Chapter 83: Humble

Chapter 83: Humble

The moment I opened the blanket, the change was visible.

Its leg was bent to the side still, but as I freed it from the surrounding blankets, she stretched the limb back, testing it.

The bunny put weight on it, pushing down against my thigh, and after a moment of hesitation, launched herself from the blanket with a powerful leap.

"No you don't!" I said, snatching her from the air.

I put her back into the banket and bundled her up.

"What are you...?" Maria asked, her voice full of awe and confusion.

I sprang to my feet.

"We've gotta get her to the forest!"

I took off, running just slow enough for Maria to match my pace.

Snips and Claws dashed off ahead, a trail of sand in their wake, and Pistachio plodded along behind us, happy to follow.

We reached the trees and continued on, going right to the edge of my property.

I turned to Maria, whose skin was flushed and forehead pricked with sweat after what had to be a sprint to her.

"Do you want to let her go?"

"You don't want to...?"

I held the bundle out.

"I insist. You should be the one to free her."

She accepted the package, hugging it tight and whispering into it.

"Goodbye, little bunny. Live a happy and long life."

She knelt and unwrapped the top layer, exposing the bunny to the cool forest air.

She raised her head, ears twitching as she looked around. Then, she leaped from her arms, landing softly on the loamy earth.

She paused there a moment, but upon seeing there was no danger—other than the two humans that had kidnapped it, and three ridiculously large, rather violent-looking creatures by our side—the bunny dashed off into the forest, her cute little feet a blur of movement as she disappeared around a trunk and out of sight.

"Bye, Cinnamon!" Maria called after her.

"Cinnamon?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded.

"Yep—Cinnamon. That's her name."

"A fitting name." I cupped my hands to my mouth. "Bye, Cinnamon! Make good choices!"

Maria elbowed me in the side, recognising her father's words from when we left for our trip.

"Not funny."

"Hey—it's solid advice. I want her to make good choices."

Maria scowled, but the hint of a smile was on her lips.

"You're a big meany, Fischer."

I grinned at her.

"Only to those I like."

***

Barry carried his prized possession from town, his stride firm and core-muscles engaged.

"Are you sure you're okay with that, Barry?" Fergus asked behind him.

"Yeah, I'm sure, mate. It's pretty fracking heavy, though."

"Alright..."

Barry glanced back to see Fergus and Duncan exchange a look with each other. He returned his attention to the earthen ground, smiling to himself.

Let them think what they want, he thought. It's more likely to help my mission than hinder it.

He led them ever on, through the cane fields and further from the village's buildings with each step.

When they arrived at his house, he walked around the back, heading for the shed.

They followed silently, focused on the contraptions they bore.

Barry reached his shed and bent at the knees, setting the metal pot down on the sandy soil.

"Just here will do, guys. Thanks for bringing it over."

"No problem, Barry," Fergus said, eyeing him with a discerning gaze. "Happy to be of service."

"So, uh, Barry..." Duncan said, running his hands together and looking away. "When you finish making a batch, do you think we can have—"

Clap.

"Ow..."

Fergus raised his hand, threatening to slap his apprentice on the back of the head again.

"We were paid for the work, Duncan. No asking for extras."

Duncan rubbed the back of his head—overacting, by Barry's estimate; the slap hadn't been hard.

"That's abuse, you know," the apprentice said. "I could have you taken to the capital and whipped like the show pony you are."

"Ohhh!" Fergus said, laughing. "Feeling mouthy today, are ya, lad?"

Duncan grinned.

"I learn from the best."

"Yeah? Well, you can learn to clean out the forge when we get back—it hasn't had a good scraping in a while."

"No doubt. You do a half-assed job every time, unlike—kidding! I'm kidding!"

Duncan held his hands up, warding off Fergus' raised hand.

***

"Ahem," Roger said, getting both of our attention.

It was almost a yell, and the admonition was clear.

My stomach convulsed, the butterflies turning into a volatile storm.

"Dad!" Maria whirled, letting out an awkward laugh. "I'm, erm... back?"

He nodded, his eyes locking me down.

"I'm glad. Come inside and I'll help you unpack."

"There's no rush," Sharon said, poking her head out the open door. "Right, dear?"

Roger didn't take his eyes off me, and I stared back dumbly, like a fox caught in the chicken coop.

"Right," he agreed, his jaw clenching. "We'll be... inside."

Sharon ushered him back in and closed the door, leaving us alone on the porch. She appeared in the front window, looked between Maria and me, winked, and drew the curtains closed.

Maria shook her head, letting out a soft sigh.

"Sorry."

"It's fine," I said, my heartbeat pounding for an entirely different reason than earlier.

Before I could move, she wrapped her slender arms around my neck and pulled me into a hug.

My hands moved around her waist, and I pulled her tight against me.

Despite how small and frail she felt, and how powerful the cultivation shenanigans had made me in this world, our bodies fit together—two puzzle pieces made for one another.

My chest hammered, and I could feel her soft heartbeat racing as we held each other there, frozen in time.

"Thank you again, Fischer."

I squeezed lightly, pulling her even closer.

"Thank you for coming. I had such a nice time."

She pulled away, so I let go.

With her hands on my neck, her arm extended, she leaned in and planted a kiss on my cheek, the touch soft as a feather.

Even with my enhanced cognition, I couldn't have dodged if I tried; my body was suspended, overwhelmed by her.

She danced backward, putting her hands behind her back.

"I'll see you soon?"

I nodded, blinking.

"Yeah—see you soon."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling as she took one last look at me before turning for the door.

***

"I don't like it, Sharon!" Roger hissed, keeping his voice low.

His wife let out a small sigh, nodding.

"I know you don't like it, my love, but that doesn't mean it's right for us to interfere."

He felt his mouth form a line and eyebrows scrunch together as he thought of what to say, but Sharon spoke first.

"Do you not remember how we met, Roger? I seem to recall a strapping young man sneaking me from my window of an evening..."

"This... this is different, Sharon. She's—"

"She's our only daughter. I'm well aware, my love, but that's all the more reason to let her make her own choices."

Sharon smiled at him, and her face held such adoration for Roger that his complaints died in his throat.

"She's not an object for us to defend," Sharon continued. "We made her, yes, but that doesn't mean we own her. We're not some noble family that treats their daughters as bargaining chips for power—is that what you'd rather be?"

At the rebuke, Roger's pained expression melted away, and he shook his head.

"You know I detest them more than anything else. It's just... she's our only daughter, Sharon."

She put a hand on his chest and stepped in, leaning her head against his sturdy frame.

"I know, my love. You just want what's best for her, but she still has to make her own choices. She isn't livestock for us to herd."

Roger sighed, deep and long.

"You're right, but I still don't like it."

Sharon laughed, her small body shaking with mirth as he wrapped his arms around her.

"You don't have to like it." She pulled back, patting his chest. "You just have to grin and bear it."

The door made a soft click and opened, letting in the midday light.

Maria stepped through, beaming brighter than the sun outside.

Sharon turned to Roger.

"Would you mind going and getting some supplies from town, husband?"

Roger gave her a deadpan look, but nodded.

"Been meaning to go for a walk, anyway."

He stomped to their room, presumably to get his things.

Sharon ushered her daughter over; Maria all but ran. She grabbed Maria's hand and dragged her to her room, closing the door behind them.

Now that they were alone, Maria's smile widened, and Sharon's did the same.

She leaned toward her daughter, whispering as she bounced on her heels.

"Tell me everything."