One could see their noses widen as they took in deep breaths. They closed their eyes and revered the scent that came from the kitchen. Foolish smiles appeared on their faces as they drooled. Their hands touched and they looked at each other before looking up.
Two chefs in white caps stood hands akimbo looking down at them. Their expression did not change at all because they even became more relaxed. The two female chefs were slightly plump and they were closer to them. They carried amused looks as they watched the two.
"Food…" was all that came from their mouths as they closed their eyes. Their body language almost adding hurry up!
"You must be first years. Why are you late? You are the only ones who came late this time. Could it be that the two of you cheated the first test?" one of the chefs asked and the two sat up straight and glanced at each other before looking at the chef again. Julian was making such a cute face that even Lyren could fall for it.
"What test are you talking about?" Lyren dared to ask and all he received was a glare as he recalled the words of the elder who had released them. He had said that finding the dorms was the first test…
"We found the dorms madam chef," Lyren said and the chefs glared.
"You cheated!" they both said simultaneously and Lyren and Julian almost cried as Julian got on his knees and looked as meek as he could. Lyren just watched as his mind was sloppy to think because of the hunger he was facing.
"We were misled!" Julian exclaimed before Lyren could make it worse.
"There is no food left. We usually make sure that it is finished," One of the chefs said and Lyren gave up and sat back. It was useless. They were going to miss lunch too! But Julian was not ready to give up!
"Oh! Behold thee the feeder of multitudes we implore that you feed these two ignorant fools who thought themselves to be wise," Julian voice echoed throughout the dining hall and even Lyren was surprised. Julian was exactly who he would want to be friends with. The survival instinct of Julian. That seemed to be functional too!
"Stop your flattery already. That won't work on us!" The other chef spoke but Lyren could see her smug look. It was going to work!
"Two arrogant kids dared to act smart and broke the rules but they are now paying dearly for that. They have gone hungry since the previous night and they are just about to miss their lunch. We beseech the who command our hunger to leave us to have compassion on us," Lyren said in the same tone as Julian who was shocked because Lyren did not seem to be the kind to flatter.
The two chefs seemed to inflate with pride and Julian now saw what Lyren had seen. It was not too late for them.
"Feeders of masses. It would not hurt the two of you to feed two lost birds. The birds are ready to proclaim glory unto thee," Julian spoke and the two chefs had their waists moving almost as though dogs waggling their tails.
"I did not take you two to be the humble ones considering your little cute faces…" the two chefs played with their cheeks and pulled them. The two did not resist and just allowed their faces to make the face the two chefs wanted.
"You two cute little things. How could we let you starve any longer. Come this way. We shall feed you. Just make sure you come early next time," the chef playing with Lyren's cheeks said and the other one was busy playing with Julian who exaggerated his.
The two chefs finally let them go and showed them to a table and they sat there waiting for the food to be served. It did not take long before the chefs appeared each carrying a plate filled to the brim. They placed the plated on the table and the two were already diving in but before they could take a bite, they spoke simultaneously.
"Thank you for your hospitality, oh thee feeders of multitudes and lost birds."
It was rehearsed when the two chefs left and when they heard the words, they swelled with pride once again and they watched them eat. It was true that they were hungry. They were eating so fast that one could think that they had not eaten in ages. They quickly finished the food and they looked at the empty plates intently as though they were going to eat them too.
The chefs sighed and they served seconds to the two who were quick to finish it. Lyren was eating extraordinarily fast and he was done in less than a minute and he stopped there and looked at the chef who was serving him. She had chubby cheeks and when she smiled, it made her look doll-like.
Lyren looked at his plate and it was then he found out what he had just eaten. It was white rice and stew that had meat. He could not tell the exact meat since as a commoner he barely ate meat. He watched the remaining soup sticking on the plate and he was tempted to lick it. That was actually sweater than what he had eaten in the hotel back then.
After he was full, it was then that his eyes cleared and he realized that the two chefs were identical. Both in size and shape. Their faces were so similar it was obvious that they were twins. Hunger had actually taken that detail but now he could think clearly.
It was just in time and Julian finished his food and they looked at each other before they hit their foreheads on the table.
"Thank you for the meal. Thank you… Thank you…"
Their gesture touched the two chefs who seemed to almost tear up when they saw the gratitude.
"Stop now. Don't hurt your cute little faces," the chef feeding Julian said and they stretched their hands.
Lyren and Julian stopped and looked at each other and then at the two chefs.
"Words of gratitude are not enough to express ow thankful we are. How about we help in the collecting of the plates for you?" Lyren asked and looked around at the hundreds of plates on the tables and Julian was nodding.
The two chefs held each other's hands and they seemed to levitate with a pink hue as they pulled the two each on their chest hugging them tightly.
"Oh my! You two are the best. How can we refuse you when you spoke out loud?" The one hugging Julian said and they let them go.
***
Lyren and Julian were actually passionate of their work and they spent the next almost half an hour collecting plates. The two chefs watched them and one could tell that they were delighted. They seemed to have been taken advantage of at first but the two kids were actually ready to take responsibility.
"It has been a long time since we saw such a duo. I thought that they were just little cute things but they are also responsible. I don't regret feeding them," the chef who fed Lyren said.
"I am with you here sister. They are actually good kids," the other chef said as they watched the two collect plates. Affectionate gazes standing out when they saw the diligent kids.
"That one is the SSS one," the one who fed Lyren said pointing at him.
"I thought he was arrogant. He is kind…"