Chapter 46 The Dragon's Growing Connections.

Merida looked toward Arad as he glared back at her, "Why are you staring at me?" She asked with an annoyed face.

Arad shook his head, "Nothing, you just give me a weird feeling." He turned to look back toward the clothes.

"I won't let you take my daughter," The owner said with a smile. Arad looked at him and then at Aella, "I already have one to deal with,"

The owner looked toward Aella, "I see. Merida, give her the best we have."

Arad lifted a brown shirt and showed it to the owner, "How much is this?"

"Fourteen copper coins with tailoring." The owner replied with a smile, "I will take it,"

The owner headed toward his desk and brought a measuring tape. "Do you intend on wearing armor above it?"

"Yes, I would like a bit tighter,"

"I will get it done." The owner took the shirt and Arad's measurements and headed toward his desk to work.

Arad looked around and picked a bit more clothes, "Do you have a place I can try them in?"

"The room in the back," The owner pointed out with a smile.

Arad walked inside to try on his clothes while Merida stared in his direction.

"Excuse me for a minute. I have something to do." Merida looked toward Aella with a smile, handing her a batch of clothes and heading to the back room.

Jack looked toward her and smiled, "Chief, I'm coming as well." He rushed to Arad's changing room, "Get out. I don't want you around here." Arad extended his hand out, pushing Jack away.

"Test this and see if you can hang it on your waist." He handed Arad his dagger, "Why would I do that,"

"Self-defense, you can't be too careful," Jack said with a smile, looking toward the back room.

After a while, Merida came from the back room looking annoyed, glaring at Jack for a moment before getting to Aella. "Did you like anything?"

"Yeah, this blue one, don't you have in a green shade?"

As the two kept talking, Jack waited for Arad to get out and asked him, "Did change well?"

"What do you mean?" Arad stared at him, "I can carry the dagger if that's your point."

"Honestly, for a moment, I felt intimidated by Merida. Gave you the dagger as protection." Jack whispered.

"You know I can fight barehanded,"

"I don't want you to fight. You carrying the dagger is enough for her not to attack you." Jack replied, looking back.

"I did get the same feeling, but isn't that because she is a swordmaster?" Arad asked, and Jack smiled.

"Believe me. Swordmasters are the last people you will get a false alarm from them. The way they walk, stare, and talk is all trained, so they look less threatening." Jack explained, "She is strong but lacks that skill,"

Arad sat on a chair, "I doubt she is dangerous. We're still at the edge from the last fight,"

As they finished, someone knocked on the door. "Is Arad here?" A voice called out. Aella recognized him as one of the guards.

The owner approached the door and opened it, "Is there a problem?"

The guard shook his head, "No, I have a report to sir Arad about their last attack." the guard looked behind the owner and spotted Arad approaching them.

"Did you find anything?" Arad asked.

The guard looked toward him, "We found one of our soldiers unconscious and tied in a back alley. The attacker must have taken him down and stolen his armor when we scrambled to reach the scene."

Arad scratched his head, "Do you know how embarrassing is that? A criminal managed to secretly take one of you down and blend into your ranks in less than a minute."

The guard looked down, "That's why I'm here to report on it, the guards aren't going to brush this incident, and we take responsibility." He looked toward Arad with a sharp glare, "Please rest assured, such a thing won't happen again,"

The guard bowed down and left. The owner stared at Arad, "The poor guards, they have to deal with this as well."

When Arad heard him, he asked, "The guards have more problems?"

"Yeah, there have been rumors about the city disbanding the guards and using bands of adventurers instead to keep the order. The new battalion will be called the armed defenders."

"A city without guards, are they crazy?"

"No, guards are generally weaker than adventurers by a lot since they don't go out of their way to level up or fight monsters." The owner explained.

"If an adventurer decided to be a criminal," Arad said, and the owner finished, "They can slaughter tens of guards before being captured. It's that simple."

^That explains why she managed to trick them easily. They are strong for normal humans but amateurs to powerful adventurers.^ Arad thought, looking back toward Aella and Jack, "What about people like Alcott?"

The owner stared at Arad for a while, "Alcott? The S-rank?" He scratched his head.

"Alcott is too strong for anyone to consider chaining him in a cell. I remember once when they tried to arrest him, the man twisted the cell's bares with his bare hands, and went for a drink and then returned," The owner laughed.

***

Alcott walked back to his house, dropping on his bed. "Damn it," He looked at his palm as it started shaking, "This isn't the time for this," He sighed,

As he rested, a small bat flew from the window and exploded into a puff of black smoke. "Alcott, how are you doing?" Ginger looked at him with a worried face.

Alcott smiled, "I'm fine. I'm exhausted, and that's all."

"No, you aren't. I told you to let the blood out." She touched his forehead.

"I don't want to let go of this body. Without it, we can't live a normal life." He said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

"We don't need to live a normal life. We can always go back to the castle." Ginger said, tightly grabbing his hand.

"Worry not. It was your dream to live a normal life among humans. I won't let this life crumble," Alcott smiled, "But when I have to transform eventually, we will move to the castle."

"I have never seen someone like you," She smiled, "Don't push yourself too much. It would be bad if you transformed in the middle of a crowd."

"I guess so," He giggled, "But you can handle it, right?"

Ginger shook her head, "Hell no, I took you on one time, and it was agonizing. I prefer you like this," she smiled.

***

"Alcott! Alcott! The kids are back, and they have a new guy with them," Alcott's mother called him.

Alcott stood with Ginger and walked downstairs.

When Alcott looked down, he saw Arad, Aella, and Jack waiting for them in the changing room. "What are those bags?" he asked,

"I bought some clothes, and we came to take a bath. Is the water okay now?" Arad replied with a smile as he dropped his back to the side.

Alcott smiled, "The water returned to normal, and it's good."

Alcott's mother looked back at them and smiled, "I didn't have any complaints about the water being too hot today. It's a blessing."

"Lady Dima, the water is a bit cold. What with that?" A woman walked from the bath, drying her long hair, and stared at them with a smile.

"Except this one," Alcott's mother sighed,

Arad recognized the woman. It was Lyla.

"Ho! Arad, you're here for a bath?" Lyla smiled, approaching them.

"This one like the water scorching hot," Alcott's mom sighed, glaring at Lyla with one eye.

Lyla laughed, "But I have to admit, the temperature now is more suitable for most people." She then looked at Arad, "This is a good chance. I have someone I want you to meet."

As Lyla looked back, a woman in her early twenties walked out, stretching one arm as she dried her hair. "My daughter, Mira. I'm sure you will get along well," She smiled as Mira looked at them.

"Mom, is this the one who wanted to be my brother?" Mira said immediately upon spotting Arad, pointing when he called Lyla 'Mom'

Arad glared back at Lyla, "You told her about that?"

"Of course, I would. She would have known eventually." Lyla laughed, looking toward Aella, "Who's the girl?"

Aella stood between Mira and Arad, "His partner." Carefully wording it so she can swing in both directions.

Mira stared at them, "You can call me Mira. I'm both a carpenter and a tanner. If you want anything related to that, you can seek me out." she extended her hand toward Aella.

Aella carefully took her hand, "Aella, a fighter." She scanned her from head to toe, "Can you make bows?"

Mira smiled, "I have quite the collection, care to check it?"

Hearing that. Aella's opinion completely changed with her expression, "Yes," She said with a big grin. "Arad, can we go check her shop?"