Lore~

Before the change, which is what Kainin called it, as she still wasn’t quite sure how to put what happened into words, she was a homebody.The comfort of her own apartment served her better than anywhere in the outside world, a place she was more than cautious about in her everyday life. Though she had friends and family, she found herself lacking the time to leave and instead resorted to small hobbies, like singing in the silence of her own room or cooking warm, spiced meals that coated her tongue and comforted her stomach. The soft crackling of the stovetop filled her ears with a harmonious pleasure that reminded her she was safe.Kainin was well aware that she could, and possibly should, leave more often. She wasn’t afraid in any way, just… Attuned to the cozy atmosphere of her own personal space, and in being so, privy to remaining in the confines of her apartment.With time, and plenty of repeat recipes, Kainin found herself in desperate need of something new. A new flavor, something nostalgic, yet unique. She pulled her phone from her pocket and texted one of her close friends, who was also a foodie.She got a response quickly– Her friend had recently run into a small shop in a quieter part of town, where an old woman made her familial recipes. Kainin’s friend didn’t spare any more details, leaving her to close her phone and rush to get ready.Kainin hummed to herself, pulling on a large coat and boots, to combat the rain pelting down outside. She grasped an umbrella, sliding out of her apartment and rushing down the stairs, into the outside world.Kainin walked, listening to the melodic sounds of the rain pattering against her umbrella, sliding against the fabric before plopping into the puddles below. Cars swooshed across the street, sending water flying into the air before falling in a mist back down to the glossy cobblestone floor.After a bit of traversing, in an attempt to find the small shop, she laid her eyes upon it, tucked away in a far corner off the side of the various downtown streets.Kainin, though hesitant at first, pushed past her initial caution and approached the store, entering. The bell chimed above her, echoing through the darkened room. An old woman sat at the counter, singing a gentle melody. After a moment, the woman turned to face Kainin and smiled brightly.“I knew you’d come sometime soon. Here, let me go get your food,” she chimed cheerfully, winking to Kainin and disappearing behind the counter.“But I–” Kainin began, before losing her voice to the silence of the room.The older woman came back with a steaming bowl and placed it on the counter. Her wise eyes crinkled as she looked up. “Sinigang. Your favorite. Here, enjoy.”The woman pushed the bowl forward, offering Kainin a spoon. She took it, inhaling the savory scent that had filled the air. It reminded her of her childhood, of memories before she had fallen into the quietness of isolation.Kainin was sipping the stew before she could stop herself, letting the flavor coat her mouth in a familiar bliss.As she sipped, the nostalgia flooded her veins, breaking down her barriers and setting her quite literally aglow with happiness. Her body was overwhelmed with a light that structured a new form for herself– Something she had always wanted to be, yet never quite could. An idol, someone whose voice mattered, a voice that carried poems and lyrics to the ears of those who needed to hear them.When the transformation was completed, Kainin found herself utterly alone with an empty bowl and a note with scratchy handwriting that read: ‘You’ve found your truth, now aid others in finding theirs.’Kainin left the magical restaurant with a new purpose, something that satisfied her even more than the sinigang that warmed her veins.

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