Cinder X Bella ~ Four!

The next two and a half months passed without incident, Bella's fourteenth birthday coming and going at the end of summer without being remarked upon—though Cook did make sure to prepare her a special meal. As the master of the house was away, everyone else seemed more at ease, doing their work briskly and quickly so as to be able to find time to relax in the evenings. For Bella, every passing week meant a loosening of the noose she’d felt tightening around her throat.

Aria, now the head maid, was a cold, if pretty woman. She went about her tasks joylessly, rushing Bella to perfect her assigned tasks so she could be rid of the young nuisance. On her first day of her punishment, Bella had apologized to the cook for getting Sienna sent away, only to receive a stern order in reply:

“Apologize to me once you've burned yourself.” 

As the first Saturday of the week came along, Bella nearly immediately burned herself trying to pull a pan of bread out of the oven, having her wrist brush across the open door. As she held the injury in a pot of cold water, the cook, whose name was also Giada, just like her daughter—hence everyone only ever calling her ‘Cook’—clucked her tongue and shook her head. “Now you know why you needn’t apologize for this, young mistress. Your father has very… shall we say, intense feelings, when it comes to the gifts of the system.”

The cook paused for a moment, placing a flour-coated finger on Bella's chin and lifting it so their eyes would meet. “Between you and me, your father is very unreasonable about this. We've all seen you trying to follow his demands, but I knew your mother. You have her heart. You should be out in the woods, learning by doing. But, Signore Alaric only knows one way forward. His way. Do your best; it's all any of us can do.

For her part, Bella quickly found that she actually enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, at least, after Cook finally decided that losing her young burn-healing apprentice wasn't her fault. As the weeks went by, she had longer and more in-depth conversations with the matronly woman, at least when she wasn't busy preparing food for the staff. Finally, Bella became comfortable enough with her to even be slightly rude.

“Cook?” the young woman ventured nervously as the older woman sat down for the first time all morning. “I know it's terribly impolite to ask this, but… what's your class?”

The woman looked up from her work with a quizzical expression on her face. After a moment, she replied in a tone which made it clear Bella's question had been a foolish one. “Child, I’m a Cook.”

“Well… I know it's your job, but what do the glowing words on your arm say your class is?” Bella spoke haltingly, her face blazing with heat from her embarrassment. “I know it's not something we're supposed to ask, but… I just have no idea what to expect.”

“Well, you’re about that age, aren't you?” Cook let out a long sigh, tapping her own left arm hesitantly before speaking once more. “Bella, these gifts are just tools to help us be better on our path in life. I'm a Cook, just as my mother was, and her great aunt. My daughter's gift is to be a Storyteller, which is why she was so willing to travel with your father when she was younger. I taught her to cook, but she’ll never have the ability to create masterpieces such as I can. Still, being a Storyteller doesn't exactly earn enough for her to make a proper living, which just goes to show that having talents outside of what’s given to you by the system is at least as important as what it does give you.” 

Cook paused for a long moment before hesitantly offering an opinion, “I think that's what your father has been trying to teach you all along, in his own way. On that note, I'll thank you very much not to use our conversation in an argument with him. He likes the food I make, but not enough that he wouldn't throw me out on my rear if he thought I was turning you against him. Understood?” 

“I think I've learned my lesson about fighting with Father.” Bella ruefully gestured to her overall disheveled appearance, earning a chuckle from the cook. “So… what does it mean, to have the class of a Cook? Why can't Giada do what you do?”

“Very well, come here and take a look. I hope you understand not to ask someone to do this for you in the future, as some people are secretive enough to immediately start a fight if you ask to know their strengths and weaknesses.” Cook held up her index and middle fingers, then ran them along the inside of her left arm.

Basic Class: Joyful Meal-maker

Basic Skill: Meal Assemblage: Level 10/10. 

You find joy and fulfillment in creating and preparing a meal. Any kitchen you enter will allow you to locate all tools of your trade [Perfectly].

Advanced Skill: Herbs and Fungi: Level 10/10.

When viewing any herb growing from the ground, you are able to [Perfectly] tell which one is the freshest and most flavorful. On sight, you can [Perfectly] determine what fungi are dangerous or delicious to eat.

Breakthrough skill: Permanently Locked.

Advanced Class: Rotisseur 

Basic Skill: Dairy Determination: Level 10/10.

When viewing dairy products, you can [Perfectly] determine how fresh it is, as well as how long until it will spoil. You are also able to Perfectly determine the best dish to use the dairy in to complement the unique and subtle flavors it provides.

Advanced Skill: Carnitarian Chef: Level 9/10.

When viewing animal flesh, butchered or otherwise, you are able to [Masterfully] determine what is fresh, healthy, and unlikely to make those who consume it sick. Based on the cut, you are able to [Masterfully] determine the best method of preparing the meat to create the best version of the intended meal.

Breakthrough skill: Permanently Locked.

Full Class: Chef de Partie

Basic Skill: Breads and Pastries: Level 6/10. 

If present when items are placed in the oven through the duration of the baking process, breads and pastries will have a [Considerable] likelihood to neither burn, fail to rise, nor fall. The taste will increase [Considerably] from the base taste of the item, matching no matter the personal preference of the person eating them.

Advanced Skill: Locked. Reach Skill level 10 with Breads and Pastries to unlock!

“Three classes…” Bella jealously murmured as she traced over the golden lines, accidentally tickling the cook. “Why do some of your skills have multiple modifiers? Your breads and pastries one has two, but all of my skills only have one.”

“Ah.” The slight grin on Cook's face faded, shifting into a wince. “There's no real proof of it, but it's said that the more modifiers in any given skill, the higher rarity the skill is for that class. There are many employers who’ll only hire people with multiple modifiers, though they will never admit that’s the reason for it.”

“Oh.” Bella swallowed hard, her throat suddenly feeling very dry. “So, if someone wanted to get an apprenticeship…?” 

“Multiple modifiers would help, though anyone could get one, if they paid enough. It's just, the more modifiers you have, the more nuanced control you have over your skills. A single modifier is considered the mark of a common, low-class skill.” The cook turned away, not wanting to see the stricken expression on the young woman's face. “Everything and everyone has their price, as your father well knows. Anyway, now you know what a cook with a Full Class looks like.”

“T-thank you, Giada.” Bella turned away, holding back tears as she thought of her common skill. As she rushed out of the kitchen, she whispered to herself, “No wonder Father never had faith I’d be able to turn it into something worthwhile. All these years, he's been hinting at wanting something more high class than I have to offer. He actually meant my skill? Not the fact that it’s all about working with animals? No… it had to be both.”

The days of the long two and a half months passed uneventfully, with her slowly learning to do the chores well enough to escape the cold scrutiny of Aria, eventually even progressing well enough in the kitchen to not burn every meal. Each night, she retreated to her room, singing to the birds and the bats, teaching Mert how to waltz as she practiced her courtly skills of dancing, sewing, and painting.

As the date her father was due back came and went, Bella found herself kneeling on the cool, stone floor of her room, humming her song as she worked with the fluffiest mouse in the house. Though she’d been feeling quite burdened recently, as Bella sang and watched Mert put serious effort behind following her instructions, a gentle warmth began to spread through her chest.

“Good work, little friend!” Bella’s voice was soft yet clear as she let the final notes of her song hang in the air. “Let's try this again, just like we practiced. Step forward with your left—exactly like that! Good.”

Mert’s paws continued to shift back and forth, moving faster as Bella gently corrected him, humming the waltz in a soothing pattern. As her mind drifted away slightly, she found herself thinking over the nature of her Basic Skills. “Why was it so easy for me to reach Perfection with Animal Communication but so hard to improve Minor Creature Control?”

 Bella lunged forward, barely managing to catch Mert as he managed a clumsy yet spirited turn. “There you go, keep at it! What was I…? Oh right! What's the real difference, I wonder?”

Juxtaposing the skills allowed her to think through them more clearly, and she started to notice a pattern she hadn't thought of before. “Now that I think about it, Animal Communication isn't about giving commands. It's only about forming connections, trying to understand creatures and making them understand me. Is that why the Advanced skill is so clunky for me? I've never enjoyed giving orders. On that note, I'm not a huge fan of being ordered around, myself.”

Bella chuckled softly to herself, her eyes drifting back to the small mouse, who was quivering with what she hoped was effort and not exhaustion. “Thanks for sticking with it, Mert. It's hard not to admire your spirit; in fact, it helps me get through the day. Don't worry, soon you'll be the best dancer at the mouse-querade ball.” 

For the next few minutes, she continued humming, even as she stepped back and continued getting ready. As she brushed her hair, she danced along to her own melody, imagining the fluffy mouse being as tall as she was, so she could have a proper dance partner. Though the mental image made her giggle, Bella could imagine herself twirling around a ballroom, her fluffy mouse leading her through the steps. 

The gentle warmth in her chest, which she’d assumed was just feeling happy for a short while, collected and spread to her arm, a soft light shining off of her limb for a moment. Caught completely off guard by the sudden skill advancement, Bella lifted her hand and swiped her fingers along her arm, reading the message the system had sent.

Skill increase! Minor Creature Control [Level 3 (Rudimentary) → Level 4 (Basic)]!

Requirement to advance to level 5: Control more than one creature under three pounds at a single time, giving each a series of separate tasks each must complete simultaneously.

Slowly lifting her eyes from her arm, she turned and watched with genuine delight as Mert the mouse stepped around a two-inch space, following the pattern of a ballroom waltz better than most young men she’d been forced to dance with. Eyes sparkling, she scooped the mouse into the air as his sides heaved with exertion, beginning to swing him around in happiness, even as he squeaked in alarm. “You did it, Mert! You’re fantastic!”

Setting the mouse down, she allowed him to scamper off as she thought over the amount of effort and practice she’d needed to put into this, and Bella’s happiness faded slightly as she analyzed the situation. “Was it so difficult because I haven't been able to spend much focused time doing this, or is it the fact that I don't have a high skill rarity?”

She lifted her chin, a spark of resolve igniting in her eyes as she clenched her jaw. “No! I did this, I earned it, and no one can belittle my efforts by calling them common. Not even me! My skill might not be exotic, but it's wonderful. Mother had a skill similar to this, and I've never heard anyone hint that it was anything out of the ordinary. You know what? I bet she had the exact same rarity I did, and look what she was able to accomplish with it. I'll do even better. I'll push it even further, and no one is going to stop me.”

At that moment, Bella swore a vow to herself that she would push her skills to the utmost, no matter who or what tried to stand in her way. Making sure not to step on any of her friends, she returned to her tasks, feeling lighter and happier than she had in weeks. Just as she settled into her seat and began mixing some of her paints together, a knock came at the door. Without waiting for an answer, Aria poked her head in and motioned for Bella to follow her.

“Signorina Bella, I need you to come downstairs.” The strict formality in the maid's voice caused Bella's heart to sink. There was only one reason for such a shift in conversation: her father must be returning. Checking her appearance in the mirror, Bella quickly followed Aria down the stairs, pausing in surprise when she saw a man waiting in the foyer. 

“Signore?” she called out questioningly, deciding against closing the distance with the unknown person. “What can House Vigatori do for you, this fine day?”

“Signorina Bella, I presume?” The strange man turned, failing to hide his sneer as he stared down at her. “I am Luca, First Footman of Matringa Treesbane. She and your father have sent me ahead of their retinue to prepare the household for their arrival in three days’ time.”

Without waiting for a reply, the man marched into the house as if he owned it, vanishing around a corner in moments. Bella and Aria exchanged glances, neither wanting to be the first to break the silence.

Eventually, the younger lady caved. “I hope his attitude isn’t what we can expect from the rest of the group?”