Thoughtbrewing...
Thoughtbrewing...
Chapter 1.27 R
Ryoka makes ice cream for Magnolia Reinhart, who tries and fails to guess which continent she originates from. Upon leaving the estate, Ryoka is ambushed by Persua and other rival Runners, culminating in her being struck by magic and a cart.
At the Reinhart estate in Celum, Ryoka Griffin is tasked with making ice cream for Magnolia Reinhart. She works in the kitchen alongside Ressa and a maid named Yvony, utilizing magical implements like a Heating Knife. To complete the dessert, Magnolia summons an [Elementalist] from the Mage's Guild to properly freeze the mixture.
While enjoying the successful dessert, Magnolia attempts to deduce Ryoka's mysterious origins. Noting her strange demeanor, unusual knowledge, and refusal to wear shoes—which she compares to Half-Elves—Magnolia guesses various continents and locations. She lists off Terandria, Baleros, Chandrar, Rhir, and the distant Taimaguros, but she ultimately fails to realize that Ryoka hails from Earth.
After surviving the tense visit, Ryoka departs the estate and heads into the streets of Celum. Her relief is short-lived as she realizes she is being tracked by Toriska. A group of rival Street Runners, orchestrated by Persua, ambushes her in the crowded streets. Claudeil shoves Ryoka, and Persua deliberately trips her. The coordinated assault leaves Ryoka entirely vulnerable as she is struck by a magic spell and subsequently hit by a mule-drawn cart.
Ryoka successfully creates ice cream in the Reinhart kitchen with the assistance of Ressa, Yvony, and a summoned Mage.
Magnolia Reinhart interrogates Ryoka about her origins, guessing various continents but failing to deduce she is from Earth.
An anti-social, barefoot runner from Earth who works as a messenger in Izril.
aka City Runner, Miss Runner +11
A wealthy and cheerful Human noblewoman known for her eccentric taste in the color pink.
aka Lady Magnolia Reinhart, Lady Magnolia +7
Lady Magnolia Reinhart's stern, spectacle-wearing Head Maid.
aka the [Maid] with the spectacles, head maid +2
An independent city-state located near the High Passes.
A fair-haired maid serving Magnolia Reinhart at her Celum estate.
One of the Five Families of Izril, currently led by Magnolia Reinhart.
aka The Reinharts
A guild in Liscor, likely for couriers or messengers.
aka Street Runners, The Guild +2
An organization that deals with magical issues, such as teleportation spells.
A rival runner whom Ryoka suspects holds a grudge.
aka Miss Persua, a fellow City Runner
A system class for female household servants.
aka [Maids], [Maid] +1
A City Runner and crony of Persua.
A large geographical region, possibly a continent.
aka the north, the south +1
A large beast of burden used for hauling carts.
A Street Runner who acts as one of Persua's sidekicks.
An incredibly rare paired magical book that duplicates whatever is written inside it to its twin.
aka magical book
A system class for female nobility.
aka [Lady], Ladies
A magical kitchen knife designed to sear meat as it cuts.
aka magical cutlery
An [Elementalist] from the Mage's Guild who assists in freezing Ryoka's ice cream.
“Head of the Reinhart Family”
“This way to the kitchen, Miss.”
“Do pardon Ressa. She’s grumpy, but a family servant. Which means she takes all the liberties. I wouldn’t have it any other way. To the kitchens! Oh dear, I hope this one is well stocked. This is my vacation home in Celum, you see.”
“You have a lot of homes, then, Lady Reinhart?”
“I have a more permanent residence in Invrisil, but travel takes me everywhere. I have a number of residences, oh, all over the north.”
“Nowhere in the south?”
“The south? Oh, no, the Drakes would never tolerate my kind that far south. Nor would I if I was them. You know the saying, ‘better a serpent in bed than a Reinhart.’ Which is terribly hurtful and entirely accurate.”
“—But you truly aren’t from Izril, Miss Ryoka. The north has a strained relationship with the south, which I think you should bear in mind if ever you go past Esthelm and deliver to a Drake city. Not that there’s anywhere safe but Liscor. Unless the Bloodfields have opened up, Ressa?”
“Not until the first frosts, Lady Reinhart. In here, Miss Griffin. What will you be needing?”
“Oh, just a few things. A pot, uh, something to stir with, and—”
“Don’t mind me! I’ll just watch if that’s acceptable. I do admire good cookery. I had lessons, but it never stuck. Imagine it, making gelato! I’ll be the talk of Izril.”
“Help yourself to anything you need, Miss Griffin! Oh, but watch out. That knife is hot.”
“How the—”
“A heating knife. I think you use it to slice meat or…you know, I don’t cook. Ressa, are there [Chefs] here?”
“No, Lady Reinhart, the staff has accommodated your every need without the expense of a live-in [Chef] for your Celum home. That knife is meant to sear what it cuts. These are regular knives, Miss Griffin.”
“What do we have here? Oh my! We do have a full pantry! Do you need any of this, Miss Griffin?”
“Far too tough for me. I tried it once but couldn’t bear the taste of it. It’s very healthy, or so I’m told but…what does this ice cream need?”
“Uh—sugar.”
“Crimson sugar or regular sugar? Nali-sticks?”
“What are those?”
“Oh, a Balerosian treat. Akin to concentrated sugar, I believe. Well, we have regular sugar—I import the stuff, you know. I have a little deal with an [Admiral] about shipping it.”
“Doesn’t all this rot?”
“This? I shouldn’t think so. I paid for the best preservation spells, and I have an [Enchanter] come by every year or so to make sure the runes are holding. My people are quite pleased with all the space, which I do need for all the delightful treats I order.”
“Not too expensive, at least for the quality of work done. Mages charge very affordable prices. I gather most inns and some of the larger shops use such runes quite often.”
“Not mind reading my dear. Just an educated guess and a few Skills. I’m sure you’ve heard it said that it is a frivolous class, but [Ladies] have a few useful tricks in social situations. You do scream disapproval now and then.”
“Mm.”
“Please don’t grow alarmed! Or take offense. Oh my, you are quite taciturn, aren’t you? Dragons should be more forthcoming! Please, I will stop bothering you, but let us make this ice cream! How shall we begin?”
“We need some salt too. A pinch of it. And vanilla.”
“Of course. Ressa?”
“They are quite expensive, milady.”
“Oh, nonsense, Ressa, don’t be a spoilsport. I’m minded to give Ryoka anything she wants if she can make this ice cream.”
“One stalk is fine.”
“Now we need to heat the milk, salt, and sugar together in a pot. Got a big one?”
“Oh, I see! You’re making a custard! How delightful!”
“…Crap.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I might not be able to make this after all. I forgot something.”
“It looks perfectly fine to me, but—is there an ingredient missing?”
“We need to freeze this. Or rather, we need to freeze it slowly while stirring.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“Yvony, would you be a dear and send a message to the Mage’s Guild? Tell them I need an [Elementalist] mage capable of using basic ice magic.”
“Is she going to run there?”
“If you will observe, this is a magical book. One of two, in fact. Whenever one writes on one page, the other book immediately copies over the same writing. It’s quite the ingenious way of talking without needing to cast a [Message] or [Communication] spell each time.”
“And now we wait. A [Mage] should be along in a matter of minutes. The Mage’s Guild is quite prompt at responding, and happily, they are located only a few streets away. Shall we retire for a cup of tea?”
“Sugar?”
“You, uh—like sugar a lot, don’t you?”
“It is one of life’s pleasures. Now, a snack. Ressa! How about some baked Yellats? Are you a fan of them, Miss Griffin?”
“I’ve never had any.”
“Really? They are a quite common food across Chandrar, the desert continent, you know. Some people consider them as plebian as potatoes, but I find them delightfully good in any number of dishes. Spicy, too. Ah, here we are.”
“I must say, I have been absolutely dying to know what it is that makes you run, Miss Ryoka. If I may confess—I’m not asking you solely out of pure interest as well. I have a teensy bet going on with some other ladies in my gossip circle about it. I told them I had heard of a City Runner running barefoot, and they all assured me none of them had heard of anything like it! They live all abouts, you see. North, northeast, northwest—Celum is too far south for most of the nobility to live.”
“Really? It’s that fascinating to you? Um, Lady Magnolia?”
“Why, haven’t you realized what a splash you’ve made? A young woman becomes the fastest local Runner practically overnight? Yet alone running barefoot? People are wondering why you run barefoot. Is it part of a special class? Or is it a secret?”
“No secret.”
“Then—would you mind telling me? I would simply love to know.”
“I just like running barefoot. I hate shoes.”
“You, my dear Ryoka Griffin, are the most delightful young lady I have ever met! You give away nothing.”
“Ah, well. A simple answer, but not from a simple person. I suppose our little gossip circle will have to annul the bet. How interesting. But then, to be fair, I’m told half-Elves do eschew shoes all the time. Did you learn that from them?”
“Nope. I’m not—acquainted with half-Elves that much. It’s just a hobby. It’s good for your feet. Sort of.”
“Well, I cannot imagine how you don’t poke holes in your feet like that. And you are so fit! Did you ever think of joining a [Knight] order?”
“I’m not big on law enforcement.”
“Then have you run like that all your life?”
“All the time.”
“Indoors and outdoors?”
“Yep.”
“Fascinating. You know, I’m completely stumped. Ressa, do you have a guess?”
“I’m out. Either she was lying—and I had a truth spell on her the entire time—or it’s somewhere you missed, like a paradise nation.”
“Not Izril, Baleros, Chandrar, Terandria—well, maybe the Kingdom of Keys or somewhere new like…? Taimaguros? But she would know [Knights]. Wistram’s rare children know magic, and no one would be allowed to run around barefoot in Drath, the likeliest option, because of how rude that would be. Nor on Rhir for safety. And Izril? I am stumped.”
“For all the money, then, Miss Griffin. Do the seas carry you home? A [Storm Sailor] or one of the Drowned Folk might walk a deck barefoot.”
“Just a joke, Miss Griffin. I know you didn’t come from a ship. Or else someone would have known you from a port city. Well, I am stumped, and I thought I was playing the guessing-game well. That should be our [Mage]. Now for ice cream!”
“Is…I heard she’s the hero of some kind of war.”
“The Antinium Wars? Those are ancient history. She was no hero, the kind you’ll see in statues. But she was.”
“May I take your cup, Miss?”
“I still can’t believe you won’t take at least some token for teaching me this delightful recipe. Won’t you take some of it with you? To the Runner’s Guild at least. You could let them all share it. Or some gold coins? I do intend to replicate the recipe, and that will put my supplier out. Oh, and Ressa? Make a note for the [Farmers] in First Landing to grow some vanilla. Bully them gently into it. With love and kisses from me, or they’ll miss the profits in a year.”
“I don’t want any ice cream, thanks. The other Runners—I’m not that chummy with them. They can eat cake. And it was just ice cream. I don’t feel right about taking the gold.”
“If you’re sure. I suppose there’s no harm in it if it won’t aggravate things. I do know the Runners compete. How about a little gift, though? Say, a bag of holding?”
“…No. I’m fine, thanks.”
“Thanks.”
“On the contrary, it is I who should thank you, Miss Ryoka. But if I might have one last question before you go?”
“Do you, in fact, come from any place in this world?”
“I—”
“I hope you will accept more requests from me in the future. I would so love to chat.”
“You scared her off. I thought you were trying to be subtle.”
“…I think I’m going to have a heart-attack. Thank you for catching me incidentally, Ressa.”
“Self-inflicted injuries are not my job. You don’t think she’s actually from somewhere else, do you?”
“She didn’t answer, but the look in her eyes—that was a joke, Ressa. That was supposed to be a joke. I really thought I’d hear she was from some provincial place.”
“And you just let her run off, never to return. You didn’t even put a tracking spell on the bag of holding.”
“She’ll be back. Or we will find her, but I would hope she returns of her own volition, Ressa. A young woman as vivaciously intelligent as that will, even if she has all the manners and social graces of a rabid Eater Goat. If only to make excuses. I hope she’s no runaway [Princess] or daughter of someone important. We have enough of those already.”
“My, but she is quick. Oh, and Ressa? One more thing. Get in touch with the old man.”
“…Which old man is it? The pervert or the lazy one?”
“The one we like. Wake him up if you can. Tell him I need a favor. Tell him to look into…er…how do you spell ‘Ryoka Griffin’?”
“I believe the Runner’s Guild has her name written down.”
“Right. Yes. Use that.”
“Woog.”
“Right. No Magnolia deliveries for a while.”
“Get away.”
“You annoying—”
“Damn it.”
“Don’t let her get away!”
“What the—?”