Morus reached for the towel inside his backpack, once he located it, he carefully unwrapped it with one hand and took the jade bracelet out, then stood up and placed the bracelet in front of Monica.

  “Sis. Which room?” Morus asked without wasting time.

  “Across the hall. Left. Second last room.” Monica replied succinctly. It was a habit instilled into her by Morus. Always know where you are, and identify the exits. Some would call him paranoid, but Monica knows that he’s just doing risk assessment.

  A mental map of the longhouse formed in Morus’ head. It resembled an ‘H’, and the siblings were separated and located at the furthest ends from each other, possibly intentional. Each hallway had four exits, one at each end; two exits at the middle with one of the exits leading towards the Dining Hall, while the other led outside.

  “Got it. Stay put tonight. I don’t think they’ll try anything yet. We’ll gather more information and see when we can reconvene. In the meantime, do what you want.” Morus took charge after obtaining sufficient information and analyzing the situation. Knowing his sister, she must’ve already made friends with her disarming personality.

  Morus turned to his left, spotting Gad, Asa and Ban chatting with who seems to be the cook at the ‘back’ end of the dining hall. There were two other doorways that side, he assumed one to be the kitchen or pantry, while the other was uncertain.

  Turning to his right, it was a double-door entryway which faced the entrance of the village. On the walls beside the doorway, he could see weapon racks that stored spears, bows and axes. Before he could survey his surroundings more, one of the villagers entered the Dining Hall from the direction he was looking at.

  The villagers slowly filled the dining hall. Not exactly slow, because they all arrived within 5 minutes after Morus and Monica sat down. A few figures that he could recognize, the farmers for one, because of the strawhats they were still wearing, albeit more relaxed now that they’re out of the sun; and the middle-aged woman that sat in front of the tailor shop they passed by.

  He counted them, a total of 14, not including Gad, Asa, Ban and the cook. Chief Ata was not present amongst the people that were in the dining hall. All of them walked in and went towards the cook, not one of them glancing at the siblings. They were conversing with each other and after getting their food, they started making their way towards their own seats.

  Everyone, everyone was wearing headwear that symbolizes their role or a coif, with the coif being the majority. What was it that they were all hiding? Baldness? Pointed elf ears? Why was the Chief different though?

  “Brother, they’re back.” Monica’s voice pulled Morus out of his train of thought and back into reality.

  Morus turned towards the trio who had gone to get food and smiled at them, “Smells wonderful. What did the cook make for lunch?”

  “Meat!” Gad thundered.

  “Potatoes!” Ban chimed.

  “Stew.” Asa announced.

  Ban stuck her tongue out and boo’ed at Asa for being a party pooper as they set down their plates. The ladies sandwiched Monica between them, while Gad went for the seat closest to him, besides Morus.

  As the ladies sat down first, Morus tried to see what they were having in anticipation, then Gad placed a heavy wooden plate in front of him. He could swear the table shook, and this log table looks sturdy as heck.

  After looking at his plate, he almost balked at the amount of food he was getting. A broad slab of meat that honestly looks super appetizing with the juice leaking out by the cut sides and a piece of butter that was melting on top; a generous serving of mashed potatoes at the side that seemed to be mixed with what he assumed was parsley; a dark-colored bread that could be made of Rye? And there was also a wooden bowl that contained meat stew. It was the perfect lunch, if not for the quantity! It was double what he usually eats for a meal.

  Before he managed to complain that it was too much food, Ban set down his plate with a thud.

  Yep, the table definitely shook. As Morus looked over to the side, if the contents of his plate was a small hill, Gad’s was a mountain. Gad’s portions were double of Morus’, so Morus reluctantly shut his open mouth and started chipping away at his meal. Which he doesn’t regret, because the food tastes absolutely heavenly, and he starts eating at a much faster pace.

  Monica giggled at her brother’s reactions. She noticed how Gad had given her brother more than twice of what he usually eats, but it was surprising to her how well he was eating.

  She’s always known that her brother was sick, even before their parents passed away. The midnight coughs, as if he was about to hack his lungs out; sometimes finding red tissues in the trash; and nights where he will sleep in the living room instead of his room so he doesn’t disturb their sleep. It wasn’t until a few years ago when she compared him to other patients that she realized her brother was ill beyond comparison.

  After their parents passed, her brother would cook for her and smile while telling her to ‘Eat well’ as they shared meals together. It was around two or three years ago when she realized her brother wouldn’t eat until she finished eating, and even then would only eat a small portion of the food. A pained expression on his face as he ate, as if the act of eating itself was hurting him.

  Seeing how Morus was scarfing down the food with pure enjoyment and happiness in his eyes, her eyes couldn’t help but water. She looked down at her food, trying to hide the fact that she was about to cry by carving out a chunk of mashed potato with her spoon and stuffing it into her mouth. Salty, the girl thought.

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  Ban, noticing the sudden change in atmosphere in the girl beside her, squeezed the forearm of Monica and whispered, “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  Monica wiped her eyes with one hand, “Sorry, it was too hot. It made me cry.”

  Asa was watching Morus the entire time, because she knew the dolt sitting beside him was too much of a musclehead to do things properly. More importantly, Morus exuded a sense of familiarity, and it was unnerving, because she too, was unable to pinpoint the exact reason behind it. She thought looking at him would provide her with answers to the questions she had since meeting the siblings. She shook her head and focused on her meal.

  True to Monica’s observations, it had been a long time since Morus enjoyed food. Contrary to her belief, however, Morus lost his enjoyment of food after their parents passed away. Eating hurts, physically. Too much and he vomits, too little and his body wastes away, and the tightrope he tread was razor thin. Without iron will and discipline, he probably would have left his sister all alone in this world.

  Today… today was an exception. For some reason, the food invigorated him, his body seemed to instinctively know, nay, crave the food in front of him.

  Was this terminal lucidity?

  Was his life numbered to the hours?

  Is this his body telling him, ‘Eat well. At least die with a filled stomach on your last day alive.’ ?

  Will this village be a good place for Monica to turn over a new chapter of her life?

  “Hi! Uhm, Nichole’s brother.” Ban’s cheerful voice pierced through the clouds in Morus’ mind.

  “Hmm? Ban, right?” Morus swallowed his food and replied, his spoon hovering in mid-motion while scooping up some of the stew.

  “I didn’t quite catch your name, by the way. Are you really her brother and not her father?” Ban asked, innocently.

  “I’m Russel. I get that a lot, I’ve been taking care of her since our parents passed away, and without a doubt, I’m her brother.” He answered matter of factly, then his tone changed slightly into a jokish one, “Do I not look my age?”

  Ban, flustered, “Oh, my condolences. I’m sorry… I didn’t know… I mean you look like you’re in your early 20’s. But the way you act… it’s like you’re around our age…”

  Ban felt a jab in her ribs and looked at Asa, the woman was glaring daggers at her. ‘Eep!’

  “I mean, the way you act isn’t like what people our age would act. Ha ha ha.”

  Morus raised one eyebrow, “I… see…? So you’re saying that I seem wiser than I look? I’ll take that as a compliment!”

  “Yes! Yes! Exactly! You took the words from my mouth!” Ban’s brain went into overdrive to figure out what to say next, but all she managed to do was draw blanks and summon cold sweat onto her back.

  “Russel, how do you find the food?” Asa came in and saved the day.

  “It’s been a long time since I ate something this delicious. Your cook must be good at working his magic.” Morus meant that sincerely.

  Asa smirked, “You have no idea. The cook will be delighted to hear your praise.”

  “You have no idea lad! The man’s food is addictive! Like a drug! I don’t think I can go a day without it!” Gad joined in the conversation, swallowing his food before talking or else Asa’s going to tear his ear off, literally.

  He placed a gentle hand on Morus’ shoulder. “Glad you like the food. You ate well.”

  As soon as Morus thought Gad was done, he continued, “But you must eat more! You’re so scrawny and pale! Men must have muscles in all the right places!” He flexed his bicep as if cementing his point.

  “Haha, thanks Gad. I know you mean well, but I became like this not for lack of trying. How about you show me what weapon you use with those muscles of yours tomorrow?” To which Gad nodded his head and refocused his attention back to his disappearing mound of food. Morus kept it short and redirected the flow of conversation. “So, Asa.”

  Hearing her name from his lips was like being struck by a bolt of nervous energy.

  “Yes?”

  “The bowmanship you displayed earlier today was impressive. What’s your secret?”

  Taking a second to calm her nerves and organizing her thoughts, she answered.

  “It’s all in the back.”

  “Sorry, come again?”

  “It’s all in the muscles of your back. My Uncle taught me that. Most people use their forearms to draw the bow. That’s how they get hurt and pull a muscle. And ever since, I’ve been training my back muscles and my aim has improved significantly.”

  Everyone around the table listened with awe in their eyes, except for Gad, because Gad already knew.

  “Can I touch your back? I mean, for research purposes?” Monica asked quietly.

  Asa’s face reddened, as this was her first time receiving such a request, “Uhm, sure. Only above the clothes, alright?”

  Monica nodded her head like a jackhammer, and daintily placed her fingers on Asa’s shoulder. As Asa flexed, Monica could feel the muscles beneath the clothes rippling for a moment and hardened like a concrete wall, “Woah… that’s awesome.”

  Asa coughed in embarrassment, “Ahem!” And Monica took that as a signal to stop touching.

  When Asa looked at Gad, he looked at her with a shocked expression that said ‘Can’t believe you did that.’

  After a rollercoaster of emotions, both Monica and Morus finished their meals, leaving a bare wooden plate and bowl behind, they consulted the table about what they should do next.

  “Chief Ata wants to meet with me after lunch, where is he? Didn’t see him at lunch though.” Morus asked.

  Gad answered, “Chief replaces the guard for lunch. He eats here afterwards.”

  Morus nodded in understanding, “That is quite dutiful of him.”

  Monica raised her hand, “Me! Me! I want to explore the village!”

  Asa and Ban looked at each other, as if communicating telepathically, they said at the same time.

  “Sure.” “Sure! Let’s go!”

  Then Gad offered Morus, “Chief won’t be here soon. We can go with them. Helps with digestion too.”

  “That sounds great. I’d also like to know more about your village.”

  “Good, you guys go ahead. I clean up, then I catch up.” Gad stood up and started stacking the plates and bowls together.

  At that, Morus and Monica left the dining hall, following behind Asa and Ban as they finally got the chance to explore the place.