The Devil's Empress (No. 9)

3: Development

3rd POV:

Emi stands in the rubble of what remains of the underground mall as she watches Maou carrying the unconscious Chiho while using up his magic to clear a path as his wife, Kohana, uses her magic to protect all of the unconscious humans. "Why? Why...are the Dark Lord and Siren Empress saving people?" Emi thinks to herself, not believing her own eyes.

- CHAPTER THREE -

Emi stands to the side as the rescue crews begin clearing the way, helping load people into ambulances, and policemen take statements from those conscious as a helicopter circle overhead with a reporter. "We are reporting from above Shinjuku, where an underground shopping mall collapsed. Though many ambulances at the scene make the situation look grave, there have been no casualties despite the scale of the disaster. I repeat: We have received information stating that there are no casualties." Emi looks on with a frown on her face as everything begins to blur all together as she is pulled into an old memory she sometimes wishes she could change.

- CHAPTER THREE -

A young Emilia back in Ente Isla runs along a dirt road in the countryside of one of the islands. She runs through the fields of wheat on the outskirts of the small village she calls home. "Daddy!" She shouts as she rushes towards him with a basket of food. "Daddy!" She smiles as she sees him ploughing the fields alone. "I brought you lunch!" She announces with a bright smile. The man that looks so much like her turns around with a familiar smile at his young daughter.

"Thank you, Emilia," He smiles as he looks down at his daughter, and they sit by the roadside as they eat.

"Do you like it?" She asks him as she looks up at him.

"Yeah!" He replies, enjoying the food when a friend of theirs comes with a haul of straw.

"Hey, Nord! Emilia!" He greets the two red-heads. "Did you make those, Emilia?"

"Yeah!" She beams at the friendly face.

"They look delicious!" He smiles, and she grabs the spare she was saving, offering it to the man.

"Here, you can have some too!" She offers with a bright smile.

"I'll happily accept," He says and takes the sandwich and lets his companion take a break as he stands with the father and daughter. "Have you heard?" He asks suddenly. "The east and north islands have fallen to the Dark Lord and Siren Empress." He informs the small family. "People are saying they'll be attacking the west next."

"We've got the Holy Church and the Royal Army to defend us." Nord, Emilia's father, retorts. "No need to worry."

"If only! Do you really think they could stand up to the demon general Lucifer? I don't like where this world's going," He comments and walks away, taking his haul.

"The demons are coming for us?" Emilia asks her father with worry.

"It's all right. The priests' prayers will protect us. Don't worry," He assures his daughter, who smiles as he ruffles her hair with affection, and she jumps to her feet and runs into the road.

"Daddy's right!" She shouts to her friend as he walks away. "He'd never lie to me! Right, Daddy?"

"Huh?" The man questions but smiles. "Yeah, you're right!" He replies, and he continues on his way.

- CHAPTER THREE -

Days later, Emilia stands in front of a large group of holy men in front of her family home; she looks at them with curiosity. "The priests?" She questions, but she breaks out into a smile. "Are you here to save us from the demons?" She's met with silence but breaks out into a giant smile and turns, running towards her father. "Daddy!" She runs over to her father. "The priests are here to save the village!" She announces, and he stops, turning around to be met with the hoard of holy men standing before them, and it dawns on him why they are there. He looks at them, then at his loving daughter, kneeling down to be eye level to break the awful news.