"Adults are supposed to be fair and virtuous in their work. They are supposed to set a good example for the younger generation to emulate! But your actions today are a disservice to everyone who has ever held a comparable role to yours." Meteor Shower scolded while tapping his ID plate to pay the 100 credit fee for interfering in the match.
"Don't involve yourself in things that don't concern you kid," Oran scoffed. Oran was the referee.
Indignant, Meteor Shower stormed out. Elle and Krilly were waiting for him outside.
"That was really brave of you Meteor Shower!" Krilly was ecstatic. He had been incredibly uncomfortable watching the match in the arena but as an elementary mage, none of his magic would have made it through the barrier. He was also worried about being targeted by the fellow from the Aom clan after Elle guessed his identity.
"Naturally, in Parrotise the rules of a spar are enforced by the audience! We don't keep such sloppy referees," Meteor Shower glared behind at Oran once more.
"Ooh Parrotise, I'm so scared. What are you going to do to me, turn my shirt inside out?" At this exact moment Rohi Aom walked towards the trio.
"That would be too light a punishment for a homicidal maniac. I'd break your bones, cripple your magic, tie you upside down on a chair and feed you through your butthole!" Meteor Shower snarled.
"METEOR SHOWER!" Sylv just arrived but was already aghast hearing Meteor Shower's threat. "What nonsense are you spouting, you are not here to study violence! We are going home, now!"
Meteor Shower's words caused a very disturbing memory to resurface in Sylv's mind. It was a memory he had been suppressing for a long time and with it, came panic, horror, and also pain.
Rohi hearing Sylv just chuckled. "Yeah you really better go home, that daddy of yours is much better than this one," he said pointing his thumb at himself.
Provoked Meteor Shower was about to flick his wrist when Sylv grabbed his hand. "We're going home, now!"
As a 14 year old who had been fed too many hero stories with no opportunity to act them out in the village it was understandable that Meteor Shower had a slight hero complex. However, hero complexes often caused people to become deviants and the next thing you know they are committing genocide for the "greater good". It was precisely to avoid this that they brought him to study in the Clear Seas Kingdom, so he could broaden his horizons and not grow up to be narrow minded.
However just as they were about to leave the vicinity Sylv didn't just leave Rohi alone. From what his sources told him, Meteor Shower had acted to protect someone against a teenager in a blue robe. Rohi fit that bill exactly so Sylv assumed that he was definitely no good especially with the way he was trying to provoke Meteor Shower. Hence, with a wave of his hand he summoned a rain cloud to soak Rohi. The cloud floated just over his head blocking out the sun but not soaking anyone else. It would follow him around for a week if no one did anything about it.
…
After they left Rohi tossed Oran a bank plate. It was like a cheque, holding a predetermined amount of credits.
Oran sighed as he stared at the plate, conflicted.
Meteor Shower's words echoed in his head. "...supposed to set a good example… disservice..."
"So what if its not a good example. Setting a good example won't keep anyone alive."
…
"Brother Adam skipped lunch today again!" a child called out to Oran as he entered his home.
"Adam, if you don't eat lunch you won't ever grow up to big and strong. The other people will bully you," Oran scolded.
Rather than calling it a house, it was more so just a slightly bigger than average studio. Oran and his 3 siblings lived there together. Oran was the eldest of age 20, he worked multiple jobs since he was 18 to fight the lawsuit to keep custody of his siblings. Kira was the second eldest, she was 16 this year and it was primarily her school fees that resulted in their family of 4 living in such a tight space. Adam and Ira were twins and both only 8. Thankfully, Kira would be out of secondary school by the time they entered it.
Oran should have been doing his fourth year in secondary, but he had to drop out to support his family or they would have had to stay with that woman. Adam understood how hard it was for Kira to study, work part-time and also wake up extra early to make lunch for him and Ira everyday. Thus he recently started boycotting lunch.
"Lunch is for the weak Oran. If I get bullied by those spoilt lunch eaters then I would be weak. I won't be weakened by eating lunch!" Adam proclaimed.
How could Oran not see through this basic lie? Every time he heard Adam say this it pulled a string in his heart.
"Well, no worries, I guess you won't be getting to eat the meat I bought today with my bonus!"
"We have meat?" Ira's eyes sparkled.
"Why did you waste your bonus on meat? You could have saved it and bought tofu for us and it would have lasted us for way longer. I think you need to start letting me manage your salary!" Adam scolded.
"Most importantly, meat is incredibly inefficient. For every animal they raise, they feed it enough for our family to use for a year. However, the amount of meat produced barely lasts two meals! Stop wasting money and resources on meat Oran."
However, despite his incessant rambling, Adam still wolfed down dinner after it was ready with tears in his eyes just like Ira.
Kira gave Oran an appreciative glance.
Their family really needed the meat, not for food but just to uplift their mood. Oran smiled to himself. If being a villain to people he didn't know meant that his family could survive, then he had no regrets.