Jack's eyes lit up with a renewed sense of determination. He remembered an extravagant dessert he had once enjoyed at a fancy restaurant, courtesy of his boss—a scoop of premium ice cream served in an ornate gold cup. If he could summon something like that and keep the gold cup, it could be a potential source of wealth.
"Alright," he said, closing his eyes and focusing intently on the memory of that dessert. He visualized every detail: the shine of the gold, the intricate designs on the cup, and the rich, creamy texture of the ice cream.
When he opened his eyes, there it was—a perfect scoop of ice cream in an ornate gold cup, just like he remembered. He picked up the cup, feeling the weight of the gold and admiring the craftsmanship. This wasn't just any container; it was a valuable item that could be traded or sold.
"Well, that's interesting," he murmured. "Maybe it isn't just about the food itself, but how it's presented."
This realization opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. If he could summon food in valuable containers, he could potentially use those items to trade or barter with others in the village. Gold, after all, was valuable anywhere.
He quickly finished the ice cream, savoring the rich flavor, and set the gold cup aside. With a focused mind, Jack began to think about other consumables that could come in valuable forms.
He decided to try summoning a fancy bottle of wine. Closing his eyes, he imagined a bottle of the finest wine he could think of, complete with a gold-embossed label and a decorative stopper. When he opened his eyes, the bottle sat on the table, gleaming in the dim light of the cottage.
Jack felt a thrill of excitement. This was more than just survival; this was an opportunity. With his newfound ability, he could potentially secure a better position in this strange world. He could trade luxury items for goods and services, making his life here a lot easier.
Jack decided to push his newfound ability further. He closed his eyes and focused on a sizzling steak served on a hot, cast-iron skillet, just like the ones he'd seen in high-end restaurants. He imagined the sound of the steak searing, the aroma wafting through the air, and the sight of the juices bubbling on the hot pan.
When he opened his eyes, there it was: a perfectly cooked steak on a sizzling skillet, steam rising and the rich, mouth-watering smell filling the room. The cast-iron skillet was heavy and well-made, something that could be very useful in this rustic environment.
Jack couldn't help but smile. "Alright, now we're talking," he said, feeling more confident in his ability. Not only did he have a delicious meal in front of him, but he also had a durable, valuable cooking tool.
He carefully moved the hot skillet to the table, appreciating the warmth it provided in the cold room. The steak looked perfect, with a beautifully seared crust and tender, juicy meat. He cut into it, savoring the first bite. It was exactly as he had imagined, if not better.
As he enjoyed his meal, Jack considered the potential of his ability. If he could summon food in fancy presentations or with valuable cookware, he could leverage these items for more than just survival. He could use them to trade for other necessities or even to gain favor with the villagers and his uncle.
"Let's see," he muttered between bites. "If I can summon a gold cup and a cast-iron skillet, what else can I bring into this world?"
With each successful summoning, Jack felt a growing sense of control over his situation. He knew he had to be cautious, though. Drawing too much attention to his abilities could be dangerous, especially in a world where ghosts and other unknown dangers lurked.
He finished his meal, feeling more satisfied and determined than ever. The sizzling skillet had cooled down, and he carefully set it aside, knowing it would be useful for future meals.
Jack finished his meal, feeling more satisfied and determined than ever. The sizzling skillet had cooled down, and he carefully set it aside, knowing it would be useful for future meals.
"What about the things I never have?" he wondered aloud.
Curiosity piqued, Jack decided to test this new idea. He thought of something he'd seen on YouTube: a guy making beaver steak, the kind of thing most people would never imagine eating. The thought of it was odd but intriguing, and he had been fascinated by the process when he watched the video—how the beaver meat was prepared, seasoned, and cooked over an open flame.
Jack closed his eyes, focusing on the image of the beaver steak sizzling on the grill, the rich, tender meat browning with a perfect char. He could almost hear the crackling sound as it cooked.
When he opened his eyes, there was nothing in front of him. He frowned, a bit disappointed but not entirely surprised.
"So, it doesn't work with things I've never had before," Jack muttered. "That's good to know."
Jack was still trying to grasp the limits of his new ability, but at least he was making progress. If he could only summon things he'd experienced, it might be limiting, but he could work with it. The ability to summon food was still a powerful tool in this strange new world.
Luckily for him, he had tried quite a lot of food as a foodie and as a professionally trained chef. From high-end sushi to street food from all corners of the world, Jack had tasted almost everything. He had a vast collection of flavors and textures in his memory, and that gave him a broad array of dishes to summon.
This was a blessing—he had a leg up on most people. He could summon anything from the finest French pastries to hearty stews or even a simple comfort meal like mac and cheese. No longer would he have to face the blandness of survival meals in this cold, medieval world. He could eat like royalty—or at least like a well-fed chef.
Jack grinned, already imagining the possibilities.