Re:Zero x Eminence in Shadow: The Star among the Shadows

Emptiness. 

Is that I felt every time I entered back to this ethereal dream. The darkness around me was deafening. It was as if I were submerged in a thick abyss of shadows. The shadows were heavy, suffocating, cold and yet so familiar. They were around me, enveloping me, caressing me in obsession and love. 

The silver-haired beauty stood in front of me yet again. However this time her face was more visible. Her beautiful and delicate face was adorned with tears that streamed down her captivating amethyst eyes.

"∎∎ ∎∎∎∎∎∎" She whispered in sadness. Her eyes staring into mine with unknown longing and desire. 

I want to reach out to her, to wipe away the years from her adored face. To show her how beautiful the world is. 

"∎∎ ∎∎∎∎∎∎" She whispered, her gentle tone was like angelic bells to my ears. 

Her words echoing in the back of my mind, unable to comprehend them. I kept my gaze at her—the only thing in this darkness.

"∎∎ ∎∎∎∎∎∎," she repeated, and with each repetition, I felt her sorrow seep into my heart. 

The shadows swirled around her, before I was fully consumed by them. 

"Phew! That sure took a while!" Subaru was not staring at the fruits of his work—a doll, which resembled the snow-like haired fox with blue alike sapphire eyes. The details on the fails surely proved the skill and precision of the master. 

"I didn't expect the tails to be the hardest to do…"

Subaru wasn't sure where did he pick the habit to ses the dolls resembling his close ones, but he really didn't mind. As long as he enjoyed it, he would still continue sewing. 

Few weeks have passed since Yukime's rescue. Subaru kept his promise, visiting her daily like it was the most normal thing to do. 

Just now he was on his way to her house—outskirts of the Midgar Kingdom. From the money he had from the bandits, he managed to rent a house for her, providing her with a roof under her head. 

Sure, he was going to gift her the doll as well. He considered this as a sign of the bond they have right now. 

In some sense, Yukime considered Subaru as her new family. He had been always there for her. Whenever she had nightmares about the village or when she felt lonely in this house. He was truly an amazing person, despite being younger than herself. 

He had no reason to help her, to visit her, to bare spending his time with her. Yet, it's the kindness of his heart that drew him to her. Subaru never questioned his motivations; some things simply felt right, and offering companionship to someone who had gone through so much sorrow felt like a natural thing.

Yukime was really grateful for this. She was looking forward to Subaru's visits each day. She had grown to cherish their time together. Subaru would often share tales she has never heard of, or innovation ideas which would surely improve the quality of life for everyone. 

She wasn't dumb. She will make his innovation ideas come true—she had the determination and the intelligence to bring them to life. She often mapped out plans in her mind, envisioning how to utilize Subaru's ideas in a way that would benefit both of them. 

The only things that stopped her were resource and other practical constraints. The small house Subaru had rented for her in the outskirts of Midgar wasn't exactly the right place for her. 

She knew that one day she would have to leave him, but as for now she would enjoy herself in his company. 

A modest house came to Subaru's view as he was now approaching her house. 

"Yukime, it's Subaru. I am coming in!" Subaru knocked on the door a few times before opening it. 

The inside of the house was decorated in Japanese alike style, which Yukime decorated with the help of Subaru. 

Subaru stepped inside, scanning the house in search of the white-haired fox. 

"Yukime? Are you here?" 

Subaru felt a pair of hands cover his eyes. "Guess who?" he heard a playful female voice say from behind him.

"Hmm… I wonder, is that Yukime? I might be wrong…" Subaru played along. 

A soft giggle escaped from her lips as she stepped in front of him, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. 

"Bingo! You got it right!" Yukime exclaimed cheerfully, her tails swaying with delight. 

"That was just a lucky guess. Or maybe it's because you are the only one living in this house. " Subaru said, a smirk creeping on his face.

"Lucky guess or not, Come in! I've been waiting for you, Subaru-kun." she exclaimed, guiding him over to a small table where a pot of fresh portion of tea had been placed at. 

Subaru stepped further inside, feeling the nostalgic atmosphere. The walls were decorated with paper lanterns and decorations that resembled Japanese culture, creating an atmosphere where he felt like at his old home. "You sure know how to make a place feel like home, Yukime." he remarked, taking a seat opposite her.

She poured two steaming cups of tea, the scent of tea leaves entering Subaru's nosestrils. "All thanks to you! Your ideas on how to arrange the space made everything so much better. I love this place!" Her eyes sparkled with genuine gratitude.

Subaru couldn't shake the feeling of admiration and warmth in his chest. Seeing her from being a scared and lost girl from the village to a joyful and playful fox. He remembered how on certain days she would cling to him on nights when nightmares haunted her and how she had slowly begun to regain the light in her blue eyes since that day. 

"By the way," Subaru said, placing his cup down on the table, his expression turning serious for a moment, "I brought you something."

Yukime's ears perked up, curiosity in her eyes. "What is it?"

"Ta-da! Your very own doll," he presented a doll to her, a smile spreading across his face. 

Yukime's eyes widened in surprise as she accepted the doll. The doll mimicked her own features: the snow-white hair, the sapphire blue eyes, and even the delicate tails. "Subaru, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed, visibly moved. "You made this for me?"

"Of course" Subaru replied, a small smile forming on his lips. "I wanted to create something special, something to remind you that you're not alone anymore."

A blush appeared on her cheeks as she held the doll close to her chest, her heart filled with affection. "You really put so much effort into it. You have no idea how much this means to me, Subaru-kun!"

He chuckled softly, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks. "It's fine. It's just a doll, after all."

"Just a doll?" she said incredulously, her eyes narrowing. "You have no idea how much effort goes into creating such a thing noting little details, it is sure made with care and love! It's far from just a doll!"

Subaru scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin on his face. "Alright, It took longer than I expected, especially the tails. But seeing you happy makes it all worth it."

Yukime's expression softened, her gaze drifting to the doll that resembled her. "I'll treasure this forever, Subaru. Thank you."

A comforting pause lingered among them, Yukime seemed to be absorbed into her thoughts and I didn't go unnoticed by Subaru. 

"What's up on your mind?"

Yukime's eyes glinted mischievously "I have some ideas about establishing a company. If we combine your innovative ideas and my intelligence, we could create something amazing!"

"You're already thinking that far ahead?" Subaru chuckled, "I admire your ambition."

"It will take time and hard work, but I believe in you."

Yukime's smile widened as her tails swayed in excitement. 

As they sipped their tea, discussing their future plans and brainstorming ideas through the hours of the day, the sun began to set outside, casting a warm glow through the windows. 

Subaru looked outside the window, noticing the change of the sky from blue to gradient orange. "Looks like we might have to wrap up soon, it's getting late." he remarked, glancing back at Yukime. 

"Yes! But I really don't want today to end," she pouted, her tails drooping slightly. "Can't you just stay here for a night?"

"I am sure my folks and my sister would be crazy if I was gone for a night. Especially my sister. I am sure she would flip upside down the whole kingdom in a search of me. The moment I'm late, she'd assume I got lost in the woods or something equally dramatic."

"Your sister sounds like quite the character," Yukime laughed, her playful tone returning as she tried to imagine his sister. "But I understand. Family is important." she clinched to her doll. 

"Yeah, she definitely is," Subaru said, chuckling at the thought of his sister. "But I promise I'll be back tomorrow! We still have plenty of ideas to discuss."

Yukime nodded, with a hidden hint of disappointment and sadness. 

 "Don't be so glum, you know, there is a saying that goes 'distance makes the heart grow fonder'." Subaru finished, his voice playful to lighten the mood. "And besides, you'll have your new doll to keep you company until I return."

Yukime couldn't help but giggle at Subaru's attempts to lighten the mood. "You really are quite charming when you try, you know that?" she teased. 

"Well, maybe it's just my natural Natsuki's charisma shining through!" he retorted, flashing her a grin. 

"Natsuki's?" She titled her head. 

"Uh… That's nothing." Subaru stood up, stretching his arms. Just a silly nickname from my childhood. Don't mind it." 

Yukime watched him with a curious tilt of her head. "Now you have me curious! What's the story behind it?"

"I promise I'll tell you someday—just not today." Subaru said in a low voice with a hint of sadness in it. 

Yukime's ears perked up at the slight shift in his tone. "Okay, I won't pry," she replied. "But you have to promise me that you'll share it when you're ready."

Subaru chuckled. "I promise"

As he walked toward the door, he turned back to give Yukime a warm smile. "Remember to take care of yourself while I'm away. And take good care of your doll."

Yukime hugged the doll tightly, nodding. "I will! I promise I won't let it out of my sight!"

"Good. See you tomorrow! " Subaru opened the door and took a step outside, not before giving a last glance to the house as he walked out of the outskirts to his house. 

"Subaru, I'll start now." Claire said as she lunged at Subaru, swinging her wooden sword at him. His instincts kicking in as he sidestepped her attack. The blade whooshed past, missing him by mere inches. 

"Come on, Subaru! You can't just avoid me forever!" she called out with slight irritation but encouragment could be heard in her tone as she swinged her sword at Subaru. 

"I'm not avoiding you—I'm just trying to find an opening!" Subaru said as he deflected her attack. 

Claire had been growing strong with each passing day. Just a week ago, Subaru manages to land so hit on her, but under Shadow's aka Cid's intense training. 

However, it didn't take long enough before Claire caught up to him, making Subaru struggle with her pace. 

Surely, if Subaru went all out, used his environment advantages and her weaknesses—he could win. Maybe. But he didn't want to. 

Not because he respected her strength, dedication and her spirit. Well, he certainly respected, but it wasn't the reason why he didn't want to win. 

It's from his past experience. After successful beating her a week ago in a sparring session, she kept sparring with him daily almost all day until she managed to beat him. Dread enveloped Subaru as he remembered the endless sparring session, constant fatigue in his limbs and painful bruises. 

"Hey! You're daydreaming again!" Claire shouted, her voice snapping him back to the present. Her wooden sword swong at him once more, and he quickly raised his own to block the strike. 

"Sorry!" he laughed nervously. "Got lost in thought."

With a quick weight shift, Subaru managed to parry another of her strikes, but as he did, he felt the slight unbalance in his footing. And before he could think about his next step, Claire seized the moment. 

In a quick shift, she feinted to the left, then stepped to the right and brought her sword sweeping down. Subaru barely had time to react. He raised his sword defensively, but the force of her strike sent him flying back until he fell on the ground with a thud. 

Claire held a victorious grin. "Yes! I won!"

"Congratulations—Ouch…" Subaru stood on his, bruising his wrist with pained grunts. "You have improved a lot, Claire."

"Of course! It's my obligation as an older sister to be strong enough to protect you and Cid, there is no other way!" She said as she glanced over the Cid, where he stood in the shadows of the tree. "Speaking of you, it's now your turn, Cid! Come here and grab a sword!"

Cid swallowed hard, stealing a few nervous glances at me. "What if I just fight him instead of you?" Subaru proposed.

"That's… actually not a bad idea. You're a capable fighter, and it could be helpful for Cid to learn from someone less experienced than me" Claire mused, considering the idea.

"Alright, fine! But I will be keeping an eye on the fight—" she began, only to be cut off by an approaching servant from their manor.

"Ms. Kagenou, Lord of the manor wishes to see you."

"Baldy? Alright. " She said, approaching the maid, not before turning her attention back to brothers. "You can start fighting without me watching! Just Be careful!"

"Okay/Sure." Both of them simultaneously replied. 

Subaru watched as she went, before turning attention to his brother. "Claire is certainly stronger now."

"Mhm. Her magical power slightly increased after I cured her from possession." he replied as he was inspecting the wooden sword. 

"That's— Wait, what?" Subaru looked at him in bewilderment. 

"I thought she had an error in her mana flow, so I decided to stabilize it while showing her some of my stretches." He put a finger under his chin. "Now come to think of it, it was a possession."

Subaru took a few moments to process the information Cid just dropped at him and the way he said so casually. 

"Now, since we are both here, it's time to take this opportunity and practice my mob skills!"

"Huh? Is that another thing of the mob persona you are building?"

"Exactly! I want to perfect Mob Technique ' Bloody Tornado'" Cid said as he got into a defensive stance. 

"Bloody tornado? That doesn't sound healthy… Aren't you being a little too extra?"

"Picture this: I get knocked back by a devastating blow, but I spin dramatically in the air like some prop from a low-budget anime! Spectators would be disappointed and embarrassed on my behalf!"

"Wouldn't it be counterproductive?" Subaru asked puzzlingly. 

"You just have to see it, now come at me!"

"Alright…" Subaru said as he lunged at Cid, swinging the sword and hitting him on the chest, sending him flying in the air spinning, with blood pouring out of his mouth. 

"Lord Pleiades, Lord Shadow. I have a request for a search of a new location for our new base of operations." Alpha greeted us as Subaru and Cid were approaching the house, where seven shades were living in. 

"A new base, hm?" Subaru said as he looked at Cid, noticing his subtle smirk. 

"I shall tell you a story, a story of an ancient city." Cid said as he tried to look more dramatically as possible.

"Long ago, the king of an ancient city forged a pact with the Beast, a creature of unfathomable power, who gifted the realm with prosperity and protection. But time was destroying the honor; greed and corruption consumed the royal bloodline, and the pact turned to dust." Cid started. Subaru raised an eyebrow as he was listening to him while Alpha was absorbed and listening carefully. 

"As corruption and betrayal enfolded, the Beast watched with disdain, his patience growing thin. One fateful night, he unleashed his wrath—Devastation that shattered the capital and its feckless residents. The echoes of ruin filled the air, as the ancient city crumbled beneath the fury of vengeance."

"By the end, the Beast claimed the fallen city as his eternal sanctuary, surrounding it in a toxic veil of mist that killed anyone who dared to challenge it."

"Wait… The ancient city and the beast… it's—" Alpha soon came to the realization. 

"The ancient town - Alexandria." Cid answered. "That will be our new base. Prepare yourself and inform the shades, we are moving today."

Alpha nodded in affirmation, before heading back Into the house. 

Subaru blinked, processing everything. "Alexandria? Isn't it a town from Egypt?"

"Not all that I said is a lie. During my bandits hunt I went into an Abyssal Woods, which was covered in a toxic mist. I figured out a way to avoid the effects of the mist, but soon after I encountered a dragon."

"A dragon you say?" Subaru's eyes widened in surprise. 

"It was an intelligent one, I could tell. I really wanted to fight it, but I felt like it wasn't worth it. Instead I just headed back. " Cid continued. 

"And now I have a good reason to fight it. We could see how strong the shades became."

"What if it's really powerful? From all the stories I have read, the dragons are the most powerful creatures."

"I'll intervene if something goes wrong." 

"You should, because I don't want anyone to get hurt." Subaru replied. "I am not strong enough to protect any of them."

Cid looked at Subaru indifferently. "You are selling yourself short, from the battles I have observed you have a great tactician mind."

"Huh? But—"

"And tacticians should not be on the front of the battle, they should stay behind and control their subordinates and navigate their movement. It's not about the raw power you have, it's about your mind."

"Wow. It's least expected to hear a compliment from you."

Cid shrugged before entering the house. 

"Are we going to hunt a beast? Is it a strong beast? Delta is going to beat it easily!" A therianthrope wolf was practically bouncing at the thought of fighting something strong. 

It was midnight when Subaru and Cid along the seven shades decided to venture into the Abyssal Woods, in search of the dragon. 

"I would try to talk with it first, as it seems to be intelligent." Subaru replied, as they were walking deep Into the forest. 

"Ghhh… Mini-boss is no fun! Why talk when you can fight!" Delta growled. 

"For once, I have to agree with this stupid mutt. The creature must be protecting the city from the wanderers and it would not try to negotiate with us." Zeta replied. 

"Who are you calling stupid, you dirty, wet cat?" Delta growled at Zeta. 

"Delta! Zeta! Not now, we are on a mission." Alpha's stern voice ceased their little pick-up fight. 

"Right away Alpha-sama!" Delta scarily replied and Zeta just bowed her head. 

The surroundings were finally being covered in a mist and if it wasn't for Shadow's magic, they wouldn't be able to get through. 

"The mist… like the legends say…" Beta astonishingly replied. 

"Is this where you meet the creature, Lord Shadow?" Gamma asked, looking around trying to spot it. 

Shadow did not reply, like he was waiting for someone or something to appear. 

It wasn't long enough before the ground started trembling, the mist cleared away as a flying creature was descending to them. 

The Creature scales shimmer in a radiant silver-white, adorned with bluish and magenta reflections dancing across his wing mainsails. It has four chroma-dynamic whiskers—two on each cheek—and six horns atop his head: two large ones tipped with gold, two medium-sized, and two smaller ones. Radiant, color-shifting energy pulses from the back of his head, while his eyes glow with an ethereal misty blue-white colour.

In front of them descended the Mist Dragon, the protector of the city Alexandria.