Grandma Nella looked between them with a warm smile. The tension choking the room was apparent.
"Oh? You've already met?"
The granddaughter's mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. She looked like a fish trying to breath after being pulled out of the water.
"We… briefly. Last night. A-At the bath house."
Grandma Nella clapped her hands together and beamed.
"How wonderful! Were you able to have a nice soak together?"
'Define "nice," Grandma.'
"It was… brief, yeah," Eli said, his voice cracking.
The granddaughter conveniently found the plates on the table to be distractingly interesting. She adjusted one, then fidgeted with another, and then brought both of them back to where they were.
"I'm Ravi," she said, still looking at the plates. "…Her granddaughter."
"Elise. Nice to meet you…"
They shook hands. It lasted exactly one second, and neither made eye contact.
'I really need to clear up this misunderstanding!'
Grandma Nella rose onto her toes, gripped his shoulders, and guided him to the bench.
"Sit, sit! You must be starving, dear."
Eli sat down across from where Ravi was standing.
"Where's Julianna?"
"She's sleeping like a log, Grandma. You should see the positions she sleeps in."
As he finished his sentence, the stairs creaked.
"GOOD MORNING!"
'Speak of the devil.'
Julianna descended the stairs like a natural disaster. Her hair was disheveled, her shirt was untucked, whilst grinning like she was ready to ruin someone's day.
She landed at the bottom of the stairs, scanned the room, and her eyes locked into Ravi. They widened instantly.
"Oh! YOU! From last night!"
Ravi flinched so hard she rattled the silverware.
"Juli—"
"You ran away so fast! I've never seen someone move that—MMPH MMMM."
Eli diffused the bomb before it could explode. He had leapt across the table and clamped his hand over Julianna's mouth with a speed that would have made [Rapid Step] jealous.
"She's talking about a cat! A stray cat ran through the courtyard last night. Very fast cat. Incredibly fast. Juli was very impressed!"
Ravi stared at the chaotic duo, especially at him. She did not believe a single word.
But Grandma Nella, however, bought into the story.
"Oh, that must be Mr. Apples! He lives behind the well. Very skittish, that one."
'There's actually a cat!? Oh… how the heavens favor me!'
Julianna pried Eli's hand off her face.
"What was that for!?"
Eli leaned in close and hissed through his teeth.
"If you say one — more — word about last night, I will tell Irene you broke her favorite staff."
Julianna's face went pale.
"You wouldn't… dare."
"Try me."
She finally sat down without another word.
Eli exhaled and sat beside Julianna. Ravi also breathed a sigh of relief for what seemed like the first time in minutes. Still, they could both use some work on the eye contact.
Grandma Nella, oblivious as ever, returned from the kitchen with a pot of stew.
His instincts of a dutiful grandchild kicked in. Eli quickly stood back up and helped her carry the pot.
"Grandma, you shouldn't be carrying something this heavy!"
"Oh, nonsense! I've been carrying pots since I was a kid."
She patted his arm.
"But thank you, dear. You're very sweet."
He set the pot down on the table while Grandma Nella brought out the bread, butter, and a small jar of honeyed preserves. The spread was modest, but it reminded Eli of the good times he had spent with his elderly friends. A meal made with love was the best!
"Eat up, girls. You have a long day ahead!"
Julianna didn't have to be told twice. She tore into the bread like a beast, dunking it into the stew with zero elegance.
"Granny! This is incredible!"
"I'm glad, dear! There's plenty more. Eat to your heart's content."
Eli took his first spoonful and nearly melted. The stew was rich with flavors and seasoned to perfection. The beefiness and fattiness of the braised meat exploded in his mouth, and then came the herbs, the balancer of all, subduing the blast with their earthy, aromatic profiles.
This was autumn in a dish.
'Grandma… I don't want to leave this place.'
Across the table, Ravi ate quietly, glancing up at Eli and Julianna every few seconds before quickly looking away.
'Gah! I want to clear the misunderstanding right now!'
But Grandma Nella was here, and he could never let her hear this embarrassing story. He wanted this place to be his sanctuary, somewhere he could return to from time to time. If Grandma learned about it, he would be made fun of for the rest of his life!
Julianna, now on her second bowl, finally slowed down enough to notice Ravi.
"So! You live here?"
Ravi tense slightly but still answered.
"…I'm a student at Sienne Magic Academy. I come home on weekends to help Grandma."
'Ooh, a magic academy student.'
"That's impressive. Which field of magic?"
Still tense, Ravi tried to work up an answer to the simple question.
"Elemental spirits… I'm in my third year."
Julianna's bowl stopped halfway to her mouth.
"What!? You're an elementalist? That's incredible!"
'Damn… That's not what I expected.'
In HOTA, elementalists were decided by luck of the draw, meaning an elemental spirit had to choose you. No amount of study or talent could change that fact, and because elementalists used the purest forms of the elements, they were highly valued and nearly irreplaceable in the kingdom.
Ravi adamantly waved her hands, refusing the compliments.
"…It's nothing impressive. I was just lucky, that's all."
"She's being modest!" Grandma Nella chimed in from the kitchen. "She's top of her class. Her professors adore her."
"Grandma, please…"
Julianna pointed her bread at Ravi.
"Top of her class AND a fast runner? What a woman!"
Eli kicked her under the table.
"OW!"
He steered the conversation before Julianna could recover:
"We're actually headed to Florentine today. Would you mind showing us around, since you're heading back anyway?"
Ravi hesitated. She looked at Julianna, who was rubbing her shin and glaring at Eli. Then she looked at Eli, who was doing his best to radiate trustworthiness.
'Corporate smile mode activated!'
Before she could answer, however, Grandma Nella appeared with a basket of packed lunches.
"Oh, what a wonderful idea! Ravi, show them around! You know the campus like the back of your hand, right?"
"Grandma, I—"
"I'll pack extra for the road!"
Ravi closed her mouth. She looked at Eli one more time, smiling under the watchful gaze.
"…Fine."
As the group gathered by the carriage, Grandma Nella came out of her humble abode to see them off. She carried a basket of packed food that was enough to feed a small army.
"Don't forget to eat lunch! And stay hydrated! And Ravi, make sure they don't get lost!"
"Yes, Grandma."
Ravi hugged her grandma tightly.
"Eat enough meals, okay? Sleep early, too. I know you sleep late knitting."
Grandma Nella patted Ravi on the back a few times.
"I know, I know. Go on now."
Ravi let go slowly, lingering for a second before turning away and heading toward the carriage.
"And you two!" Grandma Nella pointed at Eli and Julianna. "Come back and visit. I mean it!"
Eli took her hands one last time before departure and gave them a gentle squeeze.
"We will, Grandma. This is my second home now."
Her eyes went glassy. She turned to Ravi, who was putting her bags away.
"See, Ravi? I told you she talks just like you."
Ravi glanced at Eli, then quickly looked away.
"…I don't see it."
"Bye, Granny!" Julianna chimed in, waving wildly from atop her horse. "I love your stew so much!"
"I'll make it again when you come back, dear!"
Ravi climbed into the carriage with Eli. They sat across from each other in silence, their eyes unable to meet.
Mr. Cross, up far earlier than everyone, cracked the reins, and the carriage lurched down the road.
Genella shrank behind them, as well as the figure of Grandma Nella waving goodbye. Eli watched through the back window until the inn disappeared behind a hill.
'I'm definitely coming back.'