[Seris's POV]
The steady, rhythmic hiss of boiling water and the sharp sizzle of a hot pan echoed softly through the massive dining hall.
I sat at the long wooden table, my chin resting on my hands, my eyes fixed on Leo as he moved around the kitchen.
The warm light from the floating lamps caught his loose white hair, which had escaped his ponytail and now framed his face. The smell of rich spices began to rise from his cooking, covering up the burnt smell from my failed attempt.
I still didn't understand where I went wrong.
My mind kept replaying the whole thing over and over. I had gathered all the ingredients. The recipe said I needed heat to cook the mixture. I just gave it a boost with my Lunar power to speed things up.
So why did it explode? Was my mixing wrong? Was the flour bad? It made no sense. When a spell fails, the mana just breaks apart cleanly. But cooking leaves a burnt, sticky mess that feels like it's laughing at me.
Even more confusing was Leo himself.
