"Good morning, Charmy!" Nalé's head popped into the kitchen, greedily sniffing the air. She had just arrived at the cafeteria and started greeting those who had come before her, but the wonderful aroma of Charmy's cooking lured her into the kitchen.
"Does my nose deceive me, or do I smell fried chicken cooking?" she asked from the door, almost hiding herself from the delicious feast displayed in the kitchen.
"Your nose is as accurate as it can get, Nalé!" Charmy replied, moving about suspiciously.
"I asked everyone else where you were, and they said it's been 30 minutes since you've been in the kitchen. You're usually outside eating by now. Is something wrong?" Nalé asked, a grin forming on her face. Charmy in the kitchen? Anyone with half a brain could have already guessed why she'd been in there so long.
And so, with no surprise at all, the mystery was solved when Charmy turned around, revealing the oily crumbs suspiciously resembling fried chicken coating her chin and the area around her mouth, sloppily wiped. She didn't need to be in the kitchen for it to cook properly, but the task of cooking and eating at the same time proved too enticing, resulting in her being stuck there for the past half hour.
Seeing the incriminating evidence on her friend's face, Nalé abandoned her hesitancy and grabbed a wing from the huge pile of chicken on the counter. She leaned against the counter, quietly watching the adorable sheep cook as she indulged in Charmy's food.
"Are you ready for today?" Nalé asked.
"Of course I am!" Charmy replied, procuring a cloud with her magic and yanking out several bags multiple times her size. "I had my supplies ready days ago when I came back from my last mission, remember? It was when I was hopping around showing everyone one of my new recipes!"
"Mentally. I meant to ask: 'Are you mentally prepared for today?'" Nalé clarified.
"Hm," the tiny mage cocked her head, pondering the question. "Mentally? I'm okay. Don't you have more to worry about than me? Everyone has been assigned things they already regularly do and enjoy, but you have the entire project's responsibility on your shoulders." Charmy grabbed a plate of potato salad to pair with her chicken as she spoke to the taller woman.
"To be honest, when I first heard about the project, I didn't think I'd have much to do. After all, I only became a magic knight because I really liked eating and feeding other people, and this was the easiest option available to me then.
But you're telling me I'm in charge of thousands of potential new mouths to feed? Each region has its own tastes and preferences! Do you have any idea how many more recipes I'll get to add to my collection?! This is heaven, Nalé!" The smaller woman twirled as she rambled about all the potential her assignments had given her.
Nalé chuckled, happy that Charmy found the assignments to her liking. "You're very welcome, hun. It would be a lie to say I'm not worried, but your energy and wonderful food really helped me this morning. I feel a bit more ready to give that presentation in a few hours."
"I'm glad to have helped, La!" Charmy chirped, ordering the sheep to start serving the food to the seated guests in the cafeteria.
Nalé quickly washed her hands in the sink and took some dishes to serve the others. It was unnecessary, but it served as a quick distraction from the thought that she might have taken on a project a bit beyond her reach.
-----
"Alright, everyone, let's review this one last time," Nalé announced, flipping through the itinerary for the week and carefully noting each person's scheduled activities.
No missions were scheduled for anyone this week, making it an opportune time to focus on their plan to restore the forsaken realm to a better state. The entire team had gathered in the main common room, positioned conveniently near the cafeteria. Conversations filled the air as they chatted amongst themselves, each person engrossed in their own itineraries, seeking a deeper understanding of their assigned tasks.
"Before we delve into our individual tasks, let's discuss the limitations we've set for this first week. For those assigned to villages or dungeons, please focus solely on the villages closest to our base and on the eastern side of the kingdom. If any of you wish to explore other areas, feel free to do so, as long as significant progress is made in your assigned objectives."
Nalé emphasized this point because she knew that Luck, along with some other members of the Bulls, had little self-control when it came to their impulses. It would be pointless to establish rules or boundaries regarding where they could or could not go.
"Captain Yami and I will be heading to Clover Castle for our meeting with the Wizard King. Depending on how that goes, we may also visit the Royal Library and the Treasury before returning."
Nalé proceeded to address the next group. "Magna and Luck, your task is to locate the dungeons that have not yet been claimed by the capital. The more dungeons we locate, the better. There's no need to enter them, simply mark their locations on the map, and you're good to go."
Nalé continued listing out their tasks.
Vanessa and Finral's tasks were to scout the first potential villages for renovation and take note of their current state and what general improvements could be made.
Charmy was in charge of researching sustainable farming, irrigation and rationing methods.
The rest of the members, Grey, Gordon, and Gauche, would stay and guard the base. However, they still had individual tasks to work on.
Grey planned to use the library to develop their instructing skills since they were tasked with helping the villagers better utilize their magic.
Gordon had made it clear that he would be working on improving his sewing and tailoring skills this week. A mountain of sewing supplies was neatly piled at his feet.
-----
Gauche stood brooding in the corner. He hadn't been assigned a task. His interactions with the woman reading out the itineraries had been less than pleasant and practically non-existent, but he had expected to be offered one. He silently stared at the group gathered "cozily" around the table, suddenly overwhelmed by a nostalgic feeling of loneliness.
His eyes glazed over, and he began to sink deeper and deeper into that familiar feeling, reminiscent of his days before joining the Bulls. He reprimanded himself, questioning why he was becoming so overwhelmed by something seemingly insignificant. "What the hell's gotten into me?" he muttered under his breath, attempting to shake off the lingering sense of loneliness. However, it persisted, and he found himself transported back to the confines of the cell where he had been imprisoned long ago.
"Marie, where is she? Is she okay? Will she be able to manage without me?" His thoughts raced, consumed by concern for his sister. "I can't leave her behind. She's all I have left... Marie, Marie, Mar—"
"Gauche... Gauche, are you okay?" Nalé's voice cut through his thoughts, jolting him back to the present. Concern mingled with a clinical detachment in her features as she stood before him.
"Yes," he replied, his lips pressed together tightly, his eyes still glistening with tears from the memories that had consumed him. "What is it?"
Nalé maintained her distance, avoiding delving into his personal issues, respecting his privacy in the midst of the gathering. "Here's your itinerary," she stated, extending a piece of paper toward him.
He glanced down at the document in her hand, skepticism lingering in his gaze. "I've seen you communicate through your mirror with Marie," she continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "I've arranged a meeting for you with one of the up-and-coming technological mages of the kingdom. They specialize in creating communication mirrors that can be used by others. Your unique skills could greatly contribute to this mission. The current mirrors are mostly restricted to Magic Knights and nobles, so having your expertise would be incredibly valuable."
She urged him to take the paper, pushing it toward him. Gauche hesitated for a moment before finally accepting it.
Nalé turned back to the group, her voice filled with a sense of finality.
"That's all for the itinerary review. Thank you all for your assistance. Be safe everyone, I'll see you all in a week."
As the team members dispersed, a mix of emotions filled the air. There was a sense of accomplishment and anticipation, but also a touch of longing for the challenges that lay ahead. Nalé couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for the Bulls and their unwavering dedication to the mission.
She watched as Gauche stood there, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Nalé approached him cautiously, recognizing the distance that had always existed between them.
"Gauche," she said, her tone remaining professional yet supportive. "I trust that you will find your role in this mission. Your skills are valuable, and I believe in your potential to make a difference."
Gauche looked up, surprise flickering across his face. He met Nalé's gaze for a brief moment before nodding in acknowledgment. It was an awkward interaction, but Nalé hoped her words had conveyed the encouragement she intended.
With that, Nalé stepped back, allowing Gauche to join the rest of the team. As the first phase of the planning chapter came to a close, there was a sense of uncertainty, but also a glimmer of hope. The journey ahead would test them all, and Nalé had faith that each member of the Bulls would rise to the occasion.
The team dispersed, heading off to their individual tasks, their footsteps filled with determination and purpose. As they embarked on this mission to restore the forsaken realm, they carried with them the weight of responsibility and the promise of a brighter future.