Subaru stood amidst a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, his mind tangled in knots that tightened with every breath.
Each thought pulled him in a different direction, each possibility weighing heavier than the last. The more he tried to make sense of it all, the tighter the tension coiled in his chest, like a rope pulled taut by unseen hands—fraying at the ends, threatening to snap. There were too many variables, too many uncertainties. He had walked through fire, crossed death's threshold more times than he cared to count, and yet the weight of the present moment felt like the most unbearable trial of all.
He drew a deep breath, the crisp air offering momentary clarity. His surroundings—quiet, sun-dappled, and deceptively calm—did little to reflect the turmoil inside. A few leaves danced gently in the breeze, mocking the storm within him. The soft rustle of branches overhead seemed to whisper truths he couldn't quite grasp.
"I need to talk to Flugel about this," he resolved internally. That ancient, knowing voice might hold the answers—or at least provide some semblance of understanding. If anyone could unravel the maze of questions building inside him, it was Flugel. Or maybe not. But even false hope had its uses. Even reaching out in uncertainty was better than drowning in silence.
But as much as his thoughts spiraled around arcane mysteries and impossible decisions, they inevitably returned to one place—one person.
Emilia.
Her silver hair, her lilting voice, the quiet strength in her presence... She grounded him, anchored him in a reality that so often felt like it was slipping through his fingers. When the world spun too fast, she was the still point he clung to. Not just as a symbol, but as a person—fragile and fierce all at once.
He needed to see her. The compulsion was undeniable, stronger than logic or fear. Just as he turned toward where she might be—
"Subaru?"
Her voice came from behind him. She had come to him first.
He froze.
When he turned, there she stood—exactly the vision he'd been yearning for. Emilia's violet eyes held that familiar softness, now edged with concern. Her hair shimmered in the afternoon light, and the faintest frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. The way the sun caught in her silver strands made her look otherworldly—like a figure out of a dream he never wanted to wake from.
"Ah... Did Emilia come to check on me?"
"Oh. Tella-tan, what's up?" he managed, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. The slight tremor in his voice betrayed the fractures beneath his facade, but he doubted she noticed. Or maybe she did. Maybe she always had.
Emilia hesitated, choosing her words with care. "I was... worried. About what Roswaal said earlier. About you. About what you might do."
Subaru shook his head, his voice dropping to something firm and resolute. "Don't worry about that, Tella-tan. I'm not going anywhere. Not permanently, anyway."
The words came out like a vow—one he'd repeated to himself countless times. Death had become a tool rather than an end. But that was knowledge Emilia couldn't bear yet. Not yet. The path he walked was hidden in shadows; the burden he bore was not hers to carry. Not if he could help it.
Emilia blinked in surprise, yet Subaru's unwavering determination inexplicably soothed something within her. The way he spoke to her—as if he'd known her for years—might have unsettled others. But to Emilia, it felt strangely... comforting. Familiar. Like she'd met him in a dream long ago.
"Um... Subaru," she began, fingers nervously tracing the hem of her sleeve. "There's something important I need to tell you."
Subaru had sensed this moment coming. The change in her voice—vulnerable, slightly bashful yet resolute—made him still. His heart beat a little faster, but not from fear. From hope. From the anticipation of something real. Something honest.
"Hm? I'm listening, Tella-tan."
"Please... stop calling me Satella." A silver strand of hair slipped over her shoulder as she bowed her head. "My real name is Emilia. I only hid it because of the stolen insignia. I'm... sorry."
The apology carried centuries of weight. Subaru felt it press against his ribs. All the assumptions, the lies, the masks she'd worn to protect herself... all condensed into that one quiet moment. He saw not just a girl confessing her name, but a person laying bare a hidden wound.
He exhaled slowly. This was no revelation to him. "I know. I've known since the day we met."
Emilia's head snapped up. Amethyst eyes wide, searching his face for deception.
"But... how? I thought I played the role well," she murmured. Not defensive—surrendering. In Subaru's gaze, she saw the quiet wisdom of someone who'd seen behind her curtain long ago. And what he found there hadn't scared him away. It had drawn him closer.
He owed her an explanation.
"First clue—" He held up a finger. "When you introduced yourself as Satella, you expected a specific reaction from me. When I didn't give it, you were startled." A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "And every time I said 'Tella-tan,' your face did this... complicated thing. Sadness, fear, confusion—all mixed together. That flicker in your eyes? Impossible to miss."
A breath. Then—
"Second: Puck." Subaru mimicked the spirit's sigh. "Right after your introduction, he called you 'Lia.' Doesn't exactly follow from 'Satella,' does it?"
A beat of silence. The memories played behind his eyes like a slideshow of moments he would never forget.
"Third: Rem." His voice softened. "When I first woke at the mansion, she said I was there by 'Emilia-sama's request.'" He met her gaze squarely. "That's when everything clicked. 'Emilia-sama'... was you."
Emilia stared at him, mouth slightly parted. For a moment, she looked like she might speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she nodded. Slowly. Gratefully. Something unsaid passed between them—a recognition of vulnerability, and of trust earned without asking.
The moment lingered, delicate as gossamer.
And in it, Subaru silently promised himself he wouldn't let her down.
Not in this life. Not in any loop. Not ever.
The words left him breathless—each syllable excavated from the depths of countless loops, countless deaths, countless observations, and endless quiet sufferings that only he alone remembered. To finally speak these truths aloud felt like shattering invisible chains.
Emilia stood utterly stunned, her lips slightly parted, her violet eyes wide with disbelief as Subaru's words settled over her like snowfall—gentle at first, then growing heavier with each passing moment. The weight of his revelation left her breathless—he had seen through her from the very beginning, seen her for who she truly was, and still spoke to her with such unwavering sincerity.
"Ah... I'm sorry, Subaru. I never meant to lie to you..." Her voice trembled, brittle as thin ice. The apology carried the weight of centuries of hidden identity, of shame, of longing to be accepted but fearing rejection.
But Subaru wouldn't let the moment linger in melancholy, wouldn't allow regret to poison the fragile connection they were building. In one bold stride, driven by raw instinct, he closed the distance between them.
"—Then let me reintroduce myself properly!"
His declaration rang through the room like a bell of new beginnings. The seriousness in his eyes softened into a tender warmth as he continued, cutting off any further apologies before they could deepen the wound.
"I am Natsuki Subaru. A newcomer to this kingdom who knows absolutely nothing about it." A playful smirk tugged at his lips, his usual bravado laced now with honest affection. "And I look forward to getting to know you, Emilia."
This—this was the fresh start he wanted. A connection built not on secrets or misconceptions, but on truth and trust.
For a moment, silence hung between them, shimmering with possibilities. Then Emilia's laughter bubbled up like crystal-clear spring water, fragile yet pure. For the first time, her smile reached her eyes, completely unguarded, free of the burdens she so often carried alone.
"I'm Emilia. Just Emilia." She placed a hand over her heart, grounding herself. "A silver-haired half-elf who grew up in Elior Forest. I look forward to knowing you too, Natsuki Subaru."
The words felt like a mutual vow, one that bridged the gap between them. Subaru felt like a conquering general in that moment, though his battlefield was of the heart. His triumphant grin betrayed the warmth flooding his chest—this fleeting peace granted by fate was something he'd cherish with his entire being.
Then came the inevitable question.
Emilia tilted her head with innocent curiosity, her silver hair cascading like moonlight. "But Subaru... why exactly did I wake up in your bed?"
The color drained from Subaru's face as though the life had been sucked out of him. Heat rushed to his cheeks, blooming into a furious red as his eyes darted away like a guilty child caught in mischief.
"W-well... You see... Umm..." Each stammered syllable dug his grave deeper. He knew lies would be pointless here—with her, deception lost all meaning. She deserved nothing less than the truth.
He sighed, shoulders sagging. The truth was worth temporary embarrassment, no matter how mortifying.
"When I saw you asleep by my bedside... First I wondered why you were there." His fingers fidgeted nervously, unable to meet her gaze. "It was obvious you'd stayed to watch over me but dozed off. And..." A gulp. "You looked so peaceful sleeping there. I couldn't bear to wake you."
The confession spilled out in a rush: "So I carried you to the bed so you'd be more comfortable! Tucked you in and left! That's all!"
His scarlet face burned brighter than a Lugnican sunset, and he could practically feel the heat radiating from his ears.
As the words tumbled out, shame and honesty tangled together. Yet as he dared a glance at Emilia, seeing her cheeks flush with delicate pink, something inside him softened, his heart swelling with relief.
Emilia had stammered at first, her words catching in her throat like tangled threads. But gradually, she steadied herself, her voice emerging soft and sincere.
"Thank you... for thinking of me like that, Subaru."
Her voice wavered, yet her gratitude was unmistakable. The pink tint remained on her cheeks, and the sight wrapped around Subaru's heart like the warmest embrace.
Feeling emboldened by the fragile moment they'd created, Subaru grinned and tilted his head in thought.
"Hmm... Now I need a new nickname for you," he mused, tapping a finger to his chin theatrically. "Emilia-tan? Mili? Oh—yes! That's it!"
Childish excitement lit up his face as he declared it, as though unveiling a long-lost treasure:
"Mili!"
Emilia blinked in surprise, then smiled. The warmth inside her finally spilled over in gentle waves.
"As long as it's not a bad nickname... you can call me whatever you like, Subaru."
His heart thudded in his chest. He took a deliberate step closer, his gaze sharpening—no jest in his eyes now, just something earnest, raw, and fiercely protective.
"And if anyone dares call you something cruel... I'll be there to tear them apart, Mili."
Emilia opened her mouth to protest, to say that wasn't right, that violence wasn't the answer. But she couldn't deny how it made her feel—this fierce, unshakable care. Someone standing beside her, without fear, without judgment. It had been so long since anyone had stood for her like this.
She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering.
"Then... I'll be counting on you, Subaru," she whispered.
And in that small exchange, under the faint light of dawn, something new and precious was born—a fragile trust neither would ever willingly let go.
Time crept forward—until Rem appeared in the doorway.
Her expression was shadowed, uneasy from the morning's events. Eyes downcast, voice trembling:
"S-Subaru-sama... Roswaal-sama requests you and Emilia-sama in his study. To discuss... the Bowel Hunter incident."
The words barely made it out. She, too, carried the weight of what had happened. The dread in her voice wasn't just fear of the subject—it was dread of who they would be facing.
Subaru and Emilia exchanged a glance—a silent agreement, a nod without words but rich with intent.
The hallway to Roswaal's study stretched endlessly before them, each step echoing like a heartbeat. The air was still, charged with the tension of unresolved grief and the ghosts of what might have been. As they walked the mansion's quiet halls, Emilia turned to Subaru, her voice a whisper meant to soothe her nerves more than to inform.
Subaru offered a tight-lipped smile, already familiar with each name and face through pain, repetition, and trial. He didn't interrupt her. Letting her speak calmed her, and her presence steadied him in return. Each word reminded him of what he was protecting.
As they reached Roswaal's door, Subaru paused. His eyes locked onto the polished wood like it was a threshold between truth and theater. His fingers twitched at his side, and under his breath, barely audible:
"What are you plotting this time... you damned clown?"
Not suspicion. A challenge.
This Subaru wasn't the same as before.
Each encounter, each death, each failure had forged him into something harder, sharper. He wouldn't falter here. Not again.
Emilia and Subaru stepped into the room with measured steps, the air thick with Roswaal's characteristic theatrical atmosphere. The dim lighting did little to obscure the gaudy grandeur, nor the oppressive feeling clinging to the bookshelves like dust. The scent of ink and aged parchment hung heavy in the air. Roswaal stood in the center, the long curve of his smile a mask so perfect it could only be false.
His narrowed eyes held the glint of a puzzle master observing his pieces, unable to fully conceal his curiosity. With a graceful wave of his finger, he gestured for them to sit.
"My dear Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun~" he began, his voice dripping with affected warmth, "I've asked you here to recount the events of four days past. As Emilia-sama's sponsor, such details are... most illuminating. I trust you'll indulge me?"
The attempt at sincerity faltered against the calculating gleam in his heterochromatic eyes. He wasn't merely curious. He was testing them. He always was.
Subaru's gaze flickered briefly to Emilia before he spoke with uncharacteristic solemnity.
"Emilia, you should explain what happened before we met first.
Then I'll tell my part." His tone carried unexpected weight, the words carefully measured and his eyes never leaving Roswaal's face.
Emilia turned to him with a slight hesitation, her breath catching. Their eyes met—and time seemed to suspend in a moment of shared, flustered awareness. A spark of warmth flashed between them before both abruptly looked away, cheeks tinged pink like children caught in some secret understanding.
Gathering herself, Emilia drew a breath that was more than just air—it was a steadying of nerves, a collecting of scattered emotions, the silencing of a storm inside.
"Puck and I were shopping in the capital," she started, her voice soft but wavering. "We got distracted... then a blonde girl rushed past us. We didn't think much of it until—until I realized my insignia was gone."
Her voice tightened. The memory of that shock, that guilt, still lodged in her throat like a stone. She paused, as if reliving the moment, her hands clenching in her lap. "We gave chase, but she scaled a wall and vanished. That's when we met Subaru nearby."
Her silver lashes lowered slightly. "He offered to help, but... because of that scent on him, and with my identity concealed, Puck suggested I use a different name. So I did. And we accepted Subaru's help."
As she finished, her eyes lifted to meet Subaru's—a silent passing of the torch, an unspoken request for him to continue their shared story.
Subaru caught that gaze, his heart constricting for a moment.
The trust in Emilia's eyes—that look that pierced straight through to his soul—left him breathless. He took a deep breath to steady himself.
"It was obvious Emilia and Puck had some silent agreement," Subaru continued, carefully avoiding getting lost in the memory of those emotions. "I suggested we gather information from street vendors while Emilia consulted with nearby spirits about the thief. I thought it might give us more leads."
Roswaal's smile flickered like a dying candle. "Oh-ho..." he murmured, barely audible. But Subaru pressed on, ignoring him entirely.
"After Puck and I got some information and bought two cloaks from a merchant, we headed to Rom's tavern. I came up with several plans along the way. I tried to anticipate the thief's path, the motives she might have, who she might sell to, who she might fear.
It was clear the thief couldn't use the insignia herself—she just wanted to sell it. So tracking her down was our only option."
He paused, letting the weight of the moment settle in the air. The memory of the fight, of the narrow escape, of the many lives lost across different timelines—it all simmered behind his voice.
"I didn't know it back then," Subaru added, his voice lowering, "but there was someone much more dangerous involved. Someone who... didn't care about the insignia at all."
Roswaal simply steepled his fingers, eyes narrowing as though Subaru had offered a riddle he had not expected.
The conversation wasn't over. Not even close.
But for now, the first pieces had been played. And this time, Subaru intended to play the entire game.
His eyes glazed over briefly, lost in recollection, as if the words themselves weighed heavy on his tongue.
"I knocked on the tavern door. Rom called out from inside, demanding a passphrase. Instead of answering, I pulled out my coin pouch and told him I had money for trade."
At this, Roswaal's eyes widened with sudden interest, the usual languid curiosity in his gaze sharpening. "And might I ask," he said, leaning forward eagerly, steepling his fingers, "where exactly you acquired that money?"
Subaru grimaced, the memory sour in his mouth, but he didn't shy from the truth. "Before meeting Emilia, I ran into three thugs," he admitted. "They attacked me. I defended myself. After driving them off, I took the money and two daggers they had on them."
Emilia immediately puffed out her cheeks in disapproval, arms crossing as her brows knitted. "Subaru! Stealing is wrong!" she scolded, though her tone held more sweetness than actual reprimand.
Subaru tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips despite himself. "But Mili," he countered lightly, "if I'd lost, they would've taken everything from me anyway."
Emilia resisted admitting he had a point—her moral compass firm—but her resolve crumbled quickly. Deep down, she knew he was right, though pride kept the words unspoken. Her cheeks flushed deeper, her puffed-up face now resembling an angry little bun. Subaru's heart raced at the sight, and the protective urge within him surged stronger.
"Once we were inside," he continued, voice steadying with the rhythm of storytelling, "I offered Felt all my money in exchange for the insignia. She hesitated at first... but then said she already had another buyer. That it would go to auction."
Roswaal's expression remained unchanged, yet his eyes, sharp and calculating, measured every word Subaru spoke as if weighing gold against feather.
"Then..." Subaru's voice dropped to a whisper, tension tightening his shoulders. His eyes flickered away as if reliving the moment. "I felt someone outside. A tall woman... Her presence seeped in like smoke. And for some reason... she smelled like blood."
A chill settled over the room, the very air thickening with foreboding. Subaru's hands trembled faintly as he fought to maintain composure.
"That person... was the Bowel Hunter, Elsa Granhiert."
The name cleaved through the air like a blade, each syllable sinking deep.
"Elsa entered... sat down casually as if nothing were wrong. The auction began soon after. I had more gold, so I won."
He swallowed hard, throat tightening.
"But Elsa... didn't accept defeat. She said she had a contract with her employer to uphold. And that meant... killing us all and taking the insignia from our corpses."
Subaru closed his eyes for a brief moment. In the darkness behind his lids, he could still hear the screams, the clash of blades, the wet sound of blood spilling.
"When she attacked, Emilia, Rom, and I... we fought with everything we had. We managed to repel Elsa even though it was difficult." His voice cracked, emotion choking him. "Rom and I were badly wounded. And Elsa ran away. The last thing I saw... was that red-haired knight entering through the door. Reinhard van Astrea."
A heavy silence followed, thick and suffocating. Subaru had no more words left. His weary eyes found Emilia's. "I don't know what happened after that... Emilia, can you tell them?"
Emilia nodded slowly, heart aching with the weight of what Subaru had endured. She understood now—how much he was carrying, how much he wasn't saying.
"After Subaru lost consciousness, Elsa managed to escape," she said softly but clearly, her words deliberate. "Reinhard called for healers immediately. Rom's wounds were mostly treatable, but Subaru... they could only stop the bleeding. His condition was critical."
Her gaze lingered on Subaru, her voice tinged with quiet emotion as the memories unfolded behind her eyes.
"Later, I asked Felt to return my insignia. When she took it out of her pouch... it suddenly began to glow. Reinhard said that glow meant Felt was one of the five royal candidates chosen for the selection."
Roswaal inclined his head slightly, the new information clearly setting unseen gears in motion behind his composed facade. Yet he remained silent, biding his thoughts.
"I didn't dwell on it much," Emilia continued, fingers unconsciously brushing her chest as if seeking calm. "The fifth candidate would have been found eventually regardless. I reclaimed my insignia and, honoring our agreement with Subaru, gave Felt fifteen gold coins. Then I asked Roswaal if Subaru could recuperate at the mansion."
She turned to Roswaal, her gaze earnest. "He agreed. We brought Subaru here, and he remained unconscious for three days."
The room remained still in the wake of her words. The weight of Subaru's ordeal lingered, heavy as the unspoken gratitude in Emilia's heart. As her eyes returned to Subaru, she silently vowed that he would never again face such horrors alone.
After a brief pause, she added the final developments: "Rom and Felt are currently staying as guests at House Astrea's estate. They're preparing for an upcoming royal assembly. It seems they've managed to find some degree of peace—at least for now."
Subaru's eyes widened, his breath catching for a moment—equal parts shock and relief. So... everything's almost back to how it was before I met Flugel, he thought. That chaotic storm of danger and cryptic truths had finally begun to settle, giving way to something that almost resembled stability.
A weighted silence settled over the room, each person lost in their own reflections—until Roswaal shattered it. His voice was uncharacteristically hurried, almost eager to move on from the heavy mood lingering in the air:
"Subaru-kun, I must express my gratitude for your assistance to Emilia-sama. You've gone above and beyond. If you have any requests in return... I'd be happy to oblige."
Subaru lifted his head, his expression composed, resolute. His answer had been resting on his tongue for days—ever since he survived that last death.
"I want to work as a staff member in your mansion," he declared, voice unwavering.
Roswaal's eyebrows rose in genuine surprise—clearly, this wasn't the kind of favor he'd anticipated.
"My apologies, Subaru-kun..." Roswaal said, a chuckle dancing beneath his words. "There are no... suitable positions for you here. Your talents lie elsewhere, I believe."
Just as Subaru opened his mouth to protest, to plead his case, Roswaal raised a hand, his lips curling into a familiar theatrical smile.
"Instead, you can serve as Emilia-sama's bodyguard." His mismatched eyes locked onto Subaru's. "Emilia-sama would be safe by your side."
Subaru froze, his thoughts spinning. Bodyguard? That was more than he had hoped for—more trust, more purpose. His heart thundered in his chest, and yet, hesitation never stood a chance.
"I accept," he said at last. His voice trembled with emotion but held steel beneath the surface.
[Ding!]
Main Quest: Find a job at Roswaal Manor — Completed
Reward: +10 Soul Coins
Bonus: A weapon from the shop has been unlocked
Subaru's gaze snapped to the mission screen materializing before him. His eyes gleamed; a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. That feeling—the thrill of achievement, of progress—was intoxicating.
Then he turned to Emilia, his expression softening, affection radiating in every line of his face. "Well, Mili? What do you think?"
Emilia drew breath to answer—
"Ah, Subaru-kun~" Roswaal interjected with a dramatic flourish. "Emilia-sama and I already discussed this while you slept. Besides, I wouldn't have made the offer without her prior approval."
Emilia's quiet smile was all the confirmation Subaru needed—a silent yes that spoke volumes, conveying warmth, trust, and something else... something deeper.
"Alright then," Subaru said with a wry grin spreading across his face. "I think we're done here. I could use some rest."
Roswaal bowed theatrically. "Of course, Subaru-kun. Rest well today. Tomorrow, your training begins in earnest."
Subaru took Emilia's hand, gently pulling her out of the room. As they stepped into the hallway, it felt as if a great weight had lifted from their shoulders. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was peaceful, comforting, brimming with unspoken understanding.
Emilia's silver hair fluttered slightly in the breeze from an open window as she suddenly stopped walking.
"Subaru..." Her curious eyes met his. "I still don't understand. Why go so far to help someone like me... a silver-haired half-elf?"
Subaru slowed his steps, his breath catching. The answer was buried in layers of feelings—some of them irrational, others profound. Still, he wanted to try.
"There's no reason for me to help you," he began, voice low. "It's just... an instinct. Something in me tells me it's the right thing to do."
Emilia tilted her head slightly. "Instinct?"
Subaru looked toward the sky through the hallway window, watching clouds drift lazily across the blue.
"I'm from another world, Mili. I don't know how I got here. When I came to this place, I didn't know anyone. I didn't even understand the words being spoken. I was lost. So naturally, I needed help... support... someone who would show me what this world was."
His voice thickened with emotion. The weight in his heart spilled into every syllable.
"I still can't read your letters. I don't know the names of half the dishes I eat. Even the clothes I wear feel strange on me. Maybe you've noticed—my hair, my eyes... they don't belong here either. I don't belong here."
He looked down, his hands balling into fists.
"In my world, I was a nobody. A loser. No one expected anything from me, so I gave up trying. I was just... existing. Like a living corpse. But then I came here. And even though it was terrifying, even though I died and came back over and over again... I started to believe."
He turned to Emilia, eyes glistening but determined.
"This world gave me a chance. It forced me to struggle, to fail, to grow. So I thought... maybe I could change. Maybe I could be someone better. That's why I'm helping you, Mili. Because helping you means helping the one person who gave me a reason to change."
Emilia listened in silence, her expression soft and contemplative. Her eyes sparkled faintly, and after a moment, a smile bloomed on her lips—gentle and genuine.
"I never imagined I'd meet someone from another world, Subaru," she whispered. Her voice was tinged with awe, but also with something else—hope. Then she let out a quiet laugh, eyes twinkling.
"But... I'm glad it was you."
Subaru blinked, caught off guard by the warmth in her words. For a moment, he couldn't find anything to say. He just smiled back—grateful, humbled, and maybe, just maybe... ready for whatever came next.
[Later...]
Emilia knelt on the floor, gazing at Subaru with wide, sparkling eyes—like a newborn fawn exploring the world for the first time. Her silver hair shimmered softly in the dim light, casting faint glimmers upon the floor.
Tilting her head slightly, she asked: "Subaru... can you tell me about your world?"
Subaru rubbed his temples, lost in thought. There was so much... Where should he even begin? Parts of his past now felt like a distant dream, blurred by countless trials and the weight of this new reality.
Still, a small smile tugged at his lips as he scratched his head and answered:
"In my world... there's no magic," he said. His voice carried nostalgia—and just a hint of sorrow, as though speaking of a long-lost friend.
Emilia's eyebrows knitted together in genuine bewilderment. The concept of a world without magic seemed almost inconceivable to her. The very fabric of her life was woven with mana and spells.
"But how? How do you accomplish things that require power...?" The innocent confusion in her voice filled Subaru with a peculiar warmth.
He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, exhaling slowly. Explaining his world through the logic of this one felt strangely surreal...
"Humans..." he began, his voice measured and thoughtful, "over time, they found ways to compensate for their weaknesses, Mili."
His tone grew more animated as he continued: "That's why they turned to something called 'science.' Science is... well, it's what makes people's lives easier. Transportation, farming, medicine, weapons... technology... Science touches everything. Even many things you do here with magic—we achieve through science."
Emilia listened intently, though her eyes seemed focused less on understanding every word and more on the emotions behind them. The earnest way Subaru spoke stirred her heart.
As he spoke, Subaru's hands moved unconsciously, sketching invisible diagrams in the air as if illustrating concepts on an unseen chalkboard. With each explanation, his eyes grew brighter—as though he were touching the last remaining fragments of his homeland.
He leaned forward slightly, growing more impassioned: "For example... we have machines called cars. They let people travel great distances quickly, like a carriage without horses. And for light, we use something called electricity—it powers lamps, heaters, even tools." He chuckled softly. "We even use it for entertainment—moving pictures on a box called a television. It's like watching tiny actors perform stories."
Emilia gasped softly, her hands clasping together. "That sounds like magic in itself," she whispered, her voice full of wonder.
Subaru laughed, the sound bittersweet. "Maybe so. But where I come from, it's just... normal. No one thinks of it as magical." A shadow flickered across his face. "But sometimes, in chasing these advancements, people forget about simpler things. There's always a cost."
Much of what Subaru said remained beyond Emilia's full comprehension. "Science," "technology," "machines"... The unfamiliar terms echoed in her mind like foreign poetry.
Yet as she watched him, she noticed the bittersweet warmth in his expression—nostalgia tinged with quiet sorrow. She realized this was a world he could no longer return to. So even without fully understanding, she nodded gently and smiled.
Seeing that smile, Subaru paused. Something inside him twisted faintly. "My world... exists only in memories now. But here..." His voice softened. "Here, I can make new ones. With you. With everyone."
A comfortable silence wrapped around them, if only for a moment. The distance between them seemed to shrink, bridged by an invisible thread of understanding.
Emilia tilted her head slightly and murmured: "Your world sounds strange... but also very beautiful."
Subaru chuckled— A quiet, melancholy laugh, yet warm all the same.
Emilia leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on her knees. Her eyes still sparkled with undiminished curiosity.
"So..." she began, her voice soft and thoughtful, "What did people in your world enjoy doing, Subaru? You know... for fun?"
Subaru's gaze drifted upward as he pondered, his thoughts dissolving into a kaleidoscope of distant memories that shimmered just beyond the veil of the present. Visions unfurled behind his eyes—vibrant festival lights strung across packed city streets, the buttery aroma of popcorn curling through the air inside movie theaters, and the comforting hum of vending machines buzzing beneath flickering neon signs. He remembered warm summer evenings spent lying on grassy hills, the chorus of cicadas lacing the twilight, and the carefree laughter of his friends echoing beneath the open sky. Those were moments carved into his soul, vibrant and impossible to forget.
"Hmm... Lots of things," he replied with a light chuckle, his eyes glazed with nostalgia. "We'd go out to watch films—stories told on enormous white screens, like dreams made visible. Sometimes it was just for the snacks or to enjoy the cool air inside. But when a film really hit you... you left the theater changed, like you'd lived a different life for a couple of hours. Then there were games. We'd huddle around TVs or screens, yelling, laughing, competing like it actually mattered. Video games mostly—but also sports. Kicking balls across empty fields, racing until our legs gave out, tackling each other for no good reason. It felt like we were immortal."
Emilia tilted her head gently, her silver hair brushing softly against her cheek as she leaned slightly closer. "Video... games?"
Subaru grinned, and the affection in his voice was unmistakable. "Let's call it magicless magic. You pick up a device, press buttons, and suddenly you're soaring through skies or diving into oceans, fighting monsters, building empires. You're not just watching a story—you are the story. It was wild. Sometimes... it felt more real than real life. Like I mattered."
Emilia giggled, the sound as delicate and bright as wind chimes stirred by a breeze. Her amethyst eyes sparkled. "That sounds wonderful."
"It was," Subaru murmured, his smile tinged with melancholy. He paused, the weight of loss threading through his voice. The past, as golden as it had been, now felt like a far-off continent—visible but unreachable. Emilia noticed the subtle shift in his tone, but said nothing. Instead, her gaze softened with quiet empathy, the unspoken promise of her presence radiating between them.
After a still moment, Emilia reached out and gently smoothed the edge of the blanket covering her lap. The gesture was soft and almost absentminded. "We have festivals here too," she whispered, her voice like the rustling of leaves in the wind. "We launch lanterns into the sky, and they float like stars. We sing songs passed down through families. There are fire dancers, flute players, street performers. Everyone eats together, laughing like time doesn't matter. Maybe someday, Subaru... maybe you and I could go together? See the lights, eat something sweet, dance even if we're terrible at it?"
Subaru's heart skipped a beat. The offer was so genuine, so beautifully simple that it stole his breath. He swallowed, grounding the wave of emotions swelling within him, and whispered, "Of course." He smiled. "Definitely together. I wouldn't miss it for anything."
A peaceful silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle breathing and the soft flicker of candlelight playing along the walls. The warmth in the room seemed to grow, cocooning them in a moment untouched by the world outside. Emilia's eyes began to flutter shut, her words fading into drowsy sighs. She nestled deeper into the blanket, her silver hair spilling like liquid moonlight across the couch cushions.
Just before sleep claimed her, she exhaled a final, barely audible phrase: "I'm glad... you're here, Subaru."
His breath caught. The words were like a key turning in his chest. He wanted to answer, to say so much. But the lump in his throat, and the sight of her serene face, kept him silent. "I'm glad I met you too," he thought, his heart swelling. But instead of speaking, he stood still, simply watching—burning the sight into memory like it was something sacred.
Rising slowly, Subaru crept toward the door with steps softer than whispers, the wooden floor sighing faintly beneath his weight. He paused at the doorway, casting one last glance back.
Emilia slept in perfect peace, her features bathed in the soft amber glow of candlelight. A tiny smile lingered on her lips, like the echo of a happy dream.
Subaru smiled faintly, and with the gentlest motion, he closed the door behind him. The click was quiet, but it felt like sealing away something fragile and precious.
Standing alone in the cool hallway, he drew a slow breath. The quiet stretched out, vast and still, wrapping around him like a blanket. The night air kissed his cheeks with a coolness that grounded him.
There were still trials to face—impossible decisions, looping deaths, twisted fates, and overwhelming burdens. But none of those things had touched this. This one evening, this fleeting yet eternal moment shared under the soft glow of candlelight, with laughter and stories and unspoken feelings.
Sometimes, Subaru realized, the smallest victories were the most precious of all. Not the battles won or powers gained, but the moments where hearts opened, where warmth bloomed like a light in the dark.
And for tonight—for this one, singular night—that was more than enough.
(A/N: I reorganized it because the first sections were extremely inadequate.)