The evening sky slowly crept in across the humble Junai town of Taraji.
After eating lunch at Jaheim and Alima's home, Firion and Kaida went back to their guest villa as they prepared to attend the local gathering at the canteen. They wore their mantles to the event as the temperatures began to drop.
Firion was still concerned about the hooded figure from earlier, to which he advised Kaida to stay close to him tonight. With the amount of people expected to show up, it might be easy for them to get separated from each other.
As they made off towards the gathering, they noticed that many of the attendees were bringing various vegetables, spices, and some were even taking eggs!
Earlier Jaheim mentioned that its customary for people to bring something to add to the soup, and it must be a top quality ingredient for a meal as luxurious as this one.
Kaida suggested bringing a small amount of her sun-dried truffles, since they had a strong taste they would only need to bring a little bit and still keep some for their journey ahead.
When they reached the canteen's location it was heavily decorated with many tropical flowers serving as table center pieces and between the many pavilions there were hanging lamps to keep the place illuminated.
Firion recognized the type of lamp as the same kind they used in Aldenburg gatherings, its was blue glass with a glowing orchid inside!
"Strange..." He mumbled.
At the middle of the canteen was an enormous cauldron with two yumboes stirring it as a deva man stoked the fire on the bottom with a long straw to feed the flames fresh air.
Many of the villagers appeared to be excited since they anticipated a hot meal as the air became colder with the night sky beginning to take over.
Eventually the two ran into their friends Jaheim and Alima.
"Hey! Glad you could make it to dinner tonight! Are you gonna add something?" Jaheim enthusiastically asked.
Alima revealed what they brought. "This is a rare treat that can only be found in the desert out here, its called ocean cactus, it takes a hundred years to mature, and the amount of water inside one stalk is said to hydrate someone for a whole day! Even if your in the scorching heat!"
"Marvelous." Replied Firion. "A type of cactus that provides the body with enough liquids must be a rare commodity indeed."
"Oh yes it is! This type of plant could cost someone a bar of white gold out here depending on the time of year! Also what did you two decide to bring?" Jaheim asked.
Kaida smiled, and carefully open the small clay jar that had the dried truffles; instantly, a powerful, and delicious aroma filled the surrounding air and made several villagers curious as to what smelled so good!
"These are sun dried black truffles!" She revealed. "These grew everywhere in the forest where I lived with Firion, but they're hard to find because they're buried so deep into the ground."
Alima carefully took the small jar and inhaled the wonderful fumes.
"AAAHHHH!!!~ These smell so nice!" Her mouth was humorously drooling!
Soon it became time to start preparing the main event!
A man approached the cauldron with something large that was heavily wrapped in cloth, it was later revealed to be Acro's heart as it was carefully lowered into the simmering broth.
Then everyone started moving to set aside a path for someone special.
A tall, beautiful, white fang deva woman approached the pot.
Her face clearly showed age, but her dark skin glowed with youthful vigor. And every inch of her impressive build revealed pure muscle.
Even with how tall he is, Firion only barely came up to this woman's shoulder.
"You two look! That is our town's oracle, Nkiri. She is the most influential person here." Alima whispered to them.
Kaida thought to herself, ("Why does it feel like I have seen her before...")
Something about her radiated amongst everyone, from her pure white hair to her deep violet eyes, but she also had white pupils. Interesting enough, she was not blind, but merely a sign of her receiving Ogun's blessing.
In Junai, only four oracles may exist at a time, with Nkiri being known as the "Eyes of the South."
As she approached the cauldron with a short, elderly yumbo man who stood beside her as he handed her something wrapped in paper, as it was unfolded, it was revealed to be some type of root.
"My gift to this night's feast, kaiser ginger, a root so obscure that many have lost their life seeking it out for medicinal properties. It only grows on the highest mountain in the northern tip Junai where it is said to be most nutritious of its kind." The oracle explained.
She casually tossed the whole root into the soup rather than have it ground up!
She chuckled and clarified, "Do not worry, this type of ginger easily melts when exposed to heat. This why its so hard to transport. The root is almost like ice, and it will spoil if someone try to carry through the scorching desert. I have kept it stored carefully for an event like this."
Everyone clapped their hands at her generous offering. A rare type of ginger that will allow for excellent blood circulation in the cold months.
Soon, everyone was taking turns adding something to the cauldron as a mouth-watering fume hovered over everyone.
Though Firion was worried about Kaida's vegetarian preference, they were both surprised that the cooks prepared a polite, vegetarian option for those who are the same as her.
It was a winter green soup that was made separately with some substitutions, but thankfully some of her dried truffle flakes and even Alima's ocean cactus made it in.
After everyone had a turn to offer their tributes to the feast and letting it simmer long enough, dinner was ready for serving!