“Clyde, dinner is ready.” A younger maid with a warm smile interrupted the tense atmosphere.

“Alright, thank you.” Clyde called out, sending the maid away before pushing the blue curtain separating him and Syllis away. “W-we

Immediately, his eyes were drawn to Syllis’ body. Her gown was lifted, revealing her newly mended and sewn wound on her side. Along with a healthy portion of her toned stomach.

Edward laughed in the corner before returning to his work, jotting down information on paper.

“Come on Clyde, you’ve seen a lot more of me than this bit of skin.” Syllis smirked and looked Clyde in the eye. Despite her quiet self, she couldn’t help passing up the opportunity to tease the boy.

“And just what does that mean, Clyde?” Edward's tone was exaggerated and full of false sternness as he turned around with his arms crossed.

His face was likely red but he turned away in embarrassment. A few moments later he rose anew. “It means that it’s just about time for us to go. And Edward, you’re welcome to join us for dinner.” A newfound confidence propelled his voice forward.

“Something is telling me it might be best to leave you two alone, to not get in the way. So go, don’t worry about me.” Edward pushed the two of them out of the room. He seemed eager to get back to his work.

They both changed into new clothes, not stained with the stench of warm blood. It was a comedic sight, they matched clothing while looking, just about as different from each other as possible. Syllis was truly out of place.

Clyde led Syllis through a series of turns eventually landing the both of them in a grandiose banquet hall. Two dozen seats lined the sides of a grand table.

Syllis imagined a grand sparring tournament. Everyone battered, their skin caked in blood. They all ate in peace, digging into the flesh of creatures long gone. The winners would sit at the top and the losers at the bottom, forced to eat the scraps of those above them.

Of course, Syllis would be near the top, dining on the delicacies provided. She was the most powerful force in her corner of outer Asanoch after all. ‘The Siren’ wasn’t a great name but it was still a testament to her reputation.

What angered Syllis was the man that would be seated further beyond her. The man that offered to feed her today. The man to best her in what she considered to be her own game. Her wounded pride twisted and contorted like the head of an arrow, refusing to be pulled out.

“They do know that we’re only two people right?” Syllis tilted her head as she scanned the various dishes lined down the great table. What seemed like it could feed a dozen people was laid out for just two of them.

“They should?” Clyde’s response was unclear, apparently he wasn’t the most certain of what miscommunication had occurred between the servants and the cooks.

“You sure Edward doesn’t want to join us?” Syllis joked, but inwardly, she wanted him here. She couldn’t possibly do her part in eating all this food.

Clyde looked around the room, looking for anyone. “Hello Anne, Werner. Would you like to join us?” He inquired pleasantly.

Now, a ramshackle team of people were placing articles of food onto their large plates. Syllis didn’t know where to start. All she knew was that those fruits, the golden, slightly rosy slices were to be saved for last. ‘Peaches, my beloved.’

Her mouth nearly began wandering. Anne was like a guide who reluctantly described the various dishes that Syllis asked about. She appeared to be getting light headed from the flurry of questions. But who else was better suited to answer than the maid that helped make the meal plan.

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Besides, she wasn’t exactly keen on refusing the secare nymph anyways. Anne had seen her previous spar with Clyde, along with the other spectators. She was afraid to refuse the monster that nearly managed to best her young lord.

Finally, Syllis had assembled her plate, some items had components she was familiar with and some were entirely new. Such as one of a heasen's stuffed hearts. They were small creatures with six hearts, one in each leg.

As such, they were desirable. The effort that needed to be put into hunting them was of much less value than their hearts which tasted deeply meaty. They were perhaps the most cost efficient mammal to hunt down.

Even Jyrid, who scarcely had fresh meats on the menu of his tavern, would occasionally have the hearts of heasen on his menu. ‘Cheap bastard.’ Syllis often scolded the man for his low quality menu.

“So Clyde, your friends… What are they like?” Syllis wasn’t the greatest at small talk. ‘Best to move onto some big talk then!’ She thought, picking at a couple of small pieces of fatty meat.

“They are…” Clyde stopped momentarily. He really cared about his friends and wanted to find the ideal words to describe them.

“Aura is aggressive to those that first meet her. But once you know her for a while, she opens up. To tell you the truth, her bond is terrifying. Sometimes I wonder what kind of Anathema she dealt with to get such a bond.

“Korman is maybe the exact opposite. He keeps quiet and is pretty passive. He keeps the three of us in check. Like the control in our volatile group. His bond isn’t as scary as Aura’s but it’s just as interesting.

“Anyways, what matters is that they are good people. Sometimes they’re the only thing keeping me sane while I deal with…” Clyde stopped abruptly. “Doesn’t matter. What are your friends like?” He shifted the topic to Syllis.

‘Smooth… What the hell can I tell him about my ‘friends?’’ Syllis seriously thought for a second.

“Well, pretty much my only friend is an old alcoholic. He’s pretty grouchy and is always telling me to get out of his tavern, though I think it’s really just a bar.”

Syllis would have felt the need to lie before, when she was worried he would send her away without food if she was a risk. But after she sparred with him and saw that he was equally dangerous. She was confident that he wouldn’t send her away if she said a few odd things.

Besides, she was now trying to get more involved with Clyde and his group. The truth would come out sometime. So why not be a little forward?

Anne laughed from beside Clyde. “You have a way with words, nymph girl.” She mocked the secare nymph.

Syllis’ face contorted, the corners of her lips sunk. ‘Wasn’t for you to hear, maid…’ She stared daggers at the woman.

The four of them sat in silence while they continued to eat. They gorged on the -still too much for them- food. Their bellies were stuffed and their dialogue fizzled out.

After cleaning out the entire plate, Syllis managed to finish almost another one. Although she put in the towel once she reached the salad, littered with fickle harriers. ‘Bitter! Too bitter!’

Finally, at the end of their grand banquet, Syllis opened her mouth. “Clyde, it’s time…” She let her voice mysteriously trail out into a place beyond them.

“Is it really? Can you handle it?” His tone was solemn and wavering.

“It is.” She was resolute. Syllis stood slightly, leaning forward. Her nose was met with a sweet scent as she sniffed the last delicacy in front of her. Syllis reached for the golden slices, speckled with rosy tones. The small, almost whimsical fruit slice tasted like heaven.

Syllis was reminded why this small fruit was her favorite food. The mix of tangy sweetness and the slightly pulp-like flavor made her mouth water irrationally.

‘It’s… Divine.’ Syllis quickly scoffed down several more slices, before eating several more and then a dozen after that. After she’d eaten the equivalent of several full peaches, Syllis declared herself to be full.

“Thank you Clyde, for everything.” Syllis looked at the man from the inner window of her carriage. She still wondered how it felt to be this rich. The small taste she’d gotten was good and certainly worth nearly her entire day being put on hold.

‘Not like I had anything in particular to do today, or any day.’ Syllis let out a self-deprecating smile and spoke again. “You know where I’ll be if you want to visit, Clyde.”

“I’ll visit soon!” Clyde spoke enthusiastically. He seemed to be happy to have made a new friend.

Clyde then knocked a few times, signaling the carriage to begin its move. With the snap of a couple reigns, the horses pulling the hefty chassis neighed and began walking, before speeding up into a trot.

As the estate vanished from sight, Syllis thought of her experience. The brutal spar, the pleasant conversation and of course the simply perfect meal she’d eaten.

‘I’ll see you soon, Clyde.’