The repairs and upgrades to the airship took just as long as Camaxtli predicted. Fortunately, the hospitality of a long dead-

Or deadish…? I thought

-civilization, proved to be extremely comfortable.

Camaxtli showed us a small suite of rooms off the main hangar, presumably for the ground crew or possibly the engineers. It came with very nice bedrooms, a selection of tools and equipment that Lakshmi immediately pounced on, and Camaxtli even offered to upgrade our equipment for us.

Just like a mini shop! I thought with amusement. Though with some of the coolest mid-game gear I’ve ever seen!

Everything had a faintly futuristic sleek angular look to it, often with tracery of circuitry inlaid into the surface.

There was even exotic food prepared in a manner no one of us had ever seen before. Strange glowing pastel orbs of various colors, exotic and colorful drinks that tasted of… well they were delicious, that’s all I could really say. Possibly the plants that they’d been made from were extinct!

I found my {Gourmet} senses tingling, and looked at Camaxtli as we ate. “Wow, this is good! Can you teach me how to cook these? Oh! Or get me the ingredients!” I suddenly had several ideas on how to blend the tastes in the dish into some of our travel supplies.

Camaxtli nodded calmly. “I believe so, yes. I am pleased that you like the cuisine of Nocturnus.”

“Well, outside of the fighting us thing, honestly your hospitality has been first rate.” I commented.

Soriya tapped her spoon on her lip, then said thoughtfully “Isn’t it odd though? You’d think customs or culture would change over 4000 years.”

Eshaan frowned, perking up at the talk of ancient history. Lakshmi tipped her head to the side, then said “Why?”

I blinked and looked at her, my mouth falling open.

Now why hadn’t I thought of that? It was a little disturbing, really. Cultures… shouldn’t really stay the same, should they? Not over thousands of years?

“Uh… well… is it… normal for cultures to stay the same for thousands of years?” I blurted out.

Camaxtli’s eyes flickered as he accessed his data, but Eshaan and Lakshmi both nodded in unison.

“Well of course it is.” Eshaan said.

“How else would we understand the Ancient’s scripts and machines?” Lakshmi added. “I mean… it’s really old and we don’t quite use all the same words… is that what you meant?”

“Uh… I don’t… think so?” I said hesitantly.

Soriya said “Let me put it another way. Can you speak Ancient right now?”

Lakshmi laughed. “Well, sure! I have to do that in a lot of the fancy court functions and ceremonies anyway.” She rolled her eyes. “Sounds super stuffy and formal.” Her voice took on a stilted and formal lecturing tone. “Yeah, and verily, this land doth resound with the sound of the Goddess’s voice, know now her chosen people, this her chosen land, the bounty of her everlasting love.”

Camaxtli interrupted. “This is indeed unusual. I have just reviewed Nocturnus’s historical data archives. Linguistic drift during the elapsed period of time should be significantly greater than that exhibited.”

“Ah!” Lakshmi was distracted by a drone carrying a piece of equipment near the Sparrowhawk and ran off shouting. “Stopstopstop!”

I giggled. “Well at least she’s having fun?” I offered. That got a laugh at least.

“Wait, if that’s so, how come you speak like a normal person, Camaxtli?” Eshaan asked, frowning.

“I was able to update my linguistic protocol based on your conversation as you approached the Capitol building of Nocturnus, and thus converse in the mode you prefer. It was a trivial task, given the limited differences.”

“Oh. Well yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Eshaan frowned. “Kind of creepy though to know you’re always watching.”

Camaxtli frowned. “I do not act on private information, and I do not spy on private functions. Your suspicion is unwarranted. I am not a biological being and am not influenced by such matters.” He said with a monotone that could almost be mistaken for discomfort.

Soriya smirked and pointed a finger at him. “Yeah, but are you anatomically accurate?” She said.

I whipped around to look at Soriya, my eyes wide. “Soriya!” I hissed in disbelief.

Camaxtli frowned even more deeply. “What is this fascination with biological beings and sex? Especially when you then exhibit discomfort about the topic?”

Eshaan blushed and rubbed the back of his head, looking to the side. “Well, it’s kind of… interesting… you know?”

Soriya grinned at Camaxtli and wagged her finger. “Not good enough dodge. Are you, or aren’t you?”

Camaxtli pressed his lips together and his eyes glittered with light before he finally said “I do not see how it is any of your business.”

Soriya’s grin widened until she looked like the cat that ate the canary. “Oh my god, Lily, I think he really is! That was emotion right there!”

Camaxtli burst out “I was not constructed for the purpose of sexual interaction or emotional comfort!”

I was silent, staring at him briefly. That was… actual emotion. And also she’s being really rude to him!

I frowned and looked at Soriya pointedly. “Alright, stop. Enough. A little teasing is fine. This is too much.”

Lakshmi skipped back over, wiping her hands on a cloth. “What’s going on?”

“I’m just teasing your boyfriend.” Soriya grinned.

“Wh-what?!” Lakshmi looked back and forth between us and Camaxtli.

“The Lady Lakshmi and I have not consented to engage in any such activity!” Camaxtli actually raised his voice this time.

I walked over to Soriya, putting myself between her and Camaxtli.

“Enough.” I said quietly, glaring into her eyes. “Regardless of how we feel about this, we’re not going to play matchmaker. When they get together…” I paused and ground my teeth together. “If they get together, they deserve to find their own emotions naturally.”

Soriya tipped her head to the side. “Oh come on, aren’t you just a little interested-”

I stomped my foot. “Yes, of course I am! But you didn’t shove me at Eshaan this hard! Back off, Soriya!” I said with quiet determination. “Not everyone needs to be or is in a relationship!”

Soriya looked to the side. “Half the fun of match making…”

“I don’t care! Let people figure themselves out! Stop shoving!”

“You needed a shove.” She said.

My cheeks flared pink. “I had quite enough help from my otherself, thank you!”

Soriya sighed dramatically and held up her hands in surrender. “Fiiiine. But I reserve the right to meddle in the future.”

I nodded in satisfaction, then smiled at her. “I suppose that’s the best I can get from a witch.”

Soriya laughed.

When I turned around, I saw Lakshmi blushing, and darting looks between Eshaan and Camaxtli. I groaned internally and couldn’t help rolling my eyes. Oh spirits, Soriya, why do you have to be right about this too?!

I cleared my throat and walked over to Camaxtli. “So, it’s probably near lunch time, so I’d like to cook something. If nobody has any objections, I’m going to try cooking something?”

This met with a murmur of approval, and I headed into the kitchen to explore. Eshaan followed, and offered to help. I tipped my head to the side, then smiled. “Alright then.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

I can’t claim to understand whatever arcane science had kept the food fresh and preserved all this time for untold thousands of years. Or perhaps it wasn’t even that, perhaps it had been grown and prepared recently, this city certainly was exotic enough! But I was confident enough that the food would be good, and more importantly at least to me, I wanted to see what my gourmet class could do.

I skimmed the shelves, and let myself drift a little, going for the same feeling that had flowed over me the first time I cast a healing spell. Something comforting. Something familiar and warming… curry? Everyone loves curry, but we had that recently… and they have fresh meat, it would be a shame to waste it… Soup. Everyone loves soup, warm thick… vegetables! I found myself carefully sampling the exotic vegetables, as well as eyeing the meat thoughtfully.

It was slightly disconcerting to feel the shift, the class talents taking over as they did when I used my {Spiritist} abilities. I found myself reaching for several unfamiliar vegetables and ingredients, combining with knowledge from mother’s kitchen, flowing into something new.

I got Eshaan to wash and chop his way through several of the root vegetables and food, bopping him lightly on the shoulder with my spoon when he tried to sneak more than a few bites.

“Stop that! If you want to give me advice based on the taste, I’m willing to listen, but if you just want to eat something, there’s dried fruit in your pack!” I said sternly.

I wasn’t a hundred percent sure what I was making, only that it was a noodle vegetable soup of some kind, and it was starting to smell delicious.

Bread. Yes, nut bread will go with this! It was like a gentle nudge in my head, I could tell from the {Gourmet} class, but it seemed so right and obvious that it was easy to incorporate into my own thoughts.

Shortly after, with the help of a small handful of fire crystals, the smell of baking bread joined the scent of bubbling soup.

Lakshmi popped her head in the door, followed by Danyiel, Soriya, and Camaxtli. “Hey, what smells good?!” Lakshmi demanded.

Eshaan shrugged his shoulders. “Beats me, I just helped make it! She’s had me running errands and chopping things all afternoon.”

Lakshmi gave him a disparaging glance. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not asking you!”

Camaxtli said “I can analyze the ingredients involved, but the end result is something I do not claim to understand. My own cooking follows standardized recipes of Nocturnus.”

I stopped stirring the pot of soup to look back at him in surprise. “You cook!?”

“It was necessary to prepare the party favors and supplies of the Jubilee. Occasionally food stocks are replenished.” He said.

Soriya blinked in surprise. “Wait, are you saying you cook food and then… translate it into that … metastable chronotons that everything else in the Jubilee is made of?”

Camaxtli nodded. “With regards to the food, that is correct, though not everything in the Jubilee is metastable chronotons.”

I took a sip of the soup thoughtfully, then added a few more spices from our supplies. “Well, I will ask you to cook something for us then.” I said, then took another sip, nodding in satisfaction. “Alright, this is ready.” I bopped Eshaan’s hand with my spoon again. “Wait your turn!”

Lakshmi giggled. “You should know better than trying to steal food from her kitchen, Eshaan.”

He grinned wryly. “A hundred battlefields and sword training drills, and I can’t dodge her spoon of retribution.”

I glared at him in exasperation. “Go get the bowls, minion.” I said, waving my spoon at him. I pulled out the bread and shortly had steaming bowls of exotic vegetable soup in front of everyone.

While everyone else was digging in, I stared at my meal. “Now let’s see…” I whispered to myself, {Studying} the food in front of me.

I let out a little giggle of triumph as a status window opened in my vision.

Effects: Insight: Up. Resist: Cold>

I gave a little cheer inside. It works! I really does have an effect! I picked up my spoon and took a bite. Hm, this came out really well.

“What on earth are you grinning at?” Lakshmi said.

“I’m just happy the soup came as I hoped!” I said. “I can do buff effects with food!”

Daniyel blinked, then stared down at his food, stoically.

Soriya looked up in excitement. “Oh! You can do food buffs!? That’s great, how long do they last!?”

I gave her a half smile. “I’m not sure, this is the first time I’ve had a chance to properly cook for everyone!”

“What about all those meals you made for us while travelling?” Eshaan asked, his face screwed up in confusion. “Wait, before that, what does this do?!”

“Well.” I said, taking another bite and dipping some bread in my soup. “This one raises your Insight and resistance to Cold effects.” I shrugged. “I don’t know what others do yet, I haven’t had a chance to explore.”

Daniyel poked at the food curiously, then looked up at me. “While I am grateful that you have discovered another ability, I find it deeply disturbing that you have used us as your guinea pigs in this endeavor. I have encountered quite enough explosive results from the Captain’s experiments that I do not wish to be subject again. Please do not continue further experiments without notifying me.”

I blinked, feeling my cheeks go pink with embarrassment and shame.

Eshaan pointed his spoon at Daniyel. “That’s not fair to Lily at all! She cooks for us all the time, are you saying you don’t wish her to cook!?”

Daniyel frowned. “I did not say that-”

“You did though!”

I laid a hand on Eshaan’s shoulder. “Eshaan. It’s fine. He’s right, it was a Skill I used from a class. I can cook without using that skill. I… don’t think I would have been able to cook as effectively with Nocturnus ingredients without it, but I can definitely cook without using the Skill.”

“But-!” Eshaan protested.

I held up my hand. “No.” I said simply. I turned to face Daniyel, and gave him a seated bow. “I’m very sorry for intruding on your bodily privacy. It was wrong of me, and I apologize.”

Lakshmi elbowed him. “Daniyel, I do not explode you! And Lily’s cooking is good! And apparently magically good!”

Daniyel frowned at the soup. “It is not the soup or the effect I object too, but the lack of information.”

Soriya clapped her hands. “Well, now that we’ve had that akward interlude-”

“Exuse me.” Said Camaxtli. “I wish to experience this… System result.”

I looked up at him, my eyes widening in surprise. “Can you… eat food?!”

“I can.” He said gravely.

I felt myself flush. “Oh no, you should have said so! I would have made more for you!” I pushed my bowl at him. “Here, you can have mine!”

Camaxtli frowned at me. “Is there not more available?”

“Well, yes” I said “But that’s for Daniyel and Eshaan, they always ask for seconds. Sometimes for thirds.”

Eshaan turned red and looked away with an uneasy chuckle, rubbing at the back of his head. Daniyel simply nodded. “Her cooking is indeed consistently excellent. And my appetite is large.”

I flushed and squirmed uncomfortably at the praise. “Eh heh. Thank you for the compliments.” Great, now I sound like Eshaan… I thought, squirming even more.

“Then I will partake of your offer.” Camaxtli said, and picked up my bowl in one smooth motion, taking a thoughtful bite and chewing carefully.

Lakshmi stared at him in undisguised fascination. “How do you eat if you’re artificial?!” She asked, her eyes glowing with interest.

Camaxtli looked up from the food, then back down as though confused. He looked up again and said “Biological matter can be processed for fuel. It is not as efficient as my normal methods, however…” he looked down at the food again and then took another bite, and then another and another, wiping the bread around the bowl and finishing it, licking his fingers.

“Fascinating…” he muttered. “I feel… warm.”

Eshaan was grinning. “That’s Lily’s cooking for you.”

“You do not understand.” Camaxtli turned to him. “I have never had this experience before. Is this… what you call ‘delicioius’?”

Eshaan laughed, joined by Soriya and then Lakshmi. “Well, ‘delicious’ is a very subjective opinion! If you liked it, then yeah, it was delicious!” Eshaan laughed again. “And judging by your reactions, I think Lily might be making two portions for you as well.”

I squirmed even more, fidgeting with my hands. “I’m glad you liked it.” I said again awkwardly.

Camaxtli nodded once. “Then my decision to travel with you has already been proven correct. I will add food stocks and cooking material to my travel stores.” He strode out of the room, leaving us sitting quietly.

“Lily… if you’re still hungry, you can have my share.” Eshaan said. I looked over at his bowl, which was already empty, then up at him. He was looking at the soup pot with such a wistful expression that I burst out laughing.

“Eshaan… that’s sweet. But we can split the result.”

Soriya tapped her lips. “More interesting to me…” she said, as I got up to fill two more bowls for Eshaan and I “Is the fact that Lily’s stat buffs applied to Camaxtli. That definitely proves my theory, he has some kind of soul, or Lily’s magic wouldn’t be able to affect him at all. Even cooking based magic.” She nodded in satisfaction.

Lakshmi frowned. “But how can a machine have a soul?” She asked in confusion.

“How do you have a soul?” Soriya countered. “You’re just an organic machine.”

“Rude!” Lakshmi sat back and scowled. “I’m a person!”

“And so is Camaxtli.” Soriya smiled back blandly.

Lakshmi scowled and crossed her arms. “Well yes… but… that’s…” Then lapsed into silence, thinking hard.

The rest of the meal was had in relative quiet, only a few words passed until we finished our meal. As I was putting the used dishes in the… disposal? Recycler? Washer? Whatever the Nocturnus did with dirty dishes… Soriya slipped up beside me, helping me load the strange Nocturnus device.

“So, {Holy White}, huh?” she said.

I jerked in surprise, then nodded. “Yeah. It was… kind of cool, honestly. Though I’m a bit sad I didn’t get to see a planetary view.”

“That’s what was interesting to me, actually.” Soriya said. “When you summoned Tower, you cored an airship. Top to bottom. Don’t you think it’s strange that {Holy White} didn’t blow up the whole city the same way? In fact, the only things it did do damage too was Camaxtli, and his robot backup band. Not the building, not the Sparrowhawk… in short, nothing but what you would want to target.”

I stopped, my eyes widening. She was right, that was weird! I hadn’t thought about that at all!

“You’re right! But jrpg stuff always does that, doesn’t it!?”

“Well, if you think about it, Tower is clearly the exception. It actually does do that. So I wonder…” she tapped her lips. “I haven’t quite dared to use my capstone skill. Which, incidentally, is named {Infernal Black}.” She grinned at me. “Interesting choice of name, when you think about it, hm?”

I twisted a wry smile at her. “Well if there was any doubt that you’re the other half of the keybearers, there isn’t now.” I said.

Soriya spread her hands. “Not that we did doubt, but it’s nice to have confirmation. It’s also interesting, don’t you think? When I asked quietly, I found that the normal capstone skill for an {Elementalist} is called {Elemental Cataclysm}. And now this business with the Goddess, and the lack of change… and then you went and used {Gourmet} like that… I’m starting to get an idea.”

I turned to her. “Oh no, Soriya, please tell me this isn’t like the Air Sylphs in Breezewood!”

Soriya laughed delightedly. “Oh you remember that! This… well I don’t think it’s like that!”

“How could I forget?!” I said indignantly. “I wound up in the pig pen covered in mud!”

“Well, to be blunt… it happened before you woke up here, didn’t it? It happened before I woke up here, in fact, though I do remember it clearly.” Her eyes twinkled and a familiar mischievous smile played on her lips.

I felt my mood go dark, and turned away from her, picking up the last of the dishes. “Well, that’s kind of what we learned in in the Wake, isn’t it.” I turned back and shoved the last of the dishes into the… whatever it was. “I’m dead, and also so are you.”

“And yet, here we are alive and well. We at least owe the Goddess thanks for a second chance.” She looked over at Daniyel, then back to me. “And maybe more.”