'IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY'

That's what was going through the silver haired half-elfs mind as she laid in a puddle of her own blood. it wasn't pity for herself, or sadness that she won't be able to hold on to her promise for the victims in that cursed forest, nor was it anger at the person that attacked her for no reason, it was regret. She allowed this raven haired boy to help her and this was his reward, becoming a corpse right in front her eyes.

'WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY!?

WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE YOU!!?'

She would scream these thoughts out but every attempt was met with blood clogging her throat in waves. if it was just her she could come to piece with the fact that she was dying. Puck would be devastated but he would move on eventually. The residents at the Mansion would be shocked and Roswaal would be disappointed but eventually they'd all come to peace with it. There was no else to blame for this situation but herself after all. She was responsible for her insigina and the fact the she let some kid steal it from her is nothing short of incompetence. before she hit the ground from the impact of the blade she claught a glimpse of the yellow haired girl that stole her insigina, covered in blood from the neck down. Another reminder of how foolish she was, letting a little girl die due to her lack of vigilence.

But this boy... this raven haired boy just had to meddle in her affairs. He just had to have been in that alleyway. He just had to have been so caring and try to help her. He just had to be so freaking carefree around her... around me and accept me despite my resemble to the witch... He just had to be the one to open that darn door. if I had just taken the initiative and came in first he could've ran away but no. I just had to be slothful in the worst time possible.

'PLEASE LIVE PLEASE LIVE PLEASE LIVE PLEASE LIVE PLEASE LIVE PLEASE LIVE'

The half elf tried to move her body inch by inch in an attempt to heal him but her body wouldn't respond no matter how much she pleaded. the boys attempt at it bore fruit however as his hand eventually made contact with hers.

'don't...die'

But it was no use. She could see the boy out of the corner of her eye. She could see his eyes, the pain, the sorrow, the anger, the determination. He was fighting for every breath he took but no amount of healing could save him now. A women stood near him, presumably the killer, but the most she could make out was her silhouette and a strange looking dagger laced with blood.

'DONT DIE'

Timed started to slow down as the two victims started at eachother for what felt like hours as the burning sensation from there stomachs being slashed started to become replaced with numbness.

'DON'T DIE DON'T DIE'

"wait...there..." the boy muttered. the girl felt a slight tinge of hope that he could live through this but was well aware that they were both long gone.

'DON'T DIE DONT DIE DONT DIE'

"im going to..." The girls faced was starting to stain with tears as the boy kept talking through blood stained lips. His life was flickering every second and he was using those precious seconds to say something to her. yet she wasn't listening, all she could do was repeat the same mantra in her head.

'DON'T DIE DON'T DIE DONT DIE DON'T DIE DONT DIE DON'T DIE DONT DIE DON'T DIE DONT DIE DON'T DIE

DONTDIEDON'TDIEDONTDIEDON'TDIE DONTDIEDON'TDIEDONTDIEDON'TDIE DONTDIEDON'TDIEDONTDIEDON'TDIE DONTDIEDON'TDIEDONTDIEDON'TDIE DONTDIEDON'TDIEDONTDIEDON'TDIE DONTDIEDON'TDIEDONTDIEDON'TDIE DONT-!!!'

"save...you"

Darkness

"DON'T DIEEEE!!!"

The half elf roared as if she just witnessed a murder.

The boy and a floating cat were shocked to say the least. they has no idea how to respond to this sudden out burst.

"Lia are you okay!?" the cat yelled in both worry and concern as his daughter was suddenly in a pool of tears.

The half elf's knees buckeld as she tried to her hardest to comprehend what just happened to no avail.

The scary eyed boy with raven hair immediately took a knee to see what was wrong with the girl only to be met with a bone crushing hug. concern went to immediate shock as the beauty crashesd into him with all her weight taking them both to the ground. his face turned a bright red as incoherent ramblings escaped his mouth with the cat looking over her with worry but mostly confusion.

One minute this boy with weird clothes is posing while introducing himself, the next his daughter's on the ground hugging like he'll turn to ash any second.

"I'm sorry I'm *sniff* I'm so so sorry!" The half elf's voice started to shake from all the screaming and sobbing. Subaru took it upon himself to grab her shoulders and look her dead in the eyes.

"hey hey hey look, im right here ok? just calm down and tell me what's going on alright? you just saved me like an hour ago shouldn't I be the one apologizing?"

Once he said those words her own got caught in her throat.

'He just died because of me and he's worried about me of all people?'

She glanced down to his stomach and then her own. nothing. no cuts, no blood, her sorrows turned to confusion as the burning and pain she felt earlier was gone as well, as if it never happened. But the memory was permanently engraved into her mind and no amount of therapy could fix that.

"Su-Subaru?" She uttered with both disbelief and shame. His name felt taboo to her after what she just saw and it took every bit of willpower to say it without bursting into tears again. For all she knew this boy could be some sick illusion that her mind conjured to rightfully punish her for her weakness.

"Ye-Yeah that's my name? I'll admit my introduction was pretty impressive but I feel like your overacting, it wasn't that outstanding was it?" he said in an attempt to lighten the mood bit was immediately met with silence.

The weight of the atmosphere was crushing. Subaru was on his butt and palm staring at the silver haired half elf with a look befitting the awkward situation. The cat was looking over his daughter but would stare quick daggers at Subaru for attempting to make light of the situation. And the girl just sat there on her knees, slowly but surely recomposing herself until suddenly.

"hey subaru? can you do me a favor?"

the half elf looked at him with new found conviction so much so that the boy didn't respond until an entire minute passed.

"y-yeah what is it?"

"There's a knights barracks north-east of here-impossible to miss. When you get there they should be able to answer any questions you have about were you are and you should be able to find employment very soon maybe even become a kni-"

"Wait wait wait hold on I appreciate you telling me all this but I can't just leave you to figure this out on your own. Until we get your insigina back I ain't going anywhere. I don't why you suddenly broke down like that but I'm not leaving until I've returned the favor of you saving me AND giving me that hug even if I couldn't breath through half of it."

Usually breaking the mood with light heartened banter and receiving silence would lead to someone taking the issue a little more seriously. This was Natsuki Subaru we're talking about unfortunately and his immediate response was double down. What was ever more unexpected however was that the half-elf gave out a weary chuckle and a slight smile could be seen across her face although it was painfully obvious through her eyes that she still wasn't all the way there. The silver haired girl began to stand up along with Subaru as they both began to look out to the enormous city with neither one breaking the silence until the girl spoke first.

"You said you wanted to return the favor right?"

The boy respond with a mhmm while not looking directly at the girl.

"then I need you to do me a favor as well"

They both began to look at eachother. The boy was filled with anxiety as her amethyst eyes pierced into his very soul.

"I want you to head to knights barracks and live a full life... and I want you to never see me again"

PROLOUGE DONE FOLKS

This was a throw away idea i i had as i always wondered how the story would play out if emila was the one that Had to take on most of the burden instead of Subaru and how would she cope with it with her already self loathing attitude. A battle hardend Emila sounds super fun to write about but im severly lacking in the writing department so if anyone else wants to pick up the story in certain events or give constructive criticism then please do.