I can feel Rena looking at me strangely.

What have I done this time?

"How... did you hear this?"

Returning her gaze, I was unsure of exactly what to say.

A simple excuse came to mind, but a part of me wanted to simply tell the truth; it couldn't hurt anyway.

"Well... I haven't told anyone, but I can see sounds."

I turned away and scratched my nose a little awkwardly.

For some reason, it's a little embarrassing to admit.

"What, really?!"

She seemed stunned, with a hint of excitement in her wide eyes as if she had never considered the prospect before—even her voice was louder than usual.

So... she's never heard of it before; at the very least, it's rare enough not to be recorded in conventional books then.

"No."

I sarcastically replied.

"Oh..."

She looked away, a little ashamed.

I started to laugh, forcing it down only to correct her misunderstanding—seeing her face had made me feel a little bad.

"That was a joke; I can see sounds... smells too actually, though they sometimes block my vision... annoyingly."

Maybe I was giving away a little too much information here, but she looked so downtrodden after that little quip that I couldn't help but give her a little extra.

There was some relief, but the words still did little to ease her, so I simply changed the subject.

"Alright, I'm going to collect some firewood again; perhaps you could locate some of those fruits in the same general area..."

"Mm, okay."

She perked up surprisingly quick at that; does she love food? Maybe she misses the warmth of that fire...

I followed slightly behind and to the side; she already seemed to have a good idea of where to look, or maybe she was just decisive; regardless, there was plenty of wood everywhere.

As we entered the tree line, I stepped past and quickly scouted the surrounding area for any noises or unfamiliar smells and sights... I wanted to get back only a little before she did so I could use my magic to light the fire.

I don't exactly want to give my lightning away unless I have to.

Rena was quick on her feet; she even climbed some of the thinner trees to snag some fruit dangling above my reach before falling to the ground.

Huh. My perception of her is changing again.

I had this image of a frail girl... but I guess she's still an angel and likely at the same evolutionary stage as me; that, and she must be quite independent considering how she was treated.

The memory of the angel I had killed suddenly entered my mind.

That look on her face both before and after, from sheer hatred to... was it regret? or Grief? I still couldn't pinpoint it, but even just the memory drew a strained angst from my heart.

I don't want to think about it, but why? It's not like I regret killing her...

Coming to a halt, I crouched on the ground to gather some wood.

But what would I have done if I had to kill someone like Rena?

I looked over at her, gently but swiftly collecting an assortment of vegetation I wasn't even sure was edible, but those details didn't really parse my thoughts.

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In the end, I probably would have.

...would have done it instantly, never to see who they were or what they were like.

Maybe... I should know them first and burden myself with that guilt?

But what difference does it make?

and... what would I do now—not then?

Sighing, I continued to pick up the last piece of wood before turning around and making my way near the sheer face surrounding this cul-de-sac of stone and water.

In the end, it's me or them.

The thought drifted in my mind while I placed down the wood; I felt more resolute now. I didn't want to kill needlessly, but I would kill to survive, no matter what.

I'd have to keep that reasoning because it's too pleasurable for its own good.

I glanced behind me to see Rena approaching with her arms cupping whatever she'd collected—it was too random of an assortment.

More Botony?

Regardless, before she reached me, I began arcing the lightning as I'd done before, and the wood fortunately caught alight much faster than previously.

For a short and lonesome moment, I closed my eyelids and observed the simple warping of the flame on the back of my eyelids.

There was silence other than the occasional popping of the flame.

How peaceful.

Rena had already sat down nearby and looked at me once or twice, yet she remained silent, untill...

"ëlasoire atorek- ori atorek-"

Her faint mumbling caught my attention.

So it can do food too huh.

It looked different before—simpler even, or maybe she was more practiced here—but the components broke down extremely fast and separated into two piles in the air.

"Ikinoh silaos-"

One pile dropped away; the other began solidifying into a large orb, hardly resembling food at all.

"Orinya."

The glossy orb fell into her hands, and the mystic light of the magic dispersed into the air; even the crackling of the fire had become sparse, as if tamed by the display of control over nature.

"I... didn't know you could do that."

I said, a little awestruck but also sceptical of its... edibleness.

"We only met today."

I smirked wryly.

Is she even joking on purpose? It feels impossible to tell...

It didn't matter though, she was already walking over to the waters edge, her mind only on the food.

I rested my hand on my chin, watching inquisitively as she grasped a sharp stone and shattered the hard shell around the middle. It was quite a cracking blow, but it was quieter than I had expected.

It must be quite thin yet shatter-proof.

She placed the two halves on the smooth ground, letting them roll in place for a moment while she went to cup some water in her hands.

Gently, she poured the water onto the open halves, and I naturally expected to see it run off the sides; yet, instead, it was quickly engulfed by the solid white interior, dissolving into a watery substance, its colour changing to an inviting golden brown.

My hunger was hardly noticeable before—easy to ignore—but after gazing at the... 'soup' Rena had made, I could barely hold off the short pains cropping up from within.

Rena noticed my look and hurried over with a slightly insecure expression on her face before handing me a bowl.

I quickly found a problem.

How do I eat it?

I stared at my hands, and then back at Rena, perplexed.

A harsh light came from her finger, digging a small groove into the lip of the 'bowl." It was obviously there for pouring.

I found myself at a bit of a loss.

How do I do that? Would it burn me as well?

From the corner of my vision, I notice Rena look up at me, then down, and a faint "Ah-" escaped her lips.

She swiftly reached over and drew a groove in my bowl as well before pulling away swiftly.

"Thanks."

The words came rather naturally, yet she hadn't fully retracted her gaze from me.

A tactful look, but no matter how tactful, I can still feel it.

From the corner of my eye, I could see her stressfully running her thumb across the lip of the bowl.

Is she worried about what I'll think of it?

Haaah...

Letting go of my discomfort, I brought the bowl to my lips and poured it gently.

It's a little awkward, not just from the method but also because I don't want to hurt her feelings.

However, as I sipped on it, a genuine smile crept onto my face; it was actually delicious, not remotely as bland as its colour would suggest.

Smooth, warm, and faintly earthy, but in a way that complements the texture.

For a moment, I forgot where I was.

"This is delicious."

I remarked outwardly this time, after lowering the bowl.

She turned away; they were simple words, but the look on her face was quite meaningful, even through the brief glance I had gotten.

For a while, we both sipped on the food and bathed in the relaxed warmth of the fire before she spoke up again.

"I've never made food for anyone else before..."

Anyone else?

My question was written all over my face. She continued after a short breath.

"...It's only ever been for myself, and it took me a long time to learn with my clumsy magic."

Melancholy... it danced on her face, but she wasn't hiding it away; but she looks at odds with herserlf.

"In the future, I'm sure there will be numerous people clamouring for your food."

I tried to speak heartily.

They weren't the exact words she needed to hear, but then again, I wasn't sure what it was exactly that she needed...

This would at least force her to acknowledge her future with people other than myself.

She looked down, and her blond hair dangled to the side of her face.

"Thank you."

My expression softened at the unveiled gratitude in her words; it's only food, but I'm sure it means a lot to her.

"Thank you- for saving me... And thank you for being kind to me."

Her words were hushed, hesitant, and full of a subtle pain I couldn't find words for, and she trembled under the weight of her emotions—emotions she always tries so hard to hide.

What do I say?

She quivered, and her bowl shook on the white-brown fabric covering her legs, now dirty from the outside.

Reaching over, I held the bowl in place while she silently cried, her hands holding her face.