Subaru quietly sat down beside Emilia. Their shoulders touched lightly - a silent whisper of
"I'm still here."
No response came from Emilia.
No glance.
No turn of her head.
Just heavy, suffocating silence.
Subaru understood now wasn't the time for words. Pushing her would only break her further. So he decided to stay by her side until she spoke. However long it took.
Because sometimes...
The strongest thing you can do is not leave.
Her memories remained sealed - because of that ancient contract with Puck. And Subaru could guess...
What lay hidden behind that seal.
These were things that—
Had once broken Emilia during the Witch of Greed's trials.
And now That same fragility was resurfacing.
Time...
Flowed as slowly as a funeral dirge.
The room felt filled with breathless emptiness.
And then...
"Subaru... do you think I look like the Witch?"
The question came. But still no eye contact.
Her head remained bowed, voice barely above a whisper.
Subaru had expected this question. A lie would only create more silence.
Running away wouldn't heal anything.
"Yes, Mili."
"You do look like Satella."
His voice was flat... but held a soft honesty.
"But only in appearance."
He paused.
His eyes remained on the girl still hunched before him.
Then he continued slowly:
"I don't know if you remember...
But when we first met, I told you your inner beauty was more important."
"That's still what matters."
Subaru's voice... Was neither broken nor defensive. Just honest.
Because some wounds heal not with false comfort, but with truth.
Emilia... hadn't expected this answer.
Perhaps she'd hoped for at least some denial.
A lie like "No, you don't resemble her at all."
But Subaru hadn't lied.
And this honesty...
Hurt.
"Subaru..."
Emilia's voice trembled again. Words stuck in her throat as she swallowed.
"You know about the forest I used to live in..."
"Yes, Mili?"
Subaru already knew what she would say.
His heart clenched.
But he tried not to let that pain show on his face.
"The forest... was sealed by an ice curse, Subaru."
"And I was the reason."
Her voice cracked. eyes remained downcast. breathing quickened.
"What's worse... I don't even know how I did it."
"Or why..."
Her words... Spoken like a guilty child.
But the burden was too heavy for any child to bear.
"Doesn't that make me... worse than the Witches, Subaru?"
Subaru bowed his head slightly. A thought crystallized in his mind -
Like tempered glass...
"The more it's heated.. And then cooled. The stronger it becomes."
Emilia was the same.She shouldn't break.
But Subaru knew...
True strength wasn't found by leaning on others.
Yet...
At some point...
No matter how strong one wants to be...
To avoid shattering, Even if just for a moment...
Everyone needs something to hold onto.
Subaru took a deep breath. His gaze remained steady.
With silent determination, he turned to Emilia.
"No, Mili. You're just another victim. You did nothing wrong."
After speaking those words...
He reached out. And pulled her close -
Brief but firm.
Not because he was strong. Not because he had power to fix everything.
Not because... He wanted to believe he could.
The truth was... Something only Subaru knew.
He was fragile too. He was afraid too. He wanted to escape weakness too.
But... he couldn't run away.
He had to hold on.
Because...
Emilia wasn't yet that unbreakable tempered glass.
And in some moments, To truly heal, Merely existing isn't enough...
You must reach out.
They remained like that for a while. Neither Subaru nor Emilia spoke.
Time filled the room's corners with silence.
Tears...
Slowly subsided. Trembling ceased.
Then Subaru gently withdrew his hands.
Stood up. Not cold... but resolute.
"Emilia."
"Worse things may come during the Royal Selection."
"You must strengthen both mind and heart. That's all you need to do."
He walked toward the door.
Didn't look back.
But could feel Emilia's gaze on his back.
And all that ran through his mind Was a confession woven from pain and resolve:
"No matter how much I love her... I can't repeat the mistakes of my past life."
◇
In the Shadows
Flugel watched silently, Eyes half-lidded, A hint of satisfaction in his voice.
"Learning from mistakes - good,"
He murmured to himself, almost teacher-like.
But then he noticed where Subaru was headed -
The training grounds.
Subaru had taken up Etherfang again, Already channeling mana into the blades.
His control was improving.
But...
There were limits to what he could achieve alone. Willpower wasn't enough.
Guidance was needed.
"Tch... Guess I have to help that idiot again,"
Flugel grumbled, though a faint smile played on his lips.
◇
Subaru stood in the training grounds... But his mind remained in that room.
The words he'd said—and worse— The words he hadn't said,
Swirling like ghosts in his skull.
He'd stifled his instincts.
Wanted to hug her, promise everything would be alright.
But... he knew better.
"Do that... and you'll repeat your past failures, Natsuki Subaru."
A voice—
Subaru whirled toward the sound. But found only wind... And an echo resonating inside his mind.
"No need to look around."
"I'm projecting directly into your consciousness. Consider it a test."
Flugel.
That familiar, mocking tone— Yet somehow... warmer?
"Ah... hey! Is this why you wanted a piece of my soul?"
Subaru scowled.
"Many reasons," Flugel replied, amused yet weary.
"But yes... this among them."
"Unless you'd prefer we chat only when you die?"
A reluctant smirk tugged at Subaru's lips.
"Disqusting... but no, this works."
He had to admit it— Some battles, even internal ones...
Couldn't be fought alone.
"Now then..."
Flugel's voice sharpened.
"What exactly are you training for, Natsuki Subaru?"
Subaru studied his daggers. Cold steel in warm hands—
And hotter still, the resolve burning within.
"Got any suggestions?"
A genuine question, stripped of pride.
"Since I'd rather not watch you flail about... I'll lend you an artifact."
"Nothing overpowered... but it'll accelerate your growth."
"Check your inventory."
Subaru summoned the system menu. Fingers flew across holographic screens—
There, at the bottom:
[Unknown Artifact]
The object materialized in his palm.
A nondescript module— Rectangular, flat-surfaced—
Pulsing with faint bioluminescence...
Alive.
"My creation," Flugel declared, pride seeping through. Place it on the ground."
"Channel mana. Then envision your opponent."
Subaru squinted.
"Flugel... I wonder what you're really like," he mused,
Kneeling to position the device.
"hm? what are you talking about" flugel asked
"Never mind. You'd just say 'You'll understand someday'."
Flugel's laugh was ice... But with unexpected mirth.
"Good. You're learning."
Subaru pressed both hands against the artifact.
Mana surged— Fractal patterns ignited across its surface,
Like neurons firing in a glass brain.
Darkness enveloped him. In the void, he concentrated.
The opponent he wished to face...
A silhouette took shape—
Not of Elsa, Julius, or even the Witch...
But of the man whose voice echoed in his skull:
Flugel.
A perfect replica— Yet utterly foreign.
Sometimes a guide.Sometimes a threat. Sometimes just... "The other me."
The artifact pulsed violently. Energy erupted from its crystalline surface—
A shadow taking form, writhing like a living storm.
Then... It materialized. A mirror image.
Identical. Yet not.
Hair bleached silver-white. Eyes—the dullest shade of gray.
And those pupils... Void-black. Unblinking.
It wasn't looking at Subaru. It was seeing through him.
"Oh?"
The copy tilted its head.
"Truly... this is what you want, Natsuki Subaru?"
Flugel's voice— But laced with something darker.
More impatient.
Subaru's muscles locked. His heart hammered against his ribs.
Yet he held his ground.
This wasn't the real Flugel. But his reflection.
And to know oneself...
First, he had to conquer this shadow.
[Ding!!]
[Mana Blade - Active]
[Advanced Dagger Technique - Active]
[Phantom Drift - Active]
Yin magic seeped into Etherfang's blades.
Not heat— Cold resolve.
Dark mist coiled around the steel.
"This is my shadow ...But I'll remain in the light."
Stone cracked under his boots as he lunged— Dagger aimed straight for the copy's heart!
Clink.
A single finger. That's all it took to stop him.
Subaru's eyes widened. Impossible—
The copy grabbed his arm Slammed him into the ground.
The impact stole his breath. Vision flickered.
Consciousness slipped—
One phrase echoed as darkness took him:
"You wished to fight me... Did that satisfy you, Natsuki Subaru?"
As Subaru collapsed, the copy sighed—
Not Flugel's usual mockery, but genuine disappointment.
"Tch... Even as a mere copy. Facing me is futile, fool."
The artifact dimmed.
Shadows reclaimed the training grounds.
From the darkness, Flugel's voice murmured:
"Why is dealing with myself always so exhausting?"
Then— Silence.
Subaru blinked awake in his own bed.
The ceiling... familiar.
The mattress springs... unusually quiet.
For several seconds, he simply fluttered his eyelids—
His mind still drifting between dream and reality.
"What was I doing before I passed out...?"
Fragments surfaced: The artifact.
His challenge to Flugel's copy.
Crushing defeat.
He grimaced.
Even his own thoughts deserved scolding.
"Ah... That was pretty stupid of me."
"I should probably apologize to Flugel next time we talk."
As he sat up slowly, golden evening light painted the walls.
His first thought—
Emilia.
Barefoot steps echoed through the hallway as he approached her door.
Paused.
Hand hovering over the knob.
"I hope... you can resolve this yourself, Mili."
"This balance is killing me—wanting to help but refusing to force you."
The door creaked open.
There—
Emilia slept curled around Puck, her brow smoother than yesterday's storm.
The room smelled faintly of elfroot flowers. Curtains parted just enough.
In the dim light, her face looked... not broken, but mending.
Subaru exhaled.
Drew up a chair.
Watched.
"Forgive me for failing you, Mili."
His fingers brushed her hair—
Gentle strokes,
as if each strand carried his regrets.
Time blurred. His eyelids grew heavy.
But leaving felt impossible.
This time... I'll be the one who waits.
Just as Emilia had done for him after Rem's attack— He'd sleep right here.
◇ Morning ◇
Dawn's light crept across the room.
Emilia stirred, yesterday's words still echoing—
Heavy.
Painful.
Yet...
"I knew those suppressed emotions were why you said those things,"
she murmured.
Puck had whispered it through the night:
"He never meant to hurt you. He's punishing himself."
As she moved to rise Something stopped her.
There, slumped in the chair: Subaru, fast asleep.
A smile bloomed—
Foolish.
Genuine.
Warm.
She knew how he cherished sleep.
So...
A whispered spell lifted him gently.
Transferred him to the bed's edge beside Puck.
Tucked the blanket snugly.
"Subaru," she breathed,
"This is your reward for staying...
and your punishment for yesterday's harsh words."
With one last glance at his peaceful face,
she slipped out—
Leaving the door slightly ajar.
A few hours later...
Subaru awoke in a bed— Soft. Peaceful. And dangerously comfortable.
Then the fluffy bundle beside him stirred.
A tiny, twitching ball of fur—
Puck. Fast asleep.
Subaru's panic lasted exactly two seconds.
"OH GODS—I'M IN EMILIA'S BED. WITH PUCK."
His face paled as every possible scenario flashed through his mind, culminating in one grim truth:
"If this spirit-cat wakes up... my death warrant is signed."
Slowly—
Painfully slowly—
He slithered toward the edge.
Tiptoed toward the door.
Each step was a prayer:
"Five more steps... four... three—"
CREAK.
Subaru accepted his fate on the spot.
"Damn you, Roswaal... mansion maintenance shouldn't be this cheap—"
He grumbled as if bargaining with destiny itself.
Behind him, mana began coalescing.
If he turned now, he'd likely face an avalanche to the face.
So instead—
He bolted.
The Forbidden Library! Beatrice! His last hope!
But before he could reach it... Puck materialized before the door.
Floating midair with a devilish grin, the cat-spirit spoke like a true menace:
"Running to my little sister to escape me, Natsuki Subaru?
Stop harassing the women in my family, you degenerate!"
Subaru heard the "Game Over" theme in his head.
There was no escape.
"Wait, Puck! Before you kill me... one last request."
Puck's tail twitched irritably.
"At least you're aware you're about to die—"
Just as Subaru prepared his final words...
Emilia appeared.
Subaru lunged toward her like a sinner reaching for salvation,
dropping to his knees and clinging to her legs.
"Emiliaaa! Puck's trying to murder me!" His voice was that of a tattling child.
Emilia sighed deeply upon seeing the scene. She already knew how this would go.
"Why?"
Simple. Direct. A mother's patience incarnate.
Puck crossed his tiny arms, outrage dripping from his voice:
"Lia! We can't let this pervert live after sneaking into your bed!"
Emilia raised a single eyebrow. Her tone didn't waver.
"Puck... I put Subaru there myself.
He stayed by my side all night. Fell asleep this morning.
I moved him so he could rest properly."
Puck's tail shot straight up. His ears flattened.
"Ah? So Subaru... isn't a pervert?"
His disappointment at the foiled execution was palpable.
Subaru exploded. "HEY! Stop saying that like it's a bad thing!"
Just then, the Forbidden Library's door creaked open.
Beatrice emerged, her morning scowl in full force.
"What is this noise, I suppose?"
Her narrowed eyes scanned the trio.
Silence fell. Because no logical explanation existed.
Beatrice huffed.
"Hmph. You're all fools," She grabbed Puck's arm.
"Betty is taking her Bubby now."
And with that... The siblings vanished.
Only Subaru and Emilia remained in the hallway.
Subaru was still catching his breath.
"Mili... what exactly just happened this morning?"
Emilia sighed, clasping her hands behind her back.
"I may have... placed you next to Puck as punishment.
And this... was the result."
Subaru stood, cheeks flushed.
"Well... since I'm not dead, I'll call it a win. Let's head downstairs, Mili."
Emilia giggled then—
Soft.
Genuine.