Stop now and I will forgive you if you would be so kind to return what you stole"
"Huh who the hell even are you" the grey haired hooligan who went by Chin responded in an angry tone. This was followed by Ton the dwarf. "You can't be serious"
Shiki was observing the situation which got more and more complicated by the second not just because of the additional variable but because of what he was feeling. While he couldn't put his finger on it, something in his body was whispering in a tone smooth as honey that the one in front of him wasn't completely human.
Subaru meanwhile was simply staring at the girl lost in her presence as if the rest of the world simply didn't exit.
"Please; It's very important to me. I'll turn the over other side, concerning the other belongings, but I can't let you have that. So hand it over."
The girl spoke both resolutely but also in a polite voice suggesting her willingness to compromise on anything that isn't her insignia.
"You mean you didn't come here for these two" the beaten down giant asked pointing to the two protagonists who stuck out in this world like sore thumbs.
"You mean those two ?" The silver haired girl said looking at the two people in strange clothes never seen before in Lagunica. "If you meant to ask if I know them in any way then no. This is my first time seeing them"
With that statement a collective sigh escaped the lips of the three who were worried that this new girl was an ally to the two. On the flip side Subaru's smile twitched as his expectations were shattered into a million pieces once again.
"If someone stole from you it's most likely the best who just passed by here, in that direction." The midget pointed to the direction the blonde girl from before ran hoping to have the girl in white leave as quickly as possible.
"These three don't appear to be lying, so I need to go after her." The girl said as she dashed with inhumane strength and flexibility only to stop just as she had crossed over to the other side.
"But regardless of that.... I can't overlook what's going on here"
Multiple ice crystals appeared mid air as she completed her sentence earning a surprise gasp from Subaru. Others however weren't so thrilled about it.
"I don't care if you can use magic. I am going to fucking kill you"
"Magic or not you think you can win 3 against 2"
"Do you?"
The goons brandished their weapons ready to engage in combat. Shiki also changed his focus back to being ready to take care of the three of them the instant the gap between them and Subaru increased.
"Hmm three against two does sound unfair. So how about I join as well to even things up. Meow" a bottle sized cat with grey fur and sparkly blue eyes appeared and landed in the hands of the silver haired girl.
"You can use spiritual arts?"
"Correct. Retreat now, and I won't chase you.
Decide quickly. I'm in a hurry you see."
With a quick display of power and status from the floating cat and the girl they managed to scare off the three. Although they did mention returning to take their revenge, it was false bravado at best and plain ignorance about the reality of this worst.
"Thank you" "You really saved us there" Subaru & Shiki spoke out, relaxing themselves with no evident danger in sight or at least they thought so.
"Don't move." The girl made her way to the Subaru who was on his knees still getting up, giving him a clear access to witness her two peaks.
"You avert your eyes due to your guilty conscience.
Looks like my judgment was spot-on, as always."
The girl made that comment triumphantly, as she saw Subaru turn his gaze away from her totally not understanding why he did that.
"Subaru isn't the one who stole your stuff. It is most likely the blonde girl I saw and those three mentioned as well." Shiki spoke up defending the only 'friend' he had in this world.
"That boy is telling the truth. I don't sense any malice from the two of them. Especially him" the spirit cat said, pointing to Subaru and then looking at Shik straight for a few seconds. "Although…. Nevermind"
"Puck that's enough from you. You two come here" She asked the two after dismissing the talking cat now named Puck. As the two made it to the stairs where she was pointing a white light came out of her palms and fell on Subaru.
"Magic?" Subaru couldn't help but mutter.
However, ignoring Subaru's muttering she commanded her spirit. "Puck would you check up on him"
"Sure" With that puck flew over to Shiki proceeding to cast his healing magic on the boy. To which Shiki didn't refuse once he saw the effects of healing magic on Subaru.
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"That feels much better" I couldn't help but say out loud as I rotate my arm after my body was healed by the Puck. Although my wounds had started recovering quite a while ago, and it didn't bother me that much I was still not in peak condition before. But that wasn't the only thing that felt wrong. The other one wasn't physical but mental… something instinctual.
The very instant I saw that girl, my instinct started screaming at me. My pupils had dilated, heartbeat increased, the blood pressure rose, and adrenaline had already circulated to every part of my body. Although I couldn't figure out who this feeling was targeted towards the Girl or the Puck, there was one thing I was certain of. It was that this feeling was very similar to something that happened to me once before…..
A terrible memory…. A terrible crime that I once committed.
Yet a crime that I wasn't punished but rewarded for.
My first meeting with Arcueid.
Yet because it had happened to me before I was able to better control myself before I did something I would forever regret….
Not to mention not everyone is as absurd as Arcueid to recover from something like that.
This thought made me chuckle a bit despite the memory being pretty grim.
"You are a strange one aren't you" The spirit Puck spoke to me.
"Says a talking cat." to which I couldn't help but jab back.
"Now then. I want you to tell me who stole my insignia. This is the compensation you will pay for me healing you" The girl who asked Subaru to which Subaru answered sheepishly.
"Uh, yeah, really sorry 'bout this, but I don't have the slightest clue to be honest with you. It is as those guys said if that girl took it she went that way"
"You sure? It is about this big in size and has a red jewel in its centre." she gestured her hand to indicate the size.
"Yeah, I just know what the three told you, the girl was fast and went that way." Subaru replied, with his every word filled with disappointment to not be able to do more.
"I can give you a description of the girl though" I interrupted their conversation. I had a hunch that since she didn't mention the appearance of the thief and even assumed others to be the thief she might not have known. "It's a short girl about this tall, with blonde hair, red eyes and a dress that is focused on mobility. But that's all I know. I don't know her name or where she is going. Sorry about that."
And that girl went on about something that I didn't have words to describe.
"I see.
I guess there's no helping that.
But you both have given me information on the appearance of the thief, and that answer was in exchange for healing you, so I'm still somewhat satisfied with how things turned out."
"Well, I'm in quite a hurry, so I have to go."
"Your wounds should be better now, but I highly suggest that next time you both don't do dangerous things like wander into deserted alleys alone. Understand?"
"I'm not concerned.
I'm just warning you."
"If anything like that happens to you two again, I already know that saving you won't be of any benefit to me, so don't expect any help.
"Bye!"
She was trying to end the conversation in a way that we don't feel indebted to her even though she sacrificed her precious time healing us instead of searching for the thief who stole from her. She is kind to a fault. And knowing that I can't leave it like this. And it seems Subaru realised it as well, no he seems to have realised it and taken the initiative before me.
"Hey wait! You said something precious was stolen from you. Right ? Then let us help you"
"Well, anyway, I won't be able to offer you any compensation for your troubles."
"We don't want any reward. Think of it as our way to thank you. Besides I am good at locating people. Right Subaru"
"I didn't do anything deserving of that.
I told you, I've already received amicable compensation for healing your wounds."
"Well then I would do it for my own sake. I will start my '1 good deed per day' from today"
"And since we are new to this place, helping you would give us invaluable information. I am doing this for my sake as well"
"I don't sense any malice here, so I think you can just accept their offer. And even though I don't like the other one, the more shields between you and ruffians, the better"
"Ouch" it couldn't help but pretend to be hurt by his comment while Subaru raged.
"A shield?! That's what you want me around for?!"
Ignoring Subaru's complaint she spoke.
"I meant what I said, though.
I can't do anything to reward you."
"No problem at all. Just leave everything to us!" Subaru replied to the girl with a bright smile. A smile of a boy who hadn't faced much danger in his life…. Of one who has been a stranger to death…. And one who is going to be familiar with it soon.
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After searching their way through many alleys, talking to many people, and looking for her traces everywhere they ended up in a place with an overarching view of the rest of the city.
"Um it might be a little late to ask this but isn't this town a little too big?" Subaru asked after what had been barely an hour since we started looking for her insignia and the thief.
"This town is the capital of Lagunica so of course it's going to be big. Did you forget that ?"
"So this nation's name is Lagunica huh"
"Hey, that reminds me. How rude of us. We haven't even asked their names yet"
"Oh, yeah, guess so.
Might as well go ahead and get the ball rolling first, then. My name is Subaru Natsuki.
Not only am I totally clueless, I'm also broke beyond compare!"
"Nice to meet ya!"
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*Clap*
I couldn't help but facepalm myself after the 'gorgeous' (read: stupid) pose and dialogue said by Subaru. A part of me felt like digging myself a hole right then and there. I didn't even know I could feel embarrassed to this level. Note to self never let Subaru introduce himself.
"I am Shiki, Shiki Tohno. I am new here & Nice to meet you two" I said with the most serious face I could make even though our reputation was no longer salvageable.
"Haha! Oh I am sorry you two are just in sync. Anyways this is my contracted spirit Puck." The Girl laughed while holding her hand over her mouth. Yet she continued with a more somber tone. "Ahem, You can call me Satella, No family name"
"Satella…That's a nice name" Subaru answered earning him a gasp from both Satella and Puck. Puck even commented something along the lines of 'her having a terrible taste'. Was there something wrong with what Subaru said? I couldn't put my finger on it. Regardless, I couldn't dwell on it since the time for a break was over.
"Right, time to get back to askin' around!"