It wasn't her fault. No of course not. It wasn't her fault that her biggest crush in history actually caused her harm. The only person in the world who vowed to protect her. The only boy, out of 200 others, who actually loved her back, both as Emil Castagnier and Ratatosk.

He vowed to protect her and failed.

He slashed at her with a scowl and everything seemed to freeze.

She took one step forward and fell on her knees before letting her face hit the ground.

"Emi... Emil... I'm so sorry..." she coughed, blood coming from her mouth. Emil's eyes widened, tears threatening to come out.

No... This can't be... Happening...

"Marta..." The shocked blond muttered, his voice becoming slightly cracked to match his paling skin. He quickly rushed to his love's side, putting his sword to the side. "Marta!"

Lloyd took a step forward, his brows curved up. "Emil, no. You mean... you were just pretending that whole time?!" he inquired, his voice filled with confusion and sorrow. Was Emil strangling himself, thinking Ratatosk had come back to kill them all and destroy mankind... Was attacking them in cold blood... was it all Emil's doing? But Verius had Ratatosk sealed right?

Emil reached for his sword slowly. "No... n-no...!" Emil muttered, staring at Marta's body I'm front of him, ignoring Lloyd's question, or rather, statement. Everyone stared at the two in stunning silence. "This... this can't be happening...! I never meant to hurt Marta... How- How could this happen..?" He firmly grasped his sword and spun it around with two hands on the hilt.

Then stabbed himself.

Marta's gone...

Richter's gone...

Aster's gone...

All because of me... I'll seal the Ginungagap with my core... and then the world will be saved... Nieflheim won't escape... all will be well... and I can be with Marta...

Everyone tried to talk him out of it as blood trickled down from his mouth and dripping to his clothes. Raine even tried to use her healing Artes but Tenebrae blocked their path. "I won't let you interfere with Lord Ratatosk!" the black centurion howled.

Quickly, Lloyd replied, "You idiot! Emil will- Ratatosk will die!" The brunet was desperate to save his friend. Desperate to save the world. If Ratatosk died, all the mana will dissipate and the world die off.

Tenebrae shook his head, his golden eyes intensifying. "No, that's not true! He will only turn into his core. Sealing that door is what he really wants!" his voice echoed throughout the room.

They stood bye as they watched their friend die with sorrow and helplessness.

Emil's body shined brightly as the blood from his mouth and stomach disappeared and soon, a red orb with what looked to be the universe itself inside it, was left in the blond's place, rolling toward's the body of Marta as if it longed to be with her anyways.

Everything was deathly quiet while Marta blinked her eyes open. She wondered for a moment where she was before pushing herself up. She was about to perform a healing arte on herself before her eyes caught sight of Emil's core.

Time seemed to freeze as ears silently fell uncontrollably. What's his core doing here? Where's Emil? Where's my knight?! Then it struck her and her eyes widened to the size of Ratatosk's core itself.

She leaned forward and screamed out, "EMIL!"


Badada I suck at one-shooots thank you for reading and please leave a review laleelu