He has high expectations for his so called 'family'. He didn't wish for a rich or genius family, he knew it's too much to ask for Rein's kids. At least let them be normal, decent, sane. Someone who August could talk to regularly and not suppressed him with a crazy amount of power. They can be ascender or another race, he didn't mind. As long as he is safe with them.
August gulped, while maintaining his calm state. Looking toward the big resident gave him a weird feeling, perhaps because it looks like a prison in Mha'rea, which made him feel uneasy. This building using every area at its fullest. But once he looked a bit closer, he saw colorful clothes being hanged around the place. There were also paintings on the wall. The biggest one was the portrait of Rein, in the background were the portrait of kids, assumed to be his kids. August counted; eleven kids were presence on that painting. There were six young kids and five teenagers. August couldn't remember each of them, barely any. He just admired it from afar, whoever painted that must be a talented artist.
He shifted his gaze along the wall, hundreds of doodles were drawn onto the wall around that breath-taking beautiful painting. Not so hard to guess, those kids must be the one who drawn that.
A corner of his mouth curled up a little. Rein pushed him from behind using his left hand. Slowly, they both walked inside.
The iron gate was pushed open. The electrical lantern on the top of the fence flickered. Rein for the first time, showed a hint of frustration, "I'll let Aida deal with you later."
Aida...is she one of your children?
They strolled across the plain field in the front, it was not big, doesn't take more than twenty seconds to cross. The first green plant he has seen since woke up in the snowy land. These grasses were fleshly green, looks like someone taking care of them, can't be Rein, for sure.
Just like the building, the front door was a double door made of metal. Frankly, it was very easy to open, its hinges were smooth.
Once inside, the first room they entered seems to be a living room straight away.
"Just make yourself comfortable, it's almost morning, others will wake up soon."
Just as he finished that sentence, he vanished into thin air. Left only him in the silent living room.
Don't leave me here!
The room was lit by a light bulb that making constant buzzing noise. Thinking about how big Rein family was, the living room isn't as big as he imagined. If all of them were put in this room, even that most of them are little kids, it must feel a little crowded. But as eerily as its look, the decorations are exceptionally well, the wallpaper is a beautiful drawing of the sea. The carpet is dark blue, representing sea and ocean.
A set of leather couches were placed tidy around the room. There's a small wooden table in the middle of the room.
There's a lot of book shelfs high up on the wall. A numerous number of books are placed messily in them, most of them were written in Slarve, a language commonly uses in western land. August has a deep interest in foreign books, he has studied Slarve for a very long time, for history professor, it was crucial.
August continued to observe his surroundings, a box of metal has a glass plate on it, it was a television, an older model. He quickly guessed the situation of Snow Grove, even with the high-end technology use to sustain life, the lifestyle of people here are rather outdated.
People here really living with this!? Hm...is Rein consider rich or poor?
He dropped on the leather seat, located in the corner of the room. Next to him is a hallway led to darkness.
A hot air came out of his mouth, tired. His gripped slowly loose, the born sword in his hand slipped out of his hand, it landed on the soft carpet without any movement. His eyelids closed as he let his mind drifted into the nothingness.
***
His body was sore, every limb lost its strength. An invisible flame burning his muscle as he tried to move his body. The light was still on.
Ah...I just slept...
He looked around, before realizing that there's no clock in this room. He couldn't look outside either, since it's always bright. But he knew that his ability allowed him to take the minimum bit of rest, so he guessed it must be just a couple hours. Due to that, he was already energized. He slid his gaze around the room, there's a figure sat in front of him.
Rein?
His blurry eyes adapted quickly to light, that blurry figure became clear. She is a teenage girl, couldn't be more than five years younger than August. She has white clean hair, tied in a bun behind her head. Her eyes were sharp, giving a menacing and wrathful look. She has a beautiful defined features and a pale white skin which contrast nicely to her black fur sweater. August couldn't believe his eyes, she's a Frotine!
Looking back at him with an ice-cold stare, the girl opened her mouth, "You know, even Joel never fell asleep in the house he's about to rob. And he's the dumbest person I ever know."
Huh?
August immediately knew what's going on, "No! I'm not robbing you."
The girl smiled; however, it was not pleasant, "No worry, you won't succeed, anyway."
Intimidated by the girl's smile, August pushed harder to explain, "I mean it! I'm not trying to rob you! Where's Rein!? Rein! Rein!!!"
Come help me you bastard!!!
The girl leaped across the floor. Her soft hand covered his mouth, she whispered, her soft breath gently touched his ear, "No need to yell."
His face blushed, trying hard to escape her domination. However, she's strong, even with all his might, August couldn't make her move.
The weight on his body slowly been lifted. The girl glided backward, sat on her previous spot. She still wearing a cold smile, "What's your purpose?"
August didn't prepare for any question at this moment, but one came up in his mind, "I'm... your brother."
The girl eyebrow twitched, he sensed a hot air coming out of her ears, "I see."
The corners of her mouth were fighting to maintain that smile, she glanced at the bone sword which lied down on the floor, "And that sword, where did you get it?"
"Rein gave it to me." He answered honestly.
Her face now twitching hard, she's like a gas ready to explode, "I see."
Crap... she's not gonna kill me, right?
Suddenly, she froze. Her smile disappeared alongside her anger. She stood up like a puppet, slowly walked toward August.
Yep...she's killing me.
Closer, she said, "I've noticed..."
Cold fingers gently touched August's hand, "...your body is strangely warm, tell me, why is that?"
For her to bend down and touched his hand, her face is now a little too close to August. His head spin, "It was not that cold..."
What a stupid reason!
She doesn't look convinced. Instead, she smirked, "We all know that's not true."
Fuck!
His gaze ran chaotically in the room, avoiding her eye contact. He bit his lips, should he tell her? If he will live under the same roof as her, or anyone else, he should at least come clean. They will most likely find out later anyway. If there was one thing, he values the most is it must be knowledge or his life. Aside from those two, it was relationship, not in a romantical way, but he prioritizes his relationship with his friend, family and lover at first, next is his relationship with Great Mother. To retain both he has to become someone better, in this case, someone trustworthy.
"I'm a... ascender."
The girl sighed; she sat beside him, using both of her hand to cover her frustration, "Never once, have I swing that sword."
I'm sorry?
The tensing atmosphere was filled with curiosity of August. Why would Rein give this sword to him instead of other children? Maybe it's because he was in a completely different situation. At that moment, his life could easily fade away like a snow in the summer day. If he never met Rein and receive this sword, will there be many differences? Even if he wishes to know, it just not possible to do so.
"Ugh...what the hell..." She slowly exhaled, letting every negative thought flew away, "...I'm Saina."
She offered her hand forward; it was a common courtesy in western land. He was relieved, he grabbed her hand firmly, "August."
After everything turned back to normal, Saina chuckled, "I'm sorry for that."
"No problem. I would be scared to if some stranger sleep on my couch."
"I'm not scare?" She teasingly replied.
But I am! I'm very, very, very scared.
To clear the awkwardness in the air, August asked, "How come did Rein adopted you?"
Saina pursed her lips, "Ehh... I dunno."
...
What?
"As far as I remember, I'm just here. Before that was nothing. Hmm...that's kinda weird, should I ask dad?"
He nodded, not because of his own curiousness, but the girl should know her origin, "Of course. By the way, where is that man?"
Saina snapped back to her sense, "Oh, he's at the head meeting. He's already ditch them twice; he couldn't do so again."
"The head meeting?"
She continued but she doesn't seem to know much, "Yeah, dad was one of the headmasters of Snow Grove."
He's what now..?
"How many are there?" Before he asked this question, his mind already made quite a terrifying theory already.
She didn't take much time to think, "Four."
Four. Juno, Morrowine, Friday and Rein, he couldn't guess wrong. It's too much of a coincidence! Rein was one of the criminal gang bosses!
She let out a soft chuckle, "Heh, dad doesn't like them that much. He said that they're just a bunch of toy-hungry child. He rather goes hunting than going to these time-wasting meeting."
To be able to make fun of such a figure, either made August feel safer or make him more stress. On one hand, Rein is one of the powerful people in Snow Grove, on the other hand, that power might lead August to his demise. How could he avoid those figures if he was tied to another one!
But when August think deeper, he remembered that Snow Grove's citizen was very friendly to Rein. Their faces never showed fear or anxiety. It was genuine love and respect. How come he never been hated by people? Is he just a good person who is in a terrible position? Or is he just that powerful to the point that he is the only sole protector of them? The only one who couldn't lose to a weak organization. It makes sense, if three crime gangs were the only three running this city, it would be in a ruin already. There must be someone who's powerful enough to put them in their place, and that person must be Rein.
After processing many probabilities in his head. He came to the realization that sticking with Rein might bring him more benefit than being alone. There was basically a powerful guardian watching over him.
"Hey! Wait!" A fainted voice rang in the darkness of the hallway.
"Just run, Reyna!" A boy voice answered from the same direction.
"But dad said don't run!" The girl argued back. "Dad said don't run!"
The two argued back and forth, August easily guessed who they could be.
Saina wore a smirk on her face, "Welcome to the family, blondie."