ALTHEA
"Are you seriously going to eat that?" I could not help but ask. "Yep, little bunny. Anything wrong about it?"he asked. " My name is Althea not little bunny."i said to him."You are quite small, soo." he smirked.
True I was short barely reaching their shoulders but it is not my fault they are built like hulk. "I'm Williams and he is Jonathan." The second guy said. At least he is nicer than this Jonathan.
I picked the extra sticks and arranged them, then looked at Williams, he was the one with fire powers also. "Can you help me light this up?" I asked. He moved to my side and put a small fire between the woods and it began to burn.
"What are you making, little bunny?" Jonathan asked me. I turned to glare at him. "Something better than this and if you don't stop calling me little bunny, you are not getting any out of it." I said.
So they will not know that I can make things out of thin air, I reached into my bag to make them and just pulled them out. "You have a magic storage bag?" Williams asked. I nodded and set everything I wanted to use down. Thank goodness, the magical bags are a thing here or I will have a lot to explain.
Borrowing what looks like a frying pan, I got to work. My goal ; a beef sandwich, something just like the American classic cheeseburger.
I worked quickly, my hands moving with practiced ease as I prepared the ingredients I had pulled from my magic bag. Williams and Jonathan stood nearby, watching me with open curiosity, while Alistair remained silent, his arms crossed as he observed me with a sharp gaze. I could feel their stares, but I ignored them, focusing on the sizzling beef patty in the pan.
The rich aroma of the seasoned meat filled the air, and I heard Jonathan pause, sniffing as if unsure whether to be intrigued or skeptical.
"What in the world is that smell?" he muttered. "That doesn't smell like anything we usually eat."
"It's just seasoned beef," I replied, flipping the patty with a precise motion. "And trust me, it's better than whatever you're burning over there."
Jonathan scoffed. "Please, I've been cooking in the wild for years. There's no way whatever you're making tastes better than my stew."
A moment later, a sharp, acrid scent filled the air, and I turned just in time to see Jonathan's expression twist in horror. Smoke curled up from his pot.
"Uh, Jonathan—"
He cursed and rushed to stir the contents, but it was too late. The stew had burned to an inedible mess. Williams burst out laughing.
"Looks like your so-called skills are no match for Althea, huh?" he teased.
I smirked, taking my time assembling the sandwiches. "I warned you, Jonathan. Now, I guess you'll just have to eat mine instead."
Jonathan crossed his arms, scowling. "Fine, but if it tastes bad, I'm going back to my stew."
I ignored him and focused on finishing my meal. I sliced fresh bread and toasted it lightly over the fire before layering it with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and thick slices of cheese that melted over the hot beef patty. To top it off, I added a special sauce from my bag—one I had perfected back home.
When I finished, I placed the first sandwich on a wooden plate and handed it to Williams. "Here. Try this and tell me what you think."
Williams took a bite, and his eyes immediately widened. "By the gods," he mumbled through a mouthful. "What is this? This is amazing!"
Jonathan snatched the next plate I prepared, not wanting to be left out. He hesitated briefly before taking a large bite. The moment the flavors hit his tongue, his expression went from skeptical to stunned.
"You made this?" he asked incredulously.
"Obviously," I said, smirking.
Even Alistair, who had been silently watching, took a plate when I handed one to him. He said nothing, but the slight nod of approval he gave was enough to tell me that he liked it.
"You've got to make this again," Williams said, already reaching for another bite. "I think this might be the best thing I've ever eaten."
Jonathan grumbled but didn't argue. "Alright, little bunny. You win this round."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide the small smile forming on my lips. No one can resist such a masterpiece.
I barely had time to take a bite of my own sandwich before I noticed the three of them devouring theirs at an alarming rate. Williams was already reaching for a second, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement, while Jonathan, despite his earlier skepticism, had finished his first in record time and was now subtly edging closer, as if trying to claim another without actually asking.
Alistair, ever the quiet one, ate his meal with slow, measured bites, but I didn't miss the way he glanced at the remaining sandwiches like he was considering taking another.
"You guys eat like you've never had food before," I muttered, watching them in disbelief.
"Not food like this," Williams said between bites. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"
I hesitated for a second. How was I supposed to explain that this was normal back where I came from? That burgers and sandwiches were just everyday meals? I settled for a half-truth. "Lots of practice and experiments."
Jonathan finished his second serving and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Alright, I'll admit it. That was good. But don't let it get to your head, little bunny."
I shot him a glare. "Keep calling me that, and I'll make sure you never get another bite of my food."
Williams snorted. "You should listen to her, Jonathan. That's not a threat you want to test."
"Whatever," Jonathan muttered, but he didn't push his luck.
Just as I was about to finally take a bite of my own sandwich, Williams nudged me. "Uh… are there more?"
I blinked at him. "You've already had two."
"So?" he said, as if that was a completely unreasonable excuse not to give him more.
I looked at Jonathan and Alistair. Both of them had also finished their second servings, and I realized with horror that they were all waiting to see if I would make more.
"What kind of stomachs do you guys even have?" I asked in disbelief. "Are you bottomless pits?"
Williams grinned. "We do a lot of physical training. We need the energy."
Jonathan nodded. "And your food tastes better than anything we've had in a while."
Alistair, of course, said nothing, but the way he was watching me told me all I needed to know—he wanted more too.
I sighed, already knowing I wouldn't hear the end of it if I refused. "Fine, but this is the last batch. After this, you're on your own."
As I got to work again, I couldn't help but shake my head. Who would have thought I'd end up feeding three giant warriors like they were starving wolves?
After they finished eating. We cleaned up and put out the fire.
" I will be on my way now." I said to them. "Where do you stay?". Williams asked. "Around, don't worry I can go on my own." I said to them.
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Alistair stood still, his gaze fixed on the path Althea had taken until she was completely out of sight. The crisp night air carried the lingering scent of the food she had prepared, teasing his senses even after she was gone. He could still taste the perfectly seasoned meat, the rich flavor of the melted cheese, and the soft warmth of the toasted bread.
For the first time in a long while, he had eaten until he was fully satisfied. That in itself was strange. He had been raised in a world where food was simply fuel—something to sustain him through battles, long treks, and the weight of responsibilities. But tonight, eating had felt… different. Enjoyable. And it was because of her.
"Thinking about little bunny, are you?" Jonathan's teasing voice broke through his thoughts. A smirk tugged at his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. "One would think you've fallen in love."
Williams chuckled. "He's not denying it."
Alistair finally turned to him, his Ruby eyes sharp and unreadable. "She's interesting."
Alistair's gaze flickered with something unreadable before he turned away, his voice quieter this time. "She's not ordinary."
Williams, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke. "That much is obvious. But there's something else, isn't there?"
Jonathan's playful expression faded, his brow furrowing. "You mean how she handled herself? You saw it too, right? The goblins—they weren't just dead. Some of them were burned to a crisp, and that fire… It wasn't normal."
Williams nodded, his expression serious. "It takes years of training to control flames like that, let alone in the heat of battle. I didn't see anyone else. Did you?"
Alistair's jaw tightened slightly. He had been thinking the same thing. "No. It was just her."
Jonathan whistled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Damn. So you're saying little bunny might be hiding some serious magic?"
Williams studied him carefully. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Alistair remained silent.
Jonathan laughed. "Oh, this is rich. The cold and mighty Alistair actually worrying about someone?" He clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I like her too, you know, but let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Alistair exhaled sharply. "We have somewhere to be."
"Right," Williams said, straightening. "Bellmere Manor."
Alistair gave a curt nod. "The faster I can pick up my bride, the faster we can return home."
His own words tasted bitter.
His 'bride.'
It was a political arrangement. Nothing more. And yet, for the first time since the engagement had been settled, the idea of it unsettled him.
Because, try as he might, his thoughts refused to leave Althea.
And that was dangerous.
As they started walking again, moving toward their destination, Alistair cast one last glance over his shoulder—toward the path she had taken.
A small part of him hoped they would cross paths again. But an even bigger part of him knew that if they did, he wouldn't be able to walk away so easily next time.