The bustling sounds of cooking gradually filled the kitchen. Li Yue suppressed the intense sleepiness that was constantly eroding her will. She let out several yawns, but the movements of her hands did not slow down in the slightest.
Methodically, she deboned the chicken thighs, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and marinated them with salt and pepper. She then cracked three regular eggs and two quail eggs into a bowl, whisking them gently until combined. She added the chicken bone broth jelly she had stored in the freezer earlier, stirring it in along with more salt and pepper.
She placed the chicken into a small bag, vacuumed out the air, and let it cook slowly in water kept at sixty-five degrees.
Yawning again, she put a tablespoon of chicken fat into a skillet. Once heated, she added minced garlic until fragrant, followed by the rice, which she tossed gently.
“So sleepy...” Li Yue rubbed her eyes. Even though she had crawled back into the quilt for a short nap earlier, it was now past noon, and she was still incredibly exhausted.
If I sleep any longer, Clo will go hungry for lunch... She cried so hard last night and only ate a tiny bit for breakfast. She must be starving by now.
She added soy sauce and mirin, then spread the fragrant fried rice across the bottom of the lunch box. She laid the sous-vide chicken thighs evenly over the rice. Finally, she poured the egg mixture into the skillet, heating it over a low flame until it was semi-coagulated before quickly sliding it over the chicken.
She garnished the dish with some pickled vegetables, completing the simple bento. She sealed the box tightly to ensure not a single degree of heat would escape.
“When was the last time I went to the academy?” Carrying the cloth bag containing the lunch box, Li Yue stepped out of the house. The weather had been sunny just moments ago, but upon leaving, she noticed a heavy darkness in the far distance. It seemed a storm was approaching.
She walked slowly, her thoughts drifting in the air. Following the route in her memory by habit, her consciousness had already entered a state of rest.
Thwack. Her foot caught on a stone brick, and she stumbled, but she quickly regained her balance. Fortunately, the lunch box in her hand remained intact without a single spill; otherwise, she might have had to use cycle magic.
“Hello, ma’am.” Li Yue looked toward the voice. A Holy Knight in silver armor stood not far away, walking slowly toward her.
“I noticed you don’t seem to be feeling well. Do you need me to take you for medical treatment?” he asked softly. Li Yue glanced at him. He seemed to be a knight on sentry duty. Although this wasn't a bustling market, there were plenty of shops nearby, including a bank just a short distance away. It was normal for several knights to be stationed in the area.
“No, no. Exhaustion is just my normal state.”
“I noticed your face looks very haggard. Forgive my intrusion, but the passing of a loved one is indeed sorrowful. However, light will still shine upon your future path.”
“Do I look like my husband died?” Li Yue forced a gentle smile. “I’m a twenty-year-old college student, not a thirty-six-year-old widow.”
“Ah... my apologies, my apologies.” He bowed hurriedly, expressing his sincere regret. However, it wasn't entirely his fault. The intense aura of death radiating from Li Yue was usually only found on those who had recently lost a close relative—or those who were determined to die.
She looked at the knight of the Church. In essence, these guys weren't bad people. If disaster ever struck the academy, they would undoubtedly be the most fearless in the face of death. Though the dogmas of “Redemption” were tedious, His knights would likely have the resolve to die for the sake of commoners.
...
It would be nice if everything could go back to the very beginning... The only regret would be that Clo wasn't born in that era, before the Magic Box descended upon the world... But none of that matters now. It’s in the past... Let it stay there.
Li Yue glanced at the darkening sky and quickened her pace. By the time she passed the academy library, a light rain had begun to fall. It was class time, but many students who didn't have lectures were heading toward the cafeteria.
“Clo said she had a meeting around now. It probably hasn't ended yet... Do Five Staves mages really have that many meetings? To have such a busy schedule even at that level of power... it’s quite a transcendental feeling.” Li Yue looked at the rainy sky, momentarily speechless.
The rain gradually intensified. Li Yue strolled through it, manipulating her mana to repel the raindrops around her. The water was pushed away by an invisible edge, like iron filings repelled by a magnetic force, unable to touch her.
“It’s raining hard.” Li Yue murmured. Such a heavy downpour reminded her of a memory from long ago. That was the thing about having too many memories; even the smallest thing could trigger a flood of them.
“The rain is heavy, much like when I first met her. The weather is always like this—unpredictable. Maybe it’s a bit like her?” Thinking this, a small smile played on Li Yue’s lips. “Perhaps I’ve long since grown used to tropical climates. Or perhaps, I have a special fondness for the rainy season.”
Li Yue walked slowly. In this torrential downpour, her mood gradually began to brighten.
Rate on N.U.
