Chapter 4: A Disastrous Recipe Born at Nevermore
The first ray of morning sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains, stinging the dorm room as Enid dreamed of swimming through a sea of rainbow syrup.
Then, she heard the sound of "slurp—slurp—"
"Mmm... who's drinking soup this early in the morning?" she mumbled drowsily, rolling over and burying her face in her unicorn pillow.
"Not soup," Wednesday's voice came from the opposite bunk, cold as ice. "It's some kind of mixture from hell."
Enid's eyes snapped open.
Victor was sitting cross-legged in his "Toilet Kingdom" territory, a bowl of pitch-black noodles in front of him drenched in a thick brown sauce that looked like some kind of excrement mixed with asphalt.
Venom extended half its body from his shoulder, using tendrils to scoop up the noodles and slurp them into its mouth like spaghetti.
"Good morning, ladies!" Vic grinned, his teeth stained with suspicious black residue. "Want some? I just got back from the cafeteria. Honestly, the academy food has zero creativity, so I cooked myself... Ta-da! Squid ink noodles with chocolate sauce—double the richness!"
Wednesday and Enid simultaneously wore expressions that screamed, "How can humans do this?"
"You call this food?" Wednesday's voice sounded like it had just been dug out of a morgue freezer. "This looks like cursed swamp sludge."
"Tastes like it too!" Vic added cheerfully, taking another big slurp. "Venom says this stuff has more chew than brains."
Venom nodded: "And the chocolate sauce masks the fishy taste of the squid ink. Perfect."
Enid's nose twitched. Her werewolf senses instantly caught the bizarre mix of sweet and salty aromas. Her stomach let out a protesting gurgle.
"How... how did you even think to mix these two things together?" she asked with difficulty.
Enid thought that plate of food—well, let's call it food for now—was basically the Frankenstein of the food world.
"Inspiration comes from life!" Vic raised his fork, twirling a clump of black noodles. "Last night I saw Wednesday eating squid ink noodles and Enid munching on a chocolate bar, so my genius brain had a flash of inspiration—"
"—and then short-circuited," Wednesday coldly interrupted. "Normal people would realize these two foods should never meet, not create a taste disaster."
Vic remained unbothered, even enthusiastically pushing the bowl forward: "Don't be shy! Venom prepared two extra portions!"
Wednesday and Enid exchanged glances, reaching a rare consensus—they would absolutely not eat this stuff.
Wednesday elegantly climbed out of bed. She walked over to Vic, looking down at the bowl of "food" with the same expression one might use to examine a corpse that had been rotting for three weeks.
"Let me guess," she said slowly. "Your taste buds were eaten by Venom during childhood, correct?"
"Hey!" Venom protested. "I only eat brains and chocolate! Don't slander me!"
Vic cheerfully took another bite: "Don't be so picky, Wednesday! Life is about daring to try new things!"
"Life should also be about admitting mistakes," Wednesday said expressionlessly. "For example, you should admit right now that this bowl of... substance is a desecration of culinary art."
Enid covered her nose as she leaned closer, a few strands of her golden short hair standing on end from static electricity, like a startled little animal.
"I... I actually like chocolate," she whispered, "But this is just too..."
"Perfect, right?" Vic looked at her expectantly.
"Disgusting!" Enid finally blurted out uncontrollably.
Vic dramatically clutched his chest: "Oh! My heart is broken! Venom, they don't understand our art!"
Venom licked its lips: "Don't be so harsh, girls. Want a taste?" It used a tentacle to scoop up a small clump of noodles, offering it to Wednesday and Enid.
Enid recoiled like a cat with its fur puffed up.
Wednesday stared at the brown and black mixed substance, her gaze resembling someone examining a murder weapon.
"If you attempt to pollute the air with this thing again," she said softly, "I'll give you an enema with chocolate sauce."
Venom: "Is she serious?"
Vic nodded: "I think so."
Enid sighed and rubbed her temples: "Vic, normal people don't add chocolate to squid ink noodles."
"But I'm not normal!" Vic declared righteously.
Wednesday: "I can't argue with that point."
...
Half an hour later, the trio, plus a symbiote, appeared in Nevermore Academy's cafeteria.
Enid carefully sat far away from Vic, carrying a plate of normal human food—fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, and a chocolate milkshake.
Wednesday only took a cup of black coffee, as if her body ran on bitterness and hatred.
Vic... Vic returned with a large plate of "experimental breakfast."
"Look!" he announced excitedly, "I've improved the recipe!"
The plate contained:
-Sausages with peanut butter;
-Scrambled eggs drizzled with maple syrup;
-Bacon stuffed with strawberry jam;
-And a bowl of cereal soaked in cola.
Enid's fork froze mid-air: "Seriously?"
"Of course!" Vic scooped up a spoonful of cola cereal, "Venom says carbohydrates and carbonated drinks are a perfect match!"
Venom emerged from his shoulder, licking its lips: "We watched a food documentary last night."
Wednesday took a sip of coffee, her eyes lifeless: "I hope that documentary's director has committed suicide by now."
Just then, Bianca passed by with her tray, her silver eyes scanning Vic's "cuisine," her lips twitching slightly.
"Do you werewolves all eat this kind of thing now?" she asked Enid, her tone carrying subtle sympathy.
Enid immediately distanced herself: "I'm not familiar with him!"
"Hey!" Vic protested, "We're roommates!"
Bianca sneered and was about to leave when Vic suddenly held up a peanut butter sausage:
"Want to try?"
Her expression looked like someone had splashed sulfuric acid in her face.
"I'd rather eat my own vocal cords."
Wednesday clapped softly: "Finally, someone speaks my mind."
After the breakfast disaster, the three stood before the academy's course announcement board. Nevermore's course schedule resembled some mysterious runic array, written in blood-red ink:
[Werewolf Sociology] Location: Moonlight Courtyard
[Advanced Fencing and Assassination Arts] Location: Second Floor Training Ground
[Siren Hypnosis Theory and Practical Application] Location: Black Lake Dock
[Toxicology and Pastry Making] Location: Kitchen/Laboratory
Wednesday's finger landed directly on the fencing class, her black robes billowing. "I'm going here."
Vic immediately leaned in. "Fencing? Cool! I can be your sparring partner!"
Wednesday gave him a cold glance. "If you come within three meters of me, my sword will 'accidentally' pierce your throat."
"Whoa, so fierce!" Vic chuckled as he stepped back, suddenly turning to Enid. "Then I'll go to the werewolf class with the little wolf girl!"
The tips of Enid's ears instantly turned pink.
"Who-who said you could call me little wolf girl!" she stammered, her nails unconsciously extending and retracting. "And outsiders aren't welcome in werewolf class!"
Vic somehow produced a copy of "How to Tame Your Little Wolf Girl," flipping noisily to a bookmarked page. "The book says werewolves love being scratched behind the ears—"
"That's for dogs!!!" Enid snatched the book and smashed it against his head, her golden short hair puffing up like a dandelion. The base of her tailbone felt strangely warm—heaven knew why she felt this way when she hadn't even grown a tail yet.
Wednesday had already turned to leave, but her voice drifted back: "Remember to record it. I want to see how he dies."