Frieren: Twin Souls

Chapter 14 Blood ties

When they all reached the inn where they were renting rooms, a pleasant surprise awaited them. Apart from Sukrus, one of his employees, and Fauna, the place was empty, but the table she was sitting at looked as if a prince or king had been expected to visit.

—I see you've prepared quite a feast— Flamme said with appreciation in her voice.

—When I heard about what happened at the tournament and that you won it, I thought you deserved the best I have— Sukrus replied, puffing out his chest proudly.

—We really don't want to impose...— Himmel said, slightly shocked by the size and lavishness of the feast. Sure, similar feasts had been held many times in honor of him and his former team, but these were exceptionally lavish feasts, attended by a large crowd, and here it was practically just them.

—Pfft— Sukrus muttered, irritated. —You don't have to worry about that; what you don't eat will be distributed to the poor. Secondly, the feast has been paid for, and thirdly, by hosting you here, my inn will gain notoriety. In a few days, I'll earn enough to throw ten such feasts.— He laughed loudly.

—Paid for? By whom?— Menno was surprised this was new to him. He and his clan celebrated modestly and with less pomp, but he didn't want to seem ungrateful, but he was curious who had decided on such an expense.

—Our gracious prince. He said it was a humble token of his gratitude for saving his life, so you can't refuse— Sukrus replied, gesturing to the seats at the table, encouraging them to sit down.

—I see you have all the best here— Fauna said, sitting down at the table, then sniffed, enjoying the multitude of delicious aromas, from sweet to intensely spicy.

The others also took their seats and began the feast, a little hesitantly at first, especially Menno, but seeing the joy on everyone's faces, he decided to join them.

As the feast continued, conversations on various topics flowed. Laughter interspersed with reminiscing about old times, and everyone added their own personal touch to the ongoing discussion. Flamme spoke of how she had met a young (as she thought at the time) elf named Frieren, who gave her a new purpose in life: to impart enough knowledge to survive in this world. Even though Frieren was exceptionally subdued, Flamme knew that she, too, had grown attached to her. Himmel stories seemed to confirm this. The background music gently enlivened the meal, creating an intimate atmosphere. When it was time for the main course, aromatic dishes arrived: roasted turkey with herbs, stewed vegetables, which Sukrus had prepared in such a way that their flavor was exceptional, and for dessert, his famous cupcakes appeared. Everyone shared their food, tasted the dishes, and commented on their flavors. Each course was the result of Sukrus's masterful hand and his dedication to the preparation. However, the cupcakes weren't the only dessert on the menu, as chocolate cakes, fruit served with whipped cream, and tiramisu, which was particularly appreciated, soon arrived. Sweets completed the culinary experience, and the friends enjoyed the moment, savoring every bite. As the evening wore on, the conversations became even more personal. The friends shared their dreams for the future and the plans they wanted to fulfill. Even Menno, whose personality closely resembled Frieren's, masterfully displayed no emotion, and if he did, it was in a truly symbolic way. He seemed to enjoy the atmosphere, something he had never experienced before. She was full of support and understanding, which only strengthened their bond. They had achieved their first important victory as a team, which was quite a good omen. Even Fauna seemed in such good spirits that she forgot how much harm Menno had inflicted on her and her people; now they were all fighting on the same side for the same cause against a common enemy. The feast concluded with a toast to their long-lasting friendship and shared memories. The four friends promised each other that such gatherings would become a tradition, and that each subsequent feast would be even more beautiful. That evening, everyone felt that shared moments were a most precious treasure, worth cherishing.