When everyone stepped out of the portal, they found themselves in a place filled with majesty and beauty.
The scene before them was unlike anything they'd seen in this small realm, where everything else was ruined. Noble and well-maintained buildings stood proudly, surrounded by trees, plants, and beautiful flowers.
"Wow, this place looks untouched," Frost said, rubbing his chin. "Just what you'd expect from the capital of Thalassar."
"Yeah," Salena agreed, her brown eyes wide with wonder. "It's amazing. The capital is well-protected, but it looks like all the life energy was sucked away by the space distortion, leaving no living beings behind."
Draven nodded. "Exactly, Salena. Things would have been different if the life energy hadn't been sucked into the void."
Grey ran his hand through the air, as if touching something invisible. "This barrier is purifying the mana. It seems to be enhanced with preservation magic, affecting only non-living things."
"Oye, kid, how did you find out about that barrier?" Lyra suddenly shouted, her beautiful face shocked.
Everyone turned their heads towards Grey. "You didn't tell him about the barrier?" asked Luna.
Everyone was curious about what was happening, so they listened carefully.
"No! That's exactly why I shouted. Do you think I'm mentally unstable?" Lyra retorted.
"Okay, but the answer to your last question is yes, you are mentally unstable," Luna said, smirking.
Lyra glared at Luna. "Hey! What did you say? You're the one who's mentally disturbed!" she yelled, but Luna ignored her.
Luna turned to Grey and asked, "How did you find out there was a barrier here?"
Grey stopped what he was doing and shrugged. "Well, when you brought me here, I was surprised to see the place untouched. Everything else in this realm is ruined, but this spot is perfect. Also, the mana here is way purer than outside." Grey recounted when first opened his eyes here after he was saved by Lyra from the tear in the space.
"So, I started thinking something must be protecting this place. And now when I got out of the portal, I couldn't see the barrier at first, but I could feel the change in mana density. It made it pretty obvious there was some kind of covering or barrier."
Everyone's eyes widened, and a few jaws dropped as they listened to Grey.
"While you all were admiring the beauty of the place," Grey continued, "I was analyzing the barrier. I noticed how the mana flow was different around it. That's when I figured out it was enhanced with preservation magic and only affected non-living things."
The group remained silent, absorbing Grey's explanation.
Thoughts like, "Is he obsessed with magic or something?" echoed in everyone's minds.
Luna sighed and called out loudly, "Let him be. You all should choose where you want to stay and then come to that building," she pointed to a structure. "That's the kitchen, and we'll be preparing a feast for everyone."
Everyone shifted their gaze from Grey and nodded, heading off to pick their buildings.
...
A few moments later, everyone gathered in the kitchen. It was large, filled with all sorts of supplies stored in various containers. Grey, Luna, and Lyra stood on one side, while the twelve others stood on the opposite side.
Lyra stepped forward. "Alright, among the 17 of us, seven know how to cook: me, Luna, Salena, Aurelia, Elara, Crystaline, and Sylvan. The rest, like Frost, Thalorin, Draven, Eldrin, Fang, and Grey, don't know how to cook," she said.
"If any of you kids know how to cook, step up," Luna added.
The four kids, including Jack and Elysia, exchanged looks until Elysia raised her hand.
"I know a bit, but I'm not very good," Elysia said timidly.
"Oh, that's great," Lyra said, clapping her hands. "Now we eight will prepare the food, and the other nine will assist us."
"Oye lady, who said I don't know how to cook?" Grey said loudly.
Lyra looked at him and shrugged. "Not many guys know how to cook, and you didn't say anything."
Grey glanced around, seeing that every single guy, other than him and the young girl, didn't know how to cook.
He sighed and said, "I know how to cook, and I think I'm better at it than you."
"Really? How about a competition then? Let's see who can make the most delicious dish, and everyone will taste the food," Lyra challenged, pointing at Grey.
"Haha, why not? Let's get started," Grey replied, heading towards the ingredients.
"Luna, you and the others get everything else ready. Grey and I will make our own dishes, and you all will decide who the winner is," Lyra said, also moving to collect her ingredients.
Grey decided to prepare a dish called "Enchanted Forest Salad."
He used different ingredients like
- **Glimmerleaf Greens:** Delicate leaves that sparkle with a soft, luminescent glow, known for their crisp texture and refreshing taste.
- **Moonlit Berries:** Small, silver berries that burst with a sweet, slightly tangy flavor, harvested under the light of a full moon.
- **Starflower Petals:** Bright, star-shaped petals that add a hint of floral sweetness and a touch of magic to the dish.
- **Crystal Carrots:** Translucent, crunchy carrots infused with earth magic, giving them a unique, slightly sweet flavor.
- **Mystic Nuts:** Nuts that crack open with a shimmer of light, adding a rich, earthy crunch to the salad.
- **Fairy Dust Dressing:** A light, sparkling vinaigrette made from enchanted herbs and flowers, adding a delicate and magical finish.
---
Grey began by washing the Glimmerleaf Greens with a **Purification Spell** to enhance their natural luminescence. The leaves sparkled brighter as he gently dried them, ready to form the base of his salad.
Next, he prepared the Moonlit Berries. Using a **Berry Bloom Charm,** he ensured each berry was perfectly ripe, bursting with a sweet and tangy flavor. He scattered the berries across the Glimmerleaf Greens, adding pops of silvery color to the vibrant green base.
For the Starflower Petals, Grey used a **Petal Preservation Spell** to keep them fresh and radiant. He carefully plucked the petals and sprinkled them over the salad, their bright, star-shaped forms adding a beautiful visual element and a hint of floral sweetness.
The Crystal Carrots were next. Grey finely sliced them using a **Precision Cut Enchantment,** their translucent slices catching the light and adding a delicate crunch to the salad. He mixed them in with the greens, berries, and petals.
He then added the Mystic Nuts, cracking them open with a **Nutcracker Spell** that caused them to shimmer and pop. The rich, earthy crunch of the nuts provided a perfect balance to the other, lighter elements of the salad.
Finally, Grey prepared the Fairy Dust Dressing. He combined enchanted herbs and flowers with a light vinaigrette, using a **Blend Charm** to mix them perfectly. The dressing sparkled faintly, and when he drizzled it over the salad, it added a delicate, magical finish.
Grey carefully arranged the Enchanted Forest Salad on enchanted plates that kept the ingredients fresh and crisp. Each serving glowed softly, the Glimmerleaf Greens providing a vibrant backdrop to the silvery Moonlit Berries, bright Starflower Petals, and translucent Crystal Carrots. The Mystic Nuts added a touch of earthy elegance, and the Fairy Dust Dressing brought everything together with a light, sparkling sheen.
As Grey presented the salad, the kitchen was filled with admiration. The Enchanted Forest Salad was not just visually stunning but also promised a symphony of flavors and textures that everyone eagerly anticipated. It was a dish that showcased the beauty and magic of the enchanted forest, bringing a touch of wonder to their meal.
...
Meanwhile Lyra decided to prepare a magical dessert called "Celestial Dream Parfait."
She used the the following ingredients:
- **Starlight Whipped Cream:** Light, airy whipped cream infused with stardust for a sparkling glow.
- **Moonbeam Jelly:** Shimmering jelly made from moonfruit, known for its delicate sweetness.
- **Sunset Citrus Curd:** Tangy, sweet curd made from enchanted citrus fruits glowing with sunset colors.
- **Fairy Floss:** Ethereal cotton candy spun from enchanted sugar, light and sweet.
- **Enchanted Berries:** Sparkling strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
- **Crystal Sugar Shards:** Transparent, crunchy sugar shards.
- **Star Dust Sprinkles:** Tiny, sparkling sprinkles made from enchanted sugar.
Lyra used a **Whisking Charm** to create the Starlight Whipped Cream, adding a pinch of stardust for sparkle. She made Moonbeam Jelly with a **Gelatin Spell,** combining moonfruit juice and gelatin for an ethereal glow.
For the Sunset Citrus Curd, she used a **Sunfire Infusion Spell** to capture vibrant flavors from enchanted citrus fruits. She spun Fairy Floss with an **Ethereal Spinner Spell,** creating delicate, airy strands. Enchanted Berries were enhanced with a **Freshness Charm** for added sparkle and flavor. She formed Crystal Sugar Shards with a **Crystallization Spell** on enchanted sugar.
In clear parfait glasses, Lyra layered the Starlight Whipped Cream, Moonbeam Jelly, and Sunset Citrus Curd. She added Enchanted Berries and topped with Fairy Floss, finishing with more whipped cream. She garnished with Crystal Sugar Shards and Star Dust Sprinkles for a magical touch.
Lyra presented the Celestial Dream Parfaits in enchanted glasses, showcasing the glowing layers and sparkling toppings. The dessert promised a magical and delightful experience, enchanting everyone with its beauty and flavor.