The foods were placed on the table, various meats, vegetables and fruits were served alongside some brown bread. This eventually made August question Rein's wealth again. From the look of overall Snow Grove, normal citizen shouldn't be able to provide this kind of meal, especially this amount. The meats were suspect to be pork, it's a bit burnt from the outside, but acceptable. This meal is too heavy to be a breakfast, is he sleep for a whole day?
No, if so, someone could have found me before Saina, and they couldn't be this confused.
He realized that this is how breakfasts were served in this household. This showed the inequality of Snow Grove at its peak, but he won't complain since it greatly benefits him.
Beside August, a warm looking young man sat there; while having a relatively big body, he has no deadly aura. Many gazes danced around the room, they asked to themself, 'Who is he?'
Saina, Rajan and Reyna were those who unfazed by his presence. The twin both smiled from ear to ear, loudly tell everyone else that they've know him before. Saina didn't make eye contact with him, instead, she quietly talked with the girl next to her.
The seat was quite random, both sides got kids and teenage. The table were quiet. He's not sure if this is normal or not, before he makes anything more awkward, he wanted to introduce himself. Just a small number of kids couldn't make him worried, actually, he has been in much worse spot, it was when he taught his first class, that day was a disaster.
He gathered his words, stood up firmly to show all of his confident, "Good-hello everyone. I'm August. From now on I will be your new brother."
What with that!? Why am I sound like a talking corpse...sigh...should have phrased it better.
He thinks that it was too formal, it was like the first time he entered his class, but in this case, that came out much worse. The younger kids immediately accept him as their brother. They attacked him with questions which he couldn't answer any. While the older kids, except Saina, didn't pursued by his words. They are wearing a curious look as they staring at him. Saina and the girl she talking to are sitting on the other side, one chair away from him.
Saina gave him a wink, but it was not a pleasureful wink, instead, it made August clenched his fist. She just decided not to help him deem the position of this house.
August was still standing when the girl beside Saina opened her mouth, she has the soothing angelic voice that could put August into sleep if she isn't careful. The sweet melodic came out, as she awkwardly raised her hand, "Excuse me, eh...I'm Aida. Are you really adopted by Rein?"
Straight to the point, no evasive. He didn't have any better answer than, "Yes."
August observed her for a bit. Aida has a deep black hair, cut short. She has a soft feature and with the help of her petite body, make she look youngest out of all the teenage. She dresses in a brown leather jacket that weirdly thick, looks like she's wearing more than one layer of clothes. Overall, she was quite attractive.
Aside from her attractiveness, it also gave her a smart and calm look. She quietly nodded but August knew that she didn't buy it yet.
To a certain level of confident, he thought that coming here with the twin would help him convince them, but it didn't help much. Saina giggled to herself, watching this made her amused.
Stop laughing and help me first! ...Evil bastard...
Aida didn't ask further, she had decided to observe the conversation in silent.
The boy next to him look at August suspiciously. While look the most comfortable out of all, he certainly will beat August up if it's needed. The guy was big, while not in height, he's more muscular than him. The guy has very short black hair, he was quite charming to Mha'rea standard, sharp jawline, low face fat and very defined feature. While looking aesthetically intimidated, he has the most chill aura out of all. He's a typical nice guy of this family, that's for sure. He's also the least dressed one also, wearing only a simple shirt. August lost sense of temperature since he activated his ability, but he still quite sure that in Snow Grove, the weather is still considered, cold.
Is he trying to train himself against the cold or something?
The guy has a very low voice, once he opened his mouth, "How do we know?"
Reyna claimed, "It's true!"
Rajan looked at this sister, both exchanged looks, and he joined to the conversation, "It's true, ask big sister Saina!"
All gaze immediately turned to Saina, she said with a teasing smile, "Oh yes, yes I know."
Saina just put August on the right spot again, he could explode any moment.
Suddenly another voice decided to join the conversation, this time, it came from the very front of the table, furthest to August. There, two teenage sitting across each other, a boy and a girl. The voice was certainly the boy. He just barely defined as teenage, he looks as young as Aida, but he is actually young. Just from his annoyed and teasing tone, August knew that this boy just passed his puberty age.
His voice was already cracked, he asked, "Yeah? And how can you know?"
Saina didn't bother to answer but seeing that the one other expecting answer for was her, not August, she immediately replied, "He has dad's sword with him, show it, blondie."
Crap...I forgot it back in the living room.
August blinked, Saina saw his face and sighed, palming her face, "Oh god, you forgot!? How could you forget dad sword!?"
He always forgets something now and then, but he didn't think it would be in this crucial moment. How stupid of him to forget such an important matter!
Luckily, the twin helped him out of the situation, they both claimed in unison, "It's true, I saw it! It lied down on the floor!"
No need for a detail!
The girl in the opposite of the boy stood up, she has the gentlest face of all. While not the prettiest one, she certainly good looking, also the most mature on of all. From his observations, she must be the biggest sister of this family, "I'm sorry for my brother, right there. He's Tine, I'm Taya. It's really nice to meet you."
Even how she talks seems to be the most collected and mature out of all. Her body languages also suggest that she have been raise very well since the young age. Most of her feature are the copy of her brother, or otherwise. However, she's a much more feminine version. She continued, her voice was gentle but loud and clear, she's reminded me of his mom, "Did dad said anything? Anyone?"
That's a great point, has Rein talked about him while he's asleep? Clicked, August knew who he had talked to. The one and only, the demon in disguise, Saina. She claimed that Rein went to head meeting, she claimed that Rein told her, so he must tell her about August arrival also. That's why she had spectated him in the first place. After completed his theory, August didn't say anything just yet, he waits for the suspect to confess it herself.
Finally, Saina sighed, "He did tell me."
I knew it!!
As he expected, Saina eventually confessed. This act reduced his hatred of her to the lowest rate possible. He has seen some good side of her, apart from constantly prank on other and pulling the most fist-magnet faces possible, she actually has a good side. After she confirm August claimed as their brother, the rest finally relaxed. It must be a lot easier if Rein was here or if Saina didn't lie until the last minute. But it all worked out.
The boy beside him introduced himself, "I'm Clarke"
August sat back down, "Nice to meet all of you."
After the room was more relax and easy, the kids began to introduce themself. There's Rajan and Reyna, the twin. Then there's Will, Nicole, Vallary and Meddie. All of them are yet to turn ten, oldest is Vallary who's currently eight.
August greeted them with a gentle smile, creating a very comfortable feeling from him for each of them. The table was very active once they accept August as their brother, but not yet to know about his duty for them. But he decided to not yet to tell anyone, this time, let's Rein do it.
The conversation was mainly about August, he mainly answered only from the kids since most of the question are not too personal and were very childish.
"What's your favorite color!?"
"What's about animal!?"
From the teenage group, there were mainly about August's past and his personal goal those type of deep question that he cannot answer.
The moment flowing great, time passed by quickly. The food was not yet to be touch. Until Taya clapped her hand, and everyone fell in silence. She declared, "Since dad won't be back soon, I will let you guys eat now, but first, we need to pray."
All of them nodded in unison, except August.
Taya turned to him, "It's a tradition of us. Dad, believe in the Great Wolf, she's kind of a snow goddess, survival, hunger and all sorts."
Why are you praying to her then? She doesn't sound like a decent goddess at all.
She asked, "Are you believe in her, August."
He shook his head. His faith lies upon Great Mother, one and only.
She smiled, "Then don't, just pray to whoever you believe in. Just pray together."
He nodded, holding both of his hands at his chest. While the rest covered their mouth with both of their hands. They chanted together in muffled voice, "Thanks for your grace, Snow lady. We're bound to your land, we are bond to your love, we thank you for protecting us from your wraith. We are loved. We are protected."
August finished his pray in his mind, but he mostly paid attention to Great Wolf's prayer.
Protecting us from your wraith...don't you guys find that weird?
Apparently, they do not, after the pray, they began to consume those food at the astonishing rate. August's portion of food was supposed to be for Rein but since he wasn't here it was his, even luckier, Rein's portion was a lot more than anybody else.
Then, just about ten minutes later, they were all full, stuffed. The kids left the table to play, while the remaining older still gather at the table.
Taya looked at them, "Alright, I will clean this up. You guys go do...something."
Saina was the first to dashed out of the table, just like how he guessed. Tine was next, he didn't say anything but left.
But August, Clarke and Aida were yet to left. August suggested, "I'll help!"
Taya was puzzled, it looks like she never receives any help before, there's an obvious joy on her face, "Okay."
Before they both got up from the table, August turned to Aida, "Oh, Aida. Rein said that you can fix the front lantern, right? You might wanna take a look."
She nodded lightly, "Okay."
After seeing everybody else occupied, Clarke didn't know what to do so he suggested, "I will go get the sword for you!"
Clarke was genuine nice guy, August noticed that on the table. He wants to help, and August was very grateful for that.
August smiled, "Thanks."
Then, both of them departed. Disappeared into the hallway. Taya began to collect the plates from the table with August's help. They both end up in the kitchen, looking at the large pile of plates in the metallic sink.
She sighed, "We have a lot of work to do."