The woman set down her cutlery and thanked Laniakea. "Thank you for the great food. It seems I spend too much time here; I have to go back now. And mister, make sure to increase the sous-chef's pay, alright?" The woman and her still grumpy-looking guard left the tavern.
"I don't know how you keep getting yourself these raises," the owner muttered. "An eight-year-old should still be playing with his toys or spending time with his friends, and here you are cooking for a noble. Unbelievable. If you'd told me I'd get someone like you a few years ago, I'd have laughed my ass off. Well, I'll give you a 10% raise, and that's the max."
Laniakea was not stupid; he didn't push for more. Instead, he simply accepted it and left. He walked to the center of the city where the trade stalls and shops were located and began browsing for fresh ingredients.
"Excuse me, sir, how much for this piece of meat and those eggs?"
"Oh ho! You have a great eye," the merchant chirped. "This may look like chicken, but it's actually cockatrice. Luckily for you, I bought a lot, so I'm selling it at the usual chicken prices. To answer your question, it'll be two silver. I'll even throw in an extra slab of cockatrice breast."
Laniakea was a bit skeptical about a merchant selling cockatrice so cheaply, but he decided to buy it anyway. Even if it was just normal chicken, he wouldn't be taking a loss since the price was standard.
"Sure, I'll take it. Here's the money," Laniakea said, handing over the coins. The merchant counted the silver to make sure it was real, and once confirmed, he handed over the wares and bid Laniakea goodbye.
I don't know if I should've really bought that cockatrice, Laniakea thought. I only wanted it because I've never cooked it before. Should I treat it like chicken, or does it need special methods? I definitely should've asked. Well, I guess I can just surprise the others at the orphanage with a 'special' dish.
Laniakea arrived at the orphanage and went straight to the kitchen. He was already late because he had been busy cooking for that white-orange haired noble.
He stood before the stone hearth, the heat of the glowing coals reddening his face. With a heavy iron cleaver, he diced the cockatrice meat into small, even cubes, discarding the leathery bits of skin. He set a wide, hammered-iron pan over the direct flame and dropped in a spoonful of lard, letting it melt into a shimmering pool.
Once the fat smoked, he tossed in the cockatrice. The meat seared quickly, turning a golden brown that smelled of rich poultry and wild herbs. He pushed the meat to the edge of the pan and added:
Cold, boiled rice that had dried overnight in the larder, handful of chopped wild leeks and pungent garlic roots.Two small eggs, beaten in a wooden bowl and poured over the center to scramble.
Using a flat wooden paddle, Laniakea folded the ingredients together. He seasoned the dish with a splash of salty, fermented fish broth and a pinch of dried chili flakes for heat. He kept the rice moving over the high heat until every grain was toasted and coated in fat. He scooped the steaming mixture into a carved wooden bowl and wiped his hands on his apron, the task complete.
Laniakea looked at his creation, proud that he had successfully made fried rice with cockatrice meat. Just as he was about to plate the food, he heard someone enter the kitchen. He didn't turn around; instead, he focused his Aura into his ears to listen to the breathing and footsteps of the newcomer. He let out a small sigh of relief upon realizing it was just Jess.
"Hey, Jess. Since you're already here, why don't you help me set the table?"
"How come I can never sneak up on you?" she complained. "And is that really what you should be asking after I've searched for you all day? You just suddenly appear in the kitchen!"
"I'm going to take that as a 'yes.' Besides, you couldn't have found me because I went straight to work. Now, hurry up and bring these to the dinner table."
"Lan, the chicken looks a little weird," Jess noted, leaning in. "It's a little lighter than usual."
"First, it's not 'lighter,' it's more golden. I used cockatrice meat I bought at the market. It cooked a lot better than I thought it would."
Jessica's stomach let out a loud growl at the sight of the food. Blushing furiously, she grabbed a few plates and ran to the dining hall to set them without another word. Laniakea gave a slight chuckle and went back to plating the meal.