Scenario:Wilnas - Woes of a Higher Being

Woes of a Higher Being

One day, while visiting the Grandcypher to deliver vegetables, Wilnas expresses frustration at his inability to cook due to how different he is from mortals. But encouraged by Lyria, he resolves to tackle the challenges before him.

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Hoping to claim the power that Vyrn had accumulated throughout his travels, the Six Dragons imposed a series of trials upon (Captain).

Since then, (Captain) and the crew have continued interacting with them from time to time in their mortal forms.

Wilnas: Greetings!

Vyrn: Whoa!

Vyrn: Yeesh, almost had a heart attack...
Hey, if it ain't Wilnas!

Wilnas: The one and only! I've come for a visit!

Lyria: Hello, Wilnas! What can we do for you?

Wilnas: Well, I've been busy harvesting vegetables from the land the singularity tilled during my trial!

Wilnas: I'm here to share the bounty, as promised! They're a bit on the small side though!

Lyria: Wow, thank you! Look, eggplants!

Vyrn: Wait, eggplants? Are those even in season this time of year?

Wilnas: With Galleon and Lu Woh lending their power, I'm able to control the soil and light at will!

Wilnas: That island is set apart from the climate and natural law of the Sky Realm, so a few tweaks shouldn't cause any problems!

Vyrn: Man. Everything you guys do, you do big, huh?

Vyrn: But we can definitely put these to good use. Thanks!

Wilnas: My pleasure. Just hearing you say that makes it worth the effort!

Vyrn: With a crew as big as ours, we can never have too much food on hand.

Vyrn: We always try to stock up before we leave an island, but you never know what's gonna happen out there.

Wilnas: Mortals must fill their stomachs twice a day in order to survive, correct? Quite an inconvenience, if you ask me.

(Young Cat): Meow.

As (Captain) and Wilnas are carrying the eggplants to the kitchen, a cat scampers past their legs.

Wilnas: Ah, I see! So you raise beasts for slaughter right here on your airship!

Vyrn: Huh? S-slaughter?

Wilnas: Is that not the purpose of that creature? I believe you mortals call them... livestock?

Lyria: N-no, that was a cat! We don't eat those!

Wilnas: Oh? I'm not sure I follow. Considering it has a place on this airship, it must have its own role to play.

Wilnas: And mortals and beasts can't exactly communicate efficiently. What purpose could it possibly serve other than food?

Vyrn: Hmm... It's kinda hard to describe...

Lyria: That cat is like family to us.

Vyrn: Yeah, it's not like he has a job to do or anything. It's just fun havin' him around, I guess...

Wilnas: So he's here for entertainment then? That much I can understand.

Wilnas: The creatures of this realm are strong, yet fragile. You must nourish the heart and soul as well as the body.

Wilnas: It sounds as though this little one is doing a fine job at his role.

Lyria: Yeah, just watching a cat is so relaxing somehow. Don't you think, (Captain)?

(Captain) nods, tongue clicking lightly to call the cat over.

(Young Cat): ...

Ear tilted slightly, the feline flicks his tail. He then yawns and stretches before finally gracing the captain with his presence.

Vyrn: Heh, looks like he's learned to come when he's called!

Lyria: Hehe. He has a soft spot for (Captain) in particular!

Smiling, (Captain) squats down to scratch under the cat's chin.

(Young Cat): ...

Lyria: Would you like to pet him too, Wilnas? He's so nice and fluffy!

Wilnas: I must say, I'm intrigued by this notion of nourishment for the soul! I'd love to see what it's all about.

Crouching down, Wilnas slowly reaches out to stroke the cat's fur, but...

(Young Cat): ...

Wilnas: Hm?

Vyrn: Hey, you don't have to be so skittish! There's nothin' to be afraid of!

(Captain) fetches some cat jerky from the kitchen and hands it to Wilnas to give to the cat as a peace offering.

(Young Cat): ...

Vyrn: Welp, there he goes. Wouldn't even get close for a treat, huh? Talk about a fickle friend...

Wilnas: Ah...

Vyrn: Oh well, don't let it get you down! That's part of what makes cats so cute to begin with. Right, Lyria? (Captain)?

Lyria: Yeah! Maybe he'll let you pet him another time...

Wilnas: Actually, the cat may have made the right choice by running away.

Vyrn: Huh? What do you mean?

Wilnas: Unfortunately this vessel is but a mere imitation of a mortal... a human, specifically.

Vyrn: And a pretty huge one at that. But I guess you Six Dragons can't tell much difference between the four main types of people, huh?

Wilnas: It's very difficult to mimic everything all the way down to the minute details.

Wilnas: During the singularity's trial, I displayed far greater strength than a mortal despite taking the appearance of one, if you recall.

Lyria: Now that you mention it... you were plowing the ground at an incredible speed.

Wilnas: It's actually more challenging to generate a small amount of power than a large amount. Take Lu Woh for example...

Wilnas: He's relatively dexterous, but even now he still fails at minimizing the amount of force at his fingertips. It truly is difficult.

Vyrn: So that's why you were moving so slowly just now...

Wilnas: I'd feel terrible if I injured the little beast!

Wilnas: And it's not just physical strength. To me, there isn't much difference between a hundred degree flame and a thousand degree one.

Vyrn: There's that crazy Six Dragons power again. I can't even imagine the damage a thousand degree flame would do to a normal person...

Wilnas: That's just it. All the heat in the entire sky could never hope to harm me.

Wilnas: Be it boiling water or even lava, I could swallow them equally as easily.

Lyria: W-wow, that's amazing!

Wilnas: Not exactly! If my hardiness separates me from mortals, that means my senses are detached as well.

Wilnas: Take spiciness for example—there's a facet of pain to it... but not many things can cause me pain.

Wilnas: This vessel's senses are too dulled to get a proper taste of mortal food, and culture too for that matter.

So saying, he pops the jerky (Captain) handed him into his mouth.

Wilnas: ...

Vyrn: H-hey! That's for cats!

Wilnas: Hm? Did I do something wrong?

Vyrn: I mean, it's not really wrong... Argh, why's everything gotta be so complicated!

Lyria: Jerky is as unhealthy for cats as it is for people, so we give them dried meat without the added salt.

Lyria: That's why if we were to eat cat jerky, we'd probably find it a little bland.

Wilnas: I see. Yes, I can taste that it has a savory flavor, but I can't tell that it needs more salt.

Wilnas: It's no wonder Galleon and Wamdus disapprove of my cooking.

Wilnas: I'd like to help out at the soup kitchen in the town that was scorched when I materialized, but alas...

Vyrn: Oh yeah, that's why you built that food stall in the first place.

Wilnas: Right. But its potential has remained untapped. Currently it's no more than a meeting place for my fellow dragons to engage in idle conversation.

Vyrn: I mean... that's pretty amazing in and of itself.

Wilnas: Mortals do everything so quickly. By the time I'm able to help, the soup kitchen won't even be necessary anymore.

Wilnas: Just because you have a lot of power, that doesn't mean you're able to do anything you want to do.

Vyrn: Galleon's worries were so above and beyond that I didn't really understand 'em.

Vyrn: But even though you're one of the Six Dragons too, I kinda get what you're sayin'.

Wilnas: In the end, we're all fellow inhabitants of the Sky Realm. Our fates and lives aren't all that different from one other.

Wilnas: When the skies end, so will our existences. And our concerns will converge as well! You could almost call it a pleasant thought.

Wilnas: No, I suppose that's not quite right...

Wilnas: The complexity of the technology produced by mortals is both admirable and formidable...

Lyria: Hmm... Yeah, it would probably be hard to master cooking right away.

Lyria: There are so many things you have to learn in order to make tasty food.

Wilnas: There certainly are. The tremendous effort you mortals put forth deserves endless praise!

Lyria and Wilnas nod at each other in agreement.

Lyria: I didn't know anything about cooking at first either. I caused a lot of headaches for everyone in the kitchen...

Lyria: But after learning from the others and practicing a lot, I can make simpler things like sandwiches with no issue!

Wilnas: Most impressive. That is the fruit of your labor, Girl in Blue!

Lyria: Ehehe. Thank you!

Lyria: So don't worry, Wilnas. It might take some time before you're happy with your cooking, but I'm sure you'll get there!

Lyria: And either way, delicious food is always a good pick-me-up.

Lyria: Even if you don't make it in time for the soup kitchen, as long as you keep practicing, you'll be able to apologize with a tasty meal!

Wilnas: Oh... Oh, yes!

Wilnas: Indeed! You speak the truth, Girl in Blue.

Wilnas: If I tried to help at the soup kitchen now, the mortals would no doubt be disgusted by the food I cooked up!

Wilnas: It could cause a tragedy even worse than scorching the town.

Wilnas: Even if it's too late, it would be better for me to wait until I can make a proper meal.

Vyrn: Heh. Just keep picturing their smilin' faces in the meantime. That'll be good motivation!

Vyrn: And besides... Gross food is, well... definitely not good for the soul...

Seeing Vyrn's forlorn expression, the captain is reminded of Katalina's cooking and nods sagely.

Wilnas: So in addition to sustaining life, food can also provide nourishment for the soul in the form of pleasure.

Vyrn: That's right! You got it!

Vyrn: So who cares if you end up takin' a little more time? It's all good!

Wilnas: Understood. I appreciate you sharing your viewpoints—Singularity, Girl in Blue, Red Dragon!

Wilnas: That being said, if I'm not careful, a hundred years will pass in the blink of an eye...

Wilnas: I'll just have to train so I can feed them while they're still alive! Diligence is key!

Encouraged by Lyria, Wilnas is ready to tackle the challenge of cooking.

The Vermillion of the Six Dragons is filled with interest and respect for the beings that survive despite their inherent weakness.