Warning: I'm an Anime only so most of the lore may be wrong or changed in this story(maybe ı would even forget lore given by anime too sometimes ıdk). So ı'm sorry for those. (But ı also started reading novels and looking at extra lore so you can see them here as well)

Part 13: The Witch of Elior

"Sorry, I'm sorry…"

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I left you alone."

"You left me alone?"

"Because I could never find you"

"But you are right here?"

"Your name is?"

"My name is… I'm Puck."

…

"Emilia let's… Let's form a contract."

…

"I'll be with you forever."

…

"I'm breaking the contract between you and me."

"Emilia… I love you so, so much."

…

She felt a tear in her cheek but she didn't even know if it was real or not.

…

"Yes, that's good. Lia…"

"I love you more than anyone in the world."

…

Emilia slowly opened her eyes. She felt the fire near her and saw the blanket under her.

She looked tired, very tired. First she thought it was because of what she experienced. Even thinking about it made her feel terrible. But she was still physically tired. She thought she was dead but in this different environment she realized that it wasn't the case.

With her tired body and the broken will she looked upwards just to see a hovering Puck near her.

"Are you alright?", Puck asked.

Emilia stood silent after that question.

Puck couldn't find anything to say either. He just hovered to a point hoping Emilia would just look.

And she did. Where Puck was heading was near the fire Emilia felt. And near that fire was Subaru, Rem, Ram and the earth dragon.

"Were they your friends, right?", Puck asked.

Emilia quickly came near them with her blanket and put that on top of her friends.

"Fire would be enough.", Puck said.

Emilia didn't listen.

The connection between them was lost. Emilia was not able to look Puck the same anymore. She was angry at him but also was scared by him. Once the only person she felt safe was now the most dangerous thing she ever faced.

Puck looked at her. The look on her face made him hate himself. That scared yet angry look. She looked at him like he was her enemy and for a moment he was.

"Is that really you?", Puck asked.

While making sure her friends are safe, she wasn't able to answer that question. What happened last time affected her so much that even answering that question scared her.

"Lia?"

The last thing he said hurt her even more.

"Lia, I-I'm sorry… I… I made a mistake… I thought you were trying to hurt…", Puck wasn't able to finish that sentence with that shocking information he never thought could be possible.

"...Why didn't you kill me?", Emilia asked.

"I would never do that! I care about you more than any-"

"anything… Were you hurting other people because of your care as well?", Emilia asked while seeing bruises and small injuries from her friends.

Either he didn't even try to heal them or he just didn't care while doing it.

She started to heal them.

"Lia, you are tired, don't overuse your energy", Puck said, genuinely sounding worried about her.

Hearing that worried sound was frustrating for her. For a while she wanted to reconnect with Puck but after what happened she wished she never did.

Emilia didn't listen and continued healing them. After a while she started to fall down to the ground.

"You are using too much mana Lia! Stop!", Puck said while coming near her.

"shut up…", Emilia didn't want to listen to him.

"Lia I-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!", Emilia's frustrations burst out in a quick scream.

After that scream Emilia saw Puck's face again. He looked guilty. But was he guilty just for Emilia or the others he hurt as well.

Emilia silently continued.

Seeing she is using a lot of her mana he joined to heal them.

"Okay. I… I will help you.", Puck said.

Emilia silently continued.

Puck tried every chance to talk to her.

"Lia… You know I care about you. That was just…", Puck tried to talk to her.

"Why do you believe me now?", Emilia asked.

Puck looked at her.

"I… Because I felt… You…", Puck said.

"Huh?"

"I felt your sadness but… But I couldn't believe it because it was impossible but I… I can't deny you are not… you too…", Puck said.

Emilia turned at her friends.

"Look, they are all healed", Puck said.

"Why didn't you do that sooner?", Emilia asked.

"I… Well… My energy was low too…", Puck said.

Emilia couldn't face him anymore. She looked at the ground, remembered her memories with him.

"You… You are still lying…", Emilia said.

Puck felt her sadness once again.

"Lia, listen…"

"If I wasn't there were you going to hurt them?", Emilia changed the question.

"No I meant to just scare th-"

"That snow was too fast for a normal run", Emilia pointed out.

.

"I…"

Emilia continued being silent. That was the only thing she could do.

She looked at Subaru and others. With looking at them. She remembered the other reason they were here. She was so focused on finding Puck a lot that she forgot about it.

"Can we just enter my home again?", Emilia asked.

Puck looked at her.

"Wh-What happened?", Puck asked.

"It doesn't matter", Emilia said.

Puck was still not sure to believe this person. But there was no way for him to see her other than Emilia. How she feels around him. How she acts. He knew that she should be her but he couldn't fully accept it because of what he did. But also there was another reason.

"You… You look older and the people around you... What happened?", Puck asked.

Emilia went to silence again. Both because of her anger and because she thought that she can't talk about it.

"And the things you said… It's like… You… are from the future?", Puck was not sure about what he said.

Emilia looked at him with surprise.

"A-Are you really? But… But how is that possible?", Puck was shocked.

Puck's shock left him looking at her, feeling more and more guilty.

While Emilia was scared that something bad will happen since he knows.

"What happened to you in the future? Did I fail to protect you?", Puck asked.

Emilia wanted to stay silent but she couldn't hold it.

"After something happened you… You broke our contract thus making me see more memories of myself. And then you stayed in this crystal for a while…", Emilia said while showing the cracked crystal.

"But after an accident me and Subaru found ourselves in the past", Emilia said while pointing at Subaru.

"This kid?", Puck was surprised to hear that.

Emilia caressed Subaru's hair while hoping that all of them are fine after this attack.

"Is he the reason-", Puck was slowly hovering to him.

Emilia put her hand in front of Puck.

"Don't you dare get close to him", Emilia said, wanting to protect Subaru.

"Lia… I won't. I-It was an accident. Please…", Puck said.

Seeing Puck in this position made her angry. She wanted to be happy around him. She wanted nothing but finding him. Talking to him again. But the only thing she was able to do was being scared by him, not being able to trust him a bit.

"I want to believe you… But I can't… I just can't…", Emilia said with the fear in her eyes.

Puck was only able to accept her distrust.

"I… I understand…", Puck said.

Emilia turned her attention to the other three. She held Ram and made sure if her injury was fine while looking at Rem to make sure she had no injuries and also looked at the earth dragon if she was fine as well.

When she held Ram she slowly started to open her eyes.

"E-Emilia?", Ram said, confused about her position.

"I'm here. I'm here.", Emilia tried to comfort her.

"W-Where is Rem?", Ram asked.

"She is here too. She is fine", Emilia said.

"I… I'm gla- Ow…", Ram's head started to hurt.

"Your head…", Emilia realized.

"I… I'm fine…", Ram said.

Emilia tried to use her mana.

"Lia, you are overusing it", Puck tried to stop Emilia.

Puck hover to Ram's head.

Emilia again stopped him.

"Let me give her mine", Puck said.

Emilia unwillingly let him.

Puck started to give her a few of his mana.

"And this should be enough", Puck said and went away from her.

"But after you rest enough you should do it", Puck said.

Ram looked at Puck.

"W-Who is that?", Ram asked.

"Um…", Emilia didn't know what to say.

"A… A friend…", Emilia said.

"I-It's cold…", Ram said while shivering.

Emilia didn't know what to do.

"Can you increase the fire?", Emilia asked.

"Alright", Puck said and went to the fire.

Ram after a while slept in her arms again.

"Ram are you okay?", Emilia asked while worried.

"She is just tired and my mana really isn't suitable for her. So, like I said you need to give her later.", Puck said.

"I see…", Emilia said.

She later noticed Subaru was waking up too. When he opened his eyes he quickly stood up and saw Emilia and Puck. Subaru quickly ran over them.

"Emilia are you alright? Did he-"

"I… I'm alright Subaru. We are all fine.", Emilia said.

After that sudden burst Subaru sat on the ground. He still felt tired as well.

"Thank god you all alright…", Subaru said and then he looked at Puck.

"Did you realize now?", Subaru asked.

"Yes… I did…", Puck said.

Subaru felt an anger deep inside him when looking at Puck. He thought that he probably convinced Emilia that he is still her "sweet old daddy" and as much as he wanted to tell all that he did to Emilia, he didn't want to make her sad.

But then he saw her face.

"Emilia-tan are you alright?", Subaru asked.

"You are angry right?", Emilia asked, noticing his anger.

"I'm well…", Subaru didn't know what to say.

"Let's just find my home and that would be that…", Emilia said while her frustrations are clearly seen as well.

"Emilia-tan… Did something happen?", Subaru asked but then he turned to Puck with that realization.

"Did you hurt her?", Subaru asked.

Emilia held his hand.

"Please, I don't want to talk about this anymore", Emilia said, tired of all this pain.

Subaru looked at her tired eyes.

"O-Okay…", Subaru said.

Subaru also took the Rem in his arms. Tried to comfort her.

Then both turn to Puck.

"Can we go to her home now?", Subaru asked.

"No you can't", Puck said.

Both looked at him shocked and scared.

"What do you mean we can't!", Subaru was furious and Emilia didn't stop him either.

"Stop and listen… I told you that Lia was with me all this time", Puck started to talk while Subaru was still angry thinking about that moment.

"I didn't lie…", Puck said and turned to Emilia.

"Lia… If you are from the future…", Subaru was surprised that Puck knew that.

"The one who is from this timeline… My Lia… is still here too…", Puck said.

Both looked surprised.

"Another me?"

"Another Emilia?", Both were confused.

"I can't just take you in because of that", Puck said.

"I don't even know how you exist at this point. Since you met me I feel like this you should change as well…", Puck said.

"Oh no. I'm not ready for an explanation of how time travel works", Subaru thought.

"I… I don't know how it works…", Emilia said.

"What if you danger My Lia?", Puck said, his interest went to his Emilia.

"I… I don't know…", Emilia said.

"You should leave", Puck said.

"But how are we-", Subaru's words were cut.

"You are endangering Emilia's life!", Puck said in anger but both didn't get which Emilia he was talking about.

Emilia turned to Subaru.

"He is right…", Emilia said.

Subaru couldn't find a word to say.

"We should find somewhere else…", Emilia said.

"But how are we-", Suddenly a sound came from outside.

"Puck! Puck! Where are you?", A sound of a young girl came from outside.

"She was supposed to be asleep!", Puck panicked.

"We should hide", Emilia said.

"No she is near… There is no time.", Puck said.

"Maybe I can-"

"Puck, are you here?", Young girl entered the cave.

She had a greenish cloak with an old yet clean sweatshirt. Also had shoes that were old and dirty.

When she entered she saw Subaru, Emilia and the others except Puck.

"That bastard suddenly left…", Subaru thought.

"Wh-Who are you people?", Young Emilia asked.

Subaru and Emilia stuck silently. Not knowing what to say.

Subaru quickly looked at Emilia and Emilia looked at Subaru. She was fine after seeing herself.

"Um… I… I'm not here to do something…", Young Emilia said to not panic them.

Emilia looked at her younger self.

"Am I that scared that people would fear me?", Emilia thought.

Young Emilia realized the knocked out Rem, Ram and earth dragon.

"Are… Are they alright? I can help.", Young Emilia said, scared of coming close.

Subaru noticed the fear from the little girl.

"Huh? Haha don't worry, they are just sleeping.", Subaru said in a relaxing voice.

Emilia looked at Subaru. She knew he was trying to relax her younger self.

"Sleeping? Here?", Young Emilia was confused.

"Yeah haha... We are kinda lost.", Subaru said.

"Lost? I do know a way to a village. If you want I can show it to you.", Young Emilia said while being a bit more relaxed.

"Lia?", Puck came from the behind of Young Emilia.

"Puck, I was looking for you!", Young Emilia said.

"Didn't you go to sleep?", Puck asked.

"I did… But I heard a lot of noise from outside so I came to look at it.", Young Emilia said.

Young Emilia slowly approached Subaru and Emilia.

"D-Do you want me to show you the way to the village?", Young Emilia asked with a small fear in her voice.

"W-We…", Emilia didn't know what to say.

"Thanks for your help", Subaru gave him a smile.

That smile shined through young Emilia's eyes.

"Huh… Are you okay?", Subaru was confused with how she looked at him.

"I… I'm okay!", Young Emilia said with a smile.

Seeing that Emilia also gave a small smile knowing what her younger self is thinking.

"I-If you want you can stay in my home for today!", Young Emilia said.

"Lia when did it go to them staying?", Puck asked, questioning Emilia's quick change in mindset.

"I… I just thought if they need to stay here we can just help them!", Young Emilia said.

"Lia, maybe they need to go their own path now.", Puck said while looking at Subaru.

Subaru understood what he was trying to say.

"Yeah… Actually we need to-"

"Yeah we can stay for a while.", Emilia said.

"Huh?", Both Subaru and Puck looked at her.

"W-We would gladly stay, right Subaru?", Emilia pointed to Subaru.

"But you…", Subaru said, didn't know what to say after Emilia said that.

"W-What do you mean?", Puck was confused and angry at this decision.

"O-Of course…", Subaru said not knowing why Emilia changed her mind.

While Young Emilia looked at the both visitors with a joy she never felt before.

"Y-You will stay?", Young Emilia asked.

"Yes we will", Emilia said.

Young Emilia didn't know what to do so she started to think of ideas.

"A-Are you alright?", Subaru asked.

Young Emilia got close to Subaru.

"Why is she so close to me?", Subaru thought.

"What's your favorite… um… color… no food yeah food!", Young Emilia asked.

"I… Um…", Everything went so fast for Subaru.

"Lia, can you go outside for a while.", Puck said.

"But we should greet them with-"

"Lia…", Puck looked at her.

"I… Fine…", Young Emilia pouted.

"I will just speak with our visitors okay?", Puck said and left her outside.

Puck returned to Subaru and Emilia.

"She is listening…", Emilia said with a quiet voice.

"Huh?", Puck and Subaru were confused.

"She is hiding and listening to us…", Emilia said quite confidently.

Puck and Subaru, while confused, quickly accepted it.

"Lia…", Puck said.

"Eh!", Young Emilia was not expecting that.

"Go home…", Puck said.

"F-Fine…", Young Emilia went away while pouting.

"I was not expecting you to do something like that Emilia-tan…", Subaru said.

"I didn't do that? She did!... Or I did technically…", Emilia said.

"Yes I wasn't expecting that either but…"

"Why did you accept her offer!", Puck said with anger.

"Because she-"

"What will happen now?", Puck said.

"What will happen would only happen to me", Emilia said.

Subaru looked at her.

"Emilia…"

"Subaru I know… But I have to…", Emilia said, understanding his concern.

"Look, I'm fine. I'm still here with nothing changed", Emilia said.

Subaru realized that as well but he was still concerned.

"But if Puck is right, what will happen if we stick with that version of you…? And why would you even do that? You accepted what he said before me", Subaru asked.

"If something were gonna happen it would happen right as we saw her and talk right? I mean I do not remember strangers like us being here like ever", Emilia said.

"I mean it makes sense but-"

"And… I want her to be happy… Because I know what she is thinking right now…", Emilia said while looking at Puck.

"You want her to be happy right? If we leave now she won't be", Emilia said.

"Lia… What happened to you?", Puck asked, his anger turned into an actual concern.

Emilia didn't answer that. But in her heart this was what she wanted to do. She knew what that Emilia was going through and she just couldn't run away from it. After all she had been through seeing this innocent version of herself and knowing how much sadness she is in too, the chance of taking away that sadness just like Subaru did to her was something she wanted to do. Even if it's dangerous for her. She knew it was selfish to do that but she did not care.

"Subaru please help me to make her happy", Emilia said.

"Emilia…", Subaru looked at her eyes, she is determined to do what she is upto.

"Well… I do have a charm among half elves so I think I can help", Subaru accepted her offer and lightened the mood.

"You sure are.", Emilia said with a chuckle.

Puck looked at them confused and worried.

"Whatever that kid did to Emilia… She acts on instinct not thinking about consequences that can happen… But… She looks happy around this boy too…", Puck thought reflecting upon this Emilia he saw.

"Is she even really Emilia… Or is she just playing a role? Whoever she is, I need to be careful to protect my Emilia no matter what…", Puck thought.

"You were even cuter when you were smaller, Emilia-tan! I mean you are still the cutest girl I ever met but still", Subaru said.

"Stop it… Dunderhead…", Emilia started to blush while Subaru awkwardly smiled.

"This Subaru kid really irks me…", Puck thought.

They finally arrived at their new home.

While the other three were still sleeping, Rem started to feel weird. She started to smell a larger amount of witches scent coming from Emilia. But suddenly Rem returned back to looking normal as well without nobody even realizing, not even her.

-To be continued.