Chapter 31: Fluffy [Bonus]

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Fluffy [Bonus]

Daniel looked at the muscular man. At his rage-filled eyes. At his clenched fists. At the sword hanging at his hip. Then he smiled. A warm, friendly, completely innocent smile.

"What?" Daniel said, his voice dripping with confusion. "Me? I would never hurt the great young master of the Prick family. I’m just a simple traveler. A nobody. Why would I do something like that?"

The muscular man blinked. His rage faltered. He looked at Daniel. Then at Lyra. Then at Baron’s unconscious body.

"But... but I saw..." He trailed off, his brow furrowing.

"It was a thief," Daniel said, nodding solemnly. "A terrible, terrible thief. He came out of nowhere. Attacked the young master without warning. It was horrible. I tried to stop him, but he was too fast. Too strong."

The muscular man’s eyes widened. "A thief?"

"Yes. He ran that way." Daniel pointed down the street. The opposite direction from where they needed to go.

The man looked. Then he looked back at Daniel. "But that’s where I just came from."

Daniel’s smile didn’t waver. "Well, you were running so fast. So majestically. You might have missed him. He’s very sneaky. Very quick. You should hurry. He might get away."

The muscular man’s face twisted with determination. "You’re right. I have to catch him." He turned and started running. "You bastard! Get over here! I’ll kill you for hurting my young master!"

Daniel watched him go. The man’s heavy footsteps faded into the distance. The crowd parted to let him through, then closed behind him.

Daniel shook his head. "Wow. He’s dumb. He didn’t even ask what the thief looked like."

He turned back to Lyra. She was staring at him. Her expression was a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"How come he didn’t recognize you?" Daniel asked.

Lyra shrugged. "Nobody cared about me enough to even want to know my name. I was just the blind daughter. The useless one. Why would anyone bother to remember my face?"

Daniel’s smile softened. "Well, lucky you. That means we can still walk around without anyone recognizing you."

Lyra nodded. "Lucky me."

"Let’s get back to the inn before the brick head comes back."

Lyra tilted her head. "You mean block head."

Daniel frowned. "What?"

"Block head. Not brick head. That’s the saying."

Daniel stared at her. "That’s... that’s not the saying."

"It is."

"It’s not."

Lyra shrugged. "Whatever you say."

Daniel shook his head. "Never mind. Let’s go."

They started walking. Rabbit was still on Daniel’s back, her arms wrapped around his neck. She was quiet. Still trembling slightly. But she wasn’t crying anymore.

Daniel looked at her over his shoulder. "Hey. How about we go somewhere we can get some real food? I’m paying. Got lucky with a bet."

Lyra’s face lit up. "Real food?"

"Real food."

Rabbit didn’t respond. She just held on tighter.

They walked through the streets of Fallbrook, past the shops and the houses and the people who stared at them with curious eyes. Daniel ignored them all. He was getting good at that.

They reached a tavern. Not The Rusty Tankard. A different one. Smaller. Quieter. The sign above the door showed a steaming bowl of stew. Daniel pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The interior was warm and cozy. A fire crackled in the hearth. The smell of roasting meat filled the air. A few patrons sat at tables, eating and drinking and talking in low voices. No one looked up when they entered.

Daniel found a table near the back. Three chairs. He set Rabbit down gently in one of them, then sat down himself. Lyra took the third chair.

A serving girl appeared. She was young, with freckles and a friendly smile. She placed three menus on the table.

"Welcome," she said. "What can I get for you?"

Daniel picked up his menu. His eyes scanned the list. Then he smiled.

"Pork meat," he said. "Meat. More meat. Beef. More meat. Meat. And more, more meat."

The serving girl blinked. "That’s... a lot of meat."

"I like meat."

Lyra picked up her menu. "I’ll have bread and meat."

The serving girl nodded and hurried away.

Lyra looked at Daniel. "You ordered too much meat."

"There’s no such thing as too much meat."

"There is. You’ll get sick."

"I won’t get sick. I have a strong stomach."

Lyra sighed. "You’re impossible."

Daniel grinned. "I know."

The serving girl returned with a basket of bread and a small plate of meat for Lyra. Then she brought out a massive platter for Daniel. It was piled high with pork, beef, and every other kind of meat the tavern had. It was enough to feed five people.

Daniel’s eyes lit up. "Now that’s what I’m talking about."

He grabbed a piece of pork and bit into it. Juice ran down his chin. He didn’t care.

Lyra watched him. She picked up a piece of bread and a slice of meat. She placed the meat on the bread, folded it, and took a bite.

"You know," she said, "bread and meat combined is really good. It’s like... they’re meant to be together."

Daniel paused mid-chew. He looked at her. At the bread in her hand. At the meat inside it.

"That’s called a sandwich," he said.

Lyra frowned. "A what?"

"A sandwich. That’s what we call it in my world. Bread and meat combined."

Lyra’s frown deepened. "You’re still playing that game. The other world thing."

"It’s not a game."

"Sure it is."

Daniel shook his head. "Fine. Whatever. But we also have something called a hamburger. It’s like a sandwich, but better. Ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, all inside a bun."

Lyra stared at him. "That sounds... made up."

"Everything sounds made up to you."

"Because everything you say is made up."

Daniel sighed. He turned to Rabbit. She was sitting in her chair, her hands in her lap, her head down. She hadn’t touched the bread or the meat. She hadn’t even looked at them.

"Hey," Daniel said gently. "Aren’t you going to order something?"

Rabbit flinched. Her whole body tensed. She shook her head quickly.

"Useless servant can’t order," she whispered. "Useless servant can only eat leftovers. Useless servant can only—"

"Stop."

Rabbit’s mouth snapped shut. She looked up at him. Her eyes were wide. Scared.

Daniel leaned forward. His voice was soft but firm.

"You’re not a useless servant anymore. You’re not a servant at all." He paused, meeting her eyes. "Am your master now. And you’re going to be called Fluffy from now on."

[good morning.. It’s morning in my side currently... The mass release will continue now. Enjoy]