The Half-Blood Giant

Chapter 19: A New Adventure

After spending the night at Milton's house, Jackie's magic was replenished enough to make a portal. Milton offered to make his guests breakfast, and Chester was tempted to accept, but Jackie wanted to hurry back home to Hunter to give him the good news. Chester bent to Jackie's wishes and bid his good friend farewell, thanking him for his hospitality. Millie waved goodbye shyly, and the couple returned the gesture with smiles. Milton sighed with relief when Chester was gone, hugging Millie close.

Chester's parents hadn't expected to keep Hunter for the night, but they didn't mind having him over. His grandpa in particular was delighted with him, now that he was finally growing into a giant. He took him for a long stroll around the estate and told him stories of the past. He related the tale of when he lost his eye. During the war against the humans, a squad of human soldiers set a trap and ambushed him, gouging out his eye with a large projectile from a catapult in an attempt to blind and kill him. Despite his injury, he flew into a white-hot rage and retaliated by chasing down and slaughtering the entire group of men, tearing apart and devouring them in a bloody mess.

Hunter absorbed these tales with fascination. He had a newfound respect for his grandparents, hardened by the trials they had undergone. When Chester and Jackie came to get him, he regarded them with all the more condescension. They were soft; they couldn't possibly understand what Grandpa Ajax had endured. No wonder he hated humans. Hunter looked upon his father with disgust for debasing himself to consort with a human and shaming his giant heritage. As for his mother—well, she was nothing. Hardly even relevant in his eyes. He despised the fact that his blood was tainted with hers. He rejected both her and his humanity.

Hunter climbed into the car, begrudgingly acknowledging his parents with a grunt. His mood soured as he realized he was returning home, to his prison. He'd be trapped in the house again, living out his boring, meaningless existence. No tales of heroism or war or adventures for him. His only interesting story was how he was easily overpowered by a giant and got his finger cut off. Hunter wanted to scream and claw his own eyes out with frustration, but he could do nothing but sit in gloomy silence.

Jackie, perched on Chester's shoulder, turned around to face him, leaning on Chester's neck for support. "Did you have a good time with your grandparents?"

"Yeah, I guess," Hunter replied with a shrug and his typical teenage moodiness. He didn't say anything further. After an awkward pause, Jackie changed the subject.

"I have good news for you!" she exclaimed, all chipper.

"What's that?" Hunter mumbled with disinterest, refusing to look at her and instead opting to stare out the window at the passing scenery.

"We're sending you off to boarding school!"

"Wait, what?" This bombshell was enough to capture Hunter's attention. "Where? How-"

"We found a school that takes both giant and human students," Jackie explained. "You'll fit right in."

Hunter stared at her blankly. "How does that even work? Don't the giants just eat all the humans?"

Jackie smiled and shook her head. "Where you're going... the giants are different. They don't eat humans like they do here, and they can't smell the difference. Everyone will probably just assume you're a giant."

Hunter was flabbergasted by this news. He honestly had no idea what to think about it. He'd never been to school before, so he had no preconceived notions of what the experience would be like. He leaned back in his seat with a contemplative expression. Being in a place where he would be considered a full-blooded giant would be nice. He wouldn't have to fear being cut up into pieces and eaten—definitely a plus. Also, he'd be able to get out of his suffocating prison and live his life around people other than his close family members. Meeting new people sounded intimidating, but interesting. Hunter liked the idea, despite how nervous he felt.