Bonding

After baking for a while longer Kurao gathered enough recipes and proved that they were accurate. 

Nolaya on the other hand, who was still enjoying the sponge cake looked over at Kurao who still smiling and was basking in the joy in the moment, less of the taste of the cake and more in the success that his theory proved.

"Kurao what made you decide to adjust the recipe? Isn't this your first time in the kitchen let alone cooking?"

"It wasn't much I just thought it would taste better prepared like that?"

'I can't tell her cause of a book I just recently roughly translated cause of a few matching recipe ingredients, that I came up with the sponge cake recipe.'

Nolaya didn't say much, instead she just said proudly,

"Not only are you extremely intelligent for your age, you have a talent in mana, and cooking as well. Little Kurao you gifted beyond words that the little princess of Vaefir is probably not worthy of you."

Nolaya squeezed his cheek while still chowing down the cake with her other hand.

Kurao who heard about his fiancé who he knew little about decide to ask about her. 

"Do you know about my fiancé, I haven't learned much about her since I have been preoccupied with training. I've asked Vayla, but she hasn't told me much."

Nolaya had a thoughtful look as she stood silent, and then releasing a sigh she said,

"I don't know much about the princess of Vaefir Empire as well, except for the fact she is 4 years older then you. But I do know about the Vaefir Empire quite a bit as I do plan to become a exchange student, since the new treaty between their empire and ours needs high status exchange students to show faith."

Kurao felt a bit odd about being engaged to someone with no news or history, but still felt curious to try to learn about his new arranged partner.

"Do you know about her family?"

Giving a slight chuckle she cracked a grin as she spoke,

"Trying to learn more about your in-laws, aren't you showing signs of being the proactive one in your marriage."

Giving a deadpan look towards her teasing,

"Isn't it normal to try to learn more about the person you are engaged to? I bet you would if you were to be married to someone you haven't even met."

There was a hint of bitterness in the last part of his sentence. Nolaya then understood that he wasn't so happy with the arranged marriage, and decided to cut back on the teasing, so she decided to explain what she knew without teasing to not ruin the mood.

"Well the Vaefir Empire has been a historical super power of Etheria and THE only human raced super power of Etheria until a couple centuries ago.

It has been recently been able to get a boost in power after the new emperor ascended the throne. He is quite young with only being around three-ish decades older then me, he only has one wife and child."

"How old are you?"

Kurao asked curiously, to which Nolaya snorted.

"Kurao you can't just ask a lady her age.

But continuing where we left off, Maxwell the Emperor of Vaefir has a 86% affinity with the Fire Origin Element."

"Only 86% affinity?"

Nolaya quickly chastised him for his ignorant response,

"86% is already within the top 1% of a Elementalists affinity rate, just because you were born into a family where high affinity like 75% and above is the norm, doesn't mean it is as common as you have been perceiving it. Hell I only have a 83% % affinity rate with Water Origin Element."

'It seems I have been too ignorant for me to not know.'

Kurao thought feeling a bit bad about not having a common sense when it comes to things like average affinity rates because of growing up in the palace.

'Thinking about it now, I haven't left the palace once in my life..' 

Deciding to continue, Nolaya said,

"Allena The Empress of Vaefir, is actually someone I am quite familiar with since she and my mother were apparently rivals when they were younger. My mother would rant on and on about her, but if I am gonna be honest I don't think Allena ever brings up Astaria at all.

But from what my mother ranted about, was that Allena was a extremely skilled Fire Origin Elementalist that she was even able to hold her ground Master Stage Elementalist despite being a Advanced Stage Elementalist."

"Being able to hold her ground against a Master Stage? She couldn't possibly be able to hold her ground against father!"

Kurao said angerily, though he was impressed with hearing that his mother-in-law could hold her own against a whole stage above her especially against a Master Stage at that.

He felt that she still had no chance against his father, who was also at Master Stage.

Nolaya laughed at how Kurao jumped to bat for their father, she quickly explained while chuckling,

"Sorry that's not what I meant by hold her ground. What I meant was that she was able to fight a Master Stage and live to tell the tale. But I agree with you Kurao, I don't think any Advanced Stage Elementalist would be able to fight against father and stand a chance, let alone live to tell the tale like the Empress of Vaefir did."

Kurao was enjoying the company of Nolaya and after they decided to talk about other random topics as Kurao was also learning more about his sister.

Nolaya on the other hand was still quite surprised by his intelligence as he was able to keep up with some of the topics she threw out as they talked while finishing the foods they made.

As the night was approaching Nolaya decided to get ready for the night,

"Kurao it is getting late, it has been nice talking with you little brother, but its about time we head back to our rooms."

Kurao being reminded of the time then remembered his notebook as he quickly snatched and responded,

"I agree big sister Nolaya, I have things I need to do anyway."

Kurao gripped the notebook tightly as he headed towards the hallway.

As Kurao was making his way out he heard Nolaya say in a comforting voice with a slight smile,

"We will need to cook together again little Rao!"