The Warden Lord, know by the name of Thalmor, was a demon with simple pleasures and wants. Like any of his kin, he likes to see sinner punished or corrupt the good. The sizzling of the flesh and the smell of fear that filled the air was like a fine wine to him. He was not one for grandeur or flashy displays of power, his domain was the quiet, the shadows, and the cold steel of his instruments of torture despite his large build. The quarters that he is incharge of spoke of that to some degree.

But he was also a demon with great pride and great sense of duty then most. And take proper responsibility with that sense of duty. Its was probably why he was assigned to become a Warden Lord and later on given one of the few special quarters that was used for very special occasions.

In his case, the ones used to quarantine monsters, demons and various other creatures that was either going to evolve soon, become a varient or gain a class. Any of these could get a bit messy at times if not deadly, but it was his duty to ensure that they remained in check until the whole process was done. Most of the time it was easy as the processes are slow ones that affored Thalmor the time needed to prepare and make sure that none of those in his care suffered needlessly through the changes that happens to them.

A demon he might be. But he understood that those who follows his Lord are not mindless beasts. And are not his enemies to do what he want with them. They were soldiers, warriors, workers, craftsmen, supporters and agents of change. Thalmor's job was to make sure that these special guests didn't cause any trouble while they were going through the painful process of either three. So, he had to keep an eye on them, which sometimes meant getting his hands dirty. Especially if one of his charges suddenly went into a berserk like state thanks to the pain.

So when one imp had come with a lesser skeleton of all things to his ward, it was safe to say that Thalmor's patience had been tested. Lesser Skeletons was know as some of the weakest of the Undead. Barely worth the bones its made of as even children can win againts them with a lucky strike from their little sticks. Granted those sticks had to be a tad bit thick to actually do some damage.

But they did make great cannon fodder and distractions on the battlefields. Not to mention gather a good enough hord of them was always a good way to raid a few unsuspected villiages in quick succession.

And from what he had been told once by one of the Necromancers in the service of his Lord, lesser skeletons were sometimes a key ingredient to make stronger types of undead skeletons through special rituals.

Thalmor was just glad that the process seems to not hinder the Lesser Skeleton's nature of being idle and easy to herd when not given a task or hunting the living with a passion few other creatures that was not of the undead kind could do. Nor did it try to escape or anything of the like as soon as it was in its cell.

The next few weeks was both interesting and boring at the same time. As was the usual unless Thalmor and those under him were dealing with the more aggressive or messy side of things. But the lesser skeleton, which he had dubbed "Skell" was surprisingly docile and obidient. If a little bored itself. Hench why he had gotten some children toys for it to play with.

At first, the lesser skeleton had ignored the toys, had even seem to glare at him when he had gifted the box with the toys like it had been offended. Which was odd to see as skeletons tend to not show much of any kind of emotions. At least those of such low rank.

But this one was proving to be an exception to a lot of things. Whenever he checked upon it, he felt like it was listen to every word he had to say and even though he got a few good laughs at its stumbling attempts to walk and using its new toys, he had to admit that there was something about Skell that was different from the usual mindless drones he was used to dealing with.

Then Skell's process was finally done after neary a month had gone by, and what a little surprise the skeleton gave him.

Skell got both the varient and class processes, which explained why it took so long for the whole process to finish. From what his meager skill level in Identify could tell, Skell gained the Fire Element and the Cook class along with a slighty more robust body as well. The new black and red colours sporting on its skull, hands and legs added a nice touch too if the demon was honest.

But work had to be done, so he had the imps prepare one of the test rooms to see just what Skell could do now, and was once again surprised at what he sees.

As soon as the imp had vanished once given the skeleton its task to cook something with what it had been given, and the Spy Bat was properly connected to the magical mirror that would allow him and one other person watch what was going on, Skell once again proved to be full of surprises.

Starting with suddenly talking of all things after it was done looking at itself and testing its own body out again. Which should have really not surprised him as Skell had shown such behavior many times before. What did surprise him was the voice that came out of Skell, and Thalmor realizing that the skeleton was a 'she'.

Which he had not expected given that Skell had up until then felt more like a 'it', maybe a even a 'he' if the demon was honest. But you always learn something new in his work.

"Well that is curious." says a gruff and gravly voice to his right, and Thalmor turn to look a what most would call a living statue. Which was not totally wrong given that this thing was a gargoyle. But unlike most gargoles, this one was not made of stone but of iron with a hint of gold. It also sported two pair of wings instead of only one pair.

"She has not only gained a class and element affinity, but also the ability to speak and self awareness." Thalmor mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "This truly is an exceptional case."

The gargoyle, known as Ironwing, nodded in agreement. Despite his intimidating appearance, he was quite the scholar when it came to the arcane arts. "Indeed. The fusion of both processes is unprecedented for a creature of its kind. This could provide valuable insights into the evolution of the undead. I know for a fact the Necromancers in our Lord's care will most certainly want to study it."

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"She." Thalmor reminded the gargoyle as they both watch Skell get to work with making something to eat. It was rather funny as well, as Skell seems to struggle at first with activating or using the skills she should have as a [Cook].

Her reaction on seeing one of her hands suddenly on fire as she accidently activated one of the two simple and very weak spells she now has thanks to her affinity, had both Thalmor and Ironwing chuckling.

"I guess she need to get used to her new powers first." Ironwing said, his voice a bit softer as he watched Skell panic a bit before she realize that the fire isn't hurting her as much as it should thanks to her elemental affinity. She nonetheless puts the burning hand into the pot filled with water, which the gargoyle could not blame the undead for doing.

Thalmor nodded, "Aye, and quickly. We can't have our new little chef burning down whatever kitchen she'll be working at. Besides, she might be more valuable alive than dead to us." He couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of that statement.

As they watched through the mirror, Skell seemed to get the hang of her fire affinity a little, carefully using it to light a small fire on the old stone oven after she had find the pile of firewood prepared before hand to give the magical fire some proper fuel once lit.

Skell stayed near the fire for a good few minutes, seemingly making sure the fire would not go out on her, before she turned to the task at hand.

The ingredients where quite simple, Thalmor nodding at the Ashen Potatoes, Pale Carrots, Withered Onions and a few other basic food items that had been placed in the room for her. With some simple herbs and spices that were also given. It was clear that they had to start with the basics, seeing if Skell could even cook something edible.

Skell started quite simple, using the now lukewarm water in the pot after she had put her hand in it a few minutes before, to wash the various vegetables, peel and discard what she did not need. Both demon and gargoyle watched in fascination as she seemed to understand the process without any need of instructions, her movements methodical and precise, even if a bit awkward. Like she wasn't used to her boney arms just yet.

"Hmm." Ironwing hummed for a moment before he spoke. "It seems little Skell might have somehow retained some of her previous memories from the time she was alive. I'll make sure to report that we might need to restructure our training course for her a little, at least when it comes to some of the basic."

Thalmor nodded before he speaks. "Agreed. I already have my reports on how she's been behaving the past month in her cell ready. I'll make sure to have them send to your office as soon as possible so your able to give a proper report to the higher ups."

All the while the Warden Lord and his companion was chatting along, neither missed when Skell started to cut and season the vegetables. Nor when she started on what Thalmor noted was a good piece of meat from one of the wild beasts hunted out side the walls he called home. He could not exactly tell what type of meat it was, hunting and cooking not being his strong suit whatsoever but Skell seems to have no issue telling what it was as she started to prepare it too.

Cutting off most of the fatty bits, then using the back end if the knife in her hand to wack at the meat repately for the next few minutes. Then finally adding the spices and herbs.

Then once all the ingredients were ready, Skell approached the stove with caution. She paused, seemingly contemplating her next move, and then with a swift and surprising grace, she placed the chopped and seasoned vegetables and meat into a large cast iron pot. The aroma that began to waft from the oven most have been quite good as the Spy Bat seems to sway in place slightly, its nose twitching in anticipation.

It made Thalmor a little jealous as unfortunatly smell was one of the few things the magical mirror could not produce. At least the one he had anyways, the demon have heard rumors of the more high ranked demons and other monsters having magical mirrors that just did more than just show and listen to whats happening.

"Oh," Ironwing spoke up. "She left some of the ingredients untouched." Thalmor looked at the mirror and noticed a small pile of herbs and spices that Skell had set aside along with a few chosen vegetables as well. "It seems she might have some other usage from them as well." The gargoyle added.

That she indeed did. Once she had deemed the meat and vegetables sufficiently cooked, Skell turned to the untouched ingredients once she set the iron pot slighty away from the flames. She began to mix them in a small mortar and pestle, grinding them down to a fine paste. The smell seems to have grow stronger, now a mix of the cooked meal and something herbal. If how the Spy Bat was acting was anything to go by. Then adding a little bit of water into the paste.

She then chops up the remaining vegetables into find pieces before she finds a pan and dump the finely chopped pieces into it along with the paste. Skell seems to be quite focused on the task at hand, her skeletal hands moving with surprising dexterity over the fire. Thalmor and Ironwing continue their discussion as they observe Skell's culinary skills unfold before their eyes.

"I wonder what she plans to make with those?" Thalmor says, tilting his head slightly to the side, his curiosity growing.

Ironwing shrugs his shoulders, "Perhaps a sauce for the main dish. It's quite common for Cooks to prepare something to enhance the flavor."

It was not long before Ironwing was proven true and once she had added all the cooked ingredients into a plate to served on, the cooked meat looking rightout delicious despite its simple nature. The vegetables holding a nice hue and looked just as good as the meat. The newly made sauce seems to just add to the whole meal.

The same imp who had vanished showed up shortly after Skell was done with her task, looking at the meal with quite the hunger before her.

"Call me a hag, this doesn't look half bad." The imp could not help but say. Her stomach growling a bit too loudly as she took in the sight of the food that Skell had cooked. But before the imp could as much as try a bite, its face changed from one of hunger to pain for just a moment.

Then as if a switch, the imp simple found something use as a lit for the plate and said" I'll be taking this to the taste testers shortly. You." The imp pointed at Skell " Start to clean up. The next test will start as soon as the taste test is done."

"Ready to try a meal made by an undead, Ironwing?" Thalmor asked the gargoyle with a smirk, as the imp disappeared with the plate of food. The Warden Lord was already making sure his desk as an open space for the meal that will be here within moments.

Ironwing nodded, his stoney face betraying a hint of excitement. "Indeed, it's not everyday one gets to eat something like this." Ironwing said just mere moments before the imp appeared before them, setting the meal on the desk before disappearing again.

'What a smell' Thalmor thought, as the scent of roasted meat and vegetables filled the air. The aroma was heavenly, even to a demon. Leaning forward to get a better sniff of it. Despite the simple ingredients used, it was clear that Skell had the talent of a proper chef if given enough time to properly learn.

'And not get killed off by chance caused by one haunty high ranked servents of the Lord for just having a bad day and need to let out steam' Thalmor thinks to himself as he and Ironwing get themself ready to enjoy the meal.

Meanwhile, back in the test room Skell, or Carrie as her true name was, was busily cleaning up the small 'kitchen' she found herself in. Wondering for all that was good what her next test was going to be.