Mage And Wolf
Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Chapter 139

I go with a black Kimono with a cherry blossoms print to do the mornings cooking, much to Karl’s disappointment. But oil burns still hurt, even if they heal really fast, so covered up is good.

We decide the taste test should be for all available Elders, so I’m cooking for thirty, including the early arrivals among the guests. The menu is Karl approved. Breakfast burritos, fried and made in an egg roll size, with oatmeal, fruit salad and toast. The very first recipes I learned from the mystic cooking technique.

The fruit salad is a simple thing, just a bit of energy to enhance and blend the flavors. The oatmeal isn’t any more difficult, but both are amazing compared to their natural counterparts. The small breakfast burritos are a recipe I learned just last night, a variation on the standard mystic cooking recipe, and suitable as a side instead of being a meal to themselves. Plus, they’ve got a lot of bacon.

"Elders, Sect Masters and honored guests, a sample of breakfast cuisines for your enjoyment" I say bringing out a cart full of trays, followed by the rest of the serving staff.

Everyone just stares at their plates a while, even after we’ve retreated to the kitchen.

"They are planning on eating it right? They know it’s food?" Karl asks around a mouthful of burrito. The whole kitchen is full of muted happy noises, the serving staff energetically digging into their portion. I might have made too much oatmeal, even now there’s still half the pot, but I’m sure someone will finish it.

The burritos are gone though. Snatched up in seconds. I guess they’re more popular than oatmeal anywhere we go.

The dignitaries are finally eating, looks of shock on their face and conversation light. Good, they like breakfast. One meal down.

I’m informed today will be an early dinner, as all the guests have now arrived. Stew today I think, plus lamb shanks and curried cauliflower for the important guests. The stew I make in two huge cauldrons, fit for the entire Inner Sect. Nobody questions why I need them, so I’m cooking for everyone.

They’re working hard to get this festival going, so they deserve something special. And the Sect provided the ingredients, so it’s not costing me anything.

The service staff brings the VIP room their meals, while I roll the cauldrons out into the courtyard where the Inner Sect eats on warm days like today.

"Gentlemen, a special treat today. In anticipation of a wonderful festival" I call and they all start lining up for dinner, looking a bit confused. It’s not until the first few sit down and begin to eat that they understand.

"I shall return in a while with a dessert, don’t leave too early" I call and return to the kitchen. Maple walnut cake is the dessert of the day, with an option of Peach crumble. The two top deserts on the Inner Sect menu. This is the only day I’ll have a chance to cook for them, the rest of my dinners are to be taken with the dignitaries, so I’m making the best of it.

Dessert is sent into the VIP room, dressed up with whipped cream. They didn’t have enough magical cow cream for everyone, so the disciples are getting theirs with vanilla ice cream from Karl’s food creation spell.

I don’t know a special recipe to enhance plain whipped cream, or ice cream, couldn’t find one in the book. Bit of a shame really, but ice cream is good no matter what.

After dinner I’ve got to meet with all the Elders and guests, so I put on the cream and Peach colored dress, themed to match the dessert as it turns out, and head in to make my rounds.

"Young Miss, might I ask what it would take for you to stay here?" Sect Master Qin says with a longing look at his empty plate, making all the others laugh.

"Unfortunately I have other duties to attend, so I can’t stay. But you do have two more dinners coming before I leave" I put on my best innocent smile for the crowd.

"Of all the tragedies that have befallen this world, running out of Peach Cobbler might have been the greatest in his mind" one of the other Sect Masters laughs.

We’re not actually out, I stored an entire extra tray for emergencies. So I pick up his plate and remove a large slice from my storage.

"There’s no whipped cream left, but I can mitigate this tragedy" I laugh and he holds the slice over his head with a cheer.

These Sect Masters aren’t as stuffy and old as I expected. Some are old, yes, but it’s a lively crowd even before they get into the drink.

That reminds me: "Karl, might you find us a barrel of the Good Elven White?" I ask with a mischievous smile. Their wine is positively Mediocre, Elven Wine will destroy them. Best to bring out lots.

And destroy them it does. Not a single one of them is awake for breakfast, only three make it to the festival before lunch.

I’ve chosen a blue and gold fairy dress for the day and Karl is accompanying me to see every bit of what the sect had to offer. It’s a great time, and half a dozen sects are here to enjoy the festivities. Mostly it is outside the compound, but the cultivation related vendors are inside the walls.

"Have you had enough fun for the day? It’s almost time to start making dinner for the guests" Karl asks mid afternoon after our second loop of the festivities.

"Almost. There’s an alchemy vendor by the walls I want to mess with. He’s right on the verge of Condensation and has been asking for pill materials to make a grade 3 Qi Gathering Pill all day." I smile.

"And you’re going to what?" Karl asks.

"Force feed him a Core Formation pill crumbled into a slice of cobbler and blame the cake."

"You’re evil, you know that right? He’s going to spend the rest of his life looking for a cobbler recipe that can cause an instant breakthrough"

I wave off his concerns, it’s just a bit of fun.

"Vendor, I have a special cobbler, made for the visiting Sect Masters that I believe might help your situation" I tell him as we approach.

"The one the inner Sect got to enjoy? I heard it was an extraordinary thing."

"Yes and no. It is the same sort, but a very special recipe, reserved for the most noble of guests. I would like you to have it" I tell him extending a bite sized slice on a sheet of rice paper.

"I shall not deny your kindness, not often does an outer disciple like myself get such luxury" he bows, popping the slice in his mouth.

He spends a few seconds savoring the taste before chewing and swallowing. That’s when the pill hits him and his cultivation crashes headlong into the breakthrough to Condensation.

"Good cake isn’t it?" I ask a his eyes go wide and he collapses to his knees. We’re gone, back into the inner Sect grounds before he can recover enough to speak.

I start on dinner, dressed in the red and black gown that Karl made for me, as I’ll be headed in to dine with the Elders today. It’s a quick thing, all light foods and snacks, set up buffet style along one wall. I know they’re all hungover, so no need to make them sick.

There’s still plenty of Elven Wine though.

"Greetings Elders. From the looks of this subdued crowd it seems I neglected to mention that the fine wines of my world pack a bit of a punch" I joke at the pale faces around me.

"You know, there’s only one good cure for that hangover. More of the same" Karl laughs with a glass in his hand.

A few make their way to the wine cask, hoping Karl is uttering the truth. He is, in a way. A few sips will cure the hangover, but if you keep drinking it will only be worse tomorrow.

"Small miracles" Sect Master Qin exclaims "One glug and the hangover is gone!" I notice he puts his glass down after that though. Tomorrow must be the important day for the meetings.

The discovery leads to much merriment, though a bit more subdued than last night, everyone has things they want to achieve at tomorrow’s meeting. The light dinner course is a huge hit, many making notes so their Sect can do something similar for the second day of their next festival.

"Would you be available to cook for my Sect after this festival?" One asks and I shake my head.

"My apologies Sect Master, the study of Mystic cooking is demanding, and best practiced in seclusion, so I will be returning home for a time after this. If you find me out of seclusion again later, feel free to invite me at that time"

He’s a bit disappointed but not mad. Every Sect Master understands the need for seclusion to master intricate techniques.

Before long I feel my eyes drooping, too much excitement for the day, time to sleep. So I drag Karl upstairs with me.