Casual Heroing

Chapter 58: Number One

Chapter 58: Number One

I truly miss working with Flaminia. She was so nice. She is the first person to chat with me without any restraints or without looking at me differently.

Shes a very nice person, I hear Lucillus sigh wistfully.

I look at him with a foxy grin.

Does someone have a little crush on Flaminia? HOHO!

My laugh is sharp and high-pitched, grating that Lucillus already looks like he wants to beat me up.

I do not have a crush on Flaminia.

Sure, pal, sure. So, thats the mysterious lady whos got your heart, ha? Well, dont worry, Ill take care of it. Consider me the Batman to your Robin.

The what? And dont even think about saying or doing anything, Joey! I have barely spoken with the woman. Shes a star [Baker] and [Chef] in Amorium. I have no idea how my cousin snatched her up for her bakery. But shes out of my tree.

I blink.

Wait.

I blink again.

I put a finger in my ear, twist it around to remove the possible blockage, and ask.

Did you just say out of my tree? I ask.

Yes? Lucillus nods, unsure why that phrase should bother me.

I have never heard that. Where does it come from? I look at him.

Elves used to live in houses on trees. The nobility would stay on the bigger trees, so, if someone was too far up the social ladder, they would literally be out of your tree.

Wow.

Oh, right. Did I say we need to go to a brewery? If not, jot that down too. Beer brewery.

"What for?"

"Nothing much, just a revolution for the whole baking world, you know."

I can feel Lucilluss stare on my back while I take some additional measurements. Im going to blow everyones mind with yeast. To hell with magic, baking is definitely the most important

Shoot, I need to practice the Cantrips!

As soon as the realization hits me, the tape almost falls from my hands.

Oh man, how many days has it been? Two? I am already behind schedule! Dammit!

Did you write everything down? I ask Lucillus.

Yes, Joey. I would like to point out that Im not your [Secretary].

That would be nice, though, wouldnt it?

I need to think about my future hires. I cant do everything on my own, nor do I want to. Im a good baker, but Im also lazy if I can afford it. And good employees could help with that.

There are two additional thoughts on my mind, on top of all the other stuff that I need.

Chocolate.

Coffee.

You might not need both if you cross the threshold to a magical world, and you might think its okay not to have such amenities. Well, you are clearly thinking wrong. Maybe you can afford that kind of thinking if you are not a baker, but thats not my case, is it?

Well, Ill start doing some research as early as tomorrow. I think Ill involve dear Lucinda in it.

Thinking about her, my heart still aches and longs for her.

I finish taking the measurements with the tape and tell Lucillus to jot everything down. They use the Imperial System, these Elves. Go figure. As always, America number one, buddy. Europeans complain that our system doesnt make sense? Well, it sent people to the moon, and apparently, even the Elves have adopted it.