General Cleaning and Dinner

Although each of them had their own views on the topic just discussed, they soon immersed themselves in the task of general cleaning.

The house, which had been uninhabited for over twenty years, was far more difficult to clean than they had imagined.

Not only were the walls and floors covered in a thick layer of dust, but the doors, windows, and exterior walls were also encrusted with stubborn grime from years of wind and rain.

Under these circumstances, the four of them had to divide the labor and take on different tasks.

Xia Duo was the first to run up to the second floor. She intended to tidy up the beds and bedding in the bedrooms first, taking advantage of the clear weather to prepare a comfortable place for everyone to rest.

Po Kong, on the other hand, found a bucket and a brush behind the kitchen. He planned to scrub the exterior of the house; as someone not suited for delicate work, he took on the tasks that required jumping and climbing around.

As for the interior cleaning, that was left to Starlight and Moen. Possessing wind and water magic, they were naturally adept at such chores, which greatly increased their efficiency.

Although Moen was far less skilled with wind elements than she was with natural elements, it was perfectly adequate for cleaning.

With a wave of her delicate hand, she summoned a small vortex of wind elements, moving it inch by inch along the floor.

The dust and cobwebs sucked up were gathered at the center of the vortex and compressed into a small sphere. Once it reached a certain size, Moen would pick it up and toss it into a nearby trash bin.

Starlight’s job was to follow behind her, condensing streams of water on the floor in the areas she had cleared, naturally washing the empty spaces once more.

With their seamless cooperation, the interior of the house soon became much cleaner. While it hadn't quite reached the level of looking brand new, it was a significant improvement compared to the sight they first encountered.

It must be said that the collective efficiency of the four was quite high. In just an hour or two, they successfully managed to thoroughly clean the long-uninhabited house from the inside out.

“Oof... cleaning is really more exhausting than I expected! Look, it’s already so late. Since we have our own kitchen now, Little Star, how about you show us your skills? Show Little Shadow and the others some of humanity’s culinary masterpieces!”

Po Kong sighed as he lazily flopped onto the living room sofa. Looking out the window at the slowly setting sun, he made the suggestion to Starlight with a smile.

“Oh, please. You’re tired after just scrubbing the windows and exterior walls? Starlight did plenty of work too, you know. It’s not right to just order people around like that! Why don't we just have something simple?”

Xia Duo was carefully removing a dust cover from an ornament. Upon hearing Po Kong’s words, she couldn't help but curl her lip and speak with a hint of reproach.

“That’s only because the food Little Star makes is too delicious! Oh, right—it seems you haven't had a chance to taste it yet...” Po Kong chuckled, seemingly trying to change the subject.

“Stop being so cheeky. If you’re that idle, come over and help!” Xia Duo rolled her eyes at him and spoke crossly.

...

Listening to their bickering, Starlight and Moen couldn't help but share a knowing smile. After spending these days together, they had grown accustomed to the daily verbal sparring of this contentious pair.

At first, Starlight was a bit worried they would eventually fall out if they kept arguing like this. But after consulting Moen in private, he learned that this was actually an expression of their close relationship, so he eventually started treating it as a form of daily entertainment.

Starlight naturally had no intention of refusing Po Kong’s request. Having eaten dry rations for several days straight, he also craved a proper meal. Now that the kitchen was refreshed, making a meal was a simple task.

He asked Moen to take out the food and seasonings stored in her space, then carried them into the kitchen and began to get busy.

Over an hour later, accompanied by a series of enticing aromas, the dinner Starlight had meticulously prepared was brought out of the kitchen dish by dish.

Because the capacity of Moen’s storage space was limited, the variety of food they carried wasn't very large—just some simple salted meat and vegetables. However, under Starlight’s skillful hands, he still managed to create three dishes and a soup that were perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

It must be said that dinner after labor was indeed more delicious. The three people in the living room, whose stomachs were already growling with hunger, had their appetites successfully piqued by the wafting aroma the moment the kitchen door opened.

“Wow! It looks like this guy Po Kong was right—your skills really are excellent, Starlight! Definitely deserves a thumbs up! But as a mage, isn't it a bit strange to be so proficient at cooking?”

“Mmm... Sister, try this soup. The flavor is also very good. I didn't know you could make such a fresh base using the leftover bones from the smoked meat!”

“I told you so! Little Star’s skills are absolutely top-tier. But speaking of which, do you elves actually eat this stuff? I thought you were mostly vegetarians! I was afraid to order anything too complicated when we were out before.”

“Hmph, why are you so narrow-minded? We just eat simply. Simple doesn't mean we don't eat meat! Besides, the main reason is that most of the food on your side doesn't suit my palate.”

“Indeed... within the elf race, we advocate against needless killing and prefer a simple diet. After all, our lives are long; if we ate sumptuous feasts every day, it would be too boring. However, since Starlight worked hard to make this, we have to show our appreciation.”

“Little Shadow! I saw that piece of meat first! How can you snatch it!”

“Che! It belongs to whoever grabs it first. You were too slow!”

“Heehee, Sister, if you two keep fighting, I’m going to take it!”

“Wait! Sister / Little Crescent, leave some for me!”

“You’re all too slow! Behold the Spatial Transfer I learned today!”

“Little Star, you’re cheating!? Do you really need to use magic just to eat?”

...

Starlight’s cooking won unanimous praise from the other three. Watching them laugh and play, he also wore a satisfied smile before joining the joyful feast.

Unnoticed, the sky outside the window had gradually turned a deep blue. The entire academy was submerged in the late summer night sky, and the laughter inside the house slowly dissipated under the cover of night as the four of them returned to their respective tidied rooms.

After settling everything, Starlight went to the second-floor room that originally belonged to his father, while Po Kong chose the room Carlos had lived in during his youth.

As Starlight lay down on the clean bedding, a sense of fatigue quietly washed over him.

“Today was another productive day!”

He sighed as he buried his head into the fluffy pillow. Amidst the faint floral scent of the detergent and the warm aroma of sun-dried fabric, he slowly closed his eyes.