The afternoon sun filtered through the high windows of the Grand Cafeteria, casting long golden beams across the marble floors and polished counters.
Will Harlan stood behind the main serving counter, the Simple Apron tied around his waist already showing fresh oil stains and scattered spice marks. His hands moved with quiet efficiency — chopping vegetables with the Inherited Kitchen Knife in precise, almost meditative strokes, stirring large pots of porridge, and secretly adding his own subtle enhancements to certain dishes using the Focus Herb Salad he had prepared earlier that morning.
The morning rush had been particularly busy. Students streamed in and out, some still whispering about yesterday's mission, others openly requesting "the usual from the cook" when they thought no one was listening. Will kept his head down and continued working, but he could feel the shift in the air. The mockery was still there, but it was mixed with something new — curiosity.
During a brief lull, Einsfel appeared at the counter.
She looked fresh and composed in her deep blue and gold-trimmed uniform, but there was a subtle tiredness in her eyes from the morning classes. Her silver-gray hair was tied back neatly, though a few loose strands still framed her face beautifully.
"The usual, please," she said with a small smile that was meant only for him.
Will's expression softened instantly.
"Spicy Power Soup with Focus Herb Salad?" he asked, already reaching for the ingredients.
Einsfel nodded. "You know me too well."
He prepared her bowl with extra care, making sure the spice level was perfect — warm, comforting, and just strong enough to help stabilize her magic without overwhelming her. When he handed it over, their fingers brushed for a moment longer than necessary. The Mother's Worn Pot on the shelf behind him flickered with a slightly brighter silver-gray light.
Einsfel took a spoonful right there at the counter. Her eyes fluttered slightly as the familiar taste spread through her. The restless magic she had been struggling with since morning visibly calmed, the faint blue glow around her body becoming smoother and more controlled.
She let out a tiny, almost inaudible sigh of relief.
"…It's perfect," she murmured, voice low enough that only he could hear. "Every time I eat what you make, it feels like everything inside me settles down. Like I'm safe. Warm."
Will felt a warm bloom in his chest.
A few students nearby noticed the interaction and started whispering again.
"Look at that. She's always coming to him."
"Do you think they're actually… you know?"
Einsfel ignored them completely. She took another bite, savoring it slowly, then leaned slightly closer to the counter while pretending to adjust her grip on the bowl.
"After your shift today," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear, "meet me at the quiet spot behind the eastern greenhouse. I want to spend some time with you. Just us."
Her cheeks gained a faint, beautiful pink tint.
Will's heart quickened. He nodded, trying to keep his face neutral. "I'll be there."
Einsfel gave him one last soft, lingering look before walking away with her bowl, her posture graceful and composed despite the whispers following her.
The morning continued in a blur of serving, chopping, and enduring the occasional mocking glance. Will kept working steadily, but his mind kept drifting to the promised meeting later.
Then, without warning, a small chaos erupted in the kitchen area.
A few low-level Shadow Lurker pups — attracted by the strong aromas — had somehow slipped through a weak point in the academy's barrier and burst into the kitchen. They swarmed the ingredient shelves, shadowy claws tearing open bags of flour and spices.
Chef Borin shouted in alarm. "What the—?! Someone get these things out of here before they ruin the entire morning service!"
Students nearest the kitchen backed away in panic.
Will didn't hesitate.
He grabbed the Mother's Worn Pot, the Inherited Kitchen Knife, and moved quickly. Using the Simple Apron as a makeshift shield with his left hand, he began cooking on the spot with his right. The knife flashed as he chopped emergency ingredients at blinding speed. Within moments, a batch of Aroma Bait Dumplings was simmering in the pot, releasing a powerful savory aroma mixed with carefully chosen spices.
The Shadow Lurker pups froze.
Then, like moths to a flame, they abandoned the shelves and swarmed straight toward Will and the bubbling pot instead.
Will scooped several steaming dumplings and flung them forward like throwing weapons. The pups pounced on them greedily.
The effect was immediate and ridiculous.
The creatures began to writhe and puff up, their shadowy bodies swelling like overfilled balloons from the overwhelming savory flavor. One by one, they floated upward, bloated and helpless, making comical popping sounds as they dissolved into harmless black mist.
One particularly greedy pup ate too many and inflated like a balloon, drifting upward while squeaking pathetically until it popped with a loud poof, raining tiny sparks of dark energy.
Students and staff stared in stunned silence.
Chef Borin blinked several times. "Did… did he just feed them until they exploded?"
A few students started laughing nervously.
Will wiped sweat from his brow, the Simple Apron still held like a shield. The Mother's Worn Pot in his hands now had an even brighter silver-gray glow along its rim.
Cyrus Vaughn happened to be passing by the cafeteria entrance at that exact moment. He stopped, watching the entire scene with cold eyes.
"Look at that," he said loudly, his voice carrying across the room. "The kitchen boy is playing hero again. How charming. Using food to fight magical beasts… truly the pinnacle of academy standards."
His followers laughed.
Before Will could respond, Einsfel, who had just returned from her morning class, stepped forward from the crowd.
"Cyrus," she said clearly, her voice calm but carrying undeniable authority. "If you spent less time mocking others and more time training, perhaps you wouldn't need to feel so threatened by someone who actually gets results."
Cyrus's smile froze.
Einsfel turned to Will, her expression softening noticeably.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
Will nodded. "I'm fine."
The tension slowly eased as the remaining pups were cleared out. Chef Borin even gave Will a grudging pat on the shoulder.
"Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
As the cafeteria returned to its normal rhythm, Einsfel leaned close while pretending to return her empty bowl.
"Behind the eastern greenhouse," she whispered, her voice warm and full of promise. "After your shift. Don't be late."
Will's ears turned red again.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. When his shift finally ended in the late afternoon, Will quickly cleaned up and headed toward the eastern greenhouse as promised.
Einsfel was already waiting in their secluded spot, surrounded by blooming mana flowers that glowed softly in the fading light. The moment she saw him, her face lit up with a warm, gentle smile.
"You came," she said softly.
"I always will," Will replied.
She took his hand and pulled him deeper into the hidden corner.
The quiet greenhouse became their private world once again.
And as the sun began to set over the academy spires, the faint silver-gray light on the Mother's Worn Pot continued to glow — a silent promise of the bond growing stronger between them with every shared moment.