Winning the Hearts Of the People

The next day came as planned, the sun shining bright in the sky casting its radiance over the village. Belk got out of his hut, stretching lavishly as he appreciated the new day. Rather than his usual clothing, he was wearing a white top that draped over him. 

The boy yawned, his nose picking up a sweet scent that was carried in the morning breeze, catching his attention. "What kind of meat is that…"

His interest peaked, the curious scientist starting to follow the smell in hopes of seeing what it could possibly be. His eyes landed on a little Aelvarian girl with brown hair sipping noodles from a bowl, her eyes closed as she savoured the sweet lingering flavor.

"Hey, Sylvi, what're you eating?" The boy asked, trying to hide the drool that would creep past his lips. 

Sylvi pulled her bowl away from his prying eyes, her gaze protective of her meal. "Astra gave it to me…"

"Huh? Astra?" He was taken aback, shocked at the mere mention of the technician's name, his hand coming to his chin as he thought.

'No way she could make something this tasty smelling—she couldn't even cook for herself!' His mind played back to the dining hall where she complained about not having proper food in a while, his head nodding as he came to his conclusion.

"Where's Astra now?" He asked, a sense of urgency laced in his voice now.

"She's giving wamen to the other villagers!" She announced, pointing to the front of the village where everyone gathered, some skeptical while others had no problem indulging.

"Wamen… is that what it's called?" He looked down to the delicious bowl Sylvi held in her hand then back to the crowd. His hand raised slightly, clenching into a fist of determination as he marched ahead, leaving Sylvi to enjoy her bowl.

He pushed his way to the front, his hands finally slamming against a makeshift stand Astra made herself, out of one plank of wood and two big rocks with everything she needed behind her.

Celi hits the Grainvines behind her, hoping to get the grains out ahead of time.

"Can I help you?" She asked, indifferently, her arms crossed as she picked up on Belk's skeptical expression.

"What are you doing—" He hissed, his words only reaching her ears.

The young technician reached to twirl her hair around her finger, her eyebrow raised at his sudden skepticism, "Giving the people good food, what of it?"

Belk's eyes narrowed even further, "What're you planning…?"

"I'm not planning anything!" Astra snapped, lying through her teeth as she pushed the boy back lightly. 

"Well you wouldn't mind if i try this wamen thing for myself then?" he dared, only to be stared at with confusion.

"What?" Belk muttered, noticing her confused stare.

"It's pronounced ramen, you tree-rat—" Astra corrected, her finger continuing to twirl in her midnight blue locks, watching as the scientist's face turned beet red.

"Whatever! Just give me one!" He hissed, his head hung low to hide his face but his now pinkish ears gave him away. 

"Right right, ramen coming up, your highness," She mocked, turning back to the pot, only leaving Belk to sink lower and lower to his knees in shame. 

"Here—" She said dismissively, her hands brushing him off as he picked up the bowl. "Now shoo! Shoo! You're holding up the line."

"How do I eat this…" He pondered, his eyes looking in the bowl, watching the many ingredients that settled in the sizzling broth. 

"For the love of—use the chopsticks!" She snapped, the boy's eyes drifting towards the chopsticks on the side of the bowl. 

"Ohhhh!" He gasped in realization, sitting to the side of the stand and eating near her. 

"If you're going to loiter here you might as well help—" She commented, watching as Belk stuffed his face with the ramen she prepared.

"Nah, I can't get any stains on my shirt, even eating this is a risk, but a risk I'm willing to take!" He announced, a smug grin on his face as he pointed the chopsticks to her.

"You shouldn't say that so proud…" She muttered, her eyes drifting to his sudden change in attire.

"What's with the get up anyway…" She pondered, her brows raised in intrigue, the boy raising his head from his bowl, taking a long slurp of his noodles before answering. 

"I'm going through Aethera," He answered, his words slightly out of breath from eating.

"What?"

"Aethera, I have to wear this shirt the last five days before the trial, it grants me good luck and protection by Lunara," Belk explained, his hand tugging lightly on the shirt for emphasis.

"You get a blessing from the planet?" Astra snorted, her eyes narrowing with amusement. "Do you really believe that?"

"Nope!" Belk laughed, wiping a tear of laughter from his eye. "But my dad will throw a fit if I don't wear it,"

"By the way, this stand seems kinda busy—" Belk noted, looking at the crowd that seemed to have gained interest in this foreign cuisine. "It's amazing that you can run this all by yourself."

Astra laughed, looking at Belk with a grin that immediately let him know he thought too highly of her. 

"Sorry I took so long!" a voice called through the crowd, Sylvi making herself known to the duo as she took her spot behind the makeshift stand.

"This is child labor!" Belk snapped, his hand slammed against the wooden plank, though his words fell on deaf ears, Astra's confident smirk still remains, her arms crossing with defiance.

"It's a mutual agreement!" Astra argued, her hand stretched out towards Sylvi who washes the grains in the basin as they spoke. "She wanted more ramen, but I just couldn't keep up with the demand,"

"So she decided to help me all by herself~ I might've sweetened the deal with an extra ramen break or two but it's just to compensate for her generosity," She pouted softly, her voice taking on a more whining sound to appear innocent.

"You're a she–devil…" Belk hissed, laughter hiding under his words.

"Hey, that's slander and I won't stand for it!" 

"Hey…" A voice interrupted their banter, their eyes drifting to the front of the stand to see Vagnis, his wounds faint but visible, He looked down towards Belk, something unspoken within his gaze.

Both Astra and Belk looked up at him in confusion, the young scout taking a deep breath before he spoke once more. "Belk, can we talk—"