Year X770 —
Location: Forests near Rosemary Village
Age: Ren (5) | Erza (5)
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The forest smelled different in winter.
Not dead—just quiet.
Ren crouched low behind a bush, leaves brushing his hair, breath slow and controlled. His small hands rested on the hilt of his wooden katana, fingers steady despite the cold.
A rabbit grazed ahead, unaware.
Behind him, Erza mirrored his stance—clumsy, tense, but determined.
Ren raised two fingers slowly.
Wait.
Erza nodded stiffly.
> [Great Sage: Target — Small game. Threat level: Minimal. Recommend non-lethal precision strike for skill development.]
Ren swallowed.
> Okay… calm. Like practice.
He stepped forward.
A twig snapped.
The rabbit bolted.
"—!"
Ren moved without thinking.
His feet slid over the frozen earth, breath aligning—
Sun Breathing: First Flow — Gentle Dawn.
Not power.
Not speed.
Just timing.
He swung.
The wooden blade struck the ground just ahead of the rabbit, startling it sideways—straight toward Erza.
"NOW!" Ren shouted.
Erza yelped.
She swung wildly—
—and somehow hit.
The rabbit collapsed, stunned.
Both children froze.
"…Did… we do it?" Erza whispered.
Ren stared.
Then—
"WE DID IT!!"
He jumped straight up, arms flailing.
"WE ACTUALLY DID IT!"
Erza blinked… then smiled.
A real one.
"…We did."
Ren ran in circles.
"I'm amazing! You're amazing! We're amazing!"
"…Stop jumping," she said, but she was laughing.
> [Great Sage: Combat Experience Gained. Coordination improved. Fear response reduced.]
They carried the rabbit carefully.
Ren's expression slowly sobered.
"…I'll do the rest," he said quietly.
Erza watched him.
"…Are you okay?"
He nodded. "…Food is important."
She didn't argue.
They sold part of the meat in the village—enough for coins and grain. The rest Ren kept.
"For dinner," he declared proudly.
"…You're serious about this cook thing."
Ren puffed his chest. "I am Erza's personal cook!"
"…I didn't agree to that."
"Too late!"
That evening, Ren worked the kitchen with focus far beyond his age.
He chopped carefully.
Measured portions.
Added lentils, eggs, meat.
> [Great Sage: Nutritional Analysis — High protein intake supports muscle growth and stamina. Adjust seasoning for palatability.]
Ren nodded internally.
> Strong body. Strong sword.
Erza sat nearby, polishing her practice sword.
"…You're quiet."
"I'm concentrating!"
He sniffed the pot.
"…Smells good."
Ren grinned. "Of course it does!"
He served her first—as always.
A bowl rich with meat, beans, and broth.
"…Eat all of it," he said seriously.
"…You sound like an old man."
"It's important!"
She ate.
Her shoulders relaxed.
"…This helps. After training."
Ren smiled softly.
> Good.
After dinner, they counted coins.
"…This is enough for tomorrow," Erza said.
"And maybe a better knife!" Ren added.
"…For cooking."
"For hunting!" he corrected.
She smirked. "…Sure."
The next days repeated the rhythm.
Forest.
Hunt.
Train.
Cook.
Ren learned to move quieter. To watch wind. To read tracks.
> [Great Sage: Suggestion — Introduce bladed weapon with proper balance. Wooden sword limits progression.]
Ren stared at his practice katana.
> Soon.
Erza improved faster now.
Her strikes sharper.
Her stance grounded.
"…You're stronger," Ren said one afternoon.
"…Because you make me eat weird food?"
"Yes!"
She snorted.
They faced a wild boar one morning.
Too big.
Too fast.
Ren froze.
> [Great Sage: Threat Level — Moderate. Recommend retreat.]
"Back!" Ren shouted.
The boar charged anyway.
Erza stepped forward—
"No!" Ren grabbed her sleeve.
They dove aside as tusks tore through dirt.
Ren's heart pounded.
> This is real.
He breathed.
Sun Breathing — Calm Pulse.
He threw a rock—aimed at the eye.
The boar veered.
Erza struck its flank—not killing, but enough.
They escaped bruised, shaking.
Later, sitting against a tree, Ren's hands trembled.
"…That was scary."
Erza nodded.
"…But we handled it."
Ren laughed weakly.
"…Let's stick to rabbits."
"…Agreed."
That night, Ren cooked extra.
More meat.
More eggs.
He pushed the bowl toward Erza.
"…Eat. You need it."
She looked at him.
"…You too."
"…Okay."
They ate quietly.
> [Great Sage: Emotional Bond Strengthening Detected.]
Ren smiled softly.
> This is how we survive.
As winter waned, villagers noticed.
Two children returning with food.
Coins earned honestly.
"…Those kids are strange," someone muttered.
"…But hardworking."
Ren didn't care.
He only cared when Erza smiled after eating.
"…You're really good at this," she said one night.
"At cooking?"
"…At taking care of people."
Ren froze.
Then grinned—bright, childish.
"Hehe."
> That's enough.
Outside, the forest waited.
And Ren sharpened not just his blade—
—but his resolve.
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End of Chapter 10 🌙☀️