The Ark Of Pastries To Share

"You realize you could have just asked for more bread or waited for a bit. I would've given you some more. I've got plenty more in my pantry... So you didn't have to headbutt for more..." laughed Mavislin, shaking her head.

"I'm not those mean and evil people. I promise you, and I wouldn't let those people go anywhere near you kids anymore. You deserve the freedom to feel anything you want from now on."

Midori looked at Mavislin while Duncan quietly chewed and munched on the bread. Then, finally, the Valkyrie drew up to full height and stretched her back before focusing on the sitting kids. Mavislin stretched out her open palm towards the kids with a bright smile.

"Come along now. Let's go to my pantry to get some more pastries! I've got one with custard fillings that Ysabeau made the other day. You'll love to be in that place!" cheered Mavislin, hyping the two kids to follow her.

But the kids didn't budge, leaving the Valkyrie tilting her head to the side. After a few seconds of silence, Midori stood up and tried to ask Duncan to do the same. However, the boy fell back down, and the twins were back on the ground. Mavislin was shocked and quickly rushed to them.

Duncan's left leg was broken, and he couldn't stand properly. Without thinking, the Valkyrie's hand glowed in a golden light as she hovered her palm on top of the broken leg. Mordred looked on in awe as the leg got healed up by Mavislin. A few seconds later, the kid stood up with ease.

Was Mavislin that powerful that she could heal a broken leg in under a second?! Mordred was taken aback as she saw the Valkyrie's face. Mavislin hardly had strained anything to heal up the poor kid's leg. The Mages could've saved Mordred's life! Wars wouldn't have so many casualties!

But then again, a war with Magecraft would be significantly different from a battle fought with swords and horses. But the Knight shook those thoughts away as she focused back onto the memory. Midori hugged her brother instantly as the two kids tried standing up again.

Mavislin then gripped their tiny little hands and walked out of the room and into the hallway. The cheerful Valkyrie had a twin on each side, with all three walking towards a door engraved with Mavislin's full name. Mordred followed behind and walked through the wooden door.

The Valkyrie's room looked normal with a wardrobe and a bed with a table beside it. But as the Knight thoroughly looked around, she was shocked to find that the 'wardrobe' was huge and the bed was filled with stuffed toys of different animals.

"The Old Chapel is a building made out of Magecraft. The rooms and things inside are constantly changing, and Lady Roydon's room was no exception. This is the power of the Mages from the stars and beyond," explained Midori, making Mordred turn to see Mavislin helping the kids.

"Come now, let's get you on the bed with these toys while I figure out a way to get more pastries. You two can find a plushie to hold onto if you'd like while waiting. I don't mind if you want to keep them since the Old Chapel makes more all the time," said Mavislin, opening the closet door.

A few bangs and random sounds later, Mavislin came out of that wardrobe with a basket full of bread. The Valkyrie cleared an opening on the bed filled with stuffed toys, and a small table appeared at the foot of the bed where Mavislin sat. The twins hurried to her side.

Midori chose a small, white fox plushy to hug while Duncan was very attached to a medium-sized toy of a black spider, much to Mordred's horror. Mavislin didn't care and continued to unpack the basket's contents. There were so many selections of bread strewn all over the table.

Some had raisins, others had nuts, and one had blueberry jam in its middle. Mavislin was engrossed with describing all ten pastries as Midori and Duncan watched without saying anything. It was incredible to Mordred how this scene was plain and mundane.

It looked so typical, yet it had a unique feel that Mordred couldn't understand. The scene was the first time that Midori had met the Valkyrie. This moment would decide if Midori would stay with Mavislin's side or venture on the outside world. The kid had a choice.

And Midori chose to stay by the Valkyrie's side and follow in Mavislin's shadow. Like how Mordred decided to follow in the King's steps during the parade from all those days ago. Mordred thought about why she needed to be heir to the throne, and she couldn't find any.