"Sorry for keeping you hungry. It's time for us to eat. Yuri has prepared a nutritious meal for brunch."
Shin smiled, leading Laverna toward the inn. They moved swiftly through the trees, Shin stepping effortlessly onto each branch as if he knew the perfect path. She tried to keep up, but his grace made her feel sluggish in comparison.
Finally, the inn came into view, and she exhaled in relief, her mouth watering at the mere mention of food. They entered through the window they exited before.
"Go ahead and take a shower first. I'll go after you," Shin said, waiting by the window.
"Don't mind if I do," she replied. A shower was exactly what she needed.
Climbing through the window, she grabbed a towel and made her way toward the washroom. The moment the warm water hit her skin, she let out a pleased purr, muscles relaxing under the steady stream.
The lavender soap in her hand lathered easily, filling the space with a calming scent. As she scrubbed away the dirt and sweat, she let herself enjoy the rare moment of peace.
But as the warmth seeped into her skin, so did her emotions. With her head resting between her knees, she felt the familiar pull of anger and frustration rising.
She took slow, deep breaths, suppressing it before it could consume her. If she let it all out now, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop.
Meanwhile, Shin reflected on Laverna's training. She is strong, that's for sure. Her form was flexible but unbalanced, her muscle-to-fat ratio dangerously uneven.
If she twisted her body the wrong way, she'd likely injure herself. She was like a brittle twig, easily snapped by someone stronger.
Their first session had been a game of tag to him, but to her, it had been a battle for survival. Every move she made was that of a desperate beast clawing to stay alive.
Her fighting style was unpolished, wild, a flurry of emotion rather than technique. She overthought every action, letting frustration dictate her movements.
He knew the feeling all too well. When he was younger, he had been the same, angry, impatient, cursing his own weakness.
Watching Laverna now was like looking into a mirror of his past. It was both nostalgic and bittersweet, reminding him why he had left the Far East to start a new life.
That new life, however, had been anything but easy.
He whispered a quiet prayer, thanking the gods for guiding him to Laverna, another Kitsune like himself. Despite the unfavorable circumstances that had bound them together, he saw it as a blessing in disguise.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Come in," he called.
Yuri entered, pushing a cart laden with food. The aroma immediately filled the room, rich and savory. She glanced at the futon in the corner and sighed.
"You know, you could rent a room with two beds," she remarked. "You're both official Hunters and members of this guild, my Lord."
Shin chuckled, lifting the futon onto the bed for now. "I can't sleep on a bed. There weren't exactly beds in the Far East, were there?"
"True," Yuri admitted, using a bit of magic to arrange the plates and utensils. "But if you want to blend in, it wouldn't hurt to get used to them."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Yuri."
"Oh! Almost forgot!"
She pulled two envelopes from her vest and handed them to him. As he reached to open one, she quickly stopped him.
"Not here," she said, pointing to the sealed envelope. "This one is an official invitation. In this land, invitations are only opened by the Guest Announcer. The other envelope I gave you yesterday is for the King's eyes only. These work like scrolls, only the intended recipient may read their contents."
Shin nodded in understanding. Yuri patted his back before heading out, but before she could leave, he smirked. "You're getting comfortable calling me by name now."
Yuri grinned, leaning against the doorframe. "Well, you've earned it. Besides, it's easier than all the formalities. Unless you'd prefer I call you 'Lord Shin' every time?"
He chuckled. "Spare me."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You're not as stiff as you look, you know. If you keep this up, you might actually make friends here."
"Tch. Friends are a liability," he said, though there was no bite to his words.
"Not if you choose the right ones," she countered, offering him a knowing glance and a playful wink before finally stepping out and closing the door behind her.
He turned his attention to the meal. In this world, properly prepared food wasn't just sustenance, it was a source of strength.
Some cuisines require long hours of preparation to draw out the full potential of their ingredients. When food was infused with mana, its properties became even more potent, aiding in health, energy, and even magical abilities.
A simple chicken soup could accelerate recovery, while certain fruits could enhance one's perception or constitution.
A common saying among mages was, 'A magician's skill is tested in their cooking.' In other words, a mage who couldn't cook well likely lacked a deep understanding of the arcane.
Before Laverna had woken up from her injuries, Shin had already planned her meal regimen. Knowing she was malnourished, her body wouldn't accept solid foods immediately.
He had arranged for her to gradually build up her strength through carefully selected mana-infused meals. Understanding how Kitsune bodies adapted quickly, he had worked closely with the inn's chef, even gathering ingredients himself to ensure the best results.
In return, the chef had learned new recipes, expanding his repertoire thanks to Shin's knowledge of Eastern cuisine.
The chef had gained respect for him, and in turn, Shin's standing within the Lucky Sturgeon inn had grown as well.
Now, as he lifted the lid from a large pot, the rich aroma of Lumi Rabbit Stew filled the room. The broth was thick, packed with carefully selected vegetables and herbs.
Lumi Rabbits were common but difficult to prepare properly. If startled before being hunted, their meat became tough and rubbery. Only those caught while at rest provided the tender, flavorful cuts used in this dish.
As Laverna emerged from the washroom, Shin looked up, momentarily caught off guard. Wrapped in a bathrobe, she was drying her hair with a towel, the damp strands clinging to her skin.
Despite the scars marring her body, she carried a natural beauty that left him momentarily speechless. His red eyes softened, betraying a flicker of something unguarded before he quickly composed himself.
Laverna, however, caught it. Just for a second, she saw a momentary weakness in him, something raw, something vulnerable.
But rather than acknowledge it, she chose to ignore it. She had enough to deal with already. Instead, she focused on toweling her hair dry, pretending not to notice the way his gaze lingered just a second too long.
Clearing his throat, he gestured to the food. "Eat up and relax. Try to get some rest afterward. You'll need it before tonight."
She arched a brow. "Why? Are you planning to throw me into more training?"
He smirked. "No, but I have a feeling the Harvest Festival will be… eventful. First, we need to learn the Western customs and etiquette from Yuri, how to conduct ourselves at parties and when facing fellow nobles. Between meeting Guild Master Davis and attending the Royal Ball, whatever that is, we're going to need all the energy we can get."
Laverna groaned, already dreading the thought. "Great. Politics and nobles. Just what I signed up for."
Shin chuckled. "Think of it as another form of survival training. Just with fancier clothes."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she sat down, grabbing a bowl and spoon. "Oh yes, I just adore noble gatherings," she said sarcastically. "Nothing like forced smiles, rigid posture, and people talking behind your back with the sweetest of tones. Truly, a dream come true."
Shin smirked, amused by her dramatics. "You'll fit right in."
She shot him a glare but took a spoonful of stew anyway. The moment it hit her tongue, she froze, eyes widening.
Shin raised an eyebrow. "That good?"
She swallowed, letting out a small, almost reluctant sigh of satisfaction. "Damn it. I hate that you're right."
He laughed, shaking his head. "Better get used to it."
As she continued eating, a shadow passed over Shin's face. His instincts prickled. Something was coming. The Harvest Festival would be more than just a political gathering. He could feel it in his bones.
And when the time came, they would need to be ready.