"Oh, that hit the spot just right." I cheerfully tell anyone who would listen at this most welcoming table. And, as always, a cheerful woman with dull, but still colourful blue-hair smiled at my words.
"So will this!" she declares as she puts me through another round of her antics. But a swift hand of mine knocked her aim off course and instead, my student, her sister got soaked.
"Larishazza..." I tut with a low, but in-serious tone. A knowing smile formed once she ran off, an annoyed sibling in hot pursuit. And when I heard her playful screams, I roared out a laugh.
"Let me guess, same as before?" my student asks me as she leans past the door frame with a face full of bother.
"If you'd be so kind." I answer as I slowly get up with the aid of a creaking table. Then, I head on out for the open skies outside. I did not want to linger as I knew full well what would happen if I did. I would enjoy myself too much with the antics of others.
But, upon sudden inspection, I realised I had left too hastily. And I moved as quickly as I could back inside so I could get my wallet. I did not need it, in reality. But, it gave my fingers something to be dexterous with on my walks to the shops.
"Heads." I predict as I flip a lucky coin I had brought here from my home. But, my guess was wrong and I instead ended up with the tail-end of the coin. I would have gasped in horror, had it actually meant anything of note. However, it only mattered so long as I followed through with the plan I set.
That plan being, if I got the guess wrong, I could not eat any dessert during my trip. It saddened me slightly, but, it was for the best. Discipline was a core part of the warrior's mind. And, if I slipped up in that regard, I brought shame to and undermined myself.
Yet, it was not all bad, because there was quite a selection of food here to enjoy regardless. Juicy meats, thin and thick broths and potent booze. I could appease my desires with many small or a few great meals. And, to make it all better, I brought much joy to those around me when I ate.
So many opportunities to eat with old friends and to make new ones. It was a great time to have and I enjoyed the repetition of it. There were no complexities beyond what everyone brought. There was only good food and even better company.
"See ya, Ombbo!" Larishazza waved out to me before she narrowly avoided a block of ice. A block that went on to scrape my side.
"I'll see you at dinner!" I laughed back as the ice continued onwards until it fully melted. Its brief brush with me having taken away its form and replaced it. And, having just seen that, I became a little cautious. A little more reserved.
I had to be careful with all this magic in me after all. Eating wasn't just a source of pleasure for me. It was a core part of what I had in mind for the Inter-House. I wanted to impress whatever family member came.
More so, I wanted to inspire awe and fear in the competing houses who came to watch. I wasn't the only Errakurd here after all. There were quite a few hoping to find a new power to overwhelm the over. In fact, I was pretty sure sending daughters and sons abroad was increasingly popular.
New ways of fighting, new ways of appeasing our people and the Honourable War himself. They could all be found outside of the very peak of our lands. And, while I looked forward to the day I would go home. I wanted to spend more time on the surface.
Just so I could enjoy all they had to offer as it was so much more flavourful. The animals could be fattened and the fruits were moist! Delicate spices could grow and water flowed unimpeded. Sure, my home took its ideas of conflict beyond just fire and sword...
But, it was another thing entirely to see the labours of the peaceful surface people. As shocked and awed they might be to find out we Errakurd considered them peaceful. It baffled them, it really did, especially my two good friends back at the dorm. Our place of rest and warm affection where both were found aplenty.
And it made me laugh when I thought about it. I had once told my student, dear Tiyanat of the Sl'Ayiysab. But, the ease with which she set her mind on something made her misunderstand. She could not see what I was doing, only what she saw.
"To be fair to her, however, there is a lot to see." I laughed out as I expressed the joy my thoughts led me to. And, shortly after saying that, I found another reason to smile with joy. Because I had now arrived at my favourite place in the whole academy. Admittedly, however, any place where good food was, was my favourite place.
"There he is!" the baker cheered as I came in through the door with a smile on my face. And, when I got close enough to him as he came out to meet me, we collided. Our big, fat bellies rippled against each other before we clasped hands. The sound of our laughter bringing light to the otherwise joyous shop.
"Mr Baker, oh Mr Baker. What have we today?" I asked as I let my nose suck in as much as it could. And, between blissful sighs as I smelled the warm bread, the toasty buns and icing covered cake. I grew envious of my recently returned friend. Her nose was so good at what it does, I only wish I could smell as well as her.
I was content with what I could smell, though, it was already such a good experience. And while it could have been so much better, I was grateful for how it was. After all, there was such a thing as, unfortunately... Too much of a good thing.
"What I have prepared for my best customer today is a fine special indeed. Risen flatbread made with wheat scythed from the northern plains beyond the Great Border Range. Dusted in dried fruit moss from the caves beneath the city of Hlenunt, and, of course, baked within the confinement of my special oven."
"Oh, I grow ravenous already." I tell him as I pat my belly as I find myself looking at that thick, bulbous but hard-skinned bread. However, when he brought over a small, copper pot, I grew curious. It was such a modest vessel that I could not help be curious.
"And here," he begins to say while also pulling out a lidded bowl, "A soup made using my good Ma's recipe. It ha-"
"No, speak no more. I know everything I need to about this soup." I tell him with a smile as I fell in love with its origins. There was nothing better than food aged by the experience of a mother over the years. Mine may have never cooked much. But, if she came hunting, she made a divine barbeque.
"And the price, a compliment to my good Ma when you next see her." he jokes as I hand over the necessary amount of money for the clearly priced meal.
"When I next see her is but an inevitability!" I tell him as I wave on my way out. A small container in my hands in which my bread and soup resided. Then, once the chiming of the bell ceased to be, I looked around for a bench to sit at. Or, perhaps I was better off looking for a table?
After all, any spills could be cleaned with far greater ease than if they spilt onto me. Not that I had any intention of showing such lacking skill at the place of my meal. I wanted to and would savour every bite, or, in this case, spoonful. But where I would enjoy my food was another question entirely.
The winds of the greatest mountain had given me a cool, steam-wafting breeze to work with. The Orbital-Halo was shining brightly and was barely obstructed by clouds. I could rest under the shade or have it periodically come by. But, the chirping of birds made my decision come quickly.
"Such sweet little things you have there." I said quietly to the mother bird as she fed her chicks with food taken from across the academy. A latest edition of which was the flatbread I had bought. But, she never took it from my palm when she saw my offer. It was too hard, of course!
So, I made way to break it down for her until it was something she could give to her young. Yet, she was a curious mother that was hungry herself, so she pecked the moss from my palms. And, I chuckled lightly as her beak prodded me until she took the rest of it for her chicks. Then, I dug in once I offered silent thanks to any god involved in this meal.
From the Potted God for his fruit moss and the Companion God for his sacrifice. Then, I gave thanks to the First Mother for helping my chef grow the way she did. Because this soup was truly divine. I could taste every bit of nurture in the warm liquid.
I could tell from what I have seen of the baker that this was made to his tastes. The way the veg was cut, the manner in which the meat was sliced. It all matched up with how he did it himself. And, knowing him, it was because the recipe told him to, not because he wanted to.
"I really do need to see the woman that raised that man. Because, by the gods, that soup was perfect." I complimented once I came to the end of my meal. A half-soaked piece of softer bread that I had been given soon entered my mouth. He knew full well that the flatbread would neither last nor work for what was to come. So, a fluffier one had been given.
And, because of his foresight, I had a bowl that showed no signs of soup ever being there. I was thankful for it, because such a fine meal should not have a single drop wasted. It was not the solid, left-over fat of meat staining the bowl. It was a mother's lovingly prepared ambrosia and it just demanded to be eaten in its entirety.
However, now I was left with a conundrum. I was carrying dead weight that I was not rude enough to leave lying about the academy. And the bakery was so, so very far away now. But, as I looked back at the bakery I recently left, I took on an expression of glee.
Because I had found another place I could go to in order to seek more food. It was the perfect place to get a meal to fuel my journey back to the bakery next door! So, with an eager clap and freshly licked lips, I got up and went to it. But, before I stepped in, I looked at what was on display here.
"Hm, cold meat sandwiches and fatty, sausage pastries. I think I will enjoy what is available here." I said to myself as I happily nodded at the food on display. Yet, before I went in, I made sure to bring out my lucky coin. And I flipped it with the head's side being up in mind. And, with an ecstatic cheer to mark that it indeed was, I went inside.
"Why good morning, what can I get you?" the confident man behind the counter asked me as he prepared another meaty roll before my eyes.