Chapter 3: Adjustments
Jake Long couldn't believe in how much his life changed within the span of one year. Almost one year ago, Jake Long was a middle-schooler who had only one younger sibling and didn't expect to have more. Now, he was a high-schooler, which was expected, and had a second sibling. Regardless of the implications regarding the Magical World, his family had to adjust to that new reality. Jake and Haley had to help their parents watching over their little brother Eric. Out of fear the Huntsclan might find Eric Long and take him, his parents always made him wear gloves to cover his Huntsclan birthmark. The mark was on only one hand but everyone in the secret agreed it'd be considered odd to have a baby wear only one glove. Fortunately, one brief experience as the American Dragon gave Haley Long a newfound respect for her brother and she no longer insinuated she'd be better than him. Nowadays, Jake and Haley occasionally interrupted their duties (either homework or magical duties) to help with Eric. "How cute." Haley commented. "Seeing him sucking on that pacifier makes me forget he's marked to slay us."
"Haley!" Her mother was shocked. "Don't say words like that in front of your little brother."
"Mom's right, Haley." Jake added with a smile. "Any brother of mine should get used to words like 'skateboarding'. The AmDrag will gladly tell him everything he knows about that."
"Hopefully you'll be too mature to ignore him by then, young dragon." Lao Shi replied as he entered the Long house.
"G?" Jake was surprised at his Grandfather's presence. ""What's up?"
"I came here to inform you that the Dragon Council is showing up tomorrow to meet my newest grandson." Lao Shi answered.
"Are they upset that Eric has the birthmark?" Jake asked.
"The Dragon Council must visit everyone with dragon blood, young one." Lao Shi explained. "They did the same for you and for your sister as well."
"I don't remember seeing them back when Haley was born." Jake commented.
"You still weren't told about your heritage back then, Jake." Susan explained. "Now that the whole family knows, I'm afraid the Dragon Council will expect all of us this time."
"Even Dad?" Jake asked out of worry. While it was true the Dragon Council had no ill will towards Jonathan Long the last time they met, Jake would always fear things wouldn't stay like that.
"Yes, Jake." Lao Shi calmly answered. "Dragon slayer or not, he's family and knows our secret."
"Awesome!" Jake exclaimed.
The next day, Jake was at High School for his classes where several classmates were congratulating him for his new little brother. Some compliments were nice. Others, not so much. "So, Jake, is the new brat keeping you too busy for a social life?" Brad Morton asked. "If so, Roselicious might finally come back to the Bradster."
"Forget it, Brad." Rose ordered him. "If needed, I'll gladly help Jake watch over Little Eric."
"I can't believe I ever encouraged Rose to date a jerk like you." Rose's best friend Courtney commented.
"Any plans for tonight, Jake?" Rose asked her boyfriend.
"Some friends of my Gramps are visiting to meet his newest grandchild and I'm expected to be there." Jake explained as best as he could while in the presence of humans who didn't know about the Magical World.
Rose would invite herself but, correctly guessing those 'friends' Jake mentioned to be the Dragon Council, she decided to stay out of it. While she no longer held any hated against dragons, she was afraid of opening old wounds by interacting with dragons other than Jake beyond necessary.
Later that day, the Longs were readying themselves to receive the Dragon Council. "Susan, are you sure they won't mind having me around?" Jonathan asked out of similar concern than Rose's.
"Jonathan, this is your house." She reassured him. "And the Dragon Council won't fear you'll be able to single-handedly take on so many dragons."
"Ha." He laughed. "Any slayer able to do such a thing would have earned a spot among the Magical World's thirteen biggest threats."
"And would probably outrank Rose's former master." Lao Shi added.
"Dad, don't encourage the joke." Susan said in exasperation.
"I'm not joking, Susan." Lao Shi replied.
They then heard the doorbell. Jonathan answered and found the Dragon Council at the other side of the door. Neither side showed any uneasiness about the other. "Welcome to my house." Jonathan greeted them.
"Thank you, Mr. Long." Councillor Andam replied as he and the rest of the Dragon Council entered. "I assume you know the reason for our visit."
"Indeed, councilors." Jonathan replied and then showed them Eric Long.
"What a cute baby!" Councillor Omina commented.
"In fact." Councillor Andam agreed. "It's hard to look at him and remember he's destined to slay our kind."
Jonathan then stared at the Dragon Council. "Don't worry, Mr. Long." Councillor Kulde said as he noticed it. "If we can understand you didn't do anything to warrant punishment from us, we can understand the same about a baby."
"Good." Jonathan sternly replied.
"Too bold, isn't he?" Councillor Kulde whispered to Councillor Kulkulkhan.
"He's just a father worried about his child." Kulkulkhan whispered back.
"Dinner is ready!" Susan announced.
"Thank you, Mrs. Long." Andam replied. "I've heard about your catering service. Did you make the food all by yourself?" He asked in hopes Jonathan had no chance to add poison to their food.
"Haley helped me." Susan answered.
Kulde then looked at Baby Eric and noticed his left hand. "Is that where he has the birthmark?"
"Yes." Jonathan answered. "We keep the gloves on him so it'll stay hidden just in case someone in the Huntsclan sees him."
"American Dragon, it's of our understanding that your Huntsgirlfriend met your little brother during a baby shower." Andam stated.
"Sorry we didn't invite you but we were afraid of having to explain you guys to Aunt Patchouli." Jake apologized out of a belief that's why Andam brought it up.
"That we can understand, American Dragon." Andam nicely explained. "We're afraid it's not a good idea to let a slayer who experienced the way of hunt near Eric. She might teach him stuff."
Jake frowned. "Rose no longer hates dragons. She can teach Eric to fight to protect magical creatures."
"For as long as Eric Long doesn't have dragon powers, it won't be his duty." Kulde sternly replied. "For as long as he doesn't get involved with anything magical, the Dragon Council won't have a problem with him."
"OK." Jake said in conformity.
End chapter.
