Chapter 2: Concoction

Mayu opened the door to the workshop to see Lias drowsing in a chair. I didn't know he was still working... Actually.. I've never really noticed him at all. Mayu winced at the thought of not noticing one of her own "co-workers". The peace and quiet in the workshop was foreign to Mayu; on any other day, peace and quiet would do two things to Mayu. 1. Confuse her, wasn't there things worth making noise over? and 2. Remind her of Lord Albel. She swooned at the thought of her "beloved" Lord and wondered where he was, and what he was dreaming of.

The daydreaming came to an abrupt halt when Lias waved his hand in front of her, "Are you alright?" he asked ever-so calmly. Mayu shook her head to clear her thoughts, but before she could answer, he eyes went to Lias' hat. That hat... "Oh um, yes, I'm fine." Lias smiled at her, "Good, I was worried that the fumes had gotten to you. Of course, working over a stove would probably give you some kind of an immunity I suppose." Mayu winced again, he's apparently noticed me though.. "Heh heh, y-yeah, I guess it would."

Mayu spent the next hour over the stove, adding random ingredients into a pot, creating another... "stew". She stared at the odd colored water to see her reflection, instead she saw.. "AH!" Mayu twisted her head around so fast it made her dizzy, next to her stood Lias, observing her. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I frighten you?"

"N-n-... n-no."

"I'm sorry, I don't really have much else to do, so I thought I'd watch." He took a step back,

"Oh... It's alright, you were so quiet, and when I saw your reflection, well... you get it."

Lias walked over to the nearest wall and leaned his hammer against it. "I'm not sure what's in it, but the smell is.. remarkable." Mayu blinked, "Do you.. want to try some?" Lias' eyes lit up, "Sure."

The night progressed and the two spent the night talking, "So, how did you become a chef?"

"Well, my father was a member of the Black Brigade, so my mother and I kinda... joined."

"... Joined the Black Brigade?"

"Oh no! When I say joined, I mean we worked there, as cooks."

"Oh I see, how long did you work there?" Mayu thought for a moment and counted on her fingers, "About... 10 years?"

"10 years! Wait... Lord Glou has only been dead for... Have you met the Glou Nox?"

"Glou? Of course! He was..." Mayu giggled, "He was my number one taste tester."

Lias couldn't help but laugh at the thought. Mayu told him stories of several of the strange foods she would make poor Glou taste, both of them bursting into fits of laughter. "So how did you become a blacksmith?" Lias smiled-CALMLY-again making Mayu feel uneasy and relaxed at the same time... or maybe she was confused? "My father was a well known Alchemist, he wanted me to follow in his foot steps, but.. I couldn't."

".. Oh? You didn't like Alchemy?"

"No, it's not a matter of liking a disliking, it was talent. I had none for it. So my mother suggested working for a local blacksmith, and here I am."

A silence came over the two for a while, Lias looked at the clock, "Ah! Our commissioner arrives tomorrow, perhaps you should get some rest. After all you'll need to if you want to be awake for the awards ceremony when you beat Lady Nel."

"... wait... HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT!"

"You said you were going to beat her, remember?"

"... you heard that all the way in here?"

----------------------

Interesting ending huh?