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The courtyard of the royal selection hall was full.
This time, there are more than just knights and servants.
All five of the camps had come together.
Crusch Karsten stood at the front with his arms crossed and his eyes as sharp as ever. Felix Argyle moved nervously next to her, his tail flicking.
Anastasia Hoshin stood a few steps away, watching with a calculating smile and lightly tapping her arm as if she were already turning the fight into numbers and outcomes.
Priscilla Barielle leaned back with a bored look on her face, but she was clearly there. She watched as if she were watching a show that was only for her.
And Emilia stood still behind Subaru, her hands clenched.
The air was thick.
Everyone knew this fight was important.
Not like this.
— Steel shone.
An open space.
Too clean.
Julius moved perfectly, with no wasted motion or hesitation.
Subaru didn't act quickly enough.
The blade went across his face.
A small mistake—just a few millimeters—cost him both of his eyes.
Just... short.
"…nah."
It didn't work.
But it wasn't in a panic either.
More like he was stalling.
Because he was.
Subaru was no longer in the courtyard.
The pain went away so quickly that it was almost confusing. One moment it took over him, and the next there was nothing but silence—thick and endless silence.
He got up.
Or rather, he thought he stood. He wasn't falling, even though there was no ground under his feet.
There was darkness all around, but it wasn't empty.
It was looking at him.
"Subaru..."
The voice wrapped around him; it didn't go into his ears but instead grew directly in his mind.
Satella.
He didn't need to see to know.
"What... what is this...?" His voice sounded small and shaky.
"You are hurt."
"Are you kidding?" he said weakly, and his hands instinctively moved toward his face before stopping. No pain nor blood. Nothing.
"I can't see."
...
Then, "You don't have to."
"…you're giving me something," he said flatly.
"Yes."
"Temporary?"
"Yes."
"That's good enough."
...
"Sound," he added.
The space answered.
Vibrations revealing structure along with range.
He got it right away.
"…cool."
No thanks. No breaking down.
Just accepting it.
This wasn't about staying alive.
This was about presentation now.
Back to the courtyard.
Subaru got up.
That was enough to stop everyone.
Felix blinked. "What?"
Subaru didn't say anything.
He ripped his shirt in one smooth motion and put it around his eyes, pulling it tight enough to stop the bleeding.
Don't hurry.
Don't worry.
Think about it.
Under control.
Every move said the same thing:
I made this plan.
Which, of course, he hadn't.
But no one else knew that.
He rolled his shoulders once.
Then he moved his fingers.
The air throbbed.
And the world opened up.
Not dark.
Not anymore.
All of it.
Every step.
Every breath.
Every time the fabric moved.
He could see everything.
Better than seeing.
"I am still standing," Subaru said casually.
"The duel goes on."
"Subaru…" Julius hesitated, taking a step closer. "You aren't in the state to—"
"I said," Subaru insisted, his tone firm, "the duel goes on."
Meanwhile this was the exact point when the crowd had their epiphany.
He wasn't speculating.
He was following.
Precisely.
The smile on Anastasia's face grew slightly. "Oh my...this is definitely intriguing."
Crusch narrowed her eyes.
Priscilla grinned.
Emilia just stood there.
Julius let out a slow breath.
"...then I'll make this quick."
Subaru sighed.
"Try me."
"Emilia's reputation shouldn't be sullied because I decided to give up."
Julius attacked first.
Quicker than before.
With the goal of finishing it.
A disabling blow.
Subaru side-stepped.
Almost no effort at all.
No wasted movement.
The sword sliced past emptiness once more.
Julius adapted, second strike, sharper angle.
Subaru evaded.
Third—
Dodged.
Effortless evasions by the aura monster.
All clean, efficient movements.
Even managed to keep one hand in his pocket.
Unnecessary.
But damn would Piccolo be proud.
Aura was the key to success.
"You're holding back," Subaru said.
Julius narrowed his eyes. "I am trying not to worsen your condition."
A barely perceptible smirk crept under the blindfold.
"That's your first mistake."
He approached.
And then—
His feet didn't even touch the ground.
A sudden crack sounded as he compressed sound into a platform in mid-air.
Pushing off it.
Chaos ensued.
"He's—walking on thin air?!" shouted the audience.
Subaru didn't even spare them a glance looking at them.
There was no need.
Step.
Invisible platform.
He climbed forward in the air like it was completely normal(is that you Aura Monster?).
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Julius didn't hesitate.
He swung up.
Subaru shifted to the side in mid-air, let the sword swing under him and snapped his fingers.
Soundwave attack.
Julius blocked—
—and got pushed back.
Scraping his boots.
Holding the sword tighter.
The tempo rose.
Julius attacked with speed, accuracy, and layered spirit-infused strikes.
Subaru responded through movement alone.
Through positioning alone.
Placing each step where it should be.
Moving only what was necessary.
Sound waves aided his balance while shifted his momentum, and hid his follow-up actions.
Subaru wasn't overpowering Julius.
He was outracing him.
"Your stance changes when you attack," Subaru calmly observed as he sidestepped a jab.
"And your breathing does as well."
Julius adapted.
Instantly.
But Subaru adapted faster.
Because he wasn't relying on patterns.
He was relying on vibrations.
Again—a clash!
Julius's blade once more came into contact with a compressed wave of sound.
And this time, Subaru maintained it.
For two seconds.
Three.
Before he pushed.
Julius retreated half a step.
A new development.
Subaru moved forward.
Footstep.
Vibration.
Footstep.
Vibration.
Each movement closer than the previous one.
Resonance began to hum in the air from all of them.
Even the audience could sense it.
Felix whispered, "This is becoming dangerous…"
But Crusch remained silent.
She watched Subaru.
Intently.
"…he's dictating the entire battlefield."
Julius switched up his strategy.
Fewer attempts at scoring directly.
More feinting.
More stratified attacks.
Subaru smiled.
"Good."
He disappeared into the sky.
Three leaps—quick enough to distort vision.
And then he fell back to Earth.
A shockwave rippled through the air.
Julius tried to avoid it—but only just.
The collision split the rock.
This time, the audience took notice.
Anastasia chuckled. "Perfectly sold."
Priscilla folded her legs. "At least the boy knows how to perform."
The last clash was quick.
Julius acted.
Spiritual energies surged; blade moved at maximum speed.
Decisive cuts.
Subaru didn't evade but advanced into range.
Hand lifted.
Single crisp snap.
Noise didn't boom.
It sharpened.
Resonances compressed into singular pulse.
Julius's posture shattered instantly.
Grip slipped.
Rapier clattered to ground.
Silent.
Subaru touched down softly.
Readjusted the blindfold gently.
Still casual.
Still collected.
"…you okay?" he queried.
Julius breathed out, before managing a slight, sincere smile.
"…no."
Pause.
"…though I yield."
Subaru nodded.
As if he expected nothing less.
Emilia had stepped forward behind him at last.
"…Subaru—"
Subaru held up his hand.
Not brushing her off.
Just—
wait.
Because this was not the end.
He glanced back slightly to the assembled candidates.
Crusch.
Anastasia.
Priscilla.
Allowing them to see him.
With the blindfold.
Drenched in blood.
Standing.
Undaunted.
And he spoke.
"For the record," Subaru intoned evenly, "that's how you support Emilia."
No shouting.
No grandstanding.
Just confidence.
Which carried more weight than anything else.
Anastasia snorted. "A dangerous child."
Crusch nodded. "Impressive."
Priscilla smiled. "Acceptable."
Finally, Subaru relaxed.
Just a little bit.
"…right, Felix," he said, "you can heal my eyes now."
Felix had already begun.
"FINALLY, nya!"
Felix wasted no time.
"Stay put, Subaru-kyun…really, I'm dead serious."
Subaru sat on the courtyard's stairs, propping up his arms lazily, looking at ease despite all the trouble that seemed to come from nowhere.
His blindfold was soaking wet, but he hadn't even touched it since the battle had ended.
"Relax," he told him. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good," Felix growled, his hands already alight with greenish light. "You should have passed out by now after something like that, nya…"
Subaru shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just Built different."
Felix sighed and said no more—too busy for that.
No noise came from the courtyard.
Not awkward silence.
Heavy silence.
Because now that the battle was over—
Everyone was thinking the same thing.
What just the fuck happened here?
Time ticked by.
The light grew brighter before beginning to fade.
Felix relaxed, letting out a breath. "Okay… that should be good. Now slowly… don't make yourself see."
Subaru took his time.
Obviously he did.
He reached up, quickly undoing the blindfold, letting it drop to the ground covered in blood.
Then—
He opened his eyes.
Crystal clear.
There was a collective gasp from the courtyard.
Subaru blinked a few times and then looked around, as if getting used to using his sight again.
"…Yeah," Subaru said. "This is much better."
Felix stared at him. "You're too calm for this."
Subaru looked at him sidelong. "You wanted an explanation?"
"…No, Idk maybe a sane response?!"
Subaru only smiled and stood up.
Crusch stepped up first.
Direct. To the point.
With arms folded, Crusch Karsten stared him down.
"…explanation?"
Cutting straight to the chase.
No pleasantries.
Just a straightforward demand.
Subaru met her stare unblinkingly.
"What part?"
"The part where you fought on despite being injured badly enough to stop anyone else," she spoke coolly. "Or the part where you showed powers none of us have seen?"
Subaru gave his head a small tilt.
"I suppose both."
Before he answered…
Anastasia interjected.
Of course.
Anastasia Hoshin wore a smile as if a new business venture had opened up for her.
"Not so fast, don't treat him as a criminal for questioning, alright? But honestly, I'm intrigued too. What we just witnessed there isn't spirit art I've seen… and certainly not regular magic."
Her eyes narrowed somewhat.
"So what do you use then, Subaru-kun?"
From the sidelines, Priscilla laughed softly.
Priscilla Barielle made no effort to step closer.
She knew she'd be heard anyway.
"What difference does it make?" she said, amused. "He had a favorable wind blow through and the boy only carried out what he was supposed to."
With a look of mild interest directed at him.
"Though… talk to me. Amuse me."
Julius was next.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Julius Juukulius halted a few paces back, demeanor calm—though considerably more grave than before.
"…I believe I owe both of you an apology and a question," he continued.
Subaru lifted an eyebrow. "Multi-tasking, huh?"
Julius paid him no mind.
"That ability," he continued. "You adopted it instantly. There was no hesitation. No learning period."
"…such an action cannot be taken by a human being."
Subaru blankly stared at him.
Behind him—
Emilia voiced what needed to be said.
Gently yet firmly.
Emilia approached, anxiety clear on her face.
"…Subaru," she began. "You were injured. Badly injured."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"And yet, almost instantaneously after, you managed to battle like it was completely normal."
Short pause.
"…it's not normal."
That was different from the others.
No accusations.
But concern.
Subaru rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"…well, yeah. Fair."
Felix crossed his arms. "Don't try to dodge your responsibility by mentioning I healed you. I healed you. I know how badly it affected you. You shouldn't be able to stand, let alone do whatever you did."
Crusch nodded once more. "I want an answer."
Anastasia smiled. "And preferably an honest answer."
Priscilla waved a hand nonchalantly. "At least a good story."
Julius remained silent.
But his eyes never left Subaru.
Subaru looked around.
At each individual.
"…Okay, then," he said. "The short version?"
None of them interrupted.
That was good.
He raised a hand.
Snapped his fingers.
And there was a barely noticeable ripple of energy.
A reminder.
"I received a temporary ability," Subaru began. "It was sound-based. I was able to see, move, attack—you name it."
Crusch frowned. "Temporary?"
"Yeah. Already lost it."
Anastasia tilted her head. "So suddenly? That sounds awfully convenient."
Subaru shrugged. "I suppose it's just another advantage that came in handy."
"That is not an explanation," Julius declared coldly.
"It is," Subaru shot back.
Without missing a beat.
With just enough assurance to pass off as true.
Well, nearly enough.
Crusch stared at him.
For a little bit longer.
"…and do you think we should take your word for it?"
Subaru held her gaze.
"Got a better alternative?"
Anastasia giggled quietly. "Whatever it is true or not… it shows on its own merits."
She looked at Julius. "Got beaten by 'Temporary Ability', huh?"
Julius made no response.
However, his grip on his hands tightened.
Priscilla got up from her seat.
"Boring," she declared, walking away. "The boy has his mysteries. So do those whom fate has blessed."
She turned to look back at Subaru briefly.
"Only make sure to keep yourself interesting, Subaru."
And then she departed.
As if the whole discussion had been concluded.
Felix leaned in closer to Subaru. "…you're definitely hiding something."
Subaru smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
Felix blinked. "What?! You're just coming out and saying that?!"
Subaru shrugged. "Didn't say I'd explain it."
Emilia gave a soft sigh.
"…as long as you're alright," she said.
That was it.
Only that.
Subaru smiled—just slightly.
"…yeah," he said. "I'm fine."
Julius stepped forward one last time.
"…Subaru."
Subaru met his gaze.
Julius hung his head—
Not too deeply,
Just enough.
"…I judged you wrong, not only in terms of strength… but also in terms of determination."
A moment passed.
"…I will not repeat my mistake."
Subaru nodded once.
"…good."
Then he turned around—
With hands buried deep into his pockets—
And walked away as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Anastasia observed from behind, with a knowing smile playing on her face.
Crusch seemed thoughtful.
Felix appeared to be skeptical.
Emilia was relieved.
And Julius?
Julius was already reviewing his judgments.
Because whatever Subaru had demonstrated just now—
Wasn't normal.
Couldn't be explained.
And most of all?
Definitely wasn't a one-off.
While all this went on, Subaru was already thinking ahead.
Yeah…
That would do it.
Nothing else needed to be done.
Just leave them wondering.
That was the play here.
And judging by how quiet they were becoming—
It worked.