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Derrick was surprised when he got a message from Mr World requesting if they could have a private meeting. It had been less than a week since their last tarot club meeting (at least as far as Derrick could tell, considering they only had the loosest concept of days and nights) so him asking for a meeting in Mr Fool's divine kingdom was highly abnormal.
"Perhaps he is in need of some urgent beyonder characteristics?" Derrick thought, slightly puzzled. In a lucky coincidence Derrick had injured himself slightly in the last expedition and had been instructed to take a few missions by chief Colin, so he was just been sitting by himself in his house (meant for a family of three, too big for one child too cold TOO EMPT— no), reading up on some myths or stories that could be of any use to Mr Fool or could be traded from anything from the rest of the tarot club, hence Mr World's request couldn't have come at a better time.
Adopting a kneeling position Derrick sent a prayer of agreement to Mr Fool before feeling the familiar sensation of being summoned to Mr Fool's divine Kingdom and was enveloped in crimson. When he opened his eyes, ready to greet Mr Fool, Derrick was surprised to see that the layout of the area has changed. Instead of the usual long molted table and stone chairs the current area seemed more like a small room. There was a round wooden table that seemed to be filled with bowls and plates made of materials that Derrick had never seen, all of which contained strange powders and liquids that he couldn't identify. Near the table sat a box like object that was hollow and had mesh like partitions, kind of like a cupboard. Sitting at one of the simple wooden chairs near the table was Mr World, the usual grey fog that covers all members of the tarot club conspicuously absent.
Derrick took a moment to take in Mr World's features. He was a serious man, with sharp features that slightly resembled those of the ancient elves and narrowed eyes that similar to some of the apex predators that hunted around the City of Silver. His clothes were meticulous and neat, the stitching much more even and well put together than anything they could ever even dream of making .
As he observed he could see Mr World's eyes start to glint with amusement. With a jolt Derrick realised that he could see him as well and knew that Derrick had been staring at him. Feeling blood rush up towards his face in embarrassment Derrick quickly averted his gaze.
"Good afternoon Mr Sun," Mr World greeted warmly. "
Good afternoon Mr World," Derrick greeted back, still not meeting the man's eyes, causing him to look even more amused.
Derrick was aware that Mr World was an extremely powerful and talented person, how could he not? The man routinely sold sequence 5 characteristics during meeting and always seems to be extremely well informed about many high level matters, and this was not even considering his position as Mr Fool's blessed. Though most of the other members seemed wary and scared of him, Miss Magician in particular, Derrick had always found him to be a very kind and dependable presence, similar to Mr Hanged Man. The fact that he made food and brought it up to Mr Fool's divine kingdom specifically for Derrick meant the world to him — a lonely child with no friends and parents that he had been forced to kill with his own hands. And the taste!!! Derrick still dreamt of that rice and dumplings sometimes, the horrible taste of the black grass bread and monster meat that he ate daily only adding to his longing.
Since then other members of the tarot club have also sent him small 'snacks' and 'candies' all of which he adored, but also left a pit in his stomach at the thought of how blessed he was to encounter Mr Fool and his grace, and that it is only he who can eat all these delicious things while the rest of the city of silver still suffered without any respite.
Shaking himself out of his melancholic thoughts he forced himself to look at Mr World. "What did you need from me Mr World? " He asked seriously.
"I hope I haven't bothered you by calling you up here all of a sudden Mr Sun." Mr World began courteously. Seeing Derrick shake his head he continued, "Its just that I thought perhaps you would like to learn something new?" He spoke in a manner that seemed — if Derrick wasn't mistaken — almost embarrassed.
"Learn something new?" Derrick parroted with confusion. Was Mr World offering to teach him a new skill? Derrick's heart started to beat faster with excitement at the thought of what he could learn from such an experienced beyonder. Would it be a new attack tactic that he could use to defeat monsters easier? Or perhaps some information that they could use to free the forsaken lands? But seeing the anticipation on Derricks face World sighed, sounding somewhat chagrined.
"As of now I do not have anything to teach you combat wise nor do I have any new information regarding how to free your people," he said, his gaze turning slightly regretful at the young boy's crestfallen expression.
"The what did you want to teach me?" Derrick said, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"I was wondering if you would like to know how to bake a cake?" Mr World asked softly.
Now Derrick was really confused. "A cake? What's that?" He asked. At his question Mr world somehow managed to look both melancholic and slightly awkward.
"It's like a sweet bread" Mr World explained, "but more softer and fluffier and you can sometimes add chocolate or cream."
Derrick knew what chocolate was!!! Miss Justice had sent him some! It was much sweeter and richer than anything he had ever had but he had enjoyed it thoroughly.
"That sounds wonderful Mr World!" Derrick said enthusiastically, causing Mr World to relax at his response and return his smile with a smaller one of his own. Mr World isn't a person who emotes much is he? Derrick thought with a small amount of guilty amusement.
Nodding resolutely Mr World began his explanations "These are what we are going to be using today" he said, his tone making it sounds like a mission debriefing. Derrick straightened instinctively, causing Mr World to visibly fight off a smile. He started to list off the ingredients carefully, while Derrick listened with rapt attention and fascination.
"This is flour, it's made from wheat, that is coco powder, you make chocolate from that and these are eggs, sugar, butter, some chocolate, a little bit of salt and ideally we would be using some vanilla extract but I wasn't able to find any so we will have to do without."
Derrick was well aware of the abundance of the outside world, how could he not, with all the stories and discussions he hears every week in tarot meetings. But right now, listening to Mr World talk about all of these amazing items that none of the children of the dark would ever even be able to even dream about, he couldn't help but feel especially isolated and even slightly bitter. He must've made some sort of expression as Mr World stopped talking, his eyebrows creased in a worried furrow.
"Are you feeling all right Mr Sun?" He asked. Derrick didn't trust himself to speak so he just nodded. Thankfully Mr World got the hint and didn't pursue the matter further.
"Today we are going to be making brownies," he said, sounding very self satisfied. "I'd usually want to start with a sponge cake but since I don't have any baking powder here (Derrick has no idea what that is) brownies it is then."
Under Mr World's careful instructions Derrick began to start cooking. First he set a pot on the metal box, which, Mr World explained, in an uncharacteristically aggrieved tone, was an oven-stove hybrid invented by someone called Roselle (isn't that the person whose diary pages Mr Fool collected?) that used coal and fire to heat up the insides to allow them to bake the cake while also letting you heat stuff on top of it.
Derrick patiently melted the butter, sugar and chocolate until it was a brown liquid while Mr World mixed up the dry ingredients before adding eggs and then the powder into the butter sugar mix. He watched in fascination as they all came together to make a delicious smelling semi solid mixture.
"This is my mother's recipe" Mr World told him, while they were cooking, sounding very nostalgic. "It isn't how people usually make brownies but she got it from her sister, and well, my father and I loved her version better so she used to make this for us whenever we had any special occasions." He stared at the pot silently for a while after that, as if lost in memories. Derrick felt his heart swell at Mr World's words, that feeling of missing one's family, of missing something that could never be had again touching him deep in his heart. It was something he himself felt whenever he walked around his house, looking into the bedroom where he and his parents used to huddle close during the colder months, them telling him tales and legends of the time before they were forsaken by the Lord, of how the sun shone brightly and their people were happy and prosperous. Or when he'd go into the kitchen and suddenly be struck at how his mother used to give him the only slices of bread and meat when rations were low or how his father used to reassure him when he used to cry about how all the other children used to tease him about his height. Derrick ached to reach out and reassure Mr World but before he could bridge that gap, Mr World quickly changed the topic of conversation, his tone suddenly taking an almost artificial, but not quite, cheerful air.
"Here" he said, his mouth twisted into a wide smile, eyes curled in a way that both seemed happy and sad at the same time, offering him a spoonful of the brownie batter. "Taste this and see if it needs more sugar."
Derrick slowly blew at the mixture before putting in his mouth. The moment it hit his tongue his eyes widened. It was like nothing he had ever tasted before!!!!
"This is soo good Mr World!!!" He said, his voice filled with awe. The smile of Mr World's face shrunk and became more natural at his words. Surreptitiously Derrick tried to get more to taste but it was pushed out of his reach by ."It'll taste much better after we cook it" Mr World reassured him, something that Derrick couldn't believe in the slightest. How could anything ever tasted better than this?? But he decided to trust his senior and didn't protest.
Mr World quickly put the batter into circular shaped tins before popping it into the oven. As they waited for it to cook, with Mr World adjusting the flames and temperature using his flame control, Derrick was allowed to lick the remaining batter off from the pot and spoon they used. The silence that settled between them was oddly domestic in a way that Derrick hasn't experienced since his parents died. Soon a lovely aroma filled the area that made Derrick's mouth water and not long after that Mr World announced that it was ready.
Derrick dutifully set out two plates while Mr World transferred the 'brownie' (the semi solid batter now fully solid) and cut it into two pieces before sliding the obviously larger piece over to Derrick. And then, under his watchful and indulgent gaze, Derrick put a small piece into his mouth.
It was like an explosion of flavour, the denseness of the brownie with the slight crackle over the top and the rich chocolatey taste all blew Derrick's taste buds away. Mr World was right!! It was soo much better cooked!!! It wasn't long before the whole piece was completely finished. Mr World, who had been sedentarily eating his own piece at a much slower pace, watched Derrick eat with obvious fondness.
Blushing at his lack of manners Derrick bowed to Mr World. "Mr World thank you so much for this wonderful food" he said, tears starting to form "If there is anything I can ever do for you in exchange please —"
"It's not necessary" Mr World cut him off gently, placing his fork down next to his half finished piece. "In fact, I should be the one thanking you for agreeing to spend time with me today." Ignoring Derricks noise of protest he continued "If you really wish to repay me then after the people of the city of silver are freed, you can perhaps make me a meal outside in the real world. "
'When the people of the city of silver are freed.' Those words echoed in Derrick's head, filling his heart with hope and causing the tears that had been building up in his eyes to start flowing down in excess. The certainty in Mr World's voice left absolutely no doubt in that statement,that they would be freed someday and Mr World would be there to continue supporting them. As he hung his head and let the tears fall to the ground he felt a soft hand brush them off his face.
"Do not worry Little Sun" Mr World told him, his voice affectionate and resolute, "Mr Fool and I will make sure that happens with our utmost power, of that you have my assurance."
Overcome by emotion, Derrick couldn't help but pull Mr. World into an impulsive and desperate hug."
Initially frozen, as if unaware of what exactly it is that he should be doing Mr World slowly relaxed and started to hug Derrick back. He wasn't sure exactly how long they hugged but in what felt like too short of a time Mr world pulled back and informed him that someone was trying to wake him up and that he had to leave. The last thing that Derrick saw before he left Mr Fool's divine kingdom was Mr World's almost lonely smile sending him off.
"Someday I will help you find peace too Mr World" Derrick promised to himself before he was enveloped in crimson.
Klein smiled to himself as he started clearing up the vessels that they had used, organising them to make them easier to bring back down from the gray fog.
Taking a bite from his piece of brownie, he softly said "Happy Birthday to me." And raised the plate up as if in a silent toast. The rolling grey fog surrounding him offered no response