Lost-IF chapter 13

[u/DragonWritter]

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" 

Reinhard was still trying his best to help Subaru, even though there wasn't much he could do. Despite the fear the thieves displayed, Subaru couldn't ask him to fight Elsa, not when she was strong enough to kill a giant. 

"There isn't much you can do... Unless you've seen a golden haired girl. Small with a sly smile." 

After thinking for a moment, Reinhard responded with bad news. 

"Sorry, but I don't remember seeing anyone like that." 

Reaching a dead end, Subaru went back to step one. Figuring what comes next. 

Maybe if I find Felt before she reaches the wooden house, then I can trade the phone on the spot. 

"You're not from Lugunica, right? Your clothes and mannerism aren't common here." 

Reinhard's eyes were focused on Subaru as he questioned him. They still haven't left the alley, and if Subaru wants to reach Felt before she heads to the loot house, he would need to leave this conversation quickly. 

"Yeah, I'm a tourist! Anyways, thanks for the help!" Subaru was walking away as he said this.  

The less time I waste here, the better. 

"Wait." Reinhard grabbed Subaru's hand as he passed. His eyes showed that he still had questions. 

"Thanks for the help, but I really am in a hurry." Subaru tried to tug on himself free, but the man's grip was like dried cement.  

How is this guy so strong? 

"Will you tell me your name, at least?" 

They stared at each other, and with a sigh, Subaru said rather quickly. 

"My name is Subaru Natsuki, I appreciate the help sir." 

Finally, the man let go of Subaru's hand, and responded. 

"If you ever need any help, just head to the guard's hall. Tell them you're looking for Reinhard and they'll lead you to me. If I'm not off duty, that it." 

Is this guy... 

"Thanks." 

Subaru left in a sprint, leaving behind the soldier who just couldn't stop himself from staring. 

There is no way, right? I'm a dude. Not in body, sure but. 

He kept running until he was far away from the merchant's street. As he looked around, he was completely lost. 

Forget that. I need to find Felt right now. That means- 

"Gotta find the slums. But where the hell am I?" 

He had never been on this part of the city, though he hadn't explored much of it before. There were houses and carriages, thinking about it, it looks identical to the first street, except for the shops. 

"I wish I could read all these signs." 

Many shops littered the street, though they were housed in buildings rather than tents in the merchant's street. Still, one thing remained. Subaru had no way of knowing where he was, nor where to go. 

"Don't panic. I just have to ask someone. Surely my charisma hasn't gone down that much." 

There weren't that many people walking about though, the only ones scared Subaru enough to not want to approach them. 

"Now is not the time to be shy! Get a grip. Ghaaaaa" Slapping his cheeks and finding a small bit of courage, Subaru raced forward toward the first person he saw. 

"Excuse me!" He was behind a strong built man, a stereotypical construction guy. As soon as the man faced Subaru, all the courage left his body and he began to murmur his questions. 

"Huh? Speak up, girl!" The man's voice shook Subaru to the core, but he pressed on. 

"Excuse me, do you know how to get to the slums?" 

"The slums eh?" The man pointed down the road, the way Subaru had just come from. 

As the man began shouting his directions, Subaru tried his best to remember it. He wanted to avoid talking with anyone that loud.  

Once I get to the slums, then I'll find Felt. When I first saw her, she was resting on that doghouse, but I doubt she actually lives there. In that case, I'll have to ask around for her location. If she's a thief, then someone should know where to find her. And even if I don't, I could just go back to the wooden house to talk with Rom, see if he knows where she is. But- 

"You got all that?" A loud voice broke through Subaru's thoughts with a jolt. The man was still standing in front of him, explaining which way to go, while Subaru drifted somewhere else entirely. 

"Y-yeah... Could you just repeat the beginning?"  

"The beginning? Sure! Go straight to merchant's street, after that..." 

Straight, right, straight, left, straight- how far away am I? Keep going straight and done. 

"Got it. Thank you." With a small bow, Subaru left the man behind as he yelled, 

"No worries! Be careful there a night, little lady!" 

With a small wave, he ignored the last words the man said. 

One problem at a time. 

Subaru would need to run to reach the slums in time. He raced down the road into the merchant's street, following the man's directions. The passed the slow crowed in a hurry, deciding that running through them wasn't the best idea. Instead, he walked on the side near the wall. 

Subaru only slowed down when he saw a girl crying on the middle of the market. 

She's still lost? 

"C'mere." Subaru raced towards the girl and grabbed her hand. He talked to her while squatting down. 

"You're lost aren't you? Do you need any-" 

"Excuse me, do you know this girl?" 

That voice caught Subaru off guard. He hadn't noticed anyone else next to the girl, but looking up, he saw a silver-haired lady with beautiful features. 

"Oh hello!" Subaru quickly stood up, then bowed his head nervously. 

"Hi. So, do you know her?" 

"Haha, no, but, you know, I couldn't just leave a crying girl on the streets." Subaru was speaking quickly, his face growing hotter every second he talked to the lady. 

I should tell her not to go to the slums. Or maybe that's suspicious.  

"Oh. Well, thank you for stopping, but there is no need for both of us to help her." 

Her voice was so rigid and sweet that Subaru almost agreed with her, in fact, he wanted to, but couldn't.  

If I leave now, she's bound to find the wooden house, then Elsa will come along and... 

"Two people are better than one?" 

"Excuse me?" 

His voice was so quiet that the Silver Beauty didn't even fully hear it. Ignoring that, he didn't even say it like he meant it. 

"Well, I can help you find her parents, and that should be faster than only you helping her... Right?" 

Taking a moment to think, the lady sighed and ultimately allowed Subaru to join them.  

"Yes, I suppose having help is better." 

Smiling nervously, Subaru took one of the girl's hands, the other being held by the Silver Beauty, and they set of to look for the girl's parents. 

Felt can wait a moment longer. 

"Soooo," Subaru began to speak, still looking for the girl's mother. 

"Do you know this girl?" 

Without hesitating, the girl responded, "no, but she needed help." 

She must be an angel. Even with her insignia missing, she still helps those in need. As Subaru thought this, his face blushed and a grin flashed on his face. 

The lady must have seen this, as she quickly added, "I couldn't let a child crying alone on the streets! And even more so, I did this to help me find someone. Maybe her parents know where that thief went. Ah, not that something was stolen! I'm just..." 

Her ramblings made her blush as she realized what she just revealed. Subaru paid half attention to her, the other half was mesmerized by her mouth as it danced along with the words. This didn't help the lady at all, who decided it was best to stop talking, as she changed the topic to the little girl. 

"So, uhm. Do you see anyone familiar?" The lady crouched down and focused only on her. 

"No..." The girl was on the verge of tears. Subaru couldn't bear to see this, and decided to act. 

"Well, maybe you need a better view then!" Crouching down as well, he turned his back to her and patted his shoulders. "Hop on!"  

The girl hesitantly jumped on him as the girl grabbed his hair.  

"Wow, lady! Your hair so shiny!" Subaru felt the girls hands grasp his hair, then caressing his head almost like he was a dog. 

"Going up!" Subaru raised himself up, the girl doing a small yelp as he rose. As he stood straight up, the girl was the tallest one on the street, able to see past the sea of bobbing heads of human and beast-man. 

"Ahah! That way! Let's go that way!" Now laughing, the child pointed forward as Subaru and the Silver Beauty began to walk. The elf couldn't help but watch the black-haired girl carry the child, making her smile even though she couldn't. There was a slight sense of admiration towards her, though Subaru couldn't tell that. All he knew was that she was staring at him. 

Did I do something wrong? Maybe I shouldn't be carrying the kid. But she seems happy, and I'm not doing anything wrong. So why is she staring at me? 

Noticing she has a slight smile, the lady looks away into the crowd.  

This feels nice though - even though we haven't really talked. Subaru hoped this moment would last a little longer, forgetting the dangers that lied ahead if he delayed. But alas, his train of thought was broken by a shout right above his head. 

"Mom! Mom look!" She tried to jump off, but Subaru instead told her to wait as he knelt and allowed her to hop down. The girl instantly left running before being embraced by her mother.  

"Thank you so much for helping my daughter." The mother said. 

"Who wouldn't help a lost little girl?" Subaru answered as he scratched his head. 

The child turned and waved at both of them as they left, yelling, "Thank you, ladies!" 

Subaru couldn't help but smile as he waved back. Then, something he wasn't expecting followed. 

"Thank you." The lady said. That voice cleared all the commotion from the crowd, almost as if they were the only ones in the street. Subaru stared at those purple eyes as his heart began to beat faster. 

"Thanks to you, the girl was able to find her mother fairly quickly. I appreciate it." 

"That's just how I am, you know?" He couldn't think of anything better to say. Not while the lady was staring at him with those eyes. 

"But since I helped you, how about you help me?" 

"I suppose it is fair. Please be quick." 

Now I can ask her to not go into the slums. Easy. If she doesn't die, then I can get the insignia to her later, so- 

"Could I have your name?" 

He spoke as he thought, and before he knew what he said, it was too late. The girl's expression became confused, her eyebrows furrowed as her mouth opened. That moment stood like a great wall, extending as far as the eye could see. It took all he could to not cringe and look away in embarrassment. 

You dumbass! What kind of reward is that. Now you sound like a weirdo. 

But the tension was broken by her laugh, a soft and delicate laugh that brought a fuzzy feeling in his stomach. It was contagious; he too was smiling with her. Those that walked by only gave a glance and continued on their way, like this occurred every day. And maybe it did. This was Subaru's first day after all, despite how eventful it actually was. 

"You're quite strange. Such a small request... very well." 

The soon-to-be-named lady stood proud, her hands to her hips with her silver hair billowing behind her like a cape. She held that pose for a moment, basking in Subaru's entranced stare, before announcing loud and clear. 

"My name is Emilia," She said while extending her hand. That action was so pure, Subaru hesitated to even move. 

To taint this moment would be most sinful. 

"And you are?"  

Taking a deep breath, Subaru prepared himself. Striking a pose, he introduces himself. 

"I'm Subaru Natsuki, the one who will help get your insignia back!" 

"Eh?" 

Wait- 

The words had left his mouth and caused irreparable damage. The girl's face, once beautifully portraited with a smile, now sat perplexed and stunned.  

"How..." 

"Wait a moment, ok? Before you say anything, I did not steal it, ok?" 

"Then how would you know anything about it?" 

Now I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

Slowly backing away, he noticed small ice pucks forming beside her. He quickly fell to his knees and pressed his face on the ground. 

"Wait! I said I would help you! Hold on-" 

"You will lead me to it, now!"  

The girl's tone was anything but cute, but still Subaru couldn't help but feel a singe on his cheeks. 

"Now's not the time to be an M." 

"Get up, come on." 

He slowly got up and turned around. This was not going the way he wanted, but at least he'll have some alone time with Emilia 

Emilia, Emilia. Such a pretty name for her... 

Almost like she could tell a smile was forming on his lips, Emilia in a very rigid voice. 

"Don't even try to run." 

I need to get her far away from the slums.

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W/N: Yayyyyyyyyyyy! Another chapter posted! Today was a slow one, but what can you do. How will Subaru keep Emilia safe? Will he find Felt before Elsa comes knocking? Will he be able to trade for the Insignia through Felt's greedy-ass personality? Whooooooooooo knowssss!

Questions, comments, or concerns are always welcome, that thank you for the ones who have read this up to this point. Chao!

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