Returning to Dark Forest

Despite having a deep wound and being reminded by the one who treated him, Lander still got up from the bed and immediately went towards the suburbs. He directly checked on Adriel and some of whom he was training to be a cook. He saw that there were potatoes that weren't peeled thoroughly, "Do it better next time. You are wasting the ingredients!"

Then Lute came afterwards with two beasts following him carrying four sacks each of ingredients. Lander started working, Yan Yan was there assisting him while Adriel and the others watched with daze as they saw Lander cooking, it was like a dance performance that made them awed.

Stopping in the middle, he let Yan Yan take over as he went outside preparing for the Lechon. The butchered pig was now stuffed with ingredients, he then smeared the pig with soy sauce. When everything was done, he finally put it on top of a blazing coal. Then he asked Yan Yan to take charge as he showed her that she should maintain the rotation of the pig for two hours.

Soon, people began gathering in front of Lander's place. Everyone who visited Lander when he was wounded came. Even the Head Professors of the Drake and Amphiptere Academy joined the party even though they weren't invited.

The sun finally left the horizon when the Great Duke Bobby came and was stunned to see a lot of people, "What's happening here?"

"So you came old friend? Well, your disciple told us to gather her tonight and have a feast," The Respected Druid replied to him.

"I see, but how was his wound?" The Great Duke Asked.

"It wasn't fully healed Great Duke but your disciple insisted on having a feast, he was even the one personally cooking for us," The old man who treated Lander replied to him bowing his head scared of being implicated.

The Great Duke Bobby then nodded, he already understood Lander's behaviour. He was very stubborn doing reckless things despite the dangers, "Ahem! Hear me out, let us enjoy the night as it would be the only night that you can taste such fine delicacies. To the outcasts living in this suburbs, come out and enjoy these foods with us!"

The Great Duke announced, he was basically frustrated after not being able to catch Wreck but when he came and heard that his disciple was cooking, his mood began to change and interacted with the crowds especially to the outcasts.

Lander was still inside cooking, "Adriel and you guys, go start preparing tables outside and the necessary things to be used."

Then Lander finished dish after dish, "Adriel, if you're done outside, come and help me put these dishes on the table."

"What are these dishes?"

"What an aromatic fragrance!"

Itzel was salivating upon smelling the dishes, "Can I taste it now?"

"You'll have to wait for a while Itzel," Lander came out smiling.

Then he proceeded to where Yan Yan was and when he noticed that the Lechon was already cooked, he place it on one of the tables as he chopped it in front of everyone.

When he was done, "Let the feast begin! Lute bring out the barrel of ales!"

Everyone cheered and started getting their own food, of course Yan Yan was there introducing some of the foods like the lechon, dinakdakan, adobo, sisig, dinuguan, sinigang, bulalo, mix mix and kilawin. (All Filipino Dishes)

There were dishes she doesn't know the name like the beef steak, pork and beef curry and crispy fried chicken.

"These dishes are extraordinary!"

"How could he create this dishes? It was the best I have ever tasted!"

"Anyone tasting this dishes everyday was surely lucky!"

Lander didn't interact with the crowd as he went back inside creating desserts like potato pancakes. He loved to make cakes and cookies but he doesn't have the necessary equipments and ingredients so he only made pancakes. When he was done, he served it again.

Finally, he let out a sigh of relief and sat down. It was this time he felt an aching pain from his abdomen but he gritted his teeth upon seeing the contentment and blissful reactions of the people eating his dishes.

He was about to go inside when an old man with a long beard wearing a witch hat stopped him, "Aye young man, I am the Head Professor of the Amphiptere Academy. I have already accepted you in my Academy and you have three months to prepare before the start of the new semester. But if you want, you could come with me after five days, what do you say?"

"Thank you Head Professor for your offer but I would like to decline as I have to go somewhere first. I will go there when it's time." Lander rejected respectfully.

"I see, then see you after three months. By the way, these dishes are one of a kind: delicious and savory." The Head Professor of the Amphiptere Academy said as he walked towards the crowd.

Entering the house, Lander packed his things then went inside as he signaled Lute to come inside, "Call Adriel, Adofo and Yan Yan inside."

When everyone was inside, "Pack your things, we will now move out of this place."

Then he told Lute and Adofo to head towards Amphiptere and create the information agency, a hotel, restaurant and auction house. The operation should start as soon as everything was put in order. As for the auction house and restaurant, it has to wait after Lander arrived at the place. He also told them that they have to create it in a Village with least populated but not the restaurant. Lute has to make sure that the restaurant should be located at the edge of the Amphiptere Capital.

After explaining everything, he told Lute to tell Elizaveta and the others whose going to work for the necromancer to step inside. When they were now inside, "We're now going to the Dark Forest tonight so you better prepare. Make sure that you won't tell anyone about our plan."

Everyone dispersed except Lute who stayed behind by Lander's order, "You will stay here till morning and deliver these letter to Lord Kazo personally, Thank You!"

"Yes Master!" Lute bowed his head and went outside once again interacting with the crowd.

Midnight came when most of the people left. The people remaining were those who were now drunk, the Three Great Beauties, Itzel, her maids and his father, Lady Chimlin, the two Head Professors, Respected Druid and the Great Duke.

"Elder Brother Lander, that was a great food! Can you cook for me again?" Itzel praised while caressing her bulging tummy that made everyone laugh.

"I can, but the next time, you'll have to pay for it?" Lander said smiling.

"Huh? What do you mean pay?" Itzel asked even the others got curious.

"I will be having my own restaurant, so you have to visit it at the Amphiptere Capital," Lander replied smiling.

"Why Amphiptere Capital?" Itzel frowned but the Head Professor of the Amphiptere Academy was smiling from ear to ear.

"It's because I will be staying there to study. I am enrolled after all at the Amphiptere Capital. But don't worry Itzel, you can have a free meal if you go there," Lander replied.

"Promise?" Itzel asked.

"Pinky promise!" Lander smiled.

"What's pinky promise?" Itzel asked. Lander smiled sweetly and showed how pinky promise was done, "This means I have to abide by my promise!"

"Yay!" Itzel cheered, although she was the strongest, she was still a young girl after all.

Then the others bade goodbye to Lander as they went home. Lander and his group waited for another two hours before permanently leaving the Wyvern Capital.

"Let's go!" Lander leaded their path as they went out of the capital. Lander and Yan Yan traveled by foot, running while the others used their own mounts while Elizaveta was riding Grey.

They never slept, they would occasionally rest for 20 minutes every hour for Yan Yan and Lander to stabilize their breathing.

It was nearing dawn when they arrived at the entrance of the Dark Forest, "Adofo, you don't have to follow us. Just do your best in finishing our plan."

"Yes Master!" Adofo replied as he went away with his mount.

"Let's enter," Lander stepped inside the Dark Forest followed by Yan Yan and Grey. The others, although unwilling, they still followed.

Upon entering, they heard howling, screaming and felt an eerie vibe that made their hair stood up.

It was so dark that they can't see each other so one of them used fire magic to illuminate the dark but the fire was instantly extinguished. Lander fetched a stick and wrapped a cloth on the tip of it while at the entrance. He told the man who used fire magic to lit it up. Seeing that everyone was there, Lander turned around and shouted on top of his lungs, "Hey there old Necromancer! I have arrived and brought your cook and maid. Fetch us here this instant!"