Chapter 513: Ingredients

'Is this a warped reality, what's going on, the scene around has changed so much, I'm lost, I'm confused, what is happening?' As he described, the world felt different, lighter even. People smiled; the hot weather didn't feel as uncomfortable as remembered. Passing over the bridge, Julius's word of sheer confidence sprawled confidence in Igna's distrusting heart.

'People change, or so they say, people can get better, or so they say. I think, and I think it is true, change comes not from will but necessity. Unless a person needs to survive, he'll change. If not, pretending to change to further his goal in life is perfectly normal. Not that I can do anything to criticize a person's fight. Judging is easy, understanding is hard. Morals, ideals and all in-between are put to the test, people are afraid of being labeled 'fake'. The sad reality is, Lady Yuki and Loron changed as it suited their need. I've no idea what I brought to the kitchen, maybe I was the pet whomst they felt sympathy for. In face of real hard-work and talent, in front of what is clearly better, they chose to part ways and leave me stranded on the precipice. Either fall or hold on a thin razor-like thread, in both cases, I'm the one getting hurt. Why,' he wondered, emotions sure were a thing of inconvenience, '-I get it. There's no need to reflect, I have people who care about me, I hope, at my side. My mother, my cousins, my guardians, they're all here for me this instant. I can't fail their expectation. I'll wield my knife for a single purpose, not to please people, not to be recognized, but to have the respect of myself and my prior self. Screw fame and money, if it means turning to someone like Kyle, I rather abandon it and live a mundane life.'

"Igna, all physical properties have been transferred over to Lord Lordon. The family is where they began, give a take a few million short. Phantom owns their business, therefore, the profit is controlled by us. Besides, we could have them be bankrupt at any time – tis up to lady Elvira." 

'Good,' thought he, '-I rather not hold on their grudges. I've paid back my debt to lady Yuki thanks to mother.' Loron's apron, the bandana; ashes to ashes, dust to dust, memories were sent to oblivion. Here to where it began, the journey seemed to end in a blink. Consciousness reawakes to a familiar sight, the windows rolled to allow the draft of pleasant salty scent. 'The tides sure have changed,' thought he rubbing off drool.

"Cousin Igna, are you ready to take a bath?" asked the prince in beachwear. An open buttoned shirt, sunglasses, and light shorts paired with matching sandals. 

'The way he rolls words off the tongue, the voice, and the accent hearing him are sometimes nice. I can't imagine him screaming loudly, or even if he did, the sheer power would draw cries for sure.' 

"Was I sleeping for long?" asked he stepping onto a solid firm grass, '-no sand?'

"Yes, I told the driver to let you nap a few minutes more. I mean, you seemed so relaxed it felt bad to break the slumber." He held out a hand, "-shall we go?"

"Thanks, cousin," grabbing the firm hands, '-nothing of what I imagined a prince's hand to be.' The sea and sand over the distance felt familiar. 'The sun isn't that annoying today,' then and there, a massive shadow covered where he stood. '-What the?' turning back, 'a villa?'

"Welcome to the Royal family's winter estate," said the Prince, "-we own most of the land around here," he ambled to the divide between sand and grass, "-over there," pointing to the right,"- Msiza in her whole beauty."

"Wow," awestruck, "-how can something that big survive so far in the sea?"

"Quite simple to be honest, it's built on a private island off-shore of Plaustan. You can't see it very well unless crossing into the upper-district of Hephon."

"The mansion, how big is it?"

"I don't know," they sat alongside the shade of a drafty tree-line, "-the place is massive, we need about 10 maids to keep it clean. Even then the number increases per our needs."

"Doesn't it get tiring?" wondered Igna rested against a rough wooden tree.

"You mean money wise?"

"Yeah," asked he unsure about what he wanted to hear.

"Not really," just then, as if he willed the wind, a gentle breeze moved to push aside his hair into comfort, "-tis a means to an end. Why are you so hesitant when speaking to me?" the brows raised, "-I've noticed it. You're not that open around me, are you cautious of something?"

"I'm sorry about that," he sighed, "-between what's happened, I can't really say anything. I know my forcing insecurities onto another is shameful, it's embarrassing, I rather not think about it."

"Igna, my dear cousin," he smiled, "-I won't say I understand how you feel, but I can relate. It's going to get harder from here. Moving away from reality is cowardice. I say this as thy elder in age and experience, the hurdle before you are a crucial point in what's coming tomorrow. There's a promise you must have made on the way here, a purpose to work towards. This little outing is nothing more than an excuse to see you relax before the big day. The crowd's going to be massive, and from what news have reported – a false narrative has been painted. You're the antagonist in Kyle's story. People love a good story and adore jumping onto a bandwagon. Action means more than words," he paused, "-who am I kidding, I made those mistakes too in the past. Getting to where I am wasn't easy – having money doesn't matter, being famous or of repute can go out the front door. Guess what, murderers are also famous, child molesters, rapists, you name it and they're famous, even more so than actual idols. Heck, I know of a few big shots around the continent who love to indulge in disgusting behaviors when it comes to underage children. We've dabbled in it a little too as an organization. My point is, it's not what you have or what you can have, it's about what you can forge into, understand?" 

"Basically, a sword can either be wielded to protect or to do harm."

"Exactly," a cheerful half-smile lifted to a grin, "-come join us when you feel like it," he stood and made for the beach where Lizzie and others played.

'Man,' leaned on the cold itchy grass, '-I'm glad they're here. Emotions, I feel weird, it's demotivating. Those few words he spoke cleared my doubts. How lucky am I to have them?' 

The hour-hand moved as time passed. The Arcanum, to be specific, Thwan, went through a melt-down. Kyle kept on using his following to add to the narrative. The chefs who turned coats were viewed as heroes following the real chef. Igna became more and more of a face of hate. Weekly Digest had nothing to say despite the pressure. They remained neutral. Similar to pesky peddlers jumping onto a trend to make easy money, other social media figures jumped onto the 'Igna bad' movement. The issue went so far as for the organizers of the event, yes, the very well-respected World Culinary Institute of Fine Dining, personally intervened in a post. 

*Us, from the World Culinary Institute of Fine Dining, are very much disappointed with how the Arcanum has reacted to a mild change. It's wrong to point fingers and assume. Igna Haggard has earned his spot in Cle and granted, most of the chef endorsing him changed side, the matter is unaffected. As an autonomous organization funded by our esteemed sponsors, we can't afford mob-mentality to ruin the anticipated event. In conclusion, all who will bear their fangs at an unjust cause will be reprimanded. The actions include chefs who are under our jurisdiction as well as staff or any personnel tied to our name.*

The wrath of disappointment all but fueled a crazy witch-hunt. The strongly-worded statement didn't originate per a sense of justice of good-will. Instead, the silhouette of a handsome lady paced about a quaint little garden with a phone in hand. "-Yes, make sure we become the sole sponsor of the event. I don't care how much we pay, use any tactic necessary – I'll contact a few assistants. In case they speak up, feed them money or use force, I don't care, make sure it's done." 

"Elvira," echoed from the first floor, "-are you coming?" wondered Haru perching over the balcony.

"I'll be there in an instant," said she ending the call, '-Kyle Darker, don't dare think for a bit Phantom's going to sit ideally while you go on a crusade over the Arcanum. Being a part of Kuro's Trading makes it even more worth the extra effort.'

For the better part of three hours, Igna locked himself in the kitchen. A plethora of well-stocked ingredients scattered about. The stove kept on burning, '-was this seriously what Kyle made for the graduation exams?'

"Yes," confirmed Éclair, "-everything is identical down to the letter. No, not totally, it's far better quality than what I recorded during the exams."

"This simple a dish?" head to the chopping board, '-I guess it's complicated to make, I can see how hard it's going to get… there's complexity but lack of feeling. Was this really what lady Yuki abused me for?' A single bite and a glowing image of heaven roused the appetite, "-ok, this isn't any ordinary dish. It's recreated but feels lacking, Kyle must have added something different.'

"Wrong," said Éclair, "-the dish is correct to the last detail. My analysis is never wrong. You're giving Kyle too much credit."

"No, I refuse to believe this is the dish I was abused for." Splashes of cold water snapped out a state of daze.

"About the ingredients," voiced Éclair, "-are you going to give me a list or not, the event is approaching." 

"Yes, gather these," most was common and readily available. No sign of main-ingredients nor a glimpse into what he had planned to make.

'There's only one way I see myself showing the cooking I want to do,' backpack around the shoulder, '-it's to find the more exquisite ingredients out there. I'm going to surpass the student council's poor performance; avant-garde cooking; tis nothing more than showing off. Complex techniques don't satisfy a pallet, tis the taste.' 

He came to a standstill, the now clean kitchen watched as faint black smoke welled from the floor upwards. 

*Heed me, o' demon swore as mine vassal in trying time. I, Igna Haggard, humble inheritor of the Scifer's domain call on thee to manifest before me.* Plates hit to a scream, the ground shook, the light flickered, the sunny outside gloomed into grey-thunder clouds. 

"Lord Igna," four orbs of black stretched to form a portal, "-I heard thy call," Kul hovered with unprecedented strength, her horns grew into solid black atop which generated lightning, "-who is it you wish to kill," said she ready to strike. 

"Thank you for answering," said he casually, "-please, conceal thy aura."

"Conceal?" she did so and dropped onto her bare feet, "-why did you call me?"

"To taste this," he shoved a full-spoon, "-you like it?"

*Munch, munch, munch,* the visage showed multiple expressions until, "-still prefer raw meat of a virgin boy. Did you honestly call me here to taste test some human food?"

"No," the voice deepened, "-I need to go to Totrya. There are a few things I need to discuss with Vesper."

"Sure, a teleport to Totrya it is," *-snap,* blue-skies turned purple, the very familiar room stood unchanged from prior.

"Lord Igna, I didn't expect a visit so early?" arrived Vesper with a coy-smile.

"I've come for ingredients, the rarest and strongest monster in the whole kingdom, take me to them," uttering those words had lightning flashing and thunder blasting the outside, "-it's time to kill."