Erza Scarlet Rescued on the Beach

Lu Chongwei built a bonfire on the beach.

A strange fish he had just caught from the sea was roasting over the fire.

The fish had rainbow-colored scales. It looked a little bizarre, but as the flames cooked it, a tempting aroma wafted through the air.

"Finish a job, then have some seafood barbecue. Now that's the life."

Lu Chongwei sprinkled on some cumin and hummed an idle tune, feeling exceptionally relaxed.

Just then.

His gaze happened to sweep across the distant sea.

Amid the golden waves, a tiny black speck bobbed up and down with the swell.

Lu Chongwei narrowed his eyes and looked closely.

It was a dilapidated little wooden boat.

The hull was already badly tilted, as if the waves might swallow it at any moment.

And on the unsteady boat, someone seemed to be lying there.

That vivid splash of crimson stood out against the setting sun.

"That's..."

Lu Chongwei's heart gave a sudden thump.

His eyesight was excellent. Even from this far away, he could make out the figure.

It was a little girl with crimson hair.

She seemed to have fallen unconscious, her body swaying limply with the rocking boat.

"Oh no! The boat's going to capsize!"

A huge wave crashed into it, and the little boat instantly lost its balance.

Lu Chongwei didn't hesitate.

"Splash!"

He quickly set down the grilled fish and leaped into the icy sea.

He moved through the water like a nimble fish, powerfully sweeping his arms as he swam toward the little boat that was about to sink.

"Hang on!"

Lu Chongwei gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on the crimson-haired figure.

Whoever she was, wherever she came from—

now that he'd seen her, he would never let her drown!

The waves lapped against the beach, washing ashore with a steady rhythm.

The bonfire still burned, crackling as it chased away the chill of the night.

Lu Chongwei sat beside the fire, drenched, wringing the water out of his clothes.

On the sand beside him lay the little girl he had rescued.

She looked to be only eleven or twelve, and heartbreakingly frail.

Her long crimson hair clung wetly to her face, covering most of it.

Suddenly.

The girl's body trembled slightly.

She slowly opened her eyes.

She had only one, her right eye.

A piece of white gauze covered her left eye, faintly stained with blood. She had clearly suffered a serious injury.

Her gaze was full of confusion and fear.

She remembered the terrible storm she had encountered at sea. The little boat had pitched violently amid the towering waves.

Exhaustion and hunger had eventually dragged her into endless darkness.

She had thought she was going to die.

But...

"Awake?"

A gentle voice sounded beside her.

The girl jolted and instinctively shrank backward.

She lifted her head and warily surveyed her surroundings with her one remaining eye.

A black-haired boy came into view.

He sat beside the bonfire, holding a fish roasted to a golden crisp. A reassuring smile played on his face.

The warm firelight shone on him, seeming to gild his outline.

"Don't be afraid. You're safe now."

Lu Chongwei spoke softly.

He pointed to the grilled fish in his hand.

"You must be hungry. It's freshly cooked. Eat it while it's hot."

The girl said nothing.

She stared fixedly at Lu Chongwei, her body taut, ready to flee or fight back at any moment.

The inhuman torments she had endured in the Tower of Heaven had left her deeply distrustful of every stranger.

As she moved, the oversized men's coat draped over her slipped off.

Beneath it was a thin, tattered slave uniform.

And...

Her bare arms and neck were covered in countless scars.

Lu Chongwei's gaze sharpened.

He had already guessed what the girl had been through, but seeing the scars with his own eyes still filled him with anger and pity.

What kind of hell could have tormented a child so young this badly?

Lu Chongwei took a deep breath, trying to soften his expression.

He raised both hands to show that he had no weapon and meant no harm.

"My name is Lu Chongwei. I'm a Mage from the Fairy Tail guild."

Lu Chongwei kept his voice low, afraid of startling her.

"I saw your boat capsize at sea, so I brought you here. It's just me. No one will hurt you."

He looked at the girl's wary eye and asked tentatively:

"What's your name?"

The girl was silent for a long time.

She studied Lu Chongwei's clear eyes, seeming to weigh whether he was telling the truth.

After quite a while.

Perhaps the sincerity in his eyes had moved her. Perhaps she was simply too tired.

At last, she slowly unclenched her fist. Her lips moved, and a hoarse voice emerged.

"Erza..."

She paused, as if remembering something, and a complicated emotion flickered in her eye.

"Erza Scarlet."

After saying her name, she lowered her head and fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, speaking softly.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... earlier..."

She was apologizing for the hostility she had shown moments ago.

Lu Chongwei smiled.

He picked up the skewer of grilled fish and held it out to Erza.

"It's all right. It's good to be cautious."

The aroma of the fish wafted straight to her nose.

"Grrr—"

Erza's stomach protested despite her best efforts.

Her face turned red at once, and she glanced at Lu Chongwei, embarrassed.

"Go ahead and eat. I've already eaten."

Lu Chongwei lied.

In truth, he had given her the only fish he had caught. He was still hungry himself.

Erza hesitated, but in the end, she couldn't resist the food.

She took the grilled fish and devoured it.

Lu Chongwei quietly turned away and gazed at the dark sea on the horizon.

He knew that Erza needed some space to process her feelings, and a little dignity to hide how vulnerable she felt.

The next morning.

The first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds and fell across the beach.

Lu Chongwei smothered the bonfire with sand.

He looked back and saw that Erza was already awake.

After a night's rest, she seemed much better than the day before. Her face was still pale, but a little life had returned to her eyes.

Lu Chongwei walked over and crouched beside her.

"Erza, where's your home?"

Lu Chongwei asked.

"If it's not far, I can take you back."

At the word "home," Erza visibly stiffened.

The light in her eye dimmed at once. She lowered her head and stared at the sand beneath her feet, her voice barely audible.