Chapter 25: Papa Jin

Chapter 25:

"___" - Speech

(___) - Thoughts

{___} - Internal Voice(s)

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The hatchling rose its head as its pupils seemed to widen, taking only a few steps closer as it sniffed the air around Jin. "What are you?" 

"I'm not too sure of that myself. I guess I'm some sort of a hybrid between you and those guys behind me." 

"Well, I suppose it's refreshing to meet with someone who actually knows how to speak. Those animals behind you simply continued to gargle at me as if I'm supposed to know what they're saying." The Dragon seemed to ease up a little, becoming comfortable enough to start eating his meal as Jin didn't appear to be much of a threat. "So, are they throwing you in here as well?" 

"No, I technically work here. How'd you even end up in this place to begin with?" 

"That's what I'd like to know, one day I was strolling along minding my business, and the next the territory suddenly became 'too dangerous' for me and I'm relocated to this shithole. Everything about this place screams fake, I can feel it. Soon I plan on breaking out of here, but something about that guy with the black and blond fur throws me off." 

(It doesn't seem like he knows much either, I guess Tannin's the only one with the full picture.) 

"Your instincts are sharp, he'd obliterate you if you tried." Jin was met with a nasty look as the creature seemed evidently insulted. "But, the truth is they don't want to keep you here either. And since you can't speak their language, they haven't been able to form any sort of a deal with you." 

"Lan-gu-age? Never heard of it." 

"Like how we're doing now, they have their own ways of communicating. But that's besides the point, the point is they don't want to force you to stay locked up in here anymore, and I'm assuming you don't want to be here either?" 

"Of course not. But I don't think that big purple guy will let me go back home either, so even if I do escape I'm not sure where I'll go after that." His head dipped as his eyelids narrowed, conveying his genuine longing for home. 

"If Tannin says no then there's not much anyone here can do, but at the very least I don't think 'escape' will be necessary." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Just wait here for a bit." Jin walked up to the Governor as the latter stood with a knowing smile on his face. 

"That's quite the interesting ability you have there." He commented. "It's good that there's finally someone capable of getting through to him." 

"You were planning on having me take care of him in the first place, weren't you?" The corners of Azazel's mouth continued to stretch as he sported an evidently false look of innocence on his face. 

"I wouldn't know anything about that, but if you're up for it I certainly have no complaints." He shrugged, sparing an odd glance to the Dragon listlessly wolfing down its food. "Who knows, it might be good for you in the long run. Taking care of a child would teach you a lot about responsibility." 

"I don't want to hear that from someone with no kids of his own." Jin scoffed, earning a stiff chuckle from Shemhazai as an embarrassed sweat ran down Azazel's forehead. "But at the same time, I'm certainly not interested in just leaving him here. He knows the place you've constructed is artificial by the way." 

"Dragons are a highly intelligent species, I can't say it surprises me. But that's all the more reason to get him out of here, no?" He furthered, earning a reluctant sigh from his [Gold General]. "C'mon, I'm sure you can handle it." 

"Even if I do take him in, where exactly am I supposed to keep him? Dragons are supposed to be in the wild, not urban Japan." 

"You just let me worry about that, if you want some time to decide that's fine, but try not to take too long." 

"That won't be necessary." He groaned. "One half of me has already made its decision, and I'd be hard pressed to oppose it." Jin peered towards the creature as it feasted, with an unfamiliar gleam in his eyes. "Does he have a name?" 

"Don't think so, but you're the only one here able to communicate with him so you should go see for yourself." Jin met him with a nod as he approached the little beast once more. 

"So?" The Dragon questioned. 

"You can leave." Jin responded plainly, causing the Dragon's expression to brighten momentarily. "But there are conditions." Justifiably so, the phrase was a mood-killer.

"Go on." 

"You'll have to stick with me from now on if you choose to leave, since as you said, you cannot return to Tannin's territory." The small creature's expression scrunched up, displaying its warranted discontent as it deliberated the offer. "I don't wish to give you false-hope so I'll be blunt, I cannot promise you the same care that an actual Dragon deserves. But, what I can promise is that I'll try my absolute best. If you need some time to consider, that's fine." 

"No, I'll go with you." Jin's brow rose as a result of his seemingly hasty response. "I don't want to stay here anymore, but I can't return home either. If tagging along with you is my only choice then so be it, but I'm warning you, once I'm grown I'll go where I like regardless of what you or those animals think. Understand?" 

"Well, by the time you're a fully grown Dragon my help would obviously be rendered useless. But are you sure you want to make a decision right now? As I said, you can have more time if you want." 

"Don't make me repeat myself, I'm choosing to honor you with my presence so stop complaining and accept my decision already, halfling." 

(Ouch. Are all Dragon children like this?) 

{Personalities vary, but he's cute so I approve.} 

(At least you're happy.)

"Alright, by the way do you have a name by chance?" 

"No, but if you're thinking of trying to give me one don't bother." 

"Don't be like that, otherwise I'll have to resort to calling you 'BiriBiri' or something." Though the name made utterly no sense to the Dragon, something about it annoyed him nonetheless. 

"F-Fine, I don't know what that means but please never say it again." 

{I'll name him.} 

(Good, because I know virtually nothing about Dragon names.) 

"How about Raon?" He proposed, to which the hatchling briefly shut his eyelids as he pondered the suggestion. 

"I don't hate it." Jin smiled warmly as he sent an affirmative nod Azazel's way, causing the Governor to respond with a firm thumbs-up. 

(Just out of interest, what does Raon even mean?) 

{No idea, I just thought it suited him.} 

(Right.) 

"I hope you weren't bluffing when you said you'd get his living arrangements sorted out." 

"Oh please, at least have some faith in my abilities. You have a strong mentor by your side at all times, so I'm sure you'll do a fine job at raising him." 

"We'll see about that." 

"Stay put for a second, halfling." 

"I have a name you know, it's Jin." Out of the blue, Raon abruptly climbed up Jin's back and perched himself on his shoulders. 

"Very well halfling-Jin. I refuse to allow these animals to look down on me so I shall grant you the privilege of me making use of your shoulders. You're welcome." Jin rolled his eyes as Raon continued to munch on a chunk of meat he had ripped off from the feed Azazel had provided him with. 

"Have some manners, sheesh." As a result, bits of red meat continued to fall from his maw onto Jin's perfectly good shirt. 

"It can't be helped, these animals make some pretty good food, I'll give them that." Though they couldn't understand what he was saying, Raon's antics earned a good chuckle out of the trio. 

"You two seem to be getting along." Azazel quipped. "Just keep in mind that if you need Tannin's help with anything, all you have to do is give me a heads up." 

"Speaking of Tannin, he didn't seem to be all that buddy-buddy with you. Not to be rude, but out of all the choices, why did he pick you to keep him?" 

"We're probably the only ones capable of creating an environment that at least somewhat mimicked the conditions in his territory, and though we have our differences, he's aware that Grigori's interests lie solely in peace and research. Our staff respect Dragons far too much to even consider causing them any harm, so the threat to his safety here is practically nil." 

Jin scratched his chin as flakes of meat continued to pour down his shirt. "His name's Raon by the way, she named him not me." 

"I see, I hope you and my subordinate continue to get along, Raon." 

"Halfling, what do those sounds mean?" 

"It means he likes you." 

"Hmph, that animal is just trying to suck-up to a mighty being such as myself. Unfortunately for him I'm intelligent enough to see through his ruse." Raon rose his head as he let his pride gleam through his scales. 

"What did he say?" 

"He said you smell funny, and frankly I agree." 

"Sure he did, eventually I'm going to build a translator you know that right?" 

"Eventually." Jin repeated, with a purposefully notable lack of confidence. "Now then, is there anything else you want to throw at me or will I have to wait for your next deliverance of bad news?" 

"Don't be so dramatic, but there is something of importance I ought to tell you. Soon there's going to be a gathering where all the young Devils, namely nobility alongside the Satans will be gathered up. In light of our recent alliance, myself and Shem will be attending, and I want both you and Oron to be there as well." 

"If it's for the Devils, why do I need to attend?" 

"That's part of it, but not the main reason. Our alliance is about to extend with the Norse pantheon, and I want you manning security." 

"Ah, that's rather major. But security? I can't say that's necessarily within my skill-set, why me?" 

"Don't worry, with the amount of heavy hitters present, the chances of someone being stupid enough to launch an attack are slim. I just want you to get a little more acquainted with the staff at Grigori, think you can handle it?" 

"As I said, I have no experience in that field. If you really insist on having me do it, I will, but don't expect any presidential-level service from me." 

"That's all I can ask, if it's any reassurance the conference will occur after your training camp is finished. So you should be well-prepared once it commences, at least individually-wise." 

"Any plans on telling me who this mystery mentor is yet?" The corners of Azazel's mouth stretched upwards as he folded his arms together. 

"He's a lion."