Morning sunlight filtered through the high windows of the Bastrelheim inn, painting the rooms with golden warmth. It was another peaceful day in the capital, but for the twelve elf children, peace never meant quiet. At the inn's backyard, the delicious scent of sizzling oil drifted into the air, drawing noses and stomachs alike to attention.
Fuhiken stood by a portable magic stove, flipping slices of bread in a pan with quiet efficiency. The crispy crackle echoed off the stone walls, while a fragrant trail of fried bread lured even the sleepiest of adventurers from their rooms. Despite being guests, Fuhiken refused to intrude upon the inn's kitchen. His manners wouldn't allow it.
The first to appear was Gabyola. With her usual grace, she carried a porcelain teapot and several small cups on a wooden tray, setting them down on the round garden table. Her movements were deliberate and composed, every gesture a display of calm elegance. The steam from the tea wafted gently around her as she poured, the aroma mingling with the morning breeze. She arranged the cups in perfect alignment, ensuring each one had just the right amount. It was a quiet ritual, one she performed with practiced precision that brought a soothing rhythm to the early hours. Moments later, a whirlwind of pink hair emerged from the girls' room.
"Behold! The stars have aligned! Fahleena the Unseen Radiance awakens!" Fahleena declared, arms spread.
Her twintails drooped like wilting flowers, clearly not cooperating with her dramatic morning persona. Strands stuck out at odd angles, one ribbon half-unraveled, and the once-springy curls sagged under the weight of bed-flattened chaos. It was the kind of disarray that no amount of flair could disguise, giving her the look of a battle-worn heroine who had lost a skirmish with her pillow.
"You look more like Fahleena the Bedhead," Jessica commented as she exited behind her, freshly bathed and dressed. Her ponytail shimmered, still damp.
Sakura trudged out next, her steps sluggish. "My food bag is almost empty..." she muttered darkly, rubbing her stomach.
Yuuna followed silently, taking bread and tea before retreating to a shaded corner. She gave a faint nod of thanks and began sipping while flipping through a small leather-bound book.
Gabyola, acting like an older sister, gently caught Fahleena by the shoulders before she could spin into another dramatic pose. With a soft sigh, she reached for the lopsided ribbons and began working through the tangled mess with practiced fingers.
"Let me fix this chaos," she said, combing through the flattened strands with care.
Fahleena puffed out her cheeks. "But chaos is part of my aesthetic! The wild spirit! The untamed storm!"
"Yes, and it looks like the storm slept face-first into a haystack," Gabyola replied, her voice calm but teasing.
Fahleena grumbled under her breath, trying to sit still as Gabyola tugged gently at the knots. Despite her protests, she relaxed under the familiar routine.
"There," Gabyola said after a few minutes, tying the final ribbon. "The Untamed Storm now looks slightly more... presentable."
"Hmph. Fine. But next time, I want thunderbolt accessories."
"I'll consider it once you stop using your hairpins as impromptu drawing tools."
With Fahleena's twintails restored to their usual spring and symmetry, Gabyola turned just in time to see Orchid stumbling out of the girls' room, eyes shut, yet already reaching for food.
Orchid was sleepwalking.
Her eyes were closed, yet her body operated with muscle memory alone. With a slow, dreamlike shuffle, she navigated the yard, sidestepping chairs and uneven stones without the slightest hint of awareness. She eased herself into a seat at the table as if guided by instinct, her hands moving with uncanny precision. One hand reached out, found a slice of fried bread, and brought it to her mouth. She began to chew methodically, her expression peaceful, as if savoring a meal in a dream. The rhythmic bite and chew continued in eerie silence, drawing everyone's attention and halting all conversation mid-sentence.
"Is she really asleep?" Adiw asked.
"She's eating," Sakura replied.
"While asleep?" Jessica added.
"We might have a new kind of mage. The Sleep-Gourmet."
Laughter broke out among the group.
Soon after, the remaining boys filtered in. Kyle and Sinryo stumbled outside like ghosts, their eyes half-lidded and movements sluggish. Kyle's hair stuck out in all directions, his shirt buttoned unevenly, and he moved with the stiff grace of someone only half-aware of his surroundings. Sinryo trailed behind him with an exaggerated yawn, dragging his feet across the stone floor like a zombie in training. The two looked as if they had been yanked from bed by an invisible rope, still wrapped in the haze of dreams and residual exhaustion from the previous day's chaos.
"Uromastyx... too many legs..." Kyle mumbled.
"No more stampedes... please..." Sinryo agreed, slumping into a chair.
Surprisingly, Adiw looked refreshed, already doing light stretches.
"You're energetic," noted Fuhiken.
"I need to flex more today. Just waiting for the next batch," Adiw replied, peeking at the fried bread with intensity.
Yetsan joined with a yawn, notably not wearing his usual full armor. "Armor's drying. Washed it at dawn," he explained, sitting carefully on the cleanest chair.
Gigih was last, his face marked with a faint red bump.
"What happened?" asked Sinryo.
"Door. Orchid. Collision," he muttered.
The breakfast atmosphere was lazy and cozy. The smell of food had united them like bees to honey.
Then Fahleena stood up with a sudden flourish, knocking her chair back a few inches as she rose. Her eyes glittered with theatrical resolve, catching the morning light like twin stars of destiny. In one sweeping motion, she raised her half-eaten bread high above her head as if it were an artifact of ancient power, her arm trembling with the weight of her self-declared mission. Her stance widened, one foot planted firmly on the bench like a conqueror addressing her loyal troops.
"My brethren!" she cried, her voice echoing with exaggerated gravitas. "The time has come to write our legend in the annals of this kingdom! Let us infiltrate the royal palace today and seize glory beneath their very noses!"
Chairs creaked. Heads slowly turned toward her. Utter silence followed, thick with the weight of collective disbelief, and perhaps mild secondhand embarrassment.
"We could use the Cloak of Blurr. Total stealth mode." Kyle gave a lopsided grin.
Fuhiken and Gabyola replied at the same time.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
Fahleena pouted. "But imagine the drama! The suspense!"
"And the arrest," Yuuna added.
Kyle snickered. "We could ask Gigih to make a distraction. A little Fire? Or Fireball, just a tiny one."
"No fire," Gabyola warned.
Gigih shrugged. "I make no promises."
Fahleena folded her arms. "You all lack vision."
Gabyola raised a hand. "Instead of prison, how about the market? We need to stock food."
Sakura's ears twitched. "Food?"
"Yes. Food," Gabyola confirmed. "We're running low."
Fahleena immediately dropped her infiltration idea. "Let's go! There might be honey-dipped waffles!"
Gigih shook his head. "I have a bad feeling about going out today."
"You always say that," Adiw noted.
Fuhiken nodded. "Still, he's right to be cautious. We need a guard detail. The market will be busy."
Yuuna spoke calmly, "Our magic bags have an anti-theft voice alarm now."
"And they jump back to their owners," added Sakura.
Fuhiken blinked. "Jumping bags are suspicious. Especially in a human capital."
Adiw volunteered, "I'll go. Fuhiken too. We can be guards."
Jessica, Gabyola, Fahleena, and Yuuna nodded in agreement, each already preparing for the day in their own way. Jessica adjusted the grip on her sheath, mentally reviewing market layouts and potential escape routes, just in case. Gabyola double-checked her coin pouch, ever the responsible one, already organizing what ingredients they needed. Fahleena, now fully energized by the thought of food, bounced in place with renewed vigor, her dreams of royal infiltration replaced by fantasies of sugar-coated pastries and sizzling skewers. Yuuna quietly marked a folded page in her notebook, calculating how long the trip would take and how much rest time she could still salvage. Meanwhile, Sakura was in another realm entirely, mentally cataloging every stall she remembered from the previous visit, prioritizing those known for rare sweets, spicy grilled snacks, and exotic baked goods. Her eyes gleamed with quiet determination: nothing would escape her food radar today.
Kyle groaned. "Pass. I need sleep."
Sinryo nodded. "Same. I'll guard the bed."
Yetsan looked apologetic. "Armor still drying. I need to re-oil it."
Suddenly, a spoon clinked onto a plate, the small metallic sound cutting cleanly through the morning chatter. Everyone turned toward the source in unison. There sat Orchid, slumped slightly forward, eyes still completely shut, her breathing slow and even. Yet her hands moved with eerie precision. One hand calmly pushed aside an empty plate while the other reached forward, fingers grazing the edge of the serving tray until they found another slice of fried bread. With dreamlike grace, she brought it to her mouth and took a bite, chewing steadily. Her face remained expressionless, entirely serene, as if her body had entered a separate operating mode that responded solely to the presence of food. The party watched in stunned silence as the scene unfolded, equal parts impressive, concerning, and bizarre.
Jessica whispered, "Is she really..."
Gigih leaned closer. "I theorize she has a rare sleep-eating ability. A survival trait."
Kyle muttered, "I believe it."
Sinryo murmured, "She once chewed my cloak sleeve in her sleep."
Laughter rippled through the group again.
Gabyola stood, dusting off her skirt. "Then it's settled. We form a market team. Kyle, Sinryo, Yetsan, Gigih, you rest and recover."
"Wait," Kyle called out weakly. "Don't bring back any of Orchid's ideas of ingredients."
Gabyola gave him a sweet smile. "No promises."
And with that, the party's day split into two paths, one of rest, one of market chaos. But for this morning, under the Bastrelheim sun and with the smell of fried bread in the air, everything was still calm.
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