Forty-one

Eloise, equally perplexed by the mysterious food before them, furrowed her brow in confusion. She couldn't decipher its origins or potential consequences, but something about it gave her an instinctual warning. She turned to her sister Mia, who shared the same bewildered expression, and whispered back, her voice barely audible, "I don't know, but it looks like if we eat it, we'll die." Her voice carried a cautious tone, tinged with uncertainty.

Little did they know, as they hesitated over the peculiar dish, Alana, a powerful demon, emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron—an unusual sight for a being of her stature. Spotting the perplexed sisters, she decided to address their concerns, curious about their reaction to her cooking. With a mischievous undertone, she approached them and explained, "Today, I'm the one who cooked. So, eating my food is typical of demons."

Eloise exchanged glances with Mia, uncertainty etched on their faces. They were aware of Alana's abilities and reputation, and her words only added to the enigma surrounding the dish. However, their mother, Lucy, noticed their hesitation and empathized with Alana's desires. She leaned closer to her daughters, her voice filled with understanding and empathy, and whispered, "Yes, I know, but she wanted to make food so badly that I left her. Now, we have to eat, or she will be disappointed."

Summoning their courage, Eloise, Mia, and Lucy each took a spoonful of Alana's creation, hesitantly bringing it closer to their mouths. Only Eloise mustered the bravery to take a bite, her taste buds met with an unexpected delight. The flavors exploded in her mouth, a harmonious blend of sweet and savory that she had never experienced before.

"Oh, that's strangely good," Eloise exclaimed, surprise and pleasure evident in her voice. Encouraged by her sister's response, Mia and Lucy cautiously took a bite as well. However, their reactions were less favorable, their faces turning an alarming shade of green.

"Liar! It's not good at all! What are you saying?" Mia protested, disappointment and mild disgust seeping into her voice.

Lucy chimed in, her voice tinged with a hint of nausea, "How do you eat that?"

Undeterred by their negative experiences, Eloise offered a glimmer of hope. With optimism brimming in her voice, she suggested, "If we imagine it's good, we can eat it."

Mia, willing to give it another try, agreed. "Well, let's imagine it then," she resolved, determination clear in her voice.

After the meal, Eloise mustered the courage to approach Alana once more, eager to discuss her own aspirations. "Master, can I ask you something?" she inquired, her voice laced with eagerness.

Alana, ever patient, replied, "Yes, of course. What is it, Eloise?"

Taking a deep breath, Eloise expressed her desire with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "I want to build a restaurant. Can we or rather, can I?"

Alana's response was swift and supportive, leaving no room for doubt. "Yes, don't worry. I'll leave you to it. I've got work to do. But if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me," she reassured Eloise, her voice brimming with encouragement.

Filled with gratitude, Eloise thanked her master. "Yes, thank you," she replied, her voice tinged with excitement and determination.

Eloise sought out Mia, eager to share the news. "Well, first, we have to draw the plans, and then we'll go and buy the materials," she informed her sister, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Mia nodded, though a hint of doubt lingered in her eyes. "Yes, but do you know how to do the construction?" she questioned, concern coloring her voice.

Eloise's confidence remained unwavering. "Not really, but I'm sure we'll manage. Don't worry," she reassured Mia, her voice brimming with determination and optimism.

As they set about their plans, hours passed in a whirlwind of activity. Sheets of paper covered every surface, turning their workspace into a maze of sketches and ideas. Mia, buried under a mountain of paper, called out to her sister for help.

"Mia, where are you? I can't see you anymore," Eloise exclaimed, concern lacing her voice.

Muffled by the layers of paper, Mia's voice emerged. "Help me! I'm under the mountain of paper," she pleaded, a mix of amusement and frustration coloring her words.

Rushing to her sister's aid, Eloise extended her hand to pull Mia free from the paper prison. Finally liberated, Mia shared one of their hastily drawn plans, its simplicity evident.

Amidst the chaos of scattered papers, Mia managed to locate a particular sketch. Excitedly, she held it up for Eloise to see.

"Well, with all that going on, look at this one," Mia exclaimed, enthusiasm evident in her voice.

Eloise examined the sketch, depicting a simple house with a rectangular shape, a triangular roof, and a single window. She couldn't help but chuckle at the design's simplicity. "It looks more like a house than anything else," she remarked, amusement lacing her voice.

Mia, still basking in her youthful innocence, defended her artistic abilities. "I'm only 7, and you thought I was an architect or something like that," she responded playfully. "We need to find someone who can help us."

Agreeing with her sister's point, Eloise nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities. "Yes, you're right. I might know someone who can help us," she said thoughtfully, determination evident in her voice.

Meanwhile, as classes had just finished, Naoka felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The day had been long and draining, but now she could finally head home and collapse into a well-deserved sleep. As she made her way through the bustling corridors, her mind wandered, already imagining the comfort of her bed.

Suddenly, a figure clad in a hooded cloak approached Naoka with swift, purposeful strides. Before she could react, the stranger swiftly placed a bag over her head, obscuring her vision and muffling her cries for help. Panic surged through Naoka's veins, her heart pounding in her chest. Thoughts raced through her mind, contemplating the worst possible scenarios.

After what felt like an eternity, the kidnapper came to a halt, the abrupt stop jolting Naoka forward. Her captor removed the bag from her head, and as Naoka's vision cleared, she was stunned to find herself face-to-face with Eloise. Confusion and disbelief washed over her, blending with the lingering fear from the traumatic experience.

"Mia, I told you to go easy on her," Eloise scolded, a mix of annoyance and concern evident in her voice. Mia, now revealed as the hooded figure, removed her own hood, seemingly taken aback by the turn of events.