Chapter 1291 - The Three Branches of Magic (Part 1) (1/2)

”Are you a mage?” The stable boy had never seen one before. Just like nobles, mages didn't use trade routes.

”Sort of. I'll pay for whatever damage and heal any injury my beasts might cause. Yet try to con me and it will be the last mistake you make. I have eyes and ears everywhere.” Lith said while Onyx and Abominus went on their own to two empty stalls.

The stable boy gulped and followed their movements with his eyes, fearing that the horses might get scared and injure themselves in the attempt to escape, yet nothing happened.

When he turned around, Lith and the children were gone.

The inside of the Hot Pot was as warm as the stables but it smelled much better. The walls were lined with long tables and benches while the center of the ground floor was filled with tables for four.

The former would host the caravans' crew members and their bodyguards while their masters used the latter to enjoy better food and privacy. The tables would be removed for the night, turning the restaurant into a cheap hostel for travelers who couldn't afford a room.

The wood pavement was dull and full of scratches from the moving of chairs but it was clean. A huge fireplace took the center part of the west wall, where several animal heads and pelts were hung.

'Either the owner of this place is a hunter or they have an odd way to display their selection of meat.' Lith thought.

Seeing three plainly dressed people sitting at one of the center tables, a blonde waitress with a face full of freckles was about to ask them to move to one of the side benches when she noticed several things that didn't add up.

They didn't smell, their clothes didn't have a speck of dust on them, and the tall guy was way too young to be the father of the kids who in turn were too tanned to be from around those parts.

”Welcome to the Hot Pot. What can I serve you today?” She asked with her best smile while offering them the menus from the pouch of her apron.

She didn't miss the too many non-precious rings on Lith's hands nor that the callouses on his hands didn't fit a worker so much as a warrior. To laymen, magic crystals looked like well-cut pieces of colored glass.

”One Rainbow soup each, one roasted duck, two sides of roasted potatoes, and water for drink. Thanks.” Lith said.

”I don't want the soup!” Aran complained.

”I don't want to share my potatoes with him! He always tries to hog them all.” Leria said.

”And I don't want to hear another word. You are making us look bad in front of this nice lady” Lith replied. ”We're here for a light meal, otherwise you'll fall asleep and we'll lose most of the remaining daylight.”

She wasn't used to seeing kids around those parts, let alone such odd fellows. By that age, a merchant's child would have had the spunk beaten out of them already whereas a noble wouldn't care about what she might think.

”I'm sorry for my rudeness.” The kids gave the waitress a small bow, making her eyes go wide with surprise.

After that, the service was quick and the servings generous. The soup owed his name to the different kinds of colored vegetables cut into pieces that floated on its surface, but this time they had been cut with a flower shape.

The duck was big and greasy while the plates of potatoes were filled to the brim. Useless to say, the plates returned clean to the kitchens and the kids fell asleep before Lith could ask for the bill.