Slow footsteps amidst night.

Despite it being so warm during the day, being surrounded by desert, the Oasis city naturally got colder the lower the sun went.

“Hey Yuri come on. We can at least go wait inside. It’s freezing.”

Helgi complained, cowering along with Yuri on a small bench, not far from where they were attacked.

“No way. Something feels wrong. First Hikaru doesn’t come along with us, then he shows up at the last second with that kind of weird face..”

Looking up at the starry sky, Yuri breathed out a breathful of hot air, which mixed with the cold air, creating a small mist and blending perfectly with the stars in front of her eyes.

“What face?”

Feigning ignorance, Helgi looked up at the night sky with Yuri.

“I don’t know. But it was different. Usually when he saves me, it’s kind of like...I am a knight, this is what i do, rarara, Sort of face. You know?”

She scratched her head.

“But this time it was more like..he had something on his mind? I don’t know why I’m sure of that, i just am.”

(Eeeh...Since when did Yuri become so perceptive..A woman’s natural instincts are scary.)

Thinking this, Helgi tried to steer the conversation somewhere else.

The street they were in was completely empty. All the salesmen and shoppers already having packed for the day, trying to get some rest before tomorrow's market.

Thus, the street was eerily quiet. A peculiar contrast from the overly noisy street that it is during the day.

However, breaking this fragile silence, that seemed to hold despite the two’s conversation.

The sound of footsteps.

Slow, determined footsteps. With a hint of something crunchy beneath them, which one wouldn’t have to be a genius in order to guess it was sand.

“Mm?”

Turning around, Yuri saw the figure of a bloody Hikaru. Blood, and dirt. The blood having mixed with sand to form a mud-like substance.

“Hikaru! Are you okay! Do you need healing..!?”

Rushing toward him, Yuri checked him for wounds, sighing in relief upon finding out that despite all the blood and dirt, there were no clearly life threatening wounds

“What took you so long!”

“Sorry..I had to walk. All the way back here, through the desert. My broken bones and lack of mana limited me. To a degree.”

He said with a slight shrug. Dried mud falling off his shoulders, as if that was the first movement he had made in a long time other than moving his legs.

“What happened? did you defeat her?”

“No..I did not. It was a stalemate. Luckily she ended up retreating. More importantly. How are you, Yuri..?”

Wiping his face to clear the dirt sticking to his eyes and hair, he looked at her with concern.

“Oh, I’m fine, don’t worry, i healed myself right up! and Helgi too”

“Hello, Hikaru. I see you came back.”

Helgi’s words carried a double meaning that only he and Hikaru knew, referring to their past conversation.

“Indeed i did. Helgi. I have thought about what you told me. And i realised. You’re completely right.”

“Huh what did he tell you.?” Yuri jumped in front of them.

“Then..?” Helgi raised an eyebrow.

“I have realised what it is i need to do properly now. And starting from now i will make sure to prove your claim wrong.”

A step was taken toward Helgi, his footstep crunching with sand, his eyes as clear as glass despite the rest of his face being covered in tiny patches of sand.

His firm eyes reflected the cold eyes of Helgi.

“Do what properly?” She jumped again.

“Is that so. It is easy to make claims. But can you follow through with it.” Helgi took a step toward Hikaru.

“I will stake all my pride. All my resolve. All my honour. On it.”

His eyes remained glass clear.

“Then i will make sure to strip all those things away from you..should you fail.”

Taking another step, Helgi and Hikaru’s faces were now only an inch away from each other. So close that they could see the whites of each other’s eyes.

“Guuuuuys!”

Yuri pushed herself between them.

Grabbing their faces, she pushed their faces apart.

“What are you even talking about! Explain!”

She pouted, her hands still firmly clasping around their faces.

“Oh. uh. Nothing Yuri. just a dumb bet we made.”

Helgi tried to make an excuse. They both having completely forgotten Yuri was standing right next to them, during their intense discussion.

“....What bet. Tell me.”

Her grip on their faces strengthened. Making them both twitch slightly in pain.

“Nothing Yuri. It was simply a bet about my...cooking skills being subpar.”

Hikaru chimed in. Saying the first thing that came to mind.

“Cooking…?”

Her grip on their faces loosened, until she eventually let go.

“It’s true i have never seen you cook…”

“Yes, yes. It’s just like Hikaru said. Cooking, it’s cooking!”

Helgi nodded enthusiastically.

“He sucks at cooking. I bet when he fries eggs, he ends up with boiled eggs!”

“That is a severe insult. My cooking skills are not that terrible.”

Hikaru seemed to get slightly offended. Making Helgi sweat slightly, trying to motion to Hikaru to play along.

“Oh. Yes indeed. My cooking skills are terrible. But i shall prove him wrong.”

Hikaru spoke with a deadpan voice, his acting skills terrible enough to  make Helgi facepalm.

“....Really? I never knew that. huh well how about we have a cooking match then. Between you and Helgi. It’s been awhile since our last meal. And healing magic is great and all. But real healing comes from some bacon in your belly.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

She declared, noting the sun that was now visible in the distance, showing the top of its head in a pretty pink and orange.

“Uh sure. We need ingredients i suppose. I lost my money with most of my clothes.”

Hikaru motioned toward his almost entirely ripped clothing.

“Ah..right. i’ll go buy the ingredients. You and Helgi go back to the hotel room and book the kitchen. And Helgi..get Hikaru some clothes”

Running off, she went to the marketplace, hoping that some merchants would be setting up their stalls right about now.

They both stood for a while, watching Yuri run off. Both looking at each other and sighing with relief.

“Hey Helgi.”

“What is it.”

“Thank you for risking your life for Yuri. But don’t ever do it again. Despite what i think of you. Yuri has a place in her heart for you. Don’t make her lose that piece.”

Hikaru glance at Helgi with soft wind rustling his dirty hair.

“...I don’t need you to tell me that.” Helgi replied, looking over the sorry beaten state of Hikaru.

“If you’re going to try and prove me wrong. Then make sure you listen to your own advice. If you manage to get yourself a place in her heart as well, that is.”

“Of course. If one of us does break the promise. Make sure the other spits on their grave.” Hikaru nodded with a blank face.

“Pft..It’s a promise. Now let’s go and get you some clothes. You look like a mix between a hobo and a failed male stripper. And i rather not look at that.”

“Do i really look that bad?”

Hikaru glanced down at his torn and muddy clothes while walking back with Helgi.

“Worse.”

--

“Alright I’m back! I bought a bunch of different stuff since i didn’t know what to get”

Yuri came into the inn carrying several paper bags of various exotic ingredients.

“Did you manage to book the kitchen?”

She asked while dropping the bags on the ground, with no worry of anything cracking inside, despite there being an audible shattering noise.

“Yeah. The innkeeper said it was fine if we use the kitchen, as it is between dining hours.”

Hikaru replied, picking up the bags and carrying them to the kitchen.

“Hoo? What’s up with your clothes Hikaru? You look very...regal?”

Carrying her bags, Hikaru was wearing pure white matching shirt and pants. That had linings of gold going through along the seams. He also had his hair, which was now starting to get fairly long, in a tail, resting over his shoulder.

This all combined to make him look like some manner of lazy prince.

“He seemed to fit too well in black, so i figured i should lend him something white. I didn’t see it fitting him so well..”

Sighing from behind her, Helgi admitted his defeat.

“Well. Some people might look good in anything, but it takes real skill to actually wear the clothing as part of you, and not just an addon.”

He tried to save face, but Yuri could see through him after knowing him for so many years.

“Riiight. Well why don’t you and Hikaru go start cooking. I’m starving.”

“On it. On it. Geez women are scary when they’re hungry.”

He smirked while escaping through the door.

“Hey! I’m not a woman!” She yelled after him.

“Fine then, how about girl?”

“I’m not a girl either!”

“Well you sure as hell aren’t a lady, so don’t expect me to call you that~”

Helgi chuckled while entering the kitchen.

“I’m none of those things! I’m a man! A. M.A.N.”

She protested, and walked over to the kitchen, hoping to smack Helgi’s head.

“Hey Yuri...what the hell did you even buy…”

Helgi was busy warily looking inside one of the paper bags, being careful not to touch it.

“Huh? What do you mean? I just bought what was recommended to me. The sellers said it was all delicacies. They even gave me some for free!”

Tilting her head in honest confusion, Yuri looked at Helgi who looked back at her, wearing an awkward smile.

He glanced back inside the bag.

Yup. he was sure. Whatever was inside was definitely moving. It also looked nothing like any animal or plant he had ever seen.

While Helgi was busy being struck with fear by the strange ingredient. Hikaru reached over his shoulder and twisted off a piece of the moving...thing inside the bag.

Taking that small piece of something that looked like it almost had to be censored. He put it in his mouth and chewed it a bit.

“I see...Soft texture..hm..taste is weak but smooth..I see now.” He muttered while chewing.

Helgi felt the need to relieve his stomach of its contents.

Hikaru spit the chewed up thing out onto the floor. And Helgi wasn’t completely sure, but he thought he saw the chewed up a bit, actually slither away.

Helgi blinked, and the chewed up thing was gone.

(I must have imagined it...yeah.)

He convinced himself.

“I’m..just going  to try this bag.”

Helgi walked up to another bag and looked inside.

He sighed in relief.

The contents were vegetables he had never seen before. But they were normal vegetables. Most looked similar enough to the vegetables he knew that he could probably figure out a dish to make.

“I know what I’m going to make.”

Helgi and Hikaru declared at the same time.

Both looked at each other, Helgi squinting, and Hikaru raising an eyebrow.

“Well in that case. Considering how hungry i am. Cooking...three...two...one...start!”

Yuri announced, both of her cooks immediately beginning to cook.

Helgi moved with comfort in the kitchen, using all manner of cooking utensils to slice, crush and properly cook and mold the vegetables he had. His hands seemed to find where they needed to be without him even looking.

Hikaru on the other hand only used a single tool. A very large knife. The way he used it however, more than made up for him limiting himself to a single utensil. His main ingredient was the unidentifiable delicacy he had tasted earlier.

It was flung into the air, and with a single twist of his knife, it became a paste smoother than powder before it hit his cauldron.

Helgi combined and carefully added minute amounts of spices to all his ingredients. Each one with vastly different combinations of spices. He looked more like a chemist than a chef.

Hikaru simply picked up each bottle of spice, tasting it and adding seemingly random amounts into the cauldron

They were both done preparing. Now they had to cook their dish.

Helgi’s dish was made up of several smaller dishes. So he stood completely still, except for his arms which moved rapidly from pan to pan, adjusting the heat and checking on the ingredients.

Hikaru simply turned on the fire under his cauldron, put some water into it and began waiting.

Helgi’s hands moved faster and more efficient than when he was fighting. Each movement precise, placing every finished product onto a single plate. Where it quickly built up into a magnificent looking dish, worthy in looks alone, of a five star rating.

Hikaru’s dish on the other hand, was nothing more than the strange bubbling red stew he had prepared, resting inside a stone bowl. Each popping bubble releasing an ominous red steam.

“Vegetable paella. Made in the same way that a certain seven michelin star chef made it.”

Helgi presented his dish to Yuri, casting a condescending look at Hikaru’s dish.

Hikaru didn’t notice however, as he was too busy fiddling with his stew.

“Ohhh. Looks delicious. Say you looked so in the zone. How come you’ve never cooked for me  before..?”

She cast a suspicious glare at Helgi.

“Well..you know. It’s too much effort. Besides. when you have the money. You can pay a seven michelin star chef to cook you the exact same dishes.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

“Buh. You mean you could have cooked a meal for me all those times we were forced to eat canned food while hiding from the authorities..?”

“Ahaha...I guess so..?”

Helgi scratched the back of his head.

“...Well whatever. “ She sighed. “Let’s see if you really can cook after all. or if it just looks nice.”

She took a  bite out of some vegetables. Her eyes lit up the moment they touched her tongue.

“Whout ish dish! Itsh guud!”

She continued eating the vegetables, before sighing in relief when her plate was clean.

“That was amazing. Now that i know you can cook. I’m going to have to make you cook for me all the time.”

“It would be my pleasure, princess.”

Helgi bowed extravagantly.

“...It’s prince to you. Cheap bastard Never cooked for me.”

“Oh come on..” Helgi laughed “If i did, you would probably move in with me. and i need my privacy.”

“I rather not live with someone who owns more makeup than an actual woman. Now Hikaru’s dish?”

“Here you go Yuri. And Helgi.”

He handed them both a stone bowl filled with the red goopy stuff.

“Uh..No thanks. I will let Yuri handle it.”

Helgi denied the offer.

“You sure? It’s a delicacy.”

Hikaru took up a bowl of stew of his own and began eating first, his face so expressionless it was hard to tell whether he disliked or enjoyed it.

“Uh...Hikaru...Are you sure it’s safe to eat..?”

She gave him a worried look.

“I am eating it aren’t i?”

He looked at her with the spoon still in his mouth.

“Yeah but you’re...you.”

She shook her head.

“Ah whatever. To hell with it.”

She took the spoon and shoved it inside her mouth, more forcefully than she intended to due to her fear.

Her eyes went wide.

She became completely motionless.

“Yuri..are you okay..? Yuri..?”

Helgi tapped her shoulder. She remained as stiff as a statue.

“You bastard what have you done to her!? I knew that stuff wasn’t safe!”

Helgi was about to jump at Hikaru in anger, when Yuri blinked.

“AMAZIIIIIING!?!”

She roared out rather than yelled.

She slowly took another spoonful and put it in her mouth, slowly chewing it. Relishing in the flavour for as long as she could.

Unlike with Helgi’s dish which she devoured instantly, this one she chose to sample very slowly. The taste was that great.

“Ahhhahaha...am in heavenn…”

She kept slowly moving her spoon from her bowl to her mouth as if in a daze, her eyes not focusing on anything.

“W-what…?” Helgi was confused. The Yuri he thought was about to die, was actually about to die from..enjoyment..?

“I told you It’s a delicacy. Try it, it’s not bad.”

Hikaru shrugged and pointed at the bowl that he offered earlier, before emotionlessly finishing off his bowl.

Hikaru looked at Yuri, who seemed to be in great joy, and smiled deeply. Seeming to get more joy from seeing her happy rather than eating the supposedly amazing dish.

Seeing him look at Yuri like that, made Helgi’s suspicions of him having any ulterior motives disappear.

Sighing he took up a spoon, and tasted a bit of the stew goop.

“..............AMAZING!?”

Not unlike Yuri, he began to slowly relish each spoonful.

Unlike Yuri, he cursed with each bite.

“Dwamnit..how can it be so good...my dish was a seven michelin star..this is sooo goood..”

He interrupted himself with another spoonful.

“I knowww WIGHT? sho guud..”

Yuri replied to his mumblings with her own mumblings.

“Geez..She’s like a child.”

Hikaru continued watching Yuri, enjoying the fact that she got pleasure from the dish he made, despite him being of the opinion that it wasn’t that great of a dish.

“Enjoy your food…”

“Shank youh foe dah fuudd..”

She said happily through a mouthful of stew.