Recipe for River Rafting

Once they were away from the area, Maze let out a long sigh that she had been holding in as she pulled out the box that was Reinhart. She still was amazed at the power such a tiny box could exert, even if there was a human inside of it. As much as she wanted to question him, first, they needed to have a plan.

"Reinhart," Maze spoke, her voice steady. "We need to move, and quickly. The moment those guards get out of the soup, they will be after us again."

Reinhart agreed, "Yes, right. We need a disguise, a diversion, or... how about a new route?"

"Routes," Maze sighed. "The Known Routes are heavily monitored by Farid's puppet guards. The Unknown routes are exactly that, unknown, and thus very unpredictable and dangerous."

"You mean there aren't certain backroads, or just roads in general that we can take? I am sure that he can't have them all being watched, right?" Reinhart asked, thinking about how many different paths there were to get to most places in his old world, but this world seemed to be 100, no, 1000 years behind his time.

"I wish it was that simple, Reinhart, " Maze responded, the strain evident on her face. "Fellenia, unlike your Earth, has a more complex geographical layout. The paths or roads as you say, are created by nature and time. There are indeed many routes but not all of them feasible or safe for travel. "

Reinhart pondered a moment before asking, "What about waterways, rivers? They can serve as effective roads, right?"

"That's... actually a very good idea," Maze said, seemingly surprised. "The Great River of Fallenia runs through the entire continent, its plenty tributaries serving as a natural conduit. But rafting down the river comes with perils of its own. Aside from the dangerous currents and waterfalls, there are various aquatic beasts, not to mention sudden weather changes and now with Mana, unpredictable magic occurrences."

"Still, it may be our best shot," Reinhart suggested, his construction experience coming to his aid as he gazed at a few fallen trees nearby. "If we create a sturdy enough raft and stay vigilant, we should be able to manage."

"And it's a route Farid's guards may not anticipate," added Maze, seeing the potential in Reinhart's proposal. "The thing is, I have never built anything. I was a princess, and now a Queen. I know how things in my court are supposed to work, and how to act as a proper lady when I need to, but I am no man."

Reinhart grinned, his eyes twinkling with determination. "That's not a problem, Maze. Thankfully, in my world, I was a construction worker, building from scratch is an old friend of mine," he explained, his eyes already scanning their surroundings, mentally gathering resources.

"Really?" Maze asked with a hint of surprise in her voice, "But you are only a box with food in it... umm, what kind of food do you have in... you? This always feels so weird to ask!" she added, pulling her long orangish brown long straight hair over her face.

"That is a fair point, but after that fight, I feel like I am getting a hang of this magic stuff! Eat up, and then leave the crafting to me! But first!" I said dramatically. "What would you like to eat this time?"

"Seeing as we're embarking on a culinary journey, let's start off with the Glisttia Lull Pie," Maze suggested, her voice betraying her trepidation at the peculiar process. She tentatively guided Reinhart through the mythical ingredients of the dish - pixie berries that tasted like the dawn sun, fermented wisp nectar that had the delicate aroma of moonlight, and the elusive moonflame tanglers that add a wave of spiciness to the palate.

While Reinhart manipulated the magical components within him, replicating and combining them with utmost precision, Maze carried on about Fallenia's culinary heritage. She shared tales of the fantastical feasts they hosted, each dish holding a story of a hero, a magical beast, or an ancient prophecy. Fallenia's cuisine was a marriage of varied flavors and playful tales that fascinated Reinhart and made him long for the ability to taste them.

Gradually, their conversation dipped into Fallenia's history, its legends that birthed this vibrant culinary culture. Maze introduced Reinhart to the myth of Fallenia's creation, the celestial beings who walked among them, and the deep-seated folklore surrounding various races residing in Fallenia.

"So, you had all these monsters and mythical things that I would attribute to magic, but no one could use magic before the Mana came?" Reinhart asks as continue to savor the food I had made.

I could tell that the food was better from her reaction, but I didn't know what effect it would give. I had to assume that every food would have a special effect, even if it only slightly differed from the others. The problem was that I didn't really even know what any of the other buffs that Maze had got from eating.

"Correct," Maze nodded, her eyes distant, as if absorbed in the memories of a time before Mana. "Mana's arrival was as magical as it was terrifying. It was like one day we were just people, living our simple lives. The next, we woke up to a world where the lines between the real and mythical blurred."

She explained how, in just a month, Mana had wreaked havoc across the land. There were magical accidents caused by people who suddenly found themselves with these overwhelming powers. Whole villages, especially the smaller and more remote ones were utterly devastated.

"My father," Maze's voice softened as she spoke of her late sire, "He was at the forefront of it all. Using his resources, knowledge, and network of allies, he was trying to re-stabilize our world."

Reinhart could see the pride and sorrow in Maze's eyes as she recounted her father's efforts. He felt a pang of sympathy for the young queen, who now not only had to bear the weight of her father's legacy but also navigate this chaos.

Soon, Maze finished her meal, heaving a sigh of contentment. "That was quite a unique blend of flavors, Reinhart. You truly are a bizarre miracle."

With that, Reinhart began to work on the raft, using his innate knowledge of construction and his newfound abilities to maneuver the materials, quickly building a sturdy craft that would hold up to the river's strong currents.

Throughout the process, Maze watched in awe, her eyes filled with curiosity and a touch of worry. After all, they were about to sail through treacherous waters on a raft built by a man who was also an instant dinner packing. The unpredictable nature of their journey only emphasized the bond they shared, two beings from different worlds working together towards a common goal.

As they readied themselves to embark on this risky venture, they were both filled with a sense of impending adventure, danger, and the undeniable thrill of the unknown.