Emperors War

All in all, the ingredients consisted of astrio root, caguseed, badenise, flux flower, puggaves, kutio petal and sea vine.

None of the ingredients were overly precious however they were not common either, especially the flux flower, which was an especially delicious flower that was generally boiled.

If the flux flower was boiled with herbs the heat from the water would cause the flower to expand and absorb the herbs. It would then be cut open and stuffed with different types of meat and ingredients, this was the most common way to prepare it. The common sense of the flux flower was to experiment with the different types of stuffing which would allow for a new and unique flavor. Depending on the type of herb one chose to mix into the boiling water the flavor of the flux flower would change drastically.

As such every single apprentice seeing that one of the ingredients was the flux flower took the same action. For most of them they began by chopping up the sea vine, kutio petal and caguseed. The kutio petal had an explosive flavor so it would make a perfect herb to boil in the water to give the flux flower more flavor. Because it was being boiled in the water its explosive flavor would be diluted thus making it easier on the pallet.

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The sea vine was a wild plant that grew in the shallow waters of the ocean of many planets and as such had become a staple food around the outer universe. Chopping it up and mixing with the caguseed would create a neutral flavor that became easier to swallow. The caguseed when mixed with other ingredients would make them slightly oily while the caguseed itself would melt away.

The astrio root was often used as a side dish and was mixed with other herbs and pepper. It was a starchy ingredient that was very filling. It was very often seen in poor neighborhoods for sale as it was usually cooked over a raw fire until slightly burnt then busted open and smothered with pepper.

The badenise was a bird that had a wonderful flavor. It is one of the favorite ingredients of high society and was very expensive. The badenise was very difficult to cook and was almost always dry when being cooked by an amateur. When the badenise was cooked perfectly it was considered a supreme delicacy, but when it was cooked incorrectly nothing could describe its horrendous flavor.

The puggaves typically grew in hot climates such as scorching deserts and were known for their fiery taste. Usually the puggaves needed to be used sparingly as eating a whole one could a person unbearable pain.

Most of the apprentices took the exact same approach to preparing their meal despite the reasoning of Sampson that he wanted to see something new and unique. For most of these apprentices by following the predefined standards they would reach the next level of apprentice and that would bring them and their families a great deal of glory.

Alfred had daringly started boiling the water using the kutio petal and the puggaves sliced up. Alfred had painstakingly measured out the exact amount of kutio petal and puggaves that would enhance both of their flavors without over doing it. If Alfred was even slightly off in his calculations the combination of the puggaves and the kutio petal would clash with each other and create a disaster. It was this type of bold and daring that propelled Alfred to the top of the apprentices and drove the other apprentices to worship in his shadow. After boiling the two together he removed the original slices and put in a small amount of sea vine to give the flavor an explosive but smooth feel.

Alfred watched as his badenise cooked over an open fire and just as the juices of the bird started to drip down Alfred took it off the fire and cut it into strips. He stuffed the strips into the flux flower and after having cooked the astrio root over a fire rather than open it up and put pepper on it, he sliced it into cubes and put it around his flux flower. Alfred then proceeded to pour a small amount of the boiled water over his cubes giving it a rich and deep flavor. All in all, it was an excellent dish.

Prior to Alfred finishing, numerous apprentices had already taken their dishes to the administers to evaluate.

Prior to Sampson trying a dish, it first had to go through one of the administers who were all at least Novice Cooks. If they approved it, they would take the dish to Sampson and let him evaluate it. For these cooks this was a ma.s.sive responsibility and decision. For them to take a dish to Sampson represented their understanding of cooking and Sampson.

It had happened in the past that a brand new Novice Cook had taken one of the dishes of an apprentice he was trying to get close to up to Sampson, and upon Sampson tasting the failure of a dish he immediately kicked the cook out of his kitchen, never allowing him to return. While that cooks" career may not have necessarily been over, at least in certain circles he would never be allowed to cook again.

Since that time every single one of the administers took the job of evaluating the dishes with the utmost sincerity and seriousness. Already most of the apprentices had already submitted their cooking and were off in the corner discussing their results.

"I am now no longer a 1st apprentice, I was just advanced to 2nd apprentice. I"m so excited I can"t wait to let everyone know." The joy on the black haired and thin apprentices face clear for everyone to see.

"That"s great you were able to advance to 2nd apprentice, I was rooting for you with both of us starting in the kitchen on the same day. I was fortunate enough to advance to 3rd apprentice and was heavily commended on my understanding of the badenise." A slightly plump girl who liked to keep her hair up in a bun said to the black-haired apprentice. She was both congratulating and bragging at her success, and the black-haired youth was sure to understand that she was looking for praise.

"Senior Sister congratulations on such a successful advancement. After Alfred leaves to become a Station Chef and is no longer an apprentice, you will probably become one of the leading candidates to be the head apprentice."

Hearing his words, the plump girl couldn"t contain her excitement and smile. His words were exactly the kind of flattery she was looking to receive.

As they were talking Alfred put his dish together and presented it to the bald senior. Without even trying it the senior took the plate over to Sampson. Alfred"s plate was the only one to make it onto Sampson"s table.

"Master I am already aware of the superb and wonderful cooking of Apprentice Alfred and don"t need to try his cooking as I know it will meet your expectations."

Alfred seeing this bald senior"s action couldn"t help but approve. Of course, his meal was at that level but the fact that the bald senior recognized his supreme talent was what impressed Alfred.

Sampson opened his eyes reached for his utensils, cut open the flux flower and took a bite. The richness of the puggaves and the kutio petal along with the well-cooked badenise created a mellow dish full of flavor.

"Very good..."Alfred hearing these words come out of Sampson"s mouth felt his heart jump for joy. He couldn"t wait to brag to everyone about how Sampson had rated his food as very good, Alfred grinned the joy on his face evident to the whole room.

"for an average and normal prepared flux flower and badenise. Overall this young one should just barely be a capable cook in two to three years" time if they continue advancing at this rate. Overall, I would have to rate your dish as a 3rd apprentice. Congratulations on becoming a 3rd apprentice." Sampson"s voice was heard by everyone in the room. What shocked the whole room was that Alfred was told congratulations on becoming a 3rd apprentice when he was already a 4th apprentice. Did this mean that Sampson didn"t even know who Alfred was?

"Master, but I"m already a 4th apprentice, shouldn"t there be some kind of mistake?"

"I understand, in fact there has been a mistake." Answered Sampson to Alfred"s challenge immediately.

Sampson pointed to the bald senior "Come here" without the slightest hint of emotion.

The bald senior walked over to Sampson not sure what he should be feeling at the moment, "Yes master".

"When you brought this dish to me I had thought the apprentice was a 1st level apprentice and was ready to commend you on your ability to recognize talent, but instead you brought this to me claiming that this apprentice was superb without even trying it, well go ahead. Give it a try and tell me if my evaluation is wrong." Sampson never stopped staring down at the bald senior as he spoke.

The bald senior cut a piece of the flux flower and took a bite. The explosion of flavor, the juiciness of the badenise, it was exquisite to this senior. How was he mistaken? This plate was creative and delicious so much so that this senior could never dream of creating such a dish. He was confused and confounded on how to respond to Sampson.

"Now that you have tried it you understand your mistake, yes?" Sampson asked of the bald senior.

The bald senior was unsure of how to answer. If he was to say "no" wouldn"t that mean that he was on the opposite side of Sampson? Who would want to do that? If he was to say "yes" that would mean his judgment in food and talent was competently wrong.

"No, this apprentice doesn"t understand. The food is delicious, the flavor is compelling, the badenise is moist and delightful. While this doesn"t compare with the top chefs in our kitchen it seems it would certainly be worthy of a Novice Cook."

Just as Sampson was about to berate this barbarian, this uncultured and uneducated Neanderthal a voice echoed through the kitchen "No one is allowed to try this before Teacher Sampson."

It was Aker who was refusing to allow the administer to try a bite. Aker had made a promise that no one would be allowed to try his food until after he made Sampson take a bite.

Sampson turned his head up and saw Aker arguing with the Advanced Novice Chef, one of the highest ranked chefs in the kitchen.

"Listen here, if you don"t let me give it a try first you can just walk yourself out. There is no way I would allow some kid who has no idea what they"re doing put that slop in front of our head chef!"

As Sampson watched the exchange, he couldn"t help but be intrigued by Aker"s plate. On his plate was a giant ball and that was all. It was without a doubt the most unique dish he had ever seen. There didn"t seem to be any smell or sense of what it was coming from it. The ball looked to have a hard crust and it sat smack dab in the middle of the plate.

"Little boy that"s why I call Vance a barbarian and uncivilized. You are creating such a ruckus and destroying the ambiance that is my kitchen. The beauty of cooking is its ability to calm people down and appreciate not to fight and bicker. Besides, is that ball of ma.s.s even edible, who has ever seen a plate like that before?"

Sampson was disappointed in Aker. He had him working in the reject station in the hopes that he could learn some basics of cooking and get to the point that he would appreciate the power that is food. He had the waste pile and reject station moved all around the kitchen with the idea that Aker could be exposed to many different stations and glean cooking ideas from them. He had thought that in a year, or two Aker might be ready to become a 1st apprentice a.s.suming he could survive that long in The Pit.

"Aren"t you the one who said you wanted to try something you have never had before, something totally unique and delicious? Have you ever seen anything cooked in this manner before?"

After a moment"s thought Sampson called out "Come over here, let me see what you can learn while silently sitting in the reject station for almost a year." Truthfully Sampson had no idea about Aker"s current skill level as he hadn"t been keeping track of him. He had only been moving Aker around trying to expose him to all the different facets of cooking. He had planned on testing Aker"s abilities in another year or two after he had enough exposure. Until then it didn"t make any sense to put to much effort into him.

Aker walked over to Sampson and put the plate down in front of Sampson. As Sampson looked down, he saw a large crusted ball the size of two to three men"s fist sitting on the plate. He tapped his spoon against the crusted outside and could tell that it was a flaky sh.e.l.l. He looked all around the ma.s.s of crust before finally taking his knife and cutting across the top.

As soon as Sampson"s knife slid over the top of the crusted ball it exploded out, the sh.e.l.l cracked and broke spilling the contents of the sh.e.l.l onto the plate.

Instantly a fragrant smell overpowered the entire kitchen causing everyone in the room to take a deep breath in as the smell was just too good. Most of the apprentices closed their eyes as they inhaled the aroma trying to enjoy the smell to the fullest.

Opening their eyes after taking a huge whiff, the eyes of everyone including Sampson betrayed their calm demeanor and showed their unparalleled surprise.

Inside the sh.e.l.l was the badenise and the rest of the ingredients all mixed together creating an aroma that had even Sampson salivating.

Surprisingly Aker had taken the astrio root and seemed to boil it and the mash it up and add it to the center of this sh.e.l.l. He then mixed in the badenise and the puggaves. He seemed to use a significant amount more of the puggaves which would cause this meal to be fiery hot and spicy. No one could make out where the caguseed, sea vine and most importantly the flux flower were.

Sampson took his spoon and filled it up with the concoction that was inside the sh.e.l.l. He was sure to put a little bit of the crispy sh.e.l.l on his spoon as well. Upon getting a taste a "mmmmmmmhhhh" leaked from Sampson"s mouth and he proceeded to take another bite.

"Little boy this is absolutely divine, I"m not sure I"ve ever had anything like this before. So many different flavors and contours. The sh.e.l.l is crispy, but the inside is juicy and moist. There is a fiery and spicy taste when it goes into your mouth but as you chew it is calmed and you are left with a feeling of being refreshed."

As Sampson spoke, he took a third bite. The Advanced Novice from earlier was just as shocked as the rest of the room at Sampson"s reaction. Not believing Sampson"s reaction he proceeded forward "Let me try it and see..." he proclaimed.

Before he could get his spoon into the delicacy Aker stood before him and stated "Senior I need to have Little Kara come and try before you. I had promised her that after Teacher Sampson tried my food, she could be the second. I hope Senior can understand." Aker was polite as he spoke to this senior chef.

The Advanced Novice chef was about to get flaming hot mad upset with Aker but as heard Aker"s explanation he calmed himself down. First of all, this chef had trained Kara before, and he was very pleased with her and second he was someone who also honored his promises.

Without saying anything the senior stepped back and waited as Aker looked for Kara "Little Kara come and give your Big Brother"s cooking a try and tell me what you think."

Excitedly Kara came running up to try the meal made by her Big Brother. She had asked countless times and he had told her she could try after Sampson; they had even made a promise. As Kara watched that senior walk up, she didn"t think anything of him trying the food after Sampson, however Aker remembered their promise and it made her extremely happy to see him remember and ask that senior to wait.

"Big Brother Aker, when the sh.e.l.l was broken open, I could smell it as well and wanted to run over and try it right away, thank you for letting me try. I"ve never seen anything like this before, what do you call it?"

After a moment"s thought Aker responded back "It"s called a Dragon Roll."