It's early in the morning, the sun has just started to rise. Mona woke up early because she couldn't sleep, so she decides to head to a bakery as soon as it opens to buy some breakfast for everyone. Fresh bread in these regions is delicious, it's far better than the hard-tack bread that she ate when she grew up. Oftentimes they'd dip it in water or soup just to make it edible. And it tasted like dirt. It barely provided any sustenance. A lot of the girls here have far prettier and curvier bodies. Must be the better access to food. Alina is quite curvy and tall and she's only a year older, I'm already 15 my body isn't going to change a lot more. Most women stop developing around this age. But then again Alina is a princess, she's got royal blood, her ancestors probably all married very pretty women, and she was served the best food available, it's kind of unfair to compare a nobody from a famine stricken region to that. But regardless of how fair it is or not, the end result still kind of sucks. I suppose it's similar for men, compare how sturdy and strong Kilian and Baldric are to Zadkiel. Then again Zad wasn't really underfed was he? He grew up in a port town, so he probably mostly ate fish. But he's also younger, he's not fully grown yet. Men can grow all the way till they're around 18. Still, he's only a little bit smaller, he looks kind of cute regardless. She heads inside the bakery and there's already a small line waiting to place their orders. There's 2 girls in front of her and a large older man. They look to be family, there's a similarity in their faces, they all have the same slightly upright noses. I'll look at the selection of bread, I don't want to be caught staring at people, they could get uncomfortable. There's lots of breads, many with nuts, seeds and even fruits visible in their crust. I don't know any of these, but they all look tasty. She overhears the conversation whilst staring at the breads.

  Back for more cupcakes are you, how is the little one doing? Yes, we can't get enough of your cupcakes, they're delicious. She's doing great, in good health. And mom's recovery is going fast, it was an easy birth compared to us she said! We're going to throw a birthday celebration soon, so we need extra cake. Well that's good to hear, you can have these cupcakes for free. Enjoy it while it lasts, they grow up so fast, seems like yesterday my boy was just a baby and now he's already helping out in the ovens, I recommend to try these grudnut buns, they were his idea. The flavour of roasted grudnuts go really well with meaty flavours. Oh so he is already trying to help the family business! We'll take 4 of them, might serve them this afternoon with some sausages. So how is he doing in school? Well, to be honest, not too well, but I'm not worried, as long as he can bake he can just take over the family business once he gets old enough. He likes to work with his hands, he's not the type to work as a scribe for a lord or something. That's good, it's more honest labour. By the way, Lisa is getting married soon! Oh really? well... The mundane conversation about their families reminds Mona of her own family. She's starting to feel sad again, she already regrets leaving the mansion. She should've just tried to sleep again.

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  The baker finally notices Mona, who is now staring at the floor. Oh sorry for the wait young lady, can I help you?

  7 grudnut buns and a loaf of haslebread.. please. She says with a soft voice. Around strangers Mona always speaks softly. The baker can just barely understand what she says.

  Coming right up. The baker packs it in a large paper bag and gives her back her change. Thank you for your purchase!

  Mona leaves with the breads and walks back, the other customers and the baker still engaged in conversation. She feeds one of the grudnut buns to her pet crow. At least I still have you. It's going to be another sad day.

  After delivering the elemental wizard to the local authorities, they decide to visit a Fortune teller. Mona and Amaru are skeptical, but the rest insist.

  First the large one, extend your palms and hold this amulet.

  Baldric takes a seat and holds the amulet. The fortune teller looks into the glass orb. I see a lot of hearty meals in your future.

  You don't need to be a fortune teller to see that, Zad says jokingly.

  Silence! I need to concentrate.

  Ooh, and I see a young lady with dark hair who will have a large impact on your life. Okay, its hazy again.

  Next! Zadkiel takes a seat. Hmm, you are a risk taker, I can tell that.

  Your future is hazy, but I can say this: you should avoid doing dangerous stunts. What a boring prediction. Anybody could've figured out those things.

  Alina is next.

  I see a lot of wealth in your future, in more than one ways, and you may have already met your future husband.

  Finally she says something exciting.

  Amaru takes a seat. Amaru, your travels will end soon.

  How did she know my name? He asks, but the lady shoos him away.

  Desdemona, takes a seat next. They all hope she will have something positive to say.

  The lady looks in the glass orb. She looks around a little then says, you will find peace from your torment. Your goals will be achieved.

  Then Kilian takes a seat.

  Kilian, you will live a long and prosperous life. But not without hardship.

  Foley doesn't want to take a seat but the others force him to.

  Foley, you will find what you're looking for eventually.

  What does that even mean? These fortune tellers are so vague no matter what they say it could be true or false.

  After paying her a larger than expected sum of money they leave.

  That night Kilian writes another letter to king Blauwald. He tells him of how they made many friends and defeated an elemental mage. How Alina seems to be doing well, and that they don’t need any extra money. Alina rarely writes to her father.