Chương 11: The First Warm Meal

Ch 11 - The First Warm Meal

"I've been learning how to use a sword since I was five," Lena said, her eyes shining with excitement.

"But I ended up awakening with a support role ability. It's honestly so disappointing, right? Still, I can't help it. I love fighting on the front lines, no matter what ability I have."

"But…" she suddenly paused.

"You fight with a sword too, don't you? We can train together here. I can teach you. I really love battle techniques. I could talk about them all day." The girl kept talking without stopping, her face glowing with pure enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Zeph simply stood there, quietly watching the lively expression on her face. Even when he did not answer her question about his level and rank, she seemed to understand that he had no intention of responding, and she did not press him further.

Then, all of a sudden, another sound filled the room, a low and unmistakable rumble. Zeph flinched when he heard it and slowly lowered his head. Toward his own stomach. Yes, the sound had come from him. Lena glanced at Zeph's stomach too, then lifted her head again with a small smile that turned into a soft laugh.

"Oh, right. I was about to cook dinner. I'm sure you'll love my cooking. You have to try it! You're a guest at this inn, so you absolutely must."

"Wait, Lena." The girl reached for Zeph's right hand again and pulled him along without hesitation.

"Come on." Zeph could only nod and follow after her. They walked out of the training area, went down the stairs, and headed to the shared kitchen.

"I'll help."

"No, stay there. Just enjoy your time. Take it easy, relax. I've got everything under control." Zeph took a seat at one of the tables while Lena moved straight toward the cooking area. He sat quietly, glancing to his left where an open balcony allowed the evening breeze to flow in, keeping the shared pantry fresh and cool. From the next room, Lena was already busy, and the sound of chopping soon filled the air. Zeph remained silent, letting the sounds fill the room. Lena, on the other hand, seemed full of energy.

She hummed bits of a song between cuts, and occasionally muttered to herself about the seasoning or the next step, as if she were hosting her own little cooking show. Then… a rich aroma drifted out from the kitchen and reached his nose. Hm, the scent of spices being stir fried instantly made his stomach growl even louder. He had no idea how long he had been sitting there. He was truly doing nothing, just sitting quietly and enjoying the rare absence of pressure.

Honestly, this place felt like a completely different world to him. He was usually under constant tension, constant supervision, always being watched and judged. Yet here, he could simply sit as himself, doing what he wanted. He could make his own choices and take his own actions. Even now, that freedom still felt strange to him. But life moved forward, and people had to grow. He now carried this responsibility on his own shoulders, and he would face it seriously, no matter what awaited him.

"It's done!" Zeph snapped out of his thoughts when Lena appeared, wearing an apron and carrying two plates that were still steaming. She placed one plate on the table and gently pushed the other toward him. On it was golden fried rice, topped with slices of egg and bits of meat, the grains separated perfectly and glistening with oil and seasoning.

"Oh, I forgot to ask. You like spicy food, right? This is my special spicy fried rice. It's my signature dish. I hope you won't complain about the taste. I might have added a little too much chili," she said, then giggled. Lena sat down across from Zeph and picked up her spoon, but did not immediately continue. Zeph still had not moved, his gaze shifting between the fried rice and Lena's expectant face.

"Take the spoon and try it. You don't think I poisoned you, do you?" she said.

"It's only a little spicy. You're Awakened. You'll be fine." She scooped up a spoonful and brought it close to her lips, blowing gently on it.

"Mm, it smells so good." Then she slipped it into her mouth and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Oh, this is amazing. I really outdid myself this time," she said proudly, glancing at Zeph while chewing. Zeph still hesitated. He had not reached for his spoon. Then, suddenly, Lena stood up, grabbed the spoon from Zeph's plate, scooped some rice, and lifted it toward his face.

"Ah, open your mouth. Why are you hesitating? Don't tell me you're scared of my cooking," she said playfully. But just as quickly, she pulled her hand back and popped the spoonful into her own mouth instead, chewing with an exaggerated expression.

"Look at this. It's delicious," she said, flashing him a teasing smile. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. After that, she walked to the other room, grabbed a clean spoon, returned, and placed it carefully on Zeph's plate. Lena sat back down and picked up her own spoon, looking at Zeph as if silently urging him to hurry up and try it. At last, Zeph took the spoon and slowly scooped some rice.

Even resting there on the spoon, it looked perfect, the grains golden and glossy. The colors were rich and warm, mixed with bits of egg and seasoning. And the aroma, as he brought it closer to his mouth, grew even stronger. It was a beautiful blend of savory spices, fried garlic, and something slightly smoky that made his chest feel strangely tight. Finally, he placed the spoonful into his mouth. And. Zeph froze. He went completely still, as if stunned by an unseen force. He did not even move his jaw.

Simply because he was… shocked. Completely and utterly shocked. What is this? What kind of taste is this? Why does something like this even exist? It was overwhelming in the best way possible. He began to chew, and with every bite, more flavors unfolded and spread across his mouth. Layers of spice, savory richness, and warmth melted together in a way he had never experienced before. Without realizing it, his eyes almost grew moist.

The combination was incredible, the gentle heat of the freshly cooked rice blending perfectly with the sharp kick of chili. It was warm, bold, and comforting all at once. When he swallowed the first bite, he could almost feel it travel down his throat and settle into his stomach. It was as if every part of his body, every cell within him, awakened just from tasting it. The tension in his face eased without him noticing. Only now did he realize how tightly wound he had been all this time.

When he looked up at Lena, she was smiling. Not just with her lips, but with her entire face. Her eyes curved softly, her cheeks lifted, and even her posture seemed to radiate warmth.

"From that expression, I'd say you like it. Looks like I succeeded," she said proudly. Zeph nodded slowly as he scooped another spoonful.

"This is incredible, Lena. It's the most amazing food I've ever tasted in my life. I'm not exaggerating." Lena blinked in surprise, her mouth parting slightly before she let out a small laugh and continued eating.

"Well, of course it's delicious. It's my specialty," she replied enthusiastically. As he took his second bite, Zeph suddenly felt something strange on his face. The muscles around his cheeks relaxed. The corners of his lips lifted just a little. His eyes softened without him meaning to. Was this… happiness? After that, things unfolded much like before. Lena did most of the talking, though this time they were both focused on eating as well.

Zeph simply listened, savoring every grain, every layer of flavor that lingered on his tongue. This was an extraordinary experience. It felt as if he could eat her cooking for the rest of his life. Until the very end of it. And even if he were somehow brought back to life again, he was certain he would still want to taste this food once more. Lena's face looked slightly softer now as the light from outside began to fade.

The evening dimmed beyond the balcony, and the lamps inside flickered on, casting a warm golden glow across the room. Yet the brightness on her face did not lessen at all. If anything, her expression seemed even warmer under the light. Then.

"Lena, why didn't you wait for me?" Zeph startled and turned toward the doorway. Someone was standing there.

"Wait, we have a new guest?" the boy said. He looked about seventeen, perhaps. Tall and solidly built, with broad shoulders and short black hair that stuck up slightly.

"Madou, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you until I got hungry. I even made a portion for you. Come on, join us," Lena called out as she stood from her seat.

"This is Zephion. He just arrived today and will be staying here for a week," she added. The boy, Madou, walked toward Zeph with an eager expression and a grin that felt just a little too wide for Zeph's liking.

"Zephion, huh? Welcome! I'm Madou. My father owns this inn. Make yourself at home," he said cheerfully. Zeph stood as well and accepted the handshake. Madou gripped his hand firmly and shook it with such force that it almost felt like his arm might come loose.

"He's Awakened too, you know," Lena chimed in.

"He's planning to register at the Hunter Association soon. This is going to be fun."

"Oh, really?" Madou replied, though his face shifted into visible surprise as he looked Zeph up and down.

"Wait, aren't you a bit too young for this? You know this won't be easy, right?"

"Young?" Zeph repeated, thinking that their ages did not seem that far apart.

"Yes. Like, how old are you? Ten?" Zeph let out a slow breath. He could not really blame Madou for thinking that way. His build was still small and lean, his frame thinner than most boys his age.

"No. I'm fourteen. Almost fifteen, actually."

"Really? Fourteen? No way!" Madou exclaimed loudly.

"Lena even looks older than you, and she's just turned fourteen. Hahaha."

"What did you just say? Want me to finish your fried rice for you?" Lena shot back, lifting her chin slightly.

"No, no, no. Hahaha, I'm just kidding," Madou replied quickly.

"It's just that he looks younger than his age."

"And I look old?"

"No, no, no," he repeated, laughing awkwardly. Madou finally joined them at the table while Lena brought over his portion. They continued eating, talking in between bites. At least with Madou there, the room no longer felt like Lena was talking to herself while Zeph sat in silence. Now the conversation flowed more naturally, even if Zeph remained the quietest among them.

From what Zeph had gathered so far, the owner of this inn was indeed Madou's father, the man who had been driving the car earlier, with Lena sitting in the front seat when she had offered Zeph a ride into the city. As for Lena herself, Zeph was not entirely sure. He still did not know whether she worked here, lived here as family, or if there was another reason she stayed at the inn.

"Zeph fights using a sword too. He said he'll train with us," Lena said casually. Wait. He never said that. Still, Madou reacted immediately, his expression lighting up with excitement as he turned toward Zeph.

"Zeph, you should just stay at this inn. Help out with some of the work. The guy who handled the heavy chores left a few days ago, so we're short on hands. You're a refugee from Mekarion, right? You probably need a place to stay. This could work out perfectly." He leaned forward, clearly energized by the idea.

"We can train together at night. It'll be great. We'll even make a proper work contract. It's way better than you wasting all your money on lodging somewhere else. You earn your stay, we get help, and we all grow stronger. Sounds fair, doesn't it?" Zeph stared at him. Another offer of kindness? Again?