With twenty-four pairs of hands all tasked with division of labor, progress was happening fast. The doughs were all pounded clean and flattened, ready to be cut into noodles, the broth-base was accomplished, and the pork bellies were roasting pleasantly in the ovens, filling the tent with an aroma that made everyone's mouth water with anticipation. They all wiped their foreheads with their handkerchiefs for a brief minute of rest.
Now that everything was well-underway, Professor Aionia unboxed the final, most secret ingredient of them all: Miso from Heian that she'd been saving for a year.
"What's that?" they all leaned in, curious. A nutty fragrance came from the gigantic cube of brown; Mirai instantly recognized it, but for everyone else the smell was like a piercing tang, a sort of salty-sourness to it that smelled like yeast people used for bakes. But there was also a hint of savoriness, like roasted anchovies without the fishy smell.
"This is called Miso, or fermented soybean paste. It's a staple in Heian, and we will use it to complete the broth."
"Can you eat it alone?"
"Hahaha! You would consume a year's worth of salt if you do. We usually don't eat Miso by itself. Rather, it serves as a base, or addition to other dishes to make them more flavorful, to paint it a flavor we call Umami."
"Umami?"
"It means 'savoriness' in the Heian tongue. You'll know what I mean."
She carefully sliced a large dollop of Miso from the cube, and stirred it into the roiling broth of the ten enormous pots, spooning in the thick, viscous glaze of brownish sauce from anchovies that had been roasted with garlic and sugar. Anchovies by themselves smelled awful, but the different ingredients cooked together unlocked a new realm of pleasant aroma they did not expect.
"Wow, I had no idea ingredients could be used this way. I thought cooking was just about taking something and making it ready to eat," chimed Isaac.
"Didn't know so many diverse ingredients could come together like this," added Katherine. "It's like making a new invention!"
"And that," explained Professor Aionia, "is the essence of the culinary arts. It might not look as flashy as the Four Mahamastra, nor as great as the feats they can do or of great monuments you can raise to the sky, but it has arguably as great a tenet for us – that of ingenuity, and using that ingenuity to bring people together."
"Ingenuity?" asked Mirai.
"Yes," Professor Aionia elucidated. "The culinary arts is about harnessing your ingenuity to bring together what would have been alone; and with your dedication and heart see all of them flourish into something new that brings the gift of togetherness. Whether you serve your creation at a grand celebratory feast filled with laughter and cheer, or to a lonely traveler under the roof of a food-cart splattered by rain, as long as those who share it can feel your heart, they would know that they aren't alone – perhaps relinquish for a while their concerns, and restore in them the will to see another day. Though small, fleeting, and unappreciated by those in higher stances, these little moments are things that can hold the dark of the world at bay."
"Headmaster Astinel long ago created the four Houses at Aeternitas so that people could flourish and become the best in the world in the Mahamastra they've chosen. He believed that it was only by standing at the pinnacle of each Mahamastra that evil could be fought. But long ago, I came to realize that there was another way – that triumph could also be found in the most unexpected of origins, that even when small things came together, they could fight against great evil, whether by helping the heart and soul through the culinary arts, or through the discoveries and inventions of experimental philosophy, which draws insight from various places."
Elwin understood what his Tanaar meant. He continued to listen.
"Our time together is coming to a close, and I will be wistful to see you go and choose your Houses in the fall... but if I would like to leave you with one lesson, it is this: when a time comes that drives you to despair, drive others to despair... when there seems no exit, remember back to this moment, and muster courage to explore roads untrodden. Come together as one, and use your ingenuity to find a way out. You are never too small to try. Do not tremble because the spear you behold is too small to use; rally instead your heart, and bring together your friends as you've done today. Don't be afraid to cook."
Her Artens listened intently, their eyes glistening.
Elwin was once again glad to have chosen Professor Aionia as his Tanaar.
"Well, time to make the final push!" she announced, clapping her hands. "Noodle team, shall we finish our work?"
The tent filled with steam as the first batch of noodles roiled in the boiling water, and was shocked in an ice-bath for a brief second to awaken it.
Professor Aionia ladled the noodles into a tall wooden bowl, poured in the hearty orange-brown broth, and topped it with a thick, juicy slice of roasted pork belly, crunchy bamboo shoots, half a slice of soft-boiled egg, and aromatic slices of green onion.
"Ta-da! Behold – the Miso Ramen from Heian!"
Every Arten leaned in to lay their eyes upon the final creation.
"Who wants to try it first?"
Elwin shot up his hand.
He took a spoonful of the broth with the noodles, and with some finessing from a fork managed to gather the pork belly and bamboo shoots onto his spoon. He put it upon his tongue.
And immediately it was as if the world had vanished before him, and he could see the sights of Heian, the dreams of its people, of cranes fluttering in the spring clouds, of memories he'd never yet seen, but called to him from afar like nostalgia.
Elwin opened his eyes to his friends, expectant of his review.
"We're winning this year."
***
The wine sky of evening filled with chants and laughter as all the campus and the newly arrived mothers and fathers of the Fradihta convened to enjoy the sample of each dish. The kismets and their classmates carefully crafted each bowl of Miso Ramen for every person that approached, and busy they were, for the line stretched some fifty yards, and very soon they ran out of the mountains of food they had prepared, save for a single bowl just in case; next to them was Professor Helen's class with her Krithivan Volcanic Kari with Buttered Chicken and a snack which she called Jalapatra, with everyone breathing fire like dragons after taking a bite, but coming back for seconds; standing next to her, and drawing large crowds was Professor Thales with his exquisite interpretation of the Serienese Chili Crab; fourth in presentation was Professor William with his classic Tomahawk Steak from Illium, presented with jacket potatoes in sour-cream, and finally, Professor Irina with her Utopia Dango and Crescent Cake. A merry time was had by all despite the friendly rivalry of the classes, and each upperclassman cast their votes upon the central ballot. In appreciation of the efforts of Artens involved, each enjoyer could cast their vote for more than one dish.
With bellies full, came the counting of the votes.
"Starting from Professor Irina," the Groundsmaster announced, "coming in with 143 votes, please give your ovation to her Utopian Dango!"
"Next, clocking in at 142 votes, please give Professor William's class a warm appreciation for their Tomahawk Steak from Illium!"
"Man, I wish I tried her Dango before it ran out," sighed Isaac, "I've never heard of sweets that could beat juicy steak."
"Just one vote. Could've been a miscount," Katherine replied.
"Maybe."
"...And striking out the previous two with 155 votes is Professor Helen with her Krithivan Volcanic Kari with Buttered Chicken! Please give her class a round of applause, and a prayer as well for the porcelain thrones of tomorrow."
The crowd erupted in laughter, and Elwin saw Maximus and Sandora among them, along with Leonardo and Hina. Come next year, it would be him and his kismets.
"And with brilliant repose, Professor Thales once again dominates the ranks with a whopping 171 votes with his Serienese Chili Crab! I say, Professor Thales, having a generation more of experience than other professors does give you an unfair advantage," the Groundsmaster jested, as the crowd cheered once again. Lucian, despite being in his Tanaar group, didn't seem as festive.
"And finally, Professor Aionia's class with her Miso Ramen from Heian," he announced.
She braced for the result, hoping her Artens' efforts were answered.
Elwin's heart and that of his classmates were pounding out of their chests.
"With a brilliant 171 votes, they have tied with Professor Thales's class!"
Cheers erupted from Professor Aionia's side of the lawn, and Elwin saw Maximus make a little finger cannon in acknowledgement.
"But not all is finished, for there can be only one winner!" the Groundsmaster declared, giving the limelight to Headmaster Abraxas marching onto the platform. Everyone among the tents and the lawns went silent.
With a knife and fork, the headmaster carefully tasted Professor Thales's exquisitely presented Chili Crab, his head nodding once. Wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, and refreshing his palate with a glass of cold water, he strolled to Professor Aionia's lone bowl of Miso Ramen atop the table. Elwin and everyone flinched as he carefully lifted the spoon; deftly wielding his chopsticks, the once-president tasted the noodles, the pork, and the broth. There was not a sound among the crowd.
The headmaster stood between the two dishes, and closed his eyes.
Slowly he raised his fists to the direction of each dish, his left arm to Professor Thales's and right arm to Professor Aionia's.
A thumb emerged from his right fist, and he turned it upward for all to see.
"And the winner is... Professor Aionia's class with their Miso Ramen!"
***
It was a joyous night, perhaps the happiest night of his life. Elwin and his kismets all embraced Professor Aionia, and Maximus came to congratulate them on their victory.
And in their triumph it was finally opportune to exchange their gifts: Mirai tapped Elwin on the shoulder, and with eyes unable to meet each other's in view of everyone, crowned on him a laurel of cherry and peach blossoms. Elwin with great care guided the necklace of fine, argent marble from his robes and wreathed it on her neck, resting on her peach Orimono, making her blush; Katherine graced Isaac with a crown of camellia and violet, trying to be serious but breaking into an awkward giggle halfway; Isaac presented her with a gift of his own making, a pendant of white and burgundy marble. The four Quans buzzed with the emotion of their creators and danced with their arms; soul and soul almost touching. The gifting was finally complete; the fruitful rains would arrive, and the harvest would be blessed.
And from away Elwin took a glimpse of Lucian, flanked by his mates. Rayo, Cassius, and Claudia all laughed with their flower-crowns and marble necklaces, exchanging snacks in their hands with words of encouragement and good fortune; but despite the mirth of his friends who slapped his back, enthusiastically told him tales from their childhood, and embraced him shoulder-to-shoulder for a commemorative photogram, Lucian gazed out into the distance as if he was alone.
Utterly alone.