Clair POV:

“What are we going to do now?” Drull asked the moment we were out of sight.

“We should search an inn,” Ilza suggested.

“And I want to meet the queen,” I said.

“I know little Rin from the past. Her mother and I were friends and I often played with her,” Drull said with a nostalgic expression.

“And you think they'll let you in? I mean no one knows you except for the queen,” I said.

“True, it'll be easier to simply ask for an audience,” Lilia said.

“Then let's got to the palace and ask right away,” I said and asked a passerby for directions. He quickly answered and then hurriedly left.

“That's the third guy who almost run away after giving his answer,” Ilza said while looking after him.

“Yeah, I think they aren't fond of us,” I said.

“It's more like they aren't fond of Drull and me,” Lilia said.

“You mean because you look like humans?” Ilza asked.

“Yes, what else could it be? I mean humans aren't really well liked in Schwarzwald,” Lilia said.

“Drull, change your appearance to that of an elf and Lilia, wear my beret,” I said and gave Lilia a black beret while Drull's ears grew longer.

The hateful gazes stopped as we left the street and people no longer knew that Drull changed his ears.

An hour later we were in front of the giant tree, guards were standing and patrolling all around the entrance.

We walked to a random guard and Lilia asked, “ Excuse me, but is it possible to get an audience with the queen? Whom do we have to ask?”

“Go to the entrance and ask for a woman named Har'ji, she'll help you if your matter is important enough,” he answered.

“Thanks,” Lilia said. The guard simply gave a nod and then continued with whatever he has to do.

We went up to the entrance and asked the guards to send for the woman named Har'ji. And a few minutes later a short elfen woman with red hair came to us. She was only as tall as me, thin and has freckles all over her face. She wore a green dress with flower petals sewn on it.

“Good day, I'm Har'ji, the secretary of her Majesty, how may I help you? And may I ask you who you are?” She said.

“Hello, my name is Clare, these are Drull, Bose, and Malinda. We'd like to have an audience with the queen,” I said with a smile.

Her eyes went a little wider and she looked a bit stunned but then asked,

“Why do you want to speak with her Majesty? And is it possible that you are also called Goddess of Carring?”

“Yes, some people call me by that name. My friend here,” I made a gesture to Drull, “Is and old acquaintance with the queen. I'm right, that she's called Rin'Tu?” I asked and she breathed sharply in.

“Is there a law for not calling the queen by her name?” I simply asked.

“It's not like that. It's just that her Majesties name isn't well known, and I have the order to bring everyone who knows her real name to her,” she said.

“Alright, lead the way,” I said enthusiastically and we followed her inside.

The walls were, unsurprisingly, made out of the tree, as well as the floor and the ceiling. Yet,there were no fancy tree branches that illuminated us the way, they simply nailed lamps on the wall. It looked more like they cut into the tree, than that it grew by itself. Not as fantasy-like as I hoped, but it's good enough. At least the city is made out of trees.

“Our ancestors built the city under the guidance of her Majesty and we our people life her since 1850 years. Her Majesty guided her folk away from Silga and human slavers and we life her since then. Mostly in peace, but more and more slaver raids are being conducted near our border,” she said as she noticed my gaze on the walls and floor.

“We noticed. On our way here, we came across a raided village and brought four children to an orphanage here in the capital,” Lilia said.

Har'ji stopped and said with a bow and in a sincere tone, “Then I have to thank you, it pains me to hear about such an incident, but I'm also glad that there were survivors and that you've helped them. May I know the name of said village?”

“It was called Grua Village, it was near the border to Raska,” Lilia said with a sad expression.

“I'll send word to the military,” Har'ji said and the continued to walk.

“Do you have plans, here in our beautiful city?” She asked, without looking back.

“Not really, we just thought of visiting Rin'Tu and maybe sight seeing?” I casually answered.

“The crystal lake is a beautiful place to swim, it's possible to see the ground up to a depth of a hundred metres. Our restaurants are well known for their vegetable dishes and the bows you can buy are the best you'll find,” she said happily.

“Thanks,” Lilia said.

“Are humans discriminated?” I asked and changed the topic.

“Yeah and I don't think it's not normal, almost no one ever saw or interacted with a human, and those who did were mostly survivors of slaver raids,” she said in a sad tone.

“We noticed the stares as we walked here,” Ilza said.

“What do you mean?” She asked, while looking over her shoulder.

“Drull changed his appearance and Lilia hid her ears under her beret,” I explained.

“Ah, that's a good idea. You should keep it that way, the vendors wouldn't sell you things if you're human and even if they do, then only to horrendous prices,” she said knowingly.

“Still a better treatment than what the elfs get in human countries,” I commented.

“Her Majesty forbids slavery and open aggressions against humans, still we don't know what happens behind closed doors and only a few would report violence against humans. I don't think a betterment will happen, not before the humans stop with their attitude to non-humans, “she said and stopped in front of a large door.

“This is the door to her Majesties working office,” She said and knocked.

“Yes?” Came from inside, it was the voice of a young woman.

“Guests your Majesty, they know your name. They are called Clair, Bose, Malinda and Drull,” Har'Ji said.

“Drull?!” Came from inside, then a pause.

“When was the last time you've seen Rin'Tu?” I asked Drull.

“The day before I got into that dungeon, so around two thousand years ago. She was only 20 at that time,” Drull said and scratched his head in thoughts.

“I think I forgot something,” he then said.

“Please don't say that you promised to marry her, when you'll see her again,” I said with a laugh, but fearing the worst.

“Nah, I would never promise something like that. Still it was something important for her,” he said, also laughing, yet it was a awry laugh.

Suddenly the door sprung open and a 1.7 metre tall, slender woman with blond, almost white and long hair pulled Drull inside. The door closed itself, as fast as it opened and we looked at it dumbfounded.

“What happened?” Ilza asked.

“I only saw a blur,” Lilia said.

“A woman pulled Drull inside,” I said and opened the door.

The room was Spartan decorated, only a bookcase and a working desk with a chair were in it. A large stack of papers was on the table, but the interesting thing happened in the middle of the room.

Because there was a tightly hugged Drull. He was hugged by the woman who pulled him inside and [Identification] told me that she's Rin'Tu, she is also almost as strong as Drull, with 70.000 in each stat. Her race even said that she's an elder elf.

“I missed you uncle Drull,” she said with teary eyes.

“Uncle?” Ilza asked.

“I know her since birth,” Drull said with a wry smile.

“Did you keep your promise?” She then asked with hopeful eyes, while looking up to him.

Drull couldn't stand her gaze and looked to us.

“Äh,” Drull said, focused on me and pleaded for help with his eyes.

“You promised to give me a supper plushy teddy,” she said with a pout.

“Plushy teddy?” Har'ji asked confused.

“I thought she was twenty the last time you saw her,” I asked.

“High elfs grow a lot slower than normal elfs, they aren't viewed as adults until they are 100,” Drull explained.

“Look little Rinny, my Master has you present,” Drull further said and pointed at me.

Rin'Tu finally noticed us and her whole head turned red.

“N...nice... to...to meet you, I am Rin'Tu,” she said, while stuttering and bowing.

“I'll excuse myself,” Har'ji hurriedly said and run out, before she was able to see any more of the embarrassing and childish side of her queen.

“Hi, as Drull said, I'm Clair,” I said with a friendly smile. She might be over 2000 years old, but it seems like she retained a childish behaviour near special people.

“I'm sorry to have shown you my unsightly behaviour,” she then said and even let stepped away from Drull.

“Don't mind it,” I said.

“Yes, Clair is way more childish than you,” Lilia said with a smile and Ilza gave a agreeing nod.

“Then, is...is it true that you have my present?” She asked with a tinge of hope in her tone.

“Ähm, sure,” I said and took a giant teddy out of my inventory. The teddy is a metre high, has brown soft pelt as skin, glass eyes and fluffy ears. The filling is bunny pelt and it is enchanted with self cleaning.

“Here, Drull asked me to make one. I hope he's good enough, his name is Mr. Knuddel,” I said and gave her the giant teddy.

“Thank you, and also thank you uncle Drull,” She said and gave Drull a second hug, before hugging the teddy tightly.

“Why do you have this?” Lilia asked in a quiet tone.

“It was originally thought of as a present for Lily, now I have to make a second one,” I said and watched the adult woman, who's cuddling the present for my sister.

Rin'Tu noticed a minute later that we were watching her and she got beet red, again.

“I'm sorry,” she then said and put Mr. Knuddel on her desk.

“Why are you only coming now uncle?” She then asked.

“Master released me from the dungeons four years ago, and I couldn't ask her to visit you. I mean she's my master,” Drull said apologetically, however, I knew he simply forgot her.

“Four years? But your sister asked me around 700 years ago,” she said.

“Yeah, let me guess, she stormed in your house, asked you about my wear about and vanished the moment you mentioned a dungeon, not even listening which dungeon. Am I right?” Drull asked.

“Yes, now that you say it, I remember. She asked me if I know where you are, I told her that you are in a dungeon, guarding the god of void. Then a gust of wind filled the room and she was gone,” She said.

“Hehehehe, we found her in Hell Dungeon, she searched in every hard dungeon in of world, except for the right one in Turonis,” I said while laughing.

“That's stupid,” Rin'Tu said.

“Yes, but that's exactly what my sister would do. She even attacked Master,” Drull said.

“You keep repeating the word Master, do you want to say that Clair here is really your master? Which means that she is way stronger than you?” She then asked.

“Yes, Master beat me instantly, I had not the slightest chance,” Drull said proudly, even if it's kinda sad if you ask me.

“No way, uncle Drull was as strong as mother,” Rin'Tu said in shock.

“It's true, Master is the strongest,” Drull said.

Now she looked at me in awe.

“What?” I asked.

“Could you train me?” She asked.

“Why?” I asked.

“I want to be as strong as uncle Drull, he often trained me before he got sealed and the others lost their power,” she said.

“Then train with Drull, I'm not good at teaching. My attack pattern consists mostly out of brutal strength and imagination based magic,” I said and declined her request.

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“O..okay,” she said and looked down.

“Drull can train with you tomorrow. We're going to stay in this city for a few days,” I then said and she looked up again.

“Thank you. Do you want to stay in the palace?” She then asked.

“That would be nice,” Lilia said before I could answer.

“Good, then please follow me, I'll show you the guest rooms,” Rin'Tu said and walked out of the office.

Each of us got a room and we roamed around the palace until dinner. Drull kept talking with Rin'Tu, and Lilia, Ilza and I explored the garden

Dinner wasn't really good, it only gave vegetables and fruits, no meat, not even chicken.

We went to sleep after that, but I was still hungry and went out to find some good old chicken. I wasn't in the mood to cook for myself, I wanted to eat the local chicken cuisine.

I walked through the bustling streets of the capital. It might be dark, but bid cities never get really “tired”. A lot of people were walking on the streets, most of them on dates or on their way to a tavern. Some shops were even still open.

The whole city was kinda split in two segments, one above the floor and one in the trees. The floor had all kinds of shops and restaurants, while the upper floor mostly had homes and high class restaurants.

But it didn't matter in which high class restaurant I walked, not even one had meat in their menu list. Might these elfs all be some kind of eco-freaks and vegans?

I started to loose hope and got mentally ready to make my own chicken, as a wonderful fragrance flew in my direction.

It was chicken, and not simply some kind of chicken. No this one, this wonderful smell of chicken smelled godly.

I almost floated while following the smell. It came from the ground floor and led me deeper into the city and off of the main street. Into darker kinds of the city, the poverty rate went up and thugs watched me from dark corners. I ignored all of them, no I didn't really noticed them, the smell was just too good.

I don't know how it could reach me so far, but I finally found the place of origin of this wonderful aroma of chicken. It was a small hut with a sign over the door. °Maltar's Thousand and One Kinds of Chicken° was written in old and almost pallid white paint.

I rushed inside and was greeted by the full might of the chicken fragrance. That and an empty wanna be restaurant with no guests. There wasn't even someone behind the counter.

“Hello?!” I asked loudly.

“Is there someone?” Came from behind a door and I'm fairly sure that the chicken was also behind that door.

A moment later an elfen man in his forties came out of the door, a plate with fried chicken in sauce was in his hands.

“A guest?” He asked in wonder.

“YES, I'm a guest, so can I have that?” I shouted, more than asked and pointed excitedly at his plate.

“Äh what?” He asked stunned by my sudden outburst.

“I have money, I just want this wonderful smelling chicken,” I said and almost drooled. I think I don't have to mention it, but my reasoning is almost non existent in presence of good chicken.

“Ähm, sure,” he said as and the plate vanished out of his hands and I was already sitting on one of the chairs with a coke in front of me.

He looked at his hands and then at me, who already bit in the soft flesh.

“Ummmm,” I moaned in happiness. The meat hat the perfect texture, slightly crispy on the outside but tender and soft in the inside. And the sauce was slightly spicy with a hint of lemon.

He sad down on the opposite of me and then said, “ Nice to hear that you like it, not many elfs like meat.”

“They're stupid,” I said between my bites.

“Hehe, I think so too,” he said and watched me eating.

I quickly finished and then asked,” How much?”

“Nothing, that was the last dish I make in this restaurant, I'm closing. It's just no rewarding enough and the local gangs still demand high protection money,” he said with a sigh.

And as cliche as it might be, the moment he finished four thugs came inside.

“Hey Maltar, we came for the money,” Thug 1 said, he was fairly small than the other three and way less bulky. He might be the brain of the group.

“Gyn'lo I said I don't have it, I'm closing my restaurant. So I don't need your “protection” any longer,” Maltar said, and then whispered to me, “Please stay quiet Miss.”

“We still need the 40 silver from last month,” Gyn'lo/Thug 1 said with an evil grin.

“Here,” I said and tossed forty silver to the man.

“Miss, why?” Maltar asked with a shocked expression.

“I really like your chicken,” I said with a smile and noticed the other three thugs who began to surround me.

“He, it seems like the young girl has money. Let me help you watch over it, okay?” Gyn'lo said and touched my shoulder.

“Hand off,” I simply said.

“Or what?” He asked with a smug grin and Maltar looked at me with an apologetic expression.

“Or this,” I said and used mana pressure on him, only enough to break some of his bones, and far from enough to turn him into a puddle of blood or even killing him. I didn't want to dirty Maltar's restaurant, I want after all a second serving.

“ARG!” Gyn'lo screamed up and the other three started to move, however, they didn't get far. Not even one step later and their legs were also broken.

I then used wind magic and threw them out.

“What did you do?” Maltur asked me a little fearfully.

“I kicked them out, say Maltur if that's the right name,” I said and he nodded slightly.

“Do you want to work for me?” I asked and finally used [Identification] on him.

Name: MalturProfession: CookAge: 65Class: CookTitle:

Master of Chicken CuisineLevel: 10Health: 1.400HP: Regeneration: 2/secMana: 12.000MP: Regeneration 10/secStrength: 60Intelligence: 65Race: ElfAgility: 70Wisdom: 55Gender: MaleMaltur was raised by humans, who also gave him his, for elfen, strange name.

He was raised in the outskirts of Schwarzwald and grew up with the normal

eating habits of humans. This would explain why he eats meat. He learned

the art of cooking from his mother and found his destiny in it. In order to

get better at it, he travelled to the capital of the elfen and opened a restaurant.

What he didn't know is that elf's are mostly vegan and don't eat his meat dishes,

even if they are the best of their kind.

Maltur is specialised in chicken dishes.

His cooking skill was also on LV 7. He must be a genius in cooking.

“What?” He asked.

“I'm something like the founder of Aeron and really, really, really like your chicken dishes. You'll have to move to Aeron, but I promise a payment of 10 gold a month and will provide lodging. You just have to cook for me and my friends, when I'm around. And maybe to special occasions like birthdays and events,” I explained.

“Are you kidding me? I mean it sounds good, too good to be true,” he said with furrowed eyebrows.

“Nope, I'm as serious as possible. It's destiny that I smelled your chicken, come I'll introduce you to my friends,” I said and started to pull him to the direction of the palace, not listening to any of his words.

He stopped struggling as he noticed that it doesn't help and even shut up as we neared the palace.

The guards let us in, they saw me leaving.

We reached Rin'Tu's room and I opened it.

“Hey Rin, can I have another guest room? A friend of mine will stay for the night,” I said and shacked the queen, who was hugging Mr. Knuddel.

“Hmm?” She asked drowsily.

“T..the queen....” Maltur said in shock and got as pale as a sheet of paper.

“Sure, let me sleep,” Rin'Tu said and turned around.

“Thanks,” I said and left.

“T..that was the queen,” Maltur said as we left.

“Yes, now come, I think an unoccupied room was this way,” I simply said.

“You know the queen,” Maltur said and trotted after me.

“Yes, I said that I'm the founder of Aeron, so I naturally know a few kings and queens,” I said and lied a little. I only know Yukina, but she's an empress, so it should be okay.

“So you also said the truth as you asked me to be your personal cook?” Maltur asked quietly.

“Of course, what do you say? I can bring you to Areon in the morning,” I said.

“I heard of Aeron, it's on the opposite of the world,” Maltur said.

“No problem, I only need a day to bring you to the capital,” I said and we reached a room.

“Let me sleep about it,” Maltur said and I smiled while closing the door.

I woke him up at the next morning and led him to the others, who were waiting for me, so that we can start breakfast.

“Morning, this is Maltur, he'll be my cook, when we are in Aeron,” I said cheerfully and sat down.

Maltur bowed to the queen, then to the others and said, “G..good morning, my name is Maltur and I don't really know what happened.”

“Clair, did you kidnap him?” Lilia asked accusingly.

“No, only a little,” I said and whispered the last part.

Maltur just stood there and waited, his gaze on the floor.

“Sit down and eat,” I said and patted the chair next to me.

“But, the queen is in the room,” Maltur whispered.

“Don't mind me,” Rin'Te said and started to eat.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” Maltur said and sat down.

“So how did you met him?” Lilia asked.

“I was hungry and left in search for some chicken and came across some godly fragrance of his chicken dish. It truly was really tasty,” I said happily and remembered the taste.

“So you thought of kidnapping him and employing him as your cook?” Lilia further asked.

“Yup,” I simply said and Ilza and Drull started to laugh.

“Mr.?” Lilia said and turned to Maltur.

“Maltur,” he answered.

“Mr. Maltur, I'm sorry if my friend made you trouble, please pardon her,” Lilia said in a apologetic tone.

“She doesn't made me trouble, she even saved be from a local gang. And I think I will accept her offer,” Maltur said and waved with his hand frantically in deny.

“Really, good, we can pack your stuff after breakfast,” I hurriedly said and sealed the whole thing with a handshake.

“Is she always so...,” He began.

“Crazy?” Lilia asked.

“Energetically,” he finished.

“Only if it's about things of interest, and you woke her biggest interest. Chicken,” Lilia said and also ate her fill.

“Rin'Te, do you want to come with us? You could speak with the queen of Aeron,” I then suggested before we left to Maltur's house.

“Sure,” Rin'Te said and we went to Maltur's house, where I put his things in my inventory.

I then conjured a stone house and a clone. The clone flew us to Nahar, while we waited inside....

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The post might have double spaces, it was added by the RR-word program, so they might appear in future chapters and I'm way too lazy to delete them for the whole of 11 D-4 pages. So bear with it.