Mythran's Master Of All

The man stood up to his full 6 foot 6 height and turned around, then got a good look at Ren. “What the hell?”

“Language!” A very effeminate voice said from the kitchen, and a woman only an inch taller than Jhulune turned around and saw Ren. “Oh, dear!”

“Mom. Dad. This is Ren.”

“We know who he is.” Jhulune's father said and took a couple of steps towards them.

“Yes, we do!” Jhulune's mother said, cut off her husband and practically ran over to them. “Welcome, welcome!”

“Thank you, Ma'am.” Ren said as he was engulfed in a hug.

“Moooom!” Jhulune exclaimed. “He doesn't even know you!”

Her mother laughed and let Ren go. “I'm sorry, My Lord. I'm a hugger.”

“I am, too.” Ren said and beamed a smile at her.

“Oh, dear!” Jhulune's mother said and fanned her face with her hand several times.

“That's enough of that.” Jhulune's father said and put a hand on his wife's shoulder to move her back and out of the way.

“It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir.” Ren said and held a hand out for her father to shake.

“Sir?” He said surprised, and shook the offered hand. “Are you all right in the head?”

“DAAAAD!”

“WHAT?”

“It's not nice to ask something like that! Especially about someone you just met!” Jhulune said.

“He didn't take offence.” He said to her, then looked at Ren. “Did you?”

“No, sir.” Ren said. “I get called crazy all the time.”

The father and mother looked at him with wide eyes, and Jhulune laughed.

“He's not actually crazy.” Jhulune said. “People just think he is because of all the crazy things he does.”

“It's true.” Teepo said. “He does lots of crazy things.”

“Did... did that bug thing on your shoulder just talk?” Jhulune's mother asked.

“That's just Teepo.” Jhulune said. “He's been Ren's friend for ages.”

“Oh, well... okay.” Her mother said, then smiled at Ren. “Would you like to stay for supper?”

Ren looked at her expectant face, at Jhulune's expectant face, and then at her father's borderline angry face. Outvoted 2 to 1. He thought and smiled. “Ma'am, I'd be honored to share a meal with you and your family.”

“Wonderful!” Jhulune's mother said and smacked her husband on the arm. “Go back in the living room, Angus. The food will be ready soon.”

“Gail.” Angus said.

“Go! Shoo!” Gail said and pushed on him as hard as she could, and he didn't move.

“All right.” Angus said and frowned a little at Ren, then turned around and went back to the living room and sat down.

“Come in, come in!” Gail said and took Ren's other hand. “Right this way!”

“Mom! He's been in a house before.” Jhulune said, and her mother laughed.

“Not ours.” Gail said. “That's the living room, that's the dining room, and that's the kitchen.”

“Geez, Mom.” Jhulune said and rolled her eyes.

“It looks very nice.” Ren said. “Did you decorate it yourself?”

“Oh, great.” Angus said from the living room. “Now you've done it.”

“Hush, Angus!” Gail said crossly, then smiled at Ren. “In fact, I did do it.” She said. “I got the curtains from the tailor, the tables from the lumber yard, the mirror from the glassworkers-”

“She didn't want to decorate, though.” Jhulune said to stop her mother's babbling. “When they rebuilt the house, they wouldn't make it the way she wanted.”

Ren thought about it. “I can understand why they didn't.” He said. “Replacing with parts they already had would be much quicker than building new... assuming they even had plans for a different design.”

“That's what I told her.” Jhulune said, then laughed. “Once she stopped complaining that the work crew wasn't listening to her.”

“I'm sorry you couldn't get the house you wanted.” Ren said. “How much did they say the renovations would cost?”

“More than the house is worth.” Angus said from the living room. “So we didn't bother.”

“Plus, we got the house for free, and we didn't have to pay extra taxes this year.” Jhulune said and kissed Ren on the cheek. “I still can't believe you did that for us.”

“Neither can the Finance Minister.” Ren said, and that made Angus bark a single laugh.

“Go on into the living room while Jhulune and I finish with the food.” Gail said, and let Ren's hand go. Jhulune let his other hand go, and he looked into the living room.

“Would you mind if I helped in the kitchen instead?” Ren asked, and Gail's eyes widened. “I know a thing or two.”

“Well, if Angus doesn't mind...”

“Like I care if he sits here and waits, or stands in the kitchen and waits.” Angus said.

“Then come on in to the kitchen.” Gail said.

With the three of them in the small space, it was a little hard to move around, but they managed to do it safely. Ren was careful where he put his hands while they worked, and intentionally grabbed Jhulune's behind only twice. The first time made her laugh, the second time made her grab his. Gail was well aware of this interaction, however; but try as she might, she couldn't quite make herself grab Ren's tempting behind and only blushed when the opportunity arose.

Ren helped set the table and put everything into it's proper place, and discovered that it was only the 4 of them that would be eating. He was tempted to ask why Jhulune didn't have any brothers or sisters; but, he didn't want to spoil the happy mood if the answer wasn't a good one.

“Angus!” Gail said as she and Jhulune set out the food on the table. Ren remained standing until Angus came to the table. Angus looked at him with an appraising look, then sat down.

“Sit!” Gail said to Ren, and he nodded and sat down in the chair she pointed to. It was a 4 person table, so the father sat at the head, Ren sat on the left of him, Jhulune sat on the right of him, and the mother sat across from the head.

Rather than grab the food right away, Ren sat there and waited. It was the right choice, because Angus took Jhulune's hand, and Jhulune took her mother's hand. Gail reached out to take her husband's hand, then smiled and held it out to Ren instead. He took it and held on, and looked at Angus.

Angus had a bit of a frown, then shrugged slightly and held out a hand to Ren. He took it and then Angus spoke.

“Thank you Mother Earth for the bounty we are about to receive. It was grown in your embrace, and we embrace ourselves to honor that. Without you and your care, none of us would be here.”

Ren glanced at his face, and saw Angus was looking right back at him. Ren gave him a slight nod, then closed his eyes and concentrated on the Earth element. He remembered all the times he'd found things in the earth, both good and bad, and how he felt while he was digging in it and was surrounded by it on all sides. He let out some Mana as a kind of offering, and let it flow out through his hands.

Ren felt Angus and Gail's hands tense up as they felt the Mana flow, then Jhulune caught her breath when it hit her. The Mana travelled around their joined hands and back to Ren to complete the circle, then it faded away. He lost 200 Mana and got a popup.