A Warm Home

Luciel woke up to the sound of a lullaby—not by a human, nor an elf—but from the chirps of mystical birds that flew by.

His vision is still blurry, but the golden light from the window frames a feminine silhouette watching him.

“Lilith…” he breathed, reaching out, fingertips brushing against a warm cheek.

But before he could draw his stance closer to the said figure—she moved back, clearly puzzled about his action.

His heart stumbled. As his vision cleared, hope drained from him entirely. It wasn’t Lilith at all—it was Alice.

“Good morning… Luciel.” she greeted, a bit dazed by the sequence of events.

“Ah… Uhm… Morning, Alice.” he stammered, and with it, the fragile warmth in his chest, shattered into bits—like a mirror, slamming hard onto the cold floor.

Alice noticing his change in mood, decided to lighten up his mood—even by just a bit. It wasn’t because of feeling pity for him—well partly to say the least, but Luciel reminded her about a person she met way back then.

“Anyway Luciel, You look like you haven’t eaten in days,” she said softly, trying to coax the change in mood.

Without waiting for a reply, she swiftly stepped towards the kitchen, the sound of metallic pots clanking against each other, and the soft rustle of her apron, as she carefully wears it.

“I’ll make you something special,” she added, glancing over her shoulder, flashing him the faintest smile. “Ever had a stew that’s made from an Elvian Cow?” she asked.

“Nope, I haven’t. Not even once in my entire life.” he shrugged, his mood lightening slightly.

Without wasting a drop of sweat—Alice immediately worked on the stew, ingredients being tossed around, the rhythmic thock of her knife against the cutting board, the smell of herbs, and the sweet scent of the Elvian Beef filled the air between them.

Luciel found his gaze drifting to her—stray strands of flaxen hair falling into her face as she worked, a far cry from the stern elf who’d confronted him yesterday.

“Did not know you can be bubbly at times.” he muttered.

A soft laugh escaped her. “Of course, not all the time I’m strict, you know?”

She then moved with precision—graceful even. Each move was smooth, and quiet. The gentle hiss of the oil meeting the pan, and it’s sweet scent filled the air, carrying it with the aroma of caramelized garlic and onion as they softened.

She stirred slowly, tasting now and then, adjusting the seasong with a pinch a salt, and a dash of soy sauce. Steam curled upward, wrapping the room with its warmth.

After taking a final taste test, she plated the food with careful hands, arranging each portion as though it were a small work of art.

When everything was ready, she carried the dishes on the table, the soft clink of the porcelain pot, marking her arrival.

“Here’s my special Elvian Beef Stew! I hope you like it.” she smiled, placing the stew infront of Luciel.

The sweet, yet rich aroma of the stew, greeted his nose. “This smells good…”

And then, Luciel picked up the spoon placed beside it and took a taste. The spoon was filled to the brim with a mixture of the sauce, beef, and vegetables.

Munch… Munch… Munch…

As he took a bite—the stew was like a harmony of flavors, dancing on his tongue. It has the perfect amount of sweetness, saltiness, fatness, and just the right amount of umami.

“This is really good… Thanks…” he smiled, taking another bite, as he said that.

“No problem,” she smiled back, proud of her work.

He really is like him… I wonder where he is now.

Yay! Alice's cooking!
I wonder what it tastes like...
Anyway, a pretty tame chapter to say the least. 

See you again for the next chapter!
Chapter 16: The Village of Nai'theriel (August 16, 2025 GMT+8)
For now, it will be weekly uploads :DD