“Come on, faster! It’s the dinner rush, you need to get everything prepped as quickly as possible!”
“Y-yes Chef.”
Currently, it’s closing in at nighttime. I had been working with Gordon all day. After helping him in the morning, he demanded that I remain in the kitchen to help prep for lunch and dinner and a bit unwilling Jessica had allowed his demand. I had gotten used to spreading the energy to ingredients and then cutting them in bulk.
My cutting speed had been slow in the morning and after Gordon taught me that morning he showed me many techniques, so many that I had been overwhelmed initially but he wrote them down for me to make it easier to keep track.
I’m now preparing the ingredients for both chefs. I wasn’t the only one helping, there were three others but they have their own work in the kitchen while I was solely responsible for cutting, slicing or tenderizing everything that the chefs used. Apparently having the ability to manipulate energies within ingredients is highly sought after, and after ensuring both would never spread the word about it Floof allowed me to remain in the kitchens.
A few hours had passed by before the dinner rush ended. This kind of work is a lot harder than fighting monsters I’ve found, though that’s probably because of being yelled at constantly to provide ingredients and meat that I’ve prepared. While I’m cleaning up my station, I felt a hand clap on my shoulder.
“Good work tonight missy.” Seeing Gordon next to me, I smile. I’d grown to like Gordon over the course of today, he is grumpy while cooking and very impatient, but after everything had settled down he was rather nice.
“I don’t offer this to everyone, but would you like to try your hand at preparing some meals for the staff tonight? You can take a bit of time and it won’t matter if you waste any ingredients. I’ll show you the proper way to cook.”
Thinking it over, I thought it would be a good idea. I still retained the knowledge about how to cook and use my mana to enhance the food. It’s a different method from just spreading the energy, where you embed your own mana into the food, providing benefits depending on how it's done.
The benefits it provides could be as little as making you feel a bit refreshed at minimum. The book said masters at cooking could make it so those who ate their food could gain permanent stats or even Stat rank boosts. Eager to try it out, I clean my workstation and then get more ingredients as instructed by Gordon.
“Right, we’re going to do a rather simple side dish. We won’t rush into anything big, always start small. It’s like learning magic, never go for big spells or try to create something out of your reach, take it slowly and build yourself up to it. Now, the dish we’ll prepare is rather simple, it’s bread, butter, garlic and cheese and is called Garlic Bread. Prepare the ingredients as usual.”
Grabbing the ingredients he listed, he instructed me on how to prepare the ingredients. Doing the same as I have all day, I prepare everything while ensuring the energy within has been spread evenly, the only thing that didn’t need as much done to it is the bread. Once everything is prepared, I follow Gordon’s instructions for making this Garlic Bread.
As I’m about to start, I close my eyes and start visualizing what the book had laid out and how to prepare my mana usage. Slowly motivating my mana, I open my eyes and start slowly allowing my mana to spread into the food as I began putting everything together.
Two magic circles appeared on each palm of my hand and using those magic circles I carefully guided mana as I spread the butter and garlic onto each piece of bread before sprinkling cheese, salt and pepper onto it. The mana slowly combined each item until it was embedded. The mana from each ingredient became one as a notification came from the System, and ignoring it I kept going with each piece.
After preparing twenty pieces altogether, I laid them out on a tray and put them into the fireplace that Gordon called a stove. Looking up at Gordon, he was frowning at me with surprise in his eyes.
“Missy, you can’t tell me that was all instinct.”
Tilting my head, he sighed. He seemed to have realized I tilted my head when confused over the course of the day as he says “The technique you used…you embedded your own mana into the ingredients, something that I find difficult. Did you learn it from that book?”
Nodding, I told him about how the technique had been described. Listening to me intently, when I finished speaking he says “The technique matches the one I’ve heard about in the past. I have a way to do it myself, but it’s rather difficult to do. We don’t serve specialised food like this either. If the owner allows it, we might be able to get you in as a chef. You’d need some training, but we could start selling some really wonderful food that provides many benefits to our customers! Wait right here, I’ll go find the owner!”
Without waiting for me to say something, Gordon rushes off. I hadn’t told him I am simply fulfilling a request and wasn’t planning to work as a chef. Sighing, I figured Floof would inform Gordon of this. As I’m about to check the notifications I’d received, a dreadful feeling suddenly overcame me. A feeling I haven’t felt since I laid my eyes on that red mist.
Death.
Spinning on the spot, on instinct I kick up my wind, blowing away tools and ingredients. Not paying any attention to the things around me, I prepare my Astral Glacial Spikes to fire off at anything that moved. I don’t see anything around me except for the other staff who looked at me with some panic. I still felt a lingering feeling of death, it wasn’t something random I’d felt, it was real. Something had given me that feeling, what was it?
Suddenly I felt something approach me from behind, pivoting on the spot I throw a punch out without holding back. A figure appears in my vision as I adjust my speed and aim at its head. A palm appears in front of its face and blocks my punch easily and as I step back I saw it’s Jessica.
Staring at her hand with some puzzlement, she looks at me. “Are you really only level 21?” Before I could say anything, she points at me and I suddenly feel my magic dissipate. Blinking, my mana refused to leave my body completely. Still with her finger pointed at me, Jessica calmly talks.
“Calm down. I’m not your enemy, they’ve already been dealt with. I’ve been sent by Master to bring you to them.”
Confused, I look at Alice who was residing in Jessica’s hair. Seeing her unharmed, I knew Jessica didn’t mean any harm, but that feeling still resided in me. Nodding slowly to her, she stops pointing at me and at that moment I felt my mana return to being able to come out. What is her magic?
“Clean up the kitchen and explain the situation to the chefs when they return.” Seeing the three staff nod their heads, she turns to me once again. “Come with me.”
Following her a bit unsteadily, she leads me through a few rooms before we arrive in a back room. The room was dimly lit, and standing in the middle in front of two gagged and bound figures that are kneeling is Floof with his back to us.
“Ah, you’ve bought her. Thank you, Jessica, you may leave.” Without turning, Floof spoke up.
Seeing her nod, she leaves as I started feeling nervous. For some reason, I knew Floof was rather…angry, but it wasn’t directed at me. He turns to me and seeing his eyes frightened me, there was a dangerous look to them and mixed with those eyes was a strange, twisted smile.
Taking a step back, I felt my heart beat faster, I felt fear from that stare from Floof. As he looks at me he scowls, before closing his eyes and taking his smile away. As he opens his eyes again, that glint is gone and his normal smile returns.
“Sorry young fox. I must’ve frightened you, I apologise. I’m in a rather murderous mood thanks to our two uninvited guests.”
Looking at the two gagged and bound figures, both were humans. The one on the left was female, while the right is a male, both looked very similar to each other. Both were bleeding from their eyes, a slash mark across their face meant they had been blinded by someone. Puzzled and still a bit scared of Floof, I look down at my feet while I ask “W-why d-did you want m-me?”
Looking down at the two before him, he talks while his back is to me. “Alisha, you’re a part of the Church of the Moon Goddess, correct?”
Shaking my head before realizing Floof couldn’t see me, I replied, telling him I have no connections with them.
“You wear that bracelet though. That is a symbol of being connected to the Church, only Bishops or higher can wear it.”
Hesitating, I decided to tell Floof the truth, about meeting Flannery and how my Race is connected to the Moon Goddess. After speaking for a while, he doesn’t reply but he turns to face me.
“You’re connected to the Moon Goddess like that? Alisha, never tell a soul what you’ve told me here today, and Lenny, do not mention this to anyone.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the young boy, Lenny, step out of the shadows, like he had been a part of the shadows themselves. It wasn’t like how Gray did, Lenny literally stepped out from the shadows on the ground. Gray merged his figure with them and could still be seen, Lenny however couldn’t be. Lenny looks at Floof before bowing.
“We found these portraits on them, take a look, Alisha.” Handing me two slips of paper, I look down and see myself reflected back. It wasn’t exact, but I could tell the one that had been drawn was me. Feeling my eyes widen, I glance at the two in shock and fear.
“That’s right, Young Fox. These two fools stumbled into my inn and sought your life. Both of them are members of the Church of the Moon Goddess. Isn’t that right, fool.” Kicking the male with so much force that caused the wall behind the one he kicked to cave in slightly, he bends down and removed their gag.
“Y-yes, the Archbishop told us the Goddess handed down a commandment. We will never accept monsters.”
“Not exactly the smartest thing to say given your situation. Now, Alisha.” Putting the gag back into the male assassin, he turns to me.
“You’ve worked rather hard recently, and given that this is your problem, I expect you to do your due diligence and clean up this mess. Consider it a reward and punishment.” Turning to Lenny he says “Hand her those daggers, she’ll be able to stab them with it regardless of the level difference.”
Nodding, Lenny walks over and hands me two daggers. I realized what Floof was asking me, and I knew what I had to do. Looking at the two, I felt nothing for them. I promised myself that I would kill those that attempted to harm me and grabbing the daggers I felt a surge of power come as I checked the weapons over.
Dagger of a Magical Nightsky.
A pair of enchanted daggers that are blessed by the Moon Goddess. A user may inject their own mana into these daggers to enhance them with their own magical element. If wielded by those blessed by the Moon Goddess, they will receive her blessing.
+400 to all Stats
+200 to Strength
Never needs to be sharpened. Can only be used as a pair.
Moon Goddess’s blessing: Stats provided are doubled.
Staring at the daggers in shock, I never knew that weapons could be this powerful. “Pretty simple aren’t they?” Hearing Floof, I felt confused. These were simple?
Taking a breath, I grip the daggers hard. I had no talent for these weapons, I had practised with Gray’s weapons. But if all I had to do was stab something, I could do that. Biting my lip, the power from these daggers started to hurt me.
“Alright, before you explode because of the daggers, kill both of them. The woman is level 74 and the man is level 76. Consider it extra payment for your work in the kitchen today.”
Nodding, I kneel before the man first and stab out the dagger in my right hand, piercing his heart with ease. I spread Astral Ice along the dagger and felt it spread into him. Pulling the dagger out as blood sprayed from the wound, partially covering me I do the same to the woman on the left. Pulling the dagger out, I drop both of them, feeling my body tremble as the power starts leaving my body.
“I’ll leave those daggers to you, Lenny. Dispose of them along with the bodies. Alisha, go wash up and return to the kitchen. Oh, and watch your back, I fear this won’t be the last time the church tries something.”
Nodding while panting, I leave the room to see Jessica standing there with Alice in her hands. Alice looks at me in concern while I smile softly.
“Don’t walk through the inn covered in blood. Follow me.”
As I follow behind her, I check my most recent notifications from killing those two.
You have killed Beau. Calculating experience.
You have killed Sofia. Calculating experience.
You have killed someone 50 or more levels above your current level. Calculating rewards.
Staring at these messages with some surprise, I saw Jessica staring at me.
“We too have killed someone fifty levels above us. Some advice young fox, don’t let it get to your head, or I’ll take it.”
Sounding a bit scary, I nod quickly in response to her. Opening the door before her, she gestures to me. “The staff baths are here, throw those clothes away and I’ll fetch you new ones.” Leaving with Alice, I undressed and sunk into the bath.
I leaned back and realized I felt nothing. Perhaps I had always known this could happen from the moment I ran from that person in front of the Church. I knew nothing about this so-called Moon Goddess, and everything that had happened did nothing to convince me she or the Church was anything good…except perhaps Flannery.
At this moment I felt distrust towards anything related to the Moon Goddess. I didn’t even know if She existed or not, only that I had evolved into a Race that was supposedly blessed by Her. I felt a bit uncomfortable now that I had this experience, but for the time being, I accepted everything. Perhaps the Moon Goddess was alright and it was Her Church acting on its own. After all, the humans who controlled us in Crater Hell were different from other humans.
Sighing, I checked the other messages I had received from the System that I received while cooking with Gordon.
You have crafted 1x Uncooked Lunar Garlic Bread.
Seeing about twenty of these messages, I shrugged and looked away while grabbing a bar of soap that was nearby. Whatever happened next would happen, I had no say nor did I have the power to control it. I would have to work to gain the strength to control what happened to me, and resolving myself to head to that Deep Dungeon, I start cleaning myself.
***
Getting out and as I’m drying myself, Jessica walked in and placed clothing down for me, identical to the now blood-soaked clothing. Thanking her, I get dressed once more and just as I’m exiting the bathroom the System displayed new notifications.
You have gained 200,000 experience.
You have gained 200,000 experience.
You have levelled to level 24.
Gained the following Stats:
Agility: +120
Strength: +60
Intelligence: +45
Toughness: +15
You gain 10% more Stats due to Aspiring Hero, you gain the following:
Agility: +12
Strength: +6
Intelligence: +4
Toughness: +1
Health increased to 1,800.
Lunar Mana Increased to 15,000.
As you have killed a being that was 50 levels above you, you have gained the following rewards.
Lunaria’s Fury.
Feeling that refreshing feeling once again, I look over my Stats, they had increased so much so quickly that it had surprised me.
Stats
Alisha, the Aspiring Hero
Strength: D- 218 Agility: C- 406 Intelligence: F+ 166 Toughness: F 71
“Did you receive your rewards?” Looking up, Jessica stared at me. Nodding meekly, she nods.
“Three levels in one go is not bad. Some advice young fox. The early levels up to level 50 aren’t difficult to get through, but once you go over that level things become difficult. Monsters become intelligent, evolution is possible once again and the experience required to level is much higher, meaning you’ll need to put yourself in danger more often. In my eyes, you’re weak, in fact to most people you’re weak and you will always be weak. Being weak, you should never rely on anyone, don’t think my Master can always protect you.”
Turning on her heel after saying that, she says “Return to the kitchen and keep working. You can take a break now if you need it.”
Walking away from me with those words, I felt dizzy from what she said. I wasn’t relying on anyone, but she’s right, I shouldn’t ever rely on those stronger than me to help or protect me. Thinking of how Flannery and that elder lady helped us with the red mist came to mind, I also remembered the time Elizabeth had saved us from that monstrosity in that little cave. I had fought and won fights, but there have been fights I couldn't win thanks to being weak.
As I walk down the hall, I look out a window. The blizzard was raging. Snow was falling hard, the wind was blowing so fast and strong that I could barely see out the window. This building was protected by some sort of barrier that prevented the wind from affecting it, but the snow couldn’t be ignored. It had piled up and had nearly reached the window. I was on the first floor at the moment, and since it would continue for another day or two it would absolutely cover the window.
One of my jobs was to help scatter the snow once the blizzard had passed. Sighing, I shook my head. Too much had happened too quickly recently, my mind was ablaze with questions that I had no answers for. My life is in danger here, just like it had been all the time in Crater Hell.
Only for the briefest moment after dealing with Crater was I truly not in danger. Biting my lip, part of me yearned to return to those peaceful times, while another part wanted to see the others again. Letting the tears fall, I stood there looking out the window and let myself cry for a while, venting the mixed emotions within.