To tread the path of food is to weather countless hardships. What awaits you at the end of those harsh, unrelenting trials? Will it be despair? Or perhaps elation? Only you can shape your fate.

This is the syllabus of the Culinary Crucible Dire Crowley, the Headmage of Night Raven College, reads at the beginning of this magic-less course. He explains to every student that this is a program to develop your cooking skills by helping out in the cafeteria. After all, Graduates from NRC can hardly afford the expense of takeout every day, Crowley reaffirming this idea that a one-note diet is a nutritional disaster. Including the fact an unhealthy balance between mind and body makes for a most unsuccessful mage!

Crowley also explains that this program will grant students one elective credit with even paid part-time wages. The judges are randomly chosen to keep it fair.

Which is why you’re here! You may be the magic-less prefect of Ramshackle, yet you are still a student that can be randomly chosen to be a guest judge.

The cafeteria has been altered in order to support the judging of the students who are participating. You eagerly await the food from this Culinary Crucible, surrounded on the staple food of eggs. You have no idea who is participating as a chef, so the exciting anxiety heightens your hunger as you missed lunch earlier today.

Soon, the door to the cafeteria opened, grabbing your attention. Yet who you saw was shocking: Malleus Draconia, the Housewarden of Diasomnia, wearing a chef’s coat. You couldn’t believe the powerful Prince of Briar Valley lowered himself to participate in the Culinary Crucible and that you will be tasting and judging his food.

“Oho? The Child of Man is my judge.” His deep and smooth voice snapped you out of your shocked gawking, bringing you back to the fact you’re about to eat Malleus’s cooking. You looked up at his towering form, seeing him gracefully place down a dish in front of you.

You looked down, seeing an egg dish looking visibly similar to a pancake. Inside was a light golden while the outside edges were cooked to a perfect brown color, two raw tomato wedges served on the side. “I have learned from the ghost chef that this dish is called a soufflé omelette. I do hope it is enjoyable.”

You’ve heard this dish is supposed to have a consistency that melts in your mouth, but how can you possibly eat when Malleus watches your every move like a hawk? You couldn’t discern his expression either, adding another layer of caution.

Malleus put effort into this dish. After all, back in Briar Valley, meals are brought to him as soon as he sat at a table. This is his first attempt at cooking anything. It makes you wonder, why would he bother with this course?

“What ails you Child of Man? You should indulge quickly. I heard it is best consumed hot off of the pan.” He stares down at you, a light hint of a smile on his face.