The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 37: Time to Cook!
Eithan blinked, looking at Maxwell, who only smiled.
"Cook?" Eithan looked away, gazing at the bustling streets filled with passersby going about their business. His gaze was fixed on a particular white, gold-embroidered carriage. A highly expensive one, as expected of the inner district. "Well," Eithan dragged his word, looking up at the blue sky now as he scratched the back of his neck, "I know a thing or two about cooking."
Maxwell shrugged.
"If you don’t, just tell me."
Eithan gazed at Maxwell, eyes widening subtly.
"Why are ya asking, by the way?"
"I want to learn how to cook," Maxwell replied, staring at a well-dressed nobleman holding a suitcase while walking past the intersection of the street. His steps looked hurried. "I need to eat breakfast."
Eithan was almost stunned, but then his lips twitched, and he chuckled, almost laughing out loud.
"Noble boy, ya never had to cook in your fancy noble house, did ya?" Eithan began to laugh at this point. "Imagining learning how to cook just because ya wanna eat breakfast."
"Is that such a bad thing?"
Eithan’s laughter dwindled.
"No," Eithan cleared his throat. "It’s not a bad thing. It’s commendable, actually. But the fact that it’s not bad doesn’t mean it ain’t funny, though." He breathed out, kicking a small rock. "But you can just eat from a restaurant, no? That’s what I do every day."
Maxwell shrugged, shaking his head.
"I don’t want to."
"But why?"
Maxwell gazed skyward, watching the wavy clouds above make their way, cascading freely.
"There comes a time when one has to take the well-being of one’s own life into account. This means paying more attention to details, the small things like the food we eat, where they came from, the water we drink, the clothes we wear. I believe life will be more meaningful that way–" Maxwell gazed at Eithan, who stared at him with a studious gaze. "Ah, forgive me. I tend to get a bit philosophical sometimes."
Eithan blinked, then smiled, waving a hand.
"No, no, it’s okay. It’s just, you sound way older than you look, ya know."
"I’m beginning to get that a lot."
"Not necessarily a bad thing, though. Although I must ask, doesn’t it get tiring, nitpicking over every single little thing? Surely, it must at some point in time."
Maxwell gazed at the ground, at the neatly kept cobblestone he and Eithan walked on. Marks of wheels and footprints were on this cobblestone floor.
Maxwell’s gaze softened.
"I guess... You might be right." Max looked up, inhaling and exhaling. "The things I say may sound profound, but I’m also a flawed being who still learns every day, just like you. And I’m still learning even now."
’Even a god isn’t perfect.’
Eithan nodded.
"It’s what makes us humans, I believe."
Maxwell paused. His gaze remained fixed on Eithan, who continued walking.
Suddenly, Eithan turned his neck, gazing at Maxwell with a raised brow.
’Yeah...’
"You’re right," Maxwell said.
’I’m human.’
He continued walking with Eithan.
"So we’re headed to the market, huh?" Eithan asked. "I don’t mean to brag, but I make really good pudding. Back when she was still alive, my mom was jealous of my holy pudding-making skills, haha."
Maxwell chuckled.
"Holy," He echoed. The word was funny to him.
"I’ll cook enough for both of us, and also teach ya how to cook it in the process."
Maxwell nodded.
"Sounds like a solid plan. Let’s go, then."
"Oh, yes! Also, I can come cook every day, I also know how to cook porridge, fish stew and any type of soup–"
"Then what did you mean by ’I know a little about cooking’ earlier?!" Maxwell yelled.
"Well," Eithan scratched his neck. "My confidence was low. I mean, I learned most cooking stuff from Malik and I haven’t really practiced much due to my task hunting every day."
"But you’re confident now?"
"Not really," Eithan shook his head. "I just had a sudden thought."
"And that is?"
"I’d like to do this together with you before I finally leave for Nuncapor," Eithan sighed. "I’m going to Avalon in search of Jeriq, as you said. I have a friend who works on one of the largest trading ships at the port, he’s gonna smuggle me during their next shipping to Nuncapor four weeks from now. The ship’s gonna go around Elyrus. Then straight to Nuncapor."
"Oh," Maxwell’s brows relaxed. "So–"
"So I figured I’d spend my last few days with all the people I’ve been privileged to connect with before I leave," Eithan grinned. "That cooking-obsessed bastard, Malik’s gonna miss me so bad."
Maxwell smiled.
"You’re a good friend."
Eithan’s brows widened.
"Good friend?" He spoke. "I’m a great friend! Haha."
Maxwell ignored his gloating, and they began walking to the market to buy ingredients to cook pudding.
"I should introduce you to Vin sometime before you go. He’s a great guy."
"The one who cleared the valley with you? Sure do! Can he cook?"
"...I don’t know."
’He has a wife.’
After a morning spent at the Ludia central market, away from the inner district, the duo returned to Maxwell’s home.
They’d spent the entire time there haggling for prices. No, to be specific, Eithan was the one who did the haggling, refusing to buy things at a specific price because they were too ’expensive.’ Even when Maxwell had told him he had the money to pay, Eithan shushed him, whispering, "This is the way of the market."
Maxwell was genuinely drained by the guy’s energy. He didn’t expect Eithan to have this ferocious side to him.
Well, he didn’t really dislike this side of Eithan at the end of the day, because Maxwell spent not more than 2gc at the market.
And they didn’t just buy ingredients for the pudding, they also bought ingredients for the meal Eithan would cook the following morning.
To this, Maxwell was genuinely grateful. He would learn how to cook and secure a free chef. A double combo.
Now, at the first hour of the afternoon, they stood in Maxwell’s wide and spacious kitchen, ready to cook.
"I don’t think we can call it breakfast anymore. It’s already morning," Maxwell said.
"Tch," Eithan clicked his tongue, rolling his sleeves. "Breakfast is breakfast. Let’s begin."
