GDTEA Chapter 36

Sharti didn’t dare grip the flower stem too tightly for fear it might be damaged.

She hurriedly placed the preciously received flower into a medicine bottle on the table.

Though she didn’t have a proper flower vase, it created a fitting picture for such a simple flower.

“Do you like it? …ma’am?”

Ren watched with slight curiosity as Sharti couldn’t take her eyes off the flower.

The pale yellow flower he had picked was embarrassingly rough and plain.

It was probably a common flower that Sharti, who climbed the mountain several times a day, would have seen dozens of times.

‘With all the medicinal herb scents filling the house, she probably can’t even smell the flower’s fragrance.’

Yet Sharti was lightly sniffing as if trying to catch the flower’s scent.

For a moment, Ren felt an urge to pull back her hood to see her face.

He reached out unconsciously but clenched his fist before touching Sharti.

‘…I’m doing it again.’

Ren pressed his solar plexus firmly with his palm. The occasional tingling sensation he’d felt there before had now become somewhat heavier.

Ren frowned at this strange reaction that came regardless of his will.

He headed to the bathroom, leaving Sharti who was completely focused on the flower.

‘I didn’t expect her to like it so much.’

Ren lightly doused his head and body with water, washing away the cold mountain air and earthy smell that clung to him.

In truth, the excuse he gave Sharti when giving her the flower had been a lie.

After washing the herbs Sharti had asked for, he had discovered the flower while secretly checking behind the log cabin.

The reason his attention was drawn to the unspectacular flower was simple. The pale yellow flower in the sunlight looked like Sharti’s hair color.

‘When I came to my senses, the flower was already in my hand.’

He couldn’t just throw away the flower he had picked as if entranced by something.

So he gave it to Sharti.

Even wrapping it in pleasant words.

“Haa…”

Ren brushed back his damp hair while checking his face in the mirror.

His face, which had been covered with spider-like capillaries, had returned to normal now that the poison from the toxic herb had left his system.

“Two days left, huh.”

Ren murmured, tilting his head.

He still hadn’t decided whether to accept Vireta’s proposal.

Ren let out a small laugh.

“She seems to have already made up her mind about sending me away.”

Sharti had already concluded that Ren would leave.

It was understandable since he had shown an ambiguous attitude toward the proposal, neither confirming nor denying it.

Even though he knew she had started their conversations under the pretext of practice, treating him kindly because he was someone who would leave, Ren didn’t add any comments.

“At least not right now.”

Even if he were to leave eventually, shouldn’t he lighten his emotional debt to Sharti?

Small chores weren’t enough.

‘I never thought she’d even catch fish to prepare meals.’

Instead of repaying her kindness, he was only receiving more.

He didn’t want to leave with one-sided feelings of indebtedness, even if they couldn’t have an equal relationship.

So, uncharacteristically, Ren was secretly preparing a gift for her.

‘I should do it when night falls.’

Ren exited the bathroom.

While he had been washing, Sharti had quickly prepared lunch.

The menu was mushrooms stir-fried with potatoes.

“…..”

Ren sat down and carefully observed the magic stone Sharti was handling.

Sharti only used magic stones for cooking or lighting when night fell.

He vaguely realized that the size of the magic stone changed every time she used it.

‘She didn’t even use a light when heating bath water.’

How surprised he had been to hear water sounds from a pitch-black bathroom.

Thinking of Sharti washing in darkness made him feel uneasy.

That’s why Ren had strong confidence in his gift.

Surely she would be even happier than when she received that mere flower.

“Please eat plenty.”

“Yes, I will…..ma’am.”

Ren wasn’t exactly struggling with formal speech.

It just felt awkward and didn’t come naturally to his tongue.

He could correct his speaking style if he really wanted to.

However, since this excuse allowed him to have conversations while hearing Sharti’s voice, he didn’t fix his clumsy formal speech.

“It’s delicious….ma’am.”

Though he didn’t particularly like mushy textures, Ren continued eating quietly.

He didn’t want to express his dislike in front of Sharti and dampen her excited mood.

“…”

As always, Ren finished his meal early and quietly rested his chin on his hand, watching Sharti.

Even while eating, Sharti kept glancing at the pale yellow flower in the makeshift vase on the table.

The more frequently she glanced at the flower, the more Ren’s mouth corners turned upward.

“Ahem.”

Ren brushed his lips as was his habit.

When Sharti, who finished her meal slower than usual, reflexively turned her gaze toward him, he quickly averted his eyes.

Having been caught stealing glances at her, he felt somewhat guilty.

“Thank you for washing the herbs.”

“…Was it okay?…ma’am?”

“Yes.”

I must not have done a good job, it seems.

Ren swallowed a sigh.

However, he wasn’t dejected like before.

He planned to make up for it tonight with something only he could do.

“I’ve only finished the top, but try it on just in case. I’ll fix any parts that don’t fit right away.”

Sharti added that she needed to check if the stitching was done properly since the fabric was thick.

Ren didn’t mind what kind of clothes Sharti made for him.

After shamelessly borrowing her pajamas and having them become tattered due to their size difference, frankly speaking, Ren wouldn’t have minded even if she gave him a simple sack cloth.

“…It’s nice, ma’am.”

Ren awkwardly moved his body around while wearing the winter clothes Sharti had completed.

Not only was it warm, but the clothes didn’t tear even when he moved.

One could see at a glance how meticulously she had stitched it.

“That’s a relief.”

Seeing that Ren seemed pleased, Sharti felt relieved.

After deciding to adjust only the shoulder and arm areas, Sharti took the clothes back.

‘…Will I be wearing this when I leave?’

Once he made his decision, in two days, he would leave this old log cabin wearing clothes Sharti made, after eating the food she prepared.

Ren reflexively raised an eyebrow.

The problem was the rejection and hesitation that kept surging up inside him.

Inwardly clicking his tongue, Ren turned his gaze away from her and rubbed his nape.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

If it’s going to be like this, rather…

Amid the mixed feelings of irritation and self-contempt, another decision came to mind, making Ren pause.

Slowly, he lowered his hand.

“Ren?”

“In this place…”

Startled by the words that flowed from his absentmindedly opened mouth, Ren quickly shut it.

Looking troubled, he covered his mouth and turned his back to Sharti.

‘I want to stay in this place?’

His solar plexus stirred greatly.

As if that was truly his sincere feeling.

Ren’s nape turned red.

****

Sharti blinked as she looked at Ren’s suddenly complicated-looking back.

‘Why is he acting like that all of a sudden? Could it be he doesn’t like the clothes?’

Regardless of the fabric, the design might not be to his taste. But even so, there was nothing Sharti could do about it.

Her sewing skills were limited, and the current design was the best she could manage.

As Sharti was observing Ren cautiously, he suddenly turned around to face her.

“I’ll eat dinner a bit later. …ma’am.”

Sharti, who had been tense thinking he would mention the clothes, quickly nodded after checking the time.

Since she would be sitting on the bed sewing all afternoon, she didn’t mind eating late.

“…Ren?”

When Sharti called out to Ren, who had gone quiet again, he suddenly snapped back to reality and nodded.

He looked like his mind was elsewhere.

As Sharti’s eyes were about to narrow, Ren picked up a broom.

“I’ll clean. …ma’am.”

Sharti nodded, finding it unexpected.

She had thought he would offer to help with the sewing like he did that morning.

“I’ll get the ointment out, so apply your medicine first.”

Sharti gave him a suspicious look as she retrieved the ointment.

She considered applying the ointment for him since he seemed distracted, but thought it would be better for him to get used to applying it himself, so she just handed him the ointment and headed to the bedroom.

‘…Could it be that he remembered something?’

Ren’s subtly changed attitude and gaze bothered her.

Telling herself it was unnecessary meddling, Sharti shook her head vigorously.

She removed her hood and roughly combed through her long curly hair that had been stuffily hidden. Then she sat on the bed and began working on Ren’s top.

‘If he’s going to leave anyway, it would be nice if he found his memories before leaving.’

It would be even better if she could hear Ren’s real name before he left.

But what was this uncomfortable feeling, like a thorn stuck in her side?

‘Grandmother hasn’t come to visit since then. Tein too.’

Even Virena, who always took care of Sharti when she was sick, hadn’t been in touch.

It wasn’t that Sharti felt lonely or hurt.

She was just puzzled.

‘After making such a proposal to Ren, why doesn’t she come to ask me anything?’

It was as if they were giving her time to sort out her feelings and say goodbye properly before Ren left.

Sharti hugged the thick fabric and her knees.

Her crimson eyes stared at the curtain covering the broken window.

As she quietly closed her eyes, she could faintly hear movement outside the bedroom.

‘When Ren leaves, I’ll just go back to…’

Living like before. Alone in this old log cabin.

How could she describe this feeling of being consumed by emptiness?

When a clear answer didn’t come, Sharti began sewing again, pushing away her idle thoughts.

After fixing the top and nearly completing the bottom, Sharti rubbed her strained eyes.

She came down from the bed, rolling her sore neck and shoulders.

The sun was already setting.

‘I’ll continue with the pants tomorrow. First, I should organize the herbs Ren washed.’

After carefully fastening her hood and neatly arranging the fabric scraps and nearly completed clothes, Sharti left the bedroom.

There was no sign of Ren in the house, but Sharti turned on just one light and went straight to the herb room.

‘Where has he gone this time?’

This time, she wasn’t alarmed by Ren’s absence.

Since he didn’t go far when he went outside and often came back with small discoveries like berries or flowers, Sharti was trying to control her overreactions.

‘The day darkens quickly now that the season has changed.’

Sharti sat at her desk.

On the desk cluttered with formula books, herbs, and medical texts, there was a toy-like light. The magic stone, as small as a fingernail, wasn’t very bright even when lit, but it had the advantage of lasting an entire season.

It was a gift from Virena, who had saved up her pocket money for Sharti’s independence.

‘I should finish the overdue herb records first.’

Sharti diligently began writing records for Tein’s lessons.

Afterward, she repeatedly trimmed, crushed, and ground the leaves, roots, stems, and flowers of various herbs.

Her concentration remained unbroken until the day completely darkened.

‘U-ah! I’m done!’

Sharti stretched her stiff body and finished her work for the day.

Finally, as she rose to organize her desk, she tilted her head and rubbed the back of her hand.

‘Huh? It’s warm?’

Despite the sunset, the room wasn’t cold at all.

In fact, Sharti looked around in confusion at the warm room temperature.

It wasn’t her imagination. Even the air felt warm.

‘…It actually feels hot.’

Sharti swallowed dryly.

Her heart began to pound. Though it was just mental anxiety, feeling heat in the enclosed room made it difficult to breathe.

‘Ca-calm down. This room doesn’t have windows, and I closed the door, so it might naturally be warm.’

Trying to think positively, Sharti hurriedly grabbed the doorknob.

But at that moment, her complexion turned pale.

‘Why, why…?’

From outside, she could smell something burning.

With her hand trembling on the doorknob, Sharti shook her head desperately.

She even hit her head hard with her fist.

‘It’s an illusion. All of it, an illusion. Get a grip!’

There was no way something could be burning inside this log cabin.

There was also little chance of a fire starting from the magic stone embedded in the light breaking, since the light was a gift from Vireta who was well aware of her fire trauma—it automatically turned off if it fell or was impacted.

‘First, I need to go out…’

She forced her powerless hands to move and opened the door.

Whoosh-

“…!”

A clear flame imprinted in Sharti’s pupils.

A ball of fire was before her eyes.

And it was burning higher and faster.

[Huk… save, save me please…]

“…”

Sharti covered her ears, unable to breathe.

But the sound of fire burning, of sparks flying, was too vivid.

[Kuk, kek, ke-huk…!]

She could hear someone choking, clutching their throat, suffering from inhaling the acrid smoke.

Where was that sound coming from? Who was making it?

The memory from five years ago began to replay in front of her eyes, more vividly than any nightmare.

And as the flames blazed higher, Sharti realized.

It was her making those sounds right now.

“Aaaaaaahhhhhh-!!!!!”

Sharti collapsed to the ground.

“Save me, save… huk, heuuu, save me, please, aaah…!!”

With her ears covered and body crouched, Sharti screamed until her throat felt torn.

The fire, the fire was blazing again, trying to devour her.

That fire would engulf her again. Once more it would bind her and mark her with eternal scars that would never fade.

Sharti’s vision began to blur.

Thick tears fell one after another.

And her tears didn’t fall to the floor but pooled on a thick forearm.

“-Sha! Sha!!”

Ren, who was embracing the screaming Sharti, turned his head with a horrified expression.

The fire in the fireplace, where he had been placing logs until just now, was burning intensely.