In the bustling heart of the coastal town's market square, steam and smoke danced in the crisp air, mingling with the scent of roasted garlic and freshly baked bread. Two chefs stood at their separate cooking stations, a crowd gathered around them, eager to witness the battle of culinary mastery.
Merry wiped her brow, her yellow hair tied in a loose bun that threatened to unravel as she worked. Her table was a chaotic symphony of ingredients: a live crab scuttling in a basket, a mound of freshly harvested seaweed, and a small jar of rare saffron. "Stay focused, Merry," she murmured to herself, slicing a shallot with razor-sharp precision.
Across the way, her rival, Jeden, was calm and collected. He twirled a knife in one hand while expertly tossing diced vegetables into a sizzling pan with the other. "Seafood curry isn't going to save you this time, Merry," he called out, his voice dripping with arrogance. The crowd cheered, his charisma feeding their energy.
Merry, didn't answer, but her hands moved faster, dicing, searing, and seasoning with the efficiency of someone who had spent years behind a stove. She dropped the crab into boiling water, its shell quickly turning a vibrant red, before fishing it out and cracking it open with practiced ease. "It's not just seafood curry," she muttered under her breath. "It's my legacy."
Jeden was already plating his dish, a golden-brown filet of seared salmon resting on a bed of creamy risotto. He added a flourish of parsley and a drizzle of balsamic reduction, earning gasps of approval from the crowd. He smirked, wiping his hands as he glanced at the clock. "Five minutes left, Merry. Better hurry."
Merry ignored him. She mixed a fragrant broth of coconut milk, saffron, and ginger in a small clay pot. The aroma wafted through the air, momentarily silencing the chatter of the audience. She layered her ingredients carefully: tender crab meat, ribbons of seaweed, and a handful of tiny, jewel-like peppers that shimmered in the sunlight.
"Time's up!" The judge's booming voice cut through the tension like a knife.
Jeden presented his dish with a flourish, his signature confidence on full display. "Pan-seared salmon with herb-infused risotto and balsamic glaze. Simple, refined, and impossible to beat."
The judge nodded, taking a bite. His expression was neutral, but a small twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his satisfaction.
Merry stepped forward, carrying her clay pot with both hands. "Seafood saffron stew with East Shore crab and fire pearls," she said, her voice steady but soft. As she lifted the lid, steam billowed out, carrying the heady aroma of the ocean and spices.
The judge leaned in, curiosity lighting up his face. He scooped a small portion into his bowl and tasted it. His eyes widened as he savoured the complex blend of Flavors. He didn't say a word at first, the suspense gripping the audience. Then, finally, he exclaimed, "This dish tells a story of the sea, of bold risks, and of tradition. Remarkable!"
Jeden smug smile faltered. Merry exhaled deeply, her chest rising with relief. The crowd erupted in cheers, a wave of excitement washing over the square.
As Merry accepted her victory, she glanced at Jeden, her rival still stunned by the outcome. She offered him a small, triumphant smile. "Cooking isn't about who's loudest," she said. "It's about who speaks the clearest through their food."
Merry celebrates like there's is no tomorrow, she danced with the music, she was having a good time.
A few hours later. The sun is almost down, people have started to go their separate ways. Merry like every year of the festival night she sleeps at her grannie's house. She went there immediately after seeing that the sun is about to set. As she walks to her grannie's house, she passes 2 men in black suits carrying a barrel. She didn't give them much attention since she was happy that she won the cooking competition. She walked directly to the house. she arrived at a place full of flowers and it had many gardens full of them. Her granny loved flowers as much as Merry did. They were perfect for each other. Then she went in to knock at the door. She was told to come in. " Suprise!!" She was caught off guard by her granny and Mother. " Mother why are you here?" she asks her mother with joy. She was very happy. "Do you really think I would miss this?!! Nothing could ever come between me seeing you like this. Congratulations." Merry runs to hug her mother, she was filled with tears of joy. Then she sees food in the table " I'm hungry let's eat." they laugh as they go to eat and fill themselves up.
A few hours later, Merry is disturbed by the Noice outside, she wakes up and looks down from the window upstairs. A light blocks her views, so she pocks her eyes for better view, she finds that houses are on fire and people are running for their lives chased by pirates. She is deeply shocked by what is happening, and from the window she sees her granny running towards the gate from the house. " Granny, where are you going, what are you doing please come back to the house" she screams to her, but she is not heard by her granny. Merry sees a man running toward her with a blade on his hand. Merry bangs the window trying to warn her to get away, but her granny doesn't hear her, and she gets stabbed through the heart and stepped upon by the strange" Granny, Nooooo!!!!!" Her eyes turn white as she become lifeless at that scene, she runs to her door, Opens the door and runs down the stairs. She opens the front door and runs to her grandmother. "Grandmotherrr!!" she was in tears; she had no hope on her eyes. she felt nothing but loss and sadness " Granny please don't leave me, please don't " She moved a bit, then she opened her eyes and looked at Merry" Merry, My dear grandchild. My time for me to part ways has come."
Merry: No please granny don't leave please, I need you and I still have a lot to do with you please. Don't leave me
She reaches out to Merrys chicks and wipes her tears away," When a flower is cut from the side, it causes more branches to grow. Be that flower Merry. you have to grow your branches. It might not be now but sooner or later they will grow. So please leave me here and run, promise me you will run. please run away Merry."
Merry slowly lets her go and she looks around and start running where there is less Noice. "Over there." one of the pirates spot her, she runs like there is no tomorrow. but she could not outrun him. She didn't get far she got caught very easily. The man carries her on his shoulders, Then she reaches out to his pockets and grasp a knife, she stabbed him on the neck and gets off him. quickly she runs away. A man spots her and Chace down and this time he was attempting to kill her. not long after she run, she collapsed, and the man caught her at that moment. Just when he was about to end her life a man intervenes. "wait!" It was Adam "Let the child go solder" the solder looks at Adam" but sir she killed one of us"
Adam: I will not repeat myself.
The solder lets marry go and leaves, " Hello child, I am Adam. I saw you in the Chef competition, I must say, I admire your talents, my ship need someone like you, please join me."
Merry: Are you the one who's behind all of this? if so then I rather die than join you.
Adam: I was not asking you like you have a choice, i was telling you. And destroying your village was not attention it's just business.
Adam grabs her by the arm and forcefully drags her to the ship
And now back in the present, Shes in a situation that may cost her life along with Okada, Jack and Nomsa
To be continued....