Cooking with a Demon

Over the next few days, Riku’s life was turned upside down. Having Lucian around was like living with a strict, yet oddly charming, houseguest who just so happened to be from another dimension. The demon took his role as a “Master Chef” very seriously, and Riku found himself swept up in a whirlwind of culinary chaos.

“Again!” Lucian barked, his eyes flashing as Riku fumbled with a knife, trying to chop vegetables as quickly as Lucian had demonstrated.

“I’m trying!” Riku grumbled, his hands shaking as he attempted to keep up. Cooking had never been his forte, and under Lucian’s watchful gaze, every mistake felt magnified.

“You’re butchering those poor carrots!” Lucian exclaimed, snatching the knife from Riku’s hands and demonstrating the proper technique with effortless precision. “Like this! Smooth, even slices. Show some respect for the ingredients!”

Riku watched in awe as Lucian’s hands moved with speed and grace, transforming the carrots into perfectly uniform slices. “How are you so good at this?” he asked, genuinely impressed.

Lucian grinned, clearly pleased with the admiration. “Centuries of practice, my dear apprentice. You don’t become a culinary master overnight.”

“Centuries?” Riku echoed, eyes widening. “Just how old are you?”

Lucian waved a hand dismissively. “Old enough. Age is but a number, especially when you’re as talented as I am.”

Riku couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite his strict demeanor, Lucian had a flair for the dramatic that made even the most mundane tasks entertaining. Over time, Riku found himself growing more comfortable in the kitchen, learning to navigate Lucian’s demanding instructions with a mix of determination and humor.

One evening, as they were preparing dinner, Riku asked the question that had been nagging at him since Lucian’s arrival. “So, what’s the deal with that cookbook? Why was it in my kitchen?”

Lucian paused, his expression growing serious. “The Cook’s Grimoire is no ordinary cookbook. It’s a relic from my world, one of many that were scattered across different dimensions long ago. Each book contains powerful recipes that, when made correctly, can summon beings or open portals to other realms.”

Riku swallowed, the weight of Lucian’s words sinking in. “So I really did summon you with that recipe?”

Lucian nodded. “Indeed. But the ritual was incomplete, which is why we’re in this predicament. We need to reverse the summoning before things get out of hand.”

Riku felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to mess things up.”

Lucian smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You didn’t know. Besides, it’s been… nice, having someone to cook with again.”

Riku was taken aback by the sincerity in Lucian’s voice. For all his bluster and bravado, there was a loneliness beneath the surface that Riku hadn’t noticed before. He realized then that Lucian wasn’t just helping him out of obligation—he was enjoying their time together, too.

“Well, I guess we make a pretty good team,” Riku said, offering a small smile.

Lucian’s expression brightened. “Yes, we do, don’t we?”

As they continued cooking, a sense of camaraderie settled between them, stronger than before. They were no longer just a demon and his accidental summoner—they were partners, working together to fix a problem they’d both caused.