Chapter 62
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2030, Planet: Grimoire
Life could be either boring as hell or dangerous depending on where one resided in the republic of Shantu, or so Grifton discovered. Currently, he sat on a branch of an apple tree in one of the myriad orchards encircling the orphanage.
I'll be glad to report to the Director that I've completed the latest quota. Now that he had done it satisfactorily, Grifton figured he'd earned a position on one of the wagons that would haul the produce to a nearby marketplace.
All the kids had gone on various trips to different marketplaces as part of their education to learn about local regions that made up Three Pronged Forks. It was a huge city. It encapsulated a good six thousand hectares, perhaps more of land. Definitely, there was more land than Grifton thought he'd ever explore in his lifespan.
"Oh, here he is." A voice called out cheerfully.
Hmmm? Who was it? Grifton peered down. "Oh hey, Helen, Cori." He greeted them cautiously. "What's going on?"
While they hadn't bullied him. They hadn't exactly been friendly to him either. He found their sudden friendliness a bit suspect. Just as he thought that they suddenly backed away from the tree.
It shook roughly as if being attacked. Grifton didn't bother holding onto his perch. No doubt the damn bullies threatened them into finding him. A sigh escaped Grifton. "Bratty cowards. Don't ever come looking for me again."
Their outraged expressions told Grifton he'd guessed some of the truth. Whatever, not that he cared about their outrage. He jumped to another tree branch and scaled to another height where he could see his attackers.
Yup, it was Diek and Thorvald. Two of the biggest kids his age and the worst bullies to ever exist in the Orphanage. Honestly, he didn't know how they'd hidden their real natures from the Director. However, Grifton knew where all the hidden recording devices were. He just had to make sure neither of those two trolls found them. They'd nullify whatever made them work and then stomp him into the ground for good measure in retaliation.
"So, what did I ever do to you guys in the first damn place?" Grifton didn't understand what was going on.
"You're a useless piece of trash that can't even master the basics of magic." Thorvald sneered.
"Miss Mallie has been showing too much interest in you," Diek growled.
Seriously? Grifton rolled his eyes. Those were the reasons why they made his life a living hell?
"Jeez, it is only because I'm not like you guys, you know." Grifton sat cross-legged on his branch. "While it is true I can't use that commonplace magic like you, I have other abilities." He utilized his kinetic skills to remain in place when they tried to shake the tree again. He also stabilized the tree so it wouldn't budge.
"Oh right, you have something else that you utilize." Cori sneered. "What a freak."
"Speak for yourself, Cori," Grifton warned.
She was the same as him, and he knew it. Her eyes narrowed at his warning, but she subsided.
"What right do you have to make my life hell? I thought you managed to get spots on different wagons already?" Surely this didn't have anything to do with him, did it? As far as Grifton knew, he hadn't qualified.
"Oh, we're just making sure you'll never walk again." Diek snarled.
"None of us or them want you sharing the wagon with us, dragon freak," Thorvald growled.
"Yeah, you should've just died." For the first time, Helen spoke. She glowered at him, her gaze rather malevolent. "I'm going to ensure you die this time." She had a small object in her palm. It began smoldering. "All of you clear out."
The others ran, looking terrified of her actions. Grifton exhaled. Oh my, void summoning magic. So, Helen was going to drag him into another dimension using that thing? He studied it without comment.
Helen bared her teeth at him. "We don't need experimental hybrids cluttering the world as it is now." She snarled irately. "Not only that but an illegal mix of Tinroy and something unknown? Disgraceful." She spat with contempt.
"You're going down that rabbit hole now?" Grifton should've known this would happen.
It had been too quiet and peaceful lately.
Now the true ringleader showed her real colors. "I don't want another illegitimate brat from Tinroy showing his face around my house." She flung the purplish-hued orb at him directly.
Huh? Where did that come from? Grifton barely escaped with his life when dodging whatever she'd thrown at him. "Whatever, wench." He watched as the thing boomeranged and hit her directly in the face.
Grifton winced as with a muffled shriek, she vanished from sight. "Oh wonderful, now what should I do?" A sigh escaped him. He alighted to the ground and crouched next to the evilly-glowing orb.
Grifton studied it with a disgusted growl. "So much for attaining a good position. I'll be lucky if I don't get thrown into a punishment cell for this latest mess." The timing was horrible but typical as usual. His shoulders slumped in disgust.
Grifton almost jumped out of his skin when a wry familiar voice muttered. "Well, I'm glad that you managed to handle the situation just fine." It wasn't the Director, but the Probation Officer, Brinton.
Grifton scrambled to his feet. "Good afternoon, officer." He watched the man warily.
Brinton waved a hand at him. "At ease, you can sit down. The others were caught fleeing in terror. They'll be shocked to see you alive." He regarded Grifton. "Do you have any idea of what you look like right now?"
Huh? Grifton blinked at him. "Nope," He shook his head. However, he did notice a peculiar heaviness around his ears and along his temples. Now that he thought about it, he was hovering in the air, and... shadows around him kept moving. He glanced down and gawped in shock. "What the heck...wings? I have wings?" Even as he uttered the shocked statement, they abruptly vanished and he landed hard on his butt. "Ouch!"
"Well, you're definitely a dragon." Brinton grinned at him. "One that is exceptionally feisty."
Hmm, well, that was good? Grifton blinked. "Doesn't this type of thing normally happen when one is an adolescent?" As in a freaking teenager? He was exasperated.