The lesson had gone quite well.
Just hours ago, the little witches had no clue how to deal with the ingredients scattered around their dorms. Now, they at least had a basic understanding of two key dishes: grilled steak and a vegetable salad.
Whether they'd perfect these dishes when practicing on their own was anyone's guess. However, by the time Lyra and Amy wrapped up their session, every little witch could confidently explain the cooking process from start to finish. That, in itself, was a major victory; at least in theory.
The rest, of course, was up to them. Lyra and Amy couldn't hold their hands in the kitchen forever. They had done their part by demonstrating and answering questions. The actual cooking was something the little witches would have to figure out in their own kitchens, through trial and error.
But for now, this was enough. Armed with steaks, fresh vegetables, fruits, and sauces, the little witches returned to their dorms, eager to try their hand at making dinner.
Lyra was about to call Sylph when she noticed her friend standing outside the food collection area, staring off into the distance towards the farmlands. "Sylph?" she called softly.
Sylph turned, her expression unusually serious. "Lyra, you go on ahead. I want to find Bi'er."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Bi'er?"
Sylph nodded. "I need to talk to her. I want her to know it's okay if she doesn't want to sign the contract. I'll still tell her stories whenever I can."
Lyra hesitated but eventually nodded. Sylph's connection to fairies had always been stronger than hers. If anyone could reach Bi'er, it was Sylph. "Alright," she said. "Good luck."
With that, Lyra headed back alone, carrying the heavy basket of food. It weighed her down, and she found herself stopping every now and then to catch her breath. It took her twice as long to reach her dormitory.
When she finally arrived at the entrance, something caught her attention, a trail of faint water stains marked the path leading from the dorm to the backyard. Odd. It had been morning when she'd last fetched water, and the weather had been sunny all afternoon. By now, the water should have dried up.
Curious, she set her basket down at the door and followed the trail. It led her to the water tower in the backyard. As she climbed up to inspect it, she realized the tower, which she had spent half a day filling earlier, was already full.
Her first thought was that maybe some kind senior students had helped her out, feeling bad after watching her struggle with the heavy water buckets that morning. But no; the senior students had been lounging around, more interested in their screens than in offering help. Besides, the younger students had all been with her and Amy at the food collection point, learning how to cook.
Except for one. One little witch hadn't been there.
Lyra hurried to the front of Sylph's dormitory, glancing at the remaining water stains. It all clicked into place. "Of course," she muttered. "There's only one person who could've done this; Miss Vasida Snail."
Despite Lyra's refusal of her help earlier in the day, Vasida had quietly filled the water tank while Lyra and Sylph were away. Had it not been for the telltale water stains, Lyra might have spent the next few days wondering how the water in the tank hadn't gone down, despite her constant use!
Lyra smiled softly, shaking her head as she gazed at the closed door of Dormitory No. 70. Vasida had a way of sneaking in good deeds unnoticed.
But there was one more thing that nagged at her. Vasida hadn't come to the food collection point today, and if Lyra remembered correctly, Vasida wasn't exactly skilled in the kitchen. Given her considerable appetite, it seemed even more important for her to learn how to cook something other than breadfruit.
Breadfruit might fill her belly now, but it wouldn't last forever. After graduation, there wouldn't be a magical forest of breadfruit waiting for her. And while other witches might scrape by on what little they could cook or earn enough to buy food, Vasida's appetite would make her reliance on breadfruit unsustainable. She'd need to learn how to make meals or risk going broke from constantly buying food.
Determined to help, Lyra walked to the door of Dormitory No. 70, ready to knock. Vasida needed to learn how to cook, and Lyra was going to make sure she did.
There was no need for formalities in this shabby courtyard. Lyra didn't bother knocking and simply shouted, "Vasida!"
"Why!" came the muffled response after a short pause.
Soon enough, Vasida appeared, cradling a massive breadfruit in her arms. As she stepped outside, she casually stuffed the breadfruit into her mouth, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Lyra couldn't help but ask, "Are you hungry again?"
Vasida shook her head, chewing with a grin. "No, no! My stomach just felt like it had room for more food. I was bored, so I figured I'd go pick a few breadfruits while I had the time."
Lyra let out a sigh of relief. If eating so many breadfruits last night could only keep Vasida full for a single day, the side effects of her "Devouring Stomach" talent would be far more intense than anyone had anticipated.
Vasida's curiosity got the better of her. "You've been to the food collection point already, right? How was it? Anything good?"
"Not bad at all," Lyra replied. "There were plenty of ingredients to choose from. Amy and I even gave a cooking lesson; just two simple dishes, grilled steak and a vegetable salad. But you, of course, were the only one missing."
Lyra glanced at her thoughtfully. "I'm about to start making dinner. Why don't you come over to my place and learn a thing or two? You can even try my cooking. I mean, breadfruit might fill you up, but it can't be the only thing you eat forever, right?"
Though she didn't mention the water tower, Lyra couldn't help but keep in mind Vasida's earlier good deed. She didn't want it to seem like she was offering this invitation just to repay her.
"Sure, sure!" Vasida eagerly followed behind Lyra. Truth be told, she was getting tired of breadfruit herself. While her powerful appetite meant she could scarf down a ridiculous amount of it, even she wasn't completely immune to the allure of good food. Breadfruit had become tasteless, and she had already picked enough to last her a while. Trying something new was long overdue.
When they arrived, Lyra began by teaching Vasida how to recognize the ingredients; an essential skill for any aspiring cook. Afterward, they got to work preparing the meal together. This wasn't like the casual lunch lesson Lyra had taught earlier. She felt that a more substantial dish like egg fried rice would be perfect for Vasida. It was filling, easy to make, and the kind of dish that could satisfy her massive hunger without being too heavy.
But first, she had to learn how to steam rice, which, luckily, wasn't too complicated. Once Vasida got the hang of it, she could make it whenever she felt those pangs of extreme hunger. And egg fried rice was just the beginning. Lyra decided to add it to the menu alongside the grilled steak and vegetable salad for their dinner.
Lyra made sure to use all the ingredients she had brought back, not only demonstrating the process but also giving Vasida plenty of hands-on experience. The teaching was far more detailed than the quick crash course from earlier in the day.
To her surprise, Vasida picked up the techniques incredibly fast. She had a sharp mind and a natural knack for cooking, easily surpassing the other little witches who had struggled in the afternoon class.
"Your cooking talent is impressive," Lyra remarked, genuinely relieved. "Once you learn a bit of cooking magic, filling that stomach of yours won't be as hard as you think."
Vasida beamed at the compliment. "Really? You think I could actually manage?"
"Absolutely!" Lyra reassured her. "You'll see for yourself once you taste what you've made."
Vasida's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she couldn't help but swallow hard as the mouthwatering smells filled the air. Before them, the table was already loaded with a generous bowl of vegetable salad, a large plate of grilled steak, and a heaping bowl of egg fried rice. The sight alone was enough to make anyone's stomach growl.
This time, Vasida ate with much more patience and restraint than she had the previous night. She was even being a little too polite, taking only one bite for every two that Lyra took.
Lyra began to wonder if something was wrong with the food. "What's up? Do you not like it?"
Vasida quickly shook her head. "No, it's delicious! I just… I don't want to eat it too fast. It's so good that I want to savor it!"
Lyra smiled, finally reassured. Vasida might have a bottomless appetite, but at least tonight, she was learning to appreciate the joys of a well-cooked meal.