Chapter 137
Lamberton Student Dormitory, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2038, Planet: Grimoire
They were all in agreement since now everyone was curious to see what haul the four males actually gained from the ruins of the orphanage. Yes, they were saddened by the tragedy. However, those opportunistic fools earlier wholly destroyed what little Sorrow they could muster at present. Now, all that remained was outrage and a hefty dose of curiosity. Besides, no one wanted to leave until everyone could see what clearly needed revelation.
Lamberton cracked open an eye and stared at the receptionist and then at Brinton. "If anything is left of that tale, do be good and spit it out. This is your last chance to explain how you managed to subdue those idiots."
"Yes, I'd like to know how you forced them to remain in one location," Darmono added.
At that point, Brinton sighed as all their attention settled upon him. "I took the opportunity to relieve her of the weight of one of those ungodly heavy trays for Mrs. Merry." He scowled in recollection of the unsightly behavior they'd commenced in conducting. "To say the very least, I stopped them from making any more unreasonable requests of her."
Mrs. Merry laughed. "Oh, they most certainly did." She frowned and shook her head. "I couldn't believe their audacity having ordered me out of there." She sighed. "Then they decided to wander at will, poking their noses into whatever rooms they found unlocked? How rude could complete strangers be?"
Now that was acting instead audaciously indeed. Grifton didn't care for the sound of that.
Lamberton shook his head. "Did they really do that?"
Darmono growled in disgust. "They've gotten very bold indeed to do such things."
At their disbelieving stares, Brinton smirked. "When I offered to escort them back out if they didn't care for the service received thus far," he shrugged with a sigh of displeasure. "They declined and promptly stopped wandering the halls."
At that point, Lamberton rose from his chair and disappeared through a hidden door no one had noticed.
"They got the message loud and clear," Brinton followed his actions when he concluded with a faint smirk. "When I blocked their attempts to go elsewhere other than back to this receiving room connected to your office, Lamberton."
Darmono shook his head. "Do continue speaking. He's just making sure they hadn't managed to discover that door."
Mrs. Merry flinched. "Hmm, I didn't go near that door even once in this room." She recalled. "If I did have to go to his office for something, I just went out the usual door."
Mr. Brinton nodded. "Not even the aides went near the connecting door." he shrugged. "By that point, we all realized they were snooping around and looking for something to use against Lamberton."
Everyone couldn't believe the gall of what they had. How dare those idiots act as if they owned this place? Even Grifton was uneasy. He had a room on this floor where those people were nosing around.
At last, Lamberton returned. He'd listened to what else was said and shook his head in annoyance. He didn't say anything at first but just sat down again. The little dragon rumbled against him in irritation. That made everyone laugh softly.
Peaceful silence, besides the crackling of the fire in the fireplace, surrounded all of them. No one really wanted to do or say anything else right then. However, after a few minutes, Darmono broke the silence. "Are we expecting other visitors?" He looked at the video and intercom as he spoke.
"No, not that I'm aware of." Mrs. Merry shook her head.
"There'd better not be, at least not before this area is thoroughly checked out," Brinton grumbled.
"Hmm, what you are saying is that they thought it was a fine time to ensure that nothing I did would remain unknown to their spies?" Lamberton shook his head in disgust. "I refuse to tolerate that nonsense." He turned to Grifton. "Please have your spirits checked to discover who else remains in the dormitories other than the students who're taking a holiday right now."
Grifton was surprised by the following explanation: "I'm doing this because I know you'll keep all of this with utmost secrecy." The others nodded with heavy sighs. "I don't trust anyone else to do it right now." Lamberton seemed so weary of everything going on that he would request Grifton's assistance.
Wow, this was an honor since they'd never entrusted him with this responsibility. What had happened to them when they separated from him and Firenze in that chamber earlier? Well, now wasn't the time to ask ridiculous questions that had nothing to do with the topic.
"With pleasure." Grifton and the spirits did a thorough scan.
After a while, he shook his head. "We, and the only remaining figures of authority beside you and Darmono," He paused, "Brinton and a few of your trusted aides are in this room." It took him a few seconds. "On all the floors are students." he paused. "Those idiots lurk within, seeming a few miles away. That means they must've indeed planted something within the walls of this building." They might've also used magical items that weren't visible or easily detectable. How despicable and desperate they must be.
No one knew what to think or say after this. An unpleasant pause ensued as everyone gathered and looked at each other with frustration. "Grr, outrageous," Firenze fumed. Well, that settles it," he declared, to the surprise of everyone in the room. At their skeptical stares, he shrugged. "I want to get scanned." Firenze curled his upper lip with an angry scowl. "I felt one of them brush against my shoulder." He shuddered in disgust. Now I feel filthy."
However, after hearing the receptionist recite recent events, the aides and Brinton even chose to submit to a scan for planted items that would listen to everything.
They were even more inclined to do so after Firenze's declaration.
It was a good thing that they did, for someone had indeed taken the initiative to lace their belongings with all manner of little gadgets. Grifton closed his eyes with a sigh.
Lamberton's brows snapped together with fury. "I see." He sighed.
Carlton spoke up. "I've already found several of the little gadgets."
Darmono shook his head. "You'd better have a sweeping service come through to find all the rest. There might be some that are of the invisible type."
Firenze grimaced. "That's not my realm of expertise."
In for a penny, in for a pound. After what he'd found so far, he might as well relieve their anxieties.
Grifton shrugged. "It is within my echelon, as it happens." He closed his eyes and focused on searching for anything that didn't belong.
"Wow, they're persistent, and I'll give them that. I didn't know the air could be used as a listening device." His senses prickled, and the spirits, understanding what he wanted done, immediately ensured that nothing else would be detected. "All gone. Thank you, spirits of the elements." Grifton opened his eyes.
"Thank you, spirits, for assisting in keeping this place clean," Lamberton murmured. The others also offered their thanks.
Grifton smiled.
The fireplace suddenly filled with a small amount of flammable material, and the fire crackled to life.
Everyone was startled.
"I believe that is a signal, Grifton," Lamberton murmured with amusement. "Now that we know it is safe to proceed." He looked around carefully as he spoke.
That's when Grifton brought forth the four eggs. They settled in front of the fireplace, where the travelers collapsed onto chairs and sofas.
Brinton also sat in a chair. "So, I take it you found the eggs and whatever else Moline left behind for you?"
Darmono nodded. "We'll have to figure out a way of taking the eggs to the dragons. They know how to care for firebirds," he said wearily.
"Either that or they should go to the neutral deities," Lamberton mentioned with a shrug.
Grifton and Firenze didn't voice an opinion because they had none. They were busy watching the eggs rocking. It was too late when several cracks finally got the three men's attention.
The eggs hatched, and four little creatures sprawled on the rug.
Grifton shook his head in bemusement. "Uh, these aren't firebirds." He inspected them. "They are dragons." He glanced over his shoulder at Darmono and Lamberton. "Did Moline or Madam Murray indicate that they had draconian lineage in them?"
Darmono rubbed his jaw. "Moline said something to the effect of having heightened senses. That was limited to hearing and what he could smell." he looked dubious when he said that.
Lamberton was silent before mentioning. "Madam Murray was a beta. She was also of draconian descent. I never found out what type of dragon, though."
The little dragons rolled around awkwardly on the floor, trying to get their bearings. When a little brown dragon pounced on him, Grifton wasn't relatively fast enough to scramble backward. "Grrr...mmm..."
Seconds later, Firenze yelped in shock. He had a little black dragon curled up on his chest as well. "Mmm....zzzeee..."
"It sounds like they're saying your names or trying to."
More crackling resounded, and soon enough, Darmono and Lamberton had their hands complete with a couple more dragons awkwardly moving around. "Good grief, now what?"
A resounding boom was heard nearby, and all of them froze. Seconds later, a thunderous knocking was heard at the door. "Mrs. Merry, please go see who it is. I don't want the door to break down."
Seconds later, the receptionist came back. She was escorting two men and two women who stopped short at the baffling scene that greeted them.
"Well, this is the first time I've seen small dragons pouncing on humans. Usually, they make a lot of noise." There was laughter in the first woman's voice.
Grifton blinked at her. "Ms. Arista of the neutrals?"
Arista inclined her head. "Yes, young Grifton, it is I." Sorrow darkened her gaze. "As soon as we heard about the horrible disruption of life energies down here, Josaiah, Lexington, and Fiorisa also accompanied me."
The other three inclined their heads respectfully to Lamberton, Darmono, and other company present.
"I thought that the dragons had come," Grifton admitted.
"They're on their way," Lexington informed them. "They just asked us to guard this place until they could ensure no further disruptions occurred," he shrugged.
"Now I can understand why." Josiah shook his head. "I couldn't believe the amount of magic that dispersed into the area once that place was destroyed, and those boxes detonated."
Grifton looked at them warily. "I didn't want to ask, but what was that?" he rubbed his arms warily. "I only recognized that they'd been present when my family was killed the night I and my siblings were evidently birthed."
The four creatures looked at each other in agitation. They clearly intended to speak less on the subject.
At last, Arista shook her head. "I'm afraid we can't answer that child." She said after a few seconds of silence. "The only ones who can do so sufficiently would be the dragonkin. As we've already stated. They will be here shortly." She frowned slightly. "Though this time, they are taking longer than estimated."
An awkward silence followed what she had to say.
Grifton didn't mind the delay. He was resting now because he saw no point in moving from where he was effectively pinned on the floor. Even the others were relaxing because no one wanted to move after all they'd gone through earlier.
If it hadn't been chasing off unwanted visitors, it was getting scanned for illegally planted devices and clearing out other spy devices that were cleverly hidden through magical and elemental means.
To say they were exhausted was putting it mildly.