Making my way to the front, I went over their order in my head. I've heard of milkshakes before, but Asher's cafe doesn't sell them, so I've never had the chance to try one.
Reaching the ordering counter, a small-statured girl greeted me with a forced work smile. Her pony-tailed violet brown hair in complete contrast with her green work apron. "Hi! Welcome to Oasis' Coffee Cabin! What would you like to order?!"
'O-C-C'… Is Asher franchising?
"Hello?" The girl called out again.
If my experience as a server taught me anything, it's that a customer who is clear and concise is the easiest to work with. 'Get in, get out,' that's always been my motto.
"Hello?!" The girl called out again, firmer this time. Her squeaky voice ringing in my ears.
Shaking out my thoughts. "Two strawberry milkshakes; one coffee, four cream, four sugar; and three orders of pancakes. Table 12. Thanks."
"Alllrighty! That'll be 17 bronze." She said with a cheerful smile, though her voice was a bit strained.
17 BRONZE ZEN?! By the Monarchs, that's a rip-off.
I almost said out loud, my eyes widening at the price.
Using my newfound wealth of allowance, provided by the Grimwalds, which was only 1 silver coin a week, I hesitantly handed it over. Which the server took with a twisted smile, before dropping all of my change on the counter.
1 silver coin is less than what my mother and I used to make a week back in the Lower District.
Spending the minute it took to pick up all the change and put it in my pouch, the girl informed me that the order would be ready in a few minutes.
Back at the table, I immediately spoke up as I took my seat, "You both are paying me back, right?"
Lavinia pulled her, now pointless, parchment up higher, blocking the view of her face. While Leo walled himself off in a boundary of silence, only to break it and speak in a whisper half a dozen seconds later, "Our father doesn't give us any money. He just buys things for us… If they're needed."
"And you didn't receive any zen for this outing?"
"It wasn't sanctioned by our father... and mother must have forgotten... Us too." Reforming his wall of silence.
Exhaling loudly, we continued in complete stillness until the food arrived. Ignoring each other in silent close proximity.
Leo seemed to be singing to himself, based on the way he was bobbing, and Lavinia continued to hold her parchment high, her eyes constantly darting around the room.
A few minutes later, the small girl from before arrived at the table with our order. With our food floating beside her on trays, she methodically directed the plates and cups down in front of us.
"Here you are…!" She exclaimed cheerfully. When she was done placing the cutlery down, she glanced at all of us, one by one. "Enjoy your mea—Leo! What are you doing here?" She gasped, visibly blushing. "With this prick, no less?!" Nodding in my direction.
Shifting her gaze to parchment girl, she squealed even louder, "Wait… Nia?! You're here too?" Her pitch rose to a childish whine, "Why didn't you say 'hi'?"
Lavinia slowly lowered her parchment, looking up to the girl with only her eyes. Knowing her 'cover' was blown, she spoke casually, in a cheerful tone, "Mei, hi! I didn't see you there."
"Reaaallly! Didn't see me, huh? You know I work weekends—actually, it's about time I go on break, why don't I join you guys?" Before any of us had the chance to reject, she quickly scurried away.
All three of us exchanged glances. Leo lowered his head in defeat, and Lavinia had a nervous smile on her face.
Not bothering to ask, since she'll be back anyway, I dug into my food.
The pancake came with white foam on top, which I was hesitant to eat, but it had a sweet taste to it. Spreading it over the rest of the cake, I cut it up into bite-sized pieces. There was only one pancake, but it was large and thick, and so soft my fork glided through it. Between the blueberries inside, syrup, and white foam, it tasted more like a dessert than breakfast, but I was not one to complain.
Only, I did complain... because it was cold.
Leo carefully cut his pancake and ate it gracefully, like a proper gentleman. Only taking small swigs of his coffee to wash it down.
Lavinia immediately went for her milkshake, blissfully smiling with each sip, or more like each chug. Drinking the entire 7-inch cup before the serving girl returned.
Finishing her drink with a loud exhale of satisfaction. Her speedy devourment of the drink left behind a pink mustache over her mouth, before she promptly licked it off.
"Damn sis, don't you savour anything?" Leo bantered with a wide grin.
"It's only because I know how to enjoy things, Leo." She responded, straight-faced.
Seeing her contentment after having the drink, I took a large gulp of mine. It was thicker than I thought, but not bad. A bit too sweet, though. I took another drink, only for it to be thicker this time. By the third drink… it had frozen solid completely.
Placing it down with a hard clunk, Leo looked over only to burst out laughing.
With Lavinia the only one here with a Will related to heat, I had to beg her to defrost it. Of course, she went above and beyond, turning it watery. Having my fill after its even worse taste, I dumped the rest of it.
That was my first milkshake experience.
"I'm baaack!" The serving girl returned, now out of her apron, only wearing the white collared shirt underneath. Continuing in a cheery voice, "Now! Where were we? Right! Who's that prick!" She finished with a dreadful inflection. Eyeing me from beside Lavinia.
A bit hesitant, Lavinia responded, "That… is… a new… friend…? Yes, a new friend. He's being trained by our father, back at the estate."
"Well, in that case, any friend of Nia's is a friend of mine." Visibly brightening up, she beamed a wide smile and widened her stance. Her big, round eyes widened even more, exaggerated more so by her big, round glasses. "My name is Meike Tanja" –she widened her stance in a jump, resting her hands on her hips— "15. Decent-Gravity Will!"
I stared at her, stunned. Taken aback by her dramatic nature.
In a monotone voice, I introduced myself as well, "Rin Reyguard, 16. Mid-Frost Will." I quietly winced as I called myself a Mid-Will Holder.
"Mid-Will, huh. And you say you're being trained to become a soldier?" She questioned. Her face scrunching in suspicion.
"It's a… a… special training regimen our father has him on. I can't speak of it too much, but supposedly it's supposed to help him grow in strength faster." Leo jumped in, his smile wavering.
Well… I guess he's not completely wrong. My training regimen is unique.
"Oookay. I guess it's not really my place." She took a seat beside Lavinia, facing Leo. "Anyway, what are you two doing here?" Staring right at Leo with a wide grin, her cheeks getting redder by the second.
We spent the next half hour of Meike Tanja's break eating breakfast and talking. She likes to talk about herself a lot, often introducing and detailing all aspects of her life. Though I got the impression there was some restraint.
She spent most of the time talking about the new year with Lavinia and Leo. All three of them are attending Quincy Academy together. Lavinia and Meike Tanja as first years, and Leo as a late arrival first year. His trip with his father withheld him from applying earlier, plus he's been in and out of school his whole life. He seems to get by just fine without it.
Meike Tanja is most interested in becoming an Artificer. Lavinia constantly praised her skills in the craft. Specializing in gravity-based artifacts, she has the ambition of creating floating artifacts that surpass the current weight limit.
Gravity artifacts require a lot of power and essence. Trying to create a power source strong enough for large objects, that doesn't also restrict itself by its own weight, is a tall task.
Her goal is to study artificing and Gravity Beasts at the Academy to better comprehend how the Beasts outperform human limitations.
By the end of her break, the three of us had finished eating. Wishing her farewell, we left the building and continued on our outing.