A Wake Up Call

Ugh, my head feels like it just got dunked in a tub of molasses. My eyes slowly blink open as I take in the scene around me. The sound of a door swinging closed reaches my eyes as I spot a tuft of pink hair leaving the room in a hurry. That must be one of the twin maids, though I can't remember which is which off the top of my head.

Weird- Oh right. Every time Subura dies it's the equivalent of her not taking a shower for three months for anyone who can actually smell the Witch's scent. That probably freaked Re- something out hard enough to make her run over to go and check on Subaru.

Very reasonable, if someone started smelling way more like the BBEG with seemingly no reason behind it I'd be pretty scared as well!

I flopped out of the bed and ran a hand along my stomach. The wound seemed completely healed which was nice, getting my intestines ripped out was not a fun experience.

I don't really know what happened after I went out, but it looks like Adelheid handled things. She truly is OP! As I made my way down the hall in pursuit of hopefully finding Subaru before she could have a reasonable crash out I decided to check my Persona system for any insights into her confidant.

[Social Stats]

-> [Confidants]

XI Strength - Adelheid Van Astrea

Rank 1: Eyes of Od Lagna - You may see the Divine Protection of anyone you look at.

Rank 2: Knightly Physique - Your body has gone through military conditioning. These benefits will not fade through lack of training.

Rank 3: Sense of Od Lagna - You can sense nearby holders of Divine Protection.

Rank 4: Knightly Training - You have an instinctual understanding of all weapons used by soldiers, you are no master but you know how to properly wield them. These benefits will not fade through lack of training.

Rank 5: Gift of Od Lagna - Gain a Divine Protection that would aid you in a mundane problem. (Divine Protection of Instruction - In response to training new workers for the Boar's Bounty as your departure is inevitable.)

Rank 6: Knight Watch - Your perception and reaction speed is greatly increased.

Rank 7: Gentleness of Od Lagna - When Divine Protections are used to harm you or your allies their negative effects are reduced. Additionally Divine protections used to aid you or your allies have their positive effects increased. This does not apply if Adelheid Van Astrea wishes to oppose you.

Rank 8: Honorable Sword Saint - Your skill with a blade is equal to that of Sword Saint, however you do not gain the benefits of any Divine Protection from this effect. These benefits will not fade through lack of training.

XIII Death - Natsuki Subaru

Rank 1: Alpheratz - Increased Resistance against harmful Authority.

Rank 2: Mirach - Social Stats increase at a faster rate.

Rank 3: Almach - Increased Affinity with Spirits.

Rank 4: Titawin - Increased growth of Knowledge. Increased Willpower.

Rank 5: Adhil - Increased Affinity with Yin Magic.

Rank 6: Nembus - Increased Growth of Guts. Increased Compatibility with Authority.

Rank 7: HH Andromedae - Increased Affinity with Debuff Magic. Grants Basic Debuff Magic. 

Rank 7 . . . What the hell happened? I suppose I get some magic now? Or maybe I already had the capacity, it's just an increased affinity for it. Also Authority compatibility, I'm not exactly sure how far the scope of that is, so I'll just have to wait and see. I moved through the hallway in the robe I wore, and my hand paused on the door handle as I realized something.

Fuck, I never told Ms. Wairiver I was going to up and disappear! I'll need to write a letter! I gently push the door open and a small girl sitting upon the bed looks at me with a glare.

"Why is everyone breaking into my room, I suppose?"

[SPOILER="Angry Butterfly Girl"][/SPOILER]

"Ah, my deepest apologies Miss. I was looking for my companion and I appear to have gotten lost." She approached me with a light frown and I realized that I recognized the girl. Her name was Beatrice, or Betty I believe. A spirit of this manor.

She let out a light sigh and she held a hand over my stomach.

"You can pay me back in a simple way." A light pain went through my body and I raised an eyebrow.

"Apologies Miss, I don't believe I provoked an attack of this nature." She waved a hand dismissively at my bland words.

"I've absorbed some of your mana to see if you are an enemy. You don't appear to be so you may leave now." I nodded before pausing. It bothered me that her name was a coin flip in my head so I decided to ask for her name.

"My name is James, I'd like to apologize again." I gave her the signature service smile and a light bow for a moment and her eyes widened slightly at my expression. Then she let out an adorable 'Hmph!'

"You may refer to me as Miss Beatrice . . ." She ran a hand through one of her hair drills as she looked up at me.

I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast acquired a new vow. 

It shall become the Wings of Hope that break the chains of thy Fate. 

With the Birth of the Hermit Arcana, You have obtained the winds of blessings that shall lead to freedom and new power. . .

Rank 1: Forbidden Librarian - Increased Affinity with Spirits.

"A-and some as respectful as you doesn't need to leave so readily without fully paying me back, I suppose!" Her personality didn't flip on a dime, so I'm glad this isn't mind control, but 'Increased Affinity with Spirits' really feels like it's bordering on that!

I swear to not use this power for evil! She's right I do need to pay her back for this. Though I also need to leave soon to find Subaru.

"Of course, what may I do for you Miss Beatrice?" She smiled and sat on her bed.

"Keep calling me Miss Beatrice for one! You can also find Bubby and tell him I am in need of his presence!"

"I shall do it as soon as I am able Miss Beatrice, however I did not intend to come to this room before so it is entirely possible a repeat offense occurs before I have completed my objective." She sends me a small glare before letting out a sigh.

"It's not a problem, I suppose. Just get me Bubby and you'll be forgiven." I'm not even sure who that is but I'm certain i'll figure it out!

Rank 2: Turning the Pages - Increased Growth of Knowledge. Increased speed of learning new spells.

"Then with that I shall take my leave, this was a pleasurable encounter Miss Beatrice." I softly shut the door behind me and let out a sigh.

Service Mode™ is strong against anyone who is weak to praise, truly my minimum wage job and waiter work in this new life have combined into a powerful technique. I continued to move down the hall where I found Subaru walking alongside Emilia in her signature track suit. The twin maids following the pair close behind.

She approached me and put a hand on my shoulder with a wide grin.

"James, you really are a reliable guy." I gave her a smile at the reference.

"Thank you, I like to count myself as someone who can hold his own in a fight!"

"Ram, weren't you supposed to be waiting for Mr. James?" Emilia spoke in realization, but Ram was quick on her feet and responded with ease.

"He seemed to be sleeping soundly so I felt it better to accompany my sister rather than stare at him. Barasu is just as troublesome as expected so my instincts as a maid haven't failed me."

Emilia let out a sigh and gave me a small smile.

"Thank you for helping me Mr. James I'm really sorry Ram wasn't there to help explain things when you woke up." I gave a casual shrug to the woman.

"I appreciate the healing nonetheless, also you don't have to call me Mr. James, you can just call me James. It makes me feel old otherwise."

I was barely twenty dammit! I held out my hand for a handshake to the woman, a sign of our newly forming friendship.

"Then you can call me Emilia." She returned it along with her name.

I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast acquired a new vow. 

It shall become the Wings of Hope that break the chains of thy Fate. 

With the Birth of the Reversed Moon Arcana, You have obtained the winds of blessings that shall lead to freedom and new power. . .

Rank 1: A Girl Frozen in Ice - Increased Affinity with Fire Magic.

A reversed Arcana!? Well at least it's the reversed Moon. The Moon arcana involves keeping secrets and projecting fears onto others. Being the reversed Moon reveals her as an honest person who takes responsibility for themselves.

"Don't you think you two have held hands long enough?" I let out an awkward chuckle at Subaru's grumbling as she put her hands on her hips.

"Sorry, sorry." I let out an awkward chuckle as I peeled my hand away. She really had a huge crush on Emilia.

"Subaru! You can't just say things like that!" Subaru let out a sigh at her words and put a hand on my shoulder and then turned to me.

"I get you're the best friend NPC but you can't come between me and the amazing Mili!" I raised an eyebrow and gave her a blunt response.

"You shouldn't see Emilia as just someone for you to court." She let out a sound as though I'd struck her through the heart with an arrow. She staggered backwards as she eked out a response.

"T-that's not the case at all!" I let out a sigh and shook my head. She had a lot of growth to do before I believed those words.

"Anyways, Emilia, Miss Beatrice wanted to see someone she called Bubby." Her eyes widened and she clutched the crystal around her neck as it emitted a green glow.

"Come on out Puck, it's time to wake up." The small cat spirit flew out and gave me a smile.

"Thanks for the help yesterday you two!" I flashed him a thumbs up.

"Of course! Though I only ended up being there because of Ms Natsuki." Subaru seemed to flinch at my words and turned to me with a pained expression for a moment before she buried it.

"You can just call me Subaru! We fought together, so that makes us friends!" She let out a light laugh. I was certain it went deeper than that but I wouldn't push her.

"Then call me James." At the brief pause after my words the pink haired maid spoke up.

"Lord Roswall will be arriving soon, it would be best if we meet him in the dining room." I nodded and Subaru seemed to get some fire back at the words, she even pumped her fist.

"Alright, let's do this one last time!" She walked off ahead and I turned to the two maids with some remorse.

"Sorry about her, she's a handful I'm sure." The blue one let out a hum, Rem I believe.

"What's your relationship to her?" I gave a light smile as she approached, for a moment it looked like her nose twitched in confusion as I answered.

"She's someone who helped me save the life of Emilia, though I hope we can become friends in the future." I took a pause and held out my hand to her.

"I'm James, and I hope we can become friends in the future as well." She let out a hum and spoke.

"That would be beneath my station, I dare not associate with Emilia's savior in such a way." Writing off Subaru so fast the moment someone else shows up? She really is a top tier hater.

"Then how about some random peasant?" I let out a chuckle causing her to sigh. Then her sister Ram spoke in her place.

"That would be beneath ourselves as servants of Lord Roswall, we don't have time for 'friends'." I grumbled at that.

"That's no way to live your life . . ." Well if I was too far above and at the same time too far below then perhaps I could find a way to get on their level and become their friend. I was going to be sticking with Subaru and I didn't want to be a bum so perhaps I could join this manor's staff.

I certainly had a good resume at least!

AN: Subaru hitting James with the "Several times up until now I've died." Then getting hit with the "I trust you-" Only for James and her heart to get crushed isn't a fun experience. (Having resistance to harmful authority can be a double edged sword sometimes) 

Also James defending against Rem and Ram alongside Beatrice only for her to kill herself was a maddening situation. James was the angel on her shoulder saying stuff like 'are you really going to run away' while Beatrice was like 'you should run away' then this mf killed herself. Him facing off against Ram actually resulted in broken confidants (with Rem's death as well) but those timelines are scrapped anyways.

Subaru has marked James as the Best Friend NPC with how loyal to a fault he is whenever she's been in danger. Those feelings however are starting to confuse her as her love for Emilia is starting to conflict with her 'friendship' for him 

. . . 

As always feel free to leave any questions or comments down below as I read them all!

Thanks for reading and see you all next time!