Chapter 10
Central Plaza, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, Year 2050, Planet: Grimoire
Once everyone checked to see that no one was hurt, Larry finally came out from behind the reception window. He looked rather flustered over what happened just now. He glanced up at the ceiling with some trepidation. "There's the other thing. All the existing buildings have to go through a thorough inspection to ensure that they're maintaining safety standards."
Anara nodded thoughtfully. Okay, that made sense to her. She was still confused about the other reason why all of their belongings, including the absent siblings, were in the boxes though. She gestured silently at the sight with raised eyebrows. Anara wasn't touching or doing anything until they were provided with an explanation that made sense.
The others sighed in exasperation, but Anara ignored them. She knew Larry was the most reliable one in the group. She'd learned the hard way in the past to pay attention to only what he said.
"C'mon, Biggs, quit hemming and hawing and tell her what she wants to know." One said impatiently.
"You're not the only one who is under mandatory overtime to clear this place out." Another officer said with folded arms and a tapping foot.
Goodness now everyone was getting impatient with him.
"Oh, we heard what happened and already prepared these for transportation." The receptionist, Larry Biggs grinned at Anara. "We figured you all would be arriving here shortly and decided to cut through some of the wait time." He offered them the paperwork. "Sign here and we'll transport it back to the Lamberton House and then you can take your time clearing some of the lockers."
Well, that did work out, but what did he mean about the lockers? Was there a problem that cropped up because of space becoming scarce? Anara eyed them quizzically. "We'll clear the lockers of course, but what has happened?"
"Hmm?" Larry looked at them in astonishment. "Oh, I guess you haven't heard. You're being reassigned to a new sector for Requisitions. You're already approved to the senior rank of journeyman. Soon you'll be issued new badges with that updated information." Larry shrugged. "It seems that when all your stuff was burned, it was after they'd been assessed and graded."
Everyone was speechless when they heard that. There was relief mixed in with resentment because now they felt as if they'd been roundly insulted through official channels.
"Thanks for giving us the heads-up." Anara sighed. She went to clear out her locker. Well, maybe she would have more free time. Only time will tell. At present, she just needed to clear the locker out and make sure that nothing was left behind.
"Oh right, what about Daryl and Harper's lockers?" Anara looked at the officer who'd followed with a few boxes.
"Hmm?" The woman looked at Anara in surprise. "Ah, they came earlier to clear the lockers out and return the combinations." She shrugged. "I don't know what their deal was, but they looked upset and irate about something."
Now that didn't sound good at all, but Anara merely shook her head. Maybe when meeting with everyone later, the questions would be cleared up. For now, she merely put everything miscellaneous into the boxes. Anara hesitated and sighed.
Now to deactivate other precautions. She did check to make sure there hadn't been any obvious marks on certain boxes and scrolls. There'd been seals she put on them as soon as setting them inside. Three barriers flashed and blinked out of existence.
Her body unconsciously relaxed after having instinctively tensed up.
That was a good sign then. It meant that none of those magical seals were disturbed. Anara heaved a sigh of relief.
As for the diagrams and other blueprints of clothing and items she'd crafted. She put her hand inside, rather than removing anything physically. All the bound scrolls and boxes marked with a specific insignia went into a storage ring without ever being opened up.
While Anara didn't have a problem with the officer seeing the other items, she didn't want anyone looking at the trademarked designs. That was the fastest way of them getting stolen. Now, she had completely cleared the locker. The woman huffed impatiently. "Are you done yet?" She sounded annoyed with Anara's seemingly wasting time dawdling in front of the locker.
"Yes, I'm all done." Anara nodded.
The woman blinked in shock since all the boxes were now completely filed and neatly sealed. She shivered. "I will never get used to that type of telekinesis." She muttered uneasily.
That wasn't a good reaction from any of them. Anara sighed wearily. That would never do.
A good fifteen to twenty minutes later, all the siblings finished with their packing. Anara had perched on one of the boxes and done her best to calm the female worker down. In the process, she learned about what exactly happened in the Requisitions office before they arrived.
As the rest of the siblings gathered, they began to appreciate the restraint of the officers not freaking out as the brothers and sisters carefully moved boxes here and there with either their skills or just plain brute strength.
"We want to thank you for being so courteous to us." The woman from earlier said politely. "Usually no one thinks about whether or not we're risking our lives when we come to work here."
Everyone sat in thoughtful silence. They were exhausted. "Well," Sapphire watched them thoughtfully. "We did it for a few other reasons." She admitted with a small smile.
"There is always the possibility that in the future we may need your help again," Sherpa added with a sigh. "Who knows, we could very well become coworkers in the future." He shrugged.
The warehouse workers eyed them in askance. "How is that possible?" The woman inquired bluntly. "Are you not hotshot adventurer hunters right now?"
Ambrose shrugged and nodded his head. "Yes, right now, we are, but that could easily change in a second's moment of carelessness." He spread his hands. "We don't know what the future holds. That's why we're planning for a future when we don't hunt or go adventuring and exploring." Ambrose smiled a little at their surprised expressions. "We don't enjoy being burdens when we were raised to be independent." His calm explanation made them nod their heads thoughtfully.