Chapter 40 : candied nuts and cheers

The long dining table of Sunwhisper Mansion gleamed under the chandeliers, polished so brightly the candles reflected off the silverware like tiny suns. Lady Rose sat at the head, her posture impeccable, silver hair glinting in the firelight. Across from her, Elowen lounged with a grin that suggested he’d already decided this dinner would be entertaining.

Ryo, Lara, Aldah, and Vix took up the remaining seats—or in Aldah’s case, climbed onto the chairs and nearly knocked over the candlesticks in his eagerness.

“This is… much fancier than usual,” Ryo muttered, glancing nervously at the delicate porcelain plates and sparkling crystal goblets.

Aldah clapped her hands together. “Perfect! Now, behold the feast I procured for Ember couriers' inaugural dinner!” she gestured dramatically toward the piles of food she had somehow carried in from the market: a mountain of candied nuts, fried bread shaped suspiciously like animals, a few small wheels of cheese, and a jug of something that smelled vaguely like spiced wine.

Lady Rose’s eyes narrowed at the display. “That is your contribution?”

“Yes!” Aldah announced proudly. “Every item hand-selected to symbolize courage, teamwork, and—”

“Overeating?” Vix supplied flatly from the far end of the table, barely glancing up from the roasted chicken leg he had already claimed.

“Symbolism,” Aldah corrected sharply. “Do not sully it with cynicism!” she scooped a handful of candied nuts and attempted to pour them onto each plate. Instead, they tumbled across the table in a sticky, chaotic cascade.

Ryo lunged forward to catch the nuts before they rolled onto the floor. “Aldah! Careful!” He ended up knocking over his goblet of water in the process, soaking his lap.

Lara’s eyebrow twitched. “Really. I leave you for five minutes…”

Lady Rose laughed, leaning back in her chair. “I did not know a group of couriers could make so much mess in one sitting.”

Aldah puffed up, clearly offended. “Mess? This is strategic placement. Candied nuts in hard-to-reach positions build dexterity and teamwork. Anyone who doubts my genius will rue the day!”

Elowen pinched the bridge of her nose and gave a sigh that could have shattered glass. “If anyone dares ruin my dining hall, they will clean it.”

Vix snorted. “clean? Is that your new punishment? Please make it optional.”

The first course arrived—a beautifully roasted pheasant, golden and steaming. Aldah immediately grabbed the carving knife, waving it like a sword. “Observe! I shall distribute the flesh fairly…”

She stabbed the plate in the wrong spot, sending a wing flopping onto Ryo’s lap. “Oof—hey!” Ryo yelped, pushing the meat off his thighs.

“Ember couriers,” Lara muttered amused by the situation, “we are not supposed to fight each other during dinner.”

Aldah pointed at Ryo with the knife. “ I felt your intentions”

“what intentions ?” Ryo screamed.

Lady Rose choked on a laugh, spilling a tiny bit of wine on the table. “Honestly, this is better than any play I’ve seen. You four are… a spectacle.”

Elowen let out a small, controlled sigh. “Spectacle is one word for it. Chaos might be more accurate.”

Ryo leaned over to whisper to Lara, “I didn’t sign up for this level of chaos.”

Lara shot him a sharp look. “You signed up for Aldah. That’s what this is.”

Meanwhile, Aldah had turned his attention to the apple juice, attempting to pour it into everyone’s goblets with one hand while brandishing the carving knife with the other. Predictably, the wine splashed everywhere, leaving purple streaks across the tablecloth.

Vix sighed. “You really shouldn’t be trusted with liquids.”

“I am a master of all elements!” Aldah declared, slipping slightly on the spilled juice. She recovered with an overly dramatic bow. “Behold—grace under pressure!”

Lady Rose pinched her lips. “Under pressure does not include my tablecloth, Aldah.”

Elowen, interested, picked up a stray candied nut and popped it into his mouth. “Honestly, you four should perform in the streets more often.”

“Perform?” Ryo groaned, dragging a hand through his hair.

The beast inside of him starts laughing.

Aldah’s eyes sparkled.

At this, Lara finally sighed and muttered something under her breath about the definition of ‘discipline’ being lost forever. She began quietly arranging the food so it was at least edible without disaster.

Ryo, noticing her muttering, whispered, “Are you… enjoying this?”

Lara shot him a look. “I am tolerating it. That’s all you need to know.”

As the dinner progressed, Aldah attempted to teach everyone the “Ember couriers toast”—a ceremony he invented on the spot.

“Raise your glass! For Ember couriers!” she shouted, standing on her chair.

Ryo tried to follow suit, spilling a bit of water on his sleeve cagain. Vix muttered something about “heroes or disasters, pick one,” while Lara rolled her eyes but lifted her glass politely.

Elowen, despite herself, raised her goblet with a small, elegant nod. “To… Blue Wave. May your exploits be memorable, if only to the bards unfortunate enough to witness them.”

Lady Rose clapped. “Hear, hear! And may the candied nuts never end!”

Aldah beamed, “Now that is a true toast! Sugar, valor, and chaos! Exactly what the Ember couriers stands for!”

Ryo groaned and muttered, “I feel like we’ve just signed up for a very long, very messy adventure.”

Lara smirked faintly. “Don’t worry. I feel like the chaos is only going to get worse.”

Aldah, delighted, raised another candied nut in a mock salute. “Then let the chaos begin! Long live Ember couriers!”