The Life and Times of the Forge family

by Corona Blaze

School Daze chapter 2

The griffin narrowed his eyes, claws tapping his beak in thought. Dawn has yet to break, but Gabriel was taking the time to prepare for the day ahead. Each action today had to be considered, every possibility accounted for. What he chose to bring with him today would determine if he succeeded, or failed.

Thus, the retired soldier sighed and crossed the heavy stone ball off his list. As much as he wanted to make his students work up a good sweat, making them try to haul an enchanted rock nearly as large as most adult earth ponies was not the way to go on the first day. Gabe chuckled, smirking. “More a second week thing,” he said to himself as he circled a few basic weights on his list. “Now, what else to teach these little shiny reprobates?”

Numi looked over the mass of insane things with a smile, humming in appreciation of the brutal challenges ahead. “So, Uncle Gabby… Think we should try “The Dragon Challenge” as well? I got Level One in my bag..” She taps her backpack with a sly grin.

One could have heard a pin drop and shatter in the silence Gabe gave his niece. That, and the look of abject, and total horror in his eyes. “...no,” he answered in a disturbingly calm tone. “No… no need for that sweetheart.”

“OK!” Numidium giggled and pranced along to hop onto Gabe’s back. “So, what other abject horrors do you have planned? Keep in mind most aren’t as tough as me!” She flexes her arms, showing off hard-earned muscle and shiny scales.

“Probably just a regular Griffinstone PT regimen today,” he commented. “I’m not a complete monster you know.” He picked up his list and folded it up. “Dream well last night? Hope the guard birds did their job.”

Numi stiffened. “A little too well...” Haunting sounds drift through Numi’s ears, of tiny squeaky-voiced rubber duckies cheering her on as she went for ‘Level 3’. What should have been a night of pleasure and triumph turned into a nightmarish horror...and she wasn't entirely sure it was just a prank from her uncle.

“Well, at least you got some rest,” the griffin told her. “Now, we just gotta wait on your dad, and we can get our furry… and scaly butts to school.” The griffin grabbed an apple and started slicing it apart with his claws.

“He should be ready in a moment.” Numi smiled, nibbling on some gold leaf. Sure enough Clockwork arrived, his mohawk splayed into an Einsteinian mess with a humongous bag over his shoulders.

“SorryifI’mlateandthankCelestiaifI’mearlyI’vebeenupallfreakingnightgettingtoolsandequipmentreadyforeveryonebecause-”

“DAD!”

“Yes dear?”

“Stop and breathe please.”

“Ok.” He took a moment to do just that, gasping for air. “I made tools for everyone. The school had nothing worth looking at besides gem cutting equipment...”

“Figures,” Gabe commented gruffly. “Oh, and there’s coffee brewing too. Just in case.”

“Oh thank goodness I’m gonna need it,” Clockwork gasped again, pouring a cup and chugging it black, exactly the way he hates it but he’s in too much of a hurry to care. “Blech, better than falling asleep.”

“No, sleep is good, as long as it’s not at school,” the ruby dragoness added, handing the unicorn a thermos. “One for you, and one for Uncle Gabby, just the way you boys like it.”

“Oh goddess Numi, I love you so much,” The stallion chuckled, giving his daughter a hug. The griffin smiled, and it wasn’t one of his typical sarcastic, cynical smirks, but a warm twitch of his beak upwards.

“Thank you mein kleine,” he said, taking the old battered thermos and pouring the coffee in… along with a shot of something extra. “Now, let’s get to school, and pray to whatever fool entity ponies revere that doesn’t live in Canterlot or this overly shiny city that we don’t get into too much trouble.”

“Harmony?” Numi asked.

“Is she even real?” Clockwork added. “I mean, I’m not gonna deny without evidence but-”

“But you can't believe without it, either, I know.” Numi finished. “No worries, it’s better than nothing.”

“True.” Clockwork shrugged, “A prayer to Harmony it is.” He then opened the door… to see multiple MASSIVE crystalline pillars ringing the city that weren’t there before, and a large blue unicorn making yet another grow less than a block from their new home. “...wat.”

Gabe looked out the door and scowled. “Oh, lovely,” he said dryly. “A crazed crack pot growing crap all over the place. Clock, Numi, this is why I’m pretty sure that either Harmony doesn’t exist, or, she is exceedingly terrible at her job.” Grabbing his coffee, and a spare bag full of various tools of athletic tor-... training, the griffin started to walk out and head to school.

“Well, maybe he’s got a reason?” Clockwork replied, grabbing his satchel of tools.

“Eh, we can ask later, best not be late for our first day!” Numi pushed her dad out the door and sprinted ahead, leading the charge to a bright new day.

*****

Numi grinned, looking through her lunch bag. Some of the other students were curious at what was making her mouth water so much, but a few, especially griffins, were able to tell by the smell.

“What you got there?” One male griffin asked, sniffing at her bag.

“My dad made pasta!” She replied, tail wagging happily.

“Well I want some!” He made a grab for the bag, only to receive a sharp whack to the back of his head.

“Shell out five hundred bits and say please,” Clockwork growled, having been standing nearby the entire time. “And I’ll give you the pleasure of a big fat ‘no’.” The younger griffin went to give Clockwork a harsh retort, only to catch the look on Gabriel’s face. Both griffins stared at each other for a moment before the youngster gulped and bowed out with what little dignity he had left.

“I’ll uh, be going then,” the griffin stammered, walking away with his tail almost tucked between his legs as Gabriel rolled his shoulders, wing joints popping.

“Disrespectful little whelp,” he muttered as he took a swig from his flask. Clockwork chuckled at him.

“Well, Numi, if he gives you any trouble again...” He winked, and tapped her belly, the little dragon burping out a small golden flame. “You got something better than pepper spray on hand.”

“Thanks Dad, and you too, Uncle Gabby.” She leapt up to give them both a hug before grabbing her things and sprinting inside, just as a warning bell went off for class.

“Well Gabe, looks like we’d best get to work.”

Gabriel grunted, lifting his bag over his shoulder. “Yup. Have fun filling heads with engineering knowledge and all that,” he said dryly, heading to the doors to the school.

“You too, just try not to kill them!” Clockwork shouted, zipping around back towards the engineering department.

*****

Gabriel looked over the collection of crystal ponies, regular ponies, and the odd griffin or two. Most of them looked as though they had either worked in the mines all their live, or that they only done enough exercise to get by. The griffin smiled.

This was going to be fun.

Numidium waved, grinning, fully prepared for her uncle to be twice as harsh on her, to avoid favoritism, but she as more than experienced in handling his idea of ‘exercise’. She had already begun her stretches by the time he began to speak.

“Okay you little shiny screwheads, listen up!” Gabriel said sternly, grabbing everyone’s attention. “My name is Gabriel D. Griffin. You will address me as ‘Mister Griffin’ or ‘Sir.’ No exceptions. Am I understood?”

“SIR YES SIR!” Numi shouted, standing straight. This got some, well, a lot of awkward stares from the others, with a few already mocking her for it, including the griffin boy from earlier.

The griffin boy turned back to look at Gabriel, only for the larger griffin to be right there in his face. “DO YOU THINK I’M JOKING YOU LITTLE FEATHERY SHART?!” Gabriel yelled in the younger griffin’s face, “DO YOU YOU THINK I’M TELLING A SILLY JOKE LIKE SOME FLOUNCY LITTLE PINK TART DO YOU?!”

The youngster could only stammer as he was glued in place by Gabriel’s raging tirade. “WELL TOO BAD YOU LITTLE WITLESS WHELP!” Gabriel continued, looking over the class with a fierce, narrowed gaze. “AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IN THIS CLASS, YOU ARE ALL EQUALLY SPOILED, AND I WILL DO MY DAMNED BEST TO EXERCISE, MOTIVATE, AND OTHERWISE BEAT THAT SOFTNESS OUT OF YOU! AM I UNDERSTOOD?!”

“SIR YES SIR!” Numi shouted, now matched with the bulk of the class, who were far less willing to laugh.

“Good!” Gabriel pointed at the track behind him. “Now, you little sharts have two choices. Run laps until I say stop, or stretch like Miss Numidium is doing… and then run laps until I say stop. And there will be no flying either, feet only.” Most of the class looked at the grizzled teacher in growing horror as the implications began to sink in.

“You have five seconds, make up your minds!” Gabriel called out.

Numidium cracked her neck, finally done stretching, before taking up position at the starting line of the track, fully prepared for the endurance run to come, knowing trying to sprint would only tire her out faster, but going too slow would draw her uncle’s ire. About half the class went and joined her in the line, the other half going to stretch as Gabriel went to his bag… and pulled out a bowgun.

“Alright, runners ready!” he shouted, loading in a blank round into the bulky firearm before slapping the receiver shut. “Set!” He raises the weapon up and pulled the trigger. A thunderous BANG! echoed in the gym, startling damn near everyone save for Gabriel himself, and Numi, who had taken off so fast several other students were left spinning.

Those who weren’t, however, were hot on her tail, most sprinting to keep pace, before realising this was just a brisk job, and wondering what kind of craziness made her able to run so fast so easily.

One of them, the same griffin boy from earlier, reached over and yanked on a small crystal in her ear, resulting in a deafeningly loud, fast paced song belting out from it, and a swift and decisive fist to the face from the angry dragoness.

“Miss Forge, spars will be later on this semester, no beating the feathers off the idiot catbird!” Gabriel warned, sliding in a new blank round as the remaining students finished stretching and walking over to the starting line. “AND YOU, THE LITTLE SHINY SHART WITH THE RED FUR, I SAID RUN, NOT WALK! MOVE MOVE MOVE!!”

Readying up for the second lap, she just crossed the line when Gabe fired off the next shot, sending the next group sprinting. On the first turn, she leaned over while running to grab the fallen music crystal and, unable to safely stick it back in her ear, tucked it into her cleavage and continued the run. From that point on, Numi didn’t have many other troubles. Her classmates on the other hand were clearly about to collapse by the time Gabriel told them to stop a mere five minutes before the class ended, almost all of them forgoing cooldown stretching for precious water.

“Well, good news is, the lot of you aren’t completely hopeless in terms of improvement,” Gabriel commented. “Bad news is, your asses will not be running tomorrow.”

“Huh?” The young griffin from earlier groaned weakly.

Gabriel pulled out a single thirty pound weight. “You will be exercising with this all day tomorrow.”

“Oh, we get to play with the Dead Stone?” Numi asked, seeming almost excited. She didn’t voice it but, frankly, felt he was going awfully easy on the rookies, since she started with the sixty pound Dead Stone. But, they have to live to see another day, and it was the first gym class of the day. Gabriel nodded, setting the weight away just as the bell rang.

“Alright you little shiny floor stains, begone,” he told them, waving to the door. “I have more classes to teach, and I ain’t having you louts collapse in my door frame. So get.”

The students were all too happy to do so, fleeing within moments as Numi hung back for a moment, Gabriel rummaging through his bag.

“Hey, Uncle Gabby?” Numi spoke, before giving him a gentle hug. “Feeling alright?”

“Yes,” he answered laconically, the dragoness feeling some of the tension in his back lessen. “Now go before you’re late for class, we wouldn’t want that, ja?”

“Will do!” She gave him a kiss and bolted off, sprinting off to the next class.

*****

Numidium entered the engineering classroom with her mane frazzled, covered in glitter from art class, and with her ‘uniform’ little more than ruined tatters from a history class that got a bit too...heated. Still, she didn’t mind the stares, instead simply waddling over to her father and collapsing into his forehooves and enjoying the simple silent hug.

“You OK, hon?” Clockwork asked, finally breaking the grasp as the bell rang.

“I expected Uncle Gabby’s class to be the harsh one… I didn’t expect the dance teacher to be a diamond dog with no sense of personal space, or an art teacher with an explosive temper… or a history teacher with a real cannon on-hand for when class got too loud.”

“...Okay, me and those teachers are definitely going to have a ‘talk’ once we’re done...” He pulled out a washcloth and began rubbing her down, getting soot and glitter off of her scales and quickly mending several precarious tears in her uniform, finishing just in time to start the class. Soon after Numi went to take her seat, Clockwork went to the front of the class and cleared his throat.

“Hello everybody, my name is Clockwork Forge, and I’ll be your new Thaum-Mechanical Engineering teacher for the year,” he told the class with a smile. “Now, I know that the Crystal Empire is traditionally and obviously very well known for its skill in gem-crafting, but my hope is that by the end of the year, you and your classmates get to walk away knowing a new skill that can help your fellow ponies, griffins, and so forth. Now, before we begin, does anyone have any questions?”

Most of the class was eagerly leaning forward in their seats, save for one solitary griffin, who Clockwork recognized from earlier in the day. The griffin raised his claw shakily in the air, looking utterly terrified.

“Yes, mister...” Memory jogged as he realised who he was speaking with, “Diamond Claw?”

“Umm… this isn’t related to the classwork, but um… are you and that crazy ass griffin who teaches gym now like… uhh… you know?” Diamond Claw asked, shaking in his seat. Clockwork had to repress a slight cackle at the sight of the shivering cat-bird; were Diamond Claw shaking any faster, and the poor boy would be accidentally molting and or shedding all over the place from nerves.

“No,” He replied simply. “We’re not married, not that there’s an issue with such a relationship but, frankly… Gabriel and I first met by trying to KILL each other. We’re both soldiers, long-since retired. You see kids, I’m not some fuddy duddy gearhead picked out because I’m peaceful and quiet. I was chosen because I am The Best. Tell me. Does anyone here know what ‘Engine 32’ is?” He looked at Numidium who promptly had her hand raised, “Besides my baby girl, of course.”

The class looked utterly confused at the question, all of them shaking their heads as Diamond Claw began to sink in his seat, looking his best to try and simply will himself to vanish. And yet… the same griffin meekly raised his claw up to the air. “Umm… isn’t it… well, isn’t Engine 32 an armored thing?” he answered quietly.

“So you’ve heard of it?” Clockwork asked, earning a nod from the griffin. “Close… but not quite. It was powered by an experimental propulsion system, a ‘Clockwork Dynamo’,” Clockwork began casting a spell, forming the visage of what appeared to be a mind-boggling array of springs and gears. “And covered all across by heavy-duty reinforced brass armor plating, enchanted to deflect spells and deaden blows, to protect the crew inside.” The illusion added a pair of large treads, like those on a tractor for rough terrain, and massive plates of armor, thick as a mare’s hoof. “A tanker, to drive it, an engineer, to keep it moving forward… and a gunner, who would fire spells through a special ring that channeled it down a massive barrel that would amplify it to terrifyingly destructive power.” The visage was completed with a gigantic gun nearly as long as the vehicle itself coming from the front, looking like a long, thin naval cannon. “Only one was made, the prototype, Engine 32.... but this CLASS of weapons, the ‘Armored Vehicle’, would be forever known as The Tank, The Future of Warfare.”

Diamond Claw gulped at the sight of the mechanical monstrosity. “My uncle always just called it the Death Box,” he whispered. Sudden understanding hit Clockwork as he let the illusion fall.

“That’s about the only way you could have known about it.” Clockwork replied. “A fitting name. It was a Death Box for the crew… when Gabe managed to light it on fire.”

“Dad,” Numidium whispered, at his side already. “C’mon, don’t focus on the past, focus on the now.” she urged, gently nudging him back to his seat. He took a breath to collect his thoughts and re-focussed on the class.

“Sorry about that...emotional moment there. Suffice to say, I was hired for a reason. Most of you can already guess, but suffice to say, we need unity amongst the races of Equis and to be prepared for things taking a turn for the worst. So for those of you in Gabriel’s PE class, just know he’s trying to prepare you for the same thing I am...” Diamond Claw nodded and simply slumped low in his seat.

“Okay,” the young griffin said. “I’m… I’m good now.”

“Good. Anyone else?” No hands, hooves, or claws raised. “Very well, let’s begin.”

*****

Numi settled in for her final class. Suffice to say, she was the most eager for this one, and just hoped that there’d be no unpleasant surprises. She put on her best friendly face as she entered the classroom for Introduction to Magic and took a seat at the front of the class as the teacher, a white-furred unicorn with a grey mane and beard, took notice of her.

“...Madame, I think you’re in the wrong class,” he said, giving her a decidedly unfriendly glare.

“...Um… this is Introduction to Magic, right?”

“Yes, and that's exactly why this is the wrong class. I teach Ponies, not Dragons.”

“...oh no...”

*****

Gabriel stretched his front legs, claws digging into the rocky surface of the plaza in front of the school as the bell rang for the day to end. All told, the griffin considered the day to be a relative success. Only a clawful of ponies had outright dropped to the ground in exhaustion after his laps, and a few of them had even ran the length of those laps without complaint, his niece being the exception.

The moment the bell rang he could see Numidium marching down the stairs, a look of pure boiling rage on her face, cheeks puffed in anger. “Oh for Grover’s fuzzy, idiotic backside, who pissed her off?” he asked himself, turning to face his niece. “Numi, what ha-?”

“CHANCELLOR NEIGHSAY IS A WORTHLESS RACIST SHITSTAIN!!!”

“I HEARD THAT!” Clockwork shouted, sprinting down the steps to help soothe his baby girl. “Numi, how the heck did he make you mad enough to use dirty language!?”

“He says non-ponies shouldn’t even be allowed to attend, and that dragons are just ‘big dumb lizards that burn things’ and I shouldn’t be learning magic because of that!”

“Mmm, sounds like my teachers back in Griffinstone,” Gabriel deadpanned. “Of course, being griffins, they hate everyone equally, including other griffins, so, not quite the same. Still, that was entirely unprofessional in what he said to you,” he added. He looked at Clockwork. “Forge, you take her home, alright? I’ll have a word or two with this jackass before I leave.”

“Will do,” Clockwork said, nuzzling his daughter gently and lifting her onto his back. “C’mon, Numi, I saw a music store on the way here, let’s see what they got, ok?”

“Okay.. thank you, both of you.” she whispered, gingerly hugging her adoptive father and unwitting uncle. Gabriel watched them depart before focusing his attention back on the school building and heading back inside. It didn’t take long to find Neighsay’s office, only a couple questions to the janitorial staff before he found himself in front of a closed door with a plaque declaring the name and job of its occupant on the polished bronze.

Gabriel knocked politely.

“Yes? Who is it?” came the occupant’s voice from the other side of the door.

“A concerned teacher Mister Neighsay,” Gabriel answered in his most tonally neutral voice that he could manage.

“Hmm… very well, come in.” Gabriel heard locks being disengaged, and the griffin grabbed the door handle and turned it, opening the door. A quick look around the room showed a rather spartan office, walls decorated only with certificates of merit from prestigious Canterlot schools, and other bits of memorabilia that he hadn’t a clue as to the origins of. Behind a solid oaken desk, Neighsay was working on paperwork, his horn alight as the quill scribbled across a parchment’s surface magically.

Neighsay looked up and blinked at the griffin in his office before glaring mildly at him. “To what do I owe the pleasure of having… you coming into my office?” he asked.

Gabriel set his bag down before moving to a seat, resting his forelimbs on top of it as he leaned on its back. “I just heard a student complain of being unjustly judged about their ability in your class on the way out,” he said coolly. “As a teacher, I figure since it’s my duty to ensure the well being of my students, that I look into it.”

Neighsay’s glare narrowed further. “...you are with that dragon, aren’t you?”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as well, his hackles slowly starting to rise as he fought to keep a cool head. “That is neither the point of this discussion, nor your business,” he countered politely. “I am here to discuss an issue with a new colleague in regards to the treatment of students in this school.”

Neighsay scoffed.

“I think not,” the unicorn stated. “I stand by my belief that a beast such as Miss ‘Numidium Forge’ does not deserve to be learning magic, much less deserve to be in this school. It’s already been tainted enough with griffins and the occasional yak as it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mister Griffin, I have lesson plans to take care of.”

Gabriel was quiet for a moment, merely looking at Neighsay as he watched the quill writing down words on the parchment. He set himself back on the ground and began to leave, stopping at the door as he picked up his bag. “You know Neighsay, you’re probably a damn fine mage… but you’re a shit liar.”

Neighsay looked up from his desk at Gabriel looked over his shoulder.

“Those aren’t lesson plans, and my niece, my… daughter, isn’t some ‘clearly lust spawned monster.’ Nor would I imagine any of the Princesses take kindly to such language. Just saying.”

“Is that a threat?”

Neighsay’s blood froze for a moment as Gabriel began to laugh, the griffin’s beak upturned in a wicked smile. “A threat? No. I don’t threaten. I act. Have a good day Mister Neighsay.”

Gabriel left, shutting the door behind him and leaving Neighsay alone in his office. Gabriel left the school grounds, and felt a tailwind flow from behind him. His wing feathers tickled, his blood stirring at the thought of flight… He sighed, shaking his head. Flight was something he couldn’t afford anymore, not with his wing having long since given up on total recovery.

With that in mind, the griffin began the trek home, pointedly ignoring the stares from a few crystal ponies, and the crystal pillars all over the place.

*****

Gabriel managed to locate the music shop Clockwork mentioned, and breathed a sigh of relief, the sight of the little dragon’s smile lifting a heavy weight off of his shoulders. She was busily gabbing with the cashier over a poster she had found of her favorite band.

He looked in closer and took it in, the poster depicting what appeared to be a pair of minotaur changelings, one in a fancy black suit, the other female and clad in a stylish green dress, a pair of unicorns, one clad in black robes, the other in an antique white clown costume, and a massive bull-like creature. Each one looked like they were leaping out of old Saturday morning comic books, and the titling read out “The Ghost Division in ‘Saturday Morning Apocalypse’”.

“More of them huh?” Gabriel asked Clockwork as he walked over to his side. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Finding their merch is kinda hard these days.” Clockwork replied, handing over the money for the poster. “Lots of places banned any of their merch after the wedding disaster a few years back, since the leads are both known changelings.”

“Mmm,” came the griffin’s stoic grunt. Gabriel shook his head, looking around the shop himself before he spotted a battered tool on the far wall.

“Heh. Don’t see those everyday,” he quipped, walking over to the wall. Clockwork looked over and saw what would charitably be described at the drunken lovechild of a bagpipe, a massive warhammer, and a shepherd’s staff hanging off the wall, the vast majority of it a collection of bolted metal and… were those monster parts?

“...what?” Clockwork tried to wrap his head around what he was looking at, and why it looked familiar to Gabriel. “Yo, Gabe… what is that thing?”

“Hunting horn, carved from a Glavenus, the Scorching Blade pseudo-wyvern,” Gabriel explained. “My grandfather fought one once.”

“Sweet mercy, I’ve seen the aftermath of one at the old Shalestone mines...” Clockwork shuddered, turning his attention back to Numi, who hopped from the counter with her prize in claw, landing on her father’s back with a grunt.

“Feeling better, Numi?” The yellow unicorn asked.

“A bit… still peeved over Neighsay but.. I’ll live.”

Gabriel chuckled. “Well, if he keeps giving you trouble, just let me know sweetie,” he told Numi with a smirk. The dragoness shared a look with her father as she glanced back at her uncle.

“You didn't do anything… crazier than usual, did you Uncle Gabby?” the dragon asked, pouting gently.

“Like, say, anything that might cost us our jobs?” Clock added, pouting identically to his daughter, puffed lip and all. Gabriel rolled his eyes as he stepped away from the antique weapon, the griffin’s tail twitching behind him.

“Of course not,” he answered. “I’m a jackass, not a moron.”

“We know you’re not, Uncle Gabby!” Numi cooed, leaning over to give him a peck on the cheek. Gabriel chuffed in amusement as he headed to the door, Clockwork and Numi close behind as the trio exited the store.

Outside, they met an unexpected sight. A diamond dog pup, barely older than Numidium, clad in a tattered red robe, whimpering on the sidewalk. The pup looked lost and confused, ears perking at every sound around her. Gabriel looked at Clockwork, concern visible on his face as the unicorn gave a hesitant shrug.

“...Miss?” Clockwork asked, approaching slowly. “Are you OK?” The pup turned around in shock, expression pained and fearful. It was the sort of panicked look Numi gave so long ago, and he felt his heart break. The same kind of look that made Gabriel’s blood boil. But what shocked all three was her eyes.

No pupil, no iris, just a solid blank white shining back at them, held wide open as if begging for some light to breach the barricade. Clockwork silently waved his hoof in front of her face, no reaction. He got closer; still nothing. A gentle boop on the nose, however, and she was sent reeling back with a scream of fright, Gabriel lunging ahead of the unicorn and grabbing her before she could fall into the busy street. “Schieße!” the griffin swore as the pup latched onto him.

“Keep your pets on a leash!” somepony shouted, earning enraged growls from the family, but the offender was already long-since gone from sight. Numidium moved in, taking the frightened dog from her uncle’s grasp and gingerly petting her head, a thick unkempt mane softening the petting. Soon, the pup began to calm, realising she wasn't in danger. The two adults shared a wordless glance and gently pulled Numidium along. This had to be handled now. So, with an unexpected new friend in tow, they marched off, foregoing dinner in favor of a silent trip to the central authority of the Empire.

The Crystal Palace.

Comments

[Ultimate Warrior of Zera]

What was Xenilla doing in his brief scene? Man, before he turned around, Neighsay was a jerk. Dang, how did that blind Diamond Dog get there? At least they are meeting the royals and Xenilla soon.

[Corona Blaze]

9927917
Xenila's scene was removed to re-use him in the next chapter, and all of this will be revealed in said chapter. patience, lad, patience.

As for Xenilla, that will be revealed in The Bridge in future chapters