Chapter 28: Passions Boil Over

“How do I know it's ready?” Elric called over his shoulder, staring warily down into the pot bubbling before him.

“When it begins to boil,” Saffron replied, stoking the fire.

“Yes, but what does that really mean? There are bubbles,” he replied.

“Are there a lot of bubbles?” she replied, amused. He frowned down into the pot.

“I believe that is more a point of view. I could say there are many and you say there are not enough,” he retorted. She sighed and looked around him.

“Give it another minute and then it should be ready,” she said with a smirk and went to the bed.

“I told you,” he muttered under his breath and gave the pot a stir. With a smile, she shook her head. He had kept insisting on helping her, but he was still not quite ready for strenuous chores, so she was teaching him to cook. He was a miserable student and so far, had burned everything. She found it humorous but he did not. In the slightest.