“Good morning... Though I’m not sure if it’s fair to call this morning,” Jake said, raising a hand lazily in greeting and letting out a wide yawn, which he didn’t bother to cover. Alice narrowed her eyes slightly at him but refrained from commenting.

“Good morning,” Alice replied, taking a seat beside Charlotte, and I sat next to Alice. Claire, seated next to Leo, looked a bit disappointed but didn’t make a fuss about it.

This left Jake and Mia Crowfield a little farther from the main group. Not that they were sitting close together — the table was just wide enough that they seemed somewhat separated from the rest of us. Mia, for her part, had her face planted on the table, breathing softly, with her shoulders rising and falling rhythmically, deeply asleep. No one seemed particularly eager to wake her, so she would likely continue her peaceful nap for a few more minutes.

“...One thing, though,” Alice finally said, having closed her eyes for a moment to gather herself, “is breakfast even served this early?”

As expected, the dining room was nearly empty — no other students were around. Even someone as diligent as Alice seemed to find this hour impossibly early, so it wasn’t surprising that no one else was here yet.

“No worries,” Leo assured her. “I spoke with the staff on my way down. They said meals at Winterfield Castle are served at any hour.”

“Is that so?” Alice tilted her head slightly.

Our current location, Winterfield Castle, was the residence of Abraham Fitzgerald Winterfield, the lord of Winterfield. However, with the lord and his daughter, Jennifer, often away in the capital for their duties, the castle’s noble presence was largely symbolic, upheld by loyal retainers who oversaw daily matters. Winterfield Castle’s renown for its unique reindeer leather products, prized for their durability, seemed to reflect the resilient nature of its inhabitants as well.

“Apparently, they’re always prepared to serve meals, given the unpredictable schedules of the hunters,” Leo explained. 

“Well, that’s fortunate,” Alice replied, nodding. “Though I doubt other regions will be as accommodating on field assignments. We’ll need to remember that; they might not view us with the same... hospitality.”

Claire flushed slightly at Alice’s words, looking bashful but pleased.

Charlotte, watching the two, looked faintly concerned. Last night’s haggis had left a negative impression on her; she hadn’t managed to finish it. The strong flavor and distinct smell of the dish were likely off-putting for someone unfamiliar with such cuisine. 

“There’s no need to worry,” I said, addressing Charlotte. “Since this is Winterfield Castle, meals here should follow the standards expected of noble households. Haggis may be a specialty, but ham and sausages are also well-regarded local products.”

Charlotte’s cheeks turned slightly pink at my words, clearly a bit embarrassed. She knew well enough that it was rude to dismiss the local fare as distasteful — especially as a guest representing her homeland. Though haggis had been an acquired taste, she was aware that rejecting a meal offered by a host was a faux pas, especially here, where Jennifer Winterfield herself was our guide. Any negative impressions could follow her back to her kingdom.

“That... that wasn’t my concern at all,” she stammered, glancing at Alice, who smiled warmly, clearly amused.

It seemed Charlotte was holding onto her pride, but I couldn’t fault her for it. After all, I’d crafted a careful reputation for myself, going so far as to rewind time to maintain it.

As we talked, the sound of footsteps filled the room, and servers entered, each holding plates piled high with food.

Just as expected, the meal resembled what one might call a “European breakfast,” the kind you might picture upon hearing the term “English breakfast” — or in this world, perhaps “Azerna breakfast.”

“Let’s eat first,” Claire said, glancing toward Mia, who was still dozing with her head on the table. “Maybe food will wake her up.”

I couldn’t help but glance at the servers, noting their calm, alert faces with a hint of admiration. Despite the early hour, they looked as though they had been awake and ready for hours. I picked up my fork and knife with a new respect for their dedication.

***

Finishing my meal helped sharpen my mind, and it seemed to have done the same for everyone else as well. Mia was now sitting up straight, though she hadn’t finished half her meal. Her small stature and the early hour were probably to blame for her modest appetite.

Satisfied with her meal, Claire let out a contented sigh, and even Charlotte seemed pleased, though she left one black pudding on her plate. Despite her dislike for haggis last night, she had managed to eat nearly everything this morning.

“Well then,” Claire said, drawing a piece of paper from her coat. “Let’s decide which requests to tackle first.”

It seemed she had hastily scribbled down requests from the mission board.

The way she phrased it — deciding which requests to start with, rather than which single request to take on — was both exciting and mildly terrifying.