Visiting the best bakery and chatting

Late, late, late!

Avelin Everhart ran through the cobblestone streets of Rhodogea as if the emperor himself were chasing her. Her pink hair fluttered behind her like a battle flag as she dodged pedestrians, carriages, and a rather grumpy dwarf who yelled something at her about "the youth of today."

"Sorry!"

she yelled over her shoulder, without stopping for a second.

It wasn't her fault. Well, technically it was her fault. She had overslept after staying up all night studying for the Alchemy exam. Professor Aldric was inflexible about formulas, and Avelin always confused the proportions of restoration elixirs with those of transformation elixirs.

"I should have skipped the advanced potions section and studied only the basic transmutations,"

she lamented mentally as her feet pounded the pavement at a frantic pace.

As she passed the blacksmith's workshop, a burly man with arms like tree trunks looked up from his anvil.

"Good morning, Miss Avelin!"

he greeted her with a huge smile, waving his hammer in the air.

"Good morning, Mr. Gareth!"

she replied without slowing down, raising a hand in a hurried greeting.

She had barely turned the corner when she heard the blacksmith's deep voice talking to someone:

"That's Avelin Everhart, you know? She studies at the prestigious Luminaris Academy. A very sweet girl, although she's always running late everywhere she goes."

Avelin felt her cheeks flush.

"Great. Now my reputation for being late is known throughout the neighborhood,"

she thought with a mixture of embarrassment and resignation.

She continued down the main avenue, passing the fountain in the square where a group of children were playing in the water. A green-haired elf woman, who was sitting on a nearby bench knitting something colorful, looked up as she passed by.

"Avelin, dear! Late again!"

"Don't remind me, Mrs. Elentari!"

Avelin groaned, without stopping running.

The elf woman laughed softly and turned to her companion on the bench, a dwarf with chubby cheeks.

"She's a student at the Luminaris Academy, you know?"

the elf remarked proudly, as if Avelin were her own niece.

"Always so busy with her studies. Such a dedicated girl."

"The Luminaris Academy?"

repeated the dwarf, impressed.

"Wow, that's one of the best institutions in the empire. She must be very intelligent."

Avelin, who overheard part of the conversation thanks to her keen ears (the blessing and curse of having good hearing), felt a silly smile spread across her face despite her panic.

"At least they think I'm smart. If they only knew I almost failed Alchemy last semester..."

She turned down another street, this one narrower and flanked by shops of all kinds. The aroma of freshly baked bread hit her senses like a punch of pure happiness.

There it was.

The Golden Dawn Bakery stood before her like an oasis in the desert. It was a small, cozy building with light stone walls decorated with white flowering vines. The carved wooden sign showed a radiant sun surrounded by ears of golden wheat.

Avelin practically crashed into the front door, pushing it harder than necessary. A bell jingled cheerfully, announcing her arrival.

"Good morning!"

she exclaimed, panting as if she had just run a marathon (which, technically, she had).

Behind the counter, a middle-aged man with a warm smile and a flour-covered apron looked up.

"Avelin! Good morning, young lady. You're just in time, we just took the last batch out of the oven."

Avelin put a hand to her chest, still trying to catch her breath.

"Thank goodness... Mr. Aldwin... I thought... I'd be late..."

The baker laughed heartily.

"You're never late for bread, that's for sure. The usual?"

"Please,"

she nodded fervently.

"A bag of bread. The cinnamon rolls, the honey braids, and... oh, do you have any of those apple pies left?"

"I have three left,"

confirmed Mr. Aldwin, already moving nimbly to pack the bread into a cloth bag.

"I'll give you all of them. I know they're your favorites."

Avelin watched him work, her mouth practically watering. Golden Dawn bread was, without exaggeration, the best bread in the world. It wasn't just a personal opinion; it was a scientific fact, a universal truth engraved in the stars.

The cinnamon rolls were fluffy and perfectly sweet, with a glaze that melted on the tongue. The honey braids had that crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside texture that was almost sinful. And the apple turnovers... sigh... they were little pieces of paradise wrapped in flaky pastry.

Mr. Aldwin handed her the bag, which gave off a comforting warmth and a heavenly aroma.

"Here you are, young lady. Fourteen silver coins."

Avelin smiled from ear to ear, reaching into her...

Her pocket.

Her empty pocket.

The smile froze on her face.

She searched the other pocket. Nothing.

"Avelin?"

"Just... just a moment,"

he stammered, frantically patting his waist, the pockets of his uniform, even shaking his skirt just in case.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Her wallet was gone.

Panic hit her like a bucket of cold water.

"I... I had my wallet a moment ago,"

she murmured, her eyes wide.

"Mr. Aldwin, I... I'm so sorry, I think..."

And then she remembered.

The collision.

That girl he had collided with on the street. Avelin had been in such a hurry, so focused on getting there on time, that she had barely noticed her. She only remembered helping her up, apologizing, and running away.

She must have dropped it there.

"Oh, no!"

she groaned, putting her hands to her head.

"Mr. Aldwin, I'm so sorry. I think I lost my wallet on the way. I... Can I come back later with the money? I promise! I'll pay you back with interest!"

The baker sighed, and his expression grew more serious.

"I'm sorry, Avelin,"

he said with genuine regret.

"I'd like to help you, I really would, but it's store policy. I can't let merchandise go without payment. The owner is very strict about that."

Avelin felt her heart sink. She looked longingly at the bag of bread on the counter, as if she were watching her last hope for happiness slip away.

"I understand..."

she murmured, lowering her head in resignation.

"Don't worry, Mr. Aldwin. It's not your fault. I should have been more careful."

With slumped shoulders and a broken heart (and a rumbling stomach), she turned toward the door.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang just as Avelin was about to leave.

A figure entered the bakery. It was a girl wearing a robe and a hood that hid most of her face. Avelin could barely make out her features in the shadow cast by the fabric.

Avelin recognized her immediately by her robe.

"It's her! The girl I bumped into!"

she thought, feeling a spark of hope.

"Excuse me!"

Avelin exclaimed, quickly approaching the newcomer.

"Did you... happen to see a wallet? We bumped into each other a little while ago and I..."

She couldn't finish her sentence.

The hooded girl, without saying a word, held out her arm toward her.

In her hand, shining under the warm light of the bakery, was her wallet.

Avelin stared at it, her eyes wide.

"My wallet!"

she cried, taking it with both hands as if it were the most precious treasure in the universe.

She frantically opened it, checking the contents. The gold and silver coins were still there. Everything was complete. Not a single coin was missing.

"It's... it's all here..."

she murmured, incredulous.

She looked up at the hooded girl.

Now that she was closer, she could notice some details: she was shorter than her, quite a bit shorter in fact. And although the hood still hid most of her face, Avelin could make out a few strands of blonde hair peeking out from under the fabric.

"Thank you so much!"

exclaimed Avelin, with a smile so bright it could have lit up the entire bakery.

"Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me! I thought I had lost her forever and... you are my savior!"

Her smile was genuine, radiant, full of relief and gratitude. Her amber eyes sparkled with a warmth that seemed to envelop anyone who looked at her.

Anthea, from the shadow of her hood, couldn't help but stare at that smile.

"It's... very pretty,"

she thought, feeling a slight warmth rise to her cheeks.

"Too pretty. Why is she smiling like that? It's just a wallet. It's the right thing to do. Anyone would have done it..."

But even as she tried to rationalize, her heart beat a little faster.

"Get a grip, Anthea. You're an immortal princess. Behave with dignity,"

she scolded herself mentally.

However, she couldn't take her eyes off that smile for a second longer than was socially acceptable.

Avelin quickly turned to Mr. Aldwin, pulling some coins from her newly recovered wallet.

"Fourteen silver coins, right?"

she said, handing them to the baker with a smile.

Mr. Aldwin nodded, handing her the bag of bread.

"Enjoy your breakfast, Avelin."

Avelin took the bag reverently, then turned to Anthea. Her amber eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Wait!"

she exclaimed, taking a step toward the hooded girl.

"You have to let me buy you something. As a thank you. Please! At least let me share some bread with you."

Anthea blinked, surprised.

"No... that's not necessary,"

she said softly, trying to sound casual.

"I just did the right thing. You don't have to thank me."

But Avelin wasn't going to take no for an answer. She took another step forward, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Please! You saved me from a terrible day. Without my wallet, I wouldn't have been able to eat anything, and I have an exam in two hours. If it weren't for you, I'd be starving and my brain would be fried."

She paused dramatically.

"Besides, the bread at Golden Dawn is incredible. It would be a crime not to share it with my savior."

Anthea felt a smile threatening to form under her hood. This girl was... persistent. And strangely charming.

"It's just bread,"

she reminded herself.

"There's nothing wrong with accepting. I'm here to meet ordinary people. This is... research."

Sighing softly, she nodded.

"All right,"

she murmured.

"I accept."

"Yes!"

Avelin practically jumped for joy, and before Anthea could react, he took her by the hand (ignoring the princess's slight start) and dragged her toward the exit.

"Thank you, Mr. Aldwin! See you tomorrow!"

"Goodbye, Avelin!"

the baker laughed, clearly accustomed to the girl's energy.

Once outside, Avelin led Anthea to a small stone bench next to the fountain that adorned the nearby square. The water bubbled gently, creating a soothing sound that contrasted with the hustle and bustle of the city.

Avelin sat down and patted the space next to her enthusiastically.

"Sit down, sit down!"

Anthea obeyed, a little uncertainly. She wasn't used to people treating her with such... familiarity. It was refreshing, in a strange way.

Avelin opened the bag of bread and took out one of the cinnamon rolls, carefully breaking it in half. The icing stretched into sweet, shiny threads. She offered one half to Anthea.

"Here. Get ready to taste paradise."

Anthea took the piece of bread carefully. Through the shadow of her hood, she looked at the cinnamon roll. It looked delicious, she had to admit.

She brought it to her mouth and took a small bite.

The flavor exploded on her tongue.

It was... spectacular. Soft, sweet, with just the right amount of cinnamon and a glaze that melted like silk. It was simple, but there was something about the freshness and warmth that made it feel like a hug.

"Wow,"

he thought, unable to contain his surprise.

"This is really good."

Avelin looked at her with a smile from ear to ear.

"Right? I told you it was the best bread in the world!"

Anthea nodded, allowing herself another bite.

"It's... very good,"

she admitted, her voice soft.

Avelin laughed, and the sound was warm and musical.

"I'm glad you like it. By the way..."

She turned slightly toward her, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Avelin. Avelin Everhart."

Anthea was silent for a moment. Then, carefully, she replied,

"Anthea."

Avelin waited, as if anticipating that she would add a last name.

But Anthea didn't.

"Just... Anthea,"

she added, keeping her tone neutral.

Avelin blinked, but then smiled.

"That's fine. Anthea. It's a pretty name."

"Thank you."

They fell silent for a moment, eating bread and enjoying the atmosphere of the square. But Avelin, as Anthea was beginning to learn, was not someone who could stay quiet for long.

"This has been amazing,"

Avelin said with a sigh, finishing her half of the cinnamon roll.

"I'd love to keep chatting with you, Anthea, but..."

She glanced up at the sun, which was now higher in the sky, and her expression filled with panic.

"Oh, no! I have to go to class!"

Anthea looked up, intrigued.

"Class?"

she asked, with genuine interest.

"Where do you study?"

Avelin looked at her, surprised that she didn't know.

"At the Luminaris Academy,"

she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You know, the academy on the other side of town."

Anthea frowned slightly under her hood.

"The... Luminaris Academy?"

she repeated, sounding confused.

"What kind of academy is it?"

Avelin stared at her for a moment, her eyes wide.

"Oh,"

she thought.

"She doesn't know. Is she... foreign?"

"Ah, are you from outside the principality?"

Avelin asked with understanding, nodding to herself.

"That makes sense. Well, let me explain."

She straightened up a little, clearly proud.

"The Luminaris Academy is the best educational institution in the Principality of Rosengard. They teach everything: alchemy, elemental magic, history, military strategy, diplomacy... It's one of the best academies in the entire Great Zerathrax Empire."

Anthea listened intently, absorbing every word.

Avelin continued:

"In fact, we would be ranked number one in the empire if it weren't for the academy in the Principality of Svartholm recently earning a higher score in the imperial evaluations."

She sighed, as if it were a personal tragedy.

"But it was only by a very small margin. Next year, I'm sure we'll regain first place."

"Svartholm?"

Anthea made a mental note of that name.

"Interesting. So there's competition between the principalities for academic excellence. That's... well, I suppose. It means my territory takes education seriously."

"I see,"

Anthea murmured thoughtfully.

"It must be a great academy, then."

"It is!"

Avelin affirmed enthusiastically.

"Although it can be exhausting at times."

She laughed nervously.

"Like today, with my Alchemy exam..."

Her eyes widened.

"The exam!"

She jumped up, hurriedly putting the rest of the bread in her bag.

"I have to go! Sorry, Anthea!"