Thump-thump-thump
The sound of dough being kneaded by hand echoed through the kitchen. Heat and the warm scent of butter filled the air, causing sweat to trickle down Ray's face as if he had just washed it.
"Hah…"
He exhaled softly while pressing the dough with his palms; folding, turning, and repeating the motion until the texture met his standards.
Creak...
The door opened.
"Ah? Good morning, Ray…"
Her black hair was tied into a ponytail with her signature red ribbon, and her round glasses made her look both elegant and adorable. Every time she entered the room, the atmosphere seemed to brighten.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed, her hands stiff as she held the broom. She slightly lowered her shoulders and head while still glancing at Ray, her shy smile making her look even cuter.
"Hm? Good morning, Rona"
Ray returned her greeting with a smile.
"Is there… anything I can help with…?"
"Hm… could you bake the dough I prepared earlier, and also grab two bags of flour for me?"
"Hm! Of course!"
Rona smiled brightly and carefully placed the dough into the blazing oven, wearing an adorably serious expression as she focused on her task.
"Anna Bakery" was where Ray and Rona worked. The shop was surrounded by decorative plants, a menu board for the day, and a welcome mat placed neatly in front of the entrance. Several tables and chairs were arranged on the terrace for customers who wanted to relax while enjoying the city atmosphere along with freshly baked bread.
The aroma of butter from the oven mixed with the refreshing scent of greenery, giving the shop a calm and comforting ambience.
Slowly, the once-empty display shelves filled with warm bread ready for sale. On the menu board hanging above the cashier were various bread options, most priced between 4–8 Copper Coins.
At the front of the shop, Rona was updating today's recommendations and discounts on a slate board using chalk.
Cling...
The sound of the bell rang as a customer entered.
"Good morning, Rona~ I'll take… ah, the usual. You know which one."
"Ahaha, alright! One Honey-Glazed Loaf, then. Would you like anything else? Since it's still morning, and you seem to be looks a bit overworked last night, so- how about a cup of coffee too? And you're lucky that we have a discount for that^^"
"Ugh… marketing tactics… f-fine, one cup of coffee too…"
"Thank you!!"
The customer scratched his head awkwardly after falling for Rona's persuasion, while she smiled brightly, pleased with her success.
Cling-cling-cling-
The bell rang repeatedly as more customers poured in- some buying breakfast, others purchasing plain bread to resell or use later.
`Hmm… it's busy as usual today. I should finish this quickly, then ask Rona what's running low, prepare water, and make coffee for the three of us… though Mistress still hasn't arrived yet`
Ray let out a light sigh while continuing to work on various doughs.
Creak...
The back door opened.
A woman stepped into the kitchen, the warm air and buttery aroma brushing against her face. A playful smile appeared on her lips, showing she was in a good mood. Her long, jellyfish-styled blonde hair swayed behind her, complementing her golden-brown eyes and confident demeanor.
"Fufu~ Good morning, dear. It's already busy this early? What's running low?"
`Eh? Mistress came earlier than usual?`
Ray's face flushed slightly. No matter how many times he saw Anna, her presence always left him mesmerized.
"Good morning, Miss Anna~ According to Rona, we're short on Hearth Butter Buns, Soft White Rolls, Cinnamon Twists, and Anna's Crisp Breadsticks."
"…? Soft White Rolls are really popular this week, huh? We keep running out every day. Alright then~ I'll handle the Soft White Rolls and Hearth Butter Buns. You take care of the rest, and don't forget to add more Fire Stone so they bake faster."
Anna quickly tied her hair back and began preparing the ingredients. Though her hands looked delicate, her skill and experience were unmistakable.
Soon, a faint magical glow enveloped several pieces of dough, which gently floated into the oven.
`Huh…? She's not even looking at what she's controlling? Is telekinesis really that easy? Magic… amazing…`
Ray's eyes sparkled in awe, inspiring him to explore a world he had never considered before.
"Um… Miss Anna, how much is the cheapest book about learning magic?"
"Hm… usually around 10 Silver Coins. The cheapest ones go for about 6? but the knowledge inside tends to be outdated. Why? Thinking of learning magic now, dear~?"
Ray's face flushed as he reacted to her teasing.
"Y-yeah… I want to try learning something new."
"Oh~ wasn't your dream to become a Sovereign? Fufu~ I still remember you practicing sword swings in the snow when you were little."
"Ugh… there's nothing wrong with trying something new. Besides, I don't think I'm suited for swordsmanship…"
After finishing the dough, Anna paused and sighed lightly.
"Alright then… do you know about the Magic Path?"
"…No. I never really paid attention to it."
(눈‸눈)
Anna pressed her forehead and sighed softly before smiling again.
"Hah… alright. The Magic Path has 10 Grade, beginners start at Grade 9- commonly called 'Nameless'"
`10 Grades… that's similar to the Swords Path`
Ray rested his chin on his hand, staring at Anna with curiosity. To be honest, he had once wanted to become a Sovereign simply because the title sounded cool.
"Then… what's the highest?"
"The highest is Grade 0 'Transcendent.' But mages who reach that level are extremely rare. Even across an entire continent, there are only 1 or 3. Though… there are rumors of a level beyond that."
`THAT'S SO COOL- 'TRANSCENDENT'!!!`
Ray's heart burned with excitement. Though his expression remained calm, inside he felt like a sailor discovering a new continent.
"Then… what about you, Miss?"
With confidence, Anna smirked.
"Heh- your mistress here is quite talented. And well… my family is fairly well-off. I've reached Grade 2 'High Artisan,' when I was nineteen."
"Whoa… then what about n-"
`Wait… something's wrong.`
A sharp burning smell filled the air as black smoke rose from the oven.
"THE BREAD-!"
In an instant, a magic circle formed before Anna, releasing a powerful stream of water into the blazing oven. Water splashed everywhere, soaking the kitchen, Ray's clothes, and even Anna herself due to her lack of focus.
Brak!
The kitchen door burst open.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
(☉д⊙)
Rona froze at the sight of the chaotic kitchen- water everywhere, smoke lingering, tools scattered. She narrowed her eyes as Ray and Anna looked at each other. At the same time, they said:
"Ehe~☆ We forgot to control the Fire Stone~"
(〃ﾟ3ﾟ〃)
Rona could only sigh and pinch the bridge of her nose, resting her other hand on her hip.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
***