Bailey is looking at Asher with a sad expression thinking about all the horrible things he must've been through and will eventually have to go through if he is apart of the Demon race as her mother looks at him and back at Bailey, "Don't worry sweetie, I doubt he's affiliated with the Demons because he doesn't have any horns or any malicious mana flowing from him. His eyes are green like a sea of trees, not red or white like the demons of the past. See the black is gone from his fingers and isn't staying stuck on his fingertips, which is a tell tell sign that the Demonification has begun."
Bailey looks at him trying not to break down, but also feeling a bit of relief after what her mom said. He picks up the watch and runs her finger along it as her mother continues, "Ley, you have a strong and caring heart and I love that about you, but everything will surely be okay. I will go to the library and study up on some things and see if I can get any information. You stay here and keep an eye on him, don't let him suffer alone. No one deserves that."
Bailey nods at her mother's request as she grabs Asher's hand trying to transfer some of her own power to him, and when she does after a moment or two he stops wincing in pain and his breathing finally starts to settle down. Mrs. Quinn takes one last look at them and says to herself, 'Just who the hell is this kid, first the bright green eyes and then the black substance crawling up his arms. If he is a demon or a dark mage he is unlike anything I have ever seen, and what is up with that magical power and those forest like eyes of his. Just what are you, Asher?'
Mrs. Quinn checks in on the kids and reassures them he's okay and just resting in Bailey's room, and starts to get them settled into bed before she makes her way down to her library. She pulls down 3 books from the shelves: Demonic Almanac, Elven Chronicles, and Natural Mana (Aether) and lays them on the desk and starts to study them. Hours have passed by as the children are asleep, Mrs. Quinn is still doing her research, and Bailey is hugging Asher's arm as she finally passed out after funneling too much power. A few more hours pass by slowly as everyone in the house is asleep, but the sun is shining in from Bailey's window slowly startling Asher from his sleep.
He struggles to pick up his head when he realizes Bailey is asleep, her beautiful light brown hair covering her face slightly as she is still holding onto his arm. His face burns a bright Crimson as he takes a long deep breath and slowly wiggles his arm out and gets off the bed quietly so as to not wake her. He looks at his left wrist and notices a dark blue ribbon wrapped around it with the name Quinn's Shelter on it as he looks at Bailey. He pulls the blanket off the bed and covers her with it as he smiles and notices a watch next to the pillow he was laying on. He looks at it inquisitively and turns it over, seeing writing on the back of the timepiece as sorrow and happiness fill his heart.
He shoves the watch into his pocket and makes his way quietly across the house looking at everything trying to burn it all into his mind as he unconsciously finds himself in front of the kitchen door. Mrs. Quinn was starting to stir as well making her way to the kitchen and saw him sitting at the table fidgeting with the watch. Asher is startled slightly as he collects himself and asks, "Hello, I was wondering if you could fill me in on what happened last night? The only thing I could remember is all of us enjoying the meal and next thing I know I'm in Bailey's room."
She looks at Asher and gives him a soft smile as she starts to make herself some hot tea, "Well to be honest I have no idea what happened to you, but I think all the magic that was built up inside of you tried to get out all at once. Your eyes turned a pitch black, your skin started to be engulfed in this oil-colored substance. It was both truly the most unique and scariest thing I have ever seen and I was in the army. We took you to Bailey's room when you passed out, because it was on the first floor and we didn't want to move you around too much."
Asher looks at his hands with dread plastered all over his face, and they start shaking as he sees his fingertips starting to turn black before his eyes. He blinks quickly and they are back to normal, he looks at her with worry in his voice as he drops to his knees, "Is anyone hurt? Please tell me I didn't hurt anyone."
Mrs. Quinn looks at him with sadness in her eyes, but smiles softly at his selflessness, "Really? The first thing that ran through your mind was did you hurt anyone. Not about yourself or anything? Why is that your first thought? You hardly know us?"
Asher looks up at her and responds, "I didn't want to hurt those who are important to the two of you. She saved my life. I didn't want her to think it's a mistake to help others. You gave me safety, food, clothes, and a loving environment, so I would never hurt any of you."
Mrs. Quinn laughs as she takes a sip of her tea, "You really are one weird kid. Trying to protect a couple strangers over worrying about your own life."
Bailey stumbles in with a smile across her face and gives Asher a big hug as she tells him, "Hey don't worry, everyone is safe Ash. Next time you decide to stroll through town try not to pass out again, and try to just enjoy the loving environment. The kids are going to be sad if you aren't able to play next time."
She lets go and gives him a soft smile as she brushes the hair out of her face and walks over to her mom. Asher looks at them with a very serious face and asks, "Do either of you know what that military will do with someone like me, you know a person without a past?"
Bailey looks at her mother as she walks over to the bookshelf in the other room and brings it over. "They hunted and killed every last elf and angel just because they considered them a threat. Those peaceful species have been extinguished off the face of the planet because of fear, so I would estimate that the same fate could happen to you if they catch you. Wherever you came from, if you had parents or were just living there, I am sure the military killed every single person there."
Asher looks at her with tears streaming down his face as he gets up and walks over to the trash bin and dry heaves into it. They watch with somber expressions as he stands up straight and runs his hands up his face and grips his hair lightly in frustration. "I have no memories of them or wherever I came from and that makes me so angry. I understand why I can't stay any longer, so thank you for last night. Family is important, you helped me understand that and even if you said I can stay another night I would have to decline. I hope even with last night's debacle that the offer for me to come over every now and then is still on the table?"
Mrs. Quinn looks at him with a smirk and says, "Yes, but never 2 times in the same week or consecutive weeks they need to be spotty visits. I don't want it to become a pattern that leads back to me and my family."
Bailey looks at her mom hoping to say something to change her mind, but Asher starts walking over to them and gives a slight bow before making his way to the front door. He raises his hand in goodbye and says, "Thank you for everything truly, till the next time."
He starts to make his way out the door as the two of them smile and wave at him through the window as the mother asks, "Was that a Quinn good luck charm I saw there on his wrist? It doesn't seem like he even noticed it, so is there anything you want to say about that?"
Bailey smiles softly, her cheeks a little rosy as she heads to the table and sits down, "Well I knew he was leaving and that he would need some luck out there, so I wanted to make sure he had it. I just didn't want him to feel all alone out there, and that he always has a place here."
Mrs. Quinn smirks and teasingly responds, "Oh do you have a crush on him or something?"
Bailey laughs at her mother with her face a darker shade of red and responds, "N-no, what are you talking about? I have only known him for less than a day…but still I wanted him to have luck out there because it's hard for most people, but for him it's going to be worse."
The two drink some tea and eat a little snack before they make their ways upstairs to wake up the little kids, "Oh yeah, because of the whole debacle you never got to eat your birthday cake. I left it in the fridge and I was thinking maybe later we can eat it. Happy late birthday sweetie, I just know your life is about to get crazy and no one else but you can handle it."
She smiles at her mother's words as she nods softly and heads towards the stairs, "Thanks I really think this is going to be the year I develop the control over my power just like dad did when he was my age. I totally forgot about the cake love that sounds lovely. We can eat it once I get home from school."
Bailey smiles a wide smile that reminds her of her husband which makes her heart race a little as she goes to wake up the other kids thinking to herself, 'Everyday the resemblance keeps getting stronger Hal, and it makes me hope for a better tomorrow. We also met the strangest kid. I can't wait to see what he does later on, you would've loved him.'
Asher is walking past the Oak tree as he takes out his watch from his pocket and reads it again, "I have no idea what this even means, but I will try my best to live by that ideal. I will become a pillar to those who need it the most."
He picks up a rock from the floor and scratches out Lincoln and looks at it again mentally adding Asher with a smile on his face. "I guess I can head north and see where that takes me, but for sure the next time I find myself in the area I will know who and what I really am. I don't want another accident to happen and actually hurt someone this time. I will get strong enough to protect anyone from those who belittle and force their power onto them."
Asher keeps walking, watching the people around him living their lives as he makes it to the sign and says, "Just you wait Royal Oak, I will be back as soon as possible and I will be strong enough to protect everyone."