"I tried talking to the kettle earlier and it wouldn't hiss back. Do you how disorienting that is? I kept thinking I was boiling imaginary water"

  Yuzuriha tipped her head as tried to figure out what she meant by that, while also listening to the clinking of ceramic on metal. This was followed by the faint splash of liquid being poured into them. She heard it three times in measured intervals.

  One…two…three, and done.

  Her nose twitched at the scent rising from the cup. It was earthly, rich and sweet, like something she hadn't caught whiff in a long time. It was…it was…

  'Tea!'

  There was no mistake about it, this was the aroma of tea leaves. Not the cheap ones either. These were fragrant and hand selected. And sugar. As if that wasn't enough, she went on to add milk! This mad woman!

  'Hold yourself together Yuzu, I know it's been a while since you've had one but still, hold yourself together!'

  Her lips parted just a little, the anticipation too real to disguise. Heck, she would have been drooling if she didn't keep herself in check.

  "Grace, I appreciate the thought but I really don't have the time to drink tea. I have to go to work, right now"

  "Oh, hush now. Stop fretting, Marci. There's always enough time for tea"

  Grace scolded the older sister as she continued to stir. Marcille tried to shoot back but was immediately cut off.

  "Anyway, the point is, it's all very exciting, but he still needs to calibrate the potion better. We are going to mix in a binding reagent, so it doesn't keep dampening all the things we want to hear. Oh, and don't even think about the cat. I thought she ran away but she was just lying on a sprayed blanket. Silent as a grave. Poor thing couldn't even meow, meow"

  She made cute sounds as she tried to imitate the sounds of a cat. But none of what Grace said registered in Yuzuriha's mind, all she was thinking about was that sweet liquid waiting to slide down her throat.

  The anticipation was just too much to bear. Marcille sighed as she lowered herself to take a seat, clearly, she wasn't the type to argue with people.

  "A cat now? You really need to stop testing things inside your own home. The apartment too"

  "Marci, you don't understand this yet but, that's when the results are most authentic!"

  Grace's voice began to take on a brighter tone.

  "You can't simulate a lived-in environment in a sterile lab. That's where all the good data gets lost. A real mess, real variable, real chaos—Oh, speaking of chaos, I think I lost the little vial somewhere near the bathroom, so avoid going in there for a while"

  They both took note of that, especially Yuzuriha since she was very unfamiliar with this woman, at present. There was no doubt that she was someone Yor knew, but why wasn't anything about her popping up in her memories?

  'There's no way she'd forget someone with her…personality, I sure know I wouldn't. But forget all of that because right now. It's finally time!'

  Yep, the tea was ready, she could smell its pleasant aroma making its way in her direction.

  "Here, sweetheart"

  Grace guided Yuzuriha's small hand slowly to the handle of the cup.

  "Hold it just like this, and don't worry, I cooled it a bit. Not too much. Just enough for a comfortable sip"

  "Uh, thank you very much"

  Yuzuriha offered her gratitude as she took it with both hands. The surface of the cup was warm, not hot and the weight of it told her that there wasn't much tea inside. Maybe it was half a cup full.

  'A bit disappointing but you take what you can get in life!'

  Carefully, she brought it closer to her lips then took a sip.

  'So good!'

  The first sip was divine!

  The milk danced with the tea leaves in a perfect balance of flavor. It was rich but not heavy, sweet but not cloying. It was simply perfect!

  Yuzuriha resisted the urge to scream. Her eyes fluttered shut to try and contain herself.

  In her old life, she had consumed nothing but bitter black coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, canned stimulants and sometimes pure water. There was never time to sit and enjoy something that was just…pleasant.

  The last drink she had was red wine, and that turned out to be her final.

  But now, Grace had just placed a warm cup into her hands.

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  'You would think after such a terrible experience I'd be a bit skeptical about what goes in my mouth, but I don't feel that way at all. How reckless…'

  Acknowledging her recklessness, her lips curved slowly into a genuine smile. It felt strange at first but the warmth that bloomed across her cheeks was otherworldly. She just couldn't help it.

  "Aha. Now there's a darling expression!"

  Grace leaned in closer, the older woman's breath tickled her ear.

  "That smile is going to make me cry. You are utterly precious, it quite overwhelms me"

  "Hey, stay away!"

  Yuzuriha instinctively pulled back from Grace's lowered tone. It wasn't because she was trying to be rude or anything, but there was something about that moment that made her want to pull back, but she just couldn't explain why.

  'Oh, no'

  And now, she just caused a fuss.

  The room had suddenly gone quite so she assumed they were both staring at her with confused expressions. Knowing that made her blush and lowered her head to her almost finished cup of tea.

  'This…is embarrassing. Why did I react like that?'

  Dang it, there wasn't enough time to figure that out. Fiddling her fingers around the cup, Yuzuriha recovered with the first response that came to mind.

  "The tea…it's not bad. It's delicious, I just didn't want to share it. Thank you, Aunty Grace"

  That was honestly a genuine thank you, and no, she didn't say it just because she was on the spot right now. It took a moment, but that awkward tension was dispersed the next.

  "That might be the highest praise I've heard from you. I can't—I just…I feel so happy right now!"

  Grace said that with a teary voice which confused Yuzuriha. She must have been crying, and judging by Marcille's silence, she assumed this must have been a common occurrence…or she was just as shocked as Grace.

  Oh my God!

  'What's wrong with these people? First Leo, now Grace? What kind of a person was Yor anyway?!'

  ***

  The way Yuzuriha reacted a few moments ago still lingered in her mind. Even when she tried to brush it off as nothing, it just kept creeping in.

  Yes, she understood that wasn't a proper way to treat someone who's shown you nothing but kindness so far, but what she was worried about was how she couldn't justify it.

  It definitely wasn't because she was too greedy to share, no. It just felt…familiar in a way, a very unpleasant way.

  Fortunately, while she was still conflicted by this, Grace had gone back to her normal tone of voice. The attention was still on her, but it was for a different reason this time.

  Yuzuriha heard the sounds of digging through some paper bags by the windowsill, followed by a rustle of cellophane and the faint sound of a tin lid being pried open.

  "Oh, right! Here we go. Yor dear, would you care for cookies? These are from Miss Eloise on the third floor"

  "She gave you cookies again?!"

  Marcille asked with disbelief, there was also a hint of excitement in her tone. But then again, she did jump from her chair when she said that, so she was definitely excited.

  "She owed me. I did a neighbor's visit this morning. One of her cats was acting odd. All jittery, twitchy tail, and sensitivity to sound. When I took a look at it, I recognized the problem immediately."

  Grace sighed.

  "Turns out, it brushed against one of my husband's failed potion bottles last night. The compound's still volatile. It messed with the feline's inner equilibrium. Heh, that's what it gets for breaking and entering. But I at least got cookies out of it, so eat up you two!"

  She said as she placed a cookie in the blind girl's hand. Yuzuriha immediately felt the crumbly texture and the bits of chocolate embedded in the dough. She smelled almonds and brown sugar. Clear signs that these were homemade.

  'I'd be lying if I said I'm excited to eat this. I'm really not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sweet things, but there's got to be a line somewhere'

  Yuzuriha thought with a frown.

  "Why is your house full of failed alchemy again? I get the feeling you've told me before, but I really want to hear you say it again"

  Just like Marcille, Yuzuriha was equally curious. She took a bite as she waited for an answer. The cookie crumbled perfectly in her mouth. Surprisingly, it was just good, it was homemade with love and care!

  It would be an upfront to that kind Miss's hard work if she didn't enjoy it!

  For a moment, she wanted to cry, but she didn't. She simply sat there in silence while listening to the adults talk. Well, technically she was a child and an adult at the same time…but still!

  "Well, currently I work as a teacher at Miss Bellrose's Seminary for Young Ladies of Good Standing, or Miss Bellrose's Young Ladies for short…"

  'What kind of name is that?!'

  Yuzuriha internally gawked at the name. By her understanding, it was just an all girl's school, but why was the name so long?!

  Ignoring her internal strife, Grace continued…

  "But before that, I was an Alchemist Instructor at none other than Saint Sable College before I was let go, though they call it Potioncraft these days"

  There was a brief pause after she said that. All Yuzuriha could hear was the clinking of a spoon against porcelain.

  "My beloved husband, Benedict, and I made something of a name for ourselves in the field. There were few compounds we couldn't refine though. Potions for clarity of mind, bolstering strength, inducing sleep—ah, we were terribly ambitious in our day. One of our more controversial breakthroughs involved—"

  "Alright, alright! Forget what I asked!"

  Grace was flowing when she spoke, you could even tell from her tone that she was reminiscing of the good old days, but before that could go on for any longer, Marcille suddenly interrupted her.

  She tore through her daydreaming like shredding a photo of memories into pieces. Her voice was loud and provoked. Unlike the Marcille's she's seen up till now.

  Yuzuriha didn't know what kind of relationship the Drapes had with Grace, but her response made it obvious.

  "If you insist, dear"

  "I should get going, I'm already late. Excuse me"

  Marcille declared as she made her way toward the exit. Opened the door then closed it on the way out, but not without reminding Yuzuriha of what she had to do.

  'Tell Leo not to cook until supper'

  She had to remind herself that before she had almost forgotten it completely. And with that, Grace wished Marcille luck before she departed.

  What followed was silence. A gentle, weighted, deafening silence.

  Yuzuriha didn't move for quite a bit, she hadn't even taken a second bite of the cookie on her palms. For some reason, she found it much more fitting to just stay still because…

  "...She hasn't forgotten. No matter how much she wants to"

  The atmosphere in the room had suddenly dropped. It made any sound, even as low as a heartbeat that much more audible. There was also no humor in Grace's voice. It was as though something in her had shifted.

  That moment lingered in the air like a steam that refused to rise. Then, she suddenly clapped her hands.

  "Now then!"

  With that hand clap and chirped voice, the earlier tension dissipated just like that.

  "We begin today's lesson shortly, we're already behind but we can make up for it. However, not before you finish your cookies and tea, Yor. It is an unforgivable sin to waste food after all"

  She winked, even though Yuzuriha couldn't see it, that sort of gesture seemed suitable for someone of her nature at this moment. Also, what lesson was she talking about?

  Curious, Yuzuriha decided to ask for herself, after taking a bite of the cookie and swallowing it up as quickly as possible. It left her throat dry, so she washed it down with the sweet, cooled tea.

  "What lesson is that?"