Chapter Text
Elsa is sent after some girl for some pendant. For some reason, this assignment was deemed especially important by her client, so she’ll get it and return flawlessly without fussing about.
It’s a job that would attract all sorts of unsavory attention, but she’s not worried. It is in her nature, she supposes. Even as something that can’t be killed by normal means, she often gets chastised for being too reckless. She’s not one to give in to other’s demands, but she has been given ample time to prepare this time, so might as well be a little bit more careful.
The chances that she might meet one of the only anomalies able to put down a doll like herself is slim, but even someone like her only needs to be lousy once. And even though she doesn’t mind being captured or killed by someone stronger than her, she doesn’t want to risk it with her little sister around.
It’s going to be a shame. Even though she wants this mission to be a repeat of that time she met and crossed blades with the Blue Lightning, she’s not fond of the consequences she’ll face for disobeying Mama. And so, she pays a skilled pickpocket to steal from her victim for her, just to hurry things along.
Of course, some people just had to get involved. But Elsa doesn’t even entertain the thought of failure when proof of a setback is right in front of her, in the form of that defiant little rascal she hired standing with her friends. Accidents happen all the time in her line of work, she isn’t fazed.
When the target of her client turns out to be a skilled spirit-art user, she doesn’t think anything of it. She has killed stronger mages before, and while many of her spells would have proved fatal to others, she can’t die even if every last part of her freezes.
When a boy with a mean glare risks everything to stop her attack from bisecting that silver-haired half-elf, she still doesn’t think anything of it. It’s just a lucky move on his part, and he only temporarily halted their executions. She snatches the pendant from the thief during this exchange, so her victory is only a matter of time, she tells herself, even when little seeds of doubt start to sprout.
But when a figure descends from above right before her, Elsa feels something. She can’t physically see his face from this angle, but she knows who her enemy is nonetheless.
This man, judging by his uniform, is a member of the royal knights. It’s unthinkable that someone in that rotting order feels this… strong.
Within the confines of Lugunica, the Sword Saint should be the only one who can swat her away as if she was just some inconsequential lowlife. Elsa is certain the person she is facing is him.
For the first time in a long time, a tiny portion of the seeds planted in her heart are blossoming into little smidgens of fear because of an overwhelming foe, while the majority flourishes into delight and anticipation, filling her body with energy.
“This oppressive aura…”
Elsa imagines that his presence is one of safety and relief for his allies. But she isn’t that, is she? For people like her who stand against this man, she can’t help but tremble a bit. In excitement, that is.
“Your name is Reinhard van Astrea.” It’s not a question, but a statement. That radiant red hair flowing with the wind, paired up with that legendary sword on his hip. In front of her stands the image of-
“The perfect hero, coming to save the day at the perfect moment. How fortunate for you four, no?”
As soon as those words slip out of her mouth, the Sword Saint himself stands between her and her shaken targets, using his own body as a shield. Oh my.
“… Reinhard?”
“That’s right, Subaru. It’s been very long, hasn’t it? Sorry to be late.”
The exchange between the boy with hair as black as hers and the knight slightly irks her, but that is the luxury afforded to the strong. Still, to completely ignore someone like her-
Is that arrogance? Elsa struggles to believe someone other than Mother can completely disregard her martial prowess. However, Reinhard’s rumoured to be the strongest Sword Saint in history, so perhaps he’s far beyond the likes of her. How fun, no?
“Black hair and clothes, and a curved blade seemingly from the north. With those characteristics, there’s no mistaking it. You’re the Bowel Hunter, yes?”
To think someone like him knows of someone like her, she’s beyond ecstatic. Really, this Reinhard fellow knowing her means she was just acknowledged by Lugunica’s strongest. Perhaps he’s been fantasising about fighting her for a while as well?
Well, quite unlikely. He’s a knight, so he probably knows about every half-competent criminal that may prove to be a threat to this kingdom. Still, she’ll keep that delusion of hers alive in her most passionate and vivid dreams.
The two of them, forever locking blades, spilling blood, and pulling out each other’s guts. Ah~
The boy, Subaru, he’s called, says something about her nickname and Reinhard replies with an explanation, but she ignores it. With this man in the equation, rabble like him will no longer be relevant in this fight.
His blue eyes meet her own purple ones, and Elsa feels her heart beat speed up.
“Reinhard- Yes, the knight among knights from the line of sword saints. Incredible, to think I’d encounter such interesting opponents. I suppose I’ll have to thank-“
Ah, that won’t do. She almost blurted out the name of her employer. She needs to control herself better before Mama declares her defective and throws her away like an unwanted toy.
“Please surrender. I have a number of questions I’d like to ask you.” Reinhard tells her, and she frowns. “If you do so and return the pendant, there is no need for further violence.”
No, no, that won’t do. He can’t possibly be asking her to give up her one and only chance to fight him. Where’s the mania? Where’s the want for blood?
“You can’t be serious, van Astrea.” She says, as the glint in her eye slowly fades. “As someone who is strong, I thought you would understand my world. Why would you ask someone who hungers so badly to resist a delicious meal right in front of them?”
He stays silent at her indignant shout, and so she presses on, “I’m not one of your sparring comrades, nor am I some two-bit lowlife that will die with just one strike. This is your chance to let loose, and you’ve wanted to do so this entire time, no?”
“My personal wants don't matter, so please surrender.”
She sighs, and glares at him. All that passion she just expressed, and he says that.
“I’ll give you one more chance, so don’t disappoint me with your next answer, Reinhard.” Elsa says in reply, and waits for him to open his mouth.
The one person worth fighting in this useless, good for nothing country cannot but just another willing pawn like her. She doesn’t want to spend this entire month sulking and thinking about what could have been.
“Subaru, step back a bit.” He says, and she gets the answer to her question. Seems like he’s up for a fight afterall. “Get that old man somewhere safe if you can. It would be a great help if you could stay by that person’s side after that.”
Not bad, Elsa thinks, as she licks her lips in a seductive manner out of reflex. She’s relieved that she didn’t get her hopes up for nothing.
“She’s a monster of a woman, so don’t let your guard down.” The boy replies, and then starts to drag the injured combatants to a side.
“A monster as my opponent, hmm? How fitting. Fortunately, subjugating monsters happens to be my speciality."
And with those words, Reinhard calmly turns towards her without even reaching for his blade, as he readies to strike her down.
Even though the distance between the two of them and others within the now battered warehouse seems miniscule, it is in reality as vast as an endless chasm. This strange phenomenon is brought upon by the difference in fighting spirit, as everyone else has effectively left this fight the moment they saw their savior appear right when they were pushed to their limits. And now as a result-
At this moment, the only people present in this area are Reinhard the Sword Saint, and Elsa the Bowel Hunter. One of the most powerful beings in this world, against the deadliest assassin.
Her senses are stretched to their limits, but he’s just walking towards her, slowly, and she just stares at him for a while.
Elsa struggles to believe the sight in front of her. How can someone, no matter how strong, carry themselves with so much composure when they are heading into a life-threatening fight? Is- is he looking down on her once again, or is he doing something she can’t perceive?
That’s impossible. Her senses have been honed endlessly during her stay in the Featherrun Mansion, not even someone like him can…
So he is looking down on her, acting like she’s not a threat. How annoying. There’s a limit to how much disrespect a woman like her can endure, no?
“Disregarding me like this, how can you bear to trample on this maiden's heart so callously?" Elsa asks him, but he gives her no reply.
Well, it’s not ideal, but she’s afraid there’s nothing she can do about Reinhard’s enthusiasm. Hmm, except…
“I can’t have you holding back just because you do not wish to destroy this metia, can I?” She holds out the pendant, somehow emitting a strange glow. “I’ll return this to you as a gesture of goodwill. In order to repay my kindness, please fight me to the fullest extent of your powers.”
She throws it to him, fully expecting him to catch it. Instead, It hits his chest, then clatters onto the ground. The person standing in front of her freezes, and she notices his face making a strange expression.
“It’s glowing in your hands?” Reinhard says, his image of perfection shattered by the shock in his voice. “Can it be?”
He’s fixating on that little detail before their fight? Really? Focusing on a glowing insignia instead of the threat before him-
Elsa brandishes her knives and throws them at his neck. She then pounces right after, ready to attack him the second he deflects them.
She strikes at the opportune moment, and she is-
Completely-
Utterly-
Humiliated.
She cannot describe how much that man outclassed her even now, when she’s limping to a safehouse she thought she would never use. The mix of lust and shame within her threatens to swallow her whole, as she tries to recall the best fight of her life.
Elsa has failed her mission, but she knows that it’s worth it, even if she shall be punished by Mother. That fight was nothing short of magnificent, and Reinhard didn’t even draw his sword.
He's that strong without even touching his family’s relic. She wouldn’t have believed it if she didn’t experience his strength first hand, and she’s so glad that she did.
She has made up her mind. She likes Reinhard, and she’ll keep on playing with him until she’s tired of him and leaves, or until he’s tired of Elsa and kills her.
____________________________________________________________________________
The last rays of sunshine filters through the windows, bathing the room he’s in with a warm glow. The day will end soon and the sun will set, Reinhard notes.
He can feel his Divine Blessing of the Sun weaken, and another Divine Blessing that is active only at night slowly takes its place, as he stands in front of a door absentmindedly fidgeting with the ends of his cape.
“Reinhard, are you alright? You seem distracted.” Julius says to him, and he blinks.
Well, that was mortifying. He is the sword saint, and it is his duty to appear strong and infallible, even when he is anything but. While there is a foreign emotion present within him, he shouldn’t show his discomfort so blatantly. To forget that completely and have someone else asking about his wellbeing with concern present in their voice is…
Evidently, he’s not doing his job well enough.
“Oh, does that appear so? Please, do not worry about my health.” Reinhard replies, trying his best to sound normal in order to not alarm a dear friend. “It has been an eventful day, and I have to report my findings to the Knight Commander.”
Julius doesn’t look fully satisfied with that answer, but he stops his inquiries in favor of staring at an ornament. Normally, he would be more eager to strike a conversation with Reinhard, but he’s quite overwhelmed today, it seems.
Perhaps Reinhard is overwhelmed too. He finally found the last Dragon Maiden, but the fifth royal candidate turned out to be-
Elsa, the Bowel Hunter, of all people. And he let her escape his grasp as well.
He likes to think that incredulity and his disappointment with himself is all that’s clouding his mind, but that’s not it. Something else troubles him, as he replays his encounter with Subaru and the others within that warehouse. He tries to dig deeper into the recesses of his mind, but the image of that woman holding two sickles greets and mocks him every time he does.
How disappointing. Reinhard has nearly a dozen divine blessings that keep his head clear at all times, but he’s still uneasy about what’s happening to him.
A voice beckons for both him and Julius to head inside the knight commander’s room, and he tries to collect his thoughts quickly. He enters alongside Julius with a polite greeting, takes a deep breath, and starts talking.