Novel Full 343 343 Grok
Grok was the talk of the room for a few minutes as the shocked students tried to adapt to the thought that Christa’s Familiar had advanced when she summoned him back after the creature had died.
She had tried everything that she knew to try to bring him back, but it was deemed impossible by the Professors. Her Demon might still be linked to her, but the curse she was under prevented him from being brought back.
Grok was also very protective of his witch, using his short Halberd to keep everyone else away from the table, even while he was happily answering their questions.
Wolfe and Christa both thought it was hilarious that he was so protective of her, but if he had died trying to save her during an ambush in the bus, then the feeling likely lingered, and he would be very slow to trust other Witches this time.
That was much different from other Goblins. They were usually easy to trick because their urge to breed would lead them to do anything that they were told, as long as it seemed plausible that it would end with what they wanted.
If he wasn’t distracted and easily swayed by a room full of young Witches, he was no average Goblin and perhaps worthy of the title of Paladin.
So, the meal progressed with everyone a metre away from Wolfe and Christa at the table, and a lot of grateful praise for his work and questions for Cassie and Ella about what was going on in the Fae Forest.
Now that the Witches were here, the others wanted to know all about it from a less biased source, and the interest in becoming a Professor for the Witches who were there was growing rapidly.
It would only be a month or so before the third years took their final exams and graduated, so they might get their first Professors right away unless Headmistress Peach had intentions to recruit from the city to fill her obligations.
“I just can’t believe that you both made it to Rank Two so fast. You were ahead at the start of the year for sure, but the rest of us are still languishing in the first-year classes, and you’re up among the ten most powerful Witches in the Southern Covens.” One of their former classmates complained.
Wolfe laughed. “Wait until you find out that we had to recruit witches from Myrrh Coven to make books for our Library because nobody knew the spells to make new ones.”
The Professors laughed. That was one of the things that was taught in the second year because it was a valuable skill for all Witches, but it was not easy enough for the majority of First Year students.
“So, your village is mostly dropouts?” One of the Teacher Assistants asked, looking at Cassie and Ella.
“Yeah, it was mostly Witches who finished the first year or dropped out of the first year and joined the military. There are some villagers who we rescued from the treatment camps as well, and the new ones who came from the villages around us, but the majority were all on the front lines of the Monster Tide.” Cassie agreed.
“You mentioned the villages around you. Aren’t the mutants violent? How do you communicate with them?” The Assistant asked.
“In the Fae Forest, the curse on the Witches and locals is lifted, and we can just speak with each other as normal. They’re actually quite friendly once they get over their fear of Witches. Wolfe helped with that since Demons can talk to them all the time, and he helped keep them supplied this winter.
Mary is in heaven with all the new arrivals. Most of them are merged humans and animals, so there are fluffy ears and tails everywhere in the village now that the new staff has arrived and is working.
It’s different than when it was all Witches, but it’s a nice change, and they make the place feel more like a home than a magical castle where we’re all just waiting for something to happen.”
“So, how many Werewolves did you get?” One of the senior class girls joked, referring to Headmistress Peach’s Familiar.
“None that I know of. But there are a few guys with dog ears and tails if that’s close enough for you.” Wolfe told her with a wink, making the other students laugh.
“Alright, calm down. Let the ones who are finished through so they can return their plates.” The cook called from behind the counter, encouraging the girls to stop blocking the walkways to talk to each other.
The witches moved to the actual tables, which were mostly abandoned, and Grok finally gave up on defending his territory with the Halberd once he saw that the seats would be needed.
Four girls from the regular class joined them at the table, seeming to be friends of Christa’s after she had returned to the Academy. They were all more interested in Wolfe’s story of the Monster Tide than in the Fae Forest. In their words, they “Had no intentions of going that far from home, but might be in the next draft.”
So, Wolfe regaled them with tales of the combat on the front lines, and Grok got more and more excited about the prospects of being a hero. He still wasn’t good at subtle, but now the Goblin was almost charming instead of just being lecherous and creepy.
“So, you’re going to go home, find a nice spot to set up shop, pick a good husband and raise a whole Coven of little Witches? That’s an excellent future plan. I think it sounds fairly relaxing. Well, after the toddler years.” Wolfe agreed, making the Witches blush.
In theory, they wanted the family life, but thinking about it now, none of them actually had any experience with men, as they came from rather sheltered homes.