Faith in the Kitchen

The sunlight faded from view, yet the city remained just as bright with oil lamps and lantern lights. There were just as many people outside as in the morning, if not more, either in couples or in family contingents. As he walked the stone pathways, Nate felt the calm air blow past his face, giving a sense of normalcy. Nate still kept his wits about him, looking through every glass window and storefront for a sign of the girl, even employing the efforts of Limus to assist him. ‘She has to be somewhere…’

And sure enough, down one of the side alleys, they could see the girl. Nate quickly made his way over, to discover a confrontation occurring between her and a gang of ruffians.

“Get back to your own country, ashlet!” One boy yelled, stepping toward the girl. The other ruffians, two boys, and two girls respectively, were egging on the boy to continue pursuing her. The white-haired girl didn’t seem phased, however, standing her ground and glaring at the boy. The ruffian was annoyed by this, attempting a right hook at the girl, which she immediately dodged with a swift motion, causing him to hit his knuckles against the stone wall. He reeled back in pain, staring at the girl with fiery hatred.

“Are you trying to die?” another ruffian stated, as the group started to encircle the girl, cracking their knuckles. The white-haired girl tried to find an escape route, but there was just no room. ‘Guess I have no choice.’ She reached into her coat, grasping a diamond-shaped crystal in her palm, and her eyes started glowing an ethereal grayish hue. But before she did anything, Nate stepped into the scene with his sword unsheathed.

“Get away from her!” Nate exclaimed, pointing the shining weapon at the ruffians, whose expressions changed to that of fear. She let go of the crystal, and her eyes returned to normal.

“Hey boy, don’t involve yourself.” one of the ruffians said, putting on an air of false confidence. But Nate continued inching toward the group, grip tightening on the weapon.

“Go. Away.” Nate stepped next to the white-haired girl, the group now at the other end of the alleyway. The ruffians looked at one another, then to Nate and the girl, and ran off. They yelled ‘Ashlet’ once more, vanishing into the night. The girl took her hand out of the cloak, looking up at the familiar face. She watched as Nate sheathed his sword, curiously assessing the boy.

“Nate, was it?” She said, to which he nodded. She bowed to him, taking off her hood as her hair fell like a white curtain. “I didn’t think I’d see you again!" She gave a small smile, looking back up to Nate who was a few inches taller than her.

“My name’s Kira.” she stated in a nervous tone, as though speaking the words would change how Nate behaved. But, reassuring Kira, Nate simply smiled back. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the loud grumble of his stomach.

“Sorry, I haven't had time to prepare food tonight.” Nate explained. Kira turned her head to the street, and then grabbed Nate's arm. “Well, how about we go eat then!” She said, and before Nate could respond, he was swept away by her surprising strength.

They entered a restaurant called ‘Olaf’s Kitchen’, which Nate mistook for meaning the entire building was one huge kitchen. To his surprise, there was no kitchen or cooks to be seen, only people eating food delivered by workers dressed in fine black and white robes. They came in and out of the doors in the back like a circuit, always appearing with a tray in hand.

“Why are they so secretive about the kitchen?” Nate whispered to Kira, who glanced over at his inquisitive expression and chuckled. Kira gained them a table near the back corner of the room, away from most prying eyes. Almost instantaneously, a finely dressed worker appeared at their table with an appetizer known as ‘Rigos Stew’, a mixture of meat, mushroom, and sauerkraut, with a purple sauce of hot Kamin peppers that gave it a slight glow.

“Do you have Rigos where you’re from?” Kira asked, handing a spoon over to Nate. Nate looked at the food skeptically, stirring it around in a circle.

“We normally have simpler meals and usually cook them ourselves.” He looked over at the door to the kitchen. “All food should be prepared in plain view, so that it can’t be tampered with. Back home, we wouldn't eat food unless it was made in our own home. How do you know that they aren't going to poison you?”

Kira raised her brow, "Poisoned? Why would they poison our food?"

Nate shook his head, "You never know what people will and won't do. Putting your faith in people you can't see? That's a recipe for disaster." He stood up, watching another worker enter that doorway to the hidden kitchen.

Kira placed her hand on his arm, just as he was about to walk towards the door. “I can be your taste tester if you want.” Nate turned to her, perplexed.

"But what if it's-"

"Look, you can't keep living your life afraid that everyone is out to get you. Starve yourself, and you will never taste the beauty that the world can offer. So, sometimes, you must take the risk, and put your faith in the kitchen." Kira gave a soft smile. Nate's eyes darted between her and the kitchen door, before slowly returning to his seat, still hesitant. Kira laughed, “Either way, it's going to be eaten by one of us!” Nate looked back down at his plate, two thoughts fighting themselves in his mind.

‘She looks confident about this...but everyone from the village said...they said many things, didn't they? That going to the city was dangerous, that I would never find my place out here...maybe they were wrong…’ Nate gulped, before braving the jump, and taking a bite.

The hearty taste had just barely processed through his mind, and he began devouring the plate. Kira had a shocked expression on her face when he started slurping it. "I didn't expect you to be this enthusiastic!"

Nate looked up at Kira, amused by his change of heart, and he calmly put down the food and slowed his eating, a bit red with embarrassment. “Sorry, I just haven’t had a good meal in weeks.”