.
.
.
Subaru's heart hammered wildly in her chest as the realization settled over her. She was here, somehow, in this strange world, trapped in a body that wasn't her own—a weak girl's body. She had no clue who had summoned her here or why. There was no logic to it, no explanation she could find that would make any of this seem real, and yet it was. She felt herself shiver as she remembered it: the searing, mind-numbing pain of being torn apart by those monstrous jaws, the brutal cold that had swallowed her whole. Her body ached, even now, like a bruise that ran bone-deep.
She could feel her breathing quicken, her chest rising and falling in uneven gasps as she staggered into the shadows of a nearby alley, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. Her eyes stung, filling with tears she couldn't seem to hold back.
"I… I don't even know if I can get back home…" she whispered to herself, the thought pulling at her heart. "Or if Mom and Dad would even recognize me like this…"
The tears spilled over, and she didn't even bother to wipe them away, letting them flow freely as her vision blurred. She had thought that maybe, "Satella" could be her ally. An ally, maybe even a friend (for some reason, she didn't feel romantic attraction). But "Satella" had turned on her—or, no, it wasn't her fault. It was that little cat, Puck. Puck, who she'd thought was cute and harmless. Puck, who had sunk his teeth into her, tearing her apart like she was nothing more than prey.
"I… I still feel it…" Subaru's voice cracked, the pain still so vivid, so raw, like an open wound that wouldn't heal. Her knees gave way, and she slumped against the cold, grimy wall, sobbing openly, desperately trying to pull herself together.
But she couldn't. She was stranded, defenseless, with nothing but the clothes on her back and a body too weak to defend itself. No money, no way to get stronger, and no one to trust. Just her, alone, a penniless, powerless, pathetic—
"Dammit," she cursed under her breath, the bitterness of her own helplessness clawing at her insides. "Damn it all."
But before she could sink any deeper into her despair, she heard footsteps—the kind that carried a certain swagger. A group of men, shadows stretching long against the alley walls, moving closer.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The lead thug, Chin, sneered as he caught sight of her huddled form, his lips curling into a lecherous grin. "A pretty little lady, crying all by herself, hmm?"
Subaru's breath hitched as she looked up, meeting Chin's gaze. He towered over her, flanked by his two goons, their eyes gleaming with nasty intent. She felt her body tense up, a surge of anger boiling up inside her at the very sight of them. They were useless.
"Get lost!" she spat, her voice ringing with a fury that surprised even her. She glared at them, her eyes like daggers, sharp enough to pierce right through them.
Chin's smug expression crumbled in an instant, his face paling as he stumbled backward, landing on his butt with a heavy thud. "N-no need to get s-so angry…" His hands shot up in a pleading gesture, his eyes wide with a terror he couldn't hide. "P-please, don't kill us!" he stammered, his voice shaking.
Subaru glared at him, barely able to hold back the fury that boiled in her chest. But she didn't speak. She didn't need to. Chin scrambled to his feet, his friends dragging him back as they practically tripped over each other in their rush to flee from her.
She exhaled, the anger fading just as quickly as it had come. She slumped against the wall, breathing heavily, her mind a whirlwind of chaos. She didn't know what was happening anymore, couldn't make sense of any of it. All she wanted was to find some scrap of normalcy, some way to ground herself. But in this world, that felt like a hopeless dream.
Just then, a flash of movement caught her eye—a small, nimble figure darting into the alley. It was Felt, the thief from earlier. The girl skidded to a stop, her eyes widening as she took in Subaru's tear-streaked face. She paused, her expression flickering with confusion and maybe a hint of pity, before she quickly looked away, muttering something under her breath as she continued on her way.
But the sight of her hit Subaru like a punch to the gut. She remembered it all too clearly: Felt's crumpled body, her lifeless eyes staring into nothingness after Elsa had finished her gruesome work. That sadistic woman would come again, Subaru knew it. And everyone in that alley—Felt, Rom, even "Satella"—they would all die. They would all meet that same horrible end.
And what could she do? She was just a weak, powerless girl now. How could she possibly help anyone?
Just then, there was a hurried clatter of footsteps at the mouth of the alley, and a familiar voice called out, frantic and desperate. "Hey! Have you seen a thief around here? A small girl, blonde hair—"
Subaru looked up, her heart sinking as she saw her. 'Satella,' the silver-haired woman who had shown her kindness in that first encounter. She was scanning the alley, her eyes filled with determination and worry.
Subaru's blood ran cold. She remembered the sight of 'Satella's' body, too—her blood pooling on the ground, her lifeless form left in the wake of that monstrous assassin. And if she stayed here, if she got involved again…
Subaru's gaze shifted behind 'Satella,' and her breath caught as she saw him—the tiny, cat-like spirit that floated near her shoulder. Puck. His eyes, those too-familiar, piercing eyes, locked onto Subaru, narrowing in suspicion.
"You…" Puck's voice was soft, yet his gaze held a dangerous glint. "What's your name?"
"Puck?" 'Satella' looked at him in confusion, turning to glance between him and Subaru. "Do you…know her?"
"She looks familiar and that aura..."
Subaru could feel herself start to tremble. Her throat tightened, and her vision blurred as the weight of her fear pressed down on her, cold and unrelenting. She couldn't do this. She couldn't face him—not after what he'd done. Not after the way he'd torn her apart.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and ran, her footsteps echoing through the alleyway as she fled.
"Wait!" 'Satella' called after her, her voice filled with a mix of shock and concern.
But Subaru didn't look back. She couldn't look back. She didn't owe them anything—she didn't need to risk her life for a world that was as alien to her as it was unforgiving. Her own survival was what mattered. If she got herself wrapped up in this madness again, she'd only be inviting her own death, again and again.
She would keep her head down, stay out of trouble, and find a way to live here on her own terms. She could do it; she was a top student, after all. She'd even won the Asian Physics Olympiad just last year. If she had to, she'd start over and make something of herself, find a workshop, build something—
A solid weight collided with her, and she stumbled back, falling hard onto the cold, unyielding ground. Her vision spun, and she winced as pain flared through her backside.
"Ow," she muttered, looking up to see who she'd run into.
Standing before her was a man, tall and dressed in a pristine white outfit, his red hair catching the faint sunlight that filtered through the narrow alley. His blue eyes held a warm, almost gentle gaze as he looked down at her, offering a hand to help her up.
"Miss, are you okay?" he asked, his voice smooth and laced with concern.
Subaru blinked, her mind still reeling as she took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. She brushed herself off, mumbling a shaky, "Yeah… I'm fine… or maybe…"
The man tilted his head, studying her with an expression of mild confusion. "I… don't understand," he murmured, almost to himself.
Subaru stiffened under his gaze, a flicker of unease curling in her gut. She stammered out an apology, her words barely coherent as she tried to sidestep him, her only thought to get away, to keep moving. She could feel his gaze lingering on her as she stumbled away, his curious, calculating expression etched into her mind.
The man gave a bewildered look at her way. What happened to her?
His Divine Protection of Introduction says—
Name: Subaru Natsuki/ Echidna.
Age: 19.
Job: Student/ Teacher.
Category: Sorcerer/?
He watched her go, his brows knitting together in a thoughtful frown. There was something strange about this girl, something that didn't quite fit. His Divine Protection of Introduction was never wrong, and yet, when he'd looked at her, he had seen two names: Subaru Natsuki… and Echidna.
Why would somebody name their children 'Echinda'?
She was not only a teacher but also a student. She was a mage and something unknown too? That's unique and suspicious.
But his eyes went wide as he read the last entry.
Threat level: Calamity.
She looked to be troubled and if a calamity level oddly clad person was in trouble, it meant one thing: BIG PROBLEM.
"I guess I can't catch a break." Sighing, the Sword Saint began to follow the young woman.
Ō~Õ
Subaru stopped in front of a small café. Its windows were grimy, clouded with dust, and the faint scent of stale bread drifted from the door. She pushed it open, a little bell tinkling overhead as she stepped inside. A balding, middle-aged man behind the counter glanced up, his brows raising slightly as he took in her appearance—her thin frame, her too-clean clothes.
"Excuse me," Subaru began, forcing some confidence into her voice. "Are you… hiring? I'm looking for work."
The man gave her a slow once-over, eyes lingering on her soft hands. "Can you read?" he asked, his tone flat.
Subaru hesitated, a flush rising to her cheeks. "Uh… not this language," she admitted. The words felt heavy, admitting a kind of helplessness she was just beginning to understand.
The man's expression didn't soften. If anything, he looked more irritated. "Then you're useless to me. I need a receptionist, someone who can read orders and keep track of customers." His gaze swept her up and down again, his lips pressing into a thin line. "If you can't even manage that, I don't have time for you."
He turned away, dismissing her. Subaru felt her chest tighten as she stood there, the weight of his words settling over her like a dark cloud. She turned and walked back out, the bell ringing behind her, sharper and more accusing than before.
She shuffled down the street, her eyes scanning the rows of stores and shops. Eventually, she found herself standing in front of a small, dingy laundry shop. Maybe here, she thought. Maybe they'd be willing to give her a chance.
"Excuse me," she said again, stepping inside. "I… I'm looking for work. I could—"
The man behind the counter, a burly, thick-armed fellow with sweat beading on his forehead, took one look at her and shook his head. "You?" he scoffed. "With hands like those?"
Subaru blinked, glancing down at her hands. Soft, unmarked, delicate even. In her old life, they'd been strong, capable—hands that could fix a bike or wire a circuit. But now, in this body… they looked almost fragile, small.
"Sorry, kid. This work isn't for you," the man said, turning away without another glance. "Too weak."
Subaru stepped back, words of protest dying on her lips. She could feel the weight of humiliation growing heavier, and she didn't have the strength to argue. She turned and stumbled out of the shop, swallowing down a lump in her throat as she moved along the cobbled street.
The next place she tried was an inn. It was a modest building, its walls patched with damp spots, the sign barely hanging on by a rusty nail. But maybe here… maybe this would be different.
The innkeeper, a lanky man with a thin, leering smile, eyed her in a way that made her skin crawl. He glanced at her face, then at her slight frame, his eyes lingering a little too long.
"Well…" he drawled, his voice thick with suggestion. "There's always… work… for a pretty girl, if you know what I mean."
"You're sick," Subaru's stomach turned. She backed away, her cheeks burning, and turned, fleeing before he could say another word. She pushed out of the inn, the bile rising in her throat as she stumbled down the street, her heart hammering.
Subaru didn't see the man collapsing on the floor and rolling violently on the floor. His eyes rolled back in the head as foam came out of his mouth.
Subaru wandered, dazed, lost. Her feet carried her to a quiet corner of the street, where she finally slumped down onto the curb, letting her face fall into her hands. The world around her was strange, unfamiliar, harsh in ways she'd never expected. And she… she was useless here. She couldn't read their language. She had no strength, no skills that would matter. Everything she'd been proud of—her intelligence, her drive—meant nothing in this place.
She glanced down at her SuperPhone, the shiny screen catching the late afternoon sun. Her fingers traced over its edges, the familiar weight of it in her palm a small comfort. She remembered her father's beaming face as he handed it to her, the pride in his eyes. He'd given it to her for winning the gold medal at the Olympiad, his gift for all her hard work, for being the 'son' he could boast about.
Maybe she could sell it, she thought. Get some coin, enough to keep her off the streets for a while. But even as the thought crossed her mind, a pang of guilt tugged at her heart. This phone wasn't just any device—it was a link to home, to the life she'd left behind. Selling it would mean letting go of that last piece of her old world, of her family, her accomplishments, her dreams.
"Great," she muttered bitterly, her voice barely a whisper. "Even with an IQ of 189, I'm a complete idiot here. An illiterate, useless idiot… rejected by everyone." Her fists clenched, and she could feel the frustration bubbling over, helpless and raw. "And on top of that, I'm too weak for anything. Physically, mentally… I'm just…"
Her thoughts drifted, and her mind flashed to 'Satella'—the silver-haired girl who'd tried to help her, who had shown her kindness in that strange, twisted way. She didn't even know her real name. But she remembered her face, the determined light in her eyes, the way she'd fought for something she believed in. It was a shame she'd have to die.
Subaru tried to shove the thought away, tried to convince herself that it wasn't her problem. She didn't belong here. She had nothing to do with any of it. If she got involved, she'd only end up dead again. And then what? Another restart? Another death?
But the memory wouldn't leave her alone. She could still see it—the horrifying image of 'Satella,' Felt, and Rom, their bodies cold and broken, left behind in pools of blood. And that woman—Elsa, with her cruel smile and dark eyes, cutting them down one by one.
Subaru shook her head, as if that would shake away the guilt gnawing at her. "It's not my business," she muttered, trying to believe her own words. "I'm too weak. If I go, I'll just… die again."
But then, a loud thud startled her, and her gaze snapped up. A tomato had fallen from a nearby cart, bouncing once before rolling under the heavy hoof of a passing horse. With a sickening squelch, it was crushed, a spray of red staining the cobblestones. The crimson paste froze her in place, her breath hitching as she stared at it, her mind spiraling back to the sight of blood, splattering, pooling… death.
She clenched her fists, her knuckles white. 'Satella' would die. So would Felt, Rom… all of them. And Elsa… she would do it all without a shred of mercy, with that twisted smile on her face.
And Puck—what if 'Satella' died? Would he become that monster again? Would he unleash that terrifying, cold power, that nightmare of fangs and ice?
She wanted to know the answer, see it herself or maybe influence the situation in her own way and save everybody.
Before she knew what was happening, Subaru was on her feet, her legs moving as if of their own accord. She took one step, then another, the direction clear in her mind, even if the decision was still a blur.
"I… I can at least try…" she whispered, the words a shaky breath of defiance.
Ō~Õ
The dimly lit room in the old loot house felt thick with tension. Emilia's fingers clenched at her sides as she stood across from the table, her violet eyes flashing with anger as she watched the stranger handle her insignia like it was a mere trinket. Felt, the small, scrappy thief who had stolen it, stood nearby, looking as though she was just waiting for her payday to walk out the door. And the woman across from her—pale, dark-eyed, unsettlingly calm—grinned as she turned the insignia over in her fingers, examining it with an unsettling curiosity.
"My, my," the woman purred, a grin curling across her lips as she looked at Emilia. "I didn't realize the real owner would come chasing after it. How… convenient."
Emilia's anger flared. "That insignia isn't yours. And it isn't hers, either," she shot a glare at Felt, who only shrugged. "You can't just treat it like it's some cheap toy you can pass around! Now return it at once!"
The woman's grin didn't falter; it only grew sharper, more malicious. She set the insignia down on the table, her fingers brushing over it one last time before she slowly stood, her gaze fixated on Emilia with a dark gleam. Her tongue flicked over her lips, and there was a dangerous glint in her eyes as she took off her cloak, revealing a sheath at her hip.
"You know," she said, her voice dripping with twisted delight, "I've always been curious. How does a half-elf look from the inside—!"
In a flash, she lunged at Emilia, her blade glinting as it sliced through the air. Emilia barely had time to react, her heart leaping into her throat as the deadly edge rushed toward her. But before it could connect, a wall of ice sprang up between them, thick and solid, the blade clanging against it with a harsh metallic sound.
"Looks like my daughter's getting bullied," a familiar, playful voice chimed from above. Puck floated beside Emilia, his small form glowing with a soft, icy light, his grin both mischievous and dangerous.
The woman—Elsa, as Emilia suddenly remembered her name—paused, her gaze shifting to Puck with a look of fascinated hunger. "Oooooh, how fascinating," she murmured, licking her lips. "A spirit. I wonder… do you have guts I can see too?"
The air crackled with tension as the two sized each other up, Puck's usually playful demeanor hardening into something fierce, something protective. Felt and Rom, who had been standing by, seemed frozen in place, their faces pale with fear and shock as they realized just how deadly serious this confrontation was.
With a quick movement, Elsa lunged again, her blade flashing in a deadly arc toward Puck. But Puck countered with a quick burst of icy wind, sharp and biting, forcing her back as a blizzard seemed to whip up from nowhere, filling the room with freezing air and glittering shards of frost.
"You're gonna have to do better than that," Puck taunted, his voice sharp and mocking. Elsa's eyes narrowed, her grin sharpening as she adjusted her stance, determination hardening in her gaze. Without hesitation, she launched herself at them, her blade a blur as she sliced through the air, aiming deadly strikes at both Puck and Emilia.
The room became a whirlwind of ice and steel. Elsa's blade slashed and struck with brutal precision, while Puck conjured walls of ice, icicles, and freezing gusts to keep her at bay. But Elsa was relentless, weaving between Puck's attacks, moving with a snake-like grace that was almost mesmerizing. She struck, each blow faster and more ferocious, her blade carving through the air as she sought any opening to land a fatal strike.
Puck's eyes narrowed, his focus unbreakable as he deflected her attacks, his control over the icy winds growing fiercer, more ruthless. Emilia's heart pounded as she watched, standing just behind Puck, her fingers tight around the insignia, her resolve hardening. She wasn't going to let Elsa walk away with it, no matter what.
Elsa's blade flicked out, nearly grazing Emilia's cheek, and Emilia reacted instinctively, raising her hands and sending a blast of ice at Elsa, freezing the air around her. Elsa dodged, but not without a wicked smile that hinted at her enjoyment of the fight.
The clash between Elsa and Puck intensified, each strike and counterattack filling the room with the sound of shattering ice and clanging steel. Just as it seemed neither was willing to give an inch, the door creaked open, drawing both of their gazes.
A shadow stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the dim light—a girl, tall and slight, with long white hair and a green butterfly ornament in her hair. She wore a strange, black-and-white attire with orange touches, her expression a peculiar mixture of confidence and fear.
The heavy, uncertain silence hung over the dimly lit room as the stranger strolled in, every step punctuated by the low echo of her boots on the cold stone floor. Her head tilted, her gaze drifting leisurely across the room as if she had all the time in the world. Her eyes were sharp, calculating as they landed first on Elsa, who watched her with an unnervingly feral grin; then on Puck, hovering protectively by Emilia's side, his tiny form radiating a quiet but dangerous energy. Finally, her gaze settled on Emilia herself, whose expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion, as though she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
The silence stretched, thick and tense. Then, Puck's voice broke through it, low and filled with shock. "A witch…" he whispered, almost as if he didn't believe his own words. "This aura… and that face…"
The girl blinked, her expression shifting from a puzzled frown to a wide, toothy grin that was far too big for the situation. She placed one hand on her hip, raising her other hand dramatically, pointing a finger to the sky in a mock-heroic pose. "Huh? Me, a witch? Nah!" she declared, laughing in a way that was both carefree and a little unhinged. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and defiance, like she found the whole situation hilarious. "I'm not a witch—I'm Natsuki Subaru! Not only am I completely clueless, but I'm also flat-out broke! Like, totally penniless! Nice to meet ya'll!"
For a moment, her words just hung in the air, met with a stunned silence. Elsa raised an eyebrow, her fingers tightening around her blade, while Puck floated closer, his tiny form radiating suspicion. Emilia simply stared, her expression caught somewhere between bemusement and alarm.
Puck was the first to speak, his voice low and cautious. "You… must be related to one then," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he studied her intently.
Subaru's grin only widened, lighting up her entire face with genuine excitement. "Oh! Do you know one of my relatives?" she asked, her tone so genuinely curious that it was almost endearing.
Puck gave a small "Hmm," his gaze thoughtful, though he didn't seem fully convinced. "It doesn't matter," he said, his voice soft but filled with an edge. "What are your intentions here?"
Subaru's confidence didn't waver for a second. If anything, her grin grew even brighter, her eyes practically gleaming with reckless enthusiasm. "Isn't it obvious?" She jabbed a thumb toward Emilia, her voice filled with a dramatic, almost theatrical bravado. "I'm here to save her!"
Emilia's eyes went wide, her mouth falling open slightly. "Me?" she echoed, clearly taken aback. "But… I don't even know you!"
"Crazy, right?" Subaru laughed, throwing Emilia a playful wink as if they were already best friends. "But hey, saving people I barely know? That's, like, my thing!" Her grin turned almost smug, as though she couldn't imagine anything more natural.
Elsa's expression darkened, her patience visibly snapping. Her body tensed, and in the blink of an eye, she lunged at Subaru, her blade flashing with deadly intent. The knife cut through the air, aiming straight for Subaru's chest, the cold metal gleaming menacingly as it sliced toward her.
But before Elsa's blade could reach its target, a white blur shot across the room with blinding speed. There was a loud, metallic clang as metal met metal, a sound that reverberated through the room like a thunderclap, freezing everyone in place.
"Reinhard!" Emilia's voice rang out, a mixture of relief and awe filling her tone as she took in the sight before her.
Standing tall and steady between Subaru and Elsa was Reinhard, the legendary Sword Saint himself. His stance was calm, almost relaxed, as though he were deflecting an attack no more dangerous than a passing breeze. He held off Elsa's blade with nothing more than a simple metal rod, yet his expression was one of serene confidence. Straightening, he offered Elsa a polite, almost casual smile. "I sensed trouble and thought I'd step in. Seems I arrived just in time."
Elsa's eyes gleamed with a dangerous excitement, her lips curling into a wide, predatory grin. "My, my… the Sword Saint himself," she purred, her tone dripping with twisted pleasure. She watched him like a wolf sizing up prey, her fingers flexing around the hilt of her blade.
Subaru's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning, her excitement practically radiating from her. "Sword Saint?! Oh, man, that's so cool! Are you really strong? Like, strong enough to beat her? 'Cause let me tell you, she's crazy strong! Tell me!"
Reinhard glanced at her, raising an eyebrow with a slight, amused smirk. "You could defeat her yourself, you know," he replied smoothly. "So, what's so amazing?"
Subaru's jaw dropped, her face a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Wait, are you serious? Does that mean I've got some kinda 'protagonist buff' or something?"
Ignoring Subaru's bewildered rambling, Reinhard turned his focus back to Elsa, his stance shifting as he prepared for her next move. Elsa lunged forward, her blade a blur as she struck out again and again, each movement faster and more vicious than the last. But Reinhard met each attack with an effortless grace, deflecting her strikes with a fluidity that made it look like a dance. Every time Elsa lunged, Reinhard dodged, sidestepped, or blocked, his movements calm, controlled, and almost bored.
Elsa's frustration boiled over, her attacks growing more frantic, her strikes losing their precision as her rage took over. With a furious scream, she swung her blade in a wide arc, aiming straight for Reinhard's chest. But he didn't even flinch. He merely raised the metal rod, blocking her strike with a casual flick of his wrist, as though her deadly attacks were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Enraged, Elsa tried again and again, each attack more desperate than the last. But Reinhard remained unfazed, his expression one of calm detachment. Finally, with a decisive blow, he struck her back, his rod colliding with her chest and sending her stumbling across the room.
Elsa glared at him, her breath coming in harsh gasps, her body battered and bruised. She spat on the ground, her dark eyes seething with hatred as she backed away, retreating into the shadows.
As the tension in the room eased, Subaru let out a triumphant cheer, practically bouncing with excitement. "I did it! I actually saved the day!" She turned to Reinhard, her face glowing with gratitude and awe. "Thank you, thank you for helping out and everything!"
But before she could finish her sentence, she felt a sudden, bone-chilling cold wash over her, freezing her body from neck to toe. Her breath hitched, her eyes widening as she looked down to find herself encased in a thin, solid layer of ice.
"What the—?!" she sputtered, her breath fogging up the frozen air in front of her.
Puck floated beside her, his gaze sharp and suspicious, his voice colder than the ice around her. "Who are you? Really."
Subaru blinked, staring at him, her expression one of confused innocence. She managed a slightly awkward smile, her voice coming out in a shaky breath. "Uh… I already introduced myself, didn't I?"
Puck's glare didn't soften. If anything, it grew more intense. "Say it again."
Subaru let out a small sigh, rolling her eyes slightly. "Natsuki Subaru, I swear!" She gave Reinhard a pleading look. "Can you tell him I'm telling the truth?"
Reinhard's brow furrowed as he considered her words. "My Divine Protection of Wind—Lie Detection confirms she's telling the truth."
Puck hesitated, his suspicion fading into confusion. "Then… why do you smell like… this? And why do you… look like a witch?"
"What?! I swear, I have nothing to do with any wizard or witch! I even hate fantasy novels!" Subaru protested, her voice edging toward exasperation. "Except, like, Lord of the Rings, but who doesn't like that?"
Reinhard stepped forward. "Your name… you don't happen to have another name, do you? Like Echidna?"
"What? Of course not!"
"I think," Reinhard looked at Puck. "She is suffering from amnesia or is simply confused. Because my Divine Protections say she has two names and yet, is not lying, or thinks she is speaking the truth."
"Hey! I am not mad!"
"Really?" Puck looked skeptical.
Before she could say another word, a dark blur shot out of the shadows, aimed straight at Emilia.
"Ha—?!"
In a flash, Subaru's icy prison shattered as flames erupted around her, blazing hot and bright. In the blink of an eye, she appeared before Emilia, lunging forward, her hand outstretched as she hurled a giant fireball at Elsa. The woman screamed, stumbling back before vanishing into the shadows with an enraged shriek.
Subaru blinked, panting as the adrenaline surged through her. Her face broke into a wide, ecstatic grin. "Wicked! I actually saved the heroine!"
"You risked your life to save me…" Emilia was shocked at the stranger's generosity.
"What can I say, I am just that greedy," Subaru sheepishly smiled, scratching her long white hair.
But before she could bask in the moment, her vision began to blur, her body going cold. A heavy, sickening sensation filled her chest as something warm and wet dripped down her front. She looked down, her eyes widening in horror as she saw blood seeping from a deep wound in her abdomen.
"Oh… crap." Her voice was barely a whisper as she swayed, her knees buckling. She collapsed forward, only to be caught by Emilia's trembling hands.
"Hey—no, I… I'm so sorry!" Emilia's voice cracked as she held Subaru close, her eyes wide and filled with guilt and fear. "This… this is my fault…"
Subaru managed a weak, crooked grin, her voice faint. "Hey… don't worry about it. You can pay me back."
Emilia's eyes filled with tears, her voice barely a whisper. "How?"
Subaru's smile softened, her voice barely audible. "Tell me your name, we can be friends..."
Emilia's lips trembled, and she finally whispered, "It's… Emilia."
Subaru's eyelids fluttered as her smile widened. "Emilia-tan… nice name…" Subaru murmured, her smile softening. "Nice name..." Then, silence.
Reinhard coughed. "That wound looks painful. But not fatal. Emila-sama, I should take her with me, perhaps she is cursed by the Witch Cult or something similar."
"No," Emilia retorted. "She is hurt because she risked her life to help me!" Emilia said as she applied healing magic on Subaru. "I'll take her with me to the manor."
Puck floated beside her. "You sure? Reinhard said she has two names. This girl has a potent witch misma and gives off the vibe of one.."
"Still—"
"Lia, remember the books where the witches' sketch was drawn? Doesn't she look too much like the Witch of Greed? People already badmouth us and if she is seen with you… things could get nasty."
"It's final, she is coming!"
"Alright," Puck sighed. "Other than that aura and smell, she does seem pretty stupid. And if she tries anything funny, well, I can always humble her."
Ō~Õ
Author Note:
The Promised Explanation of the 6th Chapter:
When Puck first saw Subaru in the first loop, he saw a person with a witch scent looking like the Witch of Greed. However, since the misma wasn't too potent, he deduced it would be like Emilia/Satella's case, just a lookalike.
At this point, Echidna and Subaru weren't fused 100 percent.
After they fused 100 percent, Puck, when he saw her in the second loop, got even a stronger witch scent from her, not to mention having someone try to kill Emilia at the same time made it even worse, so he just saw a person with witch misma, who was 'probably evil' and was trying to kill Emilia, 'She's the main threat,'
My point is proven when he didn't attack her when she arrived in the middle of his and Elsa's fight. Instead, since she looked like a younger version of Echidna, he assumed she was Echidna's descendant or so.
Point to be noted: Puck has most of his memories regarding Echidna sealed due to his contract with her. If he had seen the real Echidna (no Subaru doping), who knows what might've been the outcome.
I hope my words are clear and understandable.
By the way, noticed something odd about Subaru? Honestly, I was shocked to see her casually walking in an arena without a plan…
I don't think she is the 'I have a plan: attack' type person.
Oh, and Subaru and Echidna are fused completely, body and mind. But can Subaru's willpower suppress her?
I wonder how Beako and Rosewall will react in the next chapter.
Anyways, drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words inspire me to write faster, better and with more depth.
Till next time!