I slowly stand up wobbling but I regain my balance quickly.
'Weird.' I think as we start to leave.
We walk all the way up the stairwell before Marshal gives a small wave gesture before seeing himself out.
"See you guys at dinner," he says, running off.
'Oh yeah. Today's the second day of Club visits.'
Our "Exploration Day" was the first, and if memory served then tomorrow would be the last day.
'Speaking of…'
I turn to Kate—she's walking beside me, "Did you ever figure out what club you want to join."
"N-no," Kate responds, laughing nervously, "Well actually I do have one in mind."
I tilt my head curiously, "What is it?"
"The cooking club," she mumbles, quickly making then breaking eye contact.
"Oh," I muse.
'Yes!…wait NO.'
While the prospect of seeing Kate after classes every day sounded great, my cooking skills had the slight issue of being non-existent. Not to mention it'd ruin my plans.
As I continue to panic internally at a scene of me messing up in the kitchen Kate continues, "There's no particular reason really I just though it'd be a nice opportunity to um…get into something Sue enjoys, yeah."
"That's cool," I say, my curiosity burning.
"So that means we're going the same way, huh," I say as we walk along the corridor Kate's eyes widen slightly.
"You're going to the visit," she asks, hushed panic in her voice.
"Yeah," I respond.
Kate lets out a nervous laugh, "You know we'll just be doing basic recipes, right? You'll be bored."
It's my turn for my eyes to widen as I realize.
'She thinks I know how too cook.' I realize, slightly alarmed yet flattered.'I need to clear up the misunderstanding…but—No it's better to rip the plaster off now.'
"Well, that'll be perfect for a beginner like me."
Kate blinks her eyes twice as fast, not entirely sure of what she heard.
I chuckle nervously scratching the mark, "Ironic right?"
Kate diverts her eyes trying to hide her surprise, "No, it's just…unexpected is all."
"Now my plans to secretly train up my cooking skills for a certain picnic are dashed," I say, pretending to pout.
Kate giggles, bumping me with her elbow, a casual gesture that sends chills down my spine.
"Well now we can both surprise Sue," Kate says.
"And it all starts here," I say as my hand clasps the door handle.
I open the door and I'm greeted by the wonderful smell of cooking.
'Something sweet is on the air.'
Just as the door closes behind us we are greeted by our instructor. She has some flour on her face and her wavy brown hair is tied in a messy ponytail.
"Welcome first-years. You're here to try the cooking club, right," she asks.
Kate and I nod in unison.
"Wonderful. What are your names—I'm Ms. Saccharo," Ms. Saccharo says with a big smile.
"Benji."
"Kate."
"Nice to meet you both," Ms. Saccharo says gliding to the door to greet some other first years.
I look around to see some older students working on their own recipes.
'I wonder what we'll be making for our first dish.'
Once the flow of arrivals slows Ms. Saccharo glides around the room laying sheets of paper down. Each cooking station is big enough for two so Kate and I are sharing.
Once all the papers are passed out Ms. Saccharo points to the board. On it in fancy cutesy writing reads "Cookies!!!".
"Today we're going to make something simple but oh so very yummy. What you have in front of you is a simple cookie recipe. You can follow it as closely as you like but try to put a spin on it. I've written a lot of tips for you on the side and," Ms. Saccharo says before gesturing to the board, "I've written even more ideas for you on the board."
'Oh wow, She really put a lot of time into this.' I internally muse as I look over the page. 'So many possibilities from just one cookie.'
Not just ingredient ideas either. The page also detailed suggestions on cookie shape and decoration depending on what it was for.
"Now I'll be here to help you of course, but my treat to you will be baking a batch of cookies for you all. And I encourage you to exchange cookies with your partner and let them know what you think," Ms. Saccharo says, pulling out a bowel.
I then realize two things at once. First, her teaching desk itself was a cooking station, and second, we'd be exchanging cookies. As I feel my heart shifting into overdrive Kate snaps me out of it.
"I'm actually getting a little excited after all that," Kate says looking at me with an excited smile. She takes off her jacket and rolls up her sleeves before washing her hands.
'Come on Benji we're both beginners…no reason to freak out.' I think the simple realization is a breath of fresh air.
I remove my jacket as well and roll up my sleeves, and wash my hands. After retrieving our ingredients I find my eyes drifting to Kate's hands as I work. I almost spill an egg I'm cracking, and I'm having a lot of fun as I whisk together my ingredients. I only messed up once or twice but I think it's alright. Kate is mixing her ingredients by hand. She notices my curious gaze and tells me she saw Sue do it once. Apparently, it makes them taste better.
I ask for a cookie-cutter—a suggestion on the board—getting one in the shape of a cat head. Surprisingly Kate doesn't do the same. As I cut out my cookies I glance over to her and she's smiling warmly to herself as her hands work.
'I wonder what she's thinking…'
Tray buttered and cookies laid. I slide them into the heating oven. I pick up the timer we were provided. For a moment I marvel at how smooth it is, before dragging my finger with the suggested time in mind. The glowing line slowly erodes as time passes. A useful tool that can help track the passing of time. It would ding when I should check my cookies.
"You're going to love these," Kate blurts.
I set down the timer turning to her.
She's grinning at me utterly delighted, "It's a little unfair but I do know one recipe."
"Really," I ask.
Kate nods.
"Soon you'll be biting into my childhood cookie," she says, "I didn't like it at first but it grew on me."
Kate laughs ruefully.
"I would say you'll love mine too but I think Ms. Saccharo has me beat," I say.
The smell of whatever beautiful concoction Ms. Saccharo's baking fills the room.
Kate giggles, "Don't go into ecstasy after one bite."
A couple of minutes after checking on my cookies they smell and look quite done. I slip on some oven mitts and take out my tray. "Presentation is important," the small note at the beginning of the page read. I take out the bag I chose at the start. It was a pink bag with a simple stripe design on it. I transfer the cookies from the tray to the bag.
'Should I have frosted them?' I think as I pull the drawstring as I nervously turn to Kate.
We exchange bags, hers being a deep blue bag littered with stars. She immediately opens mine—retrieving a cookie from inside. My eyes can't help but linger as I wait for her reaction.
"Mmm," Kate hums—mostly to herself —as she takes a bite.
She tosses the rest of the cookie in her mouth.
"Try them, try them," she urges, taking another cookie from my bag.
I take out one of her small checkered cookies. She'd used the cooling oven while making these, and just from the smell, I was sure one checker was vanilla and the other chocolate.
I take a bite, and it's sweet.
'Too sweet…and yet.'
It tasted so…homey. Like a warm hug. I take another bite, savoring its taste more this time. Still definitely too sweet and yet that flaw worked for the cookie making it better somehow. The deceiving crunch as I bite down into the cookie's soft interior was also nice. The two mixed together to make a satisfying texture.
Kate is smiling at me again as I open my eyes.
"Amazing right," she says.
I nod a little—embarrassed. After making sure everyone baking was finished and happy, Ms. Saccharo calls the class's attention.
"Attention. Attention everyone."
The bustling conversations die out as everyone turns their attention to Ms. Saccharo—our seniors continue their activities a little quieter.
"Now I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and I hope your first impression of my club was a good one," Ms. Saccharo says walking to the door, "I hope to see you tomorrow and in the coming days should you decide this is the club for you."
The first years of the class gather their things and make their way to the door. Ms. Saccharo smiles cheerfully as she hands each of us a bag of her cookies. The bag is plaid tied with a ribbon. 'Amazing.' I think, impressed with the presentation alone. The scent however was downright intoxicating. I'm almost afraid to see what they'll taste like. We walk out of the clubroom thanking Ms. Saccharo as we leave.
"Regneil? Are you Kate Regneil?"
Kate and I turn to the voice asking about her. He's clearly an upperclassmen—wearing thick black spectacles. He has bags under his eyes looking quite tired and disheveled—currently suffering an extreme case of bed head.
"—Yes you are," the upperclassmen continues before Kate can respond. He fumbles with some papers and binders in his hands while trying to give an explanation.
"When we saw you in the arena, our club, oh we just had to have you. We do research and try to discover and understand all anomalies and unique things of the natural world and, ah," he says, almost dropping the papers and binders, he sighs, straightening his spectacles.
"What I'm trying to ask is if you'll join me in my clubroom to tell you more, and well—if I can convince you—I'd like you to join my club," he finally says, going into a deep bow. It's a formality I've seen but not very used to so it surprises me.
I look to Kate who is considering his request. She glances to me then him before answering.
"Alright, I did need another club, and it sounds interesting from what you've told me," Kate tells him as he raises his head with a big smile. Our upperclassmen looks like he's tearing up from happiness.
"Thank you thank you, y-y-you won't regret it," he says.
Grasping his papers and binders in one arm he grabs Kate's hand with his other.
"Come come, you've got to meet everyone. Oh, I hope they've prepared the documents I wanted to show you—" He continues to ramble on—leading Kate away.
Kate looks back to me with a sympathetic smile giving a small wave as she's led away. She mouths "See you at dinner", and just like that she's gone. I find myself standing alone in the hallway. I idle there for a moment.
'Maybe I'll write back, Mom. It's still early.'
I start to make my way to the main doors, and as I'm walking I hear someone approaching. He turns the corner revealing himself to be Mr. Ranviel. He's holding a book and looks thoughtful.
"Oh, Hello Mr. Dariff," Mr. Ranviel says when he notices me.
I wave in response.
"Wandering the halls I see," he comments.
I nod, "More or less, yeah. I'm heading to the dorms to write to my mom."
"How sweet. Do you have a moment to chat," Mr. Ranviel asks.
"Sure."
"Well, I've been meaning to compliment your performance in the duels. A brilliant show of skill," he says.
"Thank you," I say, a warm sense of pride swelling in my chest.
"Why you reminded me of your Father out there," Mr. Ranviel says with a small chuckle.
My eyes widen at this.
"You knew my Father," I ask.
Mr. Ranviel nods, "Yes he was a very dear friend of mine in the past."
"Can you tell me more…like what he was like when he attended," I ask.
Sure I knew plenty about my Father and his glory days but my mom never shared too much about how he was at the academy.
Mr. Ranviel looks a little surprised, "Why of course, just a moment for me to collect my thoughts."
After a moment he chuckles at a memory I do not share.
"His confidence was brimming…with a charm unmatched. When he spoke you'd listen, and when he entered a room he shined…and while you have your mother's face you definitely have Henry's eyes," Mr. Ranviel starts.
A smile curls on my face as he continues.
"And whether causing trouble with his pranks or running off on his next big mission—he was always up to something. Why, before we were close I'd always see him running off somewhere…I admired him greatly," Mr. Ranviel says, a calm smile on his face.
I nod, listening intently.
"He had a big dream too. 'To be the strongest Elite' that was his dream," Mr. Ranviel continues, pausing his eyes far in thought.
"—And you know Henry caused the biggest uproar when he decided it was his mission to conquer the 'Ice queen's' heart," he mentions, chuckling softly.
'"Ice queen"?' I ponder.
"Who's the 'Ice queen'," I ask.
"You don't know? She's none other than your mother of course," Mr. Ranviel says, "Then again Sandra was a very different person back then."
'I'll say.'
I couldn't even imagine my mom sporting the title "Ice queen". The more believable title of "Silent Shadow" is the one she currently held according to my aunt Theophania.
"Henry got up to so many things," Mr. Ranviel trails off, eyes longing.
He then places a hand on my shoulder.
"Though I know you're not your father, Benji. I do hope you won't mind me watching over you and your future achievements," Mr. Ranviel says, patting my shoulder, "Know that I'll be rooting for you all the way."
Mr. Ranviel then starts to walk off, giving me a small wave as he goes.
I smile having learned more about my father. From what I know he died in action whilst staving off some agents of a mad scholar. They never caught the guy, and I hadn't been born yet so I never really knew him. I laugh to myself at the image of my mom on an ice throne looking menacing, while who I imagine to be my father tries to win her heart.
'Well, that letter won't write itself.'