Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

Not before long...Monday has arrived.

Last weak was bit hectic for me as I was busy was with presentation and getting beat up by Yato...Wait! Getting beat up? No, I mean getting trained by Yato.

Ahem...

Anyway, I was Also become quite famous throughout [Battelground] ...I have checked few online site and game streamers to talk about Darkheart.

It's been weak but it's seems that his craz hasn't left the people heart.

Even in Nova Academy, I could hear the cadets talk about him now and then.

Anyway...I still didcide to not play that game yet.

Because I'm busy and I brought that VR game as an hobby and nothing more.

Anyway, today is Monday...And today class is cooking class? Yeah it's cooking class..

I know it's sound weird, Like Why even there is cooking class in the first place but it was important class for Aspiring heros cadets.

There maybe time when he would be alone in some kind of place where we can't find anything to eat or drink.

So, knowing how to cook and prepare food in various situations is actually a crucial skill for aspiring heroes.

Survival training, they called it. Today, we were going to learn the basics of cooking, which was a welcome change from our usual intense physical and mental drills.

I walked into the cooking classroom, which was set up like a professional kitchen with several workstations equipped with stoves, sinks, and various kitchen tools.

The smell of fresh ingredients filled the air, making my stomach growl. I realized I hadn't eaten breakfast in my rush to get to class on time.

The class was already full of cadets....It's seems that I was the only one was late.

So I quitly sat down on seat without being noticed by anyone.

At that moment, The instructor who was silent, opened her mouth.

"Cadet rank 3, Lucas Darkheart."

She was a beautiful ebony woman in her mid-thirties, with luscious curly black hair tied up in a bun and wearing an apron over her dress. She called out my name and rank.

"Yes," I raised my hand in reply.

"You'll be partnering with Cadet Rank 6, Evelyn Nightshade."

...Ha!

I knew this would happen! I just knew it!

While most people would be taken aback or disappointed in this situation, I had foreseen such an outcome right from the beginning!

If there is such a thing as fate, it certainly has a wicked sense of humor! But I already saw this coming! Hahahaha!

…But even still, although I already anticipated a situation like this happening, there was a part of me that couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension.

Aside from last weak Friday...I didn't know when we have proper conversation.

But it's seems that Fate was bend down to bring us together in one team.

Well I guess I can not change something that is beyond my control...So let's go with flow.

***

I resigned myself to my fate with a shrug before walking up to an empty cooking station and standing there.

Before long, a teenage beauty with her raven black hair tied back into a ponytail and bright green eyes reminiscent of a calm forest on a sunny day walked up to me and stood right beside me.

She spoke with a frown on her face, "How are we paired together? Your name starts with L and mine does with E.

"Beats me," I shrugged. "But do not fret m'lady. We shall vanquish all our enemies and win this thing."

Evelyn looked at me blankly for a moment before saying, "Did you hit your head any time recently?"

"No, why?"

"Just because."

"...."

While setting up utensils, she spoke again, "It's fine, though. Just follow my lead, and as you said, we will ace this."

"Wait," I scoffed. "Why would I, the best culinary artist to have walked on this planet, ever follow you?"

"...Lucas," Evelyn looked at me blankly for a few seconds before finally speaking. "I knew you were narcissistic, but are you delusional too?"

"How dare thee?!" I squinted my eyes at her. "Do you doubt my skills?!"

"You have no skill!" Stifling a chuckle, Evelyn exclaimed. "Your cooking is terrible!"

I blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. "How do you know? Have you ever tried my cooking?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

Evelyn rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Remember the group project last semester? You brought those burnt cookies. That was more than enough evidence."

I cringed inwardly, recalling the incident. "Okay, that was one time. Everyone makes mistakes."

"One time is all it takes," she retorted, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Hey, I changed since then. If you try my cooking you would eat your fingers along with food!"

"Haa, Look at you trying to come with up a nice lie."

"It's not like!"

"Yeah sure."

I gritted my teeth at her attitude. Fine she wants to play? Let's play then.

"Fine, instead of helping each other, let's do something else. Let's make a bet!"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I'm listening."

"We will each prepare one dish and ask the instructor to rate them. Whoever scores the highest wins," I said.

"What will the winner get?" She asked.

"Whatever the winner wants," I replied.

"Interesting," Evelyn flashed a confident smirk and nodded. "Okay, let's do it."

With that, we started our preparation. Our task was to hunt a mana beast from the 4th District Forest, skin it, prepare it, and cook it.

We were given a total of three hours to accomplish everything.

Successfully creating a detailed and tasty dish from scratch, including hunting and preparing the mana beast, was the challenge. It was a daunting task, but one that every cadet had to master.

I grabbed the necessary tools and headed towards the forest area with Evelyn. The forest was dense and alive with the sounds of various creatures. Our goal was to hunt a mana beast suitable for cooking, a task that required both skill and a bit of luck.

As we entered the forest, Evelyn and I split up to cover more ground. I kept my senses sharp, scanning the area for any signs of a mana beast. The forest was teeming with life, and it wasn't long before I spotted a small, agile creature known as a Swiftclaw. It was perfect for our task.

Evelyn wasn't far behind. She had found a similar creature, and we both returned to the cooking classroom with our catches. The next step was to prepare and cook the meat.

Back in the kitchen, the atmosphere was tense but filled with a sense of competition. Cadets were busy with their preparations, and the room buzzed with activity. Evelyn and I stood at our workstation, ready to start our cooking duel.

"Remember, the winner gets whatever they want," Evelyn reminded me, her eyes gleaming with determination.

I nodded, focusing on the task at hand. I carefully skinned and cleaned the Swiftclaw, my hands moving with practiced precision. Evelyn was equally focused, her movements quick and efficient.

We worked in silence, each of us absorbed in our own tasks. I seasoned the meat with a blend of herbs and spices, hoping to bring out its natural flavors.

Evelyn, on the other hand, seemed to be going for a more elaborate dish, adding various ingredients and creating a complex marinade.

As the cooking progressed, the smell of our dishes filled the room. Cadets around us paused to watch, curious to see who would come out on top in our friendly competition.

The instructor, meanwhile, moved between workstations, observing and offering occasional advice.

Finally, the time came to present our dishes. I plated my Swiftclaw steak, garnished with fresh herbs and a drizzle of sauce. Evelyn's dish was equally impressive, a beautifully arranged plate with a complex array of flavors.

The instructor approached our station, looking at our dishes with a critical eye. She took a bite of each, her expression revealing nothing.

"Both dishes are excellent," she finally said, her tone thoughtful. "However, the winner by a slight margin is... Evelyn."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, but I hid it well. Evelyn grinned, clearly pleased with her victory.

"Well, it looks like you win," I said, offering a good-natured smile.

Evelyn nodded, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "Indeed. And as for my prize..."

I waited, curious to see what she would ask for.

"How about you agree to follow my lead in our next group project? No complaints, no arguments."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her request. It was a reasonable and practical prize, one that would undoubtedly benefit our team.

"Deal," I said, extending my hand.

Evelyn shook it, her grip firm. "Let's make sure we ace the next one."

As the class wrapped up, I reflected on the day's events. The cooking challenge had been a test of our skills, but it had also brought us closer together as teammates. We had learned from our mistakes, and I had a feeling that our future collaborations would be much more successful.

For now, though, I was content with the knowledge that I had given it my best shot. And who knows? Maybe next time, I'd come out on top.