Kaine walked through the Valcrest Estate with a strange expression on his face. He couldn’t believe he got so immersed in their recovery that he completely forgot about something as important as food.
When a Companion is summoned from another world, the toll of inter-world travel leaves their body exhausted, some are so exhausted that they do not wake up during the Protection Period at all, so the Protection Period temporarily maintains their bodily functions, ensuring their body continues functioning normally without requiring food or water until the period ends.
This is why Companions do not need food during the Protection Period, so there are times when Summoners who are too excited about their new Summons sometimes forget about their Companions’ basic needs.
Kaine knew that, but he still didn’t excuse himself, others could forget, he shouldn’t have.
It was a mistake.
A big one.
And now, he needed to correct it.
Food.
He needed food.
He already sent his summons back to the Recovery Sanctuary, ready to procure food. Then, he faced another question.
What did he feed them?
They weren’t humans and their bodies’ conditions were far from optimal, should he give them normal food that summons were usually given? Or should he give them what humans ate?
That question troubled him, he didn’t want to make a mistake when it came to something as important as nutrition.
Fortunately, he wasn’t in this alone.
He had help.
[Companion Care Instructions available.]
That was the message he saw.
He focused on the message and three small screens popped up.
[Serathiel.]
[Current State: Severe malnutrition, blood depletion, muscular deterioration, impaired nutrient absorption.]
[Current Needs: High protein intake, iron-rich nutrients, marrow minerals and easily digestible food.]
[Recommended Meal: Marrow Meat Broth.]
[Ingredients:]
[Minced red meat.]
[Marrow bone.]
[Egg.]
[Salt.]
[Water.]
[Preparation:]
[Simmer the marrow bone until the broth becomes rich and cloudy. Add finely minced meat and continue cooking until completely soft. Remove from direct heat before adding the egg. Stir until evenly mixed.]
[Serve warm.]
[Recommended Portion: Small serving. Additional portions may be provided every four to six hours depending on digestion.]
...
[Lysara.]
[Current State: Severe malnutrition, depleted vitality, damaged Spiritual Roots and inactive Fox Core.]
[Current Needs: Easily digestible protein, mild carbohydrates and low-density spiritual nourishment.]
[Recommended Meal: Spirit Grain Fish Porridge.]
[Ingredients:]
[White fish.]
[Spirit Grain.]
[Light broth.]
[Water.]
[Preparation:]
[Cook the Spirit Grain until completely soft. Add finely shredded fish and continue cooking until the mixture becomes smooth and easy to digest.]
[Serve warm.]
[Avoid adding concentrated spiritual ingredients while the Fox Core remains inactive.]
...
[Nerys.]
[Current State: Severe malnutrition, essence depletion, unstable physical form and active Binding Seals.]
[Current Needs: Easily digestible protein, minerals and frequent small meals.]
[Recommended Meal: Mineral Meat Broth.]
[Ingredients:]
[Soft meat.]
[Bone broth.]
[Mineral salt.]
[Water.]
[Preparation:]
[Cook the meat until extremely soft. Shred into small pieces and mix with the broth. Add a small amount of mineral salt.]
[Serve warm.]
...
It made Kaine pause for a moment, but then he nodded to himself, noted down the recommended meals for each of them and the instructions to prepare them.
Then, he walked out of the room. He tried to find Renn, he wasn’t there, that had never happened before.
Kaine could tell what was happening, but not giving it much importance, he let it go and decided to visit the kitchen on his own.
So here he was, moving through the Valcrest Estate according to the directions given to him by a few servants he asked.
Yes, he himself had no idea where the kitchen was, he had never had to visit it.
He found it fairly quickly, he pushed the door open without waiting and walked in. Heat immediately hit his face. He looked around and noticed how enormous the kitchen was, several stone stoves burned along one side of the room, while cooks moved between long preparation tables.
It was noisy, but that noise weakened immediately when the people inside noticed him, a few cooks completely stopped what they were doing.
Then an older, broad man wearing a white apron approached him.
"Young Master Kaine?"
He looked confused.
"I need some food prepared."
That made the cook frown even more.
Even if he needed food, why would he come here on his own? Of course, he didn’t ask it out loud. He had a general idea of what was happening and he had no intention of getting involved in any mess.
"Of course."
He nodded.
"What would you like?"
The family pulled out the investments they made in Kaine, food, however, was still available, so were the cooks.
Kaine passed him what he had noted down. The cook read it, for a moment, his face changed, it was a recipe he hadn’t seen before, but when he thought about it, it made quite a lot of sense, he even thought of ways to make it even tastier.
Suddenly, a new light shone in his eyes.
"I’ll prepare them immediately."
He nodded, his excitement to try something new couldn’t be any clearer.
But before the cook could leave, Kaine heard a familiar voice.
"Wait."
Kaine’s face didn’t change, he turned around and saw the same three young men standing at the kitchen doors with the same grins on their faces.
Marlon.
Teren.
Kess.
"Young Masters."
The cook talking to Kaine greeted them with a light bow.
Marlon ignored the greeting, his eyes were fixed on Kaine.
"So this is where you went."
Kaine remained silent.
Kess laughed.
"You actually came all the way to the kitchen yourself."
Kaine noted how they were here as well, but he didn’t react to that. He just turned back to the cook, ignoring them.
"Prepare the meals."
He ordered.
That irritated Kess more than an insult probably would have. Marlon then turned towards the cook.
"Make us something."