Thanks for checking out Morcster Chef: Reckoning! This is the 2nd book in the series, so I would suggest checking out book 1 first. However, I will summarize the important notes from book 1 below so that you may start here, if you so desire. It might be a good refresher for anyone returning to the series as well.

Ming, a young mage with a huge pool of magic powered by her equally large appetite, invited Arek to join her group as their chef. The orc acceped and was introduced to the other two members. Belmont, a paranoid healer with a set of wicked spiked armor, and Malissa, the group's defacto leader, were initially suspicious of Arek's presence.

However, as time bore on and the four of them traveled together, the four slowly became good friends. They cleared a dungeon infested by parasitic mushrooms and recieved an offer to take on a promotion quest. The group cheerfully accepted and headed to Riverfall. Arek inadvertantly revealed his extensive knowledge of combat, training both Malissa and Belmont before they arrived at the city.

Once there, the four rushed to take their examination to avoid the ire of the Starpiercer guild, a group of thugs that Arek had aggravated multiple times by standing up for people they bullied. During the test, Arek came face to face with Vell, an old team member and the man that had given him the gift of speech and the curse of magic.

Vell opted to refrain from telling the others who Arek really was, instead gifting the orc a memento from his past and allowing the orc to pass the exam. The others all passed as well, but not without their own unique difficulties. Ming chose Magus, a dangerous B rank mage who had clashed with the group before, as her mentor. Malissa found herself uncertain of her future and reeling to find something to live for. Most shocking of all, Belmont was attacked by the woman who administered his exam.

Magus arrested the woman and brought her to the guild's dungeon to discover her motives for attacking Belmont. Meanwhile, the party headed off to a nearby dungeon to lay low and make some money. It initially went well, but as they tried to leave, the four found the exit destroyed. In its place was a strange glowing arch that they had no choice but to use.

The arch teleported them outside, but not without mind controlling them for some unknown reason. Ming's eyes changed colors, full of runes that nobody understood. To Arek's dread, he found the magic that had tormented him for years slowly returning to him, threatening his sanity once again.

To all of their surprise, neither Ming nor Arek seemed negatively affected by whatever the arch had wrought upon them...at least, not yet. The orc found himself able to control both his emotions and his magic, and Ming seemed no worse for the wear for the experience. But nothing comes for free - they just have to figure out what the price will be.