Year X771 —
Location: Rosemary Village
Age: Ren (6) | Erza (6)
---
Spring settled fully into Rosemary Village, and with it came warmth—not just in the air, but in the rhythm of days.
Ren discovered something very important that morning.
Butter was expensive.
He stared at the small clay pot on the table, eyes wide, calculating furiously in his head.
"…This much?" he muttered.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "…Good butter. Fresh."
Ren gulped.
> [Great Sage: Budget Analysis — Purchase feasible. Recommend proceeding due to high morale impact.]
Ren straightened.
"I'll take it!"
Erza watched from behind him, arms crossed.
"…What are you planning."
Ren grinned in a way that immediately worried her.
"Something amazing."
Back in the borrowed kitchen, Ren laid out ingredients with exaggerated care—chicken, onions, spices he'd traded for, tomatoes, cream.
Erza leaned against the wall.
"…This looks complicated."
"It is!"
"…You're six."
"Still amazing!"
He hummed as he worked, tiny feet barely reaching the stool.
He chopped onions carefully—eyes watering.
"…You're crying."
"I'm not!" sniffle "It's the onions!"
> [Great Sage: Suggestion — Reduce eye irritation by controlling airflow.]
Ren turned slightly.
"…That helps."
He marinated the chicken, stirring with focus.
> This dish…
It's comfort.
The pan heated. Butter melted, filling the room with a rich aroma.
Erza stiffened.
"…That smells… really good."
Ren puffed up. "Of course it does!"
Spices followed—measured carefully this time.
> [Great Sage: Warning — Adjust chili content downward for recipient tolerance.]
Ren obediently halved it.
"…You're muttering again."
"Cooking secrets."
She snorted.
As it simmered, Ren wiped his hands and sat beside her.
"…Why today?" she asked quietly.
Ren blinked. "…Why not?"
She studied him.
"…You get like this when you're thinking too much."
He smiled sheepishly.
> Because peace feels fragile.
The dish finished with cream stirred in, color deep and warm.
Ren served it with flatbread he'd practiced all week.
"…Butter chicken," he announced proudly.
Erza took a cautious bite.
Paused.
Her shoulders dropped.
"…This is… really good."
Ren bounced in place. "YES!"
She ate faster this time.
"…It's warm," she said. "Not spicy. Just… comforting."
Ren nodded. "…That's the point."
> [Great Sage: Emotional Response — Strong positive reinforcement.]
After eating, they sat outside, full and lazy.
Ren lay on the grass, patting his stomach.
"…I can't move."
"…You say that every time."
"But it's true every time!"
She smirked faintly.
Later, daily life resumed.
Training—short but focused.
Ren practiced Sun Breathing forms, flowing smoothly. Erza mirrored Moon Breathing, crisp and controlled.
Clang.
"…You're late on that block," Ren said gently.
"…Again."
"Try breathing first."
She did.
"…Better."
They fetched water. Chopped vegetables. Helped mend fences.
Ren learned new recipes—dal, simple curry, fried rice with spices.
Erza tasted everything.
"…You cook too much."
"Impossible!"
Evening brought quiet.
They sat by the fence again, watching villagers pass.
"…Do you miss it?" Erza asked suddenly.
Ren blinked. "…Miss what."
"…Your other home."
He thought carefully.
> I miss the feeling.
Not the place.
"…Sometimes," he admitted. "But I like it here."
She nodded. "…Me too."
Fireflies drifted.
Ren smiled, small and content.
> [Great Sage: Status — Current lifestyle optimal for mental and physical growth.]
That night, Ren wrote recipes in a small notebook—drawings and messy letters.
> Butter chicken: make gently.
He yawned.
"…Tomorrow," he mumbled, "I'll try something new."
Outside, the village slept.
And warmth—earned, cooked, shared—lingered long after the fire died.
---
End of Chapter 14 ☀️🌙