Rescuing the One-Eyed Girl by the Sea

Lu Chongwei built a bonfire on the sandy beach by the sea.

On the fire rack, a strange fish he had just caught from the sea was roasting.

The fish was covered in seven-colored scales; though it looked somewhat eerie, it emitted an alluring aroma under the heat of the flames.

"Finish the mission, eat some seafood barbecue—this is what you call living."

Lu Chongwei sprinkled on a handful of cumin and hummed an unknown tune, his mood exceptionally light.

Just then.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the distant sea surface.

Amidst the golden waves, a small black dot was bobbing with the tide.

Lu Chongwei narrowed his eyes and focused his gaze.

It was a dilapidated little wooden boat.

The hull was severely tilted, appearing as if it could be swallowed by the waves at any moment.

And on that precarious vessel, a figure seemed to be lying down.

That flash of striking crimson was particularly eye-catching under the reflection of the setting sun.

"That is..."

Lu Chongwei's heart skipped a beat.

His eyesight was excellent; even from such a distance, he could vaguely make it out.

It was a little girl with crimson hair.

She seemed to have fallen into a coma, her body swaying powerlessly with the rocking of the boat.

"Oh no! The boat is going to capsize!"

A giant wave crashed down, and the small wooden boat instantly lost its balance.

Lu Chongwei did not hesitate.

"Splash!"

He quickly put down the roasted fish in his hand, took a running leap, and dove into the cold sea.

In the water, he moved like a vigorous fish, stroking his arms with all his might as he swam toward the sinking boat.

"Hold on!"

Lu Chongwei gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed only on that crimson figure.

No matter who she was, no matter where she came from.

Since he had seen her, he would never let her be buried by the sea!

Waves lapped against the beach, making a rhythmic splashing sound.

The bonfire was still burning, crackling as it warded off the chill of the night.

Lu Chongwei sat by the fire, soaking wet, wringing the water from his clothes.

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

She looked to be only eleven or twelve years old, her small, thin frame enough to make one's heart ache.

That long, crimson hair was plastered wetly against her face, obscuring most of her features.

Suddenly.

The girl's body trembled slightly.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Only her right eye.

Her left eye was covered by a white bandage, through which blood faintly seeped; she had clearly suffered a severe injury.

The girl's eyes were filled with confusion and fear.

She recalled the terrifying storm she had encountered at sea, the way the small boat had tossed violently in the giant waves.

The exhaustion of her strength and the torture of hunger had finally plunged her into endless darkness.

She had thought she was a goner.

She hadn't expected...

"Awake?"

A gentle voice rang out beside her ear.

The girl gave a violent start, her body instinctively shrinking back.

She lifted her head, warily surveying her surroundings with her one remaining eye.

What came into view was a black-haired youth.

He was sitting by the bonfire, holding a golden, crispy roasted fish in his hand, a reassuring smile on his face.

The warm firelight shone upon him, as if gilding his silhouette with a golden edge.

"Don't be afraid, you're safe now."

Lu Chongwei said softly.

He gestured toward the grilled fish in his hand, signaling to her.

"Hungry? It's freshly grilled, eat it while it's hot."

The girl did not speak.

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

The inhuman torture she had endured in the Tower of Heaven left her with an extreme distrust of all strangers.

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

It revealed the thin, tattered slave uniform underneath.

And...

The dense, crisscrossing scars on her exposed arms and neck.

Lu Chongwei's gaze sharpened.

Although he had already guessed what this girl had been through, seeing these scars with his own eyes still stirred a surge of anger and pity within him.

What kind of hell could torture a child this small into such a state?

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

He raised his hands to show he had no weapons and meant no harm.

"My name is Lu Chongwei, and I am a mage from the Fairy Tail guild."

Lu Chongwei's voice was very light, for fear of startling her.

"I saw your boat capsize at sea and pulled you to safety. It's just me here; no one will hurt you."

He looked into the girl's guarded eyes and asked tentatively:

"What is your name?"

The girl remained silent for a long time.

She looked into Lu Chongwei's clear eyes, seemingly judging whether he was telling the truth or lying.

After a long while.

Perhaps it was the sincerity in Lu Chongwei's eyes that moved her, or perhaps she was simply too exhausted.

She finally loosened her tightly clenched fists slightly, her lips moving to produce a raspy voice.

"Erza..."

She paused, as if remembering something, a flicker of complex emotion crossing her eyes.

"Erza Scarlet."

After saying her name, she lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes in embarrassment, and whispered:

"I'm sorry... just now... I didn't mean to..."

She was apologizing for the hostility she had shown just a moment ago.

Lu Chongwei smiled.

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

"It's alright, having a strong sense of caution is a good thing."

The aroma of the grilled fish wafted straight into her nose.

"Gurgle—"

Erza's stomach let out an uncooperative protest.

Her face turned red instantly, and she glanced at Lu Chongwei with some embarrassment.

"Eat it, I've already had some."

Lu Chongwei told a lie.

In truth, he had given the only fish to her and was still hungry himself.

Erza hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she could not resist the temptation of the food.

She took the grilled fish and began to eat ravenously.

Lu Chongwei silently turned away, looking out at the dark horizon of the sea.

He knew that at this moment, Erza needed a little space to process her emotions, and a little dignity to hide her vulnerability.

The next morning.

The first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and spilled onto the beach.

Lu Chongwei used sand to extinguish the campfire.

He looked back and discovered that Erza had already woken up.

After a night of rest, her mental state was much better than yesterday; although her face remained pale, there was a hint of vitality in her eyes.

Lu Chongwei walked over to her side and crouched down.

"Erza, where is your home?"

Lu Chongwei asked.

"If it isn't too far, I can take you back."

Upon hearing the word "home," Erza's body stiffened noticeably.

The light in her eyes dimmed in an instant, and she lowered her head to stare at the sand beneath her feet, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.