"Why?" Alice asked. She didn't like how she had exposed Jake like that, but she hadn't heard much praise for archery in a long time, and a part of her wanted to hear Jake's reasoning.
She wasn't searching for validation.
Nonetheless, it was something that she wanted to hear about.
Perhaps, it was connected to Jake's resolution to keep Asta Bow Household alive and to turn archery into a popular class. Those feats were challenging and required so much time that shallow words and conviction would break upon a first hurdle.
Alice thoughtfully stared at Jake as she thought about that.
Jake curved his lips up.
He said, "Because Mrs. Alice and her archery have won over Mrs. Minerva."
Alice widened her eyes briefly before shutting them and smiling from ear to ear.
Minerva was also surprised behind.
Elizabeth looked up at Jake, not understanding much. Well, cookies tasted so good that she didn't bother much about the conversation going up above her head.
Alice faintly laughed, "You're astute, Archer... you have my deepest thanks and apologies. I shouldn't have asked so bluntly about that... but I can't lie that your words have made me happy. Your reasoning now made this grandma the happiest archer in the world! Let's board our steeds and continue our talk over here!"
"Yes!" Jake replied with a bright smile! He didn't expect to feel so nice, too. He turned around. "Uh."
Elizabeth and Sio were still busy with their food and drinks.
They looked at him with wilderness in their eyes.
"Don't tell me you are one of those with bottomless stomachs?" Jake asked.
The bear and the little girl nodded.
-
"We're going to the turtle forest!" Alice shouted at Jake and Elizabeth, who were saddling the bear. She peeked out from the carriage's window and waved at them. She was like a grandma who had her second life now!
Her short white hair was held back by hairpins so the lady could easily converse with the duo on the bear.
He stood at its feet, so he couldn't see it from the bird's view, but he could tell why it was called like that. The forest's perimeter was like a turtle's shell. It was impossible to enter the forest because the trees stuck close to each other like walls, and it must surely look like a shell from high above, meaning that Minerva must have made countermeasures to prevent others from entering it.
A massive chunk of the land solely belonged to Minerva and Alice.
It was like their special playground!
"If it's a shell, it should have holes for limbs and head to poke out!" Elizabeth said.
Alice and Minerva smiled.
"Imagine the forest as a turtle. All holes are filled and impossible to go through because the turtle is obese," Minerva said.
Elizabeth put her hands on her waist and sighed, "That's no good! That's why Grandma can't be a beast tamer!"
"Yes, of course," Minerva faintly smiled as she stroked Elizabeth's hair.
Her old hand soon flew up, leaving the golden streaks behind. Minerva's nature magic elevated her and Alice to the forest's top—these two rode a newborn tree to the top!
Alice waved at them, "An entrance is on the top. You two must get up here on your own! I wish you all good luck!"
Jake and Elizabeth stared at them until they were gone at the top.
These two didn't doubt that Alice and Minerva would now have royal tea and cookies up there.
Jake crossed his arms. "With my stats, I think I can climb it up. What about you?"
Elizabeth mimicked Jake and crossed her arms.
She lifted her chin and said, "You look down on me! I will now pass you a beast-tamer quest!"
"Oh!" Jake exclaimed. "You're so cool, Elizabeth!"
"Yes! I'm wild!" Elizabeth grinned.
"Wild~~"
"Hehe~~ Wild!"