Wish Upon a Sin

Arc 1 - Chapter 3

He started running. He didn't have a destination in mind, he just needed to get away. From the fact that he had died. From the fact he was back here again. From the truth.

The last few days, where he had survived against all odds, where he had saved Emilia, and where he was finally starting to fit in with the others in the mansion, had been erased like they never existed in the first place.

He stumbled, and his hands flinched upwards to break his fall. His palms got cut with minor scratches, but right now, he couldn't feel the pain at all. The plastic bag containing his groceries was lying on the floor where he dropped it. It had never been returned in the manor, since Emilia said it had gotten torn on the ride back. It was whole now, inescapable proof that he had returned by death.

It's gone. Everything I worked so hard for is just gone.

Droplets landed on the back of his hand. He looked down at them. It wasn't raining the last time I was here. Does that mean...?

He lifted a trembling hand to his face, and found a line of tears.

He laughed, but there was no joy in it. "Look at me, crying because of a little fall." The others on the street avoided him hesitantly, not sure if they should offer a hand. He unsteadily got back to his feet, and continued walking. There were only a handful of people on this road, but right now, he needed complete solitude. The others he passed didn't say a word to him, perhaps sensing that he didn't want to talk.

What happened? Subaru thought to himself. I must have returned by death, but why? There was no indication that anything was wrong that night.

He swallowed nervously. Was it an attack? An assassination attempt? I already know Emilia was targeted because she's a royal selection candidate, so perhaps Elsa getting foiled made them up their game.

He wiped his face, and leaned against a wall. So they send an assassin to kill everyone in the manor before someone notices. That must be how I died, since I'm definitely not a priority. Roswaal the Court Mage and Emilia herself would be the first targets.

"So what do I do?" He mumbled out loud. Emilia didn't know him anymore, but he had no desire to abandon her. "First things first, then. I need to find Reinhard."

He didn't realise it at the time, but his meeting with Reinhard had been the key that allowed them to win. All he had to do was bring the sword saint to the loot house, and Elsa would be defeated. After that...

I can think about after once there is an after. There's no guarantee that I'll even meet Reinhard again. I met him last time because I called for help when getting attacked by those thugs. If I call for help without needing it, he might think poorly of me, and be less willing to help.

He rubbed his forehead with his fingers. If he could remember where Reinhard had found him, he could wait and ambush him, and explain the situation. He was a really nice guy, so he'd almost certainly decide to come along. The problem was remembering the place. He had taken a detour on his way to the loot house, and there was no guarantee that he'd be able to find that spot again. And he didn't know which street Reinhard had been on when he heard his cry for help.

He looked around. He didn't really know where he was either. He hadn't really paid attention to where he was going, and he was utterly lost. The palace was still easily visible, which he could use to get to the slums, but beyond that...

"I should memorise a map." Subaru thought wryly to himself, a trace of humour coming back into his tone. He cast his mind back to that meeting, and something stuck out to him, giving him a new plan. When they met in the alley, Reinhard had mentioned that the guard stations knew where he was. Maybe they could help find him.