The next afternoon following the restaurant’s busy lunch service, Rin sat staring blankly at the open volume on her desk. She wasn’t reading the bland text that normally so engrossed her. Her mind was far away, dwelling in the memory of a pocket dimension where her precious friend had been taken over by a malevolent entity. The cruel accusation of the one possessing Cora had been all too accurate. Rin hadn’t intended it to be that way of course, but ignorance was no excuse for the way she hurt her friend. She had always gone out of her way to help Cora in the pursuit of magical skills, but she had only ever done it from a place of superiority. She had belittled her in an unforgivable way in Rin’s own mind. And now she might never get the chance to apologize.
Tears welled in her blue eyes that were hidden behind her long wheat colored bangs. Rumors were running wild all over town. Cora’s possession was being cast aside and she was credited for the mind boggling magical feats. Misazel’s sundering of the solid stone platform, and Zell’s casual and overwhelming defeat of the front runner Hyugo were also hot topics. She longed desperately for the peace of the previous winter, when Zell rested his weary head in her lap and looked up at her with his carefree smile and bright green eyes.
A light knock on her door, one unique to her father sounded.
“Can I come in?” His low voice was full of care.
“You don’t have to ask.” Rin answered, a bit more sharply than she wanted to.
Her father’s giant form filled the doorway as he ducked slightly to avoid smacking his bald head on the door frame.
“So I guess the tournament was called off early?” He asked awkwardly, not sure what to say.
“The official statement is that the first round was enough to gauge the fitness of the first and second year students, and the arena needed to close for repairs.” Rin answered, knowing full well that her father didn’t care about that in the slightest. “I’m fine dad, I just feel terrible that I was belittling Cora so much, and I didn’t even realize how much she was suffering. Now, I might not even get the chance to say sorry.”
“You just did.” It was Cora’s voice. She had been waiting just outside the door the whole time. Now she was looking more like her old self than she had in so long. She was even smiling.
Rin’s words failed completely. The sudden lump in her throat would permit no sound beyond a strangled gasp. She leaped out of her chair and rushed Cora, tears flowing freely. They hugged as friends with no tension between them for the first time, and they both shed happy tears.
After several moments, a thought struck Rin. “Did your brother come with you?”
“No, he was worried about his spider so he went straight home. I told him to clean himself up for company, though.”
“Company?” Rin asked curiously, her voice was still a bit raspy from crying.
“Yep, I came to pick you and your sister up. You’re staying over with us tonight!” She exclaimed happily.
“A... sleepover!?” Rin’s mind ran wild. She had never stayed at a friend’s house all night before. Especially not her boyfriend’s house! Her whole face turned bright red in an instant. Predictably, her sister entered the room just in time to see her blush.
“Was someone throwing plums at my poor sister again? What’s that look for anyways? He lived in the room down the hall forever.” Nin laughed but thankfully let that be her only taunt.
“That was different!” Rin insisted. “We’re an inn and he was sharing a room with lady Agitha back then...”
“Agitha’s not the only one he shared a room with from what I’ve heard...” Cora unexpectedly chimed in.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, but I think I might end up missing tired Cora sometimes.” Rin sighed. Contending with Nin’s sharp comments was bad enough.
They shared a laugh, and Cora left them to get ready. Kel was waiting behind the bar in the dining room with a steaming cup of cider.
“There’s also a few left over cinnamon buns in the kitchen if you want one.” He said cheerfully. “You’d be doing me a favor. They taunt me every time I walk past them.”
“Yes please, those are so good!” Cora said. Her appetite had returned with a vengeance since the weight on her mind had been so drastically reduced. As she sipped the cider a thought burst into her mind, one that she could now clearly identify as Vira.
“What’s this!? I actually tasted that! This is crazy I haven’t tasted something in centuries! So SWEET!” She was practically manic. “But that can’t be, I should only be able to see and hear through you...” The voice suddenly became subdued, even cautious.
“Perhaps because I have lowered my guard and we’ve grown closer?” Cora ventured an internal guess.
“This is unprecedented. There’s nothing in the memories of my ancestors or the Ring of The Sage to account for this. Even if I were to fully possess you, taste and smell are always sacrificed. No one knows why but that rule is absolute.” Even though it was unsettling, Vira’s curiosity was winning out over her fear and when she again spoke it was with an oddly cute tone. “So... cinnamon buns, huh...?”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“You okay there, kiddo?” Kel interrupted their internal dialogue as he placed a polished wooden square plate in front of her. Atop the plate was Birna’s crown jewel recipe. The famous Kel’s Place cinnamon sticky bun. It was made with dough sweetened with honey, baked until golden brown, and topped with cinnamon, syrup, finely diced apples, and dried berries.
“She’s leveled up again...” Cora noted with starry eyes that the bun was now even more attractive than she remembered.
“Yep, she’s never satisfied and I get to, err have to thoroughly test every batch. It’s my sacred duty.” He said solemnly.
“Lucky you!” Cora giggled and tore a piece of the firm bun off and lifted it to her mouth.
It was a burst of delicious flavors that no other baker or chef in town could replicate (and they certainly tried). The tart and firm apples and dried berries contrasted wonderfully with the sweet syrup and spices on top of the lightly sweet dough that filled one’s mouth like a warm cloud. Vira’s mind was squealing with delight and it was several long moments before any words filtered through.”
“I won! Kwa-ha-ha! The dumb gods screwed up and sent me to heaven on accident! Another bite!” She was crowing as though she had achieved some great victory. Cora couldn’t help but smile in spite of herself.
She ate the rest of the bun happily, and didn’t have to wait long for Rin and Nin to enter the dining room with their small packs full of clothes and personal things. Rin was wearing the green dress Zell had complimented and Cora couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy over her statuesque beauty. Nin by contrast was wearing comfortable looking loose pants and a black button up shirt. She was still attractive but in a confident tom boy way. Their differences were usually hard to spot in their work uniforms but now they were like night and day.
“Have fun kids! Don’t worry about us tonight. Your mom and I will manage just fine!” Kel happily waved them off.
“Where is your mom by the way? I didn’t get to say hi.” Cora asked, looking toward the kitchen
“She’s out getting supplies for dinner service. I’ll let her know you asked about her when we get back.” Nin Replied. “That’ll make her happy.”
With that they left Kel’s Place and walked out into the crisp afternoon air.
Back at the Balfonse Estate in the rear garden, Zell had just presented Goggles a huge apology meal. The doppelganger spider happily feasted on the whole ram carcass and all was forgiven for Zell’s extended leave. Zell smiled as he pet the velvety soft fur and watched it change colors from vibrant blue to deep purple everywhere his hand touched.
He snapped out of the happy reverie suddenly remembering he was about to have company and Cora was sure to chastise him terribly if he didn’t wash up and put on clean clothes. He ran through the impeccably clean house trailing soft mud in his wake. A loud throat clearing sound as he reached the base of the stairs stopped him cold. It was Ms. Sira the head maid staring at him hard and then shifting her gaze to his feet with crossed arms and a tapping foot. Zell slowly followed her gaze to his dirty boots and the mess he was making.
He dropped swiftly onto his butt and violently tugged off his boots apologizing as hard as he ever had all the while.
“Sorry sorry sorry! Ms. Sira I was just in such a hurry!” Zell ran to the back entryway and left his boots. before furiously trying to sweep the mud away with his sleeve.
Ms. Sira dropped her serious facade and laughed from her belly. “Master Zell, go get ready and quit whatever that is you’re doing.”
“Right! Thanks Ms. Sira, you’re the best!” Zell shouted down the stairs as he yanked open his bedroom door.
“Dinner will be served in an hour! Turya has outdone herself so don’t be late!” Sira called back as she efficiently cleaned the muddy prints from the marble floor.
“Yes Ma’am!” Zell replied as he tore clothes from his dresser, upsetting the neatly folded articles within. That would mean another scolding from the highly cultured staff. By all rights Zell could have forbidden such treatment but on some level he appreciated the discipline they were providing.
The three sisters had even used their own allowances to provide proper furnishings for Zell. His bed was now a more grown up size and he even had a mirror, a rare luxury indeed. He paused as he caught his own shirtless reflection. He was all corded muscle and veins, and just in the last month hair had started appearing on his upper chest. It was a body that was foreign to him since it had mostly appeared over one short summer in The Tear.
Rin seemed to enjoy the muscles and said as much herself, so Zell really had no complaints. He had surpassed his expectations of performance as well, it was really all thanks to Agitha. Zell made a mental note to give her a proper thanks for everything she had done for him. The sound of the heavy brass door knocker and Sira’s prompt response made Zell panic and frantically dress himself.
He was at the top of the stairs when Cora entered past Sira whom was elegantly holding the door while bowing and looked up at him. Her expression soured and she spoke to Sira.
“Ms. Sira could I trouble you to seat our guests in the study and prepare something to drink?” Cora had taken to proper etiquette much easier than her brother.
“Of course Mistress Cora!” Sira replied, clearly impressed.
Cora rushed up the stairs and turned her brother around roughly before marching him down the hall to his room.
“Rin’s down there looking like a goddess and you’re gonna greet her like that!?” She huffed as soon as she slammed the bedroom door behind them.
“What’s the problem?” Zell looked down at his clothes in confusion. “They’re clean!”
“Yeah, and they’re also completely mismatched and ruffled. Your buttons are in all the wrong holes, your hair is a rat’s nest and you have a damn chunk of something green on your teeth!” Cora was building serious momentum in her criticism and Zell hunched his shoulders in shame. His sister was definitely back.
“Listen, that girl is the biggest catch in town and you need to consider her alot more. Take time to wow her with more than just your muscles.” Cora picked out a new cream colored shirt that would accentuate Zell’s eyes and tan skin and brushed the tangles out of his thick mop of hair. She then dipped a cloth in the wash basin and gave his face a quick scrub.
“There... bare minimum achieved.” She sighed.
“Thanks, Cora. Glad you’re back.” Zell gave her a quick side hug as he passed and they greeted the twins together in the cozy study where a fire was already prepared along with a steaming pot of delicious peach infused tea.
Zell didn’t imagine he could ever get used to this kind of luxury. The sight of Rin sitting elegantly with one long leg crossed over the other on a love seat to the left of the fireplace made all coherent thought drain away like water through a colander. She was dressed in that incredible dress with her hair pinned back once again and Zell couldn’t contain an odd sigh that he self consciously turned into a cough.
Rin didn’t fare any better. When Zell entered the soft firelight, his smile and kind eyes captivated her while his chiseled figure excited her every cell. They both made odd noises and blushed at the same time which made Nin snort into her tea cup, causing it to splash on her shirt. She then hissed in pain since it was still piping hot.
“Serves you right.” Rin huffed, embarrassed over her own reaction.
Thankfully Turya appeared then and broke the tension with a tray of biscuits and told them about their upcoming meal.
“Dinner will begin shortly but please don’t feel constrained while you enjoy your tea. While you do I’ll tell you what we’re preparing and make any adjustments at your request. The first course will be a duck liver mousse served with a salad of sprouts and baby greens atop fresh baked flat bread. The second course will feature seared saberfin filet with fermented garlic and kraken ink reduction. The third course will consist of a seasonal root vegetable chowder with a poached quail egg. The dessert course will be a four berry tart topped with lemon curd and crystal honey. For drinks we have a choice of hot or cold tea infused with a fruit of your choice, or apple cider.” Turya finished the explanation in a tone so practiced, smooth, and utterly polished that all four of the kids simply stared with slack jaws.
“She makes us look like absolute amateurs.” Nin said after Turya had returned to the kitchen. “Our parents can never meet her! Dad’s expectations would go way up.
“It was like a spell incantation.” Rin agreed with wide eyes and an emphatic nod.
“She really went all out for us.” Zell said. “I need to thank them somehow.”