The Sage's Partner - Re: Zero OC (DROPPED)

Chapter 3 - Meeting the Witch

'How?' Orion thought to himself. 'It's not even dusk yet! How did I get back here?'

Walking off the road to not impede any foot traffic, Orion cupped his chin in thought.

'Did the reset condition change?' Orion wondered. 'If there even was one to begin with, that is. I'm fairly certain I didn't do anything since I talked to Reinhard in the original 'loop' without any problems. Could it be Subaru who did something?'

Orion turned his head to where his instincts were telling him to go. To where Subaru should be right about now.

'Well... I won't get any answers by just standing here.'

Shaking off his confusion, Orion began running toward the feeling as he thought over his experience, trying to forget the pain while remembering the facts.

'But how the hell are we supposed to deal with that woman? Go to Reinhard? But we got there just in time last time even though we went right away, we might not have time to go to the knights barracks.'

Thinking about how to get out of the situation, or rather, get Felt and Rom out of the situation, Orion eventually found himself in an alley, where a familiar teenager was walking into.

"Subaru!" Orion called out.

"S-Senpai?" Subaru said in return, looking up as his serious expression morphed into one of relief. "Boy, am I glad to see you!"

Jogging up to Orion, Subaru's smile twisted into a concerned grimace, "Hey, if you remember me, do you... you know..."

"Yes, I do. It sucked and I don't want to talk about it," Orion answered, feeling a tingle in his gut and across his arms. "Anyway, we looped again, but it wasn't night. Do you know what happened?"

Subaru nodded, "Yeah I do. And I actually found the trigger."

He then pointed his thumb to his chest with a confident smirk, "I return by death!"

Orion looked at him with surprise before patting the younger boy on his shoulder, "That's... quite the troubling activation requirement. How did it happen last time?"

"I know, right!? It really is unfair, Senpai," Subaru lamented, wiping away a fake tear. "And last time... well, some muggers came to confront me and stabbed me in the back. A pathetic way to go, huh?"

"Don't say that, Subaru," Orion shook his head. "It's way too morbid. And what about the time before that? Were you... not able to get away?"

"You think that damn woman would let me go?" Subaru shivered. "No, after I saw you and Felt, well... I finally was able to get to my feet and then..."

"I get the picture," Orion winced. "Anyway, let's try to get a knight to help us with that woman. I think if we run we can catch Reinhard in time-"

"Ah! That's them!" Subaru shouted, pointing over Orion's shoulder.

Turning around, Orion was greeted by the ugly sight of three thugs walking towards them menacingly.

'Small, medium, and large, huh? And what's with the chain around that middle guy's neck,' Orion thought.

"These three did you in?" he asked.

"Yeah! That middle one's got a pair of knives, but don't worry! I know how to counter these guys now!" Subaru said confidently.

"What're you babbling about?" the little thug said.

"Heh. If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up all your stuff, yeah?" the medium thug said.

"And don't even think of running," the older thug said, cracking his knuckles.

Orion narrowed his eyes as Subaru laughed, "Hah! After doing this four times, I've learned my lesson! Behold my ultimate move!"