Chapter 110: Cooking with Lucy
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The dorm kitchen was quiet when Arios arrived. It was late afternoon, the light from the windows still bright but starting to shift into the softer tone of evening. The tables and counters were clean, with only a few pots stacked on the side. Most students didn’t cook their own food, choosing to eat at the cafeteria, so the kitchen was usually empty.
Lucy had sent him a short note earlier in the day. She wanted to try cooking for herself instead of relying on cafeteria meals, and she asked if Arios would join her. He agreed without hesitation.
When he entered, Lucy was already there, tying the strap of an apron around her waist. The apron was plain white, but it looked oversized on her. She stood by the counter with several ingredients laid out: a small sack of rice, some vegetables, a jar of seasoning, and a package of meat wrapped in paper.
"You’re late," Lucy said, though her tone was more playful than strict.
"I came on time," Arios replied, setting his sword aside and washing his hands at the sink. "You just arrived early."
Lucy puffed her cheeks slightly but didn’t argue. She turned back to the ingredients. "I asked one of the older students what’s easy to make, and they said stir-fry with rice. So we’ll try that."
"That’s simple enough," Arios said. "Better than trying something complicated on your first attempt."
Lucy nodded, then glanced at the meat. "I’ve never cut meat before."
"I’ll handle it," Arios said, stepping forward. He unwrapped the paper and pulled out the knife from the block on the counter. His cuts were even and precise, separating the meat into thin slices. Lucy watched carefully, her expression focused.
"You make it look easy," she said.
"It is, once you’ve done it a few times," Arios replied. He set the slices aside in a bowl. "Your turn with the vegetables."
Lucy picked up the knife and moved toward the carrots and cabbage. Her first attempt was clumsy, the slices uneven, some thick and some thin. Arios watched for a few moments before reaching over to adjust her grip.
"Hold it like this," he said. He guided her hand, his voice calm. "Don’t force it. Just steady pressure."
Lucy tried again. The slices came out cleaner this time, though still not perfect. She smiled a little when she noticed the improvement. "Better."
"Better," Arios agreed.
They continued preparing the ingredients together. Lucy cut vegetables at her pace while Arios handled the rest. When everything was ready, Arios pulled a pan from the rack and placed it on the stove.
Lucy poured oil into the pan, too much at once. The liquid splashed slightly.
"That’s enough," Arios said quickly, steadying her hand.
Lucy pulled back and gave a nervous laugh. "I guess I got carried away."
"You’ll learn," Arios replied. He turned on the heat, and the oil began to warm. "Put the meat in first."
Lucy carefully added the slices of meat. The sound of sizzling filled the kitchen. A small wave of steam rose, carrying the smell of cooking. Lucy’s eyes widened at the sound and smell.
"It’s louder than I thought," she said.
"Just keep stirring," Arios said. He handed her the wooden spatula. "Don’t let it sit too long in one place."
Lucy stirred awkwardly at first, then more steadily as she got used to the rhythm. The meat browned slowly, filling the room with a savory smell. Arios stayed beside her, correcting her movements when needed.
When the meat was cooked enough, Arios motioned toward the bowl of vegetables. "Add those next."
Lucy nodded and poured them in. The sizzling grew louder as the vegetables hit the pan. The colors mixed with the meat, green and orange against brown. Lucy stirred with more confidence now, her earlier hesitation fading.
"This is kind of fun," she admitted.
"Cooking usually is, when you’re not burning anything," Arios said.
She stuck out her tongue at him but kept stirring. After a few minutes, Arios added the seasoning, sprinkling it evenly. The smell grew stronger, filling the kitchen completely.
"Now it smells like real food," Lucy said, her eyes bright.
"That’s because it is real food," Arios said.
Lucy laughed, shaking her head. She kept stirring until Arios told her to stop. Then he lowered the heat and moved to the pot of rice they had set earlier. The rice had finished steaming, soft and ready. He scooped some into bowls while Lucy portioned the stir-fry.
When everything was served, they carried the bowls to the table and sat down.
Lucy stared at the food for a moment, then picked up her spoon. "It looks... edible."
"Try it," Arios said simply.
Lucy took the first bite. Her eyes widened slightly, then she smiled. "It’s not bad!"
"Not bad is good for a first time," Arios replied, tasting his own. The flavor was simple but fine. The meat was tender enough, the vegetables cooked well, the seasoning balanced. Nothing fancy, but it was food worth eating.
Lucy took another bite quickly. "It’s better than the cafeteria’s bland soup."
"Most things are," Arios said.
They ate together quietly for a few minutes. The atmosphere was calm, almost domestic. The sounds of clinking spoons and chewing filled the silence.
After finishing a good portion, Lucy leaned back in her chair, satisfied. "I want to try cooking again next time. Maybe something different."
"Practice will help," Arios said. "You’ll get better each time."
Lucy nodded, looking pleased with herself. She glanced around the quiet kitchen, then back at Arios. "It feels different like this. Just us."
"Liza’s on field work," Arios said.
"I know," Lucy replied softly. "That’s why it feels different."
Arios didn’t answer right away. He only focused on finishing his meal. But Lucy didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled again and took another bite of her food, clearly content.
The rest of the evening passed in that same rhythm: simple cooking, simple eating, and quiet conversation.
For Arios, it was another normal day. For Lucy, it was something she clearly wanted to repeat.