Training with Lunaluz was exhausting and demanding at unequal levels. Although the guardian was a more patient teacher than Ead, not everything was as simple as materializing his energy. Unlike making them evolve, something that he accomplished on several occasions without concentrating, making magic required a more significant effort in his case. After all, he should not only continue to give strength to the elthean but focus on the spell he wanted to do for himself and control that his energy did not overcharge them.

Because, if there was one good thing about being considered a magical generator, it was of not fearing to get exhausted, but instead overloaded. Therefore, the teachings focused on control, discipline and knowing how to be clear with his intentions. After all, there were several ways to make magic, some of which found references in the book, but it would not succeed in any if Finnian continued in that state.

While he practised, the rest of the elthean did the same thing, getting used to their new abilities because even at their Beginner level, they were still finding out their limits. In the end, when it was time to eat, he found that the elthean and humans were not so different, at least when practising to strengthen themselves.

“Is this headache normal?” Finnian said, trying to contain a snout.

“Well, that means you’ve worked hard,” Lunaluz said, saying a slight smile. “Eating and resting will help you to recover.”

Something that was waiting for hours, especially since breakfast was so early and with all the extra work. However, after filling his stomach, the following revelation came with something more of cleaning the dishes, just as he did in his own home. The idea of preparing dinner was not unknown to him, as he helped what he could to his parents, and he did the same since arriving at Elthea. He learned from his partners and adapted to the circumstances, showing gratitude for having something to eat. The alasdair provision’s lasted for several days; with what they acquired in the sanctuary and along the way, they managed to reach Galya without starving. But as they admitted, once they left, they would not be so lucky.

“That’s why you must learn to use something more than what you have around,” Lunaluz said.

And she talked about cooking, but something else too. In Elthea there was what they called Biadhe, which was considered food, but also the process of making aliments that were nutritious first and foremost. This was a common thing, although the methods of preparing biadhe were as varied as the effects on this, being compared with different cuisine styles according to the countries.

The speciality of the Galya was bread and buns filled with fruit, vegetable and meat, but sauces and smoothies that would replenish the energy of anyone with a drink.

“This is like learning to cook again,” Finnian babbled, “although using magic on this occasion.”

In addition to an ingredient similar to a condiment, they would only complete the biadhe process with a few very concrete words. The great secret was rarely revealed, being considered as valuable as gold, water or power. Although Finnian didn’t know much about the art of cooking, he assumed it was what it meant to look for a recipe and perfect it to the desired effect. They would have some advantage in that Lunaluz shared the Galya’s secret, and it would not be one that would reveal to anyone.

From practising magic to cooking was a pretty radical change, although none of those present was surprised. After all, they had already talked about potions and other similar remedies, something that would not take long to tackle while they were there.

“I have left you a list of what you should bring from the market. Ailfryd and I have already given instructions to provide it to you, but come only with what is written,” Lunaluz said.

And that was another way to get him involved with this world, rather than giving him everything done. Leaving the cabin, they soon experienced how active the middle area was, just like in the morning. His presence raised the interest of the elthean, causing more than one to not stop watching them, filling their curiosity about that Signer and his three partners. However, not all of them were like this, as two sharp voices caught their attention.

“You have finally arrived!”

“Aer, Rune, Ailfryd asked us to wait for you!”

The two smallest elthean he had seen to date were looking for them, greeting them among all who entered the market. The first one resembled a kitten of golden fur, with white wings on his back of similar size, which stirred hard to stay suspended in the air. Katsumi was called the elthean, releasing such energy that she would deplete anyone. Beside her was Meir, a little bear with copper fur waving one of his paws, imitating his companion and ignoring all those who looked at them.

“How much you have grown!” Aer exclaimed as he approached them.

“Of course, what did you expect?” Meir replied.

“We want to be as strong as Rune and you,” Katsumi added.

They were their friends or something like that. Aer and Rune went a few grades above those of the little ones, and sometimes they even became babysitters when the adults had other tasks. The elthean age was a detail that was not overlooked so far, even though it made a lot of sense. In that way, he found out that Rune was a year older than those present, with Aer and Leith having the same as him.

“Ailfryd asked us to guide you around the market,” Katsumi said, walking as gracefully as she talks as only a feline could do.

And even though they call it a market, it would have been better to define it as a commercial area. There were also houses, those who used the bottom of the workshops as a store. There they found stands and shops of the most various things. They sold food, of course, but also fabric, materials for making garments and much more. On the other hand, they found armouries, herbalists, healers and other businesses that gave life to the forest. He only appreciated a couple of bookstores, places Finnian would have loved to visit at that moment of not having another task in hand.

The fruit was straightforward, although he didn’t think the same while carrying it. Ailfryd’s orders said their tiny guides, but he quickly realized that all that task had to do with something more than teaching him to cook.

“What is this about?” Finnian murmured.

“Strengthen you. What else could it be” Ead said

His effort should not be just mental but physical. For the energy he harboured inside, if his body did not possess the necessary strength, he would experience the same condition as when they faced Ailfryd, or even worse. And it’s not that he had all the time in the world to acclimatize.

After picking up what would become his dinner, they were rights to the herbalist. There he received a package of an elthean as human as he was, but with green eyes so pure that he wondered if it was the work of his magic or her.

“A set of…” he began to say Finnian, reading the label.

“Herbalist and alchemy, yes,” she replied.

Because they were similar, but not. Musidora (that was her name) opened the package, showing what was included. For a herbalist, picking plants was almost as important as storing them, so he found reinforced gloves, a knife, scissors, mortar, salt and purified water. In addition, it included a small bag to store the most common herbs and a set of vials, along with a small cauldron and a glass rod in which to prepare potions.

“This is the basic kit, the same one we use in class,” Aer explained.

What could be considered more at their disposal, even if it was best, to begin with. If he felt bored at school, partly because his subjects didn’t just stimulate him, but weren’t too complicated either, things there gave him an exciting turn. And even though Ead did not want to reveal it, they had prepared a summary of what he should do while in the Galya. Could his brain store that knowledge?

“It’s not that complicated, especially since we know a lot of those things by heart,” Rune added.

“And there’s always something new to learn,” Leith said.

After all, the dragon was almost as an outsider as he was. She had never been there but soon explained to them, with Katsumi and Meir climbing on her back, that they also had their teaching methods, beyond learning to keep a flame or fly in the clans.

However, the last stop would be not on foot from the Galya forest but on its heights. In addition to stairs, they had an elevator, which allowed them to reach the upper levels, where the city had characteristics quite similar to those of the ground. With large wooden surfaces, they ranged from houses to schools, some of the inns, the observatories, armouries used by the guards and even large water containers extracted from the rain.

“Be for potions or cooking, the purest, the better,” Aer assured him.

“Taste is noticeable!” Katsumi added, flying to climb on his shoulder.

“Why do I feel you like the views you have there?” Finnian said, pointing to the little one on his shoulder.

“Something good has to serve your height, don’t you think?” Rune said.

Although he was not entirely off track, he supposed it was his way of reminding them that they were there. Elthea could be full of dangers, but what other world was exempt from them? In addition, he was learning to move around this, even when not a crystal ball assured him of finding out what they would find outside that magical forest. Thus, after an hour that proved eternal, they returned to the cabin, just as Lunaluz waited for them to continue their prompt instruction.

Cooking with magic was similar to making potions. Aer, Rune and even Leith were more skilled than him being a shot worth of admiration. None of them had hands like him, but they were skilful at handling food, just as they were camping. Sometimes they used their magic, being one more tool at their disposal, but as a rule, it was the talent that each of them had.

“Why does it surprise you so much when we have been teaching you these days?” Rune said, rolling his gaze.

That night they had a meat and vegetable pattie for dinner and a fruit smoothie as a dessert, all with a touch of special magic. The secret of the biadhe was adding a bit of the condiment in the preparation, plus the correct spell incantation with an evident intention.

They wanted to get something nutritious for their organisms with the main course, which helped them recover from the last days’ effort. On the other hand, as colourful as the fruits they used, the dessert smoothie sought to help them rest.

“There are many ways to start it,” Ead said, overseeing everything.

Words had power, just like symbols or even gestures, but also what was sought would change everything. Knowledge was power, but one’s magical ability influenced many aspects, including evolution.

“There are elthean who may evolve in a wrong way when exposed to negativity,” added Lunaluz.

“And now that both Calamity and Eroder are making things worst, chaos is growing even more,” Ailfryd said.

As in the Forest of Ellery, Finnian thought. But that was an issue that they couldn’t worry about at the moment. Regardless of how delicious each dish was, perhaps because of its participation, it did not initially perceive any difference or its effects. Or so it was until he could relax, several minutes later.

“Even so, it’s like one more meal,” Finnian admitted.

“With a magical push,” Aer said, raising his shoulders. “When travelling, you will be thankful to eat something that gives you energy without wasting much time.”

Because, as things had gone, they would not have an easy time outside.