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The Culinary Crucible (Part One)

Cafeteria

Culinary Crucible - Ace Making Minestrone Soup (Part One)

Shortly before beginning...

Ace	Guess we're really doin' this crucible thing, huh? Bit of a drag, but let's just bang it out and be done.

Idia	Wow, talk about a one-eighty... Was he just talking a good game with all that smiling and eager-beaver-ness back with the chef?

Ace	You say somethin', Idia? Hey—what's with the look of utter despair?

Idia	Wh-what look?! I'm f-fine... It's just... L-like, I'm glad you're feeling confident, but I kinda doubt this'll be as easy as you think.

Ace	You worry too much. I mean, it's a course for total newbies. How hard could it be?

Ghost Chef

All right, you two. Time to start. Please head to the kitchen.

Ace	You got it, Ghost Chef!

Cafeteria - Kitchen

Ghost Chef

Ace, I'm going to have you prepare a minestrone soup. We've got a lot of fresh, juicy bell peppers in today, so we'll go heavy on those.

Ace	Minestrone's that tomato-y soup that comes with lunch all the time, right? But there's a bunch of stuff that goes into it... Is that really a good recipe for a beginner?

Ghost Chef

Hah, you'll be fine. There's nothing to it. You just cut up the ingredients and put them in the pot.

Ace	Really? That it? Well, I can do that in my sleep!

Ghost Chef

Though you're quite right about the large volume of "stuff." It's intensive in that regard, I suppose. First, cut the peppers in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, then dice them into small chunks.

Ace	When you say small, what size are we talking here?

Ghost Chef

I'd like the peppers to be the main attraction, so let's leave them a little larger than everything else. Say about...two centimeters.

Ace	Two centimeters. You got it.

chopping sounds*

Ghost Chef

Nicely done. Everything looks about the same size. Clearly you've some skill with a kitchen knife.

Ace	Hehe, thanks. I haven't actually used one much, but I've watched the upperclassmen back in my dorm.

Ghost Chef

That's right, you're from Heartslabyul. You must make sweets all the time.

Ace	I mean, whenever it's my turn. But I just help the older boys. I can't really do any of the difficult stuff.

Ghost Chef

Mm, so you learned by observation. You must be naturally dexterous to do it so well.

Ace	Thanks! This does feel pretty easy.

Ghost Chef

Haha, wonderful. I'll go fetch the other ingredients while you chop up the rest of the peppers.

Ace	Okay! ...Heh, just like I thought. This is easy street! Man, Culinary Crucible RULES!

Ghost Chef

Aren't we in high spirits? Have you finished with the peppers?

Ace	Just about.. Huh?! Ch-Chef, what's with this huge crate of veg? Are we actually gonna use all this?

Ghost Chef

Haha, of course not. It won't all fit in the pot.

Ace	Haha, it sure won't! Phew, close call...

Ghost Chef

Although, eventually it will all be used. Now, for the time being, cut the onions like so, and then... Okay, that's enough for the first batch.

Ace	Wait—first? As in, we're making more than one?

Ghost Chef

That's right. Soup is popular! People order it on its own, and it comes as a side as well, so we need a lot. We're going to use all these pots, not just this one, so we'll need a lot of veggies!

Ace	Seriously? So much cutting...

Ghost Chef

Oh, Ace, don't fret. With your superlative skill with the blade, you'll be done in no time! Now, those onion won't peel themselves.

Ace	Yes, Chef... Guess I gotta eat my words. The work might not be hard, but it doesn't ever end!

The Culinary Crucible (Part Two)

Cafeteria - Kitchen

Culinary Crucible - Ace Making Minestrone Soup (Part Two)

Ace	Ugh... Feels like my wrist is 'bout to fall off... Chef, I finished chopping everything.

Ghost Chef

Good work, Ace!

Ace	*sigh* Finally, I'm free of that mountain of veg! Felt like I was going to be chopping for the rest of my life...

Ghost Chef

Hah, quite the exaggerator, aren't we? Now let's take a look at your handiwork... Mm, yes, to the letter! You're more than halfway done now, Ace. We're in the home stretch!

Ace	Yeah, I don't believe that for a second...

Ghost Chef

Quit flapping those gums and start flapping those hands! Dawdle now and you won't make it in time for the judging!

Ace	Okay, okay...

Ghost Chef

Now just add in one more can of tomatoes, then simmer for 20 minutes and it's finished. Don't forget to skim off the scum from time to time.

Ace

sigh* The end is in sight... He didn't say I have to stand watch the whole time it simmers... Maybe I'll get started on the dishes. I'm so tired after cuttin' up all those vegetables. Wish I could just go back to my dorm and lay down... Okay, that's the washing up finished. What next? Guess I'll grab some soup bowls and spoons... I'll just skim off the scum...there. Mm, yeah this is really lookin' like minestrone. It still has to simmer for a bit though. I guess I'll put away all that stuff I just washed.

Ghost Chef

You really know your way around the kitchen, Ace. Hard to believe you're a beginner.

Ace	Haha, that means a lot coming from you! Ugh, I wanna go back to my room...

Cafeteria

Lilia

Where's my minestrone? I can't wait to tear into it with all my culinary expertise.

Ace	Lilia—you're the judge? Go easy on me...

Lilia

I'm not sure I can oblige you there. ...Hm? Ace, you look quite tired.

Ace	I'll bet I do. Listen, between you and me, I only signed up for this to get out of my chores back in the dorm. But the whole thing here is intensive one-on-one training. I never get a breather.

Lilia

Oho. Always a shame when your plan backfires, though failure can be a valuable learning experience.

Ace	sigh* I seriously screwed up... Hope you at least enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Lilia

Khee hee hee, I'd better dig in before it gets cold. Let's see how you did. Hm, not bad. For a first attempt, anyway.

Ace	Is that...it? Kinda feels like you should say more.

Lilia

It's a really unremarkable bowl of soup. If you don't like my review, do better. Actually, maybe it's fate I was selected as your judge. I can teach you my own special recipe—

Ghost Chef

No, no, I'm the instructor here. Not to mention you haven't even passed the course, Lilia!

Lilia

Have it your way. But Ace, don't be a stranger. Come find me and I'll bestow upon you my wisdom.

Ace	Uh, I'm good, thanks. Man, I put in all that work and all I get is a "not bad"? Make it make sense!

Ghost Chef

Be that as it may, you passed! Congratulations, Ace! You still have a lot to learn, but you have a strong foundation to build upon.

Ace	I don't think I WANT to, if it means chopping more vegetables... *sigh* I shoulda just stayed back in the dorm and done my chores...