Elder Merakia stared at the rain beating against the carriage window, her hand resting on her cheek.

‘How strange,’ she thought. ‘External influences or exposure to unstable theonum in the environment could only trigger such a reaction. Stress or emotional turmoil could also amplify its effects…’

She sighed, leaning back against her seat. “I expected it would just be a normal viral infection this morning…”

‘And this is the first abnormal case since I moved to this forest. What could it possibly indicate? Would this forest still be safe for everyone to live in? Not only that, but Elysha kept mentioning this Kitty that seems to be a phenomenon.’

The elder mage then looked back at the view outside. ‘I must have Lucius or another researcher in the area investigate this potential problem. If the pattern continues, then perhaps these abnormalities could attract the attention of the institution.’

Shortly after staring through the window, Elder Merakia stated, “You can drop me off here.”

The driver stopped the carriage, then turned to look at her and asked, “Are you certain? We are only halfway there, and it is still raining quite heavily at the moment.”

Raindrops splattered the window, and she shook her head, saying, “I don’t mind. I have an umbrella to shield me from the rain. Not only that, but when I was a young lass I used to dance and sing in the rain whenever I saw it with my eyes. And so, allow me to depart from this point.”

The driver paused for a moment, glancing between the rain outside and back to her resolute gaze. “Very well, madam,” he said. “However, be careful. It’s not the most ideal weather for a stroll.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she replied, nodding approvingly and stepping out of the carriage, her boots making a soft splash as they touched the wet ground. She adjusted her umbrella, holding it steady against the pouring rain, picked up her suitcase, and walked over to the driver before paying him fifteen oras for the ride.

“Thank you for the ride,” she said. “May your day be a safe and happy one.”

“And may the rain be kind to you, madam. If you ever need my services again, you know where to find me.”

Taking a step back, Elder Merakia watched the carriage roll away. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in the sensation of the weather around her. The scent of wet earth filled her nostrils. Folding her umbrella, she began to twirl and dance through the rain-kissed streets, her laughter blending with the falling drops.

‘You look like a famous eccentric mage I knew long ago.’

After a moment of childlike act, she paused, remembering the words her client had described her. Her smile widened as she frowned at the unexpected comment. Memories of her past self and the reputation she once held flooded her mind.

“Hm, the past does indeed have a way of catching up to me, doesn’t it? They were good old times…”

She reopened the umbrella and began her walk back to her home.

~ ❈❇❈ ~

By the time Elder Merakia reached the cottage, the rain had stopped and the clouds had begun to dissipate, revealing the peaks of sunlight touching the forest.

She folded the umbrella and stood in the doorway, her clothes still damp as she removed her shoes. The elder mage took one last look at the rain-soaked streets before taking the handle and stepping inside.

Entering her residence, warmth enveloped her, contrasting with the coolness of the outside. Elder Merakia removed her coat and set her umbrella and suit case aside. She was about to check up on Elysha’s room when a little girl stepped outside of her office.

“—!”

Her eyes widened as she saw her guardian looking directly at her, and she swallowed her throat.

“Elysha? I was about to check to see if you were still asleep,” the elder mage said in surprise, then she noticed something. “And is that a cookie in your hand?”

“Uh, um… it tastes good,” she said, her mouth covered in leftover chocolate.

Elder Merakia’s gaze lowered at the half-eaten cookie, subtly concerned over possible consequences. “How many cookies have you eaten already?”

“... One.”

“So this is your second one?”

“Hm, I see. Well, those cookies would be neither enough nor healthy for your breakfast this morning. I would rather cook you a proper meal instead.”

Elysha’s eyes lit up and she nodded her head. Elder Merakia smiled, brushed a damp strand of hair away from her face and said, “Very well, let me put my things away, and I’ll start preparing breakfast. Any requests?”

“Yummy eggs,” she replied quickly. “Can we have eggs? And those yummy cake thingies and potatoes too!”

“Sure then, I will prepare those for our meal soon.”

Elder Merakia then made her way to the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder at Elysha, who followed quietly, finishing her cookie.

“Elysha, why don’t you wash up before breakfast? Your hands and face look like you’ve had a battle with a chocolate monster.”

She tilted her head as if imagining a picture. “Kitty wasn’t made up of chocolate, was he?”

“Who knows? The possibilities are a mystery. Now go and clean yourself before you eat.”

While the little girl went to the restroom, Elder Merakia gathered the ingredients. She washed the potatoes and cut them into neat triangles. She placed them in a bowl and began to season them with salt, pepper, and a touch of smoked paprika. Nearby, she set a large frying pan on the stove and added oil to heat it.

Elysha returned, her hands and face clean from a quick wash. She stepped onto a stool at the kitchen counter and watched her guardian stir the potato wedges in the pan, the sizzle filling the air and her nose.

“Interested, are you?” she asked.

The little girl nodded her head.

“I have a task for you soon, just like the time we’ve made fruit tarts together.”

“For me?”

“Indeed. I can have you help me make the crepes as soon as the potatoes are done.”

“Oh, is that the cake thingies?”

“Yes, the ‘cake thingies’ are crepes. Thin, soft, and delicious with its toppings.”

“How long until we eat them?”

“Good food takes a bit of time and care. Be patient, dear child, I promise the end result will be worth it.”

Once the potatoes were crisp and golden, Elder Merakia transferred them onto a plate lined with a cloth to drain the excess oil. She then wiped her hands and turned to Elysha. “All right, it’s time for your task. Wash your hands again, and we’ll start on the crepes.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

She washed her hands at the sink before climbing back onto the stool. “What do I do?”

Elder Merakia placed a mixing bowl in front of her, along with a jug of milk, some flour, eggs, and a small bowl of sugar. “We’ll make the batter first. I’ll measure the ingredients, and you can pour and mix.”

She then measured the flour and poured it into the bowl, followed by a pinch of salt and a spoonful of sugar. “Now, add the eggs, one at a time. Be careful.”

Elysha took an egg and cracked it on the side of the bowl. The shell broke unevenly, and some of the yolk splattered onto her fingers.

“Ah…” she muttered out, holding up her messy hand.

“Not bad for the first time,” Elder Merakia said with a smile as she wiped Elysha’s hand with a cloth. “Let’s try the next one.”

This time the little girl cracked the egg evenly and her face lit up. “I did it, Elder Mera!”

“Well done,” she praised. “Now, whisk everything together while I slowly pour in the milk.”

Elysha nodded, holding up a whisk and stirring the mixture as her guardian poured the milk in a steady stream. The batter turned smooth and creamy, and Elder Merakia nodded in approval. “Nicely done. Now that the batter is ready, let’s turn to the stove next.”

She heated a pan and ladled a small amount of batter onto it, tilting the pan to spread it thinly. The crepe sizzled softly, and Elysha watched with wide eyes. “It’s like magic, isn’t it?” her guardian asked.

The little girl nodded her head again, and a moment later, Elder Merakia deftly flipped the crepe with a flick of her wrist.

“Huh? How did you do that?”

“With practice and precision over time,” she winked at her. “Or you can use a spatula to flip it instead.”

When the crepes were neatly stacked on individual plates, Elder Merakia gave Elysha the task of decorating the crepes with various toppings while she took care of the fried eggs.

After the eggs were done, they arranged everything on the table before sitting down. Elysha loaded her plates with crispy potato wedges, a fried egg, a crepe slathered with chocolate spread and whipped cream, sliced strawberries and bananas, and a cup of warm almond milk.

Elysha began to dig her fork into the food and into her mouth, savoring each bite and the flavors that danced on her taste buds. Elder Merakia enjoyed her breakfast as well, watching the little girl enjoy the meal the two of them had prepared together.

“Oh hey, breakfast! Can Micah have some?”

A familiar voice broke through the room where the little gray Zhivopian had appeared from the window.

Elysha flinched in surprise. “When did you show up? You scared me!”

“Micah,” Elder Merakia set down her drink and gestured her hand towards an untouched plate of food. “Here, we’ve made made your share of breakfast.”

“Really? For me? Thanks!”

He jumped down from the windowsill and landed next to his plate. He then began to dig his mouth into the food before saying, “Mm! This is delicious!”

Elysha stared at him eating when he noticed her gaze and asked, “Hm? Why are you staring at me like that?”

She turned her eyes back to her food and replied, “N-Nothing.”

As they continued to eat, Elder Merakia shifted her eyes and asked, “How is the food, dear child?”

Elysha, her mouth partially filled with a bite of crepe, expressed her satisfaction with a muffled but appreciative sound, “Mmm-hmm! It tastes yummy!”

She swallowed her food before taking a sip of her drink. Micah looked at her half-finished plate and commented, “Oh wow, that’s a lot of chocolate you have on your crepe cake.”

She flinched and swallowed again before saying, “Is it a lot?”

“Yeah. Micah figured you must really like chocolate, right?”

Elysha blushed, quickly wiped her mouth with a napkin and shook her head. “Um, no I don’t,” she said before pushing her plate away and turning to eat the potatoes.

Micah tilted his head as he watched her continue to eat. “Well, you know, you’ve already eaten half of those crepes,” he remarked with a smirk. “If you keep this up, you might gain weight and get fat.”

Elysha froze, a piece of potato halfway to her mouth. She turned to him, cheeks puffed and sweaty. “Wh-What? That sounds bad…”

She turned to attention to her guardian, who had finished her fried egg and asked, “Elder Mera, what does Micah mean by that?”

Elder Merakia put down her fork and replied, “Micah is just teasing you.”

“Teasing me?”

“It is okay to eat what you like as long as you are aware of and respectful of your body’s needs and limitations. So if you ever feel like you don’t want to eat anymore, just let us know.”

Elysha nodded her head. “Okay, I understand.”

She looked down at her plate of triangular-cut potatoes and felt that she still had an appetite. She dug her fork into one of the pieces and resumed eating.

As the three of them continued their breakfast, Micah licked his paw clean, his stomach bloated. “Wooo, that was a good one today, Micah feels full.”

He turned his eyes to Elysha, who was staring indifferently at him. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You look fat.”

Micah blinked, his ears twitching. “What? Fat? Me? Nah, it’s just my fluff!”

Then he suddenly changed the subject. “So, what are you up to today, Elder Merakia?”

“Today will be quite busy for me,” she said, dabbing at her lips with a napkin. “I have a list of duties to do for work. Therefore, Micah, I would like to assign you a task.”

“Huh? What task?” Then he turned to see Elysha and said, “Oh, don’t tell me Micah has to watch over her again.”

“Yes, indeed. I would like for you to take Elysha out into the woods again for her homework assignment today.”

“Ehhh?? Again?” Micah groaned, flopping dramatically onto the table. “Elder Merakiaa, why do I have to take her to the woods? Can’t she just stay inside and do, I dunno, book stuff?”

“She can do her book stuff with you and other children you can introduce her to as potential friends,” she said. “That is part of her main homework assignment—socializing with others.”

“Gah, fine then."

Elysha looked back and forth between her guardian and Micah, realizing that she was about to embark on another adventure in the forest.

Micah turned around and jumped back onto the windowsill before saying, “If this is how it is going to be today, well, Micah needs to explore some options I have on my plate. Oh! And you better start giving me a raise of a lot of oras this time around!”

The next second, he jumped out of the window and disappeared from their sight.

Elysha and Elder Merakia continued to eat until their stomachs were full. They stored the leftovers away and took their empty plates and utensils to the sink, where they washed and rinsed them until they sparkled. The warm water cascaded over their hands as they worked together, their conversation flowing naturally.

As they were washing, Elysha suddenly asked, “Um, Elder Mera? There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Of course, dear. What would you like to know?” she replied, rinsing the soap from a plate and placing it on the drying rack before turning her attention to her.

The little girl hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing, “I was wondering, um, what was your life like before you met me? I mean, what did you do before I was here?”

Elder Merakia paused, considering Elysha’s question for a brief moment before replying, “My life was not much different before I met you, dear child. I was busy with various tasks—working, keeping the house clean and organized, reading books, and writing letters. I’ve interacted and met with guests and clients, giving my input and helping to ensure that people’s needs were met.”

She continued, “Some days have been short and relaxing, while others have felt long and overwhelming with work to do. Life has been a journey of ups and downs, but overall it has been satisfying for me.”

Elysha nodded her head, listening and trying to make sense of her words.

“In my day-to-day journey, there were moments that felt dull and uninspiring, like shades of gray,” Elder Merakia said. “On the other hand, whenever I returned home after a long day, I would relax and find sensational pleasures in indulging in my fine hobbies such as arts and crafts. I enjoyed sewing some stylized outfits and exploring what creative displays I could make with my theonum arts. Life has many paths and options for an individual to pursue. Like a fish, you can always swim in many colorful seas.”

Then she turned to Elysha and smiled, saying, “And then, I met you, my dear child. You have already brought so much color to my lens, and I am grateful beyond words.”

Elysha stood, taking in Elder Merakia’s words. Though she couldn’t fully comprehend the complexity of her guardian’s experiences, she understood that her presence had brought some significance to her, and that was enough to make her heart swell and her cheeks flush a rosy pink.

“I’m… I’m happy I could make you happy, Elder Mera.”

She knelt on her knees and leaned forward to embrace her, saying, “I am glad to hear, dear child. Seek for your future happiness in your life’s journey.”

Elysha buried her face in Elder Merakia’s shoulder, the warmth of the hug wrapping around her like a blanket.

Later, after all the remaining dishes were cleaned, the little girl hummed as she looked through more books from the bookshelf. Meanwhile, the elder mage’s attention was focused on her thoughts.

‘No, now is not appropriate to tell her about my time as a youth, even though my soul is forever youthful’ she sighed in her mind. ‘Perhaps when it is time for the child to venture out into the world on her own, I will tell her the story of Cecil Merakia.’

Shortly after, Elder Merakia approached Elysha and asked, “All right, it’s time for you to get dressed up and ready for your outdoor homework assignment.”

She turned around, nodded her head and said, “Okay.”

“Before you go upstairs, I would like to ask you one important question.”

“What question?”

“Tomorrow is the weekend, which means that I have some free time in my work schedule. Then we can continue your training and study session, this time at Lake Iröstos. Would you like to do that?”

Elysha’s eyes widened, and she eagerly nodded in anticipation. “Yes! I would like that!”

“Good, now go back upstairs to your room and change your clothes. When you are ready, meet me back downstairs so I can give you your backpack and assignments.”