When Valek was frustrated with his studies he often found himself working in the kitchens. The young teen had taken to a training academy where he could hone his fighting skills, both magical and physical, but he still had a fair amount of energy to burn after the daily sessions. It wasn’t that he was struggling with the workload but more that he was struggling with his behavior during the classes and his interactions with classmates. The hybrid had a short temper and in a room of mostly noble children he found it truly hard to hold his tongue and his fists. They already had chastised him for several fights before Valek had learned to start taking his aggression out in the training fields. When that had burned him out he had found himself wandering through the academy grounds late one night and it was then that a friendly older woman had showed him to the kitchens.

“There’s an older one in here and if you would like I can leave ingredients for you.” She had suggested with a small smile once he had opened up to her after a couple of late night visits and chats with tea and sweets. “I don’t mind if you use the back kitchen and no one else should come in to bother you.”

“Thank you.” Valek had truly appreciated her kindness, the older Matori was the first one to truly show him such a thing at this place without wanting anything in return. Now he was experimenting in the kitchens so that he could make sweets for his family back home or rather at least for his father. Since they had taken to finding their own paths, Valek and his father had been the only ones to truly keep in touch the most. Now that Tytus was out wandering on military leave the pile of letters between the two had only grown. Valek would write about his studies, leaving out most of the more boring things like fights between peers and punishments from his teachers, and Tytus would describe each country as he traveled through and his findings or adventures there. The last letter had included a package of baked goods and so Valek thought it would be fitting to send some back in turn. Even more fitting if he made them himself for his father to enjoy.

“Alright so you have to melt the chocolate over the boiling water…” As he read the recipe out loud to himself, Valek started the fire and set an iron pot of water above it. While waiting on the water to start boiling he prepared the little blocks of dark chocolate and placed them in a ceramic bowl that would fit above the boiling water. That way the chocolate could melt from the excess heat without burning or getting wet. Some sugar could be added or in the case of his father’s favorite things, Valek would add in some salt and a cream to make it more of a truffle candy. So while the water boiled nearby he prepared the cream mixture in another pan over a second fire. Milk, sugar, egg and some spices. Valek frowned thoughtfully as he tossed all the ingredients together and sniffed at the mixture. Trying a bit on his finger, he nodded before taking the wooden spoon and stirring it over the fire. While it warmed, he prepared the chocolate that he had melted and poured it into almost shell-like shapes. It could quickly cool and then he would add the cream filling on the inside. A little bit would show from the top of the candy since he would leave a hole in the chocolate spheres to pour the filling into. Valek wondered if he should try to cover it with more chocolate later once everything had cooled or if he should add a berry or something as garnishment for the little opening. “I suppose I will see how I feel once I get everything put together.” He just hoped that his father would like them once he was finished. It had taken days of practice but finally it seemed like Valek was getting the hang of this whole baking and candy making business. Well maybe not the best grasp of it but at least it’s something. Not that he would use that skill for anyone other than maybe his father and if someone else should ever be close enough to warrant such effort from the mischievous teen in the future.

[752]