Kapitel 133: 130
Chapter 130
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2038, Planet: Grimoire
The conference room, though usually too chilly for Grifton's taste, actually felt overcrowded and heated too much. He surveyed the gathered youngsters. Some were just reaching their teens, almost adults, and others were still preadolescent. All of them reminded Grifton painfully of their parents. "How are all of you doing?" He accepted their hugs as he spoke. Out of habit, Grifton did a general scan that didn't even touch their thoughts. Only if they permitted it would he delve deeper.
They all looked at him in surprise. "Our mothers and father only passed away two days ago." Pepper spoke in a soft, deep voice. His eyes were red from crying.
Grifton winced. "So, the time finally came." He hesitated. "Did you leave willingly, or were you forced out?"
The group of children looked at each other in bewilderment.
There was a sigh. "We left voluntarily." Lilith smiled at him. "You could say that we manifested some rather unsettling traits. Little did we know it, but our sire was a mix of different lineages. Some of them don't quite react well around dragons."
Seeing that some of them had fangs reminiscent of vampires made Grifton grunt. "So, I can see," he said, amused. How many of you can use magic?"
"All of us," Nefi shrugged with a grin. "We'll make a good fit within the military and caravans when the time comes."
Grifton goggled at them. "So, you're determined to follow in our footsteps?" He should've known that would happen.
Pumpernickel shook his head. "No, not all of them will, just those of us who remember mothers and fathers best." Sadness darkened his eyes. "The youngest ones only remember you most clearly out of all of us." He shrugged. "Thus, they wanted to be reunited with the one uncle who is truly blood-related."
Grifton scratched his ear. How should he explain that soon there would be others, and they'd be around the same age as them? This was going to be difficult. When those other younger siblings came around, Grifton would see about introductions another time. "So, what are your plans right now?" He didn't have room in his suite to house them.
Pepper laughed. "Err, we'll be staying in the Lamberton dormitory for students. We found out that Cornell Academy will accept students as young as five years of age. Fortunately, none of us are that young." He shrugged. "We lucked out when looking for educational institutes that could supplement what we were learning in the dragon enclave."
Grifton was surprised, to put it mildly. He really hadn't known what to expect when meeting the youngsters. They all seemed to understand what they wanted to do with their lives. "I'm glad to see that you all are doing well, considering what all happened." He still grieved the loss of Marlayne, Calico, and Amberlyn. However, Grifton is now focused on the present and the future. "I am scheduled to go out on another journey." He regarded them soberly. "Had I known you would be coming, I would've made other arrangements."
The nephews and nieces all shook their heads. "Nah, we didn't do this to disrupt your life, uncle." Cleo smiled at him. "We'll see you around the academy." When they all nodded, Grifton was amused at their tenacity.
Lilith added. "You'll probably get sick of us being underfoot soon enough."
Grifton shrugged. "Who knows what the future holds in store for any of us?" He smiled at them. "Would you like a tour around the area?" That was about as much he could do for them.
Pepper and Cleo exchanged glances. "Uhmm, actually, we're more curious about that outrageous Alpha who was hanging around you." They had concerned expressions on their faces. "We heard you two sniping at each other when walking here."
Wow, their voices had been that loud? Grifton winced. "Eh, we've been acquaintances for a very long time." He would have to remember to keep the volume down if they echoed that loudly in the halls and walls of the warehouses. "Enemies at first that turned into tentative friendship," he hesitated as he thought about the events that occurred. He sighed. Then, after a while, we remained good friends."
Pepper blinked. "Okay, so who is that alpha that was bugging you?"
Grifton sighed at the pointed question. "He is Firenze Jesso." Oh, it was the Alpha. They must still harbor some trauma and fear regarding those individuals.
Lilith goggled and then giggled. "Was it he that you referred to a long time ago? When we first meet in that arena?"
Huh? Grifton winced. "Oh, you remember that episode? Not one of his finest moments. "Maybe he was and wasn't, I don't remember." He was being honest. "I'm still not sure how I feel about him." He glanced at the door and grunted. "Come in, eavesdropping doesn't become you, Firenze Jesso."
Firenze looked in at them somewhat warily. "Ah, busted, just when the topic was becoming interesting." He stood watching the youngsters who stood in small groups. "Hi, I'm Firenze Jesso, an Alpha who likes your uncle." He stated his feelings quite casually. "However, I'm just waiting until he figures himself out." Firenze shrugged. "I'm not going to harm any of you either."
Pepper stared at him suspiciously until recognition dawned. "Oh, you're one of the ones who stopped our sire from kidnapping all of us again." He nudged Lilith. "Am I right or wrong?"
More clarification needed to be given between the eldest ones.
Meanwhile, Firenze took advantage of the open spaces for him and walked inside the conference room to stand by Grifton's side. "I'm not sure whether they approve of me or not."
Grifton snorted. "Only time will tell." He wasn't going to force a decision on them when they were still adjusting to the loss of their mothers and fathers.
"So, they really are those little bitty munchkins from before." Firenze folded his arms. "I can say that they grew up fine."
The kids heard that observation and giggled despite themselves.
"You're definitely a smooth talker, Mr. Jesso." Pepper studied him with puzzlement. "So, you really do like him?"
Firenze nodded. "Yep, but I won't force myself on him. I value my life." He grinned when they laughed at his wry glance at Grifton. "Put the knife away." Firenze sidled away from him to a safe distance. "Why do you always do that?" He grumbled in protest. "I didn't touch you."
"Do you always have to do that?" Pepper looked startled.
"Nope," Satisfied that he'd made his point, "Just when he gets too frisky at bad times," Grifton briefly twirled a knife and made it vanish.
"Oh, good grief, now you're making me into a pervert." Firenze glowered at Grifton. "Am I really that bad?"
Pepper was laughing when he heard that. "So, you are actually friends despite his antics?"
Grifton nodded. "Yes, he does occasionally get too frisky." He smirked at Firenze who sighed loudly and shook his head in resignation.
"It is true that we've had our fights now and again." Such disagreements were rare, but when they did occur.
"Sometimes I win." Well, he'd won more than half of them. "Other times, he wins." The other half always reminded Grifton how powerful an Alpha's pheromones could be. "We still stay friends despite our differences of opinion." especially when Firenze was in a playful and persuasive mood once the fight ended in his victory.
"You're taking too long." Firenze cut through the crap. "What he is trying to say in a very roundabout way is that we respect each other's twisted natures." He shrugged. "We met while kids were on the streets." Firenze shook his head when the kids perked up on hearing that. "Tales for another day when you've all settled in." He glanced at Grifton. "I almost forgot, you'll be leaving soon, right?"
Grifton nodded. "Yes," his unexpected departure had triggered one of those rare fights he'd lost.
Firenze was still upset about not being able to join the caravan. He sighed. "Well, do you young 'uns mind if I hang out with you?"
Pepper glanced at the others. "If you don't mind a variety of second genders, I'm sure. Some of us are also Alphas, you know."
Firenze's mouth twitched. "Yes, I am aware." He bowed politely. "I also recognize that you all have unusual powers that don't rely on leylines and the sort."
Grifton had also noticed, but he hadn't bothered to comment on it. He knew that they would show off their abilities once they were settled in and comfortable, but right now, they were nothing of the sort.
"Err, we heard that the men from the Charros family were here," Nefi said tentatively. "Is that true?"
Grifton shrugged. "I don't know, to be honest. I only heard from Firenze here that they would show their faces soon." While he didn't like any of the brothers, Grifton knew that wasn't the same for everyone around him.
Now, it seemed the kids liked the Charros brothers. He hoped nothing bad would come of their arrival.
"They'll be ashore in a matter of hours," Firenze told them. "This is what they look like now." He produced images of the five brothers' appearances.
Grifton studied them as well and shrugged. The only thing difference about them was that they'd gained a ton of weight and no muscle. He winced at the sight of their aged condition. How'd they go downhill so fast?
On second thought, it was different from his business how they'd come to look like that. "I actually need to get back to my quarters." Grifton looked at the kids. "You're welcome to crash there for a few hours if you'd like."
Firenze cleared his throat. "Or, I could give you a tour of the marketplace that you'll be frequenting as students of Cornell Institute." He offered. "That way, you can settle in later once your rooms are assigned."
That would be easier, but it was up to the kids to decide what they wanted to do.
The siblings whispered to each other about the two choices being offered to them. At least Nefi, chosen as the spokesperson this time, turned to Grifton and Firenze, who watched them curiously.
Nefi stated. "Um, we'll take you up on the tour offer after seeing our uncle's abode."
That was the right way to handle the situation. "Well, in that case, we'd better hurry up," Grifton smiled. "The evening meal will soon be served, and I don't want to miss it."
"You're such a glutton," Firenze muttered. "Though it never shows on you no matter what you eat."
Grifton laughed. "Well, you know darn well what kind of work I do. I don't care if that makes me a glutton." He was amused at Firenze's ire. "Besides, you have an even bigger appetite than I do when you've worked training for that competition all day." He shrugged when Firenze grimaced, and his ire subsided.
"True, I cannot deny that in the least." Firenze sighed. "Well, shall we depart then?"
They all agreed and paused to stop at Lamberton's office before heading out.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein