About two hours passed with Elyon and Garrick chatting idly – or rather, Garrick grumbling about his sons.
His elder son was a merchant involved in maritime trade within the kingdom of Brugel, while the younger had recently rebelled, opting to join the navy instead of attending law school as his parents wished. This had caused a rift between father and son.
Elyon listened half-heartedly, drifting toward sleep when the sisters returned to the ward. Nyara was carrying a wooden basket, while Seraphina held a glass bottle.
"You won't believe it; we spent an hour just searching for a restaurant that sells rice," Nyara said as she handed Elyon a mini wooden barrel with a spoon attached.
Seraphina passed over the glass bottle, and Elyon, peering through its clear surface, saw it was filled with a tangerine liquid.
"It's not beer?" Elyon questioned, removing the cork to be greeted by the fresh scent of oranges.
"You're still injured; best not to drink alcohol. Try this instead. The merchant claimed it's much tastier than ordinary juice."
Upon tasting it, Elyon's spirits lifted instantly. It was a familiar flavor.
The sweet and tangy taste tantalized his taste buds, and the carbonation bubbled in his stomach. Although not as fizzy as Fanta and a bit sweeter, it was close enough to pass for soda.
"There's soda here?" Elyon thought back to Earth, where the earliest sodas had become widespread during the first Industrial Revolution with the invention of the carbonated water apparatus.
Having tasted this in the hospital, Elyon decided he would quit alcohol in favor of soda.
"Of course, there is, but it's not cheap; this small bottle cost two pennies," Seraphina informed him.
"So expensive? A large cup of rye beer only costs a penny."
Elyon quickly did the mental currency conversion – a small bottle of early soda would be around 10 RMB. The plan to replace drinking water with soda was out of the question.
"Better eat before it gets cold," Nyara urged.
He lifted the barrel's lid, revealing a layer of beef and potatoes that resembled curry more than anything else. Below was the rice – smaller, shorter grains compared to the thousands of years of cultivated Earth rice.
Elyon combined a spoonful of beef with rice and gulped it down, not pausing to savor the nutty fragrance of the rice and the umami of the beef.
As he ate, tears started to flow. The homesickness and longing for his family he felt since being transported to this strange world burst forth upon tasting rice and drinking soda.
"Is it that delicious?" Nyara asked, observing Elyon's reaction.
"It's nothing; I just choked a bit. How much was this meal?" Elyon wiped his tears and inquired.
"Two shillings, and that was after Seraphina and I pleaded with the vendor to round down the bill."
Elyon nearly threw the barrel and spoon away in frustration – this dish, resembling a rice casserole, cost a dock worker's entire day's wage. But since it was already bought, he had no choice but to finish it.
"Next time, let's explore those import-export markets. I can whip up all sorts of rice dishes," Elyon confidently declared. His culinary skills may have been questionable back on Earth, but in the kingdom of Brugel, where most dishes were either fried or stewed, showcasing his stir-fry techniques could make a splash. He even pondered whether he should sketch a wok if none were available and have one custom-made at a blacksmith's.
"Can you really cook?" Nyara asked, doubtful.
After finishing his meal and handing back the barrel to his sisters, who left after a brief exchange, Elyon lay back down to rest.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Garrick brought a thick issue of the Kaelang Daily along with Garrick's lunchtime sandwich.
Garrick passed half to Elyon, and they each delved into their respective sections.
Around three in the afternoon, after a trip to the restroom, the attending physician, donning a white coat, came to change Elyon's bandages.
His left arm, mauled and badly injured by the dire wolf, had stopped bleeding, and pink flesh was growing along the two-inch stitches. The doctor applied a purplish-brown iodine solution to disinfect and prevent infection.
"You're healing remarkably fast. You might be ready for stitches removal in a week, and luckily no bones were damaged. From the wounds, it looks like you were attacked by a lion. Why were you unconscious for so long?" asked the doctor, wearing a cotton mask as he finished applying a new bandage.
"Just a minor incident. Indeed, it was a lion attack. Someone was smuggling the beast into the port warehouses, probably hoping to sell it to a circus," Elyon answered awkwardly, smiling. He thought admitting they were attacked by a werewolf would probably get them sent to a psychiatric ward.
"That's good to hear. In addition to the anti-inflammatory drugs, should I prescribe you some painkillers?"
"Painkillers? They're not addictive, are they?" Elyon recalled that most early painkillers were opium derivatives and felt concerned.
"They're extracted from a small fruit in the southern continent. Occasional use won't lead to addiction, though they might cause mild hallucinations."
"I think I can handle the pain for now. No need for now," Elyon replied, still apprehensive.
"Alright, if the pain becomes unbearable, call for a nurse. A small cup of high-proof alcohol can also help with pain relief from time to time. Take the anti-inflammatory drugs twice a day, two tablets each time, half an hour before breakfast and dinner."
With that, the doctor left behind a small bottle of oral anti-inflammatory medication and departed.
Shortly after the doctor left, Captain Kappa arrived with Patrolman Bell, both carrying baskets of fruit – apples and pears, a few of each kind.
"Good to see you awake; we came to check on you," Captain Kappa said as he settled into a chair.
"Just leave the fruit over there. I can't believe you both ended up injured. The captain has me covering your duties for now," Bell complained as he placed the fruit on the cabinet.
"You know nothing, boy. Just do your job. Without me around, you should follow Elyon and learn properly. Perhaps even save up and go to law school, so I can do right by your father, who drowned in alcohol, and your mother, who followed him," Garrick admonished from the bed.
"Okay, uncle," Bell responded, now alone with the policemen, acting like a scolded schoolboy.
"Bell, wait outside for a bit. I have something to discuss with Garrick and Elyon. Knock before letting anyone in," said Kappa.
"Sure, captain. I'll keep watch," Bell said as he stepped out and closed the door behind him.