Once Kai brought Baal back to the sorceress, they discussed his idea of using his earth shaping to manipulate the shape of the metal scales into a large slab for Myst to heat up and cook the meat.

  If his idea were doable, the group would no longer have to eat raw food and could cook again without any materials to make a fire. Considering the group had been mostly underwater for the last few months, this idea became an immediate priority.

  With everyone working together, it only took a few minutes.

  Kai and the rest stood around the pit while Myst and Baal crouched down. Myst placed one hand on a metal grip resting over the pit with thin slabs of meat on top..

  She directed her aether through her aspect and used her third ability - electrical heating - to heat the metal until it began turning a slight red before maintaining the temperature.

  She had organised the scales and selected those that were reactive to her ability and that would start changing colour at a lower heat to help limit the amount of aether spent, and gauge how hot she was making the metal to prevent burning the food.

  Baal sat opposite her, holding his cherished bag of spices on his lap and a small plate in one hand. His other hand held a pair of long and thin earth chopsticks slightly longer than his forearm.

  The chopsticks and plate had been made for him by his brother to help after they had worked together to use the earth aspect in the metal scales to reshape them into the grid.

  He used the chopsticks to turn or push down on the meat occasionally, searing the underside where it touched the hot metal. He would also temporarily hold them in his mouth by the base whilst sprinkling some herbs and seasoning on several meat slabs before returning to pressing or flipping the meat again.

  Baal’s masterful use of timing and pressure filled the area with the smell of succulent, fresh steaks, while his experienced combination of herbs seemed to strip the pieces of the smell of blood and give them a golden brown colour.

  Everyone waited patiently with bated breaths at the delicacy slowly unfolding before them.

  “Is it ready yet?” Lily asked, eager to begin eating.

  “Be patient,” Baal replied for the seventh time, having long given up on reminding her of the time it would take.

  He pressed down on a small piece of meat and watched as it slowly sank into the gaps in the grill, a few drops of golden fat dripping into an earthen wok they had placed at the bottom of the pit.

  The sizzling sounds emitted caused several members to lick their lips, their eyes trailing after his every hand movement.

  Baal stared hard at this piece for a moment before releasing the pressure and watching it rise.

  He opened his grip and picked up the meat, slowly moving it towards himself.

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  Everyone’s eyes followed the meat's movement.

  He took it past the edges of the grill.

  Close to the edge of the pit.

  Their hearts began pounding faster.

  He leaned forward.

  Brought the piece close to his eye level.

  And ate it.

  “HEY, NO FAIR!” Lily immediately shrieked indignantly as she watched the bliss fill their chef’s eyes.

  Baal threw her a silent glance before speaking.

  “Needs longer.”

  Everyone’s shoulders and expressions fell.

  A split second later, he spoke again.

  “And done.”

  His calm and meticulous movements suddenly vanished, replaced with a swift and ferocious speed.

  He grabbed four pieces and deposited them on Myst's plate, tapping the grill next to her hand once done to signal.

  Before he had finished grabbing the next four, she had already stuffed a piece in her mouth. Her eyes curled up in bliss as a bursting ocean of flavour and juice erupted across her taste buds.

  A thin trickle of golden juice escaped her lips and tried to trickle down her chin before being stolen back by her tongue.

  Baal proceeded to fill everyone else’s plate.

  Four pieces went to their leader, Kai. Three pieces were given to Song, his brother, and Harold each.

  Beri received two of the larger pieces, and one piece was given to Lily.

  Perhaps hoping to reprimand the girl for her lack of patience, he opened his mouth…Only to close it when he saw the visage of the ravenous young girl abandon her chopsticks and stuff the meat into her mouth with her finges - pushing it further in as thought to stop it any escaping.

  Her glee-filled look and juice-dripping chin couldn’t care about anything beyond the meal. It was as though she hadn’t realized she was starving until receiving it and was then immediately enslaved to her hunger.

  He quietly placed four more pieces on her plate, careful that his tools were not devoured in the same process, before finally depositing the rest on his.

  If there was only one perk of being both a food lover and the group’s chef, it was undeniably that he could prepare a large batch and eat as much of the food as he wanted.

  The group stood around, quietly eating their meals while the grid slowly cooled. Baal watched it turn from a soft red to its natural off-greyish colour.

  After he had finished eating, Baal retrieved a small truffle from his bag and lightly warmed it by pressing it against the metal.

  As he went to place his rare palate cleanser in his mouth, he noticed seven expectant pairs of eyes staring his way.

  “...”

  He stared back--

  “...”

  -- but he was stared back at seven times over.

  Sighing, he threw the warmed truffle into his mouth before taking out several more and pointing to the grill to signal Myst, who eagerly moved.

  She placed her hand back on and began to channel her aether.

  While he was heating the last of his truffles for his comrades, Lily placed a large plate of freshly sliced meat next to him, the dagger still in her hand, dripping with red.

  His expression cracked as he looked at the girl whose smile beamed expectantly back.

  He turned to the rest of his team and saw them all staring at him with the same incredulous look.

  “...Go cut a few more plates.” He sighed resignedly.

  Lilly and Song rushed off.

  If he was going to be stuck doing this, he decided he would make some travel rations for later.

  Wonder if I’ll have enough seasoning, he thought as he saw his brother making several plates one after another for them to fill.