Within his Mental Landscape, Elias stood before a vast workshop where his Inner Self possessed the power to manifest anything he could conceive. As a former Quantum Seeker who had reached the Unified Field Stage, recreating mere food items was indeed, as he had once joked to himself, "a piece of cake."
"Let's start with the classics."
He murmured, his consciousness shaping reality within the infinite space of his mind.
He began with what he called "Deli-Cakes." These were elongated pastries roughly the length of two thumbs placed end to end, with a thickness that required two hands to grasp comfortably. These were filled with a variety of creams and fruit preserves, their exteriors glazed to a perfect golden sheen.
Next came "Coconut Doughnuts." Ring-shaped pastries covered in shredded coconut and a light glaze that sparkled like morning dew. Coconuts were luxury ingredients in this world, making these treats particularly exotic.
He created "Honey Spirals." Twisted pastries that seemed to glow with their own inner light, infused with honey that had been enhanced through refined processes to provide both incredible flavor and surprising nutritional value.
"Chocolate Dreams" followed. Small, dense cakes that melted on the tongue, releasing layers of flavor that seemed to evolve with each bite. The chocolate was unlike anything available in this world, rich and complex in ways that would seem almost magical to local palates.
He could be certain of these assumptions because of his inherited memories of the original Elias's experience in Mystral as a noble child.
Each creation was not merely food but a work of art, designed to provide not just taste but genuine nourishment. These pastries could satisfy hunger as effectively as a full meal while delivering an experience of pure pleasure.
The process of manifesting these items in his Mental Landscape and then retrieving them into physical reality cost him only a single Mystic Crystal, a remarkably efficient exchange rate. He presumed the reason for the low cost was the relatively simple nature of what he was creating.
While Elias worked on inventory in the Mental Landscape, in the real world, Selina proved invaluable in preparing the physical space. Despite her lack of formal education, she possessed an intuitive understanding of organization and aesthetics.
Once Elias finished with the inventory, she arranged the display cases to show the pastries to their best advantage, cleaned every surface until it gleamed, and even suggested improvements to the layout that Elias readily adopted.
"You have a good eye for this."
He told her as she adjusted the positioning of a display case for the third time, seeking the perfect angle to catch the morning light. She seemed to be a bit of a perfectionist. Elias didn't know if it was her nature or a practice learned from being Drakas's maid.
Selina blushed at the praise, then said with a smile.
"I just want everything to be perfect. This is... this is the first time I've been part of something being built rather than just trying to survive."
Elias nodded, saying nothing.
Well, at least she's happy.
He commented inwardly, seeing her joyful expression.
…
On the morning they were set to open, Elias made one final addition to their preparations: an air purification device he manifested from his Mental Landscape. The device was small and unobtrusive, but it would continuously cleanse the air in their shop, removing unpleasant odors and replacing them with a subtle, pleasant fragrance that would enhance the appeal of their pastries.
"Mama's Pastry."
Selina read aloud from the sign Elias had commissioned.
"Why that name?"
She asked curiously.
Elias smiled beneath his mask and said:
"Because the best food always reminds us of home, of comfort, of being cared for. When people taste our pastries, I want them to feel that warmth. Let's not waste any more time. We'll officially be open for business once you flip the 'open' sign by the door."
Soon, Selina flipped the sign to "open."
Within an hour of opening, their first customer arrived. They entered the shop after a moment of hesitation. It was a homeless elderly man whose appearance immediately filled the small shop with the odors of unwashed clothing and cheap alcohol. His clothes were little more than rags, his beard unkempt, and his eyes held the hollow look of someone who had seen too much hardship.
Elias immediately activated the air purification device, and within moments, the unpleasant smells were replaced by the clean, welcoming scent of their shop. The elderly man looked around in surprise, as if he couldn't quite believe he was in the same space.
"Welcome to Mama's Pastry."
Elias said, his voice warm despite the mask that concealed his features.
"Please, look around and see what appeals to you."
The man shuffled forward hesitantly, his eyes widening as he took in the display of pastries. Each item was perfectly presented, the glazes catching the light, the colors vibrant and appealing. For someone accustomed to scrounging for scraps, the sight must have seemed almost dreamlike.
"Selina."
Elias called, his voice quiet.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you help our customer? This will be good practice for you."
The girl stepped forward, her initial nervousness giving way to confidence as she saw the wonder in the old man's eyes. She approached him and began her introduction of their products.
"These are all fresh-made this morning. The Deli-Cakes are very popular in my hometown. They're quite filling and have different flavors inside. The Coconut Doughnuts are sweet and light. What looks good to you?"
She explained, gesturing to the various pastries.
Naturally, most of what she was saying was nonsense, especially the claim about Deli-Cakes being popular in her hometown. These were all words Elias had instructed her to say. The purpose was to arouse the customer's curiosity and encourage them to try the product to verify the claims.
—It was a basic tactic employed to secure customers.
The elderly man studied the options carefully, his weathered finger eventually pointing to one of the Deli-Cakes.
"That one. How much?"
He said, his voice rough from disuse.
Before Selina could quote the price, Elias stepped forward.
"For our very first customer, there's no charge. Consider it our way of celebrating the opening of Mama's Pastry. All I ask is that you tell others about us if you enjoy it."
The old man stared at Elias in shock, his mouth opening and closing without sound. Finally, he managed a nod, accepting the wrapped pastry with hands that trembled slightly.
"Thank you."
He whispered, and there was something in his voice that suggested these words carried more weight than a simple expression of gratitude.