Chapter 132
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2038, Planet: Grimoire
After having rescheduled his departure, it was the day to leave. Grifton was hesitant about the choices he'd made. True he was finally at peace with his body. His heart was still in shock when he realized that Firenze loved him.
In fact, Grifton acknowledged that he loved Firenze. Neither of them was willing to push past that first acknowledgment. They had too many complications to settle.
Not the least of which was Firenze adjusting to life in a caravan wagon and all its limitations. Grifton found the situation rather amusing, though he hid it from the grumpy Alpha.
One evening, Grifton sighed in amazement. "wow, they adjusted faster than I did." He shook his head in bemusement. "I couldn't do that much despite all my efforts."
Firenze regarded him dubiously. "You're kidding me, right?" He shook his head. "I thought you did admirably well considering that half those students were former enemies."
Firenze shrugged. "Not to mention that I and others were willing to transfer just to get away from those other institutes." He smiled slightly. "That was the kind of influence that you had on many people."
"Mmmhmm, I got a similar response from them too." Grifton learned that the kids were already joining classes and figuring out where they fit within the structure. "I just didn't know how much trouble occurred after I left, though."
Firenze stared at him. "Don't tell me they feel they have to live up to your legend?" That was so not going to happen, and even Grifton knew it.
"Nah, they're going to carve out their own achievements." As a result, it wasn't until two days into the journey, after Grifton had a long chitchat with his nephews and nieces, that he realized something: "Just how many problems did I create for myself before I joined the academy?"
Firenze snorted. "Please tell me that is rhetorical?" He shook his head at Grifton when he sat in the other chair that faced Grifton.
"Uhm, not really," Grifton rubbed his forehead. "I didn't know I had such a fearsome reputation amongst the youngsters."
Firenze shrugged. "Well, you've pretty much ditched the artifacts that hide your true appearance." He sighed. "I was also shocked when I finally saw your real form." Firenze had been scared shitless and acknowledged it with a wry grin. "It didn't take me long to find all the good attributes soon afterward."
Uh, Grifton didn't know how to respond to that and then laughed. "yeah, that was one of the few times I did voluntarily join a competition once I'd managed to readjust to civilian life." He had yet to remember that period. It had allowed Firenze to get closer to Grifton. "I can look back and not curse the situation now." He glanced at Firenze. "I was a real asshole back then."
"Not as much as I was, if I recall correctly. I was beyond pushy. I'm surprised you didn't punch me." When Grifton shot him a narrow-eyed stare, Firenze snorted. "Who wasn't in those times?" He shifted around and wrapped his arms around Grifton's waist.
Grifton grunted in surprise. He hadn't even noticed when Firenze moved the chair. He was just that fast and oblivious, it seemed.
Firenze murmured, "The fact that we're together like this is still amazing to me." He sighed. "I'm thankful for this opportunity because now I can see you in a different environment." Firenze nipped his ear. "When you're going through tasks other than work and study."
Grifton shook his head in amusement. "Well, I guess it worked out then." He sighed as he thought about everything they'd gone through together. "I'm just glad the others were polite to you."
Firenze laughed. "Oh, I assure you they put me through the wringer." He wasn't deterred. "I tolerated it because I knew they were doing it as part of the welcoming that newbies get." He relaxed when Grifton nodded with a grimace. "Also, they were warning me to behave around you."
Now, that was a shock to Grifton. "Well, I can't say, as I thought they'd go that far."
Firenze sighed. "I'd have been disappointed if they didn't." He nuzzled Grifton's neck. "If you think about it in other terms," His words astonished Grifton because it was how he did think of that particular caravan.
Firenze clearly didn't mind when he clarified. "they're a second or third family that raised you."
Grifton had formed different units resembling families but had yet to think of them in that fashion. "I'll admit, I didn't give it too much thought." He should have done so before now.
"Well, I don't know how they'd respond to you calling them as such," Firenze warned. "Just being yourself seems like all that they want." He rubbed Grifton's shoulders. "You're tense."
"Yeah, from shock," Grifton glanced at Firenze. "It is my first time hearing something like this from you. It is not something I'm accustomed to hearing or thinking about right now."
Firenze laughed. "Ah, don't take it too much to heart. I wouldn't want to make things awkward between you and them."
Oh, that made sense. Grifton sighed. "This is going to take some getting used to," he admitted. "Well, I suppose we should get some sleep. I have to get up for the three a.m. guard shift change."
As soon as the guard watch was mentioned, Firenze winced. "Oh, yeah, almost forgot about that." He nodded, even looking miffed at the reminder, but stopped teasing Grifton. "Well, I'll get into bed as well." He headed to his separate bed. "If I don't sleep separately from you, neither of us will get sufficient sleep." Firenze's low mutter made Grifton laugh and then sigh.
Damn, I wish I didn't have guard duty tonight. Sometimes, Grifton disliked that part of Firenze. Though it is working out, I wonder how others who were lovers managed to work out the schedules. However, Grifton appreciated it tonight because it showed Firenze's willingness to abide by specific rules for the merchants who were couples in the caravan.
Right now, neither Grifton nor Firenze are officially a couple yet. Us, a couple, who would've imagined that about us in the past? No one, I'll bet. Unless there were some kids who were foreseers. Nah, I don't think even they saw this one coming. For sure, I never did. Grifton frowned a bit. Lately, he hasn't had any dreams either. I won't even think about it. That'll just bring something nasty down on my head. He shuddered at the thought of having one of those types of dreams. With his luck, he'd wind up screaming like a girl if something genuinely horrendous happened in those visions. That was so not what he wanted to happen to him.
That brought Grifton full circle to what he'd been avoiding thinking about. He and Firenze being a couple? That would take some getting used to. It still sends chills down his spine. A sigh escaped him because he didn't know what to do about the situation.
If he had thought about it some more, Grifton would have become more accustomed to thinking of Firenze as such. Then again, perhaps I'm jumping the gun just a little with such thoughts. Grifton shook his head wearily. He needed to get more sleep because he'd been lacking enough of it lately.
The following day, when he joined the others after an uneventful night shift, Grifton saw that no one stared at him or Firenze with speculative gazes. Even though it wasn't happening now, he knew it would happen eventually. The artisans, guards, and warriors weren't idiots by any means. No doubt they'd heard voices at night and knew Grifton and Firenze were discussing different topics despite the late hour.
It wasn't as if they'd tried hiding that they were in a blossoming relationship. Grifton looked at the map route and frowned. When had they changed course? "What's this about?" He tapped the map and looked at Diego and others.
"Oh, we had to make a detour," Diego told him. "We caught traces of monster activity."
Normally, they would have awakened all the warriors to deal with the situation. "So, what happened?"
Diego shook his head. "We altered course because there were other tracks of little ones with them." He frowned. "Don't you remember mentioning that some of them were sentient and had tribal tattoos covering hides or some such information?"
That was something that people even watched out for nowadays. "I remember mentioning it to Commander Darmono and Lamberton one night." It had been during that horrible disaster of a mission, he recalled.
Okay, Grifton nodded. "So, we were leaving the family intact?" That was a new policy that drove hardliners crazy. On the other hand, it meant that the ones with tattoos weren't as likely to be mistaken as actual monsters anymore.
"Yup, though it angered a few of the warriors who're going stir-crazy from being unable to do anything." Diego shrugged.
"Worry not. We will wind up in an area where the warriors will stop whining for an entire month." Grifton could guarantee that when he saw where they were heading next.
Diego laughed. "I said the same thing. I won't repeat what they told me."
"Screw 'em," Grifton said tersely. "I don't really care what they think." He smiled faintly. "Besides, they'll soon understand that it would be smarter not to grumble about inaction."
Diego nodded. "Yeah, please make sure that you're armored up." He sobered up as he warned. "We're going to need your help dealing with the creatures." When a whistle rang out, Diego sighed and shook his head. "Just as I thought. Something suspicious has already emerged."
Grifton was a bit concerned. He got armored up, just in case a fight would happen sooner than expected. Grifton saw that Firenze frowned in the direction that Diego was headed.
"What's wrong?" Grifton knew Firenze could detect monsters and other creatures far quicker than most.
Firenze shook his head. "I don't know. Something seems off about the area that we're going toward." He spoke grimly. "Just stay alert."
Grifton was alarmed. "Okay," he said. Now that he had considered it, Firenze seemed unusually subdued and unwilling to budge.
Generally, he would've already been wandering around and looking for signs, so this was uncharacteristic of Firenze.
Grifton shook his head. He would still remain alert since it was advised to be so.