Short Story: A Satisfying Meal

Jori whistles a merry tune to himself as he wanders through the headquarters' expansive hallways. He's never been in a building this grand before, and he's still trying to find his way around.

Sure, he has promised Raenelle and Sebastien that he won't do anything to raise suspicion about himself or them while he’s here, but that doesn't mean he can't at least do a little exploring, right? If he’s going to be cooped up in his assigned room the entire time, then he’s better off having stayed at Raenelle's manor to begin with.

A small group of mages passes by him, and Jori calls out a quick greeting with a friendly nod. Golly gallops, he's certainly never seen so many people in one place before — and okay, yes, maybe talking with unfamiliar people isn't exactly keeping a low profile as requested, but as long as he doesn't talk about his hastily-constructed backstory or share anything personal, then it’ll be fine.

Besides, it'd look more suspicious if he completely avoids everyone except Raenelle and Sebastien, right?

Yes, that’s what he’ll tell himself.

As Jori continues his meandering, he is pleasantly alerted to the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting towards him. He makes a sharp turn down a different corridor, deciding to follow his nose.

He soon finds himself in the dining hall of the headquarters. Despite the delicious smell emanating from the room, it's almost entirely empty, with only a few odd mages scattered alone or in pairs at different tables.

Well, he supposes the current low number of patrons makes sense. It’s that awkward period in between lunch and dinner — a blessing in disguise, as now he has the place relatively to himself without worrying about embarrassing himself.

Jori casually strolls in, the massive buffet table immediately drawing his attention. His feet bring him closer of their own accord, and no matter how many times he’s presented with this sight, he’ll forever be taken by surprise at the sheer amount and variety of food laid out in front of him.

His eyes rove the line of delicacies appreciatively. He’s unable to name most of the dishes, but the names aren’t important. He can’t help but wonder how much this table alone of dishes cost — is this really how these people eat every day? He’s known all along that the mages gathered at the headquarters, no matter how friendly and down-to-earth they seem, come from an entirely different class and background from him — a life he’ll never be able to imagine — but he’s never been as acutely aware of the fact as now.

Shaking his thoughts away, he leans closer to take a sniff of the heavenly smelling soup of some kind. To his surprise, he feels his mouth begin to salivate as he examines it. Strange as he's not feeling any bit of hunger. Likely because he's actually dead, but even so, the smell and sight of the dishes around him is inexplicably still able to elicit some reaction from him.

For a moment, Jori hovers uncertainly. Can he actually eat? He hasn’t actually tried since his reanimation — Raenelle had caught him and dragged him away that evening in this very dining hall before he had a chance to attempt.

What if he immediately throws up? Or would the food pass through him onto the floor like he’s thin air? That would undoubtedly cause a scene.

Jori pokes at his lips subtly. He seems sufficiently material and fine to himself — he’s been able to breathe (although he’s tested that he doesn’t actually need to), touch items and sleep, so surely nothing will happen, right?

Taking a peek around the room and noting how it’s gotten even emptier since he arrived, Jori decides to throw caution to the wind. He begins piling his plate high with anything that looks good to him — which is, of course, practically everything. Only when he’s uncertain if he can make it to a table without spilling the food does he stop his scavenging with one last, longing gaze at the buffet table.

He swallows convulsively as he regards the plate in front of him. Grabbing a fork and a knife, he prepares to dig in — only to be interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Jori?" He looks up to find Raenelle sliding into a seat next to him, eyeing his overly stocked plate in confusion. "What are you doing?"

He gives her a cheeky grin. "What does it look like, Rae Rae? I'm eating!" With that, he pops the first bite into his mouth. His eyes widen at the burst of savory flavor that overtakes his mouth as he chews. He swallows, staring at his plate in stunned silence for a moment. "Golly gallops! That was amazing! I've never tasted anything so incredible in my entire life!"

Raenelle doesn’t respond. Jori turns his attention back to her, just in time to catch the expression of disbelief on her face. She recomposes herself, and with a cocked eyebrow, she leans in and whispers, “All right, but how? Where is the food going? Is it actually going to be digested?"

Jori shovels another forkful of food into his mouth and shrugs, "I dunno. Is this really any stranger than everything else about me?"

Raenelle snorts in reply, presumably agreeing. Jori flashes her his most winning smile. "No point worrying about it! I might as well enjoy it while I can! And I think I've just found myself a new mission. I'm going to taste everything your headquarters has to offer while I'm here." He gives her his most serious look. "Everything."

Surprisingly, Raenelle's lips twitch upward into a slight smile at his declaration. "Well, that's a goal I can certainly get behind." She leans back in her seat with a stretch of her arms above her head, hiding a quick yawn. "Tell you what, I'll join you."

Jori grins at her in delight. "Sounds like a plan! Good food is always better enjoyed with good company. At least, that's what my ma always said."

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This story is written by Nicole Wooden and edited by me. It's set some time in between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, a small outtake of Jori's first experience with eating in his new spirit body. I hope you enjoy it!