After four days, I finally returned to Arendelle. I could have arrived earlier, but Moon caused a lot of delightful "accidents." I sighed, a ghost of a smile touching my lips as I reminisced. We had landed in Corona because she wanted to sightsee, and resisting her bright-eyed enthusiasm was, apparently, beyond my capabilities.
As I walked through the sun-drenched streets of Corona, the people bowed towards me, their reverence clear. When Moon, perched comfortably in my massive palm, called me "Daddy," their eyes comically widened, a ripple of surprise passing through the crowd.
Time passed, and eventually, we came across Rapunzel. When she saw me, her eyes lit up, and she practically bounded over, launching into a rapid-fire account of all the things that had happened in her kingdom, her long, golden hair swaying with her animated gestures. "Erik! You're back! Oh, you wouldn't believe what's been happening here! The lanterns, the festivals, the new baker's bread is just divine, and—"
She then stopped mid-sentence, her gaze falling upon Moon in my hand. Seeing how cute my daughter was, Rapunzel gasped, her face melting into an expression of pure adoration. "Oh my goodness! Who is this adorable little one?" Before I could react, she gently plucked Moon from my hand and started to snuggle with her, completely oblivious to Moon's bewildered squirming. "You are just the cutest thing! Look at those eyes!"
Moon tried to force Rapunzel off, grumbling, "Hey! Put me down! Daddy!" But even with her immense strength—a trait she inherited from me, though significantly scaled down—she couldn't dislodge the determined princess.
And just like that, multiple hours went by with Rapunzel simply carrying Moon around like a doll, showing her all over the kingdom. At first, Moon was uncomfortable, wriggling and making muffled complaints from Rapunzel's embrace. But after seeing all the fascinating sights and sounds of Corona from her unique vantage point, she started to enjoy it, even pointing out things she wanted to see next. "Ooh, Daddy, look at that!" she'd shout, pointing at a brightly colored stall.
Eventually, our unscheduled tour had to come to an end. "It was lovely seeing you, Erik! And meeting this little angel!" Rapunzel chirped, carefully placing a now-sleepy Moon back in my palm. "Do come back soon!"
"We will," I replied, a rare politeness in my voice reserved for her, much like how I'd address a cherished younger sister. We said our goodbyes to Rapunzel, whose enthusiasm for Moon seemed boundless, and I flew off, heading back towards Arendelle, my daughter now settled contentedly in my palm after her unexpected adventure.
Now we came back to this moment. As i stared forward at the silhouette of arendale i flew closer and landed before As I descended towards Arendelle, the familiar, biting cold of the northern air met me. I spotted the familiar shimmer of the palace, a stark contrast to the lively, sun-drenched kingdom I had just left. My landing was smooth, a practiced maneuver that barely disturbed the snow. I shifted, holding Moon securely in one hand, Merida's coffin still slung across my back.
Almost immediately, the castle doors opened, and Elsa emerged, her face a mask of cool composure. Her gaze, however, flickered, first to my face, then to the coffin, lingering there for a fraction of a second before moving to Moon. Her blue eyes widened almost imperceptibly at the sight of my daughter, then narrowed slightly as she took in Moon's sleepy, slightly pink face.
"You're back," Elsa stated, her voice even, betraying nothing of her thoughts on my four-day delay or the unexpected passenger. There was no warmth, no scolding, just a detached observation.
Moon, however, was already stirring, her eyes fluttering open as she felt the shift in my posture. "Daddy?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. She then caught sight of Elsa. "Who's that, Daddy?"
Elsa's gaze sharpened on Moon, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes, but she remained silent. The air, already cool, seemed to drop a few degrees.
"This is Queen Elsa," I introduced, my voice calm. "She is in charge of Arendelle while I am away." I then looked at Elsa. "And this is Moon, my daughter."
Elsa simply nodded, a tight, almost imperceptible movement. She didn't comment on Moon's presence, the delay, or the coffin. Her silence was more potent than any words, a subtle chill that spoke volumes. The previous warmth she had shown me seemed to have vanished, replaced by an unsettling reserve. The eternal winter I had ended was truly gone, yet a different kind of cold had settled between us.
Elsa's deliberate neutrality was a thin veil, easily pierced by my perception. Her silence, rather than suggesting indifference, radiated a palpable tension. "Is something amiss, Queen Elsa?" I asked, my voice flat, my gaze unwavering. I returned earlier than I had said I would."
"Nothing," she stated, and the place fell into silence again as we stared at each other.
The silence shattered as my generals arrived and greeted me. I greeted them back, asking, "Are the men and dragons ready?"
They had already done their research. "Yes, General," one replied. "Our next destination is the Seven Deserts. We've identified multiple desert kingdoms within the region."
I nodded to my generals, already turning my thoughts to my next objective. The Seven Deserts would wait a moment longer. I had an achievement to complete. As I walked off, preparing to transform, an idea sparked in my mind – a way to store living things. I'd recently discovered that a specialized storage ring could do just that. My rune skill was more than capable of crafting such an item, but I lacked the necessary materials.
I checked the system shop. The cheapest storage ring there cost 1 million points. I frowned. I currently only had 950,000 points. My gaze dropped to my system interface, scanning for a quick way to bridge the gap.
* Impress the top chef of Arendelle: 100,000 points
A slight smirk touched my lips. That was certainly achievable. The top chef was about to be very impressed.
I made my way through the castle, following the faint aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering spices, until I found the bustling kitchens. There, amidst a flurry of activity, stood a portly man with a flour-dusted apron and a nervous twitch in his eye – the head chef.
"You," I stated, my voice cutting through the kitchen's din. Every head snapped towards me. The chef, recognizing me, visibly paled, dropping a ladle with a clatter.
"M-my Lord!" he stammered, bowing so low his head almost touched the floor. "How may I be of service?" His fear was palpable, a stark contrast to the clatter of pots and pans.
"I have a challenge for you," I announced, my words echoing in the sudden silence.
He slowly straightened, his eyes wide with apprehension. "A... challenge, My Lord?"
"Yes. A culinary challenge. You and I, in the city square. We will cook, and the people will judge."
The chef's jaw dropped. He blinked, clearly bewildered. "You... you wish to cook?" he asked, incredulity battling with his fear. "With me? In the square?"
"Precisely," I confirmed. "Do you accept?"
He stared at me for another long moment, then a strange flicker of something – perhaps pride, or simply a chef's innate desire to prove himself – replaced the terror in his eyes. "I... I accept, My Lord!" he declared, his voice gaining a surprising amount of conviction.
News of the challenge spread like wildfire. I declared it an open event in the city square, welcoming all who wished to attend. My soldiers and generals arrived, their faces a mix of amusement and genuine curiosity. Queen Elsa came, her expression unreadable as she took a spot, with Anna and her group beside her. Thousands of people, drawn by the sheer absurdity and spectacle of their new warlord engaging in a cooking contest, filled the square. They murmured amongst themselves, eager to witness this bizarre event.
The city square hummed with anticipation. Two cooking stations stood ready, ingredients laid out. The head chef, nervous yet determined, worked at his. I stood at mine, my presence commanding.
My generals watched, amused. Queen Elsa was present, her gaze unreadable, occasionally flicking my way. Anna practically vibrated with excitement. Thousands of citizens had gathered, curious to see their warlord cook.
"The challenge," I announced, "is to create a dish that showcases Arendelle's bounty, providing both taste and sustenance."
The chef began immediately, his movements skilled and quick. I, however, took my time, selecting ingredients with a strategist's eye. Then, I started. My movements were precise, efficient. I controlled a small, intense fire with subtle grace. The rich aroma from my station began to spread almost at once.
The crowd, initially watching the chef, slowly shifted their attention to me. A hush fell. They watched, captivated, as I worked with surgical efficiency. I used rare herbs and spices I always carried. I seared the fish perfectly, braised vegetables, and whipped up a fragrant sauce.
The head chef paused, eyes widening, inhaling deeply. His competitive focus dissolved into pure awe. He recognized true mastery.
In a surprisingly short time, I presented my dish: a perfectly seared fjord trout over vibrant, caramelized vegetables, all in a shimmering, herb-infused reduction. It looked as exquisite as it smelled.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. This was art. The rich aroma mingled with the crisp air. My generals leaned forward, their stoicism gone. Even Elsa's composure seemed to falter, her eyes widening almost imperceptibly.
"The tasting begins," I stated. The first few citizens sampled it. Their reactions were immediate: eyes rolling back, murmurs of disbelief, outright exclamations of delight. A few even knelt. The warlord had conquered their palates.
The verdict was unanimous, immediate, and overwhelming. The head chef, humbled but genuinely impressed, bowed deeply. "My Lord," he declared, his voice thick with emotion, "there is no contest. Your skill is beyond anything I have ever witnessed. You are truly a master."
A roar went up from the crowd, not of fear, but of pure, joyous approval. The 100,000 points flashed across my internal interface. Achievement complete.
But I wasn't done. The scent of my dish had ignited a hunger in the city, a hunger I intended to satisfy. I surveyed the thousands of eager faces. "Arendelle!" I boomed, my voice carrying across the square. "You have tasted a sample. Now, you shall feast!"
With a thought, hundreds of large, gleaming pots materialized from my inventory, clattering onto the cobblestones. They were massive, dwarfing the previous cooking stations. The crowd gasped, then erupted in a fresh wave of murmurs and exclamations.
"Did you see that?!" a woman whispered, clutching her neighbor's arm. "Where did those pots come from?"
"His magic, obviously," her neighbor breathed back, eyes wide. "But... to just conjure them like that!"
I moved with a renewed, almost frenetic energy. Moon, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly shrieked with delight. "Daddy's cooking again!" she exclaimed, then began to jump around my feet, her small body a blur of excitement.
"Look at her go!" an old man chuckled, pointing at Moon. "She's got his energy, that's for sure!"
I ignored her joyful chaos, my focus absolute. My hands became a whirlwind of motion. I ran between the pots, a blur of speed, chopping mountains of vegetables with impossible precision, tossing in vast quantities of fish and meat, and showering each pot with handfuls of exotic spices. Steam rose in fragrant clouds, carrying the promise of a magnificent meal. The air filled with the sizzle of searing ingredients, the rhythmic thud of my knife, and the gentle bubbling of broths.
"He's like a whirlwind!" someone shouted, truly astounded.
"And the smell! Oh, the smell!" another cried, inhaling deeply. "It's even better than before!"
The people watched in utter awe. It wasn't just the sheer scale of the cooking, or the impossible speed, but the effortless mastery. They saw their warlord, the fearsome conqueror, transformed into a culinary force of nature, orchestrating a feast for an entire city with a child dancing at his feet. Even Elsa, who had maintained her distance, found her cool gaze fixed on the spectacle, a hint of something akin to wonder softening her features as the divine aromas filled the square. The transformation of their city, and perhaps their perception of me, was well underway.
A Feast and A New Campaign
After the incredible cooking display, my soldiers efficiently moved forward, distributing the food from the hundreds of pots across the city square. The reactions from the people varied from stunned silence to joyous cries, but one thing was clear: they all enjoyed it. The rich, unfamiliar flavors and the sheer abundance were a revelation to Arendelle.
The next day, with the lingering scent of a magnificent feast still in the air, I gathered my generals and Queen Elsa for a meeting. We convened in the castle's war room, a place that now, after the recent changes, felt truly under my dominion.
"We will depart for the Seven Deserts within a day," I announced, my voice cutting through the quiet hum of the room. My generals nodded, already anticipating my next move.
I turned to Elsa. "You will accompany us. Your magic will be a valuable asset in the arid climates, and you will continue your training under my direct supervision." I then addressed them all. "I will leave behind hundreds of dragons and a few hundred soldiers to protect the kingdom in my absence. Alvin will be in overall command here. Maintain the order we have established."
I left no room for argument or discussion. My decisions were made.
The meeting concluded, my generals nodding their understanding of the orders for the Seven Deserts campaign, and Elsa remaining impassive despite the new command. I left the war room, my mind already sifting through logistics, but my steps lightened as I anticipated my next stop.
I found Moon in the main hall, attempting to "help" a servant polish a suit of armor, which mostly involved smearing it with a cloth twice her size. She looked up as I approached, her face instantly lighting up.
"Daddy!" she squealed, dropping the cloth and launching herself at me.
I easily caught her, settling her into my palm. "Ready for another adventure?" I asked, a faint smile touching my lips.
"Yes! Where are we going?" Her eyes, bright with anticipation, darted around.
"Let's explore Arendelle," I suggested. "Just you and me."
And so we did. With Moon perched comfortably in my massive hand, we walked through the city. Her childish antics were a stark contrast to the disciplined order I had imposed. She pointed at everything, shouted questions about anything that caught her eye, and wriggled with uncontained excitement.
"Daddy, look! A bird!" she'd exclaim, giggling as a sparrow fluttered by.
"Can we go see the big boat?" she'd ask, pointing a tiny finger towards the docks. And we would, me adjusting my stride to accommodate her short attention span.
She ran ahead when I set her down briefly, chasing after a rolling snowball only to tumble adorably into it. She dragged me to a vendor selling sweet pastries, her pleading eyes more effective than any tactical maneuver. I bought her one, watching her small face light up with pure joy. She made friends with a group of local children playing in the square, despite the language barrier, engaging them in a boisterous game of tag that ended with her accidentally knocking over a small stack of barrels, much to their bewildered amusement.
I watched her, a quiet contentment spreading through me. Her unbridled enthusiasm was a peculiar balm, a welcome distraction from the weight of conquest and strategy. The people of Arendelle, initially intimidated by my presence, often softened as they watched me interact with Moon. Their murmurs weren't of fear anymore, but of quiet fascination, perhaps even a nascent understanding.
The day ended as the sun dipped below the snow-capped mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Moon, utterly exhausted but beaming, was fast asleep in my palm as I carried her back towards the castle, her small hand still clutching the remnants of a pastry. It had been a day of pure, unadulterated childish delight, and for a fleeting moment, i was simply a father.