113 - Cooking is Not for Everyone

  The ovens were finally ready. The hard work of Nexha, Ayla, and the others had transformed the simple communal kitchen into an efficient space, capable of preparing large meals for the entire village.

  It was a necessary improvement, something that would ease the pressure on everyone. But now that they were built, it was time to test whether they actually worked.

  However, Nexha couldn't shake an uneasy feeling, as if he had forgotten to consider something important.

  — Alright, let's make a meal for everyone... Ah, right... I forgot to teach them how to cook complex dishes... — Nexha muttered, crossing his arms as he stared at the ovens. — Looks like I'll have to give them a cooking lesson...

  And so, the simple idea of testing the ovens turned into a full-blown community cooking class.

  The other villagers seemed excited, especially Nina. Ayla's sister could barely hide her enthusiasm as she began organizing the utensils. For so many days, she had only watched Nexha cook, fascinated by how he handled ingredients and controlled the fire. Now, she finally had the chance to participate. Her smile shone with pure joy, her hands trembled slightly with anticipation, and her eyes darted back and forth, absorbing every detail of what was happening around her.

  Meanwhile, Jasper, in the middle of the crowd of merfolk, tried to watch with wide, eager eyes. His small forehead wrinkled in frustration. He moved from one side to the other repeatedly, trying to get a better view, but the movement of the older villagers in front of him made it even harder. His heart pounded—he wanted to see Nexha cook, to understand how everything worked. But his limited vision only allowed him to catch glimpses of shifting shadows and flickering lights.

  Jasper gritted his tiny teeth, irritated. He felt left out, powerless.

  Then he realized he was being squeezed between the crowd. The discomfort grew, the air felt suffocating, and without thinking, he bit the people around him to make space for himself. Immediately, cries of protest rang out as the merfolk scolded him harshly.

  His brother finally noticed his presence and his frustrated expression. All Jasper wanted was to see, to be part of it, but now he was shrinking under the accusing glares, his chest tightening. He felt crushed both physically and emotionally. The scolding hurt even more when he realized that, no matter how much he tried, he couldn't explain himself. The words tangled in his mouth, his tiny tongue failing to form coherent sentences.

  Confusion, shame, and rejection swirled inside him, and the only thing he could do was let out a trembling sob before finally breaking down in tears. His shoulders shook as tears rolled down his face. He only wanted to watch, to understand, but everything felt so difficult. It was unfair. It was suffocating.

  — No... see... — Jasper murmured between sobs.

  Nexha sighed, feeling a pang of guilt at how frustrated Jasper was. He hesitated for a moment, but when he saw the trembling determination in the little one's eyes, he gave in.

  Carefully, he moved through the crowd and picked Jasper up, lifting him higher. The small boy clung tightly to him, still sniffling, his tiny body trembling slightly. Nexha ran a comforting hand through his hair before asking gently:

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Nexha carried him closer and set him down near him.

  — Can you see better now, little brother?

  Jasper nodded quickly. The tears were gone, and his eyes sparkled once again. Even with his limited vision, he could now see everything happening, especially the flames he loved so much and Nexha’s precise movements. The frustration disappeared as quickly as it had come, replaced by silent happiness. After all, he was still just a small child.

  Neblina, on the other hand, was squawking loudly from the seagull platform, just from smelling the food. But it was safer for her to stay away at that moment, so she remained locked in the barn with the other seagulls.

  The ovens were hot, and many of the merfolk learning to cook were afraid of the fire. Controlling the heat was proving difficult for Nexha to handle alone.

  — The fish is burning! — Lilay shouted, stepping back as a larger-than-expected flame leaped from the oven.

  — This is a problem. — Nexha gritted his teeth and quickly tried to control the flames, but it was complicated with only him working while the others just watched.

  The heat spread too fast, and the smell of charred fish began to dominate the air. One of the pots started crackling worryingly, and Nina, who had been stirring a rice broth, suddenly stepped back.

  — Isn't the fire too strong? It's evaporating too quickly!

  — Yeah, it is... I think we should stop for now. — Nexha clenched his fists. He hadn't anticipated that he would have to manage all the ovens at once.

  Jasper, focused on the fire, looked at his brothers.

  — Nexha... too m-much fire... strong... needs... calm.

  — I know. — Nexha sighed, trying to think of a solution.

  — We're changing today's lesson. Before cooking, we need to learn how to control fire.

  A heavy silence followed. The merfolk exchanged glances filled with disdain and disinterest. For many of them, learning to handle fire seemed like a waste of time—something useless and dangerous, meant only for the surface.

  "Why learn to use something we can’t even use underwater?" they murmured among themselves, some rolling their eyes as they began to walk away. "This is pointless for us. I just wanted to learn how to make those delicious dishes."

  Nexha felt a tightness in his chest at their rejection. Frustration twisted inside him, and his teeth clenched involuntarily.

  — Nexha, are you okay? — Lilay asked.

  How could they be so blind? How could they ignore something so essential for the village’s growth? Fire wasn’t just some surface-world detail—it was progress, it was survival. He took a deep breath, trying to tame the irritation growing within him, but he couldn't stop his fists from clenching tightly.

  — They’re... idiots! They want to cook but don’t want to deal with fire!... But you guys stayed. I will teach you how to make the best food in the world!... — His eyes burned with fierce determination as he lifted his head. — You had your chance to run! Now you're condemned to learn how to COOK.

  If those fools didn’t want to learn, so be it. They could stay in their ignorance. But the few who remained—those, he would teach.

  A strange smile spread across Nexha's face as he scanned those who had stayed. He would make sure they truly learned.

  The remaining merfolk trembled with fear. Nexha’s gaze had turned terrifying, filled with an intensity few dared to meet. His expression was one of pure determination, his clenched fists holding back all the frustration threatening to spill over.

  Only seven merfolk remained, including Nina, who stood firm, looking at Nexha with a stubborn and courageous glint in her eyes. He took a deep breath, molding his anger into purpose.

  — Alright... — she murmured, her voice steady.

  She forced a small smile, even as her mind raced. "They may not see the value in this now, but I’ll prove it to them. I’ll become the best."

  Jasper, watching the fire in their eyes, burst into laughter, clearly entertained by the scene unfolding before him.

  Lilay, on the other hand, began inching away, sensing the dangerous shift in his brother’s expression. He knew this could end badly for him.

  That night, the dinner was so impressive that the merfolk who had abandoned the lesson were left speechless.