Morning sunlight spilled into Crescent Moon Inn, painting the kitchen in gold. The Infernal Stove burned quietly, its blue flame steady and confident — a mirror of its master.
Ethan rolled up his sleeves, tying his apron tight. He cracked his neck, then clapped his hands once.
"Alright, you two! Time to train!"
Luna peeked around the corner, holding a broom. "Train? You mean… like cooking training?"
"Exactly," Ethan said, grinning. "You wanted to learn Spirit Cooking, right?"
Maris walked in behind her, already wearing her spotless white coat. "And I'm here to make sure you actually teach properly."
"Good," Ethan said. "I need both of you sharp. The lunch rush is about to get wild."
Luna groaned. "You mean we're cooking for customers while training?"
"Best way to learn," he said cheerfully. "You can't learn flavor from books."
---
Ethan stood before the counter like a general before his army.
"Lesson one: heat control. The foundation of Spirit Cooking."
He pointed at the blue flame. "This stove responds to your intent. You don't control it with force — you guide it. Cooking isn't about dominating the fire; it's about dancing with it."
Luna frowned. "I've never danced with fire before."
Maris smirked. "That's because you usually burn it."
"Hey!" Luna protested.
Ethan chuckled. "Alright, let's start simple. Fried rice."
He motioned to the ingredients laid out: chopped vegetables, eggs, cold rice, and herbs. "One of the easiest dishes — but if you mess up the rhythm, it turns into chaos."
He grabbed the pan and spun it with one hand. The blue flame flared to life, wrapping the metal in soft light.
Oil, then eggs — a quick stir, a flick of the wrist — rice in, seasoning, herbs, toss.
The sound of sizzling filled the air like applause.
In less than a minute, he plated it: golden, steaming, perfect.
"See? Cooking's like breathing. Find your rhythm, and the food will follow."
He handed the pan to Luna. "Your turn."
Luna's eyes went wide. "Wait, me? I barely know how to hold—"
"Try," Ethan said, stepping back. "The flame listens."
She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and lit the stove. The blue fire flickered uncertainly.
"Talk to it," Ethan said. "In your mind. Tell it what you need."
Luna hesitated, then whispered, "Um… please don't explode?"
The flame pulsed gently. She blinked. "Wait, it listened?"
Maris laughed. "Apparently even fire has a soft spot for beginners."
Luna grinned nervously and started cooking. Oil, eggs — too much heat, smoke burst up instantly.
She yelped. "Ah! It's burning!"
Ethan stepped in, turning the heat down with a calm gesture. "Breathe. Don't rush. Fire only burns when you panic."
She tried again — slower this time. Stirring, folding, tossing gently. The aroma began to shift, becoming sweet and smoky.
When she plated it, the rice glowed faintly orange.
Ethan took a bite and nodded. "Not bad. You found your rhythm."
Luna's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yeah. A little smoky, but full of heart. The stove likes you."
She practically beamed.
---
Next up was Maris. She took the pan confidently.
"Let me show you how the Guild does it."
Her flame appeared instantly — sharp and controlled. Every move was precise, every toss measured. The rice sparkled with faint silver threads of mana.
When she plated it, the dish looked flawless — neat, elegant, professional.
Ethan took a bite.
"Taste is perfect," he said. "But it's missing something."
Maris raised an eyebrow. "Missing? It's balanced, flavorful, evenly cooked."
"Yeah," Ethan said, grinning. "It's perfect. But not alive."
She frowned. "Alive?"
He nodded. "Spirit Cooking isn't just about skill — it's about feeling. The flame doesn't just heat; it responds to your emotion. When Luna cooked, it tasted like warmth. Yours tastes like precision. Great for the Guild, but you've got more heart than that."
Maris crossed her arms. "So… you're saying I should 'feel the rice'?"
He laughed. "Exactly."
Luna snorted. "Chef, that sounded weird."
Ethan ignored her. "Alright. Lesson two: flavor resonance."
He grabbed a basket of ingredients — fruits, spices, herbs glowing faintly with mana. "Every Spirit Ingredient has a rhythm of its own. The trick is to find harmony between them."
He picked up a glowing lemon pepper. "See this? If you pair it with frost herbs, they'll clash. But combine it with fire blossom, and you get a perfect balance."
He handed each of them a set of ingredients. "Now, make something that reflects you. No recipes, no rules."
Maris frowned thoughtfully. "Something that reflects me…"
Luna immediately began throwing things into a pot. "Okay! So maybe some carrots, some rice, this glowing red root—"
"Luna, that's Fireroot! You'll—" Ethan started.
The pot burst into flame.
Luna yelped, waving her arms. "I didn't do it!"
Ethan calmly tapped the stove, and the fire went out. Steam rolled out of the pot, and to everyone's surprise, the smell that followed was… sweet.
He blinked. "Wait… that actually smells good."
Luna peeked inside. "It didn't burn?"
He tasted it carefully. "Not only didn't burn — it caramelized. You accidentally created Fireroot glaze."
She blinked. "I did?"
Ethan laughed. "Sometimes mistakes lead to masterpieces."
He turned to Maris. "Your turn."
Maris closed her eyes for a moment. Then she started working. Her movements were slower this time, calmer. She added ingredients by instinct — citrus, basil, a hint of spice — then finished with a swirl of wind-infused oil.
When she plated it, the aroma was soft and fresh, like a summer breeze.
Ethan tasted it and smiled. "Now that's alive."
She smiled slightly. "I think I understand what you meant."
---
The three of them stood there, surrounded by the aroma of three different dishes — warmth, balance, and freshness.
Ethan crossed his arms. "Lesson three: cooking isn't about perfection. It's about connection. Every dish tells a story — your story."
Luna wiped her hands. "So… what's your story, Chef?"
He looked at the blue flame, flickering quietly. "Mine? I guess it's simple. I cook so people can smile. That's all I've ever wanted."
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Then Luna said softly, "Then I'll make people smile too."
Maris added, "And I'll make dishes that breathe."
Ethan grinned. "Good answers. Training's done for today. Tomorrow, we open with a full Spirit Menu."
Luna blinked. "A… full menu?"
"Yup. Everything we learned — on sale."
Maris smirked. "You're insane."
"Maybe," Ethan said, smiling as the blue flame flared brighter. "But that's what makes it fun."
---
That night, as they cleaned up, the air still smelled faintly of spice and warmth. The Infernal Stove burned gently, almost purring.
Luna stretched and yawned. "I'm exhausted."
Ethan smiled. "Good. That means you're learning."
She grinned sleepily. "Then I'll learn until I can beat you."
Maris laughed. "You and me both."
Ethan chuckled, glancing at the stove. "Guess the kitchen's getting crowded."
The blue flame flickered, as if amused.
To be continued...