Year X771 —
Location: Rosemary Village
Age: Ren (6) | Earza (6)
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Ren discovered Earza's weakness entirely by accident.
It started with sugar.
He stood in front of the merchant's stall, staring at a small sack of brown sugar like it was a priceless treasure. His fingers twitched.
"…That much?" he whispered.
The merchant laughed. "…For sweets?"
Ren straightened. "Very important sweets."
From behind him came a voice far too calm.
"…Why are you buying so much sugar."
Ren jumped.
"AH—Earza! You're not supposed to be here!"
She narrowed her eyes.
"…That makes this suspicious."
Ren backed away slowly, shielding the sugar sack like a shield.
"…It's a surprise."
"…You already did a surprise this year."
"I can do more than one!"
She sighed. "…You're going to ruin dinner."
"Nope!" Ren declared proudly. "I'm making dessert!"
She paused.
"…Dessert?"
Her tone betrayed her.
Ren grinned internally.
> Hooked.
Back in the kitchen, Ren laid out ingredients carefully—milk, sugar, flour, butter, nuts he'd saved.
Earza sat on the table, legs swinging.
"…This looks like too much effort."
"It's sweets!" Ren said seriously. "Effort is required!"
> [Great Sage: Culinary Recall — Indian sweets detected. Recommend simplified 'Halwa' and 'Ladoo' variants.]
Ren nodded internally.
> Yes… halwa first.
He toasted flour in butter, stirring patiently.
"…It smells weird," Earza said.
"That's because it's transforming!"
"…Food doesn't transform."
"It does when I cook!"
She huffed.
Milk followed. Sugar slowly dissolved.
Ren stirred carefully, sweat forming on his brow.
> [Great Sage: Warning — Maintain low heat to prevent burning.]
"I know!" Ren whispered urgently.
The mixture thickened, glossy and warm.
Ren scooped a small spoonful and blew on it.
"…Taste test," he muttered.
He nodded seriously.
"Perfect."
Earza leaned forward. "…Can I try."
Ren held up a finger. "Not yet!"
"…Mean."
He shaped small portions carefully, adding crushed nuts on top.
"…Okay," he said finally. "First sweet."
Earza took it cautiously.
Her eyes widened.
"…This is good."
Ren clasped his hands. "YES!"
She took another bite.
"…It's sweet," she said slowly. "But not… too much."
Ren smiled softly.
> Balance.
> [Great Sage: Emotional Response — Subject displays increased dopamine response.]
"…You like sweets," Ren said casually.
"…No."
He tilted his head.
"…You ate three."
"…That's normal."
He smirked. "Sweet tooth confirmed."
"…Idiot."
Next came ladoos—rolled carefully, sticky and golden.
Ren's hands got messy.
"…You're covered in sugar."
"It's necessary!"
She watched closely.
"…Can I help."
Ren blinked. "…Really?"
She nodded, awkward but earnest.
They rolled ladoos together.
Earza licked sugar from her finger, then froze.
"…Don't tell anyone."
Ren's eyes sparkled.
"I WILL TELL EVERYONE."
She lunged at him.
"DON'T!"
They tumbled onto the floor, laughing.
Later, they sat outside with a small plate of sweets between them.
Earza ate quietly—then faster.
"…Slow down," Ren teased.
"…They'll disappear."
"They're not running!"
She frowned. "…You don't know that."
Ren giggled.
> She really likes them.
"…I'll make them again," he said.
Her chewing slowed.
"…Really?"
"Yeah."
She nodded. "…Then I'll train harder."
"…That's not related."
"…It is."
As evening fell, Ren practiced sword forms while Earza watched, sweet in hand.
"…Your Sun Breathing looks smoother," she observed.
Ren smiled. "Because I'm happy!"
She tilted her head.
"…You're always happy."
"…Not always," he admitted. "But more now."
She finished the last sweet and wiped her hands.
"…You're annoying," she said.
Ren grinned brightly. "But useful!"
She didn't deny it.
That night, Ren wrote in his notebook again.
> Halwa: success.
Earza likes sweets.
He yawned, smiling.
> [Great Sage: Memory Tagged — 'Sweet Tooth: Erza Scarlet.']
Ren snorted softly.
"…Don't say it like that."
Outside, the moon rose.
Inside, a small secret—sugar and smiles—was safely shared.
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End of Chapter 15 ☀️🌙