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“What smells so good?” wondered the demi-human receptionist wiggling her tail and nose.

“It’s meat,” replied Konoe with arms crossed and half a smile.

“Meat?” sighed the other receptionist, “-how original...”

“Don’t insult meat,” came other workers, “-it’s the staple of what makes a meal great. Besides, we don’t care about the fine dining everyone does here,” a bearded man with slippers and vest entered without tact. “The world of the rich cuisine, who cares,” he laughed.

“It’s personal preference,” argued Konoe respectfully. The bearded man seemed to be strong as the others were reluctant to speak or stare.

“I suppose we have to wait,” sighed yet another entering the kitchen. Soon after, the sweet aroma of the simmering stew knocked their senses.

.....

‘Late night meals must be light and easy to swallow. The body has to rest for the next morning. A stew should be enough, there’s no need for fancy. It’s the first thing Chef Leko taught me.’

“Konoe,” closing the lid, “-where will you be seated?”

“In the restaurant,” replied he.

“Could you please take care of it?”

“Yeah, sure,” with a nod as the other stared, “-let’s move outside. I think the meal is about to be readied.” None could refute until a loud sizzling and burst of fire stopped the line. “-What?”

A musician playing and imbuing each note with emotion. Igna stood there as if the guide. Both hands moved ambidextrously, the calm and compose exploded into the rash and irregular.

“What is he doing?”

“He’s cooking,” said Konoe reluctantly, “-I’ve realized why Lady Lordon asked for him. He told me it was less than a few months since he held the knife. I don’t doubt the words, why would anyone lie about being a rookie, especially in such a grand setting as here. The techniques being used, the way he checks the pan, there’s refinement, unlike anything I’ve experienced.” The show of ability grounded the would-be leaving guests. No words exchanged from that point forth. A hypnotic performance of skill and potential.

Twenty-five minutes later, “-Konoe.”

“What is it,” approached he to Igna who washed his hands.

“Can you help me plate? It’s sadly something I’m not that good at,” casually wiping and drying the hand,”-I might have cooked, still, the first impression of the food is what motivates one to eat. Please, I need help.” The sincerity in the face and voice couldn’t be beaten.

“Fine,” he patted Igna’s shoulder, “-I understand you a bit more now. The technique you showed was tantamount to a seasoned veteran. Can’t believe it’s been that little o’ time.”

“Thank you for the compliments,” tasting the food at last, “-here.”

‘What’s this...’ an explosion of flavor had the feet stuck to the floor, ‘-the rashness in his cooking is present in the food. It’s strong and unrefined in a good way. I can taste the strength of meat, the wild nature of the beast.’

“It’s demon-wolves meat,” smiled he, “-I found some earlier and the Blood of a Covenant.”

“Are you insane? I thought only Master Leko could utilize such ingredients...”

“Why was it here then?”

“Oh...” the face shifted to cluelessness; “-I don’t know myself.”

“Yeah, whatever, it’s going to get cold, help me with plating.”

Bowls in hand with side-dish of meat and vegetables, the food came out one by one. The table filled with the aroma of earlier, and soon the staff waited fondly.

“Thank you everyone for taking the time and coming to try the food of a recruit. Let me explain what’s in the meal,” and so, after a few minutes, the ingredients weren’t hard to grasp as well as the technique used.

“Young Igna,” said the bearded man, “-don’t feel bad if we hate the meal. Everyone here has experience in tasting. We’ve been spoiled by the best chefs around the nation, compared to them, there’s no parallel.”

A lid covered the bowls, none had taken a look at the actual meal.

“Is that true?”

“About them being spoiled?”

“Yeah,” asked Igna with a frown.

“No two ways around it, the staff here have taste tested meals and recipes from plenty o’ chefs. Some are good, many were bad, still, the heightened senses of the Ardanian’s contested by a lot.” The casual chatter faded into silence,”-what happened?”

“They had a bite,” smiled Igna. A bite turned into another, ‘-what’s this flavor, I need to know more.’ Each thought the same, the modest food of a trainee had them craving more.

“Konoe!” screamed the same man, “-who made this?” strong and heavy, the room dissolved into shameless murmurs.

“Igna, vice-director, it was made by him.”

“Vice-director?” asked Igna tapping the shoulder.

“Wait,” said Konoe with a facial expression.

“No, I refuse to believe it,” he sat with twice the force.

“It can’t be him, can it?” argued the receptionists.

“Such a pleasant meal,” sighed the normal workers, “-I’m filled with energy.”

“Yeah, I know,” replied the guards, “-I can work the night without trouble now.”

Those who finished stood, “-the meal was succulent,” compliments were given on the way out.

“I like the explosive taste,” said the demi-human receptionist, “-I’m Ellie, and this here is my partner Ella. Guess you’re not that bad a boy,” they left after patting his head arrogantly.

“Those two,” exhaled Konoe in disappointment, “-they never changed, don’t mind them.”

Lastly came the bearded man, “-Boy.”

“Yes?”

“Let me introduce myself first. I’m Vice-Director of the Trader’s Guild in the Onela region, Carter Lonhe.”

“Suppose it’s my turn. Lyoko Igna, trainee-chef.”

“I’m curious,” he held his chin, “-where did you learn cooking?”

“From Chef Leko.”

“Chef Leko... why are you here then? Isn’t studying under a man of his caliber enough?”

“No...” the head shook, “-he decided it for me. I’m waiting on Lady Lordon as my teacher.”

“It explains it then,” nothing else uttered, the man headed out. Thus, the night of arriving at Onela ended with full stomachs and smiles.

Friday 8th of April came fast with an alarm ringing hard. The sun had yet to rise outside, ‘-so early,’ muffled he with a yawn.

“Morning Igna,” said Konoe parting the curtains, “-you’ll start working at the kitchen today. Early start for us trainees,” the face held enthusiasm.

The minutes turned into hours, many o’ chefs arrived and introduced themselves to the rookie. Igna was tasked with preparing a simple dish as means of a test. The result was delicious and the techniques displayed had taken the chefs by surprise.

“Good to have you onboard,” said a clean-shaven skinnier man. The skin around his face was shriveled and stuck to the bone. “Call me Nole.”

“Yes, Chef Nole.”

“Impressive kid,” said a man wearing a bandana, “-the grandmaster saw your food adequate. Be ready for an onslaught of insults if things get bad. Chef Nole might look old and soft, he’s a devil by heart, trust me on that.”

“A devil by heart,” mumbled he reminiscent to Leko. ‘-Where’s Konoe?’ a scan of the kitchen showed the boy at a washing station. The others continually teased him with certain looks and actions.

“Don’t get involved, Igna,” said he with the bandana, “-those guys are from noble families based off Hidros. We can’t do anything to them except watch.”

‘The disparities of the two kingdoms are still here. What the hell was the story about peace and unity for. A noble being abused by other nobles. The Head-chef seems to not care about the result.’

“Don’t,” said Konoe silently.

*Tssk,* ‘-how annoying. Part of me wants to help him and the other part doesn’t want to do anything.’

“Order up people,” came a younger man with a darker complexion, “-breakfast is as important as dinner. Work as if there’s no tomorrow because there will be no tomorrow if results are lackluster.”

“That’s Ola,” whispered the man again, “-the right-hand of the head-chef. Make sure to not end up like Konoe.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. I’m Lyoko Igna by the way.”

“Call me Ki,” said he proudly, “-now, let’s get this started.”

“Order up people!” yelled Ola. The slow and easy-going kitchen divulged into a well-oiled machine of preparation. The restaurant would open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, unorthodox for the ‘fine-cuisine’ advertised outside. The purpose of it was to recruit potential talents for bigger places. Many stayed years on end here trying to break and make a name.

Excluding the entrance from the guild, another door rested forwards of the bar. The main-entrance as one would call it. The somber night didn’t make it apparent at first. It continued till stone-pavement after which rested the road. Many decorations in the forms of plants and flowers over-looked the clean and immaculate staircase. Each step was made and crafted out of granite. It elevated the reflecting image. Heon’s Restaurant was calligraphically written above the double-doors.

Soon, the restaurant filled with many o’ workers and casual people. “Let me tell you something about Heon’s,” smirked Ki, “-breakfast and lunch are simple, delicious, and affordable for the common folks. The head-chef is adamant in his belief that delicious food must be given to all. Don’t let the décor fool you, we’re a full-blown diner in the morning.”

“It’s something I can get behind,” he smiled.

“What?” paused midway frying vegetables, “-I thought you’d be discouraged by the thought of serving the norm.”

“Not really,” happily preparing the dough, “-I don’t care who from where is eating the food. As long as it ends up in one’s mouth, it shall come out the other end devoid of the prejudice of wealthy or not.” Stone-cold glares of the other cooks froze and cut across his back, Chef Ola overheard the sentence and nodded.

Thus, trailed the day until three o’clock. “Good job everyone,” added the head-chef, “-go rest for now. We’ve prepared for tonight’s meal. It’s going to be harder since it’s a Friday,” the empty eyes seemed to wander across the room, “-we’ve gotten many compliments today from our customers,” he kept on searching, “-be proud of what you’ve done.” He rested upon a single man, “-Lyoko Igna, come with me.”

“Yes Chef,” he left after folding the apron neatly.

“I saw your techniques earlier,” said he exiting the kitchen, “-I’m impressed.”

.....

“Thank you, chef,” he nodded, “-might I ask where we are headed?”

“To a meeting room, someone has come to visit.” Up the lift and towards the restricted part of the building, a room had, ‘Guild Master’s Office’ labeled on golden sheets.

“Hello again,” smiled a lady behind the desk, “-Igna.”

“Guild Master,” quick to bow, “-it’s a pleasure to see you.”

“Yes, the feeling is mutual,” smugly gesturing the chef to leave them alone, the room shut menacingly. “-Take a seat.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he sat, ‘-why does she feel so offended today.’

“Igna.”

“Y-yes,” startled by her sharp tone, he stared emptily.

“Good job on making it here,” her voice eased, “-I admit Lady Lordon was harsh to leave you to the wild. I guess it’s her way of saying go explore the capital. I heard from the vice-director of the meal you made last night,” paused to breathe, “-listen, this is where it gets serious. Igna, tell me right now, are you sure about becoming a chef? Once you study under the ‘Viper’ there will be no going back.”

“Yes,” he smiled, “-I made Chef Leko a promise of being at his side. Besides, I’m a member of the trader’s Guild, I’ve yet to learn a sliver of what is there in the world.”

“I see you haven’t given up on wanting to visit the tower of Aria. Here, I’ll make you a promise. If you manage to become renowned as a chef, I’ll call onto someone who will teach you the ways of the nightwalker. What do you say?”

“What classifies as being a renowned chef?”

“Basically become an idol,” the conniving grin told of the trouble laying ahead.