Primordial Draconic Incubus With A Gourmet Chef System

[Good.] Lucian was overjoyed to hear this, but outwardly, his face remained indifferent.

The System continued, [Host. His Time Element is surprisingly pure. He could become your greatest subordinate if he's nurtured properly.]

[I know.] Lucian simply responded. With the System handling the cooking procedure, he had nothing else to do. Therefore, he turned to Duan Mu and asked straightforwardly, [Can you feel it? A pulling sensation?]

[I-I think so… It feels like something is being drawn from me, but it's surprisingly not unpleasant.] Duan Mu answered with his hand over his chest.

[It's beyond your control, isn't it? How does it make you feel?] Lucian asked in a tone as though he was genuinely curious. But, in reality, he could not care less about someone he had just met.

[How does it make me feel?] Duan Mu blinked, confused by the question. But then, he heard Lucian's voice again, [The feeling of something that should have originally been yours from the start being used by another for their purpose.]

*Badump*

Duan Mu's heart rate accelerated.

[You were born with the Time Element. Yet, at the same time, you were born as a cripple. Why? How is that even possible? What did you do to deserve such a miserable life? A life of ridicule and shame.

Are you satisfied with such a life? Don't you feel the desire to break the shackles binding you?]

*Badump*

*Badump*

*Badump*

'Cripple'

'Hahaha. What a useless piece of trash.'

'Don't you have any shame, Duan Mu? Why don't you make it easier for your parents and just die already? Hahaha.'

'Hahahaha.'

Sad memories of Duan Mu's childhood flashed before his eyes. He could practically hear their voices. No. He could hear them because their ridiculing words were glued to the forefront of his memories.

It was a plague that stuck with him all this time. Even after maturing and having a bit of success in his newfound life as a chef, the trauma from his childhood and teenage years remained within him.

He could not remove it.

But…

What if the solution was not to remove it… but to use it as fuel to grow?

While Duan Mu was deep in thought, Lucian interrupted him, [After the 553 Siren's Melody Eggs are poached and plated, you can either walk out of this kitchen the same person you have always been, letting others dictate who you are, or become my disciple and I will make you the best chef Arcadia has ever seen. The decision is entirely up to you.]

*Badump*

*Badump*

*Badump*

'How is this situation any different?' Duan Mu chuckled bitterly to himself. He knew Lucian wanted to use his Time Element. Without it, he would have never even glanced at him.

Lucian was a god-like chef, while he was a nobody.

Yet, that only fueled the fire within him as he glanced at the large pot filled with beautiful eggs, each encased in a swirling vortex.

After a moment of hesitation, Duan Mu asked, [This cooking technique… what is it called, and will you teach it to me if I become your disciple?]

Without even a change in Lucian's indifferent expression, he explained, [I call it Vortex Poaching.] Of course, Lucian had just made the name up. Before today, he never knew it was possible to cook in such a way. [It allows me to keep the Siren's Melody Eggs from colliding with other eggs in the pot. As a chef, you should know how delicate an egg's membrane is.]

Duan Mu nodded with a thoughtful expression and waited for Lucian to continue.

[As for teaching it to you. Why wouldn't I? I am always transparent with my disciples.] Lucian continued with an imperceptible smile. [If you become my disciple, I will teach you not only how to use the Vortex Poaching technique, but everything I know. I will restore your Mana Veins and even teach you how to use the Time Element in ways you could never even imagine.

But know this, the path won't be easy. Mastery over an Element as mysterious as Time requires immense discipline and sacrifice.]

*Badump*

*Badump*

*Badump*

As soon as Lucian's words were spoken, Duan Mu's heart accelerated, his body shook violently, and his eyes opened wide.

[Restore my Mana Veins?] He muttered dazedly.

Lucian nodded his head. Duan Mu's reaction was as expected. After all, restoring Mana Veins was not easy. The Mana Veins Restoration Potion could not be bought. It could only be commissioned to a highly experienced Alchemist after the necessary ingredients were found. Who could travel to the Drakonia Continent, find a Magical Beast with healing properties, kill it, and somehow return alive?

Just that ingredient alone made crippled people realize restoring their Mana Veins was a pipe dream.

Yet, Lucian actually said he would restore Duan Mu's Mana Veins and even nodded his head.

[Are you not playing a prank on me or trying to trick me?] Duan Mu asked to be safe. He could not believe someone would offer such a rare and precious potion to him. It was too good to be true.

In response, Lucian shook his head with an indifferent expression.

[Why would I? I don't have time for pranks, nor do I find enjoyment in tricking Mages weaker than me.]

[Host, are you not sort of tricking Duan Mu, right now?] The System asked its Host speechlessly.

[The key word is sort of.] Lucian replied to the System without an ounce of shame.

Meanwhile, after observing Lucian's indifferent expression for a while, Duan Mu's heart skipped a beat, and his body began to violently tremble.

'He's telling the truth.' Even so, he could not help but play devil's advocate, 'But… what if he's lying? What if it's all a facade?'

But…

'Do I have a choice? This might be my only chance to finally become a Mage.'

If he did not take this leap of faith, what would he have left? What would become of him?