User blog:Yudayahito/Three Brothers in the Age of Monster Girls: Story Arc 1 Finale(Part 3)(Fanfic)

"A sprig of rosemary, a little sour cream, some paprika", Isidore mumbled to himself as he worked over the simmering pot of stew before him. He had made his way to the camp's kitchen tent and started helping himself to the ingredients, not caring if anyone tried to stop him. He had hoped to take his mind off of all the memories that had come flooding into his mind since the reunion, but the kitchen actually had the opposite effect.



He remembered working alongside his mother in their home, putting all their effort into a meal that would leave the family stuffed and happy. It wasn't a fight, but the heat of the fire, the feeling of a knife in his hands as he chopped vegetables and the smell of the kitchen put him at ease and made him happy, if only for a little while.



His stew was a lovely light brown color now, bits of mushroom and chicken gently floating on the surface. He dipped a spoon into the broth and tasted it. Warm, slightly sweet and creamy. It was perfect. He smiled to himself, pleased with his work, but soon remembered what he was doing.



He gave a long, sad sigh, clenching his fist as he tried to forget. He picked up the pot and started walking back to the tent his brothers were on, not wanting to let the food go to waste.



A few soldiers caught a whiff of the stew, their bellies rumbling audibly. They would have asked for advice, but he scared them and refused to risk it.

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"Oh! And remember the time he picked a fight with the priest's son?", Isaac asked, hugging a pillow as he sat on the bedroll with Solomon.

"Yes, he ended up giving him a bloody nose and a black eye! The priest was ready to call down the wrath of Heaven on Izzy!", Solomon replied, chuckling.

"He had it coming, his hubris was getting to me", Isidore said, stepping into the tent.



Solomon and Isaac froze for a moment, not expecting their brother to run into them reminiscing about his bad behavior as a boy, but a familiar smell soon flooded their nostrils, their mouths watering instantly.

"Is…. is that?", Solomon stammered, staring at the pot intently.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Yep", Isidore replied nonchalantly. "Have some if you want"

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The smell of Isidore's cooking was nearly identical to that of their mothers. Bellies rumbling, they couldn't help but tuck in.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Isidore belched loudly as he laid down on the bedroll, Solomon and Isaac both propped sitting cross-legged on both sides of the mercenary.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"That… was amazing", Isaac sighed, scraping his bowel with his finger.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Indeed brother. You seem to have kept up with your skills in the kitchen", Solomon said.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Yeah well, I don't have the luxury of having people give me free stuff because I bare the title of Hero", Isidore replied a little dejectedly.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"It's simply the will of the Chief Goddess", Solomon replied with a shrug.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"What have you been doing with you life, Izzy?", Isaac asked, tossing his empty bowl aside.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Same as I've always done?", Isidore replied.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Cause trouble?", Isaac asked, grinning. Isidore chuckled a bit.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Yeah, but now I get paid to do it", he answered.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:17px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Couldn't you find something more honorable to use your talents on?", Solomon asked. "You certainly gave me a hard time when you didn't recognize me".

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"You mean I beat you because you nearly set me on fire?", Isidore asked.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"That's not what I meant", the Hero replied through slightly gritted teeth.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Oh so that's why you two were lying in the dirt when Enyo and I found you", Isaac said.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Isidore's heart stopped for a moment when he heard Isaac say that. Isaac saw the shock in Isidore's eyes and realized the gravity of what he had just said.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Who's Enyo?", Solomon asked.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Well….", Isaac said hesitantly. "A lot has happened since we were separated"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;min-height:17px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!!", one of the soldiers shouted from outside.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"And more continues to", Isidore said grimly, standing up from the bed, hands on his sword.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Solomon drew his blade and dashed outside. Isaac moved to follow, but Isidore placed a hand on his chest and stopped him.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"I don't think this is a place for anyone with no weapon", he said, drawing his own sword.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"I'm your brother!", Isaac shouted. "You should know I can handle myself, especially now that we've just been reunited". Isaac flinched at the sound of a nearby crash, something slamming into wood crates, a slight groaning could be heard over the approaching roar of battle.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"If it's who I think it is attacking the camp, I'm pretty sure I can stop it before things get out of hand", he said nervously, but without taking his green eyes away from Isidore's.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Isidore cocked an eyebrow, skeptical at his brother's words. "How?", he asked.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"You'll just have to trust me!", Isaac replied.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"We've been separated for a decade, and you're telling me to trust you when we're surrounded by Order soldiers and Mamono?", Isidore asked, slightly dumbfounded by his little brother's words.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Isn't that what brothers do?", Isaac asked. Isidore thought for a moment, then let go of his younger brother.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Just don't get yourself killed", he said. Isaac nodded and ran outside with Isidore.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">_______________________________________________________________________________________

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Stay together!", Solomon shouted in an attempt to rally the camp's forces.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">One soldier screamed in panic as a Lamia dragged him away into the darkness, another merely whimpered as a slime overtook him.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Howling with lust, a Werewolf pounced at him. Solomon shouted back at her, thrusting his sword up into her abdomen, ripping out his blade and tearing her belly as blood poured out of her now limp form. Solomon rushed forward into the fray, grabbing another Werewolf on top of a soldier by the hair and slitting her throat.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The Hero pulled the solider up to his feet and shoved his weapon back into the young man's hands.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Fight!", he roared. "Fight until the last of them are slain!"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Y-yes, my lord!", the young soldier obeyed, following the Hero into the melee.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">--

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Isaac trembled with terror as Isidore lead him through the battle. He had heard stories from girls who had gone on raids, but this was a far cry from the carnal tales he had been told.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">The men and women of the Order fought back, and many of the Monsters died in the fighting. Isaac had not seen a dead body since he and his brothers were separated, and he had long forgotten the horror in the embrace of the Demon Realm.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Hey if you're gonna do something, you best do it soon!", Isidore shouted to his younger brother as a Salamander engaged him. Isaac recognized the Salamander from the outpost, and the look in her eyes indicated she recognized him too.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Oh! So this is the brother you were talking about?", she asked, eyes narrowing as she looked Isidore over. Isidore had neglected to put his mask back on, his grimace in plain sight. The Salamander grinned and paced around the two of them, twirling her massive blade a few times, as well as her fiery tail. "I certainly hope yo prove to more of a challenge than all these sickly, soft children. You're certainly much more handsome than they are too", she added, licking her lips with her forked tongue.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"I'm not sure whether I should be complimented or insulted", Isidore quipped.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"There's some fire!", the Salamander said, the flames on her tail flaring up slightly.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"Isidore, don't' provoke her!", Isaac pleaded. "There's nothing Salamander's love more than a fight"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"What? And let her grab some other poor fool?", Isidore asked, his voice slightly amused. "What a waste of a good fight"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">"My thoughts exactly!", the Salamander declared, her flames flaring up again as she charged.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">'''Yeah that's right, to be continued. But here's a small bonus, straigh from Isidore's kitchen!'''

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;">Chicken and Mushroom Stew

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">Cooking oil(preferably olive oil) 1 large onion - diced

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">2 tsp(or about 10 grams) fresh chopped rosemary

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">8 ounces(or 56 grams) portabella mushrooms

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">8 ounces(or 56 grams) white mushrooms (a pound/453g of mushrooms of any kind works just as well)

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;min-height:17px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">8 ounce(56 grams) can of peeled tomatoes or about 4 fresh tomatoes, peeled.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">2 garlic cloves, minced

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;min-height:17px;">

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">White wine vinegar

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">1 and 1/2 cups of water or chicken broth

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">2 tsp(about 10 grams) paprika

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">1 cup of sour cream

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">2 tbsp(about 30 grams) flour

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">Chopped parsley

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">Some chicken pan-fired in butter or oil. Preferably two breasts worth or about 2 pounds/907 grams.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">IN A POT: Heat oil and add onions, garlic and rosemary. Cook until lightly browned - about 12 minutes.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">Add white wine vinegar to deglaze the pot. Add more oil and cook mushrooms. Sauté until browned - about 5 minutes.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">Salt and pepper, then cover with 1.5 cups water or broth. Add cooked chicken meat and tomatoes. Cover and cook with low heat at a simmer for 30 minutes.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">In a small bowl mix flour with water until smooth, add sour cream and mix well.

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<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;font-family:LucidaGrande;">Pour mixture into the stew and the paprika. Cook for a few more minutes and add parsley.