Rayish
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Chapter 132
🕑 Added 2025-05-10 08:44:18 +0000 UTCIn the warm, cozy kitchen, a delightful aroma filled the air. Pots steamed, and the sizzling sound from the frying pan accompanied the light footsteps of a green-haired elf woman bustling between the spice racks and the kitchen counter. Aina Tulle, wearing a simple light-brown apron that matched her braided hair, was intently arranging slices of vegetables and meat into lunch boxes.
"Hmm, don't forget the pickled beets... Eina always loves these," she murmured softly while sprinkling the final seasoning.
Before her, neatly lined up on the table were stacks of lunch boxes—no fewer than five, each filled to the brim. A hearty vegetable soup, slices of roasted meat, rice garnished with sesame, and an assortment of side dishes were arranged with meticulous care.
Aina wiped the sweat from her temple with the back of her hand. "Goodness... I really got carried away," she said to herself, gazing at her creations. "This is enough for five people."
She smiled as she looked at the boxes, but beneath that smile lay a hint of longing. Ever since Eina became independent, she has rarely come home. I know she's busy with her work at the Guild, assisting adventurers and the gods who sometimes... act far too whimsically. Still, this house feels too empty without her.
Aina then opened a small wooden cabinet and took out a wrapping cloth. She carefully bundled each lunch box, as though packing a precious gift.
"If my daughter rarely comes home... then her mother will just have to visit her at work," she chuckled softly, trying to mask the slight bitterness in her voice. "Besides, it's been so long since I've seen her face in person. And who knows... maybe some of her coworkers can help finish the extra food."
Once everything was wrapped, she gently patted the cloth covering the stack of lunch boxes. Her face brightened—her soft green eyes looked livelier than usual.
"Alright. Pantheon, here I come."
With light steps and a heart full of hope, Aina carried the large bundle out of her small home and into the bustling city at midday. Perhaps today, in addition to feeding her stubborn daughter, she might also see Eina smile like she used to.
After closing the door tightly and double-checking the lock, Aina gave the large cloth bundle slung over her shoulder a gentle pat. Its contents—the lunch she had prepared with love—were still warm. She let out a soft sigh and began walking toward the lively streets of Orario.
The sky was clear, and the midday sun shone warmly as Aina arrived at the stone stairs leading to an elegant, grand building: the Pantheon, the Guild's headquarters and the central hub for all adventurer affairs in the city. The sound of adventurers' footsteps, lively chatter, and the clanking of metal boots echoed through the main hall as she stepped inside.
Upon entering the main hall, Aina was greeted by a familiar sight. Rows of service desks were occupied by Guild staff in their signature uniforms—black vests, crisp white shirts, and gray bow ties. They were busy assisting adventurers of various races and sizes: humans, dwarves, beastmen, and even a few elves who stood out due to their elegance.
However, the desk on the far right was empty. Aina frowned slightly. That was usually where her daughter sat.
"Auntie Aina?"
A cheerful voice called out to her from across the room. Aina turned and saw a short-haired, pink-haired girl waving at her from behind one of the desks, which was piled with paperwork and quest requests.
"Misha?" Aina greeted her back, a gentle smile appearing on her face. "My, how you've grown! The last time we spoke was... when Eina caught the flu, wasn't it?"
"Hehe, yeah! That time, you even brought her porridge here, right?" Misha giggled, then tilted her head. "By the way, you seem really energetic today. Is that... a lunchbox?"
Aina proudly lifted the cloth bundle. "For Eina. I figured since she hasn't come home in a while, her mother would just bring her lunch instead."
"Wow~ Our Guild's princess is going to be so happy!" Misha replied cheerfully, then glanced at the empty desk. "But... Eina was just called upstairs by the Guild Leader. She should be back soon."
"Oh, I see..." Aina nodded slowly. "Well, I'll just wait here then. I'm in no hurry."
Misha leaned forward slightly and whispered mischievously, "But you know what? Ever since Eina got promoted to senior staff, she's become even more strict. Adventurers tremble in fear every day."
Aina laughed softly, covering her mouth politely. "Hahaha, oh my... just like her father when he's serious. But she's healthy, right?"
"She's healthy, but still terrifying." Misha winked playfully.
Aina shook her head gently, her eyes drifting upward. Eina, I hope you have time to eat with your mother today... even if it's just for a little while.
Carefully, Aina draped the large cloth bundle over the empty desk in front of Misha. She gently set it down and smiled contentedly.
"Excuse me, Misha. I'll just leave this here for now."
Misha, still seated behind her desk, immediately caught the delicious aroma wafting from the slightly opened bundle. The fragrant scent of rice, stir-fried vegetables, and something meaty made her stomach growl softly.
"Waaah... this smells amazing! You cooked this, Auntie Aina?"
Aina nodded, then opened the cloth slightly to reveal the stack of five neatly packed lunch boxes. "I might have cooked a bit too much... just in case Eina is extra hungry. But since there's extra, would you like one? Consider it a bonus for always looking after my daughter."
"Eh? Really?! I won't say no!" Misha exclaimed cheerfully, eagerly accepting one of the boxes. "Thank you, Auntie! I'll eat this later during my break, promise!"
At that moment, footsteps descended the stairs behind them. A half-elf girl with glasses and short brown hair walked down while massaging her temples, her expression weary—a clear sign she had just finished a long briefing with her superior. But as soon as she reached the hall and spotted the familiar figure, her steps halted abruptly.
"E-Eh? Mom?!" Eina stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in shock as she saw her mother standing gracefully in front of the Guild desk.
Aina crossed her arms, her expression shifting to a mix of teasing and scolding. "You rarely come home, and now we only meet at your workplace. What kind of daughter are you?"
Eina hurried over, her face turning pink with embarrassment, especially in front of Misha. "S-Sorry, Mom... I've just been—uh... really busy lately."
Her eyes immediately landed on the neatly arranged lunch boxes on the desk. She pointed at one guiltily. "Is this... for me?"
Aina nodded. "For us. I wanted us to have lunch together, even if it's just for a little while."
But Eina's expression darkened instantly. She lowered her head, biting her lower lip. "I'm sorry, Mom... But after this, Mr. Royman still wants to discuss the follow-up to the earlier meeting. He said it's important."
Aina, who had been so spirited just moments ago, visibly deflated. Her shoulders slumped slightly.
However, Eina quickly stepped closer, grabbing her mother's hand in a panic. "But! But tonight... I'll come home, Mom. I promise. We'll have dinner together, okay? I'll help cook too. Is Dad home as well?"
Aina looked at Eina for a few seconds, in silence, before finally sighing and nodding slowly. "Yes, your Dad will be happy to hear you're coming home."
Meanwhile, behind the desk, Misha could only watch the heartwarming little drama unfold before her. With an unconscious smile, she murmured to herself, Sometimes... working at the Guild can be really sweet.
Aina handed one of the lunch boxes to Eina and said softly, "This is for you. Eat it after your meeting. Don't work on an empty stomach."
"Thank you, Mom..." Eina smiled faintly, taking the box carefully. She walked over to her desk near Misha, set the box down, and began rummaging through the drawers for the documents needed for her meeting with Royman.
Aina glanced at the remaining stack. "Three boxes left, even though Eina could've taken two or three... she always eats so little." She sighed softly, her tone like that of any mother saddened when her cooking isn't fully appreciated.
Misha, still seated nearby, didn't miss the chance to tease. "Maybe Eina's on a diet, Auntie. So she can stay pretty in front of the adventurers she guides."
Aina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Is that so?" Her voice lowered slightly, taking on the tone of a mother gathering important gossip about her daughter's future prospects.
"Mi-shaaa~!" Eina quickly protested, her cheeks flushing as she called out her friend's name in protest.
But instead of stopping, Misha only grew more enthusiastic. "I'm serious, Auntie! Those adventurers sometimes compete for Eina's attention. I've seen it myself!"
Aina turned to her with growing curiosity. "Really? In that case, I'll have to make sure whoever's worthy becomes my future son-in-law."
Eina quickly straightened up behind her desk, trying to cut in, but Misha was already eagerly spilling more secrets. "There are two who stand out the most, Auntie. The first is Luvis—a handsome blond elf who always brings flowers. Then there's Dormul, that big dwarf who likes to bring jewelry. But both of them... got flat-out rejected by Eina."
Aina laughed in amusement. "Oh my, it's gotten that far? Even though they're different races competing in love."
"And the funniest part," Misha continued, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter, "Luvis writes romantic poetry and calls Eina 'the morning light fairy,' while Dormul says, 'I'll make you a ring from the rarest metal in the Dungeon.'"
Eina, unable to take it anymore, covered her pointed ears with both hands and buried her face in the desk. "I can't hear... I can't hear... I can't hear..."
Aina could only chuckle at her daughter's embarrassment. Yet, in her heart, she felt warmth, seeing how admired Eina was. Still... Be careful in your choices, my daughter. The best one isn't always the one who tries the hardest.
Misha let out a long sigh before breaking the silence with a teasing question. "Auntie Aina," she said, leaning forward, "Would you actually mind if Eina got involved with a dwarf? Or would you prefer her to be with an elf?"
Aina raised an eyebrow briefly, then smiled softly. "As long as Eina truly loves them, I won't object," she replied, playing with the ends of her emerald-like hair. "But if I'm being honest, deep down, I hope she finds happiness with a human, like me, and her father did."
Clap! Misha suddenly smacked her hands together once. "Ah, right! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Actually, there's a human who's pretty close to Eina, too!"
Eina, who had been pretending to focus on organizing documents, immediately ducked her head lower, her face turning red. Her trembling hands even caused a few papers to scatter.
"Oh? Really?" Aina asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Who might that be?"
Misha winked meaningfully. "His name is Bell Cranel. White hair, red eyes, and—uh, he's actually younger than Eina. They even went on a date once, Auntie!"
Aina giggled softly, reminiscing. "Eina's father was much younger than me too," she said, glancing at her daughter, who was now roughly stuffing documents into a paper bag.
Thud!
Unexpectedly, Eina slammed the bag onto Misha's desk. "That wasn't a date!" she protested, her voice higher than usual. "I just bought him gauntlets for adventuring, that's all!"
Aina nodded, but her smile only widened. "Bell Cranel, huh? Isn't he that 'Little Rookie' who's been rising fast? I heard he reached Level 3 in no time."
Eina exhaled in frustration, hugging her documents tightly. Why does this have to be discussed like this... she thought, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
Misha eyed the paper bag Eina had just slammed down and, out of curiosity, opened it. Inside were stacks of official-looking parchments and documents, some stamped with the Guild's seal.
"Oh, this is the adventurer information list?" Misha murmured, lifting one of the documents. "Some of their aliases aren't even registered, even though they've already reached Level 3?"
Eina nodded, trying to maintain a serious expression. She quickly snatched one of the parchments from Misha's hand and showed it to her mother, who was still standing near the desk.
"Mom, this was the topic of our meeting earlier. Mr. Royman really emphasized the importance of official records. Many adventurers are... too busy exploring the Dungeon and forget about administrative things like this."
Aina narrowed her eyes, scanning the neatly written list of names in black ink.
"So you're supposed to remind them?" she clarified.
"Exactly," Eina replied firmly. "We need to contact their familias and urge them to complete their data. Especially those with high reputations—it'll be more troublesome if their information is inaccurate in the archives."
Misha set the parchment back down and leaned back casually in her chair.
"That's true. If they suddenly get involved in an incident or a major expedition and we don't have enough information, it'll be a mess..."
Eina nodded, though inwardly relieved the conversation had shifted far from the topic of dates and Bell Cranel. But she knew... Misha wasn't done teasing. And her mother... might not stop being curious.
Fortunately for Eina, her mother steered the conversation elsewhere by asking, "About the incomplete data, are there any members of the Loki Familia who haven't registered properly?"
Eina nodded quickly, relieved at the change of topic. "Yes, and they might be the worst offenders. The available information is minimal... hold on, let me find the file."
As Eina rummaged through the stacks of documents, Misha glanced at Aina, who was still seated nearby, and asked curiously, "Auntie, why the sudden interest in the Loki Familia?"
Aina smiled casually, adjusting the position of the lunch bundle on the desk. "Huh? Did you forget? Riveria is my old friend. If there's data that needs updating, I could always ask her to relay it directly to the person in question."
Hearing this, Misha nodded in understanding. "Oooh, I see. That could be a quick solution."
Eina finally pulled out a slightly worn parchment from among the other documents. "Found it," she said, placing it on Misha's desk.
The parchment had only one entry: a name. No alias, no history, no portrait.
"Shirou Emiya," Eina said, tapping the name with her index finger. "This is all that's recorded. Not even his residence is clear."
Misha bent over to look at the document and shook her head slowly. "Wow... this is practically blank. No facial sketch either."
She turned to Aina. "If you can really contact Lady Riveria, maybe you could help. Because Shirou here is seriously mysterious."
"Hmm... Shirou Emiya," Aina murmured, squinting at the name on the parchment. "His name sounds like it's from the Far East."
Eina gave a small nod. "Right, we thought so too. But there's no definite proof. He's never come in person for a registration interview."
Misha interjected, resting her chin on her palm. "Honestly, I've never even heard this name before. And he's from the Loki Familia—usually, their members' names spread fast."
"He might be a new member," Eina replied, then added thoughtfully, "But... new doesn't necessarily mean weak. He could have received a falna from another god outside Orario before joining the Loki Familia."
Aina stared at the name on the parchment with a slightly pensive expression, weighing possibilities in her mind. Shirou Emiya... she mused silently. Could it be...
Suddenly, her thoughts drifted to a private conversation with Riveria a few days prior. At the time, the high elf had seemed... unusually soft while talking about "a mysterious man who taught her something new called magecraft."
In her mind, Aina pictured a middle-aged man with a calm face, short black hair, and loose Far Eastern-style clothing. He smiled gently while sipping tea, sitting beside Riveria as he taught her magecraft with tranquility and wisdom.
Riveria, have you fallen for someone like that? Aina thought, amused.
She shook her head slightly, a wry smile appearing on her lips. "Ah, if only he really were like that."
Unbeknownst to Aina, Eina, or Misha, every word they spoke, including their wild guesses and imaginations about Shirou, was clearly heard by the very person they were discussing.
Shirou Emiya, standing not far away, had just arrived at the Guild with a simple goal—to pick up a quest for Aiz and Lefiya, who planned to train in swimming in the Dungeon the next day. But his steps halted when he heard his name.
"Shirou Emiya..." Aina's voice still lingered in the air, followed by Misha's light laughter and Eina's complaints.
Shirou stood frozen for a few seconds in front of the large quest board mounted on the wall. His left hand rose to his head, scratching his messy red hair awkwardly.
I just came to get a quest... why does it feel like I'm on trial... Shirou thought, exhaling softly.
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