In the landlocked Duchy of Nathalas life went on just like it did for the rest of the world. People went on their days with a bounce on their steps. Well, apart from the times when a dragon came to the city of Nathalas and tried to burn it, or a horde of ogres decided to siege Fethelond, which happened on the first of every month. 

But that all didn’t matter to Annie Fargo. She lived in Ulssin. An important border town and mostly protected by the neighboring nation of Olmalashan Theocracy.

Annie did not understand why there were Olmalashan soldiers patrolling the streets of her hometown, and she didn’t care. She had lived with their comforting presence all her life. Annie was seventy-five, and a rice chef.

Yes, a rice chef. For the system had given her a single power, just like it had bestowed powers on everyone else in the world. And, Annie’s power was Rice Master.

She could make anything that had rice in it. But, only if it was cooked together with the rice. For example, she could make rice with vegetables just fine. However, she could not make steak to go with them.

Which also didn’t matter to Annie Fargo. For, her rice dishes were magical. Rice was a good fuel source and so, her meals could restore the full stamina bar of a person after only a single mouthful.

All her life, Annie had used her cooking power to put food on the table for her family. She worked for the Adventurer’s Guild of Ulssin and sometimes, people from as far as Nathalas ordered her rice crackers.

So, when on a sunny Wednesday she was called from the kitchens to speak with the Guild master, she was surprised. Yes, she needed to retire someday. But, were they going to make her retire now? What was she going to do with her time all alone at home? Alone, for her Alfred had passed away two years ago and all her grandchildren were traveling adventurers as their powers were more combat related.

“Annie…” Began grand master Harold Kirk. Annie’s eyes widened at the pause.

“Now, Harold, I have been working for you for fifty years. And in all that time, I have not skipped even a single day of work,” stated Annie and Harold smiled.

“I know, Annie, but…” Annie took in a deep breath to steel herself and spoke.

“If you make me retire now, I will find someone else to work for. My job is my life. What do I do all alone at home? Knit?” Harold chuckled. It was an open secret that Annie could tangle herself in yarn, if given a knitting needle and knitting supplies.

“Annie, let me finish. Your ability Rice Master is great. But the adventurers have been asking about mana restoring food. I heard that there was a woman with a similar power to yours. Hers is named Mana Pudding. You are to go, with an escort, and convince her to come work for us,” Annie sat down, unsure.

She was a sprite thing, despite being old. No journey would be too much for her. She was certain that they would spend most of the time in a wagon, even. And, the time would be spent around young people. She would have someone to talk to, for once. Annie smiled. Yes, she would go and find that Mana Pudding woman.

“This is her file,” said Harold, handing Annie a folder with papers. Annie opened it to see that a fellow elderly woman was on the first page. That heartened Annie. She would have an easier time convincing her. “Her name is Alarie Gluck. She lives in Chilneven, in the county of Marlworth.” 

“Oh, I will get to see the ocean,” Annie’s mood lifted even more. Such an opportunity was not given easily. Seeing as traveling was expensive.

“Yes, Annie. Now, she has her pudding shop where she sells her desserts to adventurers. But, with the troublesome curse that has fallen on Marlworth, she might want to come here. To live out her remaining years in peace. Tell her a house will be provided for her and her family. And, if she so wishes it, we will apply for a citizenship for her,” Annie nodded. That was a lot, but, then again, Annie got a lot in return for her rice miracles too.

“I take it that I need to stock up on rice crackers before I leave?” Every time that Annie had taken a break, only for holidays and family occasions, she had to stock up the Guild’s shop with rice crackers.

“Yes, that would be nice of you, Annie. Now, Alarie is being scouted by other Adventurer’s Guilds, but her stubbornness is the only thing keeping her in Marlworth. Annie, put your safety first, but, bring back Alarie,” Annie nodded, and she stood. Putting her folder under her arm, she walked out. She stopped in the doorway and turned back.

“You will never retire me, will you, Harold?” Harold sighed and shook his head.

“I'm aware that you have plenty of good years left in you, Annie. As long as this guild stands, you will have a place in it. And so will your rice,” Annie grinned and bowed. Harold waved at her, a small, tired, smile playing on his lips.

With a slight bounce to her step, Annie Fargo went to the kitchen. She quickly cooked the rice. Frying rice and then boiling it until it was nice and big and white as a cloud.

As she waited for the rice to absorb the water, she chopped the basil. The knife went up and down with a speed that one wouldn’t expect of a woman her age. But, Annie had done these hundreds of times already. Her hands were not shaking in the least.

When that was done, she went over the giant pot and added the basil, the eggs, milk, salt, and ground pepper, and she mixed them well. Until the mixture in the pot was a lovely orange with little green spots.

Then, it was the magical part. She touched her trusty skilled and placed some melted butter on it. Then, she scooped some mixture and placed it in the skilled. Normally, one would need to cook the rice cake for three minutes, but, Annie activated the Rice Master and closed the skilled. Her mana went into it and the first two rice cakes were done!

Annie repeated that until everything in the pot was made into rice cakes. The rest of the staff of the kitchen could finish making them into crackers. Annie loved putting all kinds of toppings herself. Cream cheese and ham, apricot jam and dried figs. Oh, her mouth was watering. But, she had a trip to plan.

And so, for the first time since she started to work for the Ulssin Adventurer’s Guild, Annie Fargo left the finishing work to someone else. She hung her apron on the rack and placed her hat on the shelf above it, and she left to pack.