"Master, the water tastes sweeter since you installed the purification circle," Leon said over breakfast, sipping from a wooden bowl.
Im snorted. "That's your imagination. The circle filters impurities—if anything, it should taste blander, not sweeter. Sugars are partially adsorbed, but salt isn't touched."
Leon's eyes lit up. "So it adsorbs some sugar? But it didn't affect the salt when we purified it."
Im nodded, impressed by his curiosity. "I studied charcoal adsorption extensively for the paper. Activated charcoal—processed with magic to make its pores larger—traps small molecules like sugars, but salts are too small to stick. Why the interest?"
Leon leaned forward, grinning. "I'm tired of winter food—just meat and radishes. Can we make something new? But I'm out of money."
Im raised an eyebrow. "You melted gold coins for your fountain pen. How are you broke?"
"Exactly! I spent too much on the pen," Leon groaned. "Now I only have half a gold ingot left. I was hoping Serena's guild would hurry up and buy the patent rights." He avoided mentioning Dahlia and Flower had more pocket money—asking Im was easier than begging his friends.
"What do you need? And why do you need my help?" Im asked, curious. Leon usually handled cooking independently.
"Enough money for ingredients, but I need you to process something for me," Leon said vaguely. Im agreed, intrigued by the mystery.
That afternoon, Leon and Flower set off for Sarneth Town, leaving a pouting Dahlia behind. "It's too muddy—you'll slow us down," Leon had explained, though he knew she was upset about missing the trip.
Winter roads were brutal. Compacted snow crunched underfoot, while unshoveled patches swallowed boots whole. Melting snow turned shaded areas into slippery mud. Even the lord's servants had started delivering supplies less frequently, stockpiling since winter produce stayed fresh.
By dusk, they returned, leading a thin cow and carrying bulging packs. "You bought a cow?" Dahlia exclaimed, rushing over. "Are we having a whole roasted cow?"
Leon rolled his eyes. "The cow's for milk. The food's in the packs. And I brought you oranges from the lord's cellar."
Dahlia's frown softened as she took the oranges, peeling one immediately. "They're still sour, but better than nothing. Why a cow, though? Winter forage is scarce."
Im approached, eyeing the cow. "This poor thing's half-starved. Why buy it?"
" The farmer couldn't feed it after the snowstorm," Flower said, annoyed. "Cost me two gold coins! Leon promised to find forage."
Leon patted the cow's neck. "We planted Green Net Grass around the cottage—it grows year-round. The snow's thin there; the cow can graze. And it's a milk cow—fresh milk will make our meals better."
Im smiled, amused by his foresight. "Clever. Green Net Grass is tough enough for winter. Just don't let it trample the herb garden."
Leon nodded, already planning. The cow would provide milk, and the oranges were a rare treat. Tomorrow, he'd tackle his real goal: making something new with soybeans he'd bought—something no one in Etho had tasted before.