Enna looked at me with a shocked face.
I could tell that my new hair colour had worked.
"Come sit down, Ray", Enna's mother told me.
Before taking my seat, I helped Enna's mother sit down.
"Such a gentleman. It's rare to find good boys like you these days."
"It's only my duty, ma'am"
"Hoho, so modest."
Enna's mother seemed to not dislike me.
I sat on her left side and Enna was sitting to her right.
I looked at Enna. She was still staring at me.
Was there something on my face?
"Now before we begin, let's all pray to the Lord and thank him for our meal."
I clasped my hands and closed my eyes.
I would pray to no one. I'd die but not offer a single thanks to any God. Not after what I had to face today.
Dinner started and Enna's mother kept making small talk.
There was fish and rice, some soup and a side dish of soyabean.
I ate my food with satisfaction.
It was really tasty.
"This food is delicious", I made a small comment.
"Ah, Enna cooked it, she's always been a masterchef in the kitchen."
I looked at her.
She quickly put her head down so that I couldn't see her face.
'Shit. Did I do something wrong?'
"These days, the streets are not safe at all. People get mugged in broad daylight. Thankfully, you're not like those thieves, Ray."
Enna's mother recounted her tragic experience.
I gently touched the wallet that I stole just minutes ago.
When I had bumped into the petty thief a while back, my fingers slid in like a ravenous snake and swiped it away.
"Yes, you cannot be too careful these days", I smiled.
I glanced at Enna. She was again staring daggers at me.
Feeling slightly awkward, I excused myself.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but where is the restroom?"
"Ah, just go out, turn to your right and it's the last door."
I got up like a Royal. My elegance could move mountains.
I entered the toilet and looked into the mirror.
"What kind of Royalty leaves in between a meal? That's not elegant at all."
I was frustrated with myself.
"What am I doing?"
Putting Lianne to sleep because she was nagging at me seemed to have been counter-effective.
Suddenly, the door opened.
'Shit, I hadn't locked it.'
Enna came in.
What was she doing here?
She looked at me with an angry expression.
"Why didn't you contact me before coming?"
She was mad about that?
"Like I told you, Enna, I still don't have a phone. Don't worry, I'll buy one tomorrow."
She seemed to be angry and puffed her cheeks.
"And, why are you with mother?"
"She was about to get robbed by a group of thieves, so I stepped in and helped her. As thanks, she's letting me stay here."
Enna's mother hadn't brought that conversation over the dinner table, probably not wanting Enna to worry.
Enna seemed to be surprised.
"You helped mother?"
Her face blushed.
Did she have a mother complex?
"Yes. Also, why are you here? Won't your mother be suspicious?"
"I...told her I'm going to talk to a friend."
On the phone, I assume?
I sighed. What would James have done in my position?
"Ray, why did you dye your hair black?"
"You mean this hair?", I rubbed the hair falling on my nose.
She nodded like a puppy.
'Wow, she's cute.'
I can't tell her that it was because I was attracting attention.
"I like this colour. Why? Does it look bad?"
She shook her head vigorously.
"No, it looks beautiful. I... I..."
Her face flushed again, this time noticeably red.
I cocked my head to the side and waited for her to finish her sentence.
In a very faint voice, she spoke, " I ...I like it."
"Enna! Enna!", her mother shouted.
Her skittish expression changed to an annoyed one.
She looked at me once more, as if wanting to say something, and then left.
I looked back at the mirror.
"Hah... what would have James done?"
I washed my eyes with cold water and returned to the dining table.
"Ah Ray, I was just telling Enna about how you're an elementalist like her", Enna's mother started with her small talk again.
Enna looked at me as if I had betrayed her by not telling her that I was an elementalist.
Don't worry Enna, even I didn't know I was one before today.
"So we were wondering, why don't you show us some of your tricks?"
Tricks. I had no tricks. Except my whole bloody identity, maybe.
"Sure, let me show you a small demonstration."
I know James had mana. The last time I had checked, before fighting Astracus, the screen displayed a mana value.
I could show a small demo with that right?
I concentrated and tried to feel the flow of energy inside.
There was an unknown river near my chest. Feeling its flow, I pulled it into my arm, carving a path. It gave me a tingling sensation but no real pain.
I directed it all the way upto my fingers.
Enna and her mother were looking at me closely.
Just then, I opened the gate and let it flow out.
The entire room drowned in a dense golden light.
I tried stopping it, but damn, it was difficult.
It took all my will power to cut off the river.
The entire dining room seemed to be covered with gold.
The bright colour had a blidning radiance.
It took several seconds before I could see again.
I messed up, just when I found a place to stay.
I quickly apologized for my grave mistake.
"I am sorry, I am still not very adept at this!"
"Ray...", Enna's mother spoke.
Fuck, I'm going to be kicked out.
I started to think of places where I could spend the night.
At that moment, Enna stood up from her seat and shouted,
"Ray, you're a saint?!"