Just another generic story from another world

"Well, it seems that after telling the leaders that, I'm doomed to achieve a crushing victory in the trial... It's not like it wasn't my plan from the beginning anyway."

Maybe I shouldn't be thinking out loud. It probably seems weird that I'm talking to myself...

"According to what Mom told me, tomorrow is the last day before the trial, and it'll be a day of rest and preparation. And I plan to take advantage of it. But for now, I think I deserve a nice warm bath."

After that little monologue, I went to the bathroom and prepared the bathtub. What was left of today would be my day of rest. Tomorrow, I would have to prepare for what was to come. I wasn't going to waste a whole day.

"Perfect, all set."

It was time to enjoy my little paradise.

***

After, I'm not going to lie, probably more than an hour, I came out of the bathroom completely refreshed. As I stepped out, I saw my mom in the kitchen preparing dinner. Apparently, she had come back while I was in the bathroom.

"Hey, Mom! When did you get back?"

When she heard me, my mom turned around with a somewhat serious expression on her face.

"Maybe you'd know if you hadn't been in the bathroom for an eternity. What the hell were you doing in there?"

"Oh. Yeah, sorry, I might have overdone it, but come on, it's my only day off."

"And what about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Tomorrow is the day before the trial, so... no rest, right?"

My mom didn't say anything, but her look was enough for me to realize she already knew. It's not like I could hide it from her. I raised my hands in surrender.

"I know, I know, tomorrow I have to prepare properly."

"I hope so, because even if you have the day off, you also need to be ready for what's coming. And I don't just mean the trial."

Her last sentence made me raise an eyebrow, but I didn't ask. It was clear my mom knew more about all this than I wanted to admit.

"Well... And what's for dinner?"

"You sure change the subject quickly when you want to, huh?"

I could only let out a small laugh, as if she had caught me.

"Today it's just steaks, but tomorrow I'll make you a little feast, okay? You need to eat well before the trial, little one."

"Hey, I'm not that small anymore... Well, aren't you going to tell me what it is?"

"It's a secret."

"Don't do this to me, Mom, please. Tell me, please, come on, Mom, pretty please?"

My mom laughed, exactly the reaction I expected. If I pressed her a bit more, maybe I'd get something out of her. But instead, she sighed, though she didn't manage to wipe the smile off her face.

"Not even if you beg me on your knees, little one. You'll have to wait until tomorrow."

I huffed, crossing my arms as if I were a child who had just had her favorite toy taken away.

"That's not fair..."

"And what is?" she replied, raising an eyebrow before turning her focus back to the food.

I knew I wasn't going to get anything else out of her, so I decided to change tactics. I walked over to the table and sniffed the air, trying to guess what herbs she had used on the steaks. It was a game I sometimes played, more to annoy her than anything else.

"Surely there's crimson saffran flower powder... and maybe a touch of dried angua root? Ooh, wait, is it fiery hawthorn sap? Don't tell me you're already spoiling me ahead of time, huh, Mom?"

She laughed without even looking at me.

"Keep trying, but I won't give in. Now, do you want to set the table, or do you need a day off for that too?"

I knew she was right, so I went for the plates, trying not to trip over the edge of my ego.

***

As I ate, there was something I couldn't shake off. Although I didn't dare to say it out loud, the question was so loud in my mind that it almost made me deaf from my own thoughts.

<>

Seriously, it made no sense. It was just some trident-tail slyke steaks, with a few spices. In fact, it was exactly what I had guessed earlier. And still, I couldn't understand it.

My mom had taken me to gather these spices with her several times. She had even given me little lessons on basic cooking, "just in case," she said, so I'd know how to take care of myself if I was ever alone in the woods. But every time I tried to cook something with those same ingredients... Well, let's just say it never turned out anything remotely like this.

As I savored another bite, my mind started to wander, as it always did when I ate something so... unique. It wasn't just the taste, but the blend of aromas that brought fresh, pleasant memories to mind.

<>

The spices... Crimson saffran, the first one my mom had taught me to gather. That flower that only grew in the highest parts of the forest, where the air still carried a hint of the night's chill. Mom said those flowers only bloomed when the morning dew touched them, because the water gave them their sweetrial flavor.

"The key,"

She would explain as we walked among the tall trees.

"Is that they bloom when the world is calm, when the earth still holds the freshness of the night."

Then, there was the angua root. I remember it well, how she taught me to look for it under the layers of fallen leaves. "Don't take it randomly," Mom would say, showing me how, with patience and care, I could dig it up without damaging the plant. Angua was a root that grew in the darkest corners of the forest, where the light barely touched the ground. Its stem was long, angular, and dark gray, almost silver, while its leaves had jagged edges and a mossy green color, as if they were made from the earth itself. Its taste was bitter and earthy, and Mom told me it was perfect for balancing stews and roasts, giving them depth.

"It's bitter, yes, but it adds body, it helps you feel the taste of the earth,"

She would explain as she cut away the outer part of the root, which was the most potent.

And, of course, the fiery hawthorn sap. The most dangerous part of all the foraging. Mom always warned me that we had to be careful because the fiery hawthorn was more unpredictable. It was a medium-sized bush with dark green, almost black, leaves and reddish branches, as if the sap in its veins had already started to color its entire body. What stood out most about this thornbush were the small thorns it would expel to defend itself, with such speed that I had to learn how to dodge them. Mom always said that you had to be careful not only with the branches but also with the thorns that seemed to appear out of nowhere, as if the bush wanted to attack by surprise. The sap, a viscous liquid, looked like a river of fire when it fell from the small wounds on the plant. We had to collect it with thick gloves because the fresh sap had such a strong taste that it could be unpleasant. Mom would tell me:

"Let it rest in the container for the day, so the flavor softens, but it still has that spicy, deep touch."

The sap, with its slightly sour taste, was what made the trident-tail slyke meat stand out in a way I never fully understood. Mom always made sure to say that, even though it wasn't the most popular spice, its spicy touch was irreplaceable when she wanted the dish to have character.

<>

The trident-tail slyke was a small monster, about two meters long, with scaly skin of a grayish hue that subtly reflected the light. Its elongated, flexible body allowed it to move with great speed, like a snake, but its small, agile legs enabled it to leap through the dense vegetation of the forest. Its most striking feature was undoubtedly its tail: long and thin, ending in three sharp spikes that gave it the appearance of a trident, a true natural weapon. It often used its tail both to swing through the air while hunting and to defend itself from predators. Its large, expressive eyes reflected a surprising intelligence, and its small snout, somewhat fox-like, emitted sharp sounds when it was on alert. It was an agile, fast, and precise hunter.

Ending my musings, I decided that I needed to know what tomorrow's dish would be, so I opted for a new strategy: make my mom feel guilty.

I changed my posture and expression, slouching my back and resting my chin on the table, while slowly and apathetically moving the meat around with my fork. I hoped my mom would notice as quickly as possible, not only so my plan could work but also to keep enjoying this delicacy.

After what felt like endless seconds, I noticed my mom was looking at me. Perfect!

"What's wrong, sweetie? Don't you like it?"

The question almost offended me, but I had to keep up the act.

"It's not that, mom... Are you really not going to tell me what you're making tomorrow?"

There was no point in beating around the bush. At that moment, it was better to be direct, so I decided to get straight to the point, like a little kid, even adding a small sob. My acting skills were impeccable.

After a moment, my mom put a finger to her cheek and looked up at the ceiling. It was a little forced, if you ask me, but it worked well. She looked very cute.

"Mmmm... Maybe I could give you a little hint..."

At that moment, a small jolt ran through my body, and I slammed my hands onto the table. I'm thankful I didn't have a tail at that moment, because I wouldn't have been able to control it.

"Really!?"

<>

Well, thinking about it, maybe that would have been the natural reaction of a child. And I have to admit it worked perfectly because my mom let out a little laugh.

"Yes, but just one hint, okay?"

"Yes, yes! Please tell me."

I admit I might have been a little desperate. The fact that I kept my previous memories didn't mean I could control my emotions the same way I used to. Now I had the emotional intelligence of a little kid, and therefore, the same curiosity.

Then, my mom looked at me for a few seconds with an amused expression.

"A hint... What hint could I give you...? Let me think..."

I have to give her credit; she was doing a pretty good act, even putting a hand to her forehead as if she were seriously thinking about it.

"Oh! I know, here's the hint: Do you remember what day tomorrow is?"

I stared at her, confused, for a second.

"The day of the gathering?"

"That's it, that's the hint. Oh, and by the way, next time you try to make me feel sorry for you or trick me, don't change your attitude so suddenly; it's suspicious."

"Well, you got me."

After that, we laughed for a while while doing the dishes, and I went to bed. Ignoring the confrontation with the leaders, it had been a pretty peaceful day. A shame it was the last one.