Chapter 26: Sibling Bond
Exceptionally that weekend, Luong Lao Shi and Sun Park decided to have their apprentices training together. Siblings Jake and Haley Long were ecstatic about their bonding time but Haley was worried. "What if the Dragon Council changes their minds about not removing my powers for what I did back in Halloween?"
"Don't worry, Haley." Jake decided to comfort his sister. "If they wouldn't do it with that traitor in the Council, they won't do it now."
"Speaking of people who changed loyalties, what about your Huntsgirlfriend?" Haley asked. "Will she be sent back to Canada?"
"Rose has Canadian relatives but her immediate family lives in America like us, Haley." Jake corrected her. "And there's a worry that someone in the Huntsclan might spot her if she returns to them."
"Couldn't they have they live with her Canadian relatives?" Haley suggested. "Or, since they're dragons, are they too afraid she'll slay them?"
"If they are, the ones I know do a great job hiding it." Jake answered. They then started their training. Lao Shi and Sun Park had them go through a trust exercise. The rules said all dragon masters had to put their pupils through it but each master was allowed their own way to do it. Sun Park picked Haley while Lao Shi allowed Jake to fall into a dumpster. "Never trust anyone, young one." Lao Shi told Jake.
'Chang had a bigger impact on him than I imagined.' Jake thought.
Several exercises later, Jake and Haley were given a break. "Jake, why are things different for you?" Haley asked.
"We must be put through the same exercises but each dragon master has autonomy on how to implement them, Haley." Jake explained.
"And how's that demon hunt Dad somehow helped by buying VIP tickets for a game?" Haley asked.
"I believe there's only one portal left but I'm not privy to details." Jake replied. "I still can't believe Gramps and I missed the original talisman hunt that led to this demon trouble. The humans looking for them once came to New York for one."
"Really?" Haley asked out of curiosity.
"Yes, Haley." Jake answered. "Remember when the Statue of Liberty vanished and Grandfather thought it had something to do with a diamond that was stolen from the museum a few days before?"
"Are you saying it was a talisman?" Haley asked.
"The talisman of invisibility was at display in the same museum as the diamond. It just happened that those already searching for the talismans went there at the same night someone decided to steal the diamond." Jake explained. "Of course, by the time the Elemental Dragon Girl met the good side searching for the talismans, the Dragon Council had already done enough examinations on the diamond to figure out it has no magical properties but it was a good thing to finally solve that mystery."
"Makes it seem like a waste on Dad's part to buy that diamond." Haley commented.
"So, what's Dad doing with it now?" Jake asked.
"Oh, it's just accumulating dust with the stuff he bought from charity auctions." Haley dismissed.
"Including those jade artifacts Dad had to outbid that Taiwanese millionaire for?" Jake asked.
"Bartholomew Chang, you mean?" Haley asked and Jake nodded. "I still think Dad should keep his jade artifacts in a safe place of their own. Even if the rumors about Chang being a jade thief, there does seem to be an international thief that steals jade."
"True that, Haley." Jake commented. They then resumed their training.
End chapter.
Author's note: For those who remember my third author's note in the previous chapter, emphasis on 'probably'.