A little while after the Encounter
Aslan sat alone at a quiet, empty dining table, tray in front of him. He finally had space to himself.
He stabbed his fork into the sad-looking vegetables, enjoying the silence.
Until it ended.
Alice plopped into the seat on his right.
Cael sat to his left.
George followed, balancing his tray like it was sacred treasure.
Aslan looked up from his tray, eyes darkening.
"…Why are you here?"
Alice blinked. "We're here to eat. Isn't that obvious?"
"Yeah," Cael added casually, biting into a piece of bread. "We eat food. That's what humans do."
Aslan narrowed his eyes. "Then go sit somewhere else."
All three ignored him and began eating like nothing was wrong.
Growling under his breath, Aslan picked up his tray, stood up, and marched to the next empty table.
He sat down again.
Within seconds… they followed.
He glared. "What the hell—"
Before he could finish, Alice shoved a lettuce leaf into his mouth.
"There. Calm down," he said cheerfully.
Aslan spat it out.
"Why won't anyone just let me be alone?"
He sighed and stared at his tray. A large number of dishes. At least there was one thing he didn't hate.
He immediately started eating one particular dish rapidly, without savoring it.
George noticed. "If you like it that much, you can have mine too."
Aslan didn't even look up. "I don't like it."
George blinked. "But you just—"
"I always eat the stuff I don't like first so I can enjoy the food I do like later. Basic strategy."
Alice laughed. "Aslan, you're so strange."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.
Before he could say more, Alice dropped his piece of grilled meat onto Aslan's tray. "Here, little one. Eat up and grow big."
"What—" Aslan tried to protest, but Cael and George followed his lead and added their meat too.
His tray was suddenly a mountain of juicy meat.
Aslan stared at it.
"…Do I look like a stray cat to you?"
But… he didn't return the food. In fact, he began eating with rare enthusiasm, stuffing his cheeks like a happy squirrel.
The three watched in silence, smiling.
"So cute."
Aslan caught their stares and growled between bites, "Don't look at me like that. I'm not giving any of this back."
Cael shrugged. "Don't worry. We weren't planning to ask, little one."
"I'M NOT A CHILD!"
---
Later… in the library
Aslan crept into the library—the only place he hoped he could finally find peace.
Of course, George followed him.
He sat beside Aslan and whispered, "I graduated top of my class from Safrine Village School. Third child of a farmer. Parents wanted me to be a merchant. I like books. What's your favorite color, Aslan?"
Aslan groaned, slapped both hands over his ears, and slowly closed his eyes.
"Why always me?"
"George," he sighed, "shut up."
Silence.
Then—
"So anyway, I also memorized the entire herbology index. Did you know pepperroot can double as a wound salve if boiled—"
The librarian stomped over, eyes cold as a blizzard. "Out. Both of you. No talking in the reading hall."
—and she pushed both of them out.
Aslan glared at George, deadpan.
George offered a sheepish smile.
Aslan bolted like a man on fire.
---
Later that evening
After a long, exhausting day of being tailed, interrogated, and smothered, Aslan finally returned to his dorm room. He dropped his bag, collapsed onto the bed, and sighed.
"George followed me all day. Every. Single. Step. I helped him once—just once—and now I've got a certified assistant who announces it to the world. I swear I'm never helping anyone ever again."
He stared at the ceiling.
"At least now I can finally—finally—rest."
Knock. Knock.
Aslan groaned.
"No. Nope. Not today."
He shouted, "Whoever it is—leave me alone! I'm in a bad mood!"
Knock. Knock.
Grinding his teeth, Aslan stormed to the door and flung it open.
George stood there.
Silent.
Aslan exploded. "You followed me all day! I told you not to—AND NOW YOU'RE AT MY ROOM?!"
George blinked, confused.
"…This is my room."
Aslan froze.
Statue.
"…What?"
He was completely, utterly embarrassed.
George beamed. "Are you my roommate?"
Aslan's eye twitched. "Unfortunately… yes."
George fist-pumped like he just won the lottery. "YES!"
Aslan turned around, walked to his bed, and flopped down, face-first.
"Mother. Father. Lucian. Varek. I miss you all so much."
---