Angel had dinner at home.
The dining table was covered with glass domes containing a dozen faintly glowing insects, which served as the main source of lighting in Angel’s house.
Ever since the bathhouse boiler explosion a year ago, open flames had been banned under the Divine Tree. This was one of the reforms introduced by Lady Cornelia. If there were another explosion, perhaps even Mages wouldn’t be allowed to use fire magic.
Hmm... if that happens, the Magic Academy might have to relocate.
Fortunately, it hadn’t come to that. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be the Magic Academy that had to move; Angel’s family might have to relocate too. After all, her mother made a living using fire magic.
As for whether there might be a second explosion... only Angel might know.
The family sat quietly at the dinner table, eating in silence.
"How’s work going?" Angel’s mother asked.
"Alright, everything’s normal."
"We barely see you except at dinner. You work all day and all night too—this job seems a bit excessive in hours."
"Yes, but I really enjoy it." Angel smiled as she replied.
Angel’s father raised his head and interjected, "Only 40 silver coins a month? Sounds like a temp job. If you worked as a gardener, you’d earn much more. At least 100 silver coins—even a gardener apprentice makes 60."
"But I really enjoy it," Angel repeated with a smile. After a moment’s thought, she added, "Didn’t you say that for a first job, as long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters? I’m really happy right now, even more than when I was learning archery. I really like it. Maybe I’m just naturally better suited to working than studying archery."
After looking quietly at Angel for a while, her father set down his knife and fork and spoke in a soft voice, "But we don’t even know exactly what your job is. Angel, it’s been a long time since you properly communicated with us. We are your parents and your guardians; we need to know what’s going on with you. Even bad news—knowing what challenges you’re facing—would be better than knowing nothing at all. Don’t you think?"
"Father, I understand what you’re saying, but I’m already someone who’s started working. Could you give me some personal space? Trust me, I’ll tell you what my job is; I promise, you’ll be proud of me. But until then, please give me some space to keep this secret. It’s so... so I can give you a nice surprise later." As Angel spoke, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a forced smile.
Angel’s parents exchanged a silent glance.
After a long pause, her father finally said, "Alright. We’ll give you your space. I hope you don’t betray our trust."
With that, he picked up his knife and fork and resumed eating.
"I won’t, Father!" Angel quickly replied.
"I think that’s fine too," Angel’s mother nodded in agreement, though she added mischievously, "But I think you should start contributing to the household expenses."
"Household expenses?" Angel was momentarily stunned.
"Yes. 40 silver coins is really too little. If you didn’t already have a place to live and meals provided for breakfast and dinner, I’d even worry it wouldn’t be enough for you to survive. So, I think giving you some pressure is a good idea. If you contribute to the household, you’ll really feel how little 40 silver coins is. Just half—20 silver coins will do. The remaining 20 should be enough for your lunches." Follow current novels on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
Angel was utterly dumbfounded, staring blankly at his mischievous mother. When he finally processed her words, he quickly turned his gaze to his father.
He was probably hoping for some help.
But none came. His beloved father was engrossed in his meal, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything.
After a brief moment of silence and dismay, Angel quickly stood up and blurted, "I’m full! Father, Mother, I have something to do tonight—I’ll be going now!"
Before his parents could react, Angel had already stood up, grabbed his coat, and dashed outside.
"Where are you going!"
"To work! I might be home late tonight—you don’t need to wait up! I have my key!"
In the time it took to say this, Angel had already bolted downstairs.
Listening to the fading sounds of his voice, Angel’s mother sighed helplessly, "This child—what on earth is he up to?"
"As long as he’s not doing anything bad." Having finished his meal, Angel’s father burped, shrugged, and said, "When I was his age, I wasn’t much different. I didn’t figure out my life’s purpose—to become a gardener—until I was eighty. Maybe letting him experiment and face some setbacks is a good thing. After all, flowers grown in a greenhouse can never be strong. Let’s give him some space."
Angel’s mother turned her head and glared at his father, but in the end, she only sighed.
"Do you think they’ll secretly try to find out what my job is?"
"I don’t think so. It’s been a year; maybe they really do trust you."
"They trust me, but I’m lying to them?" Angel was suddenly filled with a sense of melancholy.
"No! That’s not right, let me correct you!" The devil quickly argued, "Deception requires trust in the first place. If no one trusts you, how could you deceive them?"
"So, deceiving people who trust me is the right thing to do?"
"Of course! That’s a completely false premise. Trust comes first, then deception follows. So, there’s no such thing as deceiving someone who trusts you."
"But somehow, it just doesn’t feel right..."
"Don’t think that way. You’re being forced into this. If they hadn’t forbidden you from studying Magic, you would’ve been at the Blood Elf Magic Academy for 21 years by now. The real victim here is you—it’s their mistake that brought this on you!"