The Dawnlight Market opened before sunrise, long before the noble kitchens stirred. Here, hidden beneath the elevated merchant districts of Braisenhold, the brave and desperate came to trade. Smoke curled from braziers, and strange, unmarked stalls offered ingredients that shimmered, pulsed, or hissed quietly in their jars.
Kai had heard rumors of this place since he was a child—where rare ingredients whispered secrets, and coin wasn't always the price.
But now, with a Junior Chef's badge and 130 XP under his belt, he had reason to be here.
A new Guild task had been posted on the Hall's inner board:
[Guild Task: "Ash-Blood Broth"]
Rank: C
Objective: Procure and cook with a Tier-2 ingredient from outside the regulated markets.
Reward: Access to Inner Guild Ingredient Vault
He wasn't the only one hunting it.
Kai's boots crunched on crushed shells as he weaved past a crowd of whispering hawkers and shady chefs.
"Psst! Flame-thistle seeds, volatile—no refunds!""Spinefruit! Still twitching!""Sky eel belly. Cook it wrong and it sings your nightmares!"
Kai paused near a stall draped in shadow. A woman in a dark cloak stood behind it, stirring a pot that smoked faintly green.
He activated [Ingredient Recognition I].
[Recognition Triggered]
Blistershade Root – Tier 2
Category: Heat-reactive plant
Traits: Intensifies the umami of meat-based broths. Poisonous if undercooked.
Cooking Difficulty: Moderate
Status: Fresh, Unstable
"Dangerous choice," she said before he spoke. Her eyes glinted beneath the hood. "You sure you can handle it, boy?"
Kai nodded. "If it cooks like fire, I'll tame it."
She grinned, placing the wrapped root in his hands.
New Ingredient Acquired: Blistershade Root (Tier 2)
Requires precise Heat Control II
May unlock new flavor modifiers
[System Notification]Task Progress Updated: "Ash-Blood Broth"Ingredient Acquired. Proceed to cook the dish.
Kai rented a stall space at the edge of the market, drew his tools, and focused. His ingredients: veal marrow, Blistershade Root, sun-dried shellfish powder, ghost herb oil, and fermented bean paste.
The broth base began with marrow. Kai gently layered in the Blistershade Root—sliced thin—while managing the temperature with [Heat Control II], drawing on his 7 Mana carefully.
The root resisted at first—releasing smoke and bitter scents—but Kai pushed through. The smell changed. The bitterness mellowed into depth, the broth darkened, gaining weight and warmth.
He finished the dish with a drizzle of ghost herb oil and a flash-sear using [Flame Artistry I]—his Mana dropping to near-zero with the strain.
The pot hissed.
The flavor?
Savory, smoky, and oddly nostalgic.
Later, back in the Guild Hall, Chef Yalara herself sampled the broth. Her brows rose.
"You balanced Blistershade without antidote? Clever. That root's burned better chefs than you."
She nodded.
[Task Complete: "Ash-Blood Broth"]
+60 XP
+1 Reputation
Inner Vault Access: Granted
Current XP: 190 / 300
Reputation: 40
Available Stat Points: 0
As Kai stepped outside, a young Guild runner sprinted to him, panting.
"Chef Elgren! Message for you—from the Inner Vault!"
He handed Kai a sealed envelope marked with a golden sigil.
Inside, a single line:
"Ready to hunt the Flamecore Lobster?"—Vault Master Silen
Kai's eyes narrowed, heart racing.
Tier-3 ingredients. Vault access. The real climb had begun.
And he'd need every bit of strength—and flame—to face what was coming next.