"Music Chefs were another treasure of this city..." the empress lowered her eyes to her laps. "...Until the day they disappeared without leaving a trace"

"Disappeared without leaving a trace?" repeated Coco. "Still, my fortune told me we could still find some here..."

"...I was one of them" finally told Aisha, lifting her gaze to the Heavenly King. "Or at least, I know the basic of their skills and powers. My great grandmother was a Music Chef, telling me the tales of L'Arabesque each night before I went to bed"

L'Arabesque was a story told in ancient times, even before the making of this world as the legend goes. It often took the form of a large hummingbird, soaring the sky and leaving behind it a trail of stardust. Only a handful of people could hear the creature's majestic song, and they were called Music Chefs. Since most of the humming and chirping of the hummingbird was the song of a recipe itself. A harmonic ornamentation of life.

The Music Chefs followed the song of L'Arabesque in hopes of finding their full potential, most of them craving to find someone who they could cook for forever. Their long journey made them encounter the empress Malika the First, and all saw in her the omen they were waiting for. They built together the kingdom of Bilal with the sand amazonian as the song of L'Arabesque filled the air and burst with life.

"They come and go as they follow the song of L'Arabesque, but they were treasured by the sand amazonian" Aisha the Fifth smiled at the memory, before her expression turned sour. "Then...they couldn't hear the song anymore..."

The well-loved song of the hummingbird no longer filled the air of the city, and soon began an era of chaos among the Music Chefs. The dishes they prepared since the dawn of time didn't hold the same magic and harmony as they did before the disappearance of L'Arabesque. Left in their own misery and incomprehension.

"One after the other, they deliberately tried to seek some kind of hint on the whereabouts of L'Arabesque, including my great grandmother. But their efforts were in vain...The light in them faded along their dreams and hopes. If they couldn't hear the song they were destined to since their birth, then what was their goal for the rest of their life?" said the old woman.

"And...that's when they left?" you inquired, and the old woman nodded.

"Leaving nothing behind, as if they never existed. I don't even remember her telling me goodbye..." she continued solemnly, recalling her great grandmother.

"But what does L'Arabesque have do with their skills?"

"You can hear the song of the ingredients if you are touched and blessed by L'Arabesque. So that's why I'm a bit reserved on you pretending of being a Music Chef..." the empress explained, and you frowned at her.

"I'm not pretending; I am"

Everyone blinked in surprise at your blunt answer as you glared at the empress of the Bilal Kingdom. You weren't left shaken under her stare or judgment on you, nor did you believe everything she said just because she said she was 'one of them'. You could hear the song of the ingredients, you had Food Music. Naboris and Dr. Inas were a bit mortified as you stood your ground in front of their empress, knowing how scary she can be when mad or angry. Yet, the old woman seemed to look at you with a new light in her orange eyes:

"A Music Chef, huh?" the old woman hummed, bringing a hand under her chin. "...I guess there's only one way to find out. Did you hear about the Humming Tablets?"

"...Humming Tablets?"

"Part of our heritage, those stones are scattered around the city. Music Chefs could hear a song from them. There are eight in total. If you replicate the song they make, then maybe I'll tell you more...Only, if you prove that you truly possess Food Music..." she put emphasis on the last part, narrowing her eyes at you playfully.

"You sure surprised me there, Van'assam!" chuckled Naboris. "Standing in front of her with your back straight like a true sand amazonian!"

You nearly fell forward when she slapped your back, her strength never to be doubted as a warrior of the Bilal Kingdom. You thought she had dislocated your shoulders or vertebrae for a moment. Rubbing the part she hit painfully, you turned to her with a brow raised:

"What do you mean?"

"Van'as aren't usually allowed to live after talking back to Aisha the Fifth. Either they are imprisoned or executed..."

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT BEFORE?!" you panicked as Naboris turned to walk away.

"In any case, good luck with the Humming Tablets. I gave a map of the city to the Van'assir" the warrior told, glancing at you over her shoulder and smiling. "I must return to my duties...Perhaps we'll get to see each other at another time..."

"O-Okay. Thank you for everything!" you waved goodbye to her as the sand amazonian disappeared in the busy streets of Bilal.

Tibal followed closely after her, but not before sending a second look in your way and chirping cutely. You were finally left alone with the Heavenly King. When you turned to gaze at him, you immediately noticed how worn out he looked.

"Coco-san...When was the last time you slept?"

"Yes" he answered, causing you to sweatdrop. He certainly didn't hear your question. At all.

"You should probably lay down a bit. You could rest while I visit those Humming Tablets" you suggested, and Coco stared at you silently.

"...Are you sure? I'm not that tired-" the man began to say, and interrupted himself by yawning loudly. He blushed in embarrassment while you glared at him with a 'are-you-serious?' look. "Okay...Maybe I will rest. But promise me you won't get in trouble while I'm not here"

"I don't know what you mean..." you pouted, folding your hands behind your back as Coco simply smiled down softly at you.

"I trust then you won't act in a reckless manner?" he murmured, his hand brushing the crown of your hair.

"Of course!"

The closest stone tablet was situated outside Mona, next to abandoned ruins that Naboris described them as 'haunted', and no sand amazonian wanted to get too close to them. A place children made bet among themselves who would visit this area at night, and was the prime site where most of their horror stories were written about. When you arrived there, the first thing you noticed was the marble pillar in the center of those ruins. The Humming Tablet had the shape of an asscher, and looked like more of a giant gemstone than a stone tablet.

Characters and marks were engraved in it, painted with a yellow color to be more readable. The impression it gave you at first was an astounding feeling of nostalgia and remembrance. As if you it wasn't the first time you saw that tablet. You knelt down in front of the pillar, and closed your eyes as you concentrated to listen the song of the Humming Tablet. Faint, almost inaudible. But there was something coming out of there. Air that seems to breathe notes.

You began to hum the tune at the same time as the tablet did, doing your best to follow its directions. The second time, you wrote down the notes as it went on and on.

"The more I read them, the more confused I get...What is this melody trying to tell me?" you furrowed your brows at the paper.

It was the same for the others: a song fragmented in numerous parts. Yet, they all told a different story. Still, you noted all the melodies on the same sheet of paper. Maybe Aisha the Fifth could tell you a little bit more, or even give you a hint. When you returned into the city, you were shocked to see a mob of women surrounding the plaza. As you pushed through the crowd of people, you quickly noticed the form of Dr. Inas hunched over a little girl's body.

Said child was panting heavily, laid on her back as red marks covered her skin. Her eyes were puffy, sniffing and crying. The scientist was yelling in her native tongue as soldiers brushed past the citizens to get to her.

"Another one..." cursed Inas under her breath as the sand amazonian warriors brought the girl with them. "Until we find the source, it's hard to prevent more cases!"

"Is it...an illness?" you questioned, watching the child in worry for her safety.

"If it isn't about them being underweight, another problem hits those poor children" Dr. Inas continued with a huff, folding her hands on her hips. "She's the tenth one I need to treat quickly. And Aisha the Fifth isn't doing anything!"

"..."

You felt hopeless as you watched the doctor retreat away, heading to the same direction the warriors brought the little girl to. You brought a hand over your chest, before clenching it as you were filled with a newfound determination. You will find a way to help this kingdom, no matter what the empress says.

The old woman was all alone in the throne room the next time you met her. The empress was gazing at her kingdom from the huge window that gave a beautiful view. You clutched the paper close to you as you walked up to her.

"Empress-" you started, but you stopped when she began to hum. You recognized the melody right away, and continued the humming with what followed after.

"...The last time I heard this melody, my great grandmother was tucking me to bed..." she said. "It was the night before she left. I cannot hear the Humming Tablets, but I will always remember this song as her last memento"

"Empress Aisha...I wish to help your people" you told after a short pause. "I feel like I have to, after seeing what's really happening. Even though I came here only to get information on the Music Chefs, it seems like to me it's much more than that. I was brought here"

"...If that's what you deeply want, I cannot stop you. Fate will do it. Because if the problem is what I think it is, then there's no hope for my people"

"Asfiya, the Sanctuary Tortoise. Right? She's the main benefactor of your country, and since the day you receive no news from her, everything here..."

"It's a possibility. But someone will have to see for herself..." the old woman continued, her orange eyes side-gazing at you. "However, it's beyond dangerous to go in such a hostile environment. You certainly have heard of this creature: the Toxic Gilamesh"

"Yes. I was under the influence of its toxic spores once..." you nodded. "It has hypnotic properties"

"Not only hypnotic properties. Gilamesh is a large gila monster and the clear opposite of Asfiya...He allows his targets to succumb to their darkest desires if exposed to him, and the red powder he exhales as a drugging effect that can paralyze his preys. I can't possibility ask you such a deadly request"

"You're not asking me, I would do it either way" you shook your head with a smile, shocking the empress who blinked back in surprise at you. "I want to help this kingdom, I didn't lie about that or pretended to be concerned. I'm beyond sure I can do it...But not alone"

"...Hm. Inas was currently working on an equipment that prevented to breathe polluted air, and the blue vial made with tears of a Royal Coyote. Those beasts are supposed to be immunized against Toxic Gilamesh, and their components can heal anyone who was put under his influence if the spores haven't attacked the brain"

"With that and the equipment Dr. Inas-san has fabricated, I could head to the Sanctuary Tortoise without any problem! All I need to know now is how I can reach her cave" you stated.

"If you follow the river, you'll eventually stumble on it, called the Arroyo Sand Cave. A watercourse constantly flow in those caverns, and always aliments the river that pass our city"

"Follow the river, got it!" you nodded in enthusiasm, before you quickly turned on your heels to run to the exit.

"Chef (y/n)!" the old woman stopped you midway through the doors, and you sent a look at her: "...If it's true that you are a Music Chef, then I hope L'Arabesque is still among us and will guide you in your travels. Please, have a safe journey and may Asfiya's protection shine upon you..."

"Aye!" you nodded, more than determined to help the sand amazonian.

It was a miracle that you didn't turn the whole place upside-down when you first arrived here and witnessed the sight of Coco surrounded by a mob of women who were at least two heads taller than him. You should already be used to it, considering the number of times the poor man was crowded by his biggest fangirls that were unfortunately his clients at the fortune telling shop he held back home. But who could blame the curiosity of the sand amazonian who never met such a fine specimen before? Eyes filled with curiosity as they patted his biceps or his head, taking a closer look at how he took care of his body and such.

No you weren't jealous. You gaped, feeling exasperated when you caught sight of Dr. Inas trying to measure the Heavenly King's limbs. Again.

"INAS-SAN!!" you shouted angrily, and the scientist nearly dropped all her tools at the sound of your voice.

"By the name of Asfiya! What's with everyone yelling my name today?" the short woman huffed. "Naboris was already too much, but now..."

"LEAVE COCO-SAN ALONE ALREADY!"

"Say, Van'assir...Are all the Van'assames that possessive with their Van'assirs or are you a special case?" Dr. Inas demanded to Coco, who blushed in embarrassment. "Can I kiss you? It's for science"

"Well, you would die if you did" the Gentleman suddenly grinned with his eyes closed, causing the doctor to let out a shout of pure awe.

"Because of the poison?! A kiss of death?! F-A-S-C-I-N-A-T-I-N-G~"

"Enough already!" you spat, standing between her and your partner. "Get too close again and I will pummel you with my hammer!"

"Van'assames possess hammers?! F-A-S-C-I-N-A-T-I-N-G~"

"What the hell are you doing, you damn Nav'assam?!" Naboris suddenly barked when she entered the inn, glaring accusingly at Dr. Inas who lifted her arms in surrender.

"Experimenting, what else? Besides, you're the one who made me wait here...So I found something to pass the time!"

"Did you bring what I asked for at least?" the warrior narrowed her eyes at the woman.

"Of course! Who do you think I am? Stupid?" replied Dr. Inas as she handed to the sand amazonian a sack.

"That and many other things"

"How cruel, Naboubou-chan! Saying that when we don't even know if you will come back with the Van'assam and the Van'assir!" Inas faked tears, making you blink as you gazed back at Naboris.

"Naboris-san...You're coming with us?" you inquired.

"Talib and I will be your guides. Even if you follow the river, you don't know the potential dangers that lurk there and inside the cave. Thus I'm coming with you and the Van'assir" replied the warrior with a wink.

"And you know what they say? The more the merrier!" Inas grinned, enrolling an arm around Naboris's waist who glared down at her, pissed. "Now, Naboubou-chan...About your payment..."

"Don't call me like that ever again!" she snarled.