Chapter 13

(One week later)

"Our training time would be 7pm - 9pm." says their leader, who is glancing at a piece of paper.

"I had no idea a training ground could be opened up until that time?" Nash asked Aidan, who was standing right beside her.

Aidan and Nash have been getting to know each other better over the last few days. They didn't feel awkward around each other and quickly became the closest members of their group. Aidan and Nash share a common interest, and they casually laughed around each other, leading some to mistake them for twins. And, because they both enjoy deceiving others, they both nonchalantly replied "yes" when asked if they were twins.

"As long as the training grounds are clean after you leave, the administrators will permit you," Aeries responded. He's leaning against a wall, arms crossed, listening to Yjhan.

"Tsk. We'll be the ones cleaning the training grounds again." Idris lamented. Despite the fact that the training fields are open at all times, no knights have stayed to train until late at night. Because they were the only ones who had difficulty training with the other privileged team, their previous squad was always the one to clean the training grounds.

Because the Imperial Knights will be using it, the training ground will only be open on Sundays. They can only train during their training sessions or when they have leisure time. Yjhan's former unit frequently went to training because they were assigned fewer missions than the other squads.

"What will be our first mission?" Kane inquired.

"Assist a merchant who is transporting goods to the Imperial City storehouse. It is stated, because it transports the City's food supplies and hence must be protected."

"That is unusual for a first mission. I imagined we'd be assigned to clean something," Idris commented.

"Well, the warehouse is close to town, so it will be easy. We will simply protect the goods from the street bandits."

"Speaking of goods, it's almost dinnertime and we still don't have anything to eat. We have the ingredients, but who will prepare them? " Aeries asked. "If only Nash hadn't ordered uncle not to bring food..."

'All this guy's problem is food', Nash thought to her head.

...

(Earlier in the lunch hour...)

Duke Barcley has been delivering meals for Nash's squad members for the past few days, ever since she stayed with them.

"Uncle, you no longer have to deliver us food," Nash stated in the middle of their lunch at Barcley's diner. The duke asked them to arrive at lunchtime.

"Why not?"

"We can manage it on our own. Isn't it exhausting to go back and forth between our inn and here?"

"It's all right,"

"No. We'll take care of our own food. We don't want you to be burdened with bringing us food every day."

"Are you going to be able to eat?"

"We can, therefore don't bring us food any longer, uncle?"

Duke Barcley sighed deeply and nodded. "Alright..."

...

"I'll cook," said Nash, who had volunteered to cook. The squad then turned to face Nash and looked at her with distrust.

"Do you know how?" Aidan asked.

Nash gave a nod. Her aunt Terry had already taught her how to cook. She mastered a few dishes taught to her by her aunt Terry, as well as cuisines from several courses.

"No. Don't let her! Who knows if she pops the bubbles again," Yjhan smacked Idris on the back of his head.

"She's not that stupid. Go. Cook. The other who can help her, help her," Yjhan said as he lay on the couch, his face hidden under a newspaper.

Kane assisted Nash in the kitchen, claiming to be skilled with knives. That is, in fact, true. Kane was in charge of chopping the ingredients for their soup, which Nash is preparing.

The other members are doing their own thing in the lounge area, sitting quietly. Yjhan falls asleep, Aeries reads newspapers, Jaxael reads a book he found under the couch, and Aidan sits at the dining table, observing the other two and wondering what he can do to help.

"I'm the only one who isn't doing something," Aidan said.

"And what does that conclude?" Nash asked as she stirred the soup.

"I'm useless," Aidan grumbled. Nash set the ladle down and gave Aidan a thumbs up.

"Don't mind," she said, grinning, teasing him for being useless.

Kane cuts all of the ingredients needed, so Nash cannot command him to do so. "Wash the dishes then."

"Ehh! But I don't want my hands to become wet."

"Then just shut up," Kane answered. "I'm out of here."

"Thank you," Nash replied.

"How harsh," Aidan pouted once again.

Aidan decided to wash the dishes after being bored with not doing anything.

"I thought you didn't want to get your hands wet?"

"I'm going to die of boredom."

Nash laughed and went back to cooking the soup and other side dishes she could prepare with the ingredients they had. Aidan served as Nash's food taster.

"Is it spicy?" Nash asked. She is worried that she used too much chili. She had forgotten that she was not the only one who was eating.

"A little," Nash was about to add more water to dilute the spiciness when Aidan intervened. "But it tastes good unlike before."

"But, they might not like it spicy."

"I'll ask them. Wait here."

Aidan approached the lounge area and asked, "Is it okay if the soup is a little spicy?"

"Yeah sure," They all answered.

Aidan told Nash that it's fine if the food is a little spicy, so she just goes with it. After the soup was done, they both worked together to set the table.

"Call them," Nash ordered Aidan.

"You do realize I'm older than you, don't you?" Aidan brows furrowed as he faces Nash.

Nash looked at him for a second. "Then, I'll ca—"

Aidan called the other members before she could finish her sentence. Nash shook her head as she filled the glasses with water.

She felt proud as she looked at the foods she cooked, "Aunt Terry's cooking lesson is worth it."

"Woah! It smells so good!" Idris was the first to arrive and take a seat in the dining area. Yjhan sat at the far end of the table, while the other members sat on the sides.

"It'll be better with desserts!" Aeries looked at Nash, who was sitting on the far side beside Aidan. "Do you know how to make desserts?"

"Yes,"

"How?" Kane asked. Kane had been skeptical of Nash since the day he moved in with them. Nash's demeanor is unusual, and she occasionally emanates elegance. Despite this, she behaves like a commoner due to her attitude.

"My mother used to work at a bakery, and I was the one who helped her," she lied once more. "If we move from another inn and there is an oven and ingredients, I'll bake you whatever dessert you want."

Nash actually learnt how to make basic dessert from the Imperial Palace's chef. But for cakes and the likes, it was her aunt Terry who taught her.

Aeries pouted. "That will take years."

Nash chuckled.

"I don't think so. The administrators were different from the ones before, so it's most likely that we will have a good mission." Yjhan said. Aeries looks delighted.

After their dinner, Jaxael and Idris were the ones who cleared the table and washed the dishes. Aeries and Yjhan prepared for their next mission, which would take place the following day.

Nash went outside to catch some fresh air. Their inn is located in an alley with absolutely no one around. The lights are quite dimmed.

Nash sat down on top of a pile of boxes near their inn. She hugged her knees as she felt the breeze.

She unconsciously let out a deep sigh.

"You do know that place is dangerous, right?" She looked down to face the person who had spoken.

It was Jaxael.

"What brings you here?" Nash jumped down the box pile and stood next to Jaxael. They were standing in front of a dimly lit street light.

"Idris says he spotted you leaving. He instructed me to follow you."

"Why?"

"He told me to say that we should go to bed early for tomorrow."

"Ahh... okay, I'll go inside. "Are you going to stay?"

"I'll trail you," he says.

Aidan was drinking water when they got to their inn. "How come you two aren't sleeping? Tomorrow is the day when we will accompany the merchant."

"I was about to," Jaxael headed first to his room leaving Nash and Aidan.

Nash goes to grab a glass of water for her room, while Aidan merely stares at her, as if waiting for her to leave. "You freak me out."

"Oh... Sorry." Aidan said.

"What time should I wake up?"

"6am."

"I thought we're only going to accompany the merchant to the warehouse? Why must we leave so early in the morning? "

"That's because there will be a different knight unit who will accompany the merchant after the supplies are taken at the warehouse. The merchant will be traveling from various locations for the day, therefore the merchant must begin early in the morning as there are deadlines to meet," Aidan stated as he followed Nash upstairs.

"Alright, Goodnight," Nash said as he shut the door before Aidan could respond.