I? ??? S???? ?? M???

In those silent shades of grey
I will find a place
To escape the endless night
To find a new sun

I know which is my fate
Bound to Erian's old tale
I'll be always there
Fighting the ancient sin
Moon shine in this eternal night
—Rhapsody, The Magic of the Wizard's Dream

P??????? - U???? ??? M???? ?? F??

He had been running for his life for some time before he reached the tomb. The only sounds filling the passageway he intruded upon were that of his incessant panting and the pounding thump of his heart against his chest.

With unblinking, dark lifeless pupils, he stared down the ancient halls of old. He found himself covering his mouth, overtaken by a sickness threatening his stomach to shoot bile into and out of his throat. In spite of it all, he pressed on, dragging his tired and battered body through the entrance of the ancient tomb, enveloping him in its welcomed shadow.

His knees met the hard floor below. He cared not of their condition, as they were iced over to the point of numbness. His mind, on the verge of insanity, was equally dull and depressant. Yet, he couldn't give up now. He knew she was here, but his vision was failing him.

It was a surprise he still had the energy to stand. With the last bit of strength he could muster, he crept along the stone pathway in the direction of the light. His clumsy footsteps thudded around, bouncing off the winding corridor. Then, as the echoes faded, he finally heard her:

"—Subaru?"

That sound could pierce someone deep enough to touch their soul.

It was a pure crystalline chime, and beckoned his faded senses like an eagerly-awaited dinner bell. He followed the direction from whence it rung so beautifully, feeling his strength returning to him with every step, enveloping his body in a brilliant blaze of fire. Indeed, he knew just who this familiar and stirring voice belonged to.

In instinctive response, his lips moved to speak her precious name, but no discernible words escaped him. He sighed, but realized his panting was enough to beckon her. He knew what was soon to follow, and sure enough, soft footsteps approached him swiftly. Mere seconds later, before him was laid bare a most serene and innocent sight. She stood there, a silver-haired, doe-eyed half-elf—the very reason and source of his plight.

His weary eyes narrowed. He could tell she had been through hell; her hair was disheveled, and the pendant at the base of her neck was grayed over and cracked at the base. She hugged tightly his beloved, loyal jacket which had travelled with him to this new world, as if it were just as good a replacement as he himself. Likewise, she bore an expression of both deep confusion and unabashed innocence.

He could see her lips curve to a small smile. "Subaru, I've missed you sooo much," she then chimed playfully and lively—making it clear she was unaware of what was transpiring just outside the tomb. "I was sooo lonely without you… but I knew you would come back to me. You've never left me alone before, so I figured if I worked hard, you would come back to see me as soon as possible!"

"Em-Emilia…" he coughed out.

Her beautiful sound had roused him, but he found speech a difficult affair. He had barely managed even that. His voice was hoarse, and weak.

Blanketed by darkness, he knew she herself was not privy to his condition. "Yes, that's right, Subaru," came a reply from the shadow. "It's me. It's me, Emilia." In response, as if mesmerized by her sound, he moved closer to said reply, ever so slightly.

Soon enough, the moonlight unwittingly revealed the reality of his presence. Alarmed by his very appearance, Emilia let out a small cry, dropped his jacket, and then rushed to his side. Taking in every detail of Subaru's state, she again gasped softly at the severity of his condition, and enfolded him in a protective embrace.

He saw her amethyst orbs glisten under the darkness-piercing moonlight amongst the tomb. Her face too, was contorted in a worried, motherly manner. "Oh, my lovely Subaru," she whispered, as she stroked his hair gently, almost pathetically in its tender approach. "You just feel sooo cold… With you here, I don't feel alone anymore. So, if you stay here with me, I'll make sure to keep you warm!" An uncharacteristic giggle escaped from her rosy lips, and she smiled as a small blush spread across her cheeks.

"I'm… I'm sorry for leaving you alone…"

His fading voice became silent. It could have been said he never uttered those words at all. Subaru felt himself going lightheaded from the feeling of her pressed against him, and he wanted nothing more than to bury himself into the safe confines of her alluring bosom. His eyes lidded once, twice—almost shutting for good—but suddenly, he realized what he came here to do. He shook his head furiously to banish the exhaustion from his being.

Emilia gripped his hand tighter, but was surprised when she felt his weak grip grow stronger. The bitter cold, which so silenced and shackled him before, dissipated at an alarming rate.

Subaru was finally free to speak at last. He willed himself to speak, said, "Let's g-get away from here, Emilia!" Armed with his newfound voice, he could only stutter. He continued anyway, saying, "We have to go, now!"

Without further word, he stood, took her hand almost violently, and began to turn on his heel towards the exit of the tomb. Withholding any questioning, Emilia followed quietly, knowing now wasn't the time for argument.

The brevity of the situation was lost to her, but she felt an unfathomable level of pain and suffering emanating from his every movement. To calm him, she gently squeezed the boy's hand in the tenderest and most apologetic way she could. It was a pensive gesture, a subtle moment lost to time. She noticed him turn his head slightly, and for a moment his gaze met her own. His hazel brown eyes clashed almost unnoticeably with her swirling shades of purple. Under his study, she felt his fatigued and heavy gaze push her down with unbearable weight, before he faced forward and continued his march of solitude.

It was a short exchange, yet she felt such pain and sadness within those eyes.

As the pair exited the tomb, they were met with a cold chill which sent a horrendous shiver down Emilia's spine. Snow graced the ground, and the trees were unnaturally frozen in an otherworldly manner. She knew such a spell had to have been conjured by someone of both considerable skill and power. Even so, the trickling fall of snow was noticeably fading, signifying an end to the inclement spell. It was why she found it surprising, that in its waning stage, the freezing air had retained its wild howl.

The boy stood silently with the half-elf's hand still entrapped by his vice grip. His eyes were closed, and he appeared to be concentrating his senses for something. She didn't quite understand how or why things were happening as they were, so she remained silent. And he stayed there, wordlessly listening for something which escaped her knowledge—but he only heard the shrill call of the whistling wind.

Subaru opened his eyes. "We still have time," he finally said, his voice dark and low. "Here, I brought something for you." Turning to Emilia, he reached into his pack and withdrew a familiar cloak.

Emilia's eyes widened. "M-my cloak?" she questioned with a voice just as surprised as the look on her face. "I thought I had lost it sometime ago—where did you find it?" It was the magical cloak Roswaal had given her when they first met, adorned with purple cat ears and all.

"Sorry, Emilia, but there's no time for explanations," he responded curtly. With an outstretched hand, he offered the cloak to her. "Take this and put it on. It may very well be our only way out of here."

Emilia nodded gingerly and gently took the cloak from his hands. She wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled the hood over her head, concealing her peculiar silver hair and pointy ears.

The cloak was specially imbued with powerful magic to obscure the identity of those who wore it, except to those she desired to reveal it to. In this case, only Subaru would be able to tell who exactly she was, and to others, she'd appear to be just a regular human girl.

Subaru took her hand again. "Come on, Emilia," he said, an unmistakable panic laden in his voice. "We have to hurry before it's too late!" Without warning, he dashed into the snow, jerking her along with him.

As they ran, Emilia looked around. In the distance, she heard an ear-splitting shriek, possibly from some sort of demon beast. The smell of smoke was heavily laden in the air, as was the baleful scent of death. She felt Subaru grip her hand even tighter, and then he began to pace himself even faster than before, which was already almost to a sprint. Through the heavy snow, it was difficult to traverse indeed, but even so, they kept running and running, out into the moonlit night sky under the infinitum of stars.

Every now and then, there would be a blood-curdling scream coming from the dark, white-covered forest which surround them. But Subaru would pay it no heed, nor would he divert his attention from wherever he was taking her. This behavior was so unlike the Subaru she knew she even felt a little scared… though not for herself, but for him. For what he was carrying on his shoulders alone, and without her help.

It pained her heart to be as utterly useless as she was.

She was panting now. Her breath was labored as they made their way against the icy cool current of air. It bit at her lungs, threatening to stifle their function. Breathing was indeed becoming a difficult affair, even if she could withstand such things more than others due to her lineage. No doubt her companion was faring even worse, but something not unlike pure madness drove him to fight through his ailments, she realized.

Her fears were well-founded, even if she would never come to know it.

After some time, simple body movements were becoming difficult as the elements bore down on him with an utterly heinous fury. It was perfect timing, Subaru thought ruefully. His eyes widened sharply; their goal was in sight.

They had found themselves encroaching upon the magical barrier of the Sanctuary.

He bit back a curse he so wanted to let out. His only choice was to pray the cloak would mask Emilia's existence as a half. It was the only chance they had, and it was the last-ditch effort he so haphazardly came up with in his madness. Maybe, just maybe, this one idea would come to fruition. In this hell he had been damned to, there was still one last glitter of hope left… and it was because of this he held her hand so tightly. It was unintentional, how his grip, his touch, channeled every ounce of pain and suffering he had endured into her. He couldn't mask such pains any longer.

He felt like crying. His eyes lidded briefly, and yet he couldn't shed any tears because they were so dry and bitten from the icy wind. Forgetting such things, he gripped Emilia's small, frail hand even harder, and pressed on.

As she passed through the invisible barrier, Emilia began to feel light-headed, but she kept her composure and followed his footsteps carefully. It was evident the cloak she wore found itself at odds with the magical nature of the barrier erected around the Sanctuary. Normally, a half who dared to come close to the barrier would find themselves lost to the world, as the barrier kept their spirits trapped forever inside. It appeared the cloak really did mask her presence to the magical barrier. It was imbued with a powerful enchantment indeed, she mused silently.

For the first time, Subaru smiled to himself, but out of view so the half-elf couldn't see. It wasn't a smile of happiness or joy, as he couldn't muster to bring himself to feel any such thing after the events which had transpired. It was a smile of sheer and utter turmoil. Turmoil at the fact they grasped the fading thread of hope to escape the bitter cold death the rest of the people of the Sanctuary were suffering. For that, he felt such madness he could've laughed in such a moment.

And the depths of his own sufferings were almost unbearable. Subaru mourned the loss of his friends, of those whom he travelled with. Truthfully, he didn't want to go on living anymore—but he couldn't leave Emilia to die alone in that lonely tomb, and to suffer a death so brutal and maniacal as to be eaten alive by the Great Hare. It was one he had once experienced, and one he couldn't bear to let happen to the innocent girl he swore to protect.

Something tugged at him, and he felt a weight pull him back, impeding his step. Turning to face what kept him from their salvation, he saw Emilia herself. She had collapsed into the snow—limp and unconscious—possibly due to the crippling effects of the barrier. Subaru, not fairing much better himself, grimaced deeply, and knelt beside her still body.

Even with the cloak, she had still fallen prey to the vile magic. He was in poor shape himself, but luckily he had grown a little accustomed to the devilish chill. Looking to the north, he grimaced. Behind them was the Sanctuary, a killing field for the Great Hare.

They had to get away from here, fast, lest the vile famished Hare seek them out as well.

Subaru swallowed nervously, petrified by the memory of such terrors. The fear of death loomed ever over his shoulder. His loss of the power to redo—so suddenly and inexplicably, damned him to this forsaken purgatory forever. He was powerless now; he couldn't redo, and he couldn't just go back and fix things like before. He was just a normal human being, and it was because of this he couldn't throw away his life so recklessly.

Subaru found a hardened resolve from within, and realized something.

He had to protect her. He had to save her. He had to! This was the final chance, the final timeline. And as doomed as it was, he had to make the best of it anyway. And so long as his silver-haired maiden still drew breath, he couldn't resign himself to the sweet surrender of death so easily as Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers did. No, he would find a way to make things right, even with his back against the wall such as it was. He had to be that way—he couldn't give up, if only to respect the memory of those whom he lost.

There was no other reason for his existence now.

Channeling what little strength he had left, Subaru braced her motionless body and hoisted her above his shoulders. To his joy, her petite frame did not prove to be an insurmountable task for even the likes of himself to accomplish. He took a shaky step and stumbled, catching his footing before he fell. Cursing to himself, he tried again, trudging slowly through the snow, and yet again taking another step, and another step and another.

And as he struggled, Subaru stared forward, determined eyes beaming beneath a narrowed brow. Then, he etched an oath to his soul:

"I will…" he uttered between gritted teeth.

The solemn oath, one he had made before. The beginnings of a vow carved and stamped in blood, yet it was but a whisper lost in the shrill call of the wind and his weakening resolve.

What came next was unintelligible amongst it all.

After some time, the moonlit sky's curtain closed, giving way to sunrise, and the horrible night was suddenly vanquished by a brilliant maroon red. It peeked itself over the green trees, sending its rays of orange and yellow cascading through the leaves and branches as if the heavens itself had fallen to the mortal world.

By now, the snow had all but melted, the inhibiting environmental magic earlier having long silenced itself, giving way to birds chirping and other wildlife's accompanying morning symphony. It was as if they had stepped into another world entirely—a peaceful green world opposite of the bleak, cold hell they found themselves entrapped in just the night before.

As the brilliant warmth returned to the air, Subaru breathed a deep sigh of relief. He hadn't seen a sign of the Great Hare since they made it across the Sanctuary Barrier. He wasn't sure why the Hare had ceased its brutal attack, but such ruminations were unimportant now. He was just glad to have escaped that hellish nightmare, as selfish and inconsiderate as it was.

Subaru didn't know how long he had been walking. He didn't quite care. Even as his body should have shut down from exhaustion long ago, he kept going, kept willing himself to not give up. He still carried the motionless girl on his back. By now, she was softly sleeping, as he could feel the tickle of her even breath on the back of his neck. He surely would have liked to rest alongside her, but honestly, he did not want to disturb her peaceful sleep, so locked away from this terrible world.

They travelled in directions unknown, with unlimited potential destination… It didn't matter, though—for all he knew, anywhere was better than where they were coming from.

As the cool air had completely dissipated, Subaru had decided maybe it was time for a little rest. Taking a short path off the road, he found some soft green grass under a large old tree, adorned with winding moss hanging from its many branches. He gently knelt and lowered the sleeping girl in his arms down to the ground, laying her on the velvety smooth grass.

The shade provided by the tree was calming indeed. There was a gentle breeze in the air, so much unlike the violent blistering wind from the night before. The weather was agreeable, and the morning sun was now rising slowly over the trees of the beautiful forest.

The boy breathed in deeply, absorbing the atmosphere, and let out a haggard sigh. After a moment, he looked down at the sleeping beauty. Her elegant, rounded visage made it appear nothing had ever transpired at all.

It was in the soft features and contours of her face, he realized, she was wholly unaware of the events which had transpired. In turn, she had invested her trust in himself to take care of her, even though she didn't fully understand why he had taken her the way he did. She had put her utmost trust in him, and for that, he felt a warmth overtake his body at the realization she had surrendered herself to him in all her innocence.

He brushed her silver bangs from her eyes. They were heavy, even though she slept soundly. No doubt she was weary from attempting the trial so much and without rest. His eyes narrowed, as he noticed the glowing green crystal at the base of her neck was unusually dull and lifeless, with a small crack near its base. Curious, having noticed it earlier when they were in the tomb, he went to touch it, wanting beckon the vaunted spirit from his sleep, but felt nothing when his digit contacted the lifeless thing.

There was no response—and if Puck was truly gone forever, surely, their situation was even worse than he could have imagined. Subaru was almost powerless compared to most of his adversaries, and now Emilia might have lost a good amount of her power and familiar support as well.

Such dark thoughts invited an ominous voice to echo through his mind. The memory of Roswaal's dying decree, its insanity, rung in his head, beckoning him to give in to madness like that man had. He had gambled everything, even his life, on Subaru's power to redo.

Then, there was memory of the Hare ripping him to pieces—eating the magician alive—its freshness at the forefronts of his mind. What utter madness had taken over that man—and that power he relied so heavily on had ceased to exist for reasons Subaru could not explain.

Finally, he could only say the few words…

"I can Return by Death!" Subaru declared, with no ill effects or consequence.

The sinister spirit, which resided within him against his own will, was seemingly gone without explanation or cause. In his sheer madness, Subaru had considered the possibility of suicide; to finally end it once and for all. His tiny, meaningless existence only had the importance it did because of the one power which gave him an advantage over anyone else… and now, that was gone too. Of course, if he killed himself, he would not return like before.

No… this time he would be dead.

Feeling the dark thoughts of death welcoming him back into its loving embrace, he peered down at the sleeping angel before him.

Again, he remembered why he kept pushing himself to keep going in this evil world. He was doing it for her. It was a selfish reason. He wasn't doing it for himself, and he wasn't doing it for those whom he lost. That was only an excuse, he realized. He was solely doing it for her. She was his final link to this damnable world which had made him suffer like no other.

It was true. He was selfish, he realized. As if such an epiphany brought him back to reality, the adrenaline and shock of last night's prior events began to wash away. His knees began to shake; the world felt faint. His world spun and spun, and then he fell to the ground next to the motionless half-elf, who slept so peacefully beside him.

He might have fallen a bit too close, because her eyes slowly lidded open, revealing her vibrant amethyst orbs. Aquamarine pupils narrowed somberly at the boy who lay weakly before her.

Without him noticing, Emilia carefully sat up, and reached out her hand to clasp his. "Are you well, Subaru?" she asked, his name rolling from her mouth like a gently flowing river. Meanwhile, she carefully interlaced their fingers together.

It was a chime from the sweetest bell, breaking him from his delirium. He looked up from the grassy knoll, and locked eyes with the exotic beauty which cascaded into his every thought. Instantly, he felt his heart stop, and his throat began to swell, rendering him unable to speak. His eyes began to well up, and a lone tear escaped down his cheek.

It was intercepted by a compassionate finger. Emilia's finger, he knew.

"Subaru," she whispered, as she gently stroked his face. "Please don't cry." Tears were now flowing freely from his stricken eyes, she saw. To calm him, she cradled his head in her arms and led him down to her lap, where she knew he could find the peace none could give.

In utter resignation, he had collapsed into her, and all the emotions he had been holding in escaped freely with reckless abandon, almost wailing like a small child against her now. It was an overwhelming occasion. This wasn't the first time she had afforded his fragile self her lap; yet, this time he was truly broken. She could even feel her skirt becoming damp from his sadness. She wished to calm him, so she brought her mouth within an inch of his ear and sung sweet nothings to him desperately. She stroked his hair back and forth, drawing sweet circles on his convulsing back.

Her tender embrace shattered his being, and Subaru exposed himself in all his grief. The soft melody of her soothing voice threatened to lull him into a trance. He felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck, and then a comforting warmth overtook him.

The deaths of his friends caused him such insurmountable grief—of her friends too, even if she didn't know it. He didn't know how to tell her. Maybe she already knew, maybe she could sense it emanating from his own anguish, from every cry which escaped his mouth. Even so, if she knew, he figured she would still be strong, so she could bring comfort to him. Any the case, he didn't care. He welcomed her soft and loving touch. He wanted to bury himself in her, to fall asleep and never wake up.

In her arms, his sleep would be without nightmares, without visions of death and destruction. It would be a fitful sleep with only the memory of her enchanting smile bringing the deepest warmth to his being, ever-so-stricken by the pain of loss. A benevolent witch she was, and her thrall he had become. That was her power over him; that was her spell to which she had cast upon him.

While Subaru released the agony of the world upon her small frame, Emilia blinked, letting a little, single solitary tear of her own sneak by. It fell wistfully onto Subaru's hand as he desperately clung to her legs.

In an instant, Subaru's cries ceased, his convulsions coming to an unexpected end. He slowly withdrew his face from the comforting escape of her lap, and with a keen eye, looked up at the woman who held him. Her gorgeous amethyst eyes were sprinkled with small tear droplets, ready to fall at any moment. Even so, she held them dutifully, as Subaru's still fell solemnly.

In a brief moment, his hand cupped her cheek, and in the next one, his lips covered her own.

Clearly caught off guard, Emilia's eyes lidded shut and her breathing noticeably slowed. Her body had ceased all movement for the first few seconds of the kiss, as in her innocence, she really didn't know how to respond at all. But it wasn't long until she grew more comfortable with her newfound emotions, and embraced his loving gesture.

Beneath the lush canopy of ancient trees, the two lovers went largely unnoticed by the inhabitants of the forest. Squirrels nestled deeply in their warm burrows; birds fluttered throughout the air, playing their joyful games and singing their songs; the deer frolicked among themselves, enjoying the peaceful blue skies which graced them.

Through all of this, the two continued their elaborate dance, ignorant of all the sufferings and happenings of the world which surround them.

Subaru knelt forward, deepening his kiss, quickly becoming intoxicated with the sweet scent and taste of his partner whom he so loved dearly. Her glowing amethyst orbs were still speckled with tears, but still, they did not fall. As he continued, she lidded her eyes shut as a small, pleasurable moan escaped her lips. Subaru didn't know specifically how long they had been locked together like this, but he wanted more… and more. As he breathed heavily through his nose, tickling Emilia with his desperate breath, she remained still, holding her own ever so diligently. Noticing this, Subaru ceased his wanton and unexpected romance to allow some air to enter her lungs.

Emilia panted hoarsely as she lay back against the base of the tree, her normally rose-colored cheeks now painted a bright shade of red. Recuperating her senses, she noticed Subaru's continued stare, so filled with lust and desire as it was.

And stare he did. She looked nothing short of mesmerizing as she lay against that old wise tree, whose branches jutted out over them like ballerinas in step. Her glistening vibrant eyes reflected brightly in the sun, and her silver hair flowed gently in the wind. She was truly so otherworldly beautiful he couldn't find a competent way to describe her using only words. He himself was full of wild emotion, from pure sadness one moment to a bashful joy in another. The best way to describe his current self… was pure uncontrollable mania.

Emilia, however, did not bore an expression of anger, or dismay, but of a serene innocence. She blinked inquisitively at Subaru, seemingly trying to read his mind, or see why he had come at her with such eager hunger. She exhaled short, quick heavy breaths as she stared him down, possibly somewhat disappointed he ended their dance so abruptly.

Observing this, he quickly crawled over to her and placed his hand on her own, interlacing their fingers together perfectly. He had never felt so much uncontrollable desire for anyone in his entire life, his intense yearning for her overcoming his normally pragmatic self. He pressed himself desperately against her petite frame, and his mouth orbited hungrily in the direction of her pale creamy neck.

Emilia, just recovering from what had happened, did not expect another advance. It wasn't completely unwelcomed, nor was it unpleasant. She let out another sigh, a mixture between excitement, pleasure, and confusion. Simultaneously, Subaru began playfully kissing her neck, tenderly taking in every bit of her he could while lost in the heat of the moment. She closed her eyes, lost in his kiss.

He absorbed her taste, her smell, and her touch, every bit of her so intoxicating he felt himself unable to stop. Her heat enraptured him, encasing him in a pleasurable ball of fire. Even if he desired to, he couldn't pull himself away, tear himself from the banquet of her skin, nor the sweet flavor of her taste. It simply wasn't possible—not that he wanted to, anyway.

For her, his kiss excited her just as much, as it was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She didn't know why this was happening, but she couldn't bring herself to stop his playful advances, and so she gripped his hand harder, and pressed pleasingly into Subaru, her too, beginning to lose herself in the moment.

As he felt her press herself into him so receptively and unexpectedly, Subaru almost lost himself right then and there. Instantly, he found himself dancing from the cream of her neck to the side of her jaw, to her ears, and back to her parted lips. It was a momentous feeling, and it felt nothing short of a small piece of heaven within this hellish world.

Emilia's lidded eyes opened briefly. She could feel her lips move against his own, uttering something. They shut again. She was scarcely able to partially mouth his name before he further explored her mouth. She felt his hand travel to the nape of her neck to gently tip her head back, so he could maybe delve even deeper. Growing bolder, Subaru clearly had lost all semblance of thought into what he was currently doing.

Suddenly, one of the lone tears she held up until this point escaped quietly down her cheek.

As Subaru felt the heat of its touch, and its admittedly salty taste, it momentarily released him from the dreamscape of a world he had escaped to. His eyes widened at the shock of what he was doing. Shock began to replace itself with anger, anger replaced itself with grief—grief at himself for his reckless actions. As he stared into her tearful eyes, he cursed himself for his insolence in taking advantage of her fragile and susceptible state of mind.

Even still, she stared at him with the same innocence and purity she always did.

He was a wretched existence, he felt. Subaru didn't utter this aloud, but he wanted to.

She lay against the mossy tree breathlessly, splayed out and still, like a deer alert in the forest. Confused at why Subaru had ceased his actions, her pupils were dilated to an enormous size from an excitement which overtook her every thought. Such feelings began to subside as she noticed his aura was much different than it was just moments before. His eyes were again dark, full of sadness… and his perpetual grimace had returned to grace his heavy features.

Mistaking her confused innocence for displeasure, Subaru used it to further justify his vain futility. He quickly stood, and with heavy steps he turned and walked off, clearly beside himself. Noticing this, Emilia arose, hastily gathering herself to follow him. She took hold of his hand to give the slightest gesture of reassurance. He immediately froze, caught in a figurative bear-trap.

"Subaru, why?" she questioned, her voice breaking with every word. "What is happening? Why did we leave everyone at the Sanctuary? Please tell me Please! I don't understand what's happening—or why we are here!" It was a plea for the truth.

Darkness overtook him, and as she mouthed something else, it was all but lost to his ears. Subaru felt a cold chill overtake his body—a brutal, merciless snap back to the reality which beset them. It was as if all the hot blood in his body began to dissipate, and with it the warmth as well.

It was Emilia's nature to allow others to take precedent over herself. Subaru knew that, and yet even so he was still somewhat disappointed at her question. Amidst all the pain of remembrance from the night before, he still held his reverence of her over everyone else. He thought himself to be most disgusting thing in existence. Why did he always feel sorry for himself? Maybe he just wanted to be acknowledged by the last person alive who mattered to him; the only reason he still drew breath.

He flinched as he felt her hand squeeze his gently to awake him from his inner chastisement. Turning to face her, he locked eyes with her amethyst orbs yet again, exposing his inner turmoil to her. Accidentally letting his guard down, he noticed her face contort into one filled with both concern and understanding. She had gripped both of his hands now, and he could tell she was silently begging him for an answer. He really couldn't hide his emotions from her. It wasn't possible. He had to tell her anyway; he couldn't hide it from her any longer.

Subaru narrowed his eyes at her, and his mouth went to speak, although there was a slight pause as a small gust of wind ruffled the feathers of the forest:

"They are all gone," he uttered silently, looking down as he did so. He wasn't man enough to look her in the eye as her heart broke. "They were taken by one of the three terrible demon beasts, known as the Great Hare. It's horrible, Emilia. Nobody survived. Roswaal, Ram, Beatrice. Everyone at the Sanctuary is gone, and the mansion… Everyone was murdered at the mansion too." He fell to his knees in defeat, still avoiding eye contact with Emilia.

He hadn't heard a sound from her since he admitted the truth, as all he heard was the shallow breeze flowing through the trees, and the occasional chirp from the birds.

"I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry," he cried, resigning himself to sorrow. It was all he could do to keep from breaking down right here and now in front of her. He had to be stronger, he had to—

A soft hand cupped his cheek, breaking his thought.

"Oh, my lovely Subaru," Emilia had said in the gentlest way possible. It was almost eerie how calming her voice was, as if nothing had transpired at all. She gazed at him as he slowly looked up at her face. "You've been through so much, haven't you?"

The softness of her lullaby contrasted heavily with the bleak thoughts which plagued Subaru's mind. "Oh, Emilia," he whispered with a tangible pain laced in every syllable. His voice faltered, his body shook, and his face contorted in anguish—Subaru finally broke. "Why is it so terrible? Why? Rem… Ram… Everyone… Why…? Emilia…"

By now he had latched onto her for dear life, frightened to lose her forever. He gripped hard enough he maybe would never let go. He surely didn't intend to. Tumultuous emotions blanketed his fragile mind. Indeed, he was the weak one, he felt.

"I know," she breathed soothingly into his ear. "Please, listen to my voice, Subaru." To soothe him further, she began to rock him as if he were a toddler.

It was then Emilia realized, as she gazed down her broken Subaru, she had to be strong for him—for now, she was his strength, as he was so often hers. A tear or two escaped her glistening eyes as well, silently mourning her own losses. But for now, she had to comfort the one who bore the unbearable weight of their deaths on his shoulders, and his alone.

She decided they would bear such a burden together.

As he lay there in her lap, attentive to her sweet voice, she began to weave him a beautiful song softly into his ear. In his delirium, he couldn't quite understand her, her song seemingly performed in a different language. Yet, he was also sure it was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. It must have been the language of the angels, as its sophistication and elegance were unmatched. The purity and serenity of her voice captivated him, enchanting him under a mystical spell, and he began to surrender himself sweetly in her crystal-clear voice, flowing endlessly like the expansive ocean until the end of time, mixed with the singing voice of a songbird, flying freely through a mountain pass over an ancient azure river.

Subaru tucked himself into her, and his eyes slowly began to close shut. For once, he felt some measure of peace. As he resigned himself to lay in the angel's arms, she continued to sing her song to him long after he passed into the oblivion of peaceful sleep. His eyes were dried, and his breath was even now, no longer chaotic and full of agony.

She stroked his forehead with every bit of love and tender care she could conjure. She wanted to comfort him, be there for him, as he had been there for her. He had done so much for her, even if it came to such disastrous conclusions as it did. He sacrificed himself for her—his purity and innocence. He was scarred now, she knew. This was all she could do to be there for him in his darkest hour.

Weaving every syllable into his ear meticulously, Emilia whispered, "Sleep ever soundly, my knight…"

Soon, she found herself nodding off as well, lost in the peaceful moment for which they shared. Her own dwindling thoughts kept her company, though. Maybe her claim for the throne had ended, maybe her journey to free her people was all but folly. It didn't matter anymore. The only thing which mattered to her now was this boy in her arms who had given her everything he had—and so, she would return the favor in the best way she could.

Her eyes lidded, once, twice, her grip on his hand loosening ever so slightly, even as his remained steadfast. In a moment's time, beneath the brush of the luscious trees, Emilia fell fast asleep, in the arms of her hero.

If anyone dared to pass by a long and winding road southeast of Priestella, none would notice the two nestled beneath a wise tree just off the path. Only the wildlife of the forest curiously peeked at whom their new visitors were, eager to see who had intruded upon their territory. But even they refused to disturb the two and their sacred rest.

Subaru's sleep, while calm and peaceful, was full of wonder. In the dark depths of his mind, he pondered to himself a future with Emilia and Emilia alone. Was he selfish for that? Was he selfish to want to find a peace in this world, when so many had suffered and died for nothing? He didn't quite understand or immediately find an answer to his questions, but even so, in the deep underworld of his subconscious—he dreamed of love.

Amongst that wonderful dream of love, he heard a distant, but soothingly familiar voice.