[Ladyfinger]

Description: An egg-based biscuit shaped like a large finger. Baked by Illya.

Quality: Good

Weight: 0.1

[Ladyfinger]

Description: An egg-based biscuit shaped like a large finger. Baked by You.

Quality: Flawless

Weight: 0.1

Two sets of trays lay before the guests. One containing a batch of biscuits baked by you, and another containing a batch of biscuits baked by the smiling old woman next to you.

"So, what are we looking at?" Anna inspects the trays of fresh, slightly different-looking cookies.

"Elder Illya and I are having a little competition to see whose ladyfingers are the best," you confidently announce.

"Eeeh... brave of you to go up against our resident baker."

'Well, this is more of a test of my cooking skills than it is an actual contest..."

"So, are these yours?" she points at the tray you set down on the table.

"Fufufu... that's the thing you see... We won't tell you who made what until after you finish tasting the biscuits!"

"Ahh, to prevent bias right?"

Alimarc chokes on his tea as he registers these words.

"What's wrong Elder Alimarc?" Anna quickly catches on and smugly questions him. "Afraid you'll pick the Garden Beast's cookies over Elder Illya's?"

"D-don't be ridiculous!" he slams his cup onto its saucer. "As if that outsider's biscuits can beat Elder Illya's in the flavor department!"

The alchemist snickers at the priest's flustered reaction, much to his chagrin.

"Now, now," Elder Illya claps her hands and nudges a tray forth. "Enough talking, why don't you try these ladyfingers first?"

"Ah... I know who made these though," Grimdal raises his hand. "I have God's Eye remember?"

"Then your evaluation won't be taken into consideration. You can still help yourself to some though."

"I'm not complaining."

With Anna, Ginta, and Alimarc acting as the judges, the testing begins underway. They all lean in to take a ladyfinger from the tray Illya's mittened hands carried into the room. Unbeknownst to them, this is the tray containing your batch of cookies.

And in a single crunch, their reserved expressions shift.

The ladyfingers that grace their tastebuds are unlike any cookie they've ever tasted. Its sweet flavor complements its spongy texture, and past the biscuit's firm shape is a soft crust that falls apart as they sink their teeth into it.

It is a familiar taste, that is indescribably elevated. As the cookies are light and airy, the judges can't stop eating.

"This is..." Chief Ginta's eyes widen as he crams more in his mouth.

"Beyond words..!" Alimarc finished the man's sentence.

"What the heck!" Anna holds one up and admires its perfect form. "These are like the ones I bought from a bakery in the Human Capital! And the lines there were longer than the breadth of a serpent's tongue!"

A simper sneaks its way onto your face as you hear these unfiltered words of praise. Grimdal glances at you and chortles to himself.

"Don't go eating them all, you three," Elder Illya says, unfazed by their compliments to the opposing chef. "You still have another batch to try out."

And the three elves wash down your countless ladyfingers with a big swig of tea, cleansing their palates.

"Alright, next is the tray in front of Nameless Seer eh?" Anna grabs a piece and notes its less impressive appearance.

"It's kinda plain-looking in contrast to the previous batch..." Ginta comments.

"You're right!" Alimarc compares the two ladyfingers. "The first batch's biscuits had a golden crust, yet the color on these is quite bland."

First impressions are mixed, and the judges stare at these ladyfingers in disappointment. You'd think biting into it would change their thoughts—alas, their responses are also subdued.

When they're done, they take a sip of tea without much of a reaction. No satisfied burp, no gasping for air as they undry their throats with large gulps of tea—just silence as they await Elder Illya's word.

"Have gathered your thoughts yet? the old woman says.

Everyone nods without pause.

"You vote for your favorite ladyfinger by placing your hand on its respective tray, understood?"

The judges do as she commands, and the time comes for you to announce the winner of this battle.

"And the baker of the winning ladyfingers is..." you realize where most of the arms reach and are taken aback, "Elder Illya?!"

"What?!" Alimarc instantly regrets his decision. "This was..?"

Indeed, Anna and Ginta had chosen the plain biscuits while Alimarc had voted for your beautiful first attempt at the delectable treat.

"I mean, the Garden Beast's ladyfingers look and taste like premium biscuits fit for royalty. I can't get enough of it," Anna explains her reasoning. "But for cozy gatherings like this, nothing beats the familiar taste of home."

"My sentiments exactly, Elder Anna," Chief Ginta concurs. "While my mother's cooking may objectively pale in comparison to the Garden Beast's, it still serves as comfort food that no high-end bakery could ever replicate."

"Mhm, put it simply... Elder Illya's cookies had more heart."

You slump over, utterly defeated. The old woman pats you on the back and comforts you with a smile.

"When you strive for perfection," she starts, "you often forget how you came to yearn for that perfection."

"Huh..?"

"Do you remember the first time you lit a flame and burned some meat over it? A time when you weren't constantly using your talents to maximize the quality of your food? A time where you properly sat down and read through a book without Auto-reader?"

"Not... really..."

"Mm. Then you've reached a point where you no longer put heart into anything you do. It's all reduced to numbers from God's Eye and descriptions from Outdoorsman."

"H-how did you know of my skills..?"

Elder Illya sits on a stool by the wall. "You are not the only one who has sought entertainment from us. There are many more who have craved knowledge to sate their boredom. Those who had attained power so quickly found themselves on the bring on insanity as the years went by."

"Others like me?"

"There is a reason a lot of us fear outsiders. It is a story known by few, but its aftermath is felt by us all."

A chill runs down your spine as she imparts this vague statement to you. There is something that links you to these words, and yet you draw blanks on every turn.

"But that story, I'm afraid, may do us more harm than good if we were to tell it to you. So instead, I'll say this," the old woman looks up at you. "Learn how to live. Only then will you understand what it means to live."

"Learn how to live..?" you mouth.

"When you made those cookies, I espied not an ounce of life in your eyes. Your gaze was cold, determined, and unfeeling. Relying on the talents does this. You go on autopilot, and you leave your actions in the hands of a soulless system."

"Well..."

"Should you learn to appreciate living in the moment without any shortcuts, finding beauty in the littlest of things, then perhaps this ravenous beast dubbed 'boredom' shall be vanquished. It eats you from the inside out, as it has with myriad others. But soon you'll realize that it is a beast born out of ignorance and foolishness and that the weapons needed to slay it was within you the entire time, deary."

"I do understand the beauty this world holds, Elder Illya," you clench your fists. "But what use are these talents I've worked so hard for if not to be used?!"

"You have a long way to go before you truly understand, Nameless Seer," the old woman chuckles. "But for the time being, we at Elderwood Village will be there to help you."

Chief Ginta, Elder Anna, and Grimdal all bob their heads in agreement. Alimarc merely sniggers and averts his head.

"For starters, why don't you actually try baking?" Elder Illya recommends. "Without Supersonic Speed or Master Chef. We'll take our prepping the ingredients and we'll properly go through the steps."

"That sounds..." your voice trails off, before coming back stronger than ever, "wonderful!"

And the whole room, barring the annoyed priest, cheers in celebration of your reply. You return to your seat and join the elves in partaking of the tea and ladyfingers. There's plenty to go around.

But as much as you'd like these happy days to continue, this beautiful world is just not that forgiving. And the fragility of life is made apparent once again.

"Elders! Garden Beast!" an elven soldier barges in. "There's trouble at the homestead!"

"What?!" you rise to your feet upon hearing about your house. "What happened?!"

"We were shot at by hooded men! They attacked the archers and escaped without a trace!"

"Were there any casualties?!" Elder Anna inquires sternly.

"Two sentries were injured, I've already informed Elder Leronil and the rest of the Elderwood Warriors. They're sending aid and reinforcements as we speak."

The Elders trade looks for a minute until Grimdal stands up.

"We can't stand around and do nothing!" the man angrily shouts and storms toward the door. "I'm heading over there to survey the situation!"

"I-I'll also go," you follow him, "that's my house in danger!"

"U-um by the way..." the soldier seems reluctant to share this bit of news, "I failed to mention something..."

You turn to him. "What is it?"

"Among the injured, was a young archer you're well-acquainted with. I was surprised to see her as she wasn't part of the garrison."

"W-wait... you don't mean..."

"I think her name was... Anya..?"