Cycle of Destiny

Chapter 23 Reunion

Veronica was seated with her gaze directed towards the stairs, ensuring she could see Harry coming up immediately.

Harry felt a strange warmth as he watched Veronica greet him with such enthusiasm.

There were quite a few nobles on the second floor. They were all dressed in fine clothes, spoke softly, and had smiles on their faces, clearly very satisfied with the place.

Harry's arrival immediately attracted a lot of attention, and some nobles even frowned.

Veronica was clearly startled when she saw Harry, but she quickly masked it and gestured for him to sit down.

A calm and efficient waiter immediately brought over a menu with only a few types of alcohol.

Veronica had obviously already chosen the other dishes, while Harry ordered a dry martini as an aperitif.

"I ordered a dry white wine, and for the main course, I chose the whole loin of an antler beast. You absolutely must try these."

After the servant left, she said again,

"I think this is the perfect place to host a good friend I haven't seen in a long time. It's quiet here, and we can have a good chat. It's been almost two years since we last met, and you seem to be doing very well, Harry."

This remark drew Harry's attention to Veronica's appearance.

She was about the same height as Harry, with the slender figure that women in the capital aspire to, but compared to Harry's obesity, she looked much taller than him.

Veranika isn't the kind of woman who immediately wows you, but she's quite attractive over time.

His eyes were bright and piercing, clear and focused; his eyebrows were like two sharp swords, giving him a heroic air. His nose was straight, and his lips were thin with clear lines, naturally rosy.

Because he often rides horses and practices swordsmanship, his skin is a healthy wheat color with a light glow on his cheeks.

Her long, golden hair was tied back, with no stray hairs in front, revealing her smooth forehead and ears, making her look neat and dignified.

She was wearing a silver velvet dress, the cut of which was perfect, the waistline was just right, and the cuffs were slightly tightened for ease of movement. It was clear at a glance that it was a custom-made piece, not one of those cheap ready-made items in the shop window.

The collar and cuffs are embroidered with delicate vine patterns in dark silver thread, simple yet understated. A thin silver chain cinches the waist as an ornament.

What caught Harry's attention most were the two emblems embroidered on her collar: a leopard's head, her family crest, and a knight's lance pointing straight to the sky, indicating that she had unsurprisingly become a knight.

Her overall attire was dignified and appropriate, made of exquisite materials, which accentuated her upright posture and exuded a noble reserve amidst her heroic spirit.

Harry was only wearing a black mage's robe, which was why the nobles frowned and were surprised.

Dining at the Heart of the Lion while wearing a black robe only shows that Harry really doesn't care what others think.

"I'm nowhere near as good as you," Harry replied.

"It's all thanks to restraint and hard work," Veronica said with a smile. "You look very healthy, Harry. How's life at Hogwarts?"

These words pulled Harry back to his memories. He pursed his lips.

"It's alright." Harry paused, then asked,

"How did you know I went back to the capital, and where I live?"

"You don't think I don't know about the big news that the Elf Prince slaughtered people in Genoa, and even Duke Landon was seriously injured and had to return to the Cathedral of Light in the capital for treatment by the church, do you?"

The church was very efficient; the lists of ship passengers and victims were published very quickly.

I saw your name and guessed that you would return to the capital later, so I sent a servant to wait for you at the city gate. I originally wanted to invite you to stay at my house, but the servant waiting at the city gate did not see you.

Fortunately, I had specifically assigned someone to keep an eye on the caravans coming to the capital from the port. One of the caravan leaders said that there was a noble mage among them, and I knew it must be you.

There aren't many inns in the capital. A magician like me will definitely leave a deep impression on the innkeeper. That's all.

Harry knew he wasn't in the carriage under the city gate, and her explanation was quite reasonable.

The church had already sent people back to the capital, so it's normal that the list was released before Harry arrived.

Veronica didn't give Harry time to think, and then asked in return,

"Are you injured? Seeing your name on the passenger list terrified me, my heart felt like it was being squeezed. Thankfully, I didn't see your name on the second list of victims."

"I'm fine, I'm not hurt at all."

"That's good. Did you receive the letter I wrote to you? You haven't replied to me, so I was starting to wonder if those letters even reached you."

Harry decided to go along with her.

"Sometimes letters just don't get delivered to the recipient; this happens quite often."

"It's so good to see you. My mother was worried that something might have happened to you."

Veronica said casually, "But I told him Harry would be fine, and it seems I was right."

"You've always been right," Harry said flippantly, clearly with ulterior motives.

He knew Veronica needed his help and had already made up his mind not to give in to her, so he was very calm when he provoked her.

However, Veronica seemed completely unfazed by the sarcasm in Harry's words, as if she hadn't grasped his underlying meaning, and maintained her enthusiastic attitude.

Veronica wasn't particularly intelligent, and her conversation wasn't exactly witty or humorous; in fact, Harry thought she was quite foolish.

However, she mastered a way of chatting among the nobility at banquets, making those who talked to her think she was very clever.

But she was actually just acting. When she was talking to someone, she wasn't thinking about what they were discussing, but rather about capturing the tone and expression of the other person as they spoke. Through these, she could deduce the other person's attitude towards the matter.

She may not say many constructive things in conversation, but you'll feel comfortable talking to her when you find that she shares your views.

Moreover, she speaks fluently and laughs frequently, which might lead you to mistakenly believe that she is very funny.

In addition, you never have to worry about awkward silences when talking to her; once one topic is finished, she can immediately find a new one.

Veronica is in great shape today.

She expressed her deep longing for Harry, whom she hadn't seen for two years. Seeing the clothes Harry was wearing, she knew he had become a full-fledged wizard, and she generously congratulated him.

But Harry was not friendly; he reacted very coldly to Veronica's carefully prepared concern.

Furthermore, when Veranica congratulated her on becoming a formal magician, she didn't mention that she had become a knight, as if she hadn't noticed the knight's badge on her chest at all.

It's incredibly frustrating when bait is thrown into the sea and there's no bite for ages; Harry wondered where her patience would run out.

The dishes were served quickly, starting with an appetizing soup and fish.

A bowl of creamy asparagus soup has a soft, pale green color and a rich, mellow aroma; drinking it feels like it soothes the entire stomach.

Next came the flounder fillets drizzled with white sauce; the fish was snow-white, the sauce was rich, and it was served with freshly harvested tender peas.

Harry ate with great relish, savoring each bite, enjoying the refreshing dry martini, and occasionally letting out a satisfied sigh.

Then the waiter brought over a slender ice bucket, inside which lay a pale golden liquid. The glass quickly became covered with a fine layer of water droplets.

"This is a dry white wine from Gascony, which is hard to find elsewhere. I had them chill it for four hours beforehand, so it tastes best when it's chilled," Veranica explained.

Harry took a sip, and after the cool and refreshing taste, a rich and mellow fruity aroma spread across his tongue. A slight tartness just right unlocked the shackles of his taste buds, as if even his soul was gently lifted by this refreshing pleasure. Finally, the lingering sweetness came slowly and steadily, making the whole experience complete and memorable.

The wine was so sophisticated that even though Harry hadn't drunk much, he knew it must be a top-quality wine.

Then a waiter pushed in a silver food cart.

A huge silver disc cover with ornate gilded patterns was unveiled.

An indescribable complex aroma suddenly spread out, containing both the rich scent of truffles and a hint of fresh grass and wood, like a forest after the rain. At the bottom, there was a faint, elusive, slightly pungent energy, a sign that magic remained in the top-grade magical beast ingredients.

The dish on the plate is today's main course: a carefully prepared, whole loin of an antler-like animal from the southern forests.

It was roasted to perfection, with an enticing caramel brown surface covered in a glossy sauce made from wild berries, rare spices, and a touch of honey.

The meat itself has a fine, marble-like texture and a slight pinkish hue under the light, a sign of extreme freshness and tenderness.

Most strikingly, along both sides of the spine, several translucent, amber-like beads are evenly scattered, their material unknown, emitting a soft, moonlit glow in the dish.

The waiters began serving the food with practiced ease and elegance.

When a thick slice of antler meat, with perfectly marbled edges, a pink center, and a globular dot on top, was placed on Harry's plate, he could almost hear himself swallowing.

The craving was so intense, it surged from his stomach straight to his throat, and he couldn't wait to cut off a piece.

The blade encountered almost no resistance.

The meat doesn't have the fibrous texture of ordinary meat, but rather a unique, almost greasy tenderness.

When you put it in your mouth, the first thing that explodes is the complex sweet and sour and caramelized aroma of the outer sauce, followed by the indescribable deliciousness of the antler meat itself.

It's not as heavy as beef, nor as gamey as lamb, but rather a pure, deep flavor that contains the essence of ancient forests, so delicate it seems to melt on your tongue.

When you bite into the magic bead, a clear, cool, and sweet juice bursts out, blending perfectly with the aroma of meat, elevating the entire flavor to a whole new and terrifying level.

Harry felt his taste buds were going through a frenzy, every single one screaming in praise. He even briefly forgot Veranica's presence, forgot her possible schemes, and was completely immersed in this unparalleled sensory feast.

He could feel the warmth and satisfaction from the food filling his entire body, and even his own magic seemed to be leaping up.