Chapter 456: Block D (2/2)
Time showed 04:30, '-I have to get to the central cafeteria before 05:00. That's what lady Haru asked.' The climb up to the academy vexed he who had barely slept. The rumbling of engines grew apparent the higher he walked. Trucks were parked with people unloading vegetables and supplies.
'That must be him. Mr. Leko, the master-chef of the Trader's guild. It says here that he has restaurants in the major cities.'
”Yeah, put that one over there,” said the man to the workers.
”Excuse me, but are you, Mr. Leko?”
”Yeah?” not obvious from far, the chef's face was young, very young. Neatly cut brown hair, square glasses, and clean-shaven jaws. The uniform was white with 'chef' embroidered. ”Who's asking?”
”Mr. Leko, where should we take the meat?” asked another worker.
”The refrigerator, where else?” said he sarcastically.
”Sorry sir,” bowed the man in embarrassment.
”Are you perhaps the young-one lady Haru allowed to join the Trader's guild?”
”Lyoko Igna, sir, she told me to come to meet you.”
”I see,” arms crossed, the face remained level to the truck. Supplies were taken inside one by one, ”-I'm sure this was said before. The Trader's Guild is a place where one has to learn and become proficient in multiple areas. I see that she saw fit to have you train by my side for a while. Listen, boy, today's going to be a test. Cooking is a skill taken for granted by the populous. The culinary arts must be respected,” he began to walk without warning, ”-I'll teach you the ropes to be better than average. Tis you that must strive to become better. Techniques can be learned; skills can be mastered. The application comes with experience.” They walked outback of the Gymnasium to climb to the third floor.
The ruffling of people moving about, the sizzling of food being cooked, the dampness in the atmosphere, they had arrived at the Academy's kitchen. A place where masters and novices worked alike. ”You'll wash the dishes for today,” said Leko. ”-I don't want any stray to be dirtied – keep them clean as if it's the last thing you do!”
”Yes sir.” An apron laid beside the cleaning station, those in the kitchen gave side-eyes to then continue cooking.
”Hey buddy,” came a boy with multiple platters, ”-I know you're new and all, the kitchen here is a nightmare. You best do as the Chefs says.”
”Sure, thanks for the advice,” he smiled.
”I'm Bobby, everyone calls me Bob. Nice to meet you, man.”
”Lyoko Igna, call me Igna.”
”Alright man, good luck,” the orangish hair with freckled nose soon dashed to Lord Leko's side.
'Time to clean,' and so, training to become a Trader started.
Jen and Rena awoke at 07:00. Leonard was nowhere to be found. ”We have class at 10:00, right?” wondered Rena yawning down the hall.
”Yeah.”
Military-arts wasn't time-consuming a subject. Strategies and ways of command were self-explanatory. The newest students were given more free-time to digest and assimilate the subject.
”You guys finally woke up?” jested Leonard in the company of Lampard.
”What are you two doing here?” they pulled a seat inside the cafeteria.
”Having breakfast, what else?”
”Ha-ha, very funny,” grimaced Rena, ”-where's the weakling gone?”
”No idea,” shrugged Lampard, ”-I checked on him earlier this morning, well, I tried to, he just ended up vanishing.”
”Maybe he went back home,” laughed she, ”-there's no way he'll survive in a place like this,” she took turns biting and drinking.
”The Adventuring class is going to get the Guild-Tags today, are you excited?” wondered Jen.
”I'm very excited since we'll head for the Azure wall as soon as the registration is done.”
”Nice,” smiled Rena, ”-show them who's going to be the next Hero.”
In an instant, the group split into their differing spots to work. The trio of Jen, Rena, and Leonard, were given quite a rough time on the first day. The other groups seemed to have spread rumors of nefarious origins.
”They say the Rena girl is actually a whore who sleeps with the boys in Group C.”
”Disgusting right?”
”No, hear this, I heard Jen is actually a boy.”
”That's so mean.”
”It's common, just ignore it,” said an upper-classman facepalming at the spark of youth. ”It's going to go away sooner than you think.”
Class ended, ”-isn't that Lampard?” pointed Leonard through the hallway windows. The Adventuring class was headed for the Guild.
”Man, how lucky are they to have the opportunity to fight so early,” gossiped across as if a whiff of odor.
”Rena, are you ok?”
”No…” she stuck to the glass pane, ”-why is Lampard at the back of the line. He's normally first and speaking proudly.”
”What does that have to matter with anything?” said Jen.
”You don't understand!”
”I do,” she tapped her shoulders, ”-come on, else they'll think you want to kiss the window.” The harshness of the Academy was yet to be seen. Slivers of the displeasing truth couldn't be but thrown aside to conform to the norm.
The clock struck 18:30. For a day without rest and food – Igna returned to dive head-first on the bed. Chef Leko allowed breaks, yet, Bob refused to give leeway. He remained adamant and kept on sending dirtied utensils. None really paid attention since the Chef left three hours later.