Dohalim's sausage

ㅤ "No! Again!" Zell had so hoped he'd make it today! But the famous hot dogs had once again run out right before him. In all his time at the Garden, he'd never been able to enjoy even a small piece: no one wanted to share the local delicacy! Zell was so desperate that he was ready to grasp at any straw, even if it burned on the surface of the water like a red flame of well-groomed hair—a tall stranger, keeping an eye on him the whole time, beckoned to him. "I suppose you're one of those unfortunate souls who never tasted the fruits of the local chefs' labors?" the stranger asked in a flowery tone. "What?" was all Zell managed to say. "I am Dohalim. And I know the recipe for a legendary dish. If the fire of knowledge burns in your heart, I can teach you how to maintain the perfect balance of spices, revealing the true flavor of succulent meat, deftly chopped and skillfully kneaded by the strong hands of a creator. You will immerse yourself in a hitherto unknown world of secret culinary art, hidden from all. You will not only taste the fruits of your labor, but also be able to indulge in true culinary pleasure at any time. So what will you answer? Will you come with me to taste my sausage?" Zell was so lost in his fantasy, listening to the magical description, that he almost choked on his own saliva. Dohalim's voice was enchanting and controlled—a true poet and connoisseur of words, able to manipulate speed and emotional intensity. He was all imbued with the inspiration that was transmitted to Zell. "Yes," Zell said, enchanted, knowing nothing else. "Yes, I'll go… I want…" Dohalim led him through empty, dark corridors, through areas off-limits to regular students. But Zell didn't even understand the peculiarity of this moment: all his thoughts were consumed by the sausage. In the deserted kitchen, which had already sent its employees home after a hard day's work, Zell watched, mesmerized, as Dohalim took fresh meat from the refrigerator, put it in the grinder, and ground it. Several times, until the mince was the perfect consistency. And Dohalim sprinkled in a pinch of this and that, explaining each step, explaining the importance of consistency and weight: in a perfect sausage, everything had to be perfect. Zell listened to every word, absorbing the information like a sponge: after all, there was nothing more valuable in his course! He fought instinctively, but he couldn't even imagine preparing something so delicious. Having finished with one sausage, setting the example, Dohalim invited Zell to test his skills, guiding him with words, giving him invaluable instructions. This feeling could only be described as admiration. He. Himself. Was creating a miracle. Something he had been striving for for years… He was creating it with his own hands. And very soon he would taste this work of art! And so, two impressive hand-made sausages were lowered into the boiling water. The most difficult moment—the test of patience. And the difficulty increased with the aroma spreading as they cooked. But that wasn't all! After boiling, the sausages still needed to be smoked to infuse their flavor. Zell could barely contain himself: he was ready to pounce on a bare sausage without bread or sauce, just to taste the forbidden "fruit"! And then—the greatest dish of all time was ready. A hot dog from the Balamb cafeteria. After taking just one bite, Zell froze, unable to breathe: his taste buds were going crazy with delight. His brain prevented him from dying a stupid death from spontaneous shutdown, bringing him back to his senses with a sharp inhale and a return to this mortal coil. "This is… incomparable…" Zell was overcome with so much emotion that he was literally exhausted, and words were hard to come by. He couldn't even think of a single word worthy of the dish. "This recipe has been passed down in my family for generations." "And you just shared it?" "There's no point in food if no one enjoys it. My family's fame faded long ago, the cookbook burned with the last head. My sausage recipe is all that remains. And if I keep it a secret from everyone, one day it will disappear too." "That would be too sad… That can't be allowed!" "And you have the power to help me preserve the recipe in the world's memory. I suppose you'll be making your own hot dogs from now on, instead of standing in that insane line?" "Well, why?" Zell asked, surprised. "Getting a sausage from the cafeteria is already a sport," he laughed. "But if I suddenly don't make it in time again, I know how to console myself," Zell smiled gratefully. ㅤ