Master of illusions - Natsuki Subaru

"Subaru, you shouldn't tease people like that," she said softly, cheeks blooming a vivid pink that spread like wildfire across her delicate skin. Her voice was breathy, a hint of shyness lacing each word. With a gentle but flustered huff, she gave him a playful shove, fingers brushing his shoulder lightly. But this time… Subaru didn't laugh. His usual teasing grin was gone, replaced by something heavier — more serious.

His breath hitched, his heart thudding painfully in his chest like a drum. He stepped closer, closing the small distance between them until there were only a few inches left. The air felt charged, electric, as if the whole world was holding its breath. He studied her face, memorizing every curve — the soft arch of her brows, the subtle curve of her lips, and most of all, those deep, mesmerizing amethyst eyes. Eyes that seemed to glow softly in the dim light, mysterious and infinite. He could have stared into them for eternity.

She was already blushing, but now her face deepened into a shade so red it almost seemed to radiate heat. It was as if she knew what was coming next.

Subaru inhaled slowly, steadying his voice, though it trembled just slightly. "I love you, Emi—"

"Wake up already!"

A sudden splash of ice-cold water slammed against his face with brutal force.

"Gaaah—!" Subaru bolted upright, coughing and sputtering, his heart jolted out of his chest. "I'm up! I'm up! Damn it, what the hell?"

Cold droplets clung stubbornly to his hair and skin, the chill biting through him like icy needles. The sudden shock snapped him fully awake, erasing the lingering warmth of the dream. He hated the cold — it clawed at his bones, especially after the nightmare of yesterday's... incident.

He glared at the old man standing before him, the culprit of his rude awakening. "What was that for?!"

Ludwig, unfazed, set down the empty bucket with a heavy clunk. "You wouldn't wake up no matter how much I shook ya. And after hearin' you confess yer love to me in your sleep, I couldn't take it anymore."

A smug grin tugged at Ludwig's lips, clearly amused by the boy's distress.

"It's one windtime already. Get off your lazy ass."

Subaru rubbed his face groggily, trying to cling to the wisps of that fading dream. It had felt so vivid, so real... But like sand slipping through fingers, the girl's face, her voice, even her name were dissolving with every passing second.

"A dream, huh…" he muttered, eyes distant, lost in thought.

A sharp whack to the back of his head yanked him back to the present.

"Ow! What the hell?! Do you enjoy hittin' kids?!"

"Nah, I just gotta hand out punishment when it's earned," Ludwig said matter-of-factly, voice gruff but not unkind. "Now quit daydreamin'. Time to work."

Subaru groaned louder, sinking deeper into his blankets. "Work? I just woke up!"

"I lost money watchin' your sorry hide yesterday, so unless you plan on startin' to pay rent, you better become my favorite employee real fast," the old man muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose like the thought gave him a headache.

Subaru crossed his arms, eyebrow raised. "Aren't I your only employee?"

"That's beside the point, brat."

Before Subaru could retort, Ludwig grabbed his wrist with a surprisingly strong grip and practically dragged him down the creaky hallway toward the shop proper. They passed an ancient wooden door, faded with time and wear, which led into the small store itself — a cluttered haven of hand-labeled shelves stocked with oddities both familiar and foreign. The faint scent of herbs mixed with the musty odor of old wood and parchment.

"Alright, kid," Ludwig said, gesturing toward the dusty old register. "This here's the till. You'll use it to—"

"I know what a register is, old man," Subaru interrupted with an exaggerated eye-roll.

Ludwig narrowed his eyes, challenge flickering in his gaze. "Oh really? Then ring me up for two pounds of riberries."

He stomped around the counter, taking the role of a demanding customer. Subaru blinked in confusion.

"Riberries? Pounds?" he repeated flatly. "Now you're the one making stuff up."

Ludwig jabbed a thick, dog-eared catalogue on the counter with a finger. "It's in the damn book. Ya might learn somethin' if ya open yer eyes."

Subaru flipped open the catalogue and scanned the neat, handwritten script on the yellowed pages. His eyes glazed over — but this time from confusion rather than sleepiness.

"…Yeah, we have a problem."

He turned the book around to show Ludwig. "I can't read this."

Ludwig blinked in disbelief. "The hell ya mean you can't read this? It ain't even cursive!"

"No, no," Subaru said quickly, scratching his head. "I can read my language just fine. Yours… it's different. You got a pencil and paper?"

Ludwig stared at him a beat too long before sighing heavily. From under the counter, he pulled a small, battered notepad. "Here. Let's see what kinda nonsense you write."

Subaru smiled a goofy, innocent smile, took the pencil, and scribbled a few curving marks onto the paper.

Ludwig squinted at it. "What the hell's this say?"

"That's 'apple' — in Japanese."

"You mean 'appa'?" Ludwig frowned skeptically. "Ain't no one in any of the Four Nations calls it that."

Subaru arched an eyebrow. "So 'apple' is wrong, but 'appa' is fine?"

Ludwig folded his arms, looking Subaru over carefully. "Kid… you wouldn't happen to be from beyond the Great Waterfall, would ya?"

Subaru's blank, confused expression gave him all the answer he needed.

"…What's the Great Waterfall?"

Ludwig's jaw dropped slightly. The kid didn't even know that?

"No clue where ya came from, do ya…" he muttered under his breath. Then, after a pause, he gave Subaru a longer, more thoughtful look. Could he be like that rich bastard Hoshin? Nah… didn't seem the type.

"The Great Waterfall marks the edge of the world. It surrounds the Four Nations: Lugunica, Gusteko, Kararagi… and that cursed pit Vollachia. Nothing gets past it. And anyone who says they're from beyond it? Usually fulla shit."

Subaru's eyes shone with wonder, but Ludwig quickly snuffed out the spark.

"Don't even think about adventurin'. You ain't goin' anywhere till you pay back your debt to me."

Subaru sighed, slumping back in defeat. "Maybe once I'm done slaving away for a cruel old man, I'll finally taste freedom…"

He wiped a mock tear from his cheek.

Ludwig ignored the melodrama. "Now—how ya gonna work if you can't read the catalogue?"

Subaru slammed his fist into his open palm, eyes brightening. "Easy! You read it out loud, and I'll write the translation down in my alphabet!"

Ludwig thought it over, then grabbed a second stool, dragging it over. "Fine. But write it off to the side. And don't start changin' names just 'cause you think ours are dumb, ya numbskull."

Subaru flopped onto the stool with a grin. "Who even says 'numbskull' these days?" he muttered, pulling out the pencil.

"Oi, shut yer trap, kid," Ludwig grumbled, but a faint smirk betrayed his amusement.

He hadn't had someone to spar words with like this in years. Not since his wife…

He blinked hard, shaking off the memory before it dragged him under.

For the next couple hours, they worked side by side. Talking about various things. Subaru's curiosity often wandered — especially when his eyes landed on the sword hanging behind the counter. He'd reached for it once, fingers tracing the cool metal, but Ludwig always pulled him back on task.

The boy chuckled at some of the food names, finding "pippers" — apparently their word for "peppers" — downright hilarious.

"Pippers?" Subaru snorted. "Sounds like something a toddler would name a puppy."

Ludwig shook his head, amused and exasperated. "Sixteen… and already hopeless."

Sixteen. Subaru didn't say it aloud, but he noted the irony keenly. Just a kid. Birthday in three months. Still young enough to afford a little immaturity.

"Finally—riberries," Ludwig said, flipping to the last page. "Twenty coppers per pound, or two silvers, hardly sell 'em."

Subaru frowned, confused. "Wait, if this catalogue's alphabetical, why are riberries at the back? You screw something up?"

"Nah," Ludwig said with a shrug. "They're a special order. Only one regular comes in for those."

"Regular?" Subaru perked up. "Who?"

"Some girl. Always wears a hood. Comes by every week or so, buys food, sometimes clothes. Ever since I accidentally stocked riberries once, she's been askin' for more."

Subaru leaned forward, eyes sparkling with imagination. "Ooooh! Maybe she's a runaway princess! A beautiful girl with a tragic past, hiding her identity from the cruel world!"

He clutched his chest dramatically.

Ludwig gave him a hard shove. "Don't know, don't care. She talks, sure. But I don't listen much. Just watch out for thieves — and she hasn't stolen anything yet."

He paused. She usually lowers her hood inside, didn't she? Tried to picture her face, but the only detail he could recall was the glint of silver hair.

Probably nothing.

"If you're so smitten, you'll be happy to know she usually drops by this day every week. Don't worry though, yer princess doesn't come till later so ya got plenty of time with me"

Subaru slumped in his seat, muttering under his breath. "Now I really wish you hadn't woken me up early…"

As if he had been freed from some dark spell of despair, Subaru sprang to his feet, climbing onto a stool with dramatic flair, his finger pointed high into the air. "Alright, today marks the first day of the legendary Subaru Natsuki, who mysteriously found himself stranded in a frozen forest!" he declared, his voice carrying the weight of an epic adventure. He then lowered his finger and directed it toward Ludwig, who appeared far from impressed. "Let's get this day started, scary old man!" He finished his performance with a confident thumbs-up.

Ludwig, however, was not so easily swayed. "Kid, I like yer enthusiasm, but there ain't that many folks passing through here on the regular—" He was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Ludwig quickly shoved Subaru back into his seat and whispered urgently, "You gotta say some sorta welcome when someone walks in." He gestured toward the door, his usual gruff tone returning as he called out, "Welcome! Let me know if yer lookin' for somethin' specific!"

A frail voice answered, "Thank you, dear." An elderly woman shuffled into view, her small figure draped in a brown coat much like Ludwig's. She didn't notice Subaru right away, busy inspecting the wares before selecting a pair of black wool gloves. As she made her way to the counter, she finally noticed Subaru sitting beside Ludwig.

"My, my... Is this why you were in such a rush, Lud?" she asked, eyeing both of them, her gaze flitting between Ludwig and Subaru.

"Yeah, this brat was out in the snow for some reason," Ludwig replied, ruffling Subaru's hair with a playful but firm hand. "Since I wasted something rare on him, he's gotta pay me back somehow."

"You always had a soft heart, didn't you, Ludwig?" she said, smiling warmly.

Ludwig shook his head, denying the suggestion. He turned to Subaru, still silent as ever. "Well, kid? Yer up."

Subaru snapped to attention, hurriedly flipping through the pages of the book until he found what he was looking for. "Ah, uh, the gloves are 6 silvers," he stammered, his confidence faltering as he tripped over his words. The old woman nodded, reaching into her purse to pull out 6 silver coins. They were distinctly different from Japanese currency, each one engraved with a dragon on one side and a tree on the other.

Subaru placed the coins in what could only be called a "register"—more of a wooden cabinet than anything remotely resembling modern-day equipment. These guys are in the stone ages, he thought, his mind racing to comprehend the lack of technological advancement.

Before Ludwig could lecture Subaru about the proper way to bid a customer farewell, Subaru bowed slightly, offering a warm smile. "Thanks for coming. Hopefully, we'll meet again, but next time, outside the shop!"

The old woman chuckled, clearly charmed by Subaru's antics. She returned his smile before leaving, and as she exited, Ludwig couldn't help but remark, "Well, looks like rumors about my new helper are gonna spread fast, thanks to that lady."

Subaru beamed, not one to miss a chance to take credit. "It's okay, you can tell me how great I am," he teased, a mocking grin on his face.

"Don't get cocky, kid," Ludwig grumbled, though he couldn't entirely hide the small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "That was just a single transaction over a single item. Wait 'til someone comes in with a list of twelve things, trying to haggle you down to half price or shove a counterfeit coin in yer face."

He paused, recalling an incident with a wandering merchant who tried to pull a fast one on him. "Chased that guy outta here so fast, he left a gold coin on the counter but took the fake. Deserved it."

A few minutes later, a group of kids, about half Subaru's size, rushed into the store, snowballs in hand. "Better leave those outside, ya brats," Ludwig grumbled. The kids exchanged reluctant looks before sighing and tossing their snowballs outside. They immediately dashed to the sweets section, giggling as they eagerly grabbed the few candies Subaru had never seen before. They scampered back to the counter, placing their selections down.

Subaru, ever quick on the uptake, flipped through the pages to find the strange sweets, which resembled butterscotch. He settled on a page and looked down at the kids, who were barely tall enough to see over the counter. "The 6 candies will be 4 silvers," he said, trying to sound confident, though there was a slight hesitation in his voice.

The kids exchanged anxious glances before nervously placing 3 silver coins and 7 copper coins on the counter. Subaru froze. He knew he couldn't just give them a discount—it wasn't his shop. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't.

Before Subaru could say anything, Ludwig snatched the book from his hands and eyed it, muttering, "Ah, ya brat, it says 3 silvers. Can't ya read yer own handwriting?" With that, he took the silver coins and returned the coppers to the orange-haired boy. "Don't eat too many, Lucas, or yer teeth'll fall out."

The kids scurried away, their laughter echoing as they passed through the curtain door. Ludwig turned to Subaru, raising an eyebrow. "Well, looks like yer a natural at this, even if you did a few weird things."

Subaru, however, was positively glowing. "It's okay, you can tell me how awesome I am," he said, teasing Ludwig with a wide grin.

Ludwig scoffed, shaking his head. "Dont get ahead of yerself kid."

A few minutes passed in silence before a new group of customers walked in. This was rare for the usually quiet shop. Ludwig observed the bustling scene with a mixture of disbelief and quiet satisfaction. The more customers that came, the sooner he'd be rid of Subaru.

Soon, Subaru was handling transactions with ease, even dealing with some of the larger orders. One customer tried to steal something, giving Subaru a front-row seat to Ludwig tackling the thief. Subaru found it amusing at first—until Ludwig started hitting the thief repeatedly. It wasn't the kind of thing Subaru was used to, and though it was an odd experience, it also reminded him of how violent things could get here.

Eventually, Ludwig trusted Subaru enough to run the shop on his own for a while. As he stepped out the back door, he muttered to himself, "Kid's too honest to run away. He's got a good head on his shoulders."

Subaru watched him go, feeling a little more at ease. He liked the shop. It wasn't his home, but it was a place that gave him purpose, however small.

Ludwig's words echoed in his head as he stood alone in the shop. "Call if you need anything."

Subaru spent the next 20 minutes in silence. Nothing happened. The shop was clean, no customers came in, and there was nothing to do but stand there. With the stillness pressing in, Subaru felt his eyelids grow heavy.

Maybe a quick nap, he thought, slipping into sleep.

Meanwhile, across the forest, far from the shop, another story was unfolding...

In the heart of a forest carved into an ancient tree, Emilia lay in a small bed, carved from the very wood of her home. It was a cozy space—big enough for two but always empty. She was a 'witch' after all. Her dreams were peculiar that morning, filled with visions of a black-haired boy, someone she had never seen but somehow felt familiar. His presence was comforting, a feeling of safety.

Just as she thought she would speak to him, a voice interrupted her, urgent and familiar.

"Wake up, Lia! If you stay in bed all day, someone's gonna buy all the riberries before you!" The voice belonged to Puck, her contracted spirit and fatherly figure.

She blinked open her amethyst eyes, groggy from her dream. Puck floated in front of her, his gray fur flickering slightly with the soft morning light.

Sighing, she rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up. Her home, though small, was safe—a place untouched by the beasts of the outside world. A small kitchen lay to the right, a single wardrobe to the left. She sat for a moment, the stillness of the morning soothing her.

Puck nudged her again. "Come on, Lia, we gotta get moving!"

Eventually, Emilia got up, moving sluggishly toward her wardrobe. She didn't know why he insisted on her wearing clothes. She didn't feel the cold. She didn't have much choice in the matter however; her only set of clothes was always ready. A soft, muted green cloak hung neatly alongside a cream-colored fur-lined tunic. The outfit was simple, warm, and suited her needs.

As Puck began brushing her silver hair, Emilia couldn't help but chatter. "I think I'll be able to map the whole forest next year!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Puck paused, his golden eyes narrowing. "What about after that, Lia?" he asked gently, though there was a tinge of sadness in his voice. He knew his time was running short.

Emilia fell silent for a moment, her expression clouding with uncertainty. "I don't know, Puck," she admitted. "I haven't made any friends yet, except for... well, that store owner."

She turned to face him, her eyes shining with an idea. "Oh! Maybe today's the day I ask him about the weather!"

Puck gave her a thumbs up. "That's the spirit, Lia!"

As they left the house, Puck's demeanor shifted slightly, as if he were preparing for something. They made their way through the forest, past a few minor threats, chatting and laughing along the way.

But when they reached the village, Puck's expression became serious.

"Are you going away again?" Emilia asked quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.

Puck smiled reassuringly, though there was a hint of something more. "Don't worry, Lia. I'll be back in an hour or two," he promised.

With a final nod, he took off, disappearing into the distance as Emilia adjusted her hood, hiding her pointed ears and amethyst eyes.

She arrived at the store soon after, ready for whatever this day might bring.

As she stepped inside, she greeted the shop with a soft "Hello, I'm back."

She paused when there was no response—not even a grunt or a "welcome"—and glanced over at the counter. She was startled to see a young boy, one she didn't recognize. Subaru, though groggy from his nap, quickly shot up at the sound of her voice.

"I'm so sorry about that!" he said loudly, clearly embarrassed. "I didn't think you were there! Did you wait long?" he asked, still blushing.

Emilia hesitated, unsure whether to laugh or run. She'd never met this boy before, but he seemed… harmless.

"Anyway!" Subaru cleared his throat, putting on a genuine smile. "How's it going, mysterious princess?"

Emilia blinked, confused, her eyes narrowing as she wondered just what kind of person this boy was. They stood there awkwardly for a while, both unsure how to proceed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The silence was unbearable. Here he was, standing in front of the girl he'd been talking about earlier with Ludwig. He thought maybe he could get a reaction out of her—a laugh or a chuckle at his jokes—but all he got in return was... more silence. They stood there for a solid minute. He could almost see her deciding whether or not to leave.

"Sorry, guess I got a bit too excited about meeting the mystery girl the old man mentioned," he said, letting out a weak chuckle in an attempt to recover from the awkwardness. He'd already messed up his chances on the very first encounter with a potential heroine.

Emilia was stunned. She had only exchanged a few words with the shopkeeper—"Welcome," "Your total is," and "Come back"—but here was a boy who was speaking like he'd just run a marathon. She could barely understand him because of how quickly he was talking. Not only that, he had called her a… princess? She was hardly a princess. Princesses in stories were rescued by white knights who fought off witches or dragons. Yet, in this case, she was the witch.

Finally, after a while, she gathered enough courage to speak. The boy, who had shown nothing but interest in her and ignored everything else, seemed like a mystery she couldn't ignore.

"W-where is t-the shopkeeper?" she asked, her voice barely audible. She was already outside of her comfort zone, but the boy was pushing her further.

"Sorry, didn't catch that. What did you say?" he asked, knowing full well she was struggling. She was stumbling over her words, doing her best to speak, and yet, here he was, asking her to do even more.

She took a deep breath, gathered herself, and spoke louder than she intended. "Where is the shopkeeper?"

He could hear her clearly now. Her voice rang like a silver bell in his head. If she looked as beautiful as her voice sounded... well, she'd be a total knockout. But Subaru wasn't done yet. He cupped his ear and leaned over the counter, raising his voice louder than before. "What?"

At this point, he was just teasing her. It was too easy.

"S-s-stop lying! Y-you heard me that time!" she shouted, pointing accusingly at the black-haired boy. She felt her face flush as she realized how flustered she was. She pouted under her hood, crossing her arms, and let out a quiet "hmph." She was speaking more clearly now, no longer hesitating before voicing her thoughts.

Subaru noticed, and his smile brightened. Leaning over the counter, he said, "Hey, I guess the princess found her voice!"

She pouted harder, scowling at him. "I never lost it in the first place!" she snapped, not understanding his teasing. She took his words literally, which only made him chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah," he said, returning to his chair and crossing his arms, raising an eyebrow. "So, does the princess have a name?"

She didn't reply immediately. For a moment, she considered removing her hood and revealing herself to the boy, introducing herself as Satella. After all, this was the first time someone other than Puck had spoken to her. But then the thought hit her—what if he called her a monster and ran away from her in disgust? No matter how much she heard it, it never got easier.

Subaru noticed her hesitation and, sensing that she needed another push to break down the barriers she'd built, decided to go all in. After all, he had already embarrassed himself when she saw him drooling on the counter. He stood up on the counter, raised a finger to the air, and with a singsong voice, declared, "Guess you didn't hear me! My name is Subaru Natsuki—hopelessly lost and in need of some cute new friends!" He then snapped his fingers, pointing at her as his face turned serious, his voice following suit. "What is your name, milady?"

For a moment, she was on the verge of cutting the budding friendship off before it even started. But then, she found herself giggling at his odd display. "My name is Emilia… just Emilia," she said in a normal voice, her smile growing.

Subaru, still marveling at her smile, shook his head. He had to get a better look at her face, but it was hard to do so with only half of it visible. He couldn't help but feel his face heat up as he imagined how she might look if she fully revealed herself. 'We just met… I don't even know what she's like!' he thought to himself, pushing away the weird thoughts.

Emilia, sensing his discomfort, pulled her hood down slightly more, casting her eyes toward the ground, hiding the eyes that resembled the devil's.

Subaru sighed, thinking, Maybe I need to unlock more points with her before she reveals herself. He considered this interaction like a game. Eventually, he'd gain his overpowered ability, but for now, he just had to unlock points with one of the heroines. He slapped his cheeks, startling Emilia.

"Alright, business mode activate!" he said in a deadpan tone before quickly reverting to his usual goofy self. "Nah, can't do it. So, what can I get you? Sorry, can't give you my number—company policy!"

Emilia tilted her head in confusion. "Company po-lee-cee?" she repeated, slightly puzzled. Before she could say more, Subaru interrupted.

"Oh yeah, Ludwig told me that you always buy raspber—I mean, ribberries—each visit," he said, trying to hide his slip-up.

Emilia brightened at the mention of ribberries. "Yes, ribberries are my favorite! I buy five pounds every week," she said proudly, holding up five fingers.

Subaru chuckled at her enthusiasm, before looking toward the "special order" shelves in the back of the shop. They weren't there. 'Maybe they're in the cart or something,' he thought.

"Ludwig!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. If he shouted any louder, the glass items in the shop might shatter. He heard footsteps shuffle outside, and then the back door slammed open, revealing Ludwig, covered in snow, as if he had fallen or something.

Subaru looked at him with mock surprise. "Wow, didn't think you were the type to play in the snow, much less make snow angels while a kid is running your business."

Ludwig grunted, clearly annoyed. "You call me to be annoying or do ya actually need me for something?"

Subaru motioned to Emilia, who was now standing near the counter. "My new girlfriend, Emilia, is wondering where her favorite treat is—and so am I!" He emphasized "girlfriend," pausing slightly for effect, enjoying the discomfort it caused.

Ludwig raised an eyebrow at Emilia and then at Subaru before sighing heavily. "Twenty minutes alone and yer already dating one of my customers?"

Subaru widened his eyes in mock shock. "So the old man can make jokes too!"

This earned him a smack to the back of his head, causing him to groan in pain.

Emilia, still confused, thought, What's the point of mentioning my gender? What's 'dating' even mean? She furrowed her brows. And though she was getting frustrated, she also found herself a little frustrated. She had spent so much time trying to talk to Ludwig, but here was Subaru, a new arrival, talking to him so casually! She wasn't jealous… Why would you even think that!

Ludwig turned his gaze toward her, his eyes hard but apologetic. "Sorry, miss, couldn't restock last time. Had to rescue this bonehead from nearly dying," he said, pointing his thumb at Subaru.

"Who even says bonehead these days?" Subaru mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

Ludwig slowly turned toward him, and Subaru tried to brace himself for what was coming, but it was too late. Another smack to the head. "Why… me?" Subaru whined theatrically, falling dramatically.

Emilia didn't know whether to laugh or feel concerned for Subaru. She did, however, catch Ludwig's comment. He'd nearly died? She raised her hands in front of her, shaking her head quickly. "Oh, no! It's alright! I'm glad you saved him, but I guess I'll just get them next week," she said, trailing off, glancing down, realizing she was letting more of her features show before quickly looking at the ground again.

Ludwig narrowed his eyes at her. Silver hair... he thought.

Subaru emerged from behind the counter and looked at Emilia with wide eyes. "EMT..."

She tilted her head at him, completely confused. Subaru quickly corrected himself. "It's an abbreviation—it means 'Emilia-tan Major Angel'."

Emilia's head tilted further. "Sorry, I don't know what you mean. And where did 'Mili' come from?"

Subaru smiled brightly, sitting back down on his stool. "It's a nickname! A sign of closeness between friends!" He gave her a thumbs-up and a wink, though he didn't notice the slight blush on her cheeks.

"Hey, Mili, you okay?" he asked, concerned by her sudden silence. Maybe she's retreating back into her old self… he thought, half-jokingly.

Emilia suddenly began to shake, and Subaru's heart dropped when he saw tears falling from beneath her hood. He almost jumped over the counter to rush next to her.

"Whoa, what's wrong, Mili? Is it something I said?" he asked, panicking. Ludwig raised his fist, preparing to smack Subaru again, but paused when Emilia spoke, her voice muffled by her sobs.

"No... h-hik I'm just so happy!" she exclaimed, looking up just enough to reveal a wide smile, tears still falling. She rubbed her eyes with her wrists, but more tears quickly reappeared. "Will you... hik really be my... hik friend?" she asked, her gaze expectant but still hidden beneath the hood.

Subaru jumped over the counter, much to Ludwig's annoyance. The old man tried to look angry, but the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed him. Subaru wrapped his arms around Emilia, holding her tightly, as if shielding her from her own sadness.

"Yes, of course," Subaru said seriously, no teasing or jokes this time. "I'd be honored to be your friend, Mili." He could feel her cry into his chest. Who hurt this girl? he thought angrily, his embrace tightening until her tears subsided.

"Thank you," she muttered weakly, her voice full of gratitude.

Ludwig, clearly trying to regain his composure, muttered from behind them. "Now, just because yer buddies doesn't mean I'm giving ya a discount."

Subaru turned to look at him, not quite believing what he just heard. "I get a discount?" he asked, suddenly very interested in the ridiculously expensive sword he had been eyeing earlier.

"Not for yer sorry ass, kid," Ludwig shouted, shaking his fist.

He then turned his attention back to Emilia, who was standing beside Subaru. "Sorry again for not restocking. Ya still want the usual?"

Emilia nodded and handed over the pyrocrystals in exchange for the large bag of nuts and a few silver coins.

It was time for her to leave, but she felt a twinge of sadness. She wouldn't see her new friend for a week. The boy who had made her speak more than one sentence, the only person who had made her laugh besides Puck. She turned toward the door, hesitating, then shouted, "B-bye Subaru! I-I'll see you next time!" She didn't give him a chance to respond before bolting out into the snowy landscape.

Subaru watched her go, feeling just as sad. Ludwig noticed and groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Kid, it's time for your break!" he shouted.

Subaru turned to look at him in confusion. Ludwig doubled down. "I don't want you taking your break when it's busy, so go now so I can relax for the rest of the day!" he said, pushing Subaru toward the door.

Subaru laughed to himself, 'You're a big ol' softie, old man!' He ran after Emilia, following her footsteps in the snow.

"Hey, Emilia!" he called, catching up to her.

She was shocked but also happy to have a little more time to talk. They chatted and laughed, sharing random thoughts until they reached the other side of the village.

"Well, I can't go any further. I might freeze to death for real this time," Subaru joked, shivering and rubbing his arms to keep warm.

Emilia pouted. "You shouldn't joke like that," she said, her voice stern.

He sighed in resignation before turning to face her, his voice serious. "Are you going to be okay? You don't live far, do you?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, filled with sincerity.

She nodded with a smile. "Don't worry about me, Subaru," she said, giggling. "The cold doesn't bother me anyway."

She was about to look him in the eyes but caught herself. I wonder what his eyes look like? Maybe he has a kind face…

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you say, Elsa." He let go of her shoulder, pulling back just a bit.

"I don't know what that means, but I'm disappointed that it's probably something stupid," she replied softly, a part of her pitying the boy.

Subaru clutched his chest in mock pain. "You hurt me so!"

They both laughed, and with a final wave, they parted ways.

As Emilia walked back, she paused, looking back at the village. It was barely a line on the horizon now. She felt happy. She wanted to come back tomorrow, but... would that be too needy? She didn't want to scare Subaru away by sticking to him like glue.

What if… what if he found out who she was? What if he found out what she looked like? Would he still be kind to her? Or would he call her a monster, just like the others?

Suddenly, a gray cat appeared before her. "Hey, Lia, did anything happen today?" he asked, his tone light and jolly.

Emilia removed her hood, revealing her devilish features—pointed ears, amethyst eyes, and long silver hair. She smiled brightly, surprising Puck. "I made a new friend today!" she exclaimed.

Puck flinched, before settling into his usual neutral expression. "A friend? What's she like?" He wasn't going to do anything... yet. But if this friend of hers turned out to be suspicious, he'd handle it.

Emilia smiled softly as she remembered Subaru. "He's... he's nice."

Puck's thoughts turned darker. A boy? What could a boy want with my precious daughter? He considered killing Subaru to make sure he never got too close, but then realized she had kept her hood on the entire time. 'Once he sees her, he'll leave her life forever.'

With a resigned sigh, he decided to pretend to be happy for her. He tried changing the subject but Emilia only talked about Subaru the entire way home.

'A new friend, huh?' Puck thought, gritting his teeth.

By the time Emilia had finished her daily routine—mapping the forest, cleaning the frozen elf statues, and eating her newly acquired nuts—Puck had already returned to his crystal.

As she lay in bed, looking forward to next week, a thought lingered. Maybe I can bring him here for a sleepover…

But sleep took her before she could finish the thought, and this time, she knew who the boy in her dreams was.

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I couldn't reach 6,000 words so now I'm using this as an excuse. Sometimes I look back on what I wrote and I see mistakes or redundancy's. Usually I catch 'em when writing the rough draft. Sometimes they slip by me and when I hit publish I gotta read it a few times before being completely sure it ain't dumb. Second chapter in and I'm having a blast. Would love to hear your thoughts!