Chương 20: Chapter 12: A Feast of Memories
The Great Hall buzzed with life as the group returned from the square. Long wooden tables were laden with freshly roasted meats, hearty stews, warm bread, and jugs of mead. The tantalizing aroma filled the air, mingling with the chatter and laughter of the villagers who had gathered to celebrate Valka's return.
Stoick guided Valka to the table reserved for the adults, where Gobber was already settling in, waving enthusiastically at a server to bring more food. The Riders, meanwhile, gravitated toward a smaller table nearby, their dragons lounging comfortably outside the hall after being fed. Lyra, hesitating for a moment, chose a seat next to Astrid, who gestured for her to join.
As the food was served, the conversation at the Riders' table turned lively, the clinking of utensils and mugs underscoring their chatter.
Snotlout leaned back in his chair, a smug grin plastered across his face. "So there I was, surrounded by a dozen Monstrous Nightmares, all of them ready to fry me like a fish, when—"
"A dozen? Really?" Astrid cut in, her eyebrow arching skeptically. "Last time you told this story, it was only five."
Snotlout faltered for a second, then waved his hand dismissively. "Details, details! The point is, they were huge and terrifying, and I was awesome."
Tuffnut snorted, leaning toward his sister. "I think the only thing huge and terrifying is Snotlout's ego."
Ruffnut cackled. "More like a Monstrous Exaggeration."
Snotlout huffed, shoving a chunk of roast mutton into his mouth and muttering something unintelligible. Across the table, Lyra chuckled softly, her eyes shimmering with quiet amusement. She picked at her food, still adjusting to the hearty Viking fare.
Astrid noticed and leaned in slightly, her voice warm. "How's the food? Is it to your liking?"
Lyra paused, glancing down at her plate before offering a small smile. "It's… different," she said thoughtfully. "But good. The flavors are so bold. Aetherian food isn't quite like this."
Astrid's curiosity sparked. "What's Aetherian food like, then? Can you cook it?"
Lyra's lips twitched upward. "I can cook some things," she admitted. "Though I wouldn't call myself an expert. In Aether, meals are… intricate. Flavors are layered, and dishes are often infused with elemental essences."
Fishlegs perked up, eyes wide with fascination. "Wait, infused with the elements? You mean like magic? What does that do? Boost strength? Improve healing? Or is it just for taste?"
Lyra smiled at his eagerness. "Mostly for taste," she explained. "But some dishes do have properties for healing or boosting energy. The simplest meals could feel extraordinary because of the care put into them."
Astrid's eyes gleamed with interest. "That sounds amazing. Maybe you can teach us sometime?"
Lyra's expression softened. "I'd like that. Though, finding the right ingredients here might be a challenge."
"We could always improvise!" Hiccup suggested, grinning. "Berk's pretty resourceful."
Astrid nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I'd love to try something different. Even if it means Snotlout burns the first five attempts."
"Hey!" Snotlout protested, swallowing his mouthful. "I don't burn things. I just cook them… enthusiastically."
Ruffnut smirked. "Enthusiastically charred, maybe."
Tuffnut nodded sagely. "The smoke alarm on Berk should just be renamed the 'Snotlout Alarm.'"
Snotlout scowled, but a grin threatened to break through. He muttered something about "culinary geniuses being underappreciated."
Astrid returned her attention to Lyra. "So, if you had to cook something from Aether, what would it be?"
Lyra's gaze grew distant, her smile fading slightly. "There was a dessert I loved," she said slowly. "A soft cake with a glaze that shimmered like starlight. It tasted like honey and summer fruits."
Astrid's eyes widened. "That sounds incredible."
Lyra nodded, a wistful expression crossing her face. "It was. I wonder if Nyx remembers it."
At the mention of Nyx, the table quieted slightly. The air shifted, the previous laughter and chatter thinning like mist in the morning sun.
Hiccup leaned in, his brow furrowed. "You think he's had anything to eat?", his eyes searching Lyra's face for an answer.
Lyra let out a long sigh, absently pushing a piece of chicken around her plate with her fork. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "Chaos doesn't hunt, and Nyx… well, he grew up in palaces. He never really needed to learn how to fend for himself."
Tuffnut's eyes widened dramatically, his jaw dropping. He flung his arms out as if to embrace the sheer absurdity of the idea. "You mean Mr. Cosmic Power can't even roast a fish?" His voice dripped with disbelief. "A cosmic-level guy who can bend reality… and he can't bend a fish onto a stick?"
Ruffnut snickered and elbowed her brother. "Guess that makes you royalty too, Tuff. You can't cook either."
Tuffnut puffed out his chest proudly. "I can cook. I just choose not to grace the world with my culinary genius." He leaned in conspiratorially. "It's too dangerous. My talent would set a new standard for cooking."
Snotlout snorted, nearly choking on his mouthful of bread. "Yeah, more like you'd set the kitchen on fire. I remember the last time you tried to boil water."
"It was an experiment!" Tuffnut protested. "How was I supposed to know water couldn't actually explode?"
Ruffnut rolled her eyes. "That's why you stick to eating, not cooking."
Fishlegs, ever thoughtful, leaned forward with a frown. "But seriously, if Nyx isn't used to taking care of himself, that could be a problem, right? Surviving out there isn't easy, even for someone with his kind of power."
Lyra's smile faded, her eyes growing distant and clouded with worry. "That's what concerns me the most," she murmured. "He's strong, yes, but strength isn't everything. He's… vulnerable in ways you wouldn't expect. I just hope he's okay."
The weight of her words settled over the table, the firelight casting flickering shadows across their faces. For a moment, the clinking of plates and the hum of conversation from the rest of the hall seemed miles away.
Astrid reached out, her hand finding Lyra's arm and squeezing it gently. Her blue eyes were steady, filled with quiet resolve. "We'll find him, Lyra. And when we do, maybe we can introduce him to some good old-fashioned Viking cooking."
A small, appreciative smile curved Lyra's lips. "I think he'd like that."
Snotlout, ever eager to lighten the mood, waved a piece of bread in the air like a flag. "Don't worry! If he's hungry, I'll share my food. I'm generous like that."
Tuffnut's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Oh yeah, because everyone wants a taste of Snotlout's… enthusiastically cooked cuisine."
Snotlout narrowed his eyes at Tuffnut. "You're just jealous of my skills."
"Skills?" Ruffnut cackled. "The last time you tried to 'cook,' you nearly burned down the entire forge."
"That was one time!" Snotlout protested, throwing his hands up. "And it was a controlled burn!"
"Yeah," Tuffnut deadpanned, "controlled by fire."
The table erupted into laughter, the sound filling the space and pushing away the shadows of worry. Even Lyra's shoulders relaxed, her laughter soft but genuine. For a moment, the uncertainty and fear about Nyx seemed a little less overwhelming.
Hiccup smiled, the warmth of the moment spreading across his face. "Well, if Nyx needs to learn survival skills, he's in good hands with us. We've got a… diverse range of talents here."
Astrid grinned, catching on. "Cooking disasters."
"Controlled burns," Ruffnut added.
"Questionable fire safety," Tuffnut chimed in.
The laughter rolled on, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Lyra felt a glimmer of hope. With these guys by her side, maybe, just maybe, they really could bring Nyx home.
Far away, on a rocky outcrop surrounded by dense forest, the world was still, save for the faint crackling of a struggling campfire. The flames cast flickering shadows across the rough terrain, barely enough to keep the encroaching chill at bay. Nyx and Chaos sat side by side, their figures outlined against the darkening sky.
On a makeshift spit over the fire, a blackened fish hung precariously, its skin bubbling and cracking as it continued to char. Bits of ash drifted upward, carried away by a faint breeze.
Nyx crouched near the fire, his golden eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the unfortunate meal. He tilted his head slightly, as if the angle might somehow improve his assessment. "It… doesn't look that bad," he said aloud, his voice carrying a tone of forced optimism.
Chaos, lying sprawled nearby with its head resting lazily on its claws, opened one molten eye at Nyx's words. The Cosmic Dragon's gaze flicked to the fish, and a deep rumble vibrated in its chest. The sound was unmistakable—a note of pure skepticism.
Nyx sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he reached for the fish. He lifted it from the fire carefully, examining the charred exterior with a furrowed brow. Holding it up, he turned to Chaos, who was now watching him intently. "Here," Nyx said, extending the stick toward the dragon. "You try it first."
Chaos's head snapped up, its molten eyes widening in what could only be described as betrayal. The dragon let out a sharp, indignant growl, its tail flicking across the rocky ground with enough force to scatter loose stones.
"Don't look at me like that," Nyx said defensively, holding the fish closer. "It's just fish. How bad can it be?"
Chaos snorted, a puff of fiery breath escaping its nostrils and nearly singeing Nyx's hair. With a dramatic flair, it turned its head away, its entire posture radiating exaggerated offense.
"You're being ridiculous," Nyx muttered, rising to his feet as Chaos shuffled backward like a petulant child avoiding a distasteful chore. "It's just food! You've probably eaten worse things."
The dragon growled again, its movements growing more exaggerated as it mimicked a gagging motion. Its tail thumped against the ground with a rhythm that perfectly conveyed its disapproval.
Nyx rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine!" he snapped, grabbing the stick and jabbing it toward the fire again. "We'll try again. But this time, you're not running away."
Chaos snorted, the sound almost a scoff, and laid its head back down, though its molten eyes remained fixed on Nyx, glowing faintly with reluctant curiosity.
The next few minutes were a chaotic dance of trial and error. The first fish fell into the fire, instantly consumed by the flames. The second came out half-raw, its pale flesh glistening unpleasantly. By the third attempt, Nyx's patience was wearing thin, his muttered curses punctuated by Chaos's low, rumbling chuckles.
"Stop laughing," Nyx growled, yanking the third fish from the fire. It was blackened on one side and raw on the other, a culinary disaster that made Chaos let out a chuff of derisive amusement.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nyx pulled a fish from the flames that looked… decent. The skin was golden-brown rather than black, and the scent, while faint, was no longer acrid.
Nyx held it up triumphantly, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "There! Now we're talking."
Chaos tilted its head, its molten patterns glowing faintly as it leaned in to inspect the fish. The dragon sniffed cautiously, its nostrils flaring, before sitting back with an almost approving rumble.
Encouraged, Nyx tore off a small piece and popped it into his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully, his expression neutral at first, then faintly disappointed. "It's… bland."
Chaos tilted its head again, this time in what could only be interpreted as an incredulous stare. With exaggerated caution, it plucked a piece of the fish with its sharp teeth and chewed experimentally.
The dragon froze mid-chew, its molten eyes narrowing. Chaos swallowed reluctantly, then promptly nudged the remaining fish away with its snout, the motion deliberate and unmistakably disdainful.
Nyx sighed heavily, tossing the stick to the ground as he leaned back against a nearby tree. "You're agreeing with me, aren't you?"
Chaos let out a soft growl, its tail thumping once against the ground before it curled closer to Nyx, its molten patterns dimming slightly as if to signal its resignation.
Nyx tilted his head back, his gaze drifting to the darkening sky above. The stars were beginning to emerge, faint and flickering through the lingering haze of smoke. A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it was tinged with nostalgia.
"Food in Aether never tasted like this," he murmured, his voice carrying the weight of memory. "It was vibrant, full of flavor… like you could taste the very life of the kingdom in every bite."
Chaos rumbled softly in agreement, its golden eyes half-lidded as it rested its head on its claws.
Nyx continued, his voice quieter now. "There were these pastries—flaky and sweet, filled with berries that sparkled like tiny crystals. And the bread… always warm, like it had just come from the oven. Even the simplest meals felt… alive."
The dragon let out a low, melodic hum, its molten scales glowing faintly in the firelight as if resonating with Nyx's wistful tone.
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the fire crackling softly as it burned down to embers. The stillness of the night wrapped around them, a fleeting reprieve from the weight of their shared solitude.
"Guess we'll have to settle for this," Nyx said eventually, gesturing vaguely toward the remnants of their fish. "But one day… maybe we'll taste real food again."
Chaos rumbled once more, the sound low and steady. It wasn't an answer, but it was enough.
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