By the Bonfire: The First taste

Siegward opened up the oven door, leaning down as he stared into the contraption with squinted eyes. He mentally counted in his head before giving a short nod and placing the oven gloves over his hands.

He reached in and removed the tray, placing it atop the stove and flicking the oven door closed just as quickly. A smile came to his face as he stared at the food with a proud glint in his eyes.

Internally, he was cheering that even after all these years he could still cook it.

The smile soon lessened somewhat as he stared at it. A special in Catarina, fresh cuts of beef wrapped tightly in puff pastry with a gentle seasoning of spices. Although he himself had never heard of half of them beyond salt and pepper. At least it gave him some basic instructions to go on.

That and he hadn't cooked in a while.

He knew there was something similar to this, some beef dish that was also wrapped in pastry. Although Siegward had a special ingredient for his which separated it from the standard 'Beef Wellington' as it was known as.

Not that he would ever reveal it. One should never reveal their tricks in the kitchen.

He looked up across the cafeteria with his positive expression. It quickly fell when he realised how early it was. Siegward sighed as he stared at the dish with a somewhat saddened expression.

He'd only made it because he was curious if he could, he really did need to stop doing things because they took his fancy. Not that it was as bad as it used to be. It had been a rather jarring experience to have Yhorm, of all the individuals who could have called him out on it, to tell him to at least think things through first.

Siegward's lip twitched upwards at the memory of his friend.

"You did it again."

"Did what?"

"Sieg…" Yhorm released a loud sigh, moving his hand to cradle his head while he slowly shook it in exasperation "You know what I mean...Honestly, what would you have done without me?"

"Oh, I'm sure it would have all worked out." Siegward dismissed with a gentle chuckle as he stirred his pot, looking up to the Giant he gave a simple smile "Besides, I have nothing to regret, so I-"

"Will continue to act recklessly." Yhorm cut him off with a equal parts stern and equal parts worried tone "Sieg, I might not always be your travelling companion...And had it not been for me those Wyverns might have ended you."

The Onion knight remained silent, slowly casting his gaze over to the corpse of the dozen Wyverns near him. Their bodies rendered and scorched from a mixture of his Miracles and Yhorms strength. The knight sighed and looked back to the Giant "I thought you were always one to help when it was necessary?"

"I am." Yhorm replied easily "I am not chastising you for helping the caravan, but please…The moment you heard that they were in danger you were shooting off at the speed of a runaway horse." he held up his hand to stop whatever argument the Knight went to make "I only ask that you think things through before you help...try to move with a calm mind whenever necessary...stop and think."

"Now Yhorm...We both know-"

"I know that it is hypocritical of me." Yhorm let out a deep rumbling chuckle in response "Indeed...I don't stop and think things through...But there is a marked difference between you and me Sieg...Around seven metres of marked difference-"

Siegward let out a huff at that, shaking his head and giving the Giant a flat look. Yhorm returned the expression with a slight smirk "You know I'm right, Sieg."

"Yes well…" Siegward sighed, looking away "It is difficult...As a Knight, I should always leap to the aid of my fellows. Standing around and watching them fight and die while I scheme feels wrong."

"That's because you think of it as scheming." Yhorm sighed "It is strategy."

"Something you do?"

"When you wield an axe larger than most humans homes and a shield just as big, strategy tends to play very small a role in a fight." Yhorm pointed out with a perfectly straight face, earning a laugh from Siegward in response.

"I-I suppose it wouldn't, would it?" His laugh quietened down into a chuckle "...I suppose I could try to think things through…"

"Good, Siegward of Catarina isn't going to be a very good Knight if he runs off to his death."

"Well...I suppose it is best that I have you to stop that, isn't it?"

"Hmph." Yhorm huffed in response, crossing his arms and squinting his eyes at Siegward "That does not sound like much of a commitment to my advice...but I suppose it is as good as I shall receive."

"Don't worry too greatly about it, Yhorm." Siegward gave a slight wave "I will endeavour to use my head to think through the problems."

"Well...As you say." Yhorm settled with his argument, before slowly lowering his sight to the pot "...Speaking of thinking things through, would it have killed you to make the portions bigger?"

"I would very much like to avoid filling in my armour entirely."

"Very droll. Although I fear that if I should get too hungry, I might mistake you for an onion and eat you by accident."

"Now who is the one with dry wit?" Siegward rolled his eyes before sending a mock glare Yhorm's way "And the armour of the Catarinan knights is of well respected and functional design, any indication that it-"

"Looks as though it as been pulled from the ground by a farmer."

"...Is purely coincidental." He finished with a flat look "We can't all be Giants you know?"

"No...Small mercies." He shuddered "I dare wonder how much more reckless you would be if our roles were reversed."

"Is it reckless if I am a Giant with an axe larger than most peoples homes and a shield just as big?" Siegward repeated the words with a mischievous smirk, Yhorm sighed and palmed his face in response.

"You Catarinans...I fear you might all be mad."

"It's not mad! It is simply courage and a spark for adventuring!"

"Hmph...Onion Catarinan."

"It is not shaped like an Onion!"

"What are you smiling at?" Siegward abruptly started, letting out a small yelp of surprise before he saw the curious expression of Ash in front of him. The man let out a small sigh, placing his hand over his heart and shaking his head.

"Goodness me...You almost stopped my heart there." Siegward huffed, soon giving the unkindled a brief nod "I was thinking of something amusing."

Ash gave a quiet hum in response, then looked down at the baking tray that Siegward had out "I see you've been making yourself busy."

"Yes." Siegward nodded, looking down at the food with a nostalgic smile "It has been many years since I last made a Catarinan Oyster."

Ash gave him a perplexed look, then pointedly looked back at the dish. Siegward let out a bemused laugh "Yes, I suppose that look makes sense." he reached over and picked up a nearby knife "Oysters were little things we used to find at the bottom of the sea, very rare which was why they were so highly prized. Occasionally one would wash up on the beach and if you were lucky you'd find a pearl." he scrapped the edge of the knife along the top of the pastry, the sound it produced let Siegward know that the pastry was cooked perfectly "Anyway, I suspect this dish got its name because on the outside its hard...but if you look inside…" he tipped the knife and cut downwards, splitting the Oyster in half and revealing the cross-section of the dish.

"You have something valuable." Ash surmised.

"If you're lucky." Siegward pointed out "The problem with Catarinan Oysters is that they took many years to master...and often one would give up because it was so complicated."

"But not you?"

"Oh no." Siegward shook his head "Not me. Well...you could say I always wanted to get it right...that and my nephew always wanted to try one." he shrugged his shoulders "Well, he was a fellow in need and as a Knight it was my duty to help him."

Ash's eyebrows raised up his forehead "Was he pleased with it?"

Siegwards expression flattened out, his eyes turned distant "...I would hope to think he would be." he sniffed, then rested both his hands on the counter top "Bit of a shame to make it now...considering that neither of us can taste."

"Well...you still make a fine Estus soup."

"Ha...yes...yes I suppose there is that." Siegward accepted with a more positive smile, then looked around the room "How early is it?"

"Around...two? Yes two in the morning." Ash affirmed "I'm afraid its just me awake."

"I wonder if you ever sleep."

"I wonder how you were able to."

"Practice." Siegward replied easily "I find sleep very relaxing, helps to calm the mind when you awaken. Although I don't really dream."

"Not much to dream about." Ash responded with a slight frown "Still...I will admit some slight envy that you were able to sleep so easily. Too easily...and quite heavily too."

"I shan't ever live that down, shall I?"

"Not until I meet another man who can fall asleep and remain so, even as he is robbed of the very set of armour he is wearing." Ash gave him a small smile "Besides, you got it back in the end."

"Yes...you never did tell me how."

"It was found by…" He scrunched up his face in a slightly sour expression "An interested party."

"Well...as long as it didn't put you through too much trouble." Siegward remained silent for a few moments, then looked over to the Oyster with a sad frown "...It feels a great shame to waste such a meal." he reached over to his knife, picking it up and cutting off a small section of the dish. Picking up the small piece, he placed it in his mouth and chewed it a few times, the pastry giving a satisfying crunch as he ate it before swallowing.

Ash watched him with an indiscernible expression with a slight hint of resignation as Siegward finished the small portion.

"...How was it?" He eventually asked, Siegward remained silent for a few moments then looked over to Ash with a perfectly blank expression.

"Can't tell." He shrugged, although Ash didn't miss the hint of sadness that flickered through his eyes "It was likely for the best...heh, my clumsy hands probably messed it up anyway."

Neither of them said a word after that, the only sound that could be heard was Siegward quietly eating the dish he had made, he offered some to Ash and he accepted it.

Like Siegward, the only thing he could taste about the dish was his namesake.

"Thanks again for the help." Julius nodded to Siegward as he entered the kitchen, he responded with a small smile of his own and wave of his hand.

"Nonsense my good man." Siegward chuckled as he wrapped his apron on his his body and moved over to the sink, preparing to wash his hands "I do enjoy cooking for others. And from what I can expect, I fear perhaps you may need all the help you can get."

Julius snorted, the grey haired man with a goatee beard shook his head as he placed the tall chefs hat on top of his head. Most of his kitchen staff had been killed in the initial bombing, leaving only himself as the cook for the whole of Chaldea. While it hadn't proven to be too great an issue when it came to dealing with barely twenty staff members, the onset of Servants who actually wanted to eat food had put a slight strain on his abilities.

So when Francis had recommended Siegward for the position as cook, Julius had been sceptical of a man who couldn't actually taste anything. However, after the Servant had demonstrated that his lack of working taste buds in no way hampered his skill in the kitchen, he was more than happy to have the man help him.

God knows he wouldn't have been able to deal with the Dragon girl by himself too. The minor concession that her rather intense personality wasn't in anyway focused on him.

Siegward hummed to himself as he moved to the front counter top, overlooking the cafeteria as the early members of staff began to filter in. Most wanting their breakfast.

His eyes fell upon the slightly haggard form of Olga as the woman dragged herself into the cafeteria. The dark bags under her eyes indicated she obviously hadn't been sleeping well. A frown came to his face as she walked up to the counter top and then stared at Siegward for a few moments, she furrowed her brows as she clearly tried to remember him.

"Siegward." He provided, causing her to jolt and then stare at him with wide eyes, her surprised expression brought a slight smile to his face "I decided to help where I could."

"Wha-" She began, then sighed and shook her head. Her hand grasping at her forehead as she clearly struggled to deal with whatever she was feeling "Nevermind, I probably don't want to know anyway...I assume you can cook?"

"Well, I'm not one to blow my own horn." Siegward chuckled in response "But I have been told I'm still quite good at the skill."

"Fine…" She sighed, then looked up at the small menu they had written on the whiteboard. Her expression cycled through various emotions ranging from thoughtful to hungry before she settled on something "I'll have the Brioche special."

"I'll be with you shortly then." Siegward nodded to her and turned away, the woman walked off to her table and sat down, her posture was half-heartedly refined. As if she wasn't too concerned with her appearance as of right now. From what he had heard, the woman had an unfortunate time towards the end of the Roman Singularity.

Releasing a thoughtful hum, the knight went about making her requested breakfast while also planning on adding something extra to her order. It might not be much, it might not even have been asked for, but it was something he was going to do. The barest hints of smile flickered across his face.

'Sorry, Yhorm.' He thought to himself as he went about the kitchen, preparing the fluffy breaded delight and his addition 'Looks like I'm still rushing off into things.'

He suspected that his friend might forgive him, just this once however.

Olga tapped on the table as she continued to wait, the whole premise of a Servant living up to the title in the most literal sense was still a little baffling to her. However, with Chaldea as short staffed as it was, it wasn't like she was going to turn down any help. That said, if Siegward actually could cook it was be a pleasant surprise.

Her tapping paused as she suddenly thought of something. Ash had said in passing that undead have no sense of taste. If that was true…

How on earth was Siegward going to make sure that his cooking was edible?

Eyes snapped back to the kitchen as she watched the Saber Servant move about the kitchen in an apron of all things, oddly enough he looked like he knew what he was doing. Although she would be the first to admit that she knew next to nothing about cooking meals, considering that she hadn't ever cooked one for herself in her life.

"Director." Her eyes snapped away from the Servant and towards the voice, Mash stood hesitantly near her, eyes flicking to the empty seat before back to her. Olga remained silent for a few moments, before she eventually gave a small nod of allowance. Mash's expression visibly brightened as she looked behind herself "She said yes, Senpai!"

She furrowed her brows and looked just behind Mash to see Ritsuka awkwardly standing there, the boy gave her a nervous smile as he approached. The trio stared at eachother in silence for a few more seconds before the Master and Servant sat down opposite Olga. Ritsuka was still visibly nervous, doing his level best to avoid looking the Director in the eyes while Mash held a somewhat satisfied smile on her face but was also staring at the table.

"...What are you two doing?" She tiredly asked, already guessing the answer was going to irritate her somewhat.

"Well…" Ritsuka coughed into his hand "You looked lonely sitting her by yourself...so I figured-"

"That I looked like a little girl in need of company?" She narrowed her eyes at him, his expression slowly paled as the words registered. Mash flinched and sent her a look of concern at her icy tone.

"N-no…" He tried to salvage himself "J-just that eating alone can be pretty sad-"

"So now you think I'm some pitiful little being?"

"…" He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.

"Stop bully the poor boy." Olga looked over her shoulder as Ash walked to their table, sitting himself down next to her and leaning back into his chair "And do not be so quick to readily refuse company, with so few here I dare say we are all in need of it."

"I will not have my own subordinates walking around me as if they tread upon eggshells." She huffed "I am a grown woman and Director of Chaldea, I do not need to be given special dispensation because someone said some bad things about me."

"I was not implying that." Ash replied after a few moments, causing the woman to flinch "But more importantly, how are you feeling?"

"Why?" She looked at him with a raised eyebrow "Does it really matter?"

"To me." He shrugged, then gestured to Ritsuka and Mash "And them as well...I suspect it matters to others as well."

"Then you clearly don't know that many Magi." She clicked her tongue.

"I knew Orbeck." Ash recounted "He would have me scrape through dungeons and smouldering fields of poison to find old scrolls of sorcery." a bitter smirk came to his face "If I did not, then he said he would simply leave."

"Ash-san." Mash leaned forwards and brought his attention to her "I thought you couldn't do Sorcery?"

"I can't do it very well." He chuckled "A farron dart is about all I could manage. Like I said, Pyromancy came easier to me than Sorcery."

"So Orbeck was…" Ritsuka struggled to find the words "Someone who fought with you?"

"No."

"Eh…" Ritsuka blinked "So...so why did you-?"

"Honestly?" Ash shrugged "It gave me something to do. That and I would often find the sorcery scrolls near enough Pyromancy tomes, I would gift the tomes to my tutor and I decided that I might as well give Orbeck the knowledge he so desperately craved….no it would be a lie to say we never fought together." shaking his head, Ash carried on "He did aid me when I fought the Twin Princes."

"Oh, so he did help?"

"In the end." Ash replied with a sardonic smirk "And only after I had so graciously done as he had asked."

"So you simply slaved away for no true benefits." Olga surmised with a scowl "Why?"

Ash's expression blanked "...It was something new to experience. At the time, I didn't really care what it was about or who was asking...it was something I could choose to do. A choice to ignore Orbeck or help him, it didn't matter to me if I would benefit from it or not. I simply helped him because I could."

"Did you help a lot of people, Ash-san?" Mash asked, his eyes fell on her and his expression turned troubled for a few moments.

"...Not everyone. There were some people I did not aid."

"Hmph." Olga huffed "At the very least you had the spine to not become a footstool."

Ash didn't answer the jab, looking away from the table and towards the kitchen. Ritsuka and Mash followed his line of sight and promptly found themselves staring in naked curiosity "Siegward is still helping in the Kitchen?"

"I believe he has become a permanent member of staff." Ash supplied for him "He takes his duty quite seriously."

"I guess…" Ritsuka was still staring at him for a few more moments, then he turned back to the table. His face set in a thoughtful frown before he looked back up "...Why does he look like a stereotypical butler though?"

Olga snorted, quickly looking away and covering the rare laugh with a cough. Mash furrowed her brows in confusion, one which was shared by Ash.

"What do you mean?" Ash asked eventually, Ritsuka let out a huff of amusement and shook his head in disbelief.

"No, its he's wearing the butler gear. Black vest and tie and all that, the apron is a little weird but he's in a kitchen. But its his hair…" He gestured to his face "Its the giant bushy moustache and the receding hairline."

"I can't comment on it." Ash settled on "Having never seen a butler, or heard of one until now, I have little to say on the subject."

"He means actual servants." Olga supplied for the unkindled, her hand still in front of her face to hide her tiny smile at the comment. Now that she looked at Siegward, he really did look like how a butler was envisaged by a child. "As in the ones that attend to people of Noble Birth...or just really rich."

"Oh." Ash nodded his head in understanding "...Still never met one."

Siegward looked back to the table and did a double take at how the population had grown from just Olga, now housing four people.

Now five, considering that Kiyohime virtually appeared next to them. Clinging to poor Ritsuka's arm and startling the boy while Ash seemed more confused than anything else. Siegward didn't blame him, he himself understood little in the way of a woman's heart.

And Ash understood even less than him.

He was more surprised that the girl hadn't tried to muscle into the kitchen to make breakfast for Ritsuka, but that might be because she wanted to spend time with the boy. Also it might have been because he wasn't a woman that she allowed him to make Ritsuka's meals, something to do with how he wasn't a homewrecker.

The mysteries of women would forever be beyond his reach.

He sighed as he went back to making breakfast, also taking the liberty of preparing some meals for the others.

And Estus Soup for Ash, if nothing else his unkindled friend deserved to at least eat something that he could enjoy.

"But it turns me into a Dragon as well." Ash went on, attempting to explain the Dragon Tablets to them "It's an entire religion devoted to turning oneself into a Dragon." he then gestured to Kiyohime "Ironically enough, she has already achieved it and without a Tablet to call upon."

"Could you do it?" Ritsuka asked, leaning forwards with interest.

Ash shook his head "Not in the same way you described...I would simply become a humanoid Dragon." he paused for a few moments "I also wouldn't have wings."

Ritsuka sighed "Shame...Let me guess, your bottomless box?"

"Indeed."

"...I feel like we really need to find that thing." He scratched his head "Sounds like they're loads of stuff in there that would be really useful."

"Considering it holds what are tantamount of Noble Phantasms." Olga dryly went on "I would say that it would certainly be a great help." she then turned to him with an inquisitive expression "And you say anyone could use it?"

"The weapons? They were not mine to begin with and I only acquired them through combat...or looting the bodies." He added on "But yes, I do not see why they could not be used. There was also a great many armours, Catalysts, potions, Rings for enchantments as well-"

"Rings?" Kiyohime leaned forwards this time, her eyes sparkling "What type of Rings?"

"Dozens." Ash replied instantly "Boosts to health, restoration of vitality, natural resistances against all manner of spells-"

"Any for couples?"

"...I...er…" Ash stuttered in surprise "Well...um...I did have multiple copies of the same rings, although their effects were drastically improved-"

"Did they look nice?"

"Well...There was the Blue Tearstone Ring and Red Tearstone ring...They held their namesake jewels on the centre of the-"

"Anchin-sama." Kiyohime turned to Ritsuka with a serious expression "It is vital we obtain the box and the wedding rings."

"T-the what!?" Ritsuka sputtered, staring at the girl wide eyed "W-wait a second here-"

Mash frowned, sending a disapproving looking in Kiyohime's direction from how obviously uncomfortable she was making Ritsuka feel. Olga was staring at Ash in a new light.

"These rings…" She leaned forwards "You said they granted defence against spells?"

"Hm?" Ash turned to her, then nodded once "Some Rings granted resistance against lightning, others against dark. The Speckled Stoneplate Ring defended my best against all manner of Magic, Lightning and Dark. Then there was the Fleshbite Ring which raised poison resistance."

Olga's eyebrows climbed higher and higher up her brow as Ash recounted some of his treasures. She wet her lips and then cupped her chin "And these Rings...they were all in your bottomless box?"

"I was summoned without them." Ash replied with a small frown "I believe that the Stoneplate Ring would have raised my Magic Resistance up to A...Although the Witches Ring was always a favourite of mine. It would have raised the power of my pyromancy considerably."

Olga bit her lip, now cursing that he didn't have such an item on him. This Bottomless Box was a something she could scarcely comprehend. All those mystic Codes from an Age of Gods level world and Ash apparently had no conniptions about freely discussing them or even handing them out as he had so spoken of during his time in Rome, even offering to give Mash a spear.

Unfortunately he didn't have it on him, but if they were to reclaim it…

"Your breakfast." Siegwards voice came to her ears, the woman looked up as the man place a plate of Brioche pancakes in front of her, a slight drizzle of syrup was over the top of them along with several blueberries. All in all, she would admit that it didn't look too bad. Although she found her eyes drawn to the Syrup, which seemed to hold a subtle glow to it, although it might have been the lighting.

The clink of Ceramic next to her made her stare at the cup of tea that he placed near her. Olga raised an eyebrow and looked up at him "I didn't-"

"Consider it a small reward for working so hard these last few weeks." Siegward chuckled, then turned to Ritsuka, Mash and Kiyohime. Placing the tray that he had been holding with his other hand in front of them.

"I took the liberty of preparing something similar for all of you." Siegward said as he placed the dishes in front of them "Unfortunately no tea, but I should hope that the pancakes will be fine."

"Thanks, Siegward." Ritsuka nodded to him as he pulled his plate towards him "Wow...looks pretty good too."

Siegward slid the bowl of glowing orange liquid over to Ash, placing a spoon next to it. The Unkindled snorted and gave Siegward a wry smile "Some of your famous Estus soup?"

"Well…I figured you would enjoy that more." Siegward replied with equal amusement, Ash chuckled in response and shook his head. "You're probably right on that regard."

Olga cut a small portion of the pancake off, stabbing it with her fork and holding it up to look at it more clearly. She squinted at it. The syrup was definitely glowing slightly, her eyes turned on the knight in suspicion "Did you do something to this Syrup?"

"Chef's secret." Siegward responded immediately, although not unkindly. More amused than anything else "I make no promises as to how effective it will be...but I only ask that you give it a try first."

She hummed in response before placing the pancake in her mouth and chewing. She paused after a few moments, the second the syrup hit her tongue.

Ritsuka watched as Olga remained silent, eyes vacant as he stared at his own slice of pancake before eating it. Then he froze, Mash followed soon after and then froze as well. Kiyohime glared at the pancakes and then at Siegward "I hope you haven't poisoned my Anchin-sama."

"Just wait." Siegward reassured her, smiling in spite of the obvious threat "I believe they will respond any moment now."

Warmth flooded her being. It wasn't an uncomfortable warmth or a bodily warmth. It was an emotional one, a small sense of bliss. No...it was a rejuvenating feeling as well. She felt healthier, not to mention the taste of the pancakes as well. They were done to perfection, something she would never have expected from a man who couldn't taste anything.

Her head snapped to him instantly "What did you do…?" she whispered out in a low tone. Siegward chuckled in response.

"So how were they?"

"Damn!" Ritsuka eventually ground out, staring at the pancakes with some form of reverence "How...how did you make them taste so good?"

"Wait...Senpai." Mash paused for a few moments "This taste…" her eyes widened and snapped to Siegward "You used Estus?"

"Well, you're quite the smart girl." Siegward smiled at her "Quite the formidable taste you have there, I did indeed." his eyes fell onto Olga's cut of tea. The woman followed his gaze, almost hesitantly clasping the handle of the tea cup and bringing it up to her lips. Taking a small sip…

The same warmth spread through her body and she couldn't help the smile coming to her face.

Siegward watched their muted reactions of joy with a small smile, although it was far more genuine than his usual beaming expression as they continued to eat "In truth, I wouldn't normally mix Estus with the food...it feels a bit like cheating if I'm being honest." he shrugged at their looks of confusion "Using magic healing potions on the food is a bit...overpowering." he surmised after a few moments, then he turned away from them "Although in this instance, I feel like it was worth a little cheating."

He looked across the cafeteria to see more of the staff and Servants pour in for their morning breakfast, even Sif came plodding in much to his amusement at the way most of the staff gave the wolf a wide birth. Much as he would have expected, considering he was above eye level with virtually all of them.

"If you will excuse me." He nodded to the table "I believe I will be needed elsewhere." soon making his way back into the kitchen.

Siegward did his level best to cook for the rest of the breakfast hour, right up until the point where Da Vinci had strode up to the counter top and slammed her hands onto it, levelling a pout in his direction.

"No fair!" She whined, earning a mild look of surprise from Siegward "How come I didn't get any magic pancakes?"

Siegward couldn't help the laugh that escaped his throat "M-magic pancakes?" he bit out inbetween chuckles "You refer to the kind I served Lady Olga's table?"

"Yeah!" Her pout got larger "Make me some please~"

"What kind of glutton are you?" Romani muttered as Julius handed the man his coffee "Is there something wrong with normal pancakes?"

"No, but they aren't pancakes made with otherworldly means." She responded with a look that screamed that the answer was obvious "And anything that even the Director will recommend with a tiny smile has to be worth something."

"She smiled?" Romani couldn't help himself from asking before he flinched at the look he received from both Da Vinci and Siegward in response "That wasn't what I meant!"

"Oh, I know." Siegward reassured the man "I suppose you might be a bit like me in always saying what comes to mind."

Da Vinci gave him an incredulous look "I don't think so...Romani is a bit too cowardly to admit something like that." she smirked at him "He's also too cowardly to admit that he wants some of those magic pancakes as well!~"

"W-what?!" The man choked on his coffee, looking affronted "That is...well…" he looked away abashedly "I mean...I wouldn't object to having some…"

"See?" Da Vinci pointed at him while giving Siegward a smug look "He can't even admit when he wants something!"

"I suppose it is a good thing he has one such as you to carry that burden of choice." The Onion Knight remarked with a wry smile, causing Romani to recoil from him with his mouth agape and for Da Vinci to break into a boisterous laugh and slap the Doctor on the shoulder, causing him to spill some of his coffee.

"Exactly!" She grinned "A Romani can leave all the important decisions to a resident genius and with me around who needs another?"

"It couldn't hurt." Romani mumbled under his breath, Da Vinci gave him a closed eyed smile in response and a quiet hum. He squeaked and looked away from her, raising his free hand to protect his head.

"…" Siegward watched the pair with a bemused expression before eventually he sighed, shaking his head "I suppose I do have some leftover Estus syrup…"

"Yay!" Da Vinci beamed "Magic Pancakes!"

"You are much more excited about pastry than I would have expected someone to be." He pointed out with a raised eyebrow, Da Vinci gave an unashamed nod in response.

"I've never heard of someone using magic to make food taste good." She replied "That and from what I gather, you've only just made it yourself so that makes you and Inventor and a kindred spirit!" the woman explained "As such, I have to behold my fellow inventors creation personally!"

Siegward and Romani shared a similar look of puzzlement at her before they looked to each other and shrugged in response. Turning away from the pair, he moved back into the kitchen and prepared another batch of pancakes for Da Vinci and Romani.

Casting his eyes behind him to the cafeteria, he beheld the merriment and casual conversation of all the individuals gathered.

A small smile flickered across his face.

He might never be able to taste his own food, but in this one moment he didn't care too much about that.

As long as it brought a smile to peoples faces, that was more than enough for him.

AN: First Chapter of 'By the Bonfire' a little Siegward centric thing. Because he is best Onion Boi, also showing a little of his past and relationship with Yhorm.

Because our current cast of Servants is still small, we won't see too many of these initially. We'll only start seeing more when the ranks grow and we get more and more Servants who can speak with eachother.