Guts locked eyes with the girl.
Guts:
"I don't like hitting pretty ladies… but I won't hesitate."
Girl:
"Don't underestimate me!"
With a swift motion, she hurled three ice lances. Guts raised his sword. A single swing of his arm, and the projectiles shattered against the blade.
Guts:
sighs
"Figures… it's never that simple."
He stepped forward with heavy steps, the Dragonslayer dragging slightly behind him, as if it weighed less than his irritation.
Puck (panicked):
"Emilia, watch out! This guy… he's not human! He's swinging that thing like a twig!"
His cry gave away the name of the silver-haired girl.
Emilia (frowning):
"He's strong... But that insignia is vital. I can't give it up."
Puck (reluctant):
"If you say so…"
He zipped through the air, unleashing a flurry of icy projectiles. Guts didn't move. His sword intercepted everything. Unshaken.
Guts (muttering, jaded):
"You too, huh? Remind me of another fairy who wouldn't shut up."
Puck:
"No clue who you're talking about, but I'm sure she was delightful!"
Suddenly, he froze mid-air. His small body trembled.
Puck (low voice):
"What… is that black aura…?"
Something emanated from Guts. Something deep. Ancient. A painful echo in the air. Puck floated back, pale.
Guts (rubbing his neck):
"Ugh. That damn Brand again."
A dull pain. Familiar. The one he'd carried since the Eclipse. It didn't bleed blood, but memory.
Emilia:
"I…"
Guts slowly raised his hand. She tensed. Not from fear of pain—but of judgment.
But the hand didn't strike. It landed on her head. Firm. Almost clumsy.
Guts:
"You've got guts, kid."
He didn't really smile. Just a twitch of the lips. A tired kind of peace.
Emilia looked up at him. She hadn't expected that. Her cheeks flushed before she could stop it.
Emilia (stammering):
"Eh… umm…"
Guts glanced away.
Guts:
"I didn't take your insignia. But I know who did."
Emilia:
"You… do?"
Guts:
"Yeah. Come on. Let's go find them."
They walked, saying nothing. The city buzzed around them, but between them… only the sound of footsteps.
Emilia glanced at him from the corner of her eye. This man… he could've killed her. Could've run. But he hadn't done any of that. Just… tapped her head. Like you would a reckless pup.
Guts (without looking at her):
"By the way. Your name?"
She hesitated for a second.
Emilia:
"Satella."
Puck (grumbling):
"Seriously? That's a bad joke."
Guts (raising an eyebrow):
"Satella, huh. Sounds badass."
Emilia (blushing, surprised):
"You… think so?"
Guts:
"I've heard worse."
They reached a large plaza. Strange buildings. An architecture too clean. Not a single detail felt familiar.
Guts (thinking):
Nothing here's in its right place. Not even me. Something's off. Something pulling strings in the dark.
Emilia (timidly):
"You haven't told me your name."
Guts:
"Guts."
She repeated it softly, like she wanted to make it real.
Emilia:
"Guts…"
She wanted to ask about his mechanical hand. His eye. That gaze. But she stayed silent.
Puck hovered behind them, eyeing the Brand on Guts' neck.
Puck (thinking):
That thing… it's not normal magic. It's a wound. A beacon for the worst nightmares you can imagine. He's dangerous. And he knows it.
Guts suddenly stopped.
Guts:
"There. A little girl."
She was wandering alone in the plaza, looking lost, eyes red.
Guts:
"Should we help her?" he asked, almost out of instinct.
Emilia nodded softly.
Emilia:
"Yes. Of course."
She knelt beside the child.
Emilia:
"Are you okay? Did you get lost?"
Girl:
"Mommy… I lost her… sniff…"
She started sobbing. Emilia tried to comfort her, but it didn't work.
Guts stepped closer.
Guts:
"Wanna ride on my back? We'll look for your mom."
The girl looked at him, hesitant. Then nodded. He lifted her with ease. She giggled.
Girl:
"You're huge! And hard like armor!"
Emilia smiled faintly.
Emilia:
"You're scary and funny. That's rare."
Guts (shrugging):
"I'll take what I can get."
After a few steps, the girl asked to get down. He put her down. She grabbed his hand—then Emilia's.
Emilia:
"We'll help her first."
Guts:
"What about your insignia?"
Emilia (without looking at him):
"It can wait."
Girl (suddenly):
"Mommy!"
She let go and ran to a woman nearby.
Woman:
"Prune! Oh, my sweet girl! I was so worried!"
Plume:
"Hehe! I met a super strong uncle and a really nice big sister!"
She pointed at Guts and Emilia.
Woman:
"Thank you so much," she said, bowing. "May you and your husband be blessed."
Emilia (blushing furiously):
"H-husband?! No! We're not— I mean—"
Woman (chuckling):
"Ah, young love… I was the same at your age."
She left with a wink. Prune waved at them, beaming.
Silence.
Emilia (softly):
"She thought we were a couple…"
Guts (stoic):
"Don't see the issue. You're pretty. Wouldn't mind."
She almost tripped.
Emilia:
"E-eh?!"
Guts:
"What? I didn't say you're mine. I said I wouldn't mind."
A brief silence. Then she dared to ask:
Emilia:
"Have you… ever loved someone?"
His gaze wandered for a moment into the shadows of memory.
He looked away.
Guts:
"Yeah."
One word. Harsh. Bare.
But it echoed. Worn out. Tired. Too heavy for three letters.
She lowered her eyes.
Emilia:
"Maybe we're a little alike… I'm different too. A half-elf."
He stayed silent for a moment. As if deciding whether to speak. Then he cut through whatever that conversation could've become.
Guts:
"Explains why you're pretty."
She stared at him, stunned.
Emilia:
"Thank you…"
Guts:
"That was a compliment, not a confession."
Emilia:
"I know," she replied, blushing harder.
Suddenly, a tiny fist tapped Guts' cheek.
Puck:
"You're too soft, you big brute."
Guts:
"What are you doing, bug?"
Puck:
"Pride punch! Someone had to defend Emilia's honor. You made her blush like a schoolgirl!"
Guts:
"She just smiled."
Puck:
"That's exactly the problem!"