Wyatt wasn’t sure if this was some sort of test, but he was hungry. The man seemed genuine, and Wyatt didn’t feel any malice from him. After a moment to consider reevaluating everything the man had said to him he decided to accept. “I would be honored to share a meal with you.” Wyatt had no idea if that was the best way to accept, but he figured more respectful was better than less. The shark-like smile that crossed Azuka’s face made Wyatt feel like he had sprung a trap of some kind. He wasn’t sure why, but the smile felt threatening. Regardless he didn’t see a way out of it without being rude to someone he wanted to hire him.
Wyatt sat there as the man got up, and locked up his shop before heading into the back. Wyatt followed after him. There was much to Wyatt’s amazement a large kitchen area in the back rather than storage like he had expected. Without turning around Azuka started laughing. “I love the surprise everyone sees when they see my kitchen. I am not sure why it is as surprising as it is, but I find it incredibly amusing.”
“How did you know I was surprised?”
Rather than answer, Azuka started laughing. Wyatt was starting to get a little irritated at people laughing when he didn’t feel it was appropriate. A little anger slipped into his next words. “Why is that funny?! Why won’t people just answer when I ask a question?!”
“Oh ho ho. There is a bit of fire in you. Good. You will need that for what is to come.” Rather than elaborating, a sad smile passed over Azuka’s face, he seemed to drift away for a moment. When he seemed to focus again all he said was “let me make us some food.” He then started a fire, and in a stove that seemed somewhat modern compared to most of what he had seen since coming to this world he put a skillet on the burner. He started throwing some meat into the skillet along with something that looked similar to lard. After maybe 4-5 minutes of searing the chunks he dumped them in a bowl. After that he threw something that looked similar to onion into the skillet. 5 or 6 minutes later he added the meat back for another 2-3 minutes before dishing it out into a big bowl. He then added something that appeared something similar to cream of wheat into the skillet mixing it with the juices from the other items he cooked, and after a minute added everything back into the skillet for a minute before pouring it back into the big bowl. From there he portioned it out into smaller bowls handing one to Wyatt, and taking the other for himself.
“I would like to know what you think of my cooking. I rarely have the time these days despite loving both eating food, and cooking it.” Wyatt just nodded his head before he took a small bite of the food. It was significantly more delicious than he expected. A moment later he had pulled out his water and was chugging it. The food was delicious, but it was also one of the spiciest things he had ever eaten. Upon seeing Wyatt’s exaggerated reaction Azuka started laughing hysterically. “What the hell! Why is it so spicy?” Wyatt wheezed out before chugging more water. Tears were now streaming down both Wyatt and Azuka’s faces. Azuka because he was laughing so hard, Wyatt because the spiciness of the food was overwhelming him. It took a few minutes for Wyatt to get the spicy heat under control.
Glaring at Azuka he said “Really? Was there a point to basically poisoning me with food that was so spicy I can’t imagine there are many people that would purposefully eat it.” Azuka started laughing again, forcing Wyatt to wait a few minutes for Azuka to stop to get an answer.
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“I would really like to know why you served me such spicy food. I can tell that it was a quality meal, but the spiciness of the food pretty much ruined the experience.”
Azuka watched him for a moment, seeming to put a lot of thought into what he would say next. “The last traveler I met was one of the few people I have ever met who had a similar appreciation for spice to myself. It was a test as much as it was a joke.”
Upon hearing the word traveler Wyatt’s pupils had expanded significantly. Azuka seeing his reaction seemed to realize that it was clearly a big deal to Wyatt that he knew his secret. “Calm down. I won’t tell anyone. I just..” Before he could continue Wyatt butted in. “Calm down? You just casually mentioned that you know my biggest secret. You just said it out loud like it’s not a big deal when the wrong person knowing would likely mean my imprisonment or death. How can you truly ask me to calm down? How could you even tell that I am a traveler?”
Azuka seemed to be waiting to see if Wyatt had anymore to add. Eventually he said “If the wrong people knew what you were would it be bad? Sure it would be bad. Yes I know you are a traveler. It is a combination of how you talk, and the feeling I get from you. I have been around more travelers than 99% of the people you are likely to meet so it is not something you really need be concerned about. As far as staying calm? Either I act against you or I don’t. Nothing you can do about it either way so there is no need to panic or stress out. I understand that’s much easier said than done, but either way you need to calm down. If it makes you feel any better you got the job.”
‘If he is trying to make me feel unbalanced, well, mission successful. I don’t think I did anything that should have given myself away. Maybe it is as he says. Perhaps he really is one of the very few people who could tell, but the odds of that occurring seem prohibitively low. More likely he wants something else from me, and he needs more time with me or he needs my trust to get it. I just need to keep my guard up. I also think I will stay here less time than I originally intended.’ As all of those thoughts crashed about in his head Wyatt simply said “I can start tomorrow.” He needed to process this interaction, and that just wasn’t going to happen in an instant. It was too bizarre of an experience for him to make any decisions at the moment. “I will be back tomorrow. What time should I arrive tomorrow? Also should I come here or somewhere else?”
“Well I have good news, and bad news. The good news is that I don’t need you starting tomorrow. I most likely won’t have much work for you for at least a week. That’s also the bad news, I don’t have any work for you for likely a week if not longer.”
That had really not been what Wyatt was hoping for. The funds he had left were extremely limited, but he decided that he could stay outside the city for a few days before moving back to the city once he started having an income. He couldn’t really come up with much to say despite being a bit disappointed. So rather than drag it out he asked his second question again. “I will come in 1 week then. Should I come here or somewhere else?”
Azuka seemed to be considering before he finally said “You can meet me here at dawn in 1 week. I will have some work available by that point. I am sorry about the spice. I figured that either way I would win. It’s free entertainment or you enjoy the spiciness as much as I do, and in that case it is more like regaining something I have lost. It has been a long time since I found someone to eat my cooking when I prepare the food in the way I truly enjoy it, and in my old age I find myself somewhat nostalgic.”
Wyatt couldn’t quite forgive him. His mouth felt almost raw from the intensity of the food. At the same time he was not going to hold a grudge. He settled on what he considered a very diplomatic answer. “What’s done is done. No use dwelling on it. As long as you understand in the future I am not interested in eating food that spicy again. I can tell you are an excellent cook, and have no issue eating food you have prepared.” Internally Wyatt scowled. His plan was to leave it at what's done, but he couldn’t help but elaborate. The spice was just too much, and he had felt the need to say so again.