"―Wha... Are you okay?!"

The soft, trembling voice echoed in the darkness. A wave of soothing magic coursed through Subaru's body, pulling him back from the abyss.

When Subaru's eyes fluttered open, he found himself resting against something soft and warm.

"Is this... someone's lap?"

The voice chimed again, melodic and gentle. "Is... is he awake?"

Subaru turned his head and was greeted by a strange sight—a massive, furry cat staring down at him with a cheeky grin. Subaru jolted upright, letting out a startled screech.

"Whoa there, calm down!" The cat chuckled, his tone teasing. "I only let you use my lap so you could be comfortable. You should be thanking me! Changing size isn't exactly easy, you know."

Subaru glared at the spirit with exaggerated annoyance before glancing around. His gaze froze as it landed on her.

Time itself seemed to stop.

Next to the spirit, a girl sat. Her long silver hair, shimmered like moonlight, and her amethyst eyes sparkled with an intelligence that demanded attention. Her simple yet elegant royal blue garments exuded nobility, enhancing her presence. She was breathtaking, like a figure from a dream.

"Hello? Are you okay?"

Her voice rang like a silver bell, sending a tremor through Subaru's chest.

Subaru sat in stunned silence, unable to tear his eyes away. His thoughts briefly scattered until he noticed Fluttershy resting in her lap, her wounds completely healed.

"You... healed her!" Subaru exclaimed, rushing forward. He dropped to his knees and gently embraced the unconscious pegasus, tears welling in his eyes. "Thank you... thank you so much!"

The girl smiled faintly, her expression softening, though her companion remained less impressed.

"She's alright now," The girl said, her tone measured. "But I didn't stay just for you two. I have some questions, so I expect answers in return."

Subaru blinked, his gratitude momentarily replaced by confusion. "You're making such a big deal out of such a normal favor..."

Ignoring his remark, The girl pressed on. "What happened here? And do you know anything about a missing insignia—or a girl who passed through here?"

Subaru recounted the attack, explaining how the group of men had ambushed him and Fluttershy. He admitted he didn't know anything about an insignia but mentioned the direction the girl had fled.

As he spoke, Fluttershy stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she jolted upright, startled to find herself in someone's lap. Panic filled her expression until she saw Subaru in the shadows.

"Subaru!" she cried, launching herself into him with a flap of her wings. She knocked him over, clinging to him tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy sobbed, burying her face in his chest. "I wasn't fast or strong enough! I... I couldn't protect you!"

Subaru froze, overwhelmed by her raw emotion. He wasn't used to people apologizing to him—especially like this. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, his voice soft and steady.

"It's okay," he whispered. "We're safe now. You don't need to worry anymore."

Fluttershy whimpered against him, her small frame trembling. "That was... the most terrifying experience of my life..."

The Girl and The Spirit Cat watched from the side. The spirit sighed, floating closer to Subaru.

"Well, this is touching and all, but we need to go," The cat spirit said, breaking the moment. "She has other things to do, you know."

The girl nodded, her expression unreadable. "I've done what I came to do. Stay safe—and don't expect me to help again unless there's something in it for me."

Subaru's face fell slightly as he watched her turn to leave.

"Sorry about that," The Spirit Cat said, lingering behind for a moment. "She can be a little... insincere sometimes. But don't think badly of her, okay?"

Subaru muttered under his breath as they disappeared from view.

"Insincere, huh…"

He glanced at the alleyway steps where it all began and continued, "I think this goes beyond that. She was in such a hurry to find what was stolen from her, yet she stopped to help me. She even came up with that lame excuse about wanting a favor, even though I'm a total stranger."

Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably beside him, her voice soft and hesitant. "Oh dear, she saved us, right? I didn't get a chance to thank her properly…"

Without hesitation, Subaru grabbed the convenience store bag from the ground and his jacket from on top of a crate. He threw the jacket on as he bolted out of the alleyway, calling back, "Fluttershy, come on!"

Fluttershy hesitated, looking back toward the steps where she first woke up. A hint of sadness lingered in her gaze, but she quickly turned and followed Subaru. "O-Okay!"

When Subaru exited the alley, he spotted the girl walking away, her silver hair swaying lightly in the evening breeze. "Hey! Wait up!" he shouted, his voice carrying through the empty streets.

The girl stopped and turned toward him, her expression calm yet slightly guarded. "Was there something else you needed?"

"Ah, figured you were gonna shut me down," Subaru said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Anyway, you lost something important, right? Let me help you find it."

The girl's brows furrowed slightly. "You said you didn't know anything about my insignia."

"I don't!" Subaru admitted quickly. "But I still remember her face! If I see her again, I'll know!"

The girl regarded him with a skeptical expression, raising her finger to her chin as she considered his words.

"You're so strange," she finally said, her voice carrying a note of curiosity.

"Listen," Subaru replied, taking a step closer. "I don't need a reward. I just… I just want to thank you. You saved my life, and I want to show you how much I appreciate it."

"I didn't do anything deserving of that," the girl said plainly, shaking her head. "I already received amicable compensation for healing your wounds."

Subaru grinned. "In that case… I guess I'm gonna help you for my own sake, too. I should probably set an objective, so…" He snapped his fingers. "Right! One good deed per day!"

The girl blinked, caught off guard by his sudden enthusiasm. "Uh…"

The small, cat-like spirit appeared on her shoulder, lazily stretching. "I don't sense any malice here," it said in a smooth, casual tone. "So I think you can just accept his offer. After all, the more shields you have between you and ruffians, the better."

"A shield?!" Subaru exclaimed, looking indignant. "That's what you want me around for?"

The spirit smirked. "Well, if the shoe fits…"

The girl sighed. "I meant what I said, though. I can't offer you anything in return."

"No problem at all!" Subaru said, puffing out his chest. "Just leave everything to me!"

At that moment, Fluttershy brushed her hoof against Subaru's pants, catching his attention. She looked up at him with her usual shy demeanor but seemed slightly exasperated.

Subaru blinked, realizing his mistake. "Oh yeah! I'm sorry, Fluttershy, I almost completely forgot." He stepped aside, giving Fluttershy a clear line of sight to the girl. "Go for it, Fluttershy!" he encouraged with a small cheer.

Fluttershy hesitated but slowly trotted up to the girl, gathering her courage. "T-Thank you for saving me and Subaru's lives. I'm extremely grateful… A-And if possible, I'd like to assist you in finding your insignia as well." She spread her wings to emphasize her point. "As you can see, I have wings, so I could look around from the sky while you and Subaru search from the ground."

The girl stared at Fluttershy, clearly caught off guard by the winged pony's appearance and demeanor. For a moment, she almost faltered, overwhelmed by Fluttershy's inherent cuteness. But she quickly closed her eyes and straightened herself, attempting to maintain a professional air. "D-Don't get the wrong idea," she said, her voice slightly higher than usual. "I'm asking for my own benefit, in case I encounter more of you in the future. But… what are you?"

Fluttershy blinked, surprised by the question. "I-I'm a pony," she mumbled. "A Pegasi, to be specific."

The girl tilted her head, puzzled. "A pony…?"

Subaru grinned triumphantly. "So I was right!" His victory was short-lived, though, as he caught Fluttershy giving him an amused look. She snickered softly, which only made Subaru flustered. "Ah! Don't stare at me so intensely—it's embarrassing!" he joked.

The girl cleared her throat, regaining her composure. "Well… I suppose your plan makes sense. If you're offering to help, then I won't stop you."

With that, the three of them agreed on Fluttershy's suggested plan and set out to begin their search.

about thirty minutes into their investigation

"What exactly is this?"

The girl's cold gaze bore into Subaru as she questioned him, clearly dissatisfied.

"That cold gaze is kind of exciting... Wait. No, it can't be. I… I was an M all along?" Subaru muttered.

"I don't know what this 'em' is, but you're clearly talking nonsense."

She crossed her arms with a sigh. Her frustration was understandable. Subaru had talked big, but he had managed to accomplish little.

To make things worse, the search was plagued with issues:

First, neither of them knew the area. They spent ten minutes wandering in circles in the capital's back alleys, each assuming the other knew the way.

Second, Subaru couldn't read the language. He only realized it when he saw the hieroglyph-like writing on signs and realized it was the local alphabet.

"I talked big, but isn't this city way too huge to find one little thing in?" Subaru grumbled.

"It's the capital of Lugunica." The girl answered. "You didn't even know that, umm.."

The cat spirit chimes in, "That's right. We haven't exchanged names yet."

Before Subaru could respond, Fluttershy landed nearby, looking apologetic.

Fluttershy flies down, and lands near Subaru and the girl. "I-I'm sorry, I haven't been able to find anything yet.. Maybe if we could narrow the location down a bit further." Fluttershy rubbed her front legs against each other nervously. However, Subaru wasn't having it.

He praised her. "Thanks Fluttershy! You've been such a big help, don't even worry about it." He gave her a trademark grin.

Fluttershy blushed slightly at his praise, but there was a nagging feeling in her mind—like she was forgetting something important.

The spirit cat floated into view, feigning offense. "Ahem?"

"Oh, right!" Subaru laughed awkwardly. "Names! Let's introduce ourselves!"

Subaru stood up dramatically, pointing to the sky. "I'm Subaru Natsuki! Clueless and broke beyond compare!"

Fluttershy hesitated before shyly introducing herself. "I-I'm Fluttershy. Nice to meet you…"

Puck snickered before speaking. "And I'm Puck. Nice to meet you!" He shook Subaru's hand with his tiny body.

"It's unusual to see someone touch a spirit so casually," the girl commented. "Where are you from?"

"Well, uh…" Subaru crossed his arms, trying to sound confident. "A small island nation to the east."

The girl tilted her head. "Lugunica is the easternmost nation on the continent. There's nothing east of here."

Subaru froze. "Wait, for real? There's nothing east of here?"

Fluttershy giggled. "You couldn't be from a place that doesn't exist, c-could you?"

Subaru's lie had been exposed.

"You have no idea where you're from you have no money, you can't read, and you have no one you can rely on." The girl said with a concerned look on her face, bringing the tips of her fingers to her mouth. "You might be in an even more precarious position than me, um.. Subaru, was it?"

The embarrassment he felt faded away, as she heard him say his name. Subaru blushed, awkwardly scratching his chin.

Puck floated closer, inspecting him. "Now that I look at you, you are pretty built."

"I work out every day," Subaru declared. "When you're a twixter guarding your house, it's the least you can do."

The girl tilted her head in confusion. "I'm not sure I understand what a "twixter" is." She continued, "But basically, you're from a respectable family, right?" She said, as she walked up to Subaru and grabbed his left hand, examining it.

"H-Hey―" Subaru stuttered, Fluttershy staring at them with a bit of a flushed look on her face as well. "O-Oh!"

"Your fingers show that too. They're very pretty." She complimented. "They're evidence that you don't live like a peasant at all." She raised his hand further, turning it over to examine his palm. "And your muscles don't look like the kind you gain from working."

Subaru gently pulls his hand away, stuttering. "S-So anyway, I know your cat's name, but I haven't heard yours yet." He glanced at her, flushed.

"My name?" The girl stared off over the balcony they were on. "I'm.." She lowered her head, and donned a bit of a more serious expression. "Satella."

Both Puck and Subaru seem shocked, but for different reasons.

Fluttershy silently observes, and picks up on the changes in The girl's disposition, as well as Puck's reaction. However, she stays silent.
"I have no family name." She continues. "You can just call me Satella."

Subaru stares, his face lightly flushed still. "I see. Satella, huh?"

He smiles brightly, eyes wide open. "That's a nice name!"

A bit later, Subaru and "Satella" are on the main road.

"Hey, Subaru," "Satella" said, pointing toward a small green-haired girl who was nervously stepping from side to side on the main road. "She seems lost, doesn't she?"

Fluttershy, walking alongside the pair, glanced over and softly muttered, "She does… We should help her."

Subaru frowned. "I mean, yeah, but what about our questioning? We've got bigger things to focus on right now."

"That's important too," "Satella" admitted, her voice gentle but firm. "But if she's lost, we have to do something."

Subaru sighed, glancing between the lost child and the two women. "Look, I'm in no position to criticize, considering you saved me, but do you really understand the situation we're in?"

"But…" "Satella's" expression became resolute, her lilac eyes shining with determination. "She's crying! Can't you see that, Subaru?"

He stared at her, stunned into silence. Then "Satella" turned on her heel. "If you can't do this with me, that's fine. Thanks for all your help, Subaru. I'll handle this on my own from here." She began walking toward the child, her voice softening as she added, "After I help that little girl."

Fluttershy hesitated for only a moment, torn between Subaru's concerns and the child's obvious distress. Finally, with a quiet sigh, she followed after "Satella".

As "Satella" crouched down in front of the green-haired girl, she smiled gently. "I'm sorry I'm not who you were looking for. So what's the matter? Aren't your mom and dad with you?"

The girl's lips quivered before she burst into tears, her small shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

"H-Hey… Don't cry," "Satella" said, panic creeping into her voice. Fluttershy trotted up beside her and offered a soft, calming smile. "Oh dear, there's no need to cry or be afraid. This very nice lady is here to help you."

The girl's cries quieted slightly, though she stared wide-eyed at Fluttershy. "W-Wuh…?" she stammered, stunned by the sight of a talking pegasus.

Before Fluttershy could respond, Subaru stepped forward, holding something in his hand. "What I have here is one ridged 10-yen coin," he said, his tone light and playful. He made a show of clutching the coin tightly in his fist. "Now, watch closely. One, two, three, and… gone!" Subaru opened his hand to reveal the coin had vanished. He reached toward the girl's head, pretending to pluck the coin from behind her ear.

"Wow, imagine that! It was hiding right here all along."

The girl's tears stopped completely, replaced by a bright, delighted smile.

Fluttershy blinked in astonishment. "Y-You know magic?"

"Nah," Subaru said with a smirk. "It's just a neat trick I picked up."

A few minutes later, Subaru and "Satella" walked with the girl between them, each holding one of her hands. Fluttershy hovered beside them, carrying the child on her back, who giggled happily.

"Fluttershy's such a nice pony, carrying you like that," Subaru said, glancing over his shoulder with a smile. "Isn't she the best?"

The green-haired child giggled excitedly.

"So, you got separated from your mom, huh?" Subaru asked the girl. He grinned reassuringly. "Hey, it'll be fine. Just leave it to us!"

As they walked, Subaru seemed to ponder something. After a moment, he spoke again. "You know, with the three of us like this, people who don't know us might think we're a married couple and this is our kid. How embarrassing."

"At best, I could only see you as her older brother," "Satella" retorted with a small smile.

Subaru bristled at the remark. "What makes you think I'm so much younger than you?!"

Before "Satella" could respond, the girl suddenly dismounted Fluttershy and ran ahead. "Mommy!" she cried, spotting a woman further down the road. Without hesitation, the girl sprinted into her mother's open arms, the two embracing tightly.

"They found each other," Subaru remarked, watching the reunion with a soft smile.

"Yeah," "Satella" said with a nod. "I'm glad."

Later, Subaru and "Satella" stood on a bridge overlooking a serene park pond, water fountains scattered in the distance. Fluttershy gently flew above them, stretching her wings.

Leaning on the bridge's railing, Subaru sighed. "Well, I guess we just wasted a bunch of time. What benefit are you going to insist we got out of this?"

"Satella" crossed her arms, turning toward him with a knowing smile. "That's easy. Now we can continue our search with our minds at ease." She raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, Why did you help me? You were so against it earlier."

Fluttershy, overhearing the exchange, hovered closer with a warm smile. "That's simple. Subaru is just a really kind individual."

Subaru flailed his arms, trying to deflect the compliment. "H-Hey, that's not it! I was just helping her find her good deed for the day, that's all!"

Both "Satella" and Fluttershy exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

"You're a good kid, Subaru," "Satella" giggled.

Fluttershy nodded. "Y-Yeah, he's so very kind. If I had one word to describe him, maybe it'd be… cool? That's what he called me, even if I don't feel very deserving of it."

Subaru leaned over the edge of the bridge, visibly defeated. "Why are you treating me like I'm younger than you? There can't be that many years between us."

"Satella's" expression darkened slightly. "I don't think you'll get anywhere guessing that. I'm a half-elf."

Subaru looked up at her, slightly surprised. She seemed braced for a bad reaction, her gaze cast downward.

"Now I get it." Subaru turned away, placing his hands on his hips with a wide grin. "No wonder I thought you were so cute. Elves are always beautiful, right?"

"Satella's" eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"What?" Subaru echoed, genuinely confused.

"Didn't you hear me? I said I'm a half-elf," "Satella" clarified, pointing to herself for emphasis.

"Yeah, I heard you."

"Satella" climbed off the bridge ledge and crouched down, her back turned to Subaru. As if sensing her emotions, Puck popped out of her hair and delivered a small "punch" to Subaru's cheek. The tap was harmless but abrupt.

"What'd you do that for?" Subaru asked, rubbing his face.

"I had to do something about this unbearable tingle I'm feeling!" Puck curled up midair, shaking dramatically.

Fluttershy, who had been perched nearby, landed softly next to "Satella", gently attempting to comfort her.

"I can't accept being hit for a reason like that," Subaru declared, still flustered.

"I didn't hit you out of anger—it's the opposite, actually!" Puck explained.

Fluttershy turned toward Subaru with a knowing smile, her relaxed features radiating understanding. "Satella", a moment later, glanced back at Subaru, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Subaru, you're such a dunderhead!" she exclaimed.

"Dunderhead? Who says that nowadays? And why are you insulting me?" Subaru shot back, his confusion mounting.

"Hmph, whatever!" "Satella" stood up and brushed off her dress. "More importantly, we need to get back to the search."

As she started to walk away, Subaru reached out, stopping her. "Running around aimlessly isn't going to get us anywhere. There's a basic rule of searching: revisit the crime scene."

Following Subaru's suggestion, the group made their way back to the Appa Stand, where the green-haired merchant stood, cleaning his wares.

"Ehh? I thought I had a customer, but it's just the broke kid," the merchant said bluntly.

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to take that attitude?" He gestured dramatically to himself. "Haven't you noticed something different about me?"

The merchant's eyes flicked over Subaru dismissively. "Other than that four-legged creature you're walking around with? Not really."

Fluttershy flinched and meekly hid behind Subaru's legs.

"Hey! She's not just a 'four-legged creature'—she's Fluttershy, a Pegasus," Subaru corrected, his tone sharp with indignation.

"Never heard of it." The merchant shrugged.

"W-Well, anyway, I was talking about the girl! I brought someone who might just become a regular customer!" Subaru grinned and pointed to "Satella".

"Um, Subaru..." "Satella" interjected, raising her hands awkwardly. "You seem to have some weird expectations of me, but I don't have any money either."

Subaru's arms shot up in exasperation. "Huh?! Seriously?"

The merchant leaned on the counter, unimpressed. "So now I've got two broke customers. What did you want to say, kid?"

Subaru scratched the back of his head nervously, his confidence slipping. "We're actually looking for someone, and we were hoping you could answer a few questions…"

The merchant leaned in closer, his tone growing sharp. Subaru instinctively held up his hands in defense. "It's called sarcasm! I have no time for dirt-poor losers. Get outta here!" He gestured dismissively.

"Mister!" A familiar, green-haired child's voice called out. The merchant turned to see his daughter running toward him, followed by her mother. "Thanks for your help earlier," the woman said warmly.

"What brings you here?" Subaru asked, surprised.

"It's my husband's shop," the woman explained. "We were just stopping by."

"Husband?" Subaru glanced at the merchant as the little girl ran into her father's chest, hugging him tightly. "Wait, you know these broke losers?" the merchant asked, pointing to Subaru and "Satella" with his thumb.

"Our little girl got lost, and they helped her find us," the woman explained.

The child ran past her father, straight to Fluttershy. "Flutter! Flutter!" she repeated gleefully, wrapping her arms around the pegasus. Fluttershy nuzzled the girl gently, her shyness melting away.

Subaru watched the interaction with a soft smile. That pegasus had brought him so much good fortune, and he couldn't help but feel grateful.

The girl eventually turned her attention to "Satella". "Pretty lady, here!" She raised her hands, offering a small red flower. "Satella" hesitated, then crouched down to accept the gift.

"Thank you," she said warmly, her smile genuine.

The merchant cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry about earlier. You helped my daughter, so I owe you. Ask me anything."

"Satella" placed her hands on her hips, leaning forward triumphantly. "See? It came back around and worked in our favor!" She leaned back with a proud smile, her head held high.

"We know the location and the culprit's appearance, so why not leave the rest to the poli... I mean, the guards? We'd find it right away if we had a lot of people working on it," Subaru said, glancing at "Satella" and Fluttershy.

A shopkeeper two streets away had pointed them toward a narrow alley that led into the slums. Now standing at its entrance, they could see the area's decrepit state—broken homes, impoverished children staring at them from the sides of houses, and the occasional wary glance from a resident passing by. The air reeked of decay and filth, causing Subaru to wrinkle his nose reflexively.

"The atmosphere, the mood... probably even the personalities here are bad," Subaru muttered, his voice tinged with unease. "We should seriously just call someone."

"No way." "Satella's" tone was calm but firm.

Subaru turned to her, bewildered. "Is she really here? I mean, that Felt girl. You said a nimble little blonde, right? She's supposedly well-known around here. Wouldn't it make more sense to let the guards handle this?"

"Satella" shook her head and glanced away, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, but that's no good. I don't think the guards would come running over a small theft like this. And... I can't rely on them due to personal reasons."

The sincerity in her voice made Subaru stop pressing the issue. He raised a hand in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. You don't need to explain."

He wasn't about to pry into her circumstances, but that didn't make the task ahead any less daunting. "So, what do we do, then?" he asked, folding his arms.

"We keep going. Maybe someone will tell us where she is?" "Satella" suggested, her hopeful tone breaking the heavy atmosphere.

Fluttershy nodded softly. "This place looks so... worse for wear. I wish there was something we could do to help the people here..."

"No one's going to sell out one of their own," a small voice chimed in. It was Puck, leaning lazily against "Satella's" neck. "Especially not in a place like this."

"Then maybe we should come back later?" Subaru offered, glancing up at the sky. The sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the slums in shades of dim orange and gray.

"Whether you stay or leave, you'd better decide quickly," Puck interjected, his voice taking on a rare tone of seriousness. "I'm almost out of time."

Subaru frowned. "Out of time? What's that mean?"

"As cute as I am, I'm still a spirit. Maintaining this form takes a lot of mana," Puck explained, stretching lazily. "Once night falls, I return to the crystal and recharge for the next day. I usually try to stick around from nine to five."

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Nine to five? You sound like a civil servant. Are spirits unionized or something?"

"Don't do anything reckless. If you need me, use your Od to summon me." Puck waves at Subaru, "Okay, take care of the rest, Subaru!"

Waving goodbye, Puck disappeared into the crystal hanging around her neck.

Subaru, "Satella", and Fluttershy made their way toward a small bridge, with the warm glow of sunset beginning to fade into the evening sky.

"You know," Subaru began, a slight flush coloring his cheeks, "I haven't been alone with a girl since I was in grade school!" He flashed a nervous grin over his shoulder at "Satella", who trailed just behind him, her eyes narrowed in warning.

"Don't get any weird ideas," "Satella" said with a stern tone.

Fluttershy, fluttering lightly beside Subaru, giggled softly, "Oh, Subaru would never..."

Subaru's expression shifted, now fully serious. "But, uh... the bigger issue is how we're going to find Felt now."

"I'll ask the lesser spirits," "Satella" said softly.

"Lesser spirits?" Subaru and Fluttershy asked in unison, both looking at her curiously.

"Satella" gave a gentle nod. "Lesser spirits are beings that haven't fully ascended yet. They grow over time, and once they gain enough strength and self-awareness, they become full spirits, like Puck."

"Satella" whispers out, drawing many lesser spirits to their location..

Fluttershy's eyes widened. "This... this is beautiful." Her voice was filled with awe as she gazed around, enchanted by the peaceful energy that surrounded them. The soft hum of the spirits reminded her of home... What was home?

Meanwhile, Subaru could only stare at "Satella". She glowed brightly, her expression serene and otherworldly, and for a brief moment, he couldn't find his words.

Subaru, "Satella", and Fluttershy trudged deeper into the slums, the once-faint glow of the setting sun slowly disappearing as they ventured further into the gloom.

"It's getting more and more desolate," "Satella" remarked.

Subaru frowned, glancing around. "Does she really live in a place like this?" he wondered aloud. His mind was filled with doubt, especially after the earlier conversation with the local man.

Fluttershy, her hooves barely making a sound against the cracked pavement, shuddered as the oppressive darkness crept closer. She hated the night, especially when the surroundings felt as if they held dangers she couldn't comprehend. She clung to Subaru's side, her legs quaking, and in her heart, she longed for the safety of her home—her peaceful, warm home.

"The lesser spirits said they saw someone who looked like Felt going this way." "Satella" said, breaking the silence.

The trio pass by a man, and Subaru stops him.

"Hey! Does a girl named Felt live up this way?" He raised his hand, with a cheerful demeanor in his voice.

"Huh? Felt?" The man turned to them. "Nothing that way but Old Man Rom's loot house."

The man mused, bringing his hand to his chin. "Did Felt steal something from you guys? Well, good luck trying to negotiate it back. Live strong."

The group arrived at the loot house, Subaru scanned over it with a light.

"Satella" complained, "Why do I have to pay to get back something that was stolen from me?"

"Well, let me handle this. I'll do the talking," Subaru said.

"Satella" shot him a concerned look but nodded. "I'll let you handle it."

"I thought you'd put up more of a fight, going off how you've been up til now, "Someone as useless as you will handle this? That's too funny! I can't feel my sides!" And I'd be hurt, but still make up my mind to help you anyway."
"I wouldn't say something that mean." "Satella" clarified, "Of course, I'd be lying if I said you haven't been holding me back…"

"Did you really have to say that?!" Subaru looked away, feigning devastation.

"But.. I'll try believing in you." "Satella" said, in a very genuine manner. Subaru looked back, his eyes widening.

Being so caught up in her conversation, the duo hadn't noticed how Fluttershy had covered her head with her front legs and pushed herself to the ground. She was trying to make herself look small. Shivering, teeth chattering, she had a horrible feeling. "S..Subaru, P-Please don't go in there. We can just leave, come back tomorrow.." She barely squeaked out.

Subaru and "Satella" looked to Fluttershy, Subaru running over to physically comfort her.

Subaru's expression softened as he looked at her. "Hey, listen. It'll be alright! I'm just going in to talk. It's not like I'll get beat up by a girl that much smaller than me. I hope." He joked near the end, trying to lighten the mood.

But Fluttershy wasn't convinced. She whimpered softly, her eyes wide with fear. Subaru caught her trembling and nodded towards "Satella". "Hey, can you keep an eye on her? She's seriously spooked."

"Satella" nodded, glancing at the frightened pegasus before responding, "Good luck."

Subaru headed for the door, trying to sound casual. "If I'm not back in a few minutes, come in and save me, okay? Shouldn't be anything too serious." He half-joked, but inside, the unease was building. Fluttershy's fear was getting to him.

"Don't say stupid things like that. Be careful," "Satella" warned, but Subaru was already pushing open the door.

"Thanks, Satella, I will be."

Inside, the place was dark and ominous, the air thick with dust and the scent of old metal. Subaru swept the light of his lantern across the room, scanning the walls lined with weapons, armor, and dolls. "Now, am I walking into a demon's lair or a snake pit? In this fantasy world, either is totally plausible," he muttered to himself.

Subaru made his way deeper into the loot house, his footsteps echoing ominously. "Is this all stolen loot?" He stepped forward, the creaking of floorboards breaking the silence. "Why isn't anyone here? A place that deals with stolen goods can't be this careless."

Suddenly, a sickening sound echoed through the room.

Plop.

Subaru froze and looked down. His heart skipped a beat. A severed dark-skinned arm, still dripping with fresh blood, lay in a pool on the floor.

Subaru's breath hitched in his throat, and his eyes darted upward. The bloodied remains of a giant lay slumped in the corner, its intestines spilled out, and the scene was an unmistakable sign of violence.

"Oh, dear, you found that?" A feminine voice floated in from the shadows. Subaru's blood ran cold. "Oh well, wrong place, wrong time."

He spun around, but before he could react—

Thud!

He was thrown across the room, pain searing through his body.

Subaru looked down. His stomach was cut open.

"Oh crap… is all of this my blood?" Subaru wheezed, his vision swimming.

The door burst open, and Fluttershy flew in with panic in her eyes, followed closely by "Satella".

Subaru barely managed to stutter out, "I'm in deep shit... I'm seriously in deep sh—"

He realized.

"NO, NO, NO." Subaru panicked, he couldn't even speak, blood was rushing out his throat.
"RUN, PLEASE RUN!" Subaru begged internally, he could only get out short groans.
"SUBARU!" Fluttershy yelled as she located him. "Satella" surveyed the room, "What happened to Subaru?!"
Fluttershy and "Satella" came up to tend to his wounds. "Satella" began trying to at least staunch the bleeding long enough for him to see a better healer.

Subaru grabbed and pulled at "Satella's" sleeve. They needed to run, she was still in here!

"No.. Run .. Away.. Now..!" Subaru forced out, his throat screaming at him in retaliation.

Hatred boiled in Fluttershy's eyes, as she scanned the room for the Attacker. She saw her slinking around the room, abusing the shadows, and darted into her the fastest Subaru had ever seen her fly. She launched the Attacker through a wall, out of the loot house, and pinned her to the ground.

"My my, this is new." The Attacker licked her lips.

Fluttershy crushed one of The Attacker's blades into fractured pieces using her hooves. Along with it, went the attackers hand.

The Attacker seemed somewhat annoyed by this. "I do wonder what color your bowels will be." The Attacker mused, as they went for a slash on Fluttershy's stomach. Fluttershy propels herself away using her hooves and wings to act as a stabilizer.

"Satella" was trying her best to stop the bleeding, but she could only slow it down. She looked over to watch Fluttershy fight their Attacker, Fluttershy weaving nearly every fatal attack, only having sustained minor to moderate cuts and gashes.

"Subaru, don't die!" "Satella" begged.

Fluttershy flew toward The Attacker and kicked her with her back legs, breaking most of the bones in the upper portion of the Attackers body.

Taking the opportunity, believing the attacker to be debilitated, Fluttershy goes in to crush her head.

Fluttershy feels something hot in her gut. She looks over.

She had destroyed that hand, it was mutilated beyond use. Why was it back?

"This was fun. But, I think it's time for me to see your bowels." The Attacker said, with sick glee perverting her tone.

Fluttershy's body crumples to the ground, her abdomen torn open in a brutal attack. Blood spilled from her body in a grotesque flood, and she collapsed, her life leaving her in a single, final moment of agony.

"No... Flu..ttershy…" Subaru whispered, his heart sinking.

"Satella's" scream echoed as she turned to face the attacker, but the figure was already too close. The final blow was swift, a slash to her stomach that sent her crumpling to the ground. Blood splattered across Subaru's jacket as he stared, the bitter taste of failure choking him.
hot hot hot

It burns It burns it burns

please.

He cursed himself, over and over.

"Satella's" hand fell into a patch of moonlight near him, pouring into the room. Subaru used all the strength he had left in his body to reach out.

"I swear―"
"I will―"
"Save you..!"

And with that, Subaru Natsuki died.