Year X770 —
Location: Rosemary Village, Fiore
Age: Ren (5) | Erza Scarlet (5)
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Morning came gently to Rosemary Village.
The sun did not blaze here.
It warmed.
Thin rays slipped between wooden rooftops, kissed the dew-covered grass, and stirred the smell of soil and bread into the air. Roosters crowed. A cart creaked. Somewhere, a child laughed—then cried—then laughed again.
Ren sat on the edge of a low fence, bare feet swinging back and forth.
He was five years old.
And far too quiet for a five-year-old.
His black hair fluttered softly in the breeze. His eyes—calm, focused, almost ancient—watched the village wake up as if it were a familiar dream he had seen many times before.
> Year X770…
So it's really this early.
His fingers tightened slightly on the wooden post.
> Erza… is five right now.
The thought alone made his chest feel tight.
Behind the calm surface of his mind, memories stirred—flashes of another world, another life. Screens. Stories. Pain he had watched but never felt.
Not this time.
A voice echoed softly inside him.
> [Great Sage: Timeline confirmed. Significant Fate Node detected within a five-kilometer radius.]
Ren sighed, puffing his cheeks.
"Don't say it like that," he muttered aloud, then paused… before grinning childishly and kicking his legs harder.
"But… hehehe… that means I'm in the right place!"
For a moment, he was just a kid again—swinging his feet, humming a nonsense tune, squinting at the sun like it was a friend.
A villager passed by and smiled.
"There you are again, Ren. You're up early."
Ren hopped down from the fence, landing with a soft thud, arms raised proudly.
"Because the sun wakes up early too!" he declared, puffing his chest.
The villager laughed. "You and your sun. Don't wander too far, alright?"
"I won't!" Ren chirped, already backing away. "Promise!"
He turned—and froze.
Near the open training ground at the edge of the village, a red-haired girl stood alone.
She was small. Too small to be swinging a sword.
The wooden blade in her hands was chipped and heavy, almost ridiculous for a child her age. Her arms trembled. Sweat ran down her face. Her teeth were clenched so tightly her jaw shook.
She swung.
Whiff.
The sword struck the air, unbalanced, and she stumbled forward—barely catching herself before falling.
Ren's breath caught.
> Found you.
> [Great Sage: Subject identified — Erza Scarlet.]
[Probability of Severe Trauma in Future Timeline: Extremely High.]
Ren didn't need to hear the rest.
The girl straightened, breathing hard, and raised the sword again.
"Again…" she whispered to herself.
Her hands slipped.
The sword fell.
She stared at it.
For a second—just a second—her eyes shimmered.
Then she kicked the dirt angrily and bent down to grab it again.
Ren moved before he thought.
He ran.
Not fast. Not dramatic. Just a child's clumsy sprint, arms flailing a little, sandals slapping against the dirt.
"Hey!" he called out.
The girl stiffened instantly, spinning around and pointing the wooden sword at him.
"Don't come closer!"
Ren skidded to a stop, hands raised high.
"I'm not bad! I swear! I'm just—uh—curious!"
She narrowed her eyes. "You're weird."
Ren blinked.
Then grinned brightly. "I get that a lot!"
Her grip tightened.
"…Go away."
Ren tilted his head, studying her. He saw the tension in her shoulders. The way she stood like the world might attack her at any moment.
Slowly, carefully, he plopped down onto the ground a few steps away.
"Okaaay," he said cheerfully. "I'll sit here then."
"…Huh?"
He picked up a stick and began drawing a very crooked sun in the dirt.
"I'm Ren!" he said. "I live near the forest! And I can count to fifty! Well—sometimes I mess up after thirty-seven."
Silence.
Then—
"…Why are you here?"
Ren looked up. Her voice was sharp, but curious despite itself.
He smiled softly.
"Because you look lonely."
Her eyes widened.
"I'm not!"
She swung the sword again—too hard, too fast. It slipped from her hands and tumbled away.
She froze.
Ren stood up without thinking and jogged over, picking it up carefully. He held it out with both hands, respectful.
"Here."
She stared at him like he had done something unforgivable.
"…You shouldn't touch other people's things."
"Ah—sorry!" Ren yelped, bowing deeply—too deeply—and nearly faceplanting.
"I just thought—uh—since it fell—"
She hesitated… then snatched the sword back.
"…Tch."
She turned away.
Ren scratched his cheek, thinking.
> She's exactly like I remember.
Strong… but hurting already.
He suddenly brightened.
"Hey! Wanna race?"
She blinked. "What?"
"To that tree!" Ren pointed dramatically. "Loser has to tell their name!"
"…That's stupid."
"Then I win automatically!" Ren declared proudly, puffing his chest.
For a second, Erza just stared.
Then—
"…Fine."
She ran.
Ren's eyes widened. "EH—WAIT THAT WASN'T FAIR—!"
He chased after her, laughing loudly, tripping once, barely keeping up—but laughing the whole time.
They reached the tree.
Erza arrived first.
She turned, breathing hard… and for the first time—
She smiled.
Just a little.
"…I'm Erza."
Ren beamed so brightly it hurt to look at.
"I win!" he cheered. "I mean—you won—but still! I know your name now!"
She snorted despite herself, then caught it, turning serious again.
"…You're annoying."
"Hehehe!" Ren giggled, rocking on his heels. "Then let's be annoying together!"
She didn't answer.
But she didn't walk away either.
As the sun climbed higher, two children sat beneath the tree—one watching fate tremble, the other unaware she had just met the person who would change her life forever.
Ren closed his eyes briefly.
> I won't let it break you.
Not this time.
Sunlight warmed his face.
Moonlight lingered quietly in his shadow.
And somewhere deep within him—
A path began to form.
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End of Chapter 1 🌙☀️