Quinn
I flipped through the pages, seeing notes here and there, but more so, illustrations, mostly scenes of people gathering and the buildings and facilities rooms that was the lodge.
"You have a knack for drawing, Hunter," I said. "Self-taught?"
"It just comes naturally, my lady," he said.
"They tended to play around when they were younger, my lady," Gemma said. "Drawing on dirt and such."
"Ah, I see," I said. "So you're technically recording what's happening around the lodge."
Hunter said, "When we first arrived here, we were awestruck and overwhelmed by what we saw and Hayden and I couldn't stop talking about the experience. We thought it'd be a shame if we forgot about it in the future, and we didn't want that. You, my lady, and Lord Norsewood technically saved and changed our lives, and we want to remember it always, so we started drawing."
"It's a journal." Handing back the book, I said, "You're both blessed with art and the ability to communicate with the masses. From where I came from, that's journalism... or it could be a comic artist." I tilted my head to one side. "Or anything to do with an artistic endeavor."
"Journalism, comic artist?" Hayden asked.
I nodded. "Journalism is when one collects, prepares, and distributes the news to the masses whereas comic artist is an artist who draws a comic. It's a form of storytelling through illustrations." I gasped. "That's right, there aren't any comic books in the library yet. I should create some. The Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and Chinese manhua are especially popular in pop culture. And of course, the superhero ones, too."
I frowned. Come to think of it, perhaps Vicky should start airing some children friendly anime on her television as well since most of the popular ones were adapted from manga.
Hayden and Hunter, at hearing my explanation, looked at each other and their eyes widened, as if they understood what that meant. Naturally, of course, since they were blessed with such skills.
I leaned forward and said, "I have a proposition, gentlemen. Would you two be the first journalists and artists in Norsewood? Since you already know how to read and write, I think reporting on what's going on in Norsewood and distributing the news to Norsewood people would be a breeze. I think we should first start by making a department for you and then we'll have a news broadcast, via paper as in a newsletter, and through Vicky's television, once a week, say on a Friday evening?"
"We can have something like that, my lady?" Hayden asked.
"Would you really make a department for us?" Hunter asked.
I nodded. "It'd be useful for Norsewood. If we have something important to announce to the masses, it'd be easy-peasy through news broadcasting. Also, I think you two will have a ton of fun with it." I snapped my finger and thumb. "That's right, a journalist shouldn't be without their own camera." I summoned my magic circle, and voila, two magical digital cameras as well as accompanying tablets materialized, along with drawing pens.
The two young men stared at the gadgets, and Hayden asked, "My lady, what are those?"
"These are cameras, tablets, and drawing pens," I said. "The camera is to take photos and videos of your surroundings. Use that instead of drawing when you're reporting. Simply ask Vicky via this tablet on how to use the camera. Just switch it on by pushing on this button here." I showed it to them, and the screen was turned on and the image of Vicky appeared. "And if you're keen on starting your comic books or drawing an illustration, there's an application for that on the tablet, too."
Hunter chuckled. "These are for us."
"Of course," I said. "Also, don't forget to ask Vicky on how to do the reporting, especially with the live video version, all right?"
The two nodded. They looked absolutely stunned and dazed. Leaving them to recover, I returned my attention to their parents and said, "I'm no expert on giving people advice regarding their career choices, but perhaps if you give the culinary course a try, Mr. Eton?" Although I knew that Gemma was already in the course, and from what I heard, she seemed to enjoy it tremendously.
"I've never liked farming much, my lady," the man said. "And growing rice, well, it requires much toiling. At my age, farming is no good, but at the same time, starting something new... It's no good, too." He shifted his gaze to his sons. "And the boys, it looks like they won't be taking over the farm, and since they're not blessed with the agriculture ability, the crops will be no good."
Watching him and his wife looking so concerned, I had an understanding where their thoughts were. Being middle-aged, they were at a crossroads. If they didn't farm, which was the only thing they knew and had been doing all their lives, how were they going to survive? After all, it wasn't like they had money saved up, or even a retirement plan in this world. It wasn't like there was any sort of help from the kingdom like back on Earth where most first world countries had aid or benefits to help when one was down on their luck, or a pension when one retired.
I widened my eyes as realization hit me hard.
Oh my, it looked like we'd have to look into something like that here in Norsewood. For people like Grandpa Keith and Grandma Ada who had no support—since their grandchildren, Rosie and her brother Gael were still young—and earned very little to no money and wouldn't be able to survive once they left Norsewood Lodge. It looked like we'd have to come up with a pension sort of plan for the elderly soon.
Back to the important matter at hand, I said, "Back in my homeland, some people quit their jobs and opened a mom-and-pop restaurant specializing in one type of food dish only."
I was thinking of all those tiny cubby-hole restaurants or stalls in the back alleys of the streets in Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia where a mom and pop operate, specializing in noodles, ramen, or grilled meat and rice dishes. The American version would be a food truck selling tacos, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, grilled cheese, loaded fries, or mac n' cheese. Those sorts were extremely popular, and Mom and Dad had always taken me to them during our travels to those countries. I still did even when they had passed on, when I managed to save enough for a short overseas vacation. It was a must for me to travel and experience different countries and their cultures and cuisines. There was just that something special about Asia that was fun and vibrant mixed with the old and the new. As for the food, it was diverse, ranging from simple and fresh to strikingly fiery to bold and intense to bright and aromatic and absolutely deliciously effervescent.
"A mom-and-pop restaurant, my lady?" Gemma asked.
I nodded. "It's a small restaurant run by a husband and wife, or it could be a father and son. Basically, a family-run restaurant. They only offer one or two dishes, but they perfect the dishes to a T, and they are loved by locals. If you joined the culinary course and found a dish or two you enjoy making and eating, then perhaps opening a small restaurant would be a good idea."
"But we have no means of opening a restaurant, my lady," Rory said. "We heard such things require a lot of money. And there is a sort of guild you must join, too."
"Aye, there are guilds for restaurants as well as bakeries and butchers and such, my lady," Gemma said. "As there is a guild for farmers."
Ah, I did not know that there were guilds for all sorts of small businesses, and I had no doubt guidelines were strict. There was something like that back during the middle age in England, wasn't there? There were bakers' guilds to regulate controls over the price and weight of bread, and of course flours and such, but more importantly, to protect the interests of the bakers.
It seemed I'd have to look into that. But of course, if Norsewood was independent from all the other regions in Athol, there shouldn't be any need for any sort of guilds. Unless we created one ourselves, with our own guidelines, naturally. But regarding rules and regulations for small businesses, I think that should be covered by the town council. Something like a policy, perhaps.
"I see," I said. "Then what I'll do is bring that topic up in the next committee meeting. As for site, building, kitchen, and things like that, you don't have to worry about those. Once there's a plan, the construction will be free of charge, and once your restaurant starts operating, you'd only have to pay the monthly rent and utilities."
Rory widened his eyes. "Free of charge, my lady? The construction?"
I nodded. "As with all the new cottages that will be built across Norsewood. I believe Aldric will be footing the bills." I chuckled, remembering him saying how he wanted to rebuild cottages and small business establishments for his people with the reward he received from King Henry.
"That reminds me. I'd have to create a show home soon, don't I? So Robert and his team can get started on plans and things like that." I clasped my hands together. "Right, are you all free now?"
"All of us, my lady?" Hayden asked.
I nodded. "I'm done for the day, thanks to me having minion healers now."
"We are free, my lady," Rory said. "But why do you ask?"
I said, "Well, I'm going to show you one of my favorite dishes made by a mom-and-pop restaurant. Also, I'm kind of hungry and it's not until another three hours when dinner's due."