Lilo was currently cleaning out tomato juice from his ears while sitting in what seemed like an office of some sorts.
Lemon was sitting beside him, giving him the death glare, and Jawbi was mouthing them off with animated hand gestures.
Most of what was said was muffled and hard to hear. There must have been at least a pound of food juice packed into Lilo's ears.
The mage lantern that illuminated the small room flickered as Jawbi stomped around in annoyance when Lemon opened her mouth to talk back.
The mage punk gadgets and potion jars within the room shook with each heavy step Jawbi produced. There was a desk littered with runic papers and a chair with beautiful intricate engravings all over it behind that desk; which Jawbi promptly sat in.
He rubbed his temples as his eyes darted between the two kids in front of him. Finally, Lilo was able to dig out the last bit of gunk in his ear, and sound slowly faded back into his dazed brain.
"...He's obviously a liability. It's not my fault-" Lemon's raspy voice was cut short by Jawbi's deep growl.
"YOU. You are the problem Miss. Don't blame a refugee kid for having a tough time settling in. Now, I know how much you resent that spire so I'm giving you a little room for error; but what happened out there was unacceptable young lady." Jawbi's tone was not condescending... but rather disappointed.
Lemon lowered her head in shame and a mixed expression of embarrassment, anguish, and anger layered her face.
With teary eyes Lemon met Lilo's confused gaze. Her lips trembled as she spoke.
"Fuck. You." With that, she bursted out of the room, leaving no chance for Lilo to rebuttal.
"What the hell did I even do? I literally only attempted to sit at her table..." Lilo exclaimed, looking to Jawbi for an answer.
"Our table. She was saving it for us: Wonka, Pepper, and I." Jawbi answered candidly.
"How was I supposed to know that? It was either that or I had to sit with my brother's crazy cult friend group." Lilo threw his hands up in frustration.
"You are aware of your brother's malice?" Jawbi's brow furrowed in concern.
'Wait... Soda? How the fuck does he know? Also... he mentioned refugees. Do they know we're from the other spire?'
"I'm assuming he knows about Chalant because he's been here for some time. My brother doesn't waste time to attempt his mischievous tactics. As for the spire - think Lilo, what other explanation is there for some kid wandering around in the outskirts?"
"Every human being must live within the world behind the spires if they don't wish to be devoured by the abominations prowling the outskirts. If you aren't a spire citizen, you are of the inner circle, and the most likely conclusion is that you are a refugee of the recent fallen spire."
A wave of relief washed over Lilo as he heard Soda explain. Soda's child like voice was a constant comforting guide in Lilo's head. A reliable soul for anything that Lilo needed guidance on.
"Wait... If you knew, why are you enrolling him into the herder program." Lilo asked Jawbi pointedly.
Jawbi scratched his freshly shaven jaw and shook his head.
"Not my choice..." He muttered.
"What about me being a refugee? What's your motive behind saving me?" Lilo asked, concern lacing his tone.
Jawbi's massive shoulders slouched and a apprehensive sigh escaped his lips. He approached the young boy before him and placed a comforting hand their shoudler.
"You're just a kid, so I hate to have to put his burden on you... but there's a war coming." Jawbi's eyes gleamed with a mixture of enticement and fear. "And all the spires are gathering every able body to fight it. We will reclaim that spire and expel that wretched sentient glutton."
A chilling smile creased the muscular man's chiseled face.
"Will you help us do that?" Jawbi asked Lilo without expecting an answer.
He patted the little kid's petite frame on the back, leading him out of the office door.
"Now get to the gym in time for sparring. I'm excited to see you out there."
With those parting words, Jawbi closed the office door behind Lilo, leaving him once again alone in the hallway.
'I feel like I've had my fair share of fighting today... God I hate this place. When will this long ass day be over?'
***
Lilo stood last in line. Everyone was in a single file line by order of height in the large gymnasium.
An obnoxious growl escaped Lilo's empty stomach and Lemon's head, several dozen places in front of him in line, swiveled around to give Lilo an unwelcome glare.
'Well I'm sorry you didn't let me eat and instead chose to beat the shit out of me with the food I was about to consume.'
Lilo studied his surroundings to keep his mind off of his hunger.
The floor was still made from soft clouds so it made for a great mat for sparring and the tall ceilings left room for anyone who choose to utilize magic.
The walls had murals of more of the statue like heroes. The weapons they wielded as well as the gluttons they were slaying were portrayed in majestic fashion; breathing motivation into anyone who laid eyes on it.
It seemed every large room within the academy did not utilize mage lights but rather opted to use sky lights. The large windows in the ceilings let the natural light spill into the vast open space, heating up the brisk breeze that wafted from the open doorways to the gym.
Everyone stood at attention, awaiting their coach. There were no traces of their earlier food fight encounter at the mess hall, at least not physically.
Lots of nervous glances came to both Lilo and Lemon though, all the students remembering them getting dragged off by the menacing figure of Jawbi.
Speak of the devil, a pair of heavy footsteps could be heard echoing in the vast gymnasium.
'Wait... How the hell are we able to make noise like that when we are literally stepping on clouds? Shouldn't it dampen our footsteps? The echo's as well?'
"Stop asking stupid questions." Soda's annoyed voice echoed in Lilo's mind.