Bathing Rani in Moonlight

Rani's hands were clasped tightly in front of her as she looked at ZeroVeil, her brow furrowed in thought. He stood silently, his tall frame looming over her, his mask gleaming faintly in the dim light of the tavern.

"Take your time," ZeroVeil said, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "I asked you what you want, Rani. I'm here to grant it, as I promised."

Rani's gaze flickered toward him, then back to the floor. She bit her lip, clearly debating her decision. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked him in the eye—or rather, where his eyes should have been behind the mask.

"I want to learn all the cooking methods and recipes you know," she said firmly.

ZeroVeil tilted his head slightly, clearly taken aback. "Cooking? That's… not what I expected. Why?"