The next morning, Crescent Moon Inn was louder than usual.
Luna was running from table to table with trays full of dishes, customers were chatting excitedly, and the blue flame of the Infernal Stove danced proudly behind the counter. Every seat was taken.
Ethan flipped a pan with practiced ease, the scent of sizzling meat and herbs filling the air. He'd barely had time to breathe since dawn.
"Two Emberheart Rice Bowls, one Spicy Boar Skewer, and a Mana Tea!" Luna called out.
"On it," Ethan said, tossing ingredients without missing a beat.
The Infernal Flame flickered brighter, almost playful. The more he cooked, the more it responded — heating up, cooling down, moving like it could read his thoughts. Every dish came out perfect, no matter how fast he moved.
And the crowd loved it.
"Chef Ethan's food feels warm, even after you finish eating," said one customer.
"It's like the fire itself blesses the taste!" said another.
Ethan grinned quietly. Compliments were nice, but what mattered most was the rhythm — that beautiful flow between him, the pan, and the flame. Cooking wasn't work today. It was music.
Then the door opened, and silence followed.
Everyone turned to see a woman step in.
She wore a crisp white chef's coat with silver trim and carried a long case strapped to her back. Her hair was tied neatly, her eyes sharp and assessing. She looked around the inn once, then focused on Ethan.
"You're the one they call the Blue Flame Chef?" she asked.
Ethan blinked. "I guess so. Depends who's asking."
She walked up to the counter, posture straight as a blade. "Chef Maris of the Central Spirit Guild. I've been sent to confirm the rumors."
Luna leaned over the counter, whispering, "Guild? Are we in trouble?"
Maris shook her head. "Not at all. We just need to verify something. They say you've bonded with a Flame Spirit and infused your dishes with mana. If that's true, then you're qualified to compete under the Guild's Culinary System."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Compete?"
Maris smiled faintly. "Of course. You don't become a recognized Spirit Chef by just cooking at home. You earn it through a test — a cook-off."
The customers began murmuring with excitement.
"A cook-off?" one said. "Here?"
"Against Chef Ethan?"
Ethan sighed. "Let me guess. You're here to challenge me?"
Maris set her case down on the counter. "Precisely. One dish each. The customers will judge. Winner earns the Guild's seal of recognition."
Luna crossed her arms. "And if you lose?"
Maris smirked. "Then I'll work here for a week, free of charge. That fair enough?"
The crowd cheered. Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. "You people really want a show, huh?"
"You're the one who lit up half the street with blue fire yesterday," someone called. "You owe us!"
Ethan laughed. "Alright, fine. One dish. Let's make it interesting."
Maris's eyes gleamed. "Agreed."
---
The tables were cleared. The crowd formed a circle around the two cooking stations. Luna stood as referee, looking both nervous and excited.
Ethan's Infernal Stove hummed softly, its blue flames steady. Maris opened her case, revealing a portable crystal stove powered by mana gems — sleek and elegant.
"This is the Guild's Ember Range," she said proudly. "Designed to harness Spirit Heat without instability."
"Looks expensive," Ethan said. "Hope it doesn't mind getting shown up."
She smirked. "We'll see."
Luna raised her hand. "Alright, the challenge is simple — one dish that represents your cooking spirit. You've got one hour!"
The crowd cheered.
Maris's movements were fast and precise. She unpacked neatly cut vegetables, shining knives, and bottled seasonings. The scent of citrus and spice filled the air immediately. She worked like a dancer — confident, graceful, exact.
Ethan took a different approach. He opened his ingredients crate: boar ribs, mana carrots, and a small bag of mountain salt. "Let's do something classic," he said softly. "Spirit-Grilled Ribs."
The blue flame flared in agreement.
---
Halfway through, the room had split into two halves: Team Maris and Team Ethan.
Maris's dish was all elegance — thin slices of marinated fish glazed with spirit honey, each one seared with glowing orange fire. The air around her shimmered faintly, making the fish sparkle like jewels.
Ethan's ribs, on the other hand, smoked gently under the Infernal Flame, a deep aroma filling every corner of the inn. He brushed the meat with a glaze made of crushed herbs and honey, letting the blue fire sear the surface to perfection.
The difference was clear: her food dazzled the eyes, his food warmed the soul.
Luna counted down. "Three minutes left!"
Maris plated her dish — a delicate spiral of glazed fish with golden garnish. Ethan finished basting the ribs, plating them over glowing spirit rice that pulsed faintly with blue light.
The crowd leaned forward as both chefs stepped back.
Luna clapped once. "Taste time!"
Three customers were chosen at random to taste both dishes — an old miner, a young traveler, and a local merchant's wife. Each took careful bites, savoring in silence.
Maris's fish melted on the tongue — sharp, clean, balanced. "It's like sunshine," said the miner, eyes wide.
Ethan's ribs, though — the first bite drew a gasp. The meat was soft, smoky, the glaze sweet and tangy, the rice beneath releasing waves of warmth that spread through the body.
"It's… comforting," said the merchant's wife, smiling. "Like home."
When they finished, Luna raised her hand. "Judges, your choice?"
All three pointed to Ethan.
The room erupted in cheers.
Maris blinked, then smiled faintly. "Well. Seems you've got more than just fancy fire."
Ethan grinned. "Guess I do alright under pressure."
Maris extended her hand. "As promised — I'll serve here for a week. And for what it's worth, your flame… it's special. Most Spirit Flames are wild. Yours listens."
Ethan shook her hand firmly. "Thanks. Welcome to the team, Chef Maris."
The crowd clapped again, and Luna sighed in relief. "You're seriously turning this inn into a tournament ground."
"Hey," Ethan said, wiping his hands, "as long as the kitchen's alive, I'm happy."
---
That evening, as the sun dipped low, Maris helped clean the counters while Ethan prepped for dinner. The two worked side by side quietly.
"So," she said, "you really don't belong to the Guild?"
"Nope. Just a guy who loves to cook."
"Then you're wasting your time hiding here," she said seriously. "The Spirit Guild holds competitions every month. The winner gets access to rare ingredients — ones that can evolve your flame."
Ethan paused. "Evolve… the flame?"
Maris nodded. "You've only scratched the surface. A Spirit Flame that strong could reshape your entire cooking style."
He chuckled. "Sounds like fun. Maybe I'll drop by."
"You'd better. Because next time—" She smirked. "I'll be the one challenging you."
---
As night fell, the Infernal Stove glowed softly, its flame calm but bright. The inn buzzed with laughter and warmth.
Ethan leaned on the counter, smiling as Maris and Luna argued over spice ratios.
This — the smell of food, the sound of laughter, the rhythm of cooking — this was what made the world worth exploring.
And for the first time since waking up in this world, Ethan didn't feel like an outsider.
He felt like a chef.
To be continued...