By the end of today, I need to create the ultimate muffin. From my time at the Krehn manor, I can make muffins, but those aren’t good enough. I need something incredible. Something so special that when Joshua tastes it, he’ll have no option but to fall on his knees and repent. For that to happen, I’ll have to find a new recipe. 

Normally, I would check the academy library for a recipe book, if there still were an academy library. There used to be a library behind the main building, or at least that’s what I’ve been told. There are no signs of a building being there in the past, so unless it vanished completely, I doubt there ever was a library.

My only hope is to go to the nearby riverside village, Ellorin. It’s a bit of a trip from the dorms, but it doesn’t take that long to get there, and a lot of students go to Ellorin to buy supplies and spend free time. I go at least once a week to buy muffins from the bakery, so I’m no stranger to the village either. 

Today’s front desk attendant nods to me as I check out and head out the front door. The chilly morning breeze greets me as I glance back at the sun that has just finished rising over the horizon. My feet carry me down the trodden path that leads to the village, and before I know it, I arrive at Ellorin.

Compared to the crumbling academy, Elorin feels almost dignified. The first time I visited, I was surprised at how advanced the village was, considering how small and isolated it is. A beautiful blue river splits the village in two, and the river’s breeze carries the scent of yeast and fresh water. On the far edge of the village, a large tree with white leaves stands tall, towering over all the buildings, like a guardian watching over the land. Its leaves flutter down and cover the otherwise clean stone roads and brick houses. Ellorin reminds me of how my hometown, Veneran City, looked ten years ago. The architecture is outdated, but it feels relaxing and nostalgic. 

Years ago, back when Reimel’s wasn’t falling apart, Ellorin relied on the prestige of the academy to bring in tourists and merchants. Rich families would move to the village to be closer to their children attending the academy, and some graduates would take their aetherial talents and use them to improve the village. With the academy in its current state, the village people have returned to their roots, and rely on the fish unique to the river for their livelihood. 

By this time, most of the villagers have already left on the fishing boats upstream, leaving the streets mostly empty. As I walk along the riverside, The children too young to join the fishing trip run around and shout at each other across the river. When I’ve been here before, the kids stopped me to ask if I could show them my aether abilities. On any other day, I wouldn’t mind, but I’m on a strict time crunch today, and I can’t afford any detours. I pick up the pace and head to my favorite place in the village, the bakery.

A warm, sweet smell welcomes me before I even step near the building, the aroma wafting through the strategically opened windows. A crooked sign hangs above the door and announces that, “The Best Bread is open!” The building stands taller than those around it, as if to signify its importance for creating muffins.

Without thinking, my feet carry me through the door, and a bell rings as I enter. My nose nearly overloads on the yeasty smell, and my mouth begins to water. 

“Welcome to Best Bread,” the girl behind the large wooden counter says. “What can I…” her voice trails off as her eyes lock onto me. 

I was really hoping she wouldn’t be here today. Her dad owns the bakery and is usually the one that tends to it, but lately his daughter has been here instead. Her family can’t afford to enroll her in the academy, but we are about the same age from what her dad has told me. I hope that we can get along one day, because she’s very pretty, almost like a doll. However, her personality is…

“Hello, muffin monster,” she says. “I think I can take a good guess on why you’re here today.”

“M-muffin monster?” It’s a better nickname than princess, but I wish people would just call me my name. “I’m not here for muffins today.”

She gasps. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. What else would you be here for?” Her eyes widen and she grins. “Could it be? Have you come to see me?”

I came here because I figured this would be the easiest place to find a recipe, so she’s technically right, but the look on her face makes me hesitant to admit that. “Well, you could say that, in a way, I am… kind of.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. You heard about my new service and came to have your fortune told, right?” 

“No, I—”

She chuckles maniacally. “Normally I would charge you, but since you're such a loyal customer, I’ll give you a reading for free.”

This is why I can’t deal with her. She doesn’t let me speak and always somehow changes the subject to her weird fortune readings. I really should tell her what I’m here for, but she seems to really like fortune telling, and I don’t want to kill her enjoyment.

“Go ahead,” I say meekly.

“Very well.” She ducks under the counter and brings out a hazy purple gem. For a moment it pulses with a tremendous amount of energy. It reminds me of an aether crystal, but not wanting to interrupt her, I remain silent. She hovers her hands over the crystal and closes her eyes. “Today… water will bring you great fortune.”

I reach down and touch Wallace’s crystal. “You hear that, you’re good luck for today.”

“An interesting observation, although I have to wonder how they obtained such information. This fortune telling seems to be baseless, and while I would love to mindlessly believe it, I would have to advise you to be cautious. These types of people—”

I disconnect my mind from his to save myself from his rambling. 

“Well, anyway,” the baker’s daughter says, scratching her head. “What are you here for? You’re not here to cheat on muffins by buying some other pastry, right?”

I shake my head vehemently. “I would never.” I explain my quest to find the recipe for the ultimate muffin.

“So, you need a recipe…” She strokes her chin. “I’d love to give you our recipe, but my dad would probably disown me for giving away such a closely guarded family secret.”

“Oh, no, I don’t want you to get disowned. But is there anywhere else I could find something?”

“You should check out the bookstore on the other side of the bridge. It just opened recently and they’re so desperate for customers that they’ll probably give you a good deal,” she says, giving me a thumbs up. “Oh, wait, I’m not supposed to say that, so… pretend you didn’t hear that last bit.”

“Oh, um…” I put on my best acting voice. “My ears seem to have stopped working just now, so I am going to that bookstore to find a solution.” 

She gives me another thumbs up and says, “May Cordelia bless you,” as I walk out the door. 

It must be out of habit that she said that, because Cordelia’s blessing won’t do much for me now. It would be nice to be blessed by the water Goddess, but I doubt it’ll help me find a recipe. 

A breeze ruffles my hair as I walk past a group of leaves swirling in the wind. The kids from earlier sprint by, so I hide my face and cross the bridge. I meander for a while, since “the other side of the bridge” isn’t very specific, and wander past a notice board along the river. 

A bright red poster catches my eye. Thick stylized letters proclaim, “Looking for an aether chef. Reimel graduates are welcome.” The second statement is a rarity in this world. While he was alive, Reimel was the assistant to Isaac, and thus, he is revered for his contributions to making aetherism accessible to most people. However, the academy he founded is treated as second rate compared to Isaac’s, and most jobs that require an aether go to graduates of the main branch.

I sigh, because I will never have to worry about that kind of thing and continue to search for the bookstore. Despite the baker’s daughter’s unhelpful instructions, I eventually stumble upon my destination.

The shiny building hides between two tall houses. Its glossy stone exterior complements the fancy hanging sign with a picture of a book with glasses on. A strange but familiar sweet scent wafts out from the windows. 

My brain may not recognize the smell, but my body does. Without thinking, I walk into the store and a familiar bell rings. “Welcome to Best Books,” a man with curly brown hair in an apron says from behind the counter. “What can I get for you, today?”

Upon seeing the man, it hits me all at once. The smell is familiar because it’s the yeasty scent that comes from the bakery. I’ve heard that bell ring every time I’ve entered the bakery, and the man behind the counter is the owner of that bakery.

“Why are you here?” I ask. “What about the muffin store— I mean, the bakery?”

The baker looks down at his apron and rips it off. “Bakery? What are you talking about? I own a bookstore.”

At a loss for words, my mouth hangs open as I glance around at the neatly organized shelves of books.

“So, then, young lady who I have never met before,” he says with a wink. “Can I help you find anything?”

As much as I would like to know why the baker has seemingly given up on his old store to open this newer one, I get the feeling he won’t tell me anything. 

“I’m looking for a recipe to make the ultimate muffin.”

He winces. “You’re not thinking of stopping your patronage to our—” He coughs into his hand. “Best Bread, are you?”

“N-no.” I once again explain my reasoning for wanting the recipe.

The baker breathes a sigh of relief. “In that case, let me look through the back. I should have something.”

He walks through a curtain and leaves me to glance awkwardly around the room. My eyes scan the display shelves full of various books and catalogs and find their way to a freshly printed wanted poster on the counter. A drawing of a messy man with a big hat and curved sword glares at me with glowing red eyes. Underneath the picture, it reads, “Pirate Captain Swift: wanted dead or alive. Reward: 2,000,000 Celos.”

My eyes widen at the price and I reach down and connect to Winry’s crystal. “Do you see that? 2,000,000 Celos? You could buy the entire Krehn manor at least three times over with that much money.”

“Ooooooooor, you could buy enough muffins to last your whooooooooole life.”

“You’re a genius, Winry!” I chuckle to myself. “Too bad I’d have to find and capture this Captain Swift guy to be able to do that.”

The owner reappears from behind the curtain. “You’re in luck,” he says, laying a thin blue book on the counter. “Somehow, this is the only recipe book I have left. Guess I’ll need to fix that in the future.”

As I reach for the book, the door flies open, slamming against the wall behind it. I jump at the sound and spin around to gaze at the empty open door. A man with dark scruffy hair and a ragged brown cloak stomps in.  

“Now that—” he points at the door. “—is a sturdy door. Usually, they break off when I kick them down, so good job on that, boss man.”

“Thank you,” the owner says. “But can I ask you not to do that to my poor new door?”

“Sure, but I’m not going to listen to you.” The door-kicker saunters over to the counter and towers over me. “Oh, what is this?” He picks up the wanted poster. “This is supposed to be me? I look nothing like this, right?” His sharp gaze turns my way, his eyes daring me to disagree with him.

A shiver down my spine and freezes me in place. 

“Niiiiiiiiiiice,” Winry says. “You found him. Now to capture!”

As if realizing I won’t respond, the man claiming to be the one on the wanted poster turns his attention back to the counter. “So anyway, boss man, I’m here for something a little odd, but I need—” He glances down at the recipe book on the counter. “—Wow, this place is amazing. I didn’t even say anything, and you already had what I needed ready.”

I try to say, “Wait, that’s my book,” as he snatches it up, but no words come out of my mouth.

“Thanks, boss man.” He twirls around and walks towards the open door. “I’ll be sure to recommend this place to my friends.”

“Hey, wait, you!” The owner shouts at Captain Swift as he pulls the door closed behind him.

An uncomfortable silence creeps into the room. I slowly walk back up to the counter, but my words still won’t come to me. 

 “Sorry about that, girly. Guess you’ll have to find a recipe somewhere else.” 

“Oh, that’s okay. That little blue book looked promising, so hopefully I can find a copy of it somewhere else.”

“Little blue book?” His eyes widen and he buries his face in his hands. “Oh, no, that wasn’t the recipe book. I’m doomed.” He glances at me and peels his hands off his face. “Wait, you’re an aether, and a Krehn at that. You can go get my book back for me, right?”

“Wh-what?” I take a step back and look away.

The owner leans over the counter and puts his hands together over his head. “Please! My livelihood is at stake. I’ll die without that book!”

“Winry, help. What’s going on here?”

“You capture! For muffin money.”

I disconnect from her mind, because her advice is unhelpful. As much as I would like enough money to buy muffins for the rest of my short life, I absolutely cannot accept the owner’s request. I may be an aether, but I’m a first-year student, and being a Krehn doesn’t help my lack of experience. It’s impossible for me to retrieve the book.

But, he said that he needs it, and he sounds desperate to get it back. If I can help, I can’t just walk away without doing it. There’s always the possibility that Captain Swift will just give me the book back if I ask nicely. He didn’t seem that mean from my little experience with him, although, people don’t get bounties put on their heads for being nice people. 

I really shouldn’t, but the owner is depending on me, and I can’t let him down.

“Alright,” I say quietly. “I’ll go get your book back.”