{Elira}
~**^**~
The heavy oak doors to the cafeteria kitchen creaked open as one of the staff waved us inside.
Warmth hit instantly, along with the sharp scents of onions sizzling in pans, fresh bread baking, and herbs ground into butter. The kitchen bustled—pots clanged, knives chopped, ovens glowed.
The head cook, a broad-shouldered man with streaks of gray in his hair, barely looked up when he saw me and just ordered us all to grab our aprons.
Then he pointed toward a stack of crates by the counter. "New helper. Put those in the prep area. Wash up after."
"Yes, sir," I murmured, moving quickly to obey.
Beside me, my friends fanned out uncertainly—Nari wrinkling her nose at the scent of raw fish, Cambria tying an apron over her uniform, Juniper sighing like she was about to enter battle. Tamryn, as always, said nothing, but rolled up her sleeves without complaint.
