M’traliel loved culinary arts almost as much as she loved music. After leaving Jahrae, she headed for the Old City local market area, not two blocks removed from Jahrae’s well located flat.

“Jahrae’s flat” ran again through her mind, leaving a residual queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. The flat had been selected by llhaesa and Jahrae together; both loved the high ceilings, the strategically spaced skylights on the angled part of the roof, and the intricate craftwork throughout the flat, from the old wooden floors to the moulding around the edges of the ceiling to the intricately carved pillars dividing the dining space from living space. And then there was the rooftop patio, where llhaesa could compose music, could set and play in the brilliant light of day or in the ambient night light produced by a city of 25 million souls.

Most especially, Jahrae and llhaesa loved the flat’s location on the edge of the park, right near Old City doings. It was famed for being an artist’s community, and well… llhaesa was an artist.

There were traditional markets in this area, markets that not only sold grocery items and perishables, but also offered up house specialties with which to tempt those who passed within olfactory range of the market.

M’traliel was not so easily tempted, and instead first made the rounds for groceries, arranging for their transport back to the flat. Next she wandered the produce shop, getting a good cross section of fruits and vegetables. And she finished by giving in to indulgence: finding a pastry shop, she first selected two loaves of multi-grain bread. Her serious and practical side sufficiently satisfied, she turned to the decadent section of the shop. Knowing that Jahrae had never turned down any pastry which sported chocolate, she ordered a package of four of the sweetest, most chocolaty confections in the shop. The server winked at M’traliel as he handed over the package, and in acknowledgment M’traliel quickly half bowed and retuned upright.

The walk back was short but determined. M’traliel was going to find a way to save her friend; she did not know quite how she would go about this. For now, the goal was to keep her alive. The long term goal would be to get her to wish to live again. Llhaesa would wish for her to see to Jahrae’s well being, and if there was one thing she would devote her life to accomplishing, it was fulfilling what llhaesa wished for.

M’traliel had thought of taking the entry key with her. Consequently, she was able to re-enter the flat without bothering the semi-coherent Jahrae. Her first stop was the kitchen area, putting away the items carried back from the shops. This took some time, as she was unfamiliar with where Jahrae… and llhaesa had kept things. Once put away was accomplished, she set into throwing together homemade soup.

The soup was a risk; Jahrae might have her stomach turned and wish no part of M’traliel’s cooking. On the other hand, she might be drawn to recognise her hunger through the increasingly mouth-watering aroma wafting through the 8 room flat.

She let the soup simmer for a few hours, bringing out some cheese and crackers for nibbling. The plate sat untouched for an hour, save for M’traliel willingly indulging. The atmosphere was one of contrast: pleasant and inviting smells against no discussion, no interaction. There were just two adults setting and existing. Both women harboured goals: one death, the other life.

While she probably sensed this dichotomy immediately, it would be months before M’traliel achieved a breakthrough. And the solution M’traliel searched for lie no further away than the flat’s music studio.