Once we were home, I darted straight to the kitchen and got started on dinner. I made pate as the appetizer and while everyone did get some, I had to keep an eye on it because Kanna would try to grab more than her share.


    Other than that, everything was fine.


    Madelyn: "I tidied up the living room like you asked."


    Steven: "Thanks, Madelyn, I''ll make sure you eat well tonight."


    Madelyn: "I''ll hold you to that, Chef!"


    Kanna entered and her pleading eyes were telling me that she wanted even more pate.


    Steven: "Sorry, Kanna, I can''t make any more pate. I need enough salmon to feed everyone."


    She stands behind me and embraces me.


    Kanna: "I love you…"


    No way…


    When my mom said "food is the fastest way to one''s heart," she wasn''t kidding.


    Madelyn: "I''mma leave… I feel like a third wheel here."


    Steven: "I love you too."


    Kanna: "Can I help?"


    Steven: "Of course, uh, you know how to make the salsa?"


    Kanna: "Toss together the oranges, avocado, red onion, cilantro and lime juice?"


    Steven: "That''s perfect, Kanna."


    Kanna: "Is that all?"


    Steven: "Yeah, this is an easy dish, so we''re not going to cook for hours."


    Joan curiously comes into the kitchen.


    Steven: "Hey, Joan."


    She stands next to me, peeks over the counter, and watches me as I cook.


    Steven: "Do you like fish?"


    She nods.


    Joan: (SL) "What kind of fish are you using?"


    Steven: "Salmon. Did you need anything?"


    Joan: (SL) "I wanted to know how you do it."


    Steven: "Do you want to watch us cook? I don''t mind getting a stool you could sit on."


    Joan: (SL) "When is mama coming to visit?"


    Mama?


    Visit?


    She could only be talking about one person in particular.


    Steven: "You mean Rayna?"


    She nods.


    Steven: "Why would you think she''s your mama?"


    Joan: (SL) "You both saved me and gave me a home."


    Steven: "Well, you''ll be surprised to know that she''s visiting today."


    Joan: (SL) "She is?"


    Steven: "That''s right, apparently they figured out a better way to travel without having to—"


    I don''t want to tell Joan that we cut ourselves just to use blood magic.


    Steven: "Without putting themselves at a huge risk. I don''t know how exactly they figured it out, but mama did."


    As we were talking about her, I heard the bell to the front ring. There was a good chance it could be her and even Joan was looking in that direction.


    Steven: "I think that''s her, Joan. Go check it out if you want to."


    Her smile grew widely and she excitedly runs to the front, leaving me in the wind.


    Steven: "She''s excited."


    Kanna: "What did she say in sign language?"


    Steven: "She asked if Rayna was coming."


    Kanna: "Rayna is her mom?"


    Kanna: "That''s good."


    Steven: "You''re not upset over it?"


    Kanna: "No, I told you I''m too young to be a parent. I want to be an older sister, kind of how Madelyn is to you."


    Steven: "Madelyn is a perfect blend of helpful and annoying. You have to strike that balance if you want to be an older sister."


    Kanna: "Is she annoying? How?"


    Steven: "Did you forget that time she tackled me to the floor and wouldn''t let me go? Or that time she stole my glass of lemonade?"


    Kanna: "Isn''t that—oh, I see what you mean about being annoying."


    She brings over the salsa she tossed together and places it I''m front of me.


    Kanna: "How''s this?"


    Steven: "That''s perfect. When did you learn to cook?"


    Kanna: "I just mixed the ingredients together. It''s similar to alchemy."


    Steven: "You just mix things in Alchemy?"


    Kanna: "Well, yeah… cooking is Alchemy but without the magic."


    I''m sure they''re completely different things. Otherwise Yuuna wouldn''t be needing all her specialized tools.


    Steven: "How good are you at alchemy now?"


    Kanna: "I''m still ranked as an Apprentice."


    Steven: "I didn''t know there were ranks."


    Kanna: "There are, my mom is called a "Master," and there would be titles too, but mom prefers her name."


    Steven: "Even though she gives everyone a nickname?"


    Kanna: "Yeah, that''s how it is. I''d like to have a title though."


    Steven: "Atelier Kanna of The Mysterious Servant." [1]


    Kanna: "What?"


    Steven: "What?"


    Kanna: "What did you just say about me?"


    Steven: "What did I say?"


    Kanna: "You said—! Nevermind."


    ...


    Authors Notes:


    [1] - "Atelier Kanna of The Mysterious Servant" is a reference to the Atelier series, a franchise of RPG games developed by Gust Corporation.