Normally, Chambers would have noticed that Ronnie, who was weeping, was secretly glancing at him. However, having just finished recounting his ordeal, his mind was still immersed in the match from back then, and coupled with the dim light, he hadn't noticed this detail.
Ronnie's lie contained an element of truth. When he and his father passed through Mount Taru, they had indeed encountered many bandits who tried to rob them. However, given his father's magical abilities, dealing with those bandits was too easy. Mount Taru was a notorious bandit stronghold, and for this reason, Chambers believed Ronnie's story. After all, how much suspicion could a powerful old man have towards a ten-year-old child?
"The Ice Moon Empire has always been protected by the Ice God Tower. I really don't know what those mages in the Ice God Tower are doing. Taru Mountain has been a menace for a long time; those bandits should have been wiped out long ago. Child, don't be sad. Whether you want to learn cooking from Grandpa or not, settle down here first, okay?"
Ronnie, now homeless, nodded gently. His young heart was filled with hatred. Ice God Tower, Ice God Tower, one day I will go there.
Chambers picked up a glass of water from the side. His hands trembled. Because his back was to Ronnie, Ronnie didn't notice that some white powder slid into the glass with the trembling. He handed the water to Ronnie. "Child, drink some water first. Grandpa will heat up your food."
Ronnie, unsuspecting, agreed and gulped down the water.
Chambers' eyes were complicated. He seemed to be struggling with something, but he quickly made up his mind.
After drinking the water, Ronnie obediently placed the cup aside, stretched, and said, "Grandpa, why haven't you heated up the food yet? Your cooking must be delicious."
Chambers sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Ronnie, but Grandpa has no other choice. You're my only chance."
Ronnie froze, suddenly feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him, and his body swayed.
Chambers looked up at Ronnie, his voice deepening, "Look at me, child, look into my eyes. You're very sleepy, very sleepy. Relax your body, relax everything. I'm the person you trust most. Sleep, sleep."
Ronnie stared into Chambers' eyes, his gaze gradually becoming vacant. His body remained seated, but his expression was gone.
Chambers bit his finger, drawing a circle in the air. "Guided by my blood, seal away the endless hatred." A flash of red light enveloped Ronnie's body; he trembled slightly, then returned to calm.
Chambers continued, "Ronnie, my name is Chambers, and I am your teacher. From this moment on, you will forget everything except your knowledge of the world, your understanding of the continent, and your magical knowledge. Everything that happened before will vanish. Now, your heart will be filled only with your dedication to magic and culinary arts. The pursuit of the pinnacle of culinary skill will be your greatest goal in life."
Chambers paused here, and Ronnie murmured the same words he had just spoken, his vacant gaze becoming even more intense.
A hint of pity flickered in Chambers' eyes as he continued, "Unless your magic reaches a level sufficient to destroy your enemies, your sealed memories will never awaken. Sleep, child, sleep well." As he spoke, Chambers pulled Ronnie into his arms. Ronnie closed his eyes, his breathing quickly becoming even.
Holding Ronnie, Chambers sighed. "I never imagined that the first use of the sealing hypnosis spell, which I acquired in exchange for a meal, would be on a child. Ronnie, I'm sorry, Grandpa had no choice. If you refuse to learn cooking from me, all my skills will likely be lost. I hope you understand my good intentions. From now on, Grandpa will wholeheartedly teach you, making you the greatest chef. Perhaps one day your memories will return. Then, even if you hate me, I will bear it. You will not be the same person you were before, not a ghost chef, but a magical chef, a chef with magic. You will surpass everything before, reaching the true pinnacle of culinary art. Perhaps I'm too selfish, but if your parents were still alive, they certainly wouldn't blame me. What's more joyful than living in hatred forever?"
Chambers murmured to himself, unaware that as he spoke his last words, a faint red light vanished from Ronnie's right hand, which hung by his side.
Picking up Ronnie's body, Chambers carried him back to his room, tucked him in, and smiled. "Hope has finally arrived. I will never give up on the gift God has given me. Child, sleep well. Starting tomorrow, you will learn the art of the Ghost Chef. Haha, hahahaha." His dedication to cooking made Chambers forget everything; in ten years, no moment had made him happier than this.
The door closed, and Chambers left. Perhaps he wouldn't be able to sleep well tonight either.
The cabin returned to silence, everything shrouded in deep darkness. Ronnie, who should have been asleep, suddenly sat up, a faint light shining in his blue eyes. It wasn't a blank stare; he seemed to be pondering something.
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out two stones, one blue and one red. The red one was a gem carved into the shape of a flame, while the blue one was a rhombus-shaped gem. Each gem emitted a light matching its own color, though the red and blue lights were faint, they seemed to repel each other.
"Mom, thank you. If it weren't for the Ice Goddess Stone always protecting my heart, perhaps I would have truly lost my memory by now. Mom, can you tell me what Ronnie should do now? Should he really give up all hatred, like Grandpa Chambers said? No, I can't do it! Those people have caused you so much suffering, I… I…"