Sorry for the interim. Utterly no reason to release this now instead of later after i finish Wonderland part 2 (with accompanying art). I could have put this up as a one-shot… but then I remembered that it takes FFN several hours before a new story gets posted— and I like having all my one-shots in one tidy collection. /also its been over half a year since an update which makes me ashamed and sad/
As for the reason for this interruption…
I NEED PRACTICE.
Enjoy.
Interlude Fragment - A Hellish Meal
Diligence and perseverance. Most junior bracers nowadays lacked those two qualities, in his opinion. Headstrong as they are for adventure, they would be met with the cruel reality of actual bracer work— most of which involved mundane tasks like picking up lost objects or fetching beast hides.
Arios Maclaine, however, was not a junior bracer. He was part of the top brass, bested only by a few. He was kind and thoughtful, firmly passionate yet tempered with infinite patience. His resume of skills and talents bordered on the unimaginable, his sword arm unchallenged. A true-bred renaissance man.
He would handle any work for free if it were for an altruistic cause. Which was why he accepted his current request, as banally unexciting it may have sounded.
"One-fourth teaspoons of salt," he said under his breath. With hands that had trained for years in the coarse lifestyle of a warrior, it took him more effort to measure the ingredients as delicately as that of a civilian. He was by no means a terrible chef; he only lacked time to hone his skill with the pan the way he does with his sword. It was for this reason that he had woken up early to practice in secret.
And practice he shall.
Seven in the morning, only minutes before their designated meal time, Arios Maclaine wiped a cloth on his brow. He had done it: a fine specimen, worthy to serve in any high-class establishment. Years of traveling around the continent and sampling food from the far reaches of Zemuria had gone into this masterpiece. He was confident he had done the Goddess' work, and he did so with his whole heart and soul.
But he did not let it show on his face. For he was a man of stoicism- a man wearing a cold mask of professionalism that was expected of someone of his rank and caliber.
With only the finishing touches remaining, Arios had left his guard down. As he picked up the bottle of chocolate syrup, an anonymous force tackled his legs. He wobbled, mind in shock from the sudden attack. A drop of chocolate stained his apron, although fortunately, that was all that he had spilled.
He stared at the little girl with bright green hair clung to his waist… and smiled as another girl— his daughter— bowed her head apologetically.
"Morning!" greeted KeA. She radiated with early morning sunshine— a refreshing dose of dopamine for his hours sunk into babysitting the two girls.
Shizuku, ever the reserved girl, stifled a yawn. Arios knew that his daughter was not one for mornings, and he could not help but chuckle at the layer of crust in her sleepy eyes. When he had gone to bed, the two girls were still wide awake, intent on spending the night in merry conversation and playtime.
As both a father and as a babysitter for KeA, he had to make sure the two girls had only the best of times together, scarce as they were. And for that, they needed sufficient energy to last them an entire day.
"Pancakes?" Arios asked as plates of freshly-baked pancakes were brought to the table.
The girls marveled at the scrumptious offering— thin, crisp, golden pastries, folded and garnished with syrupy butter and buttery syrup. Their roving eyes sparkled as more chocolate flowed out from where their knives cut into its crunchy exterior. Its sugary scent overwhelmed the nose, evident with how Zeit, curled up in the living room, curiously sniffed the air. Throwing manners to the wind, the two girls happily dug into their meals.
Arios Maclaine nodded with pride, eager to cook more.
What a GLORIOUS SUCCESS, ladies and gentlemen. Arios Maclaine has successfully made chocolate pancakes.
Helltaker is such a meme.
PS I am watching way too much british web videos.