Epicurean Delights

Tobias and Granny Wilson parted ways at the first intersection, but not before Granny thanked Tobias for the help with a gift of an apple. As Tobias walked down the road, She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and enthusiasm, fueled by the crisp morning air and the appreciation she felt from Granny. Their farewell was filled with warmth and positivity as Tobias set off on her journey.

The first junction at the South gate was a truly breathtaking sight. The expansive area was dotted with colorful benches, encircling a grand fountain that sparkled in the sunlight. The vibrant hues of the benches added to the excitement of the place, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere. As Tobias took in the beauty of the surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and excitement for the journey ahead.

The pond was a truly extraordinary sight to behold. Although it was empty of fish, it still managed to captivate all who laid eyes on it. The water was crystal clear and sparkled in the sunlight, and in the center of the pond was a sprinkler that caused the water to flow in an impressive burst. The force of the water was so strong that it created a mist of dewdrops that cooled the air around the pond. Many travelers and merchants took the opportunity to rest and refresh themselves by the pond, enjoying its tranquil atmosphere. Overall, the pond was a peaceful and rejuvenating place, offering a respite from the bustling world beyond its shores.

Tobias carefully placed the apple into her bag before steadying herself to take a step forward.

Antemur City's economy was thriving due to its position as a major trade center, connected to seven other cities. The South Gate district, in particular, was connected to three additional cities, making it the busiest area in the city. It was no surprise that Tobias was currently surrounded by so many people as she walked through the busy district. Overall, the city's convenient location and strong connections to other cities contributed to its rapid economic growth and prosperity.

As Tobias looked around, her gaze was drawn to a breathtakingly tall structure that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Its peak was hidden amongst the clouds, almost as if it were touching them. She was in awe of the sight, unable to comprehend the enormity of the building. It was as if she was looking at a tower that reached up to the very heavens themselves. She was filled with a sense of wonder and amazement at the sight before her.

Tobias found it difficult to judge the houses that surrounded her, as she had nothing to use as a reference. The only one she had ever known was the modest dwelling where she had grown up with Ira, so the structures around her now seemed impossibly grand and impressive. It was clear that these buildings were unlike anything Tobias had ever seen before, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and curiosity as she explored this new and unfamiliar world.

The houses that surrounded Tobias had a fairly simple design, consisting of box-like shapes with several pairs of doors and windows serving as decoration. Most of the buildings had at least two floors, giving the city a sense of bustling activity and density. Overall, the architecture had a functional and utilitarian feel, with a focus on practicality rather than grandeur.

The first floor is just ordinary doors and windows, but some locals open a restaurant or other engaging service. It makes the city more alive. Because many of them did it, proving the true state of the economy of this city.

As she walked through the city, Tobias was struck by the bustling atmosphere on the streets. The first floor of the buildings she passed was filled with ordinary doors and windows, but many locals had taken advantage of the prime location to open restaurants and other engaging services. These businesses contributed to the lively and vibrant feel of the city, and their presence was a testament to the strong economy.

Tobias couldn't help but notice the symmetrical square windows on the second floor of the buildings as she walked. Some of these windows even had balconies adorned with lavish blooms in a range of colors, including red, pink, yellow, and even purple. The brightly colored flower petals added a touch of luxury and beauty to the cityscape, making it all the more captivating.

The buildings in this area were unique, with flat roofs and open third floors equipped with waterways to drain rainwater. On the top floor of these buildings, ropes could be seen connecting them. Along these ropes were colorful triangular flags that added to the lively and bustling atmosphere of the street.

The wider the road, the more flags there were, and the main road that Tobias was currently on was no exception. It was a wide, two-lane thoroughfare bordered by trees and benches on the inner sides, providing a pleasant and inviting atmosphere for those who passed through.

As Tobias arrived at the South gate, she overheard several merchants chatting excitedly about the district market. A newcomer to the city inquired about its location, and Tobias listened attentively as the merchants provided directions. To find the market, they explained, one must simply follow the crowds heading toward the square and then turn right. From there, it was a straight shot to the towering structure that could be seen from almost anywhere in the district. The market, they told the newcomer, was located at the base of the tower and was the largest in Agriraslia, spanning the border between the South district and the Eastern District of Antemur city. Tobias followed along with the merchants as they set off towards the market, eager to see the bustling hub of commerce for herself.

The Agriraslia region is vast, comprising numerous cities and towns. Among them, Antemur stands out as the capital, a bustling hub of activity and commerce. Its central location and status as the seat of power give it a special significance within the region, attracting people from all over Agriraslia to its streets. From grandiose government buildings to bustling markets and cultural landmarks, Antemur is a city that has something for everyone. Whether you're a visitor or a resident, it's hard not to be swept up in the energy and excitement of this vibrant capital city.

As Tobias approached the market, she could see a bustling crowd of people inside, jostling and moving about. Not wanting to risk getting caught up in the commotion, she decided to stop at a roadside stall to purchase some snacks instead. She watched as the busy vendors at the stall served customer after customer, each person eagerly making their purchases and moving on. Tobias took a moment to observe the scene before making her own choice and stepping up to the counter to place her order. Overall, the atmosphere at the market was hectic and lively, with people moving about in all directions.

"Uncle, could I please have one?" Tobias asked, gesturing to the snack she wanted. Without hesitation, the uncle, who had a fit and agile physique, began preparing the snack for Tobias. "Sure thing," he replied with a smile.

As Tobias waited for her snacks to be ready, she couldn't help but watch the bustling market from a distance, silently wondering what was going on. The people seemed to be jostling and pushing against each other, and she couldn't help but worry that someone might get hurt in the crowded space. Just as she was lost in thought, Uncle arrived with her order, but as he went to hand it to her, he noticed her distant gaze and the dreamy look on her face. "Are you new here?" he asked, surprising Tobias with the sudden question. "Y-yes, I am," she stuttered, feeling a little flustered. "Everything seems so new and exciting to me," she added, gesturing to the bustling market and the unfamiliar food in her hands. Uncle nodded understandingly and smiled.

"You made a wise decision," He said.

"The market here is always bustling with activity, but it can also be quite chaotic and even dangerous at times. Even the security unit has a hard time keeping things under control. I'd advise you to only enter if you have important business to attend to."

"I'm glad I'm only here to visit your stall," Tobias chuckled.

As she took a bite of the snack, Tobias's face was immediately filled with delight. The flavors and spices were like nothing she had ever tasted before, and she found herself savoring every bite, chewing slowly and deliberately to make the experience last as long as possible. It was clear that she was thoroughly enjoying the snack, and the pleasure it brought was evident in every aspect of her expression. This was a truly memorable and tasty treat for Tobias, and she was relishing every moment of it.

Tobias' mouth was full as she eagerly asked Uncle, "What is this, uncle? It tastes so delicious!" However, before Uncle could even respond, someone else came up to place an order, and then another, and another. The stall was suddenly so busy that Uncle couldn't even answer Tobias' question. Despite the rush of customers, Uncle remained friendly and attentive, focusing on serving each person with a smile. Meanwhile, Tobias continued to savor the tasty treat, unable to get enough of the delicious flavor.

As Tobias chewed her food, her gaze was drawn to the rows of stalls lining the street. These stalls offered a wide variety of unique and interesting snacks that seemed to catch the attention of many people, including children. The areas around these stalls were crowded with people bustling about as they made their purchases. Tobias quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and ate the rest with haste, eager to explore the other stalls and see what delicious treats they had to offer. She took a few steps forward, ready to delve into.

After patiently waiting in line and placing her order, Tobias finally received her snack. She eagerly took a bite and was delighted by the variety of flavors that exploded in her mouth. Her face lit up with joy as she continued to savor each bite, the cozy feeling in her mouth making her feel happy and content. "I've never tasted anything like this before," she thought to herself with a joyful expression. "This is just one of the many reasons why I love exploring the outside world. I can't wait to share this experience with Ira when we meet again."

"This is-!"

Inside the restaurant, a commotion broke out as a customer pounded their fist on the table, yelling about the taste of the food that had just entered their mouth. The other patrons in the restaurant looked on with surprise at the strange behavior, wondering what could have provoked such a reaction. The chef, who had prepared the dish, emerged from the kitchen to see what was happening. He asked the server who had been cleaning the table, "What is going on?" But the server simply shrugged, gesturing towards the customer as if to indicate that they were the cause of the disturbance.

Looking at the food, his eyeballs almost reached the yellow sauce covering the entire plate. Attentively, slowly, his finger poked at the sauce.

As he held onto his fork tightly, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as he took in a deep breath, filling his chest with air. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself down before taking another bite of the delicious meal in front of him. "Wow, this is amazing!" he exclaimed, grinning widely. "Whoever cooked this, I have to thank you. The flavor is out of this world, it's truly second to none!"

The people around him erupted into applause, smiling and cheering in response to his words. The chef, beaming with pride, took off his hat and bowed deeply. "Thank you so much, Mr. Orwell," he said gratefully. "It's an honor to have you enjoy my cooking."

While standing outside, Tobias heard the laughter emanating from the restaurant next to the stall where she was located. Out of curiosity, she walked towards the restaurant to see what was causing the hilarity. As she moved further away from the stall, the stallkeeper called out to her, but Tobias was unable to hear him due to the noise from the restaurant. Despite the calls from the stallkeeper, Tobias continued to approach the restaurant, drawn in by the sounds of merriment.

As Tobias walked into the restaurant, she noticed that the excitement from earlier seemed to be fading. She made her way to the cashier's table and ordered the same menu as the one that caused the previous commotion

Just then, the man who had ordered the same menu as Tobias called out to her, seeing that she was having trouble choosing a table, he asked her to join him. Tobias gratefully accepted the offer.

He put down his cutlery. Leave it on the same plate with partially eaten food. Folding legs. Stack both palms on the knees. He was a noble who knew manners. However, his habits affect it.

He placed his cutlery on his plate with partially eaten food, folded his legs and placed his palms on his knees. Despite being a nobleman with good manners, his habits sometimes showed otherwise. "Please, have a seat. Did you come to this city specifically to try the well-known dish?" It seemed that his true character only surfaced at certain times.

Tobias just sat down in the chair. She grabbed her bag to drag it aside. Turn it on her lap. Because cared for the bag so much, she wanted to keep her eyes even though she was having lunch.

Tobias sat down in the chair and immediately grabbed her bag, placing it on her lap. She was little protective of her bag and wanted to keep an eye on it even while having lunch. "I heard the food here is supposed to be delicious. I can't wait to try it!" She glanced around the room. "It's so crowded in here. Is it always like this? Everyone looks so happy."

Orwell realized that Tobias was new to the city and, wanting to appear as a true nobleman with excellent manners and etiquette, he decided to act normally and introduce himself. "My name is William Orwell. I am a noble from Gisa and I enjoy traveling to different places to try new cuisine. This restaurant is usually quite crowded, but I hope you enjoy it. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

The bustle of a busy restaurant, the number of customers who also ordered food, waiters called by customers, and another waiter who answered when the chef called from the kitchen, then resumed by the cashier. The erratic voice adorned the atmosphere of the restaurant. Gathering with friends, some with family, even alone. Those faces, they all enjoyed it.

The bustle of the busy restaurant was palpable, with customers calling out to waiters, the chef calling out from the kitchen, and the cashier handling transactions. The chaotic voices added to the lively atmosphere of the restaurant, where people gathered with friends, family, or even alone, all with faces illuminated by enjoyment. Tobias's face and eyes roamed the room, still taking in the unfamiliar and new surroundings. She was particularly drawn to the large arrangement of yellow lights in the middle of the room, which seemed to glow even during the day.

As he observed Tobias, Orwell was struck by the way the yellow light seemed to dance in her eyes, highlighting their unique color. He was intimately familiar with the feeling of awe and wonder that came with encountering something new, and so he remained silent, not wanting to interrupt the enchantment on Tobias's face.

Their gazes met, and Tobias apologized, "Ah, forgive me, Mr. Orwell. This is my first time seeing a place like this." She was at a loss for words, but she was grateful for taking notice of the part where he had introduced himself earlier.

""I understand your excitement at discovering something new. It is a feeling of surprise and gratitude that is difficult to put into words. The world is vast and full of exotic, foreign wonders that never lose their luster. Imagine all the things that you have yet to discover."

Tobias was reminded of her book, and she realized that there were others who shared her fascination with the vastness of the world. She not only wanted to be a better person, but also wanted to learn more about the world in order to be more useful. This desire to learn was also fueled by her desire to document her experiences in her book.

"Are you from the Near East? The culture here must be quite different from what you're used to," Orwell remarked as he watched Tobias write fervently in her book. Tobias was determined not to miss any valuable information or experiences, and had already begun documenting her encounter with Orwell.

"Near East? Actually, I come from a remote place in the south," Tobias admitted, recalling that she had entered the city through the southern gate. "You seem to enjoy traveling to try different cuisines. Would you be willing to share some of your experiences with me? I'm always looking to learn new things for my book," she added, her curiosity clearly piqued.

Orwell picked up his mug and took a slow sip before setting it back down on the table. Upon hearing Tobias's words, he turned his gaze towards her optimistic face. "So you're writing a book? Is it about food? In that case, you've come to the right person. I am considered a respected food appraiser in this country."

"Really? I feel so lucky today."

As Orwell spoke, the waiter placed the food on the table in front of them. Tobias's order had arrived. Now, there were two identical dishes on the table. "Take a look at the food you just ordered and tell me what you think of it," Orwell invited.

Tobias examined the food carefully. She noticed that the shape of the dish was round, but upon closer inspection, she saw that it was made up of small pieces that had been pieced together. The sauce on the food wasn't a liquid, but rather a solid object that was melting and spreading across the surface. There were also small spheres that were still melting slowly, and a sprinkle of leaves and spices that she didn't recognize.

"I noticed a few things that I only saw when I looked closely. The small shape and the unique sauce are things I've never seen before," Tobias explained.

"Right! That's a fruit ...!" Orwell momentarily froze before collecting himself and sitting back with a nonchalant "Hmm-hm." It seemed that his love of food sometimes caused him to let go of his noble demeanor. "That explains it. You're not from the east, are you?" Orwell was even more puzzled because despite being from the south, Tobias did not resemble anyone from the area, especially in terms of her physical appearance and her eyes. He had been secretly wondering about this, but ultimately decided not to let it bother him.

"You may have noticed that the snow blue main part of the dish is made up of smaller substances. Do you know what the actual ingredients are? They are a crown of nivis flowers, which can only be found in Alteria, the land of eternal snow. Alteria is the only city that connects the region to the rest of the east through the Manoko mountains."

With quick movements, Tobias used her writing instrument to jot down the important points of Orwell's words. Orwell watched with fascination as Tobias's passion for writing was evident in her movements.

"The nivis flower is able to thrive in very cold climates. As a result, even when it is transplanted to a warmer location, the flower's crown remains cool to the touch. This characteristic has made it a popular choice among buyers in middle eastern kingdoms with hot desert climates, as the flower is able to maintain its freshness despite the high temperatures."

As Tobias continued to write, he remarked, "I'm not too familiar with Arteria, but it seems like an interesting place."

"It is with regret that I must inform you that it is currently difficult to travel to the city of Alteria. There are certain circumstances that have deterred us from visiting that location.

Similarly, the cultivation of nivis flowers has declined in recent years. At present, it is only possible to obtain these flowers in Antemur. That is why I am so delighted to be able to savor this delicacy after such a long absence.

The taste of this culinary masterpiece is truly invigorating, with a crisp and refreshing quality imparted by the finely ground crown of nivis flowers.

The sauce, a unique golden-colored fruit known as Massam, adds a delightful depth and complexity to the dish. This special ingredient hails from the eastern regions, adding a touch of exotic flavor to the dish.

This fruit, with its seedless exterior and distinctive, pungent aroma, is a unique delicacy. Its interior, which seems to melt and behaves as such when chilled, solidifies when heated. This attribute is what allows the fruit to grow only in the eastern region and certain parts of Old Salaria.

The combination of the delicate snow flowers and the luxurious golden fruit results in a dish that is truly a symphony on the palate. Does this not illustrate the unparalleled finesse of this culinary masterpiece?"

Tobias had already started eating it. Her white eyes widened at the same time. However, she held back her amazement by covering her mouth.

"The truest way to savor its flavor is through personal experience," declared Orwell, restraining his mug. He suggested taking small sips and then partaking in the remaining fare. Both individuals bore the same countenance, despite one's efforts at concealing it.

"It's no wonder you almost shouted earlier. Your voice was so loud that I could hear you from outside."

As a gift from the chef, another meal arrived and it turned out to be the same food that Tobias had. Despite the food having just arrived, Orwell decided to order another for himself. Upon hearing this, Tobias also called for more of the same dish.