CHAPTER 16
"Yes?" Veno asked, surprised at the order.
"Our lunch, we will eat it here," Hanan repeated with a slightly irritated tone making Veno realize how unprofessional he acted.
"Yes, I will bring it here," he said with still apparent confusion. Then he saw Zeno look at him with knowing eyes as if telling him to get used to it.
After his father left, Zeno approached Hirayon and scooched beside him.
"What are you reading?" He asked.
Hirayon excitedly showed him the cover, forgetting about Hanan's threatening tone earlier.
"It talks about the adventures of Laki, the first chief of the Water Clan," Hirayon said while showing the book's cover. Although it was a storybook designed for young readers, it was thick and full of information about the chief and the Water Clan.
"Oh, are you interested in the clan?" Zeno asked happily and glanced at the chief.
Hanan also looked surprised, as he didn't think Hirayon would read something about the territory.
"Yes. I want to learn more about the element," Hirayon answered honestly and continued reading the book.
At that moment, their lunch arrived, which Veno and other servants arranged on the table.
"Why did the Master want to eat here?" Head Chef Habana asked Veno. He was surprised that they would be eating lunch at the library. Even their chief rarely eats his food outside the dining room.
"The young master didn't want to eat and was busy reading, so the master ordered to bring the food here," Veno answered, still astounded at how Hanan handled the child's whim. He thought their young master would get scolded, knowing the chief's personality.
"Hirayon, if you want to read, then do it while eating," Hanan said with finality.
Hirayon looked up at him and, after a moment, stood up with the book still in his hand.
With that, the two ate silently. They didn't talk to each other, but the silence wasn't unpleasant and was instead comfortable. Hanan let Hirayon eat while reading, and before he left to go back to his work, he reminded Hirayon to always attend a meal.
"If you could promise me that, I will bring you to the sanctuary. If not, you will never have an Auveast," he said, to which Hirayon nodded. The child immediately understood that Hanan would let him have a pet if he behaved well.
Because of that, the library became their dining area for the following days. Hirayon rarely left the library and even slept there numerous times. Hanan was in the same situation because of his piled-up work and would usually just nap at his office.
With the unexpected change the young master brought, numerous rumors circulated in the mansion, eventually spreading in the city. People had heard about Hanan's doting nature and were initially skeptical until they had no choice but to believe it when they saw it with their own eyes when the two went out to buy clothes.
"You need some formal and casual clothes," Hanan said, walking toward a clothing boutique while holding Hirayon's hand. At their tail was Zeno and Hirayon's new butler, Amir. He was an old employee in the mansion that assisted Veno since he was young. He was about to be sent to manage the Auveasts' ground, but now that Hirayon had arrived, he was given the position of serving the young master.
When they got inside the boutique, the staff immediately assisted them.
"Formal and casual clothes for his size. Do you have training clothes?" Hanan asked.
"We have them, chief. We will bring out everything. Please wait for a moment," the boutique manager said, immediately motioning for the staff to arrange what Hanan wanted.
After a moment, the staff pushed rows and rows of clothes hovering under a long rod. Then they gave Hanan a tablet that he could use to control the hovering clothes to see them clearly.
When Hanan clicked on a gray three-piece suit, the rod with suits glowed and rearranged until the chosen suit was at the very front, allowing Hanan to see the actual garments.
"That looked good, and the next one as well. Hmm..." He was having difficulty choosing because he thought everything would look good for his son.
"I think everything will suit Hirayon," Hanan murmured. "I'll buy everything in those racks," he announced and pointed to all the racks with different styles of clothes. The boutique manager beamed a broad smile, happy that their sales would exceed their quota.
"Chief!" Zeno shouted in surprise.
"What?"
Zeno swallowed. "Hirayon is a growing child. I don't think he will be able to use all those clothes," he said while pointing to hundreds of shirts and pants.
"He can. Those aren't too many," Hanan reasoned, motioning the elated boutique manager to pack all the clothes.
"But Chief-"
"Enough, I can buy it, and I want to. Do you have anything else to say?" He said sternly, not allowing Zeno to refute.
Zeno stopped himself from sighing and shook his head. When Hanan saw that, he looked where Hirayon was and saw him looking at the shoes.
"I want those shoes as well," he added, which made Zeno's shoulders drop.
The poor secretary swallowed again as he saw the racks being emptied quickly. That was the first boutique they entered. If he didn't think of something, his chief would spend so much money on things Hirayon might not even be able to use.
Although he liked that Hanan was spoiling his son because he hadn't had the opportunity to do so for years. He can't tolerate actions that might make Hirayon become a spoiled brat.
Zeno said everything he could think of to reason with Hanan at the second boutique they entered, but nothing worked. He also considered asking Hirayon for help, but it didn't work as Hanan was hellbent on buying everything.
When they were about to leave the second shop, Zeno saw a man passing by with an Auveast on his shoulder.
"Chief, when are we going to get Hirayon a pet?" Zeno asked, trying to distract Hanan from buying more clothes.
When Hirayon heard his words, he looked at Zeno and eventually saw where Zeno was looking.
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The man who had an Auveast in his shoulder was still visible to the group, and there the child saw a small creature that had wings resembling a bird but had a tail of a fish. It also looked sharp with its small eyes and grumpy appearance but still cute with its shining smooth blue scales.
"What kind of Auveast is that?" Hirayon curiously asked his eyes following the creature.
"It's a type of flying fish. It lives in the water but can fly for a few seconds in the air. That is one of the most common Auveast in the territory," Zeno explained.
"Is it still a baby? What is it called?" Hirayon asked again.
"No, that is already an adult. And it doesn't have a name other than what the owner would give, of course."
"Why is that?"
Zeno lowered his body to match Hirayon's. "Because it is difficult to name every Auveast, especially since their evolutions and ability differ. It is easier to categorize them by type. That flying fish Auveast has wings similar to birds, right? But some would have large fins or nothing at all. That is why they can't be given exact names like animals," he explained.
"Does that mean they differ in size as well?"
"It depends on the type. Some types, such as sea mammals, could be small and large. What would you like for a pet? A small one or-"
"Big," Hirayon said, his bluish-violet eyes sparkling with so much want.
When Hanan saw that, he glanced at Zeno before deciding to finish their trip. He knew what Zeno did but didn't reprimand the man because he felt Hirayon didn't have fun buying clothes.
"Alright. Let go pick your Auveast," he said and held Hirayon's hand to return to the parking booth where their car was.
After the group returned to the mansion, they rode a different vehicle that could handle intense pressure. Unlike the car they used to reach the Water Clan territory, the vehicle they were riding didn't have spatial features and was relatively small, with limited space and seats. The car was also being driven by Amir instead of using Oddi because it couldn't navigate in emergencies.
"Let's go," Hanan said when everyone had settled on their seats.
Amir started the car, and the garage door opened slowly, letting the water fill the space. After a moment, Amir began to drive toward the hole that resembled an underwater waterfall.
Up close, it looked massive and more dangerous as the current was fast. There were also many bubbles, lessening their visibility and making navigating more challenging, especially for inexperienced drivers. As for their driver, Amir, he is already an expert in driving in the current because he is a regular visitor to the sanctuary. He can also use barriers as it is his second element, making their travel safer and ready for emergencies.
"We are already above the current, directly at the center. Please hold on to your seats and make sure the seatbelts are secured. We will now enter the current in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."
The moment Amir finished his words, the car plunged into the current, traveling at lightning speed. They were going so fast that Hirayon had difficulty breathing and felt his body pressed on the seat. He wanted to watch Amir drive but couldn't because the car was completely dark inside and outside. The only light he could see was a blurred green light from the radar, which Amir was using to check their position in the current.
"Time left, four more minutes!" Amir shouted for everyone to hear.
When Hirayon heard that, he closed his eyes and felt nauseous and lightheaded. Hanan noticed that, so he held Hirayon's hand and channeled some of his Aura to soothe the child. He did that for the remaining four minutes, so when the car finally stopped, Hirayon felt completely fine.
"Thank you, Dad."
Hanan nodded, "Are you dizzy?"
"I was, but not anymore. Are we there yet?" Hirayon answered and asked.
"We will have to travel more for a few minutes, but we are already outside the current," Hanan stated.
Their car moved in a single direction. Outside the car, it was completely dark without any hint of light. There wasn't any marine life as well, which made Hirayon wonder if all the animals were in the sanctuary.
Hirayon was watching outside when he suddenly saw something in front. It was a blinking light that slowly started to get more prominent the nearer they went. When their headlights finally reached the light, Hirayon saw an entrance to the cave below the blinking light. The opening was dark, but when they entered it, the cave became illuminated by soft light. The deeper they went, the brighter it became until the car went upwards and floated to the top. Amir drove to the shore, and when Hirayon saw the outside, he couldn't believe his eyes.
It's a paradise.
Inside the cave was a gigantic space enclosed by rocks. Light orbs were everywhere, giving enough light not to blind the species roaming around. There were also plants, trees, and smaller ponds all over the place. At the very corner at the back, there was a larger pond glowing brightly with light-blue light.
Hirayon's eyes were wandering in amazement when a group approached Hanan's group. Leading them was Lev, the head of the Marine Sanctuary, and behind him were oddities wearing training clothes with their names embroidered on their left chest. They all came from the cabins near the entrance where Hirayon's group was.
"We greet the chief of the Water Clan and Young Master Hirayon," Lev said and bowed, the oddities behind him following in unison.
"Rise," Hanan said. "How are the things I ordered?" he followed.
"They are all ready, chief. I'll lead the way," Lev said and walked in a direction. The group following him dispersed and returned to the things they were doing.
The group walked in the middle, and Hirayon observed the Auveasts. Almost all of them had the smooth and shiny skin of a fish, while some had scales. They also differ in appearance and size, but some similarities can be seen. But what fascinated Hirayon the most was those who were playing and using their abilities. They were controlling water, making different shapes in the air. Hirayon even saw one blasting water from its mouth and using it to push other Auveasts away. Then it would open its mouth in delight like it was laughing at the Auveasts who stumbled because of his attack.
"That one was quite playful," Lev said when he noticed where the group was looking. "Most of them were kids and were using this time to play while their parents were sleeping," he followed and pointed towards a direction where many larger Auveasts resting peacefully.
"They don't fight?" Hirayon curiously asked. Back in the forest, monsters always end up in a deadly fight when they see each other.
"It depends, young master. Auveasts are intelligent elemental beasts. They know when people and other creatures mean harm, and they rarely initiate a fight unless necessary. That is the case for most baby Auveasts and some adults. Most wild Auveasts still didn't like being approached and disturbed in their territory, so they usually attack and caused trouble. Our adults here are peaceful and accustomed to living with other creatures. They also appreciate being cared for by oddities," Lev explained with a smile. Taking care of the Auveasts can be challenging but fulfilling, especially when the Auveast opens their hearts to him.
When they reached a part enclosed by a low wooden fence, Lev stopped walking and opened the small gate, ushering everyone inside. "These here are the ones already trained to be raised as a pet," Lev said, pertaining to more than twenty Auveast roaming and playing inside.
"Look around and see if you could make a connection to one of them," Hanan said, slightly pushing Hirayon, urging him to go. He then looked at Amir, his eyes silently ordering him to protect his son.
Amir nodded and ushered Hirayon to the Auveasts.
Hirayon walked slowly with evident excitement in his eyes. He wanted to approach them quickly but didn't want to scare them all.
"Here, young master," Amir said and brought Hirayon to a resting group. The adorable Auveasts opened their eyes when they felt their presence and stared at the two with their shining eyes. When the Auveasts saw Amir, they let out cute sounds as if greeting the man they were familiar with.
Hirayon scanned the Auveasts, looking expectantly, but after a moment, he got disappointed as he didn't feel the connection he had read in the book. It was said that when a fated Auveast and oddity's eyes met, they knew they would be partners for life.
Hirayon didn't feel that toward any Auveast inside the fence. He roamed around, ensuring he had seen every Auveast, but no one made him feel like he was their friend. Although some Auveast approached him, he quickly got disinterested with them and returned to Hanan's side.
"What's wrong?" Hanan asked, a bit worried at the slumped look of his son.
"No one wants to be my friend," Hirayon said sadly.
Hanan looked at Lev with a brow raised. His eyes were asking why no Auveast wanted to be his son's pet.
"I-I think they like you, young master," Lev nervously said, not knowing how to handle the situation. He was almost sure earlier that Hirayon would choose one in the group because they all looked at Hirayon with bright eyes. But seems like their young master was looking for something else.
"They're just curious," Hirayon said, refuting Lev's words.
"Uhm, do you want to see other Auveasts outside? They aren't trained yet, but we will train the one you will pick," Lev suggested, leading the group outside the fence.
There, Hirayon roamed again with Amir in his tail. He was checking each Auveast, but he still didn't feel the connection he was expecting. He was already sulking in disappointment when his eyes landed on the entrance where they came from. There, he saw something floating around their vehicle. Normal eyes couldn't see it because of the distance, but as Hirayon had enhanced sight, he could clearly see a long but small creature swimming around the car. Without hesitation, he ran toward it, alarming Amir and the group.
"Young master!"
"Hirayon! Where are you going?"
R E H I L I Y A