<b>[Scene Loading...]</b>


    <b>


    [Location: Leoncrest Castle - Outer Courtyards]


    </b>


    <b>[Date: December 30, y. 485 of the Fourth Age]</b>


    The training yard lay buried under six inches of fresh snow as Zeke charged across it, wooden practice sword raised high. Victoria waited on the other side, her own blade at the ready.


    The bitter dawn air stung his lungs, but he grinned anyway. Nothing woke you up faster than a morning duel in freezing temperatures.


    "You''re getting predictable, Godfrey!" Victoria shouted as she easily sidestepped his attack and rapped him sharply on the back with her practice blade.


    Zeke rolled with the hit and spun around, already planning his next move. "Just warming up!"


    Five other early-risers watched from the sidelines, stamping their feet and blowing into cupped hands for warmth. Victoria had started these optional dawn sessions three weeks ago, and Zeke hadn''t missed a single one.


    He feinted left, then dropped to one knee and swept his blade in a low arc. Victoria jumped the attack but wasn''t expecting his follow-up - a handful of snow flung at her face.


    She sputtered and stumbled backward, giving Zeke just enough time to tap her side with his sword.


    "Point!" called one of the watchers.


    Victoria wiped snow from her face, her expression caught between annoyance and grudging respect. "Dirty trick."


    "You said use any advantage," Zeke reminded her with a grin.


    "So I did." She reset her stance. "Again."


    They continued for another half-hour until the bells rang for breakfast. By then, Zeke''s muscles burned pleasantly and his tunic was soaked with sweat despite the cold.


    These morning sessions were brutal, but he welcomed any edge he could get with his next Trial looming.


    "Same time tomorrow?" he asked Victoria as they gathered their gear.


    "It''s New Year''s Eve," she replied, arching an eyebrow.


    "Even better. We''ll have the yard to ourselves."


    Victoria shook her head but looked pleased. "Fine. Don''t be late."


    Back in his dormitory, Ralph was still a lump under his blankets as Zeke changed into dry clothes.


    "Last day of freedom," Ralph moaned from his cocoon. "You''re insane, you know that?"


    "Can''t waste daylight," Zeke replied cheerfully, pulling on his boots. "Besides, the cold wakes you up better than any coffee."


    Ralph just pulled his pillow over his head in response.


    The day stretched before Zeke like a challenge waiting to be conquered. By lunchtime, he had attended an optional lecture on advanced defensive spellcraft and practiced sword forms for another hour.


    His muscles protested, but his mind felt sharper than ever.


    He was halfway through a bowl of stew in the dining hall when Elise dropped into the seat across from him, her eyes bright with excitement.


    "What''s up?" he asked, noticing her grin. "You look like you just discovered a new spell."


    Her face fell slightly. "Don''t you remember what tonight is?"


    Zeke bit his lip, mentally flipping through his crowded schedule. "Ah..." He closed his eyes and held up a finger. "Don''t tell me... Don''t tell me..."


    "Meat pies!"


    Zeke snapped his fingers. "Right! For some reason I was thinking that was tomorrow."


    "Nope, tonight," she said, suddenly looking worried. "You''ll still be able to make it, right?"


    "Definitely," Zeke nodded, tearing off a chunk of bread. "It''s not like I''m doing much. I''ll head down to the kitchens as soon as I''m done with Professor Hobbson."


    "Great! I''ll see you then!" She started to rise, then paused. "You know, if you ever come up with anything that you''d like to invite me to, I''d be more than happy to join you."


    Zeke flashed a smile. "I know, I know. Honestly, I just haven''t run into much that excites me the way cooking excites you."


    "Yeah," she frowned, looking down at the table.


    "Is that okay?" Zeke raised an eyebrow. "I can ask if you can tag along for one of my private tutoring sessions with Professor Harold if you want."


    "No, no," she shook her head. "It''s nothing. I just... I''m glad that you''re sharing the things I like to do, but I''d also like to share in the things you like to do."


    She shrugged. "I don''t know, maybe I''m overthinking it. I''ll see you tonight."


    As she walked away, Zeke frowned thoughtfully. What did he like to do? Growing up, he''d spent most of his time chasing girls or finding ways to avoid his father''s disapproving gaze.


    Since arriving at Leoncrest, he''d been so focused on survival and training that he hadn''t made time for anything else.


    "Huh," he muttered to himself, "maybe I need to fix that."


    That afternoon, Zeke found himself in Professor Harold''s study, carefully manipulating a blob of shimmering aura-infused liquid. The professor had challenged him to form it into increasingly complex shapes, and Zeke''s forehead beaded with sweat as he willed the substance to take the form of a small castle.


    "Excellent control," Professor Harold noted as tiny crenellations formed along the miniature battlements. "You''ve improved remarkably since we began."


    The liquid castle held its shape for nearly a minute before collapsing back into a formless blob. Zeke exhaled slowly, feeling the drain on his energy reserves.


    "Thanks for squeezing me in during the break," Zeke said, wiping his brow. "I know most professors are taking time off."


    "Happy to help a dedicated student," Professor Harold replied, storing the aura-liquid in a sealed container. "Besides, your next Trial is approaching. How are you feeling about it?"


    "Ready as I''ll ever be," Zeke said with more confidence than he felt. "Whatever it is, I''ll handle it."


    The professor studied him for a moment. "You know, when you first arrived, most of the faculty expected you to quit within a week. Too soft, they said. No discipline."


    He smiled slightly. "I believe I''ve won several bets on your behalf."


    Zeke grinned. "Glad to be profitable for someone."


    "More than profitable. Inspiring, actually." The professor glanced at the clock on his wall. "I believe that''s enough for today. Don''t you have somewhere to be this evening?"


    "The cooking club," Zeke confirmed, gathering his things. "We''re making meat pies."


    "Ah, Ericka''s famous regional cuisine experiment," Professor Harold nodded knowingly. "She''s been quite excited about it. Do enjoy yourself."


    Zeke paused at the door. "Professor, did you have any hobbies when you were a student here? Besides studying, I mean."


    "Indeed I did," the professor replied, looking amused. "I was quite the spelunker. The cave systems beneath Leoncrest are fascinating, though strictly off-limits to students now."


    He winked. "For good reason."


    Zeke filed this information away for later consideration as he headed toward the kitchens.


    The cooking classroom was more crowded than he''d ever seen it. Students from all years had packed in, filling every workstation.


    Elise had managed to secure a spot near the front, and she waved enthusiastically when she saw him. Ericka sat at the back with a notebook, talking to a group of students who all appeared to be commoners – none wore house colors, though their clothes, while simpler than the nobles'', were far from shabby.


    "I think we''re just about ready to begin!" Elise said as Zeke joined her at the workstation.


    "So we''re making meat pies tonight?" Zeke asked, rolling up his sleeves. "What exactly makes them so special?"


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "They''re one of the oldest dishes in the kingdom," Elise replied with a grin. "Every region has their own version, and they tell you so much about the people who make them. You''ll see!"


    Ericka approached the front of the room, consulting her notebook before addressing the gathered students.


    "Alright, everyone! Welcome to this very special edition of our little cooking club." Her voice carried more excitement than Zeke had heard from the usually reserved instructor.


    "When Elise mentioned at our last meeting that we should make meat pies, I had no idea what was in store for me. After discussing ingredients with her, I began my own research, and what I discovered was fascinating."


    Zeke leaned against the counter, intrigued despite his fatigue.


    "Elise mentioned that every region has its own version of meat pies, but that''s quite an understatement," Ericka continued. "These pies are perhaps the most culturally significant dish across our kingdom.


    They reflect not just taste preferences, but trade routes, available resources, and even historical conflicts between regions!"


    Elise leaned closer to Zeke. "When she said she found it fascinating, she wasn''t joking. She''s writing a historical treatise on meat pies – twenty pages so far, and she hasn''t even gotten past the Northern Wars."


    Zeke chuckled as Elise and four other students made their way to the front. Each described their region''s pie variation.


    Though the basics remained the same – pastry crust with a meat filling – the differences were remarkable. A student from the mountainous regions used goat meat with strong herbs and stone-ground wheat crust.


    Elise''s homeland version featured beef and root vegetables with a hint of wine. A coastal student described seafood pies with butter-rich crusts.


    After the students finished, Ericka delivered a ten-minute lecture detailing even more regional variations. Though interesting, Zeke found himself shifting his weight impatiently.


    He''d come to cook, not sit through another lecture.


    Finally, Ericka clapped her hands. "For tonight''s meeting, you''ll be making your own meat pie – whatever style you prefer. In the next room, there''s a table with all the ingredients we could find.


    I have recipes for different crusts and fillings... Go ahead and dive in!"


    The room erupted in activity as students rushed to gather ingredients. Zeke turned to Elise. "What are we making?"


    "Oh, I don''t know," she shrugged with a casualness that immediately struck Zeke as suspicious. "What would you want to do?"


    "What aren''t you telling me?" Zeke asked, crossing his arms. "You love choosing what we make."


    "I let you help choose the spice for the cinnamon rolls," Elise pointed out.


    "And then you made the final call," Zeke countered with a grin. "Come on, I know there''s something going on."


    Elise sighed, then lowered her voice. "Ericka is running an experiment. She''s recording how everyone makes their pies to see if nobles from particular regions create versions similar to commoners from the same area."


    "That''s brilliant," Zeke said, genuinely impressed. "And I have no idea how commoners from my region make meat pies, so I''ll be a perfect test subject."


    They set to work, Zeke following his instincts. The pastry came together under his fingers – he opted for a richer crust than he''d used before, with plenty of butter.


    For the filling, he faced a dizzying array of options. Ericka had provided meats from across the kingdom, vegetables of every description, and more herbs and spices than he knew existed.


    He moved down the line, sampling unfamiliar ingredients and trusting his gut on what would taste good together. His final creation featured venison and pork, apples, onions, and a blend of herbs topped with a lattice crust.


    "How''d I do?" he asked Elise as he slid his creation into the oven. "How close to my region''s style?"


    Elise pulled a folded paper from her pocket and examined it. "Pretty close, actually. This is what Ericka predicted you''d create, and it''s not far off.


    The apples are exactly right – that''s unique to your southern province."


    Zeke peered at the list and laughed at the similarities. "Maybe there''s something to this theory after all."


    Soon the room filled with the mingled aromas of baking pastry, simmering meat, and herbs as students retrieved their creations from the ovens.


    "Behold the meeting of cultures!" Ericka proclaimed, gesturing around the room. "Try your own, try others, enjoy!"


    The feast lasted another hour, with students wandering from station to station, sampling different regional styles and comparing notes.


    When it finally ended, Ericka distributed permission slips for students to return to their dormitories after curfew.


    Rather than heading straight back to his room, Zeke decided to take a detour. The cooking session had ended just before midnight, and the castle halls were nearly deserted.


    Perfect for a little exploring.


    "Where are you going?" Elise asked as they reached the main corridor junction.


    "Just thought I''d take the scenic route back," Zeke replied with a mischievous smile. "Care to join me?"


    Elise glanced at her permission slip. "We''re only cleared to go straight back to our dormitories."


    "Technically, there''s no rule saying which route we have to take," Zeke pointed out. "Besides, I''ve been thinking about what Professor Harold told me earlier."


    "Which was?"


    "That there are cave systems beneath the castle."


    Elise''s eyes widened. "You''re not seriously thinking of—"


    "No, no," Zeke laughed. "Not tonight, anyway. But I thought I might check out the old library section. The one with maps of the castle grounds. Just to see what''s there."


    Elise hesitated, then shook her head. "You''re insane. If you get caught—"


    "I won''t," Zeke said confidently. "The patrol gargoyles are on a predictable route. I''ve been timing them."


    "Of course you have," Elise sighed. "I should have known you weren''t just sitting there counting the seconds during study hall."


    She bit her lip. "Look, I need to get back, but... be careful, okay?"


    "Always am," Zeke assured her, though they both knew that wasn''t entirely true.


    After they parted ways, Zeke made his way to the eastern wing of the castle. The old library section was rarely used these days – most of its contents had been transferred to the main library over the years.


    But some of the older, fragile maps and architectural drawings remained in their original location.


    The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, and he froze, listening for any sound of approaching gargoyles. When he heard nothing, he slipped inside and closed the door behind him.


    Moonlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating rows of dusty shelves. Unlike the main library with its orderly organization, this room had a forgotten quality to it.


    Scrolls and leather-bound volumes sat haphazardly on shelves, some clearly untouched for years.


    Zeke moved carefully through the stacks, looking for anything related to the castle''s structure or underground passages. After several minutes of searching, he found a large leather portfolio labeled "Leoncrest Foundations and Lower Levels - Original Plans."


    "Jackpot," he whispered, carefully lifting it from the shelf.


    He carried it to a reading table near one of the windows, where the moonlight provided enough illumination to see. Inside were detailed architectural drawings of the castle''s lowest levels, including what appeared to be natural cave formations that had been incorporated into the structure''s foundation.


    Several of the caves had been marked with strange symbols. Notes in the margins indicated some had been sealed off due to "unstable conditions" or "unsuitable air quality."


    But one passage in particular caught Zeke''s attention – a tunnel marked "Sealed by order of Headmaster Levayne, 413 F.A." with no further explanation.


    The tunnel appeared to connect to a chamber directly beneath the western courtyard. If the measurements were accurate, the entrance would be...


    A sudden scraping sound from the corridor outside made Zeke freeze. The distinctive sound of stone claws on marble could only mean one thing – a patrol gargoyle was approaching.


    He quickly returned the portfolio to its shelf and looked around for a hiding place.


    The footsteps grew louder, pausing just outside the door. Zeke ducked behind a tall bookcase, pressing himself into the corner as the door slowly creaked open.


    The gargoyle''s shadow stretched across the floor as it entered the room. Unlike the smaller gargoyles that guarded specific corridors, this one was massive – easily seven feet tall with wings that brushed both sides of the doorframe.


    It moved with deliberate slowness, its stone head swiveling as it scanned the room.


    Zeke held his breath, willing himself to become one with the shadows. The gargoyle took several steps into the room, its stone talons clicking against the floor.


    It paused, sniffing the air like a predator seeking prey.


    For one heart-stopping moment, it turned directly toward Zeke''s hiding place. Then, just as he was certain he''d been discovered, a sound from the corridor drew its attention.


    With a final sweep of the room, it turned and lumbered back into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind it.


    Zeke waited several minutes before daring to move. That had been too close. He made a mental note to add larger patrol gargoyles to his timing observations.


    Still, the near-discovery hadn''t diminished his excitement about what he''d found. A sealed tunnel with no explanation was exactly the kind of mystery that begged to be investigated.


    Perhaps he''d found his hobby after all.


    He made it back to his dormitory without further incident, slipping through the door to find Ralph hunched over a textbook, a mug of coffee at his elbow.


    His roommate''s eyes were bloodshot, and he didn''t look up when Zeke entered.


    "Big test tomorrow?" Zeke guessed, flopping onto his bed.


    "Yeah, and I swear the professor never mentioned it," Ralph muttered. "Have to memorize the entire history of winemaking in the Bluelake province by morning."


    "Sounds rough," Zeke said, stretching out his tired muscles. "Hey, what sorts of things did you enjoy doing growing up?"


    "What do you mean?" Ralph asked, still not looking away from his book. "Like playing pranks?"


    "No, I mean sports. Hobbies. Things you did for fun."


    "Oh, I didn''t really enjoy any organized activities," Ralph shrugged. "I preferred goofing off. Team stuff takes too much effort."


    "Right," Zeke sighed, but Ralph continued.


    "But the rest of my family loved this game called lanceball."


    "Lanceball?" Zeke sat up. "What''s that?"


    "You''ve seen jousting tournaments, right?"


    Zeke nodded. He''d attended plenty of those growing up.


    "It''s like that, but on foot with padded lances, and you have to pass the ball between team members while avoiding getting tagged," Ralph explained. "House Arnette is crazy about it. Why, looking for a new hobby?"


    "Something like that," Zeke said, sitting up excitedly. "I just realized I spend all my time training or studying, but I never do anything just for fun.


    Elise mentioned it earlier, and it got me thinking."


    "If you try adding one more thing to that insane schedule of yours, you might actually explode," Ralph warned, finally looking up from his book.


    "You''d have to drop something first – maybe that evening aura practice?"


    "That''s exactly what I was thinking," Zeke nodded. "If I pass my upcoming Aura Trial, I won''t need those extra sessions anymore. That opens up a chunk of time."


    "So what would you want to do with it?" Ralph asked, seemingly glad for the distraction from his studying.


    "Well, I found some interesting old maps tonight," Zeke said, lowering his voice. "Did you know there are cave systems beneath the castle?"


    Ralph''s eyes widened. "No way. Are you thinking of exploring them? That''s definitely against about fifty Academy rules."


    "Probably more," Zeke grinned. "But think about it – no one''s been down there in years. Who knows what we might find?"


    "Collapse, death, expulsion," Ralph counted off on his fingers. "But also... potentially awesome discoveries."


    He looked torn between responsible caution and the allure of adventure.


    "I also thought about starting a lanceball team," Zeke added. "After all, if I''m going to have a hobby, it might as well be something I can share with friends.


    Something that gets me outside, uses strategy, and involves a bit of risk."


    "Now you''re talking," Ralph said, his enthusiasm growing. "We could organize informal matches in the eastern courtyard – that one''s barely used in winter.


    I could probably get some equipment from home after the break."


    "And I bet Elise would enjoy watching," Zeke mused. "Maybe even playing."


    "Victoria too," Ralph suggested with a sly smile. "I''ve seen how you two are during training."


    "It''s not like that," Zeke protested, though he felt his ears warming. "She''d probably just enjoy having another way to knock me down."


    "All the more reason to invite her," Ralph laughed. "So, what''ll it be? Secret cave exploration or lanceball?"


    "Why not both?" Zeke said, reaching for a blank parchment. "I''m writing to Artax tonight about what he did for fun during his Academy days.


    <b>[Scene Close]</b>


    <b>[Earned Emblems:]


    Heart of the Warrior


    Endurance</b>


    <b>[Active Quests:]</b>


    <b>


    [Letters Home: Write to Artax and ask him what he did for fun]


    </b>


    <b>[Time to Kill: Figure out what sort of a hobby you might want to do]</b>