How did it come this?: chapter.6 So very warm.
"What happened!?" Richter growled, shoving Decus against the frozen wall. A moment before this, Decus had left Emil for dead and was spotted by Richter, who started asking him about the shaking in the ice temple. Decus explained that he had been with Emil but ended up having to go their own ways...which was a lie because he actually left the boy for dead, not going their own ways.
"I told you already didn't I!" Decus argued back, never exactly liking the half-elf as he glared.
"...Just get out of my sight." Richter scoffed, giving a chilling glare at the man.
"Tch...!" Decus quickly made his way back to Alice.
"..." Richter spotted the hole that Decus had used to escape from and made his way inside. He had Aqua use her powers to turn into a blue lighted lantern to help guide Richter through the dark frozen ruins of the cave. Richter was careful. But his heart slowly began to race the deeper and deeper they got, as a sense of worry began to fill his heart which was exactly the reason why he was even going through the cave because he was worried for the boy.
"Richter-sama..." Aqua was worried for her master. But didn't know what to say...as she was worried for Emil as well.
"Aqua...Do you sense Ratatosk at all?" He asked, stepping over a big chunk of ice.
"Yes, we're getting closer..."
It was only a few more minute's before Richter and Aqua could smell the faint stench of blood. Richter began to move quicker. Aqua was afraid of what Richter might find. But she also knew if the boy had died, he would return to his core...that is...if he really is Ratatosk. But at this point...she was 100% sure...and...if he were to return to core form, then Richter could bring back Aster right...?
Richter finally came across something he wasn't expecting to see. A gathering of monsters all grouped around the same spot. Was it to keep warm? were they scared? lost? hungry? Richter approached them with caution. When Richter got close enough, the monster's surprised him as they all noticed him and seemed to be...happy to see him?
"What?...Why are they looking at me like that Aq-" And just then, Richter began to recognize them. They were all Emil's monsters.
"Hmm...?" He suddenly felt the tugging on his pants by the carbuncle Lava that sat at his feet.
"Richter-sama, they're saying they need you," Aqua said, worried for the boy.
"Alright..." Richter followed the carbuncle to the rest of the monster's group. They all greeted him with smiles, rub's, licks, and nudges. Richter was fine until his eyes widen at the sight of the boy laying in a pull of frozen blood, pale as a sheet.
"Emil!" He knelt down to the boy. The salamander Tiera used his heat to try and keep the boy warm, while the selkie's Ziuxo and Hail tried to heal his wounds.
"Richter-sama, Jord told me that they removed the huge ice that had stabbed Emil...but they fear something else is wrong with him and most of the monsters are running out of mana to keep up their healing Artes." Aqua explained.
"...All of you return to Emil. But Jord, I'll need your help to carry him." Richter commanded. All the monsters did as they were told, trusting the man. Richter very carefully picked Emil up into his arms, getting on top of the Fenrir and quickly having the monster get them out of the cave while he would spend the rest of his mana using healing Artes on the boy.
With how numb and pale the boy was, he was sure he had frostbite and wasn't going to make it much longer."Emil...please hang in there..." Richter whispered, holding him close in his arms, hoping to keep him warm enough...
-I remember...that warmth you gave me-
Astonished by the boy, the doctor informed Richter that the boy would make a full recovery as long as he's kept warm and get's plenty of rest. The doctor allowed Richter to stay the night in the hospital to keep an eye on him, just in case he should need anything.
"..." Richter knew he had better things to do...But he also knew leaving the boy alone in the hospital wouldn't sit right with him.
"Emil..."Richter sat next to Emil's bedside, sitting in a chair as he watched the boy's soft and gentle breathing as he slept, wishing the boy hadn't been so kind and foolish enough to have gotten into such a mess for Dumbo Decus.