Chapter 18

Ever since her last attempt at cooking turned out surprisingly well, Minerva had picked up a new habit—waking up early every morning to shop for fresh ingredients. There was a small convenience store at the corner of her apartment building. It stocked basic groceries and the kind of sandwiches most Usnians liked. The owner, Webster Guerrero, a friendly Ashinian who spoke fluent Ashinese, would always greet her warmly. After a few casual conversations, Minerva learned he owned a small farm just outside the city, where he grew seasonal fruits and vegetables. Since then, she had made a habit of jotting down a list and letting him bring her the fresh produce he grew on his farm. However, Webster apologized that morning. He said the recent harvest had been light and suggested she try the local Ashinian supermarket a few blocks away. He gave her directions, and Minerva decided to follow them. To her surprise, she found the place quite easily. However, she found that the produce shelv