After the eccentric elf and his loyal servants had retreated towards the infirmary in complete defeat, Kaizen walked straight toward the Central Cafeteria with a genuine spring in his step.
Because he was absolutely convinced that today would go down in history as the day he delivered an insult so devastating and a rhetorical blow so brutal that it would haunt Jason Starlham for the rest of his mortal elf life.
He grabbed a plastic tray and slid it along the metal railing until he reached the serving station where Helga was presiding over her massive cauldron of gray nutrient paste with the stern authority of a dungeon boss guarding a legendary treasure chest.
"You are back already. How was the trip because you look like you actually slept for once in your miserable life?"
Helga grunted as she dropped a full ladle of slop onto his plate with a wet splat that sounded suspiciously like a slime monster hitting a stone wall.
