The next morning, as the family gathered in the garden, Anastasia's brows shot up at something Lily had just told her.
"Eli," Anastasia said, still processing, "do you know about magic?"
Adam nodded. "Yes, I know."
Anastasia tilted her head, clearly taken aback. "Who taught you magic?"
Lily chimed in, her curiosity equally piqued. "Yeah, I'd like to know too."
Adam's gaze shifted to Anastasia, noticing the subtle tension on her face. "My parents taught me about magic," he replied simply.
Robert placed a gentle hand on Anastasia's shoulder. "I don't think you should ask any more."
"But… it's a big deal, isn't it, Robert?" Anastasia murmured.
Robert shook his head. "Dear, you're rubbing salt into her wounds. Let's not bring it up again."
Adam felt a wave of confusion, wondering if he'd unintentionally crossed some invisible line. 'Did I do something wrong?' he thought, frowning. 'Is there a problem with me learning magic?'
Anastasia noticed his expression and quickly smiled to reassure him. "I'm sorry, Eli. It's just that magic is usually reserved for the children of noble families, so it's… a surprise."
'Oh, great,' Adam thought, mentally kicking himself. 'I didn't even consider that. I just went ahead and started teaching Lily.'
'That explains their reaction, 'he mused, piecing it together.
Robert leaned closer, patting Adam on the back. "Don't worry, Eli. We're not concerned about your past. You're family now, and that's what matters to us."
"Yes, honey, he's right," Anastasia agreed warmly. "Now, let's head inside. I've got breakfast waiting, and there's plenty of work to be done."
Anastasia turned to Lily. "Lily, come along, and give me a hand with breakfast."
With that, everyone filed inside, each going about their tasks.
After breakfast, Anastasia and Robert prepared to open the restaurant, leaving Lily and Adam behind at the house. Though the tension had softened between Lily and Adam, a slight awkwardness lingered.
"Would you come with me to the market?" Lily asked, breaking the silence.
Adam raised an eyebrow, surprised at her directness. Only yesterday, she would've preferred to avoid him entirely.
"Alright, let's go," he agreed.
The two went to the restaurant kitchen, where Anastasia was busy preparing orders. "Mom, could you tell me what to pick up from the market? I'm taking Eli with me," Lily said.
Without looking up, Anastasia handed her a small slip of paper. "Everything's listed there. Oh, and here's a bit of extra money—pick up some things for Eli while you're there."
Lily nodded, slipping the list and money into her pocket. Then, with a glance at Adam, she started for the door, leading the way to the bustling marketplace.
As they walked, Lily turned to Adam, breaking the silence. "Do you like meeting new people?"
Adam glanced over, shaking his head. "Nope."
Lily chuckled. "I figured as much. I, on the other hand, love meeting new people and making friends. I've got tons of friends here."
She grinned, eyes twinkling with excitement. "Would you like to meet them?"
"No—" Adam started, but Lily didn't wait for his answer. Grabbing his hand, she tugged him down a different path.
Moments later, they reached an open field by a small pond, where several teenagers were hanging around, laughing and splashing in the water. As soon as Lily approached, they all ran up, eager to greet her.
"Hey, everyone! This is my new sister! I told you about her yesterday," Lily introduced him, practically beaming.
The teens gathered around Adam, their curious eyes darting from him to each other as they started firing questions.
Teenagers 1: "Hey, what's your name?"
Teenagers 2: "Where'd you come from?"
Teenagers 3: "How come you're living with Lily?"
Another voice chimed in, louder than the others, "Are your parents still alive or…?"
One of the other boys quickly cut in, elbowing his friend. "Hey, Danny! Don't say that!"
Danny shrugged. "Why not? It's a fair question, right?"
Sensing Adam's frustration, Lily spoke up. "Everyone, calm down! Did you know Eli knows magic? She's even teaching me!"
The group's attention immediately refocused, their eyes wide with surprise. "You know magic?" one of them asked, visibly impressed.
'Why did I come here…' Adam thought, feeling a headache coming on. He'd only come to try and ease things between himself and Lily, but now he was surrounded.
"I have no interest in talking to them," he muttered under his breath.
Lily looked up at him, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Can you show them a magic spell, Eli?"
'Why is she acting like a kid?' Adam wondered, exasperated.
Instead of responding, he met Lily's gaze and said quietly, "I told you, I don't like meeting people."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lily standing among her friends, who exchanged puzzled glances.
One of the boys huffed. "Who does she think she is, Lily? Let's play a prank on her."
But Lily shook her head. "No, let her go."
Lily watched Adam walk off, a question lingering in her mind. 'Why does she act so differently? Everyone likes meeting people… or at least I thought so.'
Meanwhile, Adam stepped out of the field, exhaling. 'I was just looking for a quiet family life where I could blend in, but it's proving more chaotic than I expected.'
He continued toward the market, navigating through the vendors and townsfolk. One thing stood out to him: River City had far fewer slaves than the capital, a quiet indication of the city's unique character.
He noted the relative absence of slaves around River City. While it was still under the influence of criminal organizations, the city felt more peaceful than the capital.
'I need to complete this mission quickly,' he reminded himself, turning down an empty alley. Once out of sight, he let his disguise drop, resuming his true form.
'The first step is to connect with Arthur's family. But approaching them directly won't work; I need to earn their trust first.'
With that in mind, Adam headed toward the heart of the Dock Master Organization. With a quick leap, he landed on a nearby rooftop, moving swiftly from one roof to the next. Only his afterimage remained as he zipped through the streets.
Within seconds, he reached the outskirts of the Dock Master Organization's valley, ready to make his next move.
To be continued...