“We don’t have a lot left in the fridge. Do you want to go out to eat or do you want to eat pancakes? I can still make vegetable pancakes?”

“Big bro, you decide.”

“Maybe vegetable pancakes.”

“Then it’s decided.”

“Okay. Then we have to go out and buy more ingredients tomorrow. Make sure to remind me of that, yeah?”

We get to involve ourselves more in the cooking process.

Vegetable pancakes is as the name suggests, vegetable with pancake batter. Contrary to what you may think, it’s not a bad dish.

The premise here is salty pancake. We’re using pancake batter with eggs to create a base. Leaks, chives, carrots, and onions are tossed into the mix and stirred. Some seasoning and salt. Then the batter is poured onto a hot flat pan to be cooked till a nice brown colour. Lia loves the crunchy edges.

The down side to this was how long it took to create each piece. It had to be done individually, you couldn’t rush the process.

If you wanted, you could also add a side of minced meat. In our case, we usually sprinkle some dried baby crickets and silkworms on top. Else, we’d just spread chilli sauce, sour cream or mustard on top.

It’s good stuff.

If I knew you could cook something like this back as Shin, I would’ve tried it out with Novelle.

Lia shoved an entire piece down hirs mouth. The intermittent sounds of crunching made it all the more satisfying.

“It’s good isn’t it?”

“I didn’t know Lia liked this so much. We should make it more often.”

“Maybe add more vegetables next time?”

“Some meat too.”

“We’ll try, we’ll try.”

And so we enjoyed our lunch in that manner.

Photos of it were taken and sent to our parents to let them know what we were up to.

[“Avner, I’m free tomorrow. Can we meet up again?”]

===

“Where are you going this time around?”

“Ah, if you’re going to visit your friend in the hospital, at least bring a gift for that person.”

“No, I’m not visiting her. It’s someone else.”

I’m not visiting Lynda. It’s Lucifer. Grandma was misunderstanding.

“It’s okay, I’ll come back before dinner.”

“Can I join too?”

“I don’t suggest it.”

“Please..”

I shook my head.

“It’s a date isn’t it? With that person Novelle.”

Wish it was.

In any case, I made my way to Oala mall. Our meeting spot was going to be Ducklings.

I encountered a few angels along the way. Most of them weren’t hostile and only gave me a glance before returning to their own errands.

[You’ve been out very frequently, Avner.]

“I am. And?”

[I’m just notifying you of your actions.]

Randell then pulled up a calendar and for each day I went out by myself, a cross was marked.

Two of the seven days this week, I’ve been out.

The first cross was when I went to meet Cain.

The second would be this one today.

Speaking of Cain. He hadn’t forced me to put on the angel’s coronet since the day I rejected it. It’s suspicious when you take into account his servile nature towards the 233rd Avner who doesn’t exist in this era.

I reached Ducklings. Lucifer could be seen with a group of people. All of them had a grim coloured crown floating above their head.

[Do you have a reservation?]

The screen popped up as programmed.

I tapped no.

“It’s him!”

“Ignore the duck and just come in.”

I followed Roan’s advice. A duck popped into existence and kept babbling for me to wait outside.

“Hold on.”

Lucifer said and did something to make the duck disappear. Then another duck appeared, this time with a purple uniform.

[Thank you for coming. This way to your seat.]

It quacked.

That’s hilarious.

“Yo, it’s been a while.”

“Over here.”

Ain patted the space beside him, I noticed that Randingo was among the people gathered here today.

[That’s the strange uncle from last time. Be careful Avner.]

Ignoring Randell’s rude warning. I took a seat.

“Thanks. You’re from 7SEAS too? Radingo?” I asked.

“Itto. Tell me why this fledgling who didn’t have a system a week ago gets to join 7SEA while I don’t?” Radingo turned to the guy with a large frame.

“Ask Lucifer, not me,” Itto shrugged.

“I just felt like he’d do well. It’s called gut feeling,” Lucifer shrugged.

“Come on.. can’t you make an exception for me too?” Randingo banged the table, being considerate to make sure it didn’t disturb the other customers.

“You’re already in BLOOPEWHALE,” Ain retorted.

“That’s because I had no choice. Don’t my skills meet your standards? I was ranked 704th last year!”

“If you can take down Avner, I might consider,” Lucifer said.

I looked at her with a puzzled expression. You’re saying Radingo is weaker than me?

“You seriously lucked out, Avner. If I didn’t tell Lucifer to help you with your system activation, I don’t think you would’ve been able to join 7SEAS,” Randingo said mortifyingly.

“It isn’t just like, he’s got the skills to boot,” Raon said.

“You should’ve seen his hex. It’s a natural integration.The last time I saw someone with that sort of hex was during our fleet trip to Alohala,” said Abby.

“We should arrange another trip like that some time in the future. What do you think, Itto?” Ain asked.

“You be the judge, Lucifer.”

“Me? I’m busy every day you know?”

“Avner, put in a word for me alright? Please, please I beg you Avner. I helped you enter 7SEAS.”

“You’re being plain bothersome!” Abby tried to claw Randingo with hirs small hands.

7SEAS is a cross continental guild. It has members in different parts of the world. For Alska at least, there are 7 members, including me. It's unknown how many members there are in 7SEAS.

Randingo was apparently close to Lucifer. They were friends back in the day, both were homeschooled but met each other when they had music classes in a private tuition center. They didn't take their practice seriously of course.

“So, why did we gather today?”

Levi asked with a tired countenance. Grabbing a fry and dipping it in some special duck sauce, xe threw it into hirs mouth. Other snacks came including the plain water I opted for when the AI duck asked for my top up.

“Bonding. This is the first time we’re meeting a new team member in real life, isn’t that a cause for celebration?”

“How about this guy?”

“I’m a friend of Lucifer. What? I can’t join?”

“Randingo, you know I didn’t invite you..”

“Can’t I stop by? What are friends for.. dude..”

“What kind of friend even are you..”

“Avner, how are you so strong?”

“Ah yes, the pressing question.”

“How strong is Avner? Last time you took him to fight a behemoth UAB right?”

“He alone, got it down to half health.”

“What in the..”

“Tell us your secret!”

“Is there even a secret to it..”

“Are you born from some historical family who specializes in martial arts?!”

Ain who sat beside me knocked his shoulder against mine. Abby weaved hirs fingers together and waited in anticipation.

I paused and looked at each of them.

Ain Riverol. Male. A halberd user. Destroyer.

Abby Hawk. Elf. The detonator. Minesweeper.

Itto Teein. Male. Bastard sword user. Destroyer.

Raon Levorc. Male. The bayonet user. Destroyer.

Levi Stew. Elf. The sniper from afar. Corvette.

Lucifer Saunders. Katana user. Destroyer.

Randingo Airs. Not sure what weapon he uses. Corvette.

“I think it’s to do with my past memories.”

My memories of Avner Franc.

The seven of them each showed a different reaction.