After his encounter with Eustadd Erons, Hardy was being led down away by two knightly soldiers from the main stronghold of Erons, leading him to the town's prison chambers. Along the way, he was treated more humanely than earlier when Vandaldor captured him. This time, even only wearing his undergarments, he was walking with his two feet and was relieved by it, even though his knee and his lower legs still hurt as much, and his wrists still bounded by a rope behind him.
However, contrary to his belief, he was not about to be locked up yet, as the soldiers led him past to an empty dining hall, in which Hardy couldn't help but to express confusion at this moment, for he thought that his feeding would commence at his prison cell. He kept silent as he was ordered by his escort soldier to sit around the dining area.
In a few minutes, he was led to the kitchen, that also serves as a pantry, in which there is a small wooden dining table by side with one wooden seat that had wooden bars at its backrest. But before that, just beside it, near a few meters within, Hardy noticed that there's someone cooking by the bricked stove with its table spans about five meters wide as he hears its sizzling sound that made him felt the hunger that he had forgotten that was by at his side this whole time.
There, he saw the one who cooks. A woman who was almost as tall as Alister, but was shorter by a few inches. She was quite old and had a burly figure that screams that she loiters at the kitchen far longer than many. Moreover, she got a top big bun hairstyle at the top of her hair secured by a tie and a white apron with embroidered image of a wolfish hand forming a thumbs up. Without glancing, her eyes focused on the ceramic pan and a stainless frying spatula being shaken aggressive in motion at her arms, she commanded,
"Leave us both, and oh, unbind him please. He's no cripple nor a baby, I don't plan feeding him."
The two soldiers glanced at each other.
"Oh please," she glanced back at them, "I knew this guy, I doubt he will do what you think he will. By the way, will you grab him some clothes please?"
The soldiers returned their glance at her and could only reluctantly agree at her behest by a nod, while at the same time, Hardy cannot ignore what this cook had just said.
"Sit." The cook says to Hardy while pointing at the wooden seat.
"W-who-"
"Ah-ah-ah!" She cuts hardy off, "Don't speak yet! There's a pitcher of water and a glass beside you. Help yourself before you ask your questions. I've an idea what Vandaldor did to you just by your... unsightly condition of your body, and believe me, you're not the first one."
Hardy did as he was recommended. He sat and sated his thirst with a long continuous gulp of water after a long time basking beneath the heat. He almost emptied the pitcher before he became aware of it.
[Veter!]
Then he was surprised that he heard her casting a spell, if he remembers, this was a wind spell. Here at this moment, the cook used a spell to blow the flames away from the stove, then she scooped the eggs scrambled with tomatoes and put it on a wooden platter, along with the already prepared toasted bread.
"Eat." She said as she serves him his food, along with a wooden utensil of fork and bread slicer, "Your clothes can wait."
"You knew magic huh."
"What? She tilts her head, "Is it that unusual to see someone using a bit spell for cooking?"
"N-nah, I'll be damned if I saw not using one for ease!"
Then he proceeds to chow down the food that was in front of him. Even if it just a simple meal, he really like it very much and can't decide if he should savor the flavor or just mow it down.
"So," she leaned her elbow at the stove table, "you had questions? I reckon you got some earlier."
*munch* "Oh, ah, *munch* you knew me? Sorry, but I got no memory of a dame like you."
"What!?" she bellowed, "What you mean you don't remember me!? Do blink twice, tear up your eyes, and take a good look, Hardy the Hardarse!"
Hardy squinted his eyes as he heard what she had called him. Now he was quite curious as of who this woman was and took a gander at her. In response, she smiles and animatedly pinch her cheeks with both of her index fingers. Hardy cringed a bit at this sight and almost choked by it, but then, like being hit by a fast carriage, he finally remembered,
"What t-Oh fudge! Ploughing Hel, you're Aunt Minky Buranboril! The Bold Bartender of Gesneria!"
"Damn Straight lad, and you're a sight for sore-eyes!"
"It's been years! I didn't recognize you! You-"
"I what!?" She suddenly speaks threateningly.
"N-nothing, What you're doing here!? You've abandoned bartending and become cook now?"
"You dunce, who says I can't do both!?
"No?"
"No! I do bartend in some nights when they need me to, you know, mixing. Because hey, I'm an Alchemist!"
"An alchemist? What now, you've accidentally mixed some booze and receive your calling after drinking it?"
"Exactly," She pointed at him, "I knew you're sharp lad!"
"What the… I'm just putting a joke!"
"But it's true, down to every word you said."
Hardy smiled wryly, amazed at his own deduction.
"Anyway now," Aunt Minky said with a grave tone, "Why do you look like that? What's your story?"
"Well…"
Hardy iterated all happenings that lead him here. From the start of their journey by King's orders to His fight that led him to meet Vandaldor Erons. As he told his stories, Aunt Minky quietly listened and did little to no interruption. After all tale is said and done. Aunt Minky stays silent in a few seconds and scratches her head, then said,
"Damn son, that's a lot! In any case, what!? you fought a Digstran, encountered Vandaldor, just because of your missing pets?
"Hey!" Hardy berated, "They're not ploughing pets! They're like family to me!"
"Right, My bad. Either way, I hope the prince and the lassie's safe. Maybe till now they're trying to find the cute little you I presume."
"You don't say," Then Hardy gazed at her eyes, "Now it's your turn."
"My turn?" Aunt Minky slightly tilts her head with an eyebrow raised.
"Yep, I told my piece. What's YOUR story? I doubt that one day, you've decided to be a cook of the House, and here of all places even! I know you're the sort of travelling kind where you appear almost anywhere behind the counters of any tavern. Heck, I ploughing couldn't count anymore how many times we've met in different places!"
Aunt Minky grinned, "Ha! Very keen of you. Tell me, you're some kind of investigator?"
Hardy smirked, "I'm just talented I reckon."
"Smooth! Well then, where do I start?" Aunt Minky quickly glanced away as her expression once again turns serious. And then, she speaks,
"I got nab and It's been three winters since then."
"Wait," Hardy raises his hand upright to her, and points at her by the same hand, "you got nabbed by them? How?"
"I tell you. I got no idea that coming at this territory was a baaaaaad idea. They've accused me of something along the lines of helping criminals. Right, same as you. All I did was to help some wounded beastkin at the Deepwoods when I was searching for ingredients for my mix. I mean, that fella's been bleeding to death, I'm not one to ignore such in need!"
"Did that fella been saved?"
"Oh yes, he's a lucky one that I'm there and had the ingredients with me for right at spot! You may be wondering why I'm there at all. See, I heard you get sick with healing potions when you drink crazy more than you need."
"What now, you're creating illegal stuff?"
"Illegal! Psssh! No! I won't incur the wrath of the Knights of the Kingdom! I got license remember! I am about to make it an alcoholic beverage! Turn it into a booze!"
"Huh…"
"And so, I've made a medicine for him as quickly as possible. At most, I'd improvised things that moment. I had to use my sweat with my little knowledge of hydrokinesis spell and purified it with volcanic rocks I had to make it drinkable for him-"
"You let that beastkin drink your sweat?" Hardy furrowed his eyebrows in disgust.
"When you got no water, why not use your own?"
"Huh? If it's hydrokinesis, why didn't you use the dew from the trees or the plants then?"
"I just haven't thought about it. Besides, I did what was tried and tested for me, you'll do the same yes?"
"I don't know, you tell me!" Hardy shrugs with a wry expression
"At any rate, I took care of 'im, fixed his wounds, watched for any monster lurking. But none, only some out of place crow passed by."
"Crow?"
"Yep, still remember t'was a crow. It's super strange really. So then, after a moment, he woke up and told me to get him back to Master Ludwig's place at the Outskirts.
"Beastkin's Tavern?"
Aunt Minky nodded, "The one and only. Then he went unconscious again. Thinking it was fine, I brought him with me back at the Beastkin's Tavern, seek help with Master Ludwig and all. He's okay and all about that. I gave him instructions about on what to do until someone versed with healing spells come in. And so, I went and volunteered to bring a person about with those capabilities over there, thus I went here, to this town. And next thing I know, is that I'm facing one of the ploughing fuckeries of my life"
"You've been accused."
"Yes! oh I still remember the anger I felt that time! They'd surrounded me as if I'm kind of a monster in an entrance! How the Cuck did they knew about me helping a beastkin in the woods?"
"…It maybe that strange crow you said earlier methinks." Hardy muttered while holding his chin, "Vandaldor really had his ways to racial discrimination huh."
"That's what I thought too, but not at that time. And I don't care if it's Vandaldor or whatever at that moment, I just know that there's a scum at loose who wanted to get me! Worse yet, can't think straight at that time cause of how furious I am! Know what? they nabbed me at spot and I've been jailed for some time underground for I don't know how long! Just remembering it sickens me! Days come and go, sitting around my cell with barking dogs being my mates. And bam! finally, one day, I've been called by, guess what! not Vandaldor, but Somiya Erons!"
"Who's that?"
"Vandaldor's little sister. A petite girl at that."
"Is that her name? Guess I'm not following too much 'bout their blasted family."
"Come to think, I haven't seen her two winters now. I wonder where she went."
"Don't ask me!"
"Haha yeah right, anyway, I don't know what she's up to, but she presented me an offer, to serve Erons by a blood pact, or live my life rotting in prison. She clearly iterated on me that that's the only way she could only help me. You knew what I choose."
Hardy snickered, "As if it is a choice... You got no choice! They'd clearly don't want leaks to their ploughing racism, And a blood pact at that! Spellbound contract! That's dangerous! Depending on terms, you may die if you axed it up!"
Aunt Minky smiles wryly "Seems so, but it saves me than being locked away from society. And yes, there's a catch unto that pact. Choosing to do harm to their interest will result me in death wherever I may be. I don't know how does that work, But I've heard stories."
"Whoa Whoa Whoa! Hey Aunt! You telling me this, Isn't this bad for you!?"
"Bad? Why?"
"This info you're telling me, I may use it against 'em, and you're the source for that!"
"Maybe? But I don't think so. You're a prisoner now."
"So, you risk telling me about this contract of yours because you don't think they'll do fishy on ya?"
Aunt Minky sighs, "I'll be clear, I'm saying that they might approach you too, even if Lady Somiya's not around. But, If ever that time comes, you may choose to serve the Erons to gain yourself freedom, albeit little. All in all, it's all up to you."
"Now you suggest that I mull it over? Even if they gave me some pig sucking terms like betraying the Gesneriaceae Family?
"That's why I'm telling you it's all up to you, capeesh? You're sharp, I know you understood what I mean."
Hardy took his eyes away of Aunt Minky and laid his back unto the chair's backrest. Then he stared at his incomplete consumption of scrambled egg with tomatoes laid out in front of him.