"Seven bridges, within seven days."
Leaning against the kitchen counter, Lauri scratched at the stubble on his chin, his gaze distant as he mulled over the bizarrities of the world of the Nightmare Spell.
"What is it with the world and the number seven? Seven ranks, seven tiers, I'm surprised there aren't seven Titans running around with seven Saints to fend them off. Maybe they can even fight for seven days and seven nights until only seven fighters remain."
As Lauri quietly chuckled to himself, Vick looked up from the pot she was stirring.
"Did you say something?"
Turning his head towards her, Lauri smiled.
"I did."
Touching his chin, Lauri tilted his head up, showing off the stubble along his jaw.
"Do you think beards are cool? I'm trying to figure out whether I should let it grow out or not."
Vick shook her head, ladling soup into one of the seven bowls beside her
"I'm afraid I'm the wrong lady to ask."
She said with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I like my men clean-shaven."
Crossing his arms, Lauri let his head drop with a sigh.
"Oh well. It's nice to have you back, by the way. How was Bastion?"
Handing the bowl to Lauri, Vick's eyes shone as she recalled the bright sunny day she had been enjoying whilst wandering the streets of Bastion until she could return to the waking world. The shine in her eyes grew dim as she heard the cold Antarctic wind slamming against the Rhino.
"Bastion is lovely this time of year, maybe when the Gate Crisis is all said and done. You should come to Bastion sometime, I would love to treat you to my favourite shop. It sells the tastiest pastries."
Creating a floating tray of light, Lauri placed the first bowl on top of it.
"That does sound nice, a lot nicer than the Stormsea."
Filling the third bowl, Vick paused for a moment.
"The Stormsea? I didn't realise you were tethered to the Night Garden."
Lauri cocked his head to the side.
"Did I really never mention? Damn, we've been travelling as a team for so many months, but still we know so little about each other."
Lauri took the third bowl, lifting it slightly as he breathed in the aroma of the stew.
"How's about when we reach Falcon Scott, I treat you all to something nice? A treat from your Captain."
Handing him the fourth filled bowl, Vick smiled.
"I think that sounds delightful. But so you know, my tastes can be expensive."
Adding the fourth bowl to the tray, Lauri jokingly rolled his eyes.
"How ever will my wallet survive?"
Vick giggled slightly as she filled the next bowl. A comfortable silence settled between them while Vick filled the last three bowls. As she handed Lauri the seventh, he looked at her, his expression growing slightly serious.
"But seriously, how are you feeling? Going to sleep, and then waking up, finding out the kind of mission we've been given. It can't be the nicest feeling."
Dropping the ladle into the pot, Vick rubbed the back of her neck as she looked away. Her expression slowly twisted into one of anguish.
"I mean, it's definitely not the nicest thing to wake up to. To be fair, knowing I went to sleep because of a Nightmare Creature also is not exactly one of the nicest things to find out, but it really was a nice sleep. I feel so refreshed. So that balances things out a little."
Nodding along as Vick spoke, Lauri put his hands on the tray.
"Well, I should get going and bring these to the others."
As he turned to leave, Vick cleared her throat.
"Um, Lauri… Are you forgetting something?"
Lauri glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow as he asked.
"What's up?"
Vick pointed at the tray holding the seven bowls of stew.
"Do you think I can have one of those?"
Looking at the tray and then back at Vick, Lauri couldn't help but chuckle.
"Only an Unholy Titan would try to deprive the chef of eating their own cooking."
----
Within the living space, Mele had once again summoned [Pack's Alligence], presenting it to Sansa.
"See, my dear friend Sansa – this sword? Untapped potential. A brand new Memory, never seen before. Who knows what Enchantments this beauty might hold? It could be the strongest Memory ever seen. And you – yes, you, Sansa – could own it… for the low, low price of just one of your arrow Memories."
Sansa sat on the opposite side of the room, giving Mele a look of complete and utter disinterest.
"Mele. If you give that thing to me, I will stab you with it."
Frowning, Mele sank into the couch.
"Man, why won't anyone take this thing off of my hands…"
Her eyes slowly moved to Katrina, who was sitting beside Sansa. She spoke softly, her voice smooth and warm, like freshly made honey.
"Oh, Katrina, oh sweet dear ever so kind Katrina. Are you sure you don't want to trade with your friend, Mele?"
Katrina had been smiling as she read from her data pad, but the expression faded as she looked up, her eyes moving between Mele and her Memory.
"No."
Without further comment, Katrina returned her gaze to the data pad.
With a sob, Mele shot to her feet and hurled [Pack's Alligence] at the ground.
"Why won't anybody take this stupid thing!?"
As [Pack's Allegiance] struck the floor, it landed with a loud, wet, fleshy sound, bouncing once before settling.
The noise caused everyone in the room to look at it.
Moments passed as Mele, Sansa and Katrina all stared at the falchion.
Exhaling, Katrina lowered her data pad as she asked.
"I thought you liked that thing? What's with the sudden change of tone?"
Sinking into the couch, Mele rubbed her face.
"I've never liked the look of this thing. It's just so, so disgusting. I was hoping that if I was nice about it, someone might trade for it… This is the first Memory I've gotten in so long. Why did it have to turn out to be so…"
Mele fell quiet as footsteps approached the room.
Entering, Lauri gestured with a broad smile.
"Ladies, who is feeling hungry?"
Pushing the tray into the room, Lauri's smile grew slightly strained as he saw [Pack's Alligence] lying on the floor.
"Why… Why is that, oh, okay. Sansa, I take it, Mele failed to convince you to trade for it?"
Throwing her hands up, Sansa laughed.
"You've got that right. I'm only touching that thing if one of the enchantments kills me after."
Glaring at Sansa, Mele stuck her tongue out at her friend.
Rings of light appeared around three of the six bowls, gently lifting them into the air as they drifted toward the women.
Lauri's face twisted slightly.
"Seems I forgot the spoons. No matter."
Raising a hand, he formed three spoons and sent them after the bowls.
Taking the bowl and spoon as they reached her, Mele greedily looked inside.
"Finally! I love when it's Vick's turn to cook."
Taking their bowls, Katrina and Sansa dug into their meals.
Bringing his floating tray around, Lauri moved to the front of the Rhino.
Danse was in the driver's seat, having swapped with Lucky to give him a break. Looking out the front window, Lauri smiled. The snowstorm had abated enough to be able to see properly, which was very good for the occupants of the Rhino. As Danse was skirting around a mountain pass, the Rhino barely squeezed along the path, seeming to only just fit.
Lucky was sitting in the seat beside him, his foot propped up on the dashboard as he kept Danse company – he was reading from a book, every now and then raising his head to look outside.
"Gentlemen, dinner is served."
Announcing his presence, Lauri picked up one of the bowls and summoned a spoon, holding it out to Lucky as he looked up from his book.
"Thanks, Captain."
Putting his book to one side. Lucky accepted the bowl with a smile.
Not taking his eyes off the road, Danse asked.
"What has Vick made for us today?"
Taking his own bowl, Lauri created a plate for Danse's bowl to rest on as he dismissed the tray. Creating a spoon, Lauri dug in.
"A delicious stew with beautiful fresh ingredients she has brought over from Bastion with her storage Memory."
As Danse steered the Rhino forward, something crashed into the top of the Rhino, causing Lucky to jump slightly as he stared at the roof. Clutching his own bowl close to his chest, looking at Danse and Lauri, he asked.
"What was that?"
Danse's eyes briefly flicked to the edge of the road as he responded.
"Just some rocks hitting the roof."
Lucky frowned.
"How can you be sure?"
Swallowing a mouthful of stew, Lauri turned to him.
"Because if it were a Nightmare Creature, knowing the type of beasts roaming around Antarctica. If it had fallen down the side of this mountain and built up enough momentum, it would have probably punched straight through the roof."
Lucky gulped and looked down at his food.
"Right… Right…"