Chapter 105: The Banquet Pt 1 (1/2)
”You have arrived,” Junipère said while walking towards Xinya. ”I thought for sure you wouldn't make it, but I'm so glad that you did. Thank you so much for doing this for me.”
With a strained smile from holding up the cake Xinya said, ”It was no trouble at all, I am happy to help you.”
”Oh my! Here I am blabbing away, while you are holding that heavy cake.” Seeing Xinya strained expression, Junipère rushed to the backdoor of the mansion and opened it. ”Come, the kitchen is right through this door. You can put the cake down on the counter.”
Junipère held opened the backdoor for them as Xinya and Melting Snow carried the cake inside, while Wandering Sound and Wei trailed behind. When Xinya first entered the first thought that passed through his mind as he looked around was how magnificent the kitchen was.
The kitchen walls were a lovely canary yellow, that stood out against the rustic brown hardwood floors, that was impossibly spotless. Not to say everything else wasn't, Xinya thought the whole kitchen looked immaculate.
It had a very unique antique feel to it, but it was also very large and elegant looking. It wasn't Xinya dream kitchen, but it could make his top twenty list. Seeing the wooden counter nearby, he started maneuvering his way over there with Melting Snow.
After setting the cake down on the table, Melting Snow let out a sigh, ”I can finally relax. I thought for sure we were going to drop it on the walk over here. I was even too nervous to talk.”
”You worried for nothing, little man. Roaming Wind and I wouldn't have let that happen to the cake.” Wandering Sound said with a smile.
”Um…,” Melting Snow begins, thinking about how Roaming Wind almost squashed the cake with her body. ”Right.”
Junipère walked over to the counter and started inspecting the cake. As he looked at it with a genuinely pleased expression appeared on his face. With shining eyes, he practically skipped over to Xinya.
Grabbing his hands once again, as he did when they were sitting on the bench by the statue, he said, ”You have my gratitude. This cake is more wonderful than I expected it to be. Now I won't have to worry anymore.”
”Your welcome.” Just as Xinya finished speaking a notification popped up in front of him.
[Quest completed!]
[Reward: 700 experience/ 100 bronze coins/ unknown recipe]
[Gained Recipe Cookies & Cream Crepe Cake!]
Cookies & Cream Crepe Cake: Each layer of the thinly baked crepes has been smeared with cream and cookies, stacked into a tower to make a cake. The sweetness of the cookies blends seamlessly with the airiness of the whipped cream. After eating it you will gain, depending on the star rating +23-30 MP, +11-14 HP, + 5-9 STA.
”I have prepared something for you,” Junipère said, removing his hands that were holding Xinya's, and started digging through his apron pocket. He pulled out a golden envelope and gives it to Xinya. ”It's not much, but I wanted to give you something extra.”
Melting Snow moved closer to Xinya and peered at the golden envelope and asked, ”What is it?”
”It's an invitation to the banquet tonight,” Junipère replied, answering Melting Snow's question. Then turning to face Xinya he said, ”I thought maybe you would like to go since you made the cake for it.”
”Thank you, but without my friends helping I don't think I would have been able to make it here,” Xinya said. He knew his friends would probably want to go too, and he didn't feel right about being the only one going when they helped him get here. ”Would it be possible to get invitations for them too?”
Smiling Junipère, ”There's no need for them to have invitations, your invitation alone is enough. You are allowed to bring up to 5 guests with you.”
”That's great,” Xinya said with relief. He heard someone cheer behind him, mostly likely Melting Snow. Looking at his friends he saw Wei looking excited, Melting Snow practically bouncing on his toes. Wandering Sound, on the other hand, was just looking at Wei, smiling at her happiness.
Glancing at the clock, Junipère said, ”I need to go set up the cake and the other deserts. Thank you once again and I will see you later at the banquet.”
Junipère then proceeded to pick up the giant cake like it weighed nothing and rush out some swinging doors. Once Junipère was left, Melting Snow and Wei swarmed around Xinya, looking at the invitation in his hand.
”I can't believe I get to go to a ball,” Wei said dreamingly.
”Technically this isn't a ball, a ball is a formal dance while banquet is a large celebratory meal.” Wandering Sound explained.
Rolling her eyes at him, Wei said, ”Shush!”
”You shouldn't ruin her dreams, Wandering Sound. She might start to hate you.” Xinya said.
”I doubt that could ever happen.” Wandering Sound replied while looking at Wei who just blushed and said nothing.