The kitchen was buzzing with steam and spices, and Mercy was burdened to cook for the entire team without any help. He was wearing a white apron and a sharp knife. He bought onions and potatoes so fast like he had been doing so for years.
The rest of the group, without Seraphina (who was asleep in her room), were talking and making fun of Mercy, looking in the apron, and having a general conversation.
"I still can't believe it's the same person who talked about destroying a kingdom and was riding on a horse like Rush," Arya said with a smile.
"Mercy, seriously, you lose like 3 years, at least in age, with that apron. Like a proper young maid in service." River spoke while laughing.
"Darling, don't say something to our poor cook. He has been struggling to make food for people three times a day while doing the heavy work of managing things, unlike some other men," Anastasia jokes.
"Considering the mess you made in the kitchen while trying to cook salmon was a calamity in itself, River and Arya, do we have to talk about last night? Have some respect for the guy." Reva joined in Mercy's defence.
River and Arya made half-puffed faces while listening to the comments.
"Thank you for the appreciation, ladies." Mercy came out of the room, wiping his mouth with his apron. "There are three furnaces: the onion stew for the married couple, a cooked chicken for the new member, and rice with grammes for the little Reva. Got it." Mercy talked as he removed his apron.
"Remove your food timely and serve it for yourself. I am going to take a bath." He ordered.
"You don't want to eat anything?" Arya questioned, "I don't eat breakfast or lunch after a full moon day." Mercy walked off while speaking.
"I don't understand this person. He is taking care of us like we are infants without moving a step forward in his plans. If things stay like this, I'll get old eating breakfast, and we will be rulers of his ravine." River said, lying back on his chair.
"I don't understand why I hate the guy so much. He is giving us food, a house, and freedom. Why are you not satisfied with that?" Reva argued.
"We are both from the desert, Reva; you should know nothing comes for free. If we eat his food today, we need to fight his battles tomorrow. It is just that he gives too much food, and it doesn't want those big battles." River reasoned with a serious look on his face.
"..." A small silence took over the table; the conversation became too serious sooner than expected, and Arya didn't like that.
"Saying about food, what about clothes? How is it in charge of washing clothes here?" Arya asked.
Reva smiled at the question, "Well, the clothes."
"It's you." River immediately jumped in and said, "You are the one responsible for washing the clothes of each member here." He pointed his finger right at Arya with a hint of enthusiasm.
"Me?! Where did that come from?" Arya was stunned and looked at Reva for confirmation, but River spoke before her.
"Each member of the house has a responsibility. As Anastasia said, Mercy cooks and manages resources and plans on every step; Anastasia keeps a check on the quality of food and water; Reva manages peace in the ravine; and you know she will manage and watch our clothes. Until Mercy makes some moves." River finished explaining.
"Isn't my role just a bit too small in comparison to all of you?" Arya felt disrespected; his heart didn't believe it. He looked at Anastasia and Reva, asking for the truth.
"The world is not fair, darling. Mercy wants to test and improve you through this role." Anastasia spoke with a soft smile and a pitiful face. "What improvement is happening to me by washing clothes?"
"Think of it properly, darling. You have lived life as a royal servant, far better than sitting at this table, in this house, or in the entire ravine. An easy and cosy life can turn people soft. Mercy wants you to learn and understand the struggles of the people who had it even harder than you." Anastasia's tone and voice felt soothing. Arya understood why River might've married her.
'Learning about hard life by washing clothes? The lower part of society is that weird." Arya still didn't understand, and she looked at Reva now.
"I am going to serve breakfast." Her reaction was almost like Arya's, but he could see the dissatisfied look on her face. "Am I too royal and gifted to understand what is going on?" Arya thought.
"Come on, Arya. It is the moment you learn things; you don't know what it takes to survive in the wild. Touch your own hands; look how soft they are." River gestured by putting their fingers on their own palm.
Arya did as River gestured, and he could feel it; his hands were soft and smooth as silk. One could confuse them for a 5-year-old's hands or for a princess's hand.
"Have you ever touched the hand of a dragonstell warrior? Or a council warlord? I know you have. What are their hands like?" River asked. "Rough," Arya answered.
"Rough; their hands are hard and rough from the hard work they do. If they have 10 orbs or more, do you tell me a council warlord does not arrive at the court? Has the judge ever missed his training? The warlords are strong because they make themselves strong, Arya. Do you understand me?" River pointed his finger at Arya; the latter looked ashamed.
"I think that's enough explanation, darling. He heard you, right?" Anastasia kept a hand on Arya's shoulder. "There is nothing to fear about Arya; you learn more as you live. The people around you have made you like you are; it's time to change that and learn new things." She patted his back.
"Food is here." Reva interrupted with a tray of two steaming bowls of stew on the table. "That's enough for a morning lesson. Eat up and do your things now." Reva said that and moved back to the kitchen. Soon, food was on every plate, and a quiet breakfast began.
—----
The silence of the breakfast was soon disturbed when the leader of the group came back.
"I hope the food is delicious." Mercy came back from the bath dressed in the same black robe he was wearing earlier, sliding back on his seat.
"It's pretty good. I wish I could eat for the rest of my days." Anastasia said she was lost in the flavour of the stew.
"It's alright; it could be better if you added more onions," River commented. "Only if someone somehow has time to move out of the lab and go out in the real world can they get me more onions in the middle of a forest." Mercy rebuked.
"Arya, Reva, is the food alright?" Both of them just nodded in response.
"Okay, that's very good. I think we can get started today. For the set of orders, Arya, about your role: "
"I already know. The other members have already told me." Arya replied fast. Mercy looked at the married couple with suspicious eyes.
"Very well, then let's get to work after the members finish eating. The married people are with me, and the unmarried are with Seraphina." Mercy annouced.
"Isn't Seraphina sleeping?"
"She was, but she had a nightmare and was hiding in my bed. She says she doesn't want to be alone, so I need someone to take her out somewhere."
"Take her where?" Arya asked.
"You and Reva are going to the upper forest of the ravine to inspect for any predators in the nearby area; you don't need to fight anyone or anything. So, take her with you. I have something more important to do today. Please, just this once." Arya joined his hands in request.
"Done," Reva answered, and the matter was closed with Mercy smiling.
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