The kitchen of Dragon's Feast was an open-plan design connected directly to the hall, allowing the interior to be seen clearly.
Starlight followed the waitress's pointing finger and noticed an old man and a young man standing in the kitchen. They had their backs to the room, busy tinkering with something.
The peculiar fragrance they had smelled outside was emanating from right in front of these two.
Curious about their actions, Starlight stood up and walked to the edge of the kitchen to get a better look.
When he reached the side, he saw a bright red steak in front of each of them, which were indeed the sources of the strange aroma.
“Hiss! Why is that old man here? Little Star, you’re in luck!” Noah’s voice suddenly rang in Starlight’s mind.
“What do you mean by ‘in luck’? Is there something special about this old gentleman?” Starlight asked, somewhat puzzled.
“Of course he’s special! This fellow is one of the Grand Archmages you’ve been looking for! The Fire Archmage, Branno of the Blessed Fire! Doesn’t he usually stay in the Ochre City-State to the south? I hadn’t heard any news of him for a long time; I thought he had already passed away of old age!” Noah explained.
“...?! What?!” Starlight was instantly shocked. He hurriedly sized up the unassuming old man before him.
The old man was quite advanced in age, but his spirit was remarkably vibrant. His silvery-white hair fluttered gently behind him, lending him an air of otherworldly transcendence.
The young man beside him was tall with fiery, dazzling red hair. His chef’s whites were spotless as he focused intently on the frying pan in front of him.
At the same time, Starlight noticed that neither of them was using the fire from the stove. Instead, they were using their own mana to cook the steaks in the pans.
Po Kong had told him before that the vast majority of mages on the continent disdained using magic for such “lowly” tasks.
While Starlight himself didn’t see anything wrong with it, he had never actually met another mage who put this into practice until now.
Not only had two appeared at once, but one was the legendary Fire Archmage. How could he not be surprised?
Starlight had tried using fire elements for heating before, but he didn’t do it as a matter of habit.
The nature of the fire element was intense and violent. With even a slight lapse in concentration, the entire pot of food could literally be reduced to ashes.
This method was not only complex to operate but also extremely exhausting. Therefore, Starlight’s usual approach was to use an open flame and then adjust the concentration of fire elements to control the temperature.
However, cooking entirely with one's own mana yielded excellent results; it was a method with a very high ceiling but a very low floor.
If a Fire Archmage’s control over flames was already perfected, then the youth with Branno, who was clearly not much older than Starlight, possessing such refined skill was truly impressive.
As the minutes ticked by, the aroma from the pans grew even more intense.
“Up!”
Branno barked softly. The steak in his pan flipped over as a flame flared up, landing steadily on a nearby plate.
The young man gave his wrist a light flick, and the steak in his pan followed suit, landing in the dish before him under his control.
Just then, Branno suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze landing on Starlight.
“Young man, you’ve been watching for a long time. Why don’t you act as our judge?” His voice was booming and powerful, carrying a hint of undeniable authority.
Starlight was stunned. Before he could answer, the red-haired youth also turned and looked at him with a smile.
“Indeed. Since you’re so interested in our cooking methods, why not taste our handiwork and give us a score?”
Starlight scratched his head awkwardly. Just as he was about to decline, he heard Noah say in his mind, “Accept! This is a great opportunity!”
So, Starlight nodded and said with a smile, “Then I shall gladly accept.”
Branno nodded with satisfaction and handed his plate to Starlight. The red-haired youth placed his work before Starlight as well, and seeing this, the waitress immediately brought him a set of cutlery.
Both steaks looked incredibly tempting, their surfaces golden and crispy, radiating a rich aroma.
Starlight picked up the knife and fork, carefully cut a small piece of Branno’s steak, and put it in his mouth.
Instantly, a burst of rich meat fragrance exploded in his mouth. The crispness of the exterior and the tenderness of the interior were perfectly combined, and the heat was managed flawlessly. The fine fat melted like nectar the moment it was eaten, sliding directly down his throat.
Next, he tasted the red-haired youth’s steak. This piece was equally stunning, but in comparison, it had a hint of fresh flavor, like a dancing flame on the tongue, providing a unique sense of depth.
“Well?” Branno and the red-haired youth asked simultaneously, their eyes full of anticipation.
Starlight set down his cutlery and said seriously, “While I’m not sure what meat this is, both of your skills are exceptional. The old gentleman’s steak has precise heat and a perfect texture; while the... Young Master’s steak has a unique freshness that leaves a lasting impression.”
In Starlight’s eyes, both were perfect. He truly couldn’t make a decision easily, so after asking the teacher and student for their permission, he let Moen and Little Gold try as well.
The result was that Moen preferred the unique flavor of the youth’s steak, while Little Gold preferred the perfect texture of Branno’s.
As a result, there was still no clear winner for their duel.
Branno laughed heartily and patted the red-haired youth’s shoulder. “It seems it’s another draw!”
The youth smiled as well, a flash of pride in his eyes.
“Young man, you have a good eye for cooking.” Branno looked at Starlight with a hint of admiration. “How about you give it a try? Use your magic to make a dish for us?”
Starlight was momentarily stunned and was about to refuse when Branno’s next words made him swallow his rejection.
“From your expression, you know who I am, don’t you?” Branno looked at Starlight with interest. “And you feel... quite familiar to me.”
“Um... yes. Hello, Master Branno!” Starlight nodded respectfully and answered softly.
“Eh? This old gentleman is...?” Moen was also surprised.
She naturally knew Starlight’s goal and had helped look through a lot of related intelligence, but she truly hadn’t expected to encounter a legendary Archmage in this place.
“Just tell him the truth. This old guy’s personality might seem strange to ordinary people, but he might actually get along quite well with you!” Noah said quickly in his mind.
Although Starlight didn’t quite understand the specific meaning behind those words, he immediately introduced himself as Noah instructed.
“My name is Starlight White. I am the son of Arthur White and the disciple of Carlos Noah.”
“Oh? So you’re the kid of those two... No wonder! I thought you looked familiar. So that’s how it is...” Branno stroked his white beard and nodded slightly. “So, why are you looking for an old man like me? Or did you just come for a meal?”
“Actually, we were just drawn in by the aroma. I truly didn’t expect to meet you here... though I do indeed have something I wish to discuss with you.”
After a brief thought, Starlight honestly revealed his goal of wanting to learn from him.
Rate on N.U.
