Re: Zero: A Hell of His Own Making

A Short While

His legs still sore, his arms still itching with singular impulse, Subaru traversed the mansion's interior in a pattern that he could almost retrace while blindfolded.

Upon reflecting that hypothetical scenario, the thought of actually trying to do so while deprived of his sense of sight did graze his skull, if only to impress his lady.

Then again, knowing himself and his luck, he would likely slip up, injuring and embarrassing himself in the process.

Much like what he did but a few moments ago.

There was a long, somewhat soothing silence within the landscape of his mind, but then it was besieged once more.

Thoughts concerning the unnecessary attention he had brought upon himself with his mishaps.

Following those, with the natural sway of the dancing guests of a luxurious party, were thoughts of the clear distress plastered across their faces, and just how much it stung to acknowledge that the reason for it was due to his own shortcomings.

No matter, no matter, no matter.

He repeated to himself, there was something, or rather someone, far more important than any thought.

Two gentle, but decisive knocks resonated across the wooden door that led to the Half-elven candidate, a motion that served the duplicitous purpose of announcing his presence to the room's inhabitant and to assert his focus within his own head.

"Rise and shine, my Lady! My Mili! My EMT! Your knight stands at your door, ready to shower you with the praise and attention you deserve!"

Shortly after the boisterous announcement, the faint sound of an innocent giggle could be clearly heard from behind the door.

"Oh, Subaru! Please give me a few minutes, you're reeeeaaaally early today!"

While he wished for nothing else than to see her already, the knight waited patiently, with the sound of the half-elf's voice being more than enough to tide him over, pouring a sense of blissful excitement into his ears.

The wait's length, in and of itself, wasn't anything to write home about, but the fact that he stood there, almost motionless, seemingly tossed his mind into a dreadfully familiar state of stagnation.

What if he messed up again? Throughout this day he seemed to never get anything right.

What if he made her worry? The image of both Beatrice and Petra's concerned expressions flashed across his mind's eye.

What if she found out? Tumbling thoughts of her, and likely everyone else's, disappointment in him began to swoop down, threatening to drag his very soul into a bottomless pit.

And the closer he felt to said pit, the more something began to metaphorically coil around his heart and lungs in manner not unlike that of a creeping snake.

It wasn't the Witch's hand, but something perhaps even more insidious, a feeling that had been tailing him ever since the start of this day, or perhaps even earlier.

And with each intrusive thought, with each slip-up, with each misstep, the sensation grew tighter and tighter.

It was a deep, enveloping fear welling up within the confines of his brain, like water slowly flooding a room.

He had been trying to ignore it, believing that doing so would somehow staunch the water's flow, but the awareness that he was already knee-deep in it simply couldn't be shoved aside in favor of more pleasant thoughts.

"Uhm... Subaru? Is something wrong?"

Once more, his attention was pulled back to reality, his sight now properly elaborating what laid in front of him, as Emilia was now standing before him and the door previously separating them was now open.
In a few instants, the boy's reflexes kicked in, causing his face to twist into an embarrassed smile, one constituted of genuine emotion rather than practiced politeness.