Sylphaeris floats up from her seat.
[Sylphaeris] "Alright, time to clean up. Kara, want to help?"
[Kara] "Sure thing."
They start gathering dishes and empty plates from the table.
Sylphaeris glances at Vesper, who's slouched in her chair looking drowsy.
[Sylphaeris] "Vesper. You too."
[Vesper] "But I'm so full. I was planning to take a nap..."
[Sylphaeris] "You're being lazy. Get up and help."
Vesper groans but pushes herself up from the chair, grabbing some bowls.
[Vesper] "This is cruel and unusual punishment."
[Sylphaeris] "This is called contributing to the group."
I shake my head, watching Vesper shuffle toward the kitchen.
Honestly though, I wouldn't want her to change. She's fun like this.
Liora turns to me.
[Liora] "Wright, those vegetables and the tofu were remarkable. I've never tasted ingredients quite like them."
[Eldrin] "The chopsticks you used were interesting as well. They seemed more suitable for hot pot than forks. Much easier to pick up individual ingredients."
[Wright] "Chopsticks are common eating utensils in the same world the kids are from. Earth. That's where all these ingredients originate too."
As I say it, something clicks in my mind.
Wait.
We could grow these vegetables here.
I can use my Online Shopping skill to purchase seeds. How have I not thought of this before?
I'm getting old.
[Wright] "Liora, we can grow some of these vegetables during the next planting cycle."
Her eyes light up.
[Wright] "Not the mushrooms, of course. But the napa cabbage, daikon, carrots, green onions, and bok choy. All of those can be cultivated."
[Liora] "That would be wonderful! We could make hot pot without depending on you for ingredients."
[Wright] "Exactly."
[Liora] "We can gather mushrooms from the forest easily enough. But what about the tofu? What exactly is it? And that udon. I've never had noodles like those before."
I pause, trying to recall what I've read in manga.
[Wright] "If I'm remembering correctly, tofu is made from soybeans. But I don't actually know the process of making it."
[Liora] "Soybeans?"
[Wright] "A type of legume. We can grow them, but turning them into tofu... that's beyond my knowledge. The kids might know since they're from Earth. Same with the udon."
I think back to the noodles, trying to remember any cooking manga I've read.
[Wright] "Udon is made from wheat flour, water, and salt. We have Silverwheat that we process into flour, so we have all the ingredients. But again, I don't know the actual process. We'll need to ask the kids."
[Liora] "I'll talk to them when they return from the dungeon. About the tofu, the udon, and the chopsticks too."
She has that determined look on her face. The same expression she gets when she's committed to a new project.
It seems the hot pot has lit a fire under Liora. She's pioneering to bring otherworld food culture here.
Well, I'll support her however I can.
I open my Online Shopping skill and start selecting seeds. Napa cabbage seeds, daikon radish seeds, carrot seeds, green onion seeds, bok choy seeds, and soybean seeds. Everything goes into the cart.
Checkout.
My mana drains. A smaller amount this time since seeds don't cost much. A small cardboard box appears on the table.
I hand it to Liora.
[Wright] "Here. Everything you'll need for the next planting cycle."
She accepts the box carefully, examining the seed packets inside.
[Liora] "I'll have the seedlings ready when it's time. Thank you, Wright."
[Wright] "No problem."
I stand and stretch.
[Wright] "Time to get back to work. Thanks for lunch, Eldrin."
[Eldrin] "You're always welcome. Safe travels."
Liora and I leave Eldrin's house together, making our way back down through the tree house village and toward the farm fields.
The afternoon sun is warm on my face as we return to work. I help tend the plants, materializing tools as needed. A hoe here, a watering can there, pruning shears for trimming. The ability to have exactly the right tool at the right moment makes fieldwork so much easier.
The high elves work around me. Some are weeding, others checking soil moisture, still others examining plants for signs of disease or pests. Everyone knows their role and performs it well.
The hours pass peacefully.
The sun moves across the sky, gradually descending toward the horizon. Shadows lengthen across the fields. The air cools as evening approaches.
Day turns to night.
The high elves begin to finish their work, cleaning tools and heading back to their homes. Lanterns start to light up throughout the tree house village.
[Liora] "Wright, would you like to have dinner with us?"
[Wright] "I'd like that. But first, I want to check on the vampires. See how the winery construction is going."
[Liora] "Of course. I'll come with you."
We walk toward the barracks area where the vampires have set up their base.
As we approach, I stop in my tracks.
The winery is finished.
The structure is large. Two stories tall, made of stone and dark wood. The architecture is elegant, with arched windows and decorative stonework. A carved sign above the entrance reads "Crimson Vintner" in flowing script.
Vampires are still moving in and out of the building despite the late hour, carrying crates and equipment.
We enter through the main doors.
The interior is impressive.
The entrance opens into a large reception area with polished wooden floors and stone walls. To the left, I can see what looks like a tasting room. Wooden tables and chairs arranged around the space, shelves on the walls ready to display bottles.
Seraphina spots us and glides over, her silver-white hair catching the lamplight.
[Seraphina] "Wright! Liora! Welcome to our humble establishment."
[Wright] "Humble? This place is amazing. You finished it already?"
[Seraphina] "We work efficiently when properly motivated. Come, let me show you around!"
She leads us deeper into the building.
The first room we enter is the crushing and pressing area. It's a large open space with stone floors that slope slightly toward drains in the corners. Several large wooden pressing machines sit ready. Massive screws that will press down on grapes to extract juice. Wooden bins line one wall for receiving harvested grapes.
[Seraphina] "This is where the magic begins. Grapes come in, get sorted, crushed, and pressed. The juice flows through these channels into collection vessels."
She points to the stone channels built into the floor.
We move to the next room. The fermentation room.
It's enormous, taking up most of the first floor. Rows of large wooden barrels sit on sturdy racks, each barrel easily six feet tall and four feet wide. The room has a slightly cool temperature and smells of oak and faint grape must.
[Seraphina] "These barrels are for the initial fermentation. The juice transforms into wine here, developing its character over weeks or months depending on the variety."
[Liora] "How many barrels are there?"
[Seraphina] "Forty-two currently. We can expand if needed."
We continue through to the bottling station. A long workspace with racks for clean bottles, a corking machine, and a labeling table. Everything is organized and ready for use.
[Seraphina] "Once the wine has fermented and been tested, we bottle it here. Each bottle gets corked, labeled, and prepared for aging or immediate consumption."
[Wright] "You've thought of everything."
[Seraphina] "Wine-making is an art and a science. Proper equipment is essential."
She leads us to a stairway descending underground.
The cellar is cool and dim, lit by enchanted stones that give off a soft blue light. The temperature is noticeably lower than upstairs. Perfect for wine storage.
Rows of wooden racks line the walls, ready to hold bottles. The floor is stone, slightly damp, maintaining humidity. The air smells clean and earthy.
[Seraphina] "This is for aging. Temperature and humidity controlled through magical arrays. Vesper's design. Some wines need months or years to reach their peak. They'll rest here undisturbed."
We climb back upstairs and she shows us one more room. The testing and sampling area.
It's smaller, more intimate. A wooden table sits in the center with various glasses, decanters, and testing instruments. Shelves hold notebooks and reference materials.
[Seraphina] "This is where I'll evaluate the wines during production. Testing acidity, sweetness, clarity, flavor development. Quality control is crucial."
[Wright] "This is an impressive operation, Seraphina."
She beams.
[Seraphina] "Thank you. I've had wineries before, but to work with such exceptional crops as the Golden Grapples... it's an opportunity I couldn't pass up. That's why I came here, after all."
[Liora] "We're having dinner at my place. Would you like to join us?"
Seraphina's eyes light up.
[Seraphina] "I would love to! Let me just inform the others."
She calls out to a group of vampires working nearby, giving them instructions for the evening. Then she returns to us.
[Seraphina] "Lead the way."
We walk together toward the tree house village. As we approach the spiral staircases, Sylphaeris materializes beside us with a playful smile.
[Sylphaeris] "I'm here for dinner too!"
[Wright] "Of course you are."
She laughs and floats alongside us as we climb the spiral staircases up to Liora's home.
Inside, the familiar comfort of Liora's house welcomes us. She moves to the kitchen to prepare dinner while Sylphaeris, Seraphina and I settle at the low table.
The meal is simple. Roast meat seasoned with herbs, Dewleaf Wraps filled with fresh vegetables, and Greenweave Stew served in wooden bowls. No elaborate preparations or exotic ingredients. Just good, honest home cooking.
We eat in silence for a while, enjoying the flavors.
Then Sylphaeris speaks up.
[Sylphaeris] "You know, if you're all going to the hot springs, you should invite Goddess Jyne. She absolutely loves hot springs."
[Wright] "That's right, she does enjoy a good soak."
Liora freezes mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air.
Seraphina's eyes widen.
[Liora] "The... the Goddess? Coming with us?"
[Seraphina] "I must join this trip. I absolutely must witness this."
Liora sets down her fork carefully, looking slightly panicked.
[Liora] "I don't... I mean... traveling with the Goddess... what do we even..."
She trails off.
[Wright] "That's fine with me."
I look up toward the ceiling.
[Wright] "Jyne, come with us to the hot springs. We'll plan to leave the day after tomorrow."
The kids should return from the dungeon tomorrow, and they should rest up a bit before traveling.
Sylphaeris giggles.
[Sylphaeris] "She's accepted your invitation."
The meal continues, though the conversation has shifted to lighter topics. Liora still looks shaken, occasionally muttering to herself.
[Liora] "Eldrin is going to be so surprised... traveling with the Goddess... I need to prepare... what do you even pack for a trip with the Goddess..."
[Seraphina] "I'm sure it will be fine, Liora. Just treat it like any other trip."
[Liora] "Any other trip. Right. With the Goddess."
Sylphaeris continues to giggle quietly.
The meal ends with satisfied sighs and cleared plates.
[Wright] "Thank you for dinner, Liora. It was exactly what I needed."
[Liora] "You're always welcome."
I say my goodbyes and head out into the night.
The village is quiet now. Most of the high elves have retired to their homes. Lanterns glow softly in windows, casting warm light through the trees. The rope bridges sway gently in the evening breeze.
I descend the spiral staircase and make my way through the forest toward my cabin.
The night air is cool and fresh. Crickets chirp in the undergrowth. Leaves rustle overhead. The moon is bright enough that I can see the path clearly.