War of Dawn

Chapter 19: Bond of Friendship

After spending two hours fishing with Ryouma in Satsuma – successfully catching a grand total of one fish – Hilda returned to Valarheim feeling so revitalized that she spent the rest of the afternoon training with gusto. Ryouma's teachings on relaxing the mind even proved very handy in helping her spellcasting. A nice added bonus to it all.

Owen kept hard at work alongside her but actually left at about three in the afternoon – strangely early, especially considering they hadn't received any assignment. When she called him on it, he explained that some of their comrades in Outpost #12 told people about his cooking, then those people told others. Eventually, it got to Greta's ears. She was curious enough to request him for a sampling and, long story short, Owen now has her permission to play Head Chef whenever he's the time and inclination to do so. So, he figured he'd do something for today's dinner.

News of it all spread like wildfire across Valarheim and, at night, a very confused atmosphere hangs above the dining hall. This rare shift in command even convinced most of the generals to come see what all the fuss was about.

The usual hubbub is gone, replaced with confused whispers across all the wide tables. As soon as Owen steps out the kitchen alongside Greta, commanding the waiting staff, the whispers fade to muted shock. To see someone other than her running things was unthinkable. On the other side of the spectrum, however, Greta herself seems quite chipper. Her normally dead-serious expression gone in favor of a wide smile as she exchanges booming laughs with Owen.

I guess she really appreciates being hands-off for a night, Hilda thinks, one of the few people around not gaping at this sight.

Even Ryouma, Ragnar and Alexandra stand wide-eyed, as if they are witnessing the very Altr descending upon the land. Only Vanessa – already familiar with Owen's expertise – seems calm, though she does almost choke on her wine upon seeing Greta laugh. Regardless, whatever confusion the Scions may be feeling melts away as they start taking bites of the prepared food, exhilarated gasps quickly fill the dining hall.

"Oh, my goodness...!" Alexandra exclaims. "This is marvelous!"

Ragnar nods, his mouth already stuffed full of steak. "Hear, hear! Even better than your royal chef, Lexa!"

"And he's even got his hands on such fine drinks," Ryouma adds, raising a goblet of wine. "A man after my own heart, that one! Hahaha!"

Vanessa gives his a hearty toast before throwing composure to the wind and grabbing an enormous drumstick. "How long has it been since we patrolled? I've half a mind to assign myself to whatever outpost you kids go to next, Hilda. I hear he was king of #12 after only a few dinners!"

"I'd say it felt more like a cult," Hilda, sitting next to her, laughs as she sips from her own goblet – Owen made sure hers received grape juice, though. "Are you big time generals subscribing to the Church of Owen, too? What happened to that 'Ascended Scions can be sustained just by the flow of Prana' business?"

"Oho, I could make it all the way to Scion Avatar and I'd still come on over for this stuff." Ragnar waves his fork at her. "Eliza ain't got a clue of what she's missing out on!"

Indeed, despite all other generals being present, the elusive commandant is nowhere to be seen. Hilda was actually a bit disappointed when she realized that, having somewhat hoped to see how she's like beyond her office. "The boss lady really never stops, huh?"

Alexandra is quick to answer with a knowing huff and the resigned smile. "We've all been here for many decades now and I don't think we've ever seen her do so."

"Always in that office, on the field or training folks. Being the commandant is very busy work... Well, at her age, she's already plenty used to it," Vanessa adds, struggling to eat and talk at the same time .