I think about what to make for dinner.
I'd love to use my Online Shopping skill to whip up another impressive meal, but I'm low on mana after making paella earlier today. Better keep things simple.
I chat with Liora about our options.
[Liora] "We can roast some meat from the hunting team."
[Wright] "Perfect. I still have that garlic yakiniku sauce in my storage. I also have seafood leftover from the dungeon. We could grill those along with the meat. I'll handle the protein if you can manage the sides?"
[Liora] "Of course. I'll prepare Dewleaf Wraps and a salad with Spiceleaf and Sunfall fruits."
We head into her kitchen, and I stop in my tracks.
The kitchen looks nothing like something you would expect in a tree house tucked within a fantasy forest.
There's a refrigerator against one wall. Wooden exterior with carved leaf patterns, but the door opens to reveal a perfectly cold interior with soft blue light emanating from magical arrays etched into the back panel. Next to it sits a stove that looks similar to the one in my cabin, with glowing runes along its surface instead of gas burners or electric coils.
I wonder if she's also replicated the toilet, but I refrain from asking. Some things are better left unaddressed.
[Wright] "These are impressive. How do they work?"
[Liora] "Vesper explained it to me. The refrigerator uses a preservation array that draws from a magic stone to maintain a cold temperature. The cooling effect is constant and it automatically stops and starts based on the temperature inside to not drain the stone so fast."
She opens the refrigerator and pulls out large, pale green Dewleaves. The leaves are thick and pliant, gleaming faintly as though dusted with light. She then pulls out a slab of Warboar meat from her Storage and hands it over to me to prepare.
[Liora] "The stove is even more interesting. See these runes?"
She points to the glowing symbols on the cooking surface.
[Liora] "Each one corresponds to a different heat level. You just touch the rune you want and it activates. The heat is generated by a fire array underneath, but there's no actual flame, just controlled thermal energy."
She demonstrates by touching one of the runes. The corresponding section of the stove begins to glow a soft orange, heat radiating upward.
[Wright] "That's incredible. No smoke, no fuel needed..."
[Liora] "Exactly. It's revolutionized our cooking. We used to rely on outdoor fire pits or small magical flames. This is far more convenient."
We get to work. I pull out the yakiniku sauce from my storage and the seafood.
The Mana-Infused Shrimp are already cleaned and deveined, their translucent shells shimmering with faint magical energy. The Pearl Clams have been shucked, revealing plump, cream-colored meat. The Azure Mussels still have their distinctive blue shells, which I'll leave on for presentation.
I slice the boar meat into thin strips, then pour the yakiniku sauce into a bowl and start marinating the meat. The sweet-savory smell of soy sauce, garlic, and sesame fills the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Liora washes the Dewleaves carefully, then starts preparing the filling.
Fresh Spiceleaf gets chopped into ribbons. Reddish tint along the edges of the green leaves. She mixes it with thinly sliced root vegetables, bean sprouts, and sliced vegetables. Everything goes into a large wooden bowl.
[Liora] "Could you pass me that bottle of nut oil?"
I hand her a small ceramic bottle from the counter. She drizzles the golden oil over the vegetables, then adds what looks like salt and some dried herbs.
She begins wrapping the vegetable mixture in the Dewleaves, rolling them neatly into little packets. Each one gets secured with a thin strip of some kind of edible vine.
For the salad, she pulls out more Spiceleaf and starts tearing it into bite-sized pieces. Then she adds sliced Sunfall fruits. Golden color with an almost glowing quality to their skin.
A knock at the door interrupts our cooking.
Liora wipes her hands on a cloth and goes to answer it. I hear familiar voices.
[Nym] "Evening, Liora. Heard you had company."
[Rhevan] "Thought we'd stop by to see how the ruins exploration went."
[Liora] "Perfect timing! We're preparing dinner. Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable."
I glance over to see Nym and Rhevan entering. Nym's eyes immediately scan the room, taking in every person, counting heads. Rhevan steps inside and nods to everyone before choosing a spot with clear sightlines to the door and windows.
They settle in with the others around the low table. I notice the board games have already been set up. Othello, Go, and Shogi sets are spread across the table's surface.
[Seraphina] "Oh, how delightful! What are these?"
She picks up a Go stone, examining it.
[Lucien] "Some kind of strategy game?"
He picks up a Shogi piece, turning it over in his hand.
[Takeshi] "Yeah! These are traditional games from our world. Go, Shogi, and Othello."
[Aiko] "They're really fun once you learn the rules!"
[Seraphina] "How fascinating. I do love a good strategic challenge."
[Lucien] "Strategy? You mean like when you 'strategically' drank an entire cellar's worth of wine in one night?"
[Seraphina] "That was a tasting. There's a difference."
[Lucien] "The vintner disagreed."
[Seraphina] "The vintner lacked vision."
Takeshi starts explaining the rules of Shogi to Lucien while Aiko teaches Seraphina the basics of Othello. Yuki is setting up a Go board with Nym.
Snow perches on Yuki's shoulder and Umbra curls up in her lap. Both creatures seem much more relaxed now, though they still keep an eye on me.
Donny has claimed his spot by the window, observing everything with those wise-looking eyes.
[Liora] "The board games have become quite popular with the high elves. We've made several copies. I think every household has at least one set now."
[Wright] "Really? That's great to hear."
[Liora] "The strategic depth appeals to our people. Nym has become particularly obsessed with Go. She plays it constantly."
[Nym] "I heard that, Liora."
From the table, Nym places a black stone on the board without looking up.
[Nym] "And it's not obsession. It's dedicated practice. There's a difference."
Liora smiles and returns to her cooking.
We work in comfortable silence for a bit. I activate the stove's heating runes and place a large flat pan on the surface. Once it's hot enough, I start grilling the seafood.
The Mana-Infused Shrimp hit the pan with a satisfying sizzle. Their shells turn from translucent to a brilliant pink-orange, and the magical shimmer intensifies as they cook. The smell is incredible. Sweet, briny, with an almost ethereal quality.
The Pearl Clams go on next. I add a bit of the yakiniku sauce, watching as they turn golden brown. The Azure Mussels follow, their blue shells opening slightly as the heat releases the meat inside.
For the boar meat, I use a separate section of the stove, touching a different rune to activate another heating zone. The marinated meat hits the hot surface and immediately starts caramelizing, the yakiniku sauce creating a gorgeous glaze. The smell of garlic and sesame intensifies, mixing with the seafood aromas.
My stomach growls quietly.
[Liora] "Everything smells wonderful."
[Wright] "Almost ready. How are the sides coming?"
[Liora] "Just finished."
She's arranged the Dewleaf Wraps on a wooden platter, each one perfectly rolled and secured. The salad sits in a large bowl, the Sunfall fruit slices adding pops of golden color against the reddish-green Spiceleaf.
I finish grilling everything and start plating. The shrimp, clams, and mussels go onto one large serving dish. The boar meat gets its own platter, the yakiniku-glazed strips glistening under the lighting.
[Wright] "Dinner's ready."
Everyone looks up from their games as we bring the food to the table.
Snow buzzes closer, hovering near the seafood. Umbra's nose twitches, the gem on its forehead glowing a bit brighter.
I notice both creatures are watching me as I set down the food, but there's no fear in their eyes anymore. Just curiosity and hunger.
We all settle around the table. It's crowded with this many people, but nobody seems to mind. Plates get passed around, and soon everyone is helping themselves to the food.
[Aiko] "This looks amazing!"
[Yuki] "The shrimp are still glowing a little. That's so cool!"
[Takeshi] "Everything smells great."
The meal begins, and the room fills with the sounds of eating and satisfied murmurs.
[Seraphina] "Wright, your culinary skills continue to impress. This sauce is exquisite."
[Lucien] "The seafood is perfectly cooked. Not overdone at all."
[Seraphina] "Unlike your usual approach to problem-solving."
[Lucien] "My methods work."
[Seraphina] "Breaking down doors isn't a method, it's vandalism."
[Liora] "The Dewleaf Wraps pair well with the grilled items. The freshness balances the richness."
I try a Dewleaf Wrap. The leaf itself has a subtle, refreshing flavor with a slight herbal note. The vegetables inside are crisp and flavorful, the nut oil adding a pleasant richness without being heavy.
[Rhevan] "So. The ruins exploration. What did you find?"
[Wright] "A dungeon. Feyfall Dungeon, specifically."
[Rhevan] "Ah. That one."
[Nym] "How far did you get?"
[Lucien] "Fourth floor. We stopped at the ocean barrier."
[Rhevan] "Same as everyone else, then."
[Wright] "What's interesting is that the monsters there didn't run from me."
The high elves look up from their food.
[Nym] "They didn't?"
[Wright] "Not at all. They attacked normally, like they would anyone else. Which meant I could actually level up for once."
[Sylphaeris] "That would be because of the dungeon's mana saturation."
Everyone turns to look at her. She's been so quiet I almost forgot she was here.
[Sylphaeris] "Dungeons naturally concentrate ambient mana. The energy density affects monster behavior. Makes them more aggressive, overrides their normal survival instincts."
She takes a delicate bite of shrimp before continuing.
[Sylphaeris] "They sense threats, but the excess mana excites them enough that they attack anyway. It's why dungeons can be so dangerous."
[Liora] "That makes sense. I've always wondered why dungeon monsters behaved differently than wild ones."
[Wright] "Well, either way, it means I can use the dungeon for training. My mana pool has increased enough that I can use my Online Shopping skill more frequently now."
[Aiko] "Oh! We got some cool drops too! Look at this!"
She holds up her hand, showing off a silver ring with a small blue gem.
[Aiko] "It's called a Mana Reservoir Ring. It stores mana that I can draw on when I need it!"
Then she pulls out a red pendant from under her shirt.
[Aiko] "And this is a Fire Core Pendant. It gives me resistance to fire and heat!"
[Takeshi] "I got these."
He shows off a small wooden charm hanging from his belt, carved with intricate leaf patterns, and a pair of gauntlets with scales that shimmer.
[Takeshi] "The charm is called Nature's Blessing. It provides minor healing over time. The gauntlets are Wyrm Scale Gauntlets. They boost my defense and physical strength."
[Yuki] "I'm so jealous! I want to go to the dungeon too!"
She's practically bouncing in her seat, her glasses sliding down her nose slightly.
[Yuki] "This is exactly like the stories I read! Dungeon exploration, magic items, leveling up. I need to experience it!"
[Rhevan] "It could serve as good training."
Everyone looks at him.
[Rhevan] "The three of you are planning to explore the world eventually, correct? You'll need to be stronger before you leave. The dungeon would be an ideal training ground."
[Nym] "The lower floors are relatively safe. First and second floors are where we train our younger members. Third floor is for veterans. You could work your way up gradually."
[Wright] "I agree. It's a good idea. Just make sure you don't push too hard too fast."
[Yuki] "Yes! When can we go?"
[Takeshi] "Yuki, we should plan this properly—"
[Yuki] "I know, I know. But still! This is so exciting!"
Aiko giggles at Yuki's enthusiasm.
[Nym] "Wright, what did you get from the dungeon?"
[Wright] "Oh, right."
I focus for a moment, and Ananke responds. Two perfectly formed wooden chopsticks with elegant black lacquer finish materialize in my hands.
I pick up a piece of shrimp with them and take a bite.
[Wright] "It's called Ananke. A shapeshifting artifact. Bonds permanently with the user and can turn into any tool or weapon I can visualize."
[Lucien] "You're using it to eat?"
His voice is flat with disbelief.
[Lucien] "You're using a legendary artifact. As eating utensils."
[Wright] "Is that a problem?"
[Lucien] "That's—that's a legendary artifact! Do you understand how rare those are? Most adventurers go their entire lives without even seeing one, and you're using it to eat dinner!"
[Rhevan] "Legendary?"
He pauses mid-bite.
[Nym] "A legendary-class artifact?"
She's staring at the chopsticks in my hands.
[Seraphina] "Oh, this is delightful!"
She's laughing, covering her mouth with one elegant hand.
[Seraphina] "Only you, Wright. Only you would use a priceless legendary artifact for such mundane purposes!"
[Lucien] "It's not funny. That's a waste of—"
[Seraphina] "A waste? It's brilliant! Why shouldn't one use their best tools for everyday life? You're just upset because you'd mount it on a wall somewhere."
[Lucien] "I would use it appropriately in combat situations—"
[Seraphina] "How boring."
Sylphaeris giggles, the sound like wind chimes.
[Sylphaeris] "I love it."
[Wright] "What? It's practical. I can turn it into whatever I need."
[Lucien] "That's not the point—"
[Seraphina] "Let it go, Lucien. This is who Wright is. We should be used to this by now."
Lucien makes a strangled sound but returns to his food, shaking his head.
The conversation shifts back to the dungeon.
[Rhevan] "The fourth floor has always been the stopping point. The ocean surrounding the island is too dangerous. Sea monsters are far more difficult to fight than land-based creatures."
[Nym] "Especially in the water. We have no advantage there. They're in their element, we're not."
[Liora] "Some of our strongest warriors have attempted it over the years. None have made significant progress."
[Wright] "Yeah, I could see why. The water is deep, the monsters are aggressive, and there's nowhere to retreat to if things go wrong."
Donny churrs from his spot by the window.
Everyone looks at him.
[Yuki] "Oh! Donny says he can traverse the sea!"
She's using her Taming skill to translate.
Oh.
Oh, of course.
He's a turtle. They can swim. How did I not think of that earlier?
[Wright] "Donny, would you be okay giving me a ride across the water?"
Donny churrs again, more enthusiastically this time.
[Yuki] "He says to leave it to him!"
[Wright] "Thank you, Donny. That's really helpful."
Donny's tail wags slightly, which looks adorable on a creature his size.
[Takeshi] "So you can explore the fourth floor now?"
[Wright] "Technically, yes. But I'm not in a rush."
I take another bite of the yakiniku meat.
[Wright] "I've had enough adventure for one day. I leveled up quite a bit, got a legendary artifact, and discovered a training ground. I'm going to take it slow for a while and relax."
[Aiko] "That sounds nice. We've been pretty busy lately."
[Lucien] "A wise approach. Constant adventuring leads to burnout and mistakes."
[Seraphina] "Oh, we learned that the hard way during our adventuring days. Remember the incident with the ancient seal?"
[Lucien] "You insisted on examining the wine collection first."
[Seraphina] "It was a historically significant vintage! Over three thousand years old!"
[Lucien] "The seal was breaking. We had hours, not days."
[Seraphina] "And we stopped it with time to spare. Where's the problem?"
[Lucien] "The others were confused."
[Seraphina] "I wasn't done yet."
The meal continues with easy conversation and occasional laughter.
We finish the main course, and Liora stands to clear some plates.
[Liora] "I have dessert."
She goes to the refrigerator and pulls out a large wooden bowl.
[Liora] "Golden Grapples, freshly chilled."
She sets the bowl on the table, and everyone immediately reaches for them.
[Aiko] "Oh wow, these are so good!"
[Yuki] "They're delicious!"
[Takeshi] "The cold makes them even better."
[Seraphina] "Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
She examines one before eating it.
[Seraphina] "I cannot wait to begin wine production. These will create something truly exceptional."
[Lucien] "You've mentioned that at least five times today."
[Seraphina] "Because it bears repeating. Wine-making is an art."
[Lucien] "So is archaeology, but I don't constantly discuss soil composition at meals."
[Seraphina] "You literally did that this morning at breakfast."
[Lucien] "That was different. The pottery shards were relevant to—"
[Seraphina] "They were shards. Broken pieces. Not even intact."
[Lucien] "The fracture patterns indicated—"
[Seraphina] "I rest my case."
We finish the Golden Grapples, and the conversation gradually winds down.
Nym suggests finishing their board games, and soon everyone is engaged again. Takeshi and Rhevan resume their Shogi match, both studying the board. Lucien is learning Othello from Aiko, flipping pieces. Yuki is teaching Seraphina the basics of Go, placing stones and explaining territory control.
The tree house fills with the quiet sounds of game pieces moving, occasional exclamations of victory or defeat, and easy laughter. Through the open windows, the evening air brings in the scent of forest and growing things. Lanterns cast warm light across the gathered friends.