The guard nodded and told Laniakea to follow him.
"This way; I'll show you where the kitchen is. Ask the other chefs where you'll be staying. I don't know that, since I'm a guard and not a chef."
"Sure," Laniakea answered, following the guard. They entered the estate, went down the main hall, turned right at the first door, then left at the second room, and finally arrived at the kitchen.
Laniakea asked, "Why is the kitchen so far from the main entrance? Shouldn't it usually be close?"
"I can understand why you're asking that, since most commoners' homes are laid out that way," the guard explained. "But a nobles' house is structured to look good while also being functional. The kitchen is below the dining room of the head of the house so we can deliver the food faster. It's also next to the door to the yard where the other guards and knights train."
"That makes a lot of sense. If it's so useful, why hasn't it influenced the commoners yet? Based on how you're talking about it, this design must have existed for a long time. Why hasn't it been adopted by people like me?"
"Why would you ask me that?" the guard huffed. "I've only had enough education to read and write to support the young lady, not formal studies. How did you even come up with such a complicated question? Well, just go into the kitchen now."
Laniakea walked into the kitchen, caught the aroma, and thought to himself, "Hmm, a noble kitchen really does smell different". He could smell a wonderful cheddar, fresh meat, cooked chicken, and a blend of spices that filled his senses. There wasn't a chef alive who wouldn't appreciate this.
Laniakea walked over to a piece of wood, likely a cutting board, and ran his fingers over it. "Just look at this. It must have been used for at least five years. All these small, precise grooves... the chef who used this board must have been truly skilled. Not only that, but you can still smell the spices used: pepper, chili, salt, even cinnamon. I really want to meet him".
A chef looked over and called to him, "Are you the new guy who is supposed to start today?"
"Yes. I was told to come here first and that you'd show me where I'll reside. When should I start?"
"You don't really have to start now since you just arrived, but I guess you can. Let's see your skills first." The chef called over the other chefs and trainees. "This is the new guy. I want all of us to judge him so we can be sure of his skills."
They gave him a few challenges. The first was to precisely cut a tomato and some mozzarella cheese into equal sizes and plate them so they were easy to eat.
"Excuse me, Chef," Laniakea said. "Is this mozzarella? I haven't worked with it before because it is way too expensive. Is it really okay to use this for a test?"
"Of course it is! It's not our money, after all," the chef said with a laugh.
Laniakea decided not to question it and began. He cut the tomatoes first, judging them easier to handle. When he moved to the cheese, it was much softer than he expected. He struggled at first to find the right grip to avoid denting it, but after a few seconds, he adjusted his hold and switched to a sharper knife.
"I didn't expect this kid to change his grip and knife", the head chef thought. "Most chefs don't even know they need a different grip. I can't believe this is his first time working with it. He even switched to a blade specifically made for soft textures. Did he do it instinctively? Amazing".
Laniakea cut the cheese into pieces equal to the tomatoes and arranged them in a circle. But he didn't stop there. Fully focused, he continued to cook.
"What is this kid doing? He's already done," one of the trainees muttered.
Laniakea grabbed ingredients from the counter without asking, thinking only of how to perfect the dish. He saw some cooked spaghetti and squished the leftover tomatoes he hadn't used, mixing them with salt, pepper, and a tiny bit of sugar to create a quick sauce. He took the spaghetti from the iron pot, tossed it thoroughly in the sauce, and placed it in the center of the ring of tomatoes and cheese.
"Chef, I'm sorry for not stopping, but please try this. I couldn't just leave a dish unfinished."
"Well, the next task was for you to cook something simple to go with it, so don't mind the initiative," the chef said. "I'm more excited about what you've made here. Do you plan to tell me what it is?"
"Chef, just try it," Laniakea said with a smirk. "I don't need to say anything more than that."
"How dare this newbie!" a trainee snapped. "He comes in here and just does his own thing on his first day? I've been here for almost two years and we all listen to the Chef!"
"You haven't been asked," the head chef said, shutting the trainee up. "Now, let me try this dish. If you were a real chef, you'd see that he is right."