By the time Jade reached the restaurant, the evening had already begun settling over the city.
The sky above had turned a deep shade of orange fading slowly into purple as the sun lowered behind the tall buildings in the distance. Streetlights had begun glowing softly along the sidewalks, and the roads nearby carried the steady rhythm of vehicles moving through the district.
The restaurant stood along one of the busier streets.
It was not a small building.
In fact, it had always stood out among the other establishments around it. Even after many years, the structure still looked strong and impressive, almost as if time had barely touched it.
The outer walls held a polished finish that reflected the soft glow of the nearby streetlights. The paint had never faded, and the structure itself showed none of the cracks or aging that most buildings slowly developed over time.
That was no coincidence.
The restaurant had been built years ago by a famous transcendence.
And that transcendence happened to be Jade's grandfather.
The man had been known across many circles for his extraordinary abilities and contributions to the systems that helped humanity survive in a dangerous world. When he had constructed the building, he had done so with the same level of precision and power that defined everything he created.
Because of that, the restaurant had remained remarkably durable.
Years had passed.
Seasons had changed.
But the building still looked almost the same as the day it had been completed.
Jade pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The moment he entered, the lively atmosphere of the restaurant surrounded him.
The place was full.
Voices filled the large hall as people talked, laughed, and shared meals together. The smell of freshly cooked food drifted through the air, blending together into a warm and welcoming scent that immediately made the place feel alive.
Dozens of customers filled the tables.
Some were eating quietly while chatting with friends or family.
Others were speaking more loudly, caught up in animated conversations.
Several groups appeared to be discussing the same topic.
The fight.
Earlier that evening, the final match of the Elite Championship had taken place. Even though Jade had missed the ending of the broadcast at home, the result had clearly spread quickly through the city.
Now many people inside the restaurant were gossiping about it.
"I told you he would win!"
"No way, his opponent almost had him during that last exchange!"
"You should have seen the wind burst attack earlier in the match!"
Voices overlapped as people debated the outcome of the fight and the skills of the fighters involved.
Jade walked further inside while glancing around the interior of the restaurant.
The space was large.
Very large.
The inside of the restaurant resembled a massive hall, almost like a spacious canteen where large groups of people could gather and eat together.
Long rows of sturdy tables filled most of the room. Each table was surrounded by chairs where customers sat comfortably while enjoying their meals.
The layout allowed dozens of groups to eat at the same time without feeling cramped.
The ceiling above was high, supported by thick beams that gave the entire space a solid and stable feeling.
Bright lights illuminated the hall, making the environment warm and welcoming.
Despite the number of people inside, the restaurant never felt chaotic.
Everything seemed organized.
Efficient.
Comfortable.
The only real difference between this place and a school cafeteria was the variety of people present.
There were adults enjoying meals after work.
Groups of younger people chatting while sharing food.
Some children sat beside their parents, happily eating and occasionally laughing at something someone had said.
The environment carried a kind of simple warmth that made the place feel like more than just a restaurant.
It felt like a gathering place.
A place where people could relax.
A place where they could enjoy good food and conversation after a long day.
Jade stood for a moment and quietly observed the room.
A small smile appeared on his face.
His mother had clearly built a strong reputation for herself.
The number of people filling the restaurant every evening proved it.
People trusted the food here.
They enjoyed the atmosphere.
They came back again and again.
Watching the busy restaurant filled Jade with a quiet sense of satisfaction.
At times like this, he would imagine something about the future.
He couldn't help thinking about the day when he might have a restaurant of his own.
A place like this.
A place full of life.
Although his version of it would be a little different.
In his imagination, instead of him being the one serving food, the children would be the ones helping to serve.
The thought amused him slightly.
For now, however, he still had work to do.
Jade walked behind the counter area and grabbed one of the aprons hanging from a rack along the wall.
He tied it around his waist quickly and adjusted it so it sat comfortably.
Then he headed toward the kitchen.
The kitchen area was separated from the main hall by a wide opening that allowed the staff to move back and forth easily while delivering food.
Inside the kitchen, the atmosphere was just as busy as the dining hall outside.
Large cooking stations lined the walls.
Multiple stoves burned steadily as pots and pans heated across their surfaces.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of roasted meat, spices, and freshly prepared ingredients.
Several workers moved around the space with practiced coordination.
These were the employees Seraphine had hired to help manage the restaurant.
Some were preparing ingredients.
Others were plating meals.
Several moved back and forth between the kitchen and the dining hall carrying trays of finished dishes.
In simpler terms, they were waiters.
Jade spotted his mother near one of the larger cooking stations.
Seraphine stood calmly before a wide roasting grill, turning several pieces of meat with steady, practiced movements.
The flames beneath the grill flickered gently as the meat slowly cooked, releasing a mouthwatering scent into the air.
Despite the busy kitchen around her, she looked completely relaxed.
Cooking had always been something she handled effortlessly.
Jade stepped beside her.
Without saying anything, he immediately began helping.
He picked up one of the long cooking forks and carefully turned several pieces of roasting meat.
The juices sizzled as they touched the hot grill surface.
Occasionally, Seraphine would add seasoning or adjust the heat with small movements of her hand.
Jade followed her rhythm naturally.
He had learned a lot from his mother over the years.
Not just basic cooking.
But the small details.
The timing.
The balance of flavors.
The patience required to cook properly.
For Jade, cooking had always brought a strange sense of peace.
Whenever he stood in the kitchen, focusing on preparing food, something inside him seemed to relax.
It felt like he could quietly release any frustration or emotion he had built up during the day.
The act of cooking allowed him to concentrate on something simple and tangible.
Heat.
Ingredients.
Movement.
Flavor.
In a way, it was like venting his emotions through the food he prepared.
That was something he had learned directly from watching his mother.
While Jade helped roast the meat, other workers moved around them efficiently.
Plates were filled.
Orders were prepared.
Waiters carried trays of steaming dishes back into the dining hall where the customers waited.
Once several batches of food were ready, Jade removed his apron briefly and grabbed a serving tray.
Sometimes he helped serve customers as well.
He stepped back into the main hall carrying several plates.
The restaurant was still lively.
Conversations filled the air as customers continued enjoying their meals.
Several people were still discussing the Elite Championship match.
Some were even arguing over who had deserved the victory.
Jade moved calmly between the tables.
He placed plates of food in front of waiting customers.
"Here you go."
"Enjoy your meal."
He repeated the routine naturally.
Some customers nodded in thanks.
Others were too focused on their conversations to notice much beyond the arrival of their food.
Jade didn't mind.
He moved from table to table, delivering meals where they were needed.
As he walked through the hall, he briefly thought about his sister.
Unlike him, she had never shown much interest in cooking or helping at the restaurant.
She preferred completely different things.
Machines.
Devices.
Complex mechanical systems.
She loved building things.
Robots.
Small gadgets.
Anything that involved engineering and invention.
In many ways, she had inherited the interests of their father and grandfather.
Both of them had always been fascinated with systems, technology, and powerful creations that shaped the world.
Jade, on the other hand, had taken a different path.
Cooking felt natural to him.
Simple.
Peaceful.
It suited him.
Now he carried another tray of food across the hall.
He approached a table near the center of the restaurant and carefully set the dishes down in front of the waiting customers.
The lively conversations continued around him.
Plates clinked softly.
Chairs shifted occasionally as people moved.
The warm glow of the lights filled the room.
Jade picked up the empty tray and turned slightly toward the entrance of the restaurant.
At that exact moment—
Someone stepped inside.
Jade noticed it immediately.