Ethan stood frozen in disbelief as he stared at the man before him, none other than his former boss, Chad. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and a mix of confusion and astonishment washed over his face.
Chad's eyes widened with recognition, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't Ethan, my former employee and my favorite scarecrow. I never expected to see you in such. Hmm, shall I say extraordinary circumstances?"
Amelia and Minerva exchanged amused glances, clearly aware of the connection between Ethan and Chad. Amelia spoke up, breaking the momentary silence.
"Yes, it seems fate has a way of bringing unexpected reunions."
Chad chuckled and extended a hand, which Ethan hesitantly shook. "Good to see you again, Ethan. I must say, I'm quite impressed with your transformation from a timid scarecrow. You've gained some good weight. I guess the term 'scarecrow' is now not appropriate anymore."
"Oho?" Amelia's eyes showed a hint of realization.
"You won't let this slide, won't you?" Ethan seemed to know what she was thinking about.
"Nope! Mr. I-like-Mcdonalds-coupons~"
Ethan blushed at the memory, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Ah, well. I guess it is nice to see you too, Boss Chad."
Chad sat down and leaned back in his armchair, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
"After you left the office, things got a bit dull. No one dared to talk to me as casually as you did."
"No, because my face does not change much when I'm scared. I was scared." Ethan thought to himself.
"Boss, are you also a dragon?" He asked and sat down on the sofa.
"No, I am just a plain old human," Chad answered jovially.
Amelia chimed in, her voice filled with humor. "Chad here is a human with an uncanny ability to attract dragon encounters. It's become quite the spectacle in our dragon community."
Ethan couldn't help but burst into laughter, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. "Boss Chad, the Dragon Whisperer! Who would have thought?"
Chad grinned, playing along with the joke. "Well, it seems I have a way with both races. Perhaps it's my charm or my exceptional leadership skills. Who knows?"
Amelia rolled her eyes playfully. "Let's not inflate his ego too much, Ethan. We don't want him to start thinking he's the Dragon King."
Minerva joined in the banter, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, I can already see the headlines: 'Chad West Claims His Rightful Throne as Ruler of the Dragon World!'"
As the laughter subsided, Minerva suggested they all move to the dining space and catch up over refreshments.
Laughter filled the room as the group indulged in the light-hearted exchange. The camaraderie between Ethan, Chad, Amelia, and Minerva was palpable, each reveling in the joy of reconnecting in this unexpected setting.
As the conversation continued, Ethan discovered that Chad had become a bridge between the human and dragon worlds, using his knowledge and experience to help smooth relations and foster understanding. He had also developed a peculiar knack for solving disputes between dragons, earning him the nickname "The Dragon's Mediator."
Over cups of steaming tea and plates of delicious treats, Ethan and Chad shared stories of their respective journeys. Chad recounted his transition from the corporate world to the realm of fitness, his passion for health and wellness guiding his path. The fitness club, called DragonFit Chadron, was renowned in the dragon community." Ethan regaled them with tales of his first exposure to dragons in the Evergreen Meadows Park and his training with Amelia.
Ethan's surprise morphed into a grin. "Ah, Boss Chad, the man who made me break a sweat in the office and now does it professionally. It's good to see you embracing a healthier lifestyle."
"But this is sure a surprise, Ethan. I never thought I would see you again since you moved away after your parent's death. I moved here just a few years back and met my now beautiful wife." Chad recounted with a big smile.
"Wait a minute! A few years back? How old is Annie?" Ethan looked surprised at his statement. Amelia took it up to explain.
"We dragons have a fast aging process during childhood. This is a genetic process because infant dragons are susceptible to external threats since their scales are not developed yet. We age fast, but this process slows down significantly when we reach what humans would call their twenties.
In human years, Annie is currently twelve years old, and Lily is around four."
"Dragon genetics sure is something else. But why did this not happen to me?" Ethan wondered about his own situation. Since he was also a dragon-blooded individual, why did he age normally?
"It was because your mana pathway was blocked. This implicated your flow of mana inside the body, stunting your growth. Furthermore, your fast food certainly did not help you." Amelia explained.
"Why you got to do me like that ..." Ethan looked away and felt judged.
"Certainly, back then, he was as thin as a scarecrow. I thought he may not be eating properly. Well, at least we can get you fixed up now. By the way, visiting my gym will accelerate that process. You've got to ignite your flames of youth. Yes, YOUTH!"
Chad's charismatic energy and comedic timing made for a delightful spectacle.
As an avid manga reader, Ethan remembered a guy in a green spandex and chuckled at their uncanny resemblance. Chad never expressed this side before, so he figured this must have been picked up after he got into fitness.
Between fits of laughter and exaggerated gestures, Ethan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for the bonds he had formed. Chad's presence reminded him of their shared history when Ethan struggled to find his place in the corporate world. Now, in this unexpected fantasy setting, they had reconnected. Despite the strangeness, which Ethan gladly overlooked. Since dragons are now apparently real, what couldn't exist?
Just as the laughter began to subside, the room filled with the sound running. Lily ran into the dining room with an excited squeal, followed closely by Annie. Their eyes displayed a hint of gleefulness.
"Let's eat!" Both exclaimed and all adults laughed at their cute display of emotions.