Chapter 1
Remembering Death
A hooded, silver-haired young woman strolled through the middle of the kingdom's capital, Lugunica. Having spent most of her life as a recluse, she was, to say the least, disoriented.
The tumult of the capital rose like a constant rumble. The cobbled alleyways were teeming with life : merchants howling prices, passers-by chatting loudly, children running between fruit stalls.
Emilia was, in short, lost.
As a Dragon Priestess, she went to the capital with her sponsor, Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers and his maid, Ram, in order to enlist in the Royal Selection. The Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica sadly lost its Royal Family from a mysterious and incurable disease, and so needed a new ruler, hence the Royal Selection.
Five candidates, known as Dragon Priestesses, were to be found throughout the kingdom. Their candidacy would be confirmed by the use of the Dragon Jewels, gems contained in insignias that would light up red if in the hands of a potential Dragon Priestess.
And after a year-long search of 50 million citizens, only four of the five candidates were found, Emilia being the last one.
Our would-be ruler couldn't get used to the scene: stalls overflowing with colorful fruit, gaudy fabrics and artisans shouting their prices at the top of their lungs.
It all created the perfect chaos for everyone to blend in.
All of a sudden, she felt a slight pressure at her side. Instinctively, she turned her head, but there was no one unusual around her. Passers-by were milling about in the crowded street, indifferent. Emilia frowned and reached into her pocket again.
Empty. Her insignia was gone.
Her heart raced. She spun around and saw a petite figure striding away, a metallic glint briefly shining through her fingers.
"Hey, you! Stop !" she cried.
But the thief didn't turn around. Instead, she leapt with disconcerting agility, slipping between two stunned passers-by before darting further away.
Heart pounding, Emilia dashed after him. She jostled a fruit vendor, narrowly avoiding a pile of apples collapsing behind her. The dense crowd seemed to close in on her like a living tide, making each step more difficult.
The thief, on the other hand, seemed to float between the obstacles.
Emilia felt her breath quicken, an icy warmth rising in her palms. She couldn't lose her, the insignia was way too precious, her candidacy could be discarded if she lost it.
"My chance to save them would…"
In one swift movement, she released a volley of ice balls, which flew in the air in glittering shards.
They hit the pavement just in front of the ruby-eyed thief, shattering into a myriad of splinters. She gasped as the projectiles almost grazed her, and felt as if her life were in danger, then slowed down, forced to turn into an alleyway.
"Shit! Is she trying to kill me!?"
Of course, her life was never menaced; Emilia kept her cool and her surgical precision, even in such an emergency. She followed her down the narrow street, continuing to aim collateral shots to break her rhythm.
Skillfully jumping here and there, avoiding Emilia's attacks, the burglar got on top of the buildings, and dashed away. Not a turn, not a jump - she'd vanished in a fraction of a second, leaving behind a brief gust of wind.
"What ?!" Emilia gasped, startled by such a feat of speed.
"Lia ! you need to anticipate her moves !", a voice resonated into Emilia's mind.
"I know, Puck !", she answered, while gathering mana from her Od. "Ul Huma !"
A large pillar of ice appeared beneath her feet, propelling her upwards. When she reached the roof, she noticed that her thief was jumping from one building to the next, with the insignia at hand.
"Sorry ! I promise to reimburse the damages. El Huma" She created a series of ice projectiles around her, letting them whirl through the air for a moment.
She then threw a few in a calculated fashion, purposefully leading the thief close to a pile of ropes suspended between two buildings. Then, with cold precision, she fired.
The shards of ice struck the ropes, cutting them cleanly. The hanging garments collapsed in a chaos of fabric, blocking the thief's path. She stopped abruptly, looking around for another way out.
Emilia gave her no time. She leapt, sliding down a ramp of ice she'd created, and landed in front of the thief.
"That's enough. Please, give me that. Now !" she said, her breath short.
The blonde thief took a step back, but burst into mocking laughter. Before Emilia could react, the girl threw a metallic glint in the opposite direction.
Emilia felt her heart stop for a moment. Was it the real thing? Or a decoy?
This fraction of hesitation was all the thief needed. A puff of wind marked her departure, and she disappeared once more, leaving Emilia alone, the cold wind blowing in her face.
"Play games with us, will you ? Die, trash !"
"And don't think it'd be painless !"
Hoarse, threatening voices, followed by muffled screams, could be heard in a dark alleyway. Emilia slowed her pace, her amethyst eyes cutting through the shadows to reveal the scene ahead: a young, raven-haired man being assaulted by three thugs.
Emilia : "Hey ! What do you think you're doing ?"
Thug 1 : "Huh ? Who's there"
Thug 2 : "Are you with this guy?"
Emilia : "Ugh… I don't have time for this… Listen–Let him be."
The raven-haired young man stared intently at Emilia with awe, as if he'd never been hurt. As if he were looking at the most beautiful person he had ever met.
Thug 3 : "So you are with him, huh !"
Thug 1 : "Hand over everything you've got, now !"
Emilia : "Well, I don't really know him… what strange clothes he has…"
Before they could respond, she raised her hand, formed blunt projectiles out of thin air and struck the three attackers with precision, knocking them off balance.
"Magic ?", muttered the black-haired boy, his voice barely audible.
The thugs groaned and began scrambling to their feet. Without hesitation, Emilia conjured jagged spears of ice that pierced the ground, just inches from their faces.
"I'm not missing the next ones," she declared coldly.
Thug 3 : "Not worth it. Let's get out of here!"
Thug 2 : "Tch. You're lucky we're in a hurry."
They fled, casting nervous glances back at her.
Puck : "Hehe ! You can be quite scary, my daughter !"
A small, floating cat emerged from Emilia's silver hair, its mischievous grin contrasting with the atmosphere.
Emilia : "Well, I'm not in the best mood you know !"
She then looked at the beaten young man, who was still lying on the ground.
Young Man : "You… you saved me ! Thank you !"
His thanks seemed so sincere that she was surprised to see her pent-up frustration subside. Despite herself, she smiled—a warm, unguarded expression; a simple thank-you meant more than enough to her, who had been unjustly persecuted and discriminated against ever since she had been freed from the Permafrost.
Emilia : "Don't worry about it. Next time, call for the guards. Let's go, Puck"
As she turned to leave, the young man struggled to get up, wincing from his injuries.
Young Man : "Wait ! Just a… minute…"
His legs gave out, and he collapsed again, unconscious.
Puck : "Aww, poor guy, you shouldn't have tried to move. What should we do ?"
Emilia : "Leave him alone ? It's none of our business. He won't die, will he ?"
Puck : "Will you really stick to it? You always help people, even when you say you won't."
Emilia : "What do you mean ? I won't save him this time !"
Puck : "Yeeeah ! Suuuure !"
Emilia : "I absolutely won't save him ! Okay ? I don't need to do this !"
Watching these two argue over his well-being, and as the world became progressively blurred and silent, he thought, "Wow...She's super cute when she's angry. That's a parallel fantasy for you..."
The floating cat, Puck, took a bigger form and gently placed the unconscious boy on his lap to ensure he rested comfortably (only because Emilia asked).
Puck : "Lia, I'm just saying, but is it okay ? That girl stole your insignia, aren't you in trouble ?"
Emilia : "Yes… I should've known better. It's a selection, right ? I'm sure one of the other candidates hired this cat burglar !"
She clenched her fists, wincing as she recalled her predicament.
Emilia : "Or maybe it's the work of that old dunderhead ! Boruto, right? The one with big eyebrows."
Puck : "Aah... Bordeaux Zellgef, I think ? That's even more likely, since the other candidates probably don't know you yet."
They remembered how the old councilman, Bordeaux, was against her enlistment, only because of her looks.
Emilia : "I wasn't careful enough… But it's not over yet. Haven't you noticed? I asked lesser spirits to tail her while I was running after her. I don't know if it'll work, given her speed, but…"
Puck : "Oooh ! Good move Lia !"
Young Man : "Is my head on someone's lap ?"
Emilia : "You're awake ?"
Young Man : "I didn't know cute girls were this hairy…Wait, that can't be right !"
His blurry vision was greeted by the sight of a giant cat staring at him, grinning from smug amusement.
The boy jolted upright, his confusion turning to embarrassment.
Puck : "It's just a thoughtful arrangement we made so you could at least feel happy until you woke up."
Young Man : "First of all, don't talk in that high voice ! No sane guy confuses a cat for the main heroine."
Puck : "Aww ! Making myself bigger was worth it to see you so happy."
Young Man : "I'm not happy."
Puck : "Hohoho !"
Emilia sighed, crossing her arms as she watched the banter.
Young Man : "—Sorry about this… You stayed with me the whole time I was unconscious."
Emilia : "Do you feel indebted to me then?"
Young Man : "H-Huh ? Yes, of course!"
Emilia : "Healing your wounds, and making Puck babysit you, were for my own benefit, so don't feel sorry !
You'll repay me in kind."
Young Man : "You sure are making it sound like I really owe you big."
Emilia : "Did you see the girl who stole my insignia ? A blonde kid, and she most likely went through this street."
Young Man : "Ah ! This girl-"
Emilia : "So you know her right ?!"
Young Man : "Wait, no ! I had never seen her before today ! She just passed by when I got beaten up by those thugs. I'm sorry…"
Emilia : "I see. Figures. Well, there's nothing to be done, then.
Your lack of information is valuable, I'll take this in return for healing you"
Young Man : "Huh ?"
Emilia : "Take care of yourself—and stay out of alleys like this unless you want more trouble. Believe me, I won't help you if you get attacked again, unless you can bring me something in return, of course."
Puck : "Sorry about her. She's so insincere… Don't think badly of her."
Young Man : "Insincere ? I think it's way beyond that."
Emilia : "Puck ! Come here, we're going !"
Puck : " 'kay !"
As Emilia walked off with Puck, the young man watched her go, his thoughts racing. "She's way too kind for her own good. If she's not careful, she'll waste her life helping people like me."
A sense of wonder filled him. This encounter had been more than just a random act of kindness; it felt like the beginning of something extraordinary.
Drawn by a mixture of curiosity and a desire to repay the debt he felt owing, he picked up his now dry-clothes and bag and decided to follow them.
Young Man : "Hey ! Wait up !"
Interpelled by the young man she has just rescued (and for whom she has already claimed compensation, it should be noted), Emilia stares at him, hand to chin, dumbfounded by his offer to help her find her lost item.
Emilia: "Why would you help me ? Don't you have anything else to do all day?"
Young Man : "Ghk— those words kinda hurt for a former shut-in NEET."
Emilia : "What's your objective ? Do you need money, or maybe information ?"
Young Man : "No need to ! I want to thank you, that is why I want to help."
Emilia : "You really don't need to ! I already received compensation for healing your injuries."
Young man : "Then… I'm offering my help, for my own sake too. What do I mean huh ? Humm…Yeah ! One good deed per day ! That's my objective."
For a few seconds, the air thickened with unspoken words. Instead of the urgency of finding her thief, she was overcome by a mixture of curiosity, doubt and suspicion towards the raven-haired boy.
Why would anybody help her ? She is a silver-haired half elf, with amethyst eyes. She has the features of the Witch. It has to be calculated. What does he want ?
Why would anybody help her ? Would a sinner like her, who froze her own people in time, deserve genuine help from anyone ?
Puck : "I don't sense any malice, I think you can earnestly accept his offer. The more shields between yourself and the ruffians, the better, after all."
Young Man : "That's what you want me around for ?!"
She ignored their banter, but Puck sensing no hidden intents from him was only making her even more confused.
Emilia : "I really mean it though. I can't do anything to repay you back"
Young Man : "No problem. Just leave it to me !"
Emilia : "You did say you don't know her, so I wonder how you can be of help."
Puck : "Hehehe, she got a point !"
Young Man : "Ugh… But I saw her face, I can still recognize her, you know !"
Emilia : "Actually, I've asked lesser spirits to follow her, so finding her shouldn't be a problem."
Young Man : "Lesser spirits ? That's a fantasy world for you… Wait, ain't my value in the story alarmingly dropping ?!"
They then noticed a bluish-white ball flying towards them. It approached Emilia, who seemed to be able to speak to it. A strange sight to the dark-haired boy.
Emilia : "That's the spirit I just talked to you about…
So ? Where is she ? Huh ?... Ah…"
She then put on a cute expression of embarrassment and fear.
Young Man : "What's going on ?"
Puck : "Well… The little one seems to have lost track of our thief."
The cobbled streets teemed with life, merchants hawking their wares, children weaving between legs and carriages pulled by land dragons. Yet to Emilia, Puck and the helping young man, the bustling capital seemed to stretch endlessly before them.
"We've been walking for ages," He huffed, wiping sweat from his brow. "This town is a labyrinth! How are we supposed to find a single thief in all this?"
They were following the lesser spirit, walking towards the last place where the thief was seen.
Emilia smiled faintly, her eyes scanning the crowd. "It's Lugunica's capital, you know. One of the largest cities in the world." She paused, tilting her head at the raven-haired boy. "You didn't even know that? Um…"
Puck, hovering beside Emilia with an air of mischievous amusement, chirped in, "Perhaps introductions are in order? It seems we don't even know our comrade's name!"
Young Man : "Right! I'll introduce myself, then."
Arching his chest theatrically, pointing his right index finger skywards, he struck a pose that would have been impressive if not for his slightly awkward stance and sheepish grin.
Young man : "My name is Natsuki Subaru. Clueless, and also broke beyond compare! Nice to meet ya!"
Emilia stifled with a chuckle. "When all you say is 'clueless' and 'broke,' it really does sound hopeless. Are you alright with that?"
"Hey!" Subaru protested playfully. "It's better than lying, right ? Besides, who needs money when you have… uh…" He trailed off, glancing around helplessly.
Puck, sensing the moment for a dramatic entrance, launched himself towards Subaru's hand.
Puck : "Puck! Nice to meet you!"
The cat spirit landed with a soft thump , startling Emilia, her eyes widening in surprise.
Emilia : "Whoa! It's veeeery unusual to see someone who can touch a spirit so casually. You must have potential as a Spirit User"
Puck purred smugly. "Indeed! A natural talent, wouldn't you say?"
"Spirit User? That sounds cool!" Subaru exclaimed, his eyes wide with genuine interest.
Emilia tilted her head, studying him. "Dark hair, strange clothes…Are you from Gusteko? Or perhaps Vollachia?"
Subaru : "Volla— Hmm I don't know these places, but following the usual pattern, I come from a small island nation to the east."
Emilia : "Hm? Lugunica is the easternmost nation on the map. There is no nation east of here."
Subaru blinked, dumbfounded. "No way, really? There's nothing east of here?" His mind raced, trying to make sense of her words.
Emilia sighed softly. "So... So, you don't know where you currently are, you have no money and you seem to be alone without help. Your situation's pretty dire, Subaru."
Subaru's face flushed a delicate shade of pink. "Yes," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact. "That's my name."
Puck suddenly chirped, "You look pretty well-built now that I'm looking at you carefully."
"I do work out every day." Subaru replied proudly, puffing out his chest slightly. "For a shut-in who's gotta guard his house, that much is a given"
Emilia's curiosity piqued. "You did say this term 'shut-in' before... Does that mean you are from a respectable family?"
Without waiting for Subaru's response, she reached out and gently touched his left arm, Her fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary.. Her touch was light, but it surprised him nonetheless.
Emilia : "Your fingers are very pretty! You definitely don't live like a peasant, right Subaru? And your muscles don't look like they come from hard labor"
She paused, realizing the inappropriateness of her actions and quickly withdrew her hand.
She missed the blush spreading across Subaru's cheeks. Rather than being simply embarrassed for her invasive behaviour, she felt deeply guilty, and sorry for the raven-haired boy.
He might have been disgusted, right now, isn't he? After all, I'm a half-elf…
Emilia : "I–I'm sorry, Subaru. I didn't mean to… I was just curious."
Subaru, surprised by her genuine apology, managed a shaky laugh. "D–Don't fret. Uh, anyway, I know your cat's name now, but I haven't heard yours yet."
Emilia : "My name?"
Subaru : "Yeah !"
Again, she forgot to introduce herself since she's not used to it.
Emilia : "I'm…"
Although a small part of her was eager to do so, she no longer wanted the young man to be bothered by her stolen insignia. So, instead of revealing her real name, she stumbled on an idea as reckless as it was foolish.
Emilia : "I'm Satella"
The words tasted like ash in her mouth. She had chosen the name of the Witch of Envy, hoping to instill fear and send Subaru fleeing. The very thought sent a shiver down her spine. Even Puck gasped beside her, his small form contorting in disbelief.
Emilia : "I have no family name, you can just call me Satella."
Subaru : "I see… Satella…"
After hearing a foolish girl naming herself after the worst plight this world never had, Subaru, out of disgust, has-
Subaru : "That's a nice name."
He did a wide grin, devoid of revulsion, contrary to Emila's expectations, leaving her speechless, her internal monologue erupting in a flurry of confusion and disbelief.
His intimidating eyes held no trace of fear, hatred or disgust, only genuine warmth, which brought back nostalgic memories for Emilia.
Puck couldn't resist chiming in, "You have terrible taste", he muttered telepathically, shaking his head at Emilia's blunder.
"Huh?" she asked through their shared link, her voice laced with disbelief. "Is he dumb? What's with him?"
Puck sighed. "You know I love you, Lia, but you were dumb as well."
Subaru's obliviousness to the danger Emilia had inadvertently presented was… baffling. He seemed completely unconcerned by his apparent association with a terrifying legend.
"Are we close yet?" Subaru asked, breaking her train of thought
Emilia looked at him for a moment, then shook her head. "Eh? Not yet…" She paused, her gaze drawn to a small figure huddled on the side of the road. A celadon-haired child, alone, looking nervously left and right.
Emilia : "Hey Subaru… Do you think that child is lost?"
Subaru : "Yes. But what about our search– Hey?"
Emilia didn't wait for him to finish. A wave of concern washed over her at the sight of the child. She knelt down beside the girl, offering a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry I'm not who you were looking for," she said softly. "So, what's the matter? Aren't your mom and dad with you?"
The little girl stared at Emilia with wide, tear-filled eyes. A choked sob escaped her lips, turning into full-blown sobs as if disappointed that she hadn't found the people she was searching for.
She wasn't used to interacting with people in the first place, so trying with children was harder than she thought.
"Um, uh… Don't cry…" she stumbled over her words, trying to soothe the girl. "I won't do anything to you, okay?"
Subaru, noticing Emilia's struggle, stepped in with a playful grin. He held up a one-grooved-edge ten-yen coin.
"What I have here is a very special coin," he announced theatrically. "A one-grooved-edge ten-yen coin! And now..." he clenched his fist around the coin, his eyes twinkling. "I will clutch it tightly in my hand!"
He demonstrated with exaggerated motions, squeezing his right hand shut and then covering it with his left.
"Tight, tight, tight… like that!"
He held the pose for a moment before dramatically revealing his empty fist. "And now… Imagine that!"
The coin had vanished! Even Emilia was impressed by Subaru's simple yet effective magic trick.
Subaru reached out with his left hand and gently touched the girl's head, moving towards her right ear. "And this..." he said softly, "is where the coin was hiding."
He opened his hand, revealing the coin once again. The little girl stared in wonder, her tears forgotten.
"You can have it," Subaru said kindly. "It's rare, so take good care of it, okay?"
The little girl's face lit up with joy. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, clutching the coin tightly.
Subaru and Emilia exchanged a relieved smile. The magic trick had worked its wonders, calming the child and bringing a spark of happiness back into her eyes. But curiosity soon took over, As they escorted the little girl around, Emilia couldn't help but ask, "That was impressive! What kind of magic spell is that? A spatial magic perhaps?"
Subaru chuckled, "Hehe… It's nothing complicated! I could teach you if you want"
Emilia's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" she asked, intrigued. "But, what would you like in return?"
"Of course, it won't be for free!" replies Subaru with a wink. He then glances at a nearby sign advertising a bakery, squinting, eyebrows furrowed as he tries to decipher the characters, and an idea germinates in his head.
An excuse to approach her later in a natural way.
Subaru : "I'll gladly teach you, if you teach me how to read and write!"
Emilia : "Really?"
Subaru : "Yes, really!"
Puck : "Wow…you aren't lying. You really can't read or write?"
Emilia : "So, you don't know where you currently are, you have no money, you seem to be alone without help, AND you can't read?"
Subaru : "Eh?! I have a feeling of déjà vu."
He turned his attention back to the little girl, who was walking between them, clutching her precious coin.
Subaru : "You got separated from your mom, huh? Don't worry! Just leave it to me and this young lady here. We'll find her for you in no time."
Jokingly, he made an embarrassing remark about them both holding hands with the little girl as they walked around town.
Subaru : "When we do this, people who don't know us probably think we're a married couple and child, huh ? How embarrassing."
Emilia rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "At best," she retorted, "I can't see you as anything more than her older brother."
Subaru gasped dramatically. "What makes you think I'm that much younger than you?!"
Little Girl : "Oh! Mommy!"
She cried, breaking into a run and flinging herself into the arms of a woman rushing towards them. The mother beamed with relief, showering her daughter with kisses. "There you are, sweetheart! I was so worried!"
Subaru smiled warmly. "Looks like she found her."
Emilia nodded in agreement. "Yes," she said softly, "I'm glad."
After helping the little girl find her mother, Subaru couldn't resist teasing Emilia about her façade of helping people only for benefit.
Subaru : "I think we took a pretty long way around, but what benefit will you insist that you got out of this ?"
Emilia : "Now we can continue our search with our minds at ease, isn't it obvious ? What about you ?"
Subaru : "What do you mean ?"
Emilia : "You did say your objective was to achieve one good deed per day. I'm pretty sure helping this girl is enough, so you don't have to look after my insignia with me anymore, right ?"
Subaru : "What a logical comeback ! Come on, it doesn't hurt to do more than one nice thing in a day, right? I can fill my tomorrow's quota this way."
Emilia looked at Subaru with pity. "I see…"
Emilia : "Subaru, you're the kind of boy that wastes your life helping people, aren't you?"
Puck, hovering near Emilia's head, chirped in agreement, "Yeah! Such a waste!"
Subaru sighed at this, "You're the last one I want saying that to me."
Helping him in spite of being urged by something, helping a lost child, (clumsily) trying to get him off of her problems… Every action of Emilia since they met was placing her in that archetype after all.
Subaru Also, why do you still treat me like I'm younger than you? I don't think we have such an age difference."
Emilia : "Making guesses will only get you so far, boy. I'm a half-elf."
Subaru perked with interest, looking at her with more attention, he noticed her spiky ears behind her silver-hair.
A flicker of sadness crossed her face as she remembered unhappy memories, contrasting to the usual stoicism she presented.
"Don't come near us ! You're the Witch ! The Witch ! The Witch ! The Witch ! The Witch !"
Subaru : "Now I get it."
"The Witch of Glaciation"
She was convinced he'd leave her alone in the end. It was better for him anyway. But a small part of her was hurt by the outcome, because nobody but Puck had been this friendly to her for very long.
"You are a half-devil. You are a witch. Your mere existence in this world is a sin"
Subaru : "No wonder I thought you were so cute! Elves are always beautiful, right ?"
She was shocked by his answer. And more, by his genuineness. He really believed what he just said. He didn't find her disgusting and despicable, even though she is a half-elf.
Subaru : "What?"
Emilia : "What? Well, I mean… I'm a half-elf…"
Subaru : "Yeah, I heard."
She stood up, overwhelmed by warm emotions, and looked away from Subaru.
Emilia : "Subaru, you dunderhead!"
Subaru : "Dunderhead ? Who says that in this day and age? And why do I get insulted?"
Puck flew out of her hair, and propelled himself towards Subaru to land a puffy punch on his cheek.
Subaru, looking confused : "Did I deserve to get punched?"
Puck : "I just had to do something about this unbearable tingle I feel!"
Subaru : "I can't accept that reason, but I forgive you because because it was more squishy than anything"
Puck : "I didn't hit you out of anger or anything. The opposite, in fact."
Subaru : "I need more explanations—Hey? Satella?"
Emilia suddenly felt a strong urge to sleep, her body collapsing into the arms of Subaru, interrupting his playful banter with a now concerned Puck.
White.
The world was white. There were no corners, there was no floor, there was no sky, or if there had been, they would have been just as white.
Once again, my eyes fell on this elegant yet simple color, and I felt like I didn't need anything else.
My heart became lighter, my limbs felt stronger, my eyes looked higher, my head felt prouder, it was as if I'd never lacked confidence in the first place.
Whether out of interest, indifference or, more often, hatred and disgust, most people treated and saw me differently.
However, Subaru helped me without expecting any benefit like Roswaal, he wasn't distant like the maids of the manor, and he was never hostile towards me.
But, at this moment, I really didn't care.
I was so enthralled by this angelic realm, that all of my shallowness, my self-deprecation, my need for others' approval faded away.
It felt so authentic, so honest, so stark, that all of my Vanity cleared off.
Aaah… This feeling… I remember…
Then I saw her.
Hello, Witch of Vanity.
Pandora : "Greetings, Witch of Glaciation"
That's just a bad nickname, you know ? I'm not really a witch like you.
Pandora : "Oh, but you are! Even if you are merely sharing it with me, you possess a Witch Factor. You are a Witch in the truest sense of the word."
I see…
I don't care if I'm a real Witch. I don't want people to see me like this.
Pandora : "Is that so degrading for you ?"
… Yes, it is. I'm Emilia, simply Emilia. I'm not a Witch. That's how I really feel.
Pandora : "I see."
The Witch Of Envy destroyed half of the world.
You attacked my village without mercy, and tried to coerce me to open the Seal containing something reeeally dangerous for the world.
Just being associated with your kind made me want to puke. These are my honest feelings.
Almost seven years have passed since we last met. My desire to kill her hasn't diminished one bit. Yet her authority wasn't allowing her death. So I was inclined to look for another way to put her down for good.
But I... Why hadn't I done anything all this time?
I'm realizing that I… forgot about this.
Pandora : "And today, you will try to kill me again?"
Ignoring her words, I was formulating a theory about this place. And a way to verify it sparked into my mind.
I'm done trying to kill you.
Pandora : "Hard to believe."
It's the truth. I froze my own people, and to free them, to atone for my sins, I think I could do anything.
Becoming the Queen of Lugunica, or even making a deal with you.
Pandora : "A deal?"
Yes. Let's meet at the Elior Forest. I'll open the Seal, if you thaw my Permafrost on the other elves there.
Pandora : "Are you seriously making me this offer?"
I am reeeally serious!
You come right now, or there is no deal.
Pandora : "..."
She's just lost her serene but fake expression. I like it when I manage to break through her facade, and above all, it confirms my theory.
Pandora. You don't remember what happens here when you leave this domain, do you?
Pandora : "Why do you think so?"
Should I play further with her? Hehe.
Then you better come and try killing me, because I remember everything.
She smiles– Why is she smiling? Did I miss something?
Pandora : "You are… truly vainglorious, Emilia."
Did she just say my name?
Cracks began to form in the white realm, letting darkness penetrate inside. Could I ever get used to it ? Seeing such perfect simplicity being uselessly complexified like that…
Vainglorious? Me?
Pandora : "Emilia, your lies are blatant. I know for a fact that you don't remember too. But you've got what you asked from me last time."
Eh ? What's with that feeling?
Am I crying?
Pandora : "Emilia, I'm seeing you as an equal and a rival. And, I admire you."
She is a Witch!
She killed Mother Fortuna! So—so why…
My existence being acknowledged by this monster makes me… no! Noo!
Why…W–Why do I feel happy... that she is looking at me properly…?
Pandora : "It's a shame we won't remember outside there, isn't it?"
Puck : "I just had to do something about this unbearable tingle I feel!"
Subaru : "I can't accept that reason, but I forgive you because because it was more squishy than anything"
Puck : "I didn't hit you out of anger or anything. The opposite, in fact."
Subaru : "I need more explanations—Hey? Satella?"
He pauses, noticing Emilia's sudden stiffness and the way her gaze seems to drift into the distance. A flicker of concern crosses his face. Her legs buckle beneath her, and she stumbles into Subaru's arms before he can react. Puck lets out a startled gasp, momentarily forgetting his playful banter
Emilia : "Did I trip… ? Eh ? Subaru ?"
Emilia pulls away quickly, heat creeping up her cheeks. She brushes past Subaru and tries to regain her composure.
Subaru : "Are you okay ?"
Emilia : "Yes! I'm okay! More importantly, we have to get back to the search."
Her voice is a little shaky, betraying her inner turmoil to the mind-reading cat, who then sends a worried telepathic message to Emilia. "Are you okay, Lia?"
"Yes, I'm fine." She tries to sound confident, but the lingering fatigue weighs on her. As they walk away, she feels a nagging sense of forgetfulness, a feeling that something crucial is slipping from her grasp.
She was forgetting something. Something really important.
Subaru watches Emilia for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Hey, hang on! Rather than following a cold trail, what if we try something else? There's a basic rule of searches."
Emilia : "A basic rule of searches?"
Subaru : "Yep. You revisit the crime scene a hundred times. Where was your insignia stolen?"
The air hung thick with the aroma of ripe appas as Subaru led Emilia back to the fruit stand where she'd last seen her insignia. The vendor, a burly middle-aged man with scars on his face, was hearing Subaru explaining their predicament with an annoyed stare.
Subaru: "So, you see, it seems the crime happened right around here," he said, gesturing vaguely at the bustling market stall.
"So I came back to this fruit stand after valiantly telling her to leave it all to me." He shot Emilia a playful wink, earning him a slight frown and a tired sigh in return.
Appa Seller: "What? I thought I had a customer, but it's just the broke kid?" His eyes narrowed with suspicion, scrutinizing Subaru's strange-looking clothes.
Subaru: "Haven't you noticed I'm not who I was before?" he retorted, puffing out his chest slightly.
Appa Seller: "What?" He blinked, genuinely confused.
Subaru seized the moment. "Just look who I brought with me! A potential regular customer! No need to thank me!" He gestured grandly toward Emilia.
Emilia, sensing the absurdity of the situation, stepped forward and politely intervened. "We are looking for someone," she began, her voice calm and composed. "And we hoped we could ask you some questions…" She added a touch of warmth to her voice, "And I'll take two appas, please."
The Appa Seller's face broke into a wide grin. "Thanks miss! Dude, that's not really manly to leave your girl buying for you." He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Subaru choked on his words, taken aback by the sudden implication. "Sh—She is not my g-g-ggirl!" he stammered, flushing crimson. "And my situation will definitely improve, so that I can repay her tenfold!"
A high-pitched voice rang out across the market square. "Mister!" They all turned to see a little girl, clutching her mother's hand as she raced towards them. It was the lost child they had helped earlier in the day.
The little girl's joyous arrival broke the awkward tension that had settled over the stall. Her mother hurried forward, her eyes radiating warmth and gratitude.
"Thank you for your help earlier," she said sincerely to Subaru and Emilia.
Subaru blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "What brings you here?"
"It's my husband's shop, so we were just stopping by," the woman replied, gesturing towards the bustling appa stand.
"Husband?" Subaru glanced back and forth between the vendor, the woman they'd helped, and the little girl who was now happily clinging to her father. Confusion clouded his features.
The appa vendor chuckled, a gruff yet affectionate tone coloring his voice. "Hey, that's my girl," he said, ruffling the child's hair with pride. Turning back to Subaru and Emilia, he inquired, "Wait, you know those two?"
The mother smiled warmly, and simply explained : "She got lost, and they found her"
Emboldened by her mother's presence, the little girl skipped towards Emilia, presenting a delicate flower accessory with both hands.
"This is for you," she said shyly, her eyes shining with gratitude.
Emilia accepted the gift with a radiant smile. "Is it for me? Thank you very much", she replied softly, carefully placing the ornament on her clothes.
The stand owner beamed at Subaru and Emilia. "So you guys helped my daughter, right?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with warmth. "I want to thank you! Take some appas for free!" He paused, gesturing towards the basket of ripe fruit with a mischievous grin. "And… What were you about to ask me?"
A surge of triumph crossed Emilia's face as she turned to Subaru, a proud smile playing on her lips.
"There," she said, her voice laced with satisfaction. "You see, Subaru? That came back around and worked in our favor!"
The setting sun cast long, violet shadows across Lugunica's capital, painting the refined uptown, the bustling downtown, and the silent slums in hues of twilight. Here, amidst the crumbling brick walls and weathered wooden houses, stood Subaru and Emilia.
Subaru : "Hey, I haven't been alone with a girl since grade school!"
Emilia met his gaze with a teasing smirk. "Don't get any weird ideas now that Puck isn't here," she warned playfully, her voice laced with amusement. "I'm quite strong, you know."
Subaru laughed nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I won't!"
They continued their search for the thief, their quest now being guided by the information gleaned from the appa seller.
"You said a nimble little blond girl, right? That's probably that Felt girl! She's well known in the slums. Dunno where she lives, though."
As they walked, their presence seemed to draw curious glances from the few residents venturing out after dark. They stood out like a beacon in this desolate landscape, a stark contrast to the grimy reality around them.
Meanwhile, back in his cozy crystal home, Puck slumbered peacefully. His average "working hours" were from nine to five – a full-fledged spirit required a large amount of mana just to maintain his physical form. During these periods, he diligently recharged his reserves, preparing for the next round of his adventures.
Subaru : "The bigger issue now, is how to find Felt"
"I don't think people here would sell their own…". Emilia's eyes sparkled with an idea. "We could try asking lesser spirits," she suggested.
Subaru : "Lesser spirits? Like the one from before?"
"Yes. They are beings who haven't become full-fledged spirits like Puck yet," Emilia explained patiently. "Think of them as little cute children who have plenty of room to grow."
Closing her eyes, she reached out with her consciousness, and moments later, the air shimmered and countless tiny orbs appeared around her, each pulsing with ethereal light.
Subaru stared in awe, captivated by the breathtaking sight. Emilia, bathed in the soft radiance of these magical beings, seemed even more radiant than before.
The full moon cast an eerie glow over the slums, painting the dilapidated houses in shades of silver and shadow.
Subaru navigated the labyrinthine alleys, cutting through the darkness with his flashlight. Emilia followed close behind, her face reflecting the flickering light.
"Everything points to this place…" Emilia murmured, gesturing towards a ramshackle building – their supposed destination: Felt's "loot house."
Subaru puffed his chest out, attempting a confident grin. "Don't worry! Leave this one to me! I promise I'll negotiate your insignia back."
Emilia nodded calmly, her trust in him evident despite the peculiar circumstances.
"Okay. I'll leave it to you, then."
Subaru blinked, taken aback by her easy agreement. "You agreed to that awfully easily…" he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
It was indeed an unusual situation – a young girl venturing into the notorious slums alone, relying on a complete stranger she'd met barely half a day ago. The trust she placed in him warmed Subaru's heart, even amidst the unsettling atmosphere.
"The way you've been acting," he teased, attempting to lighten the mood, "I thought you'd say: Leaving this to a useless kid like you? That's so ridiculous, I'm laughing my head off, fufufu!" He tried to mimic Emilia's tone, but his imitation was comically off.
A faint smile touched Emilia's lips. "I wouldn't say something that mean, even though I'd be lying if I said you haven't been holding me back…"
Subaru sputtered, outraged. "It'd be a lie?!"
"But," she continued, her voice soft but firm, "I'll try believing in you, Subaru." Her gaze held his with unwavering sincerity. He felt a surge of determination, spurred by her belief.
"And if you fail like I expect you too," Emilia added playfully, "I'll just intervene, so go without pressure."
Subaru chuckled, unable to suppress the warmth spreading through him. "Ghk– I guess I have no choice but to succeed here to get your respect, don't I?"
Emilia : "Do your best."
He nodded, his resolve solidified. "Yes. I will."
Subaru : "I won't be back too late, but you can have dinner without me."
Emilia : "Stop saying dumb things and get to work. Carefully, alright ?"
"Sure, sure." He turned towards the door of the loot house, his flashlight illuminating a grimy welcome mat. Before pushing it open, he paused, turning back to Emilia with a solemn expression. "Just in case, don't come in until I say it's okay, Satella."
The name hung in the air, a reminder of her earlier misstep and her unspoken apology. Silence met his words, a heavy silence that challenged Subaru's resolve. "What?" he asked, noticing the tension in her posture.
"N–Nothing." she mumbled, averting her gaze. "Go ahead. Call me if there's anything off, alright?"
Subaru : "Alright"
"I'll apologize properly afterwards," she thought while seeing him push open the door to the loot house, stepping into the unknown.
On her first day in the capital, she was robbed of a very precious object, which could well hold the fate of her fellow elves.
Then she met a very strange but kind boy, who may well become her first friend in a long time.
What a tumultuous first day !
Emilia was taking the situation strangely well. She was indeed in a difficult situation, but at least she wasn't alone.
Actually, she was well and truly alone, in the dark, in front of a very suspect house on the edge of the dangerous slums, but she didn't feel lonely.
"Ram and Roswaal must be worried right now..." she murmured a thought for the people who had escorted her to the capital, with a small feeling of gratitude. If they hadn't, she'd never have met Subaru.
A thud sounded in the house, interrupting her train of thought. "What was that?"
Beginning to worry, she hesitantly entered the loot house. "Subaru? What's wrong?"
There were no lights, it was pitch black outside and inside the house. But the moment she opened the door, a strong smell of iron and blood assaulted her nose.
Confused, she instinctively sprang to guard, but not quickly enough to notice the swift attack on her belly. Reflexively, her body moved to avoid being killed instantly.
But the colossal impact of whatever attacked her threw her to the ground.
"Eep!"
As she fell, confused, she noticed that Subaru was lying next to her, in a pool of red liquid thanks to a moonbeam that seeped between them.
"Subaru! You're bleeding!" she tried to say, but her whole body was invaded by the most intense pain she'd ever tasted.
"Aaargh", she groaned, and coughed out large amounts of a mixture of blood and vomit.
She felt a terrible 'heat' coursing through her entire body.
She tried to stand up to react to the situation, but her cheek wouldn't leave the hard, cold floor.
"Hot !"
She tried to use healing magic to help Subaru, but her strength was completely gone, she couldn't even move a finger.
"HOT! HOT! HOT! HOT!"
She tried to use ice magic to move themselves out of the room, but her brain was too busy processing the burning heat.
"It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!"
She tried to summon Puck using her Od, but her magic gate wouldn't activate, no matter how hard she tried.
"Help me, Puck! Help me! Help me! Help me! Help me! Help me! "
Her consciousness was numbing, her vision blurred by countless tears, but she noticed three things.
The unbearable pain was coming from her guts.
"Please, someone stop this pain"
There was someone there, looking at their demise with an ecstatic grin.
"Please, don't just stand there, and help me!"
Subaru was crawling towards her.
"I'm sorry, Subaru. I'm so sorry… I… Because of me…"
Emilia realized that she was dying.
Her agony slowly dissipated.
Her body was crushed by heaviness and invaded by cold.
And for a second, she felt relieved that it would all soon be over.
But it wasn't over yet.
Time seemed to stretch on forever.
And, much to her surprise, she began to experience something even worse.
She remembered her childhood. The happy memories with her foster parents.
"Mother Fortuna. Geuse. Archi."
She remembered her trauma. The intense rage and despair she felt towards a cruel monster.
"Pandora."
She remembered her awakening. The countless ice statues she had created through her madness. The support she received from her beloved spirit, whom she considered a second father.
"Puck. Everyone."
She remembers her opportunity. The beautiful red light emitted by the insignia. The offer from an eccentric man. The chance to right her wrongs. The chance to obtain the means to achieve her revenge. The chance to, maybe, have new friends.
"Roswaal. Ram. Rem."
She remembered her last day. The beautiful encounter with Subaru, someone who acknowledged her existence, even though it was caused by an annoying thief.
"Subaru."
As her body and heart felt like freezing, she indeed experienced something even worse.
"I don't want to die."
Regrets.
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
Fear.
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
Death was finally reaching towards her. Eyes now closed, she forced her disappearing consciousness to persist for a moment, as small as it could be, struggling pathetically against absolute despair.
"Someone… please… save me…"
"Wait there…"
"Huh?"
A faint, raspy voice held her crumbling mind together.
"I will…definitely—"
She felt warmness in her numbed hand.
"—Save you."
That night in the Capital's slums, Emilia, the fourth dragon priestess, died.
"—Don't worry too much. That red maid can't be that far away."
"Hm?"
A hooded, silver-haired young woman stood completely still in the middle of the kingdom's capital, Lugunica. Her eyes, covered by the hood, were widened to the extreme.
"Lia? Are you okay?"
"Eh?"
The tumult of the capital rose like a constant rumble. The cobbled alleyways were teeming with life : merchants howling prices, passers-by chatting loudly, children running between fruit stalls.
"What is going on? Are you that scared of being lost in the city?"
"Puck?"
Emilia was, in short, horror-struck.
Panic seized Emilia like a vise, squeezing the air from her lungs.
"I don't want to die..." she whimpered, her voice cracking with terror.
As a Dragon Priestess, she went to the capital with her sponsor, Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers and his maid, Ram, in order to enlist in the Royal Selection–
"I don't want to die..."
"Lia! Relax!" Puck cried, his normally cheerful voice strained with concern. He materialized from within her silver hair, hovering anxiously around her face. "Your mind is a mess right now! Breathe in..."
But Emilia couldn't. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one hitching in her throat. She scanned the bustling crowd, desperate to catch sight of anything familiar, any anchor to reality.
"Subaru ! SUBARU ! SUBARU ! SUBARUUUUU !"
Then she saw it – a flash of crimson flitting between the legs of a passing cart.
"Felt?"
The market noise faded away, replaced by a deafening silence that amplified the pounding of her heart. A surge of rage erupted within her, hot and searing. A sense of violation pulsed through her veins, fueling an unyielding need for retribution.
"FEEEEEEELT!"
The thief, surprised to hear her name, turned and saw her target staring at her with the most frightening glare she'd ever seen, from one of the most frightening images she'd ever imagined: a silver-haired half-elf.
The anger burning in those amethyst eyes was unlike anything she could remember, promising swift and terrible retribution.
Panic clawed at Felt's throat. This wasn't like any ordinary confrontation. The air around Emilia crackled with an unnatural energy, sending a shiver down her spine. She had to get out of there. Now.
With a desperate leap, she dodged between two bewildered onlookers and bolted deeper into the maze of stalls.
Adrenaline surged through Felt's veins, propelling her onto rooftops, leaping from one structure to another with acrobatic grace.
"Like I'd let you !"
Clenching her fangs, her breath condensed as the ambient temperature dropped rapidly around her. Emilia activated her magic gate and felt an icy warmth beneath the soles of her feet.
Within milliseconds, a thin layer of ice formed cleanly from her ground up to every accessible surface in her field of vision, including the roof of the building Felt was about to land on right after initiating her dash skill.
Unprepared for this sudden shift, Felt's momentum betrayed her. Her foot slipped on the treacherous surface, sending her tumbling through a chaotic jumble of stalls. The impact knocked the wind out of her, leaving her sprawled and helpless in Emilia's grip.
Emilia towered over her, her face a mask of icy fury. "What are you doing?!" she demanded, her voice a chilling whisper that echoed with an unspoken threat. "Why are you trying to steal my insignia again? Are you the one who killed me?!"
Felt stared up at her captor, fear constricting her throat. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, struggling against Emilia's iron grip.
The truth was, Felt had been hired to steal the insignia. But she hadn't known why – only that it was a valuable item and payment would be generous. Now, faced with this terrifying half-elf's accusations, she knew she was far more involved than she'd ever imagined.
"Satella !"
Puck watched the unfolding scene with growing bewilderment. One moment, he was desperately trying to calm his agitated daughter, and the next, someone was shouting a terrifying name that sent shivers down everyone's spine: "Hey! Satella!"
The marketplace fell silent as if gripped by an unseen hand. Fear painted every face in the crowd. Even Felt seemed cowed by those words.
Fury boiled within Puck. He instinctively surged with mana, ready to unleash a torrent of ice magic upon this reckless fool who dared utter such a forbidden name. But just as he was about to strike, he noticed a change in Emilia's demeanor.
The frantic terror that had gripped her moments before began to recede, replaced by a flicker of recognition, a spark of warmth.
"I'm sorry I brought ourselves into such a dangerous situation…" a voice cried out, laced with remorse. "I'm sorry."
Emilia : "Subaru?"
Puck was speechless, completely overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation.
"My dying and not doing what you said were my fault! I'm sorry for only thinking of myself. But, I'm glad you're alright, Satella."
The half-elf turned toward the voice, her gaze softening as tears welled in her eyes. A weak but genuine smile graced her lips.
"I apologize…I gave you a false name", she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and relief.
"My real name is Emilia."
= END OF CHAPTER 1=
Author's Notes :
The thrill of writing a ReZero IF story ? Playing with the differences with the canon route.
Even though for me personally, this first chapter is very similar to the OG route. But I couldn't do better.
Actually I felt like I was only rewriting Episode 1 again but with (small?) changes to make it different from the OG route (anime, cz I didn't read WN for Arc1, 2 & 3). It didn't feel as great as I thought ngl…
Am I just doing lazy writing…? I really thought it would be a piece of cake writing a fanfic.
Sorry for underestimating your task 'till now, fellow fanfic writers^^
Now that Emilia tasted death, and knows Subaru did as well, best believe, things will be very different. For her ofc, but most importantly, for Subaru, the GOAT, my fav character.
I can't wait but inflicting them the worst physical and psychological torments I could think of. (I'm not sadistic)
Let's be clear, she doesn't possess or share Return By Death or anything like that.
The only thing set in stone is that she shares the Vainglory Factor with Pandora. She eventually then was gifted with a very powerful Authority but she isn't aware of that (yet?).
How would Emilia react? How will her personality evolve?
Will she become Goated (like OG Subaru)? Or Corrupted (like Wrathbaru, Greedbaru, etc…)?
DISCLAIMER : I don't own Re:Zero, it belongs to Tappei Nagatsuki.