Chapter 14
Central Plaza, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, Year 2050, Planet: Grimoire
As they goodnaturedly cheered to one another about their progressing projects that were going full speed ahead, their moods lightened significantly, which was what they wanted right then. As they began eating and drinking, a congenial silence settled over all of them.
After some time, Harper exhaled. "Those siblings still haven't gotten it into their heads that there are situations that they can't interfere in." He grimaced in aggravation. "That is why I chose to leave them in the probation building."
Daryl shrugged. "I was surprised when none of them contacted me." He admitted. "I actually found out from a fellow dorm student." He scowled. "Darn fool had the gall to gloat over their temporary imprisonment." Daryl shook his head. "I had no idea that people could be so petty."
Hmm, well it didn't surprise Grifton in the least.
That was the same for Harper. "Well, what happened here is tame compared to other places we've resided." He shrugged. "For starters, there weren't public executions right on the spot, or beatings either."
What kind of area had they come from where that was the norm? Grifton was momentarily shocked.
"True," Daryl conceded. "I'm just appreciating the fact that they've finally gotten it through their thick brains that might and force don't always work." He shrugged. "I'll have to continue monitoring the situation though."
Well, that sucked. Grifton snorted. "Oh good grief, I don't want to know what happened this time." He just hoped it didn't have to do with his lodgings. "Please tell me they weren't involved with the issue that happened at Lamberton?" He had enough problems on his hands without having to find something new should they have burnt down.
Immediately the two brothers gave him the necessary peace of mind. "Your place is intact," Harper reassured him with a knowing grin. "If anything, that was the reason why they got in trouble. They wouldn't save the other buildings around the general area."
Oh my, what had he done to inspire such a reaction in them? Grifton couldn't remember offhand.
Harper noticed his confusion. "Well since half of them also reside on various floors of that same dorm, it makes sense that they'd want to protect their lodging."
Ah so that was the reasoning, Grifton relaxed to know that it had nothing to do with him.
Daryl shook his head in chagrin. "Not to mention that neither of us was there to run interference between the rival gangs that attempted to break in as well."
Oh dear, rival gangs? Grifton grimaced. "Which gangs?"
"Hmm? Oh, Kraken no thanks to Fang's Cliff Academy," That one made Grifton stiffen in shock. He'd had quite a few run-ins with those jerks. They made some of the other academy gangs look sweet in comparison.
He'd apparently missed quite a few names, but not the last one and it sent chills down his back.
"...and Devil's Horn from Fremont Academy." Harper listed. "However, they were the culprits that got caught in the act of arson several times before now." He shrugged. "This time someone managed to stop them before they could even gain a foot inside the gateway of Lamberton House grounds."
Relief soughed through Grifton when he heard the news. As for the other details, the boys filled him in on it as they walked to the Jade Palace where they had a small room reserved to eat in.
"I'm glad that we could meet together," Grifton commented.
"Yes, we wanted to see you before the official break began," Harper murmured.
"We got word that we're needed back in Fountain Grove," Daryl admitted with a sigh. "Not that we weren't prepared to receive an update, but something strange happened there."
"Ah right," Grifton recalled that they had quite a complicated history. "Well, good luck to you in finding what is wrong back there."
Harper grinned. "Meh, just our youngest siblings fussing." He spread his hands. "They're mad because we skipped the winter festivities. So now we have to return for the summer ones at least."
Grifton shook his head in admiration. He couldn't help it and laughed with the two boys. That's right, the other siblings were hard-headed, and stubborn, and made him look like an angel whenever their tempers exploded.
As they laughed and chatted, Harper finally inquired. "So how did you wind up at Cornell?" He tilted his head slightly. "I'll be honest. This doesn't seem like the environment you really wanted to remain aligned with."
Harper had sharp insight, and Grifton gave him props for understanding that the circumstances hadn't been the best for him when he first joined the academy. "Let's just say that I don't plan on remaining here for much longer."
In fact, he was saying goodbye to everyone in his peculiar fashion. "I'll be heading to territories unexplored when the summer break begins." Grifton will have graduated by then.
For a moment, they sat in contemplative silence.
Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned that he'd be leaving soon. On the other hand, Grifton knew they would've been very upset had he just left without a word. Sometimes saying goodbye was so awkward. yet, he'd felt it was necessary this time.
Grifton wasn't regretful by any means, but he also knew that it would be hard to leave this particular group behind. He had grown fond of them after all. They made him sometimes wonder what it would be like to have younger blood-related siblings in reality.
Although with the number they had it was rather overwhelming, to say the least. So in one respect, Grifton was quite glad that he knew nothing of his parentage.
That wasn't to say he didn't have questions about his past. He did, he just didn't want to waste time looking for the people who'd abandoned him that's all.
When he thought of everything that happened in his life ever since the eight tornados called siblings rumbled into his life, Grifton realized it had been very enriched in a good way. He would miss them when he went his separate way. However, he might be inclined to keep in touch with them. It just depended on how things went in the future.