Chương 47: Banana Bread

Steam curled from bowls of deer porridge as the three sat huddled around the scarred wooden table. They were in a clean, white room and had been told to wait there until the ringing of a bell summoned them. Brenton took a bite of the banana bread and mused, mid-chew.

"Fun fact, banana bread is not bread, it's actually a cake."

"Yeah, sure." Elena snorted between bites.

"And vanilla cake is bread?" Brenton shook his head.

"No, seriously, think about it. How is bread made? How is cake made?"

"Let's not pretend either of us can cook."

"Bread requires mixing flour, water, salt, and yeast. You knead it into dough, then bake it." Elena didn't reply, continuing to chew.

"But cake? Cake is all about the batter! Guess which process banana bread uses. Hint, it's not dough." Elena groaned.

"It's literally in the name. Banana. Bread. Why are we having this discussion?"

"If it were called banana cake, would you agree it's a cake?"

"Maybe, but it's not. It's called banana bread."

"So if someone calls you 'Lena', you'll just go with it? You know you're allowed to form your opinions, right?" Elena skewed a piece of meat with unnecessary force.

"Since when did you learn how to cook anyway? All you've ever served me was boiled grey matter." Brenton shook his head.

"See, now you're attacking the messenger." He shrugged.

"You don't have an argument against me; you lose." Elena slammed the table, rattling the cutlery as she sprang to her feet.

"BANANA. BREAD." Leo froze, his spoon halfway to his mouth, filled with porridge. He slowly shifted his gaze to Elena. Brenton slammed his palms down and mirrored her, rising to his feet.

"BATTER. NOT. DOUGH." Leo's eyes darted to Brenton. The gazes of Elena and Brenton locked across the table. For a moment, the room remained deathly silent. Then, their heads snapped to Leo, the intensity now directed at him. Leo gulped. Elena spoke first, "Just tell this idiot it's bread. It's literally in the name. Why are we having this discussion?" Brenton shook his head, "She's refusing to hear reason. You're a smart fella, you understand the difference between batter and dough, right?.

They both stared expectantly as Leo shrank into his chair.

"I… um…" Their gazes in his direction intensified.

"I've never… had banana bread…" Brenton ignored the stalling tactic and pointed at the untouched piece near the center.

"It's right there." Leo gulped again, then he looked down at the food. He pushed aside his bowl of deer porridge and reached over to his cube of banana bread. Slowly, under the intense gazes of Elena and Brenton, he took a small nibble. After swallowing, his eyes shifted between the two. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"It's sweet…" He whispered.

"Like cake." Leo's eyes landed on Elena. He held his breath, keeping the air trapped in his lungs as if a single exhale might trigger an explosion.

"HA!" Brenton pumped his fists in the air and excitedly faced Leo.

"I knew you were a smart guy!"

"I'm surrounded by idiots," Elena muttered, slumping back to her seat. She continued her meal, occasionally sending an annoyed glance at Brenton. Leo released his breath and looked back at his food. Satisfied, Brenton sat and began eating as well.

"This banana cake tastes so much better with the seasoning of victory." He mocked. Elena didn't reply. After taking a deep breath, Leo finally picked up his spoon once more and filled it with porridge. As he went in for a bite, the door slammed open.

"Heya! How's it going!" A white-haired woman wearing a sleek black dress barged into the room. On her chest was an icewood emblem with the symbol of a wheel. Elena looked at the woman from the corner of her eye before looking back at her food.

"Weren't we supposed to eat here until a bell chimes?"

"Oh, don't be so stiff, can't I say a little hello before you officially join Equis?" She walked across the room with slow but confident strides and grabbed the chair beside Elena, then she moved it beside Brenton and sat down.

"H-hey, Hope." Brenton's eyes darted between Elena and Hope.

"Sooo, what are you guys talking about?" Hope asked.

"J-just how much we were enjoying the banana…" His gaze landed on Elena, "... bread."

"Ooh, fun fact about banana bread is that it's not even a bread!" Hope proclaimed, "It's a cake!" A thick silence pressed on the room as nobody dared to speak. Leo remained frozen with the spoon at his mouth, and a steady stream of sweat travelled down Brenton's back. Hope looked around, confused, but quickly moved on.

"Anyways…" Hope softly stroked Brenton's shoulder with a gleam in her eye, "The things I'm gonna do to you!" Brenton looked at his shoulder, then at the hand placed atop it. His eyes began stinging; the sweat had accidentally made its way in there. CRACK. The plate cracked clean down the middle. Elena's fork was still in her hand, glowing white at the tines, her smile completely unchanged. Her lips were curled upwards. Her eyes were not. Hope gasped.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes." Brenton hurriedly stood up, ran to Elena's side and began cleaning the mess with dirty rags. Elena remained unmoving, her eyes never leaving Brenton. A soft aura emanated from Hope, and the broken pieces in Brenton's hands slowly floated up together and restitched themselves.

"You really do need to get a hold of your abilities, Iryna! See, I don't really mind cause I like you guys, but some of the Equis guys are really particular about the small things."

"H-her name is Elena." Brenton weakly corrected.

"Aww, thank you, Brenty!"

"My name is Brenton."

"I know!" A bright light expanded from Elena's hands once more, but this time Brenton put his hands on her shoulder. Elena slowly turned her head around, and her eyes met those of Brenton's. Her aura disappeared, but Elena's smile only got wider.

"I'm gonna leave now! There are a few others I'd like to talk to before you receive the full introductions. Don't forget to arrive at the hall at the sound of the bell!" As the door closed behind her, not a single sound remained inside the room. Brenton slowly got up from beside Elena and walked over to his own seat. He grabbed a plate of his own food, then slowly placed it in front of Elena. She didn't take it. The room remained in absolute silence.

With his gaze on Brenton and a subtle smile, Leo slowly put his spoon of porridge back in his mouth, the only sound in the room being the clink of metal against his teeth. … Elsewhere in a small hall, a burly man uncomfortably stroked his thick beard. On his chest was an icewood emblem with a dagger. It was Barryn, the representative of Eminus. Behind him was a nickel yellow banner with a soaring crow.

"Ya sure about this, Missy?" Juniper nodded; her usual awkward expression was nowhere to be seen. Instead, her eyes only contained determination and hatred.

"I don't have a choice."

"There are other ways to get stronger, less painful ways, I mean." Juniper remained silent, steadily holding Barryn's gaze. He shook his head, "You'll get the same results with other methods, sure it's slower, but it doesn't co-""Am I not allowed to buy it?" Juniper interrupted. Barryn held her gaze for a few more seconds and sighed.

"How much?"

"However much 300 credits can buy." With a quick calculation, Barryn handed Juniper a small box. Inside were various small vials of a grey liquid.

"Once you get your badge, you'll use that to make purchases, for now I'll just let Jim know."

"Thank you." As Juniper turned around to leave, Barryn stopped her.

"Wait." Juniper turned back around and looked at him expectantly.

"If it's revenge you're seeking, there are easier ways. Poison, curses, assassins, to name a few. Not that I'm endorsing it." Juniper remained silent, unwavering. Barryn lightly shook his head and deeply sighed, "Fine." He slowly walked over to a nearby bookshelf and rummaged through some items. Eventually, he landed on two books. Blowing off the dust, he walked over to Juniper and extended his hand to her. With squinted eyes and a slightly tilted head, Juniper grabbed it and read the titles.

Limits Of Sunken Vials for Core Stage Jake's Logbook"The first one gives you general guidelines, and the second is an old friend's experiences. I… reckon it'll be best if you read both first." Upon seeing Juniper's hesitation, Barryn added, "It's a gift. And I'll also throw in the following advice for free: Regardless of whatever plan you make, always seek as much information as you can beforehand. Even something like asking me a few small questions could have saved you a lot of trouble in the future.

You're lucky I'm such a wonderful man." Juniper slightly nodded, "Thank you." Then she left the little room, leaving Barryn scratching his beard as he watched her figure disappear. He turned to look at the clock, then back at the empty door. With another sigh, he pulled his chair out and sat down.