By the time Leon, Dahlia, and Flower dragged the boar back to Moonlight Cottage, their arms ached and their clothes were caked in mud. Dahlia called out as they approached: "Master! We're back—we got a boar!"
Im stepped outside, his eyes widening at the dead boar, then at their disheveled state. Leon's cloak was torn, Flower's hair was matted with blood and dirt, and Dahlia had leaves stuck in her hair. "You look like you fought a bear," he said, frowning. "Are you injured?"
"No, just messy," Flower said, grinning. "The boar charged us—nearly got Leon. But we took it down!"
Im shook his head. "Mages should use their heads, not brute force. You're lucky it wasn't a larger boar—or a herd. Next time, scout first, use magic to weaken it before closing in."
"Yes, Master," they chorused, though Leon suspected Flower would forget the lecture by tomorrow.
Butchering the boar was no small task. First, they boiled water—without a large basin, they had to ladle hot water over the boar's fur to loosen it, plucking the hair carefully. Steam hissed as water splashed on the cold flesh, and Leon yelped when a drop burned his wrist.
Im stepped in, his Wind Blade slicing off the boar's head and hooves in one clean motion. "These are too hard to clean—bury them," he said. He then lifted the boar by its front legs with Mage Hand, slashing open its belly with another Wind Blade. The intestines and organs spilled onto a wooden plank.
Im sorted through the mess, keeping the liver, heart, stomach, lard, kidneys, and bladder. "The rest is waste," he said, tossing the intestines and lungs aside. Leon stared at the bladder—memories of his childhood flooded back: village boys would dry pig bladders, inflate them with straw, and kick them like balls. He smiled, nostalgia warming him.
Dahlia wrinkled her nose. "Why keep the bladder?"
"For storage," Im said, confused by her reaction. "Dry it, and it holds liquids well. Better than clay jars for small amounts." Leon didn't explain—she'd never understand the childhood joy of a "pig bladder ball."
Im split the boar into two halves, revealing thick layers of fat. "Winter fat is good for lard," he said. "The meat will be gamey—wild boar aren't castrated. You'll need to soak it to remove the腥味."
Leon nodded, already planning. "Let's make hot pot tonight!" he suggested. "Boil the meat in a pot over the fire—perfect for cold weather."
Im raised an eyebrow. "Hot pot? What's that?"
"Food cooked in boiling broth," Flower explained, having tried it once with Leon. "Thin slices of meat, vegetables—quick and warm."
Im shrugged. "Whatever you want. I'll help slice the meat." His Wind Blade moved with precision, cutting the boar meat into paper-thin slices, uniform and tender—better than any butcher's work Leon had seen on Earth. "No rust, no contamination," Im said, noticing Leon's admiration. "Wind Blade is cleaner than any knife."
Leon set to work preparing the broth. He boiled pig leg bones to remove blood, then refilled the pot with fresh water, adding the bones, radishes, and dried mushrooms (shiitake, wood ear, tea tree). He soaked the boar meat in water mixed with花椒 (Sichuan pepper) and wine, adding garlic, green onions, and perilla leaves to mask the gamey taste.
"Cooking for you is like brewing potions," Im said, watching from the sidelines. He'd stayed to satisfy his curiosity about hot pot, amused by Leon's meticulous steps.
Dahlia and Flower gathered the few winter vegetables they had—cabbage and radishes from the root cellar. The valley's southern mountains blocked warm ocean winds, making winters colder and summers hotter, leaving few fresh vegetables this time of year.
By evening, the broth simmered, thick and milky white, fragrant with herbs and bones. Leon set the pot over the hearth, stoking the fire to keep it boiling. He laid out the sliced boar meat, cabbage, radishes, and mushrooms on wooden plates.
"Dig in," he said, dipping a slice of meat into the broth. It cooked quickly, tender and flavorful, the spices masking any remaining gamey taste.
Im took a bite, his eyes widening. "This is… surprisingly good. The broth cuts through the fat."
Dahlia laughed, spooning broth into her bowl. "It's warmer than roasted meat—perfect for winter!"
Flower nodded, shoveling meat into his mouth. "We should hunt boar more often—if we don't get killed first."
Leon smiled, savoring the broth. The hunt had been terrifying, the butchering messy, but sitting around the fire, sharing hot pot with his friends and master, felt like home. It was the simple joys—good food, safety, companionship—that made surviving in Etho worth it.
As the fire crackled and the broth bubbled, Leon thought of Eldrin's journal, of the ruin waiting in the Whispering Forest. He still had much to learn, many adventures ahead. But for tonight, he was content—full, warm, and alive.
The winter cold pressed against the cottage walls, but inside, the hot pot kept them warm, a small, perfect moment in a world of magic and danger.