Emilie quickly finished making the sandwich and took her first bite.

  The combination of seasoned chicken and marinated steak was a fragrant, savory tangle, interwoven with the rest of the ingredients. The lettuce held little pockets of red wine vinegar and Italian dressing, which mixed with the bite of the red onion and the tangy sweetness of the banana peppers. The pepper jack cheese that Draden had chopped into small, irregular pieces was dotted throughout, promising little pockets of creamy, spicy flavor.

  She took her first bite, and the world seemed to narrow to the explosion of sensations in her mouth. The bread was the perfect vessel, its toasted exterior providing a sturdy, satisfying crunch that gave way to a soft, yielding interior that had soaked up the sauce and the juices from the filling. The meats were a duet of textures and flavors—the tender, shredded chicken with its smoky, spicy seasoning, and the richer, more robust steak with its deeper, marinated flavor.

  The vegetables provided a bright counterpoint to the savory meat. Then there were banana peppers, with their sharp tang that cut through the richness, followed by the slow, creeping spice of the pepper jack cheese that warmed her entire mouth without overwhelming it. The sauce on the bread tied it all together; the sweet, creamy herb mixture was both rich and refreshing.

  As she chewed, the qi began to flow through her body. It wasn’t a powerful surge like some of the dishes Draden had made, but it was definitely stronger than his most recent ones, which he had been toning down for them.

  “Boss,” Emilie said after a moment, her voice filled with genuine awe. “This… this is incredible. I’ve never had anything like it. It’s so many different flavors all at once, and they all just… work.”

  Alice, who had made her own sandwich right after Emilie, had been eating with a similar look of blissful concentration, and nodded vigorously. “The sauce is so good! And the peppers give it a little kick. It’s perfect.”

  Marcus grunted in agreement, his sandwich already half gone. “A fine blend of everything. Nothing overpowers the other, and the meats pair well together.”

  Coradine ate with a more analytical focus; her brow furrowed slightly. “The balance of acidity and bright, crunchy flavors is well-executed,” She noted, more to herself than anyone else. “The vinegar in the dressing cuts through the richness of the meat and mayonnaise. Clever.”

  Draden simply smiled, watching them eat. Their simple, honest enjoyment was a quiet affirmation that what he was doing mattered. For a short while, they were just a group of people sharing a meal, the looming threats of nobles and city lords pushed to the periphery by the simple, undeniable power of good food.

  After the plates were cleared, a comfortable quiet settled over the group. Emilie and Alice began the routine of cleaning up, their movements synchronized and efficient. Marcus returned to their previous working area, one of the mana crystals in hand, to resume his meticulous work on the ward arrays, his brow already furrowed in concentration.

  Coradine, however, lingered in the kitchen, watching Draden as he prepped the sandwiches for Leah and Eowin, along with another one that he would share with Emilie. It was times like this that he missed the easy-access containers from Earth. They would have been so useful to have right then.

  “Leah mentioned her mother visited her in a dream again,” He said quietly, not looking up from his work.

  Coradine’s movements stilled. “Then that means your wife is still fighting,” She said, her voice soft. “And that she must be using a special ability of some sort if she managed to dream walk two days in a row.”

  He finally looked up, his eyes meeting Coradine’s. “What does that mean? What does her using a special ability have to do with fighting?”

  Coradine sighed, leaning against the counter. “You said that she was taken because she was bestowed the title of Elven Saintess.” He nodded. “That title is not like other titles you might be familiar with. The human saint and saintess are titles bestowed by the gods. In the case of the Elves, the tree of life is the one that selects their title bearer. The holder becomes gradually attuned to the very essence of life magic. In time, it would also amplify their power, especially in healing and protection-related arts; however, that took the last few title holders well over a hundred years.”

  Draden frowned as he felt something off with the way she was talking. “Okay, I’m sensing something here. Just say it. What’s going on?”

  “The elven saintess is confined to the tree of life during that period.” Coradine refused to meet his eyes. “Your wife, Lorna, is fighting back the only way she can, by reaching out to her daughter.”

  The words hit Draden like a physical blow. A fierce, protective pride surged through him, warring with the deep, aching sorrow of her absence. Lorna wasn’t waiting passively to be rescued. She was fighting. She was still the strong, brilliant woman he had fallen in love with. The realization didn’t lessen his guilt, but it ignited a fresh fire of resolve within him. He wasn’t just fighting for a memory anymore; he was fighting to reunite with a warrior.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I need to get stronger,” He said, the words a raw whisper. “I need to fix this… my wrecked prime meridian, and get back to what I was.”

  “You will,” Coradine said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “Every meal you make, every person you heal, it’s all part of it. You’re building your own kind of power here. Just be patient.”

  Patience felt like a luxury he couldn’t afford. He nodded anyway and turned back to his work, his hands moving with a renewed, almost desperate, energy. The weight of his purpose had just gotten heavier, but somehow, his shoulders felt a little broader, a little more capable of carrying it.

  ***

  “Are you alright?” Emilie asked as they waited in line to enter the city. “You seem extra… I don’t know, focused or something at the moment. You’ve barely said anything since we left the restaurant.”

  Draden’s focus, which had been turned inward on the tangled mess of his thoughts, snapped back to the present. He blinked, realizing Emilie was looking at him with a genuine, worried frown, her steps matching his on the dusty path leading to the city gates.

  He forced a smile, one he hoped didn’t look as brittle as it felt. “Just a lot on my mind,” He admitted, gesturing vaguely with the hand not holding the bag of sandwiches. “The carts, the new window, trying to figure out what dishes will work best for a mobile setup. It’s more complicated than I thought.” It was a half-truth, but it was enough to steer her away from the deeper, darker currents of his anxiety.

  Emilie’s expression softened with understanding. “I get that. It’s a big step. But you know, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Alice and I we’re here to help. Just tell us what you need.”

  The simple sincerity in her voice was a small, steadying anchor. “I know,” He said, his voice a little rougher than he intended. “And I appreciate it. More than you know.”

  They walked the rest of the way in a comfortable silence, the distant clang of a blacksmith’s hammer and the rumble of wagon wheels growing louder as they drew closer to the city proper. The air was thick with the usual smells of a bustling town—baked bread from the different bakeries, the sharp tang of tanned leather, and the ever-present undertone of livestock.

  But today, Draden’s sharpened senses picked up something else as well, the scent of tension. Guards at the gate seemed more alert, their eyes scanning the faces in the crowd with a heightened scrutiny. Merchants spoke in hushed, hurried tones, their gazes darting about nervously. The entire city felt like it was holding its breath.

  As they neared the school, the feeling intensified. The men from the morning were gone, but their absence felt more like a temporary reprieve than a permanent retreat. Dajra was still at the gate, a formidable statue of authority, her sharp eyes missing nothing. She gave Draden a curt, almost imperceptible nod as he approached, a silent message passing between them. Stay Alert.

  The bell rang, and a moment later, the school doors burst open, releasing a torrent of chattering, laughing little kids. Leah was one of the first out, her braid already coming loose, a smudge of what looked like blue paint on her cheek. Eowin was right beside her, the two of them a whirlwind of youthful energy.

  “Daddy!” Leah launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his waist in a fierce hug.

  “Hey, sweetie,” He murmured, burying his face in her hair, the familiar scent of sunshine and strawberries a potent antidote to the day’s anxieties. He gave Eowin a brief one-armed hug as well before turning to Emilie. “Let’s not stick around here. We can eat on the way back.”

  Emilie nodded, her eyes having caught the subtle tension in the air as well. She took Eowin’s hand, and the small group quickly made their way back toward the city gates, leaving the charged atmosphere of the school behind.

  Once they were on the open road leading back to the restaurant, with the city walls shrinking behind them, Draden finally let himself relax. He found a large, flat-topped boulder under the shade of a sprawling oak tree, a good distance from the road. “Alright, who’s hungry?”

  The girls cheered, scrambling onto the rock. Draden opened his satchel and unwrapped the sandwiches, the aroma of toasted bread and herby mayonnaise instantly filling the air. He handed one to each of the girls, along with a small canteen of water.

  Leah took the sandwich with both hands, her eyes wide as she examined it closely. “It’s a chopped salad inside a bread taco!” She declared with the gravity of a seasoned food critic.

  Eowin giggled, taking a large, enthusiastic bite of her own. Her eyes immediately widened in delight. The warm, toasted crust of the bread provided a satisfying crunch, giving way to the complex and savory filling. The herby mayonnaise was creamy, and with the parsley, garlic, and basil notes, a perfect complement to the tangy red wine vinegar and Italian dressing that coated the lettuce. The tender, seasoned chicken and the robust, marinated steak offered a wonderful contrast in flavor and texture. The sharp bite of the red onion and the zesty kick of the banana peppers cut through the richness, making each bite feel fresh and exciting.

  The little bursts of spice from the pepper jack cheese were a delightful surprise that made her toes curl in her small boots. The qi flowed through her, a gentle but potent wave of energy that chased away the last of her classroom weariness and made her feel bright and bubbly.

  “It’s so crunchy and saucy at the same time!” Eowin mumbled through a full mouth, a dot of mayonnaise on her nose.

  Leah, taking her friend’s reaction as the highest form of praise, dove into her own sandwich. She let out a little hum of pure bliss, her feet kicking happily against the side of the rock. The explosion of flavors was almost overwhelming in the best possible way. Each bite was a new discovery—the savory depth of the two different meats, the crisp freshness of the vegetables, the delicious sauce, and the tangy punch from the peppers and vinegar.

  It was a chaotic symphony of tastes that somehow came together in perfect harmony. The energy from the food was stronger than the toned-down versions her father tended to serve at the restaurant when it was open. It was a vibrant, happy current that made her feel like she could run all the way home without stopping.

  “Daddy, this is the best-est messy sandwich ever!” She proclaimed, licking a stray piece of lettuce from her finger with a focused determination.

  Draden watched them, a genuine smile finally reaching his eyes. He handed the half sandwich he had prepared to Emilie, who had been observing the scene with a fond amusement. She took a bite, and her reaction was much the same as before. A quiet, appreciative closing of the eyes as the flavors and the restorative qi worked their magic.

  The peaceful moment was shattered by the sound of approaching hoofbeats and the rumble of a heavy wagon.

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