Date: September 22, X770
Location: Deep Woods, Rosemary Village
The air had turned crisp as autumn began to paint the trees in hues of amber and gold. For Ren and Erza, the changing seasons meant more than just a change in scenery; it meant the forest was becoming stingy. To survive the coming winter, they needed more than just herbs and berries. They needed a big catch.
"Stay low, Erza-chan," Ren whispered, his voice barely a ripple in the wind.
He was crouched in the tall grass, his long burgundy hair braided tightly to keep it from snagging on thorns. Beside him, Erza was a coiled spring of scarlet energy. She held her sharpened wooden sword close to her chest, her breathing shallow and controlled—the way Ren had taught her.
« Notice: Target identified. Great-Horned Forest Boar. 30 meters ahead, behind the thicket. Heart rate is calm. It is unaware of your presence. »
'Got it, Sage,' Ren thought, his eyes narrowing. He looked at Erza and gave a small nod, then held up three fingers. Three... two... one...
"Now!"
They burst from the grass simultaneously. Erza didn't hesitate; she sprinted with a speed that shouldn't belong to a five-year-old.
"Moon Breathing, Second Form: Pearl Flower Moonglow!" Erza cried out. She performed a series of rapid, crescent-shaped slashes with her wooden blade. While the wood didn't cut, the sheer force of her magical intent—the raw, budding power of her The Knight magic—delivered a series of concussive blows that dazed the massive beast.
The boar squealed, turning its tusks toward her, but Ren was already in the air.
"Don't look away, Mr. Boar! Your opponent is the Sun!" Ren shouted, his voice ringing with a childish bravado.
'Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Burning Sun!'
Ren spun his body into a circular motion, his wooden katana whistling through the air with such velocity it created a localized pressure wave. He struck the boar's temple with a precise thwack. The beast groaned and collapsed, unconscious and defeated.
The Spoils of War
"We did it!" Erza cheered, throwing her arms up. She looked at Ren, her eyes shining with genuine pride. "Did you see that, Ren? I did the Second Form! The movements felt... cold, just like you said they should!"
Ren wiped a smudge of dirt from his nose and grinned, his heart swelling. "You were amazing, Erza-chan! You looked like a goddess of the moon. I almost forgot to do my part because I was busy watching you."
Erza's triumph immediately turned into a flustered pout. "S-Stop that! You're always saying things like that to make me lose my focus!"
"I'm just being honest!" Ren laughed, walking over to the boar. "This guy is huge. We can salt the meat and keep it for weeks. And the tusks... I can trade those at the market for those hair ribbons you were looking at last week."
Erza froze. She had only glanced at those ribbons for a second when they passed the merchant. "You... you noticed that?"
Ren walked up to her, invading her personal space with the effortless comfort of a lifelong friend. He reached out and tucked a stray lock of scarlet hair behind her ear. "Of course I noticed. I notice everything about you, Erza-chan."
Erza felt the heat rush to her face, her heart thumping against her ribs like a trapped bird. She looked away, biting her lip. "You're a weird boy, Ren. But... thank you."
A MOMENT OF PEACE
Later that evening, after the arduous task of dragging the boar back and butchering it (with [Great Sage] providing a mental map of the animal's anatomy to ensure no meat was wasted), the two sat on the roof of Ren's shack.
The sky was a canvas of purple and deep orange. Ren had prepared a simple meal—skewered meat seasoned with wild salt and a few of his precious spices.
"Ren?" Erza asked softly, swinging her legs over the edge of the roof.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you so nice to me? Most people in the village... they look at us like we're just burdens. Leftovers."
Ren stopped chewing and looked at the horizon. His inner thoughts whirled. In his past life, or perhaps through the Sage, he knew that the world was often cruel to the lonely. He looked at Erza—the girl who would one day be the strongest woman in Fiore—and saw only the small, vulnerable girl who just wanted to belong.
"Because you're my 'Scarlet Moon'," Ren said, his voice dropping the childish lilt for a moment of rare sincerity. "The sun doesn't shine for itself, Erza. It shines to light up the world. For me... you are my world. As long as I'm around, you'll never be a 'leftover'."
Erza didn't respond with words. Instead, she leaned her head against his shoulder. It was the first time she had initiated such a close gesture.
Ren smiled, closing his eyes.
« Report: Subject 'Erza' has reached a 'High Trust' threshold. Emotional synchronization at 85%. »
'Shut up, Sage,' Ren thought warmly. 'Just for once... just let it be quiet.'
Status Summary
Date: September 22, X770
Combat:
Ren: Sun Breathing (Refining 6th Form).
Erza: Moon Breathing (Learned 2nd Form).
Knowledge: Ren has mastered basic bu