Entering the living room, I fell into a chair with Milo entering the room behind me. I pulled up my status again. I’d looked at my quests when I got them, but I had been meaning to talk to Milo about it for a while and plan where to go and if I needed to do something else with the skill.
“So, tell me what you have,” Milo said, sitting down across from me.
He had already pulled out his notebook, one that I was quickly learning held all the information related directly to my class now.
“So, I have five skills currently that are doing the quests, and I’ll likely hit level thirty tonight. The first one, Second Simmer, I have two quests,” I started, repeating the quests as I saw them on the status.
Use a previously cooked dish as a base ingredient in five separate new dishes: 0/5
Create 3 different stocks, then successfully use each in a unique dish: 0/3
Milo appeared to be in thought before writing something down. “So these seem pretty in line with how you’ve been using the skill. You’ve not really reheated any leftovers due to your storage, and instead it’s only been you reusing items. I’m unsure if this will evolve into anything too different from your original and will probably just be a more specialised version.”
Nodding along, I expected the same. I also felt like this would be fairly easy to complete, especially since completing the second quest could complete three of the five for the first one. I also currently had a large amount of drake bones, some of which I wanted to turn into a stock, and if it were possible, I had a small amount of dragon bones from the tail and wanted to know if I could impart the permanent stat increase into stock.
“What’s next?” Milo asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“The next one is Manaflair Crust, but it’s a fairly boring quest, and what I expected.”
Create 10 dishes where the crust seals the moisture inside the food: 0/10
Milo again noted it down. “Yeah, I saw this going down a couple of paths, and in my notes I feel like you could have turned this skill towards desserts, bakery, or in your case here, it sounds like you’ve pushed it towards meats. I don’t think this will be very difficult to complete, and I suspect it’ll offer you a more tailored skill towards cooking meat.”
“The next one is more interesting. I got two quests for Precise Palate,” I explained.
Infused 10 food items with a buff time of 4 or more hours: 0/10
Infused 3 food items with a total stat total over 14: 0/3
Milo looked as if he were in deep thought before he spoke. “Those look like you’re getting two directions, and I’m very intrigued to see the options it offers you for food items with that many sta—”
There was another loud boom. I even felt the floor vibrate slightly.
“Are you sure everyone is going to be okay out there?” I asked.
I wasn’t only concerned for Reginald, but there were dozens of guards that would be fighting out there, and if it was close enough, our own house guards could be dragged in as well.
“I’m sure. Lord Fellwood was prepared for it. It’s also in the upper noble district, so a lot of the sounds now are likely to be fights with the Royal Guards and mages, and they are not to be messed with, even by the stronger individuals,” Milo explained.
“Then why take the risk? If the chances of them succeeding are so low?” I asked.
Milo looked to be in thought for a while. “I don’t know all the details, obviously, but word clearly spread about the deal, likely spread by Reginald himself, and the value of it. An amount that large is life-changing and could easily buy you comfort for the rest of your life, even on another continent.”
I was concerned by this. “So we’re going to have people hunting us for the money we just got?”
Milo let out a soft laugh. “Yes, and no. I’m sure that some shady individuals have considered robbing you, but before that they would have done research. None of these attacks are done without planning. If they still went after you, well, they are foolish and likely are no threat anyway. So no, Trev, your biggest concern would be someone befriending you and taking advantage of you that way. You’re too trusting at times.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I knew it was likely true, but I didn’t want to be suspicious of everyone I met and think they were out to get me.
“Don’t worry yourself, Trev. That’s where we come in. Lily doesn’t trust anyone. Liane is very similar, so you have them to look out for you. Now let’s carry on with these skills,” Milo smiled.
With a sigh, I continued where we had left off. “I don’t have many food items that are above fourteen total stats, but that’s the one I’m most excited about seeing. Then, lastly, I have Resonate Balance, which is my general infusion skill. That’s by far the simplest quest.”
Infuse 25 dishes in a row: 0/25
“See, I find that one very interesting, as the system seems to have recognised that everything you cook or prepare you also infuse, and I wonder if you’ll get offered a passive skill,” Milo said.
“Like it used to be. My meals used to heal without the need to infuse them, but it was lost when the skill evolved,” I added.
Stolen novel; please report.
“And you said you’re close to level thirty, right? How about Crisplet?” Milo said, writing more notes.
I again pulled up my status, noticing a small flood of notifications that had just come through.
Notification:
You have earned 100 bonus experience for a buff used in combat.
…
You have earned 25 experience for making an enjoyable meal
…
You have earned 50 bonus experience for healing someone with your meal
…
You have reached Level 30 in Arcane Chef
You have +2 unspent stat points
You have a new ability selection
You have earned 50 bonus experience for healing someone with your meal
“I’m level thirty, just now,” I laughed, but it was cut off as I was seeing so many healing bonuses come through.
“Milo, a lot of people are getting hurt. I can see it by the healing experience coming through,” I said, concerned.
A pained look crossed Milo’s face, but he tried to hide it. “I can’t leave you alone, Trev. I’m under strict instructions from Sylverith while Crisplet and Lily are not here.”
This was frustrating. Part of me wanted to ask Lily to get involved, but I knew she had no love for most people, and unless it was directly affecting me, she wouldn’t do anything.
I wasn’t ruminating on it for long before a powerful aura came over us, even in the house. My first thought was Lily or Sylverith, but this wasn’t familiar at all.
“Seems the backup has arrived,” Milo smiled.
“That powerful?” I asked, shocked.
Milo let out a laugh. “Trev, there are many very powerful adventurers in the capital. Even someone like Liam, whom you’ve met several times, would go toe to toe with Lily for a few blows. Just her invulnerability to physical harm and speed would lead to his eventual downfall.”
“You better not tell her that,” I smirked.
There was another pulse of the pressure before it vanished.
“I’d say the fight will be over now…”
As if to prove Milo right, both Liane and Lily showed up a moment later.
“I guess that answers that question,” Milo laughed.
Liane flopped down into a nearby chair. “Royal Guards showed up. The group quickly got caught after that. I think only a mage got away.”
“Was anyone hurt?” I asked quickly.
Liane shook her head. “Nah, not seriously. Reginald seemed very prepared and had healers dressed as guards. He also boasted that every guard was buffed with the best candy and jerky he could buy.”
She said the last with a smirk.
“Trev’s been seeing all the healing notifications and wanted to help them,” Milo said, giving Liane a knowing look.
“I’m glad you were not that foolish. What do you think would happen if you stepped out into two groups that were fighting each other?” Liane gave me a hard look.
“More to the point, Trev, what would she do?” She pointed to Lily, who was now napping near a fireplace that wasn’t lit.
“Protect me?” I shrugged.
“Exactly. Probably by disabling everyone, on both sides,” Milo joined in.
Deciding I’d try to change the subject, I went back to my level up. “I hit level thirty and got some new skills to choose from.”
Liane bolted up. “What did you get?”
I pulled up my status again and had a look at the skills I was offered this time around.
Congratulations on Level 30!
Choose from the following options:
Ingredient Appraisal
Skill type: Active
Every ingredient has a story.
Allows you to appraise an ingredient and tell its mana content, flavour profile, and affinities. Higher levels allow the appraisal of higher-level ingredients.
Essence Skimming
Skill type: Active
Take only what is needed.
Allows the user to remove or weaken an aspect of a mealHigher levels allow the user to remove more powerful aspects and save them.
Shared Table
Skill type: Passive
Food tastes better together.
Provides a bonus to food when shared with others.
Home Cooking
Skill type: Passive
Comfort is its own magic.
Increased buff potency and duration when cooked in a secure, stable homely environment.
Culinary Warning
Skill type: Passive
Too much of a good thing.
Will provided a warning when a meal is considered toxic to consume via potency or toxins.
“Oh, you’ve got some interesting choices this time!” Liane said.
Milo was already taking notes. “I can really see how your actions have influenced these choices. Clearly Home Cooking and Shared Table have been due to you being at the house here and sharing meals with us every day.”
“The warning one is because he keeps injuring himself, too,” Liane laughed.
Milo just nodded, and I felt my cheeks burning.
“The other two are interesting. Ingredient Appraisal is nice, but it’s got an overlap with Essence Memory you had before, and I feel knowing the affinities before you use it wouldn’t be that impactful. Essence Skimming, though, sounds intriguing. I wonder if that’s also adjacent to your injury and it’ll allow you to remove potency to make meals safe?” Milo said, looking over some old notes.
Personally, I really liked the idea of Shared Table. It didn’t seem overly strong, but sharing a table with people like that is something I wanted to continue to do.
I’d sit on the choice for a while, at least sleep on it.
The conversation was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
“Sir, Prince Luis is here. He said he was to have a discussion with you?” Archie bowed as he spoke.
“Why’s Luis being so formal? What’s going on?” I said, deeply confused.
“Thanks, Archie. You can send him in,” I added.
“Sorry, sir. He’s requested this to be a discussion in your study, if possible,” Archie added.
“Fine.” I got up from my chair, where Liane went to stand up too.
“It’s fine. I won’t agree to anything or make any deals without you there, but I don’t think Luis is a threat to me. Plus, you’ll come, right, Lily?” I asked.
As expected, Lily got up, taking a large stretch, then vanished into the shadows.
“See? I’ll be fine. I’ll call you if I need anything,” I smiled.
Time to see what Luis wanted.
Chapter 226: Levels
10 min read