But before he could get far, a firm but gentle hand landed on his shoulder.
"Stop right there," one of the women said, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. She had a sharp demeanor that brooked no nonsense, clearly unwilling to let him continue pushing himself. "You've done enough today. Let us handle this."
Leon blinked, caught off guard. "I don't mind helping. There's still—"
"Nope!" came a chorus of voices from nearby. Three more women approached, each carrying their own bundle of gathered ingredients. One of them playfully swatted a bundle of herbs out of Leon's hand, shaking her head.
"We're perfectly capable of cooking, you know," one of them said with a wry smile. "And frankly, you're about as good at cooking as a rock is at floating."
Leon raised a brow, feigning offense. "Hey, I've cooked before—"
"Burning dried meat over open flames until it's inedible doesn't count," another interjected, smirking. Without hesitation, she grabbed his shoulders and steered him toward one of the freshly built shelters. "Go sit. Rest. Do whatever it is tribe leaders do when they're not overworking themselves. We've got this."
Despite his protests, the women were persistent, practically pushing him away from the campfire. He stumbled slightly, catching himself as he glanced back.
"Fine," he relented with a chuckle. "Just make sure it's actually edible."
One of the women waved him off with a mischievous grin. "Don't worry, oh mighty leader. By the time we're done, you'll be begging us to take over the kitchen permanently."
Settling down on a wooden log near one of the huts, Leon watched as the women quickly divided tasks. Their movements were swift and coordinated. One of them set up the fire while another chopped herbs, a third prepared fruits, and the last handled some dried meat they'd managed to salvage.
"Looks like they've got it covered," he muttered, letting himself lean back. A rare moment of relief washed over him as the scent of roasting meat and fresh herbs began to fill the air.
Soon he noticed something out of place. Amid the lively commotion near the campfire, Elys sat apart, curled up in a quiet corner of the clearing. Her knees were drawn to her chest, arms wrapped around them.
"Hey," he called gently, stopping a few steps away. "What's up with you sitting here alone? The others could probably use your help."
Elys glanced at him, startled, as though caught off guard by his presence. Then she looked away quickly, her chin dipping lower. "I'm fine," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Leon crouched down to her level, not buying her vague response. "Fine, huh? Then why aren't you over there with everyone else?" He tilted his head toward the campfire, where bursts of laughter rang out amidst the sounds of cooking.
Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, a telltale sign she wasn't quite comfortable. She let out a soft sigh and avoided his gaze. "Because… I don't know how to cook."
Leon blinked, momentarily caught off guard before breaking into a grin. "Wait, that's it? You don't know how to cook?" He couldn't help the light chuckle that escaped him.
Her head snapped up, and she shot him a glare that could've set fire to the trees. "It's not funny!" she hissed, her voice sharp but quiet enough to avoid drawing attention. "I've never needed to, okay? I—" She faltered, her frustration giving way to something softer, almost embarrassed. "I don't even know where to start. I'd probably just mess it up and get in the way."
Leon raised an eyebrow, leaning back to sit more comfortably on the ground. "Elys, they're cooking over a fire and chopping up stuff we found an hour ago. This isn't gourmet training—they're not judging anyone."
She crossed her arms and huffed. "Easy for you to say."
"Touché." Leon smirked, appreciating her attempt to deflect. But he didn't let up. "Seriously, though, everyone here's learning as we go. And if you mess something up, worst-case scenario, they'll just tease you a little. Nothing to be afraid of."
Elys looked at him hesitantly, her resolve wavering. "You really think so?"
He stood and offered her his hand, a warm smile softening his usually sharp features. "I know so. Besides, you're not the kind to sit on the sidelines, right? What's the worst that can happen?"
For a moment, she simply stared at his hand, torn between resisting and giving in. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, she took it. "Fine."
Leon grinned as he pulled her to her feet. "Deal."
Guiding her toward the fire, he called out to the group. "Hey, Elys wants to help! Someone show her what to do before she makes me eat burnt herbs!"
The women glanced up, welcoming Elys with smiles and lighthearted remarks. She stiffened at first but quickly realized their warmth was genuine. As they handed her tasks and cracked jokes, Leon saw the tension in her shoulders ease. Soon enough, she was cautiously chopping herbs under guidance, her hesitant smile returning.