Chapter 4: Lock picking

A small boy with short pointed ears, long ash gray hair, and a thin body that seemed to contain no fat ran around a small house not caring for what trouble he may cause. That young boy was Fang, the small house he had lived in for the last five years contained many memories and new experiences including all the trouble he had caused by learning to talk at the age of one.

After that his mother considered him to be her precious genius child and would show him off to everyone she knew.

He had also understood that there was hardly any difference between male and female “dwarves”. Because he had never seen anything other than humans and modified animals in his past life having new races to interact with seemed interesting. Most of his time was spent with his mother who would spoil him as pointed out by the dwarves that he interacted with alongside his mother.

The reason he was spending time mindlessly looking around at the moment was that his mother left him at home today to take care of some business she had with an old friend whom she would be bringing over later. After waiting around a bit he decided to focus on one of his short term goals, breaking into his father’s study.

In the last four years he had not been able to learn much about the world and was fairly sheltered so every once in awhile he would attempt to break into his father’s study. The study wasn’t particularly well fortified but it was still something that had given him trouble with his current body, and to his dismay he was unable to sense mana.

For the last five years this had been his greatest problem as he could not feel at ease while not at his top condition. Regardless that was something he could give some thought to later for now his priority was entering the study.

Once in front of the large solid wooden doors that would hopefully lead him to some information about the outside world. The last time he tried to get in Fang used a chair in order to break the door down but not only did he fail he was also scolded by his mother so now he needed a more subtle approaching.

For that reason he began to think of either smashing only the lock or somehow pick it. Picking a lock wouldn’t be easy but the thief in his book had made a name for himself from this skill and Fang believed that he would be able to do the same with some practice.

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Luna walked down the road in a good mood, one of her long time friends were coming to visit her. As an elf her natural lifespan was around a thousand years so having friends from other races was sometimes hard depending on how long they lived.

But because of her personality Luna had ventured out into the world outside of the elf village and made plenty of friends, especially some who she considered as close as family. One particular group that she traveled with had formed a sort sisterhood with. Today one of those good sisters was visiting her, Liz a human.

Liz was generally busy as she had become a big shot in some kingdom's political system. After reaching a shabby looking in that seemed to be in the middle of rotting, Luna smiled thinking of how her friend was a penny pincher.

“LIZ GET OUT HERE!”

Many dwarves came out of their businesses and homes in the area wondering who would be causing a commotion in the morning. In response to Luna’s shout a gust of wind shot out of the door, before anyone had noticed swords clashed.

The gust of wind was revealed to be a mid sized well developed blond woman seemingly in her mid twenties wielding a black longsword.

“Your noisy as ever.”

Holding her own sword, a short sword forged by her husband, Luna smiled.

“And your as violent as ever, it ruins your good looks.”

Separating from each other the two old friends put away their swords.

“Ha! Your one to talk, back in the day everyone called you the berserk blood elf. So the last person I need to be lectured about my temper is you.”

Hearing about her past Luna felt a mixture of pride and shame. Her strength was always something she would take pride in but some of her deeds could only be explained as the folly of youth.

“That doesn’t matter now let's head to my house and you can see my cute little baby I'm sure he’ll steal your heart away the moment you see him.”

Liz gave her long time friend an odd look, Luna who was once known for her fierce and destructive nature all around the continent looked like a maiden in love.

“You really changed haven't you. Well anyway let's head to your house so I can point out how he just looks like a stocky dwarf with a mustache at the age of four.” Despite Liz’s obvious provocation Luna continued to smile while that walked.

“Well if you wish to go down the rout of the idiot parent then tell me about your boy and why he’s so great.” As if some sort of switch was flipped Luna began to speak excitedly.

“You see he was running before he could even crawl and began speaking at one. Then he was so cute dragging a chair around in order to smash a door down, you should have seen his little struggle as he tried to swing it.” Letting out a small sigh Luna almost looked sad for a moment.

“But because breaking down the house isn’t right I had to scold him and couldn’t praise him.” Liz on the other hand couldn’t help but feel shocked. She was not however shocked by the actions of the boy but the reactions of Luna.

The sad face that she had shown was something that Liz had only seen once and that was at the loss of near a hundred comrades in a fight against a great mana beast. It seemed having to scold her son was on the same level as the death of several tens of comrades. Letting out a deep sigh while looking at Luna Liz couldn’t help but comment.

“Now I know the level of your idiocy. But whatever that’s amusing in it’s own way, so does this great son of your’s have a fitting name?”

“Yes I was able to turn the name my husband gave him on the spot into something great. It’s Fang Fae.” Looking somewhat perplexed Liz stared at Luna.

“You didn’t give him your family name nor your husbands? If I remember correctly he’s a big shot here despite not being a noble and could in fact make your son a noble if he pressed for it.”

“No that’s not something I want besides Tal’s family name is just a formality he took the name of his father’s blacksmith shop as his family name to stop some whining dwarven nobles. And as for my family name I can’t because I married into Tal’s family according to elven tradition.”

During Luna’s little speech about the greatness of her son they hair arrived back at her home.

“Fang I'm home come greet your aunt.” Soon after light footsteps were heard coming from the second floor of the house. Liz upon seeing the boy was pleasantly surprised because he did in fact look adorable with large gray eyes, long ash gray hair reaching his waist and pointed ears only slightly longer than a human's.

“Oh so he doesn't look like your husband, but he is a bit small for his age don’t you think?” The boy kept running until he reached the two and welcomed them With a slight bow.

“Welcome back mother, welcome aunt.” Liz while slightly surprised at the politeness shown by the boy considering who his mother was smiled.

“Hello Fang my name is Liz Wensworth the director of a magic academy in a human kingdom, you can just call me aunt Liz or Ms. Wensworth whatever your feel more comfortable with.”

“Okay aunt Liz, Mother I’m going to continue playing for a while.” As he said this Fang once more ran off to the second floor of the house.

“Hmm what could he be doing.” As soon as Luna said this Liz began to shan't a spell and was raped in layers of wind.

“Let's check it out then we might see something interesting considering how mischievous you made him out to be.” As both of them made their way up the stairs Luna couldn’t help but wonder what her little boy could possibly be doing to move away from her side.

Fang on the other hand had not noticed the two who were watching him and once more picked up a fork and continued his feeble attempts to pick the lock. Liz seeing hm couldn’t help but burst out in laughter.

“Fang what are you doing?” Fang’s response however made her laugh all the more.

“Picking the lock.” After a short fit of laughter Liz calmed down and began to look towards Luna.

“And we're did you learn such a thing? Oh and I guess the reason for you doing that is important too.”

“I learned it from a story about a thief and I want to read books so I was trying to go into father’s study.” Hearing the discussion between her friend and son, Luna was awe struck that her baby boy would be able to do something he had only heard in a story.

“Before making that face you should explain to him what he did and teach him more things, he seems fairly intelligent just lacks wisdom and some sense.” being brought out from her delusions Luna once more donned the role of a strict mother.

“Fang Fae breaking into places is wrong and something you should not do. As for gaining more knowledge I shall personally begin educating you in the ways of the world, I hoped to start when you were ten but the impatient blood of the dwarves must be at fault here. Well regardless you still need to be punished for doing wrong… Then for the next ten days stay in your room.” Hearing his mother speak Fang easily accepted his punishment and walked off to his room.

“So Luna, how often does that kid get out and play with others his age? Because when he said that he was planning to go play he went strait to pick the lock and I don’t think he was lying or trying to misdirect us in any way.” Luna looked off to the side ignoring Liz’s question.

“... You, oh you troubled mother, he has no friends and you’ve been trying to keep him for yourself.”

“He’s not old enough to be outside he can start going out when he’s twenty and it will be with me around to supervise him.” Seeing her friend who seemed dead serious about her horrid statement Liz could only sigh.

“He needs to get out and for that reason tomorrow we’re taking him out to play with other children his age, you can supervise him from afar and intervene if he gets hurt for whatever reason but that’s it… And before you say no think about the reason that you left your home to explore.”

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Sitting in his room Fang thought about what his mother had said about it being wrong to break into places. His book about the thief had said something similar but at the time he didn’t understand what right or wrong really was, even now it seemed like an elusive concept.

“Well the thief said that it’s only wrong to get caught because in the end everyone has their own thoughts on the subject. And the worst thing anyone can do is take one of my belongings, that said I don't have much and will need to learn how to be a great thief soon.” Thinking further, if his mother was going to teach him about the world he could also take from her standards.

“The only thing left is to find out about mana if I can’t use it fighting will be difficult and I'll have to switch to long range weapons but I’m not particularly good with bows or guns.” While sitting and powering what to do to increase his battle strength Fang heard his mother shout.

“Fang tomorrow we’re going out so we will suspend your punishment tomorrow temporarily when it’s time to leave.”

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That day Luna and Liz spent the night drinking, with Liz comforting her friend who was depressed at having to punish her little boy.

(Author's note number 2: so I'm gonna give him some type of companion in this next chapter have him do some things and then see how I continue I after and I'm still not sure if it sould be a temp companion or really important plot development type. I have a good idea for the plot development type but how he meets he/she/it is keeping me from going forward with that. the main problem is that a random meeting with he/she/it and becoming friends for no real reason is kinda questionable to me for the future so yea. Also I just realized that my note is more of a my thoughts while getting ready to post this. Last chapter was kinda short of 2000 words which is what I usually go for so the next one I'm gonna go for 2500 to even it out this one is something like 2100. Anyway thanks and if there is a good sujestion for the companion in the next two days I would apriciated it. Thank you!!!). :)