The Path of a Black Sheep in a Fantasy World (BL)

Chapter 72

Ash gulped, his little fingers playing with the threads of his toga as he took in the good-looking man's words. It sounded so nice... All the villagers were so mean to him... He knew that they only bought him to make him the offering, but he still hoped that they would grow attached to him.

Each night that he slept on the cold ground in the middle of the village, his stomach empty and his limbs covered in bruises, he prayed that someone, anyone, would develop affection for him. Weren't humans supposed to be compassionate?

He was wrong.

No one ever came to his rescue, even as he was thrown into the snake's pit. No one looked at him with pity or regret.

Now, this stranger was telling him that he could be loved like any child... It sounded too good to be true... And he had just told him that he wouldn't be discriminated against, not that he could join their family.

As he realized this fact, the young snake felt his hope being trampled on.

"Oh! T-the Villagers!" Ash struggled to say, his splitted tongue making it difficult for him to articulate as he was still too young to control it perfectly. He hoped that this attempt at changing the subject would hide his previous excitement. He shouldn't get false hope. His strategy did work, as Adam didn't realize that Ash wanted to join their family and only had a slight misunderstanding.

Adam's spirit dampened as he thought that the child didn't want to join their group, his fists clenching as he tried to suppress his emotions. He mustn't scare Ash even if he's sad. He truly couldn't consider leaving the child with his abusers...

Still he had a duty to uphold.

"Right, guide us there, we will help." The warrior said as he got up, putting the snake back on his feet. The family followed the kid as he ran toward the village, taking the road opposed to the one they were initially going to take. Blaze was running fast after Ash, letting his two dads have their private moment. Adam ran alongside Evan, making sure to put some distance between the kids and them so as to speak to the giant without being heard.

He chewed his lower lip, wondering how to bring up the subject of adopting Ash, but Evan cut him off before he could find a solution.

"He would make a good brother for Blaze." Evan said, unbothered by the warrior's gaping mouth at his words. The slave had been thinking about adopting the child since he first saw him, too reminded of his time as a slave. He couldn't bear the thought of just sending the kid to another slave trader. The fact that Blaze was visibly attracted to Ash, and that Adam wanted to take care of the child was just an extra.

The snake would also be a good companion for Blaze to play with. It would mean more alone time with his lover. Ash would get a loving family and get rid of his slave status.

All were winners in this situation.

"If you are alright with adopting Ash, then I think we should go with it." Adam added with a smile, overjoyed when Evan gave a slight nod. All those times he wanted to help others, and now he could finally do something for someone, just like he had done for Evan and Blaze.

He wanted Ash to be happy.

The four of them reached the outskirts of the village, and immediately saw the giant black snake rampaging in the middle of the village. It was huge, way bigger than the fire snake that they had hunted in a cave before.

Adam clicked his tongue as he realized that the monster was breathing poison all around him.

It would be a tough challenge.

"Ash, come here." Adam said to the child, glad that the kid listened and tip-toed toward him shyly. He took the kid in his arms and then ran in the opposite direction of the snake, heading in the forest until he found a suitable cave to hide the kid in.

"I want you to hide here. We will take care of the snake and then come back for you. You are not to move under any circumstances, unless your life is at risk, understood?" The warrior crouched before the shifter, making sure to maintain eye-contact as he spoke his instructions. Ash gulped nervously, but nodded. He knew that he had done everything he could for this village. Now, he needed to trust those travelers.

"Good boy." Adam praised as he patted the shifter's head. Ash blushed, not used to being complimented. Ash shook his head to get rid of the bubbly feeling in his chest, patting his front to make it go away faster. He shouldn't get used to it or he would get disappointed when going back to his master.

The warrior made sure that the child was comfortable one last time before heading back toward his waiting family. While Blaze could fight and was trustworthy in a battle, Adam knew it wasn't the case with the snake-shifter. Anyone could see how puny his limbs were, along with the effects of starving. The warrior's tongue clicked as he cursed the villagers in his mind. He would have been less angry if at least they had fed the kid to make him more plump of an offering.

There wasn't any meat on his bones.

Maybe that's the true reason why the giant snake was mad, but they would never learn the truth as it would get killed anyway. A good way to get Ash's trust was to first grant his wish, which was to save this shitty village. Thus, that's what they would do.

Then he would try to bring Ash into their family again.

Adam and Evan ran into the village, followed by Blaze. The trio hurried to jump on the rooftops, avoiding the toxic gas spreading at ground level.

It was time to uphold their promise.

Hey dear readers, hope you are looking forward to this fight!

Don't forget to:

Like!

Comment!

And subscribe!

See ya next update :)

(1 013 words)