B4 Chapter 36 - Berries (Patreon)

Aolinn didn’t lead Vivi to the crops to show off the plants. Instead, the noblewoman took her behind one of the huts. A sweet scent came from there, as if something was being baked. Vivi was surprised to see that the answer was exactly that—a small wood-fired baking oven. A spirit was watching over its contents intently. Three more sat on wooden chairs under a ripped but mostly whole tarp-canopy, saying nothing at all.

“Milla,” Aolinn said to the spirit by the oven. “Vivian has… Here?”

Her pronunciation suddenly got sloppy, and Vivi realized Aolinn spoke Fimian. Attempted to, at least. Translation magic promptly turned her words back to Ythar Standard in Vivi’s head, but the sloppy enunciation was kept. To Vivi, it just sounded like Aolinn forgot how to speak.

“The word is returned,” Milla, the spirit, said. “Vivian has returned.”

“She went.” Aolinn spoke hesitantly and pointed out where Vivi had come. “She come back. Word is she returned?”

“Vivian has come back, and Vivian has returned, yes,” Milla said. “Return, returns, returned.”

Aolinn nodded. “Vivian has returned.”

“Welcome back, Vivian,” Milla said.

“Hello,” Vivi said, her words translating to perfect Fimian. Or rather, the ancient version of it. “You’re baking?”

Aolinn already looked jealous of translation magic, while Milla nodded. “I repaired and cleaned this old oven. Your farming attempt has shown healthier results than expected, with wheat and sugary berries. Aolinn and I are attempting berry pie.”

“You know how to bake?” Vivi asked Aolinn in Ythar standard.

“I joined the kitchens every now and then,” Aolinn said nervously. “They only let me because I was the last in line, even though my father never liked the hobby. I know a little bit. Here, I need Milla’s help with… this oven, and to turn wheat into flour. It’s a bit difficult without understanding the language.”

Vivi found herself impressed. Aolinn hadn’t seemed like the person to have any humble hobbies. Not only was she working on the fields now, she was working hard to learn the language. “Looks like you’re getting along.”

Then she asked in Fimian, “Has Aolinn caused trouble?”

Both of them seemed to understand what she said. “Not at all,” Milla said with a tiny hint of a smile. “She is a lovely and lively young woman. Sannelia would have loved to meet her. I am looking forward to her reaction when the pie is finished.”

“I’m surprised you know how to bake,” Vivi said to Milla as well. “Spirits don’t require food, correct? Can you taste foods?”

“I have never tasted a pastry,” Milla said. “It was Sannelia’s hobby. Cooking every now and then. As a half-spirit, she still had the ability to taste. Many sub-spirits inherited her interests. The recipes she loved, and her techniques, are saved in my core memories.”

“Interesting,” Vivi said. “I thought spirits were mostly motivated by gaining ether. Baking seems like the opposite.”

“Baking is extremely useless,” Milla said. “But so is gaining ether. It’s not a stretch to say that all of us have lost our purpose long ago. And so we sleep, for thousands of years.” She glanced at Aolinn. “But enthusiasm spreads. I am thankful for having Aolinn.”

“Speak… ing—” Aolinn stretched the word, confused about how to form the word correctly.  “—too fast.”

“Speaking, yes,” Milla said, smiling. “Correct. You are learning. I believe the pie is ready.”

“Believe?” Aolinn asked.

To translate it, Vivi just had to repeat the word, except in Ythar Standard. “She said believe.”

“Oh,” Aolinn said. “How come spirit translation makes this so easy…”

Milla used a bread shovel to pull the pie out, showing a small circular pie with an open top, filled with melted berries. It smelled delicious, but the mashup of berries created a dark mess of colors, closer to Abyss Destroyer’s venerium glow over anything edible.

“Milla called these dinberries,” Aolinn said. “We peeled them and crushed them to create something resembling jam. Looks like it didn’t burn, at least.”

“And we’re sure the berries are edible?” Vivi asked.

Aolinn wheezed a chuckle, but stopped herself. “I’ve eaten plenty of them, don’t worry.” She turned to Milla and asked. “Can Father… taste too?”

“Let us visit him,” Milla said simply. With the pie still on the bread shovel, she headed to Helegar’s hut, which was close enough that Helegar could have probably overheard them through the walls. Milla entered with the shovel that was way too large for the hut.

A dejected Helegar was still inside. His hands were untied, and he was free to walk, but there still wasn’t much to do in his hut. He seemed to just be under house arrest now, guessing from the spirit guarding the hut’s door. He spotted Aolinn, then Vivi. He didn’t look as hostile as he normally did, but his expression went from neutral to a small frown regardless.

A circular table had been moved in with a few flimsy wooden chairs. Milla placed the pie on the table. “I will bring plates,” she said and exited.

“So my imprisonment continues,” Helegar said, eyes entirely on Vivi. “How long do you intend to keep me away from my canton?”

Vivi rolled her eyes. “I believe we already discussed this. You have officially been demoted from sub-sovereign.”

“Impossible,” Helegar said. “By whose authority?”

“Mine,” Vivi said.

“Only Ythar himself is allowed such a decision,” Helegar said.

Vivi already felt herself being drained of the little energy her two-hour nap had provided. This man was something else. She just stared at him, wondering whether she should even bring this man back to the surface at all. Aolinn’s expression fell to nervousness as well, as if she wanted to defend her father, but couldn’t bring herself to get included in his nonsense.

Milla came back with three wooden plates and spoons, all looking new. “You’ve made plates as well?” Vivi asked.

“Aligar made them,” Milla said. “They’re far from the best, but they should not leave splinters. Feel free to share the pie between the three of you. I will fetch water.”

“Thank you,” Vivi said.

Helegar’s expression stayed as he listened to the Fimian discussion. “What is this? Demon pie?”

Aolinn shrunk further, and Vivi finally gathered the energy to glare back at him. “Your daughter helped make this. With all her love and effort.”

Helegar raised his eyebrows, but no apologies came.

“Would you like to serve us?” Vivi asked Aolinn.

She nodded, then cut the pie into three pieces using one of the spoons. Lifting a slice, the berry jam was fluid enough to overflow a little over the sides, but the pie mostly retained its shape.

Milla returned with three mugs and an old pitcher and poured water for everyone. She stood by the side. “I request the right to watch you taste it.”

“Of course,” Vivi said. “I’m honored.”

She pressed her hands together for both Milla and Aolinn. Then she placed a spoonful of pie into her mouth.

A bitter sweetness filled her mouth, and her tongue touched the dry texture of the pie’s crust. Her initial thought was that the taste was off, that she didn’t like it, but it was far from vile. The dough was far from the quality of real pastries, but mixed with the berries, it was definitely edible. Maybe even enjoyable.

“Pretty good,” Vivi said. “Not bad at all considering the equipment.”

“Well, this was just the first attempt,” Aolinn said. Being a noble, Vivi guessed Aolinn probably shared her thoughts. “We’re missing too many ingredients. Our bakers would scold me for this, but I think I like this.” She turned to Milla with a smile. “Okay. Edible. Not bad.”

Milla shared the smile, while Helegar reluctantly ate his slice as well but said nothing.

Aolinn was finishing hers, when she said to Vivi, “You look like you’re waiting to tell us something.”

“Yes,” Vivi said. “I came to tell you we’re ready to leave. We’re being teleported home.”

Aolinn glanced at Helegar. “I told you they’re not evil.”

“Ah, sorry, I meant my home,” Vivi said. “The fifth level. We’re going to Shivenar.”

“Oh,” Aolinn said.

“And that brings me to what I wanted to tell you,” Vivi said. “I’m not taking Helegar back to Ranewal. Instead… I’m going to travel to Surchester and meet Ythar myself.”

Helegar sprung up from his seat. “You intend to meet Ythar?”

“He needs to be woken up,” Vivi said. “There are threats not only to his empire, but his life as well. Whether he wants to be woken up or not, humanity needs a god right now.” She frowned at Helegar. “I will talk to him, and Ythar himself can decide whether you qualify as his sub-sovereign or not.”

Suddenly, Helegar didn’t look so confident about his connection to Ythar. “This is insanity. Do you know what the punishment for disturbing a god’s slumber is?”

“I’m not here to argue,” Vivi said. “I’m merely telling you what I’m doing, and I’m informing you that your part in my plans is entirely irrelevant. I don’t believe our god would bat much of an eye if he learned you had died. I don’t even think he knows you exist.”

She glanced at Aolinn. “In fact, I’m leaving this decision entirely to Aolinn. You two can stay down here with the spirits, or I can take you to Shivenar with me. It’s a demon city, but it’s much nicer than what Ythar’s priests would make you believe. Aolinn will get along well, and I have friends who can teach her the language.”

Aolinn’s eyes pointed down at her plate. Helegar remained upset at Vivi. Milla watched, not understanding, but she could probably tell an argument was ongoing.

“I’m afraid the decision needs to be made right away,” Vivi said. “If you choose to stay here, I’ll most likely return later. I’ll tell Adalene’s men not to harm you or the spirits. If you come to Shivenar, I’ll bring you two home after the storm season has calmed down.” If it calms down.

“If there is truly nothing else you can offer,” Helegar said, “I will advance to the fifth level with you.”

Vivi nodded. She found it baffling how Helegar could still keep his perfect composure in the situation he was in. There was no way he’d ever been lower than the third level, but he confidently made the call to teleport to the fifth level with no hesitation in his eyes. Although, that confidence most likely stemmed from stupidity and arrogance.

“The call is yours, Aolinn,” Vivi said.

Aolinn bit her lip. “I suppose… We will come with you.”

Vivi smiled. “You’ll love the pastries we have at home. I’ll introduce you to some friends.”

Aolinn nodded. “Thank you for your help, Vivi. Thanks for keeping us alive. And… I’m sorry about…” She nudged her head in her father’s direction.

Vivi chuckled. “Thanks for the pie. It was delicious.”

She prepared to leave, when she realized she’d made a promise about a decision that had been bothering her.

She would be visiting Ythar personally.

Author note:

I'm moving next week, and I unfortunately don't have backlog, so I'm most likely forced to take a break. Monday's chapter will be late. I'll keep you updated with a post soon.