But even as HankÆs image became even more powerful Lyra ducked under a bullet and laughed Stan I think itÆs about time that you started to move
With the wind whistling behind him Stan sauntered forward an almost perfect copy of Hank HowardÆs image Lyra unleashed a few slashes to keep Hank distracted but took on a more passive role as Stan rolled up his sleeves here she could prepare for a sudden ambush Hank and Stan stared at each other for five seconds and then rushed toward each other in a brutal brawl Soon the ground was spattered with blood
although the primary reason that the brawl was brutal was that Hank wiped the floor with Stan
ThatÆs Lyra seemed genuinely surprised as she looked at the crumpled form of Stan He hadnÆt even lasted long enough for her to strike ThatÆs ridiculous He can copy an image almost perfectly His strength should be almost the same as yours Yet you won so easily
A manÆs only as good as is horse Hank said wiping the blood from his knuckles Then he shrugged and spat over to the side He can copy the image but heÆs not singinÆ the ballad girly How can a cowboy not ave a horse
LyraÆs smile transformed into a haphazard collage of broken glass Did you seriously call me girly IÆll kick your ass
Randidly could see Lyra furious visibly mounting as Hank chuckled Girly if ya could kick my ass wouldnÆt ya have done it already LetÆs git this over with
Lyra image howled to the fore the violet moon that hovered above her sunk lower It seemed to close that it was like an eerie eye glaring down at the Earth But the Wild West didnÆt care about the color of the moon In fact it accepted it willingly many different individuals and ideologies had swarmed through the Wild West That was part of its charm
It was a Path that could be taken by almost anyone
Her sharp and vicious image wasnÆt enough to overcome HankÆs easy dependability Lyra slumped to the ground with a bullet in her shoulder and three in her thigh The referee waved his hands The winners are Hank and his horse Ancho
Chapter 1458
You cooked all of this Randidly asked as he looked down at the three meter long table in front of him There basically wasnÆt space on it that wasnÆt filled with pleasantly steaming food
Lyra shrugged the sharp smile that she was wearing since the beginning of their meeting not having moved an inch as she brought him directly into the dining room Of course For especially the early part of the System I didnÆt have much to do When people didnÆt want a Class Village Spirits are pretty passive There was some information I could obtain through the Nexus but I couldnÆt do that all the time Everyone needs a hobby
Lyra pointed at the table So I practiced cooking but I donÆt have much focus I just made whatever I felt like eating that night So please dig on in And if you have an opinion donÆt try and spare my feelings tell me what you really think
Randidly nodded and then surveyed the table As per their agreement he had come to her house for dinner after her loss to Hank Howard in the duos tournament She had built a small cottage on the outskirts of Donnyton so Randidly had used the PhilosopherÆs Key to return to his old stomping grounds for the meal She had opened the door and welcomed him in with a smile And the fact that she had made it from the arena in the Orchard to Donnyton and still had the time to prepare a meal meant that she had likely relied upon her Village Spirit abilities
I suppose anything I could learn from her about the Nexus Ways I can learn from Octavius as well Randidly chewed on his lip then glanced around
The house wasnÆt sparsely decorated but Randidly suspected that someone like Tatiana would find the building to be lacking personality Everything here was clean and orderly which was nice But the details were almost too perfect The furniture was at perfect right angles to each other The table was perfectly in the center of the room The abstract painting on the wall was monochrome and vague
This placed seemed like an example home not a building where someone lived
What does the great Randidly Ghosthound suddenly have opinions about interior design Lyra asked as she noticed the direction of RandidlyÆs gaze Then she put her hands on her hips Well IÆm starving If you wonÆt start I will
His mouth twisting slightly Randidly looked again down at the table in front of him Immediately to his right was an appetizing looking plate of pork fried rice Beyond that was some blueberry scones and clotted cream To his left were grilled lamb kabobs with onions and peppers Below that was a small plate filled with spicy kimchi And these dishes only constituted about a third of the total food on the table
Asparagus mashed potatoes shrimp scampi lasagna a plate filled with goat cheese fried fish a beef stew macaroni and cheese collard greens
Eclectic doesnÆt even begin to cover it Randidly thought He took the plate Lyra offered him and started with a kabob Even if he was slightly bewildered at LyraÆs silence insistence that he eat after providing no justification for the sudden meal invitation Randidly was willing to play along for now He lifted the kabob to his lips and took a bite It seemed like she had drizzled some light teriyaki sauce across the kabobs but it was mostly the natural flavors of the meat and vegetables that he tasted He chewed rather carefully enjoying the texture
After a kabob Randidly tried a few scoops of fried rice When he went back for a third type of dish Lyra stopped him with a level look Randidly lightly scratched his cheek feeling even more confused than he had been before ItÆs pretty good
Right But only pretty good Lyra nodded emphatically apparently quite pleased with RandidlyÆs assessment She moved with increased vigor and a cheery smile on her face with her own plate heading directly for the macaroni and cheese So tonightÆs theme is going to be honestly Perfect
I guess so Randidly watched her eat for several seconds Then he started to feel slightly awkward So he shifted and helped himself to some beef stew fried fish and mashed potatoes At first he tried small bites of each so he could sample the flavors Then he chaotically mixed them all together and began to shovel the food into his mouth If nothing else he wasnÆt going to pass up this chance to fill himself up on food
A night of honesty huh Randidly thought as he chewed If I hadnÆt answered that way would it not be
But he had been completely honest about the dishes he had tried The food was pretty good but also it could be said that it was only pretty good Compared to the hash that Randidly had for lunch this food in front of him was nothing to speak of He forgot the flavor as soon as he swallowed There was no defect that his tongue could detect but also
When his plate was clear Randidly set down his fork with a frown on his face He finally realized what the taste must mean you donÆt have a Cooking Skill
Correct Lyra answered around a mouthful of mac and cheese Randidly pursed his lips and didnÆt ask any more He continued to consume the fine food until almost the entire table was left with empty plates that sat with just as stark emptiness as bare bones Once he understood what he was tasting more things began to make sense The food seemed empty to him because he had been used to high Level Cooking Skills adding something extra to the food
More than that the hash he had for lunch had a nascent quiet image as part of its appeal It was a warmth and hominess that lingered on the tongue and passively alleviated small amounts of stress in the diner Honestly Randidly had returned to HelioÆs shop less for the food itself and more for that valuable image Aside from Yggdrasil Randidly hadnÆt encountered any other images that addressed the accumulating mental damage that inevitably resulted from fighting with images
But this food was perfectly ordinary It was fine fare that would have been possible for a woman with quite a bit of spare time before the System
After doing a swarm of locusts proud Randidly set his plate down on the table He put both his hands on its wooden edge and leaned forward as he studied Lyra So I assume you wanted to teach me something with the food