Curry Part 1

Curry was one of the first things Yuzuki learnt to cook alongside her family.

Her parents had helped her practice peeling and cutting the vegetables and then how to handle meat. The first curry she made had uneven vegetable pieces due to how excessively she peeled the potatoes and carrots as well as chunkier pieces of chicken that needed more time to cook, but it had been a fun experience.

And when her parents passed, her grandfather made this nostalgia-laced dish for her, too. Up until she moved in with him, she’d been under the care of an orphanage and many of the meals was made from processed things they heated up that lacked any flavor or love. In order to make her feel comfortable in her new home, her dear grandfather got to making her a hearty meal. It had been so cold that day, so a plate of hot curry on fresh rice really hit the spot. The cold became the perfect pairing in and of itself with hot curry, coupled with a spice only known as love.

Yuzuki cried after her first few bites, understanding she would be safe and loved, even though her parents were gone.

After her grandfather left this world as well, curry was one of her favourite comfort dishes to get late at night when even the most drunk person would be ushered home and many places started closing up for the night. When she was bone tired and spent another bit of time after her shift wanting to cry, it was a steaming plate of curry that would find its way into her belly.

The feeling of relief when a hard day’s work was done.

The knowledge of knowing you still belonged somewhere.

It was having strength and warmth restored to your body.

And, above all, just having the comfort of a well made warm meal that was just for you to enjoy…

All of this she wished to share with a man she had only just met, but knew skipped anything elaborate.

Cold, raw, unprepared food was a sign of someone just giving up and resigning oneself to getting only the bare minimum.

Making food was more than just being fed or feeding people. It was about nourishing the heart and soul with every bite as well.

Picking out onions, carrots and potatoes for the curry, Yuzuki privately marveled at her own improvement over the years. She used to cut things so unevenly, to the point where there was more food in the peels than in what was going into the pot. Now, she made smooth motions in her hands that resulted in a long singular, thin peel. There was a practiced speed in which each item was expertly de-skinned, chopped and then thrown into the curry pot. Spices were pulled out; old, but still usable. She simply needed to put in more due to their age.

Since the lord of the castle would be arriving late, making a long simmer dish was just perfect.

“Your knife work is so precise,” Azura remarked as she floated nearby, watching Yuzuki work.

“Thank you,” Yuzuki replied, now getting to cube the meat. Each freshly cut piece also joined the vegetables in the pot. She was going to give them a little fry all together, browning them and getting the meat’s juices out and mixed in with the spices before she began pouring in water. From that alone, she would get a delicious stock going. “I’ve been practicing for years to get the technique just right.”

“Oh? Were you the type of child to make unsteady cuts on a potato?” Azura asked, to which Yuzuki blushed and said nothing, continuing with meal prep.

As she went on, she asked a question of Crim.

“Do you think Lord Kerron would prefer things milder or spicy?”

“Milder, I think. Kerron has never been a fan of spicy foods, though he will eat an onion all by itself,” the spirit answered.

That was not the kind of answer she had been entirely expecting, yet somehow seemed to fit the theme the Lord of Death had going. Truly, he was the epitome of a bachelor salaryman who really could not be bothered.

Considering his tastes, there was an ingredient she would need to switch up the flavor of the curry. An apple. Surely such a common item should be found somewhere in the kitchen. She found one hidden among some other fruits. These were acceptable for grabbing and crunching on the go, but she felt they hadn’t been touched as much in the last while.

The apple was ground up and added to the other ingredients already frying, shifting the scent in the kitchen in a subtle, but important way. The wafting scent of cooking food hit Yuzuki’s nose and she could feel the tension she’d been holding in her shoulders just melt away as happy, wonderful thoughts of the past flooded her mind.

“Do you know how long it will take for everything to finish cooking?” Crim asked as water was being added to the big pot after Yuzuki finished the sauteing step.

“A good curry can take a couple of hours for all the flavors to meld together. Why?”

“You should come outside with us for a bit, then!”

“Oh, I agree. He’s busy, but you should be able to see him at work at this point.”

“Ah?”

After it was assured the curry would not boil over after Yuzuki left the kitchen with Azura and Crim, following behind them towards some of the ramparts. One of the Lapluna chose to come with her, while the others remained in the kitchen. The little one was tucked into her arms, looking rather content at being held close.

“What am I supposed to be seeing?’ Yuzuki asked, after they arrived. While it was refreshing to be outside, the wind blowing through the ramparts was almost bitterly cold and she rubbed at her arms to try to keep warm. Even with the Lapluna with her, sharing its body heat, she’d need the other six in order to be as cozy as she had been when they laid on top of her that first night in the forest.

Azura flew along the ramparts, going all along from one end to another and even lifting up a bit higher into the air to get a vantage point. She shook excitedly soon enough, beginning to do a figure eight in the air to catch Yuzuki’s attention.

“Oh, there! Yuzuki look over here on the left! Hurry!”

Once again, it was truly dark around the castle, without the light of civilization and only the moon to illuminate a path. Above their heads, a sea of stars twinkled brightly, a sight that Yuzuki had rarely ever gotten to see in all her years of life. Below and beyond, there was the sea of trees that made up the canopy of the Forest of Spirits. It was dark and seemed like a massive abyss from a distance, if she didn’t know better.

And then she spotted it. Like the other night, she saw several orbs of light – spirit orbs – following along together, making a long path of glowing light that turned the forest into a mirror of the sky above. It was honestly a gorgeous sight, now that she was safe and not panicking. Before her eyes spirits gathered from all directions, joining up with the parade of souls. And at the head of this long procession was Kerron.

Upon a floating black boat, he had a long staff like oar which he used to steer himself through the air. Mist surrounded the bottom of his boat, giving the impression he was sailing on the clouds as he led the way for these spirits. His path was set and seemed endless, almost spiralling around the castle. His long, silvery locks fluttered behind him, his face set into a focused expression as he performed his duties. Yuzuki did not quite understand what she was seeing, but she remarked mentally how well he seemed to be doing it. It actually looked quite peaceful, like watching a master arranging a festival of lanterns.

Pretty, Yuzuki thought dreamily.

The wind blew at her again and she shivered hard enough that she felt a sneeze coming up. She actually did sneeze soon after, startling the Lapluna in her arms into squeaking in surprise.

“Oh, we should get you back inside,” Crim stated, floating close to nudge her.

“Yes, yes. We wouldn’t want you to get sick, dear,” Azura agreed.

“Ahahaha…sorry about this.”

Yuzuki took one more look at the Lord of Death, leading the spirits in the dead of the night, watching him just long enough until he rounded one of the towers of the castle and going out of sight. When she truly couldn’t spot him anymore, it was then Yuzuki finally made her way back inside. Back into the warmth and away from the biting cold of the night.