As the final streaks of sunset painted the sky, I reluctantly left the comforts of my room. The soft humming of Ilka accompanying me was a reminder of the absurd agreement I had just made.

"So what am I supposed to do after dinner, Ilka?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. "What type of crazy training do you have planned?"

Ilka, floating just above my shoulder, puffed up her chest in an egotistical manner. "Oh, you'll see soon enough, Kael," she replied in her haughty tone. "Just wait until after dinner."

Shaking my head at her response, I continued down the hallway toward the cafeteria. As I entered the large room, the sight that greeted me was a strange one. Biana, asleep at a table, wearing her blue, bunny print pajamas and her hair a tangled mess.

A surprised chuckle escaped my lips. I had told her I would be there in the evening, but I hadn't really expected her to show up, especially not without her pillows. I approached the sleeping girl and, with a slight smirk, flicked her forehead a bit harder than necessary.

"I didn't think you'd actually come, Biana. I thought you'd be dead asleep," I teased as her eyes fluttered open in surprise.

Rubbing her forehead, Biana gave me a groggy look, her stomach grumbling loudly. She lay her head back on the table, letting out a sigh. "V, I'm hungry~" she whined. "They only prepare food at lunch time~ Since you're here I'm assuming you know how to cook, so feed me~"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her laziness, sighing as I looked at her sprawled on the table. "I can't believe you, Biana," I muttered, heading towards the cafeteria's kitchen.

Despite my grumbling, I couldn't truly be irritated. After all, Biana is the only one I can relate with. The kitchen was spacious and mostly deserted, lit up by the final light of day filtering through the windows. I moved to the counter where I had left the dough to rise yesterday.

Taking the cold, elastic dough into my hands, I couldn't help but feel a wave of satisfaction. There was something cathartic about kneading and rolling, a simplicity that provided a much-needed break from my usual routine. I continued to press and knead until it was thin and perfectly round, my hands moving with practiced ease. Maybe I should've cooked instead of writing the damn novel, I wouldn't be in this mess if I did.

Next came the sauce. Now, this was where things got a little unconventional. The tomatoes of this world were unlike any I had seen before. They were a deep, radiant blue, which resulted in a sauce of the same color. It was definitely something to get used to, but the flavor is exceptional.

"Hey, what are you making?" Ilka asked, flying around my head, her glow reflecting off the shiny kitchen surfaces.

"It's something delicious," I replied, spreading the blue sauce on the dough with a grin. "But, you'll never be able to eat it because you're just a spirit." I teased her, enjoying the moment.

"Oh, that's low, I'm supposed to be your master Kael!" Ilka retorted, her glow dimming slightly as if mimicking a blush of indignation.

After I finished with the sauce, I started chopping a variety of vegetables: bell peppers of all colors, mushrooms, and olives. I then layered them neatly on the pizza, followed by a generous layer of cheese.

Once I was satisfied with my arrangement, I slid the pizza into the oven, setting the timer. I took a step back, wiping my hands on a towel, and watched as Ilka floated aimlessly, trying to get a glimpse of what I had made.

After some time, the timer dinged, indicating that the pizza was done. I pulled the baking tray out of the oven, the heat wafting off the pizza making my mouth water. Using a pizza cutter, I sliced it into perfectly sized pieces and lifted it onto a platter.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Walking back to the table, I placed the platter in front of Biana who had now woken up, the enticing aroma of the pizza pulling her out of her slumber. Her eyes widened at the sight of the unfamiliar dish.

"What's this?" she asked, curiosity evident in her tone.

"Pizza," I answered simply, chuckling at the look of confusion on her face.

"Pizza?" she repeated the foreign word, tilting her head slightly. She took a slice and cautiously took a bite. Then her eyes widened, her face contorting in a strange mixture of pleasure and surprise as she took in the unfamiliar flavors. "It's hot!" she complained, but her delight was evident.

I laughed at her reaction, reaching out to take a slice for myself. "Where is everyone else from our class?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I don't know," she said, her mouth full. "A group went out to town. My brother already ate, and I think the prince and princess went out as well. I don't know about the others." She shrugged, taking another large bite of the pizza.

Her casual mention of Isadora caught my attention. "Isadora... I hope I saw wrong but I think she ate some... stale bread," Biana mumbled between bites.

I sighed, hearing that. Isadora always had a tough time when it came to food. A thought suddenly struck me, making me smirk. I turned to Ilka, who was watching with a bemused expression.

"Hey, Kael," Ilka began, a mischievous tone in her voice. "That Isadora girl is just standing behind that wall, smelling the pizza while eating the dry bread." She pointed towards a wall, her giggles echoing around the room. I can't take it anymore, should I just approach her?

As I was contemplating how to approach Isadora, I was interrupted by Biana's complaints.

"Ugh, why don't they have wine here?" she whined, her voice a combination of sleepiness and annoyance. "How am I supposed to live in this academy without alcohol? Maybe I should make some... Ugh, but that's too much work."

The sight of Biana eating pizza half-asleep and grumbling about the lack of wine in the academy was something that could only be described as typical Biana behavior.

After a while, having her fill of the pizza, she stretched, yawning loudly. "Thanks for the food, V," she mumbled, already halfway to sleep. "I'm gonna go sleep now." She stood up from the table and began to shuffle towards the door.

I watched as she sleepwalked out of the cafeteria, her strides irregular and her path wobbly. It was like observing a rare species in the wild on an exploration channel. The Lazy Biana in her natural habitat, I thought, chuckling to myself.

Once she was out of sight, Ilka broke the silence with her laughter. "That Isadora girl is still behind the wall, Kael," she said, pointing towards the same wall she had pointed at earlier.

Picking up the pizza, I headed towards the doorway leading outside. As I stepped into the open air, I spotted Isadora seated at a nearby table, her expression as impassive as ever. It appeared that she had tried to make a quick escape to avoid being found out. I had never ventured to this part of the academy before - an outdoor room connected to the cafeteria. A quaint little garden bloomed at the edges of the area, adding a calming ambiance to the place.

With a sigh, I made my way over to Isadora's table and sat across from her. As expected, she didn't utter a word or react to my presence. Glancing down at her plate, I noticed the piece of dry bread still sitting there, untouched. It seemed like she was as tired of her repetitive diet as I was of seeing her eat it.

"I feel like sitting here, feel free to grab a slice," I said casually, trying to dispel the building tension. Ignoring her silence, I picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite, allowing the rich flavors to distract me from the awkward situation.

A minute ticked by. Isadora remained motionless, her eyes fixed on me as I continued eating. Growing impatient, I decided to press further. "If you don't eat some, it'll get cold," I warned her, looking straight into her eyes. "Cold pizza is not good. I already know you were eyeing it out."

For a moment, Isadora's gaze shifted from me to the pizza. Slowly, she reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she picked up a slice. Her face remained unreadable as she took a tentative bite, her actions a stark contrast to Biana's carefree indulgence earlier. Despite the tense situation, a small part of me felt relieved. At least she was trying something new. Food is the only way to get closer to her. I cant push her into speaking as she might end up colder.

I watch in surprise as Isadora's initial hesitancy gives way to a near frenzy. She starts eating faster and faster, as if someone might snatch the pizza away from her any second. A giggle escapes me, causing her to halt mid-bite, half the pizza still stuffed in her mouth.

"Hey, you don't need to eat it that fast, nobody's going to take it from you," I say, unable to hide my amusement.

She clears her throat and resumes eating, albeit at a slower pace, still unwilling to engage in conversation.

Once I've had my fill, I stand, leaving the remaining slices for her. "You can finish the rest," I tell her, ready to put an end to this strange interaction.

As I'm walking away, her voice, formal and respectful, stops me in my tracks. "Thank you." The words are simple, but coming from her, they feel like a significant achievement.