Leo, Anne, and Runo returned to the house while Mort visited the village. He had something to discuss with one of his friends, but that was all he said, and everything else remained a secret.
Leo and Anne had nothing else to do as it was a weekend. Thus, they made Runo their test subject and started experimenting with fried eggs.
"See, you don't have to cook it for so long. Fried eggs are supposed to be easy on the mouth. You have to make sure that no parts are burnt. It's even better if you can make it retain its circular shape."
Anne nodded and noted everything Leo told her. She discovered a whole new dimension of possibilities.
"Now, try it and compare it with your mother's. Don't hold back your opinion, and say it if you think my eggs are worse. However, I want you to be honest if my eggs are better. I want you to tell your mother the difference."
Runo took the plate with a hesitant expression on his face. He didn't want to badmouth his mother and hated that a guest forced him to do this, but he decided to do it to improve Anne's cooking skills.
He gulped twice and took a chunk of the perfect-looking food before him.
"The smell is better."
Runo told his mother as straightforwardly as possible, and she took it surprisingly well. It may have helped that there were no knives nearby. Runo took his first bite, and his pupils widened in shock.
"I can chew it quickly, and it tastes like an egg is supposed to taste. This is my first time eating a fried egg of this quality. I don't have to gulp it down in chunks anymore! You try it too, Mother!"
Anne took Runo's offer and stole a piece of the delicious-looking egg in front of her. She didn't even have to put it in her mouth to feel the difference in smell, but the factor that eventually sealed Leo's egg as a winner was the apparent difference in taste.
"Your fried egg is so much better than mine."
Commented Anne with a sad tone.
"Yes, but it will only take you a few days to learn how to make it. You, Runo, and Mort didn't know how a properly made fried egg should taste. Now, all you have to do is learn how to make it."
Anne nodded with a faint smile on her face. She acknowledged Leo's cooking and was ready to improve. Runo was satisfied with the ending. His mother smiled, and he also smiled. Leo was beginning to grow on him.
"I'm back! Leo, I visited my shepherd friend, and he has a job for you if you're interested!"
Mort stormed in with good news, his voice almost causing a sonic boom. Runo raced up to him and offered a piece of fried egg pierced by his little fork.
"Have a bite, Father!"
Mort took the fork with his mouth and salivated.
"Heavenly, it was a good idea to let you stay here, Leo!"
"You didn't even think for a second and guessed it was made by Leo and not me?!"
Anne was flabbergasted by her husband's indirect way of insulting her cooking, but Mort just shrugged it off.
"Leo, I'm going to cut to the point. My friend is a shepherd but recently had trouble herding his sheep. There are too many sheep, and he can't do it alone anymore. He is looking for an assistant, and I mentioned you. Are you interested? He is willing to teach you."
Leo held his chin briefly but eventually concluded that this was a good way to get started in this new world. Being a shepherd sounded like a peaceful job. He wanted to tinker with his abilities and get stronger eventually, but he also needed to earn money while having the time to think about his next steps.
"Thank you, Mort. Anything is good as long as it can get me back on my feet. Tell him I'm interested and would be happy to be taught by him."
"I won't tell him because you have to go there yourself. He told me that someone wanting this job must do at least this much, and honestly, I can understand him. It might be an easy job, but showing willingness is never wrong."
"I'm fine with it, but how do I get there? I've never visited Farna and don't know my way around this village."
Leo asked Mort, who had a suspicious grin plastered onto his face. He could tell that Mort had something in mind.
"Don't worry. Little Runo will take you there and show you around the village while he's leading you there. Right, Runo?"
Mort asked Runo, who just nodded in response. He wasn't against the idea. Leo helped his mother become a better cook.
"Let's go, Runo."
Runo and Leo took off to look around the village. Anne looked at Mort with a gentle smile as the door behind Runo slowly closed.
"You want them to become friends. How sweet."
Mort just shrugged as usual and ruffled his wife's hair.
"What are you talking about? They are already good friends."
Meanwhile, Leo silently followed Runo as they crossed the village. It took him a minute, but Runo eventually mustered up the courage to talk to Leo. He slowed down and matched his speed with Leo so they could converse.
"Thank you for helping my mother. She is a bit clumsy, annoying, and a little weird, but she is a good mother."
"You finally talked to me! I've met plenty of weird people during my journey here, and your mother is nothing compared to them. I can tell you interesting stories if you're interested."
Leo replied and decided to mess up Runo's hair. The little kid was half his height but was unusually mature compared to others his age.
"Stop it!"
"It can't be helped. You're in petting distance."
This is how they chatted away as they made their way toward the shepherd. Runo showed Leo around the village. He showed him the shops and the houses of his friends: the good and the bad of Farna.
Leo also told him stories from Earth, refurbished as stories from this world.