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“Human! I’ll be going to Goldie Gramps now!”
“Go then,” Cale waved Raon off with a yawn, it was much too early to deal with the young dragon’s energy. Eruhaben had promised to teach him about mana and the other children were off to watch the wolves with their training so Cale had been looking forward to the peace and quiet. If only Raon would hurry up and leave so he could return to the comfort of the first nap of the day.
“Hmmm, I don’t like leaving you alone human,” Raon looked gravely serious, “what if something happens?”
“Then I’ll get someone to help me,” Cale resisted the urge to roll his eyes, “go on then.”
“But you can’t use the communication orb on your own?—oh! I’ll do that then!” Raon’s black mana suddenly blossomed around the small dragon and flowed into Cale.
Since the shield didn’t activate it should be…safe? Cale looked at Raon skeptically as his ears popped, It’s not like this kid’s going to suddenly kill me after all this time, he sighed.
“What?! Why would you say that!” Raon looked affronted but recovered quickly even as Cale was wondering what he was complaining about this time, “Anyways! You just have to call to me,” he pointed his stubby claws at his own head, “if you’re in trouble, okay?”
Cale looked at the dragon and before looking out one of the many terraced windows on the fifth floor of the villa, Raon and Eruhaben were going to train a few hundred feet away from the villa, how exactly was he going to get into trouble?
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“Good! I’ll be back later, human!” Raon called out as he teleported out of the room.
Cale sighed again, Couldn’t you have just flown there? This dragon, but it made him smile a bit too, maybe Raon was also a slacker at heart.
With the kids gone and the room quiet Cale was able to nap and laze around for a good couple of hours before people began to bothersomely care for him, the foremost being that scary old man.
Cale was going to ignore it but Ron had recently become quite particular about his meals,
“Young master Cale, I have brought you an afternoon snack, if you’re awake it’d be best for you to have something to eat,” when Cale looked up he saw Ron’s benign smile which gave him the chills. Any chance of ignoring him and continuing to nap was gone.
“Good, good, young master Cale, it isn’t healthy to skip meals,” Ron goaded Cale out of bed.
But when Cale saw the tray he really thought Ron was messing with him, Healthy? It was a rather large tray of cookies and cakes, small sweets and fluffy muffins. In the center was a ridiculously large pot of tea and a single cup. It would absolutely taste of lemons.
As much as he’d rather go back to bed, he felt Ron’s presence suddenly behind his back and sat down at the small table with an internalized huff. He filled a small plate while occasionally glancing to see when Ron would leave, but it seemed Ron was going to watch over him as he ate.
Scary old man, Cale thought as he tried the cookies, which were quite good actually.
When Cale looked back up at Ron he saw the old man’s eyes were shaking and he was looking at Cale in surprise?
“What?” Cale asked.
“Oh, what?” Ron chuckled, “I see…it’s nothing, young master. Don’t mind this Ron.”
If I don’t mind you I’d end up stabbed in the back one day, wouldn’t I? Cale paced himself through the sickly sweet spread for as long as he could before he reluctantly glanced at the teapot.
Before he could ask, Ron was pouring a cup for him, “Your tea, young master Cale.”
My damnable lemon tea, Cale grimaced as he sipped at the sourness.
Ron was smiling, as usual, when he asked, “How is the taste? Should I bring you something else?”
“It tastes fine,” Cale avoided Ron’s eyes and continued to get through a final slice of cake that was buried in glazed berries and cream—a true grand finale, Though I question why you’d serve something so sour with a plate full of sweets just to annoy me.
“I see, perhaps next time I will need to serve a black tea when the snacks are this sweet.”
“Hmm?” Cale looked up, but Ron was seriously contemplating something.
“And how was the taste? Beacrox was rather confident.”
“It was good,” Cale leaned back in his seat as Ron moved to take the tray away.
But Ron hesitated as he leaned over and looked at Cale with obvious eagerness.
As if anything Beacrox makes isn’t the absolute best, is there a need to confirm it every time?”
Ron’s face suddenly beamed and the benign smile became truly intimidating. Covering his nervousness, Cale stood up suddenly and waved Ron off, “Please take it away and try not to interrupt me until dinner.”
“I will endeavor to do so, Young Master Cale,” Ron replied, but if Cale had looked at his expression he would have seen that the scary old man had no intention to do as he was told.
Ron shared his thoughts with his son, who didn’t say anything but was rather happy to hear that the young master had been so receptive towards his efforts. As the two silently went about their tasks on the first floor, Choi Han entered the villa and caught Ron’s eye.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Ron asked with a glare.
Choi Han didn’t bother to react to the challenge, “I have something to report to Cale-nim.”
“The young master has requested—” Ron thought for a moment, a smirk on his lips, “actually, it should be fine. Go right ahead.”
If the young master called Ron a “scary old man” it would be quite amusing to see that violent punk’s reaction to how his trusted Cale-nim secretly thought of him. Whether it was positive or negative it’d still be amusing to see.
Choi Han narrowed his eyes in suspicion at Ron’s words, but he really did need to speak with Cale so he went upstairs and knocked on the door,
“Cale-nim? It’s Choi Han. May I come in?”
Strangely, Choi Han heard a sigh in his head coupled with thoughts that weren’t his own, Can’t I be left alone for one day?
But before Choi Han could react to those thoughts, Cale’s voice echoed through the door, “Come in.”
Cale was curled up on a sofa near the large balcony windows, he had grabbed a book off a nearby shelf at random and was pretending that he had been relaxing while reading in order to hide the fact that he had been slacking off while he had sent all his subordinates off to work.
This image would have been perfect if not for the fact that Cale’s thoughts were being spoken ‘aloud’ into Choi Han’s head,
I don’t know why I’m going to the trouble of pretending that I’m doing something other than sleeping all day but when I see that stupidly honest but violent guy and his expectations for me I can’t help but want to be seen in a positive light. This guy…if he can’t trust me then he may just slap me with his sword a bit…
Choi Han was shook by the words that filtered into his head as Cale glanced over to him as he entered.
“Cale-nim, I would never, ever hurt you,” Choi Han spoke solemnly as he approached the sofa, “and you should rest if you need to rest.”
This guy, why is he so upset all of a sudden? And why on earth is he talking about hurting me? How scary.
“Of course,” he answered vaguely, confused as to Choi Han’s behavior and rather alarmed at how the young man’s hands were shaking.
“I mean it!” Choi Han clenched his fists to keep them from shaking, “I would never—”
Hahhh…why is he clenching his fists? Does he want to hit someone?
Choi Han lowered his fists and purposefully unclenched them. He felt a chasm of misunderstandings had suddenly appeared between Cale and himself. He had realized that he was hearing Cale’s thoughts unfiltered and he felt sad knowing that his actions were being interpreted this way by Cale. Did he always think about him this way?
On his side, Cale was looking at Choi Han in confusion. The young man’s actions and words were a bit intimidating. He decided to change the subject,
“You had something to tell me?”
“Ah, yes…” Choi Han looked reluctant, “I was thinking about taking Locke and the other wolves deeper into the forest.”
Cale’s face didn’t react at all, but:
You’re going to continue training in there? Don’t you hate that place?
“If that’s what you want to do I won’t stop you,” he said.
It’s good if the wolves get stronger, but I worry about how a violent and innocent guy like you will quietly endure things you hate because you want to help.
Choi Han was pensive for a moment and then began to smile happily.
I really can’t tolerate that sort of pure expression. We’re really incompatible.
“Don’t worry Cale-nim, I wouldn’t have offered to take them if I wasn’t okay with it.”
“Well, don’t get into any trouble.”
“I won’t!” Choi Han had a bounce in his step as he bowed and exited the room.
Cale watched him leave and sighed dramatically before turning his back on the sunshine coming through the window and curling up for a nap on the sofa.
Cale really couldn’t catch any breaks today. Not long after Choi Han had left the two kittens, On and Hong, had crept into his room for whatever reason.
They didn’t say much and curled up with him on the sofa as he lazed about. Instead of poking and prodding him with comments and questions to get Cale to give up his slacker time they seemed to be watching and waiting for something or other.
The two had come inside to find something to eat and see if there was any work to be done since they had gotten bored of watching Raon and Eruhaben talking about mana or whatever. They had eavesdropped on Ron and Choi Han as they quietly argued. Ron had noticed, of course, and given them a knowing smile.
Something about “Cale’s inner thoughts” had immediately grabbed their attention and, after On warned Hong to be quiet and listen, they went to Cale’s room to see what was going on.
Is in normal for them to still be so small?
Are they eating enough? I’ll have to ask Ron to put as much efforts into their meals as he bothers me with mine.
I hope Ron and Beacrox aren’t teaching them anything weird…
After the kittens had their fill the rumors had begun to pass through the whole of Cale’s menagerie with some exaggeration.
Cale, after realizing that his day of nothing was doomed, decided to go for a walk. On his way out Hans was waiting at the door with a jacket which he shrugged on without a word while ignoring Hans’ praises.
“Am I doing a good job as your butler, young master?”
Of course,
“Have you heard me complain?”
It was around this time that Cale thought that the people around him were being quite odd. Asking him obvious questions and reacting late every time he answered. Earlier, Choi Han had even looked like he might cry but then he was all smiles.
He noticed that Eruhaben and Raon were in the garden, Rosalyn was also nearby, doing her best to absorb the wealth of information she could glean from the complicated mana theories the two dragons were gabbing about. It was all mostly gibberish to Cale.
Rosalyn noticed him first and held a finger to her lips in warning before dragging him a bit away where they wouldn’t interrupt the lesson, “Excuse me, young master Cale, it seems Raon-nim is in good form and I’d rather we not interrupt.”
“It’s fine,” I wasn’t looking to grab Raon’s attention anyways.
Rosalyn’s eyes widened at his reply, which was another oddity to Cale’s day, but then she gave a very uncharacteristic smirk, “Oh, did you have some interest in mana theory then?”
“No?”
I’d happily be sleeping if people could bother to leave me alone for a few hours.
“Ah, that’s right, your goal is a slacker life,” Rosalyn was trying to hide her smirk for some reason, her lips were twitching as she spoke which only raised Cale’s curiosity.
“Of course, three meals a day and nothing to worry about is the kind of life you can only have with a lot of money,” Cale decided to ignore the nagging disquiet he was feeling and answered honestly, though no one would take this declaration seriously.
“You go to an awful lot of trouble for a person who wishes to do nothing.”
“It’s not like I want to,”
I can’t live as a slacker until all these problems are solved and my people are safe, Cale turned his gaze from Rosalyn’s suspicious expressions and watched Raon’s excited movements from across the garden.
“Mmm,” Rosalyn agreed.
Surprised, Cale glanced back and saw that Rosalyn’s barely contained smirk had blossomed into a honest and kind smile, which gave him the chills.
“By the way, I can’t help but thank you again for all those mana crystals, I know how difficult it must have been to acquire them all.”
Which is why its so great that I got them all for free, Cale thought fondly of the stash of crystals he’d found in Jungle 1, besides, you’re the perfect person to get the most out of them, and I can trust you to use them well.
“I’ll have to find a way for you to pay me back someday,” Cale answered vaguely.
“I suppose it can’t be helped then,” Rosalyn said with a chuckle before bowing her head, “it seems the lesson is ending, I’ll be on my way then young master Cale.”
Cale nodded and turned away from her intimidating aura of kindness and decided to chat a bit with the dragons since they had finished up.
Eruhaben noticed Cale and Rosalyn then, he was drawn towards the latter as she made strange movements while pointing at Cale and then turned on her heel and dashed off quickly.
Before the ancient dragon could ask Cale what that was about, the black dragon had launched himself at Cale, flying above his head as he rambled about things that the young master would be utterly incapable of processing—especially at that speed.
“Why are you bothering to say that much, little kid, this guy doesn’t have any mana,” Eruhaben tried to chastise Raon even though he knew it was pointless in the face of Raon’s stubbornness, “instead you should try to put what we talked about to practice…”
Eruhaben’s words faded away as he noticed a strange bit of mana swirling within Cale. Before he could say anything though, he noticed a voice dripping with sarcasm that intruded upon his own thoughts,
I don’t mind hearing about it if it’s interesting though?
“Hmm?”
“Is there something else, Eruhaben-nim?”
“No, uh…” Eruhaben figured it out then and was immediately fascinated. He glanced at Raon with obvious interest, but he’d put that discussion aside for now, “Cale, I was just thinking, what is your relationship with the little kid?”
“With Raon?” I’m his guardian obviously, at this point the only person who would argue with that fact is Raon, he frowned, “Can’t you figure that out on your own?” Raon obviously has some issues about the wording but who wouldn’t call us family?
“Ha! Then, how are you going to manage your slacker life?”
“What do you mean?” Cale asked and thought at the same time.
“Let’s say we wrap everything up nice and tidy, do you think a kiddy dragon will be happy living as a slacker?”
Cale stole a glance at Raon, who was watching the two in rapt attention, “Raon knows about my goals.”
What are you implying?
“The most troublesome age for a young dragon is the first few hundred years,” Eruhaben’s expression was full of mockery, “an unavoidable urge to explore and experience the whole world, to find adventure and challenge—”
As Eruhaben spoke Cale’s expression became more and more desolate. He noticed that Raon was anticipating a positive reaction, but Cale couldn’t even bring himself to fake it.
“—being dragged around through all that couldn’t really be called a slacker’s life, could it?”
Please stop, Cale inwardly begged while replying for Raon, “Nothing is definite.”
“Well, you know, I’ve said this before but the kid is a bit weird for a dragon, it wouldn’t be hard for you to send him off on his own for all that mess. He’ll wander back eventually when he’s had enough of it. It would certainly make your life a lot easier—”
As if I could do that. What if Raon runs wild and forgets all about me until I’ve been gone for years and years? I have to keep this dragon by my side,
“I can still be a slacker,”
because he’s useful,
“and travel the world at the same time.”
and I need to make sure he experiences more happy things.
“Besides, who says every dragon is like you?”
My Raon is much more well-behaved than a violent dragon like you.
“Hahaha!” Eruhaben watched Raon’s expression while laughing heartily. The small black dragon was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do with everything he was feeling. Eruhaben’s laughter was also aggravating so he decided to take the easy route out.
“Human!” Raon leaned into Cale’s chest so that the red head would hold onto him. Conscious of how weak his human was, Raon used mana to lessen his weight, a fact that Cale had never quite caught onto, “Our human is right that I am great and mighty and nothing like Goldie Gramps!”
“You were quite impressed with me a few moments ago,” Eruhaben teased.
“Goldie Gramps has some moments but usually you’re not all that special,” Raon challenged, but the old dragon just kept laughing, “I am mighty and great and very useful and I—” he gulped, “—I don’t need to travel the world or go anywhere.”
“Raon, you can travel the world,” Cale looked down at the warm dragon in his arms with a bit of concern, You shouldn’t ever hold back.
“I-I see…” Raon couldn’t bring himself to look Cale in the eyes, “…then maybe just a little—but! I will make sure our human is very comfortable! I will feed you and let you be a slacker, and we will take a lot of breaks!”
“I’ll leave it to you then,” So long as I don’t have to do anything.
Eruhaben had finally stopped laughing and instead was watching the two of them quite fondly. Eventually he ended the moment by calling out to Raon,
“Hey little kid, c’mere for a minute.”
Reluctantly, Raon left Cale’s arms and waved goodbye as he walked further into the garden with Eruhaben, “I will see you later, human!”
Cale waved back and sighed. He was quite certain now that something was weird today. Perhaps the people were planning some sort of event in secret and keeping it quiet. Unbidden, a memory of Choi Jung Soo trying to throw him a surprise birthday came to mind, but Cale Henituse’s birthday wasn’t even close this time of year. With some apprehension, Cale decided to finish walking the garden before going back to his bed. Maybe he could get a bit more sleep before people came to find him again…
After he watched Cale leave, Eruhaben interrogated Raon,
“Hey little kid, how did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“The spell that makes Cale’s thoughts audible to everyone.”
“Oh, that,” Raon felt a bit guilty, “I thought only I would be able to hear them.”
“Haaah…” Eruhaben sighed even though he found the entire situation incredibly entertaining, but it wasn’t a great spell to use on a person without warning, as the mentor it was important that he not encourage Raon to do morally questionable things to humans who don’t have the ability to resist, “and why would you make his thoughts audible anyways? That’s a bit…”
“I just wanted to make sure the human can call out for help if he gets into trouble!”
“He was only a hundred feet away though?”
“But!”
“Fine, fine, just promise me you won’t do that spell…often,” Eruhaben found himself unable to say ever again but did clarify: “and don’t cast it on people other than Cale.”
“Why?”
“In certain situations it might be good for you to use it on Cale, but—” he warned, “—only when I say it’s okay, and don’t tell Cale about it.”
“I don’t want to lie to the human,” Raon was suspicious now.
“I don’t know how you cast that spell,” Eruhaben admitted, “but I know enough to understand that it won’t work if he knows what it does. If we ever need to know what Cale is thinking then we won’t be able to use the spell if you tell him.”
“Why do we need to know what he’s thinking?” Raon pressed, though his tone was amiable.
“As if you don’t know! That unlucky bastard just loves to get himself into trouble while telling us he’s going to be careful and laze about!”
“That’s true!”
“So, I’ll tell you what, if you get suspicious that Cale is going to do something very dangerous, something that you know we wouldn’t like, you can use that spell a little bit. Other than that, you need my permission if you want to use it.”
“Why do I need your permission, Goldie?”
“Because I’m older and know when it’s right and wrong,” Eruhaben’s words were confident but he very deftly avoided Raon’s eyes.
After awhile Raon consented, “Ok.”
“Good, then tell me little kid, how did you cast that spell?”
“Hmm?”
“Yes?”
Raon though very seriously. Because he was still only five years old it was difficult to put into words how he cast some of his spells. Dragons simply understood mana, Raon knew exactly how to do some things with mana because, to him, it was as natural as breathing. This morning he had cast that spell on Cale because he wanted to hear Cale’s thoughts in case his human was in danger, and so he had intuitively done so, but…
“I don’t know?”
Eruhaben sighed, “Then, can you remove it?”
“No?”
“What?!”
Raon jumped a bit, “It will go away on its own!” He wailed, unused to Eruhaben’s critical glare.
“Haaaaahh…” Eruhaben calmed down immediately, although the situation was funny, it wasn’t right to leave Cale like that and he had no idea how Raon had cast such a spell, “that’s fine then, you’re sure?”
“Yes! I added extra mana to the spell to power it, when it runs out the spell will go away!” Raon had already forgotten that Eruhaben had been upset with him a moment before and was speaking boastfully.
“Alright, when do you think it will end?”
“Soon,” Raon smiled confidently, “I wanted it to last until we were done practicing, Goldie Gramps, so around sunset?”
“Good, good. Remember now, don’t tell him about the spell.”
Raon nodded.
Who knows what that guy would do with a spell that let him read people’s minds, Eruhaben thought with a shudder as he looked towards the balcony to Cale’s room.
“Ah, young master Cale,” Ron greeted him as he returned to the house, “already finished with your walk?”
Cale nodded, And I’ve already given up on being a slacker today…
“Should I bring you something to drink before dinner?”
Cale didn’t bother replying and started walking away,
At least add some honey…
“I suppose, just this once…” Ron spoke softly so only he could hear, a smirk threatening to overwhelm his business smile as his young master trudged upstairs in obvious exasperation. If Cale had wanted to become a slacker, he should have never drawn this rambunctious crowd to his side. As it was, there was no way they could leave such an interesting young master alone…