Chapter 33: The Return of the Brick Head [Bonus]

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Return of the Brick Head [Bonus]

The serving girl returned with a platter of meat. It was smaller than Daniel’s. Just a single portion. A thick slice of roasted pork, some beef, and a piece of chicken. It was placed in front of Fluffy.

Fluffy stared at it. Her ears twitched. Her nose worked, sniffing the air. Then she looked at Daniel.

Daniel smiled. "Knock yourself out."

Fluffy’s brow furrowed. She looked at the meat. Then at Daniel. Then at her own hands. Then back at Daniel.

"Come on," Daniel said, gesturing at the food. "Eat."

Fluffy raised her hand. Her fist was clenched. She pulled her arm back, aiming at her own face.

Daniel’s hand shot out and caught her wrist. "Hey! What are you doing?"

Fluffy froze. Her eyes were wide. Confused. Scared.

"Master said Fluffy shouldn’t knock herself out," she whispered. "But Master also said knock yourself out. Fluffy is confused."

Daniel stared at her. Then he sighed. A long, tired sigh.

"No," he said, releasing her wrist gently. "That’s not what that means. It’s just an expression. It means... eat until you’re full. Or something like that. It’s not literal."

Fluffy blinked. "Not literal?"

"Not literal." Daniel sat back down. "Okay. Fluffy eat now."

"Okay. Fluffy eat now." She looked at the meat again. Then she looked at Daniel.

Daniel picked up a large piece of pork from his own platter. He stuffed it into his mouth. Whole. Cheeks bulging. Juice running down his chin. It was not a pretty sight. It was not manly. It was not dignified.

Fluffy watched him. Then she tried to copy him.

She grabbed a piece of meat from her platter. Instead of taking a small bite, she stuffed the entire thing into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out. She swallowed. The whole piece. Without chewing.

Daniel’s eyes widened. His mouth fell open.

"How..." he said, his voice muffled by his own food. "How can someone swallow that?"

He swallowed his own mouthful and leaned forward.

"Um, Fluffy? Food is better if you actually chew it. Not just straight up swallow it."

Fluffy’s ears drooped. Her face fell. "Sorry. Fluffy tried to copy Master."

Daniel shook his head. "It’s cool. I’ll order another."

He waved at the serving girl and ordered another platter. It arrived quickly. This time, Fluffy grabbed a piece of meat and took a small bite. She chewed. Slowly. Carefully.

Her eyes widened.

Daniel watched her. "Do you like it?"

Lyra, who had been quietly eating her bread and meat, spoke up. "Can’t you tell? Her eyes say everything."

Daniel looked at Fluffy. Her eyes were huge. Her ears were standing straight up. Her tail, which Daniel hadn’t noticed before, was wagging. Actually wagging. Back and forth. Like a dog.

Fluffy was in another world.

Her eyes were glazed. Her chewing had stopped. She just sat there, her mouth slightly open, the piece of meat still on her tongue. She wasn’t looking at anything. She was just... experiencing.

"Fluffy?" Daniel said.

No response.

"Fluffy?"

Nothing.

"Are you alright?"

Fluffy blinked. Her eyes focused. She looked at Daniel. Then at the meat. Then back at Daniel.

"Fluffy likes meat," she said.

Then she went back to eating. She grabbed another piece. Chewed. Her eyes glazed over again.

Daniel smiled. He turned to Lyra.

"As promised," he said, "we’re going to the library."

Lyra’s face lit up. She opened her mouth to respond.

But Fluffy spoke first.

"But this town doesn’t have a library," she said, her mouth full of meat.

Daniel frowned. "How do you know?"

Fluffy swallowed. "Fluffy heard someone complaining about it. When Fluffy was following Master’s cousin. A man was saying he wanted to read a book but there was no library here. He was very angry."

Lyra’s face fell. Her shoulders slumped. The excitement drained from her expression.

Daniel saw it. He felt a pang of guilt. He had promised her. He had made it a deal. And now...

"Well," he said, "if there’s no library in this town, then we’ll just have to leave."

Lyra looked at him. "What?"

"This town. It’s small. It’s boring. There’s nothing here for us." He leaned back in his chair. "Let’s get the hell out of here. Go to a city. A real city. With a library. And more food. And more opportunities."

Lyra’s face slowly brightened again. "You mean it?"

"I mean it."

Fluffy looked up from her meat. "Fluffy can come?"

Daniel looked at her. "Of course you can come. You’re with us now."

Fluffy’s ears perked up. Her tail wagged faster.

Daniel was about to say something else when the inn door banged open.

The door slammed against the wall. The sound echoed through the quiet tavern. Everyone turned to look.

The muscular man stood in the doorway. His face was red. His chest was heaving. He looked furious. Behind him stood Baron Prick. The young master’s face was a mess of bruises and dried blood. His lip was swollen. His nose was crooked. But he was awake. And he was pointing.

At Daniel.

"There!" Baron shouted. His voice was muffled by his swollen mouth. "That’s him! That’s the bastard who did this to me!"