26 Chapter 26 – Swaying tails (1/2)
”….after today you will have the freedom to do as you please.”
Silence.
The wide hall of the tent was quiet. The only sound that could be heard was the eery flapping of the material of the tent.
The air outside the tent might be howling but inside it was completely stagnant.
Every moment that passed made the environment that much more awkward.
'Why are they not replying?' He was looking right at them and they were looking right back but it seemed as though time had stopped for them.
”Umm…” He tried breaking the silence.
”Umm, what?! Can you answer us already…” Elaine snapped back.
”Huh?!” He was shocked. 'They are still stuck on that? Isn't my answer obvious since I put forward my offer…'
'Damn. I almost completely forgot.' He came to a realization. All this while he had treated the two girls as logical adults. He had completely forgotten that they were still two young girls.
What had these two girls been through to be forced to mature to the point that they were even able to fool someone like Adam? Alas, they still retained a bit of childish innocence.
This could be seen from their playful conversations with each other. Any adult who was put through trying times would most probably not come out with a side that could still maintain joy.
Weirdly enough, children could do so because of their lack of experiences. This gave them the hope that there were still things beyond the bad that they saw. However, an adult would trap themselves and fall because of their experiences.
The mind was a gateway and a cage.
It is very easy to get caught up in a small world of our own making and ignoring the vast potential of everything outside it.
These two girls were a prime example. Unlike an adult who 'knew' how the world works and would not even imagine someone who would not hold the element of darkness in contempt in this small city of Two Fang. They still held onto that belief.
This had paid off for them. Adam was one such individual who had a broader perspective on the matter. He put more emphasis on the individual rather than their abilities.
Elements had an effect on the personality of a person. He knew this but it was also not the only determining factor of a person's personality.
Bad omens and the like were superstitions that Adam would not fall for. He believed in what he saw and what he saw was a playful and mellow girl with a lovely personality.
Getting his thoughts in order, he began to reply to the girls.
”Yes, I don't mind that Luna has the element of darkness. It also doesn't matter if Elaine is 'tainted' by it. What matters most to me is your personality.” He said resolutely.
”Young master! Are you sure it is okay?” Unlike Adam, Fen was a bit more sceptical.
She was a local of this world and these negative superstitions were something she grew up with. It was a lot harder for her to accept these girls.
”Big sis Fen, trust me.” Adam did not say more because he knew that the best way to remedy a wrong assumption was through personal experience. She would understand once she interacted with the girls enough.
He then turned back towards the two blank-faced girls.
”Alright, you two! When will you stop staring at me like that? I have answered your question so now you answer mine.” He raised his voice a bit.
”Ah!” The two girls were shocked out of their stupor by his voice.
They both turned towards each other and their eyes began talking. In an instant, the two girls seemed to have had a long conversation between themselves.
”You are not lying to us?” Luna broke off eye contact with her sister and asked. Both the girls were now paying close attention to every movement of the boy in front of them.
Adam truly felt like he was a lamb being eyed by two tigers at this moment.
”Of course not.” He waved his arms in front of him and said.
Both the girls walked up to him. They stepped down to the first step where he was standing all this time. They were both an Inch shorter than him but their twitching and perked up ears made up for it.
This was the first time they had been so close. Both girls were looking up into his eyes. He was once again lost in admiration at how pretty these two were.
Taking one of his hands that was still in the air, Luna spoke ”I believe in you. I will follow no matter where you go and what you do.”
Adam was surprised at the bold action of this mellow girl.
”Fine, I will believe in you too. But only because Luna said she does.” Elaine's hand stretched out too and grabbed his other hand. A bright smile bloomed on her face when she did.
'They are still two little girls. I will do my best to always be there for them.' They were still at the age where they needed support. Adam had now become that for them.
”Good. I may not be able to promise much but I will promise to protect you two. Anyone who ever dares to harm you can stop even thinking about having a calm life. They will have a personal taste of what my wrath feels like!” He gently squeezed the hands of the two girls and gave them a resolute look. The least that he felt he had to do, was assuring their safety.
The two girls had already accepted braving dangers through adventures along with him. He felt it only right to state his stance.
For the two girls who had placed their lives in his hands, his words were like lightning that struck their unguarded hearts.
The gentle squeeze of his hand, the warmth that flowed through to them through it and his determined words that held no pretences were all things that they had longed for but never gotten.
Safe.
This was how they felt at the moment. It seemed ordinary but they had not had this feeling from the day they were born. They had remained guarded and not opened up to anyone.
Not even the elder who took them in, because he had kept his distance from them. He was an old man who could not rid himself of his conventional wisdom and also had the thought that the girls might be vile creatures.
No one had held their hands or even spoken to them on equal terms.