Arcanum - Chapter 186

“So this guardian angle did all this for free? No strings attached?” Jay asked, finding the entire thing utterly unbelievable.

“Well, he said when the time comes we need to do him a favour.” Jay’s mum hesitantly answered.

“What?!! what if it’s some criminal? Or something that will put you both at risk?” Jay objected.

“Well.. at first he wanted to give it to us for free… but we couldn’t accept that so he gave us that offer instead.” She confessed to him.

“Don’t worry son.. we’ve spent a week with him it was outstanding, within the next day he brought in materials and helpers getting everything done in just a week while trying to teech us the basics of bread baking.” Mr Carvell answered.

“And your stigma? what happened to that… Mr Dildamzed said it was incurable.” Jay looked in confusion.

“Oh, something Mr Guardian Angel also helped us with.” She plucked out a coin similar in looks to the one Paul gave us to counteract Scarlets fear aura but in a weird copper or bronze colour. “He called this a glamour charm.. it masks our stigma with an illusion.” She answered with a giant smile.

“And the rest of the town don’t remember you at all?” I questioned.

“Nope.. as far as most the other residence are concerned we came into town with Mr Wayne.” Miss Carvell answered.

“No, no, this is all insane, do you know expensive glamour charms are? and the built this shop for you and taught you both how to bake and asked nothing in return?” Jay asked in complete shock, still finding it all unbelievable.

“That’s why I call him our guardian angel, honey.” She smiled.

“Trust us, son, he’s coming over tomorrow for deliveries so you can meet him for yourself.” His father tried to reassure him.

“Yes, darling… he’s made our lives much better!” She said with a smile.

“Look..” She said taking out a chest and opened it. “Every day we save a little money, so like other families we can help provide for you in Atlantis,” she said taking out a bag filled with coins. “It’s not much baby.. we can only save 30silver a day for you.” She said offering the small pouch of gold to him in tears of joy, making us all choke up at how amazing Jay’s parents were.

“It’s okay, mum. I’m doing well in Atlantis, I’ve found a job we’re earning 5 gold a week and 20 if we do well.” Jay answered.

“Oh… I know it’s not as much, but maybe you can quit your job and focus more on your studies?” She tried to offer.

“Honey.. I think Jay will be just fine without it.” Jay’s father smiled, giving him a nod of respect. “We can use it to expand and make more money.” Jay’s dad smiled while Jay’s mum put the coin pouch back in the box, nodding quietly.

“So what do you do here? If you don’t mind me asking.” I questioned them both.

“Oh, we do loads! We make loaves of bread in unique shapes, sizes and flavours, we also do two types of cheese and fruit jams.” Jay’s mum smiled with pride.

“How did you learn to do so much?” Jay questioned.

“Mr Wayne taught us.” Jay’s father replied.

“Wow, he really sounds like a guardian angel!” Daisy smiled.

“And the Vancliff family.. they are all okay with this?” Jay questioned.

“Well, they are a little angry that they sold the land and we are totally independent so they can’t strong-arm us but Mr Wayne somehow has some power over them.” Jay’s parents smiled.

“And how do you get all the ingredients?” Jay asked.

“Every Sunday when Mr Wayne arrives with last week’s order, we also make another order for the following week depending how well the business is going.” Jay’s mum smiled.

“The Vancliff family must be really upset that you guys don’t rely on them,” Jay commented.

“I find this all unbelievable.” Jay looked at everything suspiciously.

“We did so at first… but it truly has been a blessing.” Jay’s mum answered.

Jay’s mum looked at us all for a few seconds then back at her husband with a worried look, “Honey I’m afraid we only have two bedrooms upstairs we won’t be able to house your friends for the night.” Jay’s mum regretfully informed us.

“That’s okay, we can shack up at a local Tavern.” I answered.

“Sorry, we don’t own a bigger house.” The mum apologized regretfully.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” I tried to comfort her.

“So lunch?!” Jay’s parents both offered.

“Sounds great!” We all smiled.

“Hey, darling, take Jay with you and get some nice meats for our guests, enough for lunch and dinner.” She instructed, I instinctively pass Jay my bag of holding.

“If you need extra money,” I whispered to him quietly with a smile.

“Sure mum.” Jay smiled standing up and joining his dad.

“We’ll be back soon.” Jay’s father smiled.

“So you girls know how to cook?” She smiled, standing up.

“I do a little,” I answered whereas the rest stayed silent.

“You, I like.” She said smiled at me and went to a stove.

“The rest of you come here.” she said taking out a knife and showed each of them how to slice some vegetables.

“Emilia is it? Come, you will help me with bread making.” She smiled, showing me the process on how to make bread dough with I already kind of knew what to do. “So Emilia?.. what part of the country are you from? I’ve never seen a human with your complexion.” She asked politely.

“It’s a far continent called India.” I answered her with a smile.

“Oh, that’s nice… what’s it like over there?” She asked politely, making conversation.

“Most hot and dry.. but family makes it all worth it.” I smiled.

“Oh, family-oriented.” She smiled, looking extremely happy making me feel slightly awkward.

“So how’s my boy doing in Atlantis? Is he safe, eating well, people treating him well?” She questioned.

“He’s doing great, Atlantis is very generous proving all the food and water we need, lots of freedom and a brilliant place to hone our gifts.” I answered her honestly.

“You’ll look after him, right?” She asked me, looking keen, implying something.

“Um to be honest Helen over there is the one who had been looking after your son the most.” I hinted to her.

“The blonde Elf girl?” She whispered to me quietly so she wouldn’t hear.

“Yes,” I whispered, nodding back.

“Oh, she looks nice.” Jay’s mum commented looking at her.

“She’s a lovely girl…. with an enormous caring heart.” I answered her honestly, making Helen perk up with a straightened posture.

“Can… Elves and Humans.. you know..” She questioned me making me take a pause in realising, I never thought about it myself either.

“I’m actually not sure.” I answered.

“So what about you? Young girl in her prime, is there a man waiting for you?” She asked like a mother interested in gossip.

“Sadly no,” I answered her with a smile.

“Oh, there are a few boys I can introduce you to if you’re interested.” She hinted to me.

“Oh…..” I answered back feeling a little awkward again, “To be honest it’s a little complicated right now.” I honestly answered her.

“Complicated?” She asked interested.

“We broke up.. it’s the first time we’ve met after 5 years.” I answered her.

“Oh residual feelings.” She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Kinda…” I answered her.

“Well… I’m afraid to say maybe you still love him.” She sighed.

“Have you told him?” She asked.

“Not yet..” I answered.

“You know, men are dim-witted and oblivious, you need to tell him or they will never get it.” She said to me like the solution was obvious.

“It’s not that easy, I don’t know if he’s seeing anyone or even if he has any feelings for me.. I just don’t want things getting messier than it already is.” I replied to her.

“If we wait for men to make the first move, humans would be extinct.” She chuckled.

“I agree.” I laughed with her.

“Just make sure you tell him before it’s too late… otherwise, you’ll live with the regret the rest of your life.” She warned me makimg me really look back at the visions of him dying or being possessed.

“Okay, I promise I’ll say something when it’s the right time.” I smiled.

“Okay, deary.” She smiled.

“If you don’t mind me asking.. your guardian angel, what does he look like.” I questioned.

“He’s a well-dressed young man, tall dark-haired and very kind-hearted.” She smiled, “Oh maybe I can set you both up.” She gasped with a smile.

“Somehow I feel we’d get along very well.” I smiled at her.

“Mum! We’re back.” Jay said, opening the doors with bags of food.

“Oh, do we have enough for a roast tonight?” Miss Carvell asked Mr Carvell.

“We do honey, we do.” He smiled.

“Oh, you girls are in for a treat.” she smiled with joy.

Suddenly the doorbell rang over and over as several customers came walking in but looked more concerned on us over the fresh loaves of bread on display. Cleaning their hands, Jay’s mum and Dad went to serve the customers that seemed to erupt in chatter.

“Jay what’s the matter?” Helen asked, seeing his reaction to all the customers.

“Just, I recognise these people they didn’t give a crap about us when we was homeless, but now they suddenly friendly and talkative.” Jay answered, still glaring at them.

“Jay don’t be so harsh on them, it’s not their fault maybe they had problems of their own, you said it yourself everyone is barely making getting by.” I reminded him.

“Their behaviour still disgusts me.” He said.

“JAY!” Well-dressed girl with very nice clothing that stuck out like a sore thumb compared to every other customer. She looked around eighteen waving at Jay trying to get his attention.

“Ohh wow, she’s still here.” Jay said in shock, noticing her and began walking to her.

“Dramaaaaa.” I whispered to Daisy, nudging, pointing to Helen glaring at her with seething jealousy.