(Michael's POV)
I soon arrived at my grandparents' house slightly out of breath from jogging the last stretch after i was unable to run. I pushed open the front door and-
"Michael!"
Mom appeared in the doorway to the living room almost instantly, swooping down and wrapping me in a hug before I could even get my shoes off.
" Michael You're back! I was starting to worry that something bad happened to you" mom replied while hugging me which at this point her famous 'nearly killing her son technique via breaking her son's ribs' .
Why....Why do I get hugged so often.
Is this an Italian thing? A mom thing? A 'you're five years old' thing?
I hugged her back anyway because, well, she's my mom and I'm not a monster.
"Hi, Mom," I said, slightly muffled against her shoulder.
I'm not getting enough oxygen at this point.
She pulled back, holding me at arm's length and looking me over like I'd been gone for three days instead of three hours.
Thank God she's done hugging me.
I was about to tell her about something but she cut me off first.
"Did you have fun at the park?" Mom asked with a hint of curiosity about my activities.
"Yeah I did." I replied with a somewhat tired voice.
"Good!" She smiled warmly.
Then suddenly a smell of something good hits my nose and the sound of the oven timer. Causing me too look towards the kitchen. Which considering dad's not drinking wine again.
I immediately turned my head back to mom
"Mom is Dad..." I glanced toward the kitchen. "Is he...?"
"In the kitchen" Mom confirmed, following my gaze. "And yes he's currently cooking."
I blinked. "Dad's cooking?"
"Mm-hmm."
"That's... rare."
Dad sometimes avoids the kitchen.
And when he's often in the kitchen is when he's in the mood or unless he's making something disgusting or suspiciously French, which is practically both.
A horrible thought occurred to me.
"He's not making escargot or anything weird, right?" I showed a somewhat scared and horrified face (O_o).
Since when dad's cooking he often makes some weird french delicacy which i would consider to be a food hazard overall for my taste buds, not to mention it's french food afterall,but to be fair atleast compared to British food, french food usually is a bit more tasty in some areas, while for British food.... Yeah it's practically a somewhat near extinct species, with only a few things like beef wellington, fish n chips are tasty.
Mom laughed. "Thankfully, no. He promised me something normal this time." Though mom expressions showed some worriedness overall.
"I can hear that!" Dad's voice called from the kitchen, sounding mildly offended from me and mom bantering.
I grinned.
At least it's not snails.
"Now," Mom said, steering me toward the stairs, "go shower before dinner. You're all sweaty from running around."
I looked down at myself. She wasn't wrong-my shirt was sticking to me and I probably smelled like a playground though thankfully since I'm still a kid,my hormones are stable and won't cause me to smell,but i decided to shower first.So I'll probably tell them on what i saw after dinner.
"I can do it myself," I said quickly, because the last thing I needed was Mom trying to help me bathe like I was two.
"I know you can." She ruffled my hair affectionately. "Go on now,Dinner will be ready soon,and you probably don't want to miss it, especially if it's dad's cooking if it's not weird"
I nodded and headed upstairs, i also need to figure out how to explain what I saw without sounding completely made up.
'Hey Grandma, met a girl with a giant ice doll. Totally normal, right?'
But that's somewhat unlikely, considering that my grandparents are somewhat old, they could probably know what I'm talking about.
And i soon headed to the bathroom.
-------
Meanwhile, in the kitchen...
Edward de Montfort stood at the stove, overlooking his perfectly golden pastry crust of his beef Wellington.
He stepped back, admiring his work with the pride of a man who knew exactly how good this was going to taste.
"Absolutely perfect," he muttered to himself.
The meat had been seared to perfection. The duxelles mushrooms, shallots, and herbs were rich and fragrant. The puff pastry had risen beautifully, crisp and flaky.
And the secret ingredient?
Magic.
Just a tiny enhancement flavour spell nothing major, just using that to subtly amplify the natural flavors. A little magical heat distribution spell to ensure even cooking without over cooking it. A touch of preservation magic to keep everything at optimal freshness.
Cooking with magic is cheating, his old man had once said.
Which is NO since cooking with magic is EFFICIENT and is not cheating since it's require PRECISION to make the spell just right,he had replied.
And he stood by that hill and he would rather die than admit using magic is cheating, it's not like he cheated during his high school test by using an illusion spell to make that he wasn't reading a cheat sheet and getting a perfect score and getting 1st in class.
Yeah definitely not cheating.
Meanwhile Edward soon glanced at the counter where a tray of pastries sat cooling : delicate fruit tarts, chocolate éclairs, perfectly laminated croissants.
All have been enhanced by magic, with all being absolutely delicious.
"Magic" he said contentedly, "is the best and no one can't prove that's not wrong."
The beef Wellington went into the oven for its final browning after he checked it out.
Edward meanwhile also set a timer and turned his attention to the sauce now.
a rich red wine reduction that was simmering gently on the back burner.
He gave it a taste.
"Slurp.."
Perfect,hell yeah I am a culinary genius,and no one can tell me otherwise.
He picked up a wooden spoon and was about to adjust the seasoning when a thought occurred to him.
Actually...
He glanced at the pastries again.
Maybe one more spell.
Just a little preservation charm so they stay fresh overnight.
Can't have them going stale.
He raised his hand, and a small, simple magic circle appeared above the tray much more refined than the wobbly circles Michael had been producing that morning.
The pastries shimmered faintly as the spell settled over them.
"There," Edward said with satisfaction. "Now they'll taste fresh for days."
"Edward?" Giulia's voice called from the dining room. "How long before dinner?"
"Fifteen minutes!"
"Perfect. I'll set the table."
Edward smiled and returned his attention to the sauce.
Tonight, I am a god of the kitchen.
Tomorrow, I'll probably go back to being the guy who drinks wine all day.
But tonight?
Tonight I am GLORIOUS.
---------
(Michael's POV) - After Showering
I came back downstairs after the shower, which i feel good and definitely cleaner and less like a sweaty child who came back from playing at the park.
Soon an aroma from the dining room hit my nose.
Oh my God.
It smells incredible.
Better than the previous spell.
I followed my nose to the dining room, where Mom was setting the table , with several nice plates including some limoge plates,actual silverware, cloth napkins.
Dad's definitely showing off his cooking if it's this fancy.
Grandma and Grandpa came down a moment later, both looking relaxed and ready for dinner.
"There you are Michael" Grandma said warmly.
"Feel better?" She asked
"Yeah. Way better."
"Good." She smiled. "Your father's been busy in the kitchen. I think he's trying to impress us."
Grandpa snorted. "He's trying to prove he didn't waste all his time chasing girls instead of learning useful skills."
"I heard that!" Dad's voice came from the kitchen.
"You were meant to!" Grandpa called back.
I grinned and took my seat at the table.
A few moments later, Dad emerged from the kitchen carrying a large platter.
On it sat the most beautiful beef Wellington I'd ever seen,a perfect golden-brown for the pastry part of the beef wellington, perfectly cooked, steam rising from where he'd sliced it to show the pink center of the beef.
"Behold," Dad announced with a flourish, "my culinary perfection."
He set it down in the center of the table like he was presenting a crown jewel.
Grandpa examined it critically. Like actually inspect it,he brought a magnifying glass " Edward Did you use magic?" Edgar asked since he noticed something shining on the wellington
"Of course I used magic."
"Cheater."
"It's Efficient learn it oh wait you can't"
Edgar deadpan at Edward don't know whether to punch him or give him an applause, while Edward continue to laugh.
Mom laughed as she took her seat. "It looks wonderful, Edward. Well done."
Dad beamed and sat down, looking extremely pleased with himself.
Grandma served portions onto everyone's plates thick slices of beef wrapped in flaky pastry, with a rich sauce drizzled over the top.
I picked up my fork and took a bite,nd munch it slowly.
...
Oh.
Oh wow.
The beef was tender and perfectly seasoned. The pastry was buttery and crisp. The mushroom duxelles added an earthy richness that tied everything together.
And the sauce was so good.
"Dad," I said seriously, "this is really, really good!."
He grinned. "Thank you, Michael. I knew you'd appreciate fine cuisine."
Well that depends on the cuisine,and considering the things you make is sometimes questionable,yeah no.
"It's the magic, isn't it?" Grandpa asked, though he was eating with obvious enjoyment.
"The magic helps," Dad admitted. "But the technique is all skill."
"Uh-huh."
"It is!"
Edgar wasn't believing that it was all technique but he's not realy complaining on a tasty beef wellington.
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, everyone too focused on the food to talk much.
I also grabbed some croissants, chocolate eclair,and macarons. And stuffed them into my mouth.
I tried to stay present but my mind kept drifting back to the park. About Lavinia and ice doll. Not to mention it's like a nagging feeling that I was missing something important.
Her name for example and the doll. I swear i have read about it. I don't know why but the memory wouldn't come into focus.
Just a blur.
It's really annoying and frustrating actually, considering it's basically you trying to sneeze but you can't.
I took another bite of beef Wellington and tried to push the thoughts aside.
I'll figure it out later.
After I get some answers.
For now, I'd just eat dinner and pretend everything was normal.
Even though I was pretty sure normal had left the building the moment I learnt about magic and saw a three-meter-tall ice spirit in broad daylight.
-------
Later...
Grandpa looked at me with an amused expression.
"You know," he said, cutting into his beef Wellington, "it's surprising to see a five-year-old eating meat like this so readily. Though I suppose not too surprising."
He glanced at Edward with a knowing look.
"I remember when you were a child, Edward. Your eating habits were... adventurous, to say the least."
Edward straightened in his chair, looking oddly proud.
"I had a refined palate even then," he said.
"You ate escargot at six years old," Grandpa said flatly. "I still don't understand how you liked that cuisine" Grandpa meanwhile had a concerned face about it "they're snails...theyre literally Snails, Edward.....you know I regret bringing my brother to my house that day!"
"They're a delicacy! And don't blame Uncle Jake for that!" Dad replied while trying to defend grandpa Jake.
Giulia wrinkled her nose. "You know caro i love you and all but i still think it's gross."
Edward looked between his wife and his father with the expression of a man deeply betrayed.
"How-" He set down his fork. "How can you not appreciate escargot? The butter, the garlic, the herbs-t's basically edible art."
"It's snails, and they're disgusting and slimy " Grandpa repeated.
"It's French cuisine."
"Same thing."
I nearly choke from his laughing hearing that.
Edward sighed heavily, looking to the ceiling as if asking for divine patience.
"Why," he muttered, "can no one in this family appreciate fine food?"
"We appreciate this," Mom said, gesturing to the beef Wellington. "This is wonderful and i love you very much and support you but....Escargot is just... no.....no"
"Philistines," Edward muttered into his wine glass. "I'm surrounded by philistines."
While the other laughs.
i, meanwhile,was happily working my second helping, completely unbothered by the snail debate.
Beef Wellington: 10/10.
Escargot: Never tried it, probably never will.
Dad's culinary opinions: Questionable but is good depending on the food.
Soon the conversation drifted to other topics. Grandma asking about how the trip had been so far, Mom talking about some book she'd been reading, Grandpa making dry comments about the state of the garden and about Dad, with dad fighting back against grandpa.
-----
Later...
Dinner was finished. The dishes had been cleared-mostly by Grandpa, who'd shooed everyone else out of the kitchen with a gruff "I'll handle it."
Now Michael sat in the living room with hid Grandma, Mom, and Dad.
Grandpa was in the kitchen, the sound of running water and clinking dishes providing a comfortable background noise.
Mom settled into the armchair, looking at Michael with that soft, interested expression mothers get when they want to hear about their child's day.
"So, tesoro," she said warmly, "tell us about your day at the park. Did you have fun?"
I nodded. "Yeah! I played on the swings and ran around and... and I met a girl there."
Dad, who'd been taking a sip of wine, perked up immediately.
"A girl?" He leaned forward with sudden interest. "Already ?"
Mom swatted his arm. "Edward, he's five."
"I'm just saying social skills are important! But this is too fast" Dad gestured
"He made a friend, not a girlfriend."
"I didn't say-"
"You were thinking it." Mom stared at Dad.
Michael watched the exchange with barely concealed amusement.
Dad's already trying to live vicariously through me.
Fantastic.
"Anyway," Mom continued, turning back to Michael with a smile, "that's wonderful, dear. What's her name?"
"Lavinia," Michael said. "She's nine. And she's from Italy!"
Mom's eyes lit up.
"Italy?" She clasped her hands together.
"Oh, that's lovely! What part?"
"Near Rome, she said."
"Bellissimo!" Mom beamed. "You see, Edward? He's already making friends with nice Italian girls. I raised him well."
"She's nine," Dad repeated what mom previously said, and he was smiling. "And he's five. I don't think-"
"Let me have this, Edward." Mom replied while turning her head towards Dad.
Dad raised his hands in surrender towards his wife,still smiling,and then decided to take another sip of wine.
Michael shifted slightly, glancing at Grandma.
She was watching him with that sharp, assessing look she got sometimes. Like she was waiting for something.
Okay.
Time to bring it up.
Carefully.
"Um but actually...," Michael said, trying to sound appropriately curious and childlike, "before I talked to her, there was actually something... weird."
The room went quiet.
Mom tilted her head. "Weird how, tesoro?"
Michael took a breath.
"There was this... this big thing. Made of ice. It was really tall-like, really tall. Taller than Dad and grandpa. And it had a dress, and four arms, and its face had six eyes on one side and thorns on the other." i replied while trying to pose and using my arms to make an outline of it.
I watched their reactions carefully.
Mom blinked, clearly confused. Which her then momentarily paused trying to understand it.
Dad meanwhile choked on his wine.
Grandma's face shifted-surprise flashing across her features before she composed herself.
Grandpa meanwhile stopped washing the dishes considering the sound of the dishes clanking stopped.
"And," Michael continued innocently, "no one else could see it. Just me. And Lavinia. It was just standing there, watching her."
Silence.
Complete silence except for Dad coughing and setting down his wine glass.
"You..." Dad cleared his throat. "You saw a what?"
"An ice thing. A doll, I think? It looked like a person but... wrong."
Mom looked at Grandma. "Vivienne...?"
Grandma was staring at Michael, her expression unreadable.
"Michael," she said slowly, "this doll. Did it move? Did it do anything?"
"No,It just stood there watching Lavinia. It appeared when she was crying."
Grandma sat back in her chair, processing.
Mom looked between them, clearly sensing something significant was happening but not understanding what.
" so does grandma, grandpa or dad or mom knows what it was ?" I asked, while showing a confused face.
"I..." Mom started, then stopped. She looked at Michael, then at Grandma, then back at Michael.
Then she clapped her hands together decisively.
"I think,Michael should go to bed."she announced, standing up.
I blinked. "Wait what !?"
"It's been a long day," Mom said brightly...too brightly. "You've been training using magic,and running around at the park, you've had a big dinner, and it's getting late so-"
"But it's not even-" i immediately tried to fight back
"It's really getting late,so bedtime Tesoro~" Her tone was gentle but final.
Oh no.
She's using the Mom Voice.
The one that means 'this is not a discussion.' this is an order and it's final.
"But I'm not even tired-"
Mom was already walking over, reaching down to scoop him up effortlessly. And immediately begin heading towards the stairs.
"Mom, I can walk-"
"I know you can." She adjusted her grip, carrying him toward the stairs. "But this is faster."
Michael looked over her shoulder desperately at Grandma and Dad.
Dad looked torn between concern and confusion but then a smile.
Grandma just gave him a small, reassuring nod.
Curse this child body.
Curse it.
I have questions i want them to answer and I'm being carried to bed like a toddler, because of that,this is injustice i want a lawyer to find the truth ,and they know the truth.
"Mom-"
"Shh. Sleep is important for growing boys."
"But i need to-"
"You need to Sleep now Michael~."
And just like that, i found myself being carried upstairs,with my protests falling on deaf ears.
With the fact my Mom was in Full Parent Mode, sadly there would be no negotiating,from here and so i was taken to my room and will be forced to sleep.
_____________
Welp poor Michael, being taken away and can't find out on what information they have,but i wonder what the adults are going to discuss about what Michael saw.
Well you probably already know. Expect some combat soon. Where I'll introduce some ideas i had for DXD.
Also I'm somewhat slowly expanding on Michael's family lore, with information about his Grandparents for example that's coming up as well.
And fun fact actually i was supposed to post this yesterday but forgot to schedule it.
Ok that's all, if you have any questions you can asked in the comments.
So....
...
See ya Next time 👋
- AgentByteGOC