Seasoning

The party left the village and continued north.

Himmel walked at the front, standing tall, his blue hair stirring in the morning breeze. He kept a constant eye on the road and its surroundings.

Heiter and Eisen followed close behind. The dwarf warrior's steady footsteps and the monk's occasional humming as he carried his wine bottle formed an unusual harmony.

Ruby was like a busy butterfly, flitting to the front to exchange a few words with Himmel, then slipping to the back to join Frieren.

Lowell and Frieren remained at the rear, keeping to their usual pace, separated from the lively atmosphere ahead by an invisible veil.

The road wound into a dense oak forest. Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The air was damp, carrying the fresh scent of earth and humus.

"At this pace, we should be able to cross the forest before evening." Himmel stopped and glanced at the sky. "Let's rest in a clearing for a while and refill our water."

No one objected, and they stopped in a clearing with a stream running through it. Heiter took the waterskin from his waist and went to fill it at the stream, while Eisen sat against a large tree and silently wiped down his battle-axe. Himmel made a casual circuit of the area.

Ruby pulled several bright red fruits from her little backpack and washed them carefully in clean water. Then she ran up to Himmel and offered him the largest one.

"Himmel, here! It's really sweet!" Her cheeks were flushed with anticipation.

"Thank you, Ruby." Himmel accepted the fruit with a gentle smile.

Ruby's eyes curved with delight. She picked up another fruit and ran over to Frieren. "Lady Frieren, this one's for you!"

Frieren had been gazing absentmindedly at the stream. She turned, looked at the fruit, blinked, and silently accepted it. "Oh."

Undeterred, Ruby picked up the last fruit and held it out to Lowell. "Lowell, this one's for you!"

Lowell looked a little surprised, then smiled. "Thanks, but I'm fine. You eat it."

"Oh," Ruby said. She took a crunchy bite of the juicy fruit and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

Then something else caught her attention—Frieren was crouching by the stream, gently trailing a finger over the surface and watching ripples spread in circles.

"Lady Frieren, what are you looking at?" Ruby came over and crouched beside her, copying her posture.

"The water," Frieren answered, her gaze still following the ripples.

"What's so interesting about water?" Ruby tilted her head.

"There are fish in it." Frieren pointed at a silver streak darting through the water.

"Ah! You're right!" Ruby grew excited. "We can catch some and roast them! I brought salt and spices!" She patted her little bag as though showing off a treasure.

Frieren finally looked away from the water and at Ruby's bag, seemingly more interested in the spices.

"What spices?"

"Rosemary and black pepper!" Ruby opened her bag, took out several small cloth packets, and carefully opened them for Frieren to see. "I bought them at the market in the Royal Capital. They smell wonderful!"

Frieren leaned closer and sniffed, a flicker in her eyes.

"Mm, they do smell good."

Lowell, who had been watching quietly nearby, gave a soft chuckle and asked Frieren, "Want something extra to eat?"

Frieren didn't answer, but her eyes seemed to say she could give it a try.

Ruby immediately volunteered. "Leave it to me! Watch Lady Ruby catch fish with magic!" She stood, raised her staff, and aimed it at the stream, eager to begin.

"Wait, Ruby." Himmel gently stopped her. "Magic would disturb the water, and it might hurt the little fish too. If we want fish, we can use a gentler method."

He looked at Eisen. "Eisen, sorry for the trouble."

Eisen nodded and silently rose. He broke off a branch of a suitable thickness, sharpened one end with a dagger, and walked to the stream. Holding his breath and concentrating, he waited for the right moment, then hurled it with a snap of his arm!

"Whoosh!" The stick pierced a plump trout with unerring accuracy, carrying it out of the water.

"Wow! Nice!" Ruby clapped and cheered.

Expressionless, Eisen speared several more, enough for everyone to share. Heiter had already deftly built a fire.

The aroma of roasted fish soon filled the forest. Ruby contributed her spices, and Heiter skillfully rubbed them onto the golden-brown fish. Everyone sat around the fire, sharing a simple lunch.

Frieren ate her fish in small bites, occasionally looking up at Ruby and Heiter, who were eagerly debating which pies in the Royal Capital tasted best. She glanced at Himmel, quietly wiping down his longsword, and Eisen, resting with his eyes closed. Finally, her gaze settled on Lowell, who was eating his fish at an unhurried pace beside her.

The light in the forest was soft, and a breeze brought the rustle of leaves and the aroma of roasted fish. The atmosphere was different from when she and Lowell were alone: noisier, but livelier too.

After finishing the fish, everyone packed up and prepared to continue their journey.

Still wanting more, Ruby said to Frieren, "Lady Frieren, there's a shop in the Royal Capital that makes amazing strawberry tarts! They're covered in thick cream and fresh strawberries! When we get there, I'll treat you to one!"

Frieren's hands paused as she tied her luggage bag. She looked up at Ruby's sparkling eyes, fell silent for two seconds, then softly said, "Mm."

Ruby's face lit up at once, as though she had received some important promise.

The party set off again. Beyond the oak forest lay an open stretch of hills covered in low shrubs and wildflowers. Clusters of blue-violet lilies of the valley were in full bloom beside the road.

Frieren slowed, her gaze drawn to the lilies of the valley. She walked over and crouched down, studying the little bell-shaped flowers.

"Do you like these?" Lowell stopped too, standing beside her.

"Mm." Frieren reached out and touched a delicate petal ever so lightly. "They're different from Cecilia Flowers."

Ruby, who was walking ahead, noticed the two hadn't kept up and ran back. "Lady Frieren, what is it?" She followed Frieren's gaze. "Oh, lilies of the valley. You can't eat those. They're a little poisonous."

Frieren withdrew her hand and stood. "I was just looking."

Ruby nodded as if she only half understood. Then she remembered something and said in a quiet voice, "Lady Frieren, look, I've been good this whole way. I haven't bothered you. So... are you in a better mood?" She blinked at her expectantly.

Frieren looked at Ruby's little face, which seemed to say Please teach me, then at the lilies of the valley swaying gently in the wind. Rather than answer directly, she turned to Lowell. "Lowell, I remember there being a little white flower that only blooms in the evening, somewhere behind the hill up ahead."

Lowell nodded knowingly. "Yes, Moonshadow Grass. It should be about ready to bloom now."

"Oh," Frieren said. Then she continued walking, leaving Ruby with a remark in a flat tone as she passed:

"If you use those flowers to flavor pudding, the color will be prettier."

Ruby froze for a moment, then her green eyes lit up, as though filled with starlight. She looked at Frieren's back, a huge smile spreading across her face, and nodded vigorously.

"Yes! I'll remember that, Lady Frieren!"

She skipped after Frieren and began chattering about which flower nectar was best for desserts. Frieren remained largely expressionless, but she didn't stop her.

Himmel looked back and saw them, a smile touching his lips. Heiter nudged Eisen with his elbow and murmured, "See? I told you this little mage had a way." Eisen remained silent, but his gaze lingered on the unusual pair for a moment longer.

Lowell walked at the back, looking at Frieren and Ruby ahead of him, and at the members of Himmel's party farther ahead. He smiled.