The wind howled outside the dilapidated kitchen, rattling the shutters like a ghost begging to be let in. Kai Elgren stood at the cracked sink, staring at the chipped ceramic bowl in his hands. Rainwater dripped steadily from a leak above, tapping into a growing puddle at his feet. The place was a wreck. No customers. No future. Just the slow decay of a forgotten dream.
He should've left weeks ago.
But something held him back—stubbornness, maybe. Or a hunger deeper than food. He'd never had much, but cooking… cooking made him feel real.
The last storm had knocked out the wood stove's draft. The pantry was down to scraps. Still, Kai moved like a man with purpose, tying on a fraying apron.
"Another night, another miracle," he muttered.
Then something changed.
A pulse, not of sound but of presence, echoed through the room. Like pressure dropping before a storm. Kai froze.
A glowing interface burst into existence before his eyes.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Welcome, Kai Elgren.
Culinary Ascension Protocol Engaged.
Class: Apprentice Cook
Primary Objective: Rise through Flavor.
Status Window Unlocked.
His jaw slackened. A system? Like in the old legends? No way.
A new prompt blinked:
[Quest Unlocked: Savor the Start]
Create 10 satisfying dishes using the Culinary System.
Reward: +50 XP, Skill Unlock – [Ingredient Recognition I]
Kai swallowed hard. He wasn't hallucinating. This wasn't a fever dream from spoiled broth. Something divine—or dangerous—had chosen him.
And it gave him skills.
He opened the glowing interface again with a thought, focusing on the skill list.
[Select a Skill to Equip: 1 Available Slot]
[Basic Knife Mastery](Passive)
[Heat Control I](Active – 10 MP)
[Flavor Sense I](Passive)
"Knife first," Kai muttered. He didn't have mana to burn, but he had a knife—and he knew that whatever came next, it would start with his hands.
[Skill Equipped: Basic Knife Mastery]
Passive Bonus Applied: +10% Precision, -25% Cutting Errors
He grabbed the dull iron knife from the side counter. The handle was splintered, the blade bent and notched. But when he gripped it, something clicked.
It felt lighter. Responsive.
He stepped toward the cutting board and pulled a sorry-looking cabbage from the crate. As he sliced, the difference was immediate.
Clean cuts. Consistent width. Almost… elegant.
Kai smiled.
The door behind him creaked. A shadow stepped in, dripping water onto the floorboards. A woman. Her cloak was soaked through, her hood low over her face.
"You still serving?" she asked, voice husky and firm.
Kai blinked. "Yes. Uh—yeah. Come in."
She sat. Quiet. Watchful.
The stove was still half-lit. The broth? Garbage. The pork? Burnt. But the System had given him a path.
Create 10 satisfying dishes.
He straightened his apron and took inventory.
One shriveled onion. Two potatoes. Dried garlic. Cabbage core. Pork scraps. Salt, barely. And the gods-abandoned broth.
He placed the pot back on the burner and whispered:
"Let's try this."
[System Advisory: Dish Crafting in Progress]
Modifiers Active: Basic Knife Mastery (+10%), Flavor Sense I (Passive)
He sliced the onion—crisp, clean, no tears. He browned the scraps of pork, deglazed the pan with boiling water, tossed in garlic, cabbage, and potato. Salted carefully, stirred with focus.
And then… he tasted.
The broth was weak. But now? Balanced. Honest. A working man's stew.
He ladled it into a fresh bowl, added a tiny cabbage garnish, and placed it before the woman.
She sniffed it. Stirred. Took a sip.
She didn't speak, but a flicker of emotion crossed her face.
"Decent," she said. "More than I expected."
Kai exhaled.
[Dish Quality: 6.5/10 – Acceptable]
+6 XP
Progress: 1 / 10 Satisfying Dishes
She slid two silver coins across the counter.
"For effort," she said, standing. "Might be back."
Kai stared at the coins.
That's two days' wages.
The door closed behind her. And a new window appeared.
[Dish Logged: Low-Tier Cabbage Pork Stew]
Flavor Balance: 72%
Cooking Technique Bonus: Knife Mastery Applied
Customer Satisfaction: Moderate
XP Gained: 6
[New Skill Progression: Flavor Sense I → 8%]
He clenched his fists.
I can do this.
One dish down. Nine to go.
He looked up at the rickety kitchen ceiling, water still dripping through the cracked tiles, and whispered, "Let's make this dump a temple."
📜 Status Window: Kai Elgren
Name: Kai Elgren
Age: 19
Class: Apprentice Cook
Level: 1
XP: 6 / 20
Title: None
Reputation: 4 (Whispers Begin)
System: Culinary Ascension Protocol
🧠 Attributes
Culinary Sense: 6
Knife Technique: 5
Heat Control: 4
Stamina: 7
Focus: 8
Mana: 1
🎓 Skills
[Basic Knife Mastery](Passive) – Boosts cutting precision and reduces mistakes.
[Flavor Sense I](Passive) – Detects basic flavor imbalances in food.
(Skill Slot 2 Locked)
🎯 Active Quest
Savor the Start
Progress: 1 / 10
Create 10 satisfying dishes using the Culinary System.
Reward: +50 XP, unlock [Ingredient Recognition I]
🎒 Inventory (Updated)
Iron Knife (Dull but manageable)
Potatoes (x1)
Salt (Low-grade)
Cabbage Core
Pork Scraps
Old Onion
Chipped Ceramic Bowl (x2)