Eris POV 5

I returned home with such a smile of satisfaction, that I did not mind doing the work I had accumulated for weeks, when I finished I was still in such a good mood that I decided to forgive my informants of their punishment, even when I woke up the next day, I could not remove the smile from my lips, just life can be very good sometimes.

I just couldn't help but be in such a good mood, that I decided to give the cooks the morning off, and prepare my family's breakfast myself, while I was tenderizing, and seasoning the meat, I wondered why my family doesn't like my cooking.

(Maximilian) What's that noise, what's going on here? Eris .....

My husband walked into the kitchen and was shocked to see me there, I guess the image of me in an apron was too much for him.

(Maximilian) Eris... My dear... What are you doing?

(Eris) ohh, isn't it obvious? He prepared breakfast for you and the boys.

(Maximilian) Uhh, dear... What happened to the cooks?

(Eris) I gave them the morning off, I felt like cooking.

I took several of the steaks I had cut and was about to cook them, the recipe said 30 minutes on low heat, hmm, I wondered if with a stronger flame I could cook them in 5 seconds? I lit a flame in my hand and set out to check.

(Maximilian) wait, wait dear!!!!

Maximilian grabbed my arm so I was forced to undo the magic.

(Maximilian) I wanted to, you know it's not necessary, you have duties of too much importance to worry about such small tasks.

(Eris) ohh, there is no more important job than the one I have with my family.

I reloaded the spell and cast it on the meat, but the smoke it caused was perhaps a little thick, so I had to open a hole in the wall to ventilate, when the smoke dispersed, I could tell that the meat was done, maybe a little over sewn, but it just goes to show that those who write cookbooks have no idea what they are talking about.

For his part, although I don't know why, Maximilian had turned completely pale.

(Maximilian) Dear... dear... dear... the kitchen...

He pointed out the hole I had to open to improve the ventilation, I really don't see the problem, it was only a part of the wall and anyway, it was overdue for remodeling.

I was about to start preparing the vegetables, since only meat is not nutritious, and I always think the best for my family, that's why I invoked a small tidal wave in the kitchen to wash and remove all the dirt well, and a gale to dry them, I was about to start cutting them when Adrien, my eldest son comes running into the kitchen with a sword in his hands.

(Adrien) What's going on? Are we under attack? ....(Adrien) Ohh... No...

Just like his father, Adrien was shocked to see me inside the kitchen, I think the destructive power of my apron is too much.

(Eris) Good morning sweetie, breakfast will be ready soon.

Conjure up half a dozen air blades and throw them on the vegetables, this is much faster than using a kitchen knife, by mistake I cut a couple of tables and part of the cupboard, but nothing that can't be replaced.

Adrien was about to say something, but his father takes him by the arm and takes him to a corner, for a moment I thought he wanted to have a private conversation, but they should already know that I can hear them perfectly well if they are only a little more than 30 meters away, so I did not lose detail of their conversation.

(Maximilian) son, call your brothers, we have a code red, your mother is cooking.

(Adrien) I will do it, I have prepared myself for this moment, I have faced worse things, I am not scared.

At that moment I had conjured up a flare to help me sauté the vegetables, and poor Adrian couldn't help but be startled.

(Adrien) Father I'm scared, I didn't think I would have to go through this again.

Maximilian puts both hands on his shoulders.

(Maximilian) son, you must keep calm, you are the oldest and you can't let your brothers see you like this, you must be strong, if not for yourself, do it for them.

(Adrien) Father, are you scared too?

(Maximilian) That's right my son, that's right.

Adrien ran out to tell his brothers to come for breakfast, I couldn't help but laugh at the pair's witticisms, they always do a similar routine when I cook.

Maximilian stood behind me before speaking.

(Maximilian) dear, ehh, do you need help with anything?

(Eris) no need honey, I have everything under control, I just ask you to check that the children wash their hands.

Maximilian left the kitchen, but at times he was still peeking through the frame, I for my part checked the food I had prepared so far, I had perfectly roasted meat, sautéed vegetables, freshly squeezed orange juice, boiled eggs, oatmeal with milk and honey, toast and jam, yes I think everything is ready now.

He piled all the food on a big tray and I prepare to take it to the table, where my 3 wonderful children and my dear husband, were sitting in a very strange way, too far apart from each other, but they were all so excited about my food that they had even turned a little pale.

He leaves the food on the table, and I sit down with my family, they should be very hesitant to eat first, as they just stare at the food.

Without agreeing, they all decide to start with the toast, so the plate of toast is emptied almost instantly.

Seeing them eat with such excitement makes all my effort worthwhile.

(Alexander) and let's say mother, what is the reason for your sudden desire to cook today?

My second son Alexander asked me in a way that was perhaps a bit insistent, it almost seemed that he was trying to get my attention, and for his part, his brothers were saving food in the folds and pockets of their clothes, that made me very happy, obviously they are enjoying their food so much, that they want to save more for themselves, I know that as a mother I should reprimand them for their selfishness, but I will let it go for this occasion, since the fault is mine for the little I cooked for them.

(Eris) no particular reason, I've just been very happy lately.

(Maximilian) ohhh my dear, what's the reason for your good mood?

This time it was my husband who made me turn to look at him, but as soon as I looked away from him, Alexander started imitating his siblings and saving food for himself.

My kids are so adorable, I just can't get mad at them.

(Eris) well, I made a new friend yesterday, she's a lovely girl with a bit of a strong character, and a bit moody.

(Maximilian) ohh, I'm so happy for you my dear, but tell me, do I know her at all?

(Eris) ehh, no, I don't think so.

It took me so long to gain her trust and if I mistakenly told her secret she would be very upset, well, now we are best friends and she will probably forgive me, but I prefer not to damage our newly formed friendship.

Well, I still have to find a way to convince Leonora that we are now best friends, but those are minor details.

(Eris) the point is that she is a very charming girl, but for certain circumstances I can't introduce her, she is a bit shy.

Breakfast continued as normal, but I saw that little Johan was having trouble eating his oatmeal, he seemed to struggle to take each spoonful, that made me wonder if maybe I made it a little thick.

At that moment I saw Adrien signal to Johan and he spoke.

(Johan) ehhhh, estemmm, mom, ehhh, yooo, did I tell you today that I love you very much?

(Eris) ohh, honey, you well know that I loved you more.

(Johan) ehhhh, no, I loved you more.

(Eris) I loved you more sweetheart.

(Johan) no, I loved you more.

Little Johan and I continued our little competition for a few minutes, I was so focused on this, that when I realized all the food had disappeared from the plates.

(Maximilian) thank you very much dear, really very good.

(Adrien) Yes, it was a great meal mother.

(Eris) I am very happy that you enjoyed it, so would you like me to cook more often?

(All) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

They all shouted at the same time, which left me puzzled.

(Maximilian) ehhh well my dear, you are obviously very busy, and we don't want you to waste time on something so insignificant.

(Eris) that doesn't bother me, I can always find time to make my family happy.

For some reason everyone seemed quite tense and looked alternately at each other.

(Alexander) mother, your food is very special, and if we ate it every day, it would stop being so special, that's why you don't have to bother.

(Eris) hmm, I think I understand you, but whenever you want to eat my food, you just have to ask, okay?

They all nodded, and went off to perform their respective duties.

I went to my office still with my smile, I have a wonderful family, I have found a very lovely apprentice, and now finally, after much insisting, I have managed to take the first step to my long and fruitful friendship with Leonora, again I could not help but think that life can be very good.

I sat at my desk and waited for the report I had requested about Caesar Nortalis, the inquisitor of the past generation, actually I had requested this report since the little mishap with the king, I already had that man as a possible enemy, but it never crossed my mind that he could also be Leonora's enemy, and now that she asked me for a report about him, I could take advantage of this situation to finally gain Leonora's trust.

A couple of minutes later one of my informants entered the room with a small envelope.

When I held it in my hands, my smile disappeared.

(Eris) What is this supposed to be?

I weighed the envelope he had brought me, at first glance it was nothing more than a couple of sheets, this can't be the report I requested.

(Shadow) excuse me my lady, this is all we could muster.

(Eris) This is it? you're really telling me this is it?

I opened the envelope he had brought me, and I was right, it was only 4 miserable sheets of paper.

(Eris) if this is some kind of joke taking advantage of my good mood, then I will forgive you if you bring me the real report right away.

(Eris) I... I'm sorry ma'am, really, this is all the information we could gather.

I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, since it was possible that the report did not include the most obvious information and focused on things that were not in the public domain.

But after skim reading, I was barely able to contain my anger, this report contained only the most obvious things about the inquisitor of the past generation, his years of service in the church, his mission history, a vague record of his background and little else.

This "report" was a mockery, an insult to my time, there was nothing really relevant in it that I could present to Leonora.

(Eris) this joke has gone too far, bring me the report I requested.

(Shadow) my... My... Madam, I... Ehhh... We... You gave us very little time, if you had given us more time, we could have prepared a better report.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back, my fury was about to explode, but at the last minute, I took a deep breath, and relaxed.

(Eris) hmm, so you're implying it was my fault?

(Shadow) NOOO!!!! My lady I will never ....

(Eris) hmm, so now you're saying I'm lying?

(Shadow) my lady!!!! I swear I didn't mean to ....

I raised my hand slightly and snapped my fingers, and that poor devil was reduced to a stain on my carpet, it really is hard to find competent people these days.

I took the joke of a report back on my desk, to some extent the little information makes sense, I've only met the man a couple of times, and I've always thought there was something odd about him, but no one can escape my information net, and the very act of pretending to do so infuriates me.

I rang a bell on my desk, and another of my informants came into the room, I pointed out the insult on my desk, and asked for an explanation.

(Eris) What is this?

Since he entered the room he knelt before me, with his head lowered, and from that position he responded.

(Shadow) my lady, that man is untraceable, the records on him were erased, and the people we sent to follow him, comment that they were immediately detected and deceived.

(Eris) redouble your efforts, in the next report I want to see answers, don't force me to do it myself.

(Eris) as I ordered my lady.

My infomant left the room, and I was left alone, all my good mood of the morning had disappeared, that man, that old ex-inquisitor, was starting to become a nuisance.

Again, I took a deep breath, and calmed down.

Well, if this man thinks he can offend me and get away with it he is wrong, I will find him and we can have a little conversation, and whatever is left of him after that, I can offer it to Leonora on a silver platter.

That will be the beginning of our friendship.