Whispers of Elysia

The first day

The next day, Lyra was awakened by the first warm rays of light filtering through the small window of her attic room. Despite being exhausted from her journey, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. Her muscles were sore from the long walk the day before, but she welcomed the ache, as it reminded her that she had arrived, that she was finally here, ready to start anew.

She stretched, her eyes lazily landing on the astronomical clock beside the door. It was 5 o'clock in the morning, early by most standards, but Lyra had fallen asleep almost as soon as her head had hit the pillow the night before. The fatigue had been overwhelming, and she could barely remember if she had eaten anything before drifting off.

Determined to start her first day on the right foot, Lyra tidied herself up, washing her face with her homemade wild rosemary soap and working out the tangles in her hair. Once it was smooth, she took a golden hairpin with intricate patterns engraved on it -one of her few cherished possessions- and used it to lift her hair halfway up. She then smoothed the wrinkles out of her navy blue skirt with her hands, attached a long, lacy apron around her waist, and fiddled with the delicate collar of her cream-colored blouse. Finally, she put on her golden jewelry, the pieces glinting softly in the morning light.

Lyra took a moment to examine herself in the half-broken oval mirror in her room. Despite the cracks, she could see that she looked presentable, even proud. She smiled at her reflection, feeling a surge of anticipation for the day ahead.

Carefully, she tiptoed down the stairs, mindful of making too much noise. Orion might still be asleep, and she didn't want to disturb him. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes were drawn to a note left on the wooden worktable, with a small pouch placed beside it. The note, written in beautiful deep blue ink, read : Might be useful if you want to cook something for breakfast.

Curious, Lyra opened the pouch and found a handful of silver and copper dinaals inside. She hummed softly to herself, accepting the first challenge of the day with a determined smile. This was her chance to show Orion that she could hold her own, even in the kitchen.

With the pouch in hand, Lyra made her way out of the atelier and headed to the market, the early morning air cool and refreshing against her skin. The streets of Nocturion were still quiet, the hustle and bustle of the day yet to begin. She walked with purpose, her heart light as she thought about what she might prepare for breakfast.

The market was just beginning to come to life as she arrived, vendors setting up their stalls, the first hints of fresh produce and baked goods filling the air. Lyra took a deep breath, feeling a sense of excitement.

As Lyra wandered through the market, her mind buzzed with possibilities. Eggs cocotte with wild mushrooms? she mused, imagining the earthy flavors blending perfectly. Or maybe poached eggs with black bread on the side... Her thoughts drifted again. What if he has a sweet tooth? Then perhaps wild sorghum porridge with Furanin berries, or even aurora berry muffins? The options seemed endless, and each idea sparked a new wave of excitement.

The market was filled with items she had never seen before in Elysia. Exotic fruits from distant lands, meats from animals she had never encountered, and vibrant vegetables in colors she could only dream of. Her eyes sparkled with awe at the abundance and diversity before her. It was a wealth of choice, a culinary playground she had never experienced.

Finally, after much consideration, she selected what she thought might be good-a little of this, a little of that, trusting her instincts and her knowledge of flavors. She was determined to impress Orion, to show him that she could handle more than just alchemy.

When Orion finally stirred from his sleep, the rich aroma of spiced coffee wafted through the atelier, mingling with the savory scent of something frying in a pan. It was a smell that instantly awakened his senses, urging him out of bed with more enthusiasm than he was used to at such an early hour.