Chapter 8

“You go with the rice.” Soheila said to Sirene.

When Sirene heard this, her eyes lit up, and said excitedly, “Sure! Sure! Ahh, rice!” Sirene still remembered how delicious it is to partner rice with a skewer. Rice was common, but they never partner rice with a dish.

“I'll cook Pork Chop with Mushrooms, Black Pepper Cube Steaks & Mushroom Cream, Beef Mushroom, and Mushroom Soup,” Soheila said as she took out a big pot, pans, and other utensils.

“I'll help after cooking rice. Although I don't know the other dish you mentioned, you can guide me.” Sirene smiled as she prepared to cook rice.

Soheila smiled and nodded. She took out seven boneless pork chops that she got last time for killing a spirit beast. Soheila took out a mushroom and sliced it elegantly and gracefully in smaller pieces. After doing that, she put the boneless pork chop in a cooker, and add spirit energy to it since it will take them hours to be cooked if there's none.

Meanwhile, Sirene used a rice cooker that Soheila gave, and put spirit energy on it as Soheila advice. In just ten minutes, the rice is finally cooked, and Sirene puts a frying pan on a stove. Sirene sliced onion, and cut it into thin wedges that her move makes her so graceful to watch. She intended to cook a bowl of fried rice, and also separated a portion of plain rice just in case they wanted that instead. After cooking rice, she finally helped Soheila.

On the other side, Maximo and the others witnessed them cooking gracefully and elegantly. It was like a cooking show while watching them cook. Their eyes had a hidden admiration.

“They cook well. I can smell the aroma of the beef and mushrooms from here.” Hector said. The kitchen is big, and they're 8 meters away from Soheila and Sirene.

“Indeed.” Maximo nodded as he watched Sirene and Soheila.

“I noticed that they're not calling each other names.” The seductive-looking man, Zachary suddenly said.

“That's true.” The gentle-looking man, Ezekiel agreed.

All they could hear was:

'You do that... '

'You have to... ’

'You... '

'Yes, and you... '

“They kept on saying ‘you’, they seemed to be friends, but never called each other's name.” The Third Princess, Luna, coldly said.

“Yes, I thought they don't know each other's name, but they both introduced awhile ago.” Zachary agreed to Luna.

“We can ask them later.” Maximo sat properly in his chair and watched Soheila and Sirene.

“Hey, we're done!” Sirene brought a tray with the food they cooked on it to the table where Maximo at.

Soheila followed from behind as she brought the remaining food that they cooked. The aroma of the beef mushrooms lingered everywhere that makes their tummy ruble from hunger. Everyone sat on the chair as they obviously waiting for the food.

Their hands patting or rubbing their tummy as a sign of hunger.

“Let's eat!” Soheila said as she and Sirene sat down. Everyone nodded calmly as they heard Soheila's statement.

They didn't want to show that they're uneducated when it comes to eating food, so, they gorgeously and elegantly eating.

The way Luna and the others eat in a graceful manner. Just holding the fork would make them look dignified, cultured, high-class. Nevertheless, Sirene and Soheila didn't give much attention to those since they just wanted to eat.

“How is it?” Sirene asked brightly.

“It's delicious, satisfying, flavorful, savory!” Hector said with a smile on his eyes and mouth.

Soheila and Sirene smiled at that statement. This is the first time Sirene and Soheila cook together, and they're satisfied with his reaction. Although they're together for half a month, they didn't have much conversation since Soheila had closed-door cultivation at that time. Because they didn't have much conversation, they didn't know each other's skills, such as cooking.

Ezekiel and the others also agreed to what Hector said. And continued their mouthwatering food. Because they're eating the atmosphere was peaceful showing that they really enjoyed the delicacies made by Soheila and Sirene.

Several minutes had passed, they had finally stopped eating as their tummies are bloated. Soheila observed them rubbing their tummy while their eyes closed. Finally, she opened her mouth to say what's on her mind.

“Since we're going to be roommates, I hope we'll get along because I believe that to every mission that the academy assigned, our roommates will be our teammates.” Soheila calmly said as she looked at the eyes of everyone on the table.

When they heard this, they also thought about this as they would really be teammates to every mission the academy would assign. Hector promptly stood as he said, “That's true. We should all be friends!”

“That's easy as I observed that you guys are also friends for so long,

perhaps,” Soheila said as she gazed around the five birds.

“That's also true, we've been friends for over 14 years now except to the princess.” Ezekiel's gentle yet strangely coldly said. He didn't have to hide their relationship with Soheila and Sirene, so, he abruptly confirmed what

Soheila observed.

“Except for the princess?” Sirene's question made the five birds look at her, Sirene felt all the gazes, yet she didn't feel any awkwardness.

“Yes, because my royal father commands me to make friends with them three months ago,” Luna explained to Sirene whose eyes are full of questioning that makes her adorable.

“It seems to me that the reason your father wants you to do this because since you're a royalty, and your coming of age is coming, he wants you to marry one of them as they are from the Prestigious Clan,” Soheila stated as it is a fact and wasn't a lie.

Soheila just thought of this because back on Earth, she read a lot of novels about nobles, royalties that had an arranged marriage.

Luna on the side was quite shocking. Her eyes widen, but she tried to hide it, however; Soheila and the others saw it that made them think that Soheila's statement was true.

Their eyes fell on Luna who felt a little awkward. However, Zachary who's beside Luna suddenly laughed and said, “So, that's why you suddenly became friendly to us. I thought the cold, aloof, Third Princess had a change of attitude and wanted to become friends.”

Luna coughed to ease her awkwardness and said, “Yes, that's right, but I am glad that you guys are my friends.” She didn't want them to think that she befriended them for the marriage only.

Soheila's eyes are in amusement as she saw a slight red tint on Luna's cheeks.

Luna looks cold, but if you observed properly, you could see that she isn't that cold. She looks like a shy girl.

“Well, who are you going to choose to marry?” Sirene smirked as she teases the Third Princess.

Luna's face becomes red when she heard this while the others laughed except for Maximo and Ezekiel who had a slight smile hang on their faces.

“We... Well, I haven't thought about it yet since I'm still young, and I'm not into a relationship.” Luna explained, meaning that she hasn't chosen who to marry yet.

Sirene just nodded, still, she had a smirk on her gorgeous face.

“Eh, how about you guys? You seemed close.” Hector all of a sudden asked.

Soheila laughed and said, “Yes we are. We lived together for half a month, not too long, still, it makes us close. Also, before I lived with her...” She looked at Sirene whose eyes on her, and said,

“I saved her.”

“She saved me.”

They both subconsciously said at the same time.

“I see, how—” Before Hector could ask something, Maximo whose silent the whole time suddenly asked,

“How did she saved you?” Maximo looked deeply at Sirene's eyes and had a slight smile hanging on his face that makes him elegantly handsome. His voice is deep that lingered on Sirene who's just beside him.

Sirene on the side felt that he's too close even though it was not. She looked back at Maximo's eyes, and she saw pure black eyes that felt like sucking her. Sirene was stunned for a bit, but composed herself, and answered,

“Ahm, them... I was stupid back then one month ago, that I let my guard down at the forest that time. Because of that, I didn't felt that a spirit beast was going to attack me it was a Three Star Beast, and I was only at the Orange Rank Advanced Level. I tried hard to fight, but couldn't, however; She showed up, and she's at the Yellow Rank Novice Level that time, and...” Sirene said everything that happened that day to them.

“Would that answer your question, Mr. Harter?” Sirene looked at Maximo's black, deep eyes, and tucked her hair behind her right ear that allows everyone to view her gorgeous keen, bright eyes, long eyelashes, kissable thin red lips, pointed nose. In short, an extraordinary beauty.

Maximo was quite dazed, but he still answered casually.

Meanwhile, everyone's attention was the rank of Soheila and Sirene at that time.

“Whatta talent! You're at the Orange Rank Advance level that time, but it only took you 1 month to achieve Yellow Rank Novice Level! While Soheila here was at the Yellow Rank Novice Level that time, and now you're at the Yellow Rank Peak level! Genius!” Hector said with his eyes widen from shock and amazement.

Soheila and Sirene looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Well, that's us!”

They laughed as their narcissistic moments came back again.

“Well, it looks like we quite know each other now. I will rest now. Please, clean the mess, thanks.” Soheila suddenly stood up and instantly went out of the kitchen that didn't make Sirene and the five birds say goodbye.

“Is she always like that?” Zachary asked Sirene.

Having a bubbly attitude Sirene answered, “Yes, she's always in her room to cultivate, rest, sleep or think. I valued privacy so much, so, I did not disturb her. Instead, I play with her two cute spirit beasts.”

Sirene caught Maximo and the others' attention.

“Two spirit beasts?” Hector asked.

“Yes, she had two spirit beasts which I really want one so much!” Sirene said enthusiastically.

“I never had one since they said we'll have one when we enter the Academy,” Zachary said.

“Yes, my parents said that too.” Ezekiel agreed.

“Soheila had a spirit beast and not just one, but two,” Luna commented also.

“I don't know how she got them, but if you see her spirit beasts, they are so cute! Sylvie's calm face and Little Black's tiny body are so adorable!” Sirene imagined the two spirit beasts whom she had talked to for days.

“Your expressions said that they are too adorable, it makes me want to meet them sooner.” Hector laughed as he gazes at Sirene's big, black glittering eyes.

“Well, I heard that in half a month we'll have the spirit beast selection.” Maximo calmly said as he looked at Sirene who's still imagining the two spirit beasts that her expression makes her adorable.

Sirene stopped imagining when she heard what Maximo said.

“What is the spirit beast selection?”Sirene asked with her questioning look

to Maximo.

“It is the day when we would have to choose a spirit beast.” Maximo casually answered Sirene.

Sirene's eyes twinkled when she heard that, and said, “Really?! I'm excited!”

“From your question, it looks like you're not from here,” Zachary said to Sirene.

Sirene's eyes became cold that made them have goosebumps. Her smile was gone that even her twinkling eyes became dull. It was far from her enthusiastic attitude since they first met.

Sirene smiled at Zachary's statement, but her eyes are still cold.

They could feel that Sirene was wary about where she was from, so, they did not probe further.

“Well, ehem... We should start cleaning.” Zachary just said.

“Yep, we should. I'll wash the dishes.” Luna volunteered.

“Woah! Really? A Princess?” Zachary teased Luna.

Luna just rolled her eyes and started to walk to the sink.

Hector laughed and carried the plates that they used to bring to Luna for her to wash. Ezekiel helped Hector as he also brought the remaining plates.

“Since I cooked awhile ago, I'm too lazy to help, hehe.” Sirene's bubbly attitude came back as if nothing happened.

They sighed in relief when they saw her smiling again.

“We really shouldn't ask or talk about that again, and I admit that it was my fault. She's scary awhile ago.” Zachary said when he saw Sirene went to the balcony.

“Yes, it was your fault,” Maximo said.

“Hey, hey, I admitted! Also, you kept staring at her since she came inside. Don't tell me you fell in love with her at first sight.” Zachary remembered how Maximo kept on staring at Sirene.

“Tsk. It was just that I didn't feel her presence or aura when she came inside.” Maximo explained. It was true that he couldn't feel Sirene's aura.

“That's right, It was alright if I can't feel Soheila's aura since her rank is higher than us, but to Sirene, I, too, didn't feel her aura,” Hector said.

“They are both mysterious, it seems Soheila's not from here also,” Luna said.

“Well, we will know soon. We'll be roommates for months or years, so, I know someday they will be open to us and same with us too.” Zachary calmly said.

Everyone nodded to what Zachary said as it was true.

Meanwhile, Soheila went to the room beside Sirene. As she entered, a huge soft bed with a hologram floating in front came on Soheila's eyesight. She roams her eyes around as she saw a door, perhaps for a bathroom, there's also a huge window on the side of the bed, a small counter with shelves beside it. It was elegant compared to the room back then at the Inn.

Soheila sat on the soft bed as she organized her plan again.

Now that she's here, she wants to know who's that someone that made her enroll in this Academy. Also, she has to go to the library to search for pieces of information on how to get out of this continent. Right now, the academy could help her cultivate peacefully, and that would make her stronger. She's at the Yellow Rank Peak level, and in the next 1-2 weeks, she can advance. It feels as if you rank high, your advancement would slow down.