The Trash is a Fan of the Little Alchemist

Chapter 3: Learning Curve

Cale stared at the rabbit stew in front of him. The cats circled around him whilst you sat next to him. Cale glanced at your equally uneaten stew.

Forgetting to eat was another trait of yours. He could recall the times your companions had to drag you out of the room when you would miss meals for days in a row.

It wasn't that you didn't like eating. You would just forget when you were busy with something else that interested you. Right now, you were focused on the gun in your hands. He wasn't unnerved by your muttering, he was used to it both in novels and in real life at this point. But...

You were starting to become vicious like everyone else. It was terrifying enough watching how the old man looked as he held the rabbit Choi Han caught and how his son looked sharpening a knife. Your crazed soft peals of laughter that would escape you every now and then was unnerving.

Cale really needed to pull you away from Choi Han's party lest you become one of them. "(Y/N)" He gently nudges you out of your stupor. You pout slightly as you look at Cale. "I was busy..."

Cale sighs and picks up your bowl of stew and holds it out to you. You tilt your head. "But I'm not hungry?..." you said.

The young noble frowns and pushes the bowl closer to you. "You will be once you get bored" he said.

You sigh and take the bowl from his hands. Staring at the contents for a few moments, you try to eat. It was hard to eat if you didn't have the appetite.

'Cale is a hypocrite' you thought. You look at his bowl of uneaten stew. Was he also not hungry? Then why was he forcing you to eat?! Well he didn't explicitly order you to eat so you can bypass the Rules you two made.

"Was that your first time experiencing a battle?" Choi Han asked. You look over at the Korean and at Cale. Were you included in this conversation?

"What battle? You mean the bandits earlier?"

"Yes."

"Of course. I've never seen so many bandits before"

Neither have you actually. The worst you've been in was getting chased by guards. But you weren't doing the fighting then. You frowned as you remembered how futile it was. You and Surta ran far and still got caught in the end. Now here you were... To be honest, you kinda missed the pyromaniac.

"Shouldn't you at least have the strength to protect yourself?" Choi Han said. He said something similar to you as well when you fought together. You nod to yourself thinking that Choi Han is a good person. He was a kind hearted person that cared a lot for people's safety, you figured.

"Can't you see the guards around you?" you blink and look around. A lot of them were capable people and serious about their work. You glance at the gun you left laying on the table. You weren't the type to fight either. You didn't like exercising either.

"I trust my heart. I'll live." you deadpan as you look at Cale. You understood what he meant, his shield looked quite sturdy when you first saw it. But no one knew that. But you can see what everyone else sees. A weak hypocritical man who just chastised you for not eating.

"Meeoow"

"Mew"

"Hmm? What are you doing?" The two cats were pawing at Cale as everyone stared at the young noble.

"I'll be practicing with my sword now." Choi Han turned to leave.

"Right after eating?" Cale asked. You quickly started to scarf down your now cold rabbit stew, making Cale give you a confused look.

"I feel like I need to get stronger." Choi Han said. You slam the bowl down onto the table and pick up your gun.

"Choi Han! Let me come with you! I wanted to test a few things out actually!" You yell out as you follow Choi Han into the forest.