Going to the bakery from Will’s place, Johann sees a kid running past him with a large suitcase, towards something while whispering “I hope – I only hope”. After coming to the bakery, he sees the same kid looking through the window. With sure signs of malnourishment, it is almost certain that the kid is an orphan. “Yo! Hello there. Are you okay; need any help?” asks Johann. "I need to learn how to bake", says the kid, his voice soft but dry. “Baking, huh? Well, I would be happy to teach you. It is a skill that can be both enjoyable and rewarding. How about you come inside, and we can start with something simple?”, says Johann, wearing a kind smile, reminiscent of Anastasia’s.
Appraisal from inside the store reveals that the kid does not know how to manipulate mana; the reasons unknown but the kid’s mana capacity is immense yet the output is non-existent. “It is alright. Baking does not always require mana manipulation, especially for learning the basics. I can show you how to make simple recipes and techniques that do not involve advanced mana skills. You will get the hang of it in no time”, says Johann, reassuring his young apprentice. Quickly making the front line essentials, various types of breads, Johann turns back to the kid. “How can you make these so quickly? Could I ever achieve that?” asks the kid, amazed at the rate Johann made the first batch of bread. Seeing small bruises on his arms, “Before you receive an answer, you will first get a small care from me”, says Johann, materializing water to tend the lighter wounds.
Bringing a stool and raising a basin from the floor of his bakery, “Sit still for a moment, it might hurt a little”, says Johann, rinsing the wound, peppering Sulfanilamide and Pantoprazole onto the wound, and bandaging them. “Does it hurt? It will not take long now. Soon enough, you will be baking bread and pastry like it is your second nature”, says Johann to the kid. “Uh, thanks Mr.…”, “You can call me Johann. And it is nothing, really, I know everyone would do the same”, answers Johann, tying the bandage. “Well then, shall we get started, mate?”, says an enthusiastic Johann.
As Johann creates flour and mixes it with water, “Mr. Johann, why don't you just make the finished pastries straight out of mana? Why do you have to bake the dough inside an oven? Why only use your mana to kneed and mix the ingredients?”, asks the kid. Creating a small brioche bun, “Take a taste”, says Johann, encouraging the kid to see it for himself. “When the natural interactions are altered and tapped, the final product will be stale and bland. Baking bread has its merits in real time; rising the dough, resting the dough, and baking in an oven, all have their inconsistencies but they make the bread have its texture and taste. Without randomness, there would not be flavor or even the final product for that matter”, says Johann, explaining the essence of creation and consistency of mana constructs.
“What’s your name, mate?”, asks Johann. “It’s Li, Li San Hue”, says the kid. “Well, that is a surprise. My geologist friend this morning told his old nickname was Li and San was his friend’s. Where are you from, mate?” says Johann, curious about the off coincidence. “I moved here with my grandparents but they passed a year ago. Now I live alone in their house. With no income, my life balances on a tightrope of begging and theft. But now, I will not have to be on that tightrope, no?”, says Li, enthusiastically hoping for the best. Understanding his situation and sympathizing with him, “Yes, you will not have to be on it. From now, you are a full-time worker of my bakery – my prodigy”, says Johann.
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As Johann teaches the kid how to raise the dough effectively and put the right amount of temperature to bake along with a few beginners’ recipe, the sun has already begun setting. A few minutes after the two put the dough into the oven, Johann’s friend comes through the door, with a bag in hand. "Mate, look what I got! Someone from the company gave me this bottle of Hennessy. Care to drink?", asks Will. Seeing an unfamiliar face, “And who would this be?”, asks Will, quickly hanging his coat. “That is Li, my newly acquired prodigy. I wonder if he drinks”, says Johann. “Eh~ I am only 13, I cannot drink. How about, instead of drinking cognac, I make you non-alcoholic drinks? I learned some from a famous bartender back at motherland”, says Li, nervously. “Sure. Since another would join us later this evening, I would not mind conserving this lovely bottle, and this guy does not like much alcohol. It is already 4:48 so it is about time for her to come, no?”, says Will, anticipating Anastasia’s arrival.
“While we wait for your date, I will make you something non-alcoholic to sip on. Mr. Johann, there was a ginger ale somewhere in this shop, no? While you find the ginger ale, I will get something from my case there”, says a very joyful Li. “How did you find someone so content with serving others, mate?”, asks Will silently from Johann. While searching the drawer, “Outside the bakery. He was there and I offered him help. He does not have any mana, like you, but he demanded that he learned how to bake. And I just told him the basics and the demeanor of a cook”, says Johann, taking pride in his little prodigy. Panting a little, “I’m back!”, sounds Li, holding a larger-than-life suitcase. “And here is the ginger ale”, says Johann, giving 2 bottles of cold ginger ale to Li. Pulling out a small flask and a couple of glasses, “Could you make me some square ice and chill these cobblers for me, Mr. Johann. And I will need an egg white, too, are you good with that?” asks Li. Taking off his bracelet, extending it to reveal a shaker and rinsing it with soap and water, Li pours all the ingredients to the shaker. “All of the ingredients are carbonated so be warned, it might just explode”, says Li, putting the ice in and pouring the ginger ale and the egg yolk. A distinct pop can be heard from the shaker as Li pours in the liquid in his flask, “This is called “Kvass” – a beer-like drink that does not have alcohol. It will darken the color of the drink. Could you make 2 large ice cubes, Mr. Johann?”, says Li. “This flask has a special property which condenses carbonation and makes it sink to the bottom. With an airy drink like Kvass, the carbonation layer is really thick so there might be some carbonation seeped into the drink, but it will be minor. I do not have a garnish, like an orange slice. Could you make it, Mr. Hennessy?”, says Li, straining the cocktail into the chilled cobblers with ice. “Mr. Hennessy? Call me Will. And unfortunately, I do not have any mana to make such a thing possible. Mana is lacking in my body, you see”, says Will, sarcastically pointing to his open palm. “For this day, for the future and for the past – raise toast, people – for today, we forget!”, says Li, raising toast and speaking a word of glass. “Cheers to the future!”, says Johann and Will, “Cheers!” says Anastasia, coming through the door of the bakery.