Chapter 64
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2030, Planet: Grimoire
After talking with Probation Officer Brinton, Grifton better understood his peculiar situation. He hadn't known just how complex and precarious his life had been.
"You're a smart kid," Brinton told him. "I want you to start seriously thinking about your future." A sigh escaped him. "There is a high possibility that people will begin thinking you're much older than your actual age."
Grifton had known that for some time. However, it hadn't been a big deal before because he usually worked around the people who knew his circumstances. In the outside world, though, it seemed that no one would recognize him as a young child. When it came to being taller and more robust than most kids his age, he appeared closer to ten or twelve.
Grifton acknowledged that he's been lucky this far. He'd survived to the age of eight. He shook his head wearily. That was a miracle when he recalled all he'd gone through in his first week of life.
Grifton made a sour face. Not to mention, right after the springtime of the following year, which heralded my first digit of a year.
"Jeez, how did I manage to live this long anyhow?" Grifton grimaced because he recalled the Outlander brats that terrorized his home and family. "Oh well, not like I won't have more opportunities in the future to get along with people." He would just have to work harder than before, that's all.
"I could become a cobbler," Grifton mused. The same goes for being a blacksmith, too." He just wouldn't do it in the same place as Calico; otherwise, his brother would get huffy from jealousy. He'd rather not have to put up with that.
While living in Flange Orphanage had its restrictions, he'd discovered some time ago that the orphans had more freedom than most kids their age. Grifton grunted as he slowly walked after the probation officer. He let his thoughts roam where they pleased.
They could work in limited capacities starting at the age of five. Grifton recalled with some wryness. Later, they could enter an internship if they showed innate abilities, magical or not, in some field of artisanry. "Well, whatever I do, it won't be in the field of smithing." He'd decided that some time ago.
It hadn't taken Grifton long to realize he did have a knack for certain types of work. "Yes, being a cobbler or a tailor would work nicely." None of which required magic, but that didn't bother him. "I can also make small ornamental objects that function like weapons. So that might appeal to non-combatants." Grifton mused thoughtfully.
A sigh escaped Grifton. He had none to speak of, unlike others who'd manifested magical abilities. "Hmph, they think they have it so good." When that lack surfaced, he'd endured a hellish amount of bullying that he hadn't wanted to acknowledge hurt him significantly. "Pah, not as if I don't have ways of working around my lacking magical skills."
Much to Grifton's shock, his cousins rallied around him, along with a few others, and they ganged up on his bullies. "Now, I don't need to rely on them. It is rather fun to create alternatives for dealing with cowards and annoying, arrogant fools," he mused with a mocking grin.
"Not only that, but I know of other ways to retaliate." Grifton was able to muster his courage and begin fighting back. "Besides, I don't need physical ways of dealing with them."
Nowadays, even when his cousins went out to work, and the older ones graduated, he could hold his own against those aggravating jerks. "I just have to keep things civil until they aren't civil any longer." Grifton reflected as a tactic.
Brinton interrupted his train of thought, making him start in shock. "So, you're mumbling about how you've fended off the bullies till now?" Brinton was eyeing him with bemusement.
Grifton shrugged. "I've developed the bad habit of talking to myself." He didn't care. It had been a way to get his voice to start working without the addition of teeth. Something that had always been bothering him. "Is it normal for people to live without a full set of teeth?" It could be his defect in never having any growth within his mouth.
Brinton blinked. "That is something I've not had a problem with before." He looked closely at Grifton's mouth. "I do see something protruding from your gums." He stated at last. "Though they look more like sharp pointed spears than regular teeth."
Huh, maybe that was why his tongue hurt whenever he pressed it against his teeth wrong, and it wound up bloody. "So, I've got the kind of teeth that are good for being a carnivore, hmm?" That could either work out really well or poorly, depending on what kind of situation he was in at any given time.
Brinton shrugged. "Well, I reckon you'll figure things out in good time. Don't rush it too much." He paused. "I think you would do well in a support role for a military unit."
A support role? Grifton gazed at Brinton dubiously. How the hell could a non-magic user be of use against monsters and other feral creatures? "Well, I hadn't heard of that one before," Grifton admitted. "So, I'm at a loss."
Brinton exhaled. "It isn't about just fighting, kiddo." He folded his arms. "Do you think that clothes make themselves shoes as well?" He frowned at Grifton. "Take what you're doing here for volunteering and looking to do as an internship. Don't you ever wonder where some implements go other than to towns, cities, and farms?"
While Grifton hadn't considered any of that, he merely nodded. "I'm still trying to decide what I want to do for a living, sir." He folded his arms. "Since I don't yet have the aptitude in certain subjects needed for advancing early."
Brinton looked around. "Shall we sit down?" He sighed. "This may take a bit longer than I thought."
It's not like Grifton had much to do anyway. "Okay." He led the way to a small area where there were benches and some shade.