IV: Start by practicing basic recipes.

The main hall of Exousia House buzzed with a symphony of chatter, laughter, and a subtle undercurrent of melancholy. Guild members gathered to celebrate Serys Larkwell's retirement. Weeks had passed since she made her announcement, and though many had tried to persuade against stepping down, none could ignore the determination in her eyes when she spoke of her dream.

As the guild leader, Rieze, and the vice-captain, Gress, navigated the crowd, greeting friends and comrades, Serys stood at the front of the hall. Her long brown hair was tied back, an apron adorned her waist, and her smile was warm yet tinged with the bittersweetness of parting.

"Alright, everyone," she called out, her voice resonating through the hall. "I appreciate you all coming to celebrate my retirement today, but there's still work to be done."

The chatter faded, and all eyes turned toward her.

Serys gave a playful wink. "I need your help."

The guild members exchanged glances, amusement and curiosity flickering in their eyes. It wasn't unusual for Serys to request assistance, but her grin hinted that this would be no ordinary task.

Gress raised an eyebrow. "What exactly are we doing here, Serys?"

Serys's smile widened as she pointed at a stack of crates filled with bags of flour, sugar, and various other baking ingredients. "I need all of you to help me carry these supplies to my new bakery. I'm not moving them on my own!"

The room erupted in laughter, though it carried a note of reluctance. Most of them were seasoned adventurers, accustomed to the thrill of battle and exploration, not the mundane task of hauling crates of ingredients. But when Serys asked for help, there was no backing out.

Veterans groaned, rolling their eyes as they lifted crates of varying sizes.

"Come on, no one's ever going to let me live this down," muttered Elric Valoir, one of the guild's older pugilists, as he hefted a heavy sack of sugar. "This is the last thing I imagined doing when I joined a guild. But it's for Serys… so I guess it's alright."

Serys, still grinning, clapped her hands. "Everyone to the bakery! Let's move out!"

Gress's laugh echoed through the hall. "You heard the lady, folks! Time to haul all this sugar to the bakery and make it sweet!"

With a chorus of half-hearted groans and muttered complaints, the guild members gathered their supplies and began the trek toward the outskirts of Eldoria.

When they arrived at the rundown bakery, the sight that greeted them was as shabby as they had imagined. An inch of dust covered the floor, the windows were grimy, and the roof was almost non-existent.

Gress and Serys took in the scene with a smile, while the others stared at the decrepit cottage in disbelief.

"You're really going to make us fix this up?" Sander Morsen, a young rogue, said with a long sigh, wiping sweat from her brow after having carried her crate across town.

Serys's grin remained unshaken. "Yep. Now, everyone get to work. We need this place up and running as soon as possible!"

She quickly assigned tasks: Gress and Mira, a skilled carpenter from the guild, were put in charge of fixing the roof. Lorne, one of the guild's mages, was tasked with cleaning the windows. Elric and Rex, another veteran warrior, were sent to clear out the old furniture and sweep the floors. Khai, Arden, Tama, and Trej were tasked with creating and assembling new furniture, while the rest of the guild were assigned responsibilities that fit their skills.

The work was tedious and dirty, and there was more than a bit of grumbling from the adventurers. They were used to slaying monsters, not cleaning up broken buildings. But Serys remained upbeat and energetic, constantly encouraging them and ensuring that each person knew where to focus their efforts.

At one point, she climbed up to the roof to check on Gress and Mira, who were working together to replace the damaged tiles.

"You know," Gress called down with a grin, "this is the most fun I've had in weeks! If only all our guild tasks were like this!"

Serys rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Whatever, Gress. Mira, if Gress starts slacking, hit him with a hammer. You have my full permission and pardon."

"Yes, ma'am!" Mira replied with a smile as she saluted her former vice-captain.

"What?!" Gress exclaimed in mock horror.

Hours passed as the guild members worked tirelessly under the warm sun. Slowly but surely, the rundown bakery began to show signs of life. The windows sparkled, the roof was patched up, and the floor was cleared of debris. The place didn't look like much yet, but it was no longer just a forgotten shell.

By late afternoon, the adventurers were weary but satisfied with their progress. The atmosphere in the bakery had shifted from one of reluctance to camaraderie. Everyone had pitched in, and they could see the potential of the place taking shape.

Every now and then, a group or two would disappear to finish and turn in a quest but come back to continue their chore.

Finally, after a long day of hard work, Serys gathered everyone together outside the bakery, standing before the door with a proud smile on her face.

"Thank you, everyone," she said, her voice full of gratitude. "I know it wasn't easy, but I couldn't have done this without all of you."

Gress slung an arm around her shoulders. "Honestly, Serys, I think I'd prefer raiding dungeons to carrying crates, but it wasn't so bad. We really did good work here."

Serys nodded, looking around the room. "You all did amazing. The guild is always going to be my family, and I'm happy to have you all here with me during this new chapter."

Veldar, a veteran bard, stood at the doorway with his arms crossed. He'd been quiet most of the day, but now he spoke up.

"You know, Serys," he said with a mock grumble, "I'm going to miss you. And the guild house won't be the same without you around all the time."

Serys smiled warmly, her heart swelling at his words. "Veldar, I'm not disappearing, you know. I'll still be around—just, maybe not as much as I used to be."

The veteran raised an eyebrow. "So, you won't be sleeping in the guild house anymore?"

Serys shook her head. "Well, I'll still spend my off days there. Don't forget I partly own the guild house with Rieze and Gress. I'm not going anywhere for good."

Rieze, who had been leaning quietly by the door, finally spoke up. "She's right. Serys may be retiring from her role in Exousia, but she's still a part of this guild. And she's still part of us."

Gress gave a loud laugh. "That's right! You can't get rid of her that easily."

Serys gave a soft chuckle, her heart warmed by their words. "Exactly. I'll always be a part of the guild. And this bakery will just be another place for all of you to come visit. After all, where else will you get cakes for a discount?"

Everyone laughed, lifting the heavy atmosphere. They knew something had changed—Serys's journey had just begun.

Serys's dream was becoming a reality, and though she was stepping away from her guild responsibilities, she would always be a part of Exousia. Her bakery was just another way of showing how much she cared.

Despite the exhaustion, the sweat on their brows, and sore muscles from hours of hard work, there was a sense of satisfaction in the air as the day came to a close. The place had gone from a forgotten relic to an up-and-coming spot, thanks to their combined efforts.

But just as they thought it was time to leave, Serys had one more surprise for them.

"Alright, everyone," she called out with a gleam in her eye, "before you leave, I've got something for you all to enjoy."

There was a collective murmur of curiosity as Serys asked them to find a seat inside the bakery, where the air was now thick with the comforting smells of fresh-baked bread, cakes, pastries, and savory dishes. She, along with Iona and Ronan, had prepared a variety of treats—steaming loaves of bread, golden croissants, delicate fruit tarts, and platters of roasted meats, all accompanied by both hot and cold brewed drinks and ale.

The guild members paused for a moment, their mouths watering as they took in the spread.

"Wait a second," Gress said, his eyes widening. "You baked all of this while we were working?"

Serys shrugged, her smile mischievous. "I'm a woman of many talents and employees. And I didn't want you all to leave empty-handed."

Rieze, ever the quiet observer, stepped forward to grab a piece of freshly baked chicken pot pie. His usual composed demeanor softened as he took a bite, his eyes narrowing slightly as he used his appraisal skill, Keen Eye, to assess the food.

"This pie… there's something odd about it," Rieze murmured, feeling his fatigue dissipate. His eyes flickered with recognition as his appraisal revealed more than just the taste. "It's not just any pie. It's… enhanced."

The guild members looked around, confused.

Serys, standing nearby, chuckled softly. "You're right, Rieze. Each of the items I've been making has a little extra. A little boost, if you will."

Rieze raised an eyebrow. "What kind of boosts?"

Serys grinned. "Well, try them and find out. Just be careful not to overdo it."

One by one, the guild members began sampling the food. They found that each pastry, each slice of bread, each sip of drink brought with it a small but noticeable change in their abilities.

Gress took a bite of a hearty meat pie, and after a moment, he felt his body recover from the manual labor he had done. His muscles relaxed, and a vibrant glow settled over him. He looked at Serys, clearly impressed.

"This… this is incredible. I feel like I could take on a whole dungeon after just one bite!" he said, his usual roguish grin spreading across his face.

"How did you do this?" Arden, the guild's only spear master, asked.

"Well, a little of this and that. I've been experimenting for years. Haven't you ever wondered why I always feed you before fighting monsters?" Serys explained, as the members started murmuring, discussing the baked goods Serys had given them over the years.

Mira, the woodworker, took a sip of the chilled herbal tea, and her eyes widened in surprise as the weariness she'd felt from the day's work seemed to melt away. "This tea… it's like it's giving me a second wind. At first I thought I just felt happy every time you make me your famous apple tarts!"

The others began to notice similar effects with the foods they sampled, realization dawning on them. Some felt their speed increase, others had greater clarity of mind. There were even those who found themselves physically stronger or more resilient. It was as though each treat had been crafted with care to enhance a different attribute. They realized they had been part of Serys's trials and errors.

Serys watched their reactions with amusement, pleased by their surprise. She turned to Rieze. 

"Go ahead, Rieze. I'm sure you can see the effects with your skill."

Rieze nodded. Using his Keen Eye again, he focused on a small plate of mixed berry tarts, which seemed to shine with an iridescent glow. His appraisal skill revealed that the tarts granted a temporary boost to mana regeneration for up to two hours.

"These… restore mana over time," he murmured, slightly awestruck. 

The guild members turned to Serys, realizing that her pastries were not just delicious—they were useful.

"How… how did you do this?" Veldar asked, unable to hide his amazement.

Serys winked. "Well, as you all know, I also have mastery in Alchemy. It's part of my training. Each ingredient I use, each recipe I create, has a purpose beyond just flavor."

She glanced at the group, her eyes softening. "I've always believed that food should be more than just nourishment. It should heal, it should empower, and it should bring people together. That's what I'm hoping to create here."

Rieze, still processing the sheer effectiveness of the food, nodded slowly. "This… this is more than just a bakery. This is a place of power. People will come here for more than just the taste. They'll come for the benefits, the buffs."

Serys smiled at him. "Exactly. And these attributes aren't just for adventurers. Everyone—locals, even tourists—can benefit from them."

Gress, always ready for mischief, leaned in toward Serys with a playful grin. "You know, I think I'm going to be eating here every day. You're making me a permanent customer, Serys," he said while pocketing some of the bread rolls he had been eating.

The others laughed; the mood lightened as they continued sampling the baked assortments. It was clear that Serys's little bakery would be a place of great interest and importance in Eldoria.

But there was something deeper at play, something that Serys had quietly acknowledged within herself: she had moved one step closer to her dream.

As the day wound down and the guild members prepared to leave, Serys stood back and watched them go, her heart swelling with pride. The bakery was just the start of her new adventure. She had much more to offer than just baked goods, and now, thanks to her hard work and the support of her friends, she was ready to make her mark in Eldoria.

"Take care, everyone," she called out to them. "Remember, there's always food and a buff waiting for you here. And don't forget—the first round of drinks is on the house!"

With that, the guild members cheered as they left, all smiles and satisfied bellies. They knew they wouldn't be saying goodbye to Serys for long. The bakery was just a new chapter—one that they'd be visiting often, for both the food and the friendship that came with it.