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"Hello, Denki," Shao Lung said, his voice calm.
"Why the hell do you always bring me here when I'm exhausted and trying to rest?" I snapped. "Is this some kind of daily login room? And the reward is 'you get to talk with the old dragon'?"
Shao Lung tilted his massive head. "Well, there is a way I can take a human form. To make communication easier."
"YOU CAN DO THAT ALL ALONG?!"
"Yes, I can. In fact, I can also—"
"JUST SHUT UP AND DO IT ALREADY!"
Shao Lung's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped. "Very well then. At least in my human form, I can teach you a proper lesson about shouting at your elders."
I went quiet. Stared at him, deadpan. "So… can you take me back already?"
The green room vanished.
I was back on my bed. I hugged my pillow, ready for a real nap.
Before I could close my eyes, Mom yelled from downstairs.
"Denki! There's someone at the door looking for you! Get down here right now!"
My mood flipped. I rolled out of bed. _Who the hell could be asking for me today?_
My teacher? Because I skipped school for Dad's stupid 'Father-Son Weed Clearing Day'?
Or Rato?
I got downstairs. Mom was already talking to the stranger.
She had long jade-colored hair. Emerald green eyes. Same height as Mom.
And the worst part? She wore a 90's dress that was older than this house. Probably older than the city.
I interrupted them. "Hey, weird green lady. Who the hell are you?"
She turned. Locked eyes with me. Her stare was ice.
"No. You can't be…"
She smiled. "Yes, I am. You requested this form, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but you were supposed to be an old grandma, not a—"
_Whap._
A knock to the forehead.
"Ahh!" I yelped, rubbing the spot. "Why the hell would you do that?"
She raised an eyebrow. "So you're trying to tell me I should have been an old slut. Is that it?"
I kept rubbing the growing bump. "Well… yeah. I mean, that's what you are—"
_Whap._
"AHH! Stop it!" Tears pricked my eyes. The bruise on my forehead already looked like I had two eyes up there.
She crossed her arms. "Now that I'm in this form, I can discipline you directly."
I puffed my chest. "That's a lie. The only one who can discipline me is Mom!"
Mom looked at me and smiled. "I'll leave him under your care, Jade."
I screamed, "No, Mom! Are you selling me out?!"
Jade—Shao Lung's human name, apparently—bowed slightly to Mom. "Thank you, Serena. I shall take care of him."
To me, _take care of him_ sounded like _kill him_.
Jade turned to me, emerald eyes sharp. "I start training you tomorrow. And you will have to forget about going to school now."
My heart stopped.
I yelled, "Wait, I'm dropped out of school?!"
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