Chapter 13 10 vouchers Lorrayne was famished after a sleepless night , practically ready to munch on the grimy leather boots stashed under her bed . Lucky break - she rummaged through the wardrobe and found half a pack of beef jerky tucked away by the body's original owner . She chomped through a couple of strips , just enough to hush her growling stomach . Problem was , the stuff was tough as a brick , and her jaw was crying for mercy by the end . Morning meant Alchemy class , and most of her classmates weren't exactly pumped . One could tell by their glazed - over eyes . Professor Laurie Tempel knew the vibe , so she kicked things off with a crowd - pleaser : a Pharaoh's Serpent trick . The chemical puff - up was straight - up magic , and the room lit up with gasps and whoops . Suddenly , everyone was all in . But the hype fizzled fast . When Tempel started droning on about metal properties , most of the class checked out , minds wandering to who - knows - where . Only a few Lowborns stayed dialed in . Alchemy was grubby , exhausting work , and Alchemists weren't exactly high society , but it was a cash cow . The promise of gold kept them glued to every word . Lorrayne was into it too . Back in her world , she'd studied polymer materials in college , so this stuff hit close to home . The class dragged on for a brutal four hours . At noon , Laurie finally let them go , and the room emptied like someone yelled " fire ." Lorrayne took her time , sauntering out with a plan : hit the boulevard and charm some kind soul into buying her lunch . The path to the dining hall was packed , but she was the only one flying solo . Right on schedule , she spotted Winnie and Balk strolling out together . " Hey , Miss Lorrayne ! " Winnie called , practically skipping over , Balk hustling to keep up . " Hey , what a coincidence ! You headed to grab some grub ? " Winnie asked , grinning ear to ear . Lorrayne nodded . " Yup , on my way . Wanna tag along ? " " No way , really ? " Winnie's cheeks flushed , and she dropped into a wonky curtsy . " I'd be stoked ! " Lorrayne chuckled , tugging her up by the arm . " Chill , Winnie , we're pals . No need for the fancy stuff . " Balk , not one to be outdone , yanked off his hat and gave a dramatic bow . " Good afternoon , radiant Miss Lorrayne . You're basically glowing brighter than the sun today . " Lorrayne stifled a laugh . " Wow , Balk , laying it on thick . Thanks , though ." The trio headed to the dining hall . Syria's dining hall had two floors : the first was all about hearty eats - bread , stew , salads , roasted meat . The second was swankier , with pastries and drinks that cost a pretty penny , where Highborns loved to lounge for afternoon tea . The place was a madhouse , but Balk played the hero , carving a path through the crowd for the ladies . " So. Miss Lorrayne , what's on the menu for you ? " Winnie asked , her voice all soft and sweet . " Not sure yet , Lorrayne said , eyeing the serving counter . Spilled stew and globs of meaty mush made her grimace , Balk caught her expression and jumped in " Hey , why don't you grab a seat ? Tell me what you're craving , and I got you . " " Alright , a tender steak , please , Lorrayne said , reaching for her coin pouch . " Nope ! " Balk waved her off . " My treat , no arguments . It's the gentlemanly thing to do " He dove into the crowd before she could protest . He was back quick , jugiding a steak for her , plus a bowl of meaty stew and charred onions for himself . Winnie had scored a chunk of 11/0 12:10 Chapter 13 black bread and some bean stew . When the food hit the table , Lorrayne braced herself . D 。 TO vouchers a The meat stew looked like something one'd scoop out of a pigsty . The onions were burnt to a crisp , stinking up the place . The bean stew had a gross film on top , with what looked like dead bugs floating around . The black bread was basically a rock , topped with a rancid , mystery smear . Even her " tender " steak - the most expensive thing on the menu - smelled like a barnyard . Here was the deal : in this world , they hadn't figured out how to castrate bulls , so even the best cuts were chewy , tough , and gamey as hell . And forget utensils . Highborns used little knives to slice their meat , but Lowborns ? They just dug in with their hands . Lorrayne had suspected from day one that she'd been dropped into a game - Chronicles of Galland , some random title that popped up on her computer in her old life . It was built on a medieval Eldoria vibe , but with twists . No Azure Realms , no Byzantine Empire , no Crusades . That meant no forks , no paper , no silk , no fancy porcelain . Tableware was just clunky iron or clay . They had crazy - advanced Alchemy - hell , they'd even made glass - but that was strictly for the royals . Lorrayne sighed for the millionth time , pulling two small knives from her belt pouch - one to cut , one to stab like a makeshift fork . She pinched her nose and choked down a bite of steak . It was sour , the salt was bitter , and the gamey stench nearly made her hurl . Then Winnie , sweet as ever , licked the nasty smear on her bread and lit up like it was Christmas . " Score ! They threw in a scoop of cheese with the bread ! " Lorrayne ducked her head , fighting a gag . Cheese here wasn't like back home . Without proper pasteurization , it smelled like a rotting foot . Butter ? Forget it - that was a Hun thing . and it hadn't reached Eldoria yet . This meal was straight - up punishment . Winnie and Balk weren't having a blast either . Winnie had been dunking her bread in the bean stew , and Balk was smushing his onions into his stew with his fingers . But when they saw Lorrayne's prim , clean eating , they froze , feeling like total slobs . A classy Highborn like her made them look like they'd crawled out of a barn . Winnie nibbled her tough bread quietly , no longer sloshing her stew around . Balk swallowed hard , stopped licking his fingers , and sipped his stew from the clay bowl like he was at a fancy banquet . Lorrayne powered through her steak , dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief . Sweet relief , she thought . Balk , who'd been sneaking peeks , let out a quiet breath and wolfed down the rest of his food . He jumped up . " Miss Lorrayne , let me grab your tray ! " Tll help too , Winnie chirped , her ears turning red . Truth be told , she wanted to lick the last bits of stew from her bowl . Torayne shook her head , picking up her iron plate . " Can't let you guys do all the heavy lifting . I'm coming with . " Winnie and Balk swapped a glance , both a bit bummed Miss Lorrayne is a sweetheart , they thought . But eating with her is intense . As they returned their trays , Winnie noticed the other Highborns chowing down like total barbarians . She leaned in and whispered to Balk , " You know , I'm betting Miss Lorrayne's , like , super high up " Balk stole a glance and nodded like his life depended on it " No doubt . She's gotta be , like , a straight - up princess or something ! " Title: ReelTalk EP 40 - Contract Lovers & Heartbreak CrushReel's ongoing romance series, Miss You After Goodbye, continues to captivate on the latest ReelTalk episode. Haley Lohrli dives into her daring new character, while Ben and Josh share insights into their own memorable roles, promising a blend of laughter and heartwarming moments. Exploring themes of love, loss, and unexpected connections, this episode delves deep into the intricate relationships that drive the narrative forward. As the stars reveal their on-screen chemistry and off-screen camaraderie, viewers are in for a treat with each unfolding scene. What sets this episode apart is its ability to balance humor with poignant storytelling, offering a refreshing take on modern romance dynamics. Dive into the world of Contract Lovers & Heartbreak, available to read at CrushReel for a journey that promises both entertainment and emotional resonance.