The night was cold, and my butt itched horribly as I sat there patiently inside the cart while the escorts and the client were doing what would be this world's equivalent of "cooking". I could already smell burnt meat, and what I thought smelled like a rich pepper in the midst of a horrid waft. I pinched my nose as they served me a bowl of the concoction "It isn't much, but ever since the beginning of this war, some of the human kingdoms have tightened border security..." the teenage boy said "And it would take more than just a whole lot of charm points trying to get into some of those kingdoms, especially the border of Delacour and Castille, where Trinity Fortress lies..." the middle aged man said. I couldn't bear the smell, and their conversation about trying to tell the difference between dragons and metal lizards was almost getting to me.
"Enough!" I yelled "This is officially one of the worst things I've ever tasted..." In a rage, I tossed out the contents of the bowl into the ground, as I placed the bowl to my side, I then looked at the mage woman and said: "And whose idea was it to add Mage flower buds?" "Oh? I thought they would make the soup smell a little bit sweet..." The older woman said, I then looked at the merchant "What kind of rations did you all pack?" They all exchanged glances, and then the middle-aged man stood up with a angry look in his face "Listen kid, I know this ain't your style, but it's all we've got-" I raised my hand "Tell me then, what have you got?" I asked. The middle-aged man tried to stop me. But the teenagers showed me then, each, a wooden lunchbox full of old jerky. The old woman revealed to me a mixed assortment of nuts and a separate bag of mushrooms, and the old man shown me a half-eaten loaf of bread and cloves of garlic.
"Good enough..." I told them to set them down and wait, and I began to start a fire using flint and steel, they all stared at me, looking as if I'm about to do something magical, which would be surprising since both the older members of the team do magic. Using the flattest rock I could get my hands upon, I rip and tear at the dried jerky and the cloves of garlic with my own bare hands, turning them into bite sized bits, they were intrigued. I stuffed the bread with the garlic and set it next to the fire, I boiled some water in the newly cleaned pot that once cooked the old dinner. Using the dried jerky bits and a few edible mushrooms, I mixed them together and placed a bowl above the pot, the bread then spread the garlic smell around the air. I took them off the fire pit, and then we waited for another few minutes for the soup to finish, which was evident once the air smelled once more with a savory scent.
"Whoa, this smells pretty good!" The teenage boy said, then the merchant said "Amazing, to think that a newbie to adventuring knows his craft in many things, cooking being one of them..." I took the pot off the fire pit and set it down near the bowls, which are also cleaned. "Alright, let's see how'd it turned out..." I said as I dropped scoops of soup into the newly cleaned bowls, they all blew on their hot soups, then simultaneously they took a sip.
"Amazing..." The old man said "Truly magnificent! Even though it lacks a few things, this definitely is much more satisfactory than what we've served earlier!" The merchant said gleefully "This is definitely way better than Big sis Mary's stew from earlier!" the teenage boy said "Well, I guess I'll take the fall. I can't say no to something this meager, yet delightful..." she said with a smile "Well kid, you've surprised us more than once..." the middle aged man said "I think you'll go great lengths, but remember kid..." He moved a bit closer to my side, placed one hand on my shoulder "Remember to share these kinds of moments with people, It's feels much more nice..." I looked around and saw what he was talking about, smiles wrapped around the faces of his companions and their client, accompanied by laughs as they told each other stories about each other's flaws and mistakes they've done as adventurer's and before then. I paid it no mind.
We all fixed our bowls and I assisted in cleaning up the cooking set, We all decided then on who will take the night watch after the middle-aged man finishes his. I said I would take up about half the evening, they all argued to me that I shouldn't stay up that long, but I managed to silence them.
I then put on my Hoodie, because what I would be doing this evening would technically be considered a crime, or even necromancy back in the kingdom of Castille.
Earlier this day I've discovered several hints of other people living around these parts, hastily dismantled fire pits and several unshuffled footsteps have given me enough evidence to say that we weren't alone. And judging from the stories told by the merchant, they really are active during the evening.
And just my luck, I found some bandits roaming closer towards our campsite, "I swear, we've got a good one this time, and it seems like we've scored even bigger for the kid that can cook!" the others around him huddled closer "Yeah, he'll be a pretty good slave, and Lady Silphy would love a little kid who she can play around with!" "Unfortunate..." I said devilishly "For you and me, to cross paths then..." I pulled down my Hoodie, they all got startled "I'll wait for your friends, I wanna see what you are capable off, when you're at full force..." Reluctantly, the bandits then called out to their allies who hid in the underbrush of the forest, recklessly shouting even if they accidentally waking up my team. Then people started surrounding me, at least a couple of 50. "Cocky brat! we'll put you in your place!" they all jeered, and a sleek haired man came forward "Oho! better be careful kid, cause Boss here got a magic sword!" they all cheered him. The man then unsheathed his sword, the moon shined gloriously upon it's silvery surface. It looked like an elven sword from one of the games Chris used to play.
"Well then..." I said as I raised my left arm, silenced filled the air. Everyone around me went pale, as they realized that their target wasn't exactly weak "Cower..." I said as swiped my hand in front of the criminal swordsman. He feel to the ground in one second, and something came out of his body, like gas, which rapidly reached to the palm of my left hand. I felt alive, I felt refreshed, but more importantly, I felt evil. They all attempted to scurry off. ut it was already too late:
"You all are next..."