The Crack In Heaven [A LitRPG Progression Fantasy] Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Dinner's Ready

Read chapter 34 of The Crack In Heaven [A LitRPG Progression Fantasy] by Adamus_Auguste on NovelPedia.

Chapter 34: Dinner's Ready "Dinner's ready, guys!" In his new shoes, Kael walked to the crackling coal in the hole. He glared at Els' grin, narrowing his eyes in a silent message. Ignored, overtaken by a hungry Tonio, who snatched a skewer of steaming rat. The rat-man bit down. His eyes widened. "GOOD! Els good!" "Hahaha, glad you like it. And it's safer cooked." Els winked at Kael. The only answer he got. Instead, she glanced at his shoes. "Wow, you became someone in the slums. I'd almost shed a tear." The way she playfully traced tears on her cheeks made Kael snarl. "Just say you're jealous." "Jealous? No, I'm just curious where they came from." Munching through his rat, Tonio answered, "Bad man remove. Tonio fast. Catch. Run." "I guess my comfort matters more than his." Kael's lips curled into a wry smile. After a sharp nod from Tonio, he turned to Els. "So, is it really safe? I mean... It's disgusting, but I can take diseases. I'm more worried about you." "I won't give you the excuse you're looking for. Besides, your stomach fools no one, and if you can endure, I can return to how I was before the disease. So, eat." Els shoved a skewer into Kael's hand. The scent struck his stomach before his brain. It tensed painfully, gurgling in command to devour meat that somehow smelled better than any loaf of bread he had ever tasted. His hand moved on its own, disgust numbed by hunger. Yet, he pressed his lips tight for a second. Juice smeared them, and his tongue betrayed him to lick it. No taste of sewer, death, or wild diseases. Just juicy, well-cooked meat that brought his last resistance down. Closing his eyes, he snatched a bite. Then, his eyes shot wide open. All his life, he had wondered about cow, about chicken, never imagining he would eat rat first. And yet, that sewer dweller, that disease monster, tasted even better than the potato he had once a year during the harvest festival. It was soft, but firm, with just enough juice to make it roll down his throat. Without realising it, his teeth gnawed the rat until they dislodged bare bones from his skewer. His eyes darted to Els'. She brought her meat close to her chest and half-turned. "Ha! Told you it was good. Dream on." She tore through her rat, then washed it down with water. The canteen eyed Kael. Should he really drink? The taste would fade if he did! Later... Tonio watched her eat as if he had found Kraghor in the flesh. "More tomorrow. Kael catch." "Me?" Kael pointed at his face. "Fast rat. Kael train speed. Catch rat." "That makes sense, I guess..." Kael scratched his head. "I'll get us bread tomorrow morning. Give me the copper crowns." Tonio slapped his palm away, his lips pursed. "Mine." "We'll eat better. Come on, trust me." For a moment, Tonio's gaze shifted between Kael and Els. When she nodded, his jaw dropped as if a divine revelation had befallen him. He smacked five crowns in Kael's palm. "For bread. Good food." "I promise." Kael pocketed the crowns and finally allowed himself to drink. Still thinking about meat, he went for another round of punching with Tonio. Sweat traced his skinny limbs, but a full stomach, his endurance, and the will to better himself pushed him until his arms burned hotter than the fire hole. Only when he failed to lift them did he stop under Tonio's proud nods. Too exhausted to sell Els' candles today, he told her he'd do it tomorrow. She offered to do it herself, but he rapidly convinced her how foolish an idea it was for a girl, even disguised as a man, to wander the beggar streets alone. He knew she wanted to help, and reassured her with Tonio's eager "Good," that she was already. The evening passed by in the quiet flickering of the lamppost and Els' mutters about her power. Kael didn't listen; he slid under his holed blanket, and as soon as his back met the ground, sleep lulled his eyelids to a close. No mocking laughs from Garrick or Sister Harrow in feverish nightmares, or god-spawn whispering to gaze at it. Instead, he dream