Braze led them up the winding steps into the treehouse, the wooden planks creaking softly beneath their feet. The space above was cozy and sun-dappled, with woven tapestries hung along the walls and soft cushions strewn across the floor like a nest of comfort. The scent of cedar lingered in the air here along with something floral like the faint sweet smell of gardina.
"I'd be happy to teach you anything you like, Aliris; so long as that doesn't constitute fire breathing dragons and things like that... " Braze said, glancing back over his shoulder with a warm little grin.
"I'm a knight now, after all and I even hold classes now and then for padawan learners." His tone was light offering an open invitation.
He stepped into the small kitchen nook and turned slightly toward them, eyes twinkling.
"I do, yes… I have this blend of ashwagandha root, lemon balm leaf, black elderberry, lemongrass, licorice root, ginger root, hibiscus flower, cinnamon bark, black pepper, lemon peel, lemon oil, black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla; with milk and honey optional for a sweeter, creamier version if you ladies would like." His hands moved as he spoke, already rolling up the sleeves of his tunic to the elbows, revealing forearms dusted faintly with flour or chalk from earlier practice.
"Hot or iced?" he added casually, already moving to set a pot of water on the small stovetop. A gentle flame sprang to life as he turned the dial.
"Have a seat any where you like. Really make your self at home, Niysha. "
Braze washed his hands carefully at the sink, the water gliding over his fingers as he hummed softly to himself. He dried them on a linen cloth and began retrieving small glass jars from the cabinet, each one neatly labeled in a slanted handwritten script. The jars clinked softly as he arranged them on the counter, selecting specific pinches of herbs and tea leaves.
The scent was already beginning to bloom with an earthy, spiced, and citrusy smell.
As the tea steeped, he turned his attention to lunch. It seemed he didn't want Aliris of her friend to go with out food and decided to make food for them regardless. They could either eat it or he'd save it for a snack later on.
He pulled a loaf of crusted sourdough from a bread box and sliced it cleanly, setting the slices onto a wooden board. Sharp cheddar was next, thick enough to melt into a satisfying bite. He cored and thinly sliced a few honey crisp apples, layering the slices in to ceramic ramekins before covering with some melted butter and dusting them with cinnamon and brown sugar. He popped those in to a small oven that was still hot.
He warmed a cast-iron skillet with a brush of butter before coating the bread with butter and a touch of mayonnaise. He pressed the cleanly cut pieces of the cheese sandwich in to the heated Skillet letting the sandwiches sizzle until golden and crisp on each side. The scent of browned butter, and melting sharp cheese, melded with the sweet caramelizing apples wafting through the space.
Not done yet, Braze moved fetching the crêpe batter he'd pre-mixed earlier for his own meal. In a clean pan, he poured just enough to swirl into a paper-thin layer. Once golden and soft, he spread a rich swirl of hazelnut chocolate across the surface, folding each crêpe around slices of banana and fresh strawberries. He rolled them in to thing conical designs and popped the ramekins out of the oven and placed a small layered crêpe in each one having sliced the fruits fairly thing to make a tantalizingly thin layered texture. A swirl of vanilla whipped cream finished the ramikins before-he dusted the whole thing in some powdered sugar.
He assembled two plates and moved to set them on a table.
"I think every one trains a little differntly depending on what they wish to study and pursue. " Braze offered gently.
"Is there something you want to learn Niysha?" Braze asked curiously.
A small black cat—an ordinary cat, by all appearances—was sprawled lazily across the windowsill, stretched out in a patch of warm sunlight. Her sleek fur shimmered slightly in the golden light, her tail twitching idly as she basked.
But when the tree creaked under a newcomer's step, the cat stirred. She rose and leapt down from her perch, landing soundlessly on the wooden floor. She padded over with curiosity, the pads of her paws soft against the worn boards.
Reaching the visitor, she sniffed delicately at their foot, tail held upright in the shape of a gentle question mark.
Then, with a small, decisive motion, Soot sat down and looked up at the new arrival, her yellow eyes wide and thoughtful, studying the stranger with interest.
After a few moments of silent observation, the little cat seemed to make up her mind. She moved toward Aliris and gently brushed against the blonde's legs, her sleek body arching just so. With a soft, rolling
brrr-maow, she voiced her demand for attention, winding once more around Aliris's ankles like a dark ribbon of fur...
Aliris Tremiru
and
Jalen Kai'el
during his absence.
