Gabriella's Chronicles #10

Gabriella didn't see Amun before she left China. She wasn't sure what to think; was he avoiding her?

After her return home, she tried to distract herself as best she could. She read all the recipe books she purchased in China at the local library. Well... except for the most advanced recipes. She was a good cook, but not quite a chef yet.

After being denied entrance at the most posh and upscale club, Gabby visited the local pub for some simple fare and entertainment. Unfortunately, it was quite empty. After distracting herself with a few clumsy rounds of darts, she returned home.

She was back to her old routine and keeping the same company: herself. She was constantly haunted by the sweet memories she had made in China, particularly those at Amun's side...

As she looked out her high-rise window, watching the sun creep over the horizon, she pondered her life's goals and whether she might want to share them with someone special.

Finally, she made up her mind. She would call him and know once and for all whether or not he liked her too! She invited him to spend a week with her.

That night, she slept fitfully as her dreams envisioned Amun's arrival.

Gabriella's Chronicles #9

And so Gabriella returned to Shang Simla on a fine, misty morning. As before, she skipped the inn and started exploring.

She found a peaceful garden and pond, and decided to harvest the exotic fruits and vegetables. She was always looking for new ingredients for her recipes, and these were sure to impress! She spent the whole day with her fingers reaching up into branches or down into the earth, her bags growing full.

 

After night fall, on her way to the inn, she stumbled on an ancient excavation site and decided to uncover its secrets. She found beautiful relics and gems.

Back at the inn, she ate a simple dinner and went to bed, dreaming of feasts and relic collections. In the morning, she slipped out of bed and down the stairs to find breakfast. 

Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed the handsome stranger she had sighted on her last trip. She approached him with small talk, and they laughed and shared stories like old friends. His name was Amun, and he was from Egypt. She explained how part of her excitement exploring tombs and ruins was the danger and fear. Humouring her, he offered to tell her stories of how he narrowly escaped death. Although she now suspected he was trying to impress her, she listened raptly and even shivered in sympathy as he skipped no details.

As the sky darkened, Amun looked at his watch and he exclaimed 'Speaking of adventures, I should get going!'

Gabby still had not had breakfast and she was famished. Since it was too late to go out, she decided to cook a delicious meal. While she peeled, cut, mixed and stirred, she recalled his striking golden eyes and debonair style. She hoped to see him again later.

Sure enough, he was back after a few hours. Gabriella couldn't help but wonder if he had hurried back to see her. He greeted her warmly and hugged her -- which is more than most of her male friends would do. They chatted some more and got to know each other better.

Gabby was feeling somewhat flushed; needing fresh air, she suggested they go out to watch the stars. Amun was willing and seemed glad for her company. They shared favourite activities, and she mentioned her love of cooking. He was a good listener.

Amun announced he needed to go to bed. Gabby didn't want the night to end, but wasn't sure how to proceed since she didn't have much experience with men. Seeing her hesitation, Amun slowly leaned forward to kiss her goodnight.. on the lips!

The next day, Amun was gone when she woke. She decided to go to the Phoenix Academy to blow off some steam, and learned basic martial arts skills in the process.

Gabriella's Chronicles #8

After the excitement of foreign lands and tombs, Gabriella found her home and her regular life quiet, bland and somewhat lonely. Each day resembled the next.

 

She continued hacking as a sideline, but no longer took any pleasure from it. She kept thinking of all the things she didn't have time to do in China. Again, she started slowly saving her simoleons for travel.

Her mind thousands of miles away, she became distracted and clumsy. Everything reminded her of her trip : even falling in front of her dresser!

She also remembered a certain good looking man and wondered if he might still be in China... One more reason to cut down her expenses so she could leave sooner rather than later! A few weeks later, she was ready. She boarded the plane with a smile on her lips.

Gabriella's Chronicles #7

After leaving the Dragon's Maw tomb, Gabriella returned to the inn. Other than the sounds of night birds and crickets, Shang Simla was quiet and its sky was lit with stars. It was a beautiful night and Gabby enjoyed the trip back home.

 

Gabby arrived at the inn hot and sweaty, and decided to have ice cream for dinner -- not that anyone was around to judge her choice.

 She went to be once more blissfully exhausted and looking forward to the next day, her last in China.

When she rose in the morning, there were a few more people up and about. She had broke her fast with a fellow explorer. 

When she picked up her bowl for washing, she noticed a handsome man out of the corner of her eye.

This reminded her she hadn't spoken to a friend in a while and was starting to feel lonely despite all her excitement. She called Lady Cook long-distance and hoped she wouldn't wake her up. She didn't! They spent an hour catching up.

 

 

 

 The day went by fast and she decided to get a souvenir before her time was up. She caught a butterfly.

Happy to be home, tired and mind buzzing with great memories, Gabriella dropped off a few pieces of ore for smelting and gems for cutting at her mailbox.

Gabriella's Chronicles #6

Gabriella's next quest involved exploring the Dragon's Maw. The name invoked equal parts of intrigue and fear. Nevertheless, she put aside her concerns and walked up the steep mountain. The path was narrow, but the view of Shang Simla was breathtaking from the top.

Speaking of breathtaking, no one had warned that the Dragon's Maw breathed smoke. Did it breathe fire as well?! Thankfully, it didn't, and Gabby approached the door cautiously.

The door appeared thick and covered in ancient carvings. After further inspection, Gabby found a way to trigger it to open.

 

She walked down some stairs. This being Gabby's second tomb, she noted how much happier she was while exploring and diving into the unknown. She wondered which mysteries she would unravel here...

The first room had some hidden doors and a few piles of ancient coins.

Gabby promised herself to visit the market before returning home so she could learn what she could buy with this special currency.

Next, she entered a large library where she nabbed a relic and found another hidden door, this one behind a bookcase. 

It revealed wide stairs leading down. She descended.

The next room was large enough to hold balls, but only contained a few bag of money (only!) and relics.

The deepest room seemed partially carved out of bedrock. It contained several piles of rubble and sarcophagi. Was it true they sometimes contained mummies or curses? To build up her courage, Gabby cleared the rubble piles first. The, she gingerly opened the first sarcophagus... and it only contained ancient coins! She searched the others with more haste and confidence.

 

When Gabriella entered the last room, she was stunned. This one had fire coming out of the floor. Dragon's Maw indeed!

Then she realized it was actually easy to walk around the fire to get the relics and money bags. Gabby felt she was getting better at this!

By the time she left the Maw, it was nighttime. Gabby admired the stars and constellations while running, and remembered too look down just in time to negotiate her way back down the narrow path.

Gabriella's Chronicles #5

Gabby hopped onto her rented bicycle and rode back to the suburbs, whistling to herself.

She returned the relic to the local who seemed puzzled at her speed.

With this task completed, she raced back to the inn for some well earned grub and rest.

Too hungry to cook, she grabbed some canned soup. Don't even the simplest food taste great when we're really hungry?

Just before going to bed, she shuffled to the dresser to prepare a more practical outfit for the next morning. Fatigue made her clumsy and as she tugged hard on the drawer, she slipped and fell.

Glad no one witness her graceless stumble, she dropped into bed and fell asleep immediately.

As soon as she woke in the morning, well rested, she bolted out of bed to start her day.

She put on the outfit she had prepared the night before and went downstairs for breakfast, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

She debated cooking a sumptuous breakfast, but settled for faster fare since she wanted to start her next quest as soon as possible.