The Sacred Pudding Oath

Come on, Sylvie...

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Sylvie-bylvie...

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Sylvana-banana?

Hmph!

Ye got me on the ropes, love. Ain't there somethin' I can do to make it up to ye?

Father, Reshan told me to tell you he's waiting for you at the tavern...

...Hm? What's going on with you two?

Sylvie's givin' me the silent treatment... Could ye talk to her fer me?

What's wrong, Sylvie? Grandpa is feeling sad you won't talk to him...

Grandpa ate custard pudding without me! We promised we would always eat it together at pudding time!

Gasp! He didn't!

Though you and I were born beneath a different moon and sun, our pudding times will be aligned; we'll always eat as one!

That sounds serious, like a blood oath.

I don't remember all those rhymes bein' there when I agreed...

I hope you fall into a giant bowl of custard pudding and drown, oathbreaker!

A giant bowl o' puddin'... That ain't a bad way to go, but still a little harsh...

What're ye laughin' at? Yer daughter just wished death upon yer ol' man.

Sorry, sorry. This whole thing just reminds me of a time long ago when I was angry with you over something similar.

...Doesn't ring a bell. What'd I do back then to make things right?

If I recall, you offered me apology pudding.

Ye think Sylvie'll forgive me with that?

Maybe, but I'd guess she's sitting at about an eight-pudding level of anger right now.

Hmm... That's pretty far on the scale.

Anyway, as I said before, Reshan is waiting for you at the tavern. Best not to keep him waiting.

Ah, lost track o' time. Maybe I'll ask fer his opinion over grub.

What kind of man breaks a promise with his own granddaughter? You're guilty as charged, and the proof...is in the pudding.

Oh, hardy-har, ye think yer so funny! I knew ye'd give me a hard time!

Hey, you deserve it. So then, what's the plan for making it up to her?

...Apology pudding.

Ah, what did I expect? Always like you to resort to cheap gifts to win people over.

Okay, wise guy, ye got a better idea?

Oh, sure. Get me to fix all your problems. I'll even apologize for you. Oh, Sylvie, won't you fowgive big gwandpa? He's vewy sowwy.

Would it kill ye to take this seriously?!

How can I? You're being ridiculous. Just apologize to the girl, and mean it!

This goes beyond somethin' a simple apology'll fix.

Barkeep! Tell me ye got a better idea...

Hey, don't get me involved. I don't want Sylvie mad at me either.

Yer already involved! Yer the reason I'm in this mess, gettin' me to taste-test yer new puddin' recipe!

All because o' that one slip-up, Sylvie's anger's up to eight bowls o' puddin'!

...Could we pause to talk about how you just measured an emotion in bowls of pudding?

Well it's not like I can measure it in bowls o' stew, now can I? Anyway, eight's too many. Her appetite'd be ruined fer dinner.

Then why not one, very special pudding?

Hm? Is there really a puddin' that special?

I don't know? I'm just a barkeep.

...Then what good does that do me?!

But...maybe the Pudding Master knows...

...Afraid to ask this, but who the hell is the Puddin' Master?

A legend, who knows everything about every type of pudding on the continent...

They came to my tavern to try my pudding once, but the review they left...was...well, you get the idea.

That bad, huh? That explains your pudding- making frenzy, treating us like lab rats fer your recipes.

My pride is on the line. Anyway, if you find and ask them, I'm sure they'd have a pudding or two to recommend.

I s'pose...if it's fer Sylvie... Where can I find this so-called Puddin' Master?

I believe they said they were making their way toward Acteul next...

That's gonna be out of the way...but I ain't got any better ideas. I'll be heading off fer a bit.

Sorry to interrupt yer meal, but yer her, ain't ye? The fabled Puddin' Master?

The fabled what now? As if I'd go by a name like that! Never heard of it.

Oh, come on, ye and I both know ye can't hide yer love o' puddin'. I've got a question I think only ye can answer. Which puddin' would ye rank best out of all the ones ye tried? Please. It ain't fer me, but my sweet granddaughter.

...Your eyes tell me you are a man of taste.

Very well. I don't go by "Pudding Master," but I'm not one to turn my back on a young lover of pudding.

Thank ye, Puddin' Master.

I just said, I don't, do you have pudding in your ears? Who even came up with such an embarrassing nickname!

Y'know the barkeep who runs the tavern in Amatias? I hear ye had some...not-so-nice words to say about his puddin'.

Right... I might have been a liiittle bit too harsh in that review...

Eh, maybe the right amount. He's been doublin' down since that review to make his custard puddin' recipe better.

Oh? All I did was share my objectively correct opinion about how pudding should be made.

Ye mean like how ye gotta whisk hot liquid into yer yolks slowly to temper 'em without scramblin' 'em?

That's...awfully...specific? A pudding so good that it makes other puddings look like yogurt in comparison! A confectioner in Palsifal Palace makes it.

...Huh. Looks like Grandpa isn't back yet. That's odd.

I even went out of my way to pick up some reconciliation pudding...

What do you think we should do, Sylvie? I don't know when he'll be home. Should we eat it without him?

The genius behind my most recommended custard pudding is just up ahead. Alas, I cannot lead you beyond this point. You must close out this valiant quest alone.

Quest...I suppose ye can call it that... But ye really came all this way and ain't even gonna buy anythin'?

Well, you know, I already bought some this morning and if I went twice in one day, I might come off as a crazy fan or something.

...Ain't ye?

Not on the outside, I'm not! And I'd like to keep it that way. Now go! Fulfill your destiny!

...My destiny is puddin'? Ah well, thank ye fer yer recommendation, and fer bringin' me here.

May this glorious pudding redeem your relationship with your granddaughter.

Evenin'. I'd like to buy some puddin'.

Oh no! I'm sorry, I'm already finished for the day.

Whaddaya mean?! It's way too early fer a shop to be closin'!

I agree, but my customers cleaned me out. I make a fresh batch every day, so the stock is limited. If you come back in the morning...

Tomorrow...I could wake up early enough, but it's such a bloody trek from my house... Not to mention if I crawl back home now empty-handed, I won't have anythin' to earn Sylvie's forgiveness...

I'm sensing you're here for more than just a snack...

BLASPHEMY! You broke the sacred pudding oath?!

It's worse than I thought... Indeed, without a pudding like my Opulence of Saurus, restoring your bond may prove difficult.

Y-Yer kiddin', right? I mean, it was just a harmless snack...

I've grasped your dire situation. I'd not be worthy of the confectioner name were I to abandon a young lover of pudding in need. I will make an exception, just this once, to make the Opulence of Saurus for you today. However, there is one stipulation.

Thank ye! Sure, whatever ye need. I'm just grateful. Ye name it, ye got it.

Great! I need you to pick up an ingredient. Nothing too crazy, of course, just a few dinosaur eggs.

Dinosaur eggs... I don't know up from down in this region. This is gonna be a pain in the keister...

Your echoing conundrum has reached our ears!

W-We weren't eavesdropping!

We most certainly were, but your saviors have arrived!

Three more customers at this hour, wait!

I remember you two! You also came on days when I had already sold out...

And you, my star customer, I saw just this morning!

So the Puddin' Master stuck around, huh?

If you were sent home puddingless after I offered my recommendation, my pudding would taste bitter... I waited, just in case!

We are all bound by the sacred pudding oath. Deserting a fellow lover of dessert would be...unsaviory!

Well, I don't remember ever swearin' this oath, but I'll gladly take help if yer offerin'.

Umm... Just checking... If we help out, that means we get some too, right?

Oh yeah, even a small batch would cover more than enough for a group this size.

Ahem... That calculation includes me, I'm assuming?

Didn't he just say you already had some this morning?!

How many times I decide to eat pudding in one day is none of your business!

Come now, we ain't here to judge... Plus, he said there'll be "more than enough," didn't he?

...True. Alright, let's go! The dinosaur eggs used in the recipe should be aplenty near the Keruri Highroad.

I'll leave the eggs to you then and start preparing the rest!

Now, if my incredible memory serves me right, the eggs should be around here somewhere. Let's split up and search!

Oi, Puddin' Master! These them eggs ye been talkin' about?

Well? Are they dinosaur eggs or not?!

Don't rush my expertise! We have to be one hundred percent certain!

Hmm... Yes... This size... The complexion of the shell... I'm sure of it. These are dinosaur eggs.

Well, that was easy! Let's skedaddle!

Let's bring back as many as we can carry!

No, no, wait! Only ever take as much as you need. If we took them all, who would be left to lay the next generation of eggs?

Tch! We've got company!

Umm...what do we do? It doesn't seem very friendly.

Ye thought they'd be friendly?! We fight back, o' course! My granddaughter's happiness is on the line!

You're right, but let's pull our punches. Even if we have our reasons, taking its life would put the future of pudding in jeopardy.

I wasn't sayin' to kill 'em! Geez, whaddaya take me for? Come on, let's do this!

That's dealt with, we got the eggs, now let's get the hell outta here.

Okay, but be super careful with them on the way back. If they break, we'll have to start all over!

You've waited patiently... Behold! My most elegant creation: custard pudding made from dinosaur eggs...Opulence of Saurus!

After time and time again, waiting in line only for it to be sold out... At long last! The number one ranked pudding!

Excuse me, my sister in pudding, don't you think you're hogging a few too many for yourself?

Funny you should ask... I actually come from a family of septuplets, so actually, without all eight of these, we'll get into a fight...

Eight would be octuplets, so that's still more than your fair share!

Easy, Puddin' Master. Look at how much is left! We've got enough to all share a round now, so let's give it a taste, shall we?

Well, it's 'bout time I headed back now... Thanks again fer all the effort ye lot put in.

Anything for an ally bound by the pudding oath!

We should be the ones thanking you. All of us would've gone home puddingless if not for this chance encounter.

If you ever happen to be in dire, pudding- related straits again, feel free to reach out to me!

Now if this turns Sylvie's frown upside-down, it'll all have been worth it. Won't know until I get back though... I'd best hurry.

I'm back! Anybody miss me?

Father! Where have you been?

Ah, I'da thought Reshan woulda filled ye in. I went on a small trip to buy some puddin'!

Yeah...I assumed that meant popping over to the store on the way home. What, did you have to milk the cows yourself?

That's surprisingly not far off...but it was well worth it! Look at what I got!

I bet ye never tried anythin' like it! It's even known as the most delicious puddin' on the entire continent!

Sylvie, would ye accept this apology and forgive yer old grandpa?

...I don't want it!

Okay, okay. I'm listenin', my dear. What's wrong? What don't ye like about it?

I don't want the most delicious pudding... I just want pudding that I eat together with Grandpa...

You stayed up late last night waiting for Grandpa too, didn't you?

Oh, Sylvie, yer old grandpa is a fool. I did the wrong thing, and hurt yer feelin's.

I'm sorry fer breaking our promise, no, our oath! From now on, I swear never to eat puddin' alone again! Whaddaya think? Do ye have it in yer heart to forgive me?

If you feel better now, how about we try some of that pudding Grandpa brought? You must be a little bit excited to try it...

Oh, ye have no idea! I swear on my life it's the best puddin' I've ever had!

...Had?

Ah! Well... Ye see... I had to make sure the quality was...high enough fer my amazin' granddaughter?

You broke the oath twice?! Little Grandpa hasn't ever broken it even once! My Big Grandpa is an oathbreaker!!!

Oof, yeah... That yell was at a magnitude of...sixteen puddings, give or take?

...Ye can have my shares for the next week, Sylvie-bylvie, just please forgive me!