Date: August 15, X770
Location: Ren's Dilapidated Shack / Nearby Forest
The heat of August shimmered over Rosemary Village, but inside the shaded clearing, the air was sharp with the sound of whistling wood.
Ren stood perfectly still, his eyes closed. He wasn't just standing; he was feeling. Through the [Great Sage], he could sense the vibrations of the grass, the humidity in the air, and the frantic, determined heartbeat of the girl charging at him.
« Notice: Pivot 30 degrees right. The subject 'Erza' is attempting a multi-angle strike. »
Erza leapt, her wooden branch cutting through the air. Unlike Ren's flowing, circular motions, her movements had become jagged and cold. She was trying to emulate the moon—phases that shifted suddenly, hidden behind clouds only to strike from the dark.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!" Erza shouted, a name they had brainstormed together.
She swung horizontally, then immediately twisted her wrist for a vertical follow-up. It was a sophisticated move for a five-year-old, fueled by her natural genius.
Ren's eyes snapped open. 'Sun Breathing, Third Form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun.'
He spun, his stick meeting hers with a loud clack-clack. The friction almost felt like it would spark. He didn't just block; he parried her momentum into the ground.
"Whoa!" Erza stumbled, her momentum betrayed. She landed on her bottom with a soft thud, huffing. "You... you did it again! You move like you already know what I'm going to do!"
Ren let out a childish giggle, dropping his combat stance and running over to her. He reached out a hand, his red eyes twinkling with mischief. "That's because I'm watching your shoulders, Erza-chan! You tense up right before you jump. It's cute, but it gives you away."
Erza took his hand, her face dusting with red. "It's not 'cute'! It's a tactical error! I'll fix it!"
Ren pulled her up and didn't let go of her hand immediately, rubbing his thumb over her calloused palm. "You're getting so strong, Erza. Your 'Moon' is starting to shine. Soon, nobody in this village will be able to touch us."
Erza looked at their joined hands, her heart doing a strange little flip-flop. She wasn't used to this—this warmth, this constant praise. "We're a team, right? The Sun and the Moon?"
"Always," Ren said firmly, then his stomach let out a thunderous growl. He laughed sheepishly, rubbing his belly. "But the Sun is currently running out of fuel. Come on! I found some special seeds and roots today. I'm going to make you something amazing."
THE SMELL OF HOME
Back at Ren's small shack—a lopsided wooden structure held together by hope and Ren's repairs—the air soon filled with an aroma the village had never smelled before.
Ren was hunched over a small stone hearth. Using his knowledge of herbalism and a "recipe" buried deep in his soul that the [Great Sage] had decrypted, he was grinding wild turmeric-like roots, cumin-scented seeds, and dried chili peppers.
"What is that smell?" Erza asked, leaning over his shoulder, her nose twitching. "It's... sharp. It makes my mouth water."
"It's called 'Curry'," Ren explained, stirring a clay pot filled with wild rabbit meat and forest tubers. "It's a secret from a far-off land. It warms your body from the inside out."
He took a wooden spoon, blew on it, and held it out to her. "Try it, Erza-chan. Say 'Ahhh'."
Erza stared at him, her eyes wide. "I-I can feed myself!"
"But I want to see your reaction first," Ren insisted, tilting his head with an innocent, puppy-dog look.
Defeated by his cuteness, Erza leaned in and took a sip. Her eyes went wide. The heat hit her tongue first—a spicy, vibrant kick—followed by the savory richness of the meat and the earthy depth of the herbs. It was better than any dry bread or bland soup she'd ever had.
"It's... it's delicious!" she beamed, her usual stoicism melting away into a pure, five-year-old smile. "Ren, you're like a wizard with food!"
"I just want to make sure my future 'Knight' is well-fed," Ren teased, serving her a large bowl. He sat across from her, watching her eat with a sense of deep satisfaction.
'Sage,' he thought privately. 'Is she happy?'
« Analysis: Subject 'Erza' shows a 40% increase in serotonin levels. Heart rate is stable and relaxed. Conclusion: She is very happy. »
Ren smiled to himself. In a world that was about to get very dark, very soon, he would hold onto these golden afternoons as long as he could.
"Ren?" Erza looked up, a smudge of yellow sauce on her cheek.
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever leave, okay? Even if we get strong. Even if we leave the village."
Ren reached across and wiped the sauce off her cheek with his thumb, his gaze uncharacteristically soft. "I'm the Sun, remember? I don't go anywhere. I'll always be right here, lighting up your path."
Status Summary
Date: August 15, X770
Ren's Progress:
Cooking: Successfully recreated Indian Curry using Fiore's forest herbs.
Combat: Sun Breathing (Partial Mastery of 3 Forms).
Erza's Progress:
Combat: Moon Breathing (First Form mastered).
Relationship: "Inseparable." Erza has developed a deep emotional dependency and budding crush on Ren.