Banquet of Reunions and Old Paths Chapter 10

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Banquet of Reunions and Old Paths Chapter 10

Matthew: This is a special dessert in celebration of the Wizards’ Sage having visited my establishment, as well as the reunion of Lennox and his friend.

Murr: Wahaha! It’s awesome! 

This cluster of clear candy lilies is no story of someone’s past,

but of our future! It’s a blessing for the path we walk together, its uncoloured petals brimming with the possibility of many colours!

Murr gleefully theorizes in his seat as it rises and spins in the air.

Shylock: Ahaha, I understand your excitement, Murr.

There is nothing else that could complete this dinner better than this luxury.

Mithra: And it is nice that we can eat this flower. I wish I could eat the flowers back at the manor without being yelled at too.

Around the lily bowl were smaller candy flowers on the plate it was sitting on, like a miniature garden.

As well, sweets of all sorts of colours appeared on each of our tables.

Matthew: Enjoy your meal, buffet style.

Shino: Faust, this is yummy, you want some?

Faust: Thanks. You sure are eating a lot after having just finished that full course meal.

Shino: Hmhmhm, this is nothing. 

‘Sides, I need to tell Nero my opinions, remember? No compensation of sorts this time.

Faust: I’m glad you’re being responsible, but you have food on your cheek. Here, use this to wipe it off.

Shino: Mm.

Faust had a bitter yet soft smile on his face as he handed Shino the napkin, who took it.

Shino: So, you gonna eat it or not.

Faust: I guess I will since you got some for me.

He popped the sweet into his mouth and made a satisfied expression. 

Lennox: …

Faust: Hey, what is it you’ve been grinning at for awhile now?

Lennox: You looked so happy, before I knew it I was smiling too.

Faust: Huh? I wasn’t…

He protested, making a difficult face for a moment.

With deep breaths he loosened his expression, and pushed the dish of sweets towards Lennox.

Faust: Leno, you try some too

Lennox: Gladly.

Shino takes one of the flowers from the lily bowl.

Shino: Anyone know how many of these flowers we can take back? I wanna show Heath, I bet he’d like the detail in ‘em

Matthew: Why of course, Shino boy! The moment you picked up that lily it became yours to keep.

Shino: Yay.

Murr: Speaking of souvenirs, why don’t we take that big lily to go? I bet it’ll surprise everyone! 

Akira: It sure will! Though it’s a bit big to carry home…

Oz: We’ll make it small, then.

Everyone steps back as Oz comes forward, all paying attention to his next action.

Oz: Vox Nox.

To the chant of his spell, the candy lilies shine faintly,

and in front of our eyes shrink in an instant. It turned into a flower bouquet you could hold in one hand.

Ribbons formed and tied itself to the bouquet, an extraordinary sight. It was as if it had really become a clear lily bouquet.

Fluttering in the air, the bouquet slowly rested itself into Lennox’s hands. 

Lennox: Lord Oz?

Oz: These flowers were made for you, so you choose what to do with them.

Lennox: Thank you.

…Master Sage. Please, take this.

Lennox was gifting the glass-like lilies to me.

Akira: For…me? But these were made for you, I think you should keep them.

Lennox: Master Sage, I would like for you to have them.

You were the one who brought us all together, the one who always supports us. I want to give these to you.

Akira: …Thank you, Lennox.

I’ll take these flowers back to the manor, and amaze everyone with them. It’ll be a memento of today.

Lennox smiled and nodded, not saying a word.

Matthew: By the way, Master Sage.

Akira: Waugh! Oh, Matthew, what is it?

Matthew: Hahaha, I startle you that much? Anyways, I heard from the rumours that you came from another world, yeah?

Akira: That I did.

Matthew: I see, I see! Will you please tell me your life story, then?

Akira: My what!?

Matthew: I’ve been interested in your story since we met in the marketplace.

With the stories of a person from another land, I bet the next full course meal I create will be out of this world!

Lennox: …You didn’t invite us to eat here just so you could hear the Sage’s stories, did you?

Faust: So it was not to celebrate our reunion…

Matthew: Eh. Also, I uh, won’t be letting you guys go until you tell me.

Akira: Oh, come on!

Piggy: Oink!

The piglet's eyes were fierce and looked as if it was warning “He’s for real!”.

Akira: (How did it come to this!?)

After talking about my whole life, start to end,

I exited the restaurant all tired out. The sky was bright, the cast illusion gone.

The sound of footsteps in the snow, the gradient of the sky, and the blowing wind. All of it was revitalizing.

Matthew: Goodbye, everyone! I hope you all come again someday!

When I turned around to that voice, 

Akira: The restaurant…it’s gone…

Shylock: My my, just as Lennox said, what a mysterious restaurant.

Reality…or a dream. I had just experienced something amazing.

And the proof that that restaurant was real, was in my hands. The stunning bouquet of candy lilies.

Lennox went up to me with eyes the same as a child looking to pull a prank, and asked me,

Lennox: Master Sage, if your life was turned into a full course meal, what do you think it’d taste like?

The same question White gave me. I took my time toiling with it.

Akira: I…don’t know. That’s why, I want to come here again with everyone, to taste for ourselves.

Shylock: Oh, what a fantastic idea!

Murr: Me too me too! Also, I wanna have my own “Great Calamity’s Full Course”!!

Shino: If that’s the case, we should go catch our ticket again. Don’t worry, hunting’s my expertise.

Mithra: Let me join you when that happens. I’ve also become rather swell at using the knife and fork.

White: Then next time, I’ll bring Snow with us!

Faust: Remember to bring Nero, too. He’s pretty down that he didn’t get to come today.

Akira: So next time, we'll bring everybody!

Oz: …Yes

As we all spoke together, I glanced at Lennox who called out to Faust.

Lennox: Lord Faust, I thank you for coming along today.

If you’d like, may I treat you to a drink at the bar?

Faust: …There’s nothing to treat me for. Let’s go and drink together normally, and you can tell me more about your journey.

Lennox: I look forward to it.

Life is complicated no matter where you stand. It’s never only a comedy or a tragedy, and that’s why Matthew showcases life through cooking.

If life can hold that deep of a flavour, all the more to enjoy it.

Within the bitterness of despair there lies the sweet taste of hope. Even if you get drunk on the sweetness of happiness, the faint bitter undertaste will keep you in check.

So savour your life, every moment of it.

Akira: (I wonder what a full course meal of my life will be like? I can’t wait to eat it…)

I thought about those sorts of things as I took a breath of fresh air.

END

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