I Never Asked You To Save Me

Ela stepped closer, the faint glow of magic gathering at her fingertips as she gently placed her hand on Shirou's chest.
"Just give me a moment," she murmured softly. A warm light spread across his body as she chanted, the wounds knitting themselves closed, the bruises fading away. Within minutes, Shirou's strength returned completely.
"There. All healed." Ela gave him a small, proud smile before her expression shifted into a pout. "So? What on earth are you doing out here in the forest? If I hadn't arrived, you could've been in serious trouble."
"Tch… just shut up," Shirou muttered, turning his face away. "If I hadn't wasted my energy protecting them, I could've handled the situation easily."
Ela narrowed her eyes. "What?! First you tell me to shut up, and now you're complaining about being saved? Do you even realize this is the second time I've had to pull you back from the brink?"
"I never asked you to," Shirou shot back coldly. "Not before, and not now."
The tension between them tightened—until rustling came from the bushes ahead. Instantly, both raised their guard, eyes on the moving leaves. But soon, familiar faces stepped through.
Chris emerged first, with Alica right behind him. Relief washed over them the moment they spotted Shirou standing safely.
"Shirou! You're alright!" Chris sighed heavily. "And Big Sister Ela—you're here too."
Alica rushed over, her face filled with worry as she inspected Shirou anxiously. "Are you hurt? You're not hiding any wounds, right? Big bro—" She cut herself off abruptly, realizing what she was about to say. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
Chris chuckled at her slip. "So, you've started treating Shirou as family now, huh, Alica?"
"N-no! That just slipped out, it doesn't mean anything!" she stammered, her face growing even redder.
Shirou blinked in confusion, while Ela tilted her head, equally lost in the sudden exchange.
Chris only laughed harder. "Well, setting that aside—Big Sister Ela, why don't you visit us? Cherry and the others would be thrilled to see you again."
"I was actually planning to," Ela replied warmly. "Until I literally stumbled on him—like this." She pointed at Shirou, smirking.
"I was still fighting just fine!" Shirou protested.
"Yeah, sure," Ela said dismissively. Then she turned to Alica. "Come here for a second, Alica."
The younger girl obeyed, still a little shy. "What is it, Sister Ela?"
Without warning, Ela stretched both her cheeks.
"Oww! That—hurts!" Alica whimpered, squirming.
"Good. Now that worried look is gone from your face," Ela said playfully before releasing her. "Alright then—let's go. I can't wait to see Sarah again."
On their way back down the dirt path, Alica tilted her head curiously. "So… Sister Ela, you already know Shirou?"
"Of course. He was with us in the camp," Ela said with a calm smile.
Chris frowned. "Camp? You mean the war camp?"
"Ah…" Ela scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Well, yeah. He was found unconscious, so Sarah brought him with us." She left unsaid the truth—that Shirou was actually the son of Demon Queen Eliza.
"I see," Chris murmured, satisfied enough.
Before long, the orphanage came into view, its familiar wooden frame bathed in the golden glow of sunset. Out front stood Cherry and Vanessa, eyes fixed expectantly on the returning group.
"There they are! Oiii!" Cherry shouted, waving vigorously—until she spotted Ela among them. Her expression changed from excited relief into sheer dread.
She turned on her heel to bolt, but thick vines sprouted from the ground, binding her ankles in place.
"Let me gooo!!" Cherry yelped, struggling.
"Well, well… where do you think you're going, Cheru?" Ela's smile curved into something mischievously dark.
"Cheru?" Shirou blinked in confusion.
"No! Don't call me that! Don't you dare!!" Cherry shrieked, flailing while Ela calmly advanced on her.
"Aww, don't be like that. I've been waiting all day to see my cute little Cheru again," Ela cooed.
Meanwhile, Shirou tugged at Chris's sleeve, eyeing him with silent bewilderment.
Chris only chuckled. "It's simple. The same way Cherry's attached to you, Sister Ela is… attached to Cherry."
"I… see," Shirou muttered, staring blankly at the chaotic scene.
Before he could linger on it, Vanessa suddenly rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"Shirou!" she cried, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry… it's my fault you got hurt…!"
Caught off guard, Shirou stiffened, hands halfway raised. He glanced desperately at Alica and Chris, silently asking them for help. But Alica only covered her mouth with a small smile, and Chris looked away, grinning knowingly.
As Ela continued smothering Cherry with unwanted affection, the rest of the children began filing back into the orphanage.
Later, Shirou and Chris stood behind the orphanage, stacking firewood from the storage shed. The rhythmic sound of logs clunking together filled the air.
"You should rest," Chris said after a moment, watching Shirou heft too much at once. "I can handle this on my own."
"I'm fine," Shirou replied firmly. "Whatever that stupid elf did… it feels like nothing ever happened."
Chris chuckled as he placed another log on the pile. "Well, that's just how it is when the healer happens to be one of the Seven Pillars."
Shirou paused mid-step. "Seven… Pillars?"
"They're said to be the strongest people alive," Chris explained. "So powerful, they say they could rival the gods themselves."
Shirou nearly dropped the wood in shock. "The gods? No… impossible! They rule the three realms—Mother always said their power was absolute. Are you saying the Pillars could actually defeat them?"
Chris shrugged. "That's only a theory. But rumors say… two beings have already slain gods."
Shirou froze, his heart pounding. "…Who?"
"They say the first was the Demon Queen Eliza," Chris answered slowly. "During the great war, she supposedly cut down hundreds of gods."
Shirou's chest clenched painfully. He said nothing.
"The second," Chris said with reverence, "was the war hero herself… Mother Sarah."
Shirou's eyes went wide. "Sarah…? Killing a god—that's unforgivable!"
"Who knows?" Chris interrupted quickly. "A lot of it might just be tall tales. Nobody alive actually saw them do it. And Mother Sarah never claimed such things herself."
Shirou bowed his head, his mind tangled with emotions. "I see…" he muttered.
Chris studied him warily, then narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Don't tell me you're planning—"
But before he could finish, Shirou suddenly tossed all the wood from his arms. The logs tumbled noisily to the ground.
"I've decided!" Shirou shouted, fists clenched with fiery determination. "Stupid Elf! Elf! I'm coming to challenge you!!"
And with that mad declaration, he bolted toward the orphanage, his voice echoing with unshakable, reckless zeal.
Chris stood staring after him, dumbfounded, before sighing and rubbing his forehead. "Unbelievable… completely unbelievable."
Beside him, the firewood pile collapsed a little from Shirou's reckless drop, and Chris bent down to fix it with a weary shake of his head.