Original: 3,575 words.

Edited: 4,637 words.

"Do you have anything else to say, Subaru?"

The Silver-haired Elf told the kneeling human boy, with pieces of ice shards and blocks lying around the open meadow, her nasty eyes glaring at the child with the same as hers.

Lowering his head as he quietly uttered to his friend's mother figure.

"Yes, Fortuna-san. I won't do it again."

He said in a way that was genuine but was subtly filled with fear that he was going to experience the terror she inflicted on him. Fortuna could only sigh at the defeated form of the energetic boy her brother's daughter had found wandering aimlessly in the forest two months ago.

Initially, when Fortuna had found out that Emilia discovered the boy, she was understandably suspicious of the human child wandering in Elior Forest, despite being guaranteed by Geuse to no one but he and his faction could enter the forest.

Imagine her surprise when she saw the boy's eyes. Yes, it has the same nasty look as her, along with the entire elven family tree having the same evil-looking eyes with the exception of Emilia who has the same eyes and face as her mother's. She later found out that the boy had no malicious intents, she can confirm it based on his naivety on things that children of his age has yet to discover. But there were things the boy knew while she herself doesn't.

Even then, she has her doubts on the boy. And as a result of those doubts, she placed certain conditions on the boy. Such as doing chores, help the villagers when needed, and so on.

Most importantly, she allowed him to play with her niece on a regular basis. Which said niece was elated to such news as Fortuna knew that Emilia never had a friend near her age, especially a human friend to begin with.

Even so, that made her worry, she knew the stories of the Witch of Envy of being an evil silver-haired half-elf that devoured half the world three centuries prior were told to children of all races, even Elves to an extent, to fear such a hybrid even at a very young age. Which made her concern for the well being of her niece.

The fact that Subaru, a boy who should've known such stories at his age, did not know about it irked her. So much so, it sounded suspicious to an extent that made her cautious of the human.

Her worry was further increased when the boy insisted, after a day he came to Elior Forest, that he should learn magic after seeing the villagers do a simple water magic spell to produce water that helped said boy do his chores much easier. Which lead to him wanting learn about magic after it had caught his childish interest.

Even then, after much insistence on her niece's part, she complied, but not without a plan.

She planned that his magic teacher, Braun, would look after the boy, separate him from the Elven youths and place him on the same cabin with the blue-haired elf. Knowing that she could trust the Elven Yin user to watch a potential spy in the form of a naïve child, to which the Yin user agreed to her plan and conditions.

Even so, she felt that she was being harsh on the boy, and she knew from the back of her mind that he didn't deserve such treatment.

Nonetheless, the boy agreed with her conditions without a second thought. Even more surprising, he was glad that she had low expectations of him.

Low expectations that a kid of his age should've wanted more. It was strange really. What made the kid want someone to have a low opinion of him. It doesn't make sense logically.

After the fiasco that was his first Shamak spell, and he was paralyzed. With his mana drained, unable to move for a certain period of time, the state he was in looked bad in comparison.

Emilia, who had only known Subaru for just after a day, nearly cried at the thought she couldn't play with Subaru anymore. Fortuna found it cute that her niece cared for someone, and at the same time, concerned that the Half-Elf's kindness was misplaced.

Of course, she only knew this by Braun's account on the scene and he let the boy go and let him rest his Gate, should said Gate shatter at the amount of stress it received in just a day. Noting the boy had no talent in magic, but with enough practice, he should be able to proficiently reach the El-class of the Shamak spell in due time. Or perhaps Yin magic as a whole if given the time to make it possible to begin with.

When she heard that Emilia, out of all people, carried Subaru to the Princess Room, her niece's room, for him to rest that day, it surprised her. And it was nighttime when she talked to Braun about at.

Without wasting any time, she hurried to the room built under the large tree, checking her niece was safe from the potential human spy sent by the Radical Faction Geuse seemed to be worried about. Which made it concerning if that probability was true.

But when she got there, she saw something she didn't knew it would happen.

She saw Subaru showing Emilia the writings of his homeland, writings she could not read nor understand, and it was written in three separate parchments; all different than the others. And all of them looked like chicken scratches compared to the writings she grew up with.

When it was shown the boy himself did not know the writings that the nations that made up the world used, she was honestly shocked at the ignorance of the human boy. And shocked that the writings that was said to be from his homeland even existed at all.

Night after night, she silently watched the pair as Emilia taught Subaru, and said human boy teaching her Half-Elf niece the writings of his homeland. A teaching experience she never knew she would see on a regular basis.

As time went on, it was becoming apparent that the boy was smarter than he looks.

He wasn't as intelligent as those prodigies nor as foolish or dumb as those who refused to learn, he was one of those above average normal kids who had a knack for learning faster than what was ordinarily expected of. Especially when he was able to learn to read and write the I-glyphs, with little difficulty on his part, in just twenty days. Which is definitely something that is worth paying attention about.

Of course, Emilia wasn't all to happy at how fast her human friend was able to learn. But she, nonetheless, was determined to reach his level of learning skill and learn the written language of her friend's homeland. And she saw Emilia's determination everyday each time she saw her niece holding those parchments in her hands. It made her happy to see her Half-Elf niece done something worthwhile for once.

A few weeks later, she was able to read and write down the written characters, with Subaru congratulating her on his part and said that he was proud and happy that she was able to do it on her own this time.

Never had she felt proud that Emilia was learning from someone she didn't expect to be a kindhearted kid, and she berated herself for not trusting the boy enough.

When she saw them playing on the field of flowers, with the brightest of smiles on their faces, she felt that those two might as well be destined to be together. Like how her brother met his human wife all those years ago. The thought of it made her nostalgic of the old days when times were much simpler back then.

But, earlier this day, she heard Emilia screaming "Evil dark fairy!" at the top of her lungs when she ran towards her. With her Half-Elf niece covered tears and snot as well as the expression of fear in her face at the thing that made her scared.

She was shocked, horrified even. A Fairy? Here? In the Forest of Spirits?

Without having thought anything else, she investigated the matter if it was truly a Fairy that appeared earlier.

When she later found out that it was a Yin Spirit, fighting off other Spirits, it surprised her as if the Lesser Spirit was ordered by someone. And that someone was Subaru, and wasn't expecting him to be that was ordering the Lesser Spirit around.

Even more surprising that a Lesser Spirit of Yin was contracted to the human boy, which she caught him red-handed when she found out that he used the Spirit to scare away Emilia.

Imagine her seething rage as she told the boy to come with her to a meadow, a different location than the one used for his magic training with Blue-haired Elf.

With that, she let loose. Summoning hail of ice at the Yin user in training.

Although, not attempting to kill Subaru, she launched shards of ice at him as if subtly trying to kill him. With the boy running for his life, dodging and screaming as icicle spears, shards, and even blocks came dangerously close to him. Nearly taking his life away should one of them gave a direct hit on his body.

But what she didn't expect at all was that the Yin Spirit, which was a Lesser Spirit, began defending the boy. Launching purple crystals at her ice shards, with immaculate aiming and accuracy, it was a deadlock with both sides not giving in to the other. With the ability to clash each others projectiles in frighteningly true to aim shots.

"Although, I'm surprised. I never knew the Lesser Spirit, Kuro as you called it, like him would have the likelihood to be that powerful. More surprising, he even evolved to a Quasi Spirit. Which is extremely rare even in the type of situation you've just experienced."

Imagine the look of shock and surprise on Fortuna's face when she saw that. The priceless expression would've been amazing had it been on tamer circumstances. Especially when it should've gave a lesson that Subaru would remember for his entire life.

With Kuro evolved from a Lesser Spirit to a Quasi Spirit, the power it had was significantly more powerful than what it was had it been a Lesser Spirit. As well as the consciousness it has when going from its infancy to the middle ground of its growth.

It goes to show the bond it had between a Contractor and a Spirit was stronger than initially glanced upon. And it was more surprising is that she discovered he had contracted with Kuro for only a month now. Which was impressive in and of itself.

"Yeah. I was kinda surprised as well. Never thought Kuro would've become a Quasi Spirit like you said. I heard Braun-sensei said that a Quasi Spirit was basically an evolved form of a Lesser Spirit… kinda like a Pokemon."

The boy's voice agreeing reached Fortuna's ears, cutting off her thought as she turned her attention back toward Subaru. Confusion forming in her face.

"Pokemon?"

The older Elf asked him confusedly with a her brow raising at the unfamiliar word Subaru had uttered.

Even after months he came to this forest, there are things I still don't know about this boy.

Fortuna thought these in her mind as she remembered the times the boy said phrases and words she did not recognize, even as her long life as a Elf.

She'll have ask Geuse about it when he comes back to this Forest.

He turn his face to the other side, as if he made a mistake.

"Err... It's something from my Homeland, Fortuna-san. Don't mind it, please."

Releasing a sigh, Emilia's aunt agreed and didn't mind it... though she didn't show it.

Even if she were to press him to tell her about it she knew she will gain more questions than answers, based on the experience the Elves had with him over the course of two months since Emilia found him alone.

Subaru's attention went back to Fortuna's as he heard her say.

"Even then, I won't simply forgive you for scaring Emilia like that. The way she was screaming about an 'evil dark fairy' made me skipped a beat of my heart. Do you have any idea what Fairies are?"

"It wasn't my fault. We were playing hide and seek, and Emilia wasn't able to find me in my perfect hiding spot. So she called out to the Spirits to find me. A-And I told Kuro to scare them off. I didn't expect him to scare Emilia like that."

Fortuna tilted her head in sudden confusion.

"She called out to the Spirits?"

"Y-Yes, a whole bunch of them. Dozens even. I-I thought you should've known she has an Affinity for Spirits Arts. So when you came and attacked me I didn't even know that you don't know she was one."

Now this made things much more complicated than Fortuna would've thought would been.

"Even so, Emilia being a Spirits Arts user is something I wasn't aware of honestly. Regardless, it's more surprising that you have an Affinity for Sprit Arts, with a freshly evolved Quasi Spirit to boot as well."

"Is that a bad thing or…"

She shook her head. Telling him it wasn't.

"No, but it goes to show that your bond with Kuro is stronger than what it should've been expected. I'm more surprised he even evolved after the two of you made a contract since a month ago. And why wasn't I aware that you've been contracted with Kuro to begin with?"

As Fortuna said those words, she could see the sweat starting to form on Subaru's face.

"Uh... I told Braun-sensei about it and I told him it was a secret, so he made a promise he wouldn't tell anyone… I'm sorry, Fortuna-san."

The boy an apologetic bow to the silver-haired elven woman, who, in turn, sighed that the elf she ordered to watch over the boy had secrets he didn't told her about.

"…I'll let this slide for now. Promise me to not do that again."

She said that brightened Subaru's expression. The ten year old expecting he'll get off scot-free and won't be facing anything bad later.

However...

"But, I'll have your morning spell drills intensify twice as much for the whole month."

Subaru's positive outlook shattered almost immediately at the words his friend's Aunt has just said now.

"F-Fortuna-san! B-But I一"

"No buts, Subaru. This is your punishment for making Emilia cry. Haven't you see how much snot that covered her face when she ran towards me because you scared her with Kuro?"

"I-It wasn't really me! It was Kuro!"

"And Kuro is your Contracted Spirit and you're his Contractor. Therefore, you should be the one blamed for it. Understood?"

With a downcast expression, the boy gave in as he nodded in shame.

"Good. Apologize to Emilia this instant. She's going to be worried sick if she found out that you didn't return to the village yet. Now go or else I'll change my mind and have the intensity of your spell drills increase tenfold."

"Y-Yes!"

He said as he ran back to the forest with his Quasi Spirit in tow, leaving Fortuna alone in the field filled with ice shards and blocks that littered as far as the eye can see.

"That boy is full of surprises…"

She muttered beneath her breath at the thought of the human boy.

He is indeed full of surprises.

X.

It had been three months.

Three months since he left Elior Forest for his duties at the Church.

Geuse, sometimes referred to as Bishop Romanee-Conti, had always thought nothing extraordinary had happened in the few months he was away from Elior Forest. Performing his duties, checking the seal, dealing with the other faction, checking the seal, enjoying the company with Fortuna and Emilia, checking the seal, and so on.

But, this time, there was one thing that surprised him on the same level when he saw Emilia for the same time in many years.

"A human boy… here?"

The Elf, Fortuna, nodded.

"Yes, and his name is Subaru. He came to Elior forest just a week after you left, Geuse. Since then, he's been a help to this village. Always the kid that keeps everyone up on their toes."

"I see…"

He said, barely maintaining his composure at the news.

"Then, Fortuna-sama, is he—"

"No, he's not from around here. He's a kid with no malicious intent, Geuse. I already checked, several times, in fact. I even have him punished for making Emilia cry. And since then, he's been working harder more than usual. Especially keeping up with Braun's magic lessons."

Fortuna's assurance of her words calmed the Bishop down. He wondered what she meant by "spell drills". Instead, he asked.

"Where is he? Where is the boy?"

"He's doing his first batch of chores for the morning. He even finished his spell drills faster than usual. But he won't be finished all of those chores until a few hours went by, and that's when he's at his best, at least."

"I see… I can wait until he finishes. Then, how is the seal, Fortuna-sama?"

"Still the same. Nothing had changed since you left, Geuse. But Emilia's been a lot happier and much more energetic since Subaru came to Elior Forest. I might as well say he's been a very good friend for her."

Hearing it, he cracked open a warm smile at it.

"Oh. As long as Emilia-sama is still healthy and happy that is good enough news for me, Fortuna-sama."

After he said those words, he heard a young boy's voice reached his ears. Calling out to the silver-haired woman.

"Fortuna-san. I've finished the first batch. Man, I never thought I'll be done this quick. New record for Natsuki Subaru!"

Geuse turned around and saw a black-haired boy with nasty eyes, approaching them. The Bishop's eyes widen in shock at the sight of the human boy.

"Eh? Who's this, Fortuna-san? And who're the guys in robes?"

He stood there, staring at the boy. Unable to comprehend at the person's appearance. His mind couldn't shake off the certain aspects the boy has to a certain someone he knew. Someone who he respected the most in his long life in this world.

Or you could say his brain trembles in shock.

"I-Is he… N-No, he couldn't be…"

"Is this guy alright?"

The boy asked in confusion. Weirded out at the sight of the green-haired man in robes who was talking to Fortuna just now.

Noticing the boy, Fortuna called out to him.

"Ah, Subaru. You came at the right time. Geuse, this is—"

Before she could finish, she noticed the green-haired man she loved was… crying?

"FLUGEL-SAMA!"

Geuse knelt in front of the confused boy, with reverence only reserved to whom said person respected the most.

The boy jumped out in surprise at the man's sudden action. But it did not deter the Bishop. Not one bit. For he saw the child that bare resemblance to the one he knew.

"Oh how I waited for all this time! All these years have I held the Sloth Witch Factor you have entrusted me with! I am most grateful, thankful, appreciative that I have finally found you! Flugel-sama!"

As Bishop Romanee-Conti continued to sob and sputtering out words that the young boy may call it as gibberish. He was making a scene that made young boy look at him in warily and confusingly.

Subaru looked at the man with a confused expression before he said to him.

"So you must be Geuse… Emilia was right, you really are a crybaby!"

"Your words hurt me the most, Flugel-sama! But those were the words you have spoken to me all those years ago! Those years that you have entrusted me with your wisdom! I have never forgotten about it, Flugel-sama!"

"Now you're saying things that doesn't make any sense! Also, I'm not Flugel! My name is Subaru! Natsuki Subaru! Don't mistake me for someone I don't know about!

Subaru told the man, establishing his identity as "Natsuki Subaru" and not someone called "Flugel".

"But, Flugel-sama—!"

"No, nope!" Forming his arms with a big X. "My name is Subaru, not Flugel. Su-Ba-Ru! Got that?"

"Y-Yes, of course Flu— I mean, Subaru-sama."

"What's with the respectful -sama? I ain't someone special."

"Leave him be, Subaru." Fortuna butted in. "He's been like that for a long time. Though I wish he could've said my name more casually."

The last line was unheard by the two with Geuse still kneeling in front of the boy who later shrugged it off with a wave of his hand.

"Eh forget about it. I'll come back to you guys when I finish my chores. Archi-nii says he needs help with pulling out the weeds at Fayette's garden. He said about those weeds keep growing up faster than usual or something."

"Sure thing, Subaru. If you don't know where to find us, ask Kuro. He'll tell you the way. Understood?"

"Yeah, yeah. You don't to remind me. Sheesh, ever since you know about him you always tell me to have him help me find you guys."

"What's that, Subaru?" She said in menacing tone underneath her motherly looks. "I believe you have something to say about me?"

"N-Nothing! Gotta go now."

With that said, Subaru went out of their view after going to the direction past the two cabins, turning right.

Releasing a sigh, Fortuna to the still kneeling Geuse, not knowing what was the business between someone unassuming like the human boy.

"Sorry about that, Geuse." She apologized to the man who was now standing up. "I didn't know Subaru looked like your Master. But please, don't act like that."

Geuse looked at her in the eye, regaining his usual composure as he said to her.

"Don't worry, Fortuna-sama. It is only I who need to apologize to you… It's just… he has great resemblance to Flugel-sama. I thought it was him who has somehow reverted to a child… but it would seem I was wrong. I'm very sorry."

She shook her head at the man.

"That's nothing to be worried about, Geuse. I understand. Come now, I'm sure Emilia is waiting for us at the Princess Room. You know how excited she is to finally see you again."

He nodded as he gave her his usual smile. With the silver-haired elf loving the sight of it.

"Very well, Fortuna-sama. We must go now, to Emilia-sama."

X.

"Hey, Archi-nii."

"Yes, Subaru?"

"Who were the guys in robes earlier? Are they from some kind of church?"

"Mm, you could say that."

The Blonde-haired elf answered to the nasty-eyed child, pulling out weed after weed in a garden located near Braun's cabin, who is apparently owned by Fayette much to the surprise of the human boy, where said boy himself made his stay.

Ever since he heard about some guys wearing robes coming to the village, with them being humans and all. Subaru was curious about the group of people led by the green-haired man known by Emilia as Geuse.

From Emilia's accounts about the man, she said he was a crybaby and always cry at the simple things she did.

Of course, Subaru find it weird about a grown-up man being a crybaby. He always thought men shouldn't cry… at least that's what his dad had said before coming to this world nearly 3 months ago.

He had taken a peek on what the robed group carried on their wagons. His curiosity and expectations that the robed group had brought with them was some treasure. But, much to his disappointment, he later found out that all of it were just supplies.

Food, clothes, books. Those were the common stuff he discovered after they handed out the sacks to the Elves. It brought much to the boy's disappointment on the lack of exciting treasures hidden underneath all of those supplies the robed group brought.

"Archi-nii. Any thoughts of that guy, Geuse?"

"Nothing particularly negative. He's a good man and Fortuna-sama always seem to look forward in meeting him again. Why?"

"It's just… How you say it… He's kinda bit weird and he calls me Flugel out of nowhere. Any ideas about that?"

"Nope. No clue about that Subaru other than it was his former master."

"Former master, huh... seems kinda dumb that I look like his master even though I'm just a kid."

"It sure is, Subaru."

After that, they continue pulling out the weeds in silence. Doing so in the next hour.

As the two were minding their own business, pulling out the weeds that seemed to be endless, much to Archi's and Subaru's confusion at this. The latter now knowing what Archi meant that weeds were growing much faster than usual. Which was odd in and of itself until Kuro appeared

"Kuro? What's up?"

The boy asked the Quasi Spirit with Archi had taken an interest of the appearance of Subaru's contracted Spirit. To which he knew said Spirit when Subaru introduced the Quasi Yin Spirit to him two months back as part of the small secret group that knew the boy was a Sprit Arts user. Much to the dismay of Fortuna when she first heard about it.

"What!?"

Exclaimed the boy which surprised the older elven youth as a result.

"What does he say, Subaru? What's happening?"

Archi questioned the Contractor of the Quasi Yin Spirit, having a bad feeling about it. Especially when he felt a sudden chill in the air at the change of temperature.

"He says two strangers arrived. One of them is engaging with Geuse in combat while Fortuna-san carried Emilia to safety."

"Then, that means…"

"We're under attack Archi-nii!"

And cut!

Whew! A cliffhanger if I say so myself. Hope my writing satisfies you guys.

Now, I'm happy to announce the options of what will happen next in the next of my story. And we have.

1.) Suffering.

2.) Suffering.

(PS: Only those in a certain Discord server knew what these options are. *wink* *wink*)

Anyways, that's all. Hope you guys did enjoy this chapter, and hope to see you guys again. And be sure to leave a review.

This is gabrielchiong11, also known as user/ Mamon Ramon of Reddit, and see you guys at the next chapter.