The food is what troubles me, actually. I've heard that they use a lot of unique spices, and I'm not quite sure if that would agree with my delicate palate. I just cannot make up my mind whether I want to risk going and finding out that the spices don't agree with me.
There's an easy fix for that—come to Scarabia! Jamil will make you all sorts of traditional dishes to try. I'm sure everyone in the dorm would want to hold a banquet for you if they knew you were coming.
I appreciate the offer, but are you certain? Somehow I can't help but feel that I'm putting you out. If you insist, though, I'll gladly accept! I cannot wait.
Did he drop that guide on purpose? An expertly laid snare, if so... And why does it have to be tomorrow? Couldn't you have set it for some later date so we'd have time to prepare?
Aw, but it's a piece of cake for you, right? Besides, I already have some ideas in mind. First, we decorate the place with traditional banners, so that the headmage can really get a sense of how beautiful the country is. We have a lot of fabric in storage, so we can just use that to make them!
The cost of a single bolt of that fabric is so expensive that it could easily feed, house, and clothe a family of four for a month, but fine. We can do that.
And we'll have to have plenty of traditional cuisine, too! That's your specialty, right? There has to be a good variety. So, maybe a buffet of dishes that partygoers could put on flatbread?
First, we'll have elephants throw open the doors like "BAM!" Then we'll have tigers dancing about their feet! With white monkeys astride camels, and then lions and peacocks... And don't forget the bears. And then, at the very end... I'll come riding in on a magic carpet along with parrots of every color of the rainbow, rising out of a fountain of water! Then, I will graciously greet everyone as host. Doesn't that sound great?
...... It sounds like a headach—ahem. I mean, it sounds quite extravagant. But it will take a lot of time to prepare. Procuring parrots in every color of the rainbow will be especially difficult. I doubt I'll be able to manage that by tomorrow.
That's the part I'm concerned about. But it seems you refuse to listen to me. Very well. You can handle the preparations for the parade. Are you certain you can handle it, though?
Okay, all you animals participating in tonight's parade! Are you following along behind me? Come now, stop your fighting, elephants and tigers. Can't you get along like the lions and monkeys? Thank you for behaving yourselves, bears and peacocks. Don't fall too far behind the camels ahead of you. Oh, and that goes for you too, parrots of various colors! You have an important role.
Scarabia Student A
Wow... I can't believe Housewarden Kalim is getting all those animals to follow him!
Scarabia Student B
Seriously. He's something else to manage a menagerie like that.
I don't remember bringing a weasel along with— oh, it's you, Grim! I thought you were part of the parade for a second there. Here. You'll be safe somewhere higher up.
What's this? Were you lonely without me, [MC]? Heh. You can be such a handful sometimes. I gotta say, though—all those animals really caught me off guard. You planning on opening a zoo or somethin'?
No, no. My dorm is holding a banquet for the headmage today! We're putting together an extravagant venue, great food, and a magnificent parade for him.
Oh, it wasn't me who was bedridden. It was Jamil. One day, when we had curry as usual, he tried some before me and immediately went pale. Don't get the wrong idea, though. It wasn't because the food was bad. My cuisine is always made with the freshest of ingredients. Everyone else was fine after eating it. Only Jamil got sick after tasting some from my plate.
I'm not really sure, honestly. But that was the first time I ever saw him so sick. I'll never forget it. Jamil himself wasn't really bothered by it, though, and he still loves curry to this day! I'm the one who's against having it.
Myah! This's gotta be the most fancy shindig EVER! All the scarlet banners are so snazzy... Plus, there's food as far as the eye can see! And I hardly recognize any of it! Watch out, boys! Grim's eatin' enough for two today! *Homph* *Schlorp*
Very much so, yes. I thought the Land of Scalding Sands' cuisine was entirely spicy, but it seems I was mistaken. You have everything from crisp vegetables to fragrant seafood to juicy meat! And you eat it all with this delicious bread. It's as appetizing as it is nutritious.
You should thank Kalim for orchestrating the menu. He wanted you to be able to sample as large a variety of food as possible. And besides, I'm only a good cook because of all the time I spent in the Asim household.
You're very welcome. But I wouldn't write this off as a success just yet. We still have the finale ahead of us: the parade you put together. Hurry and get everything ready.
No use crying over spilt milk. And besides, it's not like you did it on purpose. I'll figure something out, so don't worry. You just have a seat and get ready for the best parade of your lives!
Jamil and you all have worked so hard on this banquet. I'm going to go get some magnificent birds from them to make sure it ends on a high note. You two start the parade as planned. We can't keep our guests waiting. I'll try to be back as soon as I can!
Aha, the parade's begun. I should have a nice view from the balcony. Hm? What in the world...? Something's headed this way. I can hear music, too. Are those...elephants?! Down by their feet are tigers! And do I spy lions on their backs?! Impossible! Now there are white monkeys? Look at the golden camels...! And the tigers and lions, they're...! This is unbelievable!
It's okay. I would have felt bad forcing them back into their cages. Banquets are supposed to be fun for everyone! And that goes for you two, too. So please cheer up.
Besides, I have a great idea that'll make these white birds just as impressive! We're about to kick off the finale. Make sure you don't take your eyes off it for a second! Respite in the scalding sands, a neverending party. Dance! Sing! Oasis Maker!
Hm? Upon closer inspection, those aren't parrots at all. They're white birds. The rainbow produced by Asim's spell is only reflecting off their wings. Yes, yes! A vividly colored blizzard, glittering water, the kaleidoscope of colors shimmering amidst graceful feathers... It's almost like a mirage! How magnificent!
Thank you all very much for visiting Scarabia today. It's an honor and a privilege to serve such esteemed guests! I do hope you will visit my homeland! Oh, whoops. I'm so sorry, Carpet. I didn't mean to step on— whoa, just calm down! I-I'm losing my balance! Aaah! I'm faaaaaalling!
Wow, that was scary! I fell right into the fountain. Huh? Wait, but I'm not hurt at all. Oh, you must have broken my fall with your wind magic, Jamil! Thank you. That would have hurt a lot otherwise.
That's great to hear! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. It wouldn't have been half as amazing without the parade. I'll have to thank all the animals later!
