Chapter 516: Against the Flow (2/2)

”Igna?” approached Emi, ”-what are you preparing?”

”Haven't given it a name yet,” *slash,* the torso of a chimera sliced into tiny slices before hitting the floor. Two scabbards and one blade. The muscle memory from the years of fighting reawakened. He'd swap one end to the other, single strokes that prepared what he needed.

”The monsters,” said she, ”-are they alive?”

”Yes,” he smiled, ”-I was waiting for a portal to be built.”

”What do you mean?” she prodded further.

”It doesn't matter to you,” he laughed, ”-go annoy someone else.”

Dungeon-Style cooking was brought into the sanctuary of Cle. Multiple judges were held in chokeholds for wanting to jump on stage and stop Igna. The critics and chefs bared frown sharp as fangs. Almost everyone had the same reaction, '-the shunned style of cooking, what is he thinking?'

The audience's curiosity shifted to annoyance. They felt betrayed, waiting for so long to pull up such a prank, it didn't bode well. Especially since the silence lit a spark of chit-chat.

”How amusing,” said Kyle, ”-you've dug yourself a grave. How pathetic, I thought it would be a battle I'd remember. I mean, who cares, I'm going to make Loron proud for endorsing me instead of you, damned pest. I'll show you the talent and hard work needed to succeed in this industry.”

”Oh, shut it,” said he talking down to Kyle, ”-what industry, a place of gluttony and unnecessary babble about prestige and pedigree. No one wants to experiment, I don't see innovation… Forgive me, I mean to say, those who innovate are shunned, I know many cooks who haven't followed any cooking lessons and still have more character than the ones cooking here. Tasteless, all of you.” Anger boiled from emotion to physical, the only outlet was the station.

What he said sent waves across the Arcanum, those following online were impressed at how he didn't conform to what was there. The rules didn't matter to him, a true rebel in the flesh. Normally, such statements would have had him thrown out of the castle, however, Phantom's primary sponsorship gave immunity.

Across the distasteful comments and mumbled insults of those in the know, a certain someone watched with a grin.

”Mentor,” cried Yanni, ”-why are you grinning?”

”Huh?” turned Yuki, ”-master is laughing, I haven't seen it since…”

”That boy is amazing,” said he softly, ”-Oh Yuki, you spotted a diamond in the rough but couldn't see his real worth. All you did was dust off the gem, not polish it. The only one fit to train him is Chef Leko, I'm sure he realizes it by now. Cle isn't important to Igna, just look at those eyes, he's doing this to be acknowledged by a single person, and I'm sure he's smiling with tears. Go on, look at the crowd, a single person is standing up.”

It was true enough, Chef Leko stood proudly and wept silently. Dungeon-Style Cooking, one he wanted to bring to the main-stream, one he wanted to discover the potential alongside other capable people. 'Igna, you're amazing,' thought he, '-for someone who doesn't remember anything about his past – I'm proud. I'm glad Guild Leader Haru brought him to my doorstep.'

Minutes turned to hours; the discontent spread without stop. Meals were readied, some tasted, and some were told to sit and wait. One by one, the stage emptied leaving Kyle and Igna as the last two. They finished at the same time as fate would have it, the final moments of Cle came suddenly, chatter turned to silence. Crest on the chest and red-collars around their neck, the judges approached at last. Most didn't even look at Igna, the disrespect the boy displayed and using a rejected style garnered prejudice before evaluation. Kyle sensed the discord, he all but smiled, the dish he gave for examination received praises of the highest-degree. In the end, none even dared touch Igna's plate.

”Looks like you've lost without even fighting,” winked Kyle. Still, he didn't move nor flinch.

'Chef Leko, did I do you proud,' thought he, '-was it worth it?'

”Who would have thought,” said Emi over the microphone, ”-this is the first time the judges have refused to taste a dish. I suppose it means one thing,” the crowd couldn't contain the joy of defeating a villain, ”-he's failed the-”

”Hold on a moment,” said a dusty voice clambering up the stairs, ”-it's not fair.”

”Lord Amsey and Chef Agneo, what brings you here?” returned the startled Emi.

”I want to taste both their dishes.” Not that it was strange for a leader of the association to personally assess the participants, it sure was rare. The last memorable time he intervened was during Chef Leko's trial.

Lord Amsey, the dictator of the institute, was feared by many in the culinary world. In his prime, the man was fiercer than Yuki and Yanni, none can dare argue the heritage under his belt. *Munch,* first was Kyle, the reaction remained more or less the same.

”Good,” said Agneo following behind, ”-impressive for your age. There are more things you can improve upon; hard work is present. A virtuoso of ingredients, the name suits you very well.”

Then came Igna, ”-tell me, boy,” wondered the old man, ”-the wine you used, it's not normal, is it?”

”Yes,” returned he with a smile, ”-it's the Blood of an Elder Dragon.”