"Emilia!" Edward shouted, running towards the girl, but she was already far away.
Emilia had a strange dream while unconscious. She dreamed of finding a reddish stone among countless rocks, and a blue one. These stones emitted radiant beams of light, causing the surrounding rocks to decay.
When she held the red stone in her hand, she felt calm, and flowers began to bloom around the other stones. But the blue stone seemed to emit increasingly powerful rays, burning the flowers in an endless battle.
She opened her eyes, feeling immense pain. A large, but gentle hand brushed her face, and she drifted back to sleep.
"Emilia, wake up," said a soft voice that felt familiar to her. When she opened her eyes, she saw a tall man with black hair and blue eyes. They seemed to be in a cave, and she could hear a faint sound that resembled rain.
"Do you know me?" the young girl asked weakly. She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen when she tried to sit up, forcing her to lie back down.
"Have I changed that much in the last few years?" he asked with a smile, pushing aside the fringe that had fallen over his eyes.
Emilia looked at him again and gasped as she realized who he was.
"You sold me!" she exclaimed angrily, forcing herself to stand despite the pain. She pressed her hand firmly against her abdomen and staggered to the side, trying to stay upright. A bit of blood dripped onto the floor, and her vision began to blur. "Are you here to kill me this time?"
Arthur's eyes carried a sorrowful expression, but he didn't avert his gaze from Emilia for even a second.
"Emilia, it wasn't me who sold you. It was my father," he answered, as if ashamed. "I still don't know why he did it. But it's my fault all of this happened. I talked too much and told him about your power. It only fueled the king's greed, leading him to launch an attack that day to take you away."
"And you expect me to believe that?" Emilia snapped, leaning against one of the cave walls. "You told me to stay still that day. That's how they captured me."
Arthur lowered his head for the first time.
"I was a fool. I'm sorry."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"No," he said, standing up to offer her support. "Sit down. You're seriously injured."
"I'd rather stay as I am."
"Emilia, please. We have a lot to talk about."
Reluctantly, Emilia agreed. The rain poured heavily outside, and she heard the sound of thunder. There was nowhere to run, especially in her wounded state.
"Did you save me?" she asked after sitting down by the fire, avoiding direct eye contact with the young man.
"Yes. The expedition to Drakondia was moved up, and I found you just as a werewolf was about to kill you."
"And how did you fight it? Werewolves are known to be nearly indestructible," she said, searching his eyes for any hint of a lie. But all she found was regret and sorrow.
"I had to sacrifice it," he replied, gesturing to the sword in the corner of the cave, still stained with blood. Emilia shuddered. She wasn't used to witnessing such violent scenes of war.
"Then, I owe you my thanks," Emilia said. "Is there anything I can do to repay my debt?"
"Just listen. That's all I need," he said, and began his story.