The roads east of Braisenhold were lined with obsidian gravel and streaked with old cooking smoke—remnants of a thousand hopefuls who'd once walked this path. For Kai Elgren, the Emberpath wasn't just a road to the regional culinary tournament. It was the first true test of his growing legend.
His bakerbeast mount, Plum, snorted as they crested a shallow ridge. The plains beyond shimmered with summer heat. In the distance, the city of Vaelridge came into view, its twin cooking towers spitting steam into the blue sky. It was here the Blazing Talon Tournament would be held.
In his pack, his knives were freshly sharpened. His spices meticulously portioned. His skill token spent, his soul tempered.
And in his mind: only fire and ambition.
Contestant Grounds
Upon arriving in Vaelridge, Kai registered at the tournament hall—a vast stone arena filled with crackling braziers and roaring laughter. Hundreds of chefs moved like streams in a river of competition: chopping, searing, tasting, adjusting.
A large screen floated above them:
Blazing Talon Tournament – Regional Tier
Entry Status: Confirmed
Contestant ID: #117 Kai Elgren
Round One Theme: "Smoke & Spirit"
Ingredient Constraint: Must include at least one Tier 2 Ingredient
Kai narrowed his eyes. Smoke & Spirit. The theme was open to interpretation—but that also meant every judge would have wildly different expectations.
Before he could ponder it too long, a voice cut through the crowd.
"Flamewright? More like flame-fraud."
He turned.
It was the same rival who challenged him before —Riven Grael, the scion of the Ironplate Culinary Academy. Dressed in molten-steel greaves and carrying a cleaver carved from volcanic glass, Riven looked like a war-chef from another age.
"I saw your trial entry. Cute dish," Riven sneered. "Let's see if your artistry holds up under real pressure."
Kai just smiled, calm and focused.
"Guess we'll find out."
The Challenge Begins
The arena bell rang. Flames burst to life on every station.
Kai's fingers moved automatically. He selected:
Tier 2 Ingredient: Smoked Bark Lobster
Accompanied by: Pine-essence Oil, Glimmerroot Mash, and Ghost Pepper Dust
He activated his skills in sequence.
[Heat Control III – 5 MP]
[Flame Artistry I – 13 MP]
Mana: 10 → -8 (Auto recharge needed post-round)
His dish: Lobster Heart of Ash — a smoked-lobster tail seared under shifting fire heat, plated over glowing ember rice infused with glimmerroot and pine-oil mist. A light dusting of ghost pepper added heat on the back end—spirit after smoke.
He presented it to the judges with precision.
Across from him, Riven offered a flame-charred bison dish with fermented root glaze—powerful, but unsubtle.
The Judging
Three judges sat: one was a Guild culinary historian, another a spice botanist, and the third… a grizzled chef with half a beard and a scar across his lip.
They tasted Riven's dish first.
"Strong. Brash. Like chewing coal-drenched thunder," one said.
Then Kai's.
Silence. Then a slow inhale.
"The smoke didn't overpower the spirit—it lifted it," the historian murmured.
"Balanced. Intelligent. This is fire with restraint," the botanist added.
The scarred chef just gave Kai a nod.
[Quest Complete: First Tournament Round – Blazing Talon]
+120 XP
+Tier 2 Ingredient x1 (Judges' Favor Pack)
+Reputation +10
Current XP: 120 / 600
Aftermath
Riven stormed out without a word. Kai, meanwhile, was ushered into the contestants' lounge for Round Two briefings.
The Guild staff handed him a sealed envelope marked with steam runes.
Round Two Theme: "Time & Memory"
You must recreate a dish tied to your past—either as homage, invention, or revival.
Emotional impact will be judged equally alongside flavor.
Kai sat down, the letter in one hand.
Time and memory.
His thoughts drifted—not to Ardentia, not to fire—but to his grandmother's cottage… the faint scent of barley stew… and the warmth of simpler dreams.
A new kind of fire stirred in him.
Kai Elgren
Level: 7
XP: 120 / 600
Stat Points Available: 3
Mana: 0 / 10 (awaiting recharge)
Titles: Junior Chef, Pan Warden, Fire-Touched, Ember Disciple, Soulkindle Cook, Flamewright
Reputation: 126
Skills:
Heat Control III (Active, 5 MP)
Flame Artistry I (Active, 13 MP)
Ember Savor I (Passive)
Heat Cloak I (Passive)
Flame Memory I (Passive)
Basic Knife Mastery (Passive)
Flavor Sense I (Passive)
Ingredient Recognition I (Passive)
Inventory:
Tier 2 Ingredient: Judges' Favor Pack (sealed)