Re:Zero

"Sheesh, Lia—"

Subaru's body convulsed as he threw up once again. This time, it wasn't just yellow bile—it was blood, dark and alarming. The sight of it made his heart race faster than it already was.

"Lia?!" Puck's voice was high-pitched and filled with worry as he floated closer to her. His usually calm demeanor was completely shattered by the sight of Subaru's distress. "What's happening to you?"

"I-I was soooo careless… so ooooverconfident…!" Subaru muttered through chattering teeth, his voice barely above a whisper. His whole body was trembling as if he were caught in a fierce winter storm.

Puck's confusion was palpable. "One moment you were fine, and now this? Lia, please, you need to tell me what's going on!"

"It—it isn't a game…" Subaru's voice was rising in pitch, bordering on hysteria. "It wasn't a vision. It was too real… I FUCKIN' DIED—Twice!" His eyes darted around the room, unable to focus. He grabbed onto Puck with a desperate grip, clutching the small spirit like a lifeline. "We need to saaave them! She'll kill them!"

Puck's eyes widened in shock, his worry turning into a sharp, cold anger. "What are you talking about, Lia? You're not making any sense!" He slapped Subaru's cheek with his tiny paw, a surprising amount of force behind it. "What is it? Tell me everything."

"You won't—"

"I will believe you," Puck interrupted, his voice firm and unwavering. "We are family. We stick together, no matter what. Just tell me."

Subaru's eyes widened, a flood of memories crashing over him.

'Listen, boy. If you ever need anything, just tell me—we're like friends. We even look alike!'

'We are directly blood-related, of course we'd look the same.'

'Ha-ha, can't beat ya in logic. But champ, if you need anything, we'll be there. After all—'

"Lia!" Puck's voice pulled him back to the present. "What were you thinking about? Now tell me what is the matter?"

"I…am not from this—" Subaru gasped, the words choked off as he fell to his knees, his hands clutching his throat as if an invisible force were strangling him.

'I love you, Fūgal, but…I hate her,' a voice that felt oddly familiar, whispered into his ear. 'So, please, don't say anything…'

"Lia?!"

Subaru sat up suddenly, his mind reeling with the implications of what was happening. He was summoned to this world as a weak girl who could only do pathetic ice magic. And every time he died, he would return to a certain point in time. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks: he couldn't tell anyone about this, because that woman—whoever she was—would… hurt him… badly.

Puck floated closer, his expression a mix of worry and determination. "Lia, whatever it is, we'll face it together. I promise. You're not alone. We're family, remember?"

Subaru looked at Puck, his eyes brimming with tears. He felt a sudden surge of emotion, a desperate need to confide, but the fear of the unseen threat held him back. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. "Puck… I can't explain it all, but I need you to trust me. I think I'm cursed."

Puck opened his mouth to protest, but Emilia raised a hand. "No, Puck. It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's that I literally can't. Please, believe me."

Puck's eyes softened. "Alright, Lia. If you say so. But we'll figure it out together."

Subaru sat on the ground, cross-legged, and buried his face in his hands, his silver hair falling around him like a curtain. Inside, he felt a whirlwind of emotions.

'In my world, in my life, I was considering killing myself. It was because I was too afraid to face the reality that they died in order to save me. I was there; I could have saved them if I wanted. But I…I was frozen. Now, in this new world, every time I die, I come back to life at the point where I was brought into this world. So is this a second chance? Or a punishment? Either way, I don't care. I don't have anything or anyone waiting for me back in my world. I will make the most of it and I won't let anyone die. I will start from zero—once again and become the k…queen and make some friends and family. That is a promise!'

Subaru then began to laugh, a sound that started as a low chuckle and grew into a full-blown, mad cackle. It was a laugh tinged with desperation and a hint of madness. His shoulders shook, and tears streamed down his face, mixing with the remnants of blood on his lips. There was no point in denying it. Subaru was now Emilia.

Puck looked at her worriedly, his little face creased with concern. He hovered around her, unsure of what to do. "Lia, talk to me. What's happening?"

Emilia looked at Puck and winked through her tears. "Puck! I'm afraid I can't tell you what's wrong with me. Not because I don't trust you—but because it will probably end up killing me."

Puck tried to say something, but Emilia raised a finger, silencing him. "Shush! Now, tell me where I can find a police officer!"

"Uh, you mean Knights?" Puck asked, still looking very confused.

"Yeah! A person who can swing a blaaade and stuff," Emilia said, trying to inject some humor into her voice, though it came out more strained than she intended.

"There should be some patrolling around here," Puck informed her, his worry not entirely dissipating. "But there is the Knight station where we can find them easily. Uh, but why are you asking this? Don't you know it already?"

"That's the funny part… I don't remember toooo much…" Emilia admitted, rubbing her temples as if trying to jog her memory.

"What?!"

"Can't you read my mind?" Emilia inquired, looking at Puck with a hint of desperation.

"Only the things that are not restricted." Puck's eyes widened. "There's a new restriction!"

"Bingo! Apparently, I may have had a vision where I saw something catastrophic happening in a few hours. In order to prevent it, I need someone skilled enooough to help."

"So—" Puck was cut off as a man approached them.

Reinhard van Astrea was a sight to behold. Tall and imposing, with vibrant red hair that seemed to glow in the sunlight, he had a sharp, chiseled jawline and blue eyes that sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. His armor clinked softly with each step, and he carried himself with the grace and confidence of a seasoned warrior.

"Emilia-sama! Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle but firm.

Emilia's eyes widened at the sight of him. She quickly assessed him from top to bottom, her gaze lingering on his muscular build. The man blushed under her intense scrutiny, his cheeks reddening even more as she unabashedly checked out his muscles. Without warning, she lifted his shirt to inspect his abs, her fingers grazing over his well-defined six-pack. Her touch was light but deliberate, and she nodded in satisfaction.

"Tell me, you a swordsman?" She casually asked him, her eyes still admiring his physique.

Puck gasped while Reinhard remained silent, feeling both embarrassed and confused. She was asking the SWORD SAINT if he was a swordsman?!

"Are you or not?" She nagged, her impatience growing.

"Uh…yes," he replied, feeling somewhat insignificant. Was he not as famous as he thought he was?

"So, you know some cool moves?" She continued, her eyes now meeting his with a challenging glint.

Was she implying—no, no, keep your head clear. No impure thoughts.

"I know some combat moves if you are—"

"Great!" She then grabbed his arm and began to drag him through the streets. "Come on, champ, we've got stuff to do!"

"But, Emilia-sama!" Reinhard protested, his voice laced with confusion.

"No buts!" she shot back, her grip firm and unyielding.

Reinhard's head was spinning as he was dragged along by this eccentric girl. "Emilia-sama, where exactly are we going?"

"To save some lives, of course! Did I not make that clear?" Emilia's eyes were alight with a mix of excitement and determination. "We're headed to a place where a really bad lady is about to do some really bad things."

Puck, who was still floating around nervously, chimed in, "Lia, maybe you should slow down a bit and explain?"

"There's no time to slow down!" Emilia retorted, her pace not faltering. "Every second we waste, someone could be dying!"

"How do you know all this?" Reinhard asked, struggling to keep up.

"I s-saw it…" Emilia replied, her voice faltering slightly.

Reinhard, now jogging to keep up, tried to process everything. "Emilia-sama, you're saying you had a vision?"

"A vision!" Emilia nodded. "Or something like that. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that we get there in time to stop that killer lady."

"The killer lady?" Reinhard repeated, trying to make sense of her words.

"Yes, the killer lady!" Emilia emphasized, her voice rising with urgency. "She's got black hair, red eyes, and a smile that says 'I'm gonna cut you up for fun.'"

Reinhard frowned, his grip tightening on his sword hilt. "That sounds serious. And you're certain this isn't a misunderstanding?"

Emilia slowed down slightly, turning to face him. Her eyes were wide and earnest. "I saw it. I saw her kill people, and I can't just stand by and let it happen. I need your help."

The sincerity in her voice struck a chord with Reinhard. He nodded firmly. "Alright, Emilia-sama. I'll help you. Lead the way."

Emilia's face lit up with relief. "Thank you! I knew I could count on you."

Puck floated closer, his eyes still full of concern. "Lia, remember, we're here with you. You're not alone."

"I know, Puck. Thanks," Emilia replied, giving him a small, grateful smile. "Now, let's get to work."

TBC