Chapter Text
You could say it was just another day, the bustling shopping area of Lugunica was the same as always with people flowing like a river, browsing the stalls and buying what they needed for the day, the voices of shopkeepers trying to get customers, children playing along the busy stretch, the voices of passersby in casual conversation, the distant noise of the earth dragon carriages that mixed with the noisy nature of the city. But that was not the case for a certain half-elf with silver hair and snow-white skin, anguish seeped from his amethyst eyes, it was his first day in this busy city and he had lost contact with his caretaker. The colorful shopping area had caught his attention, making him lose track and his caution, to the point that his caretaker disappeared from his sight, although his relationship with his caretaker was merely formal, he still worried about whether she was okay or lost.
“Calm down,” she told herself, all was not lost yet, making the decision to leave the area and looking around for the way to the main street, but the amount of people was still overwhelming for her, even though she was wearing the hood with which she could hide who she was, she was still afraid that they would recognize her vile appearance, the appearance of the devil, the very witch of envy.
The first time she visited a town to get something decent to eat, she didn't understand why they were afraid and hated her, seven unjustified years of contemptuous and terrifying looks directed intensely towards her, which hurt her fragile heart. She didn't understand and she felt more and more alone. Until a little less than a year ago, she discovered that the reason they called her the witch of envy was because the monster that destroyed half the world was a half-elf with silver hair and amethyst eyes, Satella the witch of envy, knowing this was the worst thing that could happen to her, she had never seen her face, but thanks to that she wanted to never see it, she was afraid of hating her own face or of actually being that terrifying monster.
She continued walking, a little unsure of her steps, she let out a small breath, she was no longer a child, she had to be strong, besides she was not alone, her father was with her, she could call him if she felt in danger; so there was nothing to fear, she just had to find her grumpy caregiver and it would be a normal day like any other, with the only difference that she would be scolded.
─ Are you okay, Miss? ─ Suddenly a young voice stopped her.
Her amethyst gaze fixed on the owner of the voice, a blonde girl, between thirteen or fourteen years old, with ruby eyes, looking at her with curiosity. Although her voice felt very lively, she could notice that her clothes were almost rags, compared to the pristine white dress with violet touches that she wore, she was also smaller than her aura seemed, or perhaps the malnutrition that she could notice was the reason why her true age was difficult to calculate. But that was in the background, in her blossoming mind, it was the first time that someone spoke to her in a friendly way, without showing any malice towards her.
─Yes, I feel fine… it's just that… ─He stuttered until his voice became a whisper, ─ I lost track of my partner and I'm…
─ Oh, well. ─ The lively girl interrupted, ─ I know you will find her, ─ patting her on the waist, then saying goodbye with a peculiar phrase: ─ Live strong!
The blonde girl disappeared in the blink of an eye, disappearing into the crowd, leaving her speechless. It was strange, even for her, with few social interactions in her life, of which were her adoptive father, the maids of the mansion and her extravagant sponsor, although the latter hardly counted. This was too strange to be taken for a casual conversation.
<< Lia, that girl was very suspicious >> A voice in her head said.
─ Do you believe it?
<< I think she was a thief, check your pockets >>.
Without doubting the androgynous voice in her head, she checked the pockets of her dress, searching with her fingers, finding nothing in them. The badge she kept in one of them had disappeared, anguish began to take over her, without thinking too much she ran in the same direction the blonde girl had disappeared. Letting her hood stop covering her silver hair, she ran without stopping, in a matter of seconds with her half-elf vision she could see the blonde girl fleeing towards an alley, she was not as far as she thought, she could catch her and get the precious badge.
─ Stop you villains and give me back what you have stolen from me!
When he entered the alley he found some thugs, he didn't understand the situation very well, but one of them was being beaten by the three guys who were standing. It was a black-haired boy, for a moment he felt the stranger's gaze, the strange thing was, he didn't feel any hatred from him. But he didn't have time to waste, he had to get his badge back, but asking wouldn't hurt, maybe they were accomplices of that thief.
─ Do you work with that thief? They stole my badge? ─ he asked, trying to be more imposing than he usually was.
─If you're talking about a thief, she just passed by here, she was very fast, if you keep going you could catch her.
─ They have nothing to do with her? ─ he asked again with distrust.
The three criminals denied any connection, and so did the beaten boy. Even though he was mistreated, he replied that the boy was very strange and was wearing strange clothes. He had to leave, but the criminal's voice stopped him.
─Didn't you come to save this guy?
She looked at the beaten boy, she didn't know him, but something caught her attention. She didn't know what it was, maybe his evil eyes or his strange clothes, but it wasn't her problem, she knew it, her badge was more important now, she had to catch the thief.
─ No, I don't have any relationship with that guy, so...
But she hated violence, she also hated the strong taking advantage of the weak. It wasn't a matter of kindness, it was a matter of doing the right thing. In the few seconds she had been there, she had already deduced that this was a robbery and if her conscience didn't intervene, it was going to end badly for the boy on the ground. So she walked away a few steps up a staircase with three steps. And without hesitation she activated her magic, several blunt ice icicles floated and headed towards the three thugs, knocking one out in the process.
"I can't ignore this situation, so back off or you'll see the consequences," he said in the most serious voice he could muster, hiding his fear of the thugs.
Her fear of being mistaken for the witch barely kept her straight face when the thugs did not flinch.
─He's just a wizard, so it'll be easy to take down the nosy bitch.
"Can you handle two of us?" said one of the thugs.
"I'm not alone," she replied, stretching out her right hand.
Small spheres of light sprouted from it, forming a small grey cat, carrying a small purse.
<< He has me, now it's two against two, and I won't let the person who insulted my daughter get away with it >>
─ He has a spirit!
"A spiritual wizard?" one of the thugs shouted in terror.
<< Yes, yes, yes... I am a spirit and I am going to curse you, not only you but also your family, children and grandchildren, if you do not disappear from here, I will eat you >>
The little cat widened his mouth, showing his sharp teeth, scaring the thieves once and for all, running desperately and taking his unconscious companion.
─Thank you for helping… ─said the boy in a weak voice, as he tried to get up.
He was so badly beaten and his breathing was irregular that when he stood up he fainted and fell violently to the ground again.
<< Will you help him? >> asked the spirit sarcastically, for he knew his daughter well.
─ No, we have to catch the thief, he won't die─ she said trying to convince herself, ─ he'll be fine. ─ She said angrily towards her father.
Despite his refusal, she decided to save the poor idiot who was at her feet. Asking for help from her spirit father, he grew to human size and put the young stranger on her lap, while she took care of healing his wounds, until not even a trace was left on his skin, the stranger slept peacefully. Although she was in a hurry, she couldn't help but look at the boy on her father's lap, his clothes were strange, but their textures seemed like a noble's, black hair was not so common in Lugunica, but it was in Gusteko, so he was possibly a foreigner from that nation, according to what she had read the people of that nation were human supremacists, so they tended to be racist to the core with any semi-human race, and it was even worse with half-elves, so this stranger could hate her just by looking at her well, but it didn't matter, she was safe that was the only thing that was worth it to her, life should not be wasted dying in a dark alley.
<<Are you okay?>>, the human-sized spirit asked the boy who was waking up.
“It feels good to wake up on a cute girl’s lap,” the boy murmured with a bright smile on his face. “Soft, furry. I didn’t know pretty girls were furry… waaaaaa…”
The boy screamed when he realized that his father was the one who had him on his lap, jumping away from the spirit cat. She found the boy's attitude a little funny, he looked childish, like a child of fourteen or thirteen or maybe twelve. She immediately erased her smile and put on a serious face and asked:
"Do you know who stole my badge?" She asked knowing the answer, without looking away.
"I don't know," the boy replied, turning his gaze and blushing.
"You're lying," the boy's strange attitude made her suspicious, "you turned your gaze, you're lying."
<<Lía, it's just a normal response from a healthy boy. And there's no malice in it >>
─Thank you for saving me, how can I help?
"You don't owe me anything," she interrupted with a determined voice. "I only saved you to get information from you, so don't go back into alleys, because I won't be there to save you again. Let's go, Puck." She said as she started to leave the alley.
As she walked out of that place she heard her father mentioning her poor ability to make friends. She had no friends, not one, but what did it matter, she was a silver-haired half-elf, who wanted to be friends with the spitting image of that monster, absolutely no one.
She was already in the shopping area, ready to look for the thief, but a voice stopped her.
─Hey wait, ─ the black-haired boy said, ─let me help you look for your badge.
"I told you that you don't owe me anything," she replied.
─Yes, I know, but I… ─ the boy began scratching his neck with his right arm, ─ I want to do a good deed, if that's all, I want to do a good deed a day, and helping you will help me reach my goal.
"But..." she said, trying to push him away.
<<Lía, she has no bad intentions, and she can also serve as a good meat shield for us>>.
─I would be happy to do so.
"Well, okay," she finally resigned herself.
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And so she and the boy went around the city looking for the thief, without any results. Although the search was fruitless, the strange boy did many things to help, but most of his attempts were useless or somewhat silly, such as the portrait of the thief drawn by the boy, although the drawing was not exact, to her it seemed a little cute, which made her smile slightly, or trying to break into abandoned property. Despite his poor attempts to help her, she felt good about him, more than she could have expected.
After a few hours of useless searching they stopped to rest on a bridge where the great city of Lugunica could be seen. The boy was showing great tiredness as he sat on a step, despite being the man of the group, but she did not complain about that, being a half-elf gave her greater resistance and strength than a normal person.
─ What's wrong? ─ She asked, noticing the boy looking a little anxious.
─To tell you the truth, I still don't know what your name is.
─My name… ─ he said with a little insecurity and doubt, ─ I don't know yours either.
─ Well ─, said the boy as he stood up, then made a ridiculous pose, while the finger of his right hand pointed to the blue afternoon sky ─ I am Natsuki Subaru, I am currently broke, I am completely ignorant from head to toe of this world, I have nowhere to fall dead and I am new in this city! ─ he said with a smile on his face.
<< And I am puck, a great spirit and father of this beautiful girl >>
─Father, may I have your blessing…─Subaru said with a mocking smile.
<<No, I will not allow guys like you to come near my adorable daughter>>; giving her a slap in the face, as soft as hitting with pads.
─That way, you won't escape my tickles.
<< hahahahaha… No, no more tickling… hahahaha >>
─I am the master of tickling.
<< No, mercy… mercy please >>
─Pity is for the weak.
Suddenly a radiant laugh stopped the duo of Subaru and Puck, she was laughing, she couldn't believe that her father could also get along with Subaru, it was very rare that a spirit could get along with any human, even be so friendly.
"You two are a couple of fools," he said with a radiant smile.
—Nobody says “fools” anymore these days—, Subaru replied, and then became caught up in that smile. ─ What's wrong, Mr. Puck? ─ Subaru said, acting as commentator, ─ what is the reason for that beautiful smile on your daughter?
<< Well, I must admit that my lovely girl is very easy, I'm afraid that she will be deceived by a liar like you >>
─Seriously, how cute… wait, I'm not a…
─ That's enough, both of you, —her heart beat faster than usual, blushing at that compliment— Where are you from? —she asked, trying to hide her embarrassment and return to the initial conversation.
─Well, following the cliché, from a small country in the east.
─But if Lugunica is the easternmost country that exists, ─she said a little confused, ─after that there is only the great waterfall, Natsuki Subaru.
─Solo Subaru…
─Subaru…
─If that's my name─ Trying to hide his tomato face.
─ Are you a noble? ─ She asked, then took the hands of the black-haired man. — You don't have the hands of a peasant, they are soft like a…
—Hey, you still haven't told me your name—, Subaru said, his heart pounding, trying to pull his hands away from her.
─Ummm… ─ she thought for a moment, then said, ─ I'm Satella, just Satella…
<<You have such bad taste,>> his father whispered to him.
She waited, she waited for him to look at her with hatred, to despise her, to walk away once and for all and stop his false kindness, to show that he was like other people, to stop lying to her. It hurt her to lie, to lie to herself, but if he was really a kind person, she didn't want to involve him in her problems. That name wasn't hers, it belonged to that monster, everyone knew that monster, it was possible that he thought she was crazy, but it didn't matter. The theft of the badge was her problem, she didn't want to involve him in her selfish affairs, in her selfish dream.
─Satella, how beautiful it is for such a pretty girl.─ But that didn't happen.
For a second her mind went blank, her heart wrinkled with guilt, but the damage had already been done. What was wrong with this boy? Did he not know who the witch was? Was he stupid to not have such common knowledge? Or maybe he knew she was lying and her kindness let him play along? Or maybe he just hadn't noticed her sharp half-elf ears? She couldn't figure it out. Where had this strange person come from? A boy too kind to be real?
─Well, now that I know your name, let's continue with our search─ said the young man.
"Yes," without being able to say anything else.
The search continued without results, until a lost girl caught her attention, she couldn't help the need to help her, her selfishness always led her to deny the little kindness she was given and this case was no exception, as she rejected Subaru's advice, helping that girl was important to her, but that boy didn't give up on his selfishness. Because at the moment when she couldn't calm the poor girl down, he intervened showing off a "Magic Trick", surprising her, since she didn't feel any magical power in the "Magic Trick", but it was fantastic to see how the coin disappeared and then appeared in the girl's ear, calming her down. This boy was fantastic, her heart was beating faster and faster, the more she got to know him.
"We look like a young married couple, you being the mom and me the dad," said the daring boy with a tender look, while he held the little girl's hand and she held the other one.
They were certainly a young couple with their little girl, but for her it wasn't like that, since she was older and he was just a very kind and playful boy, so she decided to clarify it.
"I think you're the older brother, Subaru," he said with complete confidence, maintaining his amused smile.
─Another rejection. Oh my heart, I think I'm going to die ─, being as dramatic as possible. ─ How old do you think I am?
─Fourteen, no, thirteen years or maybe twelve─ Certainty was part of her.
─ I'm seventeen, I'm not a child, well I guess so ─, letting out a mocking laugh.
"Eh, it doesn't look like it," she said in disbelief.
"Oh no, another hit," Subaru said theatrically, touching his chest. She just smiled.
Shortly after, they found the girl's mother, saying goodbye with a smile, without any trace of the thief, after walking a little more they sat down at the fountain in the square. The sun was setting, turning the afternoon more orange, the hopes of finding her badge were diminishing, but strangely she did not feel distressed, the mere presence of Subaru drove away any negative feelings, but she did not understand the reason.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked out of curiosity, feeling fear seep into his body.
─ Well, I'm doing my good deed for the day, helping you is only for my own benefit.
─But you already helped that girl, that wouldn't be a good deed for the day. You've already fulfilled that and you're still here with me.
─What logic, you caught me… ─ Subaru said, caressing his neck, ─how about doing several good deeds, to have a free week, but I would be lying. The truth is I just want to help you…
"I am a half-elf with silver hair and amethyst eyes," fear filtered through her voice as she showed off her cursed legacy.
Her pointed ears were in full view of Subaru. He remained silent, but his eyes did not fade, they were brighter and accompanied by blushing cheeks. She felt confused, she did not expect that kind of reaction and when Subaru spoke, she could not take it anymore.
─ I understand now! ─ There was only surprise in his voice. ─ Elves are always beautiful in fantasy ─, he let out a happy sigh. ─ That's why you're so cute, hell, you're the cutest angel I've ever seen.
She got up from where she was to get as far away as she could, her face was too red. Her heart was beating a thousand miles an hour, her mind was confused, her emotions were swirling in an indescribable tornado of sensations, a smile blossomed on her embarrassed face, she couldn't stay standing that she ended up hugging her knees, while trying to hide her face. He didn't care if she looked like a monster or if she carried his name, he accepted her as she was. He couldn't believe it. Subaru didn't discriminate against her, there was no hatred in his gaze, not even malice. Where had this person been? He wasn't afraid of her, he was too friendly with her, where had he been for so long? He could be a real... "Fool".
─ Hey, what's wrong Puck?! ─ The boy shouted, bringing her out of her most feverish thoughts. ─ Why are you hitting me? Well, it didn't hurt.
<<I appreciate it, I still had to hit you, you idiot boy>>, said the jealous father.
─Subaru─, he said trying to cover up his embarrassment. ─You are a big “Fool”…
─Nobody says “Bobo” these days─. The boy answered, then put his hand to his head. ─ I have an idea, it is better to look for clues at the crime scene, we will have to return to the place where you were robbed and ask the witnesses.
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They were in the slums looking for Felt, the thief who stole their badge. In the end Subaru's idea worked, they returned to the crime scene, which turned out to be near an appa stand that Subaru knew, at first the seller didn't want to cooperate, and they didn't even have a coin to trade with. But luck smiled on them, it was a great coincidence, the girl they helped was the seller's daughter, because of that gesture, the seller gave them the name of the thief, even where they could find her. Walking through the dilapidated streets of the slums, Subaru turned out to be very useful in getting information, and so as the night had begun they headed to "The House of Loot", a store that was in charge of selling the objects stolen by those from the slum, the place where the stolen badge would possibly end up.
Puck was already sleeping, as a contracted spirit he could only be active until five in the afternoon, so she needed the help of some minor spirits to guide her and find Felt, getting the route to the "Loot House".
“This is the place,” Subaru said with a smile, “damn, how creepy.”
She and Subaru looked at the old building, no matter how dark it was, you could see how worn it was, giving it a gloomy image. Just by looking at it, the most reasonable thing to do was to leave.
"I'll negotiate for the badge," said the black-haired boy upon seeing the menacing appearance of the dark "Loot House."
─Okay. I'll leave it to you. ─She instantly nodded and gave him a smile.
“You agreed to that quickly. From the way you’ve been acting, I thought you’d say, ‘Leave this to a useless kid like you?! That’s so ridiculous, I’m cracking up!’ and I’d feel hurt, but still decide to help you again.” Subaru posed and imitated her in a ridiculous voice.
─I wouldn't say anything that bad. Of course, I'd be lying if I said you haven't been holding me back... ─She smiled at him and crossed her arms.
─ Would it be a lie?! ─ He turned around with an incredulous look.
“But… I’ll try to believe in you.” Her smile turned sincere as she watched him walk up onto the front porch.
“If it really goes well, I’ll consider it a bonus,” Subaru said as he found his awe-worthy smile… “If you were to look at me and say, ‘Do your best for me,’ I’d feel much more motivated.”
"I can't bring myself to say something like that, but do your best." She shook her head at the boy's antics and nodded.
─Yes, I will. I won't be back too late, but you can have dinner without me.
─Stop acting like a fool. Be careful. ─She said without stopping smiling.
Subaru was incorrigible, his jokes and antics amused her. In the short time she knew him, she felt like she could trust him a little more. Although sometimes he made jokes that filled her with shame. He called her “Pretty” whenever he could or “Beautiful”, she was far from it. She was a half-elf, the race that many hated, how could that boy say those things, maybe he was crazy, he was lying to her. But Puck had told her that he had no bad intentions, so it was most likely that he was just joking, he was a strange boy and a “silly”, for making those jokes. He was also good with children, that was shown when he helped calm a girl that was impossible for her to achieve, although at first he was reluctant, but then he helped her calm the lost girl and look for her mother. A boy who got along well with children could not be bad. Happiness began to grow in her heart, Subaru could be her first friend…
“Sure, sure. Don’t come in until I say it’s okay, Satella.” Subaru paused in his ascent toward the door of the “Loot House,” once he noticed the apparent flinch she gave at hearing that name. “What?” He asked the half-elf before taking the last step onto the porch.
“N-Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” She looked away. “If you can get my badge back, I’ll apologize.” She smiled with a hint of guilt and remorse clear in her eyes.
As the boy entered the dilapidated building, guilt was gnawing at her heart again. Because of her stupid distrust, she had lied to such a kind and ignorant boy of the world. Being called by that name shook her soul. It was the best punishment for lying to Subaru, but she promised herself to apologize and accept any reprimand from the nice boy. And thus gain a friend perhaps.
“A friend,” her cheeks blushed as she thought of Subaru. “A friend perhaps?” If he didn’t hate her for lying to him.
Suddenly a loud knock caught his attention, it came from the “Loot House”, without hesitation he ran to the door, opened the door trying to search in the darkness, worry invaded his chest.
─ Subaru? What's wrong? ─ he asked, as his steps went deeper into the dark place.
—No... Run! Run away quickly! —He heard Subaru's weak voice choking on something, and continued walking.
Her amethyst gaze turned to the ground, Subaru's body was flooded with his own blood as he tried to get up, he tried to react, but it was too late, he felt something hot in his stomach, and then pain, a sharp pain, so unbearable that he couldn't stand up. She felt like her life was leaving her, but she didn't care, she wanted to look at the kind boy who had helped her, she wanted to save him, she didn't want him to die because of her, she had to save him at all costs, but her strength was slipping away.
She moved her hand with difficulty trying to reach him, she had to heal him with the last of her strength, but Subaru took her hand and clung to it. “Subaru” she wanted to scream but her mouth was full of blood and she felt increasingly cold, her voice barely came out. But she heard the boy's voice again, a determined voice.
"I..." Subaru said, squeezing her hand, feeling the warmth fading away, "I'm going to save you... Satella."
She wanted to shout at him that that wasn't her name, that she was sorry, that she should forgive her for lying to him, but her fragile life didn't allow it, she felt like everything was going dark, she gathered all the strength she had left to correct her mistake.
─ Emilia, my name is Emilia, just Emilia ─. She said in an inaudible and desperate whisper, squeezing Subaru's hand with all her strength, ─ live please, live…
Suddenly there was only darkness. Emilia, the silver-haired half-elf, and Natsuki Subaru, a strange but kind boy, had died at the hands of an unknown assassin, hidden in the darkness.
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It was all darkness, just darkness that filled the void around her. She had no eyes, but she could see the immense dark darkness, she had no ears, but she heard incomprehensible whispers that became clearer and clearer, she had no heart, but she burned with fear when the whispers became clearer, she wanted to escape but she had no legs, she wanted to close her eyelids, but they didn't exist either, she wanted to cry, but she couldn't even do that.
[I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you,]
A voice just like her own proclaimed all its anger upon her, an immensity of hatred overwhelmed her consciousness to the point of disappearing in that immense negativity, barely resisting it. She wanted to respond to her own voice, but not a sound came out. Suddenly the hatred that consumed her disappeared, as if it had never been there.
[Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you. Protect him for me, I hate you…. I love him, protect him for me, I just hate you, protect him please… save him, I love him]
His voice became calm, he didn't understand who he had to protect, who he had to save, why he was in this darkness, he didn't even know who he was, he just wanted to escape from this instinctive fear. Suddenly he felt something dragging him out of this dark place and the light was shining around him again.
─ I'm Emilia…
In a matter of seconds she remembered who she was, she felt dizzy, the noise of the shopping area hit her weak conscience, she felt her body again, it moved without her will. She ordered her legs to stop, her stomach felt queasy, making her want to vomit, but she managed to contain herself. She focused her sight, letting her understand that it was daytime, she was back in the shopping area, her eyes noticed Felt running away and getting lost in the crowd, but she did not chase her.
─Subaru─, she said as tears leaked from her eyes, wetting her white cheeks. ─Emilia, just Emilia… my name is not…─She fell to her knees, the loss of that boy tormented her. ─. I'm sorry for lying to you, I wanted you to be my friend, my first…
<< Lia, the thief is escaping, get up! >> Said her spiritual father. << We have to catch her! >>
─Puck, Subaru is dead… ─Her voice was breaking with tears, ─he is dead because of me, I…
<< Lía >> said the confused Puck.
─Puck, because of me, he… ─Her tears continued to flow down her beautiful, tired face.
<< Who is Subaru? >>