New Recipe

The next morning Aiden woke up feeling refreshed. He stretched his back feeling as though he had been reborn. That bed was so comfortable that he couldn't believe that it wasn't made out of the clouds themselves, he had checked. It was certainly a step up from the rocky cave floor where he had been sleeping. Even the old rickety bed he had at the Moore Family paled in comparison, though to be fair everything at the Moore Family paled in comparison to the Sommerset clan. 

Aiden washed his face and teeth in the bathroom before choosing an outfit for the day. It was a novel experience, because before he had only had a few outfits in total and they were all the same threadbare overwashed gray robes. He sorted through the armoire to find a deep burnt orange robe, he thought it matched his amber eyes.

 After Aiden carefully changed into the new silk robe, he noticed that embroidered along the hem and sleeves were small golden oak leaves. The oak leaf was the family crest of the Sommerset clan, and the fact that they were embroidered meant that he was truly considered a part of the family. His small fingers ran over the delicate embroidery, Aiden wasn't sure what he was feeling, happiness or nervousness. It felt like a small ball in the middle of his chest. He had spent ten years in the Moore family as a stranger, but not even one day in the Sommerset clan and he was given so much. Aiden worked hard to press down his emotions before taking a deep breath, he was going to work soon. 

With determined steps, Aiden left his bedroom and headed to see Marcus. Standing in front of the heavy wooden bedroom door, Aiden reached out his hand and knocked. After waiting a moment he heard Marcus call him inside. He gingerly opened the door, his amber eyes wide as he looked around curiously. The room was relatively similar in layout to his own, but the desk was filled with papers and books much like the study where he had spoken with Marcus the day before. There was also an incense burner releasing a calming scent in one corner. As his eyes moved around the room they slammed into two green eyes that were watching him with amusement.

 " See anything you like?" Marcus asked, his amusement bleeding into his voice.

 Aiden coughed in embarrassment, before changing the subject, " Good morning Marcus. Did you sleep well? I have come over to check on your condition" 

Marcus let out a peal of laughter before graciously following the conversation, " Good morning Aiden. I slept the best I have in many years." Marcus then reached out his hand so that Aiden could start his examination. Aiden reached out with a serious expression, but his red cheeks and ears betrayed him. 

After calming himself down, he carefully sent his mental power through Marcus' veins and took in his condition. His meridians were slowly healing, with fresh and tender growth commonly seen throughout. As Aiden looked, he examined Marcus' organs and was gratified to see that their condition was much improved. 

He carefully withdrew his mental power, before turning to Marcus with a smile. " Your condition is looking much better today, and I think we can try a stronger healing recipe focused on your organs. I am worried that if we don't make absolutely certain that the healing energy has penetrated deep into each organ that we may leave behind hidden injuries that could be a fatal flaw later on." As he spoke Aiden was able to find a confidence that he had never had before. Alchemical treatment and practice seemed to come naturally to him and he felt calm when discussing it. 

Marcus listened to him attentively, his emerald green eyes focused on Aiden's own amber eyes. " Well, I leave myself in your capable hands my Little Alchemist. Remember to find Dylan if you are short of anything." Aiden nodded before happily announcing that he was going to make breakfast and bounced out of the bedroom.

 Aiden made his way back to his Alchemy room, ready to start a productive day. Now that he had confirmed Marcus' condition, he was ready to move forward with confidence. Aiden began to gather the ingredients for today's breakfast.

 Softsand Potatoes, for the earth element, these potatoes were also good for reinforcing the strength of the body which would help enhance the new and weak flesh that had just grown. Saber Tailed Viper eggs for the wood element, eggs were an enormous source of nutrition and this was even more so for eggs of the wood element. Also because they were just eggs, the vicious and aggressive energy of the Saber Tailed Viper was reduced because they hadn't had time to accrue any murderousness. 

He grabbed some more Blue Spinach for the water element, but since it only had mild properties and today he wanted a stronger recipe, Aiden chose to grab some Lakegazers. Lakegazers were a dark blue mushroom often found along the shore of large bodies of water, earning their name. These mushrooms were often used to build up resistances to disease and Aiden was worried that because Marcus had yet to cultivate he was vulnerable to illness.

 He grabbed some Coal peppers for the fire element, they were also good for burning away old weak flesh to make way for new strong growth. For the wind element Aiden chose Spiralgale leaves, a strangely fragrant plant that had leaves that grew out in spoke-like patterns that seemed to rotate on the breeze. After finishing the selection it was time to prep the ingredients.

 The Softsand Potatoes were a light brown color, with a thin skin wrapping the outside. Aiden chopped them into fine cubes. The Blue Spinach was left as whole leaves, but the Lakegazers were quartered. The Coal Peppers were finely minced, and the Spiralgale leaves were roughly chopped. Each ingredient was enveloped in his mental energy to prevent any of their aura from leaking and damaging the efficacy. 

Aiden moved the Blue Spinach and the Lakegazers into the cauldron first, water energy filling the bottom. After letting them simmer for a few minutes, leaching water, the Softsand Potatoes were tossed in. A steady earth energy emanated from them sharply dividing the pot between earth energy and water energy. Aiden spent a bit of time to crisp the outsides of the potatoes while carefully blending the water energy into the earth energy. Water has an erosive property to it, so he had to be careful to blend but not disperse the earth energy. 

When it was suitably blended, Aiden cracked the Saber Tailed Viper eggs into the cauldron. He immediately guided the wood energy to take root in the blended earth and water energy. At the same time he began to stir the eggs into the mix and make sure they were mixed throughout. Next, the Coal Peppers went in, fiery energy seemed to explode upwards as the whole cauldron let out a sizzling sound. 

Aiden's fingers seemed to fly as they formed symbols preventing the energy from escaping. As the heat became more intense the wood energy seemed to have received a huge stimulus and it rapidly began to devour the water and earth energy. 

Before the wood energy could get too far ahead of itself, the fire energy began to try and consume it, maintaining a tenuous balance as the two competed for dominance. As soon as the fire energy showed signs of overcoming the wood energy, the Spiralgale leaves were placed in. A vortex of wind swirled inside the cauldron announcing the presence of an extremely strong wind energy. With a third competing force within, the fire energy came to a standstill no longer gaining any ground against the wood energy. 

Aiden focused sharply, his hands rapidly moving, forming signs as fiery red runes formed among the shadows of his palms. A phoenix seemed to fly among his fingers, letting out a proud song as he forced the energy into homeostasis. The whole cauldron seemed to shudder as the energies within finally settled. Aiden wiped his forehead as he carefully transferred the meal into a separate pot for it to finish cooking. 

He then turned back to the cauldron to make his own meal. He had decided that he was going to make the Soft Boned Snake Stew that he had been unable to complete before. The resources here were far more complete than the forest and there were multiple metal element ingredients to choose from. He quickly chose his ingredients, Saber Tailed Viper for the wood element meat, Eidle Root for the earth element, Iron Needle fruit for the metal element, and cold spring water for the water element. 

Although usually pure water which didn't have any elemental bias was used, since he needed a strong water elemental ingredient the cold spring water was perfect. The Iron Needle fruit was the fruit of a type of cactus that grew in areas with heavy metallic energy. 

After searing the snake meat to get color, Aiden tossed the Eidle Root and Iron Needle Fruit in, letting them cook a bit before the cold spring water was poured in. Aiden smoothly began to move his hands through the Rising Phoenix Palms, conducting the energy as if it was an orchestra. The blending went smoother this time than any time before, he seemed to reach a mysterious state where his body was moving without his command and his mind was reaching a new level of understanding of this technique. 

When the energies settled, Aiden snapped out of this state in a daze. He stared at his hands in surprise, he seemed to see faint flame marks flicker across the skin. When he looked closer however, there was nothing. He took about twenty or so minutes to meditate and refresh his energy before beginning to plate the food. He sent word to Marcus that the meal was ready. Aiden couldn't wait to sit down at the table, he was starving after all that work.