Their small group was seated around the table by a highly competent waiter. Cooper recognized the type, perfectly groomed, smiling the correct amount, navigating a sea of tables without looking while walking backwards. Hiring such professionals was one of the benefits of a restaurant joining the Kitchen, and was a sure sign the food would be just as good as the service, if not better.

The others looked like they were uncomfortable and trying to hide it. Eric was fidgeting with his sect uniform, pulling it down over and over even while it was sitting correctly. Leander and George had just retreated into silence, copying everything Cooper did when he sat down and let the waiter drape the napkin over his lap.

"Laurel said we would enjoy it," Cooper murmured. "Try to prove her right."

His companions all forced a smile while the waiter listed off the specials. "Finally, we are proud to have acquired some preserved juvenile kraken, served over rice and garnished with sea herbs. Our chef guarantees a three day boost in energy, and the ability to more readily feel the water around you. You will also find swimming easier, and be able to hold your breath for longer."

All four of them perked up at the suggestion but wilted at the price. But tonight was on him, courtesy of his parents who were happy to fund a celebration for a new step in his cultivation, even if they didn't understand it. So he stepped in before the others could demure to one of the cheaper options.

"We'll all take some of that. Along with an order of the seaweed salad to share, and whatever your chef recommends to complement the kraken."

"Very good choice sir," the waiter said with a wink, leaving them to place their order.

The alcove was cleverly designed, they could still see and be seen but the shape of the restaurant kept their conversation mostly private.

"On me," he said in a low voice. Mostly private did not mean actually private. Cooper had already spied two other young nobles and their retinues, conspicuously appreciating the delicacies on offer.

"What do you think kraken tastes like?" George said. As conversation redirections went it was a good one.

"Laurel mentioned sweet?" Eric said, voice rising in a question at the end. "I'm not sure I want a sweet dinner though."

The look on Leander's face said he agreed with that assessment, but was going to suffer through it anyway if Laurel said it was good.

"I thought Laurel said you maybe needed to be able to cultivate to actually get effects out of spirit beast meat," Cooper mused. "Do you think that means the chef is a magic user?"

That led to another bout of silence while four spiritual senses inched towards the kitchen. It was about at the limit of their ranges, except for George who had more practice. Sure enough, there was someone back there with a vague control of mana. Not enough to do much but maybe that was all you needed to work with fish that magically dense. He could feel what had to be the kraken meat as well, blazing with power. Though thankfully nothing his new innate abilities identified as poison.

Leander gestured to the city at large. Cooper nodded at the point. He was right. This was one of the main benefits of being in a city for the mortals. Spontaneous connection to their innate mana and the chance to become a cultivator without dedicating themselves to study.

He paused for a moment. When had he gotten that good at reading the boy's gestures and expressions? Cooper shook that off and went back to the conversation.

"It's impressive," George was saying. "But I'm not swimming in a harbor where that thing was hanging around. Leander said it was huge. And that's a baby one." A shiver wracked the stoic man's whole body. "I don't care how much Laurel swears it's been cleaned up."

"I tend to agree," Cooper rejoined the conversation. "Swimming can be enjoyable but I'd prefer a nice serene lake or stream, not the harbor where factory runoff mixes with sea monsters."

Conversation dipped and dived from the recent events in the city to their own cultivation journeys, and potential missions they were looking forward to. Cooper forced himself to stay in the present. He was coming to terms with his forced aspecting, but he still was falling into the occasional self-pitying mope. Moods which Laurel had an unerring sense for, and a strong belief that exercise would get him out of the funk if she just pushed him hard enough. It did work, but mostly because Cooper was too tired after to do anything but shower and take a nap.

"We should go to Jaranda and meet the tree-lady!" Eric said. His youth was showing through in enthusiasm, which Cooper was happy to see from the serious young man.

"A good plan," George said. "Much life in the tropics for you to study. And many poisonous animals for Cooper to study."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Venomous," Cooper corrected automatically. "Or, actually maybe both. That's not a bad idea though I'm not sure if Laurel's looking to have people that far off with the unrest going on. Or if we can't go maybe we can ask them to send samples…" he trailed off while the others jumped on the idea.

"Ooh, that's good. What do you think we could trade them for? They have their own fish and I doubt we could get it there without rotting. Unless we asked Madam Sabrina for an ice crystal." Eric said.

Waving to get their attention, Leander mimed writing while flipping the pages of a book.

"Oh, yes, that's a good point. I think Laurel is already sending her dragon friend copies of certain books. I'm sure we have things in the archive that would be valuable for the Jarandans." Cooper said. "Also probably some of our own local plants. Some of them must be useful and only grow up here."

The waiter returned and the conversation naturally quieted. The smile they got this time seemed more forced, and Cooper recalled they had been animatedly discussing where to get different poisons. A sommelier accompanied the waiter and poured a sparkling white wine in narrow flutes for all of them. Only half a glass for Leander, which had the lad looking incensed, and they were left with individual servings of kraken over soft rice, with shareable side dishes covering the middle of the table.

They dug in, no more thought given to theoretical trade agreements or magical vacations. Kraken meat was as delicious as advertised. Somehow the preservative salt mix had been rinsed, or so cleverly disguised as to be a non-issue, allowing the rich flavor of the meat to come through. It was sweet, reminiscent of a lobster but better in every way, with buttery undertones picked up by the sea herbs and vegetables tossed throughout the dish.

Most of the sides were earthier, balancing out the strong sea flavors while not overpowering the star of the show. Cooper didn't feel an immediate need to jump into the nearest body of water to test the effects, but something was happening. Foreign mana entered his body, not encroaching or dangerous, but providing a pleasant sensation as it pooled in his stomach and slowly seeped out. The spiritual equivalent of a deep swim on a hot day, and hints of mysteries not usually seen by land dwellers.

"Stars above," Eric muttered.

"It's so good. How is it so good?" Cooper replied.

"We need to convince Esther to cultivate," George said.

Ignoring them all, Leander kept his focus on the food. He bit down on each piece with an obvious relish Cooper didn't feel like examining too closely.

When most of the food was gone, they sat up and picked up their dropped conversation. George awkwardly lifted his re-filled wine glass at Cooper.

"To advancement, even when it's down a path we didn't expect to walk."

The others joined in on the toast, drinking the crisp wine, perfectly paired with the meal they just had. Eric was swaying just a bit and Cooper made a note that there after dinner aperitif might not need to be so potent. He was touched, truly to have the others here to celebrate with him. And that there was no censure on their faces, now or when he first returned with his story of accidentally becoming a poison cultivator. Nor disgust at the obvious implications of such an aspect. Their budding healer had even mentioned it might be a useful way for the two of them to collaborate. He felt his eyes getting wet and blinked it back. Maybe Eric wasn't the only one affected by the wine.

"Thank you." He raised his own glass in turn. "To friends who make walking those paths a joy and an adventure."

Dessert was brought out, the lemon verbena sorbet a perfect, refreshing end to the meal. Before they left, Cooper remembered to bring out the letter Laurel had sent him with, and impressed upon the waiter to bring it back to the chef.

His instructions had been to give the invite if it turned out the chef was actually able to do something to the spirit beast meat. The girls had a similar note for their own restaurant outing. Their upcoming festival was to be a celebration of all the magic making up their city, and Laurel had decided the initiates deserved a treat and was letting them assist in the recruitment process.

From his understanding, the letter was a broad invitation. Cook during a showcase for the festival, join the Magician's Guild at a discount which would be worked out with the Kitchen, come visit and trade for magical cookbooks loaned from the Eternal Archive.

It was starting to sink in how a group of what were essentially librarians had become one of the most powerful sects in the world, and held the title for centuries. Having knowledge meant you were always in demand.

They staggered home and into bed, full of good wine and good cheer. As his eyes drifted shut, Cooper felt he had turned a corner. He could take whatever came next, and he would find all the ways a poison aspect could be used. One day people would bargain to come read his own writings while he was off having adventures with his friends.

*******

Sabrina lifted her glass and Annette followed suit along with the others. Laurel had broken out a bottle of what she deemed 'potent' spirit wine for the occasion, and very carefully poured them each a measure according to their cultivation and what she thought they could handle. Which meant Theresa and Sabrina had half-full glasses where Annette's serving was more of a shot. Elisette Charon, Major Kat, and Captain Varska had been given a few drops, the rest of the glass filled with water instead.

"To the newly ratified Magician's Guild. Who's probationary period ends…now."

At the low chime of their timekeeping device, the circle of women echoed the toast and drank. The official ratification of the guild was worth staying up until midnight for. There would be an official announcement at their upcoming festival, but this marked the true beginning of the guild. Now they could only be dissolved by royal decree after a laborious trial process. A major reason they still had official guilds for professions like fletchers and armorsmiths despite the demand being so low as to be practically nonexistent.

"Now the work begins," Elisette said after recovering from the drink.

"Quite." Sabrina did not look daunted at the prospect. If anything, she looked ready to start right then.

"Tomorrow," Laurel gently chided. "Tonight is for celebrating. A new way to use magical power. It's one that will be remembered in the sect archives for centuries to come."

Annette joined the second toast with a small smile playing about her face. Yes, this would go down in the history books. It was up to their next actions to make sure they ended up on the right side.

Flint, perched on the back of Laurel's chair, copied her motion in raising his glass. The sectmaster had been gleeful when she saw him using a cup last week, and had found a doll shop willing to give her a full set of dishware for the lemur.

With Laurel's pronouncement against work, things devolved into gossip. Their army friends had news about how the country was handling magic, and how the different cities had weathered their first beast waves. Well, all things considered. Strange to think that fighting off magical monsters was now going to be regular enough to be relegated to gossip but there it was. More interestingly, one of the students from Jaranda, studying with Laurel's ally to the south was planning to journey up, and should be able to participate in their festival. Apparently things were delicate with the government in Jaranda, realizing they both needed magic users and had been unknowingly housing some for quite some time without noticing.

After an hour the long days and weeks caught up to Annette and she begged off, along with most of their guests. Theresa and Sabrina, more experienced cultivators stayed to chat longer with Laurel, as Annette staggered upstairs and to her ever so comfortable bed. Before it had been just a glimmer of hope, but now they had a real way forward. Their plans were going to work.

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