Chapter 384: Eating Together

"What are you doing, Brother Soren?" Ryan asked as he saw Soren preparing another pot and taking out a new set of ingredients. "Are these for a salad? Isn’t it too much?"

"Ah," Soren replied, setting down a smaller copper pot and selecting a batch of mild roots. "This is for Ethea. She can’t eat the dish we are preparing. Since her main affinity is ice and her body is already weak, the volatile fire mana in that pot would only conflict with her condition and worsen it."

"I see," Ryan said, nodding in understanding as he looked between the two pots. "Then let me know if you need any help with this one."

Soren gave a brief nod. "Good. Then you’ll be my new assistant this time."

"Hehe, understood, Master Chef!"

With assistant Ryan helping Chef Soren, the time passed quickly.

Thirty minutes later, it was time to check on the first dish. While Ryan went out to call Ethea and Zura, Soren approached the big pot and lifted the lid. A thick cloud of savory steam billowed out, carrying the intense aroma of seared dragon meat, sweet sunfruit, and toasted spices across the entire kitchen.

"Whoa! What is this smell?!" Zura exclaimed as she entered the kitchen. "It’s so... so different than I imagined! Anyway, is it finally ready?"

’What did you even imagine?’ Soren wanted to ask but decided it would be better not to. "Yes, now, all that’s left is the final step."

"Oh, do you need help again?" Zura asked enthusiastically.

"Yes, while I do my part, can you make sure no mana leaks from the pot until I say you can stop?"

"Understood, leave it to me."

"Alright. I’m starting then." Soren reached into the pot with his skimmer and started tossing and fluffing the glistening rice from the bottom up while folding the caramelized onions, tender carrots, and rich meat into a steaming mountain. He only stopped once every grain was evenly coated in the spiced oil and the ingredients were thoroughly mixed.

"You can stop now."

"Oh, ok."

"Ryan, can you bring me the platter?"

"On it!"

Ryan hurried over with two platters, one large and one small. Soren took the smaller one first, carefully lifted the meat pieces from the pot and setting them aside to rest. He then scooped the rice mixture onto the large platter, forming a mound in the center.

Once the rice was plated, he picked up a knife and cut the meat into bite-sized cubes. Each piece was still steaming, with dark seared edges and a tender center. He arranged them on top of the rice, scattering them across the surface so every serving would get a piece.

Then he stepped back to take a broader look.

And honestly, the dish looked every bit as good as he’d imagined. Steam rose from the platter, highlighting the Aureole Rice’s deep golden hue, the meat’s seared edges, and the carrots’ bright orange streaks.

"It looks... incredible," Zura murmured, leaning in to admire the sight.

Ryan set the remaining utensils down and nodded in agreement. "The colors turned out amazing."

"You did well, dear," Ethea added with an affectionate smile, her eyes warm as she took in the vibrant spread.

"Thanks, but this is the result of everyone’s hard work," Soren said, wiping his hands on a clean towel. "Let’s not hurry to judge just yet. We still have to taste it and test its effects after all."

"Ah, right," Zura muttered, snapping out of her trance. She picked up the salad platters and turned to the door. "Come on, Ethea, let’s head out to the table."

Ryan stepped up to the counter and carefully lifted the heavy main dish. As he walked past, he leaned toward Soren and whispered, "You should bring Sister-in-Law’s food yourself."

Soren gave him a brief nod and turned back to the secondary burner. He uncovered the smaller pot, picked up a ladle, and carefully poured the broth into a bowl. He then closed the lid and headed into the living room.

"Hurry up, Head Chef! Everything is going to get cold at this rate!" Zura called out from the table, practically bouncing in her seat as she tapped her spoon against her plate.

"Zura. Don’t rush my husband." Ethea nagged her from the side.

"Urgh!" Zura dramatically clutched her heart. "You traitor!"

Soren set the bowl of broth in front of Ethea, then sat in his own chair. He chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, let’s dig in."

Taking his spoon, Soren served himself a portion of the golden rice, topped with a piece of seared dragon meat. He took a bite and chewed slowly. It tasted rich, savory, and well-spiced, with a pleasant warmth that settled gently in his stomach. It was good, but without a fire affinity, he couldn’t feel the true depth of its magical properties.

He leaned back, shifting his eyes to Ryan and Zura to gauge their reactions.

"...Gulp." Zura had already shoved a heavy spoonful of rice into her mouth. As soon as she swallowed, her eyes widened in shock. A sudden flush swept over her cheeks, and a flickering red ember sparked at the tip of her fingers.

"Whoa," Ryan breathed out moments later, dropping his spoon on the table. His breath came out unusually warm, almost visible in the air. And then, he suddenly closed his eyes, his posture straightening as his breath settled into a rhythmic pace.

Is he cultivating? Soren raised a brow at the sudden change in Ryan’s demeanor.

"The fire mana inside is pure," Zura said as she immediately scooped up another spoonful. "The meat is easy to chew and so tasty!" She threw him a thumbs up with her free hand. "As expected of the Golden Ladle Championship winner!"

"You flatter me too much." Soren smiled, then helped Ethea eat her meal. "And I hope you can be more honest and critical of the food. About its effects and whether they work, as I told you before."

"Oh, right. But I meant what I said." Zura insisted before devouring another spoonful of the meal. "Besides, I have to eat more and wait for some time to actually be able to tell its effects. So, it’s better to enjoy the food while it’s hot."

Soren nodded, accepting her reasoning. "Fair enough."

He turned back to Ethea and offered her a spoonful of the broth.

A moment later, Ryan slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a faint trail of heat as he settled back into his chair and picked up his spoon again.

"By the way, how are you feeling about tomorrow’s exam, Ryan?" Soren asked, watching him take another bite.

"I feel like I can easily pass it if I can absorb the effects of this food properly," Ryan replied, a confident smile touching his lips. "My mana feels far more stable than it did this morning."

Zura leaned across the table, her eyes lighting up as she saw her chance. "Speaking of which, what kind of questions did you get on the written portion today? I took the third-year exam last year, so I might actually know the answers. Just tell me the ones you weren’t sure of or gambled on."

Ryan paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth, thinking it over before listing a few complex problems from the test. Zura chimed in between bites, debating the trickier concepts while Ethea and Soren occasionally joined the discussion to offer their own opinions.

The dinner passed smoothly, filled with laughter, shared stories, lively debates over the exam’s trickiest questions, and small talk.

After finishing the main dish, Soren brought out light snacks, and they stayed at the table talking and eating together. Eventually, Ryan checked the time and stood up, saying his parents would worry and it would be better if he rested more before the exam.

"Alright, I should get going too," Zura said, standing up from her seat. She turned to Soren and Ethea with a bright grin. "But you have to promise we’ll all eat together again soon and spend the rest of the night having fun!"

"We will," Soren smiled. "...I promise to spend a whole day having fun together someday soon."

"Good! You promised!" Zura’s grin widened. "Let’s go, boy. I will drop you off at your house myself."

Ryan gave a quick nod, thanking Soren and Ethea once more for the meal before following her out into the hallway.

Soren stood by the doorway with Ethea at his side, watching the pair walk down the corridor until their figures disappeared as they entered the lift.

"...They’re gone."

"...Right, let’s go back inside."

Soren smiled, wheeled her back, and locked the door.

"Let me clean up first, ok?" He told Ethea. "You can watch TV in the meantime."

"...Ok."

Soren smiled and turned on the TV, putting on a show she used to watch. He then cleared the table, quickly washed the dishes, wiped down the counters, and put everything back in its place. Once the kitchen was tidy, he opened the microwave and pulled out a plate he had prepared earlier. It held a thick cut of dragon meat, seasoned with spices and herbs.

’...Malakor.’