once more, all the raven youth could do was shrug, "Ferris is like a friend now I guess?"

"Yeah?" The Kagaragan. "Is it impossible for ya to not randomly run into people ya know?" Anastasia at the inexplicableness of the situation.

"It happens." Another shrug.

But before the merchant and aspiring entrepreneur could talk any further, Crusch Karsten walked to meet the two, she had a pleasant expression and proper stance. "Anastasia Hoshin, Natsuki Subaru." She smiled, "A pleasure to see you two here."

"The pleasures all mine." Hoshin smiled in reply. "Touring the capital?"

"Well. It is expected of to have a daily commute throughout my home city is it not?" Crusch spoke, her long green hair was neat, she had these gorgeous amber eyes as Subaru had seen and seemed to have a strong stance, which was expected of the matriarch of the Karsten domain.

Honestly, Subaru had been thrown aback twice today. Was Crusch Karsten going to apologize for the way she treated him too? Today being a 'two birds with one stone' type situation for both of the girls? Hell, might as well invite Priscilla and make it a tea party? He mused to himself at that joke and all eyes were turned to him.

"Is something funny Natsuki Subaru?" a formal but polite question coming from the green-haired women to his front.

"Ah- not." Subaru shook his head, "A distracting thought. Nothing else." A smirk as he turned away slightly.

Crsuch confirmed the statement, nodding she looked back to Anastasia. Who gave a reply to her previously answered question. From a far back, the two had gone into their formal personalities. No longer a conversation between the average people. This situation could very well spiral into an informal debate. Subaru was bored by this, not so much that he was exhausted, just so that the raven-boy did not want to put the effort into sitting aback and looking pretty, so the youth looked to Ferris. Argyle curiously looked back.

"Ferris." Subaru spoke, "Nice weather today."

"Yawh?" The knight looked around before looking back. Slight awkwardness before the raven youth spoke again.

"Heinkel." Getting straight to his point, a now sudden shift into this determined personality of the raven-youth, "Heinkel Astrea, you know him right. Deputy commander of the knights?"

"Of course, I knyow him." The healer announced, "He's Reinhard's father afterwall."

"Good." Subaru spoke, "How important is his position to the kingdom? Is his presence important?"

Ferris was taken aback for a second at the line of questioning. The nasty-eyed boy had become direct, not choppy or slacking back. He had a focused look, a well it was tempting to challenge this shift in tone. Ferris would not bother to test the black-haired boy. Rather the cat would go along with the questions, it was easier to learn more about the enigma by listening and replying in this case.

"Welllll…" a trail in Ferris's throat. "He is an Astrea, the only one not independwent right nyow, as he is sewving the Kingdom." The cat answered, "But he was disgwaced a while back. Atowning to his status as Deputy commander." Ferris continued, "He is strong though, with a sword at least."

"I know that last part." Subaru smirked, "But yeah. A fall from grace is never fun." Subaru continued.

"Speaking from experiwence?" The knight had to say that.

The raven youth chuckled first in response. "It's always darkest before dawn." Admirably he took the insult with grace, which was all in reference to Subarus performance at the royal selection ceremony. "But Heinkel." Back on to topic. "The kingdom wouldn't suffer terribly if they were to have him leave their ranks?"

"Umm." Ferris now slightly Suspicious rose his head and raised his voice a bit. "Well, hes not teriblwly important. Heinkel Astrea is a good fighter, but I suppowse the kingdom wouldn't care too much."

"Awesomesauce!" Subaru clasping his hands together smiled. "I mean, not awesome, but its.. good to know?"

"Why would that be gwood?" Natsuki Subaru had done it, he had flared the cat's curiosity in his mannerisms and line of questioning, an odd situation, and an even odder boy.

"Nah, don't worry about it." Subaru shuffled forward before turning back to Crusch and Anastasia who had pleasant smiles as they continued in their conversations. Slightly he tugged an Anastasias robe before she turned back to him.

"What's up?" Hoshin perked up as to look at the raven youth, everybody in the group doing the same.

"I have to go." The nasty-eyed boy announced, "I have something that just came up."

Anastasia squinted. "I guess tha' makes sense. But yer not plannin' on just leavin' me here are ya Natsuki Subaru?"

"Well." A cusp too the chin, "Everything was sudden. I didn't have time to plan this ahead ya know?"

"So this thing o' yer's can't wait?" The cyan eyed girl a bit discouraged as she looked at the raven-youth.

"Well. It's important, so not for much longer." Subaru smiled a bit, "If you really need me too, I can take you home Anastasia?"

"That would work." The merchant girl admitted, "But do ya even know where I'm stayin' right now?"

"You can point." A blatant answer as the boy turned around, getting a full view of the market. "Yep. Pointing could work."

"An that's quick an efficient?" The Kagaragan skeptical as she moved forward, "Runnin around don't seem like a good idea if yer tryna' be practical Subaru."

"Running?" the boy confused, "Who said anythin about running?"

"Wait- wha-" Suddenly Hoshin was picked up in a bridal carry, being so sudden the merchant was red all over, she was not expecting to be so close to the raven youth.

Natsuki Subaru had a grin on his face as he backed slowly, "Hey Ferris." Looking to the cat boy who was surprised, his face contorting into a shocked smile with wide eyes. "Thanks for our little talk today."

"You're… welcome?" Ferris spoke earnestly.

"And Crsuch." The Valkyrie now inquisitively looking back to the raven-youth, "Nice to see you."

"You too?" Crsuch taken aback just as much so as her knight, she looked to Ferris. Ferris having a focused gaze.

"Alright. Be seeing you." He announced, slowly but surely the boy begun to jump, and when he did, they rose as quickly as thunder would flash across the sky with a sudden "Eeeeep!" from Anastasia Hoshin, and the two were off.

"Those two…" Ferris spoke first after a long pause, "They definitely have something going on!"

Aside from being a hundred meters into the air, Anastasia Hoshin had nothing going on but to hold onto Subaru for dear life. Defiently shocked at the sudden movement of her body and change of environment the small merchant girl was just blown away. She knew she was safe, as she held onto Natsuki Subaru, but how comfortable was she with what had just happened? The girl did not understand that answer for herself.

"Hey." Subaru spoke first, "Where is it? Where do you live."

"What?" Hoshin voiced, "Is this what ya mean by 'ponin' it out?""

"Yeeeep." A solid conformation.

But to her even further surprise, the speed at which the two had begun to fall had greatly slowed. She was, Anastasia was just beneath the clouds, and really the two could get a whole view of the capital. So hesitantly but assured she looked to her right side where she had vision, and she could see it all. "it all looks.." a pause, a tch in tone. "So tiny from here?"

"…" Subaru smiled slightly, "Its amazing. Never knew outside of an airplane that a view like this was possible."

"Airplane?" Hoshin looked back to Subaru at the boys confusing reference.

"No, don't worry about it. Just me ranting about things again." He closed his eyes for a second, the raven boy took a deep breath, relaxed he then spoke again. "You want to get down now Ms. Hoshin?"

Hesitant at first, the mauve-girl looked around, the capital was beautiful in sight, but beneath her had to be the greatest fall of her life, so quickly, Hoshin pointed to a white building on the nobles district. "That hotel.. ya can take me there."

"Right." Subaru announced, and with a sudden swoosh, the boy was to head in the pointed direction.