Chapter 144
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
Life became interesting when Grifton finally resumed his studies and standard work. However, every day was a relative term when he saw the disorder and chaos that infiltrated all levels of society once he returned.
Sadly, of all his friends who'd gone to war, only four remained. Firenze, Molly, Gladys, and Troy. The others perished because of guerilla warfare tactics used by subversive villagers within the republic. Many of them hadn't even made it to the front lines.
Fortunately, the amulets they'd hung onto automatically teleported their bodies to an alternate safe point. It was a mass graveyard, but Lamberton and others who'd been alerted managed to recover and return the bodies to their families.
Much to Grifton's shock, the deceased hadn't been orphans; they'd been rebellious delinquents who hated the upper-crust rules and regulations. "Huh, so that's why I was hated so much by the upper echelon." He reflected through a communication orb with Firenze at his side. They'd met up on one of the battle lines.
Once they proved their excellent teamwork, neither unit would separate. When their forces blended together and created decisive victories, the Shantu Republic regained its freedom and gathered twice the territory as a result of winning against all the nations that had declared war against it.
The cost had been enormous, and neither Grifton nor Firenze bothered to speak about what had happened. Even their acquaintances who'd blended into the unbeatable unit wouldn't talk either. Everything witnessed was horrific and traumatizing to the point that. They only reviewed it in padded rooms designed to keep them from harming themselves. If they had episodes of violent fits of rage or were unable to establish a clear break of flashback and the present,
Now, they were civilians, and the transition had been nonexistent, which had caused other difficulties. A sigh escaped Grifton. "We're back at the starting line once again." That was as far as studies were concerned. He was seriously aggravated.
Luckily, the five of them could still collaborate effortlessly on projects. The communal work kept them from going crazy, especially since they knew how to distract each other from imminent flashbacks and snap out of violent rages.
That aside, Grifton became aware of a surprisingly large group recently approaching Three-Pronged Fork. They camped outside of the boundaries that made the large metropolis. "Have you heard anything about that eight-member group?" He generally minded his own business. Now, though, he was baffled when he heard of them.
Molly blinked at him in shock. "You're actually curious about some newcomers?"
Troy shrugged. "I'm not shocked. If you saw them, you'd understand why he's skittish." He seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Gladys sighed. "They resemble Grifton's deceased sisters and brothers, Molly." She shrugged. "Isn't there some speculation about their parents, Tinroy?"
Grifton needed to be more comfortable with where this subject was going. "Yes." He nodded. "Even Commander Darmono, Officer Brinton, and now Lamberton are asking questions." Grifton rubbed an ear. "I haven't approached them yet."
The others looked at each other. Firenze sighed. "Not because he doesn't want to. We've all been swamped with work since our return."
"You all were still cleaning up on the battle fronts," Molly recalled.
"Yeah, that took longer than anyone anticipated," Troy confirmed. His face was still scarred from the action. "I almost got destroyed because of a nasty placed landmine that hadn't detonated." He tapped the long scar that covered his left cheek. It stopped short of his eye.
Still amazed that Troy survived that mess, Firenze snorted. "Yep, as I recall, there is now a new crevasse route named after Troy." He shook his head. "I don't know if that should be a compliment or metaphorical insult congratulating your ability to remain alive."
Grifton was amused. "The amulet is what saved his sorry butt." He folded his arms. "How long did you remain unconscious while healing up?"
Everyone laughed at Troy, who shrugged ruefully. "Hell, I'm just glad that I survived." He shook his head. "I was out for a week." His gaze shifted to Grifton. "Thank you, by the way. I wouldn't have lived if it hadn't been for that amulet. That wasn't the first time I'd activated the barrier either." A sigh escaped him. "For all I know, I panicked and dumped the entirety of my mana into it."
Grifton nodded. "That is what the healers determined what you did. Indeed, it teleported you out of there before more of those gigantic rocks collapsed on you."
Troy nodded. "So, the scar is the only permanent reminder of that incident." He looked at his body. "I'm lucky that that's all I have." Others hadn't been as fortunate. They'd lost limbs and eyes from the shrapnel that went flying everywhere.
Molly grimaced. "I'm actually glad I teleported after being shot in that case." She had many mental flashes but no physical damage on the outside.
Of all of them, Gladys had some scars and a prosthetic right foot. "I'm glad I have a nice replacement for my foot." She wiggled it at them. "I can still get around just fine." They all winced when she pointedly added. "Thanks for asking."
Grifton shook his head with a sigh. "I'm not dissing your contribution or loss, Gladys. I'm glad you're alive. I don't know how much more grief I could handle if more cherished people died." He rubbed his forehead. "On the other hand, at least half of us will get to graduate soon."
Gladys smiled. "On that topic, I'll be going to Danse Sombras Oasis. They need weavers and seamstresses out there." She shrugged. "Since that is my forte, I can make a business out of doing such things."
Grifton smiled when hearing that. "I'm glad that you've made a choice." He eyed Troy and Molly. "How are you two faring?"
They glanced at each other. "Errm, well, we may have to delay our departure."
Gladys crowed. "I knew it." She smirked at them. "Expecting, are you?" She laughed when Molly swatted at her.
Troy rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation. "We'll be having a small ceremony celebrating our bonding pact," Troy informed Grifton and Firenze. "You two are invited." He smiled a little. "Gregory and Lendon heard the news, and they're returning to cater the reception afterward." His smile faded, and Molly shifted nervously. "Later, a bigger bash will be thrown because my folks are insisting on a formal wedding with all the works."
Grifton understood what they didn't say outright. Their folks wanted to exclude Grifton because of his unknown origins. "So, you want to have fun and relax before dealing with the stuffy upper-crust regulations?" He summarized what they weren't saying. "Because at that point, you'll have managed to enjoy the real celebration beforehand?"
Molly's face lit up. "Yes," She nodded emphatically. "I only want my real friends to join the actual ceremony."
Troy added. "Quality over quantity makes the smaller one count as the real deal." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "We're going to visit the markers for the others. It'll be the three-year and six-month anniversaries of their passing."
Wow, Grifton closed his eyes, and his body shuddered when he thought of the rupture that occurred in the delicate threads of their lives. "Yeah, I'll join you all on that day if you want me to."
"We are making it part of the bonding pact, so yes," Troy told them. "I figure it'll be a good way to talk about memories and good times."
Clearly pleased that Grifton was being respectful of their plans, Molly nodded. "We haven't been able to do anything formal in paying our respects to them." She glanced uneasily at Gladys. "I didn't know if you wanted to still come."
Gladys bit her lip. "Before, when I was hobbling around on crutches and being a cranky bitch, no." She admitted with a sigh. "Now, though, I don't mind a bit." Sorrow glinted in her eyes. "I can face their markers and know they'll understand my unease about going there without stability."
Grifton completely understood her feelings. "Yeah, they'll understand." He smiled slightly. "Now, when is this wonderful event taking place?" He would have precise time to go there with them. "I want to make sure that nothing disrupts the date."
Firenze nodded. "Same here."
"Definitely," Gladys added. "Besides, we haven't seen Gregory and Lendon in ages." She smiled faintly. "I heard they managed to find mates as well."
The fact that Gladys was still single by choice, not by circumstance, was the only reason no one pestered her about finding someone. Grifton knew where she was coming from. After all, he hadn't even expected to find someone to share his life with.
Gladys sighed. "now that we've settled that topic concerning the expectant lovey-dovey couple," she looked at Grifton and Firenze. "What about you two?"
Firenze shook his head. "Not yet." He smiled faintly. "The military commitment and contract with the merchant caravan are still in effect." He reminded Gladys.
"Yes, we still have roughly five years to go." Grifton was cautious. He was still determining what could happen in five years, so he took no chances. The last thing he wanted was a misfortune to strike at an inopportune point when offspring were involved.
Firenze glanced at Grifton. "We made a pact of our own," he told them bluntly. "We won't commit to a relationship until we know for sure that we can remain safe and live long, healthy lives."
Grifton nodded. "I'm sure it doesn't make sense to you, but that is how I feel."
It didn't matter who perished first or worse together. Grifton didn't want his children to go through what happened to him and his siblings.
They smiled. "We're just glad you're telling us why you feel the way you do," Gladys responded.
"There was a time when you wouldn't even do that much." Troy reflected.
"Yeah, you just disappeared for days on end." Molly glowered. "That was the worst."
Firenze sighed. "That was also when we wound up changing the direction of what our gang did." He shrugged. "Got me and a few others kicked out."
Grifton blinked. "Is that when you wound up hanging out with the Locust or Lifter gang?"
"Lifter," Troy said mildly. "I did anyway." He winced and yelped. "Hey, cut that out." He got elbowed by Gladys and Molly. "Just because you were the first to apply and get accepted, you lord it over the rest of us." The others looked at him in surprise.
"Sheesh, take it easy, will ya?" Troy frowned them right back and grumbled. "Sore ribs from a tussle with a cousin yesterday."
"That was retaliation," Gladys informed him.
"Yeah, for your information," Firenze grimaced. "That gang is taboo nowadays."
Grifton nodded when he remembered its horrible reputation in the past. "I was stuck in it twice," he said, making a sour face. "The last time, I almost didn't make it out of their clutches alive.
The others stared at him in horror.
"None of us would go near the Locust gang." Molly curled a lip in disgust.
"Yeah, they had the second worst reputation a few levels below Crow's Heights gang." Gladys shuddered. "I'm glad we avoided becoming involved with them."
Molly nodded. "It was a near miss, though." A sigh escaped her. "I'm just glad that Brier accepted us into the ranks of Lifted." She eyed Grifton with a scowl. "That was an elite-level gang; they did more than enforce rules."
What was that scowl for? "Still is, but they don't enforce much unless it's security details for various official events," Grifton recalled.
"Uhmm, yeah," Troy grinned. "They're guards for the formal wedding and reception." He shrugged. "That I was firm on requesting since I conceded to the families' other demands."
Molly grimaced. "Once this ends, I hope they don't darken our lives again." She muttered.
Oh, that's right. Molly and Troy were both scions from respectable upper-crust families. Grifton exhaled. Now that he saw all they were going through, he was glad he didn't have the same problem. He glanced at Firenze. He might have some difficulties in the future, though.