"Good evening, everyone. I'm Sara Stark.
I would like to challenge Grimdawn."
Sara said while looking in Eren's direction, greeting him with a light smile. Unlike Nina, Eren allowed her to have her own space. He stood away from her as she took charge of the lectern.
"Kekeke. By all means, go ahead."
Eren chuckled and accepted Sara's challenge. Sara's face brightened when he accepted her challenge. She stood straight and cleared her throat as her audience gazed at her. Her voice was like a gentle breeze tempered by the moonlight as she presented her composition.
"Once lost, I wandered aimlessly
With shattered dreams that could not be
Haunted by pain that lingered deep
I hid my sorrows, didn't want to weep
My smile was forced, and my heart was numb
But then you came, my life undone
With open arms, you welcomed me
And gave me hope, a chance to be
Your presence soothed my troubled soul
And made me feel once again whole
Though blind, your colors bright and bold
Brought new meaning, a story to be told
I'll follow you on this path unknown
With you by my side, I'm not alone
Together we'll walk through trials and strife
Towards a future full of boundless life
For you have given me a gift so rare
A chance to hope, a reason to care
And though my eyes may still be blind
Your light has filled my heart and mind
So as we journey toward the unknown
I'll hold your hand, and call you my own
For you have brought me from despair
And given me a life beyond compare."
Eren knew Sara was grateful to Eren for freeing her from her miserable condition. She was free from the Paladin of Pain's shadow at last. She also walked on a ranker's path, thanks to Eren's intervention. Furthermore, she received the biggest head start on her journey anyone at her level could ask for.
Through her composition, Sara also expressed her willingness to stay close to Eren and work with him in the city of White Raven as an official member of his guild. She didn't even think about applying to other organizations and taking her chances.
Sara had all the tolerance she needed to cope with the bouts of pain and misery Reva Rain had brought on her. But that didn't mean she wouldn't welcome this change with open arms.
A huge round of applause followed. The audience praised Sara when she presented her composition. But Sara didn't pay attention to them. She looked in Eren's direction and gauged his response with her mana sense.
Eren smiled at Sara's eager expression. He walked up to her slowly- his footsteps could be heard clearly by her despite the loud ambient noises. It was as if both of them could only look at and hear one another and nothing else.
When Eren stopped walking, he was only a few inches away. He leaned down and hugged Sara lightly. And after a moment's hesitation, she hugged back. She rested her face on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. She also received a pat from him.
"Thank you, Sara. It's a pleasure to have you with me."
Eren whispered in Sara's ears before giving her a light peck on her cheek. Sara followed his lead and kissed him on both cheeks in response. Grimdawn chuckled before separating from her.
Eren and Sara still maintained boundaries despite flirting with each other. The butcher wasn't in a rush to breach those boundaries because he knew doing so would only push Sara away from him.
It could be said that they had come closer in such a short period. Considering how Sara was as a person, Eren knew this was huge progress.
Sara also offered some space to Eren as he took charge of the lectern. He didn't know how to respond to Sara's composition while considering the nuances of their budding relationship.
He could reply to Osha easily because his composition had nothing to do with his personal dynamics with her. And replying to Nina's challenge was as easy as breathing for him because of the chemistry they shared with each other.
Sara was able to achieve a fine balance between both her personal and professional relationship with Eren. Her composition sounded simple. But its subtleties could only be understood by a few who knew Eren and Sara personally.
'Hm… this is going to be tough.'
Eren thought to himself as creases appeared on his forehead for the very first time since the poetry challenger had started. The time was running out so he decided to cheat just a bit.
Sedated Perception!
Eren enhanced his perception with his go-to time-element spell. Osha detected that Eren had used a spell for himself. But there was no rule prohibiting him from using spells to come up with compositions. So she smirked at him and shook her head before allowing him to do what he was doing.
Eren canceled his spell when he came up with a decent reply in his mind. He took a deep breath before presenting his freshly composed creation in the finest voice possible.
"Your unseeing eyes speak a thousand words,
In them, a world of stories can be heard.
Though sightless, your spirit soars,
And in your company, my heart restores.
I'll always cherish your presence near,
For in your quiet, I find solace clear,
And as we walk together hand in hand,
I know our bond will forever stand.
Your charms are a work of art,
A masterpiece that warms my heart,
And as I bask in your gentle grace,
I am filled with a peaceful embrace.
You are the medicine that I need,
A healing balm that my heart feeds,
With you by my side, I am complete,
And in your shadow, I find my retreat.
You are the medicine for my heart,
Healing my wounds, tearing my doubts apart,
With you by my side, I am complete,
A bond so pure, a bond so sweet."
