The alley is more peaceful than before. Families where together, playing and dancing to the song we sang the other day. Rolba and Starling have been more friendly toward the other dragonjaw since then and the children would often hang out at the inn to listen to him talk about the stories he heard at the bay side. They were funny and interesting to hear. Sanguis had gone to get Toba back from the manor where we left him and that left me in the same confused state of mind I started with when I came back.
Should I still be here? I'm not sure. I think I want to go back to the forest but I'm not mentally ready to do anything in the wild like that. I got a confession from the scariest person on the planet and he instantly decided to take it back after I let my instinct take over. Kind of sucks since he didn't give me the chance to actually think about it seriously but I still don't know general goblin logic.
As I'm thinking to myself, I often catch the other dragonjaw sneaking peeks at me with a sly grin. Not that permanent resting-bitch-face grin he always has. It was way different. Like he was actually plotting something. At some point he walks to me and sits by my side watching the alley with me and doesn't say anything for a while. I guess he was just happy to have the attention he's getting from everyone now.
"... I think I'll be staying here in the alley for a while longer." He tells me.
"... Yeah? What made up your mind?"
"Hm~... I'd have to say the 'rodents'." He often called the kids that to their faces and they'd run off laughing like it was cute. It kind of was. "I always wanted a litter of my own one day. So I'd be thinking of adopting other young ones… Though now that I think about it, I suppose it wouldn't be bad to share blood like the innkeeper." Why do I feel like I know where this is going? "What do you say about it? After showing out with that display of yours before tiering, I was wondering if you would consider it?"
"Taking a 'mate' you mean?"
".... Mm~... It be More along the lines of me adopting you."
"Huh??"
"I want to be your family. But not like how the champion simply gave up on his opportunity. More of being your big brother."
I just knew by the sudden shift in his smile he liked the reaction I gave him. I couldn't help but stare at him wide eyed and excited. I bet my ears were going awol too. But that just sounds so amazing!! I always wanted siblings!!
"Well, if you're curious as to why…"
"I will!"
"Hek!?"
"I'll be your little sister!! I always wanted siblings!! This would be so much fun now!!"
"Yes! She's mine!!" He shouts scaring Rolba and Starling as Sanguis walks in with Toba who stands at the door confused. The dragonjaw hugs me and starts geeking out with nuzzles and cuddles. Wow he is excited. "I'm going to spoil you rotten now."
"W-what the heck, man!? I gotta talk to mama and papa first!"
"and I don't get an explanation??" Sanguis suddenly asks.
"What?? uh… we're siblings now?" I tell him.
"... huh!!?" And he's not happy. The dragonjaw sticks his tongue out at him and pisses Sanguis off more. Wow does he have balls.
¤¤¤¤¤
I return to the manor later that day with everyone and get glomped by Vanessa the moment I walk through the door. Then I get chewed out by mama and papa for leaving. Sanguis stood by just as frustrated for another reason entirely that he tells them about later which resulted in me getting chewed out again with the dragonjaw this time. At least I'm not alone in this world.
That night Vanessa and Christa took the dragonjaw to meet papa, while Rolba and his family helped clean up the mess they made in the classroom. This left me in my room for the afternoon to myself to think. I started to think about the black stuff that I kept absorbing at the back alley. What the other dragonjaw, "big brother" told me about us being polar opposites is now starting to sink in. He was chaos while I was balance. So are his marks white in contrast to my black ones? I sit up and wonder now what sort of power I am capable of. The black mark is obviously the black god but I thought they said he disappeared.
I focus on my power and center it to the black mark on my chest.
Contact to higher blessing is currently distorted. Attempting connection could result in severe mental distortion. Are you sure you wish to continue?
… I can communicate with them!? Yes I want to continue! How do I continue!!?
Initiating connection.
Caution: connection is currently unstable and may cause major damage.
Commencing interaction.
Without a second to spare the mark appears and my vision goes black.
…
Hello.
Hello?
You asked for me?
Uh… wow I didn't think it would work… are you… the black god?
I am.
… did you place your mark on me the other day?
… it would seem so.
May I ask why??
You seemed to be the only compatible one I could find near me. If you wish to be rid of it, then you would be out of luck. For I don't plan on losing my first connection out of these few decades.
… I actually don't mind it but I now have a multitude of questions.
I am Malcum of the rogue constellation. The one known as the black god. No, I am not the god of balance. There is no such thing for two of us must withhold balance. If I were to be seen as one of said balances, it would be might. I am only able to communicate with you now because you allow it despite the consequences it may tole on you. As of late you are the only one that has lasted this long. You are the only one able to hear me. The only one capable to withhold all that you have obtained, create a stable environment through voice and action, and the first to, and I quote, "sing" to create a balance, and lastly the first to receive my blessing as a "poor female" since my power tends to pertain to "noble males" mostly. Since you are the first to display a strong will that I have recognized as a king attribute, I have decided to take you as a prophet for my return. I am done being left in a hole for over two decades! … pardon me. I myself am off balance. I have given you the ability to control. All you need to do is practice this attribute. Since you are the closest example of balance, I will not allow those Thoughts that intruded on you before this chaos happened. Everytime it does I will intrude on them like before. And no. You don't have an opinion in this decision… have I covered everything?
...Wow. You don't hold back at all.
I wouldn't want to take any more time than necessary since any more than an hour in this space would equate to one day in the reality.
Oh… oh! Crap.
It has only been an hour in reality. Technically you would be seen as sleeping right now.
… okay.
I understand that it's a lot to take in at this time but I don't have a choice right now. Too much chaos has been left uneven with my absence thanks to a group of fools that will return to end all of the gods if left alone. I need you to get stronger fast. Which I don't need to tell you since you chose the most difficult thing to become that couldn't be any more in my favor. Oh. Also I am always watching you and your actions. I like how you do things so please stay the way you are and everything will continue to fall in your favor. Now I will leave you at this for now. Figure out the black magic on your own without trying to call for me this time.
… well then. That was… scary. Nice to meet you too, mr. God of… might??
Someone knocks on my door and startles me. I jump to get it when…
Warning: body is currently unstable and is unable to move accordingly. Reverting to second nature.
Second what?? Without realizing it, I fell to all fours and trot to the door then stop to sit … what??
Recommending stretching for five seconds.
JEE! THANKS!! FOR CHRIST SAKE!! I stretch like a cat coming out of a cat nap and stand back up and open the door. Who would have guessed I would get glomped by "big brother" the second I open it. Vanessa walks in with father coming in right after.
"What is he doing right in the middle of changing!?" Father says out of breath.
"What?? What happened??" I ask.
Vanessa tries to pull him off me but he refuses to move as he growls in his throat.
"Hey! Quit that!" I tell him.
"Ugh… Christa said he ran out of the bath and ran straight here without moving."Vanessa says. "He was trying to get in your room and every time we tried to get him back he would growl like a dog. He did this over and over for like three hours! I thought you said he was smart like you!"
"... The.. Three hours!??"
"Yeah we wanted to leave you be since you seemed to have had a pretty rough few days. Rolba and his wife told us everything and about your new potential. Now that you've basically claimed yourself as the head of the goblin faction in this sector, you are going to have a lot of responsibility. We were trying to let you rest, but he suddenly went nuts the moment you shut yourself in."
I pat big brothers head and his ears twitch and perk up. He peeks at me and I notice his mark glowing on his face. Like he had war paint on his face but with a puppy dog expression.
"... Were you worried about me being here by myself for so long?"
"... You never answered. So of course I'd get worried. Your body be like ice right now."
"Ah. I have a logically… unnatural explanation for this, big brother."
He instantly sits up off of me and towers over me obviously frustrated. "Explain then."
"Later!"
"Now! Why do you feel like death just took a hold of you for five days!?"
"She what!?" Oh don't get Them worried too!