Being a Thermal Master, it took little time for Teal to get the fires started. The bakery warmed up quickly, but Manna knew not to get too used to the heat. Everyone in the back had their part to play. Only Manna and Teal had energy skills but they were most likely hired because of their abilities.
Manna took a look at the three balls of dough and chose one at random. They all would be used for something soon. It didn’t matter which one was first. It was the one to his left today. The other two were pushed to the right.
Flour stored beneath the counter was spread everywhere to prepare the first victim of the rolling assault. Manna lifted his hands and concentrated a little. At his mental command, two rolling pins flew from the rack across the bakery. Just as they reached his hands, they stopped.
They hovered in midair waiting for his next command. His magnetism skills did not allow him to manipulate wood. However, there was just enough steel in the core of the rolling pins for him to move them easily. While they hovered in the air, Manna spread additional flour onto them.
Teal returned from the fire pit below the bakery. He used his thermal energy skills to keep more of the heat in the oven. Before long, the bakery would cool down as Teal “borrowed” heat from the bakery and “gave” it to the oven. Even still, it would take some time for him to adjust the oven temperature to the perfect setting. Manna had just enough time to get the dough ready.
It had already been separated into even smaller portions and flattened thoroughly. Manna’s hands moved commanding both rolling pins to press and roll the dough faster and harder than any Crisho could with pure muscle strength. In no time it was spread to the edges of the counter flattened to just the right amount.
Pilar had already prepared the cinnamon mixture for the folds. It sat on a table at the far side of the counter. She stood waiting holding six hand sized circular dough cutters. As Manna set the rolling pins down, Pilar tossed the dough cutters at him. She tried to surprise him with them differently each time.
Just as Manna turned his head, he saw them and stopped them in the air. “And I thought the cinnamon rolls were nuts,” he said jokingly. Pilar said nothing though she stuck out her tongue.
The dough cutters were a lot easier to handle than the rolling pins. They were completely made of steel and obeyed his commands even without his hand motions. The circular cutters moved just as he wanted. Soon the leftover dough was lifted revealing a large counter filled with thin circles of dough.
Surprisingly, Pilar moved just as fast as Manna did. Seeing her work was much like watching a film at double speed. In no time, the cinnamon mixture was spread onto the circular cuts of dough. They were then stacked into three layers and folded into their traditional star shape. Now ready for the oven, they moved onto the next ball of dough.
——
Spear Mint Academy: Stream Quarter Training Center
Metcalf left the shooting range in slight frustration. Isabaeu was very kind and perhaps a new friend. However, the contest was far too easy. Isabaeu tried to put up a good fight. It seemed they gave a lot of Academy Points for classroom practice as well as application.
Metcalf was not at all upset at Isabaeu. She was upset at herself for not believing enough to take the big risk. She had to admit, she may have done the same thing five times in a row given the same circumstances.
All that was in the past, Metcalf got her points. She was almost to a safe student ranking where she could leave the training center and let everything slide for the rest of the day. She needed about two or three good scores and she would be done.
Scanning the faces, she saw a new face that looked very familiar. This one was beaming with inexperience he even lacked the basic armor. Then it hit her, “Is that,” she started asking herself a question but thought it easier to check on her handheld. She focused the holographic image to the bottom of the student rankings. She was right.
It was Lance.