The Last Favor

Chapter 7

While Bryce was sound asleep, Tristan kept tossing and turning all night long. For the first time in days, Tristan was finally free in his sleep without that kid clinging onto him and he couldn’t even blink and it’s all because of that damn Selgnirp. Something about him seemed off and it was killing Tristan to find out why. He’ll admit to having trust issues but this was irrelevant. Sylvester was hiding something; Tristan was sure of it. In his experience, no one is that nice without an ulterior motive.

Whatever’s on that third floor isn’t even bothering him. He could have people caged up and experimented on for as far as he cares. What did bother him is what exactly is it that he wants from him that he couldn’t get from anyone else? If he was even remotely sane, he would’ve kicked him away instead of welcoming him.

Tristan isn’t ignorant. He realizes that Selgnirps are infamous for their kindness but even for one of them, that was too much. Or perhaps, Tristan is simply not used to kindness anymore, so much so that he is uncapable of recognizing it.

To him, the night seemed painfully long. To the kid, however, nothing has ever felt more refreshing. It hadn’t been too long since they last slept on a bed but it did not change the fact that it was still a luxury they were not accustomed to.

As Tristan watched Bryce yawn, he felt strangely uncomfortable, as if something was missing. Could it be that the Lezterp was getting used to the kid’s clinginess when it has barely been a few days? Preposterous! If anything, the a*s missed the way he would brutally wake him up.

Tristan carried his satchel and walked out of the room to use the library and leave as soon as possible. He couldn’t stand staying on his guard any longer. Bryce, on the other hand, was still sleepy and followed a few minutes later.

Following the smell of warm food that the two assumed to be breakfast, they walked into the kitchen where Sylvester was placing plates of food on the table.

“Good morning, friends,” he pleasantly said, “I hope you had a good night of sleep.”

“Oh yes!” exclaimed the kid.

“Well that’s reassuring. I’ve made breakfast.”

While Bryce didn’t waste a second to dig right in, Tristan was eying his food suspiciously considering whether or not he’s better off with the bread in his sack.

“Oh my! Life has not been kind to you, my friend, has it?” Sylvester noticed the Lezterp’s hesitant reaction, so he went over to his side of the table ate a full spoon of his meal and as he swallowed, complained, “ I am as kind as to share the warmth of my home with two strangers on these cold autumn nights and instead of gratefulness, I receive such a rude reaction. You make quite the role-model for that kid.”

“Tristan is a hero,” argued Bryce defensively, “he always saves my life and he teaches me really important stuff.”

“Is that so?” The smile returned on his face. “What is it he exactly teaches you, Bryce?”

“Well,” he thought aloud, “he taught that Klims are bad and mint heals! But if you’re that much better than him, then you should already know that.”

“Oh! I did not claim to be better,” he replied, “but your companion isn’t exactly the perfect guess.”

“He also doesn’t talk much.”

Tristan, who had not listened to a single word from that conversation simply because he didn’t care enough to, realized that he may have been overthinking the whole thing and the thought of poison in itself was an exaggeration on his part. After all, if he were to try anything, he would have probably done so during the night where he was supposedly asleep.

As he ate his breakfast, a thought dawned on him; what if Sylvester was actually after the kid and not him? That would explain why he had focused so much attention on the child. If that were the case, then, he wouldn’t have much to worry about. But he was only conspiring, nothing concrete, therefore, he couldn’t afford to completely let his guard down.

“Well, I surely hope the meal was to your liking,” said Sylvester, “the library is the room at the end of the hallway. If you need anything, I will be outside training.”

While the Selgnirp walked out of the room, Tristan got up and headed toward the library to finish his research on the Ota Trops to finally capture them. Because knowing they’re small creatures with deadly poisonous bites was definitely not enough to seize them.

Bryce, however, had barely woken up and was still eating his meal slowly.

After about ten minutes, he was done so he walked out of the room and then stopped dead in his tracks. Who should he join? Tristan or Sylvester? It was hard having many friends, he thought.

He decided to be logical about this issue; if he were to join Tristan who is currently reading, he would be completely useless to him and would distract him and distracting a busy Tristan is something Bryce knew he mustn’t do. On the other hand, if he were to join Sylvester, he would learn a lot of new stuff that he could show Tristan. And who knows, maybe Sylvester will even teach him magic. Now that, that was indeed an extremely enticing thought to Bryce.

Magic was such a miraculous thing to control and it would come in handy all the time, without a doubt. Besides, Tristan had already made it clear that he would never teach him magic but Sylvester had technically already begun. And sure, according to Tristan, whatever Sylvester taught him was supposedly pretty basic, but Bryce didn’t know any of it and we all had to start somewhere at some point, right? You know what they say: you’re never too young to learn.

So, without another thought, he walked out to meet Sylvester all by himself.