Jorish sat, his hands shaking as they grasped the cup in his hands. His grip tight, ignoring the scalding heat of the tea Malik had offered him. Is it possible to be the same Malik? Jorish felt lost, shocked, and disturbed.

He didn’t know how or why, but he somehow knew it is the same Malik. The ancestor of Anise. The master of the Traveler…

Minutes went by as Jorish felt more and more restless on his chair, as he waited for Sayaka to fetch Dyce and Anise. If I am going to get confused and lost like this, might as well have them join me, snickered Jorish.

While he waited, Malik approached him, asking.

“Young man, how is that punk Traves doing?”

Jorish froze, shuttering as many words tried escaping him at once.

“You… but… how… what?”

Malik laughed as he explained, pointing at Jorish’s body. “Young man, the number of people who have the solar essence and the dragon’s blood to make those markings can be counted on one hand. The number of people insane enough to use such materials to build a body for a practitioner would’ve been zero, if I didn’t know one crazy idiot.”

Jorish laughed, that does indeed sound like Traves alright, he thought as he nodded. “Indeed, you are right. Traves is… I am not sure, haven’t seen him in a few months due to the situation.”

Malik looked in interest, waiting for Jorish to continue. As Jorish was about to continue, Malik froze, eyes widening. Jorish followed Malik’s sight, as his eyes settled on Anise, equally stunned.

Suddenly, Malik erupted in a hearty laugh, his smile widening. “Come, come my child! What is your name.”

Anise, still frozen, answered automatically. “Anise…”

Malik, smile even wider, asked. “You are a descendant of Zahida aren’t you?”

Anise’s eyes widened, many emotions threatening to erupt within, only with his knowledge of her, could Jorish tell them apart. Surprise, shock, and sorrow. Yet before any of those emotions could escape, answers leaked from Anise. “Yes, yes I am. But how…?”

Malik answered. “Ah, you are a spitting image of her when she was your age! How long has it been, I can’t even remember! She was such a sweet child. Is she well?”

Jorish’s eyes tightened as he saw Anise’s emotions about to burst, deciding to step in. “Yes, they are well. We were there with Traves just last year!”

Emotions evaporated from Anise’s eyes, replaced with shock as she remembered Jorish’s existence. She turned to Jorish, her face full of questions as he just looked at her, convincing her to not interrupt him.

Malik sighed, tiredness suddenly appearing on his body as he answered. “I see, I see. At least I got to know this before I had to go.”

“Go?” Jorish asked, in shock.

“Indeed, I am a Monarch, yet I am still mortal. I have lived for so long I can’t even remember, yet we are all tied to this world. I only have few years left to me in this world, hence why I lived here, taking my last few years in peace.”

No wonder, Thoughts Jorish, he couldn’t feel any Energy from him, yet his own body and soul shivered in terror, it all makes sense.

Next to Anise, almost forgotten, Dyce stepped forward and bowed. “I am Dyce, I am very honored to meet you, Dragon Monarch.”

Malik laughed. “Dragon Monarch huh, I haven’t been called that for many years. I am happy to meet you all. Please, join me for lunch. I insist.”

Jorish found himself sitting with his squad leaders, Anise, Dyce, Sayaka, and Nao all waited, as people from the village came to greet them, before leaving again to prepare some food for them. Everyone stayed silent, waiting for Malik to return. The prospect of dinning with a Monarch shocking them. Well, Cail is a Monarch and Traves might as well be one but… they don’t really count. chuckled Jorish nervously. He couldn’t treat them the same way, their carefree altitudes making it difficult to imagine them as Monarchs, if not for witnessing their powers firsthand.

Finally, a few dishes were brought to them. Within a few moments, a few dishes found themselves placed between everyone. Jorish looked at the dishes, astonished. Despite their variety and quantity, they were simply, rudimentary even. Nothing he would have expected a Monarch to have. Jorish didn’t mind certainly, almost anything was an improvement over their military rations. Yet, surprised he was.

He could spy similar looks from around him, as well as Malik’s snickering as he explained. “You would think as Traves’ master that I would share his fanaticism for food? Ha, indeed I too appreciate a good dish, but all I want for my last years was some peace, and to feel home.”

Jorish nodded, understanding, home. That word was so distant, yet it was close. He could feel the heat of the sun-touched cities, he could still taste the Kelbas, one that he had tens or hundreds of times, he could smell home.

But he had a goal, and one day he will return home, but not yet. Not yet…

Back from his thoughts, he stared the dishes around him, each containing a single thought, a simplicity, he looked forward, the first dish catching his sight with its blend of light green, light and darkness. White spheres settled in the oil, with dark pieces of olive adorning the surface, floating like rocks on the calm sea, surrounded by the white glaciers as a single leaf sat aside, watching the shore, feeling calm, feeling at home.

Jorish extended his hand, grabbing the oil-soaked glacier. He felt its squishy, yet firm texture, as it absorbed the oil. Taking a bite, Jorish focused at the salty yet savory tastes, in the middle of everything, was cheese, yet it was any he had before. It was simple, yet it was strong. Accompanying the next bite with an olive, the milk acidity and sourness complimented the saltiness, completing the taste. It didn’t feel grand, neither fancy. He felt at home, perhaps it wasn’t his home. But at that point, he simply felt home.

As he finished, his eyes drifted to some of the other dishes, cut pieces of eggs, mashed enough to create a blend of gold and white, drizzled with oil, salt and pepper. Bread, covered in pieces of vegetables sliced to small pieces, begging to be taken to join the other dishes, to give a complete meal.

All the dishes stood around, giving one feeling, the homely feeling. Everyone ate in silence, yet without any awkwardness or loneliness. It was a silent not born from fear, astonishment or pure enjoyment, it was a cozy silent, the food’s heat was the fireplace, that warmed their hearts as they sat, eating.

After they finished, Malik smiled. “Jorish, Anise. I am intrigued, I want to find out how well my descendant and grand disciple are.”

Jorish froze, a slight smile on his face. Fear, surprise, and hesitation flashed momentarily on his face, but most of all was a single emotion. Excitement.

He stood, as they all headed outside.