Chapter 99: I’ve learned a lot... about your cooking
"Oh no, Luca," Isabella gasped, her eyes wide with mock horror at the way he had phrased the question. It was almost too much, even for her. "Who should we kill?" It was a serious question, but the delivery was so deadpan that she couldn’t stop herself from blinking. She paused for a second, feeling the weight of the absurdity sink in. "You know what...never mind."
Luca simply nodded as if he hadn’t missed a beat, his face as serious as ever.
Opehlia, ever the sweet one, leaned in toward Luca, her voice barely above a whisper. "It means to serve," she said, her words as innocent as they could be.
Shelia raised an eyebrow at her, leaning in as well. "He wouldn’t understand," she whispered back with a knowing smirk.
"Stop whispering, girls," Isabella said, trying her hardest to fight off the creeping exhaustion. She could already feel the strain in her shoulders. Glimora, who had been happily rolling in the grass nearby, immediately scampered back to her, clinging to her side. Isabella glanced down at the little creature, offering her a tired smile as Glimora snuggled up against her with an understanding look. "You guys don’t make this easy, do you?"
The group, however, was oblivious to her fatigue. They were all far too focused on their own confusing thoughts.
Opehlia was standing with a beaming expression, practically vibrating with eagerness to help, while Shelia’s sassy air was ever-present. Luca, of course, stood stoic and serious as if he had come here to study ancient scrolls, not cook. Cyrus was just...well, there, quiet and too still. Isabella could feel the weight of his gaze, but it was so intense she wasn’t sure if he was deep in thought or wondering if she’d slip on the mess they were about to make. It was all so overwhelming.
"Alright, listen up," Isabella said, trying to calm herself down. "We are going to learn how to cook today, and that’s final. No more distractions. Let’s start with the basics."
She held up a bundle of herbs in her hand, staring each of them down. "These are essential. The right herbs and spices will make or break a dish, understand?"
Opehlia nodded eagerly, her wide eyes gleaming with excitement. "I’ve seen herbs used in potions before! This’ll be fun!"
"It’s not about potions, Opehlia," Isabella said with a sigh. "This is food. You use these herbs to enhance the flavor, not just for magic."