Death really hated his job. He hated how the God of Light had cursed him to reap the souls of the dead and ferry them to his realm. He hated seeing how such bright fires get snuffed out without any warning. And worst of all, he deeply hated hearing the pleas of the many souls, all of them begging to be given more time with the living. Time that he could not give them.

And now here he was, about to do his job once again at what was supposed to be a place filled with joy and happiness. A place where children could play while their parents enjoyed the rides it has to offer. A place...that had been reduced to a broken mess, corpses littered around as some Hunters carried them out to be buried.

"So many unfortunate losses... Why did it have to happen? Why these bright souls of all things?"

He ran his gloved hand across his aged face, a frown creasing his brown. While his curse wasn't as bad as Ozma's constant cycle of reincarnation, he still hated how much he hasn't aged. He scanned the area, seeing children and adults alike, crying out in grief and in sadness at the realization of their loss of lives while some hysterically called out to their family, heavily denying their deaths.

Then, Death made his presence known and everyone grew pale. The Grim Reaper could only offer them a solemn look as sliced the air with his scythe, opening a pathway that led to his realm, where they will await their next life and be safe from becoming a Lost Soul, trapped in Limbo.

"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do." Those were the only words he could offer to them. "At the very least, all of you are now free from suffering."

All of them grew dejected, continuing to cry. It took a while until someone became brave enough to walk inside. Slowly, they all trickled into death's realm, with some of the adults guiding the children by holding their hands.

Soon, all of them walked inside. All but one. A girl, no less than fifteen years old. Death closed the pathway and approached the lone figure who had refused to enter his realm. He looked at her and could only give a somber look. He knelt down and removed his shades, to look at her as an equal.

"Tell me something... Was it all worth it? This selfless act of yours. Trading your life for your little brother. Why did you do it, Nera?"

The now-dead daughter of Jeanne looked up to the representation of the dead and nodded. "I couldnt just let it happen. I didn't want my brother to die. He hasn't experienced what this world had to offer."

"But you're on the same boat." He argued. "You've barely scratched the surface of your life. Why throw it away when it was not your time to come?"

Nora looked at Death straight in the eyes and gave her answer. "Because it's a sister's duty to take care of her little brother. That day when I first met you, and when you told me about his fate, my mind was already set in saving him."

Two Years Ago

Nera yelped, wagging around her finger to stop the sting of the burn she accidentally inflicted on herself. She was making another prototype of Blue Rose and was hoping that this time, she could use it as an actual gun instead of as a prank weapon she used on idiots.

"Okay, let's see if this worked." she mumbled to herself.

The young child put back on her goggles and loaded in the dust cartridge into the gun. Making sure everything was set, she took aim at the empty bottle and pulled the trigger.

Things didn't do as she planned. The prototype of Blue Rose exploded and she was flung back quite roughly, her head slamming against the wall. Nera didn't even have time to react accordingly as the blast knocked her out, her body just slumped over.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Nera groggily groaned as she pushed herself up, nursing her head to stave off the oncoming headache.

"Oh man, what happened?"

She scanned her surroundings and found herself to be still in her workshop. Rubbing her head, she walked over to the table and saw the scorched remains of Blue Rose. Nera cringed, scratching the back of her head.

"Well, that sucks." she sighed in defeat. "Guess I have to go back to square one with this piece of junk. Time to put you in the thrash."

Nera reached over and grabbed the failed prototype and turned around to toss it into the bin, only to stop in her tracks. The young child dropped the gun, her eyes widen and her mouth agape, Nera slightly trembled as she stared at her own body slumped against the wall, unmoving and limp.

Like any child would, she reacted appropriately. By screaming. Once she regained her bearings, she panickingly rushed over to her body and tried to touch it, only for her hand to phase through.

"No no... Nonononononononononono! This isn't happening! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! This isn't happening! I didn't just kill myself because of a failed prototype! I did NOT just turn myself into a ghost! Oh geez, mom is gonna flip!"

"Well, isn't this interesting." spoke out a creepy yet soothing voice.

Nera felt the hairs on her back stand, despite being seemingly dead. Swiveling around, she saw a pale man, somewhere in his forties, in a very disheveled business suit, wearing a pair of shades and black gloves. His hair was pure as snow, just like her father's. The man stared at her with fascination and curiosity.

"So, you can see me then, child?"

"W-Who are you?" she asked, quivering in fear.

The man gave her a smile and held up his hand in faux surrender. "I mean you no harm. I am Death, the collector of souls and the ferryman of the deceased."

Nera yelped and tried to back away from him, even more afraid once she knew who he was. "Y-You're here to take me away, aren't you?"

To her confusion, Death shook his head. The Emissary of the Dead decided to explain himself. "Yes. Normally, that would be the case, but you're not as dead as you think. At present, I cannot transfer your soul to my realm. Meaning, it's still bound to the world of the living." He pushed up his shades before resuming. "At best, your body probably thinks it's in a pseudo-comatose state, which is how you're able to leave your body."

A screeching sound attracted both of their attention as Jaune opened up the trap the door from the other side. The Lone Son saw his sister's body and sighed, before speaking to his mother, who was holding the ladder steady.

"Nera knocked herself out again!" he reported.

The young lad went into his sister's room and walked over to her unconscious body, slightly struggling in carrying down. Nera stared at this incredulously before looking back at Death.

"S-So, I can go back to my body? I'm still alive?"

He nodded in confirmation. "Correct. You're time of death has not yet come."

Nera let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, losing all of her anxiety and dread as a smile back on her face. Then, Death's expression grew somber, staring solely at Jaune.

"The same cannot be said for your little brother, however."

A figurative glass shattered in Nera's mind. Did she misheard that. "W-What did you say, mister?"

Death sighed and took off his shades to reveal his eyes to Nera - gold pupils, with red irises and pale yellow sclera.

"These eyes of mine. It allows me to see the remaining lifespan of those I look at, and how they will die." He placed them back on and stared as Jaune closed back the floorboard, leaving them alone. "And I'm afraid that young Jaune only has two years left before his demise."

The youngest daughter fell to her knees, expression in utter grief and disbelief. "H-How?" Her voice quivered, unable to find the strength to even speak loudly. Normally, she was bombastic and loud, but with what this literal personification of death is telling her? It's a wonder how she was composing herself.

"H-How does my little brother die? Please... Please, tell me." she begged, tears slipping down her cheeks as she tried not to think of such morbid thoughts.

For a moment, he didn't speak, contemplating as to whether or not he should say it. Death sighed and relented.

"In two years, you and your family will go to a fair, and there, your brother shall meet his end. Demons will come out and attack your brother, killing not only him but a new friend he would make. Your mother would arrive a minute too late to save him. He would die by being split into two, after getting his arm sliced off in trying to protect his friend."

All was silent, until Nera fell to her knees and let out a strong of wail of grief. "NO...! THAT'S NOT TRUE! IT'S NOT! Y-YOU'RE LYING! YOU'RE JUST A LIAR!" She looked right at him, tears heavily streaming down her face. "MY BABY BROTHER ISN'T GOING TO DIE! HE'S NOT!"

"There's nothing I can do..." Death said, looking away from the young child. "I can only accomplish the task I've been forced into. Death is simply inevitable."

Nera shook her head, refusing to believe it. "N-No! M-Maybe there's a way for me to change it! I-I can just make sure we don't go to the fair!" She smiled at herself quite shakily, trying to convince her mind that it was a great solution.

"Impossible, I'm afraid. Because you're the one that will instigate your family into going to the fair. And even if you don't, one way or another, someone else will."

Nera slumped forward, falling onto all fours as she sobbed loudly. Death couldn't bear to see someone so young like this, so, with a heavy heart, he made the decision to mention an alternative.

"However...there is another way." Nera's head slowly turned to him, eyes wide and tears still present, but a glimmer of hope in her eyes now persisted. "A soul, for a soul. If one wishes for a soul to remain in the living, then they must offer up their own for the deal to be made."

This greatly confused the blonde, tilting her head, giving the impression that she didn't quite understand what he said. Death sighed and explained it much more bluntly.

"It you want your brother to live, then you need to die for him. The scales of life and death must always be balanced. Imbalance can lead to...problems I don't want to even think about."

He looked away, not wanting to see the crushed look on Nera's face. The Ferry of the Deceased hummed, sensing souls that were in need of guidance.

"I must go now. I know you're heartbroken, but there's nothing that can be done, little one. I hope you can come to terms what I've told you. Until then, Nera."

Death vanished, leaving the youngest daughter all alone. Unbeknownst to him, she didn't look the bit crushed. Instead, steely and grim determination was on her face.

Nera had made up her mind. She knew what she was going to choose.

Back to the present

Death shook his head, though the amusement on his face wasn't lost. "How selfless of you Nera." He schooled his features and went back to his objective. "What will you do now? You rejected the invitation to my realm, which means you're now susceptible to Limbo's dark presence and be corrupted as a result..."

The youngest daughter of Vergil laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "I...was kinda hoping you'd let me help you."

Death blinked, unsure if he heard that right. "Pardon? You... want to help me?"

Nera nodded, confirming her words. "Yeah... I mean, you've been doing this for probably centuries. Maybe even millennia." She looked over to her right and her features softened, spotting her mother and sisters grieving over her body. "Mom always taught me to do the right thing whenever I can, and so, here I am now. I want to help you, by sharing your burden and give you companionship. Will you accept?"

The emissary pondered upon her offer and weighed the advantages and it's disadvantages. If he were to accept, he would no longer be alone and that attempts at calming the spirits to help them get ready to pass on. It would be more easier.

However, he would have to teach her everything if he were to accept. But, that could easily be worked around. There weren't any other con that he could think of.

Death smiled and took off his glove, offering a hand to the blonde. "Very well. We have much work to do. Come, I'll explain everything as we walk."

Nera nodded, before taking one last look at her family. Even though they wouldn't be able to see her, she waved goodbye and gave them a tearful smile. "Goodbye everyone. Until we all meet again."

She turned around and quickly caught up with Death as he started explaining his duties and how he'll be transferring portions of his powers into her.

And so began Nera's new life, as the second Emissary of the Dead.

Here it is. The explanation as to why Nera appeared in chapter 14 and as to why she was hovering around Jaune so much in the 1st chapter. Hope this was decent enough.

Now, the next chapters, I don't know what I'll post yet, still thinking about what needs some explaining and more exposition.

That's it for this chapter. As always, thank you for reading. Stay safe and sanitary!