Chapter 151
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
Everything observed so far had Darryl Payne intrigued. This was the first time he'd witnessed someone clearly born human, obviously of another lineage that wasn't precisely beast. Now, he realized just what the rumors indicated.
He was indeed a dragon, and his wings were rather odd when Darryl thought about it. Could he also be psychic? So much to think about now. Where would everyone wind up in the rankings after the official event began? He mentally smacked his forehead in recollection. Oh, right, he wasn't allowed in the official events any longer because he surpassed the others as an S-ranked adventurer and hunter.
Darryl frowned because of all the anomalies the man posed for everyone who resided in Three-Pronged Fork. A sigh escaped him as he pondered everything, he had learned so far. Not only that, but evidently, he was still an active military and merchant personnel. However, no one knew how that arrangement occurred. In the past, neither of those options had been available; it was one or the other.
Shaking his head, Darryl considered all the crazy rumors about Tinroy and how he'd lived his life until now. What really bothered him, Darryl admitted, was not knowing what happened to the siblings of Tinroy. He remembered disappearance as a hot topic at one point, only to learn that all words had vanished. There was not a peep to be heard, as if they'd never existed in the first place. That complete shutdown of rumors and information flow smacked of someone's strong influence and clearly indicates something going terribly elsewhere.
Darryl tapped a finger on his thigh. What had happened to his siblings, who'd once been considered his cousins? That was another mystery that no one talked about, much less the children of those vanished siblings, who also disappeared about three or four years ago.
How had Tinroy managed to survive against the debilitating odds to live this long so far? What tragedies had he faced? Those questions muddled through Darryl Payne's mind as he watched the event unfold before his eyes. His keen hearing picked up what the group Tinroy formed said before they'd joined the others.
"...Survive to the end no matter what it takes when it turns into a free-for-all..."
"...So, mote it be..."
That was quite the mantra, but it worked since the trio survived. Darryl sighed in apprehension. "They're expecting sabotage," he told his companions. "Evidently, Tinroy identified some folks in the beginner ranks who're anything but beginners."
Even as he spoke, Darryl stiffened when Darmono and Lamberton stared at him in shock. Then, they both relayed orders into communicator devices wrapped around their wrists.
Darryl was uncomfortable with their actions. These guys had to be more influential than anyone let on. Maybe they were shadow investors in this unofficial gathering. If so, then Darryl may have complicated the activities below them considerably.
Hermina gave Darryl a long stare. "You did the right thing, boy." She smiled a little. "If you hadn't said anything, I would have." She tilted her head. "Do you have a way of figuring out where his actions are headed?" It was clear that Hermina knew what he was doing.
Were his actions so obvious? He would have to be more subtle from now on. "Mmm, working on it." Darryl was reluctant to reveal that he'd figured out where Grifton was headed. He was a favorite person with the spirits since they trailed his every footstep. Darryl watched the activity with amusement. It was so funny because this really was intriguing. He'd never seen them like this before. Fortunately for Tinroy's successful efforts, they'd concealed their presence until something agitated them out of hiding. They'd exploded into activity and vanished.
After Darryl's response, Hermina nodded and didn't pursue the subject further.
Darryl frowned slightly as he glanced at the spectators around him with growing apprehension. He didn't like what he sensed from the crowd.
~*~
What's this now? Grifton glanced around in bafflement. Someone tracked his movements. He realized with bemusement. Whoever it was knew how to communicate with spirits and similarly utilized them to his skill. Grifton shook his head with a smile. {I've got a tracker on my tail.} Better warn the others, {He's harmless though.} so they weren't too shocked if someone created a written description of their activities. {One of our or my shadows, it seems.}
{Just our luck that it happens right now.} Firenze grumbled. {You're right, though; he seems to be at a fundamental level.}
{Well, as long as he doesn't say anything to alert others, I don't care.} Harold muttered.
Gladys grunted. {Yeah, he's among the younger ones of the eight-sibling party that rolled in recently.} There was a brief moment when all of them checked for information.
At last, Grifton confirmed. {I think his name is Darryl Payne or something like that.}
None of them had planned to do more than the bare minimum, but it seemed that was no longer a good idea.
They all were baffled that another spirit observer had just shown up.
It didn't bother Grifton. He was rather glad that someone else could do so other than merely for spells. That was even better if he didn't have to form contacts to interact with them. Only time would tell if that was the case, though.
{Are you all in place?} Grifton shrugged where he remained in hiding. {I'm in the south.} Firenze grunted.
{I'm in the West.} Gladys confirmed where she was.
{I'm in the east.} Harold was the last and seemed somewhat breathless. {I found it difficult to find a secure hiding place. This portion needs to be better maintained.}
That rang warning bells in Grifton's mind. {I suggest finding a wall of the arena that you can utilize rather than the mockup portion of the earth, rocks, and whatever else is there.} He didn't want anything happening to Harold now that he'd reunited with his daughter, Gladys, of all time.
There was some hesitation before Harold agreed. {Yes, I shall do something.} After a moment, he suggested, no longer sounding breathless or anxious. {Well, no matter. I suppose we should put on a show in that case.}
Grifton grunted. {That sounds reasonable to me.} He estimated the ability to rank as much as Grifton could when he was young. In other words, he was still essential but getting more robust with each elemental spirit he came in contact with. So, who was it? He gazed at the spectators. One of his elementals hovered over at least three possibilities. One had black hair and almost colorless grey eyes. Ah, the one named Darryl.
Right then, Darryl briefly glanced at Grifton, his features showing uneasiness. Then, he turned his attention to his companions.
That was all the warning Grifton needed to know that Darryl was aware of his recognition. His amusement faded when he observed Darryl's subtle examination of the people around him. Not only that, but he also monitored the emotions of the atmosphere.
His entire body chilled when he realized what might be happening now. Hmm, so some of them were empaths. That shook Grifton's concentration, only briefly, but enough to get a scolding from the spirits around him.
{!@#$#@%}
{!}
{slrighitsithwe!}
{All right, all right, I'll quit getting distracted.} Grifton couldn't help but smile at their antics. Wait a second, that wasn't right. He sobered very quickly. They generally enjoyed doing this kind of thing. There was something off about their activity. So, what was wrong now? He paid more attention to the unseen details.
Grifton knew something was up if they weren't being playful right now. He could figure out what was making them antsy and skittish now, of all times. Seconds later, he scowled in disgusted aggravation.
Oh, so that was what was going on, hmm? Were dirty tricks coming into action already? Grifton shook his head in aggravation. Damn, those people just didn't know how to play fair. With complete awareness of what was about to happen, Grifton warned the others, so they weren't taken off guard. {They intend to kill all of us, disguising the deaths as pure accidents.} That wouldn't go over well with anyone with a brain cell worth utilizing when those accidents occurred.
So, now, how should they proceed? Grifton pondered on the possibilities. He should consult with the others. There were times when he didn't always make the wisest choices.
~*~
After realizing he'd blown his surveillance on Grifton, Darryl shifted his attention elsewhere and winced. The mood had grown very nasty with anger and resentment, though it wasn't against the referee, fortunately. He caught Hermina's frown of unease, so Darryl wasn't the only one noticing the atmosphere turning chaotic.
No, that anger and resentment were focused against whoever introduced what was likely a gruesome trap to destroy all the veterans. Darryl closed his eyes and frowned. So far, he had yet to learn what to do with his skills since they weren't on par with anyone else.
Now, maybe he knew what sort of path to follow. From all the information gathered, Darryl realized he had much in common with Grifton Tinroy. How cool was that?
In all the months since leaving Glaston and Fountain Grove, Darryl had yet to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Other than having formed the party with his siblings, he didn't indeed have a forte in anything particular.
At the same time, Darryl tracked Grifton Tinroy's movements by following little flickering spirits of all elements swirling in various directions. He began to appreciate what it was to have many elemental abilities at one's fingertip. Yet, I will only be able to obtain mastery over any of them once I reach an advanced age?
Yes, the notion did agitate Darryl quite a bit. Still, he recognized what he might be able to change once he enrolled in Cornell Academy. Could it be that Tinroy was one of those students as well?
Darryl paid attention to what was said, including mentions of news archives and potential videos to watch. That meant there was more going on than met the eye. A sigh escaped him. "This is so complicated already," he muttered unhappily. How are we supposed to figure out the trick to surviving here?" He needed clarification.
Ambrose elbowed Darryl. "Don't forget what you were doing," he reminded him. "You're the only one who can truly communicate with spirits right now."
The reminder jolted Darryl out of his moment of humdrum sulky state. Right, he had to continue tracking Tinroy's movements. There had to be a trick to what he was doing that allowed him to survive this easily.
Darryl resumed his assigned task.
Part of his brain kept musing on a different train of thought, though. So far, they have yet to approach Grifton Tinroy outright. Well, that was just for practicality's sake. Darryl sighed inwardly. After all, they were newcomers to Three-Pronged Fork. Since they'd just arrived, it behooved them to be on their best manners until they determined the hierarchy.
That reasoning made Darryl skeptical about whether the current hierarchy would remain in place much longer. He shook his head uneasily. He watched the spirits with bemusement. Now, they were settled and at peace. That could only mean one thing, Darryl surmised.
Tinroy was creating his traps, from subtle to not-so-much, or he'd already finished and was just waiting in hiding. Either way, Tinroy wasn't budging from wherever he'd selected as a hiding place and had yet to remove his disguise. Just how much mana and magic did that man possess?
Darryl was infinitely curious about Tinroy and his past. Although considering the types of rumors that spread like wildfire, a hierarchy might not be the best way to make acquaintances and create an information network like other sources.
They had to approach Tinroy first to make his acquaintance and learn how to navigate this treacherous city. That wasn't something Daryl found pleasant to consider.