Chapter 34 - Vast and tranquil, like a sea

She ran home as fast as she could but, after she nearly tripped on the snow, she slowed down a bit, her mastery of Shi unable to keep up with her speed.

So that’s her limit for now.

Seems like speed is a problem.

Yes.

But she was actually running quite quickly, do you think it’s the passive boost for Shi users that Ophelia talked about?

Ah? Maybe. I did not really feel anything…

You’re too accustomed to high speed.

Maybe.

We actually did not slow down that much as, with her Shi snow-shoes, Vivianne was a lot more proficient at walking over snow than running.s.

Until now she had basically put in more effort to get to the same results and, looking at her face, you could feel she was berating herself in her head, feeling like a dumbass.

When we finally arrived home, putting our outdoor clothes down on the hangers intended for this purpose, Dad greeted us with a smile.

“Well well, that’s a bit late to show up isn’t it? We’re already halfway through it!” He wasn’t mad, just laughing at his daughter’s short-of-breath face, red from cold and effort.

“I lost myself in my training eheheh. Sorry Dad!”

“Bah, it’s nothing. I’m happy to see that you’re so interested in your new training that you forgot the time.” He seemed genuinely happy.

“Yes! Now let’s help you to cook!”

“Indeed. Come with me sweetheart.”

The house smelled of cheese, onions and bacon, and happy bantering could be heard coming from the kitchen, mainly Noa talking like a gatling to a silent interlocutor who, if I had to guess, should have been Crisnée.

“Well, it’s about time!” exclaimed Noa when we finally entered, the smell of food even stronger in the kitchen.

Multiple pans were being heated over the main stove, one on the border with a large disk of cheese melting slowly, one with onions sizzling in a sea of butter and water, and the last one full of cube-shaped bacon being actively stirred by Cris so they wouldn’t burn.

“Oh? Oh! We’re cooking a Tartiflette?!”

“Ahahah yes! I was sure it would make everyone happy.” He answered with a laugh, Noa showing his approval by shaking a triumphal fist in the air, then quickly going back to cutting more onions.

“What can I do?” Vi asked, putting me in my personal overseer chair before taking a cooking apron.

“Rinse the half-potatoes I’m working with then cut them into slices.” Dad answered quickly, showing potatoes cut neatly in half so that they don't roll around, making them usable by Vi.

“Okay!” She washed her hand and went quickly to work.

There was some mishap here and there as they were cooking, unsurprising with four people working together, including three children but, all in all, it went great.

When all the onions had been cooked, they added cream and reduced it slowly as the potatoes were still being cooked.

The bacon, ready before everything else, had been set aside till it was needed, which happened when the potatoes were nearly ready.

It was then added to the onions-cream mix and slowly stirred, as the potatoes were spread over the melted cheese and, once those two things were done, Dad took the pan where the main mix was, as he was the only one strong enough in the kitchen to move the 4kg+ ensemble, and transferred it in the cheese-potatoes one, taking care of not breaking the potatoes while he covered them with the help of the children.

Once that was done, they were nearing the end of the actual cooking. They used the remaining potatoes to cover the mix and, finally, covered the whole thing with the large circular cheese rind.

“Okay! Now let’s set the table!”

The time was about 6pm, and we had to let the Tartiflette mix fry for at least half-an-hour, maybe an hour, if what Dad said was correct.

They took me with them and started setting the table, Mom joining us at this point to help.

She dug out an old but very pretty tablecloth, talking about how her grand-mother at gave it to her for her marriage, six years ago, to which both Mom and Dad smiled, immersed for a bit in reminiscence of this joyous event.

“You…” She pointed at the twins. “...were only one-and-a-half a year old, and your teething was a nightmare, you were crying aaaall the time!” She said while laughing, Noa and Crisnée helping her empty the table, then putting on the nice red tablecloth.

“But during our actual marriage ceremony you quieted down, you were so cute.”

“Like Ayna?” Asked Vi.

“Just like Ayna, yes. Well, a bit bigger, but still super cute!” She fondled their hair before going back to work.

After the nice tablecloth came the cutlery, an ensemble of artistic ironware, different than our usual woodware, and the plates weren’t our wooden ones, but sandstone, their colour a soft brown-yellow hue.

They finished to set the table just in time, it appeared, as a heavy “Knock-knock-knock!” Sounds echoed from the front door.

If this is Charlotte…

Yeah, she must have arms like legs hahaha!

Crisnée sprang into action, not even waiting for the other before she rushed toward the door.

Vi quickly followed, launching a gaze toward Noa who, with their strange tacit way of speaking, understood what she wanted and quickly went to pick me up in her stead.

When we arrived Crisnée was already in the arms of the woman, hugging her with literal inhuman strength (for a eight-years-old) as she was a Shi user.

Unbothered, the towering woman in the doorframe was slowly petting her hair with her wrinkled hands, as a bright smile was illuminating her face.

“Come in, come in, it’s cold outdoors.” Quickly invited Dad, closing the door behind them as Crisnée nearly dragged Charlotte behind her, taking her to me and the twins.

“This is Charlotte.” She said with a smile, anchored to the old woman’s left arm.

“Hello!”

Hi! You look nice!” The two of them reacted extremely positively, as she was clearly important to Crisnée. And, after all, the maid’s smile was indeed warm and nice, so why not?

She looked around sixty, was large and tall and had surely been one hell of a Goliath when she was younger.

Everything she had was big, her eyes, her smile, her hands, arms and legs, her chest, and all very welcoming, very warm, as if she could cover you entirely with her body to shelter and heal. She was draped in a large gown that covered nearly all her body, yet it couldn’t stop you to see she was a woman bigger than nature (in more than one sense).

Well, maybe the fact that I was very tiny changed how I saw her at that time. Everything appears bigger when you’re a child, it seemed.

“Well, thank you, children.” She answered.

“Welcome to our home.” Said Dad

“We’re very happy to have you.” Added Mom; both of them genuine.

Now that I think of it, Mom and Dad’s emotions are genuine most of the time, no?

Yes, the only time they hide their emotions is when they’re afraid or the like, because it seems they don’t want to have a bad impact on us.

True true. They’re not always perfect but I think they’re quite good already.

Agree.

“Thank you for inviting me…” She answered, gazing down. “...in particular you, little miss. When your Dad knew you asked for me, he gave me a leave period. Thanks.” She put a soft yet vast smile on Crisnée’s forehead and fondled her long hair.

The girl’s answer was a new hug and, unable to stop themselves any longer, the twins jumped on their best friend to help her hug Charlotte.

The old maid was unfazed by their action and she just extended her embrace to cover everyone.

“Thanks.” Whispered Crisnée. “I missed you.”

It’s strange. Intervened Psaï, as the four of them were lost in a big group hug, Mom and Dad’s soft gaze looking at them.

What is?

She… seems older than she actually is.

Oh?

Curious, I strained myself a bit to do a flashscan and I got surprised. She was not sixty, as I had initially thought from her wrinkle and composure, but mid-forty and, furthermore, her long sleeves were covering scarred arms, burns both big and tiny dotting her skin.

This…

...I think that life hasn’t been kind to her.

Beside her scars, I detected a multitude of internal injuries, all old, yet some not even healed to this day, a number of fissures in her bones and… urgh, damaged genitals.

Fuck. That’s sick. I said with disgust, as some of those wounds were burn marks too.

She has gone through hell, yet she can still smile like that. I am impressed.

Her vast and powerful presence did not even hint to the existence of those old wounds. She was standing upright, domineering yet reassuring, and I’m sure she was in pain even at this exact moment.

I am impressed too.

...Morgana.

Yes?

Can we heal her?

...If we have the resources, why not? She seems important to Crisnée, so it wouldn’t be a bad investment either. Yes, I think it could be interesting to do so.

Thanks. Psaï had a weakness for people that had seen better days, the survivors that stood straight, just like Charlotte. Ah, I couldn’t really pit this against her, it’s not like I was unable to understand.

“Me too.” Charlotte answered Crisnée, before sliding her gaze from the children to our parents.

“This is a good place.” She said, looking at Mom and Dad, nodding gently with approval as the kids were still buried in her embrace.

“Crisnée seems happy. I am thankful.” She bowed of head and body and, seeing this large frame curtsying, it was something indeed.

“Thanks, but you don’t have to. It’s a pleasure to have her in our care.” Answered Mom, beaming from the compliments.

“She’s a good kid, she helped and still helps our children a lot. I’m happy we can provide for her.” Added Dad.

“You’re too kind.” Charlotte’s smile only widened.

How can a smile be so big?

Without modifications? No ideas.

“Now let’s go and eat, dinner is nearly ready!” Said Dad while clapping his hands and nodding toward the dining room.

“Dear, let her at least put her cloak down!” Mom intervened, clicking her tongue at Dad’s eagerness to show his children’s cooking.

“Kids, I’ll need those arms of mine if you want me to come and eat.” Even when she was saying things in a soft, gentle voice, she seemed to fill the whole space of the corridor.

***

We were now all sitting around the table.

From left to right there was me, Dad, Noa, Vivianne, Crisnée, Charlotte, Mom and back at me. Vi’s Yiburis wasn’t with us this time, as its existence wasn’t public yet, and Mom did not want to scare Charlotte.

Now that I saw the maid, I really doubted that anything could really scare her but, eh, you can never be too careful, right?

Dad wasn’t here right now as he was finishing giving the last finishing touch to the meal.

“The food is not even on the table that I’m already salivating. If it’s as good as its smells, then you all could become cooks for noble houses.” She complimented the children.

“Thanks!” Noa answered first.

“Thank you Charlotte.” Followed by a Crisnée that went fully red hearing that.

This shy part of her was really super cute, in harsh contrast to her normal stern self.

“I hope it will be good!” And finally Vi answered last.

“And is that meat I smell?” Charlotte added when the children were finished. “You really are extravagant to eat that now.” She looked at mom, who shrugged.

“What can I say, last year’s famine left us a bit hungry hahaha!” Dad answered, coming in the room with a very large pan, using the hole of his chair to put it on the table.

“Since there’s enough food for everyone in the city, I don’t see why I couldn’t buy some, or have Hurbert hunt for something when the weather is right.”

“True. Better use this money of yours while it’s valuable, right? It’s not like you can really use it to buy food during a food shortage.”

“Exactly!” Answered Mom, completely agreeing with the not-so-old maid.

“Wow, it smells even better now!” Suddenly exclaimed Charlotte after a deep breath.

“Let’s find out if it’s good then.” Dad started cutting part with a big knife and, with a large service spoon, put the first part of the children-made Tartiflette in the maid’s plate, followed by the three children’s, Mom’s and finally his. I had a plate but it remained empty.

Shit. I can’t eat that?

My disappointment quickly disappeared when Dad put a tiny bit of the food, potatoes crushed, meat cut and everything mixed to facilitate ingestion.

YEEEEES! “AbuabuABU!” I exclaimed happily, seeing the food.

“Well, it seems that even the tiniest of us recognise this as worthy to be eaten.” Commented Charlotte, mildly impressed, making Vivianne’s blush deepen.

The first five, or maybe ten, minutes of the dinner went by silently, minus the chewing sound of everyone’s mouth.

Suddenly, Charlotte put down her ware and exclaimed.

“You, my children, truly are blessed by Radiance! This is delicious!”

“T-thanks?” A bit intimidated by the compliment, only Noa answered.

“No no, all of you can be proud, this is excellent.” Mom’s comment did not help them exit their silent state but, I mean, it was so fun to tease them with compliments, I would have done the same as Mom had I been her.

In all aspects this was a successful meal, full of love and meat, the two things needed for a great dinner, this happiness only a bit tarnished at the end of the event, when Charlotte left and Cris sobbed in her gown.

Oh, how Charlotte loved Crisnée! You could see in her eyes the same fire that burned in Mom and Dad’s when they looked at their children.

I ended up smiling and, trying to help, I went in Crisnée’s arms.

I think it did help a bit. After the time we had passed together, I think she was herself as one of my siblings too and, if her smile was to be accounted for, it made her happy.