Chapter 84: The Mashed Potato Dish And The Outcast Attack!
Neve spent almost an hour in the kitchen, cooking something new.
He was not alone. Aldric was there with him, and despite his shyness, the bear was incredibly useful. Every time Neve mentioned needing something or gestured toward an ingredient, Aldric would grab not just that one thing but five other things that might be helpful.
It was like Aldric had an instinct for what Neve needed before Neve even fully understood it himself.
Aldric kept staring at the pots and some of the other kitchen tools that Neve had received from the system. The bear’s eyes were curious and confused at the same time. Neve could tell he wanted to ask where these things came from, but he did not know how to ask without being intrusive.
Neve could not tell him they were gifts from the system anyway. Nobody understood what the system was or where it came from. Not even him.
The aroma started rising from the pot as Neve worked.
The smell of mashed potatoes. Creamy and smooth and comforting. Mixed with the scent of roasted meat and herbs. The combination was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
Neve could definitely perceive how good it would taste just from the smell alone.
He flipped the lid of the pot and steam rose up in a thick cloud, carrying the aroma through the kitchen and into the main cave.
Even Aldric was looking at the pot like he could not wait to taste it. His large frame was practically vibrating with anticipation, his shyness temporarily forgotten in the face of hunger and curiosity.
"Did you taste the soup at the festival?" Neve asked Aldric as he continued working.
Aldric nodded shyly, his ears drooping slightly.
"Don’t worry," Neve said, "this will be better. I’m sure of it."
He did not add some of the ingredients he would have liked to add. Things like cream or butter or cheese that simply did not exist in this world. He had just salt and some herbs to work with.
He clenched his hand into a fist.
"I better hurry and pass those missions," he said to himself quietly. If he could complete the building memory mission and the mate bonding mission, he would level up. If he leveled up, he would get the market. And with the market, he could get ingredients from his original world.
He took the pot off the fire carefully and started dishing it out to those who were awake and around.
Neve sat down first with a plate and took the spoon. He scooped up a portion of mashed potatoes and some diced meat and put it in his mouth.
His eyes closed immediately.
He started munching slowly, savoring the taste, and he loved it. It was somehow even better than his soups. The texture was creamy. The flavor was rich and complex despite the limited ingredients.
When Ryker and the others saw how well Neve was eating, they could not resist joining him.
Satisfied moans filled the entire cave as each of them took a bite.
"This is superb!" Gideon said, pointing his spoon at the plate like it was a work of art. "I’ve never tasted anything like it in this world."
"I’ve never eaten anything like this," Sorin added, already on his third spoonful. His eyes were closed like Neve’s had been, completely absorbed in the taste.
Ryker was eating steadily and efficiently, the way he did everything else.
Neve froze as he stared at Ryker’s plate.
It was completely empty.
"Can we eat more?" Ryker asked, holding out his empty plate like it was the most natural request in the world.
Neve was genuinely shocked.
He stood up immediately to take Ryker’s plate and get him more food.
That was when he heard a voice from across the cave.
"I’d like some too."
Neve thought it was Sif asking for more, but when he looked over, he saw that Popi was already awake.
She was sitting up, staring at her hand with a confused expression. Her body was shaking slightly, like she was still recovering from the effects of the frenzy flower.
"Are you alright?" Neve asked, walking over to her.
"I’m fine," Popi said. Her voice was uncertain though. "I can’t remember what happened, but tell me I didn’t kill anyone. Tell me I didn’t hurt anyone badly."
Neve walked closer to her with Ryker’s empty plate still in his hand.
"You didn’t kill anyone," he said gently. "Sorin got hurt, but he’s going to be fine. Gideon already treated him. It’s all in the past now, so shall we move on?"
Popi looked at Neve like she wanted to apologize for everything she had done. But Neve was already offering forgiveness. Already moving past it. Already treating her like she was not a monster, even though she had attacked him just hours ago.
She nodded slowly, tears already rolling down her cheeks.
"Thank you, Neve," she said, wiping the tears off with the back of her hand. "I’m starving. I’m so hungry I could eat everything."
She stared at Gideon’s plate like she was considering asking for it.
"You can have mine," Gideon said immediately, offering his plate to Popi without hesitation. "I’ll wait for yours."
Popi looked at Gideon and then immediately looked away.
"I’ll wait for Neve," she said.
Gideon blinked, clearly not expecting that response. But he just nodded and continued eating.
Neve smirked.
He was hoping nothing bad would happen between Gideon and Popi. The situation was complicated enough already.
He fetched a fresh plate of the mashed potatoes and meat for Popi and returned to the group. Everyone ate together in the cave, the warmth of the food and the company creating a moment of peace in the chaos of the day.
When everyone was satisfied and full, Gideon stood up to leave.
He had other patients to check on and other tribe members who might need his medical attention. He took his leave with a promise to return and check on Sorin’s wound the next day.
Sif went to sleep immediately after eating, curling up in a corner of the cave with the Winnie the Pooh blanket still draped over her like a precious treasure.
Popi sat silently, like she was thinking deeply about her life. About what had happened to her. About the person who had tried to use her as a weapon.
Neve wanted to say something to her. Anything to make her relax. Anything to help her process what had happened.
But he held back.
At least she was not thinking about Ryker anymore. That much was clear. She had not even shared an eye contact with the tiger since they all stepped into the cave together. She had made her choice. She had let Ryker go.
Neve just gave her space and turned his attention to other things. He wanted to find something to do. Maybe clean up the kitchen. Maybe check on Sorin again.
That was when one of the beastmen from the village rushed into the cave.
His breathing was heavy and ragged like he had been running hard. His expression was panicked.
"Sir Neve! Neve!" he yelled, his loud voice waking everyone who had been trying to rest.
"Huh???" Neve’s brows creased with concern. "What happened? What’s wrong?"
The man tried to catch his breath, his chest heaving with exertion.
"He’s been hurt," the man said, the words coming out in a rush. "Cael has been bitten by an outcast."
The words hit like a physical blow.
Neve felt his heart stop.