How did it come to this? Chapter.1 Thank you
Emil had to face Richter in this final battle and win, or it would be the era of Demons and the death of humanity.
Marta, Genis, Raine, Sheena, Regal, Colette, and Presea stayed behind the fighting member's to watch the final battle go down, ready to jump in should they need to. Emil was nervous, shaking almost. His palms sweating as he clutched his sword tightly. The only thing keeping him from completely breaking down was his Fenrir Jord and the incredible will power coming from Lloyd, along with the support of Zelos.
To Emil, Lloyd was truly amazing...to him, Lloyd was *Hope*
"Emil." The all too familiar voice called his name. The very man that changed his life, now stood before him bathed in the flames of hell. Most of his body was black and burning, it reminded Emil of lava while his hair was like fire, burning brightly as it fluttered in the air around them.
Axe in one hand and sword in the other but his eyes...they were still the same beautiful green eyes that he remembered but those iconic glasses that Emil always remembered were nowhere to be found on the older man's face.
"Richter-san!" Emil raised his voice, glaring at the man who meant the world to him. He did his best to hide his fear and cease his trembling as he slowly approached him, feeling his heartbeat quicken with every step.
"Stop this...you can still turn back" Emil pleaded, begging, praying that he wouldn't have to kill him, much less fight him.
"You stand in my way, even after taking Aster's life and stealing his face!?" Richter glared sharply at the boy, full of hate, damning the boy.
"Emil, we have to do this...I know it's hard...I had to do the same with one of my friends" Lloyd said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Eyes full of sympathy.
"Thank you...But, I want to face him alone" Emil smiled for a moment. Lloyd nodded, understanding the boy's feelings.
"Come on Zelos, we can jump in if things get dangerous," Lloyd said, joining the rest of the group.
"Alright. But I don't like this" Zelos replied, following Lloyd but gave a quick pat on the blond's shoulder as he passed by.
"It's okay guy's, I'll be back," Emil said in a reassuring manner, petting his monsters before sending them all away to wait with Lloyd and the others.
"Emil" Richter called the boy's name, gaining his attention. "You better be ready." He warned as he scowled, damning him for being the murderer of his dear friend, damning the world for having to bring him to this point.
"I am…" Emil nodded with a stern look in his eyes, not once did he remove his gaze from the older man.
And with that, the two become locked in a heated battle. Marta was on the verge of tears, worried she would lose the one she loved forever.
Lloyd hated doing nothing, as he now understood how Zelos must have felt when he Fought Kratos alone and just how frustrating it must have been for Zelos to just watch that as he was now standing here watching Emil fight Richter.
In all of his fights against Richter, Emil had always held back when attacking, as he didn't want to hurt such a precious person. But now was not the time for that and he knew he couldn't hold back at a time like this because Richter had never held back before, not once...But Emil couldn't do it. Every time he hit the man, he thought about how it might be the final blow and his heart would stop for just a moment, only meeting the harsh blow of Richter's attacks.
He could no longer stop the trembling in his hands, as the pain was becoming too much for him. The sharp intense pain of Richter's burning weapon's cutting at his flesh, and the smell of his own flesh and blood burning made his stomach sick.
At this point, Marta was crying in Sheena's arms and Lloyd and Zelos continued to stay in place as Emil had yet to give them any sign to help him.
"R...Richter-san" Emil tried to stand straight, trying to function his trembling legs, coughing up his own blood, trying so hard to fight and swallow the fear of death.
"Emil, just stand down and die so I can save Aster," He said coldly, approaching the boy.
To Richter, Aster was everything, his *Light* in this world, and nothing was going to stop him from bringing that light back.
Emil chocked when the man gripped his fingers around his neck, very slowly burning away at his soft skin. Emil gagged, choking, clawing at the arm that was choking him, struggling to get air into his lungs.
"R-Richter..san….please….stop…" He begged as he could feel his feet lift from the ground, feeling the grip on his neck tighten.
"You killed Aster!" Richter glared as he resented how the boy continued to beg.
"I..I'm...so...rry….ngh...I didn't mean...to…." Emil chocked out, speaking with what little air his lungs could get.
Feeling the life in his own hands struggle to breathe under his grasp, Richter studied the boy closely as tears were now streaming down the boy's cheeks and falling from his chin and onto his hand that he chocked the boy with, feeling the cold droplets it his hand.
"Richter...I know..that you care about Aster...and...that...you want to save him...But..w...what about me?" He asked, catching the man by slight surprise, as the hand that chocked him had twitched at those words.
"Don't...Don't I mean anything to you...after everything..we….went..through...after everything...did I truly...honestly mean...nothing? Does my life mean so little that you could kill me so easily without hesitation!?" Raising his voice, thick streams of tears ran down his eyes, his voice hitched as he continued to choke for air, sobbing hard as he was losing the strength to pull the man away. Blood running down his mouth.
"Emil…." Richter just barely loosened his grip, continuing to watching the boy slowly cry and sob to his death.
Was it really just my face? Because...to me….all those moments we spent together...they...they were the world to me...even when you seemed to dislike my being there….I always enjoyed being by your side...But to you...I meant nothing…." Emil began to lose the life that shined so beautifully in his eyes while tears blurred his vision. Feeling the burring around his neck grow, he trembled, he was afraid, afraid of death.
"Emil...I" That wasn't true, Richter had enjoyed the time he spent with Emil, watching the boy laugh and smile, hearing what little stories he had to talk about. But...he had to kill him if he wanted to get Aster back...He had to take Emil's life for Aster.
I have to, I have to, I have to...!
"Richter-san...I...I know I'm not Aster...But.." Emil could feel himself slipping...and he knew this because he was becoming numb to the pain at this point. Blood streamed from his neck, all over Richter's hand. He coughed up more of his blood, his body going limp under the man's grasp as the flow of tears began to slow.
"Richter-san….I….loved….you…...that's why I...couldn't..fight….back….I loved you...Richter-san…." Despite everything, Emil managed a smile, he smiled with what little strength he had left and smiled at the very man whose hand was wrapped around his neck.
Richter's eyes widened as a thin stream of tears run down his own cheeks. Suddenly, Rickter's eyes were torn from Emil's face when a bracelet fell from Emil's wrist. It was really worn and dirty from the fight...but Richter recognized it...It was the very Balacruf bracelet that he had given Emil so long ago for Marta…
"Emil...You…" After all this time, all these years...He was finally going to get aster back. But is it really worth it anymore? He had grown so close to Emil and yet...As he held his weapon in one hand, he was faced with his final choice. The choice to Run his sword through Emil, and kill him to revive Aster...or, Let the boy go and lay Aster to rest.
Aster was Everything to Richter and yet, somehow, Emil had become something just as meaningful to Richter with the little time they spent together. It was true, it had been his face that kept him around for a while. But after knowing Emil as Emil, Richter slowly began to pray that Emil was not Ratatosk. He liked Emil for being Emil, despite his face resembling Aster's...So, could he really kill Emil for Aster? Could he really live with that?
"Emil….I'm sorry" Richter showed such pain, regret. He released his grip on the boy's neck, letting him fall to his knees as he choked and gasped for air, wheezing in pain. Richter closed his eyes for a moment before opening them to gaze at the boy once more.
"I really am sorry...forgive me" were the last words Emil remembered, as tears streamed down Richter's face.
"Emil!" Marta screamed, tears running down her face.
"Damn you!" Lloyd charged in with Zelos. The rest following his lead.
"Emil!" Raine quickly ran to aid the boy, who was just stabbed through his chest moment's ago. Laying in a pool of his own blood, his body was limp with no response.
Marta sobbed, shaking his body over and over, hoping he would wake up and come back to her, until it faded away, leaving behind his core…Richter was soon killed after and Ratatosk reawakened, having no memory of anyone. He forever shut himself out from the world, as he now and forever will keep the lock sealed, keeping the demon's from ever coming out, changing the laws of the world as he reclaims the mana from the world to create a new seal, now that he had all of his centurions under his control.
Marta spent months, alone, crying...Lost without the boy she knew as Emil.
Lloyd could only blame himself, doing everything in his power to make it up to Marta. Had Zelos not been there, Lloyd might have broken down into tears as well…
Everyone was glad that Ratatosk was alive. But...The boy they all knew as Emil was dead, forever gone from this world, never able to move on, as he was forever just a part of Ratatosk. In the end, Richter could finally join Aster…
"Couldn't...Couldn't I do it over again?" The boy asked.
"Humph...If it's something you think you can, then go right ahead" The angel replied.
-I want to go back...Back to the time in Palmacosta-
It was just when Emil as suddenly bumped into Richter in front of Palmacosta's church. Richter and Emil had been surprised to see each, especially Richter, considering he assumed he was still living safely in Luin. But Emil was just relieved to see the man after seeing him collapsed on the ground after being attacked by Lloyd. The two both talked for a minute before Richter something he had to take care of, saying his goodbyes to the boy and walking away...But something inside Emil screamed that he had to reach out...that he had to call out. He had to reach Richter.
"R...Richter-san!" Emil called out to the man, unsure of what was compelling him to do so in the first place.
"Emil!" Tenebrae couldn't tell what was going on through the boy's mind...And as much as he wanted to warn Marta, he had to stay close to Emil, To Ratatosk.
The man came to a halt. He sighed and turned around to face the boy. "I thought I told you I was leaving?" He scoffed, with a slight glare, hoping to make the boy leave.
"Richter-san...I…" Emil didn't even know what to say, he hardly even knew what drove him to do so. Lowering his head, he tucked his chin into his scarf.
"Emil, I don't have time to waste anymore." He huffed, crossing his arms.
"Richter-san, I-I...um"
"Emil, you made a pact with Ratatosk-sama to protect Lady Marta, and this man is trying to kill her!" Tenebrae warned, obviously displeased with the boy's actions to further his time with the older man.
"What!? You idiot!" Richter suddenly scolded, surprising the boy which caused him to freeze up a bit. Scared of those eyes and his angry tone, Emil refused to lift his head even once.
"I-I…." He stuttered, scared to anger the man further.
"What were you thinking making a pact with him!?" Richter scolded once more, taking a hold of the boy's shoulders, shaking him violently.
"I-I just wanted to protect Marta" The boy explained, frightened of the man's sudden rage. Richter noticed this quickly and released the boy, putting some distance between them before composing himself.
"You idiot...you shouldn't have gotten involved in this," He said, turning away a bit, with an almost sorrowful look on his face.
"But I'm already involved" Emil suddenly raised his voice as if to prove himself not a child. But as a grown man who chooses for himself.
"..." Whether it was Emil's face resembling Aster's, or if it was just because he found himself caring for the boy, he didn't want him to end up getting hurt or getting mixed up in the Vanguard or Ratatosk.
"Richter-san-" Emil quickly halted his words, eyes widening as flashes of Richter appeared in his mind like a dream, feeling the pain of being cut, slashed, stabbed...killed.
"Uaaaaaagh!" He screamed, holding his head tightly, falling to his knees as he panted heavily.
"Emil!?" Richter quickly knelt down by the boy. "What's wrong?" He asked as concern was heard through the tone of his voice.
"My...head...I keep getting these...these flashes of you killing me…" These flashes had been something he started to have a while back but at the time they were blurry and painless, so he had never bothered to mention them to Marta.
"Just relax" He said. His tone calm.
"...huff….huff…" The boy tried to relax and could feel the pain subsiding as the sound of Richter's voice echoing in his head seemed to do the trick.
"You seem fine now...Get some rest" He sighed, standing back up as he couldn't help but find himself foolish when his heart had skipped a bit with worry for the boy.
"R...Richter-san…" He slowly stood back up to watch the man...wondering why he would have dreams of Richter killing him when all he's ever done was be nice to him.
"...And don't worry about those visions. I hear dreams about dying is supposed to be a good sign of luck.." He said, hoping to relieve the boy of worry.
"Richter-san...Thank you, I knew you were a nice person" He smiled brightly. A light shade of pink grazing his cheeks.
"Don't mistake advise for kindness" He scoffed, looking away from the boy, as his cheeks flushed a pink color, trying to drown out the fluttery feeling the boy gave him every time he smiled.
"So...where are you going Richter-san?" He asked, despite knowing it might be obvious….But he wanted to have faith that maybe-
"-I don't see why that has anything to do with you." He replied in a cold manner, pushing his glasses up in hopes this would drive the boy away.
"I just...I want to know more about you, I think your really cool" Emil explained, full of determination to get closer with Richter.
"Emil….." Damning himself for being so kind to the boy, as he found the boy's words to slightly embarrass him, pulling at his heart. But their attention was quickly taken when the all too familiar enemies voice spoke up, interrupting the two males.
"You're that boy Marta-chan was with," She smiled deviously.
"The sadist!?" Emil's eyes widen in surprise, hoping he won't need to fight in public. Richter, on the other hand, was speechless by the name Emil had given her, while Alice was more than furious but quickly decided to play along.
"A sadist? Is that what Marta-chan as been calling me these days?" Cocking her head off to the side a bit, she smiled, obviously still displeased. But didn't waste any time before getting right to the point.
"Now why don't you be a good boy and tell me where she is?" She smiled as she played with her weapon, making the boy nervous as she slowly began drew near.
"Alice, he's an acquaintance of mine," Richter spoke, stepping in front of Emil.
"But the boy is with Marta-chan" She smiled with a tilt of her head with a slight glare to her eyes.
"And I said he's an acquaintance." He glared, gripped the handles of his weapons tightly, continuing to stare her down. Both stared each other down for a moment before Alice finally backed down, knowing full well of the situation.
"Richter-san…" He couldn't believe it...Richter was protecting him from Alice. His heart fluttered at the sight of the man's back, shielding him from danger...but at the same time...it upset him because Richter knowing Alice so formally most likely meant he was part of the Vanguard...
"Fine. But if I see the little runt with Marta-chan, all bets are off" She said with a very visible glare before finally walking away. Richter than sighed, loosening his grip on his weapons before finally pulling his hands away.
"Richter-san, thank-" Before Emil could say any more, he was cut short of his words as Richter seemed to give him a very stern look before scolding the boy.
"-Quickly return to Marta before Alice kills you both, or before I kill her." He scoffed, speaking coldly to him.
"I'm sorry..." was all Emil could think to say before lowered his head in response, hoping he hadn't upset the man more then he had already or gotten him into trouble for protecting him.
"...Be more careful, Emil.." He said softly before walking away.
"Richter-san...w-wait!" The boy caught up with the man once more, suddenly remembering something he had gotten.
"Emil, go-" Before Richter could say any more, Emil quickly handed the man a small pouch.
"Here. I don't like herbs...But I read that these ones are good for pains and helping to heal wounds...I started picking them after I joined Marta because I...I was really worried about that injury that you had back in Luin…" The boy explained, nervously lowering his head, as his cheeks began to burn a pink color.
"...Emil." He eyed the small cloth bag in the boy's hand. He could only feel guilty, as Emil kindly offered such a kind gift despite how cold he had been to him. He took the small bag from the boy, watching him pull his head back up.
"I guess I should go now…" Emil started to run off to find Marta, when he had suddenly stumbled, cheeks flushed a rosy color as he at the last moment could hear the man behind him say "Thank you, Emil…" at the last moment. His heart was pounding against his chest.
-Our fight at the Temple of Martel-
Emil and Marta were on their way back to Iselia when they had begun to argue. Marta had said something that really got to Emil...It really hurt Emil, and Marta was full of guilt but this finally pushed Emil to his limit.
"Stop trying to make me into someone I'm not! And I don't even remember you!" Emil lashed out.
"Emil I…-" Marta didn't know what to say, all she knew was that she felt like crying for making the boy feel so hurt and angry.
"Forget it...let's just go…" Emil lowers his head, continuing onwards as he didn't want to talk about it anymore...
"Emil…" Marta felt so cruel, she couldn't believe how she had been treating Emil all this time, without even considering his feelings.
It was hours after they had met up with Raine and Genis. Fight after fight, Inn after inn, Item after item, and problem after problem...They were finally reaching Izoold. The moon was bright and the air was nice. Genis and Raine didn't know what to do with their friends. Marta and Emil still seemed to be arguing over something. It's not that Emil didn't want to fix it...But. he was really hurt by what Marta said and didn't know what to say to her and he didn't exactly trust himself at the moment to hear what Marta had to say because he had been going Ratatosk mode a lot recently and didn't want to lash at her in case he was to turn and try to hurt her.
"So uh.." Genis looked at his friends, not sure how to break the awkward silence.
"Marta, why don't you and I set up our tents?" Raine suggested.
"Yeah, alright" She smiled a bit and walked with Raine to go get started, leaving Emil with Genis.
"Um, Emil, why don't you go get some firewood while I start dinner," Genis said with a smile, hoping to cheer Emil up.
"O-Okay" Emil smiled a bit and walked off in the dark in search of firewood. He wasn't so far that he had lost his way. But he was far enough that anyone from his group couldn't see or hear him should he scream.
"Sigh...I should really talk to Marta...But...What if I get angry and go into Ratatosk mode...I don't want to hurt Marta, I want to protect her...I just…." He sighed, giving the firewood in his arms a sorrowful look. He started feeling guilty as he remembered sounding so cruel to the poor girl.
He continued to pick up sticks laying on the ground. It was really quiet and a bit chilly, so the thought of finishing up and sitting by a warm fire would be a pleasant reward when he finished.
"Emil, look out!"
"Eh!?" Emil was surprised by the sudden familiar voice. Dropping the firewood, he turned around and just like that, Richter had jumped in front of him and blocked an incoming fireball that would have burned him in a mere second.
"You idiot, don't let your guard down! Get ready, here it comes! "He scoffed. Both weapons ready in hand.
"R-Right!" Was all Emil could think of for a response. He was still slightly surprised by the sudden attack.
He drew his weapon, moving from behind Richter to stand next to him as an Elder dragon came out from some rocks, heading towards them, ready to kill.
"You want a piece of me!?" The boy's eyes suddenly turned red, as he snarled at the monster with a sharp glare.
"..." Richter assumed that must have been the power of Ratatosk, being that Emil had told him that he made a pact with the lord of monsters...Well, not so much as Emil told him. But Tenebrae had said it himself back in Palmacosta.
The two fought the dragon, and thanks to Richter they were close to victory when suddenly the dragon made an ear-splitting roar, calling more dragon's and gaining the attention of other monster's, and gaining the attention of monster's that didn't like each other at all. It became a battlefield for Richter and Emil.
"Damn...more of them" Richter grunted. He didn't plan on fighting this many, nor was the boy strong enough to face all of them.
"Damn, we're outnumbered!" The boy said with a glare at the monsters with Richter beside him.
"Emil!" Marta suddenly called out from the distance, gaining both of the males attention.
"Marta!?" Eyes suddenly returned to their kind green color, as his eyes searched for the source of the girl's voice.
"Hang on Emil!" Genis called out next.
Marta, Genis, and Raine showed up from the sound of the dragon and came as quick as they could to help but were too far for Emil and Richter to see as they were on the other side of the group of monsters. "Emil! We're coming!" Marta cried out once more. There were so many monsters all fighting them and each other that it almost felt like a war zone with no end in sight.
"Emil, keep moving!" Richter scolded, attacking the Padfoot that attacked, once more protecting Emil from harm's way.
"R-Right, sorry" Just when Emil was getting ready to fight again, another painful flash of Richter killing him came to his mind.
"Aaaaa!" He screamed in pain, pulling his head down and holding it tightly in his hands.
"Emil!?" Marta felt her heart drop when she heard Emil's scream. Trying to fight her way through the monsters to reach the boy, Genis and Raine did their best to help clear a path for her. All were unaware of Richter being present.
"Emil!" Richter swiftly fought off a monster that approached the boy and returning to his previous battle, while trying to keep a close eye on the boy.
"Is it another vision!?" He asked, trying to keep focused on his fight while looking over his shoulder to see the boy.
"R...Richter-...san…" Emil collapsed, as his body couldn't take any more strain from the visions, dropping his sword to the side as he hit the ground.
"Emil!? Emil!" Richter turned to see the boy on the ground, quickly finishing off a monster before kneeling by his side.
"Emil I'm coming!" Marta said over the fighting of monsters.
Richter saw that there was little end to the monsters and knew Emil couldn't stay here, and leaving him here while trying to protect him wouldn't work for long either. His only option is to take Emil and make an escape while the boy's friends fight the monsters off unless he leaves the boy for dead...
"Emil...I'm sorry" Richter had little faith in Emil's friends and couldn't stay any longer. He sheathed his weapons, pulling the boy's arm over his shoulder and hoisting him up, using his other arm to hold up the boy's waist. "Aqua!" He quickly called. She appeared through the hair with few bubbles that popped and floated in front of the man, greeting him with a smile.
"You called Richter-sama?"
"Fend off any monsters that get in my way," He said, beginning to walk, keeping a tight and firm grip on the boy, should he need to run or dodge.
"Yes Richter-sama, you can count on me!" She replied, looking behind them before following her master. summoning her own water attributed monster's to defend them while leading her master to a safer location to rest at.
It was an hour before Marta, Genis and Raine finished off all the monsters. They took a seconded to catch their breath before looking for any signs of the boy. But with little to no luck, splitting up as they called for the boy.
"EMIL!" Marta called, panic began to set in as no trace of him was nowhere in sight and the thought of losing the boy forever wasn't something Marta was ready for...even if she had a year to prepare, she would never be ready to lose the boy.
"Emil! Come on, say something!" Genis called while Raine looked around, scanning the area for any more monsters.
"Emil...Emil, I'm so sorry…!" Tears began to flood her eyes, feeling so much regret.
"M-Marta…" Genis didn't know what to do, as seeing her cry made him feel guilty...wishing he could do something.
"Genis, Marta," Raine called. "Look at these" Raine said, eyeing what seemed to be human tracks in the dirt.
"Huh? Footprints of someone's shoes. But they appeared to be a mixture of Emil's and someone else's" Genis said, pointing out the other prints.
"Emil was here and someone else seems to have been here with him," Raine explained.
"B-But who? And if so, are they bad people?" Marta asked, full of worry.
"Hmm...Judging by the way they're printed...Someone must have been helping Emil fight, and assuming that scream we heard from Emil was just an injury…It seems whoever was here must have carried Emil off into the woods since his tracks end here..." Raine calculated.
"Wow, sis, good job" Genis grinned with pride, after all, having a sister like Raine was pretty cool.
"So someone helped Emil with the monsters and carried him off when he got hurt?" Marta asked.
"Yes, so it appears...But I could be wrong." Raine lowered her head a bit, as she continued to calculate
"...Well…" She looked around. "There isn't any blood…" Marta said, relieved.
"Yeah, that means you got to be right Sis," Genis said, praying for the better outcome.
"...Let's just focus on following those tracks before whoever it is, runs off with Emil across the ocean or something" She said with a sigh.
"Yeah, hang in there Emil!" Genis smiled.
"Emil...I promise to find you…" Marta held her hand to her chest, regretting ever treating Emil the way she did, just wanting to see him smile at her the way he used to…So the three made their search for Emil. But one thing bothered Raine. If Emil had screamed from a possible injury, why was there no blood?
The sun was starting to rise. Richter was sat down while Emil was lied down across from him, not waking from his sudden collapsing.
Aqua prepared some of the herbs from the small sack that Emil had given her master and once she made the herbs into a mushy substance, Richter removed his coat and shirt, allowing her to apply the herbal mush to the old wound that had been bugging him, and patched it up with clean bandages. Emil slowly began to awaken. He sat up looking around a bit, trying to recall the last thing that had happened to him, rubbing his eyes.
"Emil, you're awake," Richter said, as he slipped his shirt over, sliding his arms through.
"Richter-san?" Emil turned his head to the direction of the voice but his eyes widen to some degree as his eyes stared at the man's bare chest, watching him button up his shirt. His cheeks slowly burned a red color, as his heart began to pound against his chest, hearing the echo of his heartbeat in his ears.
"Emil, how are you feeling? You collapsed before." Richter asked as he finished buttoning up his shirt, reaching for his coat.
"Y..Yeah" Emil responded, hardly even listening to what Richter had said. The image of Richter with his open shirt burned into his mind.
"...Emil." Richter called, realizing the boy's staring, as his brows forwarded, glaring in annoyance.
"..."
"Emil!" He snapped.
"Huh?" Emil shook his head, realizing that Richter was fully clothed.
"You need to get back to your group." He said.
"Huh? M-My friends? That's right!" Emil suddenly remembered last night, as his friends had come for him, worried about his safety.
"Yes, now let's get moving." He said, standing up. Emil sat up after and looked at the man for a moment.
"Marta must be worried sick...she was worried even when I was mad at her…" He lowered his head, feeling guilty once more.
"Let's go..." Richter said, walking on ahead, ignoring the boy's words as he began leading them back to where the other's had been. Emil silently followed, but his attention was caught when he saw Aqua return the small bag to Richter, eyeing him as he watched the man tuck the pouch away safely into his pocket. He flushed a bit with a small smile on his face, knowing Richter used his herbs.
"...Richter-san?" He asked, lifting his head up a bit.
"What now?" Obviously annoyed with more questioning.
"I know you said feelings lose their meaning when you put them into words. But...I really am thankful for how kind you've been to me...I really like you Richter-san…" Emil spoke from the bottom of his heart and his smile showed this well.
"..." Richter ceased his walking. Emil halted in response before bumping into the man, worried he might have upset him.
"...Emil" Richter eyed the ground beneath his feet for a moment. What was he to say? Emil had spoken such kind words to him, words that oddly made his heart lighter as he was practically cracking a small smile on his face...even though they were enemies now.
"Richter-san...I-" Emil wanted to apologize. But he was scared of angering the man further.
"Emil, thank you…" Richter managed to voice, surprising the boy.
"Richter-san..?" Emil's cheeks heated up, turning into a soft rosy color.
"For...For the herbs I mean." Richter corrected his words. But somehow Emil got the feeling that Richter wasn't talking about the herbs.
Without facing each other, they both shared smiled for a moment together. Richter was beginning to hate how much the boy seemed to pull at his heart. But he couldn't help but care and worry for the small boy, and not just for resembling Aster...While Emil on the other hand, always wanted to travel with him. He wanted to follow him to the ends of the earth, even after becoming enemies.
"Richter, what are you doing out here?" Alice asked, suddenly floating down on her big purple and white baloon looking monster, quickly taking notice of the blond boy beside the older man yet again.
"I guess this boy is more then you said he was" She giggled. But how was Richter going to take Emil back now? He could maybe say that Emil was to be planted in Marta's group to be a spy...but somehow he knew the boy might give himself away, especially since he wouldn't have a way to report back to them.
"Does she...think I'm traveling with Richter-san?" Emil thought, almost flushing at the thought of being able to actually travel with the man.
"What are you doing here?" Richter asked the women, only half glaring.
"I was on my way to hunt for Marta-chan, when I found you two"
"..." Emil continued to listen to them but almost felt the urge to hide behind Richter.
"Anyway, I haven't seen them" She explained.
"I see."
"Hmm...Boy, do you happen to know where the girl is?" She asked, peering behind Richter.
"U-Um.." Emil avoided eye contact, stepping a bit closer to Richter, not sure exactly how to respond.
"..." Richter stayed silent, making sure Alice didn't try to harm Emil as it was obvious she still didn't quite trust him.
"Well? You want to help Richter-sama don't you? So tell me, do you know anything?" She asked once more.
"U-Um...I don't know anything" He said and honestly, it was the truth. All he knew was that they were headed for Izoold. but that was all that he knew and there was no telling if Marta and friends even got there yet, or even changed their plans because of him.
"Hmm? Well...that's a shame" She continued to smile.
"...Are you done?" Richter asked, glaring a bit.
"Not yet. The boss says he wants to see you, so he sent me while I looked for Marta-chan" She smiled, stepping away from the two.
"I see…" Richter looked at Emil for a moment, knowing he was going to have to bring Emil if he didn't want Alice to follow or suspect him any further.
"You can use my little monster to fly you to the base. I have another one I can ride on or even that dumbo Decus" She said.
"Alright, I leave you to continue your search," Richter said. climbing onto the monster, with Emil nervously climbing behind. The monster floated away into the sky, taking Richter and Emil to the Vanguard base. Once Emil felt a bit more comfortable on the monster's back, he gave it a small and gentle pat on the side as he smiled, thanking it for the ride and all its hard work.
"...Emil."
"Huh?" Emil's attention was suddenly broke from his thoughts and towards Richter.
"Are you alright?" He asked with a bit of concern in his tone.
"Y-Yeah…" Emil blushes at the man's concern and straightened his back, suddenly bumping into Richter's back, forgetting that the man was sitting right in front of him and the space capacity on the monster wasn't very big.
"Ah...S-Sorry" He flushed a darker red, ducking his head. He could still faintly feel a tingly sensation from where his chest touched Richter's back.
"...It's fine, now stop apologizing." He sighed. He was quite bothered by the odd feeling in his stomach when he had felt the boys small chest against him and just wanted to get through this matter quickly without any more trouble.
Emil didn't know what was going to happen next, or how he was going to get back to Marta and the others.
All he knew was that he and Richter were headed towards the Vanguard base and that he was going to be seen as Richter's teammate in the hunt for Marta.
How did he end up in this mess?