Fourty-three. Galen looked in the mirror with a raised eyebrow. Did he look old enough to pass? His fingers stroked through his black hair. Maybe it was time to consider letting his natural grey show? He'd thought about it before, but wizards stayed youthful for longer, didn't they? It was fine if he didn't change anything, was it?
Galen concentrated and let the colour of his hair fade to its natural state. A few silver strands appeared and honestly didn't look half bad. Still, no matter how natural, it just didn't feel right. He shock his head and almost instantly his hair turned dark again. Better.
He could hear the voice of his mother in his mind. She wouldn't approve and never had. His current look just didn't sit well with her in general. However, it felt more comfortable to him. He liked being taller and more muscular. He'd spent so much time impersonating European-looking wizards he'd gotten used to certain things. All his mom seemed to know how to was nag. Galen felt resentful of it. He'd gotten them out of Japan with his talents, but instead of being grateful she was just being difficult.
You don't look like a proper Korean, she'd accuse him as if that was of any consequence to anybody. It was frustrating how 15 years later she could still rile him up with the same few sentences, even when she wasn't around.
Galen turned his back to the mirror. Her opinion didn't matter. It shouldn't matter and yet here he was fretting about it.
And it was time to head downstairs. Though the shop had only ever been intended as cover, he actually enjoyed running it. One day, when he could afford to retire from the ministry, he would run it in earnest. For a while anyway. Until he got bored. Okay, he'd get bored.
It was raining outside, so rather unsurprising Doldori was excited and happily bounced alongside Galen as he went to unlock the door. The magical umbrella creature naturally loved rainy days and always enjoyed entertaining the shopper's at Galen's little store. Not many British witches and wizards had ever seen a kasa-obake, meaning it usually received a lot of attention. Some, of the wizarding children had even asked if they could pet it.
As was the case most mornings, they store was quiet. Galen looked at the shop across the street from his. They seemed to be having a slow day as well. He smiled. That probably meant that Dhanya would be over shortly for a cup of tea. Real tea, not the stuff the British liked to partake in.