Editing Dufiro foods (section)

===<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">'''Fire and Flavor'''</div>===
As the group ate, their curiosity deepened. Dalt finally voiced the question that had been simmering in his mind. Between bites of fried dough, he asked, “So... fire elementals inhabit animals to make them spicy. Then the animals are butchered. Doesn’t that kill the elemental?”

Bently paused, setting down his coffee. “No, it doesn’t. It’s actually a profession for them,” he explained. “Think of elementals as the adolescent phase of a Dufiro’s life cycle. They’re like teenagers learning the ropes. Runner, didn’t you tell us about your first job at that Scottish restaurant... what was it called? McDonald’s Place?”

The humans chuckled, picturing the golden arches rebranded in Bently’s peculiar terminology. Runner rolled his eyes but smirked, allowing the humor to slide.

“Animal inhabiting,” Bently continued, “is often a first occupation for fire elementals. They gain reputation and treasure from it, which they can use to evolve into Spasa. Of course, not all of them bother. Some make a good living staying in the inhabiting trade. I was no exception. I started life as an air elemental.”

Rafe raised an eyebrow. “You? An air elemental? Didn’t see that coming.”

Bently grinned, a flicker of nostalgia in his expression. “Oh, yes. I spent years in bakeries managing airflow in ovens—ensuring perfect crusts on breads and pastries. Later, I transitioned to event work, controlling breezes at outdoor gatherings. Air elementals may not be as dramatic as fire elementals, but we’re invaluable.”

He puffed out his chest slightly. “Eventually, I gained Change Elemental status. That’s where I truly made my mark. Change Elementals are rare, and I partnered with a distiller who was an Avasa of Growth. Together, we crafted extraordinary spirits—thyme vodkas, Galva Habenrao gins, and raw, powerful rums. I could inhabit the base spirits and imbue them with bold, unique flavors.”

Runner nodded appreciatively. “So you became a master of fermentation and aging?”

“Exactly!” Bently said, clearly pleased by the recognition. “Beers and wines were my specialty. I’d inhabit a wine tun for just a few hours each day, ensuring the perfect balance as it aged. No risk of spoiling, no accidental vinegar.”

The group listened intently as he continued, his voice carrying the pride of someone who’d truly lived. “Eventually, I returned to bakeries and refined my craft even further. That’s how I earned connections to gain the Hue and Sound elemental forms. Through these, I’ve been able to work on even more complex projects.”

Sylex, usually reserved, chimed in. “As a water elemental, I did something similar. I inhabited sea life—mussels, abalone, crabs, lobsters. They grew larger and meatier under my care. Many Avasa Dufiro specialize in enhancing food through inhabiting. It makes whatever we inhabit not just better, but extraordinary. Of course, most of those Avasa only have one form.”

Bently nodded. “True, but some take it a step further. There’s a profession for that—Feeders. It’s not a race, but a calling. One I know, Xirix, is a master Feeder. He’s an Air Dufiro with Health forms, spanning Air Spasa, Avasa, and Masoja stages. He inhabits animals and manipulates their growth over generations. He turned a 150-pound goat into a breed of 2,400-pound giants in just ten or eleven generations.  Those Goatalos are a staple meat source in many worlds.  Also a stable milk source.He also developed the Dive Turducken.  Those were a bit of a mistake but he loves them.  They went wild, escaping domestication.  They are a fierce, fat hunting bird. The size of an ostrich, 15' wingspan, and mean as rabid Kaclin”

[[File:Turducken in flight.jpg|150px]] [[File:Beast-Kaclin.jpg|300px]]

Elmer, who rarely spoke during group discussions, surprised everyone by chiming in. “Sounds dicey. What if the animal he’s in gets killed?”

Sylex answered calmly. “The elemental is simply released. No harm done.”

The table fell silent for a moment as the group digested the implications—both figuratively and literally. The intricacies of elemental life and their role in the culinary world were as layered and rich as the food they were enjoying. Rafe broke the quiet with a smirk.

“Well, I’ll say this much—this might be the spiciest breakfast conversation I’ve ever had.”

Laughter erupted, and the group returned to their meal, the bonds of trust and curiosity among them stronger than ever.