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Chapter 182 - Ralsij Stew

"The time for my return has been hastened." Aurelion Sol, The Star Forger

The chapters continue.

Drop a comment. Did you enjoy the previous chapter? I had to write it while imagining how they would look later in their years.

No chapter tomorrow, I will be out with a friend.

 I won't be taking a break on Tuesday to make up for this.

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Unlike before no one came running to him, but they all craned their necks in his direction. He smiled and waved at them. "I'm back!"

"Hello!" Briar waved back. "What did you bring back?"

"Ralsij." Gregori said as he carried the sack to the kitchen. "We will be having it stewed."

Rell followed and as she entered the kitchen, her magic began to flare as the knives began to rise.

He pulled out the meat from the bag and laid it on the table. "I can do it myself you know." He tilted his head in her direction.

"I know." She nodded then turned to the meat. "But I want to help."

Gregori smiled, "I'd appreciate that."

The knives began to slowly cut through the meat and cut them into bite sized pieces. 

"That's enough." He said as he moved the rest of the meat back into the bag. "We can salt this and have it cured for later."

Rell nodded and waited for the next instruction.

"Wait." Gregori instructed as picked up the pieces and put them in a large bucket and carried it outside with a spread of vegetables he had sourced from the area and some he had grown himself.

Daani looked at the meat from his position, "Where did you find a Ralsij from dad? Don't they live far in the desert?"

"Yes." Gregori nodded. "They do. But I spotted one near a watering hole and decided that it would be our meal for a few days.

Ralsij were cow like creatures that lived in Shurima. The only difference between them and normal cows were their height and legs. Ralsij were taller and their legs were abnormally thin. Looking past the physical appearances did not make them any easier to handle as they were inherently more violent than normal cows.

Daani frowned at his words and then accepted it. He didn't believe that his father could have found the animal nearby but he decided to let it go. There was no point in trying to confront him for something like this.

"Stew?" Willa asked as he walked outside, bucket in hand.

"Yeah." He nodded, "Should go very well with the bread you baked for us."

"Salt?" She asked.

"Bought it from a travelling merchant." Gregori said, "Should last us a while."

Willa looked at him in surprise, "Thought of everything have you?"

He shrugged, "I've gotten used to it."

A quick wash of the meat and vegetables in the stream he carried them back in and filled up a pot of water. He set the pot onto of the clay stove and turned around.

"Annie?" He called.

"Done." She called back as a steady flame grew from the clay stove.

"She doesn't need to look at it anymore." Rell commented. "Let me try that." She then turned away from the cutting board and let her knives chop the vegetables.

"No!" Gregori sighed as he pointed behind.

Rell smiled, "The vegetables are being cut don't worry."

"They are." Gregori nodded. "But give them a look."

She turned around. "Ah..." She exclaimed.

The vegetables were cut all over the place with no evenness throughout.

"Try to cut them evenly. Helps them all cook at the same time." He said as he slid the meat into the pot and let it boil.

He then lifted the rest of the meat and carried it into the storage space outside. A breeze of chill air escaped it as he opened the door. He salted the meat and then hung it up. Reaching past some of the produce stored there, he pulled out a block of fat he had collected off meats previously and carried it inside.

Cutting off a piece of the solidified fat, he threw it into the pot with the meat. He took a spoon and removed the scum that floated up as the meat cooked.

After a nearly an hour of boiling, he carefully removed the meat and then added the vegetables and let it cook for an hour in the water and fat, while adding a few spices to it.

Then the meat went back in for another hour with salt and pepper.

Taking the bread Willa had made, he placed it near the stove, letting the residual heat warm it up.

A taste test later, he waved and lifted the the whole pot and brought it to the main room where the children were lazing about. Another wave later, bowls carved out of wood flew outside and arranged itself in front of each child. Two others were left for him and Willa.

"Would you like to eat outside?" He called out to Willa.

She answered, "No. It is too cold."

Gregori nodded and then used a ladle to pour out the stew in each bowl.

The bread which was heated next to the stove flew toward him and then split itself into equal pieces and laid itself in front of everyone.

Willa hobbled in and sat in a rocking chair.

"You'll eat on that?" Gregori asked.

She grinned, "At my age I am allowed a few concessions."

"Fine." He replied as he handed her the bowl.

He looked at the kids who were gorging themselves on the food, "How is it?"

"AMAZING!" Briar exclaimed as she gave him a thumbs up.

He smiled at her energetic response.

"Very nice." Daani said.

"Tasty!" Replied Annie and Daisy. Though that was all the replied to everything he had ever cooked. At some point he had begun to wonder if they were genuinely enjoying the food he made or were just playing with him. But the smiles on their faces seemed to say otherwise.

Sydell eyed a veggie on his spoon, "If only the vegetables were cut better."

"Shut up and eat." Rell instantly replied.

Daani chuckled as he dipped the bread into the stew. 

Gregori did the same as he tasted it. It was hearty. It was filling. And it brought in warmth as the winter began to kick in. The meat was chewy but not overly so but the vegetables were a little overcooked. Maybe they should have been cut into better chunks.

"The bread is really good Willa." Gregori appreciated it. "Very soft."

"Thank you." Willa smiled, "The stew is very nice as well." She ate a spoonful and looked up at him. "In the clay oven.... there is still one more piece of the pie left over for you."

Seven heads rose up in an instant. Their eyes looked at each other.

Gregori sighed as he watched them but then a smile crept up on his face. "Whoever finishes the stew first-"

In an instant their bowls emptied and they stumbled over each other to run to the oven.

"Can bring me the pie." He finished slowly.

Seven heads turned to him in indignation.

Briar stood up and brought the slice of pie.

"It is a sizable one." Gregori said as he received it from her. It was a large piece.

A drop of saliva fell to the ground.

His head tilted up slowly as he caught sight of Briar's mouth open, her canines shining off the light from the fireplace. 

His eyes flitted to the side as he looked at the other six just noticing their rapt attention on the pie on his hands.

He lifted the pie above his head.

All their eyes rose upward.

He moved it left.

Their eyes moved left.

He sighed. "Fine." 

Smiles sprouted on their faces.

"But we share."

The smiles dropped.

"No." He shook his head, "You have already eaten more than enough. This is what you get now."

As if there was nothing else they could do, they sadly shook their heads and lunged at him to get a piece of the pie.

Willa looked on, eyes wide, wondering why Gregori was raising such rabid beasts in his home.

As soon as they finished the meal, Briar leaned against her cushion and stared at Gregori, "Daddy."

Gregori turned.

"Uncle Caalyx wanted to talk to you."

"Thanks for letting me know." He said as he pushed himself to his feet and moved.

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