Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Natsuki Subaru shivered.

The convenience store’s fluorescent lights hummed above him, casting a pale glow over the neat rows of instant noodles and snack foods. He lazily wandered through the aisles, pausing in front of the manga section. He reached out, flipping through the pages of a new volume of a series he had been following.

Subaru: [Man, they finally released the next one?] he mused, scanning through the panels with mild interest. After a few moments, he sighed and put it back. “ Maybe next time.”

Subaru wandered the aisles lazily, scanning the shelves for something cheap yet satisfying. His stomach grumbled—a reminder that he hadn’t eaten much that day.

Shaking off the thought, he moved toward the snack aisle, his eyes scanning over the colorful packaging. “ Chocolate? Too sweet. Candy? Too expensive”. He needed something that would last him through the week.

Subaru: [Man, they raised the price again?”]he muttered, frowning at his usual cup of ramen of choice.

Subaru: [At this rate, I’ll have to start living off convenience store bread.]

After some deliberation, he grabbed 9 packs of cup ramen, a bag of corn chips, and a few more snacks, including a hot coffee in a thermos bottle for an extra energy boost.

“If I'm going to pull another late-night gaming session, I might as well be prepared.”

With a sigh, he grabbed the ramen anyway and made his way to the counter, tossing in a few extra snacks for good measure. The cashier, a tired-looking man who barely glanced up, rang up his items.

Subaru pulled out his wallet, fishing for the right amount of yen before handing it over. As he did, he felt the familiar weight of his phone in his pocket, a small reassurance that he hadn’t left it behind.

Subaru: [Thanks.] he said as he took the plastic bag, stuffing the change into his pocket. The automatic doors slid open with a soft hiss, and a gust of midnight air brushed against his skin.

Cold.

As he stepped out of the store, Subaru instinctively reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. The dim screen flickered to life, displaying the time—23:02, February 19, 2012. His eyes lingered on the battery indicator:  “ 27%... guess I should charge it when I get home.”

The phone was a gift from his parents on his 16th birthday, meant to help him keep in touch with friends. Not that he ever had any.

Proving his point, he absentmindedly flicked to his contact list—his parents, emergency services, and a food delivery number. That was it. No friends. No messages waiting for him. Just another reminder of how empty his so-called social life was. He let out a small, humorless chuckle before stuffing it back into his pocket.

He noticed it immediately. The air was brisk, crisp against his skin, but he barely reacted. It was just the midnight chill, the kind that crept in when the city quieted down. Nothing out of the ordinary.

His footsteps crunched lightly against the pavement as he walked. The wind prickled his skin, seeping through the familiar fabric of his tracksuit. He wished he had thought to wear an extra shirt underneath, but it wasn’t unbearable. He kept walking, dismissing the sensation as nothing more than his body overreacting to the unfamiliar outdoor air.

As he stepped further away from the store, the plastic bag in his hand rustled slightly.  Everything felt normal—the hum of distant traffic, the faint glow of streetlights against the darkening sky.

But then, he noticed it. The air was getting colder. Not all at once, but gradually, like a slow leak of warmth from the world around him. Tiny white flecks drifted lazily down from the sky. Snow? That was unusual for this time of year.

"Weird. Snow this early?" Subaru frowned slightly, pulling his jacket tighter around himself. His breath left his lips in faint, misty puffs, curling into the air before vanishing. The cold was settling in, not harsh but insistent, the kind that slowly seeped into his skin.

He glanced up at the sky, watching as the snowflakes drifted lazily down, illuminated by the glow of distant streetlights. The sight was peaceful, like the calm before the storm.

“Must be global warming messing with the seasons again.” He scoffed internally.

Subaru: [People keep saying it's all heatwaves and melting ice caps, but here I am, freezing my ass off in February.]

“Well, whatever.” he quickly shrugged it off. 

As he looked back down, in front of him, a black four-seater car rolled past on the road in front of him, its headlights cutting through the quiet snowfall. He stopped for a moment, watching it pass, the low hum of its engine briefly interrupting the eerie stillness. But as soon as it disappeared down the street, the silence returned, heavier than before.

A strange prickle ran down his spine. Not quite fear, but something... off. Like the air had changed in some imperceptible way. He slowed his pace, hesitating for just a moment before turning his head, half-expecting to catch sight of someone behind him.

“Nothing.”

Just the empty street, the distant glow of streetlights, and the silent fall of snow. Shaking his head, he exhaled and continued walking home, dismissing the unease as his imagination playing tricks on him.

Then, without any warning, everything went black.

The moment his senses returned, Subaru felt an intense cold biting at his skin.

He gasped, sucking in a lungful of frigid air as he instinctively pushed himself up. Finding out that he had fallen face first into a pile of snow. Brushing off the remnants of snow from his face—only to realize. 

His limbs were lighter yet weaker. His tracksuit was enormous on him, sleeves hanging over his fingertips, pant legs bunched around his ankles. His shoes felt loose, barely clinging to his feet.

His plastic bag lay on the ground beside him, its contents slightly scattered.

Confusion crashed over him like a wave.

Subaru: [The hell..? What's wrong with my body?!] he murmured, his breath hitching as he hugged his arms to his chest. His voice wavered, teetering between disbelief and bewilderment.

Subaru: [How—why am I—? What the hell is happening?!]

He pinched his arm hard, wincing. The pain was real.

“This isn't a dream…”

Snow-covered trees stretched as far as his eyes could see—no buildings, no lights, and, more importantly, no signs of life. Just the endless expanse of snow and towering trees. 

The cold bit at his skin, so he curled inward, pulling his oversized clothes tighter in a futile attempt to keep warm.

After a long moment of confusion he managed to pull himself together

Subaru: [Alright… first things first. Let me check what happened to me] Since it was dark and the only source of light was the moon he couldn't quite make out small details. So he reached inside his clothes for his phone.

His hands fumbled through his pockets, struggling to adjust to their smaller size. The sensation was unsettling—his fingers felt thinner, weaker, and unfamiliar. As he searched for his phone, he realized how awkward his movements had become. His sleeves, far too large, kept slipping over his hands, making the process frustratingly clumsy.

Subaru: [Damn it… why is everything so big? Or... why am I so small?]

After a brief struggle, he finally pulled his phone free. His heart pounded as he hesitated for a moment, then pressed the power button. The screen flickered to life, casting a dim glow on his face. Swallowing hard, he opened the camera app, bracing himself for what he was about to see.

The screen loaded, and Subaru found himself staring at a face that was undeniably his—yet not.

His eyes widened as he took in the roundness of his cheeks, the youthful softness of his features. His messy black hair looked even more unkempt than usual, his bangs longer, nearly covering his eyes. But the most shocking part was his size—he was clearly younger, maybe around fifteen or fourteen years old.

Subaru: [What the hell…?] he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

He turned his head side to side, watching the reflection mimic his every move. He lifted a trembling hand to his face, brushing his fingers against his cheek. The sensation was real, the warmth of his skin undeniable. This wasn’t some dream or hallucination.

Subaru: [No way… did I… de-age?!]

Subaru stared at his phone screen, his reflection staring back at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. His smaller hands trembled as he gripped the device, trying to steady himself. The cold had already begun to seep into his bones, making the situation feel all the more real. 

There was no mistaking it—his body had somehow reverted to that of a child. About the age of 15

Subaru: [This… this isn’t normal. This isn’t some elaborate prank, right? Right?!]

His voice, now lighter and softer, barely carried in the quiet expanse of the snow-covered forest. He glanced around again, as if expecting cameras to pop out from behind the trees, revealing that this was all some bizarre social experiment. But the only response was the whisper of the wind and the occasional creaking of tree branches under the weight of the frost.

Subaru: [Alright, let's think… Think! What’s the last thing I remember?]

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to replay the moments before everything went black. He had been walking home from the convenience store. The night was cold, but nothing unusual. Snow had started falling, and then… and then?

Subaru: [I blacked out. No warning, no dizziness. Just… gone.]

He exhaled sharply, watching his breath mist in the air. If he had simply passed out, he would have woken up in the same place, not in the middle of a vast, unfamiliar forest. And certainly not in a body at least two years younger than the one he remembered.

His fingers curled around his phone as a new thought surfaced.

Subaru: [Maybe I can check my location!]

Fumbling slightly, he navigated to his phone’s settings, pulling up the GPS. A small loading icon spun at the top of the screen before a harsh notification blinked up at him—"No Signal."

Subaru: [Damn it! Come on, give me something here!]

He switched to the messaging app. No service. He tried to make a call—nothing. No bars. No connection.

Subaru: [Great. Fantastic. The one time I actually need this thing and it decides to be useless. Figures.]

He let out a frustrated sigh and pocketed his phone, his mind racing through the possibilities. If he wasn’t in Japan anymore, where could he be? Somewhere up north? Russia? Canada? 

Subaru: [No… no, if that were the case, I'd still recognize some of the constellations, right?]

His gaze lifted instinctively to the sky. If he couldn't rely on technology, then he could at least try something old-fashioned—navigation by the stars.

One of the few subjects he had ever taken an interest in was astronomy. Something about the vast, endless sky filled with ancient light had always captivated him. He knew how to locate the North Star, how to use the constellations to get a sense of direction. Something his parents teached him when they went camping for Subaru's tenth birthday. 

But as his eyes scanned the heavens, his stomach twisted. The sky was wrong.

The moon was enormous, far larger than it had any right to be. The stars, while breathtaking in their clarity, were… unfamiliar. There were too many of them, and none were forming the constellations he knew by heart. He searched for Polaris, for Orion’s Belt, for anything remotely familiar.

Nothing.

Subaru: [What… what the hell is this?]

His breath hitched. He turned in place, desperate to find at least one point of reference, but the more he looked, the clearer it became—he wasn’t under the same night sky he had always known.

His heartbeat thundered in his chest as he took a shaky step backward. The cold seemed sharper now, the silence heavier. The logical part of his mind was screaming, demanding answers, but there were none.

Subaru: [Okay. Okay. Deep breaths. One problem at a time.]

He needed shelter. Standing out in the open like this was a recipe for hypothermia, and he wasn’t keen on finding out how long his smaller body could last against the elements. He still had his convenience store bag—food, at least for a little while. But warmth? Protection?

His eyes scanned the darkened tree line, the endless stretch of snow beyond.

Subaru: [No buildings, no roads, no people…]

He swallowed hard.

Subaru: [Alright. First order of business: survive the night. Then, I figure out where the hell I am. And more importantly…]

Subaru took note of how massive the trees were. He collected his scattered stuff, which lay on the snow around him, and shoved it into his plastic bag. His grip tightened on it.

Subaru: [How to get back.]

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "It’s better to start moving."

The night stretched on as Subaru trudged through the thick snow, his limbs growing numb with each passing step. The cold gnawed at his exposed skin, seeping through his ill-fitted clothing like icy needles. His breath came in ragged puffs, visible in the dim glow of his phone’s flashlight. 

Every step forward felt heavier than the last, exhaustion setting in faster than he expected.

The snowfall intensified, swirling around him in a chaotic dance. The trees, once standing like silent sentinels, were becoming less visible as the wind picked up, howling like unseen spirits in the night. He could barely feel his fingers anymore, and his toes burned from the bitter frost.

Subaru: [I… I have to keep moving.] Subaru spoke to himself.

The storm wasn’t letting up. If anything, it was getting worse. The temperature plummeted further, turning the once wet snow into rigid ice, clinging to the trees and coating the path in an unforgiving layer of frost. He staggered forward, his vision beginning to blur as his legs trembled beneath him.

Subaru: [I won’t… freeze to death… Not here… Not like this.]

As if in response to his determination, a distant sound cut through the blizzard—a deep, guttural growl. Subaru’s heart nearly stopped.

He turned his head slowly, fear gripping him tighter than the cold. The beast emerged from the swirling snow like a living nightmare, its hulking form barely visible through the storm’s relentless fury. It was massive—easily over three meters tall at the shoulder—with jet-black fur that bristled like a thousand jagged needles, each strand dusted with frost. Its breath steamed in the freezing air, twin clouds of mist rising from its monstrous, two-headed frame.

Each head was as terrifying as the other, with snarling muzzles lined with rows of glistening, serrated fangs. 

One head had burning, ember-red eyes, glowing like molten coals in the dark. The other had pupils like slits of ice, a piercing, pale blue gaze that seemed to freeze the very air around it. Saliva dripped from its jaws, sizzling as it met the snow, releasing a faint, acrid smell.

Its muscular legs ended in massive, clawed paws that left deep furrows in the snow with every step. A low, guttural growl rumbled from deep within its twin throats, a sound so unnatural that it sent a shiver through Subaru’s already frozen bones. 

The creature’s very presence exuded a primal, suffocating fear—an instinctive warning from the depths of Subaru’s mind telling him that this was not just a predator. 

Then, the heads lifted in unison, sniffing the air. Their eerie eyes locked onto him, and in that moment, Subaru knew—he was prey.

Subaru: [No… no, no, no…]

He quickly ran for cover behind a tree. 

Panic rooted him to the spot. The beast stepped forward, each movement deliberate, powerful. The space between them shrank, and Subaru felt his legs begin to buckle under the sheer weight of terror.

Then, just before it could round the tree shielding him, a deafening roar echoed through the night.

The monster snapped its heads toward the sound, growled slowly, then turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, disappearing into the blizzard.

Subaru collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, tears stinging his eyes. He didn’t move for what felt like an eternity.

Then, finally, he picked himself up, clutching his bag, and forced himself to keep walking.

He had to survive.

No matter what.

Subaru trudged along the snow, his steps sluggish, his body protesting with each movement. The blizzard had worsened, reducing visibility to almost nothing. 

The once towering trees were now barely distinguishable, their frozen trunks coated in a thick layer of ice. Each breath he took felt like inhaling shards of glass, the air frigid and merciless.

His fingers had long since gone numb, and his toes—despite his best efforts to keep moving—were beginning to turn an ominous shade of blue. He clenched and unclenched his hands, trying to restore some feeling, but the effort was futile. 

His oversized clothes did little to protect him from the biting wind.

He was tired. More tired than he ever remembered being. It was different from exhaustion due to lack of sleep—this was bone-deep, an overwhelming fatigue that made every step feel like lifting lead weights.

His smaller body couldn't handle the strain like his old one had. He missed the strength he had built up over the years, the muscles he had trained. Now, he felt weak, fragile.

Subaru:[Damn it,] he muttered through chattering teeth. [This is ridiculous…]

The storm raged on, and his legs threatened to give out beneath him. But then, in the distance, he noticed something—tracks, faint but visible under the layers of snow. A road, or at least what remained of one.

Subaru's breath hitched as relief flooded his frozen limbs. It was a sign of people. Civilization. A chance to survive.

Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he pressed on, determined to follow the path—no matter what awaited him ahead. However, as he trudged forward, his legs nearly buckling beneath him, he realized his endurance was quickly fading. His body, now that of a child, lacked the stamina he once had. 

Each step was a battle against the biting cold and the unrelenting snowstorm that howled through the trees. He clenched his fists, trying to bring warmth back into his fingers, but they remained stiff and unresponsive.

As he walked, he forced himself to think of alternatives. The road ahead seemed endless, and with the worsening blizzard, there was no telling how much farther he had to go. 

His breath came in ragged gasps as he turned his head, scanning his surroundings for anything that could serve as temporary shelter.

Then, just off to the side of the path, he spotted something—a dark opening partially concealed by snow and ice.

A cave. His heart skipped a beat. It was a risk, but at this point, staying out in the open was a death sentence. Gritting his teeth, he veered off the path, forcing his aching body toward the cave, hoping it would be enough to keep him alive through the night.

Subaru:[Man i'm glad i had my phone with me when i went out.] “ It sure is a life saviour.” 

Subaru:[Another world huh. Where is the beautiful girl that summoned me? Where is my protagonist status? My insanely strong powers?All i get is my body reversing to my 15 year old state. All my workout was for nothing! Man, only 3 hours in and I'm already freezing to death in the middle of nowhere!] Subaru mutters while approaching the cave.

Subaru:[Well at least finding a place to rest is the best thing that has happened so far] Subaru sighed but ultimately kept walking towards his goal.

As he neared the cave entrance, he hesitated for a moment, his breath coming out in shaky puffs. The darkness within was absolute, an inky blackness his phone’s light could somewhat penetrate. But for all he knew, something could already be lurking inside, waiting for an unsuspecting visitor to wander in. But the howling wind at his back and the relentless bite of the cold left him with little choice.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, cautiously approaching the cave’s entrance, his footsteps crunching softly against the frozen ground.

As he took another step inside, his foot landed on something that made a sickeningly different sound than the usual crunch of snow or gravel. 

His heart skipped a beat. Looking down, his phone’s dim light revealed a small dark, wet stain spreading across the stone floor.

Subaru:[Blood?....Blood!]

Quickly, Subaru covered his phone's light with his fingers, trying to dim the glow.

However, the brightness was too strong, and the light seeped through his fingers, casting a dim red hue across the cave floor. His breath caught in his throat as he slowly lifted his gaze, scanning his surroundings in the eerie glow of his hand-shielded light.

Subaru: [Come on man! I can't be that unlucky!] Subaru nervously muttered under his breath.

He waited a bit without moving an inch,without making a single noise even holding his breath. But nothing came. No noise. No movement.

“Sleeping? Dead? ” Subaru thought

Ultimately, uncovering his phone's flashlight, which was previously covered by his fingers, he looked around  using it. At first glance he saw no monster or abomination.

What he saw was a lump of snow that seemed a little out of place as if it was covering something.

He stepped closer to investigate. With his phone on his right hand and his convenience store plastic bag on his left. His clothes were also trailing behind him.

Subaru: [Huh?...] 

As he stepped closer he could make out the shape of the lump of snow. 

It appeared to take some kind of humanoid shape. 

Lowering himself onto his knees, he brushed away the snow with his tracksuit’s left sleeve.

And then what he saw shook  him to his core—  

Underneath all that snow. Black hair, pale white skin.  There laid the figure of a girl 

Subaru’s eyes widened 

Subaru:[A…. Girl?]

His body moved faster than his brain could process at that point.

Panic surged through him. 

Dropping his phone onto the ground, its light now casting eerie shadows on the cave walls, he dug desperately, brushing snow away from her frail body. Her skin was ice-cold, her lips a dangerous shade of blue. 

Her petite body that was more bones than flesh, with his small hands

Subaru:[Hey! Hold on! Can you hear me?] Subaru asked the girl. But she gave no indication of hearing what he had said. The girl wasn't moving

Fearing the worst had already happened and that she was gone. he leaned in to check for a pulse—

Then, faintly, her eyelids fluttered. Barely open, revealing stunning purple eyes before closing again

Subaru exhaled sharply, relief and urgency flooding through him.

She was alive.

And he would not let her die

Natsuki Subaru made that promise to himself.

Chapter Text

Subaru stared at the unconscious girl before him, his mind filled with concern. 

Who was she? And how had she ended up here in such a terrible state?

The cave was cold and unwelcoming, and the sight of the blood stain on the ground made his chest tighten. However, he pushed aside his unease—right now, the most important thing was making sure she was okay.

Her body was in a dire state. 

Her soles were roughened and torn open, signs she had travelled barefoot for a long time, The damage was probably done by sharp ice and hidden stones buried beneath the snow. They left raw, bleeding wounds that made even the idea of walking agonizing. Her left arm bore a jagged, deep wound running from her shoulder down to her wrist, torn flesh exposing raw muscle beneath the blood-soaked skin.

The limb hung uselessly at her side—broken beyond simple recovery. Two of her fingers were bent at unnatural angles, swollen and dark with bruises, stiff from the cold.

Her skin, already pale, carried an alarming shade of blue, a clear sign that she was dangerously close to freezing. Her lips, cracked and discolored, trembled faintly with each shallow breath, struggling against the biting cold.

Snowflakes clung stubbornly to her matted black hair making it silver, blending in almost seamlessly as if she were part of the frozen landscape itself. Beneath the light of Subaru’s phone, the extent of her injuries became painfully clear—she was barely clinging to life.

Subaru: [Okay, okay, think! What should I do?!]

Subaru had no medical training, no survival expertise.

His best source of knowledge came from random things he'd picked up in books and on the internet. He had read about survival tactics in passing, seen documentaries on extreme conditions, but none of that could replace real experience. If there was one thing he knew for certain, it was that hypothermia and blood loss were deadly.

The human body could only endure so much before it shut down entirely, and the signs were already appearing before his eyes.

Her breathing was shallow, her body stiff and unresponsive. He knew from what little he had learned that she was in the late stages of exposure, where the body could deceive itself, making her feel warm when she was anything but. 

Time was against him.

His mind raced for solutions. Warming her up too quickly could send her body into shock. 

Leaving her unattended was out of the question. His hands clenched into fists. He had to think, had to act, and he had to do it now. Every second wasted was another step closer to losing her forever.

Subaru looked down at his hands, then at the girl, frustration boiling inside him.

Subaru: [Damn it! This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!] His voice cracked as the weight of his helplessness pressed down on him, a suffocating force that made his limbs tremble. He clenched his fists, nails biting into his palms, desperate for some kind of clarity, some kind of answer.

His mind raced through every possibility, every action he could take, but each idea crumbled under the crushing reality of his own limitations. He was just a regular guy, thrown into a world that didn't care whether he was ready or not. No superpowers, no divine intervention—just him, his will, and the bitter cold gnawing at his bones.

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. The girl needed help, not his frustration. 

Taking a deep breath, he wiped his sleeve across his face, ignoring the sting in his eyes.

Subaru: [Alright, think... there has to be something I can do.] he muttered, voice raw but determined.

He had seen enough fantasy stories to know that main characters always got some kind of cheat ability when they were summoned to another world. Some divine ability, an ancient artifact, or at the very least, a hidden potential waiting to awaken at the perfect moment. 

But here he was—freezing, powerless, and painfully human. No magic coursing through his veins, no sudden surge of strength, just an ordinary guy desperately trying to save a life with nothing but his wits and a plastic bag of convenience store junk.

The cold gnawed at his fingers, his body shivering uncontrollably as he fumbled with what little he had. He bit his lip, frustration welling up inside him. 

Was this really all he could do? Just scrape by with whatever scraps the world allowed him to have? His breath came out in shaky clouds as he forced himself to focus. He had no cheat skills, no second chances—only the sheer stubborn will to not let her die.

His breathing became erratic as stress took hold. He felt the walls closing in, the weight of the situation pressing down on him like an unbearable force. This girl was dying, and he was useless to stop it. 

His fingers trembled—not just from the cold but from the crushing realization that he might be watching someone die for the first time in his life. A deep pit of dread settled in his stomach, twisting into panic. The girl's breath was slowly becoming fainter.

Subaru: [No, no, no—come on, stay with me!]

His heart pounded against his ribs. He removed his tracksuit to take off his inner shirt before wearing it again. He ripped his inner black shirt, tearing it into strips of fabric and wrapping them tightly around her feet, turning them into makeshift bandages. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Gritting his teeth, he then turned his attention to her broken fingers. Taking a deep breath, he carefully put them back into place, wincing at the faint cracking sound as he aligned them as best as he could. He quickly wrapped them up, hoping it would at least prevent further damage.

But the biggest injury she sustained was still the bigger problem. Her torn arm was smeared in her own blood. If not for the fact that her arm was practically frozen due to the cold, she would've died of blood loss a long time ago. Using the remainder of his black shirt, he ripped it into a long strip of cloth. Carefully and very slowly, he managed to wrap it around her torn arm.

Now came the biggest problem—

Subaru needed to find a way to warm her up.

The girl's body was like ice. If not warmed up fast, he would lose her to the freezing temperature. He had to find a way—any way.

His thoughts spiraled, bouncing between desperate ideas. Rubbing sticks together? Impossible—he didn’t have the time or skill for that. His phone? Useless—he had no way to start a flame with it. What else? What could he do? He racked his brain, but every second wasted felt like a nail in this girl’s coffin.

Subaru: [Alright. First, gather something burnable. Then... I'll figure something out.]

He took one last glance at the girl, her body barely rising and falling with her breath, and clenched his fists. He wouldn’t let her die. Not here. Not while he could still do something about it.

Reaching for his phone, he checked the battery—27%.

Not great, but enough to last a while if he was careful.

With that, Subaru stepped out into the storm, bracing himself against the freezing wind.

Carefully, he searched around the cave entrance for the driest branches he could find, his hands shaking as he fumbled through the snow and ice. Every second counted, and he couldn’t afford to waste time. 

Having both his arms full of branches he returned back to the girl.

He piled the gathered branches near the girl, glancing at her pale face before clenching his jaw. Now comes the real challenge.

Subaru: [How the hell do I start a fire without a lighter?!]

He rubbed his hands together briskly, trying to fight off the numbing cold. "Think, Subaru, think! There has to be a way!" His breath came out in short, misty puffs as he frantically searched his surroundings for anything that could help.

His eyes darted to his phone. The battery was low, but maybe—no, that was useless. He didn’t have anything to spark a fire with. He clenched his jaw, frustration growing.

His gaze flickered to the pile of branches he had gathered, damp with frost. Rubbing two sticks together like in the movies? Impossible in these conditions. Striking rocks? He didn’t even know what kind of stone would work for that.

Subaru: [Damn it! Come on! There has to be something!] He ran a shaking hand through his hair, feeling the panic creep in. The girl’s breathing was getting fainter, her body still deathly cold. Time was slipping away.

Subaru could not think of a way to create a fire in his current predicament. He slowly started despairing. 

He thought about finding someone but quickly dismissed that thought because of two reasons. The first being that if he couldn’t find anyone so far, there was no guarantee he would find anyone now. The second reason was the fact that it was nighttime and Subaru was exhausted. His body was that of a child, and with beasts like the one he encountered before, he would surely die if he left the cave. If not by the claws of a monster, then by the freezing cold.

His body trembled, not just from the cold but from the sheer weight of the situation. He clenched his fists, glaring at the pile of sticks before him. There had to be a way. There had to be something he could do. But as the seconds ticked by, as the howling wind outside only grew harsher, the crushing reality of his helplessness settled deeper into his chest.

The girl's breathing was slowing—a terrifying sign that she was on the verge of slipping into eternal sleep. Subaru's pulse quickened. He had to do something now, or he was going to lose her. The cold, the exhaustion, the panic—they all threatened to swallow him whole.

Subaru: [Damn it, there's got to be a way! Think, Subaru, think!] he muttered, his voice shaking as he fought against the rising despair clawing at his chest.

Then—

The girl's breathing suddenly stopped.

Panic surged through Subaru like a bolt of lightning, sending a shockwave of fear through his entire being. 

Subaru: [No, no, no—don't you dare die on me!] His voice was hoarse, his throat tightening as dread gripped his chest.

He dropped everything and rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he tried to shake her awake. Her body was alarmingly still, her skin deathly cold against his fingertips.

Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision as frustration and terror mixed together into something unbearable. His breaths came out in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he were the one struggling for air. 

Subaru: [Somebody—anybody, help me!] he shouted, voice cracking under the weight of sheer desperation. The walls of the cave seemed to close in around him, the howling wind outside a cruel reminder of how isolated they were. 

He clenched his jaw, forcing back the sob threatening to escape. There had to be something—anything—he could do to save her. He refused to let this be the end. 

But his mind could not think properly. Perhaps due to the exhaustion? Or perhaps because becoming younger decreased the contents in his brain affecting his ability to think properly?

Subaru didn't know. He couldn't comprehend his current predicament.

Dark thoughts started clouding his mind. Corrupting his will, his conviction. His own thoughts clashing against what made “Natsuki Subaru”, "Natsuki Subaru". 

Behind his ear he heard whispers. He recognised the sound it was his own voice mocking him:

Perhaps if it were someone else instead of “Natsuki Subaru”. This girl wouldn't have to die because of his failures, his inability to help someone in need. 

“Natsuki Subaru” was a failure. How could he even think that by getting isekai’d to another world he’d be able to strive for better. “Natsuki Subaru” will always remain a failure no matter where he went. So he should give up like he had always done.

But—

He wouldn't let his weakness affect others. He had long given up on himself. But if he gave up on others there would not be anything left for him. That was his conviction. His sole reason to keep trying to strive forward In this unfamiliar land which he found himself in.

So Natsuki Subaru stopped trying to push a miracle out of himself. He knew he was weak. And that was just fine for him.

So using his mind, his will, his soul. He pleaded for someone, something, anything to help him save this dying girl. The first Human being he had come across since his arrival.

And as if to answer his cries for help— amidst the cold feelling of the night. Inside the very cave he found himself in, two dim glowing balls of light manifested out of thin air, appearing like tiny stars in the suffocating darkness. 

One glowed a soft, tranquil blue, radiating a cool, almost soothing aura that reminded Subaru of the stillness before dawn.

The other burned a deep, fierce red, its flickering glow pulsating like embers struggling to reignite in the cold, a stark contrast against the frozen air. 

The two lights hovered in place for a moment, before making their way over to Subaru. They hovered about a palm above his head for about a second before circling Subaru, their faint hum barely audible over the howling wind outside, as if contemplating the scene before them. 

Then, as if reaching a decision, they began to drift forward, their shimmering presence casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across the damp, icy walls of the cave. 

The red one pulsed brighter for a brief instant before surging downward, colliding with the pile of gathered branches—and in an instant, a small but steady fire sprang to life, its golden glow banishing some of the surrounding darkness.

Meanwhile, the blue orb hovered gently over the girl, who was lying face up in front of a kneeling Subaru. Its ethereal radiance wrapping her still form in a soft glow, as though shielding her from the grasp of death itself. 

Subaru, wide-eyed and breathless, could only watch as the miracle unfolded before him, his heart pounding as hope flickered back into his weary soul.

Was this it?

Was this the miracle he had been begging for?

Before Subaru even realized it, he had slid an arm onto the girl's back, lifted her head, and pulled it towards his chest. His tracksuit draped over her slightly, offering a meager shield against the biting cold. 

He could now feel the faint warmth of her breath against him, weak but present, a fragile sign of life that he clung to desperately.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his breathing ragged as he struggled to steady himself. Every second felt agonizingly slow, his mind a storm of fear and self-doubt  slowly dissipating.

Hope tangled together.

He could feel the chill creeping through his clothes, leeching away his own warmth, but he refused to let go. His hands trembled as he gently brushed the frozen strands of her hair away from her face, revealing the sharp contrast between the dark strands and her alarmingly pale skin.

Subaru:[Please... just hold on a little longer.] he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant howling wind. He tightened his grip around her, as if trying to will his own body heat into her frail form.

His eyes darted toward the fire, its glow flickering uncertainty, casting long shadows against the damp stone walls of the cave. The flames danced and crackled, offering a fragile promise of survival. 

But was it enough? Could it truly fight against the relentless cold that sought to claim them both?

Subaru swallowed hard, his jaw clenched. He couldn't afford to let doubt creep in. He had already come this far—he wouldn't allow her life to slip through his fingers. Not when he was given a  chance to keep her alive.

Lifting the girl with his arms (bridal style) he bought her closer to the fire.

Subaru:[You're going to be okay.] he murmured, pressing his forehead lightly against hers, as if the simple act could tether her soul to this world. “I won’t let you go."

His grip tightened, his body instinctively shielding hers from the creeping cold as he rocked slightly, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of his overwhelming need to protect her. He didn't know if she could hear him, if his warmth even reached her, but he wasn't going to stop. He would stay like this for as long as it took, for as long as she needed.

Because in this frozen world, she wasn't alone. And as long as he had strength left, he would make sure she never would be.

Subaru: [Thank you.---Thank you very much.] Subaru, despite the fact that he was sobbing, managed to utter those words. But whatever had answered his pleas of help wasn't around anymore.

He didn't know what they were or where they had gone, but he was really glad.

Really, Really glad

Shortly after the ordeal. Subaru somewhat managed to calm down seeing that the girl was somewhat stable, he took a deep breath, trying to steady his fraying nerves. He took a glance outside the cave, watching as the blizzard raged on, the wind howling like a beast prowling in the darkness. 

The snowfall showed no sign of stopping, and if anything, it seemed like it was only going to get worse. If he didn’t act quickly, their meager fire would die out, and the girl’s fragile warmth would disappear along with it.

Gritting his teeth, he carefully laid the girl down in a more comfortable position, ensuring that she was shielded from the brunt of the cold drafts that seeped into the cave. Her breathing was still shallow, but steady—something that brought him a small amount of relief.

Turning his attention to the storm outside, he braced himself. He needed fuel for the fire, and he needed it now. Wrapping his arms tightly around himself for whatever warmth he could muster, he forced himself to step out into the relentless cold. The moment he did, the icy wind lashed at his exposed skin like sharp knives, stealing his breath away.

Shivering, he forced his feet to move, scanning the surroundings for anything that could be used. He dug through the snow, hands trembling as he grasped at half-buried sticks and broken branches, some of which were damp from the snow. He cursed under his breath but refused to stop. He moved quickly, gathering as much as he could carry, feeling his limbs growing numb with each second he remained outside.

After what felt like an eternity, he stumbled back inside, dumping the bundle of sticks near the fire. His fingers ached as he rubbed them together, trying to bring back some feeling. He had to dry out the damp ones, break them up, and feed the fire before it dwindled. The warmth of the small flame was their only lifeline in this frozen nightmare, and he wasn’t going to let it go out.

Subaru, exhausted and barely able to keep his eyes open, finally allowed himself to sit down. His back rested against the cold cave wall as he let out a shaky breath, his body still shivering despite the fire's weak warmth. His gaze shifted to the unconscious girl beside him. Carefully, he reached out and lifted her head, letting it rest on his lap. Now that the immediate danger had passed—at least for the moment—he could finally take a closer look at her.

She was the first resident of this world he had met, a stranger who had somehow become his responsibility. He gently brushed the dirt and frozen strands of hair from her face, wiping away the grime and blood that marred her delicate features. Beneath her left eye, a small beauty spot stood out against her pale skin. Her short, wavy hair was the same shade of black as his own, now dusted with silver from the lingering snow.

Subaru: [Honestly i would probably have believed she was from earth if not for her purple eyes. That is not a natural eye color humans from earth have.]

"Wait a minute, is she even human?" Subaru pondered on the thought.

Subaru:[Well she does look human..... Though I can inquire those questions straight from the source once she wakes up. Supposing she can understand my language.]

He sighed, his fingers ghosting over her cold cheek.

"So make sure to stay alive. Ok?"

Now that Subaru had some peace of mind . Subaru's eyes  went back to his phone. Now that he realized it. It was strange that from all that journey his phone had yet to lose battery still at the constant 27%.

"What's wrong with it ?" the thought crossed his mind.

After all, it had been about 2 hours since his arrival in this new world. And he had spent at least 80% of that time with his flashlight on.  His phone's home screen displayed the time: 1:28 AM Subaru noticed. He didn't even know how long the day and night cycle lasted.

"But that could wait for now."  

His thoughts lead back to the battery once again. Determined to investigate. Subaru tries to open his phone's back casing.

Why?

To check the battery and see what's up with it.

He popped the case—

The screen remained lit, displaying the same 27% charge, as if mocking his attempt to make sense of the situation. His fingers hesitated over the exposed interior, tracing the empty space where the battery should have been

Subaru:[ —? What the fuck…? You're telling me this phone has been running on hopes and dreams?]

This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t even remotely possible. A phone couldn't just work without a power source—unless, of course, something beyond his understanding was keeping it alive.

His mind raced with possibilities. Was this another anomaly of being in another world? Had his phone been altered somehow when he was brought here?

"Does that mean the phone's energy is never going to end?"

Slowly, he replaced the back casing, staring at the device . If this was magic, it wasn’t like any magic he had ever heard of in fantasy stories. No glowing runes, no incantations—just an ordinary phone defying the laws of reality.

Subaru thought for a little bit more before coming to a conclusion.

"I don't have a clue…. But on the bright side at least it's good to know It won't run out of battery any time soon."

Subaru put his phone inside his pocket. Subaru then glanced back towards the girl. Now that he noticed it her torn clothes resembled that of what people used back in Europe used during the Middle Ages.

Just that her clothes seemed of really low quality. Like it wasn't meant to last a long time.

He then looked at her neck and noticed some type of collar.

"Huh? "

Subaru reached out for the girl's neck gently placing his hand on it. The collar fit her neck perfectly allowing her to breath just fine. It appeared to be made of some strong metal type material. In its center a blood red gem was engraved.  

Gritting his teeth Subaru halted his thought process from going any further from what one would assume by seeing a girl with a collar in the middle of nowhere.

He shifted his attention towards the girl's right hand. Gently bringing it closer to him

Her hand had become much warmer than before, but was still cold. 

He also noticed her 2 wrapped up fingers were swelling up.

"I need to find medicine for her injuries once she wakes up.  Especially for the injury in her left arm. It is in a really bad state. If not for the cold that had slowed her heartbeat making her blood flow slower she would have without a doubt died of blood loss a long time ago."

"And then there was that blue orb. "It" somehow had brought her back to life. And it also seemed to help with the small injuries.  I wonder what that was... Magic maybe?"

Realising he wasn't going to get more information from it he gently placed the girl's hand back over her belly.

He then reached for the pile of branches next to him and threw one or two into the fire.

The cave was silent except for the faint crackling of the fire. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body, but he forced himself to stay awake. He had to watch over her. He had to make sure she would still be breathing when morning came.

He took note of the food items he had with him. A nearly empty coffee bottle. Which he quickly finished on the spot. 9 servings of chicken flavoured noodles that came with  a pair of metal chopsticks in each plastic  cup. A bag of corn chips. A plastic wrapped onigiri.  And an apple flavoured lollipop.

"Man, I'm really glad I was summoned when I went to stock up on food. If it was just before I entered the convenience store, I would without a doubt starve to death, if the cold didn't get to me first, that is."

Subaru looked back at the cave entrance. The blizzard didn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

"I guess we're stranded here for the time being"

Subaru's stomach growled. He was starving. He grabbed the onigiri from the bag, unwrapped it and munched on it like it was the best thing he ever had.

While eating, Subaru also realised the girl was probably starving. Being easily seen by her malnourished body.

Subaru: [Potato chips.... wouldn't be good for someone who was on the verge of death. The noodles would be, but the real question would be how to cook them...]

"I can maybe use the snow and heat it for water. Would be really unhealthy but it's better than nothing. But I still need a container to be able to heat it up."

Subaru's eyes darted back towards the plastic bag. There was a thermos bottle.

"That may either go really well or really bad. But there is no point in thinking about it for now. "

Subaru looked back down onto his lap. The girl was still sleeping. The fire’s warmth had begun to chase away some of the bone-deep chill that had settled over her, and the faint rise and fall of her chest reassured him that she was still holding on.

Subaru: [I can't give her food if she's still sleeping.] Subaru sighed as he ran his fingers on the girl's hair.

He threw some more sticks into the fire to keep it going.

Subaru: [All I can do for now is wait....] He exhaled and leaned back against the cave wall, exhaustion finally catching up to him. His body ached, his muscles screamed for rest, and his eyelids felt heavier than ever.

"Just a little sleep… just a little…"

His vision blurred, the crackling of the fire lulling him into a fragile, uneasy rest.

And with that Subaru drifted into unconsciousness

Chapter Text

Slavery is illegal in Gusteko. However, this does not stop slavery from being an open secret, nor does it stop powerful people from illegally making others into their slaves...

A slaver, or a buyer being caught would lead to certain death by the Gusteko Holy Church.

The Gusteko Holy Church, the state religion of the Holy Kingdom, claims that life is equal and that there is no difference in value between human beings.

However, the reality is that there existed a large disparity between the rich and the poor, and it was inevitable that some people are lucky enough to be born with wealth and other people were unlucky enough to be born without it. The unavoidable result of this reality was the existence of slaves to reduce the number of mouths for the poor to feed and to secure labor power.

The reason why Elsa became a slave was because of a common predicament in the Holy Kingdom. 

She didn’t have any memories of her parents, but she thought they had been relatively normal parents for a place like Gusteko, for better or worse. They didn't love their children strongly, nor did they despise them. They had no choice but to sell said children off in order to care for themselves when life became difficult. 

Elsa had no intention of calling her parents heartless.

However, once she was sold off to a slave trader, Elsa's career had been quite problematic.

First of all, her story began with the first mass escape from the slave trade. It was not Elsa who initiated this escape drama, but the actions of an older slave she barely knew.

Many senior slaves had been planning to escape for a long time and their plan was put into action right after Elsa was taken in by a slave trader and transported to their base. 

Unfortunately for him, the senior slave who drew up the plan had been shot in the head with an arrow while trying to escape, dying instantly. Elsa however, who had just been sold off in good health, succeeded in shaking off the slavers pursuing her.

After that, she hid in a nearby town, where she blended in with children who lacked a home; living on the streets as an orphan in the intense cold.  

She did a lot of wicked things to survive the long cold years, she stole and hurt others.

That sort of lifestyle gave her no sense of fulfilment.

But that changed about months ago, when she committed her first ever murder.  

△▼△▼△▼△                                 

                                       [FlashBack]

 [Elsa Pov]

The white snow blew so hard that I could not see more than a few meters ahead of me. The wind roared noisily as the chilly snow grew stronger.

Despite feeling as if my bare skin was about to peel off, I took step after step, leaving footprints in the snow behind me. They disappeared so fast that it was sometimes hard to even tell what directions I was going. Am I going forwards or backwards, forwards or backwards?

It’s getting hard to tell if I’m even dead or alive.

Elsa: [....]

My lips loosened in a chuckle at the silly thought as I continued to move over the snow, the freezing blizzard still crashing into me.

Falling snow is such a strange thing. The powdery pellets are so soft when they fall from the sky, only to become a freezing weapon when they meet their companions on the ground.

My bare feet, devoid of shoes, were torn to shreds and the sensation of blood flowing from my soles reminded me of the pulse of life.

As I moved through this frigid environment, a series of unhelpful thoughts popped into my head.

When the last time I had a meal was, the aftertaste of food from long ago, the pretty girl I left behind when I ran away from the slavers, the vulgar slavers who “tried” to touch that which belonged to me, and myself who was about to permanently disappear.

Elsa: [....]

When it came to those unimportant thoughts, all of those things were divisible.

Everything, including myself, was unimportant in the face of the cold of this moment. 

Cold, cold, cold, cold, cold. I chanted it like a spell, but it still remained cold.

The cold takes away one's ability to think like a human. I had never been much of a rational thinker, but this tendency had become more pronounced.

In a situation where the choice between life and death is narrowed down to two extreme options, humans can be considered no different than animals. In fact, beasts are more dedicated to life in the sense that they don't get lost in their attachment to other living beings.

If that's the case, would it be easier for me to live if I became a beast?

Elsa: [Woof, woof, woof……..]

My faintly red lips imitate a dog’s cry in a scratchy voice.

There was no meaning to it. It was just another one of those useless thoughts…...no, maybe there was meaning.

???: [Ha! I finally found you, you little shit!]

Elsa: [Ah]

Over the sounds of the snowstorm, I heard the muffled voice of a man. Immediately after, I was punched in the shoulder, and the impact knocked my body sideways onto the snow. The cold snow embraced my body gently, as my cheeks clenched and my blood began to freeze.

I looked over and saw a large man standing right next to me. 

His face was familiar. It was obvious who it was.

Large Man:[Did you think you could get away with stealing my goods thief?!]

The man who proceeded to grab me by my black hair before lifting me up was the owner of the store I had stolen from. I'm amazed that he was able to chase a fleeing girl all this way in a blizzard. 

I wondered if it was admirable business spirit, insidious vindictiveness, or maybe even both.

I said earlier that the cold takes away one ability to think like a human, but it also takes away something else. It’s called marginality, compassion, or to put it in an easier way to understand, humanity.

The thief who had lost it and the man who had lost it fought against each other relentlessly.

An adult and a child. The biggest difference was size. 

The man once again grabbed me by the hair and lifted me up, my feet unable to touch the snow. The man's fist slammed into the middle of my immobilized body.

He hit me again and again. There was no way I could escape the impact as my bones creaked. The color of blood would be mixed with my urine for a while. With that thought in mind, I continued to try and turn my mind away from the pain. 

Elsa: [Haa, haa……]

Eventually, the man who had punched me so many times that he ran out of breath let go of the hair he had been holding. My body slumped over and fell onto the snow, limply and clumsily.

Then the man slowly covered my motionless body.

Elsa: [....]

Blending in with the sound of the snowstorm, I could feel the man's ragged breathing. The sound of my own breathing was loud, and at that point my ears were useless honestly. However, some of my senses were still alive. So, I felt it.

His hand traced my thin, hollow ribs and waist and rubbed my body. 

I was so thin that I didn't seem to have any sex at all, but still, it was enough food for him in the extreme cold. Of course, food is a metaphor. This was also just another unhelpful thought. 

Should I be happy that I was not immediately killed for stealing? Or should I lament the fact that I will be treated in a way that many people would rather die than live through?

In the midst of a feeling that was neither pleasant nor unpleasant, I closed my eyes.

Elsa: [What?]

Suddenly, my outstretched fingers felt something. It was not a frozen snowflake, but the smooth surface and defined hardness of a piece of glass on my fingers.

I immediately realized it was from the bottle of alcohol I had stolen from the store which had led to me being chased in the first place.

It wasn't that I wanted to drink it, it was just easy to sell alcohol to someone who wanted it. It was also quite easy to light. Fire wine, I think it was called. 

Apparently, it had fallen on the snow when I was knocked back and broke. I toyed with the shards of the bottle in my hands and pondered. I knew it was a useless thought, but I thought about it nonetheless. 

Large Man: [Gugh-]

Elsa: [...?]

Immediately, a strange sound mixed with the man's ragged breath as I tilted my head.

Right in front of me, the man's eyes widen and he opens his mouth, showing his yellow stained teeth. And then-

Black blood poured out of his mouth, as he began to turn his head away from me.

I turned my own head and wondered what had happened, as the scent of blood took over my nostrils.

Elsa: [....oh.]

Suddenly, heat began to soak the lower half of my body.

Slowly, I lowered my gaze. The man's large body shielded me from the raging snowstorm. Thanks to him, I could see with my own dark eyes what had happened.

--The man's belly was ripped open, and his blood and guts were scattered from his waist down.

Elsa: [....]

In the extreme cold, it emitted a steamy heat that warmed my cold, frozen body. Without waiting to collect my thoughts, the hand holding the piece of glass had sliced through the man's stomach. 

I can't put into words the unexplainable emotions that I felt the moment I realized this fact.

Was it because I violated a taboo, or because I had piled up sin over sin? Was it because I had taken another's life with my own hands? It could be because of any of those things, and it could be because of none of those things.

I just thought, in that shivering cold…..

…..this warmth was the feeling of being alive, of living like a beast.

                                   [Flashback end]

△▼△▼△▼△

That was the first murder Elsa’s ever committed. It gave Elsa a new view of lifestyle. The body was soon found and she was forced to escape the town she lived almost all her life to escape being executed.

With such a reputation, it was only natural that she would attract the attention of those who preyed on the weak. And so, Elsa’s second life as a slave began.

Elsa had always been sensitive to people's attention.
It wasn’t the gaze she had first noticed, but the presence and smells of those around her. Just by being alive, humans had countless scents that radiated from their bodies. Elsa for unknown reasons was slightly better at smelling them than other people. 

Considering her first time in captivity had barely lasted at all, this was, in truth, her first real experience as a slave. 

Yet once again, it didn’t last long.

A buyer was soon found, as Elsa’s figure gave a feeling of despicable lust, she was sold to a man who wanted a slave. 

However, she misbehaved and cut the man’s arm off when he tried to touch her and soon escaped—only to be captured and returned to slavery once more.

Over time, bad rumors about her began to spread. As her defiance grew, so did the trouble she caused her captors, she harmed several of them so they could wouldn't lay their hands on her body. 

Eventually, no one was willing to buy her. Frustrated and unable to control her, her slavers sought to get rid of her as quickly as possible.

And so, she was ultimately sold as a fodder slave to Baron Viktor Orcos, along with a handful of other slaves. Their fate was sealed—they were to spend their days mining for hazardous mana crystals and other materials deep within his domain.

The hidden path was unknown to the public, a secret route leading to the baron's illicit slave mines. Inside a small carriage, pulled by two ground dragons, Elsa sat in silence, caged alongside a handful of other slaves.

The wooden interior creaked with each bump in the road, the scent of damp straw mixing with the stale air. She sat in silence, her small hands curled into fists on her lap, her sharp violet eyes darting toward the barred window.

Without warning, the ground suddenly trembled.

The rumbling started as a whisper beneath the wheels, but within seconds, it roared to life. The mountainside groaned, and before anyone could react, the earth gave way. A deafening crash filled the air as a massive landslide surged toward them, a torrent of dirt, rocks, and broken trees rushing like a beast unleashed.

The driver shouted, yanking at the reins of the dragons, but it was too late. The carriage lurched violently to the side, tilting as the ground beneath them crumbled. Elsa barely had time to brace herself before gravity took hold.

The world spun.

A sharp pain flared in her side as she crashed against the carriage wall, her breath knocked from her lungs. Around her, the cries of the other captives filled the space, drowned out by the unrelenting roar of the landslide. The carriage tumbled, rolling down the slope like a discarded toy.

Then—darkness

A sharp, stinging pain pulled Elsa from the depths of unconsciousness.

Elsa: [Gugh]

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she forced her eyes open, her vision blurry and filled with red. The air was thick with dust, the scent of blood and earth clinging to her nostrils. She lay sprawled on the shattered remains of the carriage, her body half-buried in dirt and splintered wood.

Elsa: [It hurts..]

Pain flared through her left arm the moment she tried to move. A jagged, deep wound ran from her shoulder down to her wrist, torn flesh exposing raw muscle beneath the blood-soaked skin. The limb hung uselessly at her side—broken and smeared with blood.

She gritted her teeth, trying to push herself up with her other hand, only for fresh agony to shoot through her fingers. Elsa gasped, her body freezing as she looked down at her right hand.

Two of her fingers were bent at unnatural angles, swollen and dark with bruises. She tried to flex them, but the pain was unbearable, her breath hitching in her throat. Even her remaining fingers trembled from the strain, struggling to grip anything properly.

Her entire body was battered—bruises darkened her pale skin, and cuts marked every inch of her exposed flesh. Blood—hers and others’—stained her tattered clothes, the deep crimson soaking into the fabric.

Then, she noticed the silence.

No voices. No cries. No pained groans.

Just silence.

Elsa turned her head, her violet eyes scanning the wreckage around her. The carriage had been crushed beneath the weight of the landslide, its wooden frame twisted and shattered beyond repair. And beneath it, partially buried in dirt and stone, were bodies.

Elsa: [...]

The driver. The servants. The other slaves.

Lifeless.

Some had been crushed under fallen debris, their limbs bent at unnatural angles. Others had been pierced by jagged splinters, the shock of impact having stolen their final breaths. The scent of death hung heavy in the air, but Elsa barely reacted.

She had seen corpses before. But never had she been the only one left alive.

A cold emptiness settled in her chest as she turned her gaze skyward. The once-clear sky was now veiled by dust and drifting debris, the sunlight struggling to pierce through. The world around her was eerily still, as if even nature itself had gone quiet in the wake of destruction.

She should have been dead too.

But she wasn’t.

She looked up. Clouds were forming high above the sky. A storm was coming 

And that meant she had to move to avoid going into eternal sleep.

Biting down on her lip to stifle a cry of pain, Elsa forced herself onto her feet, swaying as dizziness threatened to pull her back down. She clutched her limp arm to her chest, her broken fingers twitching uselessly. Even her good hand could barely function, each movement a fresh wave of suffering.

Once again, she had no captor now. No chains. No destination. In the middle of nowhere surrouned by tall white trees and snow.

Just an endless road of uncertainty before her.

With slow, unsteady steps, she began to walk.

On a map that depicted this world, the names of four major countries would always be marked.

The first was the Dragon’s Kingdom of Lugnica, the second was the Holy Vollachian Empire, the third was the Kararagi city-states, and the fourth was the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko. 

These four countries were collectively known as the "Four Powers”.

Each of these countries has its own unique problems, but the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko in particular was most well-known for its harsh environment; most of its land covered in permafrost and constant snowfall all year round.

The majority of its people were constantly exposed to the extreme cold; a land where survival was the top priority, and the reverence of spirits with supernatural powers was widely spread. At the root of this belief was a sense of gratitude and awe for the "Great Spirit" Odglass, who continued to protect the Holy Kingdom and its people from the harsh environment. 

In such a place like Gusteko, there were several conditions that must be met in order for people to have a place to live. 

If even one of these conditions wasn’t met, one could easily fall into eternal sleep in the snow. Still, the most important requirement of all was that the land one lived in must be considered "Hallowed Land”. 

To elaborate on this requirement, "Hallowed Land" was simply ground that existed in Gusteko that remained mostly unaffected by the ice and snow. 

The cities, towns and villages in Gusteko are all built on this "Hallowed Land". That was where people live, barely coping with the snow that fell. 

To put it simply, this "Hallowed Land" was vital for the people of Gusteko. It was beyond precious, and it couldn’t exist without the control of the Church of the Holy King, the guardian of the Holy Kingdom.

Elsa walked.

Searching for a “Hallowed Land”. 

The snow bit into her skin like tiny daggers, the icy surface unforgiving against her bare feet. At first, the cold was sharp—every step sent a fresh sting through her soles, the frost clinging to her skin like a hungry beast. But after hours of trudging through the endless white, that pain dulled into something worse.

Numbness.

Her feet no longer felt like they belonged to her. They were raw, the skin cracked and torn, leaving trails of red against the pristine snow. Each step sent sharp jolts of agony through her legs, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t

Bare and exposed, they sank into the freezing snow, the frost biting deep into her flesh. At first, they had simply gone numb, the cold dulling the pain. But as time passed, the numbness turned to something worse.

Her soles, once soft, had begun to roughen, torn open by sharp ice and hidden stones buried beneath the snow. Each step sent fresh agony lancing up her legs, her torn skin leaving streaks of red in the otherwise pure white landscape.

She didn’t know how long she had been walking. The world around her was endless, nothing but swirling snow and howling wind. The ragged remains of her clothing barely clung to her body, offering no warmth, no protection. Her arms wrapped around herself in a feeble attempt to hold in what little heat she had left, but it was useless.

Her breath came in short, shaky gasps, misting in the frozen air before vanishing into nothing—just like she would if she stopped moving.

She tried to lift her feet lightly, to step carefully, but her body was weak, her strength fading. She stumbled, her ankle twisting on an unseen rock, and fell hard into the snow.

She staggered, her knees nearly buckling beneath her. The snow around her feet was stained dark now, her own blood seeping into the ice. She tried to will herself forward, but her body no longer obeyed.

The cold was winning.

She clenched her jaw, her violet eyes dull but determined.

She would not die here. 

Biting the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood, Elsa forced herself to keep walking, dragging her ruined feet through the merciless snow.

She didn’t care how much it hurt. She survived the shop owner She had survived the landslide. 

Even if the world itself wanted her dead.

But she would not let the world take her so easily.

She walked.

Bleeding. Shivering. Struggling. Starving.

And the falling snow swallowed her footprints, as if she had never been there at all.

Before she realised  it was starting to get dark. Visibility decreasing. 

The wind howled like a wounded beast, shrieking through the endless white void.

Elsa trudged forward, her body barely responding. The blizzard had grown stronger, a furious storm of ice and wind that lashed at her skin, cutting like invisible knives. Snow clung to her hair, to her lashes, her breath shallow as frost settled over her lips.

Her feet were no longer just torn—they were dead weights, numb and raw, leaving behind faint red stains in the snow. Every step was agony, every breath a battle.

She didn’t know how much longer she could last.

Her vision blurred, darkness creeping in from the edges. Her body was failing. Her mind was slipping.

Then—

A light.

Faint at first, like a single flickering star against the storm. But then it grew, cutting through the swirling chaos, a golden radiance descending from the heavens.

In the far horizon. The sky above split open. 

The thick storm clouds parted as if pushed aside by unseen hands, revealing a glimpse of the night sky beyond. The snowfall ceased in that one area, as if the very storm had been halted by the light’s presence.

It was beautiful. Otherworldly.

Elsa could only stare, her frozen body refusing to move.

The beam of light drifted downward, slow and deliberate, illuminating the snow beneath it in a soft glow. The contrast was stark—the raging blizzard all around her, yet in that one place, there was peace. An opening. A path through the storm.

Her breath hitched, her frozen fingers twitching.

Was it real? Or was her dying mind grasping at illusions?

It didn’t matter.

With what little strength she had left, she forced her broken body toward the light.

One step.

Then another.

Leaving behind the storm that had tried to bury her.

The light in the sky slowly faded, its radiance dissolving into the vast heavens above. But even as it disappeared, Elsa kept walking toward where it had fallen.

Her legs wobbled beneath her. Her torn feet left behind faint, bloody imprints in the frozen earth. The world around her remained a frozen abyss—silent, merciless, endless—but ahead, something had changed.

Through the thick darkness, she stumbled upon a path.

It was faint, barely visible beneath the heavy snowfall, but she could see the deep grooves in the earth—marks left behind by the wheels of carriages. Footprints trailed along the edges, half-buried but unmistakable. This was no untouched wilderness. Merchants, travelers, maybe even nobles had passed through here.

Hope flickered in her chest.

If there was a road, then somewhere, it had to lead to a town. A village. Civilization.

Safety.

Her body was failing, but she pushed forward, step by agonizing step, willing herself to move. The wind still howled, the snow falling in thick, relentless sheets, but she had found something real. A path meant a destination. And a destination meant safety.

Or so she thought.

Minutes passed. The road stretched endlessly before her, twisting and turning through the frozen landscape, but there was nothing. No travelers. No lights in the distance. Just her, the wind, and the ever-consuming cold.

Her fingers no longer ached. They had stopped feeling anything at all. Her arms were stiff, her breath shallow. Even the pain in her feet had dulled to nothing but a distant memory.

That was bad.

She knew, somewhere deep in the fading corners of her mind, that numbness was not a blessing. It was the end.

Then—

A shape.

Not a building. Not a town.

A cave.

It sat just off the road, a dark hollow carved into the mountainside, its entrance partially obscured by snow and jagged stone. Barely noticeable in the storm, but Elsa saw it. A place where the cold could not reach. A place where, just maybe, she could rest.

Her body swayed.

The last of her strength was slipping away.

One step.

Then another.

Her vision blurred. The cave seemed impossibly far, but she forced herself forward, dragging her ruined body through the snow. The edges of the world darkened. She blinked, barely aware of the way her knees buckled beneath her.

She collapsed just barely inside the cave.

The snow welcomed her like a soft embrace. She barely felt the cold anymore.

Her breath slowed. Her violet eyes, half-lidded, stared into the distance, unfocused.

The snowfall grew heavier.The wind howled carrying snowflakes into the entrance of the cave.

Slowly, gently, she was being buried.

And as the cold pulled her deeper into its grasp, she felt herself on the verge of slipping into eternal sleep….

 [Elsa's POV]

Time was meaningless.

I didn’t know how long I had been lying there, buried beneath the snow. My body no longer belonged to me. I couldn’t feel the cold, the pain—it had all dissolved into a numb void. My eyelids felt too heavy to open, my breath too shallow to matter.

Is this what it means to die?

The thought was distant, vague, like it belonged to someone else. My mind drifted between awareness and nothingness, caught in a place where neither life nor death seemed to claim me. It was peaceful, in a way. The absence of pain, of struggle. The stillness of it all. If this was death, then maybe it wasn't so bad.

But something in me resisted. I had spent too long fighting to let go so easily. Even as my consciousness wavered, something deep within me screamed against the idea of surrender. I was not meant to fade into the cold like this. Not yet.

I tried to move. Nothing happened. My limbs refused to obey.

The snow pressed against my skin, creeping into the last warmth I had left. It wanted to take me. To pull me into an endless sleep.

Maybe I should let it—

No.

I have made it this far. I had survived everything that came before. I couldn’t let this be my end.

With a final, desperate effort, I willed my fingers to twitch, to claw at the snow covering me. A small movement, barely anything—but it was proof that I was still here.

I was still alive.

Slowly, I found my thoughts drifting back to that fateful day—the first time I felt warmth in the cold and the feeling of truly being alive. Not the fleeting heat of a dying fire or the suffocating embrace of a thick cloak, but something more visceral, more real. The warmth of steaming entrails spilling into my lower body, staining myself and the frozen ground with life. The memory burned in my mind, fierce and vivid, standing in stark contrast to the bitter chill that now clung to my failing body.

I craved that warmth again, at least one last time. The memory of it was so vivid, so consuming, that my body ached for it. The way it had seeped into my frozen skin, filling me with something raw and real—it had been the only true warmth I had ever known. And now, as the cold threatened to take me, I longed for it once more.

That warmth of being alive. Living like a beast. 

But the world once again wouldn't grant me my wish.

A shuddering breath escaped me, barely more than a whisper. 

“So this is how it ends…”

A bitter smile tugged at my frozen lips. Why had I ever thought I would be granted anything else? In this land, kindness was as foreign as warmth. From the moment I had first opened my eyes to this world, I had known only cruelty, only the sharp edges of survival.

Elsa: [No one ever gave me warmth.] I muttered to the emptiness around me, my voice weak, cracked from the cold. 

Elsa: [No help, no embrace, no soft words. Just pain and cold... and the promise that they would always come again. The only warmth I had ever felt was when taking a life, fighting with my own life on the line.]

I was always alone. Always wandering through this merciless world, unseen and unwanted. No one had ever reached out for me. No one had ever stayed. The faces of those I had met blurred together in my mind, fleeting shadows that passed through my life before vanishing, leaving me with nothing but the hollow ache of solitude.

Elsa: [Does it even matter?] My voice was barely a whisper now. " Does any of it matter?"

I had spent so long struggling to survive, clawing my way through the darkness, only to end up here—buried in snow, on the verge of being swallowed whole by the very thing I had always fought against. Was this really how it was meant to end? Was my existence so insignificant that it would be erased without a trace?

I forced a laugh—harsh, hollow. 

“But that doesn't matter, does it?”

It has been since that fateful day Elsa had chosen to live the life of a beast.

My body was failing, my mind unraveling at the edges. Yet, even as I lay there, half-buried, I couldn’t stop speaking. Maybe because if I stopped, I would disappear entirely. Maybe because the silence was worse than the cold.

Elsa: [If I live... what then? More running? More empty nights?] I whispered. "If I die... who will care? Who will even know? Death doesn't discriminate, unlike the residentes of this accursed world. Should I be happy that at the very end the world was “fair” towards me?"

No answer. Just the wind. Just the suffocating weight of snow.

The world was closing in. My thoughts slowed. I could no longer tell if my eyes were open or closed. Everything was the same empty, frozen black.

Then—

A vibration.

Despite not being able to hear, I felt it. It was faint at first, almost imperceptible beneath the weight of the cold, but it was there. A tremor, a subtle shift in the earth around me. Something was moving. Something was approaching the entrance of the cave.

A ma-beast? But those were hard to find here. A wild animal? It was the only thing that made sense. A beast, drawn to the cave by the same instinct that had led me here—to escape the storm, to seek shelter from the merciless cold. But if it was an animal, then it would find me. And if it found me…

Would it eat me?

The thought barely stirred anything inside me. It wasn’t fear, it wasn't dread. Just a dull, detached curiosity. Maybe it would. Maybe sharp fangs would sink into my flesh, tearing into my frozen skin, snapping my brittle bones. Maybe it would tear me apart and scatter my remains across the snow. Maybe, finally, I would disappear.

But more than that, I wondered—would its warmth reach me first? Would the hot, dripping blood covering me be enough to thaw the ice in my veins? Would I feel warm again, just for a moment, before death swallowed me whole?

The thought lingered in my mind, wrapping around my fading consciousness like a fragile thread. If I could feel warmth, even for a second, then maybe this existence hadn’t been entirely in vain. Maybe, in that final moment, I could trick myself into believing I had truly lived.

Then—the vibration stopped. Just for a fleeting second. As if whatever was moving had noticed the unnatural lump of snow.

And then, slowly, it started marching toward me.

I wanted to laugh. But my muscles no longer reacted.

"So this is it?"

The tremors grew stronger, the rhythmic crunch of footsteps pressing against the frozen earth, closing the distance between us. My body remained motionless, refusing to fight, refusing to care.

"The end of my story."

"It" kept approaching. Closer, closer.

A shadow loomed over me. "It" stopped right next to me. For a brief moment, there was nothing but silence.

Then—movement. "It" dug into the snow, clawing at the frozen layer that covered me. A numb part of me wondered if this was what it felt like to be hunted. To be prey. Would it hurt? Or had I already gone too cold to feel anything at all?

The snow shifted, my stiff body exposed to the night air. I expected the sharp bite of teeth, the crushing weight of claws—but what I felt instead was something else. Something foreign.

Warmth. the feeling of contact with another being

For some reason It was as warm as that baker’s entrails that covered me that night. It was enough to stir something in me.

"It" removed the snow that covered my malnourished body. "It" wrapped its appendages around my waist, turning my body, lifting my upper body lightly off the ground.

I opened my eyes for the last time, willing myself to see—to truly see—my predator, the one who would consume me, perhaps grant me my wish of feeling warmth one last time.

But–

What I saw was not a ma-beast or a wild animal.

"It" was a kid. Who looked about the same age as me. Black hair, nasty-looking black eyes, with strange clothes that seemed larger than his frail frame.

My mind struggled to process it. A person? Not a beast? But before I could make sense of it, before I could grasp onto this final, cruel trick played by fate, the darkness won.

And the world went black.

Chapter Text

The warmth of the fire had faded, and the dim glow of dying embers barely held back the darkness. Subaru’s eyes snapped open in alarm as a sharp gust of cold wind slithered into the cave, sending a chill through his body. 

Outside, the storm still raged on, the howling wind and relentless snowfall creating an eerie, ceaseless noise that reminded him just how trapped they were.

Panic surged through him as he realized what had happened—he was supposed to keep watch over both the fire and the girl, yet he had dozed off. His heart pounded as his gaze darted toward the firepit. The flames were nearly gone, reduced to glowing embers that threatened to die out completely. His fingers twitched in frustration; how could he let this happen?

Still seated against the wall with the girl's head resting on his lap, Subaru acted quickly, grabbing a handful of dry sticks from the small pile he had gathered the night before. Without shifting the girl, he awkwardly tossed the sticks onto the embers, wincing as a few missed the mark. Holding his breath, he watched as the wood caught the faint glow and slowly reignited.

He leaned forward slightly, cupping his hands around the fragile heat and blowing softly, coaxing the fire back to life. At first, the flames barely flickered, hesitant and weak, but with each breath, they grew stronger, climbing the fresh kindling until a modest fire crackled before him once more. The cave brightened slightly, the flickering light casting long shadows along the damp stone walls.

A deep sigh of relief escaped him, his body sagging slightly against the wall.

That was close.

Too close.

The cold had already started creeping into his limbs, and if he had woken up any later, the fire might have gone out completely.

He shuddered at the thought of spending another night trapped in the freezing dark, with the storm outside showing no sign of stopping.

Just as his heartbeat settled, the events of the previous night rushed back to him. His mind replayed the desperate trek through the snow, the battle against exhaustion, and finally, the moment he collapsed asleep in the cave with the girl resting on his lap.

His eyes flickered downward, remembering her presence, and his breath caught in his throat.

She was awake.

His gaze locked onto hers—wide, deep, and staring directly at him.

His pulse jumped. Those violet eyes, sharp yet unreadable, studied him in silence.

A wave of tension crackled between them, and for a fleeting moment, Subaru found himself unable to move, frozen in place beneath her unwavering stare.

Subaru swallowed hard, his mind racing for something to say. 

The girl didn’t speak either, her eyes searching his face as if trying to decipher who—or what—he was.

Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity before she blinked, breaking the stillness.

He hesitated before offering an awkward smile. 

Subaru: [Uh... good morning?]

The girl didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she shifted slightly, wincing as she tried to sit up. Subaru instinctively reached out to help, but she flinched away from his touch, her expression wary. He pulled his hands back slowly, not wanting to startle her any further.

Subaru: [Hey, take it easy.] he said gently, watching as she hugged her arms around herself. She looked exhausted, her frail frame still trembling from the cold. Guilt gnawed at Subaru. He had barely been able to keep himself warm last night—what about her?

Shaking his head, he tried to focus on the immediate problem. 

Subaru: [Are you okay? Can you understand me?] he asked, keeping his tone as calm as possible.

The girl remained silent, her eyes darting toward the fire before settling back on him. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.

Elsa: [...Wh..o  a..re  yo..u?] Her voice was rough, barely above a whisper—strained and hoarse, likely from dehydration and the harsh cold she had endured.

Subaru exhaled slowly, this was the first being he could talk to since his arrival, trying to steady his nerves. The first impression is the most important. 

Subaru: [Ah, right! I guess introductions are in order, huh?] —-He forced a small smile and tapped his chest.

Subaru: [I'm Subaru. Natsuki Subaru. Just your average guy, really.]

He watched her closely, trying to gauge her reaction. She didn't respond right away, only blinking at him as if processing his words. Subaru scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Subaru: [I, uh, kind of ended up here by accident. Not really sure how, to be honest. One moment I was somewhere familiar, and the next... Well, here I am.]

He let out a nervous chuckle, but the girl remained silent, her piercing gaze never leaving him. He shifted uncomfortably, feeling as though she was trying to read him like an open book.

Subaru: [I don’t mean any harm, though. Just trying to survive like you. I found you buried in the snow inside this cave. The wind must have blown it in, covering you completely. You were barely hanging on, so I tried my best to help you. Figured it was the least I could do.]

The fire crackled softly between them, filling the silence as he waited for some kind of response. He wasn't sure if she believed him, but he hoped his sincerity showed.

Before she could respond, a low rumbling sound filled the silence between them.

Subaru blinked, startled, before realizing the noise had come from her stomach.

The tension in the air cracked like ice, and for the first time since waking up, the girl’s expression shifted—her eyes flickered downward toward her stomach.

She remained silent, merely acknowledging her hunger without a word or change in demeanor.

Subaru couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

Subaru: [Guess that answers one question.] he said, rubbing the back of his head.

Subaru: [You're hungry, huh? Yeah… about that…]

Subaru sighed, pushing himself up to his feet, careful not to startle the girl too much. He reached for his plastic bag, rummaging through its contents until he pulled out his thermos bottle.

With practiced movements, he strode toward the cave entrance, bracing himself against the cold as he crouched down and scooped up a handful of fresh snow, stuffing it into the thermos until it was nearly full.

Shivering, he quickly made his way back to the fire, crouching low and hovering the thermos over the flickering flames, ensuring the heat was just enough to melt the snow inside. He watched as the ice crystals dissolved, the water gradually coming to a low boil.

Subaru: [Nice it works!] he was glad his plan from last night had worked.

While he waited, Subaru rummaged through his bag once more, retrieving  two cups of instant noodles. Tearing off the lids, he set them aside before carefully pouring the now-hot water over the dry noodles, steam curling up into the air as the aroma of broth filled the cave.

All the while, the girl remained silent, her violet eyes locked onto him, watching every movement he made with quiet curiosity.

He let the noodles sit for a moment before glancing over at her.

Subaru: [It’s not much, but it should warm you up.]

The girl continued staring at him with a cold, unreadable gaze. Her violet eyes flickered toward the strange object he was offering her, then down at her own arms. Subaru followed her gaze and realization struck him—her injuries and exhaustion had left her too weak to use them properly.

Subaru: [Ah… right.]

She blinked in quiet bewilderment as Subaru hesitated for only a moment before shifting closer, determination settling in his expression. To her apparent surprise, he lifted the cup of noodles, bringing a portion of noodles up toward her with the built-in metal chopsticks. 

Subaru: [Here, I'll help.]

Her gaze flicked between the steaming food and his face, her body tensing slightly as if unsure how to react. But after a brief pause, she gave a small nod, Subaru blew gently on the steaming noodles, ensuring they weren’t too hot before carefully bringing them to the girl's lips.

She hesitated for a moment before leaning forward slightly, closing her mouth around the food. Her jaw moved slowly as she chewed, her expression unreadable. As the warmth spread through her, her gaze flickered downward in silent contemplation.

The texture was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Soft yet firm, coated in a savory broth that carried an unfamiliar but pleasant taste.

It was strange, foreign—she had never seen or tasted food of this kind before. The sensation seemed to bewilder her as she swallowed, her eyes briefly narrowing as if trying to process the experience.

Subaru watched her closely, noting every flicker of expression on her face.

Subaru: [Good, right? Instant noodles might not be the best thing ever, but they get the job done.]

She didn't respond verbally, merely glancing at him before shifting her gaze back to the fire. Yet, she did not refuse the next bite he offered, silently allowing him to continue feeding her.

A faint blush dusted her cheeks, her eyes growing slightly watery as she chewed. She had never tasted anything so delicious in her entire life, and the warmth spreading through her body felt almost unreal. Subaru, however, remained oblivious to the subtle shift in her expression, focused solely on ensuring she ate enough.

Subaru fed her the entire cup of chicken noodles, making sure she had finished every last bite. Once done, he set the empty cup and its chopsticks aside and exhaled softly, glad that she had eaten.

With a small stretch, he shifted to sit beside her, retrieving his own cup of noodles and beginning to eat. The warmth of the food was a welcome relief against the persistent chill of the cave.

The girl's eyes drifted downward, studying her own body for the first time since waking. Her gaze landed on the dark cloth wrapped tightly around her wounds, her expression flickered with surprise. She quickly connected the dots and figured it was the boy who had done the act.

She tried to flex her fingers slightly, a sharp twinge of pain made her wince. She tried to move her injured arm, but the attempt was fruitless—the deep wound rendered it almost completely immobile. A flicker of frustration crossed her face, but she quickly masked it, instead letting her eyes return to Subaru, who continued eating quietly beside her.

Meanwhile, the girl’s gaze never wavered from him, her expression unreadable. Suspicion gnawed at her. Why had he gone to such lengths to help her? No one did anything without a reason—especially not in this country. Kindness was a myth here, an illusion that hid ulterior motives. Her grip on her remaining strength tightened, even as her body ached from exhaustion. She would not let herself trust so easily.

She tried to stand up from her sitting position, her body still weak from exhaustion and injury. The moment she attempted to shift her weight, her legs buckled beneath her, sending her tumbling backward. Her breath hitched as she realized she was about to hit the jagged rocks behind her—until a firm grip caught her just in time.

Subaru's hands shot out instinctively, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her forward before she could hurt herself. He felt her tense under his touch, her body trembling from both weakness and what he assumed was surprise.

For a brief moment, she simply stared at him, wide-eyed, before quickly averting her gaze, her expression hardening once more.

Subaru: [Easy there.] Subaru muttered, steadying her before carefully lowering her back into a sitting position.

Subaru: [You're in no shape to be moving around just yet. Your feet are in terrible shape as well.]

The girl remained silent, her lips pressing into a thin line. She sat back down leaning against the cave wall. Subaru let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of his head as he took a step back, giving her some space.

Even after everything, she still looked at him with those same wary eyes, as if trying to unravel his true intentions. He could practically hear her unspoken thoughts—why? Why was he helping her? Why was he doing this?

Subaru didn't have an answer that would satisfy her suspicion. But for now, getting her to rest was more important than whatever doubts she had.

Subaru exhaled sharply, deciding to shift the focus elsewhere. He turned back to his plastic bag and rummaged through it before pulling out something small and wrapped in clear plastic—a red apple lollipop.

He held it up with a slight grin. 

Subaru:[You lost a lot of blood, so you probably need some sugar in your system. Here, take this.]

The girl’s eyes flickered between him and the unfamiliar object in his hand. Her suspicion didn’t fade, but she hesitated, glancing down at her injured arm.

Subaru noticed her struggle and, with a sigh, unwrapped the lollipop himself before gently holding it near her mouth.

She tensed slightly at the gesture, she didn't know what it was.

Subaru saw the girl wasn't going to take it. Perhaps because she’d never seen something like that.

Subaru: [It's not poison. It's a candy you're supposed to suck. It will help you get better.]

Elsa noticed the scent coming out of his body wasn't one of deceit,  and after a moment’s hesitation, she leaned forward and accepted the candy, her lips closing around it. The sudden burst of sweetness on her tongue made her eyes widen ever so slightly. It was a taste unlike anything she had ever experienced—strange yet oddly pleasant.

Subaru, seeing his plan worked, smirked.

Subaru: [See? Not so bad, right? By the way... what's your name?]

The girl hesitated for a brief moment as if contemplating something, her violet eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion. Then, in a quiet, hoarse voice, she finally answered.

Elsa: [El..sa.]

Subaru tilted his head slightly at her response.

Subaru: [Elsa, huh? That's a pretty name. Kind of elegant-sounding, if you ask me.] He gave her a small, reassuring smile, trying to ease the lingering tension between them.

Subaru: [Fits you.]

But Elsa did not respond. She merely continued to stare at him, her expression unreadable, as if trying to decide whether to believe anything he had said.

Elsa stopped sucking the lollipop, cracking the remains with her teeth and swallowing it, she finished by licking her lips.

After a moment of silence, Elsa finally spoke again, her voice as cold as the wind outside. She was no longer coughing while speaking but her voice was still rough.

Elsa: [What do you want from me?]

Subaru blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. 

Subaru: [Huh?]

Her gaze hardened.

Elsa: [Why are you doing this? Feeding me, treating my wounds… No one does something like this without any gain. What do you want from me?]

Subaru frowned, leaning back slightly. 

Subaru: [What do I want? I mean... I just wanted to help. It's not like I had some grand plan or anything. You were dying—I couldn’t just leave you there.]

Elsa's expression remained unreadable, her eyes searching his face as if trying to find a crack in his sincerity.

In her world, kindness always came with strings attached. And yet, this strange boy in front of her—this Subaru—seemed different. There was something about his scent too—something unlike any living being she had ever encountered. That made him all the more perplexing.

It was an unfamiliar scent, something foreign, and it unsettled her in a way she couldn't quite explain.

Breaking the silence, Subaru finally spoke, his voice laced with genuine confusion.

Subaru: [So, uh... I've been wanting to ask you something. Do you know where exactly we are?]

Elsa's eyes narrowed slightly, her bewilderment clear.

Elsa: [You don't know?]

Subaru scratched his cheek awkwardly, fumbling for words.

Subaru: [W-Well, let's just say I'm... a bit lost. Like, lost-lost.] He let out a nervous chuckle, but Elsa didn't share his amusement. She merely sighed, as if deciding whether explaining anything to him was even worth the effort.

After a moment, she finally spoke. 

Elsa: [We are in the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, somewhere in the Orcos domain.]

Subaru blinked, tilting his head.

Subaru: [The... Holy Kingdom of Gusteko? Never heard of it before.] He let out a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.

Subaru: [Man, I really am lost, huh? Just my luck to wake up in a place I've never even heard of?]

Elsa looked at him like he just said the dumbest thing ever.

Then, after a brief pause, Subaru didn't want to seem intrusive but he had to ask.

Subaru: [What about you? What happened to you to end up in that state?]

She stared at him for a long moment, her violet eyes sharp and calculating, before finally answering. 

Elsa: [I was being transported alongside some other slaves somewhere inside the Orcos domain. But a landslide occurred... and only I survived.]

Subaru’s eyes went wide at the mention of slaves, his teeth gritting as his hands clenched into fists. His nails dug into his palm, a burning anger bubbling beneath his skin.

He hated the idea—hated that such a thing existed in this world. But earlier he had noticed the collar she had on her neck. He didn't want to think about it, but deep inside he knew it would be something like that. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to speak. 

Subaru: [So that's why you have that collar around your neck.]

Elsa then looked down and realised she still had the Collar of Submission also known as  a slave collar. She then reached it with the hand with two broken fingers and removed it.

Subaru: [Huh?... You could remove it?] Subaru was really surprised that she was able to remove it with ease. He expected he would have to go on a long quest just to remove it.

Elsa: [If the person controlling the collar is dead it deactivates. In this case it would be the driver who died.] Elsa replied feelling free from the collar.

Subaru: [Oh….]

Subaru: [Can I ask something?] Subaru said while averting his gaze from her by looking up scratching his cheek with his index finger.

Elsa kept her gaze on him as she nodded. She was right there was no such thing as free lunch she was weak and currently at the boy’s mercy, surely he would ask something gra—

Subaru: [Why did you become a slave?] Subaru asked with concern for the girl’s predicament.

—nd…?

Elsa was bewildered; she thought the boy would ask something bigger like having his way with her, or making her his slave, and if it came to that she would kill him before he could perform the act, the same as she did to anyone who tried to lay their hands on what was hers and she would put her life on the line without the slightest hesitation.

But to her complete surprise this boy “Natsuki Subaru”  he called himself acted completely different from what she would have expected. And that scent that came off him was filled with…  hatred and concern?

Hatred towards her was understandable. Afterall Elsa lived all her life with that, but concern for what?

Her expression wavered for a moment, but she ultimately kept her composure and gaze on him, her expression unreadable, before finally answering in a quiet, detached voice.

Elsa: [My parents sold me at a young age.]

Subaru felt his stomach drop, his breath catching in his throat. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but that answer left him stunned. His anger wavered, shifting into something else—something heavier. Meanwhile, Elsa silently watched his reaction, her violet eyes guarded.

Before he could fully think it through, Subaru stepped forward and, without asking for permission, wrapped his arms around the seated girl in a firm hug. 

She stiffened in surprise, her entire body going rigid against his warmth.

Subaru: [It must have been tough wasn't it? You're strong for surviving such cruelty. But now you’re safe with me. I'll take care of you until you get better.] he murmured, his voice filled with determination.

Elsa didn’t move, her breath caught in her throat. The gesture was foreign to her, unexpected.

No one had ever embraced her like this before—without expectation, without demand so her body did not react to the sudden approach.

She remained motionless, for the first time in her life she was … unsure of what to do. She couldn't comprehend this reaction.

Subaru while holding her in a tight embrace, noticed the heat radiating from her forehead. Concerned, with closed eyes he pressed his forehead gently against her’s, feeling the intense heat coming from it.

And having come to a conclusion. Without any warning whatsoever, he gently pushed the girl's head onto his lap, much to Elsa's protests.

Elsa: [What... what are you doing?] she muttered weakly, attempting to push away but lacking the strength.

Subaru: [Relax. You need to rest, your burning with fever.] Subaru replied firmly.

Subaru: [The storm isn't going to slow down any time soon, so you might as well get some sleep.] His voice held no room for argument, and saw Elsa slowly close her eyelids. Then he averted his gaze from her to look up at the ceiling as if contemplating something.

However—

Unbeknownst to him at the time, Elsa slowly reached out for one of the chopsticks and hid it inside her clothes. She didn't trust the boy. She didn't trust anything or anyone and that wouldnt change.

After seeing the girl fall into sleep. Subaru started thinking about everything he heard from this girl.

“Slavery....” Subaru gritted his teeth. 

“Sold by her own parents as well.. Heartless bastards, how could they?! ” Subaru looked back down to the girl resting on his lap.

His view of the “perfect" isekai world had just been broken. 

He started ruffling the girl's hair gently. Her breathing was stable as if she was in deep sleep.

And with a look of determination he said.

Subaru: [Rest easy, I won't let them lay a finger on you again. I promise.]

Subaru then let his head rest against the cave wall and with a hand over his face covering his eyes, his back against the cave’s wall.

"So summing up what i know so far of this other world is that: 

I'm in a country called the Holy kingdom of Gusteko. The name suggests it is based on some type of religion.

Slavery exists and even children are subjected to it... Then what's stopping those people from turning me into a slave as well. I am currently weak. My body is that of a child In an unfamiliar land. Seriously this level of difficulty is insane.

I also speak the same language as them.. Which is a bit weird if you ask me. I was kind of expecting a completely different language. Now the only thing left is to know if they write in japanese. "

Subaru was left to his thoughts. Planning the next steps

As for Elsa. Her eyes grew heavier as the exhaustion took over, and before she knew it, her body surrendered to the exhaustion, and she drifted into sleep.

Time passed.

The storm outside remained relentless, howling through the cracks of the cave like a restless beast.

Hours blurred together in a haze of dim firelight and quiet breathing, the only sounds inside their fragile sanctuary.

When Elsa finally stirred, the fire had dimmed once more, casting flickering shadows along the cold stone walls.

Subaru, still seated against the cave wall, blinked away his drowsiness, glancing down to find her violet eyes slowly opening, their sharpness dulled by lingering fatigue.

Elsa, with Subaru's help, shifted from resting on his lap to sitting down. She stared at him with her cold gaze, her violet eyes unreadable in the dim firelight.

In Elsa’s mind one thought was ringing, “Why hasn't he done anything yet? I was vulnerable when I was sleeping. Surely that would have been the perfect time to strike. What is his goal then? "

She notices Subaru hesitating for a moment before speaking, his voice quiet against the storm's distant wail.

Subaru: [ Hey.. um… do you have a place to go?]

Elsa narrowed her eyes, suspicion flashing across her face. Her voice was calm but laced with an edge.

“What's his plan now?” the thought crossed her mind.

Elsa: [Why?]

Subaru exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his tone.

She took notice of his hands clenched into fists as he spoke.

Subaru: [As far as I know, in the state you're in, you wouldn't survive out here. And since there are two of us, and I don’t even know where the hell I am, but you do, I could help you reach your place. And in return... you could answer some of my questions. Maybe you know something. Maybe you don’t. But if we're stuck together for now, we might as well not go through this alone.]

Elsa didn’t reply, only keeping her cold, distant gaze on him.

Subaru let the silence stretch, his frustration simmering beneath his skin before he spoke again, his voice softer this time.

Subaru: [We could make a good team, you know. You have the knowledge, and I have... well, some survival skills?.. Wait, no, that's not it…. I have a healthy body. I could take care of you until you get better. It makes sense Right?.]

Elsa remained silent for a few moments, her expression unreadable. 

She knew he was right. With the amount of injuries she sustained she would either die out in the cold or get caught by the slavers once again.

So finally coming to a conclusion, she gave a short nod.

Subaru's face lit up with unexpected relief—relief that he wouldn’t be alone, that he hadn’t just been speaking into the void. He swallowed down the lump in his throat before shifting his gaze toward the cave entrance, where the storm continued its relentless assault on the outside world.

Subaru: [We'll still have to wait until the blizzard ends before we can go out,] he said, his tone turning practical. [I still have enough food for a couple of days if needed.]

Elsa didn’t respond, merely watching him in silence.

Subaru stood up, stretching slightly before feeding the fire with a few more branches, the flames flickering brighter in response.

He also noticed the collar Elsa previously wore was still laying next to her.

Subaru: [Hey can I have this?] Subaru asked Elsa.

Her eyebrow twitched a little; she didn't know what he would do with it. For all she knows he can just force it on her.

But she had to keep the facade of the obedient girl. So she nodded.

She watched him make his way over to her; he bent over slightly, just enough to pick up the device.

Elsa kept her gaze on him, time seemed to have slowed down. She was studying his every move. If he tried putting the collar on her by force she would pull out the chop stick and using all her strength she would stab him in the bowels.

Picking it up Subaru looked at the girl with the collar clenched in his fist.

He was looking at her face with an expression of thought, both making eye contact.

He got on his knees in front of her.

Elsa slowly moved her only usable hand to her clothes, the place where she had hid the chopstick. Reading his every move with precision.

Subaru slowly reached out to her with his sleeve—

Elsa’s grip on the weapon tightened—

And this wonderful dumbass—

Subaru wiped away the blood, dirt and sweat from her face.

Elsa: [Eh..?] Elsa's eyes widened as her facade shattered.

Subaru: [?] 

Then it clicked him—

He was all up in her face. Subaru realised he was invading her personal space and took a few steps back.

Subaru: [O-oh s-sorry! I didn't mean to invade your personal space. It's just that… well…  your face was a bit dirty.]

He then turned around and threw the collar into the fire.

Elsa still weirded out by his actions smelled a scent of happiness coming out of the boy’s body as he watched her collar burn in the fire.

Subaru then settled back down, he pulled out his phone to check the time—10:43 . The dim glow of the screen caught Elsa's attention, snapping her out of her trance and her eyes narrowed in surprise.

She had never seen anything like it.

Elsa: [What is that?] she asked, her cold gaze momentarily shifting to curiosity.

Subaru glanced at her and let out a small, humorless chuckle.

Subaru: [This? It's a phone. It tells me the time, lets me talk to people from far away, and does a bunch of other things. Not that it matters much now.]

Elsa's brows furrowed slightly.

Elsa: [Talk to people? From far away?] Her voice carried a rare note of confusion.

Subaru sighed, rubbing his temples.

Subaru: [Yeah, I guess that sounds crazy here. It's kind of like magic, but not really. Just technology. Not that it does me any good anymore.]

She continued staring at the device, but her expression remained unreadable.

He let out another sigh before slipping the phone back into his pocket.

Subaru: [Anyway, enough about me. I'm curious about you.]

Elsa shifted slightly, her gaze still locked onto him.

Elsa: [What do you want to know?]

Subaru: [How did you reach this place?]

Elsa’s expression changed into one of thought as she slowly her memories of the previous ordeal she was subjected to were coming back to her. Though it was somewhat foggy she could remember the light falling from the night sky. The thing that led her here.

Elsa: [There was a light.] She answered Subaru's question.

Subaru: [A light?] Subaru asked, clearly confused.

Elsa: [Yes a light. I was out there walking  in the snowstorm for a long time. And as I was waking I noticed in the far horizon the clouds had parted and a bright light descended from the night sky, it parted the clouds causing the snowstorm to stop in that area. It vanished as quick as it came.]

Subaru thought back when he arrived in this world. When he had looked up he noticed the clouds were parted as if something had fallen. He also remembered he was right at the epicenter.

Putting the information together he realised.

“Wait, don't tell me that light was me being summoned? So thats why that  multi-headed creature seemed to be searching for something.” He started sweating.

Elsa saw his expression change, after all it was strange that he hadn't seen the huge light, and not to mention that if is here then that meant he was nearby and took shelter in this cave.

Elsa got curious and wanted to probe.

Elsa: [You didn't see it?] She asked, trying to read his expression.

Subaru: [u-uh i mean.] He sighed but chose to tell her the truth.

Subaru: [.. No, I didn't see it.]

From his reaction and the scent coming off him, Elsa deduced that while he was telling the truth, he was hiding something.

So she asked him:

Elsa: [You’ve asked me where I came from, but you still haven’t told me where you come from?]

Subaru averted his gaze from hers he was clearly nervous to eye but he took a deep breath and sighed.

Subaru: [Well, following the usual pattern, a small island nation to the east.]

Elsa: [...] Elsa could tell that he wasn’t lying. But a small island nation to the east did not exist in this world.

Elsa: [Lugunica is the easternmost nation on our continental map. There is no island nation to the east.]

Subaru was surprised at this and he replied:

Subaru:[No way, really? there's nothing east of here?]

Elsa:[... You weren't lying when you said you were lost huh?] Elsa's voice was both alluring and menacing,  carrying a calm and almost playful quality.

Subaru: [Y-yeah that right…] He admitted without a bit of shame.

Elsa was unable to understand this boy, he always shattered her expectations.

Subaru: [Hey we still have a long time to go before we can leave, it's better if you rest.]

Subaru slowly patted his lap, offering it as a place for Elsa to rest her head. 

Elsa accepted the invitation. As it seemed that the boy wouldn't try anything on her.

With the help of Subaru she got into a comfortable position. She looked up at the smiling Subaru.

Though she quickly  averted her gaze, processing what he had said with her short talk with him. His personality and way of acting unsettled her in a way she couldn't define. She remained silent, her thoughts tangled and restless.

Hours passed in quiet stillness, the only sound the crackling of the fire, the howling of the wind outside and the not so often toilet breaks.

She did not speak again until the storm finally began to subside.

Subaru had decided to explore the cave further inside when she needed some personal space and discovered  a few glowing crystals deeper inside the cave. And since it was unlikely that the money he carried worked on this country he was broke.

So with great difficulty he was able to pry some out of the walls of the cave.

Coming back from his little adventure he found the girl seated, her face was less pale than before. This made him crack a smile.

Elsa noticed him coming back and couldn't understand why he was smiling.

Subaru took a quick glance outside and saw it wasn't storming anymore.

He made his back to the girl and got on her eye level. This caught her attention.

Subaru: [Elsa. The storm seems to have stopped. Let's eat some food before heading out. There is no telling when the storm is coming back.]

Elsa gave a small nod in response.

Subaru went through his convenience store bag and grabbed two more cups of noodles.He made them the same way as before; by scooping some snow into his thermos bottle. Melting the snow over the fire until it came to a low boil.

Subaru: [Well I'm glad I bought coffee in a thermos bottle. Imagine I hadn't! We would be eating raw noodles. I guess I was useful for once…]

Subaru sighs.

Elsa was listening to his self degrading speech, she once again couldn't comprehend or understand him. 

And somehow—

that made him more interesting in her eyes, she couldn't take her eyes off him.

Subaru, having poured the water into the noodles, made his way towards the still sitting Elsa.

She still couldn't move her arms properly.

And that meant it was Subaru’s job to feed her once again.

Although this time she seemed more willing to let him feed her.

Every time Elsa was chewing he noticed she had a faint blush.

“I guess she never had something this tasty.” Subaru was a bit sad, but at least she was happy.

“She reminds me of a feral cat.” 

Subaru reached out with his right hand and patted her head as she was eating fast.

Subaru: [Take your time, the food won't disappear.] Subaru gave Elsa the brightest smile.

Elsa choked on her food and quickly moved her head out of his hand’s grasp. And with her purple eyes she gave Subaru a look that said ”What do you think you are doing?”.

Subaru: [Ah sorry! That was a force of habit… but still if you want more. I still have more.]

Elsa paused for a bit, she didn't reply but the thought crossed her mind; “What's his deal?” and then kept eating what Subaru was feeding her.

After both of them had their fill of food.

Subaru put out the fire, grabbed his plastic bag, and stepped right in front of her.

Turning around, he bent down slightly and motioned for her.

Subaru: [Get on my back, your feet and legs are really weak at the moment. I'll carry you.] he said with determination.

Elsa hesitated for a moment before slowly wrapping her arms around his neck and gripping onto him.

Subaru stood up, surprised by how light she was.

Adjusting his grip, he took a steady breath and then stepped out of the cave, into the aftermath of the storm.

The cold bit at his skin, but he held firm, carrying Elsa on his back as they ventured forth into the snow-covered world.

Chapter Text

The snow-covered path stretched endlessly before Subaru as he trudged forward, his breath curling in the frigid air. The world outside the cave was eerily silent, the remnants of the storm lingering in the occasional gust of wind that sent icy flakes swirling around them. He adjusted his grip on Elsa, ensuring she remained secure on his back.

Despite the layers of fabric between them, he could still feel how cold and fragile she seemed.

Every step sank into the thick snow, his shoes crunching against the frozen ground. The weight of exhaustion clung to him, but he pushed forward, driven by a mixture of stubborn resolve and something else—something he didn’t fully understand.

The path they were trudging along seemed endless. Trees covered in snow as far as the eye could see.

Subaru could tell that there was still a long way to go until they reached civilization.

After a moment, Subaru exhaled a long breath, his voice breaking the silence.

Subaru: [Hey, Elsa?] 

Elsa: [What is it?] Elsa asked, her arms wrapped around Subaru's neck with her head resting on Subaru’s shoulder. Her grip on him tightened just slightly.

Subaru: [So, can you  tell me more about this country? I need to understand what kind of place I’ve ended up in.]

Elsa shifted slightly against his back, considering his words.

Elsa: [You already know its name—Gusteko. What else do you want to know?]

Subaru adjusted his grip on her slightly. 

Subaru: [Magic. Is it a real thing here?]

Elsa frowned, her voice carrying a hint of confusion.

Elsa: [Of course, it is. Why ask something so obvious?]

Subaru let out a small, awkward laugh.

Subaru: [Because I don’t know anything about it.]

Elsa frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on him.

Elsa:[Then how did you save me if you don’t know any healing magic?]

Subaru’s expression darkened slightly.

Subaru: [I… didn’t. Not really. If not for those two strange balls of light that appeared and helped you, you wouldn’t have made it. One was red, and the other was blue. The red one started the fire, and the blue one… did something to you. I think it healed you a bit.]

Elsa furrowed her brows, confusion flickering across her face.

Elsa: [Why would a spirit help me?]

Subaru turned his head slightly, taking a glance at Elsa’s face.

Subaru: [A spirit?]

Elsa nodded. 

Elsa: [Yes. Those balls of light you saw were probably spirits.]

Subaru: [Okay… so what exactly are spirits?]

Elsa sighed, shifting slightly against him. His lack of common knowledge was suspicious to say the least.

Elsa: [Spirits are beings that possess magical power. Some form contracts with people, lending them their strength. Others are free and act on their own. But for one to help me… that’s strange.]

Subaru opened his mouth to ask why but stopped himself, shaking his head slightly. Instead, he shifted the conversation back.

Subaru: [Forget that for now. Tell me more about magic. What kinds are there?]

Elsa regarded him for a moment before answering.

Elsa: [Magic is divided into six primary attributes: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Yin, and Yang. Each person is naturally attuned to one, sometimes two. Most people can only use minor spells unless they are specially trained or gifted.]

Subaru raised an eyebrow clearly showing some excitement at the subject.

Subaru: [And which one are you attuned to?]

Elsa smirked faintly before her expression turned neutral.

Elsa: [I can’t use magic.]

Subaru blinked in surprise.

Subaru: [Really? I just assumed… Well, never mind. That tracks, I guess. So, what about the types? What do they do?]

She adjusted her position slightly, as though settling in for a long explanation.

Elsa: [Fire is straightforward—destruction, heat, flames. Water governs healing. Wind is about speed,  while Earth focuses on defense. Yang is rare—it enhances the body. Yin is also rare, and I dont know anything about it.]

Subaru nodded thoughtfully, taking in the explanation.

Subaru:[Got it. That actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks, Elsa.] He gave her a bright grin.

Elsa tilted her head slightly, as if surprised by his gratitude, before giving a small nod in return.

Subaru took some coins out of his wallet, bringing them closer to Elsa’s face.

Subaru:[By the way, how does currency work here?] Subaru said, holding his 10 edge coin in between his thumb and index fingers.

Elsa glanced at the weird coin Subaru held in his hand before answering.

Elsa: [It varies from time to time, but usually, ten bronze coins equal one silver coin. Twenty silver coins equal one gold coin. And twenty gold coins equal one holy coin.]

Subaru: [That's pretty straight forward huh.]

Subaru now gained the knowledge that the coins he had from his world were useless. Meaning he would have to with the original plan to sell those crystals he picked from the cave for some coins. He also took note that the currency system seemed similar to that in medieval times back on Earth.

But now came the real question Subaru wanted to ask Elsa 

After a moment of  hesitation, Subaru broke the silence once again.

Subaru:[Hey Elsa….Do you think those bastards will come looking for you?]

Elsa remained silent for a beat before answering. She could either lie to the boy or tell him the truth; she chose the latter because she wanted to gauge his reaction.

Elsa: [The slavers?...They probably will. To silence me.]

Subaru frowned, his jaw tightening.

Subaru: [Silence you? Why?]

Elsa took notice of his worried expression.

Elsa: [Slavery is illegal here. Punishable by death. If slavers are caught, they don’t get a trial. They just disappear. So to make sure that never happens… they eliminate loose ends. Especially when it's someone with a high status like Baron Orcos.]

She expected him to recoil, to let go of her, to tell her he wanted nothing more to do with her. That would have been the natural response of any living being, No one would put themselves in danger just to help some stranger they met a day ago..

But once again, Subaru surprised her. Instead of fear, his expression darkened with anger—anger not at her, but at the people who had done this to her.

Subaru: [That’s disgusting,] he muttered. 

Subaru: [People like that don’t deserve to breathe.]

Elsa tilted her head slightly, studying him with wary curiosity.

Subaru took a deep breath, trying to rein in his emotions. "So slavery is illegal here. That's the first piece of good news I have gathered so far."

Subaru: [Is there someone we can ask for help?]

“We?” the thought crossed Elsa’s mind.

Elsa’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

Elsa:[Futile. Corruption runs deep here. The guards wouldn’t hesitate to sell you out. The Holy church would do something but not for people like me and you.]

Subaru clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

But he refused to back down.

Subaru: [Then we’ll figure something out. I won’t let them get to you...]

Elsa didn’t respond. She could not understand why he was doing this—why he cared so much. For as long as she could remember, people had hated her, or simply wanted to use her. But Subaru… he was different. And that unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

Subaru: [Alright thanks for answering my question. Even if they might have seemed strange.]

Subaru smiled and kept trudging along the beaten ground in hopes of finding a settlement soon.

After about an hour of walking, Subaru and Elsa arrived at the nearby town named Crail. It was home to about 20 thousand people.

The snow-covered streets were filled with people going about their business, their breath visible in the crisp air. Buildings with sloped roofs lined the roads, their wooden frames dusted with fresh snow. Subaru took in the sight with wide eyes, feeling the weight of the journey settle in his tired limbs.

As he observed the people around him, he noticed something peculiar—some of them weren’t entirely human. Demi-humans, creatures he had only read about in fantasy novels, moved among the crowd as naturally as anyone else. It was a surreal sight. But another detail caught his attention: the majority of people had light-colored hair. As far as he could see, only Elsa and himself had dark hair.

He also couldn’t help but notice the way some people looked at him—sharp, wary glances, a few outright hostile. The discomfort in their gazes was undeniable. Furrowing his brows, Subaru leaned slightly toward Elsa and asked,

Subaru: [Hey… why is everyone looking at us like that?]

Elsa: [Do you not remember what I told you earlier?]

Subaru: [Sorry. I might have forgotten it.] He scratched his cheek trying to hide his embarrassment.

Elsa sighed and leaned closer to his ear.

Elsa: [Gusteko, as its full name suggests, is a spiritual nation. Its national culture reflects the geography and history of the region. People with dark or black hair tend to be rather alienated in Gusteko, as they are thought to be disliked by spirits.]

Subaru let out a small scoff, shaking his head.

Subaru: [Seriously? All because of hair color? That’s some next-level nonsense. I mean, I get superstition and all, but does it really go that deep?]

Elsa gave a small shrug.

Elsa: [People believe what they want to believe. In Gusteko, the spirits hold great influence. If they favor someone, that person is revered. If they do not… well, you see how people look at us.]

Subaru exhaled sharply, his irritation bubbling beneath the surface. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white.

Subaru:[Yeah, I see it. And I don’t like it one bit. It’s like the world keeps finding new ways to be unfair.]

His voice was laced with frustration, but beneath that, there was something deeper—resentment, anger at a system that continued to punish those who had already suffered enough.

Subaru: [What kind of twisted logic is that? Just because of a hair color, people get treated like they're cursed? That’s just—] He cut himself off with a sharp breath, shaking his head.

Subaru:[Unbelievable.]

Subaru: [Anyway, the plan is to sell these crystals we got from that cave. We need to get out of here as fast as possible before those bastards realize you're missing among the corpses.]

As he carried Elsa on his back through the busy streets, her arms loosely wrapped around his shoulders, she suddenly spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

Elsa: [You can leave me here.]

Subaru blinked in confusion, glancing over his shoulder at her.

Subaru:[What do you mean? I ain't going to abandon you.]

Elsa tightened her grip slightly, her voice unreadable.

Elsa: [You helped me, fed me your food, brought me here. I’ve answered the question you asked. As far as I know our deal ends here.]

Subaru:  [Impossible. I refuse to abandon you alone.] Subaru said with determination.

Elsa didn't like where this was going so instead she asked the question she wanted to ask for a long time.

Elsa:[Why? Do you have an ulterior motive for doing so?]

Elsa needed to know the truth. The reason why he was doing all this. So she studied his expression.

Subaru frowned, that reasoning Elsa gave  gnawing at him.

Subaru: [I… I don’t know. Maybe... I just don’t like seeing people suffer. I know what it's like to feel powerless, to be trapped in a situation you can't escape from. If I can stop that from happening to someone else, even just once, then maybe it’s worth it. Besides… It's not like I have anything else to lose right now. If helping you means I can actually make a difference, even in a small way, then why wouldn’t I?]

Elsa could tell that he wasn't lying. After all, the scent coming off him confirmed it for her.

But she couldn't understand why someone would do all that.

Elsa stared at him while on his back for a long moment before finally speaking, her voice quieter than before.

Elsa: [You're weird.]

Subaru tilted his head slightly, surprised by her comment.

Subaru: [Weird? That's all you've got to say? Well I'll be looking forward to our time together. I'll do my best not to disappoint.]

Elsa didn't respond. Instead, she went silent again, her grip on his shoulders tightening just slightly as they continued forward.

After about 10 minutes of walking through the crowded streets of Crail.

Subaru and Elsa were given nasty looks by the residents. Subaru could even hear some muttering curses and their breaths.

Subaru and Elsa arrived at their destination. 

A place where  merchants  buy crystals. Subaru carefully set Elsa down near the entrance, adjusting her so she could sit comfortably.

Subaru: [Wait here. I'll handle this.] he told her.

He stepped inside the small, dimly lit shop, vanishing from Elsa’s sight.

A few minutes later, he emerged with a deep frown and an unmistakable scowl on his face. He held up nine silver coins and let out an exasperated sigh.

Subaru: [Can you believe this? Those nasty bastards only gave me half the price, just because I looked desperate!]

Subaru sighed and took Elsa on his back again.

They passed through various places. Since Subaru couldn't read he relied on Elsa to do the reading out loud.

Subaru found what he was searching for: Two thick and warm jackets for the cold weather. Two pairs of Boots he exchanged with a street merchant for the shoes he had from Earth. And some new clothes for Elsa.

He paid 2 silvers alongside the pair of shoes.

Walking away with his new acquired goods. He looked up and noticed the sun was setting.

Subaru: [We should probably find a place to spend the night and probably bathe, right Elsa?] Subaru glanced at Elsa over his shoulder.

Elsa: [...] Elsa didn't respond but she nodded. She had been quiet since Subaru said he would take care of her. Only talking when absolutely necessary.

They went on from inn to inn to find a place that would let people with their appearance stay until they eventually found one.

Though only on the condition they had to spend double the money. They spent one silver coin for a single night with dinner and breakfast included.

After eating their dinner, Subaru helped Elsa head to the room, a simple single-bed accommodation. They were currently running on a timer, it was only a matter of time before they noticed Elsa was not among the bodies of the other slaves.

Inside the room the two had just entered. It was a shaggy place to sleep in, but it was better than nothing. There was 1 small bed, A table and a door leading to a bath that was prepared while they were eating dinner.

Subaru: [Elsa you should head in first to the bath. Take as long as you want. Don't worry it's okay if I don't get hot water.] Subaru spoke cheerfully.

Elsa nodded. This was the first bath she was going to take all week. And the first hot water bath in a very, very long time. She entered the bath and closed the door behind her.

Roughly 15 minutes after entering the bath, Elsa emerged from the bath. Putting on her new clothes. A warm dark brown shirt with long sleeves. And a pair of pants that prioritised mobility.

And without making any sound she opened the door to the bedroom.

She saw Subaru was facing the other way sitting on the bed. He was messing with his “phone” he had called.

He only noticed Elsa was behind him when she nudged his shoulders.

Subaru:[Ehh…] Subaru turned around and was stunned.

After taking a bath Elsa’s appearance had taken a complete u-turn.

Long gone was the dirty and bloodied appearance she had. Now her skin was smooth white, her hair barely reaching the shoulders had a beautiful black color with waves at the end. Her purple jewels of eyes and gained a tiny bit of warmth in them in contrast to the cold look they had before.

Subaru blushed and quickly averted his gaze. Scratching his cheek with his finger

Subaru:[Y-you look really good!] he admitted honestly.

Elsa:[...]

Elsa didn't seem to care though she sat down on the other side of the bed. And pointed to the medicine they had bought earlier (for three silvers) while searching for a place to spend the night.

Subaru:[oh right…]Subaru reached out for the bag of medicine.

Elsa without hesitating lifted her shirt with her bare naked back facing subaru.

Subaru’s face at that point got extremely red. It was the first time he'd seen a girl's back. And with his current body state the teenage hormones were not helping at all.

Subaru helped apply the medicine onto Elsa’s injuries. Elsa was observing him without him noticing by the corner of her eye.

Subaru:[A-alright th-that should be everything I could get to.] Giving her the bag so she could apply it to the wounds she could reach.

Then Subaru stormed inside the bath. And closed the door learning on it.

Subaru then proceeded to take a bath.

Once done, they settled into the bed—Subaru falling asleep quickly due to the exhaustion from carrying Elsa for hours, while Elsa remained awake, staring at him in silence.

Elsa's thoughts at this moment are conflicted and foreign to her. She's spent most of her life being treated as an outcast, hated, or used for someone else's gain. Subaru's actions challenge everything she has come to expect from people.

She doesn't understand why he's helping her. She asked him directly, but even his answer didn’t fully satisfy her. His way of acting doesn't make sense to her—it feels unnatural, even suspicious. But at the same time, she feels something: warmth? Not the same kind of warmth that she felt that day when the baker's steaming inwards spilled over her.

His presence is different. It unsettles her, but it also… calms her. She doesn’t want to admit it, but a part of her doesn’t mind his company. A part of her, buried deep beneath years of blood and survival, almost wants to believe in him.

As she watches him sleep, she wonders if this moment of peace is real, or if it will be taken away as quickly as it came. Her fingers slid towards her clothes where she had hidden the metal chopstick she had stolen from him. The end had been sharpened while she was in the bath. 

But after a moment, she removed her hand from the hidden weapon, her grip loosening as her breathing steadied. Slowly, she allowed herself to drift into sleep.

At the same time Subaru and Elsa fell asleep, somewhere in the Orcos domain, a noble's party was happening. Inside the grand ballroom, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. 

He was a temple knight of the Gustekan church—an aged man with short white hair, a white mustache, dark green eyes, and a scar that vertically went across his left eye. 

He was enjoying the party he hosted to celebrate his newly acquired wealth.

His name is Baron Victor Orcos.

While talking with a few other nobles, Baron Orcos received a buzz from his conversation mirror.

This caused him to step out of the ballroom.

Outside of the ballroom, he reached his pocket, retrieving the small, glowing device.

Flipping it open, he brought it to his ear, his expression darkening as he spoke.

Baron: [What is it? Don't you know that I am occupied at the moment? It better be something important, or you will pay for it with your life.]

The voice on the other end crackled slightly before responding, hesitant yet firm.

Servant: [Forgive me for the intrusion, Baron, but it is of utmost importance. One of the slave carriages that was supposed to deliver the new batch has been destroyed.]

Baron Orcos stiffened, his grip on the metia tightening.

Baron: [Destroyed? How?]

Baron: [We’re still investigating, but it appears to have been caught in a landslide. The drivers were crushed, and the cargo... buried or eaten by beasts. All except one slave, who is  missing.]

A tense silence followed before the Baron exhaled slowly, his anger simmering beneath his composed exterior.

Baron: [I see. Find the slave that fled and kill it. Hire him if you have to. Ensure that no word of this spreads. I can't give that Kenash bastard a reason to invade my territory.  Double the security on the remaining shipments. I will not tolerate another failure.]

Servant: [Understood, my lord. We will act immediately.]

Snapping the metia shut with a sharp click, Baron Orcos narrowed his dark green eyes, a dangerous glint flickering within them. And with that, he slowly walked back into the ballroom.

???:[-ve y..u.]

Subaru stirred awake, It was morning the next day.

His body was still aching from the exhaustion of the previous day. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he turned his head slightly—only to find Elsa staring at him once again. Her dark purple eyes were unreadable, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Subaru once again interrupted the silence and said good morning and stood up out of the bed.

As he stood up, he noticed his shirt had ridden up, exposing his belly. He quickly tugged it down, feeling a brief flicker of embarrassment.

Unbeknownst to him Elsa had been awake sooner. She lifted his shirt in his sleep and had her hand on it.

Elsa also slowly got up.

Subaru was sad that despite all the injuries she sustained, she showed barely any reaction to the pain.

Subaru: [I'm going downstairs to grab breakfast. I'll bring it here shortly.]

Elsa didn't respond and watched him leave the room.

Once he was gone, Elsa looked at the hand she had used to touch his belly, a sadistic blush slowly crept up to her face. She was really curious about what his inwards would feel like, but she restrained herself.

Elsa: [This.. What is this?] Elsa spoke out loud, she'd never felt like this. When touching his belly her heart was racing like never before. Not even when she got her first warmth of steaming entrails.

Elsa could smell scents that the human body produced when they felt certain emotions. Throughout her life it was always the smell of disgust, hatred, lust or anger towards her. But this boy..

Elsa:[Natsuki Subaru...]

She smelt those scents coming off of him. But they were never directed at her. He smelt different from everyone she had ever met. And for some reason that excited Elsa.

Snapping off her current state, Elsa heard footsteps coming behind the door of the room. Followed by a knock on the door.

Subaru: [I'm entering.]

Subaru entered the room carrying a tray with two soups, hard bread and two cups of milk. He set the tray on top of the table. And went to the other side of the room.

He started doing some weird moves.

Elsa: [What are you doing?]

Elsa asked him, her gaze laying on the weird movement he was performing.

Subaru: [My homeland's ancient practice of warm-up exercises before eating. I have got to strengthen my body as much as I can. Come join me Elsa.]

Elsa did not join him. But remained staring into his eyes.

Subaru noticed that his eyes locked with her purple jewels. He blushed feeling embarrassed and quickly averted his gaze, and finished his warmups in silence.

Finishing with their breakfast, Subaru and Elsa left the inn with their things.

Elsa could now walk by herself. The medicine was really effective.

As they made their way through the city, Subaru kept averting his gaze from Elsa.

While walking, he noticed a pretty purple flower being sold by a merchant.

Without Elsa noticing, he bought it and, after a moment of hesitation, handed it to her.

She took it in silence, looking at it with an unreadable expression.

Elsa: [What's this for?] Elsa asked Subaru.

Subaru: [W-well... Ah, you know what? I'll do it myself!] Subaru took the purple flower and gently tucked it into Elsa's hair, just above her right eye, ensuring it sat neatly to the side.

His fingers brushed against her temple for a fleeting moment before he quickly pulled away, feeling a bit flustered. He cleared his throat and gave an awkward chuckle, trying to mask his embarrassment.

Subaru: [It suits you,] he added, unable to meet her gaze for too long.

Subaru wanted to engrave the moment, so he took out his phone and started recording both of them. Elsa, confused upon seeing herself on the phone's screen, tilted her head slightly and asked,

Elsa: [What are you doing?]

Subaru smiled and replied, 

Subaru: [I'm taking a video so that I will never forget this moment. It's like a memory frozen in time that I can store in my phone and watch anytime I want.]

Elsa frowned slightly, her brows furrowing as she repeated the word incorrectly,

Elsa: [Vee...deo? What is that?]

Subaru chuckled at her attempt to pronounce the word properly, nodding, he explained it to her.

Subaru:[Yeah, video. It's a moving picture, kind of like a memory I can keep and replay whenever I want. It helps me remember special moments, like this one.]

Elsa was surprised by this explanation, but the surprise faded as quickly as it came. She noticed they were being followed and thought this would be the perfect time to see for herself if the boy’s resolve was true.

As they continued walking through the bustling streets of town, Subaru marveled at the sight of creatures he had never seen before—ground dragons, rigers, and other fantastical beasts that felt straight out of a storybook.

He couldn't help but comment on them, pointing excitedly at a passing ground dragon pulling a merchant's cart.

Subaru: [Man, that thing is huge! It looks like a mix between a lizard and a horse!] he exclaimed. [And those things... Are they like tigers? But with horns? This is insane!] His eyes darted around, drinking in every strange and exotic sight, his enthusiasm almost childlike.

Both Subaru and Elsa were searching for the merchant guild, hoping to find a merchant who could take them far away from Orcos' domain. Not knowing the way, Subaru turned to Elsa and asked,

Subaru: [Which way is it?]

Elsa, walking slightly behind him, pointed towards an alleyway away from the main street without a word. 

Trusting her direction, Subaru stepped in, he walked for about a minute or two.

The alley was dark and gloomy; there were empty crates scattered and no sign of people.

Subaru turned the corner at the end of the alley only to be met with a dead end.

Confused, he turned around to tell Elsa, only to find that she was no longer there.

Worried she had gotten taken or perhaps lost, Subaru's chest tightened with anxiety. Just as he was about to leave the dead-end alley corner, he bumped into two men.

Both had light-colored hair—one looked mid  30 with blue eyes and grey hair, he was short and skinny.

The other looked about 40 with bright orange hair and green eyes. He had a huge belly and was about a half a meter taller than subaru.

Their rough appearances screamed danger, and Subaru instinctively tensed as their gazes locked onto him with unsettling intent.

The older man, who looked to be in his 40s, held a brown glass bottle of what appeared to be alcohol in one hand.

Subaru instinctively took a step back, his muscles tensing.

The man then walked up to Subaru and without any warning whatsoever delivered a kick to his belly.

Subaru: [G-ghk..!]

The kick sent him tumbling back several feet. Subaru groaned in pain, his plastic bag flying out of his grasp.

The other younger looking man  stepped forward, looming over the curled-up Subaru with a sneer.

Younger man:[Where's the pretty brat you were with?] he asked, his voice laced with menace.

Since Subaru was in pain, he didn't immediately hear the man's question, which caused the man to get angry. With a scowl, he delivered another kick to Subaru's stomach, making him choke out a pained gasp.

Younger man: [Don't ignore me, you little shit!] the man barked before placing his boot over Subaru's hand, pressing it harshly against the hard stone floor. Subaru let go of his stomach and struggled to free his trapped hand, wincing at the pressure.

Subaru asked through gritted teeth,

Subaru: [What do you want with her?]

The question made the older man snap.

With a sudden burst of anger, he hurled his glass bottle of booze toward Subaru's face. The bottle shattered on impact, sharp shards slicing across Subaru's temple, sending a warm trickle of blood down his face. The remaining liquor splashed over him, the stinging alcohol mixing with his fresh wounds.

The man who threw the bottle scoffed, crossing his arms.

Older men:[We make the questions, you give the answers. But since I'm feeling generous,]  he said with a smirk, [I'll let you in on a little something. We just got fired from our jobs, and we needed someone to take out our frustration on. That someone just so happened to be your little lady friend because, well... she's got a real pretty face you know?]

The other man with his boot over Subaru's hand then joined in.

Younger man:[So hurry up and tell us where she is! Don't worry, we are going to take really good care of her. Hell, we are amazing in bed, she will enjoy it I tell you!] The man licked his lips. His eyes took a lusty shape.

Subaru:[...] Subaru pushed through the pain and lifted his left hand, which was trying to pry his other hand from the boots grasp.

Both men saw his arm slowly lifting up.

Younger man:[Took you long enough......huh?] Both men thought Subaru was going to sell out the girl by pointing in the direction she was in.

Subaru:[I.... I-I....] pushing through the pain of having his face filled with wounds

But-

to their surprise-

The nasty eyed boy gave them the middle bird and barked-

Subaru: [I refuse you good for nothing shits!]

And that was the final straw for both men.

The younger one snarled in rage, his patience snapping like a brittle twig, while the older one cracked his knuckles, eyes dark with violent intent.

The air around them grew heavier, thick with malice, as they loomed over Subaru, ready to make him regret his defiance.

Subaru: [AAHHH!]

The man holding Subaru's right hand under his boot, mad at Subaru's answer, crushed all of Subaru's fingers with a single stomp, making Subaru scream in pain.

Older man:[How fucking dare you cursed brat, you waste of space!]

The older man, pulling a knife from his pants, walked up to the writhing Subaru, grabbed his left arm, pinned it to the floor, and stabbed straight through the palm, the sharp end of the blade scraping against the stone ground.

Just as fast as he stabbed through Subaru’s hand, the man removed the blade, leaving a small  hole in Subaru’s palm.

The hole spewed large quantities of blood. Pooling underneath Subaru’s hand.

Subaru:[AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!]  Subaru screamed his voice out due to the sheer pain he was experiencing.

But-

The men didn't stop there-

They started delivering a barrage of kicks at Subaru without any sign of stopping.

All he could think at the moment was:

“It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! Am I going to die? Am I going to die?  Am I going to die?  Am I going to die?”

The men then suddenly stopped, one of them grabbed Subaru by the hair. Lifting his head by the hair. Subaru made eye contact with the younger men with green eyes while the other barked with anger:

Older man:[Where is she dipshit?! Since we are really really generous we are giving you one last chance! If you don't answer us, we will kill you!. No one is coming to help you after all we are doing everyone in this world a favour by removing a cursed brat like you!]

Through the pain coursing through his entire body.

Subaru's thoughts drifted to his parents. The parents who never got mad with him. The parents who never hated him when he stopped going to school and became a shut-in.

Would they be proud?

Would they be proud that their son sold out the girl he promised to protect so that he could keep his life?

Subaru didn't care anymore.

He was given a second chance at life by being transported to another world. 

He would not betray his first promise in another world.

And so Subaru pushed through all the pain and suffering he was experiencing said-

Subaru: [Fuck you! You will never find her!] Subaru screamed what he thought were his last words as he fell into unconsciousness.

Until-

The fat older man suddenly fell over on his back, as if something had pushed him from behind.

The shorter man also fell over but hit head on the corner of a wood container making him lose consciousness for a moment.

Due to the suddenness of the impact the fat man closed his eyes for a brief moment.

A big mistake-

Older man:[ugh!..]

The moment he opened his eyes he was met with purple ones. They gave off a predator gaze.

It was the girl they were targeting. The one who was with the boy.

The man tried to speak but-

Instead of his voice coming out. A Hot substance exited his mouth.

He brought his hand up to his mouth to inspect what came out.

He looked down to his hand and found-

Blood….

Older man:[huh?...]

He looked back up to the girl and noticed her expression.

She had an expression of someone who had just been granted the ultimate pleasure.

He suddenly felt something really hot on his belly.

The man looked down and was met with his inwards coming out of his belly.

His bowels were escaping through the hole he had on his belly.

Blood gushing out. Escaping through the hole at rapid speeds he instinctively looked back at the girl. Her eyes were not fixed on his, but at his belly.

Her lower body was covered by his blood. With his eyes he traced the part that had the most amount of blood. Which led to the girl's hand she was holding a sharp metal stick smeared with blood.

Before the man could get a better idea of what was going on. His eyelids felt really heavy, causing him to close his eyes.

And with that the man’s life ended.

Elsa having disemboweled the larger man. Stood there soaked in the warm feeling of blood covering her lower half. Admiring the color of his entrails.

Her eyes then glanced over to the shorter men, making eye contact with him.

He was staring at the girl with wide horrified eyes. He had piss coming flowing down his legs.

“So when he takes others' lives he doesn't bat an eye, but when his own is threatened he can't keep up his face.”

Those were Elsa's precise thoughts at that moment.

The shorter man took off running without looking back.

Elsa then found herself glancing at the weird boy she had come to meet.

He was unconscious, his body battered from the barrage of kicks he was subjected to, with blood flowing down his face covering one one of the eyelids completely. One of his hands was spilling blood from the recently acquired hole. While the other had its fingers crushed.

Elsa:[Natsuki Subaru..]

Elsa muttered his name as if savouring every syllable.

Elsa:[What an odd individual…]

Elsa could not predict his thought process. She had 100% thought he would have sold her out, after all it was only natural when someone's life is on the line.

Elsa then remembers the promise he made back in that cave when she had just woken up from being on the verge of death.

“So he kept his promise after all.”

She also noticed the bottle the dead man had thrown at Subaru was a Granhiert wine. Also known as the fire wine. The same wine Elsa had stolen from the baker that day.

Two people loathed by the world. 

United by fate perhaps? 

She didn't know.

A blush crept up to Elsa's face as she kept her gaze on the unconscious boy.

And she smiled. 

Chapter Text

In the middle of nowhere—a place where light does not shine, where time holds no meaning. His physical body is absent, or perhaps he has simply forgotten what it means to have one. He cannot tell where his consciousness begins or ends, nor can he recall who he is, what he is. There is no past, no future,no present, and even that is an abstraction in this void of absolute nothingness.

There is no sound. No sensation. No warmth or cold. Positive and negative do not exist, for there is nothing against which to define them. It is simply emptiness—an endless abyss where even thought seems to struggle to take form. He is neither floating nor falling, for direction itself has lost meaning. It is as if he exists outside of existence, a whisper of awareness detached from all things.

Time—if it can even be called that—passes in a manner beyond his comprehension. It could be seconds, hours, years, or an eternity or perhaps even nothing. He cannot grasp it. His thoughts flicker in and out, disjointed and distant, as though his mind is being rewritten and erased in an endless loop. The very concept of "self" feels fragile, like a dream that vanishes upon waking.

Perhaps he was someone once. Perhaps he had a name, an identity, a purpose. But here, none of that matters. Here, the weight of existence itself is stripped away until only pure, undefined consciousness remains. He does not know if he should feel comforted or terrified by this.

He drifts, nameless and formless, a mere fragment of awareness lost in the sea of oblivion. 

And yet, something stirs—an almost imperceptible shift, a presence just beyond his reach. A whisper of something familiar. Something... waiting.

Then, from the nothingness, he feels it—an anchor, a tether pulling him back into being. A slow, creeping sensation seeps into his awareness, something more than thought, more than concept.

First, a pulse. A rhythmic, hollow drumbeat in the void. It echoes through him, and as it does, something wet and warm forms around it—his heart, sluggishly taking shape in the abyss. The veins crawl outward like the branches of a great tree, winding through the emptiness, filling with thick, pulsing streams of blood. The sensation is alien yet instinctive, as if his body remembers what he cannot.

Bones materialize next, piecing together like fragments of a shattered sculpture. The spine coils into place, ribs forming a protective cage around the fragile, beating core. A skull encases the formless thoughts that swirl within him, solidifying his existence. Bit by bit, he is being rebuilt.

Then comes the raw, agonizing emergence of flesh. Muscles weave themselves over bone, twitching and spasming as if struggling to remember movement. Nerves slither into place, igniting with sensation—sharp, electric, overwhelming. Skin stretches taut, enclosing the growing form in a fragile barrier against the void.

His body, his form—his existence—returns to him, dragging him out of the abyss. And with it, a thought surfaces, a name whispering through the empty corners of his mind.

Natsuki Subaru.

A rush of sensation floods in all at once—cold air against his skin, the weight of gravity pulling him downward, the erratic pounding of his heart as his body fully returns to him. His lungs burn as he gasps for breath, the first in what feels like an eternity. The void that once held him prisoner is gone, replaced by something tangible, something real.

The abyss, with all its infinite emptiness, comes to an abrupt end.

Slowly, his eyes begin to open.

At first, there is only blinding whiteness—a hazy, unfocused glow pressing against his sight. He blinks sluggishly, his eyelids feeling unbearably heavy, like they had never moved before. Each slow opening and closing of his eyes pulls the world into sharper focus, revealing more than just emptiness.

He feels softness beneath him. Not the rough, barren ground he expected—though he isn’t sure why he expected that—but fabric, smooth and warm. His fingers curl against it, recognizing the texture of a bedsheet. A faint scent lingers in the air, something clean, familiar in a distant way.

His breathing steadies as his body fully registers its surroundings.

He is lying in a bed.

A ceiling looms above him, vague and blurred as his vision adjusts. The dull ache in his limbs remains, but it is no longer the primary force pressing upon his mind.

And then, like a door unlocking, recognition floods in.

Natsuki Subaru.

That is his name. He knows this, as surely as he knows how to breathe.

The weight of complete amnesia lifts, yet a void remains—something is missing. He cannot remember how he got here. He cannot recall what happened before this moment. It is as if he has woken from a dream he knows was significant but now slips through his fingers like sand.

His mind reaches for something, anything—a lingering trace of whatever came before sleep—but all he finds is an emptiness that refuses to be filled.

He is awake. He remembers who he is. But what happened before this moment remains lost to him.. He blinks sluggishly, his eyelids feeling unbearably heavy, like they had never moved before.

Each slow opening and closing of his eyes pulls the world into sharper focus, though it remains unfamiliar.

He becomes aware of the cold sensation against his skin, the rough texture beneath his fingertips. A dull ache pulses through his limbs as if they had been long unused. His breathing is uneven, each inhale sharp and shallow as his lungs greedily pull in the air. The pounding in his chest intensifies, his heart working hard to pump life through his veins.

“So I didn't die after all.” The first thought formed in Natsuki Subaru's mind.

And then he feels it—

Pain.

Subaru: [ugh!!!]

Coursing through his body. The sensation was like getting hit by a hundred rocks.

But the area that hurt the most was his hands. His hands felt pain like never before.

And slowly he remembers what caused such pain. He remembers what caused him to lose consciousness.

And the second thought formed with an even greater impact than the first.

“Elsa.”

He pushed through the pain and raised his head.

He felt weak. He could barely breathe. But he needed to make sure Elsa was alright.

Subaru attempted to push himself up from the bed, but the moment he moved, a searing pain shot through his body like fire licking at his nerves. His limbs trembled as he tried to shift his weight, and as soon as his feet touched the wooden floor, his knees buckled beneath him.

With a harsh gasp, he collapsed onto the ground. The impact sent fresh waves of agony surging through his already battered body, his vision momentarily flickering into darkness as unconsciousness threatened to claim him once more. His breath came in ragged, shallow gulps, each inhalation a struggle against the torment radiating from his injuries.

Gritting his teeth, Subaru forced himself to move. His fingers were unresponsive so using his arms he gripped the rough wooden frame of the bed, using it as leverage to drag himself upright. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, his right hand a useless, throbbing weight wrapped in bloodstained cloth. His forehead burned beneath the bandages, and the deep bruising across his torso made even the smallest movement a brutal ordeal.

With staggering, unsteady steps, he leaned against the wall for support, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. He pressed his back against the wooden planks, his breaths shallow as he took in his surroundings for the first time.

The room was small, constructed entirely of aged wood, with a single window allowing slivers of soft light to filter through. The scent of pine and burning firewood lingered in the air, mixing with the faint metallic tang of his own blood. It felt like a cabin—a shelter secluded from the outside world.

His gaze shifted to the door across the room, slightly ajar. With sheer willpower, he pushed himself forward, his fingers brushing against the rough wood as he forced it open.

Beyond the doorway, he stepped into what appeared to be a living room. The first thing he noticed was the fireplace nestled in the corner, its flames still crackling softly, casting flickering shadows across the walls. In the center of the room sat a large couch, worn but inviting, positioned near the warmth of the fire.

Subaru took a slow, agonizing step forward, then another. Every movement felt like walking through barbed wire, his body rebelling with every strained breath. He had barely made it halfway across the room when his legs finally gave out beneath him.

With a grunt of pain, he collapsed onto the couch. His body sank into the cushions, his breath hitching as exhaustion overtook him. The warmth of the fire washed over him, and for the first time since waking, the relentless ache in his body dulled—if only slightly.

He lay there, his vision swimming, his heartbeat slowing. He didn’t know where he was or how he had gotten here.

He could no longer move his body. No matter how much he willed it, his limbs refused to respond. It was as though he had been locked away inside his own skin—a prisoner within his broken frame. The only part of him that obeyed was his eyes, which darted sluggishly across the room as his breathing remained shallow and uneven. In the dim light of the cabin, every slow, heavy exhale felt like a surrender to the inevitability of his suffering.

The space around him revealed itself as a wooden cabin, its walls imbued with the rich, ancient scent of pine and memories of countless forgotten winters. Shadows danced across the rough-hewn beams, their movements cast by the soft glow of a distant fireplace he had seen earlier. Several windows lined the walls, their glass hidden behind thick, heavy curtains that muffled the world outside, leaving him isolated in a cocoon of solitude and despair.

His mind screamed for him to move—to force his body into action—but it was futile. His arms, his legs, even his fingers lay limp at his sides, as if drained of all strength. Each passing moment brought him closer to the brink of unconsciousness, a precarious balance between awareness and the pull of oblivion. In that vulnerable state, his thoughts churned with a desperate longing not only for physical movement but also for the reassurance of connection, for the warmth of a human presence.

He needed to make sure Elsa was alright.

The mere thought of her, fragile yet steadfast, stirred something deep within him, igniting a spark of determination amid overwhelming despair. Yet, no matter how fervently his mind pleaded, his body remained stubbornly inert—a silent testament to his broken state.

He heard it once again–

His own voice–

Mocking him, laughing at his inability to keep a promise. To save a single girl.

“Useless. I'm so useless”  Was all Subaru could think. He hoped the men did not find Elsa. He didn't want to fail. He couldn't fail.

Then, from behind him, he heard it—a soft, deliberate creak as the door swung open.

A rush of cold air slipped into the room, carrying with it a whisper of something unknown and sending a shiver racing down his battered spine. Though he could not turn to see, he distinctly heard the gentle rustle of fabric and the subtle sound of wooden hinges—a clear sign that someone had entered his confined space.

His breath caught in his throat, and his heart pounded weakly against his ribs as the door slowly clicked shut, sealing him inside once more. The oppressive silence deepened, punctuated only by the sound of his own ragged breaths and the distant crackle of fire.

Subaru strained to see, to move, to do anything—but he remained trapped within his broken body, helpless as Subaru did not know who it was. Was it the men? Was it the authorities who had brought him here? He didn't know.

As the footsteps halted mere inches away, the silence that followed seemed to stretch into eternity. Then, a voice—low and unfamiliar yet laced with a peculiar familiarity—broke through the stillness:

???: [Oh. You're awake.]

In that moment, a surge of both relief and apprehension coursed through him. He recognized that voice from deep within his memory, though its exact source eluded him. Almost immediately, another word followed:

???: [Wait just a moment.]

The figure moved gracefully around the couch, the soft sound of fabric and measured steps hinting at a deliberate, almost ritualistic pace. The visitor approached the flickering fire, bending down to toss additional sticks and scraps of wood into it. Even in the dim light, the thick coat concealing the visitor's form revealed nothing of their identity—but there was a calm, reassuring quality in those movements that contrasted sharply with the terror churning inside him. For a brief, hopeful moment, he allowed himself to believe that this person was not an enemy.

As the fire blazed brighter, its warm, radiant orange hues pushed back the encroaching shadows, offering Subaru a small measure of solace amid his agony. The figure then turned slowly, now standing directly before him. In that shifting light, Subaru met a pair of striking purple irises. The figure's black hair, softly curled at the ends, framed a face that was both enigmatic and achingly familiar. A delicate purple flower rested above the right eye, its vibrant hue a quiet beacon in the gloom.

Elsa.

In that instant, the realization hit him—this was the first person he had ever longed to see in this bewildering world. Overwhelmed by emotion, his eyes grew watery, blurring the already hazy images as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Elsa: [Why are you crying? Is it the pain?] Her voice was gentle yet inquisitive, layered with curiosity and a hint of reproach. It wasn’t merely concern for his physical suffering that moved her, but a deeper understanding of the turmoil that lay beneath.

For Subaru, the tears were not just about the searing pain coursing through his battered body. They were the release of a torrent of relief—relief that Elsa was safe, relief that the men had not found her, and relief that he had somehow kept his promise to her despite everything. His heart ached with the mingled weight of suffering and hope.

Elsa continued, her tone softening into an unexpected blend of tenderness and playful admonishment:

Elsa: [You know? It's actually good that you can feel the pain. If you can feel it, it's proof you're still alive!] She chimed, her words carrying a lightness that belied the gravity of their situation.

Then, leaning in closer so that her face hovered only inches from his, she added with a teasing lilt:

Elsa: [You shouldn't have left your bed. Now you're giving me extra work to do!] Her remark, half-chiding and half-teasing, was delivered with a warmth that seemed to momentarily ease the relentless ache in his body.

Subaru tried to speak, his voice breaking from the combined strain of pain and emotion:

Subaru: [El…sa..]

Elsa’s eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and exasperation as she continued, her words flowing with unexpected candor:

Elsa: [Mhm? Trying to say something?] she teased, her tone both playful and earnest. Her gaze softened further as she said, “Are you going to ask why I disappeared without warning, or why I never told you? You have every right to be angry—I basically set you up, remember? So, let your anger out. I’ll take it all.”

Subaru’s voice, trembling and uncertain, managed to emerge:

Subaru: [A—a..r.e yo..u a-al..ri..g-ht?] he stammered, the words laden with both relief and the raw edge of unspoken feelings.

Elsa sighed, a long, drawn-out sound that seemed to carry the weight of their shared history. With gentle care, she reached out to touch his cheek —a gesture that was soothing.

Elsa: [Seriously?! You're on the verge of death, and that's all you have to say?] she chided lightly, mixing mock indignation with deep care. 

Elsa: [You really are dumb, you know? But if that’s all you want to hear, then yes—the answer is yes. Now rest up, or you'll really die.]

Her words, laced with humor and urgency, were like a balm to his tortured soul. In that moment, as the exhaustion claimed him, Subaru allowed the warmth of her voice and the comfort of her presence to lull him towards unconsciousness.

Elsa: [Sigh… you really are weird. I can't understand you at all, Subaru.] Her voice was almost a whisper now, filled with small affection and a trace of exasperated fondness.

Then, with renewed determination, she added, 

Elsa: [I'll be looking forward to seeing you keep your promise... Now let's get you back up. We have extra people on our tail now, and time is something we can’t waste.]

With deliberate care, Elsa rearranged Subaru’s position on the worn couch, easing him into a slightly more comfortable repose. As she inspected his injuries, her skilled hands moved with practiced efficiency. She applied the remaining medicine they had salvaged, gently removing the makeshift bandages from his bruised forehead and injured hands to wash and rewrap them with care.

While cleaning the torn cloth, Elsa paused, her expression shifting to one of quiet curiosity. Pressing a finger to her lips as if in silent contemplation, she murmured:

Elsa: [His blood smells different too. Natsuki Subaru, just what are you?] Her tone carried a mix of wonder and a trace of unease—a subtle mystery in his very essence that she had never encountered before.

Elsa, having been used to the smell of blood, could easily tell that Subarus' blood smelt different from everyone else she'd met. It smelt more refined, more “pure” was probably the keyword she was searching for.

Having applied the makeshift bandages back on Subaru, Elsa finally sat down on the couch. Gazing at the sleeping Subaru.

Her stomach growled at her, a reminder she had not eaten since back at the inn, basically half a day since it was currently in the afternoon, though this type of occurrence was normal for elsa, she normally would go for about 2 days without any food as long as she had water, a skill she had developed by surviving on the streets. 

To be honest, It had partially been Elsa's fault they were on the run.

She had lost herself in the warmth of that man's steaming hot blood that she forgot about the other one, which gave the man enough time to run before Elsa could get him as well.

This had left them little time to act. That short man would have most certainly informed the church of what had happened back there. So Elsa grabbed the money pouch from the dead man, grabbed Subaru and his stuff and left the alleyway in a hurry.

She was going in the direction of the town's slums.

Making her way there Elsa paid a slum merchant the full pouch of money to take both of them out of the town as quickly as possible. The merchant, seeing the amount of money he was offered, asked no further questions and hid both of them inside some crates and made his way outside of the town.

About 30 minutes was the time spent inside the carriage. Elsa had made some makeshift bandages using some of the merchant's spare clothes. But the merchant did not get mad since he was getting paid a hefty sum to keep silent.

While on the moving cart Elsa had noticed in the far distance a wooden cabin and she knew that was the perfect place to spend the night. So without the merchant's knowledge of the wooden cabin she told him to leave them there. 

Once she made sure the merchant had taken off, she took the Subaru on her back and entered the forest, she made  her way to the wooden cabin. 

It took  20  minutes to arrive there as Elsa was exhausted and still injured from the landslide.

Entering the cabin she made her way towards the only bedroom in it and placed Subaru on it.

She had gone to what was the living room and using a fire crystal located near the fireplace she lit the fire up.

She then left to get more sticks to keep the fire going for a long time.

And she came back to a barely consciousness Subaru lumped on the couch.

Elsa: [Sigh… I guess I'll see what he has for food on that white bag of his.]

Elsa left the living room and headed back to the bedroom where Subaru’s bag was located.

Having found it she began to look through it and noticed something odd.

Elsa: [I can't read this. Is this another language?] Elsa had found some of the things Subaru had fed her back in the cave. Though only now she noticed she couldn't read the labels on the packages.

Among the items in there Elsa found it right to open the cup noodles she was given.

Since she had paid extreme attention to what Subaru was feeding her she also saw how he had prepared it.

So she followed exactly what he had done back in the cave.

Elsa: [So first I need some hot water. Then all i have to do is tear the lid of the container and pour it in there. Should be easy enough.]

As Elsa was pouring the hot water into the containers the scent of chicken broth filled the living room.

She had made two, one for her and one for the boy.

Elsa had ate first seeing that feeding the boy while he was unconscious wouldn't work

Elsa: [This is really good. I wonder where he got such food, I'll have to ask him once he wakes up.]

As Elsa was eating she noticed a glowing light coming from the corner of her eye. The same place where Subaru was resting.

She without making a bit of made her way there. She suspected the owner of this cabin may have come. But what she saw was not a person or a living being.

Elsa: [A spirit…]

The light-blue light covering Subaru was reflecting off her purple eyes. She stood there and watched as a spirit was healing some of Subarus injuries.

Elsa now knew why a spirit had healed her back in the cave, saving her life.

Elsa: [I guess I owe him more than I had initially expected.] 

In that fragile, suspended moment, as the fire’s glow danced across the walls and their intertwined fates hung in the balance, the cabin itself seemed to hold its breath—bearing silent witness to their shared pain, their unspoken promises, and the hope that somehow, amidst the darkness, they could forge a path forward.

Subaru slowly awoke to the comforting aroma of chicken broth wafting through the air. The scent, warm and inviting, contrasted sharply with the lingering chill of his battered state. While the searing pain that had once consumed him had lessened, his hands still throbbed with a relentless ache—a constant reminder of the violence inflicted upon him.

In the fog of his memory, fleeting images of his interaction with Elsa emerged. Though the details were hazy, the emotion behind them was unmistakable. It was as if her presence had been a lifeline in his unconsciousness, and now, with that thought propelling him forward, he yearned to find her again.

With a monumental effort, he lifted his head from the timeworn couch, every movement sending ripples of pain through his weakened form. His eyes focused on the fire still dancing in the corner, its flickering light casting long, shifting shadows against the wooden walls of the cabin.

The room, with its rustic charm and the soft crackle of burning wood, provided a fragile sense of sanctuary amid the chaos.

Just as he began to gather his scattered thoughts, a hot breath grazed the back of his neck—unexpected and unnerving.

Startled, Subaru jerked his head around, his heart pounding in his ears. In that split second of disorientation, he saw her: Elsa, leaning casually against the back of the couch. Her presence, both familiar and comforting, broke through the haze of pain and uncertainty.

Startled by Elsa's actions, Subaru’s voice came out as a high pitched squeak rather than his normal voice.

Subaru: [Wha–wh–what was that for?]

To which Elsa replied licking her lips.

Elsa: [Ara, I guess I wanted to see your reaction to being teased.]

Just as Subaru was about to protest though, his stomach growled which made him feel even more embarrassed about his current predicament.

To which Elsa just laughed. Subaru didn't have the strength to push through the embarrassment and  look at her again so he averted his gaze.

Elsa stopped laughing with a sigh and left her position on the couch to go and grab something.

Subaru saw her heading towards the kitchen part of the cabin, she had grabbed the cup of noodles that was on top of a small table.

Having grabbed it from the table Elsa made her way back to Subaru.

Elsa: [Here It's my turn to feed you this time.] She said with a smile stretched on her face. Her eyes showed excitement at the prospect of feeding Subaru.

Subaru: [Feed me?! I'm not some kid I can eat by myself!] Subaru barked back with a look of determination emanating from his sharp eyes.

Subaru reached with both his hands towards the cup–

Big mistake.

Subaru: [Ahhhhhh fuuuuck it hurts!!!] Subaru screamed like a little girl once the movement caused by his stubbornness made his hand injuries act up again causing a massive surge of pain to coarse through his hands.

Elsa started laughing at Subaru once again.

Subaru: [Don't laugh ack* it's not funny!!!] Through the sheer pain in his hands he still managed to find the will to bark back at the giggling Elsa. 

Elsa: [You really are interesting.] Elsa admitted honestly.

Elsa: [Now enough joking around and open your mouth so that I can feed you.] Although she had stopped giggling Elsa still had a smile stretched on her face.

Subaru was getting really embarrassed. He never ever had lived this down before. The embarrassment was so high he considered eating without using his hands but that would only make matters worse than what they already are.

Subaru: [Ok…ay.] He agreed that he had no better solution as both his hands were unusable at the moment.

Elsa made her way towards the front of the couch and asked Subaru to nudge over so she could sit next to him. And Subaru did as he was told.

Elsa wanting to increase further the teasing said,

Elsa:[Say ah!] She opened her mouth to show Subaru how it's done.

Subaru's face at that point was beat red. But he was starving and couldn't eat without looking like a dog so he once again did as he was told but he couldn't make eye-contact with Elsa prompting him to close his eyes while he was being fed his first spoonful.

Elsa: [There, there, that's a good boy.]

Subaru was on the verge of exploding but he couldn't speak anymore because of the noodles in his mouth.

After swallowing the first spoonful subaru sighed and asked Elsa a question-

Subaru: [Hey, Elsa, I'm surprised! You seem to have opened up to me. You're even speaking more and stuff. Could it be that you have seen the charm a man like me has?] Subaru was smiling proudly at his reasoning.

To which Elsa replied with a hand over her lips:

Elsa: [I'm not sure what you mean by charm. But I guess I had a change of heart you could say.]

Subaru: [Gahk! You wound me with such words.] Subaru feigned being struck by an arrow.

Subaru: [I'm glad you are okay Elsa, I mean it!] This time though Subaru’s face had a look of relief rather than embarrassment.

To which Elsa noticed and hid a true smile behind her hand.

As Subaru was leaning in for another spoonful of noodles Elsa retracted her hand causing Subaru to bite on his own teeth.

Subaru: [It hurts my teeth!] 

Opening his eyes he was met with a curious Elsa.

Elsa: [Since like you said we are going to be partners, mind telling me where you are from?]

Subaru was surprised by this sudden question. His eyes widened ever so slightly but he knew that partners stick through thick and thin. But he didnt think Elsa would believe him. So he was stuck in either telling her that he didn't know or the truth.

He chose the latter though. Averting his gaze and looking down he spoke. 

Subaru:[Well you see.. Uhm you might not believe it and I won't blame you if dont. Because it would seem impossible but actually.. I uhm uh—] 

This caused Elsa to get even more curious of this boy's origin seeing him speak with great difficulty.

Subaru: [I come from another world!] Subaru closed his eyes as those worlds come out his mouth. 

All movement had stopped; the only sound echoing in the room was the faint sound of wood being consumed by the fire. Subaru slowly opened his eyes and saw that Elsa was staring at him with a bewildered face.

Subaru: [Oh right. I was joking actu-]

Elsa: [I believe you.] Elsa stated leaving no room for discussion.

Subaru: [–ally….. Huh?] Subaru was immediately taken back from Elsa's immediate trust in him. 

Elsa: [That explains why you are so clueless about everything.] Elsa looked away from Subaru and remained staring at the fire.

Elsa: [So that light I saw falling from the sky was probably you as well. Honestly my partner is full of mysteries.] She said as she turned back at Subaru.

A surge of relief mixed with lingering confusion flooded him. In that quiet moment, as the warm glow of the fire met the softness of her gaze, Subaru felt a spark of hope ignite within him—a promise that he was not alone.

???: [Why do we have to find a runaway slave? The slave either died out in the cold or ran never to be seen.]

???: [Shut up and let's do our job. Slavery is a big crime if it catches the ears of the church everyone including us are doomed.] 

???: [That's not what I'm saying, you get it right Miyu?.]

Miyu: [Don't get me involved in your pointless quarrel. I'm simply doing the job Baron Orcos assigned me to. Asking further questions would be provoking his wrath.]

Miyu was a man about the age of 30 he had light-grey hair with multiple scars over his arms and face. Signs that he had fought great battles he gave off an aura of someone who does what they're told without asking any further question.

???: [Tch, you’re no fun at all.] 

???: [Oi be quiet Ritsu I smell something coming.]

Ritsu: [It's probably just a wild beast Oli. Not like anything can live in this forest anyway.]

Ritsu was a man about the age of 20 he had light-blue hair with yellow colored eyes. At first sight one would notice the two huge axes strapped to his back. He had a relatively small build compared to his other two companions. Though his face showed an expression of boredom.

On the other hand Oli was the second largest from the group. He had some demi-human blood shown by his great sense of smell. Standing at a height of about 1.70 m his noticeable features were his missing right eye. His remaining eye was light-brown colored. He also looked about 20 years old.

Oli: [It's… not a wild beast. It's something larger. A ma-beast?]

Ritsu: [Oh that sounds like fun.] Ritsu’s expression changed to one of pure ecstasy as he took out both his great axes wielding them in each hand..

Miyu: [Don't let your guard down, we don't know what kind of mabeast it is. If it's a snow blight we must flee at once!] Said Miyu as he took out his great sword.

Oli: [It's here!] Oli barked out loud and also readied his weapon.

Coming out of the dark forest was a figure 4 metres tall with two canine heads with fangs lining their mouths. covered by jet black fur. Their eyes within its two heads are devoid of sanity. They have sharp forefeet pointed-like claws that can easily slaughter human beings.

Ritsu: [... fuck were screwed!] Ritsu instantly lost his composure.

Miyu: [Once I count to 3 throw your food at it and run the opposite way.] Miyu, keeping his composure, took control of the situation. Getting the nods of the other two men

The ma-beast slowly approached them.

Miyu: [1….. 2….. 3.!] 

Quickly throwing their food as bait towards the ma-beast the 3 men quickly ran away in the opposite direction.

From behind them they heard the beast let out a howl as they disappeared in the distance.

Some time later the men hid inside a cave just off the side of the road to allow them to catch their breath. 

Ritsu: [The fuck is a Orthrus doing here!] Ritsu said, trying to catch his breath inside this cave.

But Oli ignored him as he noticed something.

Oli: [Oi guys check this out!] Oli pointed towards a more secluded place inside the cave. 

Catching the attention of the other two they looked at where Oli was pointing. There were signs that someone had made a fire there.

Ritsu: [Think it's our runaway?]

Oli didn't reply and dug into the fireplace. There he found remains of a slave collar.

Oli: [Looks like the answer is a yes.] 

Ritsu: [Where do you think the slave went? The slave could be anywhere!]

Miyu: [I don't think so. There is only one place they could have possibly gone and that is the town named Crail. It looks like we found our next destination boys.]

The other two men grinned as they prepared to set out in search of the runaway slave..

Chapter Text

Elsa and Subaru sat on the worn-out couch, the warmth of the fire crackling in the stone fireplace before them casting flickering shadows along the wooden walls. Outside, the wind howled through the endless expanse of snow-covered trees, a harsh contrast to the comforting heat inside the cabin.

Elsa pulled her legs up onto the couch, resting her chin on her knees as she studied Subaru. 

Elsa: [So, your world has no magic at all?] she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Subaru leaned his head back against the couch, staring up at the wooden beams overhead. 

Subaru: [Nope. Not a single drop. If someone suddenly shot fire from their hands, everyone would freak out and call it a special effects trick.]

Elsa narrowed her eyes. 

Elsa:[Special effects?]

Subaru: [It's a way of making things look real without them actually being real,] Subaru explained, shifting slightly to get comfortable. 

Subaru: [We use machines, lights, and a bunch of other fancy stuff to create illusions. It's like... hmm... imagine a stage play, but instead of magic, they use clever tricks.]

Elsa tilted her head slightly, intrigued. 

Elsa: [So, your world relies on deception?]

Subaru let out a small chuckle. 

Subaru: [Whoa, whoa, that sounds way worse than it is. We just... have different ways of doing things. Instead of magic, we have science and technology. We can't fly on our own, but we build machines that can. We can't use magic to heal people, so we have doctors and medicine.]

Elsa shifted closer, watching him closely. 

Elsa: [And which do you prefer? Magic or your science?]

Subaru exhaled slowly, staring into the flames as he considered the question. 

Subaru: [Honestly? Magic is cool, but there's something amazing about how people back home worked to make the impossible possible. They didn't have shortcuts like magic, but they still managed to reach the stars.]

Elsa blinked. 

Elsa: [The stars?]

Subaru: [Yeah,] Subaru said, a small smile forming on his lips. 

Subaru: [We built machines that can fly beyond the sky, past the clouds, all the way to the moon and beyond.]

For the first time in their conversation, Elsa was left speechless. She studied Subaru carefully, as if searching for any sign of a lie, but found none. After a moment, she smiled—a rare, small smile that barely tugged at the corners of her lips.

Elsa: [Your world sounds strange, but... interesting.]

Subaru grinned. 

Subaru: [Yeah, well, I guess that makes two of us.]

He stretched slightly, then paused, frowning as he flexed his fingers. Though his hands were still wrapped in cloth and largely unusable, the pain elsewhere had dulled. The aching in his belly, arms, and legs—the places where he had endured a brutal barrage of kicks—had lessened significantly. Even the gash on his forehead, which had once stung with every slight movement, now seemed to have closed.

Subaru exhaled slowly. 

Subaru: [Now that I think about it... I feel way better than before. My body was a mess when I first woke up, but now it’s like most of the pain is just... gone.]

Elsa leaned back slightly, resting her cheek against the couch. 

Elsa: [That’s because of the medicine we bought back in Crail. It helped a lot. But mostly, it was the spirit.]

Subaru’s eyes widened, his curiosity piqued. 

Subaru: [A spirit?] He turned to face her fully. 

Subaru: [Why would a spirit help me?]

Elsa studied him for a moment before shrugging. 

Elsa: [You probably have a strong spirit affinity. They tend to gravitate toward people like that.]

Subaru's eyes lit up with excitement.

Subaru: [Wait, wait, wait! Are you telling me this is my cheat skill? My special ability for coming to another world?] He clenched his fists—or at least tried to, given his bandaged hands—and grinned. "This is it! My superpower!"

Elsa raised an eyebrow at his enthusiasm but didn't interrupt.

Subaru: [Okay, so how do I call one? There must be some chant, some phrase, right?] Subaru leaned forward eagerly.

Subaru: [Tell me, tell me!]

Elsa let out a small sigh and nodded. 

Elsa: [It's not that complicated i believe. You just have to focus your intent and call out to the spirits around you. If they sense a connection, they might answer.]

Subaru took a deep breath, eyes gleaming with anticipation. He focused as hard as he could, stretching his senses, and called out, 

Subaru: [Oh mighty spirits, hear my plea and grant me your presence!]

The room remained silent. Nothing stirred. The fire continued crackling in the hearth. Elsa simply stared at him, unimpressed.

Subaru blinked.

Subaru: [Uh... maybe I should try again. Ahem! Great spirits of the world, bestow upon me your power!]

Still nothing. The only sound was the distant howl of the wind outside and the faint sound of the fire consuming the wood in the fireplace.

His excitement quickly melted into embarrassment as he glanced at Elsa, who now had the faintest trace of amusement on her face. 

Subaru: [Yeah... I'm not feeling anything,] Subaru muttered, slumping back into the couch. "This is so unfair..."

Elsa smirked slightly. 

Elsa: [It doesn’t work just because you want it to, idiot.]

Subaru was feeling embarrassed for acting like a kid. So he tried changing the conversation. Then—

A thought suddenly struck Subaru, his brow furrowing.

Subaru: [Wait... What about those two guys? The ones who—] He cut himself off, his jaw tightening as the memory of the attack resurfaced. 

Subaru: [What happened to them?]

Elsa's expression shifted, darkening in a way that sent a shiver up Subaru's spine. Her once casual demeanor turned eerily cold, and she tilted her head slightly, studying him with an unreadable gaze. Then, in a low voice, she asked, 

Elsa: [Do you really want to know?]

Subaru swallowed hard. His throat felt dry, but he forced himself to nod. 

Subaru: [Y-Yeah... I do.]

Elsa sighed, her fingers idly tracing the fabric of the couch.

Elsa: [One of them ran,] she said simply. [The other...] She paused, then looked Subaru straight in the eyes. [I killed him.]

Subaru froze, his breath catching in his throat. Silence stretched between them, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a heavy stone. He didn't speak immediately, his mind scrambling for something—anything—to say.

Finally, in a quiet voice, he asked,

Subaru: [Why? Why did you kill him?]

Elsa tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. Then, in a voice devoid of hesitation, she responded,

Elsa: [Isn't it obvious? Had I not killed him, you would have been dead.]

Subaru was left stunned, his mind working in overdrive to process her words. He opened his mouth, then closed it, struggling to find the right thing to say. A part of him wanted to protest, to argue that there had to have been another way.

However deep down he knew. He knew that it was true. This made his heart hurt. It had only been a few days since he came to this world and he had already got someone killed. But what was hurting more was the fact that Elsa didn't seem fazed by this. She seemed to not care about the fact that she took a life.

Subaru couldn't imagine what Elsa had to go through, to become this cold blooded. He wanted to ask why she wasn't bothered by the fact that she killed.

Subaru started rubbing his stomach. The place that was recently healed. It still hurt when he moved but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He knew from experience how cruel this “fantasy world” seemed to be. Subaru couldn't even last 2 days  without almost dying. And Elsa had to live years alone, while he had someone. He couldn't judge or blame her. He knew better than doing that.

So he could only blame himself for his weakness to put a girl in that situation as well as blame the world for being so cruel.

Subaru tried clenching his hands into fists, but he failed; he wasn't fully healed. He had to rely on Elsa to save him. And now he had to rely on Elsa again to keep him safe.

He hated it. He couldn't forgive the absurdity of it all. How could he? That fueled his desire to become stronger. So that Elsa wouldn't have to kill anyone. So that he could save at least someone.

After Elsa finished feeding Subaru, they both prepared to head to bed. Much to Subaru's protests—insisting that he could sleep on the couch—Elsa refused. She stood her ground, arms crossed, and gave him a firm look.

Elsa: [You’re still recovering. I need to watch over you,] she stated matter-of-factly.

Subaru frowned but knew there was no arguing with her when she got like this. With a reluctant sigh, he muttered something about stubborn women before following her to bed, his face still tinged with embarrassment from their earlier exchange.

While they were sharing a bed, Subaru stared at the ceiling with his arm stretched out, his mind racing despite the exhaustion weighing down his body. The silence in the room stretched, broken only by the occasional crackle of the dying fire in the big room and the muffled howling of the wind outside. The warmth of the blankets was comforting, yet his thoughts refused to settle. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. 

Subaru: [Elsa... where are we heading next?]

Elsa, lying beside him with her back turned, responded without hesitation. 

Elsa: [It's best if we leave the Orcos Domain as fast as possible. The people who might be after us won’t step into another territory. So probably... north.]

Subaru nodded slowly, letting the thought settle in his mind. 

Subaru: [North, huh…] he murmured before glancing toward her. [And how exactly are we going to get there?]

Elsa shifted slightly, the dim glow of the fire casting soft shadows over her face.

Elsa: [We have warm clothes, so the cold won't be an issue unless a blizzard rolls in. The food we found in this cabin should last us about one week, but after that... we'll have to figure something out.]

Subaru sighed, rubbing his bandaged hands against the blanket. The thought of scrounging for food in the middle of nowhere didn’t sit well with him.

Subaru: [It’d be nice if we had a map or something,] he muttered. Then, curiosity flickered in his eyes. [Is there something specific up north?]

Elsa nodded, her voice calm yet certain. 

Elsa: [Yes. North of here lies the Spirit City, Eternya. If you really do have a strong spirit affinity, our chances of finding a place to stay there would be much higher.]

Subaru turned his head slightly, gazing at Elsa's silhouette in the dim light. 

Subaru: [A city of spirits, huh? Sounds like something out of a fairy tale... but if it means a better chance of survival, then we have no choice but to try.]

Elsa gave a small hum of agreement. 

Elsa: [It's better than staying here and waiting for trouble to catch up to us.]

Subaru exhaled, feeling the weight of their uncertain future pressing down on him.

Subaru: [Yeah... I just hope my so-called affinity actually counts for something when we get there.]

Retracting his arm beneath the blankets and using it to hug his body, he closed his eyes and told Elsa, 

Subaru: [Sweet dreams. Elsa.] 

Elsa, who had never heard those words in her whole life, blinked in surprise. For a brief moment, she seemed unsure how to respond, but then a small, genuine smile graced her lips. 

Elsa: [Sweet dreams,] she echoed softly. With that, the two slowly drifted off to sleep, the warmth of the fire and each other's presence providing a fleeting sense of comfort amid their uncertain journey.

It was the middle of the night.

It had been a couple of hours since Elsa and Subaru had fallen asleep

Elsa woke up due to some twitching in the bed.

She turned around and found the reason for those twitches.

“Subaru”

Subaru was sweating buckets and was murmuring some inaudible words every so often. Elsa noticed this and made her way closer to Subaru. 

Subaru: [I'. s..y, f..gi.e .e.] Subaru was murmuring through clenched teeth.

Elsa put a hand on his forehead.

He was burning with fever. And from all the mumbling he was saying while sleeping Elsa deduced he was having a nightmare.

“Has he never suffered before?”  

Elsa noticed earlier in the cave that he had smooth skin and no scars or any sort of damage in his body, signs he wasn't a peasant back in his world. So she deduced he must have been a noble of some sorts.

“How innocent.” Elsa gazed at his sleeping face and went even closer putting her ear near his mouth. To get an idea of what type of nightmare he is having.

Subaru: [It … my fault, forgive me. If I …  stronger no one would die.] 

Elsa removed her ear from near his mouth and looked at his sleeping face. She noticed he was shedding tears.

“So he feels guilty about the man who died? Those emotions don't matter here. Hesitation leads to death. Really I can't understand you. Feeling bad for a man who almost killed you.”

Elsa ran a hand on his cheek. He appeared to have stopped mumbling for a moment.

Elsa sighed.

She then took his bandaged hand from under the covers and held it not too tight and not too loose in her own hand.

And slowly she allowed herself to fall asleep once again.

The next morning, Subaru and Elsa stood outside the cabin, the snow crunching beneath their boots as they prepared to leave. They had packed their belongings into a sturdy bag they had found inside the place, making sure to take enough supplies for their journey north. The cold morning air nipped at their faces, but their warm clothing helped stave off the chill.

Subaru turned to glance at the cabin one last time, his expression conflicted. It had only been a temporary refuge, yet it had provided them with shelter and supplies when they needed it most. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small handful of coins, stepping back inside briefly to place them on the table near the fireplace.

When he returned, Elsa watched him with a raised eyebrow, her arms crossed over her chest. 

Elsa: [You're really naive, you know that? Leaving money for someone you’ve never met.]

Subaru shrugged.

Subaru: [I don’t want to be ungrateful. We took a lot from this place—it’s only fair we leave something in return.]

Elsa sighed, shaking her head.

Elsa: [You’re too soft for your own good. That’s going to get you in trouble someday.]

Subaru chuckled lightly, giving her a forced smile. 

Subaru: [Maybe. But I’d rather be too soft than completely heartless.]

Elsa didn’t argue further, though the corners of her lips twitched slightly, as if she found his words amusing in some way. Adjusting the strap of the bag on her shoulder, she exhaled, watching as her breath curled into the cold morning air.

Elsa: [Come on. We’ve got a long way to go, and standing around won’t make it any shorter.]

Subaru took one last glance at the cabin, its snow-covered roof blending into the white expanse around them. A part of him felt reluctant to leave—despite everything, it had been a place of safety, if only for a short while. But there was no point in getting sentimental. With a final nod, he turned back to Elsa and fell into step beside her.

The snow crunched beneath their boots as they walked, their breaths forming small clouds in the cold air. The silence stretched between them, comfortable yet weighted with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Subaru tightened his grip on the bag slung over his shoulder and glanced at Elsa, who strode forward with unwavering confidence.

As they left the cabin behind, fading into the vast, wintry landscape, Subaru allowed himself one final thought: whatever awaited them beyond this point, they would face it together.

After a couple of hours of trekking through hills, weaving between towering trees, and carefully avoiding any signs of wildlife and bandits, they finally stumbled upon a quiet spot near a glistening lake. The surface of the water reflected the pale blue sky above, offering a brief moment of peace in contrast to their exhausting journey. Deciding it was a good place to rest, they set down their bags and took in their surroundings, appreciating the temporary respite Subaru knelt by the lake, cupping his hands to gather the crystal-clear water. He took a deep sip, sighing in relief as the cool liquid soothed his dry throat.

Subaru: [Man, I was dying of thirst,] he muttered before splashing some water onto his face. A shiver ran down his spine as the icy droplets dripped down his skin. [That's cold!] he exclaimed, shaking his head.

After wiping his face, he reached for his thermos bottle, filling it with the clean water before turning to Elsa. He held it out to her. 

Subaru: [Here, have a drink.]

Elsa accepted it without a word, taking a few sips before handing it back. With that, they settled onto a patch of dry ground, resting their tired legs and preparing for the next leg of their journey while Elsa sat down, leaning against a tree trunk, sharpening a knife she had taken from the cabin, running the blade carefully against a whetstone she had found among their supplies. 

Subaru on the other hand remained silent, attempting to meditate in hopes of drawing spirits to him. However, no matter how hard he focused, nothing happened. His brows furrowed in frustration, and he clenched his fists, trying to summon any kind of response from the spirits around him.

But the air remained still, indifferent to his silent plea. Exhaling sharply, he muttered to himself, 

Subaru: [This is impossible!]  his voice echoing slightly over the quiet lake. His frustration grew as he exhaled heavily, staring at the still water of the lake before them, wondering if he would ever be able to connect with the spirits he was supposed to have an affinity with.

Elsa cut in, not looking up from her knife. 

Elsa: [I told you, it was never going to be easy.]

Subaru let out a heavy sigh and turned to Elsa, his expression determined despite his frustration.

Subaru: [I know, I know... but our future depends on whether I have a strong affinity or not. If I don’t, we're going to be in serious trouble when we reach Eternya. That means I can’t just give up—I have to work hard, no matter how much this sucks.]

Subaru looked at Elsa and sighed, 

Subaru: [You know, Elsa, you're much stronger than me—and I'm supposed to be the man here.]

Elsa raised an eyebrow and, with a teasing tone, asked, 

Elsa: [Oh really? So, you don't like strong women?]

Subaru quickly replied, 

Subaru: [I don't have a problem liking strong women.]

Elsa laughed softly, her voice playful as she added, 

Elsa: [Well then, I guess I need to get even stronger.]

It took Subaru a full minute to process her words. Finally, with his cheeks puffed in mock indignation, he blurted out,

Subaru: [Elsa, stop teasing me! And you’re a kid.]

Elsa: [I'm not a kid, I'm already over 15.]

Subaru: [That's still a kid! Dam otherworldly laws!]

The playful banter lingered in the air as they continued on, each word a small reminder of the bond forming between them in these harsh, unpredictable times.

Subaru cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation back on track. 

Subaru: [So, uh, how much longer until we reach Eternya?]

Elsa tilted her head slightly, considering. 

Elsa: [By foot? At this rate, about a month or two.]

Subaru immediately choked on his own saliva, coughing violently. 

Subaru: [A—A MONTH?!] He sputtered, struggling to catch his breath before groaning in frustration. [We're never going to get there then!]

Elsa: [Don't worry,] Elsa said with a reassuring smile. [We're going to the nearby settlement to get transport.]

Subaru: [Thank god,] Subaru sighed in relief. [I don't think I would have lasted walking that long.]

He glanced at Elsa, a thought occurred to him. 

Subaru: [Wait... how are we going to pay for transport?]

Elsa simply shrugged, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Elsa: [Perhaps we'll get lucky, and someone will give it to us.]

Subaru furrowed his brows in confusion. 

Subaru: [What? That's not how things work!]

Elsa took a glance behind her into the vast white forest and chuckled lightly. 

Elsa: [Then we will wait and see.]

Subaru just sighed and remained resting against a large rock.

About the same time Subaru and Elsa were taking a break from the intense travelling. Somewhere in the town of Crail 3 individuals were exhausted from searching the entire town.

They were near the wall of the town located close to the mercenaries guild.

Ritsu: [we’ve searched this entire town and nothing. The brat either died or is long gone!]

Miyu: [Perhaps]

Oli: [Then why are we still here? There is no proof that the brat was a slave; the church wouldn't believe them.]

Miyu: [It's not about believing. The bigger issue is if they check their od. All it takes is for a higher-up of the church to check the brats od and they will see it was tempered with. As the slave collar leaves traces.]

Ritsu: [Then let's just hire the guy the boss told us to.]

Oli: [But that would mean we would get paid less! And I don't know about you but I want to enjoy a little vacation.]

Ritsu: [We don't have a choice though if that slave finds the church we’re screwed! The only thing we know is that it is a girl about the age of 15 with purple eyes, nothing else! We're working with scraps and we don't have time! I say we hire the right person for this job.]

Oli: [But-]

Before Oli could protest a loud thud was heard across the street making the 3 of them observe the commotion. 

Ritsu: [It appears someone was just thrown out of the mercenaries guild.]  

???: [Please! You have to believe me! I wouldn't lie about the death of my brother.] the man on his knees pleading looked mid  30 with blue eyes and grey hair, he was short and skinny

???: [Huh! you think you're fooling anyone with that story of yours?! You're telling us to chase after a 15 old girl who somehow managed to kill that big guy and defeat you as well?! Who the hell would believe such a lie!]

???: [I'll pay whatever it takes pls believe me?] the man pleaded but to no avail. As his pleas were rejected. As the other man punched him in the face.

???: [You're just trying to lead someone into a trap! Stop causing disturbances and leave! You're a hindrance!!] the man said as he turned around and entered back into the building.

???: [Why won't anyone believe me?] The man on the floor said as he was rubbing his recently pushed face.

As he was getting up he was approached by a man with light grey hair. He extended his hand towards the man on the floor

Miyu: [May I know more information about this girl? ] Miyu said, extending his hand towards the stranger on the ground.

???: [S-sure as long as you can kill her for me.]

Miyu: [Kill is a strong word for someone whose name I don't know.]

???: [Ah right] the man took Miyu’s hand and stood up.

???: [Name’s Cole]

Cole: [You said you wanted to know about this girl, Right? What do you want to know?]

Miyu: [I indeed did say that. How about appearance first?] Miyu gave the man a sinister smile.

Cole: [Appearance s-sure! Uh let me think. Ah yes! She has terrifying purple eyes, black hair, and she looks about the age of 15. She also had a big injury in one of her arms.]

Miyu: [Well isn't that interesting! We're free right now. How much can you pay?]

Cole: [10 gold coins. Please Avenge my brother.]

As Cole and Miyu were talking, two other men approached from behind Miyu.

Ritsu: [20 gold coins and we guarantee she's dead!] Ritsu cut in.

Cole: [As long as you can make her suffer we have a deal!]

Miyu: [Well it seems we have an agreement, let's fill in some paperwork shall we?]

Cole: [Of Course right away!] the man whipped away his tears.

Having done the contract with Cole and given the money upfront the three men travelled to a specific Inn near the slums of the town.

Oli: [Nice play Miyu!. Now we have enough money to hire him and enough for a vacation.]

Ritsu: [Turns out we can also get lucky.]

Miyu: [Now don't get your hopes up. If he doesn't end up accepting then we have to go do it ourselves.]

Oli: [But no one can reject this amount of money though?]

Miyu: [Well the person we are going to— let's just say that he only takes jobs he finds pleasure in.]

Having arrived at the front of the inn Miyu knocked on the door using a special pattern.

Someone opened the door slightly barely enough to the outside light in the dark room and said.

???: [What do you want?]

Miyu: [We're looking to do business.]

???: [What kind?]

Miyu: [The red kind.] He said without changing expression.

Hearing this the man opened the door fully letting the light show his full body.

Beli: [Come inside.]

Beli was a large obese man with a long beard and ponytail.

Closing the door after the 3 had come in Beli spoke with an imposing aura.

Beli: [Who? And how much?] Beli said, imposing his aura over the 3 who had just come in.

Miyu: [A girl, age 15, black hair and purple eyes. 20 gold coins.]

Beli: [Not interested.] replied with boredom.

Miyu: [Don't reject just yet. This girl was strong enough to kill a man and defeat another while wounded.]

This seemed to catch Beli’s eye as it lifted slightly.

Beli: [If you think that's all it ta–]

Miyu: [And she killed him by gutting him.]

Now Beli had a smile stretched all over his face. And he extended his hand to Miyu.

Miyu gave Beli a small bag which has some of the girl's blood they found back in the cave.

Beli took it and put the blood near a tracking ring. The gem in the ring went from blue to black a sign that it had found its target.

Beli: [2 weeks and it will be done.]

Miyu handed Beli the pouch of money and stepped outside of the house with the other two following behind him. They walked a couple streets down before Oli broke the silence by vomiting his lunch.

Oli: [Dam! That guy is really dangerous! We almost died!]

Ritsu: [? What do you mean I could take him on!] Ritsu said with enthusiasm.

Miyu: [Don't be stupid didn't you notice something weird in that place?]

Ritsu: [Notice what?]

Oli: [You dumbass you're going to get yourself killed one of these days! Did you not notice the smell there?]

Ritsu: [What smell?]

Miyu: [What he’s taking about is the intense smell of blood. You didn't notice, did you? We went to an inn. Why do you think that man would be there in the first place.]

Ritsu: [I don't understand.]

Miyu: [Sigh. Did you see the wall of coats at the entrance when we went in?]

Ritsu: [Yeah and what doe–]

Oli: [You dumbass do you truly think the Gut Hunter Beli Hainelga would be running an inn? What do you think he was there for fuckface?]

Ritsu quickly connected the dots and his face took a haunted look.

Ritsu: [B-but there were 15 coats hanging on the wall?!]

Miyu: [That doesn't matter to him. He kills whoever he feels like killing, money is just secondary for him.]

Ritsu: [Fu-uck! I'm out of here!] Ritstu said as he began speeding through the slums the other two followed as well without a word.

Back inside the inn the Gut Hunter Beli Hainelga had just finished lining up the guts of the 17 people inside the inn. 2 waiters and 15 guests.

He looked at his gruesome work or “art he likes to call it”.

But his gaze averted somewhere else. That somewhere else was his ring which glowed when pointed towards north.

Beli: [I wonder how your gut is going to look like little one HAhahahahahahaha—] And he laughed and laughed. As the predator  was about to hunt for prey once again.

After resting, Subaru and Elsa resumed their journey, following the path leading to the town north of Crail. However, they were forced to stop abruptly due to an "inconvenience."

Subaru let out an exasperated sigh and turned to Elsa.

Subaru: [You know, when you said someone was going to give us money, I didn't think it would be like this.]

Elsa smirked. 

Elsa: [I told you, but you didn't believe me.]

Subaru just sighed and looked at the guy they had just tied up. The man was the merchant Elsa had paid to take them out of town. It seemed he had been following Elsa and Subaru for quite some time now. 

His goal? To kill Subaru and turn Elsa into his slave.

Subaru gritted his teeth and kicked the man in the stomach, causing him to throw up some of his stomach's contents. 

Subaru: [Nasty bastard,] Subaru spat, glaring at him. He couldn't forgive him for what he wanted to do to two kids. If Elsa hadn't noticed he was following them a while back, he would have killed Subaru and tried to have his way with Elsa.

That thought infuriated Subaru more than anything else. He had already realized that he wouldn't be living a luxurious life like he had previously expected, but this? This was beyond the limits. The sheer number of nasty people he had encountered was incredible. It was like every turn he took in this world led him straight into the path of another degenerate.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he tried to calm the seething rage inside him. 

Subaru: [I don't get it,] he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. [How can someone be this twisted? How many others have you done this to? Do you even feel anything when you do?]

The merchant groaned, barely able to lift his head. His breath was ragged, his expression wavering between defiance and fear for his life which was in the hands of the two individuals. 

Slum Merchant: [You... don't understand,] he croaked. [This world isn't kind. You take what you can.]

Subaru's stomach churned at those words. It was a pitiful excuse, one he had heard before from too many people. He wasn't naïve—he knew the world wasn't kind—but that didn’t mean he had to accept it. 

Subaru: [That doesn't justify what you were planning,] Subaru shot back. [You're just another scumbag trying to make the world worse.]

As Subaru watched Elsa secure the ropes, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. If people like this merchant were commonplace, then the road ahead was going to be much darker than he had ever anticipated.

Elsa crouched beside the merchant, her gaze cold and unreadable. 

Elsa: [You should have been more careful] she murmured, tilting her head. [Following us was a mistake.]

The merchant's breathing grew erratic. [Wait, no, please—] he started, but Subaru turned away, unable to stomach any more of the man's pleas.

Elsa frowned, her expression darkening , though she seemed unfazed. 

Elsa: [We should kill him.]

Subaru stiffened at Elsa's unfazed speech. 

Subaru: [What?]

Elsa: [If we let him go, he won't stop. He'll just come back with more people,] Elsa said matter-of-factly. [It's better to cut the problem from the root.]

Subaru clenched his fists at the idea of killing someone but then let out a deep breath, calming himself. 

Subaru: [I have a different idea. One that will work.]

He pulled out his phone from his tracksuit, recorded the guy's face, and rapid-fired some quick shots of strong white lights. The merchant squinted and recoiled, confusion evident on his face. 

Slum Merchant: [What... what are you doing?] he demanded.

Subaru gave him the most unsettling grin he could muster, his eyes dark with an eerie gleam. Then, with slow deliberation, he turned the phone screen toward the merchant, letting him see his own terrified face staring back. 

Subaru: [You're under a curse now,] Subaru murmured, his voice dripping with malice. [The moment you even think of committing another crime, your body will begin to rot from the inside. Your flesh will turn black, piece by piece, as if something is eating you alive. And you’ll still be conscious, feeling every bit of yourself decay. Until, at last, all that’s left is a heap of festering, stinking pulp.]

The merchant’s breathing hitched, his body trembling as he stared at the screen. He tried to avert his gaze, but Subaru leaned in closer, making sure the fear completely sank in.

Subaru: [It won't happen immediately,] Subaru continued, his tone slow and deliberate. [It starts small. First, you'll feel an itch under your skin. Then the crawling sensation, just beneath the surface. And then... well, you can imagine the rest.]

Elsa gave a small, amused chuckle. She wanted to see the man's bowels but the fear etched onto his face was enough to satisfy her. 

Elsa: [How merciful of you. Fine, have it your way.]

The merchant's face drained of color, turning a sickly purple hue as fear overtook him. He opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out—only a strangled whimper. His entire body seemed to shrink into itself, as if making himself smaller would make the supposed curse go away.

Subaru then walked back to Elsa's side and exhaled.

Subaru: [We should get moving now that this problem is out of the way. We need to find a place to spend the night.]

Elsa held the coin pouch the merchant had taken from her as payment. She counted eight gold coins aloud and smirked. 

Elsa: [Thanks for your service,] she said to the merchant, who just glared at her in silent fury, though he dared not speak a word in fear.

Subaru noticed something on the ground nearby—a small purple flower. It was the same one he had bought from Elsa earlier, now dirtied and slightly crumpled from the scuffle. He bent down, picked it up, and gently brushed off the dust. Turning to Elsa, he called her over and, with careful hands, placed the flower back in her hair.

Elsa blinked in surprise before a small, amused smile graced her lips. 

Elsa: [You're quite the gentleman, aren't you?] she teased, though there was  warmth in her voice that hadn't been there before.

They walked for a minute or two in silence before Elsa suddenly glanced at him, a smirk playing on her lips. 

Elsa: [That lie you told the merchant back there... it was quite scary indeed. Though it's only a matter of time until he notices he's not cursed.]

Subaru shrugged. 

Subaru: [At least if he survives, he won't be committing any more crimes anytime soon.]

He pulled out his phone again and checked the time. His eyes narrowed slightly as he realized just how much daylight they had left. The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows through the trees. They didn't have much time before darkness would swallow the forest entirely.

Subaru: [We need to find a place to spend the night,] Subaru said, slipping the device back into his pocket. [We can't just wander around in the dark, especially not in a place like this.]

Elsa glanced at the thickening twilight and gave a small nod. 

Elsa: [Agreed. The cold and snowfall will be harsher after sundown too. We should start looking for shelter.]

Subaru went to the man’s carriage that was a bit further out and took a few things from there. They didn't ride the carriage because both of them didn't know how to use one, as well as the fact that a carriage would attract unnecessary attention especially if two kids were riding it.

Without wasting any more time, the two of them pressed forward, the eerie quiet of the forest settling around them like a creeping mist.

Chapter Text

It was now nighttime. Subaru and Elsa hadn't found a good place to rest, prompting them to take cover behind some large boulders at the edge of a small clearing. The towering stones provided some protection from the harsh wind that howled through the trees and the snow that never stopped falling, but it was far from ideal.

As they settled in, Subaru couldn't help but reflect on how much his body had changed. Ever since arriving in this world, he had noticed that his physique had reverted to what it was at fifteen—leaner, slightly less developed than what he had grown accustomed to back in his original life. 

At first, walking for extended periods had been exhausting, but after all their traveling, he had slowly begun to adjust. His legs no longer burned with every step, and his breathing had steadied. Even the aches that had plagued him earlier were becoming more bearable. He wasn't sure if it was because of his body adapting or if he had simply been forced to toughen up, but the improvement was undeniable.

Subaru shivered as he pulled the merchant's large sleeping bag closer around himself and Elsa. They were both sharing it to conserve warmth, as the merchant had only carried one. He had taken it before they had set off, hoping it would be useful, but even with the thick fabric wrapped around them, the biting cold seeped through. 

Lighting a fire in the middle of the night was a big no, as it would attract all kinds of troubles.

Elsa, laying beside him into the sleeping bag, was eerily still, her expression unreadable as she gazed out into the dark expanse of the forest.

The night was unsettlingly silent, save for the occasional rustle of branches and distant howls that echoed through the wilderness. Subaru let out a slow breath, his warm exhale forming a faint mist in the freezing air. 

Subaru: [This sucks,] he muttered, rubbing his hands together for warmth. 

Subaru: [I was really hoping we'd find an abandoned cabin or something. You know, like in those adventure stories.]

Elsa smirked faintly but didn't take her eyes off the shadows.

Elsa :[Life rarely works that conveniently,] she murmured. [We should rest while we can. Morning will come faster that way.]

Subaru sighed but nodded. He adjusted his position, trying to find some semblance of comfort against the hard ground. The night stretched on, the darkness pressing in around them like a living thing. As much as he wanted to sleep, the unease of their situation made it nearly impossible to close his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he turned his head slightly towards Elsa. 

Subaru: [Hey,] he said quietly. [Before we try to sleep... Can I ask you something?]

Elsa shifted slightly, her gaze still fixed on the forest.

Elsa: [What is it?]

Subaru: [Your backstory,] Subaru murmured. [I mean, we’ve been through a lot already, but I barely know anything about you.]

Elsa was silent for a few beats, her breath slow and measured. Then, finally, she spoke.

Elsa: [That’s a dangerous thing to ask, Subaru.] Her voice was low, almost a whisper, carrying an edge of something unreadable—warning, perhaps, or hesitation.

She turned her head slightly, finally meeting his gaze. 

Elsa: [People who know too much about me don’t tend to live long. Are you sure you want to hear it?]

Subaru gave her a small, confident smirk. Though he already knew it wasn't going to be anything pleasant.

Subaru: [I won’t judge. Whatever it is, I just want to get to  know the real you.]

Elsa sighed, a rare moment of hesitation flickering across her face, but then she spoke anyway. 

Elsa: [Like I mentioned before, my parents sold me as a slave. But the reason for that wasn't just poverty or desperation—it was because of my black hair and purple eyes. Neither of my parents had those features. Apparently, I inherited them from an old bloodline]

Elsa: [They saw me as something unnatural, an ill omen. In my village, children who didn’t resemble their parents were often met with suspicion, and in my case, it only made things worse. People whispered about my origins, and my parents must have started to believe it. Maybe they feared I was cursed or that I would bring ruin upon them. Whatever their reasons, they chose to get rid of me before anything 'bad' could happen.]

She paused, her fingers gripping the edge of the sleeping bag. 

Elsa: [I was barely old enough to understand what was happening when they sold me. One day, I was part of a family, and the next, I was property. It was terrifying at first, not knowing where I would end up, being passed around like a thing instead of a person. But I learned quickly. Fear doesn’t keep you alive—strength does. So I adapted, I survived.]

Elsa: [Before I could be sold to a customer, I managed to escape along with some other slaves. Most of them didn't make it... but I did. I ran as far as I could, and eventually, I found myself in a nearby town where other children without homes gathered. There was no kindness there, no one to help me. I had to learn quickly how to survive on my own.]

Her voice grew colder, more distant.

Elsa: [I stole. I fought. I hurt others when I had to. There was no choice—if you hesitated, you starved, or worse. The world didn't care about a child with no name, no family, and no one to protect her. So I became something else, something the world would have to reckon with.]

Subaru listened carefully to every word, his expression unreadable. He had never heard her speak like this before. It was a rare glimpse into a past that had clearly shaped her into the person she was now.

Elsa then continued, her voice colder now. 

Elsa: [One especially cold day, I got caught trying to steal from a shopkeeper. I thought I was fast enough, thought I could slip away unnoticed. But I was wrong. The shop owner caught me, and he didn’t just take back what I stole. He beat me until I could barely breathe, until I was too weak to move. I remember the world spinning, my vision darkening. I thought that was it—I thought I was going to die there on that dirty floor.]

She clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening.

Elsa: [Then, he decided to do something worse. He leaned over me, muttering things I didn't understand at the time, and that’s when my hand touched something. Something sharp. I don't know if it was fate or just luck, but I grabbed it. And before I even realized what I had done, I had plunged the shard deep into his stomach. I felt the resistance of flesh, the sudden warmth of blood spilling over me. The man choked, gurgled, and then collapsed, covering me in his warmth.]

A sadistic smile played at her lips, there was amusement in it.

Elsa: [That was the first time I killed someone. And it was also the first warmth I had ever received in my entire life.]

Elsa: [Shortly after that, I was caught by the slavers again. I guess fate wasn't done playing with me yet. I was sold off multiple times, passed from one owner to another like some disposable tool. Each time, I thought maybe this would be the last, maybe I'd finally settle into whatever miserable fate awaited me. But no. The men who bought me were no better than beasts. They tried to take what belonged to me—my body, my will—but I fought back. I killed some, wounded others. It made me unwanted, dangerous in their eyes. My price dropped each time I was returned, until eventually, they just wanted to be rid of me. And so, I was sold to Baron Victor Orcos—the very man who owns the land we're in right now.]

Elsa exhaled sharply, her breath misting in the cold night air.

Elsa: [I was being transported to his estate when disaster struck. A landslide. It came out of nowhere, swallowing the entire caravan, crushing the ground dragons, cart, and people alike. When the dust settled and I woke up, I was the only one left alive. I don't know if it was luck or some cruel twist of fate, but I dragged myself out of the wreckage, broken, bleeding, barely able to walk. I wandered for what felt like an eternity, my body screaming at me to stop. But I couldn't. I wouldn't. I walked until I collapsed, barely making it inside a cave.]

She turned her gaze to Subaru then, something strange flickering in her eyes.

Elsa: [And that was when I met you.]

Elsa couldn't see Subaru's eyes as they were covered by his black hair bangs, casting a shadow over his face. She wanted to know what his eyes looked like at that moment, whether they held sorrow, anger, or something else entirely, so she leaned in closer to him. 

However, before she could get a clear look, Subaru moved suddenly, wrapping his arms and bandaged hands around Elsa's head in one swift motion, pulling her close to his chest. His grip was firm but not forceful, his body heat seeping through the thin fabric that separated them from the biting cold.

He then gently guided her ear to the place where his heart resided, holding her there as if he was afraid she might slip away. The closeness was unfamiliar, intimate in a way Elsa had never known. She tensed for a moment but didn’t pull away as her senses didn't deem it dangerous.

Surprised, Elsa murmured,

Elsa: [What are you doing?] her voice laced with curiosity and something else she couldn't quite place, her voice uncharacteristically small.

But Subaru cut in before she could say more, his voice low, steady.

Subaru: [Can you hear it?]

Elsa listened carefully, her breath hitching as she focused. Soon enough, she could hear it—the steady, rhythmic beating of his heart. It was strong, unwavering, a quiet but undeniable proof of his existence.

Subaru could say all the sweet words he could muster. Tell Elsa that what she did was because she was always alone without anyone to guide or help her. He could say a million different things to try and cheer her up, but he knew better, so–

Subaru spoke, his voice steady yet filled with an intensity that made Elsa's chest tighten. 

Subaru: [As long as my heart beats, I won't leave you alone. No matter what happens. I promise.]

Though Subaru couldn’t see it, Elsa was blushing, a rare and unfamiliar warmth spreading across her face. Her fingers absentmindedly twirled the ends of her wavy hair, a small, involuntary habit betraying her emotions. She wasn't used to this—to someone saying things like that, to someone meaning it.

The words lingered in her mind, pressing against something deep within her, something she had buried long ago. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the strange, fluttering feeling in her chest, but it was no use. Her grip on his sleeve tightened ever so slightly, as if testing whether he was really there.

She wanted to say something, to brush it off with her usual teasing, but for once, the words wouldn’t come. Instead, all she could do was let out a soft hum, barely audible against the quiet night, as she allowed herself to lean just a little closer into his warmth with one of her hands pressed onto Subaru’s belly.

Then, after a long silence, Elsa finally spoke again, her voice unmistakably quieter than before. 

Elsa: [Subaru…] Elsa cut through the silence, her voice softer than before. 

Elsa: [I've told you my story, Subaru. Now, it's your turn.] She shifted slightly, tilting her head as she peered at him through the dim light radiating from the moon. 

Elsa: [Tell me about your past—where you came from, who you were before all this.]

Subaru let out a small breath, his expression unreadable. He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his voice quieter than usual.

Subaru: [Alright... but it's not as tragic as yours. Compared to what you've been through, my life was really easy.]

Elsa remained silent, waiting patiently.

Getting ready to give his life’s resume Subaru took a deep, deep breath.

Subaru: [I was just a normal guy, living a normal life. Well... normal by my world's standards, anyway. A world without magic, where people don't fight with swords or beasts. Instead, they live by rules, laws, and technology. I spent my days mostly cooped up in my house, wasting time on games and pretending the world outside didn’t exist. I wasn’t the strongest, the smartest, or the most popular. I was just another face in the crowd, someone who drifted through life without a real purpose. My parents cared about me, but I let my own insecurities and stubbornness push me into isolation. I told myself I didn’t need anyone, that it was easier that way, but in truth, I was just scared of failing.]

He let out a bitter chuckle.

Subaru: [Then, one day, I walked into a convenience store, just like any other time, thinking about what snack to buy. The next thing I knew, I woke up face-first in the snow, my body freezing, my mind struggling to grasp what had happened. No warnings, no explanations—just me, alone in an unfamiliar world.]

Elsa watched him carefully, her violet eyes unreadable.

Elsa: [So, you were just... taken from your world?]

Subaru nodded.

Subaru: [Yeah. One moment, I was in front of a convenience store, and the next, I was face-first into the snowy ground, completely lost. No warning, no instructions—just me, alone. The first thing I saw was the endless white of winter, and the biting cold that made my body ache instantly. I didn’t even have time to question it before I had to move, had to survive. And that led me to meet you inside that cave.]

Elsa studied him for a long moment before finally speaking.

Elsa: [So, you bear your own kind of suffering. Not physical, but something else entirely.]

Subaru smirked weakly. 

Subaru: [Something like that isn't anything close to suffering.]

Elsa hummed in thought before finally leaning back against him slightly. 

Elsa: [Then... I suppose we are alike in some ways. You carry your burdens, and I carry mine.]

Subaru exhaled, a small, tired smile crossing his lips.

Subaru: [Yeah... maybe we are.]

The night stretched on in silence, but this time, it felt a little less cold.

By the time dawn broke, Subaru was already stirring, his breath visible in the crisp morning air.

He sat up carefully, trying not to wake Elsa as he fumbled with his stiff fingers, recalling something she had told him the night before.

A fire spirit—supposedly, they could be called upon to provide warmth if one knew how to ask. He wasn’t sure if it would work, but considering how numb his limbs felt, it was worth a shot.

Positioning himself near a pile of gathered twigs, Subaru took a deep breath and held out his hands.

Subaru: [Alright, fire spirit, if you're out there... I could really use some fire right now.]

Nothing happened.

He frowned, narrowing his eyes. 

Subaru: [C'mon, I'm freezing here! I promise I won’t take you for granted! Just, you know, a little flame? Please?]

Still nothing.

Subaru groaned, rubbing his temple.

“Alright you asked for it.”

Subaru closed his eyes and relaxed his entire being. His breathing slowed, and he let the sounds of the forest fade into the background, focusing solely on the stillness within himself.

Before he even realized it, a small fire spirit emerged from the air, its ethereal form flickering like a tiny ember. It hovered curiously above his outstretched hands, its body pulsing with a faint, warm glow.

A gentle heat spread from the spirit, and without warning, the twigs before him burst into flame, crackling softly as they caught fire. Subaru’s eyes snapped open, astonishment flashing across his face. He stared at the small blaze before looking up at the spirit.

Subaru: [I did it…] he murmured in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper.

But before he could bask in the moment, the spirit twitched as if startled. Its small form flickered wildly, its glow fluctuating erratically before it darted away into the trees, vanishing like a wisp of smoke. Subaru reached out instinctively, but it was already gone.

For a moment, he simply sat there, processing what had just happened. Then, a grin tugged at his lips.

Subaru: [I actually did it…] he muttered again, the warmth of the fire finally starting to seep into his frozen fingers.

Subaru took out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly from the cold, and started recording. The glow of the small fire illuminated his face as he grinned in triumph, his excitement bubbling over.

Subaru: [I actually did it...!] he murmured to himself before speaking directly to the camera. [Alright, future me, take a good look! Your boy just summoned a fire spirit and started a fire! Who needs magic training when you're just this awesome.]

His elation was evident, his voice carrying a lightness that had been absent for a long time. As he turned off the recording, Subaru let out a breath of satisfaction before glancing over his shoulder.

That’s when he noticed Elsa watching him intently from where she lay, her violet eyes reflecting the flickering firelight.

Subaru blinked before chuckling sheepishly and rubbing the back of his head with his hand.

Subaru: [Ah, sorry. Did I wake you up?]

Elsa, however, merely shook her head.

Elsa: [I was already awake.] Her voice was soft, carrying a touch of curiosity rather than irritation.

As her gaze shifted downward on Subaru, she noticed that Subaru had removed the bandages that had once covered his hands. The pale skin underneath bore the marks of healing wounds, the faint scars telling a story of pain and perseverance. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Elsa: [You took off the bandages. How do they feel?]

Subaru flexed his fingers experimentally before answering.

Subaru: [Still a little stiff, but usable.] He turned his palms towards the fire, letting the warmth seep into them. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the heat worked its way through his fingers. [Man, that feels nice…]

With renewed energy, he suddenly stood up and stretched, rolling his shoulders. Then, without warning, he clasped his hands together and started moving rhythmically, raising his arms above his head before bending side to side.

Elsa arched an eyebrow.

Elsa: [...What are you doing?]

Subaru grinned, continuing his stretches with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Subaru: [Morning radio calisthenics! Gotta keep the blood flowing and shake off the stiffness! You should try it!] He reached for his toes before swinging his arms in a wide motion.

Elsa simply watched, her lips twitching in amusement as she remained seated, making no effort to join in. 

Elsa: [You truly are an odd one, Subaru.]

Subaru simply laughed, finishing his routine before plopping back down near the fire.

Subaru: [Odd? Nah, just keeping the spirit alive! And speaking of spirits…] He glanced toward the direction where the fire spirit had disappeared, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. [I wonder why it ran away…]

Elsa considered for a moment before responding, her tone light. 

Elsa: [Perhaps it was surprised. Or maybe it was your scary eyes that frightened it away.]

Subaru sighed, rubbing the back of his head. 

Subaru: [Well, I can't exactly change how my eyes look.] He shot her a playful glance, but Elsa only smiled in response. Her expression was unreadable, yet there was a warmth behind it that made Subaru pause. Eventually, he sighed again, though this time a small smile crept onto his face as well.

He turned his gaze upward. The sun was beginning to rise, its golden light peeking through the thick clouds, occasional flakes of snow drifting lazily down from the sky. The morning was cold, but for the first time in a while, Subaru felt a small, genuine sense of peace.

Subaru then turned to Elsa and said,

Subaru: [We better eat up if we want to keep moving.]

Elsa agreed, nodding as she shifted closer to the fire, rubbing her hands together for warmth. She watched the flames dance, their flickering light casting soft shadows over her face. 

Subaru took some dried beef jerky from his pack, the tough texture familiar yet satisfying as he tore off a piece with his teeth. He handed Elsa a piece, and she took it without hesitation, chewing slowly as she stared at the fire in quiet contemplation.

Once they had finished their modest breakfast, Elsa stood up, brushing off the bits of snow that had settled on her lap. She reached into the merchant’s pack Subaru had bought along, rummaging for a moment before pulling out a black cloak. 

The thick fabric was slightly worn but still in good condition, and as she wrapped it around herself, it concealed her small frame almost entirely. Subaru observed her for a moment before giving a nod of approval. 

Subaru: [That actually suits you,] he commented with a smirk, earning a small amused glance from Elsa.

The two then set off, following the narrow, snow-covered path that stretched before them. Their boots crunched against the ice-crusted ground, the occasional gust of wind sending flurries of white drifting around them. The cold was sharp against their skin, but they pushed forward, their breaths coming out in soft clouds of mist.

Just as Subaru was about to make a remark about how eerily quiet it was, Elsa suddenly stopped. Without warning, she grabbed Subaru by the collar and yanked him behind a thick tree, pressing a firm hand over his mouth. His eyes widened in shock, heart pounding as he was abruptly pulled out of sight. The air between them was tense, and Subaru could feel the rapid thud of Elsa’s heartbeat through her grip. Something was wrong.

Then he heard it—a group of men, their voices carrying through the crisp morning air. Subaru counted at least seven of them. One glance at their ragged clothing and mismatched weapons was enough to tell him what they were—bandits.

Elsa had heard them first, reacting before Subaru even knew what was happening. Now, pressed against the rough bark of the tree, he listened as the men talked loudly, their words sending a cold chill through his spine.

They were boasting about their latest kill, laughing as they recounted how they had slaughtered an entire family.

Bandit 1: [Did you see the look on the father's face when we slashed him? Priceless!]

Bandit 2: [Yeah, but the mother—man, she wouldn't stop screaming. Had to shut her up real quick.]

Bandit 3: [Pfft, she should've been grateful we didn't make her suffer longer.]

Bandit 1: [And those brats? They'll fetch a good price at the market. The younger one was crying so much, I almost felt bad. Almost.]

Bandit 4: [Tch, soft. A sale’s a sale. Doesn’t matter if they cry, beg, or piss themselves.]

They spoke casually, their voices devoid of remorse, as if discussing a mere business transaction.

Subaru went rigid. His fingers clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms. He felt a sickening rage bubble inside him, a feeling that was becoming disturbingly familiar. The world he had landed in wasn’t just cruel—it was rotten to the core. And these men? They were the proof of it.

Elsa tightened her grip on him slightly, her violet eyes warning him to stay silent. Subaru swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe evenly. They had to be careful. They were outnumbered, and if these bandits noticed them, things could take a deadly turn.

Subaru wanted to do something. The thought of those terrified children, their fate sealed by these monsters, made his stomach churn. His nails dug deeper into his palms, his breath coming in shaky bursts. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to act, to do something, anything. But he knew better. He knew that if he rushed in now, it wouldn’t save the children—it would only get him and Elsa killed. And that was something he couldn’t afford.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay still as the bandits' voices slowly faded into the distance. The sound of their laughter, their sickening amusement, lingered in his ears long after they were gone.

Only when Elsa finally loosened her grip on him did he exhale, realizing just how tense his entire body had been.

Elsa studied his face carefully. 

Elsa: [You were about to do something stupid,] she murmured.

Subaru hesitated before nodding, his fists still trembling.

Subaru: [Yeah... But I knew I couldn't. And that realization made me feel weak. Powerless. Like I was nothing more than a spectator in a world that thrived on cruelty.]

Elsa met his gaze with an unreadable expression before finally speaking. 

Elsa: [That is the reality you live in now. Whether you accept it or not, this world is built on strength, and those without it… they get crushed.] Her voice was calm, matter-of-fact, but there was something else beneath it—an understanding that came from experience.

Elsa: [You’re weak, Subaru. But strength isn't just about fighting. It's about knowing when to act and when to wait.]

Elsa knew what was going through Subaru’s mind, after spending some time with him she slowly started understanding his thought process, something completely opposite to that of Elsa herself.

Elsa sighed, her tone firm yet lacking cruelty.

Elsa: [Subaru, there’s no way you could have saved those kids. Thinking about it won’t change what’s already done—it will only weigh you down.] She held his gaze, her violet eyes unreadable.

Elsa: [I know it’s hard, but this world doesn’t care about what you wish you could do. It only cares about what you can do. Right now, you’re not strong enough to change anything.] Her words were harsh, but there was no malice in them—only a cold, hard truth.

Subaru clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. His mind screamed in defiance, but deep down, he knew she was right. He hated it. Hated the feeling of helplessness clawing at his chest.

Elsa: [It’s not about what you want to do, Subaru,] Elsa continued, her voice steady. [It’s about what you can do. If you charge in without power, all you’ll do is die with them. And what good would that do?]

Subaru gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling within him.

Subaru: [So what? I just ignore it? Pretend it never happened?] His voice was low, strained, filled with bitter resentment.

Elsa tilted her head slightly, studying him. 

Elsa: [No. You remember it. You let it burn inside you. But you don’t let it break you. You survive first.] She exhaled softly, her breath visible in the cold morning air. [Then, maybe one day, you’ll be strong enough to make a difference.]

Her words hung between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Subaru swallowed hard, the weight of reality settling deep in his bones. He hated it—but he understood.

By the time night fell, Subaru and Elsa arrived at a small inn nestled along a well-traveled merchant route. The building was modest but sturdy, its wooden beams weathered by time and snow, bearing the marks of countless winters.

A warm glow spilled from the windows, flickering against the frosted glass, while the scent of simmering stew and freshly baked bread drifted into the night air. The distant murmur of voices interwove with the occasional burst of laughter, the clinking of glasses underscoring the lively yet subdued atmosphere inside. 

The inn stood as a beacon of warmth and solace, offering weary travelers and merchants a respite from the unforgiving cold, if only for a single night.

Deciding it would be the “best” place to rest for the night, the two stepped inside. The scent of roasted meat and spiced ale hung in the air, mingling with the faint smokiness of the fireplace. They approached the innkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard, and paid for a single room.

It seemed the innkeeper had given them the worst room. Subaru quickly deduced that it was likely due to his dark hair and eye color, a bias he had already encountered before. Elsa, hidden beneath her hood, had gone unnoticed, a precaution Subaru had insisted on after their last unfortunate run-in with a prejudiced merchant.

He sighed, shaking his head slightly as he glanced around the dimly lit space. The bed was small, the mattress thin, and the cold draft from the poorly sealed window was a clear sign that this was the least desirable room in the establishment. Once again, there was only one bed.

Subaru was torn on the inside, struggling with the weight of everything he had witnessed that day. The cruelty of this world had become painfully clear, leaving him drained and disheartened.

He didn't even bother eating, the thought of food making his stomach churn. Instead, he silently climbed into bed, his body heavy with exhaustion.

The thin mattress barely provided any comfort, but it didn't matter—sleep claimed him almost instantly.

Elsa watched from her seat by the window, her sharp eyes tracing the slow rise and fall of Subaru's chest. He looked vulnerable in sleep, his usual stubbornness and defiance stripped away, leaving only exhaustion behind.

Elsa: [Pathetic] she murmured, though the word lacked its usual bite perhaps because he reminded her of when she started surviving alone in this kingdom.

Outside, the blizzard howled, but inside, the world had grown strangely still.

Elsa stood, stretching slightly before making her way to the small adjoining bathroom. The room was cramped, with only a simple basin and a worn-out mirror, but it would suffice.

She removed her cloak, letting it fall to the side before turning on the faucet, the cool water running over her hands before she splashed it against her face.

The sensation was grounding, washing away the remnants of the day's exhaustion. 

Elsa then looked into the mirror and noticed the purple flower Subaru had bought for her. Her hand hovered on it.

Elsa didn’t know what to feel about Subaru. She assumed his insides would be really pretty, something out of this world and that's why she was sticking with him, to get to see them. 

But for some reason she didn’t want him to end like that.

To end Dead.

The contradiction gnawed at her as she dried her hands and stepped back into the room. She cast one last glance at Subaru’s sleeping form before silently heading to bed, the conflict within her refusing to fade.

Then, a realization struck her—tomorrow would be the roughest day for Subaru in this world he finds himself in. 

While he had been paying for the room, Elsa had noticed the lingering gaze of a man on him. There was intent in that stare, something sharpened by experience. She had no doubt—the man was probably going to come for Subaru and her once they left the inn’s safety.

Elsa smirked slightly at Subaru, her purple irises gazing at his sharp eyes which she found beautiful. 

This would be the perfect time to see if Subaru truly had what it took to live like a beast. 

To live like Elsa….

And slowly she fell asleep

Chapter Text

Morning arrived, though Subaru woke up rather late. The room was already bathed in dim daylight slipping through the frost-covered window. He groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes, and noticed that Elsa was nowhere in sight. The faint sound of water trickling confirmed her presence inside the bathroom.

He exhaled, stretching his stiff limbs, the weight of the previous day's exhaustion still clinging to him. His mind drifted back to the events that had unfolded yesterday—the bandits they had barely evaded, saved only by Elsa’s sharp instincts. The children whose families had been slaughtered, their hollow eyes burned into his memory, their small, trembling hands clutching at whatever remnants of their past remained. The way they had looked at everything, silently pleading for help, haunted him. And his own weakness.

He had wanted to save them, to do something—anything—but he had been helpless. Even if he had stepped forward, what could he have done? He wasn’t strong enough, wasn’t fast enough, wasn’t anything enough to change their fate.

The mere thought of it made his stomach churn with frustration and shame. The bitter truth weighed on him: if he had tried, he would have only gotten himself and Elsa into a bad situation, one they might not have survived. And he couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her. He knew that life was precious, that you only got one shot.

He had not seen it firsthand, but he had come to a realization about death to understand how fragile existence truly was, how easily it could be taken away. That understanding only deepened his frustration—because despite knowing it, he still felt powerless to protect anyone, even himself.

Subaru clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He hated this feeling—this overwhelming sense of powerlessness. He wanted to be better, to be stronger. He didn’t want to be a burden, to watch from the sidelines while others suffered. But how? How could he change?

The sound of water running from the bathroom pulled him from his thoughts. Elsa was still inside. She had carried herself with the same unreadable confidence as always, but he wondered if she, too, had been affected by what they had seen. He sighed, raking a hand through his disheveled hair. Today was a new day, but the weight of yesterday refused to let go.

He got up and walked over to the window of the room. Outside, carriages were parked in the stables, their drivers tending to the ground dragons and various different animals while conversing in hushed tones. The street was bustling with movement—merchants haggling over wares, mercenaries patrolling the area, and travelers making preparations for the road ahead. The world carried on, indifferent to the burdens he wrestled with. Subaru watched the scene in silence, his thoughts still clouded by the lingering doubts from the night before.

Subaru made his way to the essentials pack that held the coins and food both of them had gathered so far. Seeing the coins, he was reminded of the merchant they had taken them from. 

The man was probably still tied up back in that tree. Though Subaru had made sure to leave a bit of food for him—enough for two or three days—he found that, for some reason, he didn’t care about the merchant’s fate anymore. 

That realization unsettled him. It made him see just how much he had changed since arriving in this world. But before he could dwell on the thought, he heard the soft click of a door opening.

Looking toward the source of the sound, he saw Elsa emerging from the bathroom. A small smile made its way onto his face. He noticed that Elsa seemed to have gained a bit more weight compared to when he had found her back in the cave, a sign that she was recovering. It was a subtle change, but one that reassured him in a way he couldn't quite put into words.

Subaru: [Good morning,] he said to Elsa, his voice still thick with sleep. He stretched his arms above his head, stifling a yawn as he studied her. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, stray droplets trailing down the curve of her collarbone. There was a certain ease in the way she moved, an unhurried grace that contrasted the sharp lethality he knew lurked beneath.

For a moment, he considered commenting on how much healthier she looked, but something about the way she met his gaze made him hold back. Instead, he simply smiled again, a little softer this time.

Subaru: [Sleep well?] he asked, stepping away from the window to start gathering their belongings for the day ahead.

Elsa responded to him with a small smile on her face. 

Elsa: [You're slow to wake,] she remarked, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. 

Elsa: [I was beginning to think you'd sleep the entire morning away.]

Subaru hesitated for a moment before pulling out the corn potato bag he had been saving up. 

He had chosen to eat in the room for two reasons. 

First, he knew that people like him and Elsa were not welcomed wherever they went. They drew wary gazes and hushed whispers, their presence an unwelcome anomaly in places like this.

The second reason was simple—he wanted to avoid as much trouble as possible. The fewer interactions they had with the inn's other patrons, the lower the chance of unwanted attention. With that thought in mind, he sat down on the bed next to Elsa.

He opened the bag, much to Elsa's surprise. She raised an eyebrow, watching him curiously until he handed it over to her. 

Subaru: [Take some,] he said, offering the contents. 

Subaru: [This is food from another world. It's one of a kind.]

Elsa peered into the bag, her expression unreadable as she reached in and pulled out a piece. 

Elsa: [Hmph, another world, huh?] she mused, examining it between her fingers before taking a small bite. Subaru watched her reaction, wondering what she thought of it, but she gave nothing away, simply chewing in silence.

Subaru thought she didn’t like it at first—until he saw her lick her lips, then her fingers, savoring the crumbs left behind. A faint blush bloomed on her pale skin, a subtle red hue spreading across her cheeks. He couldn’t help but smirk at the unexpected reaction.

Subaru: [You can have it all,] he offered, handing her the bag. 

Subaru: [I’ll just eat some of the remaining jerky.]

As he was about to stand up, Elsa suddenly grabbed his arm, yanking him back down with surprising force. Before he could react, she stuffed a chip into his mouth, her smirk returning. 

Elsa: [You keep saying it’s one of a kind,] she mused, 

Elsa: [So don’t you think you should enjoy it too?]

Subaru blinked in surprise, his mouth full as he chewed. The crispy texture and slightly sweet-salty flavor spread over his tongue, reminding him of home in a way he hadn’t expected. He swallowed and let out a small chuckle. 

Subaru: [Guess I can’t argue with that.]

Elsa rested her elbow on her knee, propping her chin on her hand as she watched him. 

Elsa: [No matter how many times I say it.You really are strange,] she murmured, her expression unreadable. 

Elsa: [You act like a fool, but sometimes, you seem to understand things better than anyone.]

He scoffed, reaching into the bag to grab another chip for himself. 

Subaru: [I’ll take that as a compliment.]

Elsa simply hummed in response, her gaze flickering toward the frost-lined window.

Elsa: [We should eat quickly. We have a long day ahead of us.]

Subaru nodded in agreement. 

Subaru: [Yeah, and we need to find someone who can take us to our destination. Traveling on foot isn't going to cut it.]

After the quick room breakfast, Elsa put on her black cloak to cover herself while Subaru pulled on his thick leather coat over his slightly oversized tracksuit. The fabric felt heavier than usual, the weight of the previous day's events still lingering in his mind. He adjusted the collar, making sure it covered his neck against the morning chill. Elsa, meanwhile, fastened the clasp of her cloak with a slow, deliberate motion, ensuring that it concealed her figure completely. She cast a brief glance toward Subaru, her expression unreadable, before stepping toward the door. Subaru took a deep breath and followed suit, bracing himself for whatever awaited them beyond the safety of their temporary shelter.

Making his way down the stairs to the main lobby that also served as a breakfast, lunch, and dinner hall, Subaru walked alongside Elsa. The moment they stepped into the room, he could feel the nasty gazes of the other patrons locking onto him. Whispers buzzed in the air, some hushed while others carried the weight of disdain. It was an all-too-familiar feeling, one he had already grown accustomed to in this world. He clenched his jaw and pressed forward, keeping his focus ahead. 

Only when they finally exited the inn did those burning stares dissipate. Now free from their scrutiny, they could begin their search.

Subaru took the lead in speaking to people, ensuring Elsa wouldn't have to reveal herself. He approached one person after another, only to be met with rejection each time. 

No one seemed willing to accept him, their dismissive glances and curt responses making it clear they had no interest in dealing with a foreigner like him. With each rejection, his frustration mounted, his patience thinning by the second. Leaning against a wall in frustration, Elsa standing beside him with her arms crossed, he considered their remaining options.

Time was slipping away, and they had yet to secure passage.

Just as he was beginning to rethink their approach, a man wearing a thick smile suddenly approached them. His confident stride and too-friendly expression immediately put Subaru on edge. 

Something about him felt off—his smile was a little too wide, his posture a little too casual, as if he had been watching them for a while. Subaru quickly locked eyes with the stranger, his body tensing as he braced himself for whatever was about to come next.

The man then introduced himself as Hol. 

He had light green eyes, a thick beard and mustache, and a completely bald head, giving him the distinct appearance of a seasoned merchant. His clothes were practical but well-maintained, the kind that suggested experience on the road.

Hol stroked his thick beard before speaking, his tone light yet assured. 

Hol: [I couldn't help but overhear,] he said, his light green eyes gleaming with interest. 

Hol: [You're looking for someone to take you to Eternya, correct? Well, as it happens, I'm headed that way myself.]

Subaru narrowed his eyes slightly, crossing his arms. 

Subaru: [And you're just offering to take us? Just like that?]

Hol chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. 

Hol: [Not for free, of course. Safe passage comes with a fair price. But I know the roads well, and I can get you there without trouble.]

As Hol spoke, his gaze drifted toward Elsa, who remained fully covered beneath her cloak. Though her face was hidden, something about her presence seemed to intrigue him. His grin widened slightly, his interest barely concealed.

Subaru glanced at Elsa for her opinion. She met his gaze and gave a small nod. Though something about the situation felt off to him, he decided to accept the man's offer.

Subaru: [Alright, we'll take you up on that,] Subaru said cautiously. 

Subaru: [How soon do we leave?]

Hol's grin stretched wider, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. 

Hol: [Lovely! We depart in five minutes. Grab your things and meet me at the stables.]

And with that, the man left, leaving Subaru and Elsa alone once more. Subaru turned to Elsa, his expression troubled. 

Subaru: [Something seems off about that guy,] he muttered, voice low.

Subaru: [We should keep our guard up.] 

Elsa gave a small nod, her expression unreadable, but in her mind, she took note—Subaru was getting better at reading situations and signs he was slowly improving.

They gathered their belongings and made their way to the stables, their footsteps echoing lightly against the damp ground. The air was thick with the scent of hay and damp leather, mingling with the distant sounds of merchants preparing their carts for travel. Inside the carriage, a man and a woman sat in silence, their expressions unreadable, their eyes barely acknowledging the new arrivals. They seemed accustomed to long, quiet journeys, their presence more like shadows than travelers.

Hol was already seated at the front, his sturdy hands gripping the reins with practiced ease. The merchant appeared at ease, but there was a sharpness in his gaze, an awareness that suggested he never truly let his guard down. The carriage itself was drawn by a single dark green, four-legged ground dragon, its scales glistening faintly under the dim morning light. The creature let out a low snort as Subaru and Elsa approached, its powerful muscles twitching beneath its rough hide.

Subaru reached into his pocket and pulled out two gold coins, hesitating briefly before handing them over. The coins clinked softly in Hol’s palm, his light green eyes flickering with satisfaction as he examined them. 

Hol: [A fair payment,] he mused, pocketing them swiftly. He then gestured toward the back of the carriage, his grin widening ever so slightly. 

Hol: [Hop in. Shouldn’t take too long to get moving.]

Subaru glanced at Elsa before stepping forward, his gut twisting with unease. There was something about Hol's demeanor that put him on edge, but they had little choice. With a quiet nod to each other, they made their way toward the rear of the carriage. Subaru climbed in first, the wooden frame creaking under his weight, then turned and extended his hand to Elsa. She took it without hesitation, and with a firm pull, he helped her up into the carriage. As she settled beside him, he exhaled slowly, bracing for whatever lay ahead.

And then, the carriage started moving, rolling out of the small stop with surprising speed. Subaru peered out from the back, watching as the buildings and stalls quickly shrank into the distance. He furrowed his brow—despite the pace, he felt almost no air resistance, no harsh wind pushing against him. It was unnatural.

He considered asking Elsa how that worked, but the thought of forcing her to speak and risk breaking her cover made him hesitate. Instead, he leaned back and exhaled through his nose. "Magic, probably," he muttered under his breath, watching as the place they had spent the night disappeared further and further behind them.

He then glanced at the other two inside the cart. They were silent. “ Too silent. ” Subaru was growing uneasy. Their stiff postures and lack of interaction only added to his discomfort, making him question whether they were simply travelers or something more.

Ten minutes of straight driving later, the cart suddenly veered right. Subaru noticed the shift in direction and immediately started sweating. His instincts screamed that something was off. Trying to mask his apprehension, Subaru cleared his throat and spoke up. 

Subaru: [Hey, Hol, this is the right way... right?]

Hol barely turned his head, his voice smooth yet distant as he replied, 

Hol: [I know a shortcut.]

Subaru’s fingers tightened slightly on the wooden frame of the carriage. His gut told him this wasn’t right. 

Subaru: [A shortcut, huh?] he muttered, glancing at Elsa. She remained quiet under her cloak, but he could tell she was listening closely.

Hol chuckled from the front. 

Hol: [A little nervous, are we? Don’t worry, I’ve been taking this route for years. Cuts down travel time by almost half.]

Subaru wasn’t convinced. His eyes flicked to the two passengers inside the carriage—the silent man and woman. Neither reacted, didn’t even spare him a glance. Their stillness was unnatural, as if they were just waiting for something.

Elsa subtly shifted in her seat, her posture relaxing in a way that put Subaru even more on edge. He’d seen her fight before—this was the way she moved when she was ready to strike.

Subaru forced a smile, though his stomach churned.

Subaru: [Well, I guess as long as we get there in one piece, right?]

Hol gave another chuckle but didn’t respond this time. Instead, he flicked the reins, urging the ground dragon to pick up the pace. The wheels rattled over the uneven path, and the thick forest around them seemed to swallow the road ahead.

Subaru exhaled slowly, his breath steady but his mind racing. Something’s wrong.

And he was almost certain they were walking straight into a trap.

Subaru’s gaze wandered around the inside of the carriage, his unease growing with every passing second. Something wasn’t right. He had expected crates filled with goods, bags of supplies—things a merchant like Hol would normally be transporting.

But there was nothing.

No boxes, no trade goods. Just a few scattered rags and, most unsettling of all, a cage.

His breath hitched slightly as his eyes locked onto it. The metal bars were worn but sturdy, the kind meant to hold something—or someone. A cold chill ran down his spine.

Subaru swallowed hard and forced himself to stay calm. He glanced at Elsa, but she remained still beneath her cloak, unreadable as ever.

He clenched his fists. “This isn't right…”

Subaru’s eyes flickered toward the two silent passengers again. Now that he was paying closer attention, he noticed something he had overlooked before—both of them were armed.

The woman had a small dagger strapped to her waist, its handle just barely peeking out from under her cloak. The man, on the other hand, had a pair of worn brass knuckles resting loosely in his lap, his fingers occasionally tapping against them as if itching for an excuse to use them.

Subaru felt his pulse quicken. “That’s way too many red flags.”

His mind raced, searching for a way out of this. Jumping out of the carriage was out of the question. At this speed, hitting the ground would be like slamming into stone—instant death, or at the very least, a broken neck. 

Forcing their way out? Equally bad. A direct fight meant going up against three armed adults, and even with Elsa, those odds weren’t great.

"Damn it" , he thought, clenching his jaw. "Why does my luck always have to be this bad?"

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn’t help. He needed a plan—one that didn’t end with him and Elsa in a cage.

A bit of thinking later, Subaru came to a grim realization—his only real option was to wait. He needed them to drop their guard, and the best chance of that happening would be when they stopped and got out of the carriage. Until then, all he could do was play dumb and act like he hadn’t noticed a thing.

Forcing his body to relax, he leaned back slightly, feigning indifference as if he hadn’t just spotted the weapons or the cage. His expression remained neutral, but his mind stayed sharp, carefully watching for any openings.

He stole a quick glance at Elsa, hoping she would catch on without him having to say anything.

To his surprise, even under that thick black cloak, Elsa didn’t just understand—she had already figured it out.

Her posture remained unchanged, her expression hidden, but the slight movement of her fingers against her lap told him everything. She was ready.

Subaru swallowed. At least I’m not alone in this.

For now, they just had to wait.

After a full hour of nonstop travel, the carriage finally came to a halt. The abrupt stop jolted Subaru slightly, and he immediately turned his attention outside.

What he saw sent a chill down his spine.

They had stopped near the base of a relatively large mountain, the jagged rock face looming over them. But what caught his attention most was the gaping hole carved into its side—a massive, dark entrance leading deep into the unknown.

Subaru’s unease only deepened. His instincts screamed at him, telling him this wasn’t just a resting spot.

Trying to keep his voice steady, he turned to Hol.

Subaru: [What is this place?]

Hol, still seated at the front, gave a lazy grin as he reached for a glowing light crystal. 

Hol: [Cave’s a good shelter. Blizzard’s rolling in—wouldn’t want to freeze to death out here.]

Subaru frowned, his eyes flicking to the sky. The air was still, the clouds barely shifting. There was no sign of an incoming blizzard.

He knew Hol was lying.

His heartbeat quickened as he subtly scanned the area, searching for an opening—anything that would let him and Elsa escape. But his hopes were quickly crushed. 

The two other individuals, the ones who had remained unnervingly silent throughout the trip, had already moved to block the carriage’s rear exit. Their weapons remained sheathed, but the message was clear.

They weren’t getting out of here easily.

Hol stepped down from the driver’s seat, the glow of the light crystal illuminating his face.

Hol: [Come on, now. No use dawdling.] He motioned toward the cave entrance, his grin never faltering.

Subaru swallowed hard, feeling Elsa’s presence beside him. He knew she had already realized the same thing he had.

They had no choice but to follow.

For now.

As they approached the cave, Subaru's ears picked up an unsettling sound—low, guttural noises coming from the two individuals behind him. It wasn’t speech. It was something else.

His body tensed.

Focusing his hearing, he sharpened his attention, and that’s when he realized it—metal scraping against leather, the unmistakable sound of weapons being drawn.

His pulse spiked. They're making their move.

That was all Subaru needed to act.

In one swift motion, he pulled his phone from his pocket and switched on the flashlight, cranking it to maximum brightness. The harsh beam of white light cut through the dim surroundings, hitting the man’s eyes dead-on.

The reaction was immediate.

Man: [ugh?!]

The man let out a guttural growl, staggering back as he instinctively brought his hands up, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles, momentarily blinded by the unexpected burst of light.

Subaru didn’t hesitate.

Using every ounce of strength in his legs, he lunged forward and slammed into the man, throwing his full weight into the tackle. The impact sent them both crashing to the ground, the air rushing from the man’s lungs in a sharp grunt.

Subaru knew he didn’t have much time.

He had to act fast.

Subaru’s breathing was ragged as he scrambled for a nearby rock, his fingers closing around its rough surface. Without hesitation, he brought it down hard against the man’s temple.

Once. Twice. A third time. The dull thud of stone meeting flesh echoed in his ears as the man let out a choked groan before going limp, unconscious.

Subaru barely had a moment to process his small victory before he instinctively turned toward Elsa—only for his blood to run cold.

His stomach twisted at the sight.

A dagger had been driven straight through Elsa’s forearm, the blade protruding from the other side. Blood gushed out in violent spurts, staining her cloak a deep crimson and dripping onto the ground in thick, glistening pools.

Subaru’s body locked up. “No—this can’t be happening.”

His mind raced in a panic. “Is she dying? Is this it? Is this where I fai—”

But then, everything shifted in an instant.

The woman who had stabbed Elsa yanked out a second knife, raising it high above her head, preparing to bring it down in a final, brutal strike. As she did, the hood of her cloak slipped, revealing her face—though Subaru barely registered it.

Because something else was happening.

Elsa didn't scream. She didn't flinch.

Instead, she simply opened her fingers.

The dagger she had been gripping slid from her wounded arm, free-falling through the air for only a heartbeat. But before it could hit the ground, her uninjured arm snapped forward, fingers seizing the blade mid-air.

And then, she struck.

With a fluid, almost graceful motion, she slashed across the woman’s stomach in a single, decisive movement.

To Subaru, it was as if time had slowed. He could see the woman’s expression shift from confidence to horror as the gash split open. A spray of dark crimson erupted from the wound, spilling her entrails in a grotesque cascade.

The stench of iron filled the air.

Elsa stood unmoving as the blood splattered across her face, drenching her from head to toe in warm crimson.

And then she smiled.

A shiver ran down Subaru’s spine.

Subaru’s eyes widened in shock at the display before him. His mind was still reeling from what he had just witnessed, and for a brief moment, he forgot all about Hol.

A moment was all it took.

Before he could even register the threat, a crushing force slammed into the side of his face. Pain exploded through his skull as he felt something—a fist? A boot?—collide with him. A sickening crack echoed in his ears.

He didn’t even have time to process it before his body was flung backward, his momentum carrying him off the unconscious man he had just taken down. The world spun, and in an instant, his right temple smashed against the stone floor of the cave.

Everything went black.

For a moment, there was nothing. Just void.

Then—sharp, searing pain.

His consciousness flickered back, though his senses were dulled. A deafening ringing sound filled his ears, drowning out all other noise. His vision swam, blurring in and out of focus. And then, as his sight slowly sharpened, he saw it.

Hol.

The merchant was storming toward Elsa, his face twisted in pure rage, his mouth foaming as if he were rabid.

Subaru barely had time to process it before Hol struck.

His leg shot out, landing a devastating kick into Elsa’s side. The force of the blow sent her ragdolling through the air, her body slamming violently against the cave wall before collapsing onto the rocky ground.

Subaru wanted to scream, but his voice didn’t come out.

His hearing was still gone—only the ringing remained—but his vision… something was wrong with his vision.

The corner of his sight had turned red. It was subtle at first, like a small blot creeping along the edge of his eye. But it spread, growing, consuming, until his right eye was drowned in crimson.

Then he saw it.

Hol had Elsa by the throat.

His thick hands wrapped tightly around her neck, fingers pressing in with deadly force. Elsa let out a strangled gasp, her legs weakly kicking, her remaining good arm clawing at his grip—but her struggles were already losing their strength.

She’s dying.

The girl he had promised to keep safe.

His breath caught in his throat. Panic seized him. His eyes darted frantically, desperate for anything—anything—that could turn the tide.

And then he saw it.

The blade.

It lay beside him, still slick with blood—the same dagger the gutted woman had once held. It must have fallen during the chaos, landing mere inches from his grasp.

He didn’t think. He didn’t hesitate.

His body moved faster than his mind, running purely on adrenaline.

With a desperate lunge, Subaru snatched the blade from the cold ground and threw himself at Hol.

His weight crashed into the merchant, knocking him off balance and sending him tumbling to the floor. More importantly—his grip on Elsa was broken.

She fell, coughing, gasping for breath.

Subaru heard a sharp, ragged gasp.

His breath hitched as he looked back at Hol, his vision still blurred from adrenaline and pain.

The merchant’s face contorted in agony, his eyes wide—no longer filled with fury, but with something else. Fear.

Fear of death.

Subaru felt something warm spreading over his hands. It was thick. Sticky.

His gaze drifted downward.

Red.

His hands were covered in red.

His breathing grew unsteady. He didn’t understand—no, he couldn’t understand. His mind refused to piece together what had happened. Thoughts failed him. Logic failed him.

There was only blankness. Void.

His fingers trembled, still gripping the dagger. His grip was so tight his knuckles turned white, but he couldn’t feel it. He couldn’t feel anything.

He looked back at Hol.

Blood gushed from the merchant’s mouth, dribbling down his chin in thick, dark streaks. His chest rose and fell in weak, shuddering movements, desperately clinging to the last traces of life.

And Subaru simply stared.

Stared as Hol took his final, rasping breath.

Stared as the life faded from his eyes.

The first thought finally surfaced in his mind.

“I killed someone.”

A misty figure of himself took shape before him, rising like a phantom from the depths of his guilt. Its form was unstable, shifting like smoke in the wind, yet its eyes—empty and hollow—bore into Subaru with a weight heavier than any chains.

"You killed him."

Subaru flinched, his blood-soaked hands trembling as he instinctively pressed them against his ears. 

“No.”

"You drove that knife into his back."

“Shut up.”

"You felt the warmth of his blood spill onto your hands."

“Stop talking.”

"He died because of you."

"Murderer."

"Monster."

"How does it feel?"

"How does it feel to take a life with your very own hands?"

The words pierced through Subaru's desperate attempts to block them out. He squeezed his eyes shut, but it did nothing. He could still feel it—the sensation of flesh parting under the blade, the way Hol's body had twitched, the fear in his final breath.

"You think you were different from them? That you were somehow better?" the shadow sneered.

"Look at yourself."

Subaru's breath came out in ragged gasps. He had to deny it. He needed to deny it.

“I had no choice.”

"No choice?" the shadow laughed, a cruel, mocking sound.

"Is that what you'll tell yourself from now on? Is that how you'll justify it?"

Subaru clenched his jaw. His body was shaking, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

Then, the mist dissipated like smoke blown apart by the wind.

And his eyes fell on the truth.

His phone.

It was lying on the cold, stone floor where he had dropped it, the flashlight still shining into the far end of the cave.

For a brief moment, the world around him disappeared, leaving only the illuminated sight before him.

Subaru: [...]

Cages.

Dozens of them.

Blood. Dried, crusted, smeared against the walls like grotesque paintings.

And bones. Piles of them. He could easily make out the shape of them. But the most disgusting part was that they still had remains of flesh and other living matter. He even saw a body or two he wasn't sure as one of his eyes was covered in his blood.

Subaru's breath hitched. His pupils shrank.

If they hadn't fought back—if they had simply obeyed—this is where they would have ended up.

His guilt evaporated, replaced by something else.

Understanding.

And deep, seething rage.

Subaru realized something. That these people were the real monsters. How many people: women, men, kids had fallen at the hands of these people?.

He also noticed the slave collares stacked on top of a wood desk just next to the cages. 

Subaru was once again distracted at the scene in front of his very own eyes. He still couldn't hear. The ringing as loud as ever. Though he heard the tremors of someone approaching, he turned around at the last second to see that the man he had thought he had knocked out was right in front of him. 

Leaving little time to react. He was kicked in the stomach and thrown away from Hol's body; he fell on his back. The impact made him close his eyes for a brief second. 

Once he opened them though, it was another story.

Subaru locked eyes with the man who was choking him. 

Those eyes were not of someone who had lost his companions, those eyes were filled with something rather than rage. It only took a moment for Subaru to realize they were filled with pleasure at the act the man was performing.

Which in this case was killing Subaru. Subaru didn't move his arms perhaps because he was tired? Or maybe because he refused to take another life? He didn't know, he didn't want to know. 

All he could see was the man shouting some words inaudible to him however due to the lack of hearing it was unable to get through to Subaru. He remained simply staring as the man slowly took Subaru’s life. 

Then for unknown reasons to Subaru, the man suddenly stopped talking. His eyes grew wide. He stopped choking Subaru. Giving time for Subaru to catch his breath and let his blurry vision regain better sight. The man then fell to the right.

Leaving Subaru staring at the cave's ceiling.

He then felt something fall on his outstretched legs.

Subaru’s mind struggled to keep up with what had just happened. His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, his throat burning from the man's previous grip. He blinked rapidly, trying to push away the blurriness clouding his vision. 

His hearing was still muffled, a distant ringing drowning out most sounds, but he could still make out Elsa’s gasping breaths—shallow, strained.

She was lying on top of his legs, her small frame rising and falling weakly. Blood still coated her body, some of it fresh, some of it dried and darkened against her pale skin. Subaru's eyes moved past her, his gaze settling on the man who had just been choking him.

He was dead.

The gaping wound in the back of his neck told Subaru everything he needed to know. A deep, precise cut—the kind only someone like Elsa could deliver.

Subaru’s lips parted, but no words came out. He shifted slightly, forcing himself up onto his elbows, his breathing uneven. He looked down at Elsa again.

She was exhausted. More than that—she was barely holding on.

Her eyelids fluttered, her fingers twitching slightly as if she was trying to move but couldn’t.

Subaru swallowed hard, forcing down the rising panic in his throat. He placed a trembling hand on her shoulder, unsure if he was trying to wake her or simply reassure himself that she was still alive.

Subaru: [E.s-a…] His voice came out weak, barely a whisper. Subaru still had yet to realise his jaw was dislocated from the blow he suffered from Hol as well as his skull had been fractured.

She didn’t respond.

Not immediately.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, her lips parted, and a small, breathy chuckle escaped.

Elsa: [...That was close,] she murmured, her voice hoarse.

Subaru let out a shaky breath, half a laugh, half a sob. He wasn’t even sure what he was feeling anymore. Relief? Horror? Something in between?

His hands clenched into fists as he looked around the cave once more. The cages, the blood, the bones—the undeniable proof of the horrors that had taken place here. He felt sick. These people, the ones they had just killed… they weren’t just bandits. They weren’t just criminals. They were monsters.

And yet…

What did that make him ?

His gaze drifted back to his own hands, still stained red. The warmth of Hol’s blood had faded, replaced by a sticky, sickly coldness.

A shiver ran down his spine.

He didn’t have an answer.

But right now, none of that mattered. 

Elsa’s breaths were growing weaker. The blood loss was severe. If Subaru didn’t act now, she wouldn’t make it.

He fell to his knees beside her, hands shaking as he reached for her arm. The dagger was still lodged deep within her flesh, its blackened steel slick with blood. His fingers hovered over the wound, hesitating—if he pulled it out now without stopping the bleeding, she could die even faster.

His chest tightened. He was panicking.

Subaru: [E.sa] His voice broke as he looked at her face. Her skin, usually pale, was now ghostly white. Her lips trembled slightly, but she forced a small, weak smile.

Elsa: [Crying… doesn’t suit you,] she murmured, barely audible.

Subaru’s vision blurred with tears.

He clenched his dislocated jaw, swallowing down the lump in his throat. 

Subaru: [I said I’d protect you,] he whispered. His voice wavered, thick with emotion. 

Subaru: [I promised. But I—] His grip on her arm tightened. [I couldn’t… I—]

Elsa’s free hand slowly reached up, touching his face. Her fingers, slick with her own blood, brushed against his cheek.

Elsa: [You did… just fine,] she breathed. “Honestly you truly can't live like a beast... Like me… But for some reason I'm not disappointed.”

That was the last thing he wanted to hear.

Subaru shook his head violently. No. He wasn’t going to let this be the end. He had to do something.

His eyes darted around the cave, searching desperately for anything—cloth, herbs, anything that could help stop the bleeding. His gaze landed on the cloaks of the fallen men. Without hesitation, he scrambled toward them, tearing fabric from their garments with frantic hands.

He rushed back to Elsa, pressing a wad of cloth around the wound. 

Subaru: [This is gonna hurt.] he warned, his voice shaking. As he pulled out the blade.

Elsa barely reacted, her eyes fluttering.

Subaru: [Stay with me!] Subaru yelled, pressing harder, trying to stop the bleeding.

He had to save her.

He would save her.

Spirits. Something he'd been trying to learn by himself. He needed one right now so he begged.

The moment was slipping through his fingers. Elsa’s breathing was becoming shallow, her body colder with each passing second. Subaru clenched his teeth, pressing down harder on her wound, but the blood wouldn't stop. “ This isn't enough.” He needed something— someone . Then it clicked for him.

Spirits. Something he'd been desperately trying to understand on his own. He had no teacher, no guidance, only instinct and sheer desperation. But if there was ever a time to succeed, it was now.

So he begged.

Not with his voice, but with everything else. His heart, his soul—every fiber of his being cried out for help.

And then, just like before—back in the cave where he first met Elsa—a faint, glowing blue light flickered into existence in front of him. It started small, like a firefly in the darkness, before growing, swirling, taking shape.

Subaru’s breath hitched. One of his eyes was still clouded in red from the blood, so instead of seeing blue like the other one. It was seeing dark purple. The contrast of blue and purple making the spirit have a captivating appearance in Subaru eye’s.

All it took was one glance for him to know it was the same spirit. The one that answered his pleas before. 

It hovered before him, silent yet watching. Waiting.

Subaru didn’t waste a second.

Subaru: [Please,] he whispered, his voice trembling. 

Subaru: [Help her.]

The spirit pulsed, glowing brighter. It made its way onto Elsa’s bleeding arm and it started to grow with more intensity.

Subaru eyes widened. For some reason he could feel deep inside him that the spirit was trying its absolute best to grant Subaru’s wishes. He could even tell that this level of damage was beyond its capabilities but it didn't waver.

Subaru watched as Elsa’s wound slowly closed itself. The spirit was gradually losing light.

Elsa then locked eyes with the crying Subaru, now with the spirit’s light allowing her to see his face she noticed the extent of damage Subaru had sustained. She could very easily see that  his skull was  definitely fractured. “You’re forgetting about yourself once again.. Idiot.”

The spirit kept doing its thing until it was about to fade. The only reason why it didnt was because Subaru stopped it from going any further.

Using both his hands Subaru made a scoop around the spirit halting it from healing Elsa further.

The spirit then noticed this and turned its attention back to Subaru. It then noticed he was barely hanging on. Especially with his injuries, so it was going to heal Subaru as well.

Subaru: [Thank You very much, but I cannot let you do any further so please rest now, I'll be fine.] he gave a pained smile. Signs the pain was starting to come to him.

The spirit wanted to ignore his orders. Though one look from Subaru’s sharp eyes was all it needed for it to follow.

So the spirit went back to rest.

Subaru then looked back at Elsa locking eyes with her. His eyes had tears in them, one side of his face covered by his own blood

Subaru gave a relieved breath seeing that Elsa was alright and that she was no longer going to die.

He smiled one last time before his body reached a limit and he fell to the side near Elsa and went into unconsciousness.

Elsa saw the unconscious Subaru sleeping next to her. His breathing was slow but steady. 

With great difficulty Elsa forced herself up. Her clothes no longer had the colour black in them, as the black was overwritten by the overwhelming red that stained her clothes. The warmth the blood carried was momentarily as it turned cold and sticky. 

That warmth was but a fleeting moment that wouldn't last long. Elsa knew that. She reached for Subaru’s phone he had called it, which had the flashlight still on.

She took in the sight of what would have happened to them had they not resisted.

The people they had fought were most definitely slavers. The methods they use to get slaves vary from group to group.

The moment they had laid their eyes on Subaru back at the inn, there was no choice. This was the only possible outcome. 

But these people probably sold the unfortunate victims as magic, curse experiments. Hence why there is alot of gore in the deeper part of the cave.

Elsa sighed. 

This amount of cruelty was common especially for people like her. So it was safe to say she was happy with the outcome of these individuals. For her it was only a pity she couldn't slice open any more bellies. 

Though she hadn't expected that woman to be so skilled. Which made her sustain a heavy injury. If not for Subaru she would not have survived once again.

Elsa: [Another debt I owe him… And knowing this fool for a while now he won't even ask for compensation…] Elsa mused as she cleaned the blood of her hands using some cloth.

In the corner of her eye she noticed the flower Subaru had given her back in Crail, the flower he said suited her. 

“It must have fallen when I got launched to the wall.” She made her way there and picked it up. 

Elsa: [It's not damaged. I must say this flower is quite resistant.] Elsa deduced this as the flower’s appearance was still intact.

Elsa then placed it back where Subaru had placed it for her time and time again. Then she realized something.

“Why am I…?” She then stole a glance at the sleeping Subaru. 

Elsa: [He has quite the power to change people. Honestly my partner is such a handful.] Elsa brought a hand to her temple and sighed.

The wind outside the cave started blowing inside of it. Making the inside colder.

“I should get a fire going. Washing the blood can wait.”  

And so Elsa went on to complete her new task.

Chapter Text

Elsa walked towards the outside of the cave, leaving the unconscious Subaru in a comfortable position. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before she turned away, stepping carefully over the remnants of the battle that had taken place. 

Elsa's black cloak was completely covered in blood, making it useless. She considered discarding it but decided against it for now, knowing the cold outside would be merciless though she would have to eventually. 

The air inside the cave smelled of blood—heavy amounts of it. The scent clung to the walls and floor, a grim reminder of the carnage that had unfolded. These were the signs of fighting that had occurred inside the cave, the echoes of battle still fresh in her mind.

Outside, though, it was a different story. It was extremely cold as usual, the snow falling in a slow, unrelenting dance, giving the place a dead vibe. The only sounds were the whisper of the wind and the distant howls of unseen beasts. Her breath formed small clouds in the frigid air as she stepped forward, her boots crunching against the freshly fallen snow.

Elsa then looked at the ground dragon the slavers had brought them in on. The beast stood still, its powerful frame heaving with each breath, it's dark eyes darting around in distress.

Its scales, normally smooth and well-kept, were scuffed and marred with dirt and snow from the rough terrain.

The scent of blood in the air unsettled the beast, its nostrils flaring as it snorted sharply. Elsa could see the tension rippling through its body, the primal instinct of fight or flight warring within it.

Would it trust her, or would it succumb to the fear triggered by the overwhelming stench of death? She took a slow step forward, careful not to startle it, but its muscles coiled even tighter, every fiber of its being on edge, poised for escape or attack.

It stood a short distance away, its breath misting in the cold as the snowfall thickened around them. Its eyes flicked toward Elsa, pupils shrinking at the sight of her bloodied form. The crimson smeared across her cloak was too much. Seeing so much red set the creature on edge, making it agitated.

It snorted again, stamping its feet, the sound muffled by the fresh snow. Its powerful muscles tensed, a tremor running through its frame.

Then, without warning, it turned and bolted, kicking up a flurry of white powder as it vanished into the distance. Elsa watched as it disappeared into the white haze of the snowy landscape, the only remnants of its presence a few scattered tracks that were already being erased by the wind.

Silence settled around her once more, thick and heavy. Alone again, she let out a quiet sigh, her breath curling in the frigid air.

Elsa let out a heavy sigh. 

Elsa: [Well, there goes our ticket out of here,] she muttered to herself, watching the ground dragon disappear into the snowy haze. She glanced down at her blood-soaked cloak and frowned.

Elsa: [Maybe I shouldn't have come out looking like this... , oh well. No use crying over spilled milk.]

Shaking her head, she turned toward the carriage. Stepping inside, she rummaged through the supplies, her fingers brushing against rough burlap sacks and cold metal tools before finding what she was looking for.

Elsa: [Ah, here we go] she murmured, pulling out a bundle of wood logs stacked next to the rusted metal cage. Her eyes flicked to the cage for a moment before she turned her attention back to the logs.

Elsa: [This should be enough to get a fire going.]

Elsa then headed back inside the cave, passing by the dead bodies of the women she had gutted, the merchant Hol, and eventually reaching the man she had killed to save Subaru.

Her footsteps were slow but deliberate, the scent of blood still heavy in the air. She crouched beside the fallen boy, stacking the logs near him before reaching into her cloak. 

Pulling out the fire starter she had taken from the cabin they had spent a night in, she struck it against a piece of flint. A few tries and eventually sparks flew, catching on the dry wood.

She watched as the flames licked upward, growing into a small but steady fire. Stretching out her hands toward the warmth, she let out a breath, the cold beginning to ease away from her fingertips.

Elsa glanced around the dimly lit cave. Cooking and cleaning had never been her strong suits, and she certainly wasn’t about to start learning now. With a shrug, she reached for Subaru’s pack, rummaging through it until she found the remaining chicken noodle cups.

Elsa: [Guess this will have to do,] she muttered to herself. She was low on blood and if not replenished fast it would cause problems later on,

Once again she was thankful that eating the food was simple and tasty. 

They were already prepared—all she had to do was add hot water and wait. 

She poured steaming liquid into the cup using Subaru's thermo bottle as it had some water; all she did was hover it over the fire and wait a little, watching as the noodles softened and the aroma of artificial broth filled the air, mixing with the smell of metal. 

Not that it really mattered for Elsa, though, as she was used to the scent of blood, so eating covered in it was nothing new.

Wrapping her hands around the warm container, she exhaled slowly, allowing herself a brief moment of comfort in the midst of the carnage.

As she ate, she took a moment to contemplate what had happened. The events of the past hours played through her mind—the fight, the bloodshed, the choices she had made.

Subaru saved her once again. And she saved him as well. 

Elsa would have never put herself in danger for another being. No one would. It was the nature of the world—kill or be killed. 

And yet, there was one exception she had found. 

That fool... Subaru. He would throw himself into danger for others without a second thought, without a care for his own life. He was reckless, utterly foolish. And yet, something about that made her uneasy.

Her heart pounded inside her chest as she kept gazing at him. The feeling was eerily familiar, reminiscent of the first time she had ever felt warmth in this cruel world. It was an odd sensation, foreign yet not entirely unwelcome. 

She would have to clean the blood off his face before he woke up; the crimson stains marred his pale skin, and remains of his blood seeping into his eyes a stark reminder of how close he had come to death. 

His skull was still fractured—he wouldn’t last long like this if left alone. She could almost hear his shallow breathing, the rise and fall of his chest subtle yet steady.

But somehow, against all odds, he had managed to catch the attention of a lesser spirit.

Its healing presence was faint, barely noticeable yet undeniably there, it's quiet energy working really slowly and tirelessly to mend his broken body.

Its presence had greatly benefited both of them, though Elsa wasn’t sure if Subaru even realized it. Perhaps he never would.

Truthfully, Elsa was thankful Subaru had been there to save her—not just back in the cave where they had first met, but even now, in this very cave when she had been reckless, unthinking and almost died once again. 

Though the feeling of death never scared Elsa. 

She very rarely found herself in a position where she had to rely on another, but Subaru had stepped in without hesitation, without fear. That foolish, reckless nature of his... it was something she could not understand. He was willing to sacrifice himself so easily, as if his life held no weight in his own eyes.

Elsa knows life is precious. That you only get one shot. And she chose to live however she pleased, in this case it would be the life of a beast.

She exhaled, her breath shuddering slightly as it escaped her lips. She could never tell him how she felt.

Gratitude was a sentiment she had long since abandoned, and yet, for the first time in a long while, she felt something close to it.

She grabbed some cloth from the bag the merchant had carried and used it to carefully clean Subaru's face.

She traced his facial features gently, careful not to hurt him or wake him from unconsciousness. Her fingers hesitated as they brushed over his closed sharp eyelids, taking in the slight furrow of his brow, as if even in unconsciousness, his mind was troubled.

She exhaled softly, watching the way his chest rose and fell with shallow, uneven breaths. There was a vulnerability to him like this, a stark contrast to the reckless determination he had displayed before. She ran the cloth along his jawline, wiping away the drops of dried blood that had settled there.

For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to observe him closely. His face, though marred with cuts and bruises from Howl's boot hitting him in the side of his face, still carried that same unwavering spirit she had come to recognize. It was almost irritating how someone so foolish could be so persistent.

Shaking away the thought, she continued her careful work, ensuring that every last trace of blood was removed. It was an unfamiliar thing, tending to someone else. 

The act of cleaning another person, caring for their wounds—it was not something she ever imagined herself doing. Yet, here she was, making sure that when he awoke, he would not be met with the overwhelming scent of blood on himself just like back in the cabin.

After she cleaned his face, she moved onto his hands. She saw the scars from the ordeal he had gone through—marks left behind because of her, because of the beauty that captivated all kinds of people, mostly bad ones. 

Her fingers lingered over the wounds, a rare flicker of regret passing through her mind before she shook it away.

She took his blood-smeared hand, the one which had been penetrated  by a knife the scar in the palm was standing out. 

She brought it to her cheek, leaving it there for a moment. His touch felt warm—so much warmer than she expected. 

It was a different kind of warmth, nothing like the heat that surged through her veins when she sliced open bellies or felt fresh blood on her skin.

This warmth was gentler, lingering, making her chest tighten in a way she didn’t understand. And instead of the fleeting warmth of blood that would soon dissipate in the cold, this one lasted.

“What's wrong with me?' crossed Elsa's mind. Ever since she met Subaru, she had started to change. She wondered if all the people that came beyond the great waterfall were like him.

It had only been four days since she met Subaru, but the amount of fun she had with him was greater than all the joy she had felt in her entire life. 

The constant unpredictability of his actions, his foolish bravery, and his strange mannerisms had made every moment with him exhilarating in a way she had never experienced before. 

A small, almost involuntary smile made its way onto her bloodstained face. Removing Subaru's hand from her cheek, she carefully cleaned it, making sure to wipe away the last remnants of blood.

She then took the opportunity to place her ear over where his heart resided. She heard it beat, a steady, rhythmic sound that filled the silence around her. It was strangely soothing, grounding her in a way she had never expected. 

As she listened, she remembered the promise he had made—that as long as his heart beat, he would never leave her. The words echoed in her mind, stirring something deep within her that she couldn't quite name.

A part of her wanted to believe him, to trust in those foolish yet sincere words. Yet another part of her, the part that had survived in this cruel world by never depending on others, whispered that promises like that were fleeting, easily broken by simple death.

But still, she stayed there, listening to the proof of his existence, feeling the warmth of his body against her. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to simply exist in this moment of rare peace, letting the sound of his heartbeat drown out the world around them.

She hesitated for a moment before deciding to reward him—just a little—for everything he had unknowingly given her.

With careful movements, she shifted his unconscious form, bringing his head onto her tiny lap. She adjusted herself to ensure he was as comfortable as possible, the thought crossing her mind that, for once, she wanted to give him a little warmth in return.

Her fingers ghosted through his hair, absentmindedly brushing away loose strands that had fallen over his forehead. The texture was softer than she had expected, a stark contrast to the roughness of her own hands. 

She let out a slow breath, watching his face for any sign of discomfort, but he remained still, lost in whatever dreams—or nightmares—filled his unconscious state.

She had never done this for anyone before. Offering warmth was something foreign to her, something that had always been reserved for herself alone. 

Yet here she was, letting him rest against her, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing against her thighs. It was strange, and yet, she didn’t move away. 

Instead, she stayed still, allowing the quiet moment to stretch on, her fingers gently running through his black hair as the fire crackled softly beside them.

She could already imagine his reaction—his confused, groggy eyes blinking up at her, the realization dawning slowly before his face turned a deep shade of red. 

The way he would stammer, struggle to move away, or maybe even freeze in place, completely unsure of what to do. Just picturing it sent a strange sort of satisfaction through her, something light and unfamiliar that made her smirk. 

But she wouldn't wake him just yet. No, she wanted this moment to last a little longer, to let the warmth linger against her, to enjoy something she had never allowed herself before. She traced idle circles on the back of his hand, committing this feeling to memory before reality could take it away.

Elsa: [Looks like someone is going to eat cold food once they wake up.] Elsa said as a blush made its way on her blood tinged face.

Natsuki Subaru—that was his name. He remembered it. He remembered everything, though for unknown reasons, past, present, and future thoughts could not exist simultaneously. He didn't have a body to move. He was suspended in nothingness, a presence without form, a mind without a vessel.

Natsuki Subaru could not see. There was no light, no darkness, just an absence, an emptiness beyond comprehension.

Natsuki Subaru could not hear; there were no sounds to reach his nonexistent ears, no echoes, no voices, not even the beat of his own heart.

Natsuki Subaru could not smell; no scents lingered in the void, no trace of the world he had once known.

Natsuki Subaru could not taste; his tongue, if it even existed, was deprived of sensation.

Natsuki Subaru could not feel—not warmth, not cold, not pain, not even the weight of his own body.

He lacked a vessel in which to obtain such things. He was a consciousness adrift in an endless abyss, thoughts forming and dissolving like fleeting whispers in the dark. Time had no meaning here. Had he been like this for a second? An eternity? He couldn't tell. The only certainty was his name—Natsuki Subaru—and the fact that, somehow, he still existed.

A vessel takes the form of the soul. So, in this vast nothingness, where only nothing persisted, Natsuki  Subaru's soul grasped onto a single, undeniable desire—the desire to exist.

It started as a faint pulse, an echo in the void. Something unseen stirred within the abyss. The essence of his being, once formless, yearned to take shape. A core, unseen yet present, coiled upon itself, generating the first sparks of creation.

His skeletal structure materialized first—phantom bones forming from nothing, shaping his frame as if sculpted from the darkness itself. A ribcage took shape, each bone clicking into place in an eerie silence. His spine, the foundation of his body, stretched and aligned, linking vertebrae one by one.

Muscle fibers wove themselves over his skeletal form like unseen hands were stitching him together. Sinew wrapped around bone, forming the basis of movement, strength, and resilience. Tendons connected, threading into their proper places, a meticulous assembly of what once was.

Nerves branched outward, delicate strands stretching like the veins of a leaf, spreading through his limbs. He could not yet feel, but the pathways for sensation were being forged, preparing him for the moment they would awaken.

Next came his organs—his heart, hollow at first, then filling with warmth as it pulsed for the first time. Yet, there was something unnatural in its beat, something that resonated beyond mere life. His lungs formed, though they did not yet breathe. His stomach, his liver, every internal piece settled into place, completing the intricate puzzle of his existence.

Flesh wrapped over his frame, smooth and whole. His skin, pale and untouched, stretched to contain the life forming within him. Hair, dark as the void he emerged from, cascaded onto his head, finalizing the image of the boy who once was.

Subaru had a body again. But was it truly his? He had yet to see, yet to hear, yet to move. He existed—but was that enough?

To truly exist, he needed Time to take shape, to form moments that could arise and perish, to let the past, present, and future interweave into a coherent flow. Without the passage of time, he would be nothing more than a frozen thought, suspended in eternity with no beginning and no end.

He required a Dimension in which his body could function properly—a three-dimensional space that would allow him to move, to act, to live. He needed length, width, and depth, the structure upon which his existence could stand.

A void without direction was meaningless; a world without gravity to anchor him was nothing more than a dream. The very concept of space itself had to be carved out, shaped to fit his emerging form, like a vessel preparing to hold the essence of life itself.

As time and space were created, he could feel himself falling. A place where nothing once existed had now perished, replaced by its opposite—the beginning of something new.

Now life could truly function. Natsuki Subaru now truly existed for sure. Though he may now be falling for eternity. Natsuki Subaru did not feel sad about it.

Why? You may ask. 

Because he knows he will leave and eventually come back to this place he finds himself in, to make this place grow even more until it is ready to receive something. 

Once he leaves he won't remember what took place here. But “it” will remember. Even if the conscious doesn't “it” will never forget. 

As his consciousness strengthened, he began to grasp something inside his soul. He knows what it is. But at the same time he doesn't.

All he can say at the moment. A gift that was gifted to him. A link that connected him to ???.

And the black void came to an end.

Subaru stirred, his mind sluggish as he drifted between the remnants of an empty dream and the pull of reality. 

Something soft and warm touched his cheek, a sensation so gentle that it coaxed him further into consciousness rather than startling him awake.

He grumbled softly, shifting slightly as a wave of comfort settled over him, wrapping around him like a soothing embrace.

Subaru: [Mmm... five more minutes,] he murmured, his voice hoarse and barely audible, the words slipping out instinctively as he nuzzled deeper into the warmth.

He felt too comfortable to move, too warm to care. The aching exhaustion that clung to his body was dulled by the softness beneath his head, a comfort so rare that he didn't dare disturb it. 

For a moment, he simply existed in that space, his mind floating somewhere between wakefulness and sleep, unwilling to pry his eyes open just yet.

Whatever this was, it could wait just a little longer. The world could wait.

The warmth against his head was soothing, lulling him further into relaxation. A steady, rhythmic motion—like slow, measured breathing—brushed softly against his ear.

???: [Is it really that comfortable?] a voice teased, the amusement clear in the tone, lilting with something almost mischievous.

Subaru: [Of course, it's the best... just five more minutes, Mom…] Subaru mumbled without thinking, his mind still caught in the haze of sleep. His voice carried the innocent certainty of someone speaking in absolute truth, seeking only the solace of a few more moments of rest.

A soft chuckle reached his ears, but something about it didn't quite match the voice he expected. 

The warmth he was embracing, the surface upon which his head rested—something about it felt... off. It wasn’t the familiar embrace of a blanket or a pillow; it had weight, shape, the faintest hint of tension beneath it. 

A moment later, realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, shattering the fog in his mind.

The voice came closer, breath brushing against the sensitive skin of his ear.

???: [I didn't know my lap had that kind of effect.] the voice murmured playfully, each word laced with amusement and just the faintest hint of something else—something that sent an involuntary shiver down his spine.

Subaru's mind caught up to his words, and his entire body went stiff. The sleepy fog lifted entirely, replaced with a rising tide of mortification. 

His eyes snapped open as the truth of the situation hit him all at once. His breath hitched, panic surged through his veins, and without thinking, he immediately launched himself away, scrambling for distance like his very life depended on it.

He then locked eyes with Elsa and finally processed what had just happened. His head—his entire weight—had been resting on her lap. The soft warmth he had been so content to bask in wasn’t the comfort of a pillow or a blanket but her. The slow, creeping horror of the realization sent a sharp jolt through his body, his face flushing instantly.

His mouth opened, fumbling for an apology, a desperate attempt to salvage whatever dignity he had left, but before he could even form the words, Elsa smirked.

Elsa: [Maybe start by wiping the drool off your mouth,] she teased, tilting her head slightly, her purple eyes filled with quiet amusement.

Subaru nodded numbly and hastily wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. It was only then that a sharp, metallic scent hit his senses. 

His movements slowed as the smell of iron—thick and unmistakable—clung to the air around him. It was overwhelming, suffocating, and far too familiar.

His gaze drifted downward, and his breath caught in his throat. Elsa’s cloak—dark, tattered, and draped loosely around her shoulders—was drenched in crimson. 

Blood stained the fabric in deep, jagged patterns, the stark red an unsettling contrast against the pale skin of her exposed arms.

His stomach churned. Memories surged forward, chaotic and fragmented. The cave. The fight. The slavers' bodies. Hol. The man.The woman. His breath came in shallow gasps as everything came rushing back in stark, horrifying clarity.

His hands trembled slightly as he took a slow step back, heart pounding against his ribs. The warmth he had basked in moments ago turned ice cold with realization, like a cold, merciless grip tightening around his very soul. 

His breath hitched, his chest constricting under the weight of understanding. The warmth of moments ago now felt like a cruel joke, an illusion shattered by the suffocating scent of blood and the truth he could no longer ignore.

He had committed murder.

Sure, he had a reasonable excuse—it was to protect Elsa from a monster disguised as a person. But the justification did little to ease the weight pressing down on his chest.

The act itself, the moment the blade had met flesh, replayed in his mind with unbearable clarity. The sensation of resistance, the way life drained from his victim's eyes—it was all too vivid. It didn't matter that his intentions had been noble; the reality remained unchanged. 

He had taken a life. And now, that truth clung to him, a burden he wasn’t sure he could ever cast off. He never wanted to kill anyone, yet the stain of it was now a part of him, one that no amount of reasoning could erase.

Across from him, Elsa was watching him, her usual amused smirk softened into something less playful—almost thoughtful. Her arms crossed as she studied his every movement.

Elsa: [You’re making that face.] she remarked, breaking the silence.

Subaru flinched slightly at her words but didn’t respond.

Elsa tilted her head.

Elsa: [That face people make when they realize they’ve taken a life for the first time.]  She lifted her hand, inspecting her own bloodstained body with idle curiosity.

Elsa: [There are times like this one where the only choice is kill or be killed… Guilt and regret is something I can't afford. This is a choice I made a long time ago. And certainly you can't afford right now as well.] She trailed off, her eyes glinting in the firelight.

Elsa: [So. Learn to live with it.]

Subaru inhaled sharply, his gaze locking onto the flames in front of him.

Subaru: [Live with it...?] he echoed, his voice hoarse.

Elsa hummed in response, her gaze never leaving him.

Elsa: [Murder isn’t something you can take back. Whether it was justified or not, it’s yours now.] She reached over to grab Subaru's cold noodle cup, stirring its contents absentmindedly.

Elsa: [So, what will you do, Subaru?]

His name on her lips sent a strange chill down his spine. He swallowed hard, gripping his knees as he tried to piece together an answer. What would he do? What could he do?

His mind screamed at him, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume him whole. He wanted to forget, to push it all away like a bad dream, but he couldn’t. The image of the man’s lifeless eyes burned itself into his memory, an unshakable reminder that this wasn’t a dream—it was reality.

A sickening, unbearable reality.

Subaru: […I don’t know,] he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn't possibly live with it.

Elsa let out a quiet sigh, giving the cup to Subaru which he took with both hands.

Elsa: [Well, that’s honest, at least.] She leaned forward, resting her elbow on her knee and propping her chin up with her palm. 

Truthfully she was trying to manipulate Subaru to live like her. To think only about the present and forget everything else but she failed once again. And once again she didn't feel disappointed. As if she wanted him to deny it. 

Elsa: [I won’t tell you how to deal with it. That’s for you to figure out.]

Subaru let out a humorless chuckle.

Subaru: [Yeah, really helpful.]

Elsa grinned, her amusement returning.

Elsa: [I try.]

She watched him for a moment longer before speaking again, her voice softer than before.

Elsa: [If you’re tired, I could offer you a lap pillow,] she suggested, a playful glint returning to her eyes.

Elsa: [Might help you relax a little.]

Subaru blinked at her, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. He let out a small scoff, shaking his head. 

Subaru: [That’s… a weird way to cheer someone up.]

Elsa chuckled, patting her lap invitingly. 

Elsa: [You’d be surprised how effective it can be.]

Subaru flushed red, suddenly aware of the drool he had left on her lap. He wiped his mouth hastily, groaning as his embarrassment deepened. 

Subaru: [Anymore of that and I won't have any dignity left.]

Elsa smirked, tilting her head. 

Elsa: [What dignity?]

Her teasing words hit him like a dagger, making his already burning face even hotter. He sputtered, trying to come up with a rebuttal, but all he could do was open and close his mouth like a fish out of water. His mind raced for a way to defend himself, but he had nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Elsa chuckled at his reaction, clearly enjoying his struggle. 

Elsa: [You’re awfully easy to fluster, you know that? It’s kind of cute.]

Subaru groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. 

Subaru: [I swear, you're enjoying this way too much.]

Elsa merely shrugged, leaning back slightly. 

Elsa: [Can you blame me? Watching you squirm is pretty entertaining.]

Subaru let out a long sigh, slumping forward. 

Subaru: [I don’t know if I should be relieved or worried by how much fun you’re having at my expense.]

His gaze wandered around the cave, his amusement quickly fading as he took in the grim scene before him. The bodies strewn across the ground, the lingering scent of blood thick in the air—it all came rushing back. His stomach churned, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn’t afford to waste time.

Grimly, he finished the last of his noodles, swallowing them down despite the tightness in his throat and the occasional almost vomiting moments. Food was too precious to waste.

Without a word, he grabbed his Phone with the flashlight on and stood up, its dim beam cutting through the darkness as he ventured deeper into the cave. His eyes landed on something in the corner—a shovel. Just what he needed.

He found an area where the ground was softer, less stone and more dirt. With a deep breath, he plunged the shovel into the earth and started digging.

Hours passed in silence, the repetitive motion keeping his thoughts at bay. Occasionally, Elsa would glance at him, but she remained occupied, cleaning herself and the clothes with the water barrels that had been left behind by the slavers.

When the hole was finally deep enough, Subaru made his way to the cages first, not the bodies of the slavers.

He reached for the remains of the innocent—the people who had suffered in this hellish place. The body of a demi-human, long decomposed and marred with signs of torture, deserved a burial.

Tears slipped down his cheeks as he worked, his hands moving with quiet reverence. When the last of them had been laid to rest, he covered the grave with the dirt he had painstakingly dug up.

Then, and only then, did he turn to the slavers.

Three corpses, lifeless and unworthy of mourning. This time, his hands didn’t tremble. No tears were shed for them. They had reaped what they had sown.

As he patted the last bit of dirt into place, he exhaled, his breath shaky. His arms ached from the effort, his fingers numb from the cold earth, but he didn't stop until the grave looked undisturbed, like it had always been there.

He stared at it for a long moment, the reality of it all settling into his bones. The deed was done. The past could not be erased, but at least, in some small way, the innocent could rest.

Subaru made his way back toward Elsa, exhaustion settling deep into his bones. Elsa, having finished her own tasks, eyed him with an unreadable expression before speaking.

Elsa: [Why did you do that?] she asked, tilting her head slightly. 

Elsa: [Were you hoping for some kind of reward? A thank you, maybe?]

Subaru let out a small, tired chuckle, shaking his head.

Subaru: [No,] he said simply. 

Subaru: [I did it because I wanted to. Not because I expected anything from it.]

Elsa studied him for a moment before smirking. 

Elsa: [Huh. That's a strange way of thinking.]

Subaru shrugged. 

Subaru: [Is it? I don't think so. It's just how I am.]

Subaru sat down next to Elsa, noticing that her black cloak was missing. She had likely disposed of it. He glanced at her before asking, 

Subaru: [Do you know where we are?]

Elsa leaned back slightly, arms crossed. 

Elsa: [Looks like we ended up further inside the Orcos Domain, closer to Lugunica. Near the border of Gusteko.]

Subaru's face twisted in frustration. 

Subaru: [Are you serious?! That means all the progress we made walking for days was erased in just one hour!] He ran a hand through his hair, letting out an irritated sigh.

Subaru: [At least we still have the ground dragon. If we can ride it, we should be able to get out of here fast.]

Elsa's smirk returned as she tilted her head. 

Elsa: [Ah, about that... I might've scared the ground dragon away.]

Subaru froze, then stared at her blankly. A second passed before he started scratching his head aggressively.

Subaru: [You what?!] he groaned.

Elsa shrugged as if annoyed. 

Elsa: [It was acting skittish. I might've... startled it.]

Subaru exhaled sharply, trying to contain his irritation.

Subaru: [Great. Just great.] He sighed again before looking at Elsa. 

Subaru: [Then what about heading straight for Lugunica?]

Elsa shook her head. 

Elsa: [Not an option. The border patrol there is heavily fortified. There's no way we’d make it through. And even if we somehow did, Elior forest is even colder and dozens of times more dangerous.]

Subaru slumped forward, rubbing his temples. 

Subaru: [So, in other words, we’re stranded. Perfect.] He let out a tired groan, running both hands through his hair before exhaling sharply. 

Subaru: [You know, I'd really love just one situation where things don't immediately go from bad to worse. Is that too much to ask?]

Elsa chuckled, leaning back on her hands.

Elsa: [Apparently.]

Elsa: [We need to leave, now.] Elsa's tone was firm, her eyes scanning the dark recesses of the cave. 

Elsa: [I doubt only three people were running this entire operation. There's bound to be more.]

Subaru exhaled, nodding in agreement.

Subaru: [Yeah, you're right. Let's get out of here before trouble finds us.]

Before leaving, Subaru took a moment to discard his blood-soaked clothes. He stripped off his thick, warm coat and both his pair of pants, hesitating only for a moment before stuffing the pants into his pack. They were from another world—something irreplaceable. He'd clean them later when he had the chance.

Looking around the cave, he found an old but serviceable pair of warm pants and coat. The fabric was rougher than he was used to, but it would do. 

The thought that these once belonged to someone now long dead made his stomach churn, but he couldn't afford to be picky. He pulled them on over his tracksuit, the extra layer providing some much-needed insulation.

As he turned, his eyes landed on another cloak, draped over a crate. Unlike Elsa’s old black one, this was a muted light brown. He picked it up and tossed it to her. 

Subaru: [Here.]

Elsa caught it effortlessly, raising an eyebrow before draping it around her shoulders with a smirk. 

Elsa: [Does it look good on me?]

Subaru sighed. 

Subaru: [Not bad. Though I think black suits you better.]

She chuckled but said nothing more. With their things gathered, they turned their backs on the cave and stepped out into the unknown once again.

About thirty minutes into their journey, Subaru let out a small sneeze, his breath visible in the cold air. He sniffled, rubbing his nose with his sleeve. The cold was biting, and he knew his body wasn’t built for this kind of weather. It was only a matter of time before he caught something.

Elsa, walking a few steps ahead, noticed his reddening face and furrowed her brows.

 Elsa: [You're shivering,] she noted casually, glancing at him over her shoulder.

Subaru forced a chuckle. 

Subaru: [Yeah, well, it's cold as hell out here, and I ain't exactly used to this.]

Elsa smirked but didn't tease him further. Instead, she slowed her pace, falling in step beside him.

Elsa: [You could ask that blue spirit of yours for help. Might help you.]

Subaru sighed heavily, wrapping his arms around himself.

He thought about the spirit for a moment and decided to call for it internally.

He thought it wouldn't work but to his surprise, it appeared right in front of him, its glow noticeably brighter than before.

Back in the cave, he had felt it almost fade away, but now it moved energetically, as if it had regained its strength.

A small smile tugged at Subaru’s lips as he watched the tiny ball of light dance in the air.

It had been with him through so much already, and yet, he still hadn't given it a proper name. He tilted his head, thinking for a moment before speaking up.

Subaru: [Hey, little guy... how about I give you a name?]

The spirit danced a little in front of Subaru, a confirmation to his question.

Subaru: [How about…

Chapter Text

Subaru: [How about… Saiph?]

It was a star in the Orion constellation, a blue supergiant. He had always liked stars, and something about this one felt fitting for the little spirit.

The way it shimmered in the air, glowing with a soft, blue light, reminded him of the distant celestial body. It was almost as if the spirit carried a tiny fragment of the night sky within it, radiating a quiet but undeniable presence.

As soon as the name left his thoughts, the spirit reacted instantly. 

The ball of blue light suddenly began making loops around Subaru's head, darting and spinning with excitement. It was as if it truly loved the name, accepting it wholeheartedly.

Subaru couldn't help but chuckle at its energetic display, feeling an odd sense of warmth despite the cold that bit at his skin. He hadn't expected such a reaction, but seeing the spirit so happy made him glad he had put some thought into it.

Subaru then sneezed again. He used his sleeve to clean the snot. As doing so he noticed the side of his head which was hit by Hol’s boot was swelling up.

“I guess healing magic isn't as overpowered as I originally thought.”

As if reading his thoughts, Saiph began emitting a soft blue glow over the swollen area. A cool sensation spread across his skin, the pain easing slightly as the magic worked its way through him. He let out a relieved sigh, the tension in his face relaxing just a little.

Subaru: [Thanks, Saiphy,] Subaru murmured with a small smile, deciding on the nickname instinctively. The spirit flickered excitedly, twirling in place as if overjoyed to receive a personal name.

Seeing it so happy, Subaru couldn't help but feel a little lighter himself. Even in the midst of their uncertain situation, this small moment of connection warmed him more than he expected.

Elsa looked at him and said, 

Elsa: [You know, for someone as weird as you, you actually give pretty good names.]

Subaru gave her a deadpan look. 

Subaru: [Should I be happy that I'm good at naming things, or should I be sad that you just called me weird?]

Elsa only laughed at his reaction before turning and walking ahead of him. 

Subaru watched her back as she moved, the memory of her near-death experience flashing in his mind. If not for Saiphy's interference, she wouldn't be here right now. The thought unsettled him, and he quickened his pace to catch up.

Subaru: [Hey, Elsa,] he called out. Catching her attention but she did not look at him.

Subaru: [I’ve been wondering. Do you feel pain? Because back then in the cave when you got um…  injured, you didn't seem fazed at all.]

Elsa tilted her head slightly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

Elsa: [Oh, if that is what you are wondering about, I do feel pain, back then it hurt like hell,] she admitted with a grin, stretching her arm as if testing the lingering pain.

Elsa: [But that's what makes it fun. Every sting, every ache—it's proof that I'm alive. When I feel pain, I know my body's still working, still moving. Nothing reminds you of your existence quite like it.] Her lips curled into a smirk.

Subaru blinked at her, his face twisting into something between disbelief and concern. 

Subaru: [That's... kind of messed up, you know? Most people try to avoid pain, not enjoy it.]

Elsa chuckled, her dark purple eyes gleaming with amusement. 

Elsa: [Ah, but most people aren't me, are they?] She turned to face him fully, stepping closer. 

Elsa: [Pain is the one thing that's always honest. It never lies, never deceives. It's raw, real... beautiful in its own way.]

Subaru wasn’t scared of Elsa because of her way of thinking—he was sad and worried for her. It was something deeper, a mix of sadness and worry. What kind of life had she lived for pain to become her closest companion? He clenched his fists slightly, frustration welling up inside him. He wanted to say something, to tell her that she didn't have to think like that, but what could he even say to change her mind?

Instead, he just exhaled, forcing his thoughts aside, and silently resolved to at least make sure she didn't get hurt again. Even if she claimed to enjoy it.

Saiph floated beside him, its blue glow offering a faint but comforting presence. Subaru glanced at Elsa, who seemed mostly unaffected by the cold, her stride steady and unwavering.

And so, the three of them—Subaru, Elsa, and their newest addition Saiph—continued trudging through the snowy terrain. The cold was relentless, biting at Subaru’s exposed skin despite his layered clothing. Each step left a crunching imprint in the frost, their breath visible in the frigid air.

About the same time Subaru and Elsa were leaving the cave, in the vast snowy forest, one man was desperately searching for a way out.

The slum merchant, the same one Subaru and Elsa had apprehended when he attempted to follow them, found himself in an increasingly dire situation. Bound to a tree for what felt like an eternity, he had been forced to endure the elements, his body growing weak from both hunger and exposure. 

His only source of sustenance had been the scraps of food left behind by the two brats who had overpowered him, and now even those were nearly gone.

The cold gnawed at him, his limbs stiff and aching, his breath coming out in visible puffs. His entire body was sore from sitting in the same position for days, his muscles protesting every slight movement. 

He had been unable to relieve himself properly, forced to endure the humiliation of soiling the ground where he sat. The stench was unbearable, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Shouting for help was not an option. The forest was dangerous, filled with unknown threats lurking beyond the trees. If he made too much noise, he might attract something far worse than starvation. So he remained silent, huddled against the freezing bark, his mind racing with thoughts of escape.

His ears strained for any sound, any sign of approaching footsteps, but the only thing that greeted him was the howling wind and the occasional rustling of distant wildlife. Every second that passed felt like an eternity. His stomach twisted in hunger, his body trembled from both the cold and the overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Would he die here, forgotten in the middle of this merciless snow-covered wasteland? His pride refused to accept such a pathetic end, but as the hours stretched on, his hope of rescue dwindled further. 

Still, he waited, clinging to the desperate wish that someone—anyone—would come across him before it was too late.

Once he found a way to remove the curse the black-haired brat put on him using his strange device, he would find them and make them pay for every second of humiliation they put him through. 

And of course he wouldn’t go alone. 

He was already salivating just thinking about what he was going to do to the girl who mocked him. He let out a low, raspy giggle, his shoulders shaking slightly as he imagined their suffering.

Slum Merchant: [Heh... hehehe... oh, it's going to be delightful,] he muttered under his breath, his lips curling into a twisted grin. The sheer anticipation sent a shiver down his spine, his giggles growing louder.

Slum Merchant: [Just you wait... I'll make sure you regret every second of it…]

And as if to answer his desires, he heard snow crunching behind the tree to which he was stuck. His ears twitched, recognizing the unmistakable sound of footsteps moving cautiously through the frost-laden ground. A shadowy figure lurked just out of sight.

His breath hitched, and he licked his chapped lips before calling out, his voice hoarse from disuse.

Slum Merchant: [Hey... you there...! Help me!]

The footsteps halted immediately, a tense silence stretching between them. His pulse quickened. Whoever it was, they were listening.

Slum Merchant: [Come on, don't just stand there! I-I'm freezing out here...!] he pleaded, frustration edging his tone.

The figure finally began to move again, but instead of stepping around the tree to face him, they lingered just behind it, their presence looming but unseen.

The person then asked,

???: [Why do you need help?]

The merchant let out a bitter chuckle, his breath shaky from both the cold and his anger.

Slum Merchant: [Two cursed brats took advantage of my good generosity and left me here like this!] he spat, his frustration evident.

Slum Merchant: [I showed them kindness, and this is how they repay me! Trapping me out here like some kind of fool!]

The figure listening seemed intrigued, lingering for a moment before silently stepping around the tree. As the merchant finally laid eyes on his potential savior, his breath hitched.

The man was massive, towering over him even while standing still. A thick cloak shrouded most of his form, but his head remained uncovered, revealing sharp, calculating eyes that peered down at him with quiet interest.

The stranger knelt, bringing himself to the merchant’s eye level. The merchant swallowed hard, trying not to let his unease show. 

There was something unsettling about this man’s stillness, the way he simply observed without immediate judgment. The merchant forced a smile, eager to secure his freedom.

Slum Merchant: [Ah... thank you, my good sir! It must be fate that brought us together at this moment!] He let out a forced chuckle, masking his desperation.

The man’s lips curled slightly, his expression unreadable.

???: [Yes... fate, indeed,] he murmured, almost as if he found the word amusing. As he started to remove the rope binding the merchant.

The merchant, eager to ensure this man would free him, nodded enthusiastically.

Slum Merchant: [Exactly! Fate works in mysterious ways, doesn't it? What are the chances that you'd find me out here in the middle of nowhere? I knew the spirits wouldn't forsake me!] His words spilled out quickly, half from nerves, half from his desperate hope that the man was truly his salvation.

Slum Merchant: [If I may ask, what brings you out here in this dreadful weather? Surely, you must have important business?] the merchant asked, attempting to steer the conversation.

The man tilted his head slightly before offering a slow, deliberate response. 

???: [Oh... just the usual,] he said, his voice carrying a weight that made the merchant’s stomach twist.

???: [Just hunting for some prey.]

The words lingered ominously in the air. The merchant forced out another nervous chuckle, his throat suddenly dry.

Slum Merchant: [Ah... I see. A hunter then? Quite the dangerous profession in this terrain. What sort of prey do you hunt, if you don’t mind me asking?]

The man’s lips curled just slightly, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

???: [The kind that fights back.]

As the man finished untying the ropes, the merchant staggered to his feet, stretching his stiff limbs with a relieved sigh. He turned to face the man, eyeing him cautiously. The man, still kneeling, regarded him with an expression that was difficult to read.

???: [Tell me,] the man spoke, his voice calm yet firm, 

???: [What did these brats look like? If they are causing trouble, I should report them to the church.]

The merchant let out a breath, nodding eagerly.

Slum Merchant: [Yes, yes, of course! Those wretched brats... They both had black hair. A girl and a boy. The girl had these... unsettling purple eyes, and the boy, sharp black ones—too sharp for my liking.]

The man hummed as if considering the description, then nodded. 

???: [I see. I'll inform the church as soon as possible.]

The merchant let out a relieved chuckle, feeling the weight of captivity lift from his shoulders. Finally, he was free. He turned around to gather his remaining belongings, the few items that had been left scattered next to the tree.

Big mistake.

A sickening squelch filled the air, followed by a sharp, unbearable pain. The merchant gasped, his breath hitching in his throat as his body stiffened. Moments later, blood spewed from his mouth, painting the snow crimson. 

His mind reeled, struggling to process what had just happened. His hands trembled as they moved instinctively toward his stomach, feeling a foreign, horrifying sensation.

His wide, horrified eyes drifted downward, and terror seized his heart. A thick arm had pierced through his belly from behind, emerging from his abdomen like a grotesque spear of flesh and muscle. 

His own entrails hung from the powerful hand that clutched them tightly, still pulsing with the last vestiges of life.

The merchant tried to speak, but only a weak gurgle came out. His vision blurred, cold dread seeping into his bones.

The man then spoke, his voice laced with amusement. 

???: [Ah, that was amazing... That face, filled with hope, only to be crushed in an instant... I just find it so... exhilarating.] He let out a low chuckle, which quickly grew into a full-bodied, sinister laugh. 

His shoulders shook with mirth as he watched the merchant's body shudder, the light fading from his eyes. 

???: [Ahahahaha... thanks for the treat!]

The man's name was in fact Beli, known as the Gut Hunter.

Beli: [Ah, the prey just keeps getting better and better. This is going to be so much fun.] He pulled his arm out of the merchant's body and licked the blood from his fingers, savoring the taste. His eyes gleamed with an insatiable hunger, already thinking about his hunt after the girl that caught his eye.

And to know she was not alone was an ecstasy for him.

Beli looked down onto his ring. The item he was using to track the girl.

He was getting closer and closer. It was only a matter of time before he caught up to his prey.

Back to Subaru and Elsa.

Saiph had dematerialized to conserve strength and to slowly heal Subaru from the inside. He could feel a faint warmth next to him, a subtle yet comforting presence that reassured him she was still there.

It was a strange and foreign sensation, something he had never experienced before. The awareness of another entity existing so closely, yet without form, sent an odd shiver down his spine. It wasn’t unpleasant—just... new.

Though she lacked a voice, Saiph had a way to communicate with him, sending gentle waves of emotions that drifted into his mind like ripples on the surface of a still pond.

It was fascinating, almost surreal. A mix of curiosity, reassurance, and warmth flowed from her, as if to say, "I'm here." Subaru had to admit—it was kind of amazing as well as cute.

Lost in his thoughts, he glanced ahead at Elsa, her brown cloak shifting with every step she took. She walked just a meter ahead of him, her posture relaxed yet alert.

The soft crunch of her boots in the snow was the only sound accompanying them in the otherwise silent landscape.

He clenched his fists, feeling the cold bite against his skin as he exhaled sharply.

If he truly wanted to protect her, then he needed to learn. To grow. To fight.

His gaze lingered on Elsa for a moment longer.

Just as he was about to start a conversation with her, Subaru suddenly felt a wave of unease wash over him. Saiph, even in her formless state, sent urgent emotions—danger, caution, warning.

Elsa abruptly stopped walking, her head tilting slightly. 

Elsa: [It's too quiet,] she muttered, her voice low and tense.

Subaru blinked, realization dawning upon him as he took in their surroundings. The wind had stilled, the faint crunch of their footsteps now the only sound echoing through the frozen landscape. An eerie silence stretched around them. It was unnatural.

His eyes darted around, scanning for any sign of movement, but the forest remained unchanged. The snow-covered branches stood still, the pale-white terrain revealing nothing suspicious.

Then, as if desperate to communicate, Saiph formed a single droplet of water and let it fall onto Subaru’s forehead.

Confused, he wiped his forehead and instinctively followed the path of the drop—upwards.

And that’s when he saw it.

A monstrous figure hung from the thick tree branches above them. A gorilla-like beast, its massive body almost entirely covered in dense white fur, save for its face, chest, and inner arms, which were exposed with rough, leathery brown skin.

Its yellow eyes gleamed with predatory intelligence, and protruding from its forehead was a single, slightly curved horn.

It was at least four times the size of Subaru, its form muscular and powerful. Though its short, stocky legs made it seem somewhat off-balance, its thick arms—massive as tree trunks—left no doubt that this beast was built for brute strength.

It loomed high above them, blending perfectly with the frost-covered canopy, its camouflage so effective they had completely overlooked it until now. The sheer realization of how easily it had been watching them undetected sent a chill down Subaru’s spine.

In the corner of his vision, he saw Elsa’s reaction. Her sharp gaze locked onto the beast, her body tense. A bead of sweat formed at her temple, something he had never seen her do.

The beast remained still, observing them, sizing them up. Then, its exposed skin began to shift—its brown hide deepening into a vivid, pulsing red.

Subaru’s instincts screamed at him. He didn’t need to be an expert to know one universal rule about creatures like this: red meant bad.

Very, very bad. 

Subaru took Elsa's hand and immediately bolted, his grip firm as he pulled her along. Elsa, caught off guard by his sudden movement, nearly stumbled before catching herself.

Elsa: [What—?!] she started but quickly cut herself off when she turned her head to look behind them.

The beast, now free from its perch, crashed down from the tree with an earth-shaking thud, sending chunks of snow flying. Its massive frame moved with an unnatural agility, its glowing red skin pulsing as if alive, eyes gleaming with primal hunger.

Elsa yanked her hand free from Subaru's grasp and fell into step beside him, her instincts kicking in. She ran with fluid precision, her feet barely sinking into the snow as they weaved through the thick forest.

Unlike them, the beast had no concern for obstacles. It plowed through the trees with terrifying ease, splintering trunks and sending shards of bark flying in its path.

Subaru's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming out in quick, visible puffs of air. He knew they wouldn't last long at this pace. They needed a plan—fast.

His eyes darted frantically around the terrain, searching for an opening, a place to hide, or a way to lose the creature.

Then, in the distance to his left, he spotted it—a river. Its surface wasn’t frozen yet, probably because it was still daytime, allowing the light to reflect off the flowing water.

He would have to swim against the current for about 20 meters to reach the other side all while going against the current.

Without hesitation, he reached for Elsa’s hand again and pulled her toward it. 

Subaru: [This way!] he yelled.

Elsa, still running, frowned as she caught sight of their destination. 

Elsa: [Subaru, that’s a river! It’s a dead end!] she called out, her voice sharp with urgency.

Subaru: [I know! Just trust me!] he shot back, his grip tightening. He could feel her hesitation, but he didn’t have time to explain. If Elsa was calling it a dead end, then she likely didn’t know how to swim—a problem he'd deal with when they got there. Right now, his only focus was their survival.

As he neared the river, Subaru glanced over his shoulder to gauge the distance between them and the pursuing beast. But what he saw sent a chill down his spine. The creature had come to a complete stop, no longer charging forward. Instead, it was using its massive hands to scoop up heaps of snow, packing them together with frightening precision. Stones and broken branches were mixed into the growing mass, adding weight and lethality to the formation. The resulting snowball was no ordinary projectile—it was colossal, almost the size of a large boulder. 

Subaru swallowed hard. He had underestimated the beast. It was far more intelligent than it initially appeared. The moment he had turned towards the river, it must have realized his plan. And now, it had devised a countermeasure.

Before he could even formulate a new plan, the monstrous snowball was hurled in their direction. The force behind the throw was staggering, sending the massive projectile careening toward them at terrifying speed. It closed the distance in mere seconds, leaving them no time to dodge or react properly.

Subaru's mind raced as the icy missile bore down on them. He saw his life flash before his eyes—fleeting images of everything he had gone through, everyone he had met. Was this it? Was this how his story ended?

Then, just before the massive snowball could crush them both, a brilliant blue light materialized before him. Saiph appeared in a dazzling glow, her energy manifesting into a towering wall of thick ice. The wall shot up from the ground instantaneously, its smooth crystalline surface glistening in the cold light.

The impact was tremendous. The snowball exploded upon collision, sending shards of ice, snow, and debris flying in all directions. The force of the remaining impact, however, was still powerful enough to send Subaru and Elsa hurtling backward through the air.

Instinct kicking in, Subaru wrapped his arms around Elsa, pulling her close.

Subaru: [Hold on to me and take a deep breath!] he shouted over the roaring wind.

Elsa barely had time to react before they both plunged into the icy depths of the rushing river below.

The water was freezing cold, an icy grip that wrapped around Subaru’s body the moment they plunged in. The shock of it stole his breath, but he had no time to react—only to act. The current was fierce, a relentless force dragging them downstream.

Subaru gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on Elsa, shifting her in his grip.

Elsa didn't hesitate. She responded instinctively, her arms snapping around his chest, clinging onto him as if he were the only solid thing in this chaotic torrent. He could feel her heartbeat  against him, a brief shiver running through her body as the icy water bit into their skin.

He couldn't fail. Not here. Not now.

With everything he had, Subaru kicked and thrashed against the current, using both his arms and legs to propel them upward. The near-freezing water worked against him, sapping his strength, making every movement feel sluggish and forced. His lungs burned, screaming for air, but the surface was still just out of reach.

The pressure in his chest became unbearable. He was running out of air, his vision darkening at the edges. Just one or two more meters. Just a little more. But his limbs felt like lead, his body betraying him as exhaustion set in. The weight of Elsa against him should have been reassuring, but instead, it was a grim reminder of what was at stake. If he failed, she wouldn’t survive either.

No. He refused to let that happen.

A burst of desperation fueled him. Ignoring the pain clawing at his lungs, he forced one last push, his muscles straining, burning. Then, just as his vision blurred into near darkness—

He broke through.

His head shot above the water, and he sucked in a massive gasp of air, coughing and choking as his lungs eagerly took in the oxygen they so desperately needed. The frigid air burned down his throat, but he didn’t care. He was alive.

Elsa surfaced right after, coughing as well, her grip still firm on him. She blinked rapidly, wiping the water from her face.

Elsa: [You... really don’t know when to give up, do you?] she managed between breaths.

Subaru let out a weak, breathless laugh.

Subaru: [Never... have... and never will.]

Subaru gasped for air, his chest heaving as he fought against the current, each stroke taking every ounce of strength he had left. His limbs ached, his body numb from the freezing water, but the sight of the riverbank ahead pushed him forward. He couldn't stop now. Not when they were so close.

With one final, desperate lunge, he reached the shore, dragging himself onto solid ground. His body trembled violently from the cold, but a flood of relief washed over him as he sucked in deep, ragged breaths. Elsa emerged right beside him, equally breathless, her soaked clothes clinging to her shivering frame.

Subaru coughed harshly, hacking up the water he had swallowed during the frantic swim. The sensation of it leaving his lungs burned, but at least he could breathe again. He rolled onto all fours, his hands pressing against the icy ground as he struggled to steady himself.

Shaking, he lifted his head and turned to look back across the river. The beast stood at the edge, its monstrous form looming ominously. It let out a thunderous roar, the sheer force of the sound vibrating through Subaru’s bones. But to his relief, it didn't advance. It hesitated, eyes locked onto them, its thick fingers curling into the snow in frustration.

Then, after a tense moment, it took a step back. And another. Slowly, begrudgingly, it retreated into the forest, disappearing into the white abyss.

Subaru collapsed onto his back, exhaustion finally catching up to him. His chest rose and fell heavily as he stared up at the sky, the cold air soothing against his burning lungs. He let out a weak chuckle, his breath visible in the frigid air.

Subaru: [That... was way too close…] he muttered between panting breaths.

Elsa, lying beside him, tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. Then, after a pause, she smirked.

Elsa: [You really do have a knack for making difficult things work, don't you?]

Subaru let out another breathless laugh.

Subaru: [Yeah... but hey... we're alive, right?] he said, his voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and relief.

Elsa turned her head slightly, her smirk softening.

Elsa: [Barely. You really are a lucky idiot, you know that?]

Subaru let out a raspy chuckle, shifting his gaze to the overcast sky. 

Subaru: [Yeah, but a lucky idiot. I'll take that over being a dead genius any day.]

Just moments after, snow started falling once again, drifting down in a relentless flurry that painted the world in white. Subaru cursed out loud, frustration evident in his voice. 

Subaru: [Are you kidding me? We just got out of one mess, and now this? We can't catch a damn break!]

The chilling wind bit at his skin, and he clenched his arms around himself for warmth. They needed to find shelter—now. If they didn’t, it wouldn't be long before the cold robbed them of their strength entirely. Hypothermia was a very real threat, and with both of them drenched from head to toe, the freezing temperature was an enemy they couldn't ignore.

Just then, a dim glow flickered to life, and Saiphy materialized beside them, though her normally bright light had dimmed significantly. 

Subaru immediately recognized the signs—she had overworked herself again. Despite that, she still pushed herself to appear before them. 

Subaru: [Hey, you didn’t have to do that,] he muttered, concern lacing his voice.

Saiphy pulsed gently, as if reassuring him that she was fine, but Subaru wasn’t convinced. Even in her weakened state, she had chosen to show up. That alone made him incredibly grateful. 

Subaru: [Seriously, though,] he murmured with a sigh,

Subaru: [You really saved our asses back there.]

But gratitude would have to wait. Right now, they needed to move before the cold claimed them. With a renewed sense of urgency, Subaru turned to Elsa.

Subaru: [We have to find somewhere to hole up, fast. You got any ideas?]

Elsa brushed wet strands of hair from her face, her breath visible in the frigid air. 

Elsa: [We keep moving. There's bound to be some kind of shelter nearby. We just have to find it before we freeze.]

Subaru exhaled sharply, nodding.

Subaru: [Then let's go. No way am I dying here, I didn't swim through that entire river just to die on land.]

As Subaru tried to stand up, a sharp, searing pain flared in his left leg, a sensation so sudden and intense that it nearly made him collapse back onto the icy ground. He gritted his teeth, steadying himself as he glanced down to inspect the source of the pain.

A jagged piece of stone, no larger than a finger, was embedded just above his ankle. The wound wasn’t deep, but fresh blood trickled from the gash, staining the snow beneath him in small crimson droplets. He realized with a sinking feeling that if he yanked it out carelessly, the wound could easily worsen, unleashing a heavier flow of blood.

He let out a frustrated sigh. 

Subaru: [Damn it... just what I needed,] he muttered under his breath.

Elsa, who had been catching her breath nearby, noticed his hesitation. 

Elsa: [What’s wrong?] she asked, her voice laced with concern as she stepped closer.

Subaru gestured toward his ankle. 

Subaru: [Just a little souvenir from that whole mess,] he said dryly. 

Subaru: [Got a rock stuck in me. If I pull it out wrong, I might start bleeding like a stuck pig.]

Elsa crouched down beside him, examining the injury with a critical eye. 

Elsa: [You’ll need to stop the bleeding immediately if you take it out. We don’t have time to deal with you passing out from blood loss.]

Subaru let out a weak pained and tired chuckle. 

Subaru: [Yeah, that’d really put a damper on things. You got any ideas?]

She nodded. 

Elsa: [I’ll handle it. Just don’t move.]

Without waiting for permission, Elsa reached into a small pouch on her belt, retrieving a thin strip of wet cloth. Subaru swallowed hard as she gripped his leg firmly. 

Elsa: [This is going to hurt,] she warned.

Before he could brace himself, she swiftly pulled the stone free. A sharp, burning pain shot through his leg, and Subaru inhaled sharply, clenching his fists. Almost immediately, Elsa pressed the cloth against the wound, applying pressure to staunch the bleeding.

Elsa: [You doing okay?] she asked, her tone unusually soft.

Subaru forced a smirk despite the pain. 

Subaru: [Oh yeah. Feels like a spa day.] 

Elsa then helped Subaru up, lending him a steady shoulder so he could walk. His legs felt sluggish and uncooperative, the biting cold making every movement an effort. The wind had picked up pace, howling through the trees as thick snowflakes descended around them, further reducing their already limited visibility. Their wet clothes clung to their skin like ice, leeching away what little warmth they had left. It was unbearable. If they didn’t find shelter soon, they were as good as frozen corpses.

Saiph, ever the diligent guardian, had managed to locate a wooden cabin nestled just above a small incline. Her light pulsed weakly, a clear sign she had overexerted herself once again. Even so, she pointed the way with determined flickers, guiding them forward. The only thing standing between them and potential safety was the climb. It wouldn't be easy, not in their current state, but they had no other choice.

Gathering what little strength remained, they trudged toward the slope, each step heavier than the last, knowing that salvation lay just beyond their reach.

It was an old shack but it was enough for both of them.

Saiph dematerialized as both Subaru and Elsa walked in.

The shack was composed of only one small room; there was no bedroom like the other one they had been in.

But there was a couch and a fireplace, everything they needed.

Elsa gently laid Subaru down on the couch, he was burning with fever. The swelling on his head was getting worse. He was exhausted and had swallowed a lot of water. And now with his new acquired injury he was only getting worse.

Elsa lit up a fire in the fireplace using the remaining logs that resided there.

The heat was reliving. 

She made her way back to Subaru and started removing his wet clothes. Leaving him in only underwear.

He was barely responsive,and in a delirious state.

The only thing he was doing right now was smiling

Elsa: [Why are you smiling?]

Subaru’s smile grew wider as he responded with his eyes closed as they felt too heavy for him to open them.

Subaru: [I'm smiling… because… I'm glad… I was able to… protect you….]

Elsa didn't continue the conversation further, all her attention was focused on keeping the idiot alive.

Elsa searched for warm stuff around the room but found nothing. The shack was truly an abandoned one. Everything was empty.

Subaru was now unconscious fighting for his life.  

But just as she was about to lose him a red ball of light materialised next to Subaru and started to warm him up.

Elsa let out a sigh of relief as she saw Subaru’s breath stabilizing.

He somehow had a really strong spirit affinity. And with black hair and eyes. He was probably the first person to achieve such a feat.

Now more relaxed Elsa started stripping her wet clothes and hanging them near the fire so that they could dry.

While waiting near the fire. Elsa realised how careless she was today she wandered into snow blight territory without even realising.

At this pace they would have to stop their travel towards Eternya.

As there was more and more danger coming their way, and their food was wet and money was running out.

She might have to rely on that person once again to secure a good place for both Subaru and her…. 

Chapter Text

Elsa, now stripped of her wet cold clothes, was now almost completely naked if not for the panties she had on. 

She was exhausted from the entire ordeal that took place an hour ago, her limbs aching from the struggle and the chill still gripping her bones.

The dim glow of the fire cast flickering shadows across the small cabin as she worked to hang the wet clothes of both herself and Subaru, her fingers trembling slightly from the cold. She exhaled, watching the misty breath dissipate into the air, her body desperate for warmth.

Despite being accustomed to the cold, being soaked outside of a hollowed land was still extremely dangerous. The cold took everything away. 

Elsa didn't have any spare clothes, and there weren’t any blankets in the abandoned cabin. There was only a fireplace and a large couch, barely enough to provide comfort, let alone warmth.

She glanced back at Subaru, where a fire spirit was hovering near him, working tirelessly to keep him warm.

She hesitated for a moment, then made her way towards him, kneeling beside him. When she placed a hand on his skin, she found he was burning hot, while she was freezing.

The contrast sent a shiver through her spine, a reminder of just how much heat she had lost. Rather than waiting for her clothes to dry, which would take hours—by which time she would be dangerously weak or even dead—she chose a different method, one that would ensure her survival.

Bringing an arm up to cover her breasts.

She climbed over Subaru's body and wedged herself between the upper part of the old couch and his bare back, pressing her cold skin against his warm one. 

A small gasp left her lips at the contact, her body instinctively clinging to his. 

Elsa: [Warm…]

She could feel his steady breathing, the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he lay there. She stuck to his back, desperate for the heat, letting the warmth gradually seep into her frozen body. The cold night stretched on outside, but here, against him, she could finally begin to thaw. 

The fire spirit vanished once Subaru was no longer wet and started working silently to keep his body heat hot enough to last until Subaru woke up. 

She took advantage of the situation and from behind gently placed her cold ear against Subaru's back, right where his heart was located. She could hear his lungs steadily pumping air, his breath slow and rhythmic in the quiet space. But more importantly, she focused on his heartbeat—a firm, reassuring rhythm that echoed in her ears like a lifeline in the darkness.

She recalled the promise Subaru had made back when they had slept this close together, sharing a sleeping bag for warmth.

"As long as my heart beats, I won't leave you alone. No matter what happens. I promise."

Those words had stuck with her, branded into her mind like an unshakable truth.

A wave of emotion stirred within her as she pressed her ear closer, her fingers lightly tracing against his skin, almost as if seeking further confirmation that he was still there, still alive. Her grip on his back tightened ever so slightly.

She exhaled softly, her breath warm against his back as she whispered, not to anyone in particular, but to herself.

Elsa: [Then you must not die, no matter what, Subaru…] Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the depth of her feelings.

A true smile made its way onto her pale white face, her eyes half-lidded with a rare sense of satisfaction. This was the first human being she had ever truly cared about in her entire life. 

Elsa for the first time fell asleep peacefully…

Subaru woke up coughing violently, his lungs burning as if he had inhaled ice itself. His head throbbed with an unbearable pain, forcing him to press a shaky hand against his forehead. The cold from earlier still lingered in his bones, and every breath felt like sharp needles piercing his lungs. His body was heavy, sluggish, as if still trapped in the icy embrace of the freezing water.

Slowly, his senses sharpened, and he became aware of the warmth radiating against his back. It was soothing, comforting even, a stark contrast to the biting chill he had endured before passing out. His mind was foggy, struggling to process his surroundings, but he could feel a soft rise and fall of breath against him, rhythmic and steady. Someone was clinging to him from behind.

Blinking groggily, he tried to move, only to find himself restricted. A weight was pressing against his head, preventing him from turning around. 

Confused, he willed his sluggish arm to move and reached up, only to feel a small, firm pressure against his cheek.

Looking at what was restricting his movement, he noticed it was one of Elsa’s fingers, pressing into his cheek with unexpected strength.

Subaru: [Elsa...?] Subaru croaked out, still struggling to fully wake up.

Elsa’s voice came in response, calm and soothing. 

Elsa: [Look near the fire.]

Subaru obeyed, forcing himself to shift his gaze toward the flickering flames. His blurry vision slowly adjusted, and he saw their clothes draped near the fire, drying from the dampness of the icy water.

His sluggish brain put two and two together, and realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

His gaze dropped to his own body. His chest was bare, exposed to the air, his skin slightly flushed from the heat of the fire. The only thing keeping him from being completely naked was the thin fabric of his boxers. A deep crimson blush erupted on his face as the situation fully registered in his mind.

Elsa then leaned in close, her lips just inches from Subaru's ear, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

Elsa: [Good morning. Did you have sweet dreams?] she whispered, her warm breath sending a shiver down his spine.

The close proximity, combined with her sultry tone, made Subaru's face flare up as red as blood. His heart pounded erratically in his chest, his mind racing as he struggled to find a coherent response.

Subaru, stuttering uncontrollably, attempted to ask the pressing question clawing at his thoughts. 

Subaru: [E-Elsa... are you... um... are you —]

Before he could even finish his sentence, Elsa cut him off.

Elsa: [Yes, I am naked,] she said casually, as if discussing the weather. Her words hit him like a truck, making his mind short-circuit.

Subaru's face, already burning, felt like it had reached new levels of heat, his thoughts spiraling into a chaotic mess of embarrassment and disbelief.

Elsa then stretched slightly before announcing, 

Elsa: [I'm getting up.] Without hesitation, she started climbing over Subaru's body, her movements slow but deliberate.

Subaru, still reeling from the earlier embarrassment, flinched and stammered,

Subaru: [W-Wait! Hold on a second!]

But Elsa ignored him completely, her focus solely on getting up. Subaru, realizing there was no stopping her, squeezed his eyes shut tightly, unwilling to risk seeing anything that would send his heart into further turmoil.

He could hear the rustling of fabric as Elsa began dressing, the faint shuffling of her movements filling the quiet cabin. Despite keeping his eyes shut, Subaru instinctively curled his arms around himself, trying to shield his mostly bare body from the overwhelming awkwardness of the situation. With no blanket to grasp onto, he could only rely on his own limbs to provide some semblance of comfort, though it did little to ease his flustered state.

His mind raced, trying to process everything that had just happened, but all he could do was lay there, waiting for the moment to pass while his face remained impossibly flushed.

Subaru then remembered the sensation he felt when Elsa was pressing herself onto his back—the soft warmth of her skin against his, the subtle rise and fall of her breathing against his back.

His face turned an even deeper shade of red as the vivid memory played in his mind. He quickly averted his gaze, trying to shake off the embarrassment, but the heat lingering in his cheeks refused to fade.

He then groaned dramatically, burying his face in his hands.

Elsa casually tossed Subaru's clothes onto him with a smirk. 

Elsa: [Get dressed,] she said, stretching her arms above her head.

Elsa: [I'll handle lunch.]

Subaru caught the bundle, still flustered.

Subaru: [Y-Yeah, right... Thanks, I guess.]

Elsa chuckled at his reaction, turning her attention to preparing their meal as Subaru hastily began pulling his clothes on, his face still burning from the earlier embarrassment.

Subaru, still flustered from everything that had transpired, wasted no time in complying, his movements quick and almost frantic as he pulled his clothes on. The warmth of the fabric was a welcome comfort against his previously chilled skin.

As he finished dressing, his eyes instinctively drifted downward to his left leg. The wound from earlier had stopped bleeding, leaving behind a fresh scar as a lingering reminder of their struggle. He ran his fingers lightly over it, his mind flashing back to the moment of pain before shaking the thought away.

Just as he was contemplating the past events, a familiar warm light flickered beside him. Saiph materialized next to him, her glow softer than usual, a telltale sign of exhaustion. 

Saiph floated closer, her light flickering faintly as she hovered above Subaru.

A soothing blue glow radiated from her, spreading warmth through his skull. The throbbing pain that had been hammering against his senses gradually dulled, replaced by a relieving calm. Subaru let out a slow exhale, his body visibly relaxing under the comforting touch.

Subaru: [Thanks, Saiphy,] Subaru murmured, offering her a small smile. He truly appreciated her presence and assistance, especially in moments like these.

Saiph let out a small bright flash of light to show her reassurance,  her glow pulsing briefly before she floated back slightly, seemingly satisfied with her work. 

Subaru watched her for a moment longer before shifting his attention back to Elsa, who was already preparing their meal with an air of casual confidence, as if their near-death experience the night before had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Elsa then sighed as she informed Subaru that most of their food had been lost in the river. They were left with only a few remaining raw vegetables and some jerky, both of which had been drenched in water. She ran a hand through her still slightly damp hair before deciding, 

Elsa: [I'll make a soup out of these. It's not much, but it should at least keep us going.]

Subaru nodded absentmindedly but then froze, his expression shifting into one of sudden realization. There was something he had completely forgotten—his phone.

A chill, entirely unrelated to the cold, ran down his spine as he frantically patted his pockets.

Subaru: [Oh no... no, no, no…]

His mind raced. The phone had been on him the entire time. But it wasn’t waterproof. There was no way it could have survived the plunge into the river. 

Subaru: [Shit!] he muttered under his breath, panic beginning to creep in as he searched his damp clothing, patting every possible pocket. But he found nothing.

His breathing quickened, his pulse hammering in his ears. Losing that phone was more than just an inconvenience—it was one of his few connections to his old world. 

Subaru: [Elsa! Have you seen my phone?!] he asked, his voice more desperate than he intended.

Elsa, who had been calmly slicing some vegetables for the soup, turned around with a slightly amused expression. Without a word, she simply lifted her hand and pointed.

Subaru followed her gaze, looking down—and his heart nearly stopped. There, in his own hand, was his phone.

Subaru: [Wha—?] He blinked, completely dumbfounded. He was sure—absolutely sure—it hadn’t been there a second ago. His fingers curled around the device instinctively, but his mind reeled. How had he not noticed it before? Was he losing his mind?

Elsa chuckled lightly at his dumbfounded expression. 

Elsa: [You must be delirious, Subaru. Maybe the cold messed with your head.]

Subaru didn't respond. He swallowed hard and, with shaky hands, pressed the power button. The screen lit up instantly, bright and undamaged, as if it had never even touched the water.

His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of relief and confusion washing over him. This shouldn’t have been possible. The phone should’ve been fried. Yet here it was—working perfectly fine.

Subaru stared at the screen, unable to shake the eerie feeling creeping up his spine. Something wasn’t right.

To test a theory that was on his mind. He slammed the phone straight to the ground with as much force as he could muster, watching as it caved into the wooden planks of the floor.

The loud thud echoed through the cabin, causing Elsa to glance up briefly from her meal prepping with a raised eyebrow. Subaru bent down, picking it back up, his breath catching in his throat. 

There was not a single crack, not even a scratch. His heart pounded in his chest as he turned it over in his hands, pressing the power button. The screen came to life instantly, glowing as if nothing had happened. Subaru was utterly dumbfounded. This was yet another change to his phone since arriving in this world—a change he couldn’t begin to understand.

Meanwhile, Elsa had finished preparing the soup and brought a steaming bowl over to Subaru. His legs were trembling from exhaustion, his muscles still weak from the hours of swimming. He barely managed to sit up properly as Elsa handed him the bowl. 

Elsa: [Here. Eat,] she said simply, settling down beside him with her own portion. 

Subaru: [Thanks Elsa,] before looking down at the contents of his bowl.

The soup had a murky, unappealing color, the chunks of vegetables floating in the broth looking less than appetizing. He hesitated, then realized there were no spoons or utensils. He and Elsa would have to eat the old-fashioned way—by drinking straight from the bowl.

With a resigned sigh, Subaru brought the bowl to his lips and took a tentative sip. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, his entire body recoiled. He coughed, nearly spilling the soup as he swallowed with great difficulty.

The taste was beyond horrible—it was an assault on his taste buds. The broth was bitter, the vegetables somehow both mushy and hard at the same time, and there was an overwhelming, indescribable aftertaste that made him question if this was even edible.

He wanted to vomit, but he couldn't bring himself to do it—Elsa had worked really hard to prepare this meal, and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her feelings. 

His face turned a sickly green hue as he forced himself to take another sip of the horrendous soup, each swallow feeling like a punishment. His throat burned, his stomach churned, and he could swear his body was actively rejecting the substance. Yet, he continued eating, struggling to keep up appearances.

Elsa, watching Subaru's obvious suffering with a knowing smirk, leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm, her eyes glinting with amusement. 

Elsa: [So? How is it?] she asked, her voice teasing but still laced with genuine curiosity.

Subaru barely managed to suppress a gag, his face twitching and his stomach churning. He could feel the contents of his stomach threatening to make their exit, but he locked eyes with Elsa. With what little dignity he had left, he forced a smile, the effort behind it almost painful. 

Subaru: [It's... amazing. Really. Best meal I've ever had,] he said, his voice strained and shaking as he spoke the words.

Elsa chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes as she observed him, her head tilting to the side in slight amusement. 

“When it come to certain things you're a bad liar.” 

For Elsa, food was just a necessity—something to fill the stomach and keep her going. She never really paid much attention to taste or presentation, having spent most of her life struggling to survive. There were no fancy meals or carefully crafted dishes in her past. If it was edible, it was good enough for her.

Cooking, to Elsa, was just an instinctual act, a way of combining whatever ingredients she could find to sustain herself. The concept of cooking with care, with any focus on taste or quality, was a luxury she had never known. And because of this, Subaru’s reaction to her unorthodox cooking was nothing short of amusing to her.

Subaru finally gathered the strength to speak, the words leaving his mouth in a voice that held both confusion and embarrassment.

Subaru: [Elsa I have a question to ask: —-Why were um… so close to me?]

Elsa raised an eyebrow, her lazy smirk never leaving her face.

Elsa: [Obvious, isn’t it?] she asked nonchalantly, stretching slightly, as though the answer should have been painfully clear.

Elsa: [You were warm. I was cold. That’s all.] She made no effort to hide the casualness with which she spoke, the statement almost matter-of-fact, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Subaru blinked, his mind racing to process the words. 

Subaru: [Wait... why was I warm? It's freezing out here and if anything I should have been the one freezing.] The thought had not quite hit him until now, and he was genuinely puzzled. The temperature had been well below freezing, and yet, he had woken up to find her pressed against him as if seeking warmth.

Elsa’s smirk only widened at his confusion. She tilted her head ever so slightly, her eyes glinting with amusement. 

Elsa: [Apparently, you have more than one spirit following you,] she explained, her tone casually intrigued, as if discussing something as simple as the weather.

Elsa: [While Saiph does her glowing healing thing, this new one seems to be a fire spirit. Probably the same one that lit the fire when you were so desperate to get the spirits to help you.]

Subaru’s eyes widened in realization, a mixture of excitement and wonder flooding him as he absorbed the information.

Subaru: [A fire spirit? Seriously?!] His voice carried an edge of disbelief, but it was tinged with genuine curiosity. 

Subaru: [What did it look like? How powerful is it?]

Elsa shrugged lightly, the motion almost casual.

Elsa: [It was red. I could feel the heat. It was definitely real.] Her tone was matter-of-fact, as though discussing a common occurrence, though there was an undercurrent of intrigue in her words.

Elsa: [You sure do attract some interesting company, Subaru,] she added, her smile stretching a little wider.

Subaru realized it was probably the same spirit that had lit the fire back at the cave when he was desperate to save Elsa. The memory of that moment flashed in his mind, the warmth that had suddenly sprung to life just when he needed it most.

Encouraged by the thought, he closed his eyes and focused, trying to summon the spirit again. He envisioned the flickering flames, the comforting heat, and the presence he had felt that night.

However, despite his efforts, nothing happened. He furrowed his brows in frustration, wondering if he was doing something wrong. Maybe he needed to be in danger again for it to appear? Or perhaps the spirit simply didn’t respond to forced calls? His mind ran through possibilities before he sighed in resignation.

Maybe it was just shy, preferring to act when absolutely necessary rather than at his whim.

And little did he know he was indeed correct as hidden inside the fireplace near the fire, the spirit was staring at him.

Elsa changed the conversation to a more serious one. Her expression shifted to a cold one as she crossed her arms. 

Elsa: [We have a problem,] she stated firmly.

Elsa: [We're really low on food. The temperatures are going to drop even more as the hottest time of the year is about to end. We need to start planning ahead.]

Subaru straightened at her words, his stomach twisting slightly. “Seriously you're telling me that all this cold is only at the hottest time of the year. ” He had been so caught up in their immediate survival that he hadn't thought about what lay ahead. 

Subaru: [So what’s our situation looking like?] he asked.

Elsa let out a sigh. 

Elsa: [Eternya is no longer within our reach. There's no way we can make it there now. And to make matters worse, we lost a lot of our supplies in the river. That includes the sleeping bag, most of our food and—] she paused to gauge Subaru’s reaction before continuing, 

Elsa: [—the gold coins from the slavers we killed. We only have six left.]

Subaru's face darkened.

Subaru: [Six? That’s barely enough for anything.]

Elsa nodded unbothered. 

Elsa: [Exactly. And at the pace we’re going—constantly getting into trouble—we’re going to run out faster than we think.]

Subaru clenched his fists. 

Subaru: [Then what do we do? Do you have a plan?]

Elsa exhaled sharply, glancing toward the snow-covered horizon. 

Elsa: [We have one option. There’s someone I know. He should still be around the Orcos domain.]

Subaru frowned, sensing something unspoken in her words.

Subaru: [And who is this guy exactly?]

Elsa smirked slightly but gave no answer.

Elsa: [Just someone who might be able to help if you push the right buttons.]

Despite his curiosity, Subaru decided not to push the matter for now. Whatever Elsa was hiding, she clearly had her reasons for doing so.

Elsa stretched her arms above her head before settling back down, her gaze fixed on Subaru. 

Elsa: [Alright, let's spend the rest of the day here resting,] she said, her tone firm yet considerate.

Elsa: [The journey ahead is only going to get more exhausting, and you need to let your legs recover properly. We can’t afford you collapsing on us when we need to move fast.]

Elsa: [Besides, the night will come sooner than we think, and I'd rather we be well-rested before we deal with whatever trouble finds us next.]

Subaru agreed with her by giving a simple nod.

So he would remain resting for the rest of the day so that they could head outside tomorrow morning.

Having finished discussing their current state and plans, Subaru was left to his thoughts. Now that he had some free time who choose to delve further into two topics:

His phone and Spirits. 

First he would deal with the mystery behind his phone.

Not only did it have no battery on it. But for unknown reasons to him it worked just fine without losing any battery. It also appeared unbreakable as water and getting thrown onto the wooden floor didn't seem to damage it. And the fact that somehow the phone appeared in his hand when he was searching for it.

First thing he would do was test its durability. Getting up from the couch where Elsa was residing without anything to do. 

He made his way to the fireplace with his phone in hand.

He then took some wood planks from the floor as they were rotten.

This caught the attention of Elsa.

Subaru then crouched down with the fire right in front of him. He placed his phone at the end of the plank and made it go into the fire.

The fire crackled as it received new fuel casting more light and heat. He let it sit there for about a minute or two. And only then did he remove the plank and let the phone fall onto the ground. Touching it would be a good way to get a burn.

He let it cool down for a few more minutes. It was covered in a black and brown dust from the burning fuel. He reached out to it with one finger and made contact with his phone.

Subaru: [...]

The phone was still warm from being in the fire but despite that there was no melting or anything. Wiping the dust from atop of it. It was still working with no signs of damage at all.

Subaru: [...]

Having realised that his phone was practically indestructible. He moved on to his second question.

He went back to the couch where Elsa was looking at him with curiosity in her eyes. He had left the phone near the fire. It was a good 4 meters away from him.

This question came from when he was searching for his phone only to somehow end up in his hand. Elsa said he must have been delirious but he chose to trust his gut.

He opened his right arm and placed it on his lap leaving it opened. He closed his eyes and fought about getting his phone. He waited for about 30 seconds to see if he would notice something in his hand but nothing happened.

Once he reopened his eyes. He glanced down onto his hand.

Subaru: [Nothing.] Subaru sighed he must have really been delirious.

He then noticed Elsa staring at him with a dumbfounded expression. Using his right hand to scratch the back of his head and with a bit of embarrassment he spoke.

Subaru: [Ah! Sorry I must have looked like an idiot. Just wanted to try something out…]

He noticed Elsa was not looking onto his eyes but onto his left hand. 

Following her gaze. He found his phone on his left hand.

Elsa: [Is that supposed to happen?] Elsa said as she glanced onto the phone which had somehow appeared onto his hand.

Subaru: [Well to be honest. A normal phone doesn't do anything like this. It's been acting really weird ever since I arrived to this world] Subaru said with an expression of astonishment and confusion.

Subaru: [Ok. That answers all my questions about my phone.] Subaru said as he threw it into one of his pockets.

He then turned to Saiph which was also floating next to both of them. Subaru could feel curiosity radiating from her being, which made him crack a genuine smile.

Subaru: [Hey Elsa, do you know anything about spirits?] he questioned Elsa.

Elsa pondered for a bit before answering.

Elsa: [I only know they are more important than people in this kingdom. People who have an affinity for them are favoured, while the opposite, people who tend to ward off spirits, dark hair or eyes, are cursed,treated harshly and often killed. You are an exception I believe… Other than that nothing else.]

Subaru: [Thanks for the help Elsa!] Subaru grinned at Elsa.

“So I basically have to learn on my own.. Fine. I guess I should start.” Thought Subaru as he gazed at the floating Saiph. 

Feeling his gaze on her, Saiph started moving erratically.

It was now the middle of the night. 

Subaru was sleeping, his breaths slow and even. He was exhausted from trying to talk and learn things via Saiph even though the latter couldn't speak, while Elsa lay awake, staring at the ceiling of their shelter. 

No matter how much she tried, sleep refused to come.

Something felt off, an unease settling deep in her bones.

The wind outside howled, carrying a chill that seeped through the walls, but that wasn't what was keeping her awake.

She turned onto her side, glancing at Subaru, who shifted slightly in his sleep, murmuring something under his breath. Elsa let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through  the ends of her curly hair. 

Whatever was bothering her, she needed to figure it out before it became a problem.

But before she could do anything, a sudden, sharp knock echoed through the shelter's door, shattering the eerie silence of the night.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Subaru's eyes snapped open at the sound, his instincts kicking in immediately. He let out a startled gasp, his breath hitching as he forced himself upright.

Subaru: [Wha—? Who the hell?] he muttered groggily, rubbing his eyes.

Elsa didn’t hesitate for a second, her senses on high alert. Bolting toward the knife she had left on the table beside the shack’s wooden walls. 

Elsa: [Stay sharp, Subaru,] she whispered harshly, her fingers stretching toward the weapon.

But just as her fingers were about to grasp its handle, the unexpected happened. 

CRACK!

Without warning, a powerful hand burst through the fragile wooden wall, its fingers clamping around Elsa’s wrist like an iron vice. 

Elsa: [Gah!] she gasped, her eyes widening in shock as she struggled against the unyielding grip. The rough skin of the hand dug into her flesh, sending a sharp pain through her arm.

Subaru’s breath hitched, his heart slamming against his ribs as he scrambled to his feet.

Subaru: [Elsa!] he shouted, his voice thick with panic.

The deep, menacing voice of the unknown assailant filled the room, a voice laced with cruel satisfaction.

???: [Found you,] the assailant said, the words rumbling like a death sentence.

Elsa grit her teeth, thrashing against the grip.

Elsa: [Tch—!] she snarled, her other hand reaching for the knife at her side.

The attacker’s grip only tightened, the sheer force making her wrist crack audibly. 

???: [You’re not going anywhere,] the voice sneered, pulling her closer with unnatural strength.

Subaru, fueled by sheer panic, shot up from his spot and lunged toward Elsa, desperate to free her.

Subaru: [Elsa! Hang on!] he shouted, his voice raw with urgency. 

But before he could reach her, the attacker used Elsa’s own arm as leverage, yanking her toward Subaru with such overwhelming force that when he instinctively tried to catch her, the impact sent him flying backward.

Subaru: [Gah—!] Subaru gasped as his back crashed into the opposite wall with a sickening crack. The shockwave of pain rippled through his ribs, and a sharp, metallic taste filled his mouth. He coughed, his breath hitching as warm blood trickled down his lip.

Subaru: [Damn it... I think I broke something,] he groaned, clutching his side as the pain spread.

Then, as if stepping from a nightmare, the figure entered the shelter. The heavy thud of his boots echoed ominously with each step, shaking the wooden floor beneath them.

Towering over them both, the intruder was an enormous man, at least twice the size of Elsa and Subaru. A heavy, dark brown cloak draped over his massive frame, obscuring most of his features, but his muscular arms and bare head were exposed, revealing a terrifying presence. 

The dim light cast long, menacing shadows across his face, making it impossible to decipher his expression, but the overwhelming aura of menace he exuded was undeniable.

Elsa exhaled sharply, her brows furrowing, she glanced up at her assailant, her expression unreadable.

Elsa: [Who are you?] Despite having a broken wrist, she didn't panic, instead keeping her breathing controlled as she assessed the situation.

The deep, rumbling voice of the assailant sent chills through the air, carrying a weight of undeniable menace.

???: [Hmph,] he grunted, the sound low and deliberate, laced with cruel amusement. His lips curled into a twisted smirk, as if savoring the fear in the air.

???: [Names are meaningless,] he continued, his voice a slow, deliberate drawl.

???: [This isn't a meeting—it's the natural order. Prey against predator. And you already know which side you're on don't you?]

Elsa didn’t survive all her life on luck alone. She had endured because of her razor-sharp adaptability, her ability to read a situation and react instantly. And right now, she could tell with chilling certainty—the man in front of her wasn’t just dangerous. He was a beast in human form, something primal and terrifying lurking beneath his exterior.

The raw, oppressive aura he exuded made it clear that he wasn’t just a threat—he was a  terrifying predator.

Before the man could take another step, a sudden flash of light filled the room. 

Saiph materialized in an instant, her form glowing with a fierce, icy blue radiance. Without hesitation, the spirit unleashed her power, causing jagged ice crystals to burst forth from the ground, their razor-sharp edges gleaming in the dim light as they shot toward the intruder.

The man barely had time to react as the ice shards struck, forcing him back with surprising force. A low growl escaped his lips, more irritated than wounded, as he twisted his body to avoid a direct hit.

Subaru, standing frozen in place, suddenly felt a surge of emotion rush through him—an overwhelming sense of urgency and warning. It wasn’t his own fear.

It was Saiph. Her presence pressed against his mind like an unspoken command, her magic resonating with his thoughts. She wasn’t just fighting—she was telling him to run.

His breath caught in his throat. He clenched his fists, torn between instinct and reason. But the look in Saiph’s glowing form left no room for doubt. If they didn’t move now, they wouldn’t get another chance.

As Saiph was engaged in the fight, another spirit emerged from the fire they had lit, its form flickering like living flames as it joined the battle against the towering man. The heat radiating from it was intense, crackling in the air as it launched fiery projectiles toward their adversary.

Elsa was still lying against Subaru's chest, panting for breath, her body weak from being thrown at Subaru.

Subaru himself could barely hold himself upright. His ribs ached fiercely, each breath sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. 

He knew deep down that he wouldn't make it out of this alive—not with the state he was in. But even so, he clenched his fists, determination burning through his pain. If nothing else, he could still keep his promise to Elsa. He could still buy her time to escape.

With great effort, he forced himself to focus, turning his gaze to Elsa. His voice was low and strained, but firm. 

Subaru: [Elsa listen to me.] he whispered, his breath ragged. 

Subaru: [You're going to make it out of this, no matter what I'll make sure of it. But you have to do exactly what I say…]

Elsa started hearing him. His voice, though strained, carried a sense of urgency that cut through the chaos. He told her to take the food pack and get as far away as possible—he would stall for time. 

There was no hesitation in his words, no doubt. He was determined to see her escape safely.

Elsa, however, didn’t immediately respond. She remained still, her gaze lowered to the ground, her expression hidden behind the curtain of her dark hair. Her sharp eyes, usually so piercing, were obscured, making it impossible to read her thoughts. But she didn’t argue. She simply exhaled softly.

Subaru swallowed hard, then forced himself to his feet despite the sharp pain lancing through his ribs. His fingers trembled as he reached for a wooden plank situated beside him, gripping it tightly as he steeled himself. 

Subaru: [If I survive this,] he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with conviction, 

Subaru: [We'll definitely meet again, I promise you Elsa.]

His gaze darted across the battle, scanning for an opening. The spirits clashed with the monstrous figure, fire and ice colliding in dazzling bursts of energy. He needed to act fast—before it was too late. 

The man wasn't damaged at all; it was as if his body was made out of pure metal, completely impervious to harm. The spirits had realized this grim truth and were doing everything in their power to stall him, their ethereal forms flickering, dimming as they neared the end of their strength. Their glow pulsed weakly, desperation radiating from them as they strained to hold on, but it was clear that they were about to disappear completely.

Saiph gathered every last drop of her energy, forcing herself to conjure an immense ice barrier in a final effort to trap the man inside. Massive crystalline walls shot up around him, their jagged forms radiating cold so intense it made the air shudder.

However, with a single stomp of his foot, the man shattered the ice as if it were nothing more than fragile glass. Sharp shards exploded outward, glinting like deadly daggers as they rained down uselessly. The barrier had failed.

Before Subaru could react, Saiph suddenly vanished and the other spirit was nowhere to be seen.

Subaru: [No... Saiphyy!] he yelled, his heart dropping into his stomach. He felt the instant loss of his connection with her, and in that moment, something inside him cracked.

A raw, blinding rage consumed him, fueling his body with reckless energy. He lunged at the man, his voice rising into a frenzied scream of fury and despair, his curses ringing through the air.

Subaru: [You bastard! I'll kill you! I'll—]

But his attacks were futile.

With terrifying speed, the man extended his arm and clamped his fingers around Subaru's throat. He hoisted him effortlessly into the air as if he weighed nothing. Subaru choked, gasping for breath, his vision swimming as he locked eyes with the cold, unfeeling gaze of his captor.

???: [Wow I have to say. I'm surprised. To think that you had spirits under your control despite being a cursed boy. Quite the exotic prey I have to say!] the man murmured, his voice carrying no malice, only an unsettling certainty.

He lifted his other hand and extended two fingers. He pressed them against Subaru's belly with a brutal, practiced motion, pinching his flesh with such merciless force that it tore apart his clothes, his skin, his very muscles. A wet, sickening rip echoed as his insides were laid bare.

Subaru's body convulsed as he was unceremoniously dropped to the ground. His stomach was open, his organs spilling onto the dirty wooden floor, steaming in the cool night air.

The heat. That was all he could focus on. The searing, unbearable heat radiating from his wound, his mind misinterpreting it as something other than pain. 

“It burns... why does it burn so much...?" he thought, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his eyes wide with shock as he watched the pool of blood spread beneath him, a crimson stain marking the wood floor of the shack. 

He tried to move his lips, to say something—anything—but only a weak, gurgling sound escaped.

He could feel himself slipping away.

He blamed himself for his weakness which caused the death of Saiph and the fire spirit he never got to meet. 

But at least Elsa was able to get away—

or so he thought.

While bleeding out on the ground Subaru looks up wondering why the man hadn't finished him yet. 

What he saw was the man holding Elsa up by the scruff of her neck while she was with a knife in hand; he couldn't make out what they were talking about. 

Why hasn't she ran like Subaru told her?. Subaru glanced back at the door which Elsa was supposed to use to leave. It was opened but apparently Elsa chose not to run despite Subaru using his life to try stalling for her.

The man gave a smile as he pierced Elsa's belly straight through. Blood came gushing out of her mouth in inhuman amounts. Then the man removed his hand. Reveling what he was clutching, Subaru believed it was Elsa’s Guts.

Elsa then fell right next to him. Instead of a horrified expression anyone would have when they died. She was smiling and her cheeks a small tint of red as life drained from her eyes. 

Subaru instinctively reached out for her hand which laid next to him and grasped it with all the strength he had. And pushing through the pain and exhaustion he managed to utter words filled with heavy determination .

Subaru: [W-wait t-there.... I-i… promise.. I'll s-save… you.]

With those last words uttered using his everything, Natsuki Subaru died.

Chapter Text

Blurred noises filtered through his consciousness, distant and warped, like echoes from another world. Shapes barely registered in his vision, shifting and unclear. Subaru strained to focus, to grasp onto something familiar, until finally, Elsa's voice cut through the haze, smooth and steady.

Elsa: [The journey ahead is only going to get more exhausting, and you need to let your legs recover properly. We can’t afford you collapsing on us when we need to move… Subaru?]

Elsa suddenly stopped speaking as she noticed Subaru’s expression shift. His face, once merely tired, now looked lost—detached from the present, as if his mind had wandered somewhere unreachable.

Subaru: [Huh?] he muttered, his voice weak and unfocused. He slowly raised a trembling hand to his face, staring at it in confusion. His fingers twitched, and a shudder passed through him.

He clenched his teeth, suppressing an unknown fear, before shifting his gaze blankly around the room.

He was sitting on the couch. Elsa was next to him. The wooden walls, the scattered supplies, the dim warmth of the shack—it was all familiar. He remembered this. But something felt wrong. His eyes darted to the window, where soft rays of light seeped into the room.

"Wasn't it nighttime?" Subaru thought, his mind struggling to make sense of it. 

"A dream perhaps?."

His breath quickened as an unsettling dread clawed at his chest. Hesitantly, he brought a hand to his stomach.

A sharp, phantom agony tore through him. His body remembered before his mind did. The unbearable pain of his belly being ripped open, of hands sinking into his flesh—

A violent shudder racked through him, and before he could stop himself, Subaru lurched forward, vomiting everything he had eaten onto the floor. The sickening sound filled the quiet room, his ragged breaths following close behind.

Elsa’s voice came again. 

Elsa: [Subaru…?]

Subaru remembered seeing Elsa dead on the floor next to him. The image burned in his mind, vivid and horrifying, as if it had happened just moments ago. His breath hitched, and a suffocating panic gripped his chest.

Without a second thought, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Elsa, his body trembling as he pressed against her warmth. His fingers dug into her back, desperate for reassurance.

She was solid. She was warm. She was breathing.

Subaru tightened his grip, burying his face into her shoulder, his heartbeat hammering violently against his ribs. He didn’t care if it made no sense—he had to be sure, had to feel that she was alive, unharmed.

Elsa stiffened for a brief moment before exhaling.

Elsa: [What's this now?] she murmured, her tone laced with unnoticed concern.

But Subaru didn’t answer. His arms refused to let go. His mind reeled, teetering on the edge of realization, yet refusing to acknowledge the impossible. He had seen her dead. He had felt his own death. But here she was, right in front of him, as if none of it had ever happened.

Subaru then pulled away for a moment, his breath shaky as he hastily wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. He tried to steady himself, but his fingers still trembled as he lifted his gaze. His dark, hollowed-out eyes met Elsa’s deep purple ones, searching for something—reassurance, an anchor, anything to ground him.

Elsa frowned slightly, tilting her head as she studied his expression. There was something there, something unsettling. His eyes weren’t just tired; they were weighed down by something much heavier, an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

Elsa: [What’s wrong?] she finally asked, her voice unusually soft in Subaru’s ears.

Subaru opened his mouth, then closed it again, unsure of what to say. How could he even begin to explain the dread clawing at his chest? How could he voice the terror of seeing her lifeless one moment and alive the next? He swallowed hard, forcing a weak chuckle.

As he mulled over his next course of action, a familiar glow suddenly emerged beside him. A tiny ball of light materialized in the air, pulsing faintly as if trying to communicate. It was Saiph. She hovered close, her presence washing over him, and despite having no physical form, he could feel the raw emotion she radiated. Worry.

Subaru: [I'm fine, really,] he insisted, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.

Elsa’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t believe him. Studying his face, she noted how his expression had changed. Just moments ago, his eyes had been filled with fatigue but still carried life. Now, they were hollow, distant—haunted. She had seen that look before.

It was the look of someone who had seen their life flash before their eyes. The look of someone who was on the verge of death.

Her lips parted slightly, but she hesitated, studying him further.

His hands were trembling ever so slightly, as if still feeling the echoes of some unseen pain. The way his shoulders tensed, the way his breath came out just a fraction too sharp—it all pointed to something. Something had happened to Subaru. Something he wasn’t saying.

She leaned forward slightly, her voice quieter than before.

Elsa: [Subaru,] she murmured, her tone uncharacteristically gentle. 

Elsa: [What did you see?]

Subaru's eyes widened at Elsa’s ability to see through people with such unsettling accuracy. Despite her youthful appearance—barely older than fifteen—her instincts were razor-sharp, her perception unnervingly keen. He swallowed hard, steadying his breath before exhaling a long sigh.

He knew he could trust Elsa. They had survived together since the moment he arrived in this world, relying on each other to endure the relentless dangers. If there was anyone he could confide in, it was her.

Subaru: [I... I di—]

His voice stopped mid-sentence, his throat tightening as if an unseen force had stolen his ability to speak. Panic surged through him as he tried to move, but his body remained rigid, paralyzed against his will. His breathing hitched, shallow and erratic, as realization dawned—he couldn’t even tremble.

Desperate, Subaru turned his eyes toward Elsa, seeking some sign of movement, some indication that he wasn’t alone in this terrifying stillness. But she, too, remained frozen in place, her expression locked in a moment of quiet concern. Even the fire in the hearth, which had been flickering mere seconds ago, stood eerily motionless. The warm glow of the flames no longer wavered, its heat no longer radiated—it was as if time itself had ceased to exist.

His heartbeat thundered in his ears, each beat slower than the last, as though the very concept of time was slipping away from him. Then, a new sensation overtook his senses—darkness.

At first, it crept in at the corners of his vision, slithering along the edges of reality like an ink spill seeping into fabric. But soon, it became more than a trick of the eyes. The darkness moved with intent, swallowing the room piece by piece.

The frozen flames disappeared first, snuffed out not by air, but by pure, encroaching void. Then, Saiph, her glowing form dimming as she was consumed, vanishing without so much as a flicker. Elsa followed, her body dissolving into nothingness, her existence wiped away as if she had never been there to begin with.

Subaru wanted to scream, to cry out, to reach for her—to reach for anything—but his body refused to obey. And then, at last, there was only him.

Then, out of the suffocating darkness, two black-purple hands emerged, stretching out from behind him like grotesque tendrils reaching from an abyss. Subaru felt an unnatural chill crawl down his spine, but no matter how much he willed his body to move, he remained frozen in place. He couldn't turn around to see who or what was behind him, only feel the suffocating presence pressing closer.

The hands seemed to stretch endlessly, shifting and twisting in impossible ways. One of them slithered forward with an eerie slowness, its elongated fingers brushing against his chin with a cold, unsettling gentleness, almost as if savoring the moment. A shiver wracked his stiffened body as the touch sent a paralyzing sensation through him. Then, without warning, the other hand drifted lower—straight into his chest.

A horrifying pressure engulfed him as the shadowy fingers phased through flesh and bone, wrapping around his beating heart. The grip tightened mercilessly, sending a sharp, searing agony through every fiber of his being. Subaru’s mind screamed in terror, but no sound left his lips. His body trembled as waves of pain pulsed through him, his heartbeat hammering violently against the unnatural hold. 

Then, without any warning, the oppressive darkness shattered like fragile glass, dissipating into nothingness in an instant. The room reappeared as if it had never vanished, reality snapping back into place with an almost sickening abruptness. The fire flickered once more, its warmth returning, and Elsa sat beside him, still frozen mid-motion, her concerned gaze locked on him. The air that had felt thick and suffocating a moment ago now carried the familiar scent of burning wood and cold night air.

Time resumed as though it had never stopped in the first place.

Subaru's body responded before his mind could catch up. He sucked in a desperate breath, gasping like a drowning man breaking the surface of the water. His chest heaved, lungs burning, and his trembling hand shot straight to where his heart resided. It hurt—God, it hurt so much.

A searing, phantom pain pulsed through him, as if the shadowy fingers were still gripping his heart, refusing to let go.

Elsa, noticing his abrupt and pained movement, immediately leaned closer, concern flashing in her sharp, violet eyes.

Elsa: [Subaru? What's wrong?] she asked, her voice uncharacteristically soft, betraying a hint of worry.

Subaru tried to respond, but his throat felt constricted, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His skin was clammy with cold sweat, his mind reeling from what had just happened.

His body knew pain had been inflicted upon him, but no visible wounds remained. Still, the sensation of those unnatural hands squeezing his very existence lingered, leaving him shaken and breathless.

Elsa then spoke again, her voice unusually gentle yet firm.

Elsa: [Just breathe. Take your time.]

Subaru's mind was racing, spiraling into chaos as fragmented memories assaulted him. His thoughts were disorganized, a tangled mess of sensations and emotions. The shadowy hands reaching for him, the suffocating darkness creeping in from all sides, the way time had frozen as if the entire world had stopped breathing. The unbearable pressure crushing his chest, the sharp, agonizing pain, the chilling realization that his heart had been gripped by something unseen.

Then there was the brutal end—his own gruesome demise. The image of Elsa's lifeless body flashed in his mind, so vivid, so horrifyingly real. The sheer terror of it all made his stomach churn, his breath hitching as cold sweat clung to his skin. But beneath the suffocating fear, another thought loomed, one that he struggled to process.

He had gone back in time.

The reality of it sat heavily in his gut, twisting his insides with a nauseating mixture of dread and disbelief. How was this possible? Why did it happen? And more importantly—what did it mean for him? His mind threatened to collapse under the weight of these questions, but then—a voice.

Soft, steady, and familiar.

Elsa: [Just breathe. Take your time.] 

Elsa's voice cut through the storm of his thoughts, wrapping around him like an anchor, pulling him back to the present. The chaos in his head dulled ever so slightly as he focused on her presence, on the warmth of her voice. The trembling in his hands slowly eased, his breathing evening out, as he fought to regain control. Whatever had happened, however impossible it was, one thing remained clear—he was still here, and Elsa was still alive.

Saiph also worked diligently, casting a gentle, soothing glow over Subaru's body, focusing especially on his heart—the very place where his trembling fingers had instinctively clenched. She could sense the lingering pain, the echoes of something unseen yet profoundly felt. The warm light pulsed rhythmically, wrapping around him like an unseen embrace, easing the tension that gripped his frame.

Even the fire spirit, which had remained hidden within the depths of the fireplace until now, emerged in a flickering, ethereal dance. It drifted toward Subaru, its flames flickering softly as if drawn by an unspoken urgency, further surrounding him in a cocoon of warmth and comfort.

Now calmer, Subaru wiped the lingering tears from his eyes, his breath finally steadying. He exhaled shakily, gathering himself before turning his gaze to those around him. His voice, though still slightly unsteady, carried a quiet sincerity as he spoke.

Subaru: [Thank you... really,] he murmured, his words directed at each of them. To Elsa, who had been there for him despite her own reservations; to Saiph, whose gentle presence had soothed his frayed nerves; and to the Fire Spirit, who had emerged in silent support. Their warmth, their presence—it had pulled him back from the abyss. He didn't know what lay ahead, but in this moment, he was grateful beyond words.

He fished his phone out of his pocket and turned it on, the dim glow of the screen illuminating his face. His eyes flickered to the time. 

Nightfall in Gusteko started unnaturally early, around 16:00, due to the region’s heavy, suffocating weather. The sky was practically always cloaked in thick clouds, making daylight a fleeting experience. 

Subaru had learned that the hard way since arriving here. His phone displayed the current time—13:00. That gave them a narrow window of opportunity to escape before the man he had seen arrived at the shack.

Subaru took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself before turning to Elsa, who was staring at him with her cold, calculating purple eyes. He could feel the weight of her gaze, sharp and discerning, as if she could see straight through him. Swallowing hard, he tried to force the words out but found that, for some reason, he simply couldn't say it. No matter how much he willed himself to speak, the truth remained locked inside him like an invisible force sealing his lips shut.

Elsa's piercing stare didn’t waver. She studied him intently, searching his face for any sign of deception. But there was none. His frustration, his helplessness—it was all laid bare before her. After a long pause, her expression softened just slightly, and she spoke, her voice quieter than usual.

Elsa: [Then tell me what you can.]

The unexpected trust in her words hit Subaru harder than he expected. His eyes grew wet, a lump forming in his throat as he hurriedly wiped away the tears that threatened to spill. 

She believed him. Despite her calculating nature, despite how little sense this made, she was willing to trust his instincts. That realization sent a wave of relief through him, but it also strengthened his resolve. He had no time to waste.

Subaru: [We need to leave. Now,] Subaru said, his voice firm, unwavering. 

Subaru: [Danger is coming. A danger we can't stop.]

Elsa's gaze bore into his, her violet irises searching for any hint of doubt. But Subaru's expression remained resolute, his dark eyes filled with unshakable conviction.

That was enough.

She got up from the couch, swiftly grabbing her dagger from the table, along with the remaining supplies they had.

Subaru, meanwhile, turned his attention toward the floating spirits. However, his eyes immediately noticed something unsettling—the red one had disappeared again, leaving only Saiph floating by his side. 

He didn’t have the time to dwell on its absence, nor did he have the luxury of figuring out why it kept vanishing. Right now, his priority was ensuring all of them made it out alive.

Despite the urgency of the moment, his mind drifted, replaying what had just happened over and over again, as if trying to convince himself that it had truly occurred. Just minutes ago, it had been nighttime. He and Elsa had been killed. He had felt it, experienced it in every agonizing detail—the sharp pain, the fading warmth, the sheer terror of those final moments. 

And yet, here he was—alive. Awake. Back in time. He had returned several hours before their deaths, right in the middle of their previous discussion about their next move.

Subaru had always read fantasy books where people summoned to another world received incredible, secret abilities that would allow them to thrive. But for the past few days since arriving in this world, he had believed himself to be an exception—just a powerless bystander with no special skills to rely on, merely struggling to survive.

But now, this changed everything. Something had undeniably happened to him. Something unnatural, extraordinary, and terrifying all at once.

His ability allowed him to travel through time.

Or more accurately—it forced him to. His death seemed to be the trigger. The moment his life ended, he was violently ripped from reality and thrust back to an earlier point, given a second chance whether he wanted it or not. The weight of that realization settled over him like an oppressive fog, making his body shudder involuntarily.

His hand trailed toward his stomach as if expecting to feel the wound that had been there just moments ago, but there was nothing—only the lingering ghost of the pain he could still remember with terrifying clarity. That agony... he never wanted to experience it again. It had been too much, too real, too unbearable.

His thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of it all. Was this a blessing or a curse? 

Based on the little information he had, he decided to give his newfound ability a name.

RETURN BY DEATH.

And the most unsettling thing about Return By Death was that he couldn't mention it to anyone. If he even attempted to speak of it, those black, shadowy hands would seize his heart in an agonizing grip. The pain, though momentary, was unlike anything he had ever felt—so excruciating that he never wanted to test its limits again.

The thought gnawed at him. Who or what controlled this power? It certainly wasn't him. He was nothing more than a helpless passenger, thrown backward in time against his will. Was it the very entity that had summoned him to this world? Some divine force? A cruel, omnipotent being pulling the strings of his fate? He had no answers—only the chilling certainty that he was not the master of his own ability.

For now, all he could do was focus on the one thing that mattered most—staying alive. If death was the key that triggered his return, then he had to do everything in his power to avoid experiencing it again. 

Elsa, now with her dark brown cloak draped over her shoulders, gave Subaru a nod, signaling that she was ready. Subaru hastily pulled on his boots, double-checking their fit before ensuring the fire remained lit, a subtle trick to mask their departure. The warm glow flickered against the walls of the shack, the only trace they would leave behind.

Stepping out into the harsh cold, the two moved in unison, their boots crunching against the thick snow as they navigated their way from the small cliffside shack. Their destination was a much larger cliff further ahead, a vantage point that would grant them a better view of their surroundings. 

The path ahead was steep and unforgiving, the unrelenting snowfall making each step more treacherous. Subaru felt his exhaustion creeping in, his legs heavy and aching from fatigue. His breathing became labored, the cold air stinging his lungs, and his vision blurred slightly from the fever that refused to subside. 

Without Saiph’s quiet, hovering presence lending him support, he knew he would have collapsed long ago.

The snow continued its relentless descent, covering everything in an endless white sheet. After what felt like an eternity of climbing, they finally reached the peak of the cliff. Subaru exhaled sharply, steadying himself before gazing downward.

His eyes landed on the river—the same one he had nearly drowned in. From this height, it was clear just how far down it truly was, roughly forty meters below. If he were to jump, he would undoubtedly shatter a bone or two upon impact.

Subaru: [...]

But strangely enough, he felt no fear—not of heights, not of falling. After everything he had been through, heights seemed like the least of his worries.

Elsa and Subaru scanned their surroundings, searching desperately for any signs of civilization, but there was nothing—only an endless expanse of white trees and a thick blanket of untouched snow stretching as far as the eye could see. The cold was biting, their breaths visible in the frigid air as they trudged forward. Subaru, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him, took a seat on a nearby rock, letting out a heavy sigh as he tried to catch his breath.

He pulled out his phone, the dim glow of the screen illuminating his pale face. One hour had passed since their escape, which meant they had roughly two hours left before the attack on the shack was set to take place.

A small relief, knowing they had managed to put a good amount of distance between themselves and their pursuer. There was no way that man could find them now. Or at least, that was what Subaru told himself.

Despite everything, he couldn't shake the unease curling in his gut. A lingering feeling of dread gnawed at the back of his mind, warning him that something was off. Elsa, ever observant, noticed his troubled expression and spoke up.

Elsa: [We should keep moving. I saw a path in the distance—it might lead us somewhere safer.]

Subaru met her gaze and, after a brief moment of hesitation, nodded. 

Subaru: [Yeah, you're right. Let's go.]

They set off down the mountain, their movements careful and deliberate as they navigated through the snow-covered terrain. The trees cast long, eerie shadows as the wind howled between them, creating an unsettling atmosphere. The air was thick with silence, an unnatural stillness that made the hairs on the back of Subaru's neck stand on end.

It was too quiet. Unnervingly so.  

Having recently learned what too much silence in a forest meant, Subaru and Elsa exchanged tense glances before slowly turning to look behind them. The thick, oppressive stillness clung to the air, suffocating in its unnatural quiet. A chill ran down Subaru’s spine as dread coiled in his gut, twisting tighter with every second that passed. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

“Why?”

Why couldn’t something go well for once? The thought rang through Subaru’s mind like a deafening drum, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

“Why? How? Why? How?”

The words repeated over and over again, a frantic mantra he couldn't silence.

And then, standing only a few dozen meters behind them, the very thing they had prayed never to see again emerged from the shadows.

A gorilla-like beast, its monstrous body almost entirely cloaked in thick, snow-white fur, save for its face, chest, and inner arms, which were covered in rough, leathery brown skin. Its glowing yellow eyes shimmered with intelligence—predatory, calculating, merciless. From its forehead protruded a single, slightly curved horn, a grotesque mark of its terrifying power.

“Why? Why? Why?”

Subaru’s breath hitched as he took in its size. At least four times larger than himself, its hulking frame radiated raw strength. Though it's short, stocky legs gave it an unbalanced stance, the sheer mass of its muscular arms—each the size of a tree trunk—left no doubt that it was built for one thing: overwhelming, brutal destruction.

“Why? Why? Why?”

This was the same creature. The one they had barely escaped from before, only managing to flee by throwing themselves into the freezing river. The one that should have been far behind them, unable to cross. And yet—it was here. Again.

“How? How? How?”

How had it found them? How had it crossed the river? How was it standing there, completely unharmed, when logic dictated that it should have lost their trail?

“Death. Death. Death.”

The last time they had survived by sheer, dumb luck. But this time, luck had abandoned them. Subaru was exhausted. Saiph was drained. There was no river to throw themselves into. No escape route. No brilliant plan forming in his mind. Just the slow, creeping realization that this time, there was no way out.

Creature: [!!!!]

And so, with a sickeningly loud roar, the creature's skin turned a deep, furious red, pulsing with a terrifying intensity. It lunged forward with alarming speed, its enormous form barreling straight toward Subaru and Elsa.

Subaru's body refused to move, his limbs frozen in sheer terror, his mind unable to process the enormity of the threat crashing toward them.

Saiph, mustering every last ounce of her strength, used all that she was, all of her very essence, to create a massive, jagged barrier of spikes in a desperate attempt to halt the beast’s charge. 

The spikes shot up from the ground like a fortress of spears, but it was useless—the beast smashed through them as though they were nothing more than brittle twigs buried in the snow. 

Shards of Saiph's magic scattered through the air, her energy dissipating into the void as she let out a final, exhausted shimmer before vanishing entirely. 

The fire spirit, hidden in the background until now, revealed itself in one last effort, conjuring a fierce fireball that blazed with intensity. It hurled the burning mass at the beast, putting every ounce of energy into the attack.

But it was futile.

With a single, thunderous shout, the monstrous creature exhaled an invisible force that snuffed out the fireball before it could even reach its mark. It was as if the flames had never existed. 

And just like that, the fire spirit was gone, its form erased from existence. Subaru’s heart clenched painfully, an unbearable ache tearing through him as he watched both Saiph and the fire spirit disappear into nothingness. They were gone. Just like that. As if they had never been.

But there was no time to grieve.

The beast continued its charge, its momentum unbroken, its massive claws extending toward its true target—Subaru. 

The realization struck him too late. He had been too slow, too paralyzed by shock and despair to even comprehend what was happening. The monstrous creature was upon him. He braced himself for impact, for the pain, for the end—

And then, in the blink of an eye, he was flying backward.

Elsa had shoved him out of the way.

Subaru tumbled through the snow, landing hard on his side. His vision blurred, but in that moment, he caught sight of Elsa standing in the beast's path. The hood of her cloak had been knocked back, revealing her face—pale, striking, and framed by dark strands of hair. Her violet irises gleamed, a soft smile curling at her lips. There was no fear in her expression, no hesitation.

And then, before Subaru could scream, before he could move, before he could do anything—

The beast struck.

A grotesque, wet sound filled the air as Elsa's body was crushed beneath the creature’s immense strength, reduced to nothing but a mangled heap in an instant. Subaru's breath hitched in his throat, his mind unable to process the horror before him.

Elsa was gone.

Her blood splattered across the pristine white snow, staining the surface with a dark crimson hue.

The blood was so searingly hot that Subaru could see it almost instantly begin to melt the snow beneath it, sending up wisps of steam that mixed with the cold air around them. 

Some of the blood spattered onto his face, and he could now feel the unbearable heat of it—hear the sizzling sound as it touched his skin, a sharp reminder of the violence that had just unfolded. His mind reeled as his eyes followed the trail of blood, unable to tear his gaze away from the horrifying reality before him. He brought a trembling hand to his cheek, the heat of the blood spreading into his fingers as he gingerly touched it, feeling the warmth seep into his skin. 

His heart raced, his chest tight with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. He stared at the blood in his fingers, the warmth somehow both comforting and disturbing. His eyes, once full of life, now appeared dead, hollow. The only thing he could muster from his paralyzed lips was a weak, hoarse whisper—

Subaru: [Elsa?] But before he could even register the words, the creature turned towards him with lethal intent. It slammed him into the ground, just as it had done with Elsa, the force of the impact rattling his bones.

It slammed him into the ground, just as it had done with Elsa, his bones shattered and fractured in ways that made his body feel unnatural, the meat in his limbs became loose and slack, like the frayed end of an old rope that had been subjected to far too much strain. His organs, once firm and functioning, turned into a slimy, pulpy mush, their shapes unrecognizable and meaningless.

And then... everything went black

This place… It was foreign, unfamiliar, something beyond the realm of understanding. It was not the infinite abyss from which he was falling for eternity. No, he knew this was different. He could feel it—deep within the fabric of his being. This place didn’t belong to him. It was not his domain, nor was it his to claim.

Here, in this boundless void, his consciousness drifted—weightless, adrift in an endless expanse. It stretched on forever, or so it seemed. But somewhere deep inside, he knew that it was not truly infinite. Not like the abyss, where every moment felt like a crushing eternity. This place, though vast, was but a fleeting speck against the backdrop of space. It was a grain in the vastness of the universe. But the power that radiated from it, the sheer potential of the space, was overwhelming. It buzzed, thrummed with energy, as if it itself was alive.

And then, a rupture tore through the fabric of this place. The very air seemed to shudder and crack, as if reality itself had been bent and twisted. A distortion rippled outward from the rupture—so profound, so surreal, that it threatened to swallow everything in its wake. The space around him seemed to warp, to bend into something both alien and deeply familiar. It felt as if something ancient was stirring.

From the rupture, two shadowy hands emerged. They reached out, slow and deliberate, as if they had been waiting for him all along. Eager, hungry for something… or perhaps for him . There was something about them, something magnetic. For reasons he couldn’t understand, he felt an unexplainable pull toward them, as though a part of him longed to reach for them. As if he always had, as if they were his own.

But no matter how desperately he willed it, he could not move. His limbs, or whatever was left of him, were not there. He was frozen, suspended in this strange space, unable to act. He could only wait—wait as the shadowy hands crept closer, inching toward his very soul.

And then, as if guided by some unseen force, the hands grasped his essence. The moment they touched him, the darkness around him began to shift. The shadows began to recede, devoured by an oncoming wave of light. The light was blinding—pure, brilliant, and overwhelming in its intensity. It consumed everything in its path, devouring the darkness, illuminating the void.

It was beautiful. It was terrifying. It was the kind of light that beckoned to the very core of his being, drawing him in, promising release, yet leaving him with an unsettling emptiness.

The hands that had reached for him, that had seemed so eager to take him, were left behind in the darkness, swallowed by the radiance.

Desperately, he tried to reach for them—tried to call out to the fleeting shadows. But his body was gone. His essence, his soul, had no form. He was nothing but a fragmented thought, lost in the vast nothingness.

Then, entering the light, a voice spoke. It came from inside him, from the deepest part of his soul, as if it were not just a voice but a presence, something far older and more powerful than anything he had ever encountered.

???: [Lo## y#u.]

The words were barely audible, fragmented, distorted—but the meaning was unmistakable.

The voice came from his soul but it resided deeper in the darkness he was leaving.

And in that moment, as the last remnants of the shadow and light dissolved into nothingness, what was supposed to be his end began again, with no beginning and no end, looping back to where it all started.

Blurred noises filtered through his consciousness, distant and warped, like echoes from another world. Shapes barely registered in his vision, shifting and unclear. Subaru strained to focus, to grasp onto something familiar, until finally, Elsa's voice cut through the haze, smooth and steady.

Elsa: [The journey ahead is only going to get more exhausting, and you need to let your legs recover properly. We can’t afford you collapsing on us when we need to move… Subaru?]

Subaru: [?] Subaru turned to Elsa.

He had failed to save her. Even though he promised to keep her safe.

Elsa: [Why are you crying?]

Subaru brought a hand to his eyes. They were drenched in tears that seemed to flow endlessly at the sight of seeing Elsa and  hearing her voice.

He had Returned By Death …

Chapter Text

Elsa: [Why are you crying?]

Subaru brought a hand to his eyes. They were drenched in tears that seemed to flow endlessly at the sight of seeing Elsa and hearing her voice.

He had Returned By Death …

Words couldn't express what he was feeling at the moment. A crushing weight settled on his chest, suffocating, relentless.

Guilt.

It wrapped around him like a vice, squeezing tighter with each breath. He had failed her. He didn't protect her. He let her die, and now she was here, alive again, but the echoes of her final moments still clawed at his mind, haunting and inescapable.

The way her body had twisted unnaturally, limbs sprawled at odd angles, as her blood splattered over the snow like a deep crimson wine stain on pristine white cloth. 

The stark contrast made it all the more gruesome, an image burned into his mind—the final exhale of her breath, the warmth of her life fading as the cold, uncaring snow swallowed her whole.

He wanted to say something, to apologize, to make it right—but the words lodged in his throat, suffocated by the sheer enormity of his regret.

Words alone couldn't explain what he was feeling at the moment. 

Body actions? Actions could be worth a thousand words, but even that felt insufficient. His entire body trembled, his chest heaving as his eyes overflowed with relentless tears, blurring his vision. A painful lump formed in his throat, rendering him speechless. 

He wanted to express everything—his sorrow, his relief, his regret—but no words could capture the weight in his heart.

Without even realizing it, he threw himself on top of Elsa, burying his face into her belly. The impact was so sudden and forceful that she lost balance, falling on her back onto the old couch with a startled gasp.

His grip on her tightened, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs as he clung to her warmth, desperate to convince himself that she was real, that she was here, that he hadn't lost her forever.

Elsa, however, had no clue what had just happened to Subaru. 

One moment, he was simply tired, exhaustion weighing on him, and the next, his expression shifted drastically—his eyes grew hollow, empty, as if all life had drained from them. Then, suddenly, he started crying, his body trembling as he sobbed uncontrollably, before throwing himself onto her in a desperate embrace.

She let out a slight grunt as the force of his weight nearly knocked the breath out of her.

Elsa: [Hey, you're being way too rough.] she protested, attempting to push him back slightly. However, he wasn’t listening—he wasn’t even responding. It was as if he wasn’t even in the same world as her at that moment.

Elsa furrowed her brows, straining to make out the words he was mumbling into her. She focused, trying to catch whatever it was he was saying between his choked sobs.

Subaru: [Sorry... I'm sorry... I’m so sorry... please... forgive me... I couldn't save you... I should have saved you…]

Her expression tightened in confusion. What was he talking about? Why did he sound so broken?

Elsa took a deep breath before grabbing Subaru by the scruff of the neck and pulling him away from her. 

His face was drenched in tears, his nose running uncontrollably, streaks of snot mixing with the moisture clinging to his cheeks. She clicked her tongue in annoyance, brushing off her now-soiled clothes.

Elsa: [You just dirtied my clothes.]

Her voice carried its usual nonchalance, but there was a flicker of something else in her gaze—concern, perhaps. Subaru hastily wiped his face with his sleeve, sniffling as he muttered an apology, his voice raw and strained. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to regain his composure, but Elsa wasn't blind to it. 

She narrowed her eyes, noticing the unsettling emptiness in his gaze. It was like staring into a hollow void, as if all life had drained from him in an instant.

Elsa: [What happened to you?] she asked, tilting her head slightly, trying to make sense of his distress.

Subaru opened his mouth, but no words came out. He couldn't tell her. He couldn't tell anyone. The moment he tried, those black hands—those unseen, grasping hands—would claw into his heart, suffocating him, stealing his life away.

He had already died twice. He had already failed to protect her twice. And the weight of that failure sat heavy on his soul, threatening to crush him whole.

But he had to say something. He couldn't leave her with nothing. Swallowing thickly, he forced out a hoarse whisper, his voice barely above a breath.

He looked up at her with desperate, pleading eyes, his voice barely above a whisper as he choked out, 

Subaru: [Elsa... I-I need your help.]

His hands clenched into fists, his body trembling slightly as he tried to keep himself together.

He wasn't sure if she could understand the sheer weight of what he was asking, but at this moment, he had no choice but to reach out. He needed her, now more than ever.

He also turned and faced the fireplace, recalling how, in the last loop, he had seen the fire spirit emerge from it. He was perceptive enough to understand that the fire spirit, the one that had aided him so many times before, was hiding there now. 

Rising from the old and torn couch, he stepped toward the fire, his breath steady despite the turmoil within. Dropping to one knee, he extended a hand toward the flickering flames and spoke gently to the hidden spirit.

Subaru: [Can you help me as well?]

For a moment, there was silence. 

Then, as if hesitant, the fire flickered unnaturally before parting slightly. Slowly, a small, glowing entity emerged—a red orb of light, pulsing faintly. 

The fire spirit.

It hovered uncertainly, edging closer to Subaru’s outstretched hand. 

He could tell how shy it was, reluctant yet drawn to him all the same. 

Even though it always remained in the shadows, when it truly mattered, it was there, without fail.

Subaru watched as the spirit hesitantly touched his palm, its warmth radiating through him. It wasn’t just heat—it was comfort, reassurance. 

A bond formed in that moment, silent but profound. He felt an odd sense of familiarity, as if this connection had always existed, merely waiting to be realized.

A small smile tugged at Subaru’s lips.

Subaru: [Aries,] he murmured. 

Subaru: [That’s your name.]

The spirit pulsed slightly, as if in acknowledgment, before nestling closer to his hand, its warmth now fully enveloping him.

This warmth brought comfort to Subaru and helped him get some inner peace. 

Sitting back on the couch, Subaru watched as Saiph chased after Aries, the little fire spirit darting away as if her life depended on it. 

Both spirits weaved around the furniture in a chaotic game of tag, their ethereal forms flickering with excitement.

However it was mostly Aries trying to get away from Saiph. 

The room was filled with their tiny bursts of energy, but Subaru’s mind was elsewhere, tangled in an intricate web of thought.

There were two undeniable conditions that determined whether they would survive the night.

The first was that man. Their gruesome encounter had left Subaru shaken, but he had realized something crucial—the odds of someone just happening upon this abandoned shack, hidden deep in the wilderness, were practically nonexistent. 

Yet, despite that impossibility, the man had come. 

More disturbingly, he had referred to both Subaru and Elsa as prey, labeling himself their hunter. That meant he had been looking for them, specifically. 

But why?

Was it the slavers after Elsa? Had they sent someone to retrieve their escaped property? Or was it the merchant—the one Subaru had foolishly spared—who had now set a tracker on them, seeking revenge?

Subaru didn’t know for certain, but the specifics didn’t matter. What mattered was that their pursuer had a way of finding them. 

That was the key issue. 

They couldn’t simply run and hide—not if he could follow their trail with precision. 

That left them with only two options: eliminate him, or destroy whatever means he was using to track them. 

The former seemed impossible given his overwhelming strength, which meant their only hope was the latter. But first, they had to identify it.

And then there was the second condition, one that was even more unpredictable.

The gorilla-like monster. 

It was no ordinary beast. It was shockingly intelligent, far more cunning than any animal Subaru had ever encountered. Trying to deceive it was wishful thinking at best, suicidal at worst. It had instincts sharp enough to see through tricks and traps. 

Outrunning it? A fantasy. 

Fighting it? A guaranteed death sentence.

Subaru clenched his fists, remembering the sight of Elsa’s broken body, the spirits dissipating into nothingness. The memory sent a chill down his spine.

And even if they somehow managed to survive both of those looming disasters, their troubles wouldn’t end there. 

If that man survived, it was inevitable that he would track them down once more. It wasn’t a question of if, but when. 

That meant they would be living under constant threat, never truly safe. Without the mysterious ability Subaru had been granted, they would have already permanently died at that man’s hands.

On top of that, their supplies were running dangerously low. 

Mostly Food, and money—everything was dwindling seeing that surviving outside of these hallowed lands Elsa had called them, would soon be impossible.

But that concern had to come later. 

First, they had to survive the night. 

Only after they made it through the ordeal ahead could they even begin to worry about their long-term survival. 

Right now, Subaru’s priority was clear: keeping them all alive.

“Elsa, Saiph, Ari–”

Subaru came to an abrupt stop as he felt someone’s hand wrap around his wrist.

Blinking out of his spiraling thoughts, he looked down and saw Elsa gripping his wrist  tightly. The sudden contact startled him—he hadn’t even noticed her moving toward him.

He opened his mouth to apologize for ignoring her, but before he could, Elsa cut him off. 

Elsa: [Stop harming yourself.]

Her voice was firm, yet not unkind. 

Subaru furrowed his brows in confusion, but then, as if a delayed realization finally hit him, a sharp stinging pain flared up in his forearm. Glancing down, his breath hitched. 

His own nails had dug into his skin so deeply that he had broken through the surface, leaving behind faint trails of crimson. He had been unconsciously scratching himself, so caught up in his panic that he hadn’t even noticed.

A heavy silence fell between them. Saiph and Aries had stopped their playful antics, their tiny forms hovering closer, their bright lights filled with concern. 

Saiph, ever the diligent one, immediately began closing the wound, the faint shimmer of healing energy working its magic. 

Luckily, Elsa had stopped him before he could do any serious damage.

Subaru swallowed hard, feeling a weight settle in his chest. He clenched his fists, mentally berating himself. If he lost control of himself like this, how could he protect anyone else?

Subaru opened his mouth, the words already forming on his tongue. 

Subaru: [I'm sor—]

Before he could finish, Elsa cut him off with an exasperated sigh. 

Elsa: [I don't know why you are apologizing to me. I'm not the one getting hurt.]

Her words made him freeze for a moment. He swallowed back the lump in his throat, recognizing the frustration in her voice. 

Elsa wasn't angry—at least, not truly. But she was tired of his self-blame, his constant cycle of guilt that seemed to weigh on every word he spoke.

Taking a shaky breath, Subaru forced himself to push past the instinctual need to apologize. Instead, he exhaled slowly, forcing the tension from his shoulders. 

Subaru: [Alright... okay. No more apologies. But listen, I really need your help. We need a plan.]

Elsa raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden shift. 

Elsa: [A plan?]

"For what exactly?" The thought occurred in Elsa’s mind. He had yet to make clear what he needed help with. All she knew was that Subaru asked her  for help. Then proceeded to somehow find the fire spirit hiding in the fireplace as if it was the most natural thing ever. Then as he settled down on the old couch he went into deep thought while making her wait.  

Elsa: [I'm listening.]

Steeling himself, Subaru took a deep breath and began to recount everything—every detail of their situation, every potential danger that lurked in the shadows. He chose his words carefully, ensuring he conveyed the severity of their predicament while meticulously avoiding any mention of his ability, specifically the fact that he died or/and went back in time. 

The mere thought of those shadowy hands crushing his heart again sent a shiver down his spine, and he had no desire to experience that agony once more.

If they were going to survive, if they were going to make it past the hell that awaited them, he needed Elsa's help—whether she understood the full gravity of the situation yet or not.

Elsa, having heard Subaru out, couldn't help but wonder about two things.

How did he know that there was a man coming to this shack in the middle of nowhere? And how did he know that the beast from before was coming after them?