[SP-PT-F01] A Recipe for Adventure | «Earning a Living: Cook»

[Scar 0]

Jack pushed open the tavern door, and a wave of warmth hit him like a friendly shove. The smell inside was impossible to ignore: roasting meat, sizzling onions, fresh herbs, and a faint sweetness that teased his curiosity, and his stomach, simultaneously. He froze in the doorway, taking in the cozy chaos. Wooden tables gleamed under the soft afternoon sunlight filtering through the windows. Patrons murmured quietly over mugs of ale, the occasional laugh punctuating their conversation. From the kitchen came the rhythmic clatter of knives, the hiss of a hot pan, and the faint whiff of something baking, something sugary.

"Hi hun!" A cheerful voice called out, slicing through the din of the room. Jack's head snapped toward it. A woman, middle-aged but lively, poked her blonde head out from the kitchen. Her amber eyes sparkled like polished honey, and her warm smile seemed tor each across the tavern like sunlight. "We've got a bunch of different meals in the works, so what is that you're hungry for?"

Jack shifted his weight from one foot to the other, suddenly feeling very conspicuous. He had faced monsters, dodged arrows, and navigated countless dungeons, but standing here, in a tavern, talking about cooking, made him feel.. strangely exposed. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I want someone to teach me how to cook."

The woman's face lit up instantly. "Oh, my goodness, I would just love to teach you my favorite recipes. Unfortunately, today's lunch wiped out most of our ingredients. If it isn't too much of a bother, would you mind picking up a few things?"

Jack nodded, reaching for the small list she handed him. It was neatly folded, the handwriting careful and precise. He tucked it into his pocket and felt a mixture of curiosity and anticipation stir in his chest. Simple enough..

Stepping back outside, the sunlight seemed almost sharper, the world more vibrant than before. Leaves rustled gently in the breeze, birds called to one another in bursts of song, and the distant chatter of townsfolk preparing for the afternoon market carried faintly on the wind. The thrill of adventure was still there, but quieter, subtler. No monsters, no swords, no armor, just materials to collect. Somehow, that made his pulse quicken in a new way.

Jack adjusted the strap of his pack and looked at the path leading toward the grove she had mentioned. Each step felt oddly significant, a small test of focus and patience. He realized that this quest, gathering materials, learning to cook, creating something with his own hands, might challenge him in ways he hadn’t expected. There were no battles here, but there was still a kind of discipline, a careful attention to detail, and a small thrill in discovery.

With a deep breath, Jack set off toward the first area where the materials could be found, letting the sounds of the village, the soft rustle of leaves, and the faint, homely aroma of the tavern linger in his mind. This was a different kind of adventure, one that promised rewards of a quieter, but no less satisfying, sort.

* * *

PT:
Unspent SP: 35 SP
Removed | Katana R5 --> +30 SP
Removed | Cloth Armor R5 --> +30 SP

Added | Keen Sight R5 --> -25 SP; +10 LD
Added | Discerning R7 --> -70 SP; +7 CD; +7 LD

Spoiler

Scar | HP: 640/640 | EN: 102/102 | DMG: 1 | BH: 7 | LD: 22 | CD: 7