As Eren concluded his virtual meeting with Sirius, he was ready to retreat to the solitude of the practice hall once more. But Alephee halted his departure with news of an unexpected visitor.
"Eren, you might want to take some time off for your next visitor," she informed him. A smile spread over her face as she recognized the visitor from Eren's memories.
Alephee left Eren's private chamber. The latter raised his eyebrows and turned around. Lightning struck and the butcher followed Alephee outside.
***
The upkeep of Eren's rented villa and the surrounding property was entrusted to a group of servants, both mortal and low-ranked entities, who worked together to ensure that guests who paid a premium fee could experience the most opulent lifestyle that the capital city had to offer, without being of royal blood.
A red-haired young woman dressed in finery appeared at the villa and requested an audience with Eren. The administration, unsure of how to handle a mortal visitor, made her wait in the garden under a lavish wooden canopy. It also informed Eren of her presence.
Knowing that Eren typically didn't interact with mortals and being concerned about the girl's safety given her mortal status, the administration was hesitant to allow her to enter. Furthermore, the young woman was blind, with only a Rank-0 artifact to guide her. Her limited eyesight made it seem unlikely that she had any connection to the villa's temporary owner.
Despite their reservations, the red-haired girl was adamant in her request to see Eren, and the administration sought his approval before allowing her entry.
As she waited under the canopy, the girl's blank expression belied her determination. Although her eyesight was limited, she could still somewhat make out the vibrant beauty of the garden surrounding her - the towering evergreen trees, the lush shrubs, the giant red flowers, and the sparkling magical properties. Stone paths wove throughout the garden, leading visitors on a winding journey to nowhere in particular.
The blind girl could not clearly see the magic that had been seeped into nature that was already magical, to begin with. She could only make out the shadowy details of her surroundings, thanks to the artifact.
Her blindness prevented her from enjoying life's colors in their truest sense. However, she didn't seem bothered by her lack of eyesight.
There was a round table set under the canopy. And the young woman was asked to sit at the table.
The wooden canopy overhead had small openings carved into floral and leafy patterns, allowing filtered sunlight to seep in. At 3 PM, the sun's rays were bright but not scorching hot like they would be at noon.
The sunlight and shadows seemed to be playing a game of peek-a-boo, and a gentle breeze caused the leaves to rustle, shifting the balance in favor of the shadows.
Despite being blind, the red-haired girl's hair took on a peachy glow when illuminated by the sun's rays. Her gray-blue eyes remained expressionless as they reflected the vibrant interplay of light and shadow around her.
Several servants stood near the canopy, appearing to protect the blind girl from harm. However, she did not mind the attention.
"You may leave now."
Suddenly, a girl in a Gothic black dress appeared on the stone path leading to the canopy. Her authoritative voice and mysterious aura made the servants bow in respect as she commanded them to disperse. They did not question her orders as they were unsure of who she was.
Approaching the canopy, Alephee purposely made noise to alert the blind girl to her presence. As soon as the girl turned towards her, Alephee noticed a change in her facial expression. The girl appeared stressed but hidden it with a smile. Just as she was about to get up from her chair, Alephee reassured her to stay seated.
"No need to get up. Please remain seated," Alephee said in a welcoming voice.
The blind girl was unsure of how to show respect to a ranker without standing up from her chair. However, she couldn't refute Alephee's orders. She cleared her throat and spoke gratefully.
"Hello. I'm really sorry to come here unannounced and thank you for agreeing to meet with me. My name's…"
Before the girl could finish introducing herself, Alephee chuckled and interrupted her.
"Hehe. No need to introduce yourself either. We already know who you are. You're Sara Stark."
A visible shock spread over Sara's face as she heard her name from Alephee's mouth. But the latter didn't pay any heed to her surprise and continued.
"You can call me Alephee. We've been looking for you, and I'm glad you found us first."
Alephee's welcoming and friendly words surprised Sara Stark, as she expected rankers to be more pompous when interacting with mortals. Sara was also puzzled by how Alephee knew her name and why they were looking for her. She had hoped to meet Expert Eren, who she heard lived there.
Alephee looked at Sara curiously before smiling and turning to someone outside the canopy.
"Why are you still standing outside and looking lost as if you butchered someone's puppy by accident? Step inside, will you? She won't bite."
With a spatial distortion, Eren emerged from within, a few meters from the canopy. He looked lost for a moment but smiled genuinely. For the first time in a while, his smile didn't signify the death of his enemies.
"Keke. I wouldn't be too sure of her not biting," Eren said, his voice laced with excitement and a variety of other emotions. He clenched his fists before stepping forward, wanting to rewrite his lost and broken history anew.
This desire only grew stronger with each step.
"With every stitch and every thread,
A mending heart is slowly fed.
Patching up the hurt and pain,
Until the heart is whole again.
The needle moves with gentle care,
Each stitch, a symbol of repair.
And though the heart may still feel sore,
It will be stronger than ever before.
So I let the mending start.
With every beat and every part.
For in the mending of the heart,
I find a strength that sets me apart."
Eren mused aloud as he walked up to the table. Taking his seat, he sat in front of Sara. With a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, he greeted her as if meeting her for the first time.
"Hi. Name's Eren Elijah Idril. How can I help you?"
