Chapter 503: Lekos Gift (1/2)

”I can't decide,” said the first judge, ”-I'm at a lost for words,” the crowd moved to silence. ”The first dish has something special, honey as the base for the addition of multiple spices I've never seen nor heard of.” The other two nodded in acknowledgment. Leko's face kept a mild attitude.

”Right,” said he, ”-this dish is made specifically to show you,” pointing at Igna, ”-the limits of Dungeon cooking. It's a good concept, many chefs and I have tried to take it farther,” the hands clutched to crinkle his clothes, ”-Goblin meat, the more disgusting out there, is also, the most delicious if well done. The spices are herbs we found on an expedition to various monster spawning areas. The limits are there to see, masking the taste, embracing the taste, the meat restricts culinary capabilities, and I'm ashamed to admit, has left me baffled as to where to go from here.”

The adorable sight of a mentor teaching his student played onstage. The students were amazed, the tough hardened, and heartless director they've grown to fear, was now, showing compassion, doubt, and love, to another. He showed his human side, not that he ever actively thought of becoming such a stone. The pressure of such a burden naturally took its course over his body.

”No,” added the second judge, ”-Director, there's something special within the boy's dish too. Just as you treated the meat like chicken, he treated his like fish, and the result is an explosion of the sea. I don't know-how, which leaves me baffled, my tongue has never failed to identify ingredients before. And so, in face of what this boy has shown, I tip my hat. Look at the way he's dressed it, look at the way it appeals to the heart. I'm sincere in saying this, Igna shall have my vote!” In a twist of fate, the boy's face glowed in ecstasy. Part of the crowd was so moved they jumped to stare blankly. Spotlights shrunk to add an air of tension, Igna and Leko's faces were contrary to one another. A smile here, a frown there, when one frowned, the other would smile.

”I beg to differ,” voiced the third Judge, a teacher at the academy. Rose inlayed tucked up shirt above a pitch-black pair of pants running above her waist gave the illusion of a bigger chest. She'd try and not bring attention there as her face was twice as pretty. A beauty mark near her lower-lips and a famished look dowsed in seductive glances at the Director. Her hair, braided in a bun and let freed at the back, big bright golden-colored eyes held authority, ”-the boy has talent, I won't argue, but lacks refinement. My pallet isn't accustomed to the sharp explosive taste of peasant food. What is this?” she wouldn't even take a bit, ”-the smell alone has me physically moving back.”

”Excuse you?” returned Leko, ”-are you not going to taste his dish?”

”No, and that's my right,” lifting her head to the audience, a black figure stood tall in blocking her vision, ”-I don't care, lady Aiza Tiffens, refined or not, a dish is a dish. Are you that gutsy to question what I, Chef Leko, have deemed good?”

”Chef Leko,” interjected Igna, ”-there's no need for conflict,” said he rushing over. ”If the lady doesn't want to partake, we needn't force her to do so. I only care about fulfilling the pallets of those who enjoy the rawness of my cuisine.”

”Igna,” he held his shoulder, ”-you shouldn't be so cavalier, are you not hurt?”

”I'm hurt,” said he, ”-though, I've come to appreciate the experience. Lady Yuki has drilled the feeling of rejection into my soul, I can't help but smile.”

”Young boy,” she slammed to a stand leaving the cutlery to vibrate, ”-who is this Lady Yuki you speak of?”

”Don't worry Igna,” said Leko stepping in, ”-he's referring to the Medusa of Cooking. Igna was once my student.”

”Once?” inquired she.

”What are they saying?”

”Can't hear anything!” complained the crowd.

”Yes, once,” he smiled, ”-the boy's not my student. He's my sous chef, the only one I deemed worthy. He's trained at Loron, under the supervision of super-stars of the cooking world, and most importantly, Lady Yuki. He's her prodigy, the reason why she returned to the kitchen. This contest was never important, I wanted him to experience the grandeur of the stage.”

”Don't tell me,” she sat with a solemn look, ”-will he be participating at Cle?”

”Yes,” he smiled.

”Are you serious?” her face flushed, ”-is he the boy we've heard rumors about. The prodigy who had multiple Red-collared chefs vouch…”

”Damn right.” All the while they spoke, Igna made for the first chef and shared the third dish. They graciously accepted to bring an end to the competition.

”A few things are lacking,” commented the first, ”-I'll give my vote to the Director.

”I enjoyed the rawness; it spoke to me. Good job, Igna,” the second vote went to Igna.

”Whatever,” the third vote went to the Director. Congratulations flashed with confetti and loud noises. Applause from the crowd left the 'great hall' shaking. Such a show of power and confidence, the look of complete control on Leko inspired most of the students. Well, until the time came for the winner's speech. Judges were off the stage, the cooking stations returned from whence they came, the energetic audience settled once more

”Greeting students,” said he over the microphone, ”-the graduation of the third years are fast approaching. The contest in which me and this boy,” Igna followed his welcoming gesture, ”-Igna, my friend, and sous chef, was nothing more than an exhibition. There are examples of truly talented people out there. By my side is one of them,” he covered the mic, ”-is it alright if I tell the story?”

”No harm is done.”

”Good,” returned to facing those seated, ”-forgive me, I didn't mean talented. Talent itself is bountiful, though, similar to amber, if not provided with enough sustenance, the latter is bound to die. And here, the amber who limped his way to my kitchen is a raging inferno. Granted, he's not trained at an academy and only picked up the knife around a year ago – he clawed his way up to Cle, Medusa's prodigy. I know it's customary for me to grant my vote to the top graduating student for when the time comes. This year will be different. Igna Haggard will be judging the dishes by my side, and don't dare raise any question about his knowledge. He's being backed by multiple red-collared chefs and Lady Yuki. He's the same age if not a bit younger than most in attendance. Take him as an example and work hard.” The lights died to leave the pin-drop stupor in the mouths of many. Footsteps echoed along the stage to then disappear. Murmurs spawned into chaos. More than inspired, they were offended. A nobody who took the knife for two years and trained under a legend is participating in Cle.

”I remember now,” said the girl holding her teddy, ”-it's the same boy we saw at the capital. The one who challenged the chef and made nuggets?”