After each of them settled in their own spots, they started eyeing each others, seemingly trying to find a conversation starter.
I plop back down on the floor next to the pile herbs from earlier and started picking through it again. These need to be sorted out by quality so that I could dry them and share the majority to the servants so it wouldn't become waste.
" So, where have you all been this past months?" I guess it wouldn't be bad to throw them a bone to get some conversation flowing in here rather than air.
There are seven of them here out of all my cousin so...
That oldest looking one must be Isolde, measuring by this world standard, she is on the shorter side. There is an stoic vibe to her given that she is probably the oldest ones in the room, measuring physical age. The adult must have sent her to babysit this battalion of teens.
Moving down the age ladder, over by the window should be Aunt Lexi's twin - Zephyr and Aaron(Lexi is the Duke's older sister- the one that was the first picked up Amelia in the last chapter), follow after that would be Alice who has started to settle right next to me and help me with my mess.
Her two younger siblings Mattheus and Christine have found more interest in my snack basket, examining carefully, cautiously glancing toward their sister then to me as if scouting for any objection before digging in.
Novah who is a few months older then me was looking around at the old furniture in the room, tracing down certain lines which has been cleaned spotless by the servants. I knew he was familiar when I first met him at the balcony back then(Chapter 3).
" We just got the chance and return from the border. Uncle Barrow wanted us to come along on the ride to start learning about the kingdom's depths since we have now come of age." Isolde spoke smoothly, her gaze eyeing the forest outside, stretching back all the way to rugged mountains hiding behind the towering mist.
" I guess you got quite the rushed tour then." This kind of trip would usually span for months at a time wouldn't it, especially when the purpose is for future successors to learn the ins and outs of their land. I have heard that they rushed back and forth multiple times during this expedition the moments some news about my health come about.
This was happening even when I was in a coma and when I was still as high as a horse so there is about 1000% chance I somehow completely overlooked them.
Damn.
How much of me duking it out with a wild cat did they see?
I honestly don't even know exactly when I become Amelia, so...
The inconvenience of comas, I tell you.
" It is family matter after all, whether it be you or the expedition. We can always spare the time to drop by." Alice grabbed some of the twines, binding each groups of picked herbs into small bundles.
" This kind of trip can be taken anytime since we don't have to drop by Gauravan unless it is an important occasion. You, however, little rascal intend to study fulltime at the academy, out of all of us here, you are the one who will have the rushed trips compare to us." Novah chimed in, pinching the bridge of my nose lightly before taking the bounded herbs from Isolde hand and hung them by the window, where the twin help him set up the hanger.
Within minutes, what often take me hours with multiple breaks has already been complete. I idly talk about what I have been doing since I woke up, taking the sandwich that is being passed around Mattheus and Christine.
We started walking around the cottage, I showed them my target practice of 'try to strike the same part with a stick' hidden a bit to the side of the chopped fire woods. How I failed rather miserable everytime because my hand were still very shaky.
They took turns playing with that poorly drawn board, each one holding a different method of accuracy, some strike perfectly, some could only vaguely hit around the targets. Isolde even flex her skill by somehow making a light circular indent around the point, but we count it as cheating since she use her wooden hair pin instead of tree branches like us.
A bit after that, we stop by the twin's room with pictures strew about everywhere, pinned on the wall, pilled on the table or filed into binder. They pulled out this commission built 'camera' made by artificer, powered by pure magic with hopes and dreams string together to hold the actual power source in. It look rather clucky but the two of them handled it with ease, their hands working in parallel to adjust different modes and stabilize the frame. Their new collection filled with picture of their expedition, bonfire, roasted meat and funny moment captured to a tee.
We then have a bit of a photography session following it, posing in goofy stance and making funny expression before strolling about again. It was like a much needed reintroduction I desperately need to not get out as not Amelia.
This group of juggernauts eventually made it to the side kitchen and decided to hijack it by 'politely ' sending the staff on their way and started making whatever was on their mind. I, of course, was in charged of taste testing or... poison testing.
Either way, a war zone was created as due process. And at the end of it, it was like a storm ran through the kitchen and punch everyone with flour and batter. Even me who was in the supposed safe zone was caught in the crossfire more than once. Not to mention, the babysitter was also the foremost in initiating counterattack against the lesion of crushed nuts and whipped cream.
The end result was as expected with abysmal presentation but honestly decently tasting cake? Would this be a cake? I truly can't tell with all the things sticking out of it.
After Selinus discover the commotion, he drop by and scolded everyone for the mess. Everyone scrambled to restore the kitchen to its prior state of pre-ingredient war. I was tasked with helping them pass around cleaning utilities and slowly eat the cake.
The entire process was supervised by the doctor himself until everything become squeaky clean. In the end, Selinus ushered us back to the dining room for a hearty lunch, of course, not without complaining about us eating sweet before a meal. Chatter and baby arguments exchanged throughout the table, with some switching meals with each other.
Moreover, they also get introduced to my nightmare, the life saving 'black tar' that even the adult shudder in fear. The moment my empty plate disappear and that all too familiar tall glass hit the table, I prep myself for what is coming.
It seem the very color and texture? thickness? make them instinctively want to run as the sound of chair scraping on the floor sounded louder than the sound of this... substance hitting the cup in globs.
Maybe they have experience something similar in the past?
Ugh... Nevermind. That burning bitter smell is hitting me in the eye again. Ahh!
They could only stare in pity or fear as they watch me trying to down the entire thing as fast as humanly possible.
The previously rather rowdy group sat completely still as if scared that the moment they do something rash, they would have to attest to the sludge with me. Didn't Dawn say that even a regular person can drink if they dilute it?
Hehe...
Maybe another time...
Let not ruin this entourage for now.