Chapter 27

Ariel and Jade sat across from Conner in the kitchen, her head down as she stared at the table.

"Now, do either of you care to explain why he's wearing my shoes? And yes, I know those are the same ones, so don't try to lie about it." Conner tapped his fingers on the table.

Jade sighed, debating on how to explain, and how much to reveal. He could easily stay outside in the wild while Conner was around, but that didn't solve the main problem.

"Well? The truth, please."

How can I tell him the truth when I hardly believe it myself?

Jade held her hand under the table and she looked into his determined eyes.

Oh no. He's ready to tell the truth. If he does that, he'll probably be kicked out.

"It's okay." Jade let go of her hand, rounded the table, and bowed to Conner, his head on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Conner asked. "Don't bow to me. Did you do something wrong?"

"I've been staying here. And yes, I have been wearing your shoes because I didn't have any to wear in this setting."

"Here? As in our house? You've been living here?" Conner's eyes widened. "That's even more crazy than I thought. What were you two thinking?!"

"She let me stay here because I had nowhere else to go."

"Did you fight with your parents or something? Orphan?"

"How much of the truth do you want?"

"All of it."

"Even if it seems unbelievable?"

"You'd be surprised of the tales I've heard based on things that happened to people. Hit me with whatever you've got."

Jade sat up on his feet, closed his eyes, and his ears glowed, returning to their usual pointed end.

Oh gosh. He actually went that far.

"What... just happened?" Conner stared at Jade's ears, wide-eyed. "Is this some sort of magic trick?" He lightly pulled on Jade's ear. "That's not a prosthetic?"

"No, these are my real ears. I am not human; I am an elf who was teleported here by a witch during a war. I landed in your backyard, and Ariel offered her study room for me to stay in."

"Her study room..." Conner stared at him for a moment, unblinking. "What the hell?! Did you say her study room? I didn't mishear you, right? Like the room above hers? There's no lock on that door... stairs... Doesn't that mean you can go into her room whenever you want?"

"I haven't done anything to her. Outside of shopping, researching, and cooking, I've only passed by her room to the one she's letting me use."

"Cooking? Ha!" He pointed at Ariel. "I thought it was weird you were suddenly a good cook. I haven't been gone that long."

"Really? That's what you have to point out?" Ariel sighed. Has to rub it in, doesn't he?

"What? It was weird to have such delicious food all of a sudden. We both know neither of us can cook, hence the freezer full of microwavable food."

"I don't wish to intrude, but may I stand?" Jade asked.

"Hmm? Oh. You can sit back in your seat. Bowing to me won't do any good."

"Yes, sir." Jade returned to his seat next to Ariel, closed his eyes, and his ears returned to their copied human form.

"Can you do other forms of magic?"

"Yes. Linguistic, healing, and I have runes for more magic."

"Runes? Like the Nordic kind? Those are real?"

"I've seen that which you speak of, and they do seem to be the same, or at least similar."

"Wait... Based on your outfit, you're going to school with my sister, but how? You're essentially an illegal alien from another planet that should be reported to the government—"

"Conner!" Ariel cried out. "You can't be thinking of doing something like that. Who knows what they'd do to him? They'd probably lock him up for experiments or to examine him. It's inhumane."

"I don't want to do that. Pretty sure you'd hate me for eternity if I did, and I can't stand even the thought of that."

Jade looked at both of them. "That sounds horrible. Is that how humans treat people from the outside?"

"Well, it's protocol to treat anything unknown or potentially hostile as a threat."

"I am no threat."

"That's yet to be seen."

Jade held back from saying more.

"Wait, if you're from another world, why do you speak English?" Conner asked.

Jade glanced at Ariel and cleared his throat. "Magic. Part of the linguistic magic I mentioned."

"Damn, that must come in handy. Did you have a job back home, or are you in school like here?"

"I am a soldier in the royal army."

Conner's eyes widened. "Are you at an age to go to school?"

"I am the same age as your sister."

"Damn; that's some accomplishment." Conner nodded and smiled, feeling a sort of kinship to him. "I'm going to assume you know about me."

"I do know about you. Ariel talks highly of you."

"Does she now?" He smiled at Ariel. "And here I was worried she'd talk bad and complain about me behind my back."

"Seriously?" Ariel rolled her eyes.

"Can you blame me? With that eye-roll there, you seem like other teenagers that would do that type of thing."

"As if I've ever been like other teenagers."

"Touché." Conner took a deep breath and looked at Jade. "I still can't believe any of this is happening. I know I said I've seen some weird crap, but this is next level. First of all, you can't be sleeping in her study room—"

"But we put the air mattress in there, and it's been turned into his bedroom," Ariel said. "It's his room now."

"It's okay, Ariel; while I am still hoping to have a roof over my head, I don't need to have my own room."

"Wait, wait, wait." Conner held up his hands. "I never said I'd kick you out of the house. Considering what I'm still processing..." He took a deep breath. "You've proven you have magic, so I think it's fair to trust you when you say you're not from this world. On that note, it would be horrible of me to kick you out of the house when I know you have nowhere to go. Another thing I'm sure Ariel would hate me for based on the look on her face right now. I just don't want your bedroom leading to hers directly. You're... a guy, right?"

"Yes."

"Assuming everything works the same in your work." Conner cleared his throat. "You can see why I'd have a problem with it, right? Like... it'd be best if I moved the entrance to the hallway, then it's not so bad, but that's easier said than done, and takes a lot of time and money."

"I can assist you with that."

"Thanks, but that takes planning... and time. Gosh, I wish I had more time. We can make a plan to do that, but for now, Ariel, you will use my bedroom as your own. Bring in whatever you want. Move around furniture if you must. It is yours to use until we have things settled."

"You're going to sleep in my bed, then?" Ariel asked.

"Yes; something wrong with that?"

"Do you fit? You're kinda tall, and I don't want your feet hanging off the bottom."

"I'll be fine. This is non-negotiable."

"I can always sleep on the couch," Jade offered. "I don't want to boot you from your own room, Ariel."

"It's fine; means I have the master bedroom for a while." Ariel smiled.

"It's not like it's well used, anyway." Conner sighed. "I'm still not sure what to do, but at least this matter is settled. You can even move all your furniture in there if you want. Now, I don't like the fact that you two will be home alone many times, but it's hard for me to come home every day. I have wonky hours and—"

"Conner, I understand; you don't have to explain it to me."

"I know you understand, but that doesn't help this situation. How am I supposed to keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe if I'm not home most of the time?"

"I don't know how to earn your trust, but I promise on my vow as a royal knight that I would never do anything to hurt Ariel. She has helped me in more ways than you can imagine, and I just want her to be safe, too."

Grumble. Conner's expression went flat as he held onto his stomach. "Sorry, but I'm hungry."

"That's something I can help with."