Author's Note: Apologies for the scare with that 'Abandoned' notice! I'm feeling much more confident for ReCircuits now. I hope you enjoy this chapter as I've had to completely scratch the last one and wrote this from nothing. If the quality seems a bit downgraded since the previous chapter, don't hold it against me, still trying to get back into writing this… Not to mention it's short… I'm trying okay!?

P.S. If you wish to Review, it may happen that FF says you already reviewed this chapter (I deleted the Note pages.) In which case, simply use Guest (With your Account name as the nickname) to review! Thank you!

Enjoy the chapter everybody!

Re: Circuits

Chapter 18: Silent Break

It was dark, cold and dark, the nightly hours have reached their peak and the moon hung overhead, illuminating the midnight time with a dim light. He stumbled, hand clutching his heart, a stain of crimson red blood against the brown school uniform. His mind racing, confusing thoughts and images passing through it.

Silver and Iron to the Origin.

A pull.

There was barely any sense to it, the two he had seen were not humans, no human could fight in a league like that. Then, the bell rang, a warning placed in the Bounded Field. His heart raced again as if remembering the sensation that it had gone through. He dodged.

Gem and the Archduke of Contracts to the Cornerstone

He knew this sensation, all those like him knew it.

A man in blue tights, holding a spear that made his hairs stand, the feeling of death choking the air. But he refused it. He had died before. Only to be saved again. He avoided the man's following attack, reinforcing an object he had obtained earlier in his dodge roll to parry the spear.

The ancestor is my great master Schweinorg.

It was an opportunity any would take, that they all yearned for. Even himself.

He broke through the window, pain greeting bits of his flesh from sharp, broken glass. But it allowed him time to avoid another attack, he needed a better weapon, he knew where to go.

The alighted wind becomes a wall.

A connection, not from there, but from here, from him. A catalyst.

The shed, he had to reach his workshop, it could provide something, anything to give him a chance. He ran for it, pushing his body, this was nothing, he could do this.

The gates in the four directions close, coming from the crown, the three-forked road that leads to the kingdom circulate.

Shut (Fill). Shut (Fill). Shut (Fill). Shut (Fill). Shut (Fill).

Repeat every five times.
Simply, shatter once filled.

It increased, the bond was being forged, contracted his body is copied by magic, sent across from the Throne.

He stumbled into the shed, knocking down the door, his instincts screamed and he opened the makeshift weapon wide, which promptly exploded as it collided with the spear tip, now completely destroyed.

――――I announce.
Your self is under me, my fate is in your sword.

In accordance with the approach of the Holy Grail, if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer.

He shall answer, and in this, gain a chance, ever so slim.

He collapsed on the floor, the man stood over him at the doorway. He gripped his chest, resolute, he couldn't die here. Not yet, not when he had just been given another chance to accomplish his dream! To fulfill the desire his father had given unto him!

Here is my oath. I am the one who becomes all the good of the world of the dead, I am the one who lays out all the evil of the world of the dead.

To prevent the mistake that would give rise to him!

He felt his hand burn, he shouted in defiance, he would not disappear here. He wouldn't die here! Not to this guy!

You, seven heavens clad in three words of power, arrive from the ring of deterrence, O keeper of the balance!

Vision wavered, the sound of an explosion? No, crashing, he crashed into a room. He heard something else, the sound of feet rushing up wooden stairs, the door opened, revealing a female teenager, a magus no doubt, garbed in red and black, how familiar she was, how nostalgic she felt.

She appeared, a swipe coming towards the man who retreated out. She turned, his eyes met hers. She was beautiful. The most beautiful, regal person he ever saw. She opened her mouth, looking down at him.

"-I ask of you. Are you my master?"

Natsuki Subaru woke up with a jolt, sweat dripping down from his forehead, his eyes darting around the room for a moment before he calmed down in the realization that it was just a dream. He took a minute to collect himself, the normally occupied feeling of drowsiness having vanished quickly in his awakening in favor of the rush of adrenaline. He took note of the early morning, and grimaced, a hand placed on his body and checking for injuries, but found none.

"Alright… Emilia healed me, and I rested for the night…" He remarked of the previous day's events. Subaru decided to quickly investigate his magic circuits, focusing inward and determining their current state he discovered them no more strained and overused than they had been since the incident in the evacuation.

Which surprised him, as he used the same type of magecraft yesterday in defense of Meili.

Projection magecraft. Tracing.

"Mhm, maybe it's because I didn't project a magical sword this time? That would cost a whole lot more than a mundane one…" He trailed off in his words.

Perhaps that was the limit of his ability? He could use Projection magecraft combined with Reinforcement to create weapons of non-magical nature without risk of overburdening his magic circuits or potentially killing himself in the process.

"Gah!" He ruffled his own hair in frustration. "Magecraft seems to always have some way to kill me!"

The only exception being Structural Analysis, and that's only because he hadn't discovered how that spell could kill him either!

It's like magecraft purposely decided to bring him closer to Return by Death.

After all, to be a magus is to walk with death.

He clutched his head, "Calm down… Voice in the back of my head… Sheesh…" he groaned as he went into thought.

It was getting worse.

These, 'memories', for the lack of a better way to describe them, were more than what their namesake implied. Memories don't give out advice, make cynical remarks, or contain the sheer willpower to influence his body to react as it did yesterday. Subaru noticed it, hard not to, his own body had moved against his wishes and refused to quit when it was clear he should have died yesterday.

Not that he didn't appreciate not dying, but the ramifications were obvious.

Shirou, as Natsuki Subaru had come to know these memories by, didn't think normally. He was obsessed, borderline obsessed, no, way overly obsessed with saving anyone and everyone. Shirou wanted to be a hero, but it more than just wanting to be a hero, it was a Hero of Justice that Shirou desired to become.

But Subaru knew that being a hero was easier said than done, he himself thought naively that he was the chosen hero destined to save the world before dying repeatedly as reality shoved facts right into his face.

And that's only from Shirou, not the other set of memories that were similar yet vastly different.

There are so many things that could go wrong, he's played enough video games and seen enough shows to know that having somebody else's memories is just asking for trouble!

Having two is even worse!

He can't catch a break… But… He did appreciate the knowledge that comes with it in relation to magecraft. It allowed him to accomplish actions that would otherwise be useless for… Without dying over and over to gain information multiple times.

Natsuki Subaru left the bedside and changed into a clean uniform, deciding that he'll have time later to worry about such things, and left the room. The Witch Cult and Assassins seemed to be at odds with one another, which would explain why neither side had directly struck against the mansion. If they could just not do so for another day or two, Roswaal would return and eliminate them, he hoped.

That guy was incredibly powerful, Subaru was sure he would take care of the problem.

"Subaru, good morning," Rem greeted him.

"Ah! Rem!" Subaru answered cheerfully. "Good morning to you too! How's everyone so far? And you?"

She smiled at him, her blue hair wavering a bit as her head moved, "Everyone is doing well, though anxious. I'm fine… Thank you for asking."

"Good to hear," He replied. "Any news on Roswaal?"

She shook her head. "I haven't heard anything."

"I'm sure he's fine," Subaru reassured before a thought came up. "Hey, Ram can't use Clairvoyance to detect foes before they arrive at the mansion?"

"Mostly," Rem replied. "It's limited in that it has to borrow the vision of nearby living creatures in the area of the same wavelength. You just don't have to be in that range to avoid it."

"So… Say that all the animals were scared off before you made your move…" He trailed off as his eyes widened.

Rem blinked, "Then Clairvoyance wouldn't be able to detect them," She responded, before taking notice of his sudden silence. The girl glanced towards the direction he was facing to see the forests through the window, in a trail of birds flocking out of them.

"Never a good sign," Subaru said, "Might be nothing, could be the enemy, we should warn everyone nonetheless!" He exclaimed as he rushed back into his room, grabbed the sheathed sword against the wall, and ran out. Rem followed the young man as the first thing he did was go to Emilia's room, opening the door and making the half-elf look at them in surprise.

"Birds suddenly flocked out of the woods," Subaru said. "I got a feeling they're about to make our move."

Emilia got up, Puck appeared on her shoulder, "We should get the villagers inside!"

"Rem?" Subaru stated.

The blue-haired demon nodded, "Right." She turned and jogged off down the hall, leading to the mansion's entrance.

Subaru turned to Emilia, who seemed ready to go warn them as well, he raised a hand, his face holding a serious expression. "Emilia-tan, I don't want you out there."

"But I-"

"You need to stay above the stairway and shoot any bastards that come in after the villagers," He interrupted. "With you and Puck, those guys won't stand a chance against a barrage of icicles!"

She paused, looking at Subaru, Puck nodded in agreement, saying, "I agree, easier to shoot them in through a chokepoint."

"I… I will! What are you going to do?" Emilia asked.

"Well, first I'll find Ram…" He trailed off. "Pretty sure she's already aware, knowing her, but can't be too careful… Then… I'll help Rem hold them off then retreat back in here."

"Subaru, you have already been injured so many times."

"Good thing you're an angelic healer then!" He remarked. "But seriously, I'll fall back if I'm out of my league. At the moment though, the bastards will have to face a demon and a third-rate unlike any before…" Subaru grinned optimistically, giving her a thumbs up. "Don't worry, Emilia! I made a promise and learned my lesson on trying to handle things alone. Now, you need to learn that too! You can rely on me, on all of us!"

He turned around, stepping away from the door and towards the mansion doorway to lead to the outside, Emilia followed him briefly. Natsuki Subaru grinned at her one last time before facing completely towards the direction he aimed to leave.

The echoing sounds of a blade clashing against an anvil resonated in his mind.

A duo of magic circuits flared to life within.

"Here goes…" He trailed off, gripping the handle of the sword. "This time… Things will be vastly different…"

A deep breath.

"Trace, On."