I was going to check the bakery first when I ran by the town hall and saw Ella talking to a man dressed in white, wearing a matching mask along the side of the building. I called out to her and when she looked over I could she that she appeared fine, but I still did not like that she was talking to a stranger at this hour.
I called over to her asking if she was alright and surprisingly she responded to me, "Serin this man said that he knows about mom". She said that with a smile and excitedly proceeded to say, "Don't I look like mom? He says I look just like mom! And aren't his clothes cool? They are soo white just like the Archbishop's".
Her long string of words that she just threw at me instantly made me suspicious of the man standing across from her if I wasn't already. I walked over to her with a calm expression and positioned myself between Ella and the unknown man.
"I am sorry for my sister bothering you, but why are you talking alone with her when the sun has set? And who are you to my mother?" I wanted to err on the side of caution since a normal civilian would not be wearing pure white clothes and a white mask, so I also apologized for being rude and used dinner as an excuse to leave.
As we were turning to go the man asked, "Is it alright if I join you?". I was about to decline, using the excuse that I did not make enough food because I did not feel comfortable with the man entering our home and our dad was still away, when Ella jumped out and jutted into the conversation, saying that he could join if he told us more about mom.
Giving Ella a look that conveyed behave and be quiet, I maneuvered her behind me again and looking at his expensive clothes and carriage said, "I am sorry but I did not make enough for three and I am sure that you have other places to be. You definitely won't get home in time to rise tomorrow if you leave any later than this, especially if you are close to the capital and I couldn't have you paying for another day of transportation fees".
The mystery man took the hint and replied, "well I guess this is a good bye for now. I'll see you some other time", with a tip of his head he turned and walked over to the coachman telling him to get ready and head towards Albald, a village towards the edge of the kingdom by the border, before he hopped onto the carriage giving the two siblings one last look before he disappeared inside and the vehicle started moving away.
As the carriage started to leave my line of sight I realized that the man in white looked much younger than the Archbishop, sitting at around maybe twenty or so years of age, which seemed peculiar for someone soo young to know something about my mother, and to be dressed fully in the color white that the church was distinctly known for.
Hmm... I've never heard of any high-positioned members of the church that are soo young, I thought to myself, lost in thought until Ella kicked me in the shin waking me up for the second time today.
"Why did you have to chase away that nice brother, Serin? He was only trying to be nice and I was hunting for a stronger brother! Plus, he knew about mom! Humph...", Ella said.
Feeling deeply insulted by this heartless little bun I responded dramatically, "What am I chopped liver? Are you already trying to replace me after all the years we have spent together? Wuwu...".
With a smirk she nonchalantly answered me, "Nah no need for that when you are the only one that knows how to make good food", and then she topped it off with a giggling, "Hehe... I was just getting you a husband! Don't you think he was a good one?".
"Ohh now I know you are just making fun of me! Come here!", I said grabbing her, while proceeding to tickle the daylights out of her until she knew what was good for her and relented with her teasing about tree-sitting and little babies. Well, I hope she was joking about the babies one because I definitely haven't taught her about the birds and the bees.
We finally made it back to the house and I told Ella to go wash her hands and feed Angel. As she headed out to the barn to do that, I pulled out one of the stones from the stove that was used heat the pans with stored fire mana and I placed it in a little stone box that had grooves to circulate the mana around the interior before heading back to the stone. I placed our plates inside and watched and waited for the smell of warm food as the heating box slowly warmed the meal up. Then I put the box away and placed the stone back while turning the temperature for the soup down even lower.
Things like mana stones, where mana is stored, and magic technology were the only ways that people under sixteen could use magic in any capacity and it was really just the device performing its intended function instead of the user actually using magic, but in this way people were able to live their lives with more convenience and do things that their own power may not be capable of.
As the aroma of the food was drifting through the room, Ella walked and instantly drifted over to her seat staring at her plate.
"Nuh uh... did you wash your hands?", I said stopping her before she could dig into her food.
"Ugh...", she sighed, indicating that she had not, in fact, washed her hands. She walked over to the sink basin that pulled water from the well and washed her hands with our small bar of soap. That was one thing I was big about because a few years back a group of kids had gotten dangerously sick after playing around like pigs, but instead of mud they accidentally rolled in shit and rubbed it in their eyes and their mouths. So, you could say that hygiene became an important routine.
"Don't sigh, you remember those kids that rolled in shi...", I started to say.
"Yes, I know. You say that every time!"
"Well, that's...", I started again.
"Yes, I know. I know. Hands are clean. I'm eating now! Thanks!", she said right before she made the sign of a Norvik 'N' and started shoving food in her mouth.
Now it was my turn to sigh as I sat down and started eating as well.