The two women left the Dormitory Wing and made their way to the Gilded Towers cafeteria. It was right beside the gardens. There were a few elves in cloaks lined up to retrieve food from the two vendors. When the women approached the front of the line, the worker addressed them.
"Good morning, what would you like today?"
The elf said courteously in a long and drawn-out nasally voice.
"What should I get?"
Gwyn looked around, trying to find a menu or anything that could be considered one.
"Oh, right. You're new here. Don't worry, I'll order something for you." She turned to the worker. "Two steaks, medium rare, with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables tossed in salted butter and garlic."
"Coming right up." The worker then turned and walked around a corner. About ten seconds passed, and the food that Elise described was on a tray. "Here you go."
"Thanks?" Gwyn said in a way that didn't imply she was very thankful. She looked skeptically at the slab of meat. "Is this thing… fully cooked?"
"Hmm? Oh. Yes, it is."
They retrieved some utensils and made their way to an empty table. The food court was mostly empty, with wooden tables gilded along the edges. The tables were generously spaced apart.
Gwyn was surprised no one had made a snide comment towards her, but she figured it had something to do with Elise being there. She glanced at Elise as they sat down.
When did she stop wearing her hood?
"Not going to eat?"
Elise said after some time, when she noticed Gwyn was just staring at her food.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry."
Gwyn swallowed hard, still not cutting into her food.
"Are you sure?"
Elise put a small cut of steak into her mouth. It melted like butter.
"Are you absolutely positive it's cooked?"
"Is this one of your poison paranoia moments again?"
"More so, food poisoning, but sort of. I mean, they cooked this a little too fast."
She picked up the plate and inspected the carrot-shaped vegetables.
Elise's lips creased.
"That's because they didn't cook it."
"What do you mean?"
"Jeez, um. Can I just say they use magic? Is that a satisfactory explanation?"
Gwyn pressed her lips and stared at Elise.
The princess rolled her eyes and set down her cutlery.
"I swear, Gwynevere, one of these days…"
"I'm sorry! I just… have a thing about food."
"Clearly." Elise smiled. "A majority of food here is transformed from one food item to another. With us being trapped in the Wall, we needed a way to feed more people in less space."
"Okay."
"So… Gods. I hate exposition." She sighed. "The DeMeteors are in charge of supplying this food to the people of Keceo. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it is a plant called 'green leaf', which is just a nutrient-rich food that the DeMeteor house has perfected over thousands of years. Unfortunately, it tastes like an old, moldy shoe."
Elise finished her explanation with disinterest.
"So… they turn a lettuce leaf into a burger?"
Elise wasn't sure what either of those things was, but she nodded.
"Sure." She shrugged. "It is to mask the absolutely horrendous taste. There are some people who eat green leaf as is, and those are people you want to avoid. Undoubtedly, it is good for you, hence why we transform it into other foods."
"Okay… that's pretty cool."
"Yes..." Elise let out a heavy breath. "Will you eat now?"
Gwyn, feeling satisfied with her explanation, now happily dug into her food. The aroma of the meat was overwhelming. It reminded her of when her dad would grill on the weekends, yet it had been years since then. Gwyn actually couldn't remember the last time she's had a steak, or at least one her dad had cooked.
When her knife touched the meat, it was soft and tender. The outside crust was charred to perfection. Gwyn cut a small cube free from the larger slab and took a bite. Its inside was pink, and once she ate it, the meat melted in her mouth. It was perfectly salted and had a strong, meaty flavor. The potatoes were—
Elise laughed when Gwyn ate like a starving beast.
"You're really funny, you know."
"I am?"
Gwyn said through a mouth full of food.
"Yes, haven't eaten in however long, yet, still paranoid about poisoning."
"Food poisoning is no joke! Take a couple of seconds to be safe, and you won't be sick for hours."
"We can alleviate those symptoms with healing magic."
Elise gave Gwyn a cocky expression.
"Oh."
Gwyn laughed, finally feeling some of her paranoia wither away.
When they finished their food, Gwyn lay back in her chair, tapping her stomach to signify her pleasure.
"That was insanely good."
"Most meals are here on Keceo; it's harder to find a bad meal than a good one."
Gwyn pointed to her empty plate.
"So that was a green leaf."
Elise eyed Gwyn suspiciously.
"Mmhmm. And not a single leaf was poisoned."
"I will never not be paranoid, I'm sorry."
"Maybe that'll do you some good."
Gwyn adjusted herself in the chair and felt a sting in her side. Remembering the locket, she pulled it out and showed it to Elise.
"Do you know what this prophylact—" She stopped herself from saying prophylactic.
Damned Head Whisperer.
"—locket is?"
Elise went to pick it up, but it immediately stung her hand like an aggressive insect.
"Ow! Why didn't you warn me?"
Elise rubbed her hand.
"I didn't know it did that."
Elise eyed it with a lot of hesitation.
"I don't think that's a healthy type of magic."
"Healthy?"
"Yes, like… a cursed type of magic, sort of. There is no such thing, but some people are superstitious."
Elise remarked, thinking of her mother, who was incredibly wary of the old legends.
Gwyn inspected the locket further and noticed no easy point of entry.
"Does it hurt when you touch it?"
"No…"
The longer Gwyn held the locket, the more an insatiable need for it to be open was present.
"Gwynevere."
Elise spoke, but was ignored.
It holds a great secret. I know it does. What is the King of Terror trying to tell me?
"Gwynevere?"
If I could just figure out what's inside, maybe I can go home. I can go home and be safe, not have to deal with—
"Gwynevere!"
Elise shouted, and Gwyn dropped the locket; it clanged against the table's surface.
"Huh? What happened?"
Gwyn asked, unsure of what had just occurred.
"You were staring at that thing like it was… precious to you or something." Elise looked extremely worried for her friend. "Where did you get that thing anyway?"
"Oh…" Gwyn felt a little embarrassed to admit what she was about to say. "The Head Whisperer gave it to me, but he got it from the King of Terror."
"What?"
Elise stood up, slamming her hands on the table. Her words echoed off the spacious cafeteria. Several people turned their heads to see if anything was about to happen.
"Is that… bad?"
"Is that bad, Gwyn?" She stifled a laugh. "He is a murdering psychopathic war-mongering piece of shit!"
"What should I do with it, then?"
The two women stared at the locket, which, with its purple vines, seemed to be hypnotizing them. Elise looked away from it.
"Toss it somewhere, I don't know."
"But the Head Whisperer said it was especially for me."
"What if it's another bomb?"
"I think the Head Whisperer would have known if it was something like that."
Gwyn wondered why he wouldn't tell her if he knew. But then she recalled his behavior and suddenly trusted the locket less.
"I suggest showing it to the green one in the library. He knows a lot about everything." Elise paused and thought. "That's been in your pocket this whole time?"
Gwyn nodded.
"And it hasn't made you act… weird, right?"
"Not that I know of."
Gwyn was being truthful, but now she wasn't sure.
"I'd say keep it in your pocket, and if you feel a burning sensation, or it flashes a bright light or expands, throw it away. Immediately."
It was like she'd been given instructions like this before.
"Yes, ma'am."
This comment caused Elise's ears to flush a particularly bright shade of pink.
Out of nowhere, Elise looked as though she was trying to see something very far away. Annoyance crossed her face.
"I've got to go."
"What?"
"I'll see you soon."
She ran up and hugged the woman quickly, then departed as though whatever she had to do was extremely urgent.
"What was that about?"
Gwyn was now alone. She stared at the locket. It almost whispered to her. It pulled at her psyche.
She quickly placed it back into her pocket.