_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.
_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.