My belly striking out to me loud and sound. Indeed, whose stomach wouldn't be allured and want when every baker here were dispersing out their best of pastries to offer in story fair -- as this festival is called.

“Gruuuuuugrrummmuuum!“

My tummy cried out to me.

It was painful to see many people here biting brown steaming buns slabbed with butter and drinking ale. Many bought these delectable brown loves by the bulks, and carrying away in wagons filled with baskets of stuffed pies and bread that was covered by thin cover that failed mask the aromatic

smell.

“GRURFRURRURGUGRUMMMMM!!”

And my stomach felt no patience or respect to me when I head forwards. Even when I told it that we were have our own feast of mutton delight or freshly baked bread whipped with butter salt and sugar. He was rebellious and ordered me to beg if not steal food. There were wagons of bread here are open and unguarded, and pies were cooled outside unsupervised windows by the dozen. I felt like I could take one... It wouldn't be bad right? This wagon has a ton of fresh, brownish, and steamy loaf. A single loaf wouldn't be noticed.

“Oy! You buying boy?”

A man with a straw hat tapped my back that brought me back to my senses.

“Ah... No, sir... I-I-I was just looking at it... Er... Umm... Bye!!!”

I couldn't hear what he said next to me but I ran and ran, dodging the bystanders with baskets of steaming bread. I never felt so hungry before for my entire life as if I wasn't fed for a week or so.

I saw the two story brown painted roof that we often so visited. Surely she's here and food was there!

I tackled the door and indeed my empty guts was right.

“Ah! Elfien!”

“Well, he's quite early!”

Three men putting up mini streamers, seatings, and lighting up candles around the bakery.

The old lady instructing them while placing cone like garment hats on some counter, and May wearing the black armour that always stood in her room. She was setting the table with stacks of pancakes, a large pies, and bread bathing with butter and such. While the apple on this table was a white cake that looks like a cheap easy to make round cake from a local bakery back home, but this is the first time I saw a cake in this world. It was mainly bread or pies that was common.

The room was so much sweet and pastry smell that I wasn't even embarrassed that my stomach was, grumbling and rumbling like a drum telling everybody in this building how hungry I was. Oh and how wet my mouth is right now.

“Ohoho, And quite hungry.”

Said the old lady in prune and crumminess and a giggle.

“Damn it, Edmund.”

She clicked her tongue.

“Wa-What's going on?”

I said trying to hold my self from the food that was clearly for me but feels like I shouldn't eat it until May says so.

“Ah, no surprises then, haha. Alright lads let's finish what we can.”

One of the three men said as the other two began to drop whatever decoration they couldn't hang and went to the kitchen with the old lady.

All the while May told me that if I was so hungry why didn't you just cook something before going here.

Her armour clanked as she gave me a seat when I couldn't answer her, and the fact that Edmund made me hurry.

“Wait here and don't eat yet, just wait a little more while, my dearest.”

Carrying the cake back to the kitchen and leaving me here with an order not touch the pie, pancakes wet and drenched with sweet with golden nectarous honey, and butter slid through the dark brown bread. All them are clearly begging to be eaten as it releases such stomach seducing smell. Then there was that cake that May took away. A cake very much like a regular modern square cake bought cheap at any bakery(Well, not including the frostings), all the while streamers and party hats made out of cloth sitting on the counter? What is this Elfien's birthday? And why am I chewing right now?

“Surprise!”

They all said when returning. May holding the cake while her armour clanking as she went out. The old lady holding a candle and the three men each one holding an item.

“Elfien...”

Signed May as she laid the cake down on the table. To my surprise my face was filled with honey and my hands were all buttery and furthermore I just realized that my mouth had something inside.

“Ohoho, we've been surprised as well. ”

“Well, you always liked bread, didn't you?”

Oh...

With her pinching my cheeks and one of them giving May a cloth as she wiped my cheeks off with crumbs and cheese I widen my eyes as I was already eating the pie... Meat sandwiched with bread baked with goodness pie...

“Um...”

I gulped down, satisfied my rebellious growling stomach as I finally I got full control of my brain again. The three men laughing and the old lady telling how my eyes just widen like a puppy when I'm eating. May agreed and wiped off crumbs and put a cone hat on me.

“I... I'm sorry, I-I just... hungry.”

I buried my face down so much until my chin was digging deep chest.

Ahhhhhhh!!!! What happened! I never acted like this before! I like pie but not so much like this! Why did I act like this? Not to mention in front of May!

“Now, now, don't be shy. Come on eat, it's your birthday, and we did this for you, ok?”

Raising my chin up,

“So eat a plenty and enjoy the festival, alright?”

With a kiss on my fore the great bells of the church began to ring in three distinct intervals signifying that it's the afternoon terrifying May and the old woman.

“Oh dear, Hammond get the horses ready.”

Instructed the old lady to one of the three men while May scrambled to reach for her helmet.

“Oh, Um. Here.”

She made me stand up and gave me something. Tying around my neck, a red hooded cape now flew behind me. I saw and felt the fabric it was the one she was sewing up all night. Fixing it to me she asked if I give her a twirl, which I reluctantly did but did it either way. The smile she gave was brightest I've seen... As if yesterday never happened.

After that she gave me a pair of new shoes and a sleek wooden two handed sword, it was well carved, smooth, elegant, and lighter than the heavy wooden sword I use in training.

“Oh, you look very cute!”

Hugging me tight and rubbing my hair.

“Ok, I'm off now.”

With one final kiss she took her helmet and sword and left.

“Mom!”

I took her hand before she got to to knob and I saw her eyes widen.

“I-I mean May, where are you going? ”

“She has work, young one, she's hired to be a guard retinue for Lord Magnus.”

The old lady said to me.

“Don't worry, it's just one day and I'll meet you later this night.”

I didn't knew I was holding her hand tight, and chest feeling tight as well. I want to let go since she has a job and setting this up for must have cost her... Yet.

“C-can I come?”

I wonder if she's willing if I could said that before she rode off.

Right now, even if I just ate one slice of the mutton pie, the once bottomless like lake growling stomach of mine turned to a shallow pond when May left.

Still I ate and accompanied by the old lady, and the three men. They didn't ate much but just kept company, I think.

What seems like I can gobble and stuff every bread in my mouth now I ate just a few. I requested if I can put whatever leftover to be put in basket to the old lady. Especially the cake, I ate a slice and it was good maybe May will like it.

“Do you know where are they now?”

I asked the old lady, Mrs. Lauren, when I helped her arrange the leftover in the basket.

“Don't worry she'll be at Pavlon Square at the eve after she escorts Lord Magnus's troupe on his trip round the forests and fields. ”

“Why? I mean, Lord Magnus is the one that has a griffon yesterday, right?”

“Ah, so you were in the parade yesterday?”

She gave me a chuckle... A chuckle reminiscent of a schemer.

“Naughty, boy. Is that reason why you ran away from your mother? I heard you were with a girl at that time too.”

“N-no... I don't remember any girl.”

Did Edmund said this? But I don't think he knew I was with a girl.

“You're blushing, young one. Kukuku. I didn't believed it at first but you really are growing up.”

She gave crummy laughter as we finished packing my leftovers.

I have no retort to that but to keep silent. I just hope she doesn't say that to May.

“Why does Lord Magnus needs so much protection?”

Surely a fully armoured man on a griffon would frighten any assailant.

Her explanation was the band of knights -- full armoured and deadly -- was a security force against monsters when he just returned from his courtly duties from the capital. Though majority of monsters have surely began foraging for food and looking for shelter for the coming long frost. There were still some desperate monsters who seeks men as company for the winter, and lord Magnus, powerful he may be on a griffon, and a body of superman in armor. They didn't want to risk it, and they want the chosen of the goddess to be his protector.

****

There was still a dreadful amount of hours until the high sun goes to sleep under the sky as I inspected outside the window and just then I some boys like me was running around with their own cloaks and wooden swords. They rampaged through the street with only a few scold here and there.

“Oh, well those are just kids like you having nothing to do they play soldier until sundown. ”

Said Mrs. Lauren when I asked about those kids.

“Isn't that perfect? Why not join them, you always had knack for those alley fights.”

She added in her crummy some tone.

“What about the basket, I can't carry it around.”

I said.

“I'll keep watch of it, no worries, just make sure you come here before sundown. The guard will shut down every street when that time comes.”

Thanking her, I left the house of dough and flour to an air festivity, drinks, and games. Games should be a thing in merry occasions plus this is an medieval fair. I would expect sword fights, joust, and the what not. Hiding my face with the royal red hood and gripping my smooth and light wooden sword with excitement I followed the laughing gang of boys swinging their wooden arsenal with joy with a small badly sewn rabbit banner of sort as they marched along.