She tilted her head, seemingly not understanding that she’d insulted me. That’s right. She’s not from this realm. She’s from a different race with an entirely different culture. They probably don’t worry about the same things as we do.
“I’ve heard that humans tend to be insecure about their physical sizes. If that’s the case, there are some enhancement spells I know of that will help you achieve the results you desire.”
“I-I’m perfectly content with how I am now. Besides, I’m still growing. I’m only fifteen. I’ve got years ahead of me.”
“I don’t understand the obsession with larger proportions with you humans.”
“First off, knock it off with the ‘human’ talk. You’re a human, remember? Second, is it not like that where you come from?”
“Hardly. All that matters is your strength. The more power you possess, the easier it is to find a mate.”
“M-Mate?” How old is El anyway? She looks like she’s my age or a little older, but maybe because she’s an elder dragon, she’s hundreds of years old and has already settled down and had children? If she did, then she’s definitely...experienced it, right? “Have you already...” I asked nervously in a low voice.
“No! Don’t be ridiculous. In human years, I’m not much older than you. It’s too early to settle down with a mate. These are my prime combat years.”
“O-Oh, I see,” I sighed slightly with relief. “It’s not too uncommon for people here to get married at this age though.”
“That’s because you humans are overly eager to breed. It’s coded in your species’ genetics to replicate as quickly as possible.” She made a sour face as if she’d remembered something unpleasant. “It’s both your strength and downfall as a species.”
I wanted to follow up on what she meant, but before I could, I heard two trays being laid down on the counter. I looked up and saw the usual gruff face of the chef, Reig.
“Oh, Karen, she a new student?” he asked.
“Yeah, she just enrolled today.”
“Congratulations! Oh! Wait, just one sec!” And then, he went into the back of the kitchen before returning with two glasses and placing them on our trays. “Here ya go. Two specials and two parfaits. Just for you two. Don’t tell anyone.” He warmly snickered. “Welcome to the school! Enjoy!” he said with a broad smile.
“Thank you,” I called out to Reig, picking up my tray.
El just stared at him blankly. “An offering? I’ll take it, I suppose, in appreciation of you knowing your place.”
Reig blankly stared as he tried to process El’s words and make sense of them until he finally realized that he couldn’t, so he looked to me for help.
I weakly laughed. “W-We’re gonna get going. Thanks again!”
Then I ushered El across the dining hall to a table by the windows. As she sat across from me, a very unpleasant thought crossed my mind. Does she know how to use utensils? She’s not gonna use her hands to eat everything or stuff her face into the plate, is she? Fortunately, I didn’t have to wonder about that for long because, in the next moment, she adroitly picked up her knife and fork and began digging in.
She paused to look at me, seemingly realizing what I was thinking. “I know how to use utensils. Cognitive Advantage, remember?”
“Oh, right. I keep forgetting about that. It’s pretty convenient, huh?”
“Yes, more often than not...” She trailed off as her eyes fell on my plate and then back to her own. “Why is your food so...red?”
“It’s the extra hot sauce they put on it. Do you...still want to try it?” I asked cautiously.
She glared at it and sniffed. In the next moment, disgust filled her face, and I swore I heard her gag. “I’ll pass. It smells like and looks as if it’d taste like how I assume the foulest swamp water would,” she spat, wrinkling her nose. “If that’s what spicy food is, you can keep it to yourself.”
“It’s really good though...” I pouted slightly, beginning to eat my food.
El followed suit and began by taking a bite of the sausage. Her eyes lit up slightly, and she took another bite, and then another. Suddenly, she was scarfing down all the food as if she’d been starving.
Well, I guess it has been a while since she last had a meal.
“You like it?” I asked.
“Mmf mmf mmf!”
I wasn’t sure what language that had been in, but even without Cognitive Advantage, I could guess that she’d said something about it tasting good. There was something satisfying about seeing her eat that almost made me forget about my own meal.
Remembering that I had dinner as well though, I decided to dig in. Yeah, it really is as good as usual. I wonder if Ca’al’s already eaten. I bet he’d like this.
“Human,” El barked, snapping me out of my thoughts. “This cold dessert. I require another one.”
I looked up and saw her face in a mess from the sauce and the ice cream she’d eaten. “First, stop saying ‘human.’ Second, you should wipe your face.” I took out a handkerchief and cleaned her face. “All better.”
“Isn’t that embarrassing for you?”
“I think it’s more embarrassing to be the one with a face covered in food, but... Anyway, I guess I’d be more embarrassed about cleaning your face if there were other people around, but as you can see, we’re the only ones here.”
El looked around. “So, what you’re saying is, as a result of there being fewer people present, I can get more of this meal?”
“That wasn’t really my point, like at all. I actually have no clue how you even arrived at that conclusion, but I suppose you can. Just—”
But before I could finish my sentence, she’d already zoomed off. She’s seriously got some appetite. I can barely finish one portion as it is. I continued picking at my food, and not too long after, El came back...with a tray literally full of parfaits.