I spend several hours with Kiril and his staff, immersing myself in the process of trying to make pizza. Creating the sauce involves the most guesswork, since it needs to be thicker than soup, but not too thick. The dough receives as many attempts as time allows and by the last batch we figure it out.
Using that final sample, we make a basic tomato and cheese pizza to share among the staff and myself. As it bakes, a curious thing happens and another holographic panel, like the one Rep uses to communicate, appears in front of me.
NOTIFICATION
Cooking E has improved to Cooking D!
1 token awarded!
5 XP gained!
I read this notification, suddenly losing focus in a conversation I was having with Kiril. So this is how I gain both currencies. I could get used to this. I snap back to attention, suddenly, and reply to Kiril as he asks whether the pizza is ready or not. I deem it done.
Taking the first bite, Kiril is elated at the new flavors he gets to experience. The entire staff follows and then agree that this is a wonderful change of pace. I knew this would be a hit, but not to this extent. The pizza is gone within minutes.
Night has already fallen by the time we’re done and I manage to find my way back to my hovel by the the glow of light coming from hovels and the odd campfire or torch interspersed throughout the camp. The interior of the structure is dark and I wonder if the System actually casts light. I bring it up and find that it does, to my surprise. I use it to get to my bed safely, take the phone out of my pocket, place it on the table nearby, and tuck in for a night’s sleep.
----------------------------------------
I wake slowly, appreciating the odd quiet the hovel provides. Some things I have seen so far hinted at the existence of magic, and this might also be that. I consider the ease with which I got through last evening and come to the conclusion that as long as I am focused on something I’ll be fine.
I roll over, sit up and get out of bed. My phone goes back into my pocket and while I stretch a bit I hear Bozhidar’s voice from outside. “Sebastian? Are you awake?”
I finish stretching and move towards the tent flap. “Yeah… I am.”
Bozhidar does that thing with the ears that has to be a smile. “Did you sleep well?”
I mentally go over myself and decide that I did. “Yes, I think.”
“Good to hear.” He says and signals for me to follow with his head. Compared to the day before, he seems to be significantly more composed. “I thought I’d take you to the baths to freshen up. We also have some clothes I think might fit you, if you want to change.”
I brace myself in anticipation of an underwhelming bath as we walk and silently consider a change of clothes. By the time we arrive, I decide to risk it.
The bathhouse is also in good condition, relatively, and I get to skip the short line outside on the insistence of those standing in it. I’m less comfortable with my hygiene than I am with this unearned deference.
Inside is a big, dry public bath and several rooms splitting off from it. The interior of each room is hidden behind a curtain. A Staufolk beckons me towards on room and I enter. Inside is a stone tub in fantastic condition, built straight into the floor. The tub’s base has a ring of glowing symbols carved into it and the water inside looks warm and clean. If I was unsure about magic, seeing this makes me entirely sure it exists. The same Staufolk that called me is adjusting the symbols and hands me a small basket which is probably meant for my clothing.
I strip down a bit out of sight, not that embarrassed in my naked form, and climb into the tub. The water is a bit too warm when I do, but instantly changes to a more pleasant temperature. That’s probably the magic doing its best to accommodate me.
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I don’t take long and by the time I’m done a fresh basket has arrived with rustic-looking clothing. The fabric feels rough but sturdy. It will take some getting used to. I dress as I watch the Staufolk adjust the symbols again and a glow comes from the tub. My curiosity gets the better of me. “Hey, could you tell me what you just did?”
The Staufolk seems surprised at being addressed and bows before responding. “Certainly, Traveler. With some expenditure of mana, we cause the water to be purified.”
I nod slightly. “That’s what I thought it might be. Thanks.” I bow as well, surprising the Staufolk further, and exit the room and then the building.
Outside Bozhidar has been waiting, and he stands up a bit straighter when he sees me come out. “We should head to breakfast now, and Kiril has something he wants to talk to you about.” Bozhidar begins leading the way, though I feel confident I could get to the kitchen on my own. I note the lack of anxiety I felt so far in the day and give myself a positive mark.
We arrive to the mess hall quickly and breakfast is already in full swing. Kiril’s staff are ladeling soup to bowls and pass those around, while more of that brown bread is provided with each serving.
The hall is considerably noisy and I’m reminded just how much I don’t do well in crowds. I remind myself that it’s food and food is a place I feel comfortable. I follow Bozhidar through the multitudes of Staufolk sitting about as he greets them cheerfully and they bow to us.
The soup is flavorful and filled with the various vegetables I saw the night before. The bread is the same kind from lunch yesterday, and this time I get to appreciate its texture. Searching my memories of medieval cooking, I think I remember that food wasn’t actually this flavorful and I wonder how Kiril is getting this done.
Another meal passes in silence and I calm down the more the place empties of others. I let myself eat slowly just so I could talk with Kiril more leisurely.
Once I’m done, again some time after Bozhidar is, he apologizes and says he has something to attend to. I nod to him. “That’s no problem. I think I’ll be fine waiting for Kiril on my own.” He smiles, apologizes again, and leaves me on my own.
Noticing I might have to wait for some time, I skim the topics the Help File covers. I don’t quite want to get into it yet, but I prepare for the effort.
After around 15 minutes I look up and see Kiril approach me. I wave to him and get a wave back.
Kiril sits down at the table I’m at and leans towards me with what looks like a full blown grin. “The last Traveler didn’t know how to cook. She just named French fries and roughly how to make them, but didn’t really take part. I wasn’t expecting you to do so, either, but I was happy to have my expectations exceeded. I want you to help with lunch today, since we’ll be making pizza for everyone. I also want to take the opportunity to teach you some of what I know, since no person ever regretted knowing how to cook better. What do you say?”
Another chance to focus in the kitchen and a learning opportunity? Sounded like a way to spend some hours anxiety-free. I immediately nodded back. “Sounds amazing, to be honest. I’d love to help.”
Kiril claps me on the shoulder and somehow his grin widens. “That’s precisely what I wanted to hear. Come along then.” He gets up and motions for me to follow.
I spend most of my day in the kitchen with Kiril. At first I help with the pizza, mostly putting together the ingredients and managing sauce making. The staff had spent the night preparing significantly more dough. Because they don’t have too much cheese, we end up making some cheese-free pizzas as well.
At some point during lunch, after I was personally responsible for several pizzas, another notification appears, distracting me for a moment and earning me a whack from Kiril for losing focus in the kitchen.
NOTIFICATION
Baking D expertise acquired!
Please purchase Expertise sub-system to access.
Token and XP rewards postponed until sub-system purchase.
I’m surprised that the System would put a gate on something I gained, but there it is. I don’t have time to dwell on it, due to working on lunch, so I make a mental note to get back to this.
The Staufolk of the camp are pleasantly surprised with the lunch offering, and really get into it after the first few adventurous ones take a bite. It takes roughly two hours for lunch to wrap up, but there’s not a single pizza left at that point. In that process I get to appreciate how many Staufolk are in this camp, all because of me, and a shudder of discomfort creeps up my back. For my effort during lunch I got to have a personal-sized pizza with ham and extra cheese, just the way I like it.