Raegar and Nivara continued traveling down the road that led to Alice's home. He found the walk peaceful as they were surrounded by fields of flowers stretching in all directions with farmhouses dotting the land. The Dark Elf remained silent until glancing at him, questioning. ''Looking forward to traveling? We're using Marlow to fly across the continent?''

''That's right,'' he answered. ''It will make travelling faster using a Wyvern.''

The dark-skinned woman nodded in agreement as they crossed a stone bridge, only to see a Rest Stop in the distance. When Nivara heard this, her red eyes opened as she pointed it at it. ''What is that?'' she asked.

''A place for merchants and people to rest for the night,'' he explained. ''We're not stopping there unless you want to?''

Just as those words left his lips, a delicious aroma hit his nose, making his stomach rumble as he offered. ''Well, I can smell something nice coming from there. Want to have some food?''

Nivara gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she fell into step beside Raegar. Together, the two made their way toward the Rest Stop, a structure nestled at the crossroads of weary travelers and wandering merchants. As they stepped inside, a wave of warmth and noise greeted them.

'Looks like Dahlia took my idea seriously,' he mused with a knowing smile.

Following that, the duo noticed a bustling hub of activity tucked within a surprisingly lively marketplace. The air was rich with the scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and exotic spices that came from a faraway land, brought in by the many traders that sailed the dangerous oceans.

Dozens of people buzzed about the space, some engaged in bargaining over wares while others laughed over steaming meals at the tables scattered around the food stalls. Each vendor's stand was brightly decorated with colorful cloths or signs, offering everything from hot stew to sweet pastries, and even the occasional rare herb or trinket.

Raegar's sharp red eyes quickly swept the room. In one shadowed corner stood an inn, its wooden sign gently swinging in the breeze, offering a place to rest for coin. On the opposite side of the building, across the crowd, he spotted a more fortified structure, clearly a barracks, judging by the presence of guards watching the crowd.

He led the Dark Elf through the crowds until she spotted one that caught the young woman's attention as she pointed. Raegar followed her finger only to spot a stall that sold all kinds of dumplings, making his stomach growl once again. The two sat down, got comfortable as the owner glanced at them, a friendly expression appearing.

''My prince!'' he cheerfully exclaimed. ''What can I do for you on this cold evening?''

''Give me two of everything,'' Raegar replied, taking out a few gold coins and dropping them on the table.

The owner eagerly agreed, took the payments before beginning to cook their meals, as Nivara turned to him. ''How are we going to eat that much food, Rae? Ain't that a bit greedy?''

Raegar chuckled at her remark, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he leaned back slightly in his seat. ''Indeed it is,'' he agreed, patting his stomach. ''But with my Aether constantly burning through everything I eat, I need more just to keep up. And ever since I gave up drinking? The hunger's doubled. Apparently, sobriety comes with an appetite.''

Nivara giggled, the sound light and melodic as she gave him a playful nudge. ''You'd still be handsome if you got chubby,'' she teased, red eyes gleaming with mischief.

Their laughter blended easily, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. Just then, the owner of the stall appeared, placing two steaming bowls in front of them. The savory smell hit instantly, rich, spiced, and mouthwatering. Nestled in the center of each bowl were three plump dumplings, their delicate skins glistening slightly from the heat.

The man gave a quick nod and a grin. ''Dragon Meat Dumplings,'' he announced proudly. ''Spicy, but delicious. Just watch your tongue, they bite back.''

Raegar leaned in first, intrigued by the scent wafting from the bowl. Steam curled lazily around his face as he picked up his chopsticks and carefully lifted one of the dumplings, its soft skin quivering slightly from the motion. ''Well,'' he said, eyeing Nivara with a grin. ''If I catch fire, make sure it's a dignified end.''

''Of course,'' she said, smirking. ''I'll cry dramatically and sell the story to a bard.''

When Raegar heard this, he let out a chuckle, bit into the dumpling, and his eyes widened. A burst of intense flavor hit him: savory meat with a slow, creeping heat that built steadily thanks to each chew. He exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the table. ''Spicy?'' Nivara asked, her smile widening.

''Spicy doesn't even begin to cover it,'' he said, reaching for the fruit juice the owner gave them and downing half of it in one gulp. ''It tastes like the damn dragon's still breathing fire in there.''

Laughing, Nivara picked one up herself, blowing on it delicately before taking a cautious bite. For a second, she seemed fine, then her eyes sparkled as the heat caught up to her. ''Oh gods,'' she gasped, fanning her mouth. ''Why is it so good if it hurts this much?''

''Because we're fools,'' Raegar managed, tearing into the second dumpling despite the burn. ''Fools with terrible self-control.''

The two of them fell into a rhythm, sharing reactions between mouthfuls as the spice built to a challenge neither of them could resist. Around them, the bustle of the Rest Stop carried on, but in their little bubble of laughter and fiery food, it felt like time had slowed. By the time they reached their last dumplings, both were flushed, eyes watery from the heat, and grinning ear to ear.

Raegar leaned back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ''If this is what sobriety gets me, I think I can live with it.''

Nivara snorted softly, brushing a strand of silver hair from her cheek. ''You're not just surviving it, you're thriving, flame and all.''

They shared a look, one of those quiet, lingering glances that said more than words could, and then burst into laughter again as Raegar let out a small cough, still recovering from the spice. ''Alright,'' he muttered, eyes watering. ''Next time, we ask how spicy before ordering.''

''Where's the fun in that?'' Nivara replied, already eyeing the dessert stall nearby. ''Now come on, I think we've earned something sweet.''

Before they could make a move, the stall owner reappeared, his face split by a grin. In his arms, he carried a towering stack of bamboo steamers, each one brimming with dumplings, steaming faintly in the cool evening air. The sheer volume was almost comical, causing the Dark Elf to giggle.

''For the prince and his companion!;; the owner boomed, his voice cutting through the Rest Stop's chatter. ''Spicy, savory, and a few sweet ones to soothe the soul!''

He winked, wiping his hands on his flour-dusted apron before retreating to his stall. Nivara stared at the mountain of steamers, her red eyes wide with a mix of awe and mock horror. ''Rae,'' she said, leaning toward him. ''Did you order enough to feed the entire continent? I know you're hungry, but this is absurd.''

Raegar laughed as he leaned back in his chair. ''Blame the Aether,'' he said, patting his stomach. ''Besides,'' he added, his voice dropping to a whisper. ''I've got a plan for these.''

With a flick of his wrist, he brushed his fingers over the silver ring on his right hand. A faint glow enveloped the food, and one by one, all but two trays vanished, whisked into his storage ring. The remaining trays, filled with golden, honey-glazed sweet dumplings dusted with crushed nuts, sat invitingly between them.

Nivara let out a low whistle, her silver hair catching the lantern light as she tilted her head. ''That ring's a cheat,'' she said, her tone equal parts impressed and amused. ''What else are you hiding in there? A whole tavern? A spare wyvern?''

''Wouldn't you like to know?'' Raegar shot back, his red eyes glinting with mischief.

He slid one of the trays toward her, the sweet aroma of honey and toasted nuts rising in lazy curls of steam. ''These, though, we're eating now. No sense storing dessert when we've earned a treat.''

Nivara grinned, picking up a pair of chopsticks and selecting a plump dumpling from the tray. ''You're gonna regret letting me near these,'' she teased with a knowing smile. ''I might eat them all before you get a second bite.''

Raegar snorted, already lifting a dumpling of his own. ''Try it, and I'll store you in the ring next.''

He popped the dumpling into his mouth, and the sweet, rich flavor hit him like a warm embrace. The honey was smooth and floral, perfectly balanced by the nutty crunch and a hint of warm spice that lingered on his tongue. A soft moan escaped his lips, unbidden, and he caught Nivara's amused glance.