Chapter Twenty-Five
Blueberries and an Accidental Discovery
The mountain air felt colder than usual that afternoon.
After Xavier finished telling his story, silence stayed with the group for a while.
No one knew what to say.
The wind moved softly through the trees, making the branches whisper.
Clare looked at Xavier quietly.
"I'm sorry that happened to you."
Xavier smiled a little.
"It happened long ago. My uncle says mountains take things away… but they also give something back."
Jack suddenly crouched near a bush.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
"What?" Noah asked.
Jack brushed aside the leaves and his eyes widened.
"Look!"
Tiny dark blue berries were growing between the branches.
Clare leaned closer.
"Blueberries!"
Daniel plucked one carefully and examined it.
"In my kingdom these are expensive," he said. "Served only during special dinners."
Jack didn't wait.
He popped one into his mouth.
His eyes immediately widened.
"Oh—"
"What?" Noah asked.
Jack pointed at the bush excitedly.
"Sweet!"
Within seconds everyone started picking them.
Clare laughed as Noah filled her palms with the small berries.
Daniel tasted one slowly.
It was sweet with a slight sourness.
"Nature is generous," Emma said gently while watching them.
Soon the group sat on a fallen tree trunk eating blueberries and talking again.
The earlier sadness slowly faded.
For a moment they were just students enjoying a quiet mountain afternoon.
The Next Day at School
The chemistry laboratory smelled strange.
Glass bottles lined the shelves.
Jack stared at the labels carefully.
"French is confusing," he muttered.
Clare sighed. "Just give me the salt."
Jack grabbed a white powder container and sprinkled it into the food they had brought from the café.
They all took a bite.
Noah stopped chewing.
"…Why does this taste weird?"
Clare looked suspicious.
Jack checked the label.
Then his face froze.
"Uh…"
Clare snatched the bottle from him.
Her eyes widened.
"This isn't salt."
"What?" Noah asked.
Clare pointed at the label.
"Baking soda."
Jack dropped his spoon.
"Oh no."
For the rest of the day the trio believed they might die.
Jack kept touching his stomach.
"Is it burning?"
"No," Noah said nervously.
Clare whispered, "Maybe it works slowly."
That evening they rushed to Emma at the café.
Jack dramatically explained everything.
Emma blinked.
"You ate baking soda?"
All three nodded miserably.
Emma tried not to laugh.
"You'll be fine."
They didn't believe her.
That night everyone slept with fear.
The Next Morning
Nothing happened.
No stomach pain.
No sickness.
Jack jumped happily.
"I survived!"
Noah rolled her eyes.
"You ate a spoon of baking soda, not poison."
Jack suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
His eyes slowly brightened.
"What if we add it to bread dough?"
Noah immediately refused.
"That sounds like a terrible idea."
Clare nodded.
"Bread already uses yeast."
"But what if baking soda makes it softer?" Jack argued.
The idea stayed in their minds.
By evening curiosity won.
They went to the café kitchen.
Flour, milk, butter, yeast and sugar were placed on the table.
Jack mixed everything enthusiastically.
Clare checked measurements.
Noah watched suspiciously.
"Add salt," Clare said.
Jack grabbed a container.
And poured sugar.
Again.
"Jack!" Noah shouted.
"It's fine!" he said confidently.
Then he added milk.
Too much milk.
The dough became watery.
Clare sighed deeply.
"This is a disaster."
Then Jack forgot to add yeast ,
Just then Emma called Noah and Clare from the front room.
"Girls! Come here for a moment!"
When they returned—
Jack had already placed the mixture inside the oven.
"You WHAT?" Noah yelled.
"I thought it might work!"
They waited.
Minutes passed.
Then—
A warm sweet smell slowly filled the kitchen.
Clare frowned.
"That… smells nice."
Jack opened the oven door.
Inside was a soft golden baked loaf.
But it didn't look like bread.
Noah cut a small piece carefully.
They stared at it.
Then Clare tasted it first.
Her eyes widened.
"This… isn't bread."
Jack swallowed nervously.
"What is it then?"
Clare smiled slowly.
"It's something new."
They all tasted it.
Soft.
Sweet.
Fluffy.
Emma walked in and took a bite too.
"Well… whatever it is," she said with a smile,
"It's delicious."
Jack crossed his arms proudly.
"I knew my mistake would become history."
Noah laughed.
"For once, Jack, your stupidity helped."
Clare looked at the small baked piece thoughtfully.
"Maybe we should give it a name."
Jack blinked.
"A name?"
Clare nodded.
"Yes."
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