《The Orphan Fox》Chapter 15: Maids and Mother
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Walking along a broad road made of stones, Uncle Black, me, Cyan and the Lightning-Wyrm are traveling to the Mansion belonging to Uncle Black. Actually, it seems that Uncle Black's family had quite some influence, resulting in them having their own mansion. As we are walking through the streets, less and less pedestrians appear, resulting in us having no trouble walking alongside each other. Actually, right now I'm holding hands with Uncle Black, as he fears that I will get lost as this is my first time here.
While walking, Uncle Black starts to explain the surroundings to the best of his ability. Sadly, due to him living underground for so long, Uncle Black didn't know so much, but it was enough for the basics. There sometimes were constructs along the road, just like street-lamps back on earth, but unlike streetlamps, those contained floating light balls and not electricity.
There were many shops and different buildings, both small and large, but due to the setting sun our visibility decreased quite a lot. Though the street-lights help a bit, they are not very effective to see the surroundings. Because of this, me and Uncle Black began to activate light-magic in order to light up the surroundings.
“Whoaah” (Arin)
Letting out a stupefied voice, I look at the silver scales of the Lightning-Wyrm which reflected the light in the darkness like a disco-ball, making it look breathtaking. Actually, when she saw the effect of her scales herself, she began to curl herself up, sulking. It took her a minute of consoling and comfy tail therapy before she unfolded herself once more and kept following us. After a while of walking, I ask Uncle Black how far we have to go as the sun was already completely gone. He then moves his hand and pointed at a hill beyond the city where I can barely make out a big structure.
“Uhmm, Uncle Black, couldn't we have flown there on your back or something like that?” (Arin)
Asking that question, Uncle Black suddenly stops moving, eyes wide open. After a short while he just shakes his head and sighs...
“Well, I didn't think of that. But we are already in the middle of the city, if I transform here there would be damage to the surroundings.” (Uncle Black)
So we can't... Putting on a face that says exactly that, Uncle Black just groans and makes a thinking pose. It was then that she, the Lightning-Wyrm, nudges on my clothes and spoke in a hushed voice...
“Well, I could transport all of you there. My body is like that of a snake, so I have no problem becoming a little larger...” (Lightning-Wyrm)
Speaking in a slightly embarrassed tone, She makee a very appealing suggestion, making me and Uncle Black look at her at the same time. She moves back a bit by our sudden stares, but she easily regains herself and begins to grow in size. Actually, in the background, Cyan was silently crying, muttering about him not being useful to his master, but I didn't even notice.
When she reached a size suitable to carry the three of us, we all jump onto her back and were comfortably carried through the night. Actually, I don't feel cold, but the air up here was still quiet fresh. Flying under the stars, I once more am mesmerized by the beauty of the sky.
After a short while, we finally arrived at the mansion belonging to the Geyser Family. If I didn't mishear Uncle Black, then the society of the Dragons Mountains is like this: Most Dragons and tribes live in the different Mountains, while in this canyon close to the border the Demi-Humans and Fox-tribe live. This City also contains many Dragons that prefer living in such a environment, as well as Traders and Diplomats from other Kingdoms and Tribes. Humans normally don't gain access unless they have a special permit, that was to prevent the kidnapping and killing of the young and inexperienced Dragons and Foxes. Though still, most of the People living in the city are the Demi-Humans and Fox-clan as well as the different kinds of Dragonian folks. That is also why the Mansion is empty as all the Dragons from Uncle Blacks Family prefer living on the Mountains.
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Losing myself in thoughts I completely miss that we already landed and Uncle Black has to pull me from her back because I didn't react. I really have to be more aware of my surroundings.
When we entered the mansion, there were a whole row of what seemed to be maids and a butler. One of them even wears an apron and one of those funny chef-hats, making me nearly burst laughing. Luckily I could hold it in, but they still looked at me weird when I began to snicker. But seriously, seeing a bipedal Dragon wear an apron and chef-hat was too funny.
When all of us entered the room, everyone automatically bowed their heads and began introducing themselves. It seems that there are three maids, one butler and a chef to take care of this mansion for us. The maids were from the local races, but one was peculiar. Not in her form, but as the fact that she was a Human, here in the dragon mountains...
I want to ask her once why or how she got here, but that will have to wait for later, as most of the crew, aside from me, are tired. Well, I did sleep nearly the whole afternoon...
When we split up, the Dragon maid with black hair and blue horns and tail, I think her name was Saria, takes my hand and leads me to my room. When she stopped moving in front of a lavishly designed door she pushes it open, revealing a large Room with a king sized bed in it. Next to it was a small study with bookshelf's and various tools. I know a few of them from my days in Uncle Blacks underground home, but there are also some I don't know. When we entered the room, Saria quickly moved to the cabinet on the left wall and removed what seems to be a child-sized pajama. She then closes in on me and with a gesture asks me to change.
Actually, I'm reluctant as I don't know her, but when she showed me a spot with a wooden curtain to change behind, I immediately take the chance. After changing, she took the clothes I wore before and left the room, mentioning that she would be right back.
Looking around the room, the floor is made of wood while the walls are made from Stone with Wooden decorations. The King-sized bed was in the middle left of the room, while the study was to the right. On the left side is also what seems to be the clothes-cabinet. On the back wall is a large window and a door leading to the balcony. From there one can see the whole city as well as the Mountain with the Elder-Palace.
As I am waiting for Saria to return, I lock my eyes onto the King-sized bed. Running towards it at a speed previously unthinkable for me, I jump off the floor and dive right into the large bed. Being welcomed by the comfortable sensation of the pillows and blanket, I begin to roll around on the mattress. After rolling around for a little, I jump up and try it... Who would be able to resist trying to use such a giant bed as a trampoline?
Jumping up and down on the mattress, suddenly the door swings open and Saria stands there. Her face reveals a smile, yet her aura is scary. Scared by the aura she emits, I cease jumping immediately and slowly sit down on the bed.
Saria just stares at me for a short while, before her smile and even her aura soften. She then approaches me and straitens the pillows before she then lays me down and puts the blanket over me. Afterwards she stands back up and speaks in a small laugh.
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“Don't worry young master, I'm not angry. Even I would want to jump around on such a huge bed in your age. But now, something like that just makes our job harder and may even damage the bed. So I have to ask you to not jump around, okay?” (Saria)
Nodding towards her, Saria laughs and then pushes the blanket lightly together to cushion me, before she then deactivates the light and leaves the room. Having the darkness suddenly fall over me, I soon become sleepy once more close my eyes.
…
…
As I reopen my eyes, I find myself back in the void of my Mind. Actually, it not a void anymore, but the grassy hill from before was still here.
Looking around, I finally spot Lumi sitting under the tree, watching the flowers. She is wearing a confused expression, as though she doesn't know what to do. So when I approach her, she suddenly snaps out of it and looks at me with a happy yet also insecure expression.
“Lumi!” (Arin)
Actually, I just laugh and jump into her embrace. She is still for a second before she then begins to hold me and play with my hair. She then asks in a slightly heavy tone:
“Uhmm, little Arin... when you called me... mama... was that serious?” (Lumi)
Looking me in the eye, she asks that question. But what is she even thinking. I was practically reborn in her crystal and she is always there for me. So how is she not my mom... can it be that she isn't sure herself... or did I misunderstand...?
“Of course, you are my mom. Didn't you take care of me the whole time? Can I not be... your son?” (Arin)
With tears in my eyes I ask what laid on my heart. Could it be that I... was wrong, with calling her that out of my own volition? Having tears gather in my eyes as I suddenly imagine the scene of me being abandoned again, I suddenly see Lumi having also tears in her eyes. She then suddenly begins to shout in a crying, but happy voice...
“Of, course, of course its fine. I am happy to be your mother, just like I see you as my own son... sniff, thank you...” (Lumi)
Hugging me while in tears I also hug her back while crying. I finally can let go of that darkness in my heart, and all that was accumulated is released with only one sentence...
“Thank you, mom...” (Arin)
We both stayed there crying for who knows how long, but I didn't care. Laying in her soft embrace I enjoyed for the first time this feeling of truly having a mother. Of course, Maria who took care of me was also something like a mother, but this feeling of deep connection never existed...
Honestly, I'm glad. To whoever is responsible for me traveling through dimensions, thank you...
I don't know how long I cried, but before I knew, I completely fell asleep and wake up in my bed in the morning, covered in tears.
When Saria enters the room, she is shocked and quickly comes to the side of the bed, asking what was wrong. When I tell her that I had a wonderful dream where I could see my mother, she just makes a thinking posture for a while and then dropped the matter. She just gently smiles and pats my head, but unlike Uncle Black she doesn't have the skill, but I can feel her good intentions.
When I then try to stand up, she picks up new and fresh clothes for me to wear. Unlike the hoodie and pants I got from Uncle Black, those clothes look more like those the People here wear. The shirt has short sleeves and is equipped with buttons on the collar, helping in removing and wearing the shirt. The pants were simple black pants with a button around the waist. Sadly it doesn't have a zipper, but instead two more buttons.
After wearing the two of them, Saria placed a Jacket in front of me. The Jacket is black in color and has a red Dragon embroidering on the back, signaling the status of the wearer. Then there were the shoes. They were short boots made of leather and equipped with soft fur on the inside to make them more comfortable. After I finished clothing myself, I am brought down stairs for breakfast.
Breakfast was Unique, as this time is wasn't Uncle Black who cooked but this mansions chef. The food itself was great but by far more extravagant than Uncle Blacks cooking.
After Breakfast, I and Uncle Black had our first training-session in our new home, even Cyan and the Lighning-Wyrm joined in. First was a long run, then we played a new game...
While Cyan used his earth-magic to create various targets and Uncle Black utilized air to make them float, me and the Lightning-Wyrm tried to shoot them with Lightning. Actually, using Lightning for precise aiming is extremely hard, making it even harder to train. Afterwards me and Uncle Black trained using the staff, while Cyan did some more physical exercise to get accustomed to his new body.
Peng, Crash, Peng...!!!
As me and Uncle Black kept attacking and parrying each other, the staffs begin to creak under the pressure. After a few more blows, mine doesn't hold on anymore and snaps in half. Once more, I lost. Actually, even if I'm down, Uncle Black is so much older than me, why am I trying to be already on his level.
The Morning passes quickly, and after Lunch, where I nearly start laughing because of the chef's appearance, we go to town. With me are Cyan and the butler. Because Uncle Black has things to do and the Lightning-Wyrm doesn't want to show herself in public much, I am only with these two next to me.
The Butlers name is Elrion and he is a Wind-Dragon kin. He has light-green hair with green horns and tail. His build reminds me more of a Body-builder, but he seems to be a kind person. As he is already a True-Adult Dragon, he is capable of transforming into a Human Form.
When I ask him about the system behind Dragon Titles and ages, he responded while walking. Sadly, it seems he loves details, often diverting from the actual topic, but after a while I believe I understood. It should work kind of like this.
0000 - 0030 years: Hatchling (Human Terms: 0-08 years)
0030 - 0300 years: Youngling ( Human Terms: 08-20 years)
0300 - 1000 years: Teen-Dragon (Human Terms: 20-25 years)
1500 - 3000 years: Adult Dragon (Human Terms: 25-30 years)
3000 - 5000 years: True-Adult Dragon (Human Terms: 30-40)
Dragons keep looking like their in their twenties when they gain a Human form, but that is only until they reach the age of 5000 years old. The day they reach that age, there are two possibilities: Either the Dragon stays “normal” and becomes and Elder Dragon, or he evolves and becomes an Ancient Dragon, just like Uncle Black. The reason they are rare is that most Dragons die in their teens because of their instinctive recklessness, and even if they manage to reach 5000 years of age, becoming an Ancient Dragons requires circumstance to be in your favor, resulting in high chance of failure in evolution. Uncle Black seems to have been successful because he practically lived on top of a dragon-vain, making him stronger by default.
Also, there seems to be another such stage even higher at 10000 years of age, but before I could ask, we already arrived in front of the city's main entrance.
As we walk along the road, there seem to be many eyes focusing on me and Cyan. When I asked Elrion for the reason, he said that it's because Cyan has a fully Human form while having the Aura of a young Dragon, while I, even though I only show three tails, have silver hair and fur, marking me as royalty. Honestly, I feel uncomfortable being stared at like this, but I guess I will get used to it over time.
After escaping the crowd, we first enter the tailor shop in the closest district. The pair of husband and wife who lead the shop greeted us happily and explained what they did and could produce. They also wanted us to stay for tea, but we declined as there was more to be seen in this city. After waving them goodbye, we visit many other shops and important places such as the Blacksmith, the Enchanter, the Library, the School and the Arena, as well as many more. We even stopped by a small food-cart who sold small snacks such as coated berries and grilled meat on a stick.
The Afternoon past and we finally arrived back at the mansion, where Uncle Black is already waiting for me. After a welcoming hug, all of us enter the Mansions Dining-Hall to eat and enjoy the evening. After we talked for a while and played a round of chess, I sneaked out of the room and am now on the field behind the house, watching the stars.
Taking deep breaths while breathing out Mana and inhaling MP, I let the Mana course through my body before I lay down and make myself comfortable.
As I lay in the grass, I try to remember what all occurred since I arrived. The rebirth inside Lumi's crystal, my first fight against the crimson-wolf, my encounter with uncle Black as well as me going berserk when this woman attacked. Oh yea, isn't the Crimson-Wolf mother living inside our mansion as well? I saw the pup walking along the corridors, but I haven't seen the mother yet. Well, I'll ask Uncle Black later.
As I am reminiscing about the past, suddenly a silver shadow passed me overhead, as though wandering on clouds. It is the Lightning-Wyrm, but what is she doing here?
She then landed in front of me with her long body, curling herself up until only the upper part with her head is still free. She then looked at me with her deep purple eyes and spoke in a slow manner:
“Young Master Arin, I have a request to you.” (Lightning-Wyrm)
Speaking slowly, she spoke about what she wanted from me and I have no reason to refuse. Also, I didn't notice it, but Uncle Black who saw us through the window nodded in a satisfied manner before returning to his drink...
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