The midday forest was filled with a fragrant aroma.
An apprentice from the Tower of Forest was in charge of the meals. One of them, a stout and rather large young man, took a cast-iron pot from a packhorse's back. He rinsed it with the Water Creation Skill before taking out their ingredients.
He heated the bottom of the pot until it was warm—but not too hot—and tossed in two pats of butter. With a SIZZLE, the butter slid across the bottom, melting until it bubbled gently.
Next, he added diced onions to the pot. As he stir-fried them, they began to caramelize, their sharp pungency fading away to leave only a sweet fragrance.
He poured in the sliced mushrooms, stirring them gently and sparingly. No water was needed; the mushrooms soon released their own flavorful juices.
A pinch of salt, some precious black pepper, and a handful of flour went into the pot. The apprentice-chef took special care to toast the flour until it was cooked through.
