Cocotte Queen (2)
“Atre, is the Cocotte Queen okay? Was the orange bad for her?”
“She’s shouting ‘delicious!’ so it’s fine.”
She ate it with the peel? Well, whatever.
The Cocotte Queen that returned this time tossed the apple straight into her mouth, crunched it up, and when she finished, ran around shouting “Coco!” again.
Atre said she was shouting, “Delicious, sweet!”
I’m glad she liked it.
Once she calmed down, the Queen asked that she be allowed to eat these two fruits from now on. She said the other Queens would like them too and begged me.
I explained that they don’t bear fruit year-round—only certain seasons, and some years might have none—but she agreed. She also said that if any more are available, she’d like to share them with the other Queens.
Since the fruits were in my magic bag, there wouldn’t be enough. I’d need to take the seeds out of the apple and orange, because the Queen swallows them whole.
I told her to wait while I brought them from Meyer and the others.
“It’s late, we were just thinking about going inside. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Meyer looked relieved.
“Sorry to worry you. But it wasn’t dangerous at all. The Cocotte Queen is very polite and kind.”
“Is that so?”
I briefly explained what happened inside, took the apple and orange from everyone, and returned to the cave.
On all fours, I entered to find all four Cocotte Queens waiting.
They all seemed restless.
They want the apple and oranges, huh.
I handed one of each to everyone, and they immediately started eating.
“Coco!” they all shouted, just like before.
Once they settled, they ate the other fruit and shouted “Coco!” again.
Their reactions were identical.
I asked where to plant the apple and orange. They indicated, with their wings, a spot near the warm stone wall and another near the large, volleyball-sized fruits. There was a clear area without trees there.
Huh? Did I miss that open space before?
I divided the apple into four parts to plant near the warm stone wall, but the Queen tapped my shoulder. She waved one wing side to side.
Atre told me, “This is where the orange goes.”
Ah, there’s a designated spot.
I divided the orange into four parts and planted them at even intervals. The soil had been loosened. I realized the Queen had done it by hand.
The seeds are probably meant to be planted alone, but keeping the fruit seems to make growth faster.
“Grow quickly, sweet and delicious orange!” I said, sprinkling water with magic.
Next, I went to plant the apples near the large, volleyball-sized fruits. The soil there was hard.
I considered softening it with water, but the Queen tapped my shoulder.
Atre explained, “She says she’ll soften the soil, just wait a bit.”
I understood—the Queen had already prepared the soil where the orange were planted.
Another Queen moved the chicks and turned over the soil, carrying it here. It looked like soil, but it was probably compost.
By layering the chicks’ droppings with the fibers of the large fruits, they had created compost.
Once a compost mound formed, the Queen near me tilled and mixed the hard soil.
Do the Queens use earth magic?
They must regularly compost the nearby Dodorin and large fruits.
Do the warm stones help ferment the compost?
Nothing goes to waste here. Amazing.
The Queen looked at me, signaling I could plant the apples. This soil was soft.
I divided the apples into four parts and planted them at even intervals.
“Grow quickly, sweet and delicious apples!” I sprinkled them with water magic.
That should do it.
In the soil that had been turned earlier, the other Queens scattered the fibers of the large fruits.
Where did they hide those fibers before? I was curious, but time had passed. It was time to leave.
All four Cocotte Queens saw me out.
On all fours, before leaving the cave, I thanked them again.
“If you ever need help, contact Grasshawk (Ciel) or Fiamma (Ripka’s family) who have been here before—they’ll come to help.”
All four Queens nodded.
“Then, see you again,” I said, and left the Cocotte nest.
What do you think about this chapter?
