BOOK TWO: Chapter 47: The Forge's Bounty and The Midday Feast
### The Grand Dining Hall
As the clock hit 12:00, signaling the halfway point of the first official school day, a subtle chime resonated across the entire **Earth Academy**. Students from the Air, Light, and Forge Mastery wings—their heads spinning from the intense, focused lessons—converged on the **Grand Dining Hall**.
The hall was vast, bright, and surprisingly warm. Six immensely long, polished wooden tables stretched the length of the room. Laid out across the hall was an unbelievable sight: a rotating landscape of food. Towering mountains of perfectly roasted **rotisserie chickens**, glistening pans of **mac and cheese**, steaming bowls of various **fish soups**, and endless platters of meticulously prepared salads created a feast designed to banish any lingering fear.
Serving the bounty was a staff of finely dressed gentlemen, gliding silently between the tables. These were the professional chefs and kitchen aids, all employees of the Academy, each radiating quiet pride.
### The Forged Utensils
A small detail caught the eye: every piece of serving ware and every utensil—from the spatulas to the carving knives—was forged from a unique, gleaming alloy.
This was the quiet, effective result of **Professor Isaac Vance's** off-the-books lessons. He had been training the kitchen staff in basic **Forge Mastery**, instructing them on how to imbue their tools with minor, focused Earth Magic. The result was cutlery that never dulled, serving spoons that maintained the perfect temperature, and cutting surfaces that never scarred, making a feast of this scale a smooth, everyday occurrence.
### The Holographic Menu
As students and professors alike entered the dining area, a holographic blue-white globe appeared before each person. It was **Earth**.
**"Welcome to the Grand Dining Hall. The Midday Feast is scheduled for forty-five minutes, structured into three courses to maximize both efficiency and enjoyment,"** Earth announced, its voice warm and appealing.
Simultaneously, a ghost-like, **holographic menu** shimmered, tracking the movements of every individual. It displayed nutritional information and the location of specific dietary items (vegan, gluten-free, allergy-safe) as they moved through the line.
### Three Courses of Control
The first ten minutes were dedicated to **Course One**.
As the students settled, perfectly portioned **salad bars** appeared as if rising from the tables, presenting a vibrant array of fresh, crisp greens and toppings. The atmosphere was a mix of nervous silence and awe as children, young and old, quickly consumed the refreshing food.
At the **fifteen-minute mark**, the first course disappeared instantly, whisked away by the seamless coordination of the kitchen staff. The students barely had time to blink before the grand **Main Course** replaced the salads.
The long tables were now laden with enormous serving trays: perfectly portioned spaghetti, platters of pan-seared sea bass, enormous pots of savory stew, and the centerpiece that was drawing the most attention—**Chef Chuck's famous Memphis-style BBQ Ribs**. The meat was tender, the sauce was tangy, and the sight of dozens of children and adults happily sinking their teeth into the messy, perfect BBQ was a powerful symbol of their new, stable life.
The hall filled with the happy, messy sounds of consumption and the gentle clatter of forged silverware. **Professor Anya Sharma** (Fire) sat with her students, observing them with sharp discipline, while **Professor Ben Carter** (Water) shared a laugh with a nervous Blue Mage. **Headmaster Carter** sat quietly with the other core professors, observing the integration of his new community.
The final course arrived with **ten minutes remaining** on the clock.
The main dishes vanished, replaced by a simple yet perfect dessert: fresh, sliced fruit and delicate, handcrafted pastries. It was just enough time for the students to enjoy the sweetness without overeating, ensuring they would be alert for the afternoon sessions.
As the clock ticked down to the final minute, a final, clear chime signaled the end of the feast. Students gathered their tablets and headed toward their next scheduled classes, satiated, energized, and settling into the rhythms of the **Earth Academy**.
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