Under Fran's patient and meticulous guidance, Sigrid had completed the basic part of the crème brûlée. Now only the final step remained.
She inserted her index finger into the mouth of the quartz jar containing the already solidified custard. As her fingertip lit up with high-heat incandescence, the thin layer of sugar sprinkled on the custard quickly melted into a light brown fluid.
An enticing sweet aroma quietly rose, sending up a wisp of warm steam that lingered at the tip of the nose.
Once the syrup completely cooled and solidified, forming a sealing sugar crust... this simple yet exquisite dessert was also declared complete.
Sigrid let out a soft sigh and wiped away non-existent sweat from her forehead.
After consecutively melting six quartz containers and four silver spoons, she had finally become somewhat proficient in controlling low-temperature state flames.
"Please try it, Dr. Fran." Sigrid looked at Fran with a hint of hope.
Most cooks, after completing a dish, hope for others' evaluation... preferably praise, of course. Just like an angler proudly shows their catch to others.
Fran nodded with a smile, then picked up a spoon that hadn't yet been melted into silver syrup, tapped the sugar crust, scooped a spoonful of the crystal-clear custard, and placed it in her mouth.
"Hmm... The heat was a bit too high, and the sweetness is slightly excessive."
Fran's standards for cooking were demanding and critical; this dessert undoubtedly fell short.
"But the appearance and completion are sufficient, and the texture is good. Just need to spend a bit more time pondering the details. Perhaps you actually have talent in this area?"
However, this person usually only applied these standards to herself. For food from others' hands, most of the time she would offer encouragement.
"Thank you, Dr. Fran."
After receiving Fran's praise, the slight anxiety on Sigrid's face slowly disappeared, replaced by a lifted corner of her mouth revealing a bright smile.
"When I was little, I always envied the baker across from the Sun-Forging Spire and often wanted to try cooking myself... But later I became engrossed in alchemy and forging, never really having the chance."
"Sigrid has never cooked before?"
Fran scooped another spoonful of custard, inquiring conversationally.
"Not exactly... Simple cooking like making soup and baking bread, I can do."
She scratched her cheek, her molten gold-colored eyes flashing with a hint of shyness.
"Although the cult provides three daily meals, sometimes you still have to take care of yourself. Since childhood, I've only had colleagues of similar age around me; I'm actually quite used to living alone..."
Speaking of her past, Sigrid's expression showed a trace of hesitation.
Although under Fran's psychological counseling in recent times, her mental state had improved, nearly returning to normal levels... But the tragedy at the Sun-Forging Spire was still a painful memory.
Seeing Sigrid didn't mention her parents, Fran's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze carrying a hint of understanding.
Among Norlington's four orthodox cults, there were more or less children like this. Living alone in the cult from the moment they could remember, it seemed the role of "parents" never existed in their lives.
Because their parents mostly died in the black plague that enveloped the entire city—perhaps believers, perhaps epidemic preventers. And the cult accepted their final entrustment... the still young children.
"So... your insensitivity to temperature occurred after undergoing that alchemical ritual."
Fran took out a small notebook and recorded her symptoms with interest.
"I also wondered before, why a Sun-Forgers craftsman would have difficulty with simple heat control. It seems that the alchemical transformation of life also brought some changes at the level of common sense..."
"But you still maintain sensitivity to metal and high-temperature state flames, correct?"
"Yes."
Sigrid thought for a moment, then promptly agreed.
When participating in the forging of the power sword 'Nirvana' and the ring 'Ascent to the Bright Star,' she didn't notice any changes in her common sense. Her perception of the raw material smelting state even became much sharper.
"Becomes sluggish when manipulating low-temperature flames... A strange symptom, reason temporarily unclear."
Fran lightly bit her moist lower lip, her amber eyes flickering subtly.
Clearly, the more difficult-to-investigate unusual medical cases could pique her interest.
"First, see if we can restore this part of perception through practice. Treat it as rehabilitation training."
"Okay."
Sigrid had witnessed Fran's exquisite and bizarre medical techniques more than once; of course, she wouldn't question her in this regard.
"But... specifically, what do we need to do?"
"Start by baking common pastries, doing some simple temperature control exercises. For example, that vanilla biscuit from the Secrets-Hunter cult's preparation room... Don't worry, it won't take much time."
Fran lifted the silver spoon, scooping the last piece of golden-yellow custard into her mouth.
She lifted her sleeve and glanced at the brass pocket watch.
"A little past five. We should go. Put the prepared kiwifruit in the fridge. Hmm... Need to tidy up before leaving, or Olive will be unhappy."
"Leave it to me."
Entering her most familiar field, Sigrid patted her chest quite confidently.
She picked up the previously melted silver spoons and quartz containers and began on-site melting and shaping. Her palms shifted from red-hot to white-hot, and the objects burned beyond recognition gradually began to regain their original form.
Normally, the third-category ritual [Remelting and Reshaping] required engraving arrays and preparing related psyche-infused materials. But relying on the special nature of an alchemical lifeform, Sigrid could achieve the same effect bare-handed.
To a certain extent... she was a "Sacred Spawn" belonging to that Sun-Forging entity.
Night thinned, daylight first appeared.
Dawn had not yet arrived, but the horizon already shimmered with clear, faint light.
Another ordinary day.
...
Olive hurried into "The Lark's" shop door.
Usually, she arrived at the shop around six to start preparing baked goods. But today, for some reason, she slept until nearly eight... No waking up during the night, no insomnia; her sleep quality seemed to have returned to her youth.
Fortunately, the dessert shop only opened at eleven. She didn't need to deliberately speed up to complete the preparations.
Olive tied on her apron and skillfully slid the biscuits and cream puffs into the oven.
Amidst her busyness, she vaguely felt the silver spoons and glass containers in the shop were a bit strange. Hmm... Were those sun-like patterns there before?
After preparing the regular desserts, Olive opened the notebook she never left behind and looked at "Seasonal New Product."
On it was prominently the ingredient list and recipe for Kiwifruit Sundae. But besides kiwifruit, it also required many other fruits. So calling it a fruit medley wouldn't be inappropriate.
She vaguely felt something was off. Casually opening the fridge, she found it full of peeled and diced ingredients. They looked fresh, seemingly prepared last night.
Half a month later, Rosalia, having completed her report to the Moon's Favored Elder Council, returned to Norlington and unintentionally passed by "The Lark."
She then discovered the December new product truly was Kiwifruit Sundae. She couldn't help but sigh in admiration that the secret art of Lamp-Moth divination truly had its wonders, Dr. Fran indeed did not deceive her.
—
Fog Street Clinic, Surgery Room.
The end of December arrived quietly; a new year was about to begin.
Fran also finally began working on the final process of the "Chimera Spine" research project.
Through the accumulation of experience during this period and prototype testing, she had completely overcome the chasm-like technological generation gap and vast differences between several techniques. These included the Haemonculi's terrifying fleshcraft and the awe-inspiring Necron technology.
Now only the final step remained... assembling this nearly perfect "final version."
[Chimera Spine 'Sphinx']
[Quality: Flawless]
[Effect One: This product can attach to the implantee's spine and ribs, replacing and strengthening part of the structure. Simultaneously, it can also detach from the implantee for autonomous combat but cannot leave an area within a 50-meter radius of the implantee. (Specific combat modules please design yourself)]
[Note: "Do you want to summon a noble blocker guard and deal massive true damage? Do you want to turn your spine into a powerful monster for close protection? Do you want to preserve youth and never decay? Uh... seems you actually can."]
"Flawless!"
Fran admired the mechanical skeleton gleaming with a metallic cold light on the operating table, her amber eyes narrowing into a fine slit under her smile.
This meant she had no issues whatsoever, whether at the theoretical level or in practical operation.
[Dear Dr. Fran, you have completed the advanced experiment for '40k Medicine.' Parsing Rate acquisition cap increased to 60%, currently 40.5%.]
The finished product was complete; now only the final procedure remained... putting it inside her body.
"Haida, the next work requires your assistance."
Fran turned to look at Haida, who had been quietly observing the entire process from the side.
Although after last time's "Future Norlington" experience, Haida gained a deep understanding of the dangers hidden in cross-dimensional house calls, when this quarter's final day arrived... she still came to Fog Street Clinic almost out of muscle memory.
Then, under Fran's invitation, she witnessed the entire process of this mechanical spine's production and assembly.
"I will do my best."
Haida wasn't clear what Fran needed her to do, but following her instructions should suffice.
It shouldn't be too difficult...
Fran placed the Chimera Spine on the nearby instrument table, then removed her upper garments, lying on the operating table to reveal her smooth, fair back and the side of her chest.
Several black suture lines crisscrossed her back, seeming as if they would tear this slender body apart. One was particularly conspicuous, running from the cervical spine position all the way down to the tailbone.
"Hmm... Please wait a moment; I'll take my head off."
As she spoke, Fran reached out and, along the suture line on her neck, removed her head, placing it on the nearby instrument table in a position with a good view. This made it easier to observe the connection situation.
"Alright, Sister Haida, let's begin."
Haida's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.
Although during the last quarterly house call, she carried a lantern made from Fran's head through most of Norlington, this scene before her still caused some impact to her sanity.
"Mm. What should I do?"
"Pull open along the middle suture line, then clip this Chimera Spine on. Since the subject is me, the connection process doesn't need to be too precise; it can be somewhat rough."
Fran patiently instructed, the headless body on the operating table also reached out a hand, pointing to the corresponding position.
Haida let out a soft sigh, feeling quite pressured as she placed her hand on the skin of Fran's cervical spine. The sensation upon contact was soft and warm.
She then picked up one end of the neck suture line and pulled it all the way down to the tailbone at the hips.
A very subtle feeling, truly almost exactly like pulling a zipper. Smooth and fluid, without the slightest obstruction.
The next moment, Haida's gray-chestnut eyes momentarily froze.
The anticipated bloody display of organs and bones did not appear.
Under the skin and flesh, what met her eyes was a vast, deep, dark starry sky, swirling with dazzlingly beautiful, variegated colors. Like nebulae breathing and flickering, carrying a maddening sense of confusion... indescribably beautiful.
"It's just body paint. If Sister Haida likes it, I can paint one for you too."
Seeming to notice Haida's surprise, Fran reassured her with a smile.
"Hmm... I should, for now, not need one." Very rarely, Haida's speech also carried a hint of hesitation.
Thanks to the Burial Attendant's resilient mind, she quickly shook off the sense of confusion, deftly picked up the Chimera Spine from the instrument table, and clipped it into Fran's back.
Click, click, click.
A series of almost inaudible fastening sounds quietly sounded, like the precise meshing of gears resetting. The finely engineered mechanical construct, as if possessing life, attached itself to her original spine.
"Good, connection work complete. You can pull the line closed now."
Following Fran's further instruction, Haida pulled the black suture line back up to the neck. Then casually placed her head back onto the neck.
"Dr. Fran, how do you feel? Any discomfort?"
Out of habit, Haida still asked.
"Haven't felt any abnormalities yet; probably still in the adaptation period."
As she spoke, Fran put her undergarments and inner small suit jacket back on.
Just as she was about to pick up the nearby white coat, her hand movements suddenly halted, and the white coat fell to the ground.
"Hmm... The expected unexpected situation has still occurred." Fran lay limply back on the operating table, arms hanging at her sides.
Her gaze carried a "just as expected" meaning, as if she had long anticipated there would be a similar situation.
"The Chimera Spine is having a rejection reaction with the Frenzied Flame scar, probably will last for a while. During this period, I can't really control my body..."
"Symptoms are probably similar to high-level paralysis."
Haida helped Fran up, casually picked up the fallen doctor's coat from the ground, and put it back on for her.
+++
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL