Morgan is excited! It's the first time she'll be visiting Cho'sin. Say'ri and Robin told her many stories about it, but it's different seeing such a marvelous city with her own eyes. Ever since they arrived, Morgan has been captivated by Cho'sin. It's nothing like Ylisse.
Being curious and clumsy, her parents have a hard time keeping Morgan out of trouble. So far nothing is broken or on fire.
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She stopped running and spun as cherry blossoms softly fell around them. A pretty river of dark-blue is just past the trees and she can hear ducks quacking. Warm sunlight feels fuzzy upon her skin.
"Shall we eat? We have been walking all day."
"Oooh, yes please! I'm starving!" Morgan said.
Robin chuckled. "Me too."
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Say'ri cherishes these moments. The war has been over for years but she never forgets how brutal it can be. Losing friends, the terrifying bloodshed, and injuries from fighting a longstanding war is heartbreaking. She's happy that they can finally spend time as a family and not as soldiers. "I know of a place I would go to a lot before joining the Shepherds."
"The same shop where I proposed to you?" Robin asked.
"Yes. It has the best noodles in Cho'sin."
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It's a small rural noodle shop. Three cooks are stationed there and Morgan guesses that only eight people could stand in the shop. The savory broth and fresh vegetables are mouth-watering! Pork and beef too?! Her feet quickly propelled to the noodle shop. Unlike the taverns in Ylisse this shop is without doors, giving customers a clear view of the park across the road. Morgan's dark eyes scanned the menu. They all look great!
Robin, being wise and knowing his daughter, chuckled. "Order as much as you want. It's on me."
"Really?! You're the best, dad! Oh and," she laughed. "You too, mother!"
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Slurping up delicious noodles, Morgan was silent for once. She listened to her parents' quiet chatter. Three empty bowls are stacked up and she turned around, forth bowl in hand. "Mom, dad. This has been the best trip ever. I really like Cho'sin. The people are so kind, the creatures are adorable, the museums are creative, and the food is the best I've ever eaten! I even got a cool souvenir!"
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Say'ri smiled. "I'm glad you like the necklace. It might not be as flashy as Ylisse jewelry but Cho'sin's jewelry is made of heart and quality."
"I love my new sword too!"
"Sword?" Her brows furrowed. "I don't remember the smith making one when we were there."
"Dad bought it for me."
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Morgan is a soldier like her parents but her lack of swordsmanship and fatal clumsiness are a disastrous combination.
Say'ri glared at Robin who sheepishly grinned. "She wanted it. I felt bad I didn't get her anything. We can teach her how to wield it. Besides," the tactician applied charm. "I'm sure Morgan will be as skilled as her mother, the best swordmaster I know."
The dark-haired woman's eyes gleam skeptically but her heart melted by such a compliment. Though cunning, she knows Robin means it. "And I'm sure she'll learn a lot by facing such a strong opponent." If she's going to learn the moves of a swordmaster then you'll be the one she hacks away at.
Robin sensed the sharpness in his wife's voice and returned to his noodles.
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A couple walked by, looking lost. They aimlessly wandered around. They must be tourists. Say'ri and Robin left the noodle shop to help them.
Morgan sat and drummed her fingers on the wooden bar with her fingers. Restless and bored she decided to practice her magic. Outside the noodle shop, Morgan weighed her trusted tome in her hand.
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Closing her eyes she tried to visualize how Robin casted magic. She wanted to be the best tactician in the world. Her dad is a hero and she wants to be just as extraordinary.
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Intense fire crackled from the spell book's pages. Morgan focused on it. Her magic tried to communicate with the wild flames. Hit the boulder over there!
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The fire lunges like a serpent but retreats back into the tome. "That's never happened before," Morgan muttered. Flipping through the pages she wondered if she had mispronounced a spell when the tome violently shook. Startled, Morgan dropped it as sparks popped. A roaring pillar of fire shot up from the tome and whistled as it flew straight at the noodle shop.
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Boom!
Chucks of wood and earthenware rain down. Only a smoking frame of the noodle shop withstands such a powerful blaze. The employees, who were standing just outside, glared at Morgan. People on the road stare at Morgan in shock.
"Morgan!"
Uh-oh.
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A fuming Say'ri and a worried Robin ran towards her. Morgan quickly picked up her tome and deposited it in her baggy cloak.
"Are you okay?!" Robin asked. "What happened?"
"Fie! She's gone and burned down the noodle shop! I told you to only use magic in a fight or in the training yard."
"But it was cool. If there had been a group of bandits –sorry." Robin cleared his throat and replaced it with a firm frown, crossing his arms. "Say'ri is right, Morgan. You don't have control over your magic yet."
Say'ri's eye twitched wrathfully. Oh no. It's the stern mother glare.
I am in so much trouble… Morgan laughed nervously. "It's a good thing you're royalty, mother."