DISCLAIMER: Food Fantasy is the intellectual property of Elex Funtoy Games. I own nothing but any non-canon characters that may appear later on.

Chapter 2

Count Your Blessings

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Learn to hear your inner voice, be led by your heart and never stop giving back - this way you shall always walk the right path and shall never be walking alone. – Aleksej Metelko

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A sharp twang and one last slide across the whetstone, the knife was placed on one of the finished piles, properly sorted by the dozen. Her hand edged to the pouch, only to grasp air.

With a hum, Mika grabbed the unassuming black case that lay by the partially covered windowsill, stashing her kitchen tools. She slipped the remaining two dozen into bandoliers under her coat, a few strapped to her belt, and one tucked into each boot.

'That's one half done.'

Mika stood and skirted around the worktable, heading towards the shelf in the corner. She retrieved the small circular empty bottles, newspapers, a basket and a box wrapped in cloth. She'd set the box down on the metal side table, and donned a thick pair of gloves. The crinkles of paper as she balled them up made her slowly relax in her seat.

It'd been a while since she sat contentedly like this. Things had more or less gone by in a blur in the wake of managing business affairs and the back and forth Guild obligations. Thank the lucky stars there were less missions on the board, lest she'd ruin the ceiling of the kitchens again.

Not to mention the looks Rayleigh had been giving her, the eavesdropping jerk. It was a good thing he'd been sidelined to attend an emergency meeting that lasted for two days.

After the next five, she rummaged her drawers for some tongs. Mika unraveled the package, the smell of chemicals permeating the air, and she burrowed her nose deeper into her scarf.

The contents of the vase inside were of a thin, alcohol-like consistency and the color of mud, speckled with white bubbles. Mika pried the moist plastic cover off, and with her tongs in hand, submerged the paper. Five seconds, and she quickly stuffed the wet paper into one of the bottles, closing it with a custom-made cork.

There was a knock on the door, and she gently lowered the homemade bomb into the basket. "What is it?"

"Are you done?" He sounded annoyed, and she raised an eyebrow, even if she couldn't be seen.

"Not yet, I'm still in the middle of restocking."

"Well, you better hurry. Everybody's already gathered in the summons room." She could practically hear the deadpan in his voice. "It's past noon."

Mika's cheeks reddened of their own accord. They'd been pushing the summoning date for the past few days, and today had been the deadline since she had to be off to do more work. "Oh. Let me clean this up first then."

It didn't take more than minute for the room to be cleared, ventilator turned on, and she locked the door behind her. Ichi stood there in his usual work outfit: a grey turtleneck under the open cross-collared shirt which trailed down to his knees, a black sash where a token and a red charm hung, and white pants tucked into boots.

"You stink," he ever-so-eloquently announced.

"Very apt thing to say to a lady," Mika drawled. "Shall we then?"

He rolled his grey eyes, and they meandered on. "Maybe if you'd let me come, then you wouldn't have so much trouble." Ichi's hand drifted down to the sword strapped to his waist.

Mika snorted at the distinct pout. "And I told you that you had to watch out for the restaurant today and keep an ear out in the market, remember?"

"Like I always do," he huffed.

"Don't be such a drama queen." They passed by her office and the stairs, where the audible sounds of chatter could be heard, and into the west wing. "Besides, Olivia did say you should take it easy after you went and sprained yourself while training."

"That stupid tree was in the way!"

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that buddy," she said. "I don't think it's all bad. I'm gonna be bouncing all over the place in a week with Irena to prepare for the upcoming event, so you being here works out fine. Maybe you can finally get headway on that packet Olivia assigned you. Don't give me that look. I'm still not helping you on that one. It's your test after all."

Ichi scowled at the reminder, but didn't say anything while she opened the door to the summons room. It was a small room, with a few shelves and chairs pushed to the side to make way for the machinery—a boxed-shaped faded gold structure with a transparent circular door and pipes which traveled up and out the building.

More than a few heads turned their way, faces lighting up. "Hello Master," her Souls called out in unison. Those who didn't simply nodded in their direction, the atmosphere continuing its genial tone.

Mika waved cheerily. "Heya, sorry I'm late."

She heard Ichi murmur "More than late actually," but she chose to ignore it in favor of the hand latched on to her sleeve. A smile crept on her face, and Mika petted the young girl's soft wavy white hair. Rice's wide amber eyes and bright smile bore into her. Coupled with the cute kimono and the serving spoon in her arms, Mika fought down the impulse to squeeze the little Soul's rosy cheeks.

"Hello Master Mika!"

"Hi," she muttered in a more subdued tone. "Sorry I couldn't check in earlier, I got sidetracked. Anyways, how's the kitchen?"

Rice bounced on the heels of her red slippers. "Hawthorne is handling everything right now."

A quick glance at the wall clock told her they had about thirty minutes before dinner rush. "Alright, I'd rather we get back early today."

After one last nuzzle of Rice's hair, Mika padded over to the machine.

The chamber within had enough space to fit at least four people, and to the back were slow rotating gears, the dim golden light highlighting each jutting point the shape of cooking utensils. In the center of the floor was the summoning diagram sketched in white chalk: a star contained by a square and three layered circles containing runes of the Olden Tongue, connected by another three set of circles which displayed the symbols all Attendants knew by heart.

The Primordial were key figures in Tierra's history after all, it was the pillars to their methodology.

The panel next to its door had four gauges sitting at minimal capacity, and a meter determining the amount of Soul Power being produced. Below was a simple slot where the Book of Contracts could be placed.

"Do you think you'll summon someone new Master?" The one nearest to her, Tom Yum, asked. While a head shorter than her and wearing a rather dopey grin, the well-built physique emphasized by the wrappings around his torso and bulky arms meant he was capable of throwing her over his shoulders—on more than one occasion.

Mika let out a noncommittal noise. While it would've been much easier to attempt the direct method of using the specific food as a catalyst, she found this method much challenging and respectful. It could be a pain to commission more concentrated umami, coconut milk and Crystalline Flowers, but to her, it was worth it.

"We'll have to see if my luck holds up," she answered.

He'd slung his boxing gloves around his neck, grin still in full effect. "That's what I'm here for, right?"

Mika chuckled. "I guess so."

"Whoever comes to your calling, Master, we can only hope they are of the decent sort," another voice joined in. She turned to see Zongzi peering into the machine, eyebrows furrowed and mouth set in an uncharacteristic tight line.

"That's if someone does respond… either way, I don't exactly mind," she murmured.

"Eh, it'd be neat if we have someone new to train with. We're slowly reading others' moves," Tom Yum pointed out. "Black Tea and Milk are also getting pretty aggressive when we have team-ups."

"It would be helpful." Zongzi's finger rhythmically tapped the scabbard strapped to his hip, and a slight amount of Soul Power leaked into the air and tickled her core. As if noticing her stare, he folded his arms, effectively hidden under his blue robes. "In any case, it's imperative that we must exercise cautious treading in unknown waters."

Mika couldn't refute such a statement. The process had always been complicated, and even with the newly released contract books, there was a chance of a messy feedback or worse.

Tom Yum tucked his arms behind his head, nose wrinkled. "Do you really have to be so poetic about it?"

"Hm, we'll have to see. Besides, I'm prepared." She gestured to her pouch, frowning at the mere thought of what she may have to do.

Zongzi placed a hand on her shoulder, and they traded hesitant smiles. "No matter, shall we start?"

She simply nodded and plucked the book from the folds of her coat. The crystals embedded on the thick leather cover were pulsating alongside her heartbeat, and once the Book was set, she shivered at the tingling sensation in her core.

Shaking it off, Mika pulled the switch.

Heat engulfed her. It traveled down her sinuses and into her lungs, and no amount of gasping allowed her to breathe. Darkness and hazy colored blots floated in her vision, like drifting feathers amidst the skies so close yet so far to grasp. They came and went, a presence muted as if viewed from beyond foggy glass.

Despite this, her words resonated.

'Blessed I shall be by the Gods Elvira, Kilnorai, and Araga, embodiments of hope.

Balance untainted.

In dreams and desires, be steadfast in remaining unwavering.

In body and mind, let discipline draw forth strength.

So shall the living continue to tread these lands, venerate, evolve and exultation; and pay tribute to the lost.

Thusly, by my will forged by the fires I command and the blade honed by natures' gifts that I call upon the engraved spirits of undying creations.

Our hands shall carve the path in this ever-changing world, this I swear to you, protection to Tierra and all under its domain.

Forever sanctified by our predecessors, we shall remain intertwined till the last ember flickers.

May peace be our resolution, and extinction our absolution.

If you accept this admission of truth, then come forth!'

For each tentative approach that rippled against the silent backdrop, rebuffs became commonplace, and the burn gradually became a coldness that nipped at her. It was a reminder that she wasn't welcome here.

Wait.

Something..? There was a tug, a faint one edging towards her, but it was farther than the others—like an endless echo in a cave.

Who? Where were they?

Another blip, and the cold bit into her skin even as her chest burned.

'Are you there? Can you answer me?' They didn't have enough time but—closer—!

Reality slammed into her, and the blinding light made her reel back. A hand gripped to steady her from behind, and Mika furiously blinked the spots away.

The light had fizzled out, and thick cloud of yellow smoke seeped from the cracks of the machinery as the last of the embers scattered from the pipes, its fine powder drifting down to the floorboards. The gauges displayed an utter depletion, but she didn't have the time to ponder while she shakily regained her bearings.

"Are you alright Master?"

Mika sucked in a ragged breath. "Y-Yeah… that was just a lot deeper than I thought I'd get."

The smoke slowly dissipated, and there was no one within. She fought the urge to slump to the ground, and her burning eyes and dry throat made it exceedingly difficult.

"W-well, better luck next time I suppose." Mika coughed before looking over to the group. "We should head out. We might make it to the edge of Harbor Beach by dusk if we're quick enough. Gather in Maple Park at fifteen minutes."

There was a chorus of agreement, but they let out identical shouts of her name when she tripped, catching herself at the last second. Mika gave them a sheepish grin and shooed them off, adding in a wave of reassuring aura for good measure. They were clearly hesitant, but a reminder of the time got them filing out of the room.

All except Ichi and Rice, who helped her sit.

"Do you really wanna go out today? You're looking really pale." Ichi carefully pried the book from her hand. When did she even grab that? "I could substitute for you. It's just a two day trip back and forth."

"Says the one with the healing ankle," Mika retorted.

Ichi narrowed his eyes. "I'm serious. I can just ask Milk to speed up the healing while you rest."

"Relying on magic to heal isn't exactly beneficial in the long run." Mika leaned back and draped a hand over her face. The world was still spinning. "Besides, the feedback just got to me. It'll pass."

"… Do you need some tea, Master? It might help with the dizziness," Rice meekly suggested.

Tea sounded nice. The goosebumps on her body hadn't left yet. "Chamomile please..?"

"Oh, right away!" The door was thrown open, and the hurried footsteps faded.

If she was being honest with herself, the feedback was but a drop in the ocean compared to the lingering echo of emptiness that encounter left her. It didn't bother her as much as it did the first time they performed a summoning, an itch in the back of her mind compared to the outright slam that made her eyes roll to the back of her head, but it didn't erase the other sensations; a distinct amount of flavors varying from Soul to Soul.

Their Soul Power was like a beacon in the dreamscape, she could almost taste it. It would be criminal to describe it in simple words, and it was hard to pin it down exactly. With time, a defined taste was sure to come, but now, it was like she'd burned her tongue—especially after today.

Perhaps they weren't ready yet. It wouldn't be the first time a Soul hesitated.

Mika let out a hoarse chuckle, cracking her neck and squinting at the new flood of light. "You know, sometimes I regret my life choices."

Ichi cocked an eyebrow at her. "Don't we all?"

She grinned. "Oh, like tripping over tree branches?"

"Wha—for Sage's sake, it's like you're asking for pain."

"I love you too, partner."

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Red and orange soon dyed the sky when they burst into the forest. Wind whipped across their faces as they raced along the branches, thick with the smell of salt and dirt in the air.

Mika held on for dear life as Tom leapt above the tree-line with a cheer. The shores of Harbor Beach were visible, but she didn't have the privilege of enjoying the view, not that she could help it with the stinging of her eyes. While her hood helped, she regretted not bringing those new goggles she got from Gramps.

She could just imagine his smirk accompanied by the 'I-told-you-so,' look.

They landed near a bush, and something prickled at the back of her head. "Dodge!"

"Wha—whoa!" was all she heard as they ducked low, and Mika gripped harder. "Sorry, we don't have time for you!"

Tom jumped towards a tree just as the child-sized rabbit with glowing red eyes swung its weapon at them. She heard the bark explode into splinters at Tom's feet, and they were launched up to the upmost layers of branches. A shot echoed behind them, and after a few seconds of tree-hopping and terse silence, Milk closed in.

"Are you two alright?"

Although her expression remained unchanged, the glint in her eyes spoke volumes. Tom nodded stiffly, and she mutely let her eyes travel between both of them before moving back into formation.

It was then that Mika felt the vibrations around his neck, and her arms loosened. Her cheeks burned. "Sorry."

"No worries, that kind of surprised me too," he admitted.

Mika snorted. "For a moment there I thought they'd have to write 'death by carrot' on my tombstone. Wouldn't that be breaking news for the newspapers?"

Tom, for his part, managed a soft chuckle as he maneuvered alongside the others towards their destination. Though the wind was loud, his words were clear: "Don't worry, Master. I'll protect you for as long as I breathe."

She nuzzled into his neck. The smell of sandalwood and apple cider vinegar tickled her nose. "… Of course you would."

Mika was his Master, after all.

"Even if you weren't, I'd still come running to you." Gah, he heard.

"There are three behind us, engaging now!" Brownie thankfully announced, and a shot rung in her ears. Another group of stray Fallen, it seemed.

Zongzi momentarily stopped in his tracks, eyes roving over the group. "Miss Black Tea, move in to the rear."

There was a shift, and they resumed their jumps through the forest. Honestly, she wished she could just be running alongside them instead of basically being the load, but her stamina wasn't up to par. Not that it would help much, since any one of her Souls could go running around Gloriville without breaking much of a sweat if they wanted to.

More shots to the right ensued, and Brownie eventually returned, assuming Black Tea's original position to the right. Smoking gun hefted behind him, he gave a curt nod. "Targets neutralized. I've sustained no injuries."

"Let's keep it that way," Mika interjected.

The trend of shuffling formation whilst dealing with threats continued until one last leap that nearly made her choke on her own saliva, and they stopped on a rather wide clearing nestled between old trees. The sky was a faded orange and purple now, and the light was dying out.

Orders were given, and the campsite was being set up by Zongzi. Black Tea and Milk were off to gather wood, Tom and Brownie some food, while Foie was on first guard shift. Mika sat by the fire, occasionally stirring the boiling pot of MRE-style tangy tomato and meat stew. While she preferred fresh ingredients to work with, the released rations provided by the Guild's own research department for this year were proving to be splendid creations.

Their pineapple fruit cake and cinnamon buns were to die for. Sure, they'd be leaving bricks in the toilet, but she digressed. The crackers and grape jelly still did the job, and it tasted fresh too.

Mika sipped at her instant coffee as she threw a dash of salt and pepper in the pot. The smell was lovely too, leaps and bounds from what a few peers had coined, 'an artificial, nauseating glob that really only served to remind you that home-cooked meals are the best,' or more specifically, 'an insult to wet cardboard, if you could even call it that.'

"Master," Mika blinked at Foie's close proximity.

"Oh, would you like me to make you some coffee too?" She raised her travel mug, liquid sloshing lazily at the movement. "I find this a nice reprieve from a hectic day."

Her mouth quirked in a small smile, an improvement! "I am fine. I just wanted to sit beside you."

Mika smiled. "Well, there's no need to ask. Come sit with me."

Foie gracefully sat on the log, an act that still both confounded and got her slightly pouting. She'd never really managed to perfect that. Ah, but anyways. "I still do wish we could just hurry on to the ranch, being out here isn't exactly a luxury. How many did we sweep through, around ten different groups of stray?"

"There were thirteen in total, averaging at four per group," Foie answered.

Not that it was that surprising, since it was their obligation to clean up during trips to any ports, trading hubs, and farms. It had been mandated by the newly crowned eight king of Gloriville just after the uprising in Wang Li 233 to 235, in response to the general chaos that transpired over the 'usage' of Food Souls and the unrest regarding Midgar's lockdown. The lockdown itself had been impressively thorough, and not a whit of information made through for its reason, although there were plenty of theories—the most prevalent being infighting between the Noble Houses and the royal family. Ever since then, it'd been a topic amongst every citizen for generations.

"A walk by the beach would likely be disturbed by some troublemaking Bulimia. How unfortunate, the view's painting worthy right now." She threw some thyme, and nibbled on the last of her crackers. "On another note, how are you holding up?"

Foie tipped her head forward, the slight narrowing of her eyes the only signs she was heard. Another sip of her coffee, and she tugged her blanket closer. It was pretty cool in this area, especially since the seasons were shifting.

"I am fine," Her blue eyes were transfixed towards the fire. "Do you require warmth, Master?"

"And I thought I told you that 'Mika' is fine when it's just us?" She threw her a lopsided grin. "Zongzi's out of sight, though I can see he's almost done."

Foie gently set her scepter down to her lap. It was a delicate gesture. "… Master Mika."

She still hadn't let go of the title. Oh well. "I'm good Foie, the blanket and coffee's doing miracles. You're not bothering me."

There was a hesitant nod, and Foie's shoulder's relaxed a fraction.

"I've finished," Zongzi announced.

True to his word, the three tents flawlessly up. Mika shot him a grateful smile as he walked up to them and sat on one of the adjacent logs.

There wasn't really much she thought proper to discuss out in the wilderness, and the crackles of the kindling were lulling her into a meditative state. Mika sipped once more at her coffee. Stars and the two moons greeted them overhead, and Mika found herself subconsciously smiling at the sight. Disregarding the lurking dangers and the lack of everyday utilities, the night was nice.

"We're back," Milk's voice cut through the silence.

Black Tea hefted an armful of twigs and branches, and dropped them near the dim fire pit. "That should suffice until the morning."

"Good work, you two." Mika drained her drink and moved closer to the boiling pot. It was ready, and she maneuvered it to the rickety foldable table she still hadn't replaced. She unfortunately hadn't gotten around to it. Maybe she should pester Rayleigh about it, it'd distract him. "You saw nothing of note?"

"There were some wild berries we passed by, but since that was not our objective, I deigned it unnecessary to take any," Black Tea stood attentively, and if she saluted, the little act was momentarily ignored. "Your container has been filled, boiled and cooling as per your instructions."

At that, she handed over the leather-skin water container, and Mika murmured her thanks. Really, she had to get Black Tea to tone it down a little.

"Apart from that, we quickly disposed of a group of Fallen."

"How big..?" Mika turned her gaze to Black Tea's ever-silent shadow.

Milk blinked, processing the question. "It was… another group of animal-turned-Fallen, about five of them. They seemed newly made."

Newly made? Considering that perhaps other Attendants had made their rounds, it wasn't far off that more animals were being affected as a result.

"Hm, we must keep an eye out then." Zongzi looked over at the forest. "Perhaps it would be best if I take the third shift then."

"As much of a good idea that could be," Mika produced a stack of paper plates from her pack, and distributed it to everyone. "Let's eat up first before any more planning. Hopefully—"

Bushes rustled, and everyone turned to the sight of Tom carrying three flopping salmon. Twigs and leaves stuck out of his unruly-than-ever hair, and he bore a toothy grin. "We got some pretty huge fish, Master! The traders we accidentally came across with were really generous."

That was a pleasant surprise. The port at the edge of Harbor Beach usually received a lot of traffic, and being able to procure fish—and salmon too!—carefully cultivated at Nevras had got to be difficult. It was a shame that Tierra's waters didn't have much to offer in the way of sea life, but considering the adverse effects the Fallens' miasma had on the wildlife, they should be grateful.

In normal circumstances, they would.

Brownie stood behind him, immaculate and not a hair out of place, brushing a leaf away from their goods. "We're back Master. Apologies for the delay, there were a few issues."

The twitch of his brow almost made her snort. Mika instead kept half an ear out as she served a generous amount of stew to those with plates. "Did they get waylaid by the tide?"

"No, they said one of those octopi Fallen attacked their boat and they had to make an emergency stop here," Tom shrugged. "Saw the damage, their ship has a lot of holes. It's amazing that they even managed to get to land."

"We've sent out an SOS so one of the Hilena Coast Guards will come by to pick them up, we've made sure they're secure," Brownie added. "They have hired mercenaries as well, so they will be fine."

Mika plopped a bigger serving on her plate and sashayed over to the rickety table. "Good, good. Did you clear out the area?"

Brownie's eyes sharpened. "We have, Master."

The curl of her lips came unbidden. "Great, but we better keep an eye out. Milk and Black Tea got beset by a few Fallen earlier. Is that clear?"

"Understood, Master," everyone replied.

With that out of the way, Mika gestured with her head, putting down her meal and rummaging through her backpack. Brownie rolled up his sleeves and took the salmon despite the other's protests. "In any case, would you like me to clean it, Master? Shall I also fillet it?"

"Just place it on the table."

"You didn't have to grab it like that," Tom muttered under his breath.

Brownie spared him a brief glance, earning him a particularly bristled look. "You best be seated."

"Oh come on, I can help!"

"No."

She caught the smirk he hid under his hand, and shook her head.

Considering the size of the fish, they had quite the generous amount of portions. Sashimi for dinner didn't sound so bad, and the freshness of the seafood would be wonderful. Oh, maybe they could lightly sear it? She had a small bottle of olive oil in her pack.

"If you two are quite done then…" Mika brought out one of her knives. "Go ahead and do one, I'll work on the other. Go sit Tom, this will be quick."

No, he did not just pout. 'I swear…'

"Black Tea, please go tend to the fire." She then eyed the salmon. Ten blocks, five pieces each. "Foie, can you summon some ice for us?"

Foie wordlessly waved her scepter, and large chunks of ice appeared by her feet. "Thanks! Now, place it in the ice quick."

While they waited for the seafood to cool, Mika nibbled on her stew. She moaned in delight at the complexities in the dish: from the soft and chewy ground beef to the potatoes that melted in her mouth, the acidity and slight sweetness of the tomato paste highlighting each bite. It was only when a hand settled on her shoulder that she came back to reality.

Strangely enough, Brownie's cheeks seemed to be a shade darker. Maybe the shadows were playing tricks on her eyes. "Master, we should start. You've nearly finished your stew."

Blinking, she found that there were about three bites left.

She struggled not to pout.

.

They set out just as the first rays of light peeked from the horizon, pace slower than yesterday. It would only take them a few hours to reach the ranch, and there were lesser encounters of Fallen. Mika was thankful since she'd already lost a quarter of her supplies.

'I should probably stop by the blacksmith and research department soon. Sure, I could just produce my own crystals even if they're weaker, but that would take a while and my schedule's already a mess. I'd also really rather not use the other archaic methods. Hopefully I can convince Pudding.'

"We're here, Master." Tom's voice startled her, and as soon as the words registered, she hopped off his back.

Golden leaves danced alongside the crisp, gentle breeze down the path, and the field of tall grass eventually stopped at the foot of the fenced gate. The bold lettering on the sign hanging above their heads said: "Welcome to Gold Tree Ranch, Home of the Best Produce in Gloriville." It popped all the more against the mountain slightly obscured by fog in the distance, the tip of a lighthouse could be seen atop, and the forest at its feet was completely covered in white.

Pushing past the creaky gate, the barrier pulsed one-two-and a chime, and warmth coursed through her.

From afar, inside of the taller fenced sections was a hollering woman riding a tamed Chappybara, wrangling cattle into a farmhouse. The squat white brick house with foggy glass windows to their right hosted a bearded middle-aged man wearing a straw hat idly sitting on a stool by the door, a carving knife in one hand and a wooden horse in another.

The man noticed them as they walked closer and grinned, pocketing his things. "Oh, so it's ya folks, eh? Haven't seen ya'll in a while!"

Mika giggled. "Yeah, it's nice to see you too, Vince."

Vince stood up to his full height, drawing attention to his muscled frame barely hidden by a frayed brown vest and gray tunic, and held his hand out. She grasped it tightly, and in return, received a nearly arm-crushing force. "If yer 'ere for some pork n' chicken then yer just in time! We're about to butcher some of 'em."

"Careful there, yer accent's bleeding outcha," Mika said.

He guffawed. "Guess it is. Forgive an ole fellow Southerner, will ya?"

To this, she swatted at his arm with a smirk. "Eh, I may consider it if you bring us in for a cup of coffee. Your wife would be aghast."

"What she doesn't know won't hurt." Vince let his gaze fall to her friends. "How's life treating ya lot?"

"I'd say we're pretty good." Tom grinned up at him, and formed a fist. Vince mirrored the gesture, only to snap his arm out and pull him forward, locking her poor Soul into a chokehold.

"Yer too slow, chump," Vince drawled.

Tom yelped as an elbow dug into his scalp. Brownie's disapproving sigh nearly made her chuckle, and she sensed that her other Souls were content to watch the chaos unfold. It was only after a few seconds of back-to-back banter that he released Tom whose hair now resembled a bird's nest.

"Well, with that out of the way, let me hear about ya others!"

They exchanged pleasantries while he herded them into the house. It remained unchanged, with the living room near the unlit fireplace, and various herbs stacked by the windowsill not unlike the Guild's. Paintings and family pictures adorned the walls, and colorful doodles peppered the bottom, a not-so-hidden box of crayons tucked under one of the floorboards.

Mika sunk into one of the sofas, and the others followed. She tugged off her coat with a contented sigh.

"So, I reckon ya'll need around a week's amount, dontcha?" Vince asked. "Ya Souls also need some for yerselves, wouldn't do ya any good to be walking around at low freshness values."

"While your worries are appreciated," Zongzi answered. "There's really no need. Master gives us exceptional meals."

Tom smiled in amusement, though it came out more crooked than usual as he wrestled his hair back into its less messy form. "Come to think of it, you and Brownie spend more time trying to make Master eat than she does to us."

Mika flushed, blubbering out half-hearted excuses. Her attempts to hide behind a pillow went ultimately useless when the chorus of laughter rang clear. Gods, it wasn't her fault time slipped by so fast when she was doing something!

Zongzi's chuckles soon mellowed down. "That, I shall not deny."

"Ya don't say? Hah, that's ironic, considering yer job, kid."

"I'm just busy, is all."

Dammit, okay, maybe she'd been a little too neglectful as of recent.

"Forgive me, but I personally feel that you tend to forget your personal well-being when devoting to work, Master." A hand settled on her arm, and she reluctantly peeked out. Brownie's gaze held nothing but sincerity. "As admirable your work ethics are, we'd like nothing but to see you in good health, as you do for ours."

At the sound of agreement next to her, she met Black Tea's softer look. "If you'd like, we can set a more concrete schedule to ensure you receive a proper nutritional diet."

"I can come by during your training with Miss Olivia," Milk suggested.

"If it helps, I can go with you when we're finished with team training." Tom paused, and his expression took on an anticipatory one. "Heh, I bet Miss Olivia's going to be happy about that, with Ichi out for another week or so."

Despite herself, she snorted.

"That would work, and I'm sure Pudding has plenty of words to offer you." Zongzi tilted his head at her with an openly considering look. "And Master, just remember that we're here."

The flutter in her chest and the renewed surge of warmth in her core nearly made her eyes water.

However, Mika found herself sweating at Vince's intense look. After a small dilemma over cheese bread and croissants, Vince disappeared into the kitchen.

.

Staying overnight at the ranch was an unplanned but wonderful opportunity, especially since the view of the mountain from her vantage point on the second floor of the guest building was unparalleled. Mika had snuck up to the roof as well, and the faint sounds of waves crashing against the cliff-side and the calls of a few animals in the farmhouse quickly lulled her to sleep. It was a different vibe from the constantly busy streets of Hilena, which would only quiet down once it was past one in the morning.

Speaking of the farmhouse, there was a few issues that occurred that had pushed back their orders—machinery had broken after a trainee mishandled it—and it sent Vince into a mood. They all agreed to steer clear from it until it all cooled off.

So when she awoke early the next morning and headed over to Vince's workshop, Mika didn't even blink at the spread of meat-based food being prepared.

"Morning, kid," Vince briefly nodded his head towards her as he dropped another piece of spring roll into the bubbling pot.

"Yo." She took a seat on one of the stools and stared at the half-finished bowl of salad, with the cucumbers still on the chopping board. "Do you need help?"

Vince shook his head. "Nah, I won't take long. Feel free to take a bite though."

Mika poked one of the fried chicken breasts. "Alright, don't be shocked if all you see is an empty plate."

"Har, har, kid. Yer suitors won't be too happy 'bout that."

She let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, really? What a shame then."

He snorted in response, shooting her an amused look. "Yer a heartbreaker kid, what would those poor Souls of yer think?"

"My Food Souls?" she echoed. Mika took a big bite, and a loud crunch ensued. Damn, this was crispy, and it was seasoned just right. The rosemary, thyme and paprika combo, plus the tenderness of the meat was way too mouth-watering. "… While I won't deny the possibility, I'd have to disagree. We're all friends."

"Ah, yer hopeless, lass," Vince turned around, plate of piping hot shanghai rolls in hand.

"I'm only being realistic." She hummed then plucked a spring roll. Oh, that's interesting; carrot, onions, a slight hint of garlic, chili and spices, and ground beef. A variation of lumpiang shanghai then. "It wouldn't do great to assume anything that can make things awkward. Honestly, if they're that interested, then they're going to have to deal with my messy schedule."

Mika lowered her greasy hand, tipping over the chicken bone. "And at any rate, I'm fine this way."

"Like I said, yer really hopeless." He pushed a small plate of ketchup towards her. "Oh, and seriously, don't finish it all off. Some of us do need the nutrition, ey?"

She rolled her eyes. "In yer dreams, ya big lug, there's a whole banquet here!"

"Ya feast like a starving dog out of luck."

He easily dodged the piece of bone. Cheeky bastard.

It didn't take long before Vince finished cooking, and for the rest of the team to arrive. Lunch was a short and loud affair, and it was nearly afternoon when Vince told them their request had been pushed up the queue.

They didn't have to wait long, and they were brought to one of the many plain white buildings where they stored the goods. The old butcher was very efficient in his craft, and the fresh cuts of pork, beef and chicken were carefully sealed into the many containers they had. Her liberal usage of prototype preservation tags aside, the knapsacks she distributed them into were given to her Souls to guard. Its lifespan was supposedly a week, but better safe than sorry.

Their group marched out, and bidding quick farewells to every worker they passed.

Just as they reached the front gate, Vince stopped them with a wry look. "Leaving so soon, kid?"

Mika huffed. "Yeah, I'd rather not dilly-dally at the moment. I promised I'd be back by afternoon today at least."

"Aight, be careful out there then."

.

Mika let out a low chuckle, crouched against the rock formation despite a few stabbing at her thighs. She fingered one of her weapons, eyeing the approaching enemies with a grin that promised nothing but pain.

Truly, Lady Luck liked to play.

AN: This chapter is my tribute in honor of 2019, and a slight indulgence in getting my head back in working order after the whirlwind of a week. I was debating on whether to cut it a bit, but while I did trim some areas down, my desire for heart-to-heart talks with the Souls won out in the end.

Writing the other Souls is really fun, and although trying to pin down their mannerisms and make it distinct from one another is kind of difficult, it's an enjoyable experience. That in mind, criticism is highly welcome!

Thank you for the favorites and follows! (And Ameri Lie – Buckle up and enjoy the ride!)

Q: If you could actually marry one of the Food Souls, who would you pick? I'm stuck with either Cassata (because of his teasing nature, plus he's insightful and protective) or Pudding (he's responsible, much more organized than me, and mature). Both of them are also capable of getting my head straight if I'm stuck in a rut.