They stepped out of the taxi at their third location of the day. As Mama Ipoh got out of the car, she turned to the driver and said,
"Alright, we'll get out here. Thanks for bringing us."
The taxi driver raised his thumb in acknowledgment, rolled up the window, and drove away.
The sky was still blue, with the sun shining brightly.
"So, what kind of cake would you like?" Mama Ipoh asked, placing a hand gently on Viora's shoulder.
Viora smiled and replied,
"I already know exactly what kind of cake I want."
They were standing in front of a cozy-looking bakery. Viora took a couple of steps forward, opened the door, and held it as Mama Ipoh followed her inside.
The inside of the bakery was filled with a French aesthetic and culture. Soft jazz music played in the background, giving the shop a warm and inviting atmosphere.
As they walked deeper inside, a girl greeted them with a cheerful voice,
"Welcome to Le Paradis, the best bakery in town—well, at least self-proclaimed."
The girl appeared to be a teenager with brown hair and was quite tall for her age.
Before Mama Ipoh or Viora could respond, a voice bellowed from the back of the shop,
"Sarah! How many times have I told you to stop degrading the shop's name in front of the clients?"
A man wearing a long white chef's hat emerged from the back. He marched over to the girl, gently pushing her behind the counter. The girl didn't seem to mind and moved aside without protest.
As he fussed over her, he muttered in a low voice, just loud enough to be heard,
"This bakery was created by my great-grandfather and passed down from firstborn to firstborn. One day, you'll inherit it when you're ready, so stop dismissing it!"
A girl with brown hair, very similar to Sarah's but wearing glasses, walked over to greet them.
"Please don't mind them…" she said in an embarrassed tone.
Mama Ipoh smiled warmly.
"Oh no, I actually like places that don't try too hard to be professional. But is it true that this bakery has been passed down through generations?"
The girl nodded.
"Yes, this little bakery has been passed down for three generations. My older sister Sarah is set to inherit it once our father deems her ready. She'll be the fourth owner of the bakery. All the owners must pass it on to the next generation of the family when they turn thirty."
Mama Ipoh smiled warmly.
"It's quite the history… I'm glad traditions like this are still being passed down."
The girl nodded in agreement.
"I think so too. Anyway, what kind of cake would you like?" she asked as she walked behind the counter.
Mama Ipoh looked down at Viora with a gentle smile and said,
"Well, sugar, didn't you tell me you knew exactly what you wanted?"
Viora nodded confidently.
"Yes, I'll take the vanilla cake, please," she said, pointing at the cake displayed behind the glass.
The girl adjusted her glasses and smiled.
"Great choice! This cake was just made an hour ago. I'll put it in a box for you."
Mama Ipoh paid for the cake as the girl took the money, placed it in the register, and handed them the boxed cake.
"Thanks for buying a cake at our bakery, Le Paradis! Please visit us again!" the girl said cheerfully.
Mama Ipoh took the box and replied with a smile,
"When the opportunity comes, we will!"
Viora smiled softly and added,
"Thanks."
With that, they both walked outside, leaving the bakery behind.
As they walked along the sidewalk, Mama Ipoh spoke with curiosity in her voice,
"You mentioned in the taxi that the fourth destination was very close to the bakery. May I ask where that place might be?"
She held the cake box carefully in one hand as she glanced at Viora.
Viora looked up at her and replied,
"The fourth and final place is a forest."
She pointed across the street to the forest entrance. It wasn't the same forest they had visited a year ago, but this one was probably one of the largest in the city, rivaling the one from their previous visit.
Mama Ipoh sighed and said with a small smile,
"I should have guessed."
As they crossed the street and entered the forest, they walked for several minutes with Mama Ipoh following Viora.
Viora then veered off the path and walked into some bushes. Mama Ipoh, surprised, called out,
"We're going off-route, sugar?"
Viora's voice came from the other side of the bushes.
"It should be here."
Mama Ipoh struggled to step out of the bush and, amused, said,
"Where do you think you're going, little one? Come on, we're off the path."
Viora turned to face Mama Ipoh and said,
"Since it's my birthday, can we switch places? I don't know exactly what it's called, but..."
Mama Ipoh sighed and replied,
"You mean you want to switch Veil to the spiritual plane of the forest, right? It seems you've noticed this part too... Well, since it's your birthday, I suppose I can do that."
Viora smiled gently and said,
"Thanks."
Mama Ipoh smiled as well and opened a hole in the ground. She took Viora's hand, and together, they disappeared from their spot, only to reappear in the same place—now transformed into a more spiritual version of the forest.
chapter thirty-three end