Page 69 of The Alien Noble's Little Human

“Zaya, are we going to the laboratory again today?” asks Hanai, her lips stained with food.

“Of course,” I reply, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.

Taurek looks at his daughter with a glint of admiration and wonder in his eye.

“You seem to have really taken an interest in Zaya’s field of work,” he remarks, a sense of pride in his tone.

“Minerals are really fun to play around with,” she says excitedly.

“I think it’s becoming a passion of hers,” I say.

“Hmm, well perhaps she’ll grow up to be just like you,” remarks Taurek. He pulls out his stopwatch and rises from the table. “Excuse me, I must attend to my duties. Have a fun day, you two, and I’ll see you both later on.”

“Daddy, can we head up to the cabin tonight?”

“Of course we can, my dear.”

“Yay!”

Hanai and I wave farewell to Taurek as he exits the dining room. The two of us remain there for a short while to finish up our meal, before eagerly making our way to my laboratory.

I still can’t believe it’s ‘my’ laboratory.I think that same thought each and every time I step through my doors. Taurek had allocated this section of the palace to me. The lab itself is generously spacious, lined with equipment ranging from flasks and test tubes to scales and microscopes.

From the hook, I take down a regular-size coat for me, and a much smaller one for Hanai. No one before her had taken such a marveled interest in my work, but in a way, it feels more rewarding to teach my passion to a child than it does to an adult. Especially one whose interest arose from similar circumstances to mine.

“Fetch whatever plants, herbs, and minerals you’d like to work with today,” I tell Hanai. She scurries off while I set up the equipment, and returns just as I finish doing so. Together, we mess around creating different mixtures and compounds, producing an array of vials each swarming with magnificent vibrant colors.

I watch as Hanai stands on a stool, about to pour a concoction of chemicals into a finely ground flower powder, crimson in color.

“Wait just a second,” I tell her, fetching a pair of goggles for both of us. “This could get messy.” As soon as the liquid touches the powder, a flash blinds us both temporarily, a loud bang accompanying it.

My vision returns seconds later, the ringing in my ears disappearing at the same time. I peer down at my outfit then at Hanai, seeing the both of us are covered in soot from the explosion. Each of us bursts into laughter.

“Zaya, thank you for all of this fun,” she says after calming down. “I feel so loved.”

“You are loved,” I reply, laying a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Shall we finish up here and go get some riding practice?”

A short while later, I find myself out near the royal stables, leading a chordata into the training ground. Once inside, Hanai takes the reins and mounts the chordata with ease.

“Watch this.”

Hanai whips the reins, spurring the chordata into a dash. She takes it around the enclosure for a lap before coming to a stop beside me and jumping off the animal.

“Well, well, well! That was pretty impressive!”

“You try now, and I’ll give you a hand.”

Shakily, I climb onto the chordata, taking the reins just as my stepdaughter taught me last week. Over the past while, she’d personally been teaching me how to ride these creatures. I’ve been adamant about learning, figuring it’s best to do so if I’m to live out my life with a family of champion riders.

“I still get nervous,” I tell Hanai as we begin trotting.

“It’s normal. I was the same when Daddy started teaching me as well. But I can tell you’re getting more comfortable.”

She keeps an eye on my form as I guide the chordata, turning him in alternating directions and spurring him at higher speeds, then slowing him down. We keep at it for close to an hour when a familiar voice rings in the air.

“Having fun?” calls Taurek.

“Daddy!” shouts Hanai, sprinting over to him. I dismount and join them as we engage in a group hug.

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