You know how I love your icon! An especially beautiful example of the technique Illya employs so often (as do some of DMC's other characters)! The end of Strigas and Fiddlesticks come to mind.

I'm afraid this bodes to be another long story and it is questionable as to whether the best way to present more of the backstory is in a frame or as an independent story.

a young carefree Illya in love

Thank you for that. (It is such a pretty thing to contemplate. *sigh*)