Shadow Slave

Pancakes and waffles.

The two were almost identical, but also infinitely different, like two sides of the same coin. Just like both the gods and the Chaos Creatures were born from the everlasting Void, both pancakes and waffles were made from the same ingredients. However, the end result was not the same.

Perhaps there was a deep philosophical lesson to be learned from how two things made from the same ingredients could end up so vastly different, but Sunny did not particularly care.

He did, however, care about waffles and pancakes.

It wasn't hard to make either, but there was endless depth in the deceiving simplicity of these staple breakfast foods. Making pancakes was both an art and a kind of science. Waffles were even more elusive.

Even with Sunny's potent Transcendent mind and perfect physical coordination, it took him a long time to master the challenging art of making them. Still, his ultimate goal — a perfect pancake and a perfect waffle — were still out of reach.

And doomed to stay forever out of reach, because imperfection was one of the governing laws of existence.

It was... tragic.

'Perfection might not exist, but I've gotten damn close to it...'

Every cook had their own approach, but as far as Sunny was concerned, the secret of a near-perfect waffle was letting the batter rest in the icebox for exactly one night. Which was why he had prepared it in advance yesterday.

For pancakes, though, he preferred to use fresh batter. Not wishing to make the guests wait, he manifested his shadow as an avatar and went about preparing both at the same time.

While his avatar was busy with the waffles, Sunny used his original body to make the pancakes.

both simple and

the Same time, Sunny manifested a pair of shadow hands to whisk the whites, using a bit of his Transcendent strength and speed

currently in short supply in Bastion. So, soda and vinegar

all his six arms — shook her head, and returned to her

the most important part. As soon as the whites were beaten to have stiff peaks, Sunny carefully combined the flour mix, the yolk mix, and

some considered anything except a perfectly smooth blend heretical. There were

by a precise and immaculate balance between smoothness and lumpiness, which he

while simultaneously letting the batter rest a bit. Then, he used a large

flipped it with one smooth, precise motion. Years

of transcendent pancakes coming

the final step, Sunny places a scoop

As for the pancakes...

a

and the ancient tradition could not be maintained. There were a few substitutes, sure — especially here in Bastion, which was famous

most popular one... he

head, Sunny put butter on the pancakes, then retrieved a glass jar from the cupboard with a shaking hand. Finally, he poured some...

just

he picked up all three plates, dismissed the avatar, and went to serve

"Aiko, make two coffees..."

of the pancakes and waffles he had cooked up. Sunny took a step back and secretly watched them take their first

eyes widened a

these waffles have no

He smirked subtly.