For the following week, I worked hard in the garden. Cutting grass, trimming bushes, cutting unnecessary branches, and picking out weeds from flower beds—making everything pretty again.
I was scared at first. I thought the grass would be the biggest problem, but… well, no. It wasn't the grass. In two days, I finished cutting all of it, working for eight hours each day. This place is massive.
The easiest task was cutting unnecessary branches. Well, all I needed was to cut a few from each side and the tree looked fine.
But the most consuming tasks were trimming bushes and picking out flowers—the weeds in between, to be specific.
They took me four and a half days. One day to trim the bushes, for there weren't many of them to trim, but the strength it demanded was incredible. My arms were barely usable; I just fell to the bed on top of Theia and passed out.
The flowers were the real deal. For three and a half days, I worked hard to pick the tiniest of weeds to make the roses and tulips shine. And after this grueling work, it had paid off. It's like the garden at home—beautiful, truly breathtaking. Ha! I worked hard and all of it succeeded!
The master just sat in his rocking chair and watched me work. Probably he was too lazy to do it himself… but I don't think so. If he's a master, then he is dedicated to his craft, so he's not lazy, I think.
Well, I can't really complain. The food he cooked in the morning, at dinner, and in the evening was amazing, on par with our palace cook. Especially the scrambled eggs. Their yellowish color and their smell were so good, and not to forget, their taste was heavenly. I think the Master has a talent for cooking scrambled eggs. I cannot wait to eat them again today. It's a treat for my taste buds!
***
Mytri sat in his rocking chair, watching Luna as she picked out weeds from between the tulips and roses in a dedicated manner.
"Who would've thought that this job would make her so happy?" Mytri said as he stood up from his chair and slowly made his way to the door, dragging his feet behind. "At first, I just wanted to see if she'd be dedicated to small things. Well, if one is dedicated to small things, they will truly shine while working on bigger things."
"At least she deserves some scrambled eggs as her prize, for dedicating herself to this unreasonable request, as hardworking as her father, precious child"
Mytri walked into the house. Just then, from underneath the tree where Luna picked the weeds, Theia fell, hitting the ground with a thud and startling Luna. As Luna saw Theia groaning on the ground, she burst into laughter, leaving Theia's face fully red.
***
Luna and Theia sat by the table as a sizzling sound echoed from the kitchen. In front of them were wooden plates with steel forks and knives, awaiting Luna's prize. As Luna drooled at the thought of scrambled eggs, thoughts overflowed from her mind.
Footsteps closed in as Mytri walked out of the kitchen, steam rising from the dish, and immediately the smell hit Luna's nostrils.
Mytri placed it before them and gave them their appropriate portions, then served himself, and so they began eating. Luna swallowed her saliva and cut into the golden texture. She pierced it with her fork and placed it into her mouth, and immediately she felt the taste.
There is nothing in the world like those scrambled eggs. Their texture, their consistency—oh Goddess, whoever you are and if you even exist, this taste is a heavenly one. I cannot think of any food that can boast it in taste alone. The simple, yet deep feeling it gives me whenever I chew on it… It tastes less of food and more of home, of slow mornings and a peace that settles deep in my body. In a complicated world, that consistency is a kind of grace.
Like that place on that island—oh, I forgot about it. I have a gem that works as a portal… I have to visit it sooner or later with Theia. Wait, the planked corridor in the basement there—ahhh I love their taste so much, well I have to bury her sooner or later. Those scrambled eggs really do bring back the memory I least expected, I thought the master was joking.
So good.
Luna, after chewing for longer than she should, swallowed and said, "Master! Please teach me the recipe to cook it. They are too good not to know how to make them!"
Mytri looked up from his plate at Luna, and after hearing her words, a small smile grew on his face. His eyes relaxed as he said, "Well, if that's what you want, I'll teach you in the future when we have time."
"Don't we have time now?" Luna added.
"Not really. Now you will start your sword training. Ah, speaking of swords, do you have yours?"
Luna and Theia nodded as they ate as if someone might steal their food.
"Then good. After you eat and rest, we will train," Mytri said.
But Luna shook her head from side to side and said, "We don't need to rest. We've rested enough—we can go training right after dinner."
Theia nodded after Luna.
Mytri's gaze lingered for a while, then he chuckled. "If that's what you want, I won't complain. Now eat slowly—no one will steal it from you."
Luna and Theia simultaneously nodded as they slowed down their eating.
***
Seated on the grass in the garden's central shade, Luna and Theia listened as their Master drew a calm breath. "It is time," he said, "to explain the path of your training."