[Eon's POV: ]
'She's going to kill me.'
[{ *Well, master... she will understand if we explain properly.* }]
'Then she will torture me.'
[{ *She's sometimes gentle with her punishments... let's pray for mercy.* }]
'What else can we do anyway.'
Rein asked me to make a portion for her as well, but I could only make three portions for the dessert in the short time that was left.
There was surely more for the appetisers and the main course, but since I failed many times, there were only three portions of well prepared dessert items.
'It was well made as well, so I know no one will want to share it with the others.
There is a chance that they will even want to steal the other's portions but, since they are headmasters and proper judges who know what it means to 'taste' and evaluate the other's dishes, they will refrain from doing anything that doesn't suit their current position.
'I wasn't worried about them. I did my best and what I made is the results of my heart throbbing efforts.'
I'm confident and content with what I ended up making. And though still not nowhere near my master's divine cooking, I can say this is one of my best works till this day.
"We will now begin the judging and evaluation process. Please step forward when your names are called along with all of your dishes."
The last moments were the most difficult.
'Since I failed during the creation process, there were some things that were completely ruined and became toxic and I had to discard them immediately.
'Handling the drake blood was more difficult than I had expected.'
I just wanted it as a taste enhancement element, something that could bind together the rest of the flavours and produce something that would be even better than their original form.
It was a lot more difficult to fuse them with just the elemental spirits as well since the energy contained in that blood was inherently stronger than what those little spirits can handle.
'It would have been much better if I could summon the higher grade spirits, but for that, I would have needed longer time and more freedom than what I had.'
In the academic setting, there was no way for me to show everything that I could do, but even with the restrictions and breaking a few rules, I was able to get something that would surely convey what I wanted to show them.
"Student Lizzy, please step forward."
The judges weren't on the ground floor like us. Only Miss Cleo was standing in the kitchen alongside us, and the rest of the judges and the headmasters were on the balcony opposite to the students and spectators.
The teachers were also on that side, but different from the judges and the headmasters, the teachers were standing as they watched the proceedings in this kitchen.
They were only here to observe like the rest of the students and the spectators, so they weren't sitting.
'The judges weren't on the same level as the chefs that make these amazing things, so this whole setting was a way to show their respect to the great chefs that create beautiful things that they and the rest of the world will enjoy.'
There was a meaning in how they did things here as well, but that's what made the great academy the best learning institution of this world.
"Please show us what you've prepared for us, Miss Lizzy."
I was too busy to watch the others after I started, so I didn't see how things went for the rest of them.
It was simple, it reflected her simplicity, it reflected her uniqueness, and it reflected the kind of care she puts into everything she does.
"Hmmm. Fresh, nice, and light. This is good, Miss Lizzy."
"Thank you for the compliment!"
She only ate a small portion of everything that was presented on that dish, and after that compliment... she started listing things that could have been better with her dish, how she could have made it better, and how she could have enhanced the way she presented things.
She was as tough with her review as she usually is, however, different from the other students before her, Lady Cleo was actually giving her pointers.
And just that much was more complimenting than her reactions to the dishes that the students had prepared before her.
"For my main course, I've prepared a 'Greenhouse'. A bowl full of things that I was never able to have in the past."
Her main course was completely different from her entrée.
It was attractive, the presentation was very well done, and the way she used the colours to make this entire thing bright and cheerful, at the same time using expensive things to make each element of her dish clearly showed how difficult it would be for someone with poor financial status to have such things.
The longing of the ones looking at this expensive looking dish was obvious, and the way the young orphans could react to this dish was something many of the students could feel as well...
'Her main course was fulfilling for the ones who ate it. Even Miss Cleo and the judges took more than a few bites, showing their interest and likening for this particular dish.'
She again received some harsh criticism from the teacher over how she did not focus on the harmony of the ingredients and how things could have been even better. But, she made it up with her dessert.
"Lastly for dessert... I've prepared a pie."
A simple, fruit pie that looked not just attractive and delicious... but the way it was presented made even the nobles in this kitchen drool for a little taste of it.
It looked pretty, it looked fresh, and more than anything just one look was enough for one to want to have it.
"You've done some good work on this one, Miss Lizzy."
Lady Cleo observed the Pie from close, looked at the red of the inside, the gold of the outside, the dark chocolate sprinkles around it, the sweet sauce that the plate was decorated with... it was quite amazing.
The other students before her also had some very attractive presentations, but this one was above most of them.
It was almost close to the level of a professional.
"Good work."
And, the way Miss Cleo gave her that short compliment without any bad reviews along with that little smile made the other students around us open their eyes wide with surprise.
They knew this person well. She had been behind many of them during the class, she was also not as good with many things as they were so they weren't expecting much from her... however, she did better than any of them had ever expected.
'Our practice and training preparations helped her, it seems.'
And, it was for the best.
[{ "She looks happy." }]
That was Zoe.
[{ "She sure does." }]
She was happy to see her close friend smiling like that as well.