Another world, Celeste

Thirty Six

The time right now is a little too early for the marketplace and shops to open except for one place where they open earlier for the miners - the Back Stall.

"You should've brought me along if you're going for a run."

Mint sulks on our way to get breakfast. I thought she would be more upset about me sneaking out of the inn by myself, though I did leave a note.

"Sorry, I just suddenly felt like it and I didn't want to disturb your sleep."

I leave out the part about impulsively stopping by someplace to leave something for a certain silver-haired person then continue on my morning run as though it never happened.

The closer we get to the Back Stall, Mint begins walking at a faster pace until she's far ahead of me. Even though it's my second time, I familiarly walk through the alley at my own pace until a mouthwatering smell reaches my nose and hunger strikes me. I quicken my pace. By the time I get there, the Back Stall is in the middle of busy preparation and I see Mint is already close to drooling at one particular stall stand.

"Hey Mint, don't get too close to the soup pot!"

The stall girl with the ponytail yells at Mint and tries to pull the disrupting elf away from a large pot filled to the brim with the enticing smell of boiling soup.

I'm not even surprised anymore. Mint constantly disturb me whenever I try to replicate grandmother's recipes with ingredients from this world. I couldn't push her away because she knows a lot more about food ingredients and cooking methods than Maya.

"You can wait a bit longer until they're ready to open," I speak to Mint and take out the perfect thing from my storage. "Here, you can have my drink, rose syrup with milk in a chilled bottle."

Mint unhesitatingly step back from the pot and accepts the chilled bottle from my hand. The stall girl thanked me and goes back to help with the food preparations.

Just as I'm about to sit down at an empty seat, I feel a small vibration coming from the side pocket of my running jacket. As I put my hand in after unzipping the pocket, Hovel coincidentally emerges from the opposite side of the alley.

"Blissful morning, Hovel."

Hovel halts in his steps when I give him a light-hearted morning greeting. The exhausted expression on his face is coloured with momentary surprise, his two bushy brows rise upwards when he turns his head turns at the sound of my voice. My head slightly tilts to the side, wondering why Hovel moves his gaze down at my clothes. Meanwhile, Mint doesn't seem to realise Hovel is here as she's too focused on watching the stalls while enjoying the sweet, chilled rose syrup water.

"Blissful morning to you, Iris. I almost didn't recognise you in that attire," Hovel returns my greeting as he approaches closer.

Ah, that's why.

Other than exchanging simple greetings whenever we run into each other at Kif's workshop, Hovel and I rarely interact since he's as busy as Kinai. So, he only ever sees me when I'm in my overalls. For reference, underneath my hooded light-weight running jacket, I'm wearing my new tailored shirt with a silhouette print of Archie's face on the front and a pair of running shoes.