Black Ice ✓ | Deathsworn #1

Chapter 18 ∞ Domain

I took a bit of time to help my adoptive mother with preparing lunch. She seemed surprised to see me in the kitchen considering last night's fiasco, but I was not the type to bear grudges against people who only had my welfare in their mind. I already had the entire night to myself sulking, so I decided I would smoothen things out with the mistresses before I headed out with Mistress Veronika.

"Evy," my adoptive mother began. "I thought you already left with Veronika?"

"I thought I'd stay to eat lunch first," I said. "What are we having?"

"Oh, um..." She looked around, flustered. It took her a while to remember where she left off. "Well, we'll be having sweet fish today."

"I'll help you it, then," I told her. I ducked under the counter to take out the pots. I was careful, considering they were made from clay. Earthenware cooking was still widely spread in this city due to the beliefs of the locals about the 'flavor.' In fact, they were also particular with what kind of soil they made the pots with because it affected the taste. I took out the black clay pots for the fish because, personally, I liked how it ended up with a smokey tang.

Of course, they also employed metal for the pans, but those were for particular cuisines that were often of foreign origins.

My mother cut up the vegetables while I dragged the pots over to the faucet to wash them. I was glad this world had the concept of plumbing, otherwise I'd be suffering a lot right now. As the water ran, I noticed my mother paused from her knifing and looked over to me.

"Evy," she began, "dear, I hope you are not too upset with me."

"It's fine, mama," I said without looking up to meet her in the eye. "I understand why you do this. You don't need to tell me why. If you're keeping it from me, I'm sure you have the reason to. I won't force you to tell me anything," I told her, lifting my gaze.

"No, dear, you're right," she whispered. I watched her lips move. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have made it out properly. "There are many things I haven't been telling you. Most of them I keep to protect myself more than to protect you," she told me. "There are many things I wish to tell you but I'm just not ready to have you hear them."

I sighed. I loved this woman as much as I would have loved my biological mother. It was hard to stay angry with her considering all the affection and care she'd given me for the past twelve years. I knew we weren't really related by blood, but that fact had been very negligible.

I didn't know what to tell her at that point so I stayed quiet and continued my work. My mother did the same and we proceeded to finish preparing lunch. It took close to an hour. Though I was quite exhausted afterwards, I felt fulfilled with the job done.

Mistress Liane came in to help set up and finalize the preparations.

Meanwhile, I took a serving and headed to the lobby where we were housing our 'guest' who, until now, I still didn't know the name. He was much better compared to the few nights before. Indeed, he healed so fast. The abrasions on his knuckles were nearly gone. The flesh pinked and the skin toughened around them a little.

He sat up when he saw me coming.

It was good to see he could manage moving on his own now.

The swelling on his face had gone down, revealing how emaciated he was. I was tempted to pig him up, but it wouldn't be good if I did. We had to help his metabolism adjust gradually lest we wanted him falling ill again.

"Today we're having sweet fish," I said, setting the tray down beside him as I knelt on a floor pillow. He eyed it with great interest before looking up at me as though asking permission. "My mother said you can begin eating solid stuff starting today because you've been healing well. If it still hurts, there's some soup here you can fill yourself with. Can you eat on your own?" I asked.