"It's Frost-Grape Tea!"
Camellya dashed over to a nearby stall, returning with several cups of fruit tea radiating a sweet, nectar-like floral scent. Crushed, crystalline frost-grape pulp drifted lazily within the liquid, and thick beads of condensation clung to the outside of the cups.
She jabbed a straw in and took a massive, impatient gulp, her eyes narrowing in pure bliss. "Mmm... nothing beats this flavor! Here, try it!" She shoved one of the cups right into Rover's hands.
Rover took a sip. The milky base had been perfectly diluted, leaving a crisp, refreshing sweetness laced with a uniquely rich fruity aroma. It was genuinely revitalizing.
The group continued their stroll, eventually stopping in front of a stall selling Snow-Stewed Chowder. A rich, mouth-watering aroma wafted from the massive pot.
Chunks of tender fish and plump shellfish tumbled within the creamy white broth, the surface delicately garnished with finely chopped green herbs.
"Do you remember this?" The Shorekeeper, who had been quietly walking alongside them, suddenly turned her head to ask Rover.
Rover scratched the back of his head, a bit sheepish. "It looks and smells incredibly familiar. I feel like I've had it somewhere before."
The Shorekeeper gazed at the bubbling pot of chowder, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of nostalgia rippling in her eyes. "This is the recipe you taught me all those years ago. Back then, the Black Shores lacked the abundant resources we have today. This hearty chowder—made simply by stewing common fish in milk—comforted the stomachs and hearts of so many people."
"I see... Truly a simple, yet heartwarming dish. We'll take four bowls, please," Rover said to the stall owner.
The stall owner moved with practiced efficiency. He quickly ladled out the thick soup, pairing it with a few slices of freshly baked bread before handing the tray over to Rover.
Taking the tray, Rover immediately offered the first serving to The Shorekeeper.
She elegantly picked up her spoon, taking a small sip of the warm broth before giving a slight nod. "It tastes wonderful."
Rover picked up a bowl for himself. One taste was enough to bring a thoroughly satisfied smile to his face. He passed the remaining two bowls to Camellya and Cartethyia.
The group took a seat at a small table by the stall, quietly savoring this simple yet exquisite Black Shores classic.
Camellya blew on the hot liquid before taking a cautious sip. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wow! I didn't expect something so plain-looking to taste this rich! Not bad at all!"
Cartethyia, meanwhile, took small, delicate sips. As the warm, savory broth filled her stomach, the lingering tension from her first Black Shores celebration melted away entirely. A profoundly comfortable, content expression spread across her face. "It's delicious... so warm..."
Normally, due to certain traumatic past experiences, Cartethyia absolutely despised eating fish. But this Snow-Stewed Chowder had completely conquered her appetite.
Just as they were losing themselves in the culinary feast, a melodious, soothing prelude echoed from the celebration's central plaza.
Camellya's eyes instantly lit up. She grabbed Rover's hand without a second thought.
"Come on! Time to stretch those legs!"
Possessing what seemed like endless energy, she practically dragged Rover a few steps toward the dance floor.
However, as the brief, uplifting prelude faded, the melody didn't shift into a passionate, upbeat rhythm. Instead, it smoothed out into an even slower, more elegant tempo—clearly a song meant for a gentle waltz rather than the frantic, energetic spinning she had been hoping for.
"Tch. It's a slow dance." Camellya clicked her tongue, instantly losing interest.
Her gaze swept back across the dazzling array of food stalls. "Whatever, whatever! Priorities first—let's fill our stomachs! We were too busy playing earlier, there's still so much I haven't tried!"
She dropped his hand. Like a butterfly drawn to a blooming flower, she fluttered over to a stall emitting sizzling sounds and an incredibly enticing aroma of roasted meat.
The stall featured a massive grilling stone carved from some sort of black coastal reef. It was completely covered in a wide assortment of seafood. A heavily muscled chef was expertly flipping the sizzling catches using various long-handled tools.
"It's Reef-Roasting!" Camellya excitedly explained. "Searing the seafood on piping-hot black reef stones instantly locks in all the juices! Hurry up, we have to try this!"
On the scorching grill, massive scallops popped open with a sharp crack under the intense heat, revealing snow-white, plump meat. Drenched in garlic sauce, the aroma was utterly mouth-watering.
Whole lobsters were split down the middle, their shells rapidly turning a brilliant crimson as the meat cooked to a firm, springy perfection.
Alongside them, skewers of thick, juicy adductor muscles sizzled loudly, roasting to a beautifully charred golden-brown.
"Boss, give us a bit of everything!" Camellya waved her hand grandly, acting every bit the wealthy patron throwing money around.
The four of them sat down around a small table. Within moments, plate after plate of sizzling, roasted seafood was served.
And practically the very second the food hit the table, a streak of white light shot out from Rover's Tacet Mark with a swoosh, landing flawlessly on an empty corner of the table.
"Yours truly smells it! It's the good stuff!" Abu gripped the edge of the table with its little paws, its eyes wide and perfectly round. It stared intensely at the oil-sizzling skewers, practically drooling onto the wood. "Rover! I want to eat too!"
Camellya burst out laughing at the sight. She deliberately picked up a skewer and waved it right in front of the little Echo's face. "Yo, is the little glutton finally awake?"
Rover chuckled helplessly. The fact that the little rascal automatically spawned within three seconds of food arriving was absolutely zero surprise to him.
He slid a perfectly roasted skewer of krill over to the Echo. "I knew there was no way you'd sleep through this smell. Eat slowly, don't burn yourself."
Abu couldn't care less. It hugged the skewer and took a massive bite. The heat made it stick its tongue out and pant, but it absolutely refused to let go, mumbling through a mouthful of food, "De-wish-ush! Sho de-wish-ush!"
It obliterated a massive pile of seafood like a hurricane, its little belly rapidly expanding into a perfect sphere.
Utterly satisfied, it let out a loud, drawn-out burp. It patted its round belly as its eyelids began to droop again. "Mmm... I'm stuffed. Yours truly is... going back to sleep..."
With that, it dissolved into a flash of white light and dived straight back into Rover's Tacet Mark. It came fast, and it left just as fast.
The brief, comical interlude had everyone laughing, making the atmosphere at the table even more relaxed.
Camellya stared at the spot where Abu had vanished, teasing, "That little guy lives such a simple, pure life. Eats until he's full, sleeps, wakes up, and eats again. I'm honestly jealous."
Rover picked up the largest scallop with his bare hands. Using his chopsticks to carefully extract the meat, he naturally placed the very first piece onto The Shorekeeper's plate, followed by cracking open a thick lobster claw and placing the meat onto Cartethyia's plate.
"Eat it while it's hot," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The Shorekeeper paused slightly before offering a soft "Thank you." She then picked up her utensils and ate with a slow, elegant grace that was a feast for the eyes all on its own.
After quietly murmuring her own thanks, Cartethyia tried to mimic The Shorekeeper's elegance. She was a bit clumsy but incredibly focused as she tackled the massive claw meat, completely oblivious to the sauce smudging the corner of her mouth.
Camellya blinked at the scene. Refusing to stand on ceremony, she took matters into her own hands, grabbing a skewer of roasted adductor meat and taking a huge bite. The scorching heat made her pant heavily, but she refused to spit it out, praising incoherently, "So good! So fresh!"
After thoroughly demolishing the seafood feast, the group found themselves stopping in front of a stall exuding a cool, sweet fragrance. The display was packed with a variety of visually stunning, crystal-clear desserts.
"Is this... Sea Moon Jelly?" The Shorekeeper asked softly, looking at a dessert that looked exactly like a flawless work of art.
Rover followed her gaze. It was a chilled jelly made from some kind of transparent seaweed agar. Encased perfectly within the clear gelatin were tiny, intricately crafted marine creatures made entirely of edible materials. Under the stall's lights, it refracted a dreamy, kaleidoscopic glow.
"This is gorgeous!" Camellya's attention was instantly captured.
Without hesitation, she dug into her pockets once again, ordering a uniquely shaped dessert for every single one of them.
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