chsdbacks Chapter 204: Tastes of Jade
Chapter 204: Tastes of Jade
Chapter 204: Tastes of Jade
Sylvie sat at a round table at the corner of the so-called Tastes of Jade bakery. Though this was her first time here, based on the polished floors and dozens of sweet delights portrayed behind the glass panels, Sylvie decided this was definitely a high-end bakery. Then again, she had never been to any bakery before today, so who was she to judge?
Thanks for letting me tag along! Poppy gushed to the group of popular kids.
The more the merrier, Kegrog raised his porcelain cup of tea as if it were a mug of ale.
So, Sylvie, what are your first impressions? Callum asked with a charming smile.
It looks really nice, I love the bright green and white tiles, she said.
Youre easy to impress, Freya chuckled.
Callum sent an annoyed glare at the dwarf.
Im just happy to be here, Sylvie admitted. My parents usually never let me out. Seeing a place like this, its She shrugged, Nice.
Freya tried to pat Sylvies shoulder, but she couldnt reach, instead, Freya settled on patting her forearm. I know what you mean. My dad used to never let me go anywhere. Then when I turned 16, I grabbed one of his wallets and I ran away from home for a week. I spent the entire time at a spa, but my parents got so worried that when I came home they decided to give me some space aka freedom. Worked like a charm, hehe.
Id be lucky if my parents didnt lock me away for life, Sylvie thought.
Is everyone ready to order? Kithina asked impatiently.
The group nodded.
Except for Sylvie, Oh, uh, sorry. I didnt really look at the menu. She glanced at the wooden sign hanging from above the front counter.
Why am I not surprised, Kithina muttered.
S-sorry, Sylvie bowed, embarrassed.
No, its fine, Callum smiled. Id find it hard to choose if it was my first time here too. Tell you what, why dont I just order one of everything? That way you can try each one and find out what you like.
Sylvie shook her head, Thanks, but you dont have to do tha-
Poppy grabbed her hand, Shed love that, thanks!
Great, then one of everything it is, Callum nodded.
Sylvie glanced at Poppy with a questioning look.
Just go with it, Poppy whispered.
I dont know if thats such a great idea, Cal, Kithina said. The owner and head chef of this place is a human. She based most of her food on old human recipes from the Jade Realm. I dont think a vampire like Sylvie would be interested in human food.
Oh, sorry, Sylvie, Callum winced. I didnt even think that you might have a particular taste in food. Ugh, and I know a bakery may not be your ideal image of dinner. Its just that my friends and I usually eat here often. Dammit, I just realized this place doesnt even sell blood wine. Im sorry, we can go somewhere else.
Weeell, I don't know about that last part, Kithina said.
Actually, its fine. Im half-human, Sylvie said. Im more than comfortable eating food from the Jade Realm.
Youre half-human? Callum's eyes went wide. He smiled warmly, So youre like me?
Yeah, I guess I am, Sylvie grinned.
Freya leaned over to Kithina. Wow, those two really are a match. Im afraid you dont have much of a chance, she whispered.
Shut up, Gold-Eyes, Kithina snapped.
After a few minutes, the waiter came back and brought them their food. Dozens of plates lined the large table, each with a different pastry. Sylvie breathed in the scent of delicious sweetness and licked her lips.
Before anyone else had started, Sylvie had grabbed her fork and dived into the food eagerly. Everyone watched in awed silence as she devoured plate after plate with no sign of finishing.
Sylvie noticed their round eyes staring at her and stopped, her fork halfway to her mouth.
She chewed and swallowed. What?
N-nothing, Poppy mumbled.
Sylvies olive cheeks turned rosy. She grinned sheepishly, I sorta have a sweet tooth.
Clearly, Kithina noted snidely.
I knew dires had a big appetite but damn, you know how to eat! I love it! Freya pounded the table.
So do I, Callum pounded the table in agreement.
... Kithina glanced at her half-finished slice of cake. She liked food as much as the next person, but she tried to hold back while in front of Callum.. She didnt want to appear less feminine. Had she been wrong?
Sylvie scratched her cheek, My parents seldom let me have sugar growing up.
Your parents seem like real prunes if you ask me, Freya said.
Sometimes it felt like that, Sylvie sighed.
Sylvie recalled the drow hybrid from earlier. Are you talking about Stryg? she asked.
Hm? Oh, yeah, I guess you did meet him, Callum said wryly.
Hed usually lighten up the room, even when he didnt mean to, which was always, Freya chuckled.
Really? Sylvie furrowed her brow. Cause he doesnt seem very nice
Well, Callum began. He frowned, Actually, hm. Well, Stryg isnt a nice person, per se, not really. But he isnt a bad person either.
Stryg cares about his friends, Kithina nodded.
Hell still beat the shit out of you in a sparring match though, Kegrog muttered grimly.
No ones perfect, Kithina shrugged.
You only say that because you havent sparred with him yourself, Kegrog said.
Theres a reason there are a bunch of rumors about Stryg, Poppy grimaced.
If you did spar with him, I guarantee you wouldnt want to spar with him again, Callum chuckled.
I do, Sylvie said. I had a lot of fun in todays sparring match. And if Im being honest, I dont really like to lose.
I like your spirit, dire girl, Freya grinned. I too didnt give up after sparring with Stryg. I fought him a second time in an all-out duel.
Wow, that must have been incredible, Sylvie said excitedly.
Freya nodded proudly, Mhm, it was. I had Stryg on the defensive almost the entire match. I overwhelmed him with my attacks. The crowd screamed and cheered as I fought.
Kithina looked at her with a dead-pan stare, Then we saw Stryg knock you unconscious.
And almost kill you, Callum added.
Stryg would have, if Tauri hadnt stopped the fight, Kegrog added.
Freyas pale cheeks turned as bright red as a tomato. She glared at Kegrog.
...Sorry, he whispered.
Sooo, Stryg doesnt hold back, huh? Sylvie guessed.
Yeah, holding back isnt really a concept he grasps, Kithina admitted.
This Stryg guy really didnt seem like a good friend, Sylvie thought.
Oh, Callum, you have a bit of um, you know, Sylvie pointed at her cheek.
Callum blinked, Right, thanks. He grabbed a cloth napkin and wiped a bit of icing off his cheek. Is it gone?
Sylvie nodded, Yup. Hmm
What is it? Callum asked.
Sylvie tilted her head, On a closer look, youre actually cuter than I thought. Huh, weird.
Callum stiffened.
The naive Sylvie went back to eating her food, failing to recognize the true implications of her words.
Kithina glared at the vampiress. Poppy smiled from ear to ear. Freya burst into laughter and pointed a shaky finger at Kithina.
Hey, guys, I dont mean to be a downer, but we probably shouldnt stay up too late, Kegrog said. Weve got class with Professor Rime early in the morning.
That strict asshole, Kithina groaned. I hated him when he taught us magic theory our first year and I still hate him now.
Everyone does, its Professor Rime, Poppy nodded sympathetically.
Is he really that bad? Sylvie asked, worried.
Not if you know your shit, Freya said.
Except that tomorrow hes supposed to be teaching us about the theory of void mana and no one knows shit about that, Callum sighed.
By the way, did anyone else do the readings he assigned over the summer? Kithina asked. I had some questions about the material I didnt understand.
I didnt have the time, I was busy learning about managing my familys businesses all summer, Freya said.
I skimmed through it a bit. I didnt understand much, Callum admitted.
There was a reading? Kegrog asked.
Kithina sighed, Were fucked arent we?