"Here! Try it!" Madame Soledad handed Pedro another ancient-looking paper and the red-inked pen.
"Eh? But... That's all? I mean... you only showed me how you make one!"
"Just try it! Don't ask too much!" She returned to eating the food cooked by Frederico.
'Then... I won't ask further! Don't blame me for wasting such rare and expensive material!' Pedro chuckled as he grasped the pen tightly and focused his attention on the paper.
'Imagine... Imagine... How Frederico reacted when he first tasted my dish!' He slowly opened his eyes and began writing for a minute.
'He's successful? He is actually successful in his first try!' Madame Soledad could only stare at Pedro with a terrified look as the paper started to shine.
[Congratulations! You have learned talent!]
[Skill-Making]
Rank(Mastery Level): Apprentice Skill-Maker
Divine-rated Skill Making Success rate: 0%
Legendary-rated Skill Making Success rate: 0%
Gold-rated Skill Making Success rate: 0.003%
Silver-rated Skill Making Success rate: 3%
Bronze-rated Skill Making Success rate: 83%
Requirements Needed to advance to next rank: 500 Bronze-rated skill made!
Equivalent in Progress for advancement to next mastery level:
1 Silver-rated Skill = 5 Bronze-rated Skill
1 Gold-rated Skill = 10 Silver-rated Skill
1 Legendary-rated Skill = 1000 Gold-rated Skill
??? Divine-rated Skill = ??? Legendary-rated Skill
Progress: 1/500 Bronze-ranked skill made!
...
[Congratulations Player "Death" for unlocking the rarest talent in Bearth!]
Your rewards are:
Empty Pen-Knife x5
Empty Book(Skills Only) x2
...
'Some odd rewards! I wonder what are their uses?!' Pedro was about to check his rewards when Madame Soledad slammed her bowl to the table.
"Thanks for the meal!" She inspected the skill Pedro made as they stare at her in fear.
"Not bad! I won't lie... You seemed to have better talent that those spoiled brats! But! Still not good enough! Ehm... Just like what you are about to do with cooking! Keep on making skills! It doesn't mean that you'll cook for me and Alivia that you'd skip Skill making!" Madame Soledad was about to leave the room when Pedro stopped her. Frederico slapped his face as if saying 'Please let her leave! So that I can also leave already!'.
"About that! Where do I get a paper from a Nearis Tree?" He raised his hand as if gesturing to Madame Soledad to stop.
"Nearis Tree? Soon! In the gods' continent, there are many of those!" She smirked as she left the room.
'I can see my younger days on you! Let me guide you to the right path so you won't end up like me!'
'Ohh! Good thing he didn't ask about the blood with huge magical energy! I can't tell him that I am using my own blood! Hehehe! Well... It was not bad! Losing some blood has some benefits to your health while... you can earn...' ... "MONEY! HAHAHA!" She suddenly screamed while strolling on the hallway. The crews passing by was astounded at the same time scared from their Captain!
...
'The gods' continent? I guess I could only wait until we arrive!' Pedro rubbed his chin as he watches Madame Soledad depart.
"I shall leave too! I may have been rude to you and your dish... But... as a fellow cook! Th... Tha... Tha... Thank you!" Frederico ran out of the room at full speed.
"What was his problem? and... Why, the heck, was he blushing?!" Pedro frowned as he didn't know whether to laugh and cry from Frederico's actions.
'Wait!!! Why does it feel like... I placed myself into another trouble?!' Pedro glanced around his room and saw dishes, pots, spoons, leftover foods, and sauces all over the place.
"YOU GLUTTONS!" He shouted in anger as he looked like someone whose house has been robbed. While looking around, his attention was shifted to the skill he made.
...
Skill: ~Awkward Eating Bluff~ (Downgraded Version)
Rarity: Bronze-rated Skill
Skill Type: Active
Effects: The user makes a weird lewd look as the food releases a smell that entices anyone within five meters to the food the user eats. Those affected by the skill would be on an enticed state for two minutes.
Enticed State: Craves for the food that doubles the hunger and increases stamina reduction by five percent for two minutes!
Cooldown: 2 hours
[Inspired by the tsundere chef! Plagiarised by an APPRENTICE Skill-Maker!]
...
"Plagiarised?" Pedro wore a wryly smile and sighed.
"No one's gonna clean this mess up except me!" He chuckled as he placed the skill he made into his inventory. He started to clean the room as he picked the utensils one by one.
...
"If there was a talent called clean-up talent... I would have been able to master it!" Pedro had cleaned his room and the fishy smell was gone. He was washing the last set of dishes when the interface rang.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
'Eh?' He was astounded as he saw a familiar number in his 'Earth Communication tab'. He pressed the green button and accepted the call.
"SON!" *Sob Sob...
'Mother?' Pedro heard the woman cry and the phone being moved over as if it was being passed to another person.
"Let me talk to him first! Calm down and then talk to him, Alright!" Pedro heard his father's voice as the sound became clearer.
"Ehm... Pedro? Hello! Do you recognize me?"
"Father?!"
"It's me, son! It... It's good to know you recognize me! How... How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?" His father tried to suppress his emotions but his 'fatherly love' took over and sent Pedro a barrage of questions.
"I am fine! Why would I not recognize the voice of whom I inherited this Celebrity like looks!" He joked to lighten the mood between them.
'Eh... but you looked like a mummy right now! No worries! As soon as you wake up, we'll schedule you to plastic surgery if your doctors approve of it!'
"That's good! That's good! If you feel anything weird, don't hesitate to contact us! You didn't forget our contact numbers right?" His father stares at the Special type VR Box Pedro was using. It has thick glass walls that can allow others to see the one inside the Box. This was a VR Box specifically modified for medical purposes.
*Sniff
"I'm ready!" His mother wiped her tears with an elegant white handkerchief as her other hand pulls the sleeves of his father's polo shirt.
'One sec!' His father gestures to his mom.
"Son! Your mom's gonna talk to you now! All I can say is, no matter what happens... Stay strong and never give up!" His father gave the phone to his mother as he placed his hand on her shoulders and occasionally patting lightly on her back.
"SON!"
"Mom!"
"Mommy loves you! Uwaaa!" Her mom cried as his father took the phone again. This time, his mother can't suppress her emotions and could only cry. (Her mother may look like a cry baby, but his mother was just so close to him. He's spoiled, can't do anything about that!)
'Not good! Her crying might have a negative effect on Pedro's recovery!' His father decided to end the call and just contact him again later when her mother calms down.
"Son, we have some matter to take care at the moment... we'll call you back a minute later!"
"Ok, dad! Please tell mom that I am fine! and... If she continues to cry... I'd be sad!"
"Don't worry son! I'll handle things! Who do you think I am? ... Oh! By the way! You never told us that you have a GIRLFRIEND! Seems like someone inherited my traits of being charismatic on women!" His father smirked as his mother shot glances to his father and slapped his back.
"Girl... huh?" Pedro uttered but his parents weren't able to hear him.
"What do you mean by 'CHARISMATIC ON WOMEN'!? ARE YOU HIDDING SOMETHING FROM ME?" Pedro was astounded by what his father told but before he could answer back he heard his mother scream as she slapped his father in the back. The call ended as Pedro stared in the air trying to process "who, the hell, was his 'GIRL... FRIEND'!".
...
After he finished washing the remaining dishes, he sat on the sofa and still wondered who was the woman his father was referring when his 'Earth Communication tab', ECT, rang again.
"Are they done handling their matters? or did they forgot to tell something?"
'A different number?' Although he was confused about the different number calling him, he answered it.
"He... Hello? Pe... Pedro? Classmate Pedro?" The sweet and lovely voice of the girl was mixed with astonishment and concern.
'This voice!'
"Sabrina? Is that you?"
*Sob Sob...
"I... I... I'm... Sorry... I... I wasn't... of great help!" Sabrina was crying but her voice sounded soft and cute.
'Wait... It couldn't be that...' Pedro was speechless as he placed the pieces together and made 'an assumption'.
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Author's Note:
First of all, I apologize for the late chapter update! As I said, I had a sudden class this morning! The usual time I make chapters was in the morning, as a result, It was moved this afternoon. Sorry!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Author's Opinion:
Take note of this line...
"SON!" (Pedro's Mother cried)
Then, later on, Pedro replied this line...
"Ok, dad! Please tell mom that I am fine! and... If she continues to cry... I'd be sad!"
...
This scene showed that whenever someone you know is sick or is in critical condition (may include depression), It is a good thing to show a happy or positive vibe to them. I personally believe in this as it may encourage or empower the will of those who were sick into which, I think, is an important thing.
This was inspired in the movie "3 idiots" where one of them was in a coma, they kept showing happy and positive vibes to him (even the fake ones) that help speed up his recovery. It might seem impossible, but... I personally believe in it.
As they say... "Happiness is the best medicine!"
...
To those who were feeling sad or hopeless... Just remember this...
"Nothing is permanent except... change... and When the world, loses another great man like you!"
The message I wanna say was messed up, Lmao... (I even remade the Author's opinion part) But... All I wanna say is... If you're sad, sick or such... "CHEER UP!".
...
(I personally suggest watching the "3 Idiots" movie! It was really a good and inspiring movie! ... I'm not advertising lol... Just suggesting a good and inspirational movie that can make you motivated!)
PS. There is a permanent marker though! (Sad life for the whiteboards in offices and classrooms! When will some(especially professors, no offense) learn the difference between whiteboard markers and the permanent one?)