Month: May
Year: X772
Age: Kaito – 7 years old
Location: Outskirts near Rosemary Village
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Morning came gently in May.
Sunlight filtered through the thin canopy of trees near the small campsite on the village outskirts, painting soft gold across the grass. The air was cool but no longer cold, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant smoke from village chimneys.
Kaito was already awake.
At seven years old, his body was still small, but there was nothing childish about the way he moved. He sat cross‑legged on a flat stone, eyes closed, breathing slow and even.
Inside his mind—
Thought Acceleration: Active.
The world slowed.
Breath, heartbeat, muscle tension—each was observed, measured, adjusted. Great Sage processed everything at once, splitting his awareness into clean, orderly streams.
> Great Sage: "Posture optimized. Muscle strain within acceptable limits. Continued training will increase efficiency."
Kaito didn't respond aloud. He simply adjusted, spine straighter, shoulders looser, breath deeper.
Nearby, Erza watched.
She sat on a fallen log, arms crossed, red hair tied back with a strip of cloth. Her eyes followed him carefully—not with doubt, but with something sharper.
Curiosity.
And competitiveness.
"…You've been up since dawn again," she said.
Kaito opened one eye and smiled. "You noticed."
"Hmph." She stood. "Don't get smug. I woke up early too."
She stepped into the clearing, boots crunching against gravel. Even without magic, Erza trained relentlessly—basic forms, balance drills, footwork she'd copied from mercenaries passing through the village.
Kaito rose smoothly.
"Same routine?" he asked.
Erza tilted her head. "Unless you're scared."
He laughed. "Never with you."
That earned him a sharp grin.
---
Training
They started with movement.
No magic. No tricks.
Kaito moved lightly, controlled, every step calculated. Great Sage tracked his form in real time, correcting inefficiencies before they could settle.
Erza, by contrast, was raw force and discipline—each strike heavier, each stance grounded. She learned slower, but what she learned stayed.
They sparred.
Wooden blades clashed, the sound echoing through the trees. Erza pushed forward aggressively, forcing Kaito back again and again.
He didn't hide his strength.
He didn't overwhelm her either.
Instead, he met her—matching her pace, redirecting her power, letting her feel every improvement she made.
When she finally knocked his blade aside, Erza froze, eyes wide.
"I got you."
Kaito smiled, genuinely pleased. "You did."
She flushed, then quickly turned away. "Don't get used to it."
---
Hunting
Later, they headed deeper into the woods.
This wasn't play. It was routine.
Kaito moved ahead, senses sharp.
Analytical Appraisal: Active.
Tracks, wind patterns, mana residue—nothing escaped his notice.
They found a wild boar near the riverbank.
Erza stiffened. "That thing's big."
Kaito nodded. "Stay behind me."
She opened her mouth—then closed it.
"…Fine. But don't do anything stupid."
He stepped forward.
The boar charged.
Kaito moved.
No wasted motion. One clean strike.
The moment it fell—
Predator: Activated.
The body vanished, absorbed instantly.
Erza stared. "…You're never going to explain that, are you?"
"Not yet," he said lightly. "But trust me—it helps."
Inside, Great Sage was already working.
> Great Sage: "Analysis complete. Nutritional value high. Muscle reinforcement recommended."
Kaito allowed it.
Energy flowed through him, strengthening bone and muscle without excess.
He exhaled slowly.
Erza watched, eyes narrowed—but not afraid.
Excited.
---
Evening
They sold excess materials in the village before sunset.
The coins weren't much—but they added up.
Erza counted carefully. "We're getting closer."
"To what?" Kaito asked.
She met his eyes. "To leaving."
He nodded. "Fairy Tail."
Her grip tightened around the pouch. "…Together."
"Always."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Erza smirked. "You know, when we join… I'm not letting you steal all the attention."
Kaito leaned closer, voice teasing. "Bold of you to think I wouldn't enjoy that."
She shoved him lightly. "Idiot."
But she was smiling.
---
That night, as the stars came out, Kaito lay awake.
Great Sage quietly processed the day.
Strength gained. Bonds deepened.
No rush.
No shortcuts.
Just steady growth—together.
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