Year X770 —
Location: Rosemary Village
Age: Ren (5) | Erza (5)
---
Winter crept into Rosemary Village quietly.
Not with snow yet—just cold mornings, longer shadows, and breath that puffed white in the air. Ren discovered this very suddenly when he ran outside barefoot and immediately regretted all his life choices.
"COLD COLD COLD—!"
He skidded to a stop, hopping on one foot.
Erza watched from the well, arms crossed.
"…Why aren't you wearing shoes."
"I FORGOT," Ren cried, hopping dramatically. "My feet are going to fall off!"
"…Idiot."
But she tossed his sandals at him anyway.
Ren caught them clumsily and grinned. "See? You do care."
"…Don't make things up."
He slipped them on and struck a heroic pose.
"Thank you, kind knight!"
She stared. "…I'm going to hit you."
Training started early now.
Ren insisted on it.
"Cold means stiff muscles!" he declared seriously. "So we move more!"
Erza frowned. "…That sounds wrong."
> [Great Sage: Correction — Cold conditions increase injury risk. Warm-up mandatory.]
Ren nodded solemnly.
"Warm-up first!" he announced, immediately doing exaggerated stretches that looked more like dancing.
"Left arm! Right arm! Wiggle like a noodle!"
"…Stop that."
"It's important!"
She reluctantly copied him.
Ren watched closely.
> Her posture's better.
Breathing's smoother.
> [Great Sage: Moon Breathing efficiency stabilizing at beginner mastery threshold.]
Ren smiled.
They moved into drills—faster than before, but cleaner. Ren clapped to set rhythm. Erza adjusted instinctively.
"Again!"
She swung.
"Too fast."
Again.
"Better!"
She corrected without irritation this time.
"…You're enjoying ordering me around."
Ren grinned mischievously. "Maybe a little."
She smacked him lightly with the wooden sword.
"Ow!"
"…Focus."
They finished training breathless but smiling.
Afterward came daily life.
Ren helped the old carpenter carry planks—with shoes this time. Erza assisted the baker. They earned a few coins and a sack of rice.
Ren stared at the rice like it was sacred.
"…We're making something special today," he said ominously.
Erza narrowed her eyes. "…That tone worries me."
"No burning this time!" he protested. "I promise!"
They borrowed a kitchen again.
Ren rolled up his sleeves dramatically.
"Today," he announced, "you will taste food from my homeland."
"…You're from Rosemary Village."
Ren tapped his head. "Other homeland!"
She stared.
"…You're strange."
"I know!"
> [Great Sage: Culinary Memory Retrieval — Indian regional dishes detected. Suggest simplified recipe suitable for local ingredients.]
Ren nodded internally.
> Okay… simple. Comfort food.
He washed rice carefully, humming.
Erza watched skeptically.
"…Why are you smiling like that."
"Because food is happiness!"
He added spices—carefully measured this time.
> [Great Sage: Warning — Chili potency unknown. Reduce quantity by 60%.]
Ren paused mid-scoop.
"…You saved her," he whispered.
> [Great Sage: Affirmative.]
Erza sniffed the air as it cooked.
"…It smells… strong."
"Spicy!" Ren corrected proudly. "But warm-spicy, not pain-spicy!"
She eyed him. "…If I die, I'm haunting you."
When it was done, Ren served her first, hands clasped nervously.
"…Okay," she said. "I'll try."
She took a bite.
Paused.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…This is… good."
Ren's face lit up like the sun.
"REALLY?!"
"…Yes," she admitted. "It's warm."
Ren bounced in place. "YAY!"
She took another bite—then another.
"…What is it called?"
Ren thought.
"…Rice and curry," he said simply. "Family food."
She nodded quietly and kept eating.
> [Great Sage: Emotional Analysis — Food association may strengthen feelings of safety.]
Ren watched her carefully.
> She's eating slowly.
Enjoying it.
That mattered more than praise.
After lunch, they sat outside, bellies full.
Ren lay back in the grass, patting his stomach.
"…I can't move."
"…You ate too much."
"Worth it."
She smiled faintly.
"…Make it again sometime."
Ren turned his head, eyes bright.
"Promise!"
That afternoon, skill-learning resumed.
Ren practiced knots—proper ones this time. Erza learned basic first aid again, more focused.
"…Wrap tighter," Ren instructed.
"…Like this?"
"Perfect!"
She glanced at him. "…You're better at teaching now."
Ren blinked. "…Really?"
"…You don't just talk nonsense."
He gasped. "HEY!"
She smirked.
Ren pointed accusingly. "That was teasing!"
"…So?"
Ren grinned. "I taught you well."
They trained again before sunset—short, intense. Ren's sword moved cleaner now. Erza's strikes flowed.
> [Great Sage: Suggestion — Introduce paired drills to enhance coordination.]
Ren brightened.
"Okay! Partner drill!"
"…What does that mean."
"It means don't hit me!"
"…That's disappointing."
They moved together—step, swing, pause. No contact. Just rhythm.
Ren laughed when Erza nearly stepped on his foot.
"Careful!"
"…You moved!"
"That's the point!"
She huffed—but smiled.
As dusk fell, Ren sat beside her on the fence.
"You know," he said casually, "you smile way more now."
"…You say that every day."
"And it's still true!"
She looked at the sky.
"…I didn't know days could be like this."
Ren followed her gaze.
"…Me neither," he admitted quietly.
> [Great Sage: Reflection — Present timeline deviates significantly from original fate. Probability of catastrophic isolation reduced.]
Ren's chest warmed.
That night, Ren lay in his hut, staring at the ceiling.
> Training.
Food.
Laughter.
> This is how I change fate.
Not with power alone.
Outside, Erza's quiet footsteps passed.
"…Goodnight, Ren," she called softly.
He smiled widely.
"Goodnight, Erza!"
Winter crept closer.
But Rosemary Village felt warmer than ever.
---
End of Chapter 9 🌙☀️