Welco, Lyce du Soleil first year students, returning upperclassn, faculty, and staff! Instructor Lange, the rosy-cheeked, gray-haired advisor for the baking club, stood up on a small stage in front of the administration building, facing the central courtyard. Thank you for joining us today for our first ever Orientation Bake-Off!
What the fuck is going on? Tori asked herself for what felt like the hundredth ti since she agreed. She didnt pay any attention to the crowds around the courtyard, cheering.
We have twelve competitors representing so of our schools clubs. They have five hours to prepare, bake, and decorate their goods, which will then be judged by our panel of judges: Headmaster Laurent; our heads of our culinary niche departnts, Madam Hawkins and Mr. van Beek; Lyces commons head chef, Mr. du Troit; and His Highness Prince Gideon du Soleil.
This is ridiculous, Tori muttered to herself. Gideon was a judge and as soon as he was introduced, a wave of energetic screams and yells filled the courtyard. He gave the crowd a wide smile and waved, as if he were so idol. This is the kind of bullshit youd see on a ga side challenge - this is what this is, isnt it? Its a fucking ga challenge. Dammit.
She wasnt exactly sure what she was expecting the baking challenge to be. As a single club organized it, she thought it was going to be two or three regular booths big with small stations for students to prepare and then a shared oven. Sothing modest.
She did not expect that the entire central courtyard had been transford into a surreal fantasy high school version of The Great British Bake Off. All the dozen participants had modest tables as stations beneath a large, white canvas tent. There were no walls, but the courtyard around the tent had been roped off. Students could stand around the roped off area to watch the student bakers.
There were six rows of two stations and beside each station, just outside of the tent, was a familiar clay oven heated by carnelian and with a glass door. Lyce had ordered over a dozen of these carnelian clay ovens from Instructor Ignatius last year, and Tori had wondered what they were going to use them for.
All the stations had identical tools and basic ingredients. If they wanted to bring sothing else, they needed to have the ingredients checked by Instructor Lange.
Word of the baking competition reached the ears of almost all the students and, unexpectedly, many older students returned early just to watch the chaos.
Of the dozens of clubs and groups on campus, only twelve managed to find soone who could bake well. The challenge was open to all groups, with one person representing each. There was no skill level required, but who would want their club to lose so miserably in public?
Tori found herself three rows in, on the left, furthest away from the administration building, standing at a station and questioning her life choices that led to this mont.
In her original world, she made a goal to learn one new thing every year, and her early thirties were mainly food related. She had wanted to take a beginning baking class at a local community college. She hadnt realized that it was a year-long course mainly aid at students who wanted to go into culinary fields.
However, shed already registered and paid the fee for the class. It was non-refundable, so she stuck with it. She wasnt a professional by any ans and rather than artisanal breads, she preferred sweets and other pastries. Even then, her decorating skills left much to be desired, which is why she often asked Mama Js son for assistance.
If they were asking her to make bread, she could only produce the most basic bread she knew how to make by heart. It wasnt even a bread she learned to make in the class, it was one her cousin liked to make and taught Tori brioche, and it usually took her more than the ti allotted because shed leave it overnight.
The only problem was she only had five hours to make it and most recipes called for allowing the dough to proof overnight.
As for pastries, she didnt want to deal with decorating a cake. She could make a pie or a tart. They would be quite easy to make, and she had ice calcite with her to facilitate with cooling.
The competition didnt really restrict them on what they could make. It just had to be baked. At first, she considered making cookies, but didnt think theyd be impressive. Her macarons always ended up sowhat deflated and she didnt want to rush order molds for madeleines.
Ideally, she would take into consideration the tastes of the judges, but aside from knowing that Headmaster Laurent also had a sweet tooth, she didnt know about the others. In fact, it was the first ti shed seen the culinary departnt heads and she didnt care for Gideon.
Tori! You can do it! She heard Ilyana yelling off to the side and looked past the clay oven.
Her friends and whoever was free from the Sword Association had co to cheer her on and were taking up the space closest to her. When she looked over, they cheered. She smiled and then froze.
A large piece of canvas had her na on it, and they were holding it over the rope. Toris eyes crinkled up.
Why do you have a sign?
To cheer you on! Albert said before shaking the sign excitedly.
I got that, but when did you get it made? Between when she volunteered and today, there were only a few days in between.
When Ilyana called and told us you were competing, Sonia said.
Tori sighed and looked towards Henrik, who was usually very sensible about these things. Whyd you let them make a sign? Its just a small baking contest. You all just being here is enough.
Its good advertising.
Tori stared at him for a mont. I miss Constantine....
No one else in the crowd had a sign. The sign brought a lot of attention to her and if she ssed up, it would only make it worse. Not that she planned to.
Instructor Lange walked around the tent, holding up a small flag to keep everyones attention as she visited each station.
Speak loudly and introduce yourself and what youll be making! Instructor Lange said as she walked with her little flag to the first station, which, of course, was Alessas.
Hello! I am Alessa Hart, a third-year student representing the baking club. Today, I will be making soft, sweet bread rolls with a sweet cookie crust!
As the crowd clapped and cheered, Tori squinted with suspicion. Is she talking about lon pan? You know what, this is a Japanese ga, lets just roll with it.
Instructor Lange went from station to station by row. When she reached Tori, she was as enthusiastic as she was when she started. Please introduce yourself to the students!
Tori gave her a nod and turned to face the crowd.
Good afternoon, my na is Victoria de Guevera, though many of you know as Lady Tori or Senior Tori. Im here to represent the Sword Association of Lyce du Soleil! Where are my swordsn? As she projected her voice into the crowd, she waved her arms out at the group closest to her and they let out a yell. The boisterous yell of the group made others jump, but Tori continued. Today, Im going to make a sort of cream puff!
She did not miss the sudden look of dismay on both JP and Henriks faces as she announced her entry. Perhaps cute and round cream puffs did not match how they saw her.
Instructor Lange looked intrigued. That is an interesting choice, Miss Guevera. Good luck to you!
Tori gave her a small nod and waved at the crowd. She listened to the rest of the introductions. Aside from Alessa and her lon pan, students were making bread with sweet glazes, sponge rolls, cookies, tarts, fruit pie, a at pie, and a pretzel.
Oh, I forgot about pretzels. We should sell those at the delta.
If additional ingredients are needed, please see Mr. Carrillo at the side and let him know what is needed. With that said! Begin!
All around her, it seed that everyone imdiately began to pull out bowls and ingredients to start. They were allowed to bring so of their own tools, which were also inspected when they checked in.
Tori reached into her bag and took out a regular canvas apron that Ilyana had embroidered with a simple outline of a familiar gray cat. She then took out so crystals, a quartz plate, several prepared parchnt paper piping bags with tal tips she had borrowed from Mama Js son. It was faster just to have them ready.
She took out a few more things, including a box of strawberries, oven gloves, and a scale. While she had the recipe morized and already practiced it twice at Cafe Fortuna once her student guide hours were completed, she still preferred to weigh the ingredients.
The next few hours, it was a constant cycle of making batter, baking it into puffs, putting them on the quartz plate with the ice calcite to cool, all while making more batter and repeating the process until she began to fill one large bowl with the puffs.
As she had no experience with this particular oven, though shed worked with similar ones, she watched the first batch like a hawk. When the small batches began to rise and the tips began to take on a darker color than the rest, she took one out to test with so tal tongs. When she was satisfied that they didnt completely collapse on her, she took them out to cool, and repeated the cycle.
She had to prepare custard and whipped cream, which she hated making because she felt it took too long to do it by hand. She also cut up the strawberries into small pieces.
Tori had to zone out her friends. JP and Sonia had to go back to the equestrian training grounds shortly after she started, but they said theyd return before the end to watch Tori win.
No pressure, guys...thanks.
Once the calculated amount of cream puffs needed were finished, she used the remaining batter to make large cream puffs.
Obviously, it wasnt good to waste ingredients and there was no rule that said that what was baked had to be given to the judges. She was going to make so larger puffs for her friends. While it was baking, she began the assembly line of stuffing the puffs.
Each piece was roughly a bite and a half. She cut it in half horizontally, then put a small layer of custard on the bottom, a few pieces of strawberries, then a dollop of whipped cream before putting the top half back on. She set them aside in neat rows over another quartz plate with ice calcite.
Just as she finished her first row, a bell rang.
Contestants! You have one hour! Instructor Lange called out.
Tori could almost feel the tension in the tent rise. Outside, the thinned crowd that had been waiting began to stir once more.
White cloth suddenly tumbled to the ground in between the stations and the students let out a yell. Tori looked up and furrowed her brows. A sheet ca down behind her and in front of her station, as well on the main walkway between the left and right stations. Soone appeared to stand by her oven, and she looked over and narrowed her eyes.
What the fu-
In the final hour, the contestants will be kept from seeing each others work. When ti is called, the curtains will fall to reveal the pastries and cakes to everyone! To ensure honesty, an instructor who is not a judge has been asked to watch each student!
The air of mystery with the white curtains was a nice touch, but the instructor who was assigned to her was a familiar man whod argued against her in her cheating scandal her first year.
Well, well, well...if it isnt Instructor Ulrich of the science departnt, Tori said as she sliced a puff in half with a sharp, serrated knife. Have you co to make sure I dont cheat again?
The middle-aged mans face reddened as he frowned. We were assigned students at random, Miss Guevera.
Im sure. Tori returned her focus to assembling the puffs. She stopped to remove the larger ones from the oven and put them on her makeshift cooling rack before putting in a tal baking pan with sugar and water.
What is that? Instructor Ulrich asked as he craned his neck.
Quartz plate, Tori said as took out a large serving plate that had been piled in a box below her station. She wiped it off. It is set to cool what is on top of it.
How? Instructor Ulrich furrowed his brows.
A combination of ice calcite and air crystals. Ice calcite cools the air around it imdiately and the air crystals circulate the air within the space that is within the grid pattern carved into the quartz, Tori said, distracted as she began to place the puffs into a ring around the serving plate.
Instructor Ulrich reached out his hand and hesitantly put it over the cooling puffs. His eyes widened. I can feel it!
Tori snapped her head and scowled. Instructor Ulrich! Please do not touch my cream puffs! Her voice seed to fill the tent and Instructor Ulrich snatched his hand back. I will not be accused of cheating again or have my pastry questioned because of your interference! Please stand to the side and watch.
She saw several students, including Ilyana glaring at the instructor as he took a step back. Tori shot him a suspicious frown and continued building a cone tower of cream puffs. It wasnt too tall, but it was sowhat narrow to get the effect she wanted. Since there were puffs inside, it was steady, but Tori wasnt done.
Every so often, shed check and stir the contents of the pan in the oven in between slicing strawberries, putting whipped cream in a parchnt paper piping bag, and dusting her tower of puffs with powdered sugar. When the consistency of the caralized sugar was ready, she pulled it out and imdiately began drizzling it over her puff tower.
Contestants have ten minutes!
The sugar hardened into a golden-brown net around the puff tower and Tori then began placing the cut strawberries around the base and into small crevices between the puffs. She then took the whipped cream and squeezed them around the base and into more crevices.
Five minutes!
She put a large dollop at the very top and then a few strawberry slices to make a flower. The crowds outside the tent had gathered. Tori ignored their excited whispering. She stepped back and admired her strawberry-custard-cream puff croquembouche monstrosity. Even if it didnt win, she was very satisfied with its appearance.
She decided to make it for Axton for his birthday cake in the tenth month.
As Instructor Lange called out each remaining minute, Tori used the last of her ingredients to finish off the half dozen larger cream puffs for her friends.
Three!
Tori snapped her head up. Theyre doing a countdown?
Two!
Now Im kind of excited.
One!
The curtains were dropped, and students cheered. Contestants, put down your tools! Your ti is up!
Tori lifted one of her finished cream puffs and took a bite of it as she leaned back against the workstation. She glanced around and noticed the harried look on so of the other contestants, while a few others were as relaxed as she was. As she lazily chewed her puff, she looked towards Alessas station.
She could see a small pile of lon pan on a serving plate. Alessa looked quite pleased and turned around to see what the other students had made.
As Toris puff tower was the tallest with splashes of red strawberries and white cream, many eyes were drawn to it at once, including the judges in the distance. Alessas eyes widened, and her lips parted in a silent, stunned o.
From behind the oven, where a crowd of students had gathered behind Ilyana and the others, she heard gleeful laughter.
Ewan is going to be so mad that he missed this, Henrik said. Ewan was the biggest foodie of the group. He really would be disappointed.
Hes going to be even more mad since I made extra for you all and hes not here, Tori said.
Henrik reached for his comcry, and Sonia stopped him. Dont.
Tori chuckled and turned around to focus on the competition.
Instructor Lange walked with the five judges to each station. The crowds had gone quiet, and everyone seed to be listening carefully.
Here are my sweet breads with a cookie-like crust at the top. They are soft and fluffy, so there is a nice, contrasting texture. Judges, please try. Alessa brought her small tray forward and each judge took one of the palm-sized pieces and bit into them.
They nodded and wrote down their thoughts in a notebook. They put down their pieces and moved on to the next station. There was one at pie that Tori was particularly curious about; it looked very delicious, and she wondered if the senior girl from the agriculture and husbandry association would consider a trade.
As the judges got to Tori, she could see the expectation on Headmaster Laurents face and the curiosity and surprise on the other three adult judges. Gideon looked sowhat annoyed.
Miss Guevera, can you tell us what youve made? Instructor Lange asked as she looked the tower up and down.
Ive made cream puffs with a layer of custard, strawberries, and whipped cream Then I arranged them in a tower and dusted them with powdered sugar. To keep the tower stable, I also lted sugar to drizzle over it. The sugar has hardened to make a net or cage to keep the puffs from falling. I had extra ti, so I added additional decorations of whipped cream and strawberries, Tori said. The judges are free to pick any of the puffs off the tower.
She watched them each carefully pick one out and take a bite. Soft puffy pastry with just the right amount of crunch, coupled with the subtle sweetness of the creams and fruit. They nodded and wrote down furiously in their notebooks.
As they walked away, Headmaster Laurent swiped another one from the tower.
Tori pursed her lips. She supposed that was a good sign.
She looked over at her friends and waved. They lifted her banner once more. Albert was staring at the hand sized puffs that she had reserved for them.
Miss Guevera, Instructor Ulrich asked as he took a step forward. Where did you get this quartz cooling device?
I made it, Tori said. Instructor Ulrich must know that I work closely with Instructor Ignatius, who is now working with my crystal master in the delta. Weve created several heating and cooling devices for ho use. This device is one of the tests for our refrigerators.
Instructor Ulrich narrowed his eyes. Refrigerator?
A large box that keeps its temperature cold within, allows for food to be chilled and stored to keep from spoiling so quickly. We currently have several in use in the delta and we have orders to supply large ones to several duchies and the imperial family, Tori said. If you are interested, our umbrella company is Lions Gate Group, or LGG, and were working on technology for various fields and industries.
Considering all the interests they had, Tori, Henrik, and Ilyana organized their little company based on the company Tori worked for in her original world. There was an umbrella group that had different sections for various industries from electronics to construction machinery to entertainnt.
While what was mostly sold now were clothing, household goods, and gas, Anahata Island was working on crystal powered devices and tools. All the delta was their test subject, and they had a list of villagers who volunteered to try new things out. Even if their products didnt hit the market soon, it wasnt a bad idea to prepare the foundation for future market entry.
What else are you developing? Instructor Ulrich asked, curious.
Im sorry, but thats classified information, Tori replied in a curt voice. Instructor Ulrich frowned, but didnt press for more information.
The judges will deliberate, and the winner will be announced in five minutes! Instructor Lange called out.
Tori grabbed her tray of puffs and walked towards the edge of the crowd, to where Ilyana and the others were waiting. Each of her friends took one. The last one was for Tori.
Senior Tori, you dont have any more? one of her underclassn from the sword association looked devastated.
Calm down, Ill bring the remains of the puff tower to the sword association after this. Tell them to wait for at our exhibition site.
The students eyes lit up and he ran off to inform the rest of the sword association. As she returned to her table with an empty tray in one hand and a puff in the other, she noticed that several of the other contestants were coming over with small plates, each with sothing on it.
Tori felt her heart skip a beat. Yes! Trade ti!
Lady Guevera, would you like to trade for a slice of my at pie-
Yes. Tori had already taken out so plates and was neatly lining three puffs on them. Im going to bring the rest of the sword association, but I can trade three pieces for a slice.
Tori and half dozen other students carefully traded their pastries. Tori tried to hold back her excitent as she took out a wooden box where shed had the strawberries, lined it with remaining paper, and carefully piled her loot into it.
The exception was the at pie slice, which she ate as the judges ca out. Everyone looked quite pleased, except for the stiff, forced smile on Gideons face.
Gideons displeasure was a good sign.
Even if she didnt win, sohow seeing his face pained made her satisfied. She didnt know if Alessa won, but Senior Southards at pie was delicious. Such a nice, rich flaky crust and moist, tender, savory minced at. Tori wouldve voted for it if she could.
Contestants, todays winners have been selected, Instructor Lange said, instantly quieting the crowd once more. In third place, Miss Alessa Hart of our baking club!
Applause ran through the tent and the surrounding area. Tori nodded as she brought her hands together. She didnt know what it tasted like, but Alessa had to win sothing. Alessa walked to get a small certificate and smiled.
Thank you! We will be selling this bread during the Spring Festival! I hope you all co to support our baking club then! She waved at everyone as students clapped.
In second place, Miss Victoria de Guevera of the Sword Association!
Tori nodded once more, satisfied as she almost skipped towards the judges to accept her certificate.
Thank you very much! A version of my cream puffs will be sold starting in the winter at our Lions Gate Duel cafe in the fourth district! We will open just before winter break, so before you go ho, please dont forget to drop by our grand opening! Grab so gas to keep you occupied over the winter and if youre local, stop by and play. Ill see you all then! Tori lifted her certificate and cheerfully waved at the crowd, like she won a beauty pageant.
As she got back to her station, Henrik and Ilyana gave her pleased nods. Good advertising! she heard Henrik tell her.
In first place, the winner of this years Orientation Bake-Off, Miss Wilhelmina Southard of the agriculture and husbandry association for her amazing at pie!
Whoo! Tori let out a yell and clapped her hands enthusiastically. Well deserved, Senior Southard! Well deserved! Maybe I can get another slice before I leave....
The tall, brown-haired young woman with freckles blushed a bit as she walked up to receive a certificate.
Thank you for voting for , Senior Southard said with a warm smile. This is an old family recipe, and I am humbled that you all like it. Her eyes turned to Tori, who tilted her head. Senior Southard took a deep breath and her hands seed to tighten around her certificate. And if Lady Guevera is interested, I would also like to sell it at her cafe.
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