The Deceitful One



After about standing in line for ten minutes, Donald had finally gotten three plates of skewered beef cubes from the stall owner.

As he received the plates, he looked at the store owner and nodded, "Thanks, Carlos!"

Carlos nodded, "Enjoy, Donald. If you need more then let me know. I'll have them ready."

"Sure." Donald smiled. He then walked back towards the car. Meanwhile, Benny excitedly ran circles around Donald as he intently stared at the food.

Seeing Benny jump up and down, Donald couldn't help but chuckle, "Patient, little one."

Over the past couple of days, he had come to grow very fond of Benny. After all, he had never seen a cat like him ever before. And the way Benny ate food all the time was very cute to look at.

Only if Donald knew Benny's true appearance and identity. He would have prostrated himself in front of Benny's feet instead of treating him like a regular pet.

On the other hand, Benny too found Donald pleasing to the eyes. Firstly, it was because Bryan also approved of him. And secondly and most importantly, it was because Donald always made sure that Benny got food!

And Benny would consider anyone that gave him food, a friend. He was a simple cat.

Soon, Donald walked towards the car and kept the three plates on the car bonnet. He then looked at Bryan who was admiring the city skyline and spoke politely,

"Master Tony, three plates of skewered beef cubes are here. This is a famous dish in the Southern Continent and since the stall owner also hails from there, the dish is very authentic."

Bryan looked at the sizzling cubes of meat and his mouth began to involuntarily drool. When he sniffed in the aroma of the dish, he couldn't help but praise, "Smells really good!"

Donald smiled, "Tastes even better."

He then stepped back and respectfully waited for Bryan to eat. The latter saw his actions and couldn't help but sigh, "No need to act so formally. You can eat with us."

"But Master-" Donald wanted to refuse. After all, it wasn't proper etiquette for the master and servant to eat together. However, he was cut off by Bryan.

"I don't care about things like that." He picked up his plate, "If you still feel uncomfortable about it then treat this as me ordering you to eat with me, haha."

Listening to his master, Donald couldn't help but smile as he thought inwardly, 'You're truly a nice person…'

"Very well." He nodded and picked up a plate of beef cubes and began to eat with relish. Meanwhile, Benny had already jumped on top of the car bonnet and begun to devour his share.

Noticing that Benny would finish his portion of the beef cubes in but a few moments, Donald couldn't help but chuckle.

He then looked at Bryan and asked, "Master, shall I bring a few more plates?"

Bryan looked at his own plate which was already half empty and then at Benny who was looking at him with pleading eyes. He couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Bring six more plates." He instructed.

Donald nodded and went back towards the food stall while eating from his plate. Meanwhile, Benny stood on his hind legs and raised his front paws towards the night sky.

He mentally transmitted a message to Bryan, 'Praise the Angel of the Goddess of Wisdom~'

When Bryan heard this, he couldn't help but burst into a peal of laughter. A few moments later, he asked, 'By the way, Benny, can you weave artificial dreams inside other people's dreams.'

Benny replied as he licked his plate clean, 'No, that's still too difficult for me.'

Bryan nodded and muttered under his breath, "I see… I guess I'll meet Grace inside whatever dream she's dreaming."

The reason he asked Benny that question was because Bryan didn't want to pry into Grace's privacy by visiting her dreams. After all, the contents of a dream reflected the innermost feelings and desires of any person.

For example, when Bryan visited little Amy's dream, she was all alone in an empty playground. This was a direct reflection of the loneliness and grief that she felt after her father's passing.

If Benny could weave an artificial dream for Bryan and Grace to meet, that would have certainly been better. But since Bryan had no choice, he would have to visit Grace in her original dream.

'I wonder if she still remembers me…' He thought with a bitter smile.

Grace was the first friend he had ever made. Although Bryan felt that Grace was simply using him to get meditation techniques and potions in the beginning, over time he had come to accept her as a good friend.

Perhaps, at the time Bryan was also in need of some warmth and friendship in his bleak life. Thinking of Grace, he couldn't help but think of Leah as well.

However, Bryan didn't consider Leah as good of a friend as Grace though. In the past, both were simply using each other to satisfy their sexual needs.

And both were aware of it. So, there were no hard feelings between them. Bryan still considered Leah his friend.

He was suddenly jolted out of his thought when the fresh fragrance of the beef cubes entered his nostrils.

"Fresh out of the grill, sir." Donald approached with a smile. He was carrying a large tray with both hands. Atop the tray were six plates of skewered beef cubes that were sizzling.

Benny's mouth started to intensely drool upon seeing so much food being brought over at once.

The trio then began to eat with relish. Bryan had to admit, the food here was really well cooked. Everything about it was perfect, from seasoning all the way to grilling it.

This dish was even better than all the dishes combined at Urth Continental—the restaurant he had first visited in this city.

After they finished their food, Bryan gave a 20-pound tip to the stall owner. Carlos was ecstatic upon receiving such a hefty tip. He sincerely thanked Bryan and even Donald who had brought such a customer to him.

"Shall we go to the University of Nadir, sir?" Donald asked as he opened the car door for Bryan to sit.

Bryan looked around for a few moments as if searching for something. He found a restaurant nearby and his eyes lit up. He then looked at Donald and replied, "Wait for me for a few minutes, I'll go use the restroom and come."

"Of course," Donald replied respectfully.

Bryan looked at Benny who was laying on the car bonnet and looking at the starry sky with a blissful smile on his face. He couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Come with me, Benny," Bryan stated.

He then added mentally, 'To the Dreamworld.'

Benny got up from his position, the lethargic aura around him instantly vanishing. He jumped from the car bonnet and agilely landed on Bryan's shoulder.

He then heroically pointed ahead with his paw and replied mentally, 'Let's go home!'

Bryan as well as Donald couldn't help but chuckle looking at Benny's antics. Bryan crossed the road and entered the restaurant. He informed the restaurant manager that he was only there to use the restroom.

To which, the manager agreed. After all, it wasn't that big of a deal.

Bryan entered the bathroom and got inside a cubicle. After locking the door behind him, he looked at Benny and nodded.

The next moment, Benny waved his paw, and a small portal to the Dreamworld was formed. After the duo stepped inside of it, the portal shrunk and the space returned to normal.

Standing at the same place inside the cubicle in the Dreamworld, Bryan couldn't help but sigh as he looked around, "Imagine coming to the Dreamworld when you're drunk…"

Benny began to giggle, 'That would be very funny. Bryan, do you want to try it sometime?'

Bryan scoffed, "No, thanks. I'd rather have a good time after getting drunk."

It was true. After all, everything in the Dreamworld appeared so saturated that it seemed like a wonderland. A person would surely have nightmares in here while drunk.

Bryan exited the restaurant and looked around with curiosity. This was the first time he had entered the Dreamworld in Nadir.

As he looked around at the tall building and the trees in the vicinity, he couldn't help but wonder aloud, "I can understand that there wouldn't be any humans in the Dreamworld. But how come there aren't any cars here?"

Benny who was sitting on Bryan's shoulder replied, 'That's because they move around in the Waking World far too often. Only objects that are stationary in the Waking World for a long period of time cast a direct physical reflection in the Dreamworld.'

"Oh!" Bryan was slightly taken aback, "So that's how things work in here? How fascinating!"

He then went in the direction of Grace's dormitory. He had already found out her location through dream divination. Now, all he had to do was visit her in her dreams.

As Bryan ran through the desolate streets of Damascus, all of a sudden he froze in his footsteps, "Fuck! I told Donald to wait for me a few minutes. I hope he doesn't end up waiting for hours-"

'Or days even.' Benny chuckled.

Bryan couldn't help but smile wryly, "Let's hope it doesn't take us that long."

Time worked mysteriously in the Dreamworld. Seconds could turn to hours and days could turn to years. Alternately, years could also turn to minutes.

After running for fifteen minutes, Bryan soon entered the University of Nadir's campus and currently, he was standing in front of the girls' dormitory.

Without hesitating, he entered the building and soon found himself inside Grace's room which was on the sixth floor. After confirming that the white orb on the bed was indeed Grace's dream, Bryan jumped inside it!