Lunch Fit for a Dragon
Warm sunlight poured through the wide windows, settling lightly on the table nearby. A petite girl sat there, sipping tea. Her expression was unreadable as she gazed out at the scenery. I approached cautiously, the heavy tray in my hands lending stability to my steps. Mindful not to let it waver, I made my way to the table and slowly set it down.
She noticed my presence and turned to look at me.
"Today's lunch."
I placed the enormous plate from the tray in front of her. A single steak lay there—a massive hunk of meat as big as her torso. The butler standing by her side laid out knife and fork beside the dish. She picked them up with both hands and looked at me, her emerald eyes brimming with intense curiosity.
She wanted an explanation of how to eat it, no doubt.
"Why don't you try the meat first on its own?"
The steak was cut into uniform portions, optimized for her ease. She sliced off a small piece with the knife and popped it into her mouth. After chewing a few times, she let out a small gasp of admiration. A thin flame flickered from her slightly parted lips. Her eyes widened round at the sight. The flame did her no harm and simply vanished into the air—a natural spark born from the meat itself. It carried the essence of the flame toad.
To preserve that flame, I'd put in tremendous effort. The creature's meat was incredibly tough, so I'd sliced it thin along its fibers. Then, using mana, I'd reconnected the pieces to maximize texture retention. This process was repeated thirty times to tenderize the flesh. Finally, shaped into thick steaks, I'd cooked them solely with mana—no fire—crisping the outside while leaving the inside soft. The result preserved the monster meat's true flavor in a tender bite, and even revived its mana as that flame.
"I used mana herbs from around the lava swamp where I hunted the meat as spices. They'll clear your mind and greatly boost your fire resistance."
"Mmm, yummy."
She began shoving the meat into her mouth. Too lazy for the knife, she just speared chunks with the fork. To keep her meal uninterrupted, I waited for a swallow and continued.
"It'll taste even better with the accompanying puree."
Beside the massive steak sat a flower-shaped dollop of puree. She heard me and scooped some onto her fork, sniffing it tentatively. Her face scrunched up.
"Ugh, potato smell."
She glanced at me sidelong, fork poised. I just smiled back. After a moment's hesitation, she combined it with meat and ate. Her eyes flew wide.
"It's really better."
It had to be. This was my best effort. The puree featured vegetables I'd grown myself—starlight potatoes, the university's most common staple. Easy to grow anywhere under starlight. One shadow doll had tended the field all day just for these, infusing mana and guiding growth. The result was leagues beyond ordinary, its subtle stellar essence amplifying the meat's bold flavor.
She opened her mouth again. Another flame burst forth, but this time golden—a hue from the starlight potatoes. I'd anticipated her delight and added that visual flair. Sure enough, she beamed.
"This is fun."
She devoured meat with puree, belching flames wildly. They burst in the air, scattering beautiful colors. I watched quietly. When she'd eaten half the steak, I offered the small bowl remaining on the tray.
"Now, how about drizzling some of this sauce?"
Inside roiled a deep darkness, more mist than sauce. She eyed me suspiciously again. I just smiled silently. She sniffed it—nothing. Her brow furrowed.
"Looks super weird..."
After hesitating, she poured it over the meat. The sauce drifted like fog before seeping in, turning the bright red flesh a dusky hue. She recoiled visibly. I chuckled inwardly—this was a playful trap, knowing she'd hate the look. But the taste? Guaranteed.
She prodded a piece onto her fork, eyes shut, and chewed. Once, twice, thrice. It slid down her throat. She peeked an eye open, poured more sauce, and ate again. Once, twice, thrice. Admiration lit her face.
"This...?"
She looked at me. I held up the sauce's key ingredient—it hopped onto the table and scurried about. A flame frog shadow. I lifted it back with mana; my shadow tree absorbed it.
"Sauce from boiling thirty flame frog shadows for ages. Tasteless alone, but paired with the meat, it unlocks deeper, richer flavors."
She doused and chewed more. The sauce didn't just coat—it seeped between the thirty-layered cuts, bursting with each bite to enhance the taste. She silently demolished the rest. Finally, she leaned back, sighing, belly slightly bulging. Impressive she'd packed away that much with so little visible change. Her insides were a mystery.
Satisfied, she flashed a thumbs-up.
"Great job. Wasn't why I gave you the shadow, but whatever—well done."
"Glad you enjoyed it."
I bowed politely. Only now, post-advancement, did I realize: Professor knew shadows would fuel my growth even before I passed the exam. That's why she suggested Heisen's class. Deep respect welled up.
She gazed out the window, blissfully content. I glanced too—nothing but clouds. No idea what she saw. Thin flames trickled from her lips, born of the meat: red, gold, black. Mingling with her mana, they formed a dragon. She sent it soaring outside, playing with it.
Meanwhile, I cleared the table. Then my first shadow doll approached shyly—0-ho, my origin, my inspiration. It carried a tray with an ornate plate. I set it down carefully.
"Post-meal dessert."
She turned from her fire-dragon, which vanished into the clouds. I indicated the plate: about twenty tiny tarts. The butler poured tea beside it. She popped one in, sipped elegantly, eyes closed in savoring.
The tarts were simple—mountain berries I'd foraged. But enough to elevate the tea. Success: she smiled delightedly. She nibbled slowly, window-gazing, butler refilling her cup.
I eyed the butler. Dragon-turned-humanoid, it exuded restrained mana. Truth be told, it occupied the largest chunk of my shadow tree—roughly a hundred times any other doll. I'd gauged my tree at about five hundred dolls total post-advancement; this thing hogged a fifth.
I narrowed my eyes. It felt stronger than me. Makes sense: this tower's mana was five times denser than floors 4 or 5. Self-aware, it devoured mana explosively, serving her devotedly—moving her bed magically, pre-handling tasks. Its will equated us and her equally.
Shadows bred unique personalities. But capacity was the issue. Including all dolls, I had maybe a hundred slots left. To expand, grow the tree more.
Her joy rippled mana wildly. I wry-smiled at the awe. Post-advancement, her power hit home: her domain enveloped the tower, the mountain, stretching unimaginably far. I'd been shocked discovering it. You see only what you know—and much remained hidden.
"More of these."
She pointed at the dwindling tarts, eyes wistful. I'd anticipated: signaled 0-ho, who fetched more. She grinned ear-to-ear.
As I attended her, a resonance pinged—shadow tree link. Kasian's doll's will flickered: tower magic circle glitch, per Kasian. I frowned, bowed to her.
"Excuse me, may I step away?"
She waved dismissively. I backed off—the butler could handle her. Pocketed 0-ho, departed.
Two hours for this lunch, but her satisfaction validated my cooking skills. Glancing at my hands, wry smile. Shadow links let dolls mimic my skills faintly—including cooking. As I honed it, they improved. To perfect their egos, I'd keep learning crafts. Their perfection meant less for me—already handling simple tasks, freeing me for this.
Following the signal, I found Kasian on the second-floor central hall, clapping games with the Bear Doll. I signaled subtly. She looked—then recoiled sharply as her blade-sharp mana aura grazed me. Recognizing me, she dispersed it, waved.
"Here, there's a gap between floors."
She pointed to the central stairs—duplex passage. I scanned the tower's magic circle. Tiny fissure, as said. About two weeks old—from that skirmish here.
I patched it swiftly. "How'd you spot this?"
I'd missed it pre-check; no reports meant others had too.
"Kinda tickly? Felt off passing by."
Sensing it intuitively? Impressive talent.
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"Yup, good luck, mister!"
She waved, departing with Bear Doll trailing. She never parted from it—even in lectures unscathed amid chaos. Proof of her strength.
I headed to my workshop. My shadow tended a colossal doll there. Spotting me, its will gleamed happily.
"0-ho, ready?"
It nodded sullenly—still disliked the name. Tough luck; it fit my first shadow, my muse. It gave up eventually.
I gazed up at its project: my turtle. Lifesaver, university-bringer. Its size demanded painstaking shadow work—and more. Repay its graces with a butler-level powerhouse, not mere ego. Imagining it alive brought a natural smile.