“They’re freshly fried and straight from the factory...apparently!”
“I see. So they are a variety of fried potato...” Alk immediately put his hand into the bag and tossed several chips into his gaping mouth. His eyes widened until they were as round as the full moon. “Incredible...”
I giggled. “Surprising, aren’t they? I believe they have a texture that’s quite unusual for this world.”
I tried one for myself. It was crisp, crunchy, and not at all greasy for having been fried in oil. Perhaps it was because they were fresh from the factory, but there was none of the unpleasantness you typically got with food that was fried in old oil. As a result, the potato’s natural sweetness came through, combining beautifully with the sprinkling of salt on its surface. I would severely struggle to have just one of these!
“If you were to harvest potatoes in this field, would you be able to make these so-called ‘potato chips’?” Alk asked between fistfuls of the snacks.
I gave a thoughtful hum. “That’s difficult to say. Wouldn’t it be enough for me to simply keep on ordering them?”
As much as I would have liked to say yes, deep-frying was probably a bit too ambitious for me at the moment! And then there was the matter of slicing the potatoes so thinly... Perhaps Alk was expecting my cooking skills to improve a lot.
“Forgive me for interrupting, Fran, but I wonder whether these are ready for planting,” Gnome asked quietly. His question cleansed the air of its slight awkwardness.
My attention was pulled back to the field. The earth spirit’s question had me rooting through my head for everything I knew about agriculture.
“Yes, I think so! Given the climate around here...”
If I recalled correctly, both regular and sweet potatoes grew well in relatively warm places, so it should have been all right to plant them now. My memories also suggested that this island was located in an area that was affected by a warm current, which stopped it from becoming too hot or too cold at any time of year. That had been part of the geography I’d had to learn in preparation for marrying the prince. I’d never imagined that it would serve me in a situation like this.
I suppose nothing in life is wasted. I knew I was gazing off into the distance, but I was grateful that no one asked any prying questions because of it. They must have realized that it would be inappropriate.
“Hmm... Is there anything else you would like to plant while we’re at it? As long as whatever it is can grow from seeds, I should be able to use my power to make it happen,” Gnome said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.
I didn’t hesitate to accept his offer. “Really? Let’s see...” He was already helping to such an extent that I felt it would be rude to turn him down at this point. “I would love for everyone to try some extra-sweet tomatoes, and pulses like beans or lentils would be good for making both savory and sweet dishes! And, and...”
“There, there, Fran,” Gnome said, slowing me down. “I’m listening, so there’s no need to rush.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry for getting ahead of myself. I didn’t want to take up too much of your time...”
Gnome chuckled softly. “Neither the field nor I are going anywhere. Shall we look it over while discussing what is to be planted where?”
He took my hand as if to help calm my mad enthusiasm. His grip was warm and soft. It made me feel all fuzzy inside—but that’s just between you and me! He led me in the direction of the field, and Undine followed us with light steps.
“When you’ve decided what you’re gonna plant, I’ll regulate the flow of water for each crop!” she said. “That’ll be easier on you, right, Fran?”
“Oh, my! Thank you so much, Undine! I’ve never grown anything before, so to have someone take care of the water for me will be a huge help!”
The “faucets” and “hoses” of Teiren’s world didn’t exist here. People probably had to water crops with a pail and scoop. I could imagine how exhausting that would be, so I really was glad to have Undine’s assistance with that side of things. For as much knowledge as I had about the concepts behind growing things, I didn’t have any experience. I had enough on my plate concerning my gardening endeavors before even thinking about water. Any task I could do more conveniently would allow me to concentrate more of my efforts on other areas, which would make things more efficient overall.
“But you’re gonna hafta order me some more fresh water in exchange!”
“Of course!” I said. “It’s possible to get water from all kinds of sources and, would you know it, different types of water too. I am sure we can find one that you especially like!”
“Oh, I can’t wait!” Her adorable voice was as clear and vibrant as a bell’s chime, and she put her hands over her mouth as she giggled. Ordinarily, I might’ve found the gesture obnoxious, but hers was a beauty that came by once a millennium, and she had moved gracefully and flawlessly! Teiren was shouting something about wanting to come armed with fans and “glow sticks”...
Undine brought her plump, glossy lips to my ear. “Sure, I love water, but... Don’t tell anyone, Fran—I really like the tea and snacks you ordered!”
“Really?! In that case, I’ll keep ordering anything that catches my eye!”
She laughed. “Now I’m really excited! Y’know, it’s been forever since I’ve met a human who can see and talk to me.”
As she danced around me, her crystal clear body was like an overflowing spring—like the first drop of a large river, or the surface of a lake that perfectly reflected everything around it. I could almost hear the splashes as her long, ombré hair fluttered around.
“And then there’s the fact I get to have tea and eat with the other spirits... It’s like a dream come true!” she said.
“Why, and here I was assuming that you got together at every opportunity!”
“We’ve been out of touch for a while. Not that there’s any bad blood between us or anything.” A smile appeared on Undine’s face, though there was a hint of sadness to it. It seemed there was a story there that I hadn’t been told. “But we’re together again now, and I’m having a blast!”
“This is like a dream come true for me as well. I’m having so much fun that I don’t know what to do with myself!”
“You too, huh? We must be birds of a feather!” the water spirit said as she danced again, as pure as could be. She was leaving a refreshing mist behind her. It truly was a joy to watch.
I was entranced by the sunlit traces of blue she left in her wake, which were soon swept up by a pleasant breeze that separated them into a sparkling spray. Each drop was like a gemstone.
“You two appear to be having fun. What about the rest of us? Would you allow me to join you?”
Undine giggled at the other spirit. “You’re enjoying yourself too, right, Sylph?”
“I certainly am! It must have been hundreds of years since I’ve had any contact with a human. Since my presence was noticed, even,” Sylph said.