The next morning dawns crisp and golden, sunlight filtering through the tavern's leaded windows as I finish a series of stretches in my room. Downstairs, the clatter of cutlery and murmur of early risers drift up the staircase, mingling with the aroma of sizzling bacon. When I enter the dining hall, Yumi's voice rings out like a sunbeam.
"Good morning, Jack!" She waves eagerly from a corner table, her smile stretching ear to ear. Sophia sits beside her, her usual stoic demeanor softened by the ball of midnight fur curled in her lap—Charcoal, our new pet cat, snoozing with one paw draped lazily over his eyes.
"Hey," I wave back. "Good morning. You two sleep well?"
"Yes, like a log," Sophia replies.
I settle into the creaky wooden chair across from them, its legs scraping against the flagstones. As usual, I order a heaping plate of bacon, sausage, and eggs, while Sophia nibbles daintily on a stack of honey-drizzled pancakes. Charcoal stirs briefly, sniffing the air, before resuming his regal slumber.
Midway through a bite of sausage, Yumi leans forward, her brows knitting. "Jack, I've been thinking… since this is a new world, we need to be extra cautious. Our bodies might need time to adjust, especially our immune systems. I wonder if there are any germs or viruses here…"
"Oh, that's an interesting point," I muse, wiping grease from my fingers with the linen towel. "How about we try to find that out? I'll work on rigging up a microscope."
"Really? You can do that?"
"Of course!" I chuckle at her enthusiasm.
Making a microscope isn't complicated—it's just magnifying lenses and a light source shining through the sample. However, without electricity in this world, I'll have to improvise. Perhaps I can experiment with glowing magic stones or other magical light sources. The principles remain the same, so it shouldn't be too much of a challenge.
That said, while viewing bacteria shouldn't be an issue, seeing viruses is a different story. A normal microscope simply won't do.
I'd need to figure out how to construct an electron microscope if I want to observe something that small. There's also the intriguing possibility of incorporating magic into the design. Maybe enchanted lenses? Or perhaps a magic-technology hybrid system?
The ideas swirl in my mind, and I can't wait to start experimenting.
"That aside, I just made a new friend!" Yumi suddenly announces, her voice bright with excitement. "I found him this morning!"
"Oh?" I lean forward, curiosity piqued. "Is he here right now?"
"There! He's right over there!" Yumi exclaims, pointing eagerly to the center of the table.
Amidst the breakfast spread sits a ceramic bowl holding what appears to be an oversized cabbage. For a moment, I wonder why it's there and why the hell no one has chopped it up for a salad yet. But under Yumi's adoring gaze, the "salad" suddenly moves. A cluster of leafy folds unfurls, revealing two bright, obsidian-like eyes and a mouth curved into a mischievous grin.
"A Flufflecabbage!" I exclaim in shock.
What a coincidence!
We were just talking about them last night, and now, here it is—a real Flufflecabbage, right in front of me!
So, what the books said was true. Flufflecabbages really are masters of disguise. This one blended in so seamlessly with the breakfast spread that I'd almost mistaken it for an ordinary cabbage!
"His name's Fufu!" Yumi beams. "He's moving in with us!"
I instinctively extend my hand for a handshake before realizing my mistake—Flufflecabbages don't have hands.
Yumi giggles at my blunder, and I quickly adjust.
"May I… pet him, then?"
She leans in, whispering something inaudible to Fufu.
Fufu's leaves flush emerald.
"He says you're polite for a two-legged," Yumi translates, eyes crinkling. "Gentle pets only—no leaf-plucking!"
"Haha, of course!," I assure her, reaching out gently.
My fingers brush against the leaves. The texture is exactly like a cabbage out of the fridge—crisp and cool. A resonant purr vibrates beneath my fingertips, rhythmic as a cat's but deeper, like wind through reeds.
"Oh, he likes you!" Yumi claps.
"Really? That's awesome!" I reply, pleasantly surprised.
Sophia reaches out as well, and Fufu seems to adore her just as much.
"Hey, remember what I told you yesterday? About their color changes?" Yumi prompts excitedly.
"Aha! His leaves are actually changing color!"
The shift is subtle, but I can definitely see the green becoming more vibrant the longer we pet him.
"Yup! And that means normal people can communicate with them too if they want," Yumi enthusiastically explains. "Here, you just need to notice their body language and the sounds they make. For example, when Fufu is happy, he purrs softly like he's doing now, and his leaves are bright and green. But when he's sad, his leaves turn yellow and droopy. And in case of danger, he'll emit a high-pitched sound and his leaves will show red or purple hues."
"Oh, I see!"
Yumi must have learned all of this while caring for Fufu. I feel proud of her—she's finally been able to apply her unique talent. Flufflecabbages are notoriously shy creatures, and few people have ever managed to befriend one. The fact that she did is a testament to her patience and dedication over the past few days.
"So, how did you find him?" I ask, still stroking the leafy little creature.
"He was being chased by some stray dogs this morning! I couldn't just stand by, so I saved him!" Yumi's face lights up with a heroic glow.
"That was very brave of you," I say, giving her an approving nod.
Fufu purrs louder, as if agreeing with my praise.
"That aside, what are you planning to do today? Are you going to the library again?" Yumi asks.
"Actually, there's somewhere else I need to go. It's called the Enchantment Guild. Do you know what enchantments are?"
"Ermmm, no…" Yumi shakes her head. "Sorry, I don't know much about this world…"
"That's okay, I'll tell you later when I come back," I say. "For now, I need to know if I can really do this thing called enchantment."
"Well, I'm a Master Enchanter, so I can teach you the basics!" Sophia chimes in, puffing her chests proudly.
"Alright, please teach me, teacher Sophia!"
And with that, after finishing breakfast, we escort Yumi back to the Library to study before heading to The Enchantment Guild.