Emilia had just received her insignia and was just walking throughout the capital with her spirit/father figure puck when bad luck struck her. A culprit suddenly came out of nowhere to steal her insignia.
It hasn't even been an hour since she received it and she's already losing her one key to the throne.
Trying her best to quickly recover the culprit was simply too fast for her despite her immeasurable stamina. A divine gift perhaps? Nevertheless, she can't afford to lose track of the culprit more than she already is. The culprit then finally turns to an alleyway and that is where she had lost track of it.
Upon arriving in the alleyway where she last saw the culprit the half-elf found 4 strangers of which 3 of them were obviously picking on the guy with weird looks. Not really knowing the features of the culprit she can't help but accuse one of the strangers hoping that one of them indeed has her insignia.
The 4 of them were rather confused from the sudden accusation that is until one of them made it clear they hadn't stolen anything from her but did see someone passing by in a direction which the culprit may have gone whilst the beaten guy only stared at her. The realization made the half-elf despaired for a second knowing the time she had wasted but shrugged it off at the moment because as of right now she can't let the weak be bullied by the 3.
"Thank you but what you are doing cannot continue any longer." She declared her intentions pretty clear but the 3 don't really seem to be fazed by this in fact their mugful smirks didn't leave their faces. I summoned some sharp icicles with my magic as a threat but their confidence didn't waver much until the little guy got some sort of realization.
"Silver hair, purple eyes, pointed ears, it's the half-devil! You can have the guy our business with him anyway." With that 3 left leaving the half-elf with the stranger and puck.
"It seems like my daughter didn't need me to defend her earlier." Puck comments behind me.
"How the hell are you two even related? This world is strange." The stranger managed to say before collapsing to the ground.
With how beat up he looks he shouldn't have tried to push himself. Not wanting to just leave him like that I asked puck to help me help him and healed some of his wounds.
Upon healing him the half-elf doesn't really know why but something in him kinda feels weird, maybe the eyes which she also feels pretty familiar with in a way but she'll leave it at that for now not really having to meet this person before. Maybe he can explain once he wakes up.
…
A few minutes later the stranger finally begins to wake up "Is this someone's lap? The stranger muttered.
Are you awake? The half-elf replied.
"I didn't know cute girls were this hairy… wait that can't be right." Just like that the stranger quickly opened his eyes just to meet puck.
"It's just a little something we did to keep you more comfortable." Replied puck playfully.
"Seriously, stop talking like that. No sane guy confuses a cat for the main heroine." Is he talking about me? the half-elf thoughts.
"Making myself bigger was worth it to see you so happy." Puck jokes.
"I'M NOT HAPPY!"
He finally noticed my presence as he stops arguing with puck.
"sorry about all this. You even stayed with me while I was unconscious," he said.
"Don't get the wrong idea.
I only stayed with you because I want to ask you a few things." but in reality, I feel something for this person. I don't know what it is but it's pretty good.
"All I did was for my own benefit. "
"Tsundere doesn't really suit you, you know?" He replied
"A tsunde-wha?"
"Nevermind, anyway You're making a big deal out of such a normal favor."
"No such thing."The half-elf said.
"You do have some idea who stole my insignia, right?" The half-elf asked.
"Insignia? You mean one of those badge things that shows your allegiance?"
he asked.
"it has a jewel in the center
and it's about this big"
"Sorry but no matter how many times you ask me, I have no idea," he told me
"I see. That's fine. Since you seem to be looking better now I think it is time for us to bid goodbye and also know that you owe me nothing." I started to walk away, not even waiting for puck.
"Hey! Wait up!" He called. The half-elf turned to look at him.
"What? Just so you know, I can only spend a little more time with you." The half-elf replied.
"I think you're being a little lenient...
Forget that. You lost something important, right? Let me help you." He told me.
"But you said you don't know anything–
He cuts me off… "I remember her face. That's something! I'll know if I see her again!" The half-elf thought about what he said.
"You're very strange." She said in a low voice.
"Just so you know, I can't do anything to thank you." She added.
"I don't need you to, I'm trying to help you cause I want to help you."
"I didn't do anything to earn your thanks.
I told you that you've already owed me nothing." I tried to convince him so he can leave me alone, not wanting to ruin his life by being involved with me.
"Okay, fine if that's the case I'm helping you for my own sake. My objective is... Let's see…" He thinks for a bit before coming up with an answer.
"Yeah! One good deed per day!"
"I tried to think of an answer to get him to leave but he made no room to refuse, he really is strange to help someone like me"
"I don't sense any malice from him.
I think you should accept his offer.
The more shields between yourself and ruffians, the better, after all." puck said floating on the side.
"That's all you want me around for!?"
the guy replying to puck's suggestion
"I mean it, though I can't do anything to thank you," I said to him
"No problem. just leave it to me!"
A few hours later…
Going throughout the capital searching for the culprit based on the guy's description we didn't find a single clue so we took a break. He certainly talked big earlier what a dunderhead.
"I talked big, but isn't this city too huge to find one little thing in?" he asked.
"It's the capital of Luguncia. You didn't even know that, um.." The half-elf realizes they haven't properly introduced themselves despite being together for the past hours.
"That's right. We haven't exchanged names yet. Should we all introduce ourselves?" Puck announced.
"Oh yeah your right, I'll introduce myself first, then." he stands up and points into the sky with a weird pose.
"My name is Natsuki Subaru.
Not only am I clueless, but I'm also broke beyond compare! Nice to meet ya!"
"When that's all you say, you really do sound hopeless." puck said to Subaru.
"And I'm puck! Nice to meet you!"
puck introducing himself before flying straight to Subaru's handshaking it'
Subaru I never heard the name before but why do I feel something… I don't understand…
"It's very unusual to see someone touch a spirit so casually. Where are you from?"
The half-elf asked.
"Well, following the usual pattern, a small island nation to the east," Subaru answered.
"But Lugunica is the easternmost nation on our continental map. There's no nation east of here." The half-elf explained.
"No way, really?" Subaru asked not believing it "he really is weird"
You have no idea where you are,
you have no money, you can't read, and you have no one you can rely on.
"You might be in an even more precarious position than me, um…"
"Subaru, was it?" I asked remembering his introduction.
"Ohh Yes, that's my name."
"You know, now that I took a closer look at you, you're pretty well-built." puck said to Subaru.
"I do work out every day.
When you're a twixter who's gotta guard his house, that's the least you can do." Subaru answered puck's comment.
"I'm not sure I understand what a "twixter" is, but basically you are from a respectable family, right?" walking closer to him I grabbed his hand.
"Your fingers show that too. They're very pretty. They're evidence that you don't live like a peasant at all, And your muscles don't look like the kind you gain from working." The half-elf explained.
"S-so anyway, I know your cat's name now, but I haven't known yours yet."
"My name?"
The half-elf didn't really think much about it reason being that nobody really cared who Emilia is, except for puck at least but everywhere she goes they see her face. The one they hate, fear, and a curse to this very day.
"Yeah." Subaru replied.
"I'm…"
"I'm Satella just satella."
"I have no family name, you can call me satella."
Finishing my introduction, shadows suddenly appear everywhere as time seems to have frozen in place.
"Wha-
"Puck!" Calling for her spirit seemed to be ineffective as things only continue to be frozen and covered with shadows.
In moments everything is in darkness and nothing can be seen anymore.
"Where am I?"
"Anybody?"
The half-elf was scared, confused, and alone with nothing but darkness. Waiting for anything to happen she heard a voice in the back of her head. Turning around she met her.
The one who ruined her life made it hell, and was the main source of everyone's hatred towards her.
The witch of Envy
Satella
A few minutes later
Wwhy am I here?
Why did you take me here? Emilia asked.
The witch stayed silent for a moment before finally giving Emilia a reply she didn't really expect.
To love him
Wh–
To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him To love him
The miasma and shadows was everywhere Emilia can only think of one question from the witch's repeated words.
"Love who?"
The witch seems to have heard her stopping herself to give a reply.
"Subaru"
In my place you will deliver our love.
Emilia didn't really get anything the witch said, more shocked about the name she had spoken before losing her consciousness.
…
Waking up the half-elf had found herself back where she was before the events that just took place.
"You have terrible taste." Puck whispered in my ears.
She's back. She was relieved but also worried and couldn't help but think about her encounter with the witch but was pulled out of it by a voice subaru.
"I see… Satella, huh?"
"That's a nice name."