Descisions

[Grove]

Grove hesitated at the doorway for a moment, before he knocked on the door frame.

“Radcliff, do you have a moment?”

“Sure kid, come have a seat.” The older man gestured to a stool near his workbench. “So, made up your mind about the school?”

Grove was silent for several moments, before he looked up at Radcliff.

“They'll teach me how to kill Demons?”

“Yes and no. The school isn't about training you to go killing monsters indiscriminately. It's more for teaching you how to protect yourself and others. Yes, after I have a word with the Headmistress, I'm sure they can teach you a few things about Demons, but it's so you can avoid falling victim to them again. Not to go hunting them out of revenge.”

Grove fell silent for a few more minutes, as he thought that over.

“I. I think I can live with that. I want revenge on it, but I'm not stupid. I know I can't kill it. At least, not now.”

Radcliff looked at him for several minutes, before he reached over to a nearby shelf, and picked up a book. He handed it to Grove, then turned so that he was fully facing him this time.

“Consider this a very early Graduation present for you. I got my hands on this a few years ago, and I think it will be helpful to you in the future.” He tapped the glowing blue and red runes on the front cover. “It has a very special Seal on it. You can flip through the pages all you want, but until the Book decides you're ready for the information it possesses, all you'll see are blank pages. The stronger you get, the more the pages will fill it. When the book has no more blank pages, you'll be ready to take on the monster that hunts you. But don't try to take it alone. Demon's aren't a joke, and you can't take them lightly. I advise you to make some friends at the school. Especially ones who might excel in areas where you lack. Now, you head off for bed, and I'll let the School know. I'm sure someone will be here in a day or so to pick you up.”

Grove silently stood up, and headed for the room Radcliff had loaned to him. He paused at the doorway, and turned back to Radcliff.

“Thank you.”

[Headmistress Briarthorn]

In very little time at all, after an extensive mind-re-writing of Anastasia's parents, Briarthorn, Talon, and the three teens were outside a cabin in a rocky scrubland desert in California.

"...this is Radcliff's house." Talon said after a moment, and then smirked. "Oh, Briar, please let me knock? I wanna see the look on his face before he realizes I'm working for you now."

"Maybe if you'd stayed on good behavior." Briarthorn replied coldly as she wrapped on the door.

Radcliff answered fairly shortly after, and smiled slightly when he saw Briar, and then paled and reached for a weapon when he saw Talon, who was smiling very widely.

"Hold, Radcliff. Talon is on our side this time. She's a teacher at the Academy. She has sworn several powerful oaths of allegiance." Briar said in a calming tone.

"...Alright. I never thought I'd see the two of you on the same side. Didn't she almost kill you?" The demon hunter asked.

"She's almost killed me too. But I got my reasons, if that's what you're wondering. I work for her, she lets my 'kid' go to the Academy. No hidden agendas of revenge or anything." Talon interjected.

"Enough about my choices of staff. Where is the child, Radcliff?" Briar asked.

"Right this way. Grove, the woman from the school is here." Radcliff called, and the boy she assumed was Grove stepped into the room. He gave a somewhat frightened, but cautious eye to Talon, who grinned widely in response.

"Mr. Longbeach, I am Headmistress Briarthorn of the Briarthorn Academy. We would be happy to have you with us for the next semester and I will try as best I can to answer any questions you may have about my school." Briar said.

"You'll teach me how to hunt demons?" He asked.

Briarthorn nodded. "And talk to, and bargain with, and fight if absolutely necessary. There are many types of monster and demon in the world. Some are wicked, and some are righteous, and some are simply trying to get along. You have had, as I can see, some problems with demons in the past, and that is, of course, your own business. But one of the lessons you will learn, and is important you keep in mind, is that not every creature you encounter, regardless of appearance, is evil. You will have to keep this in mind when attending my school and if that is too much, at this point, to ask, then I am afraid you will need more time to adjust before attending. If not, then I would be happy to have you. As I am sure your fellow classmen," Briar gestured to Ethan, Ana, and Rose, "would be happy to have you as well. If you still wish to attend, by all means, gather your things and return. There are still children to retrieve before the day is done."

[Grove]

“Headmistress, I'm more than ready to go to this school. Mr. Radcliff already explained most of the rules to me. I'm more than able to abide by them. Not that I have much choice at the moment. Please excuse me while I gather my things.”

He nodded slightly to them, before ducking out of the room. He returned a moment later with a simple backpack. Radcliff, clapped him on the shoulder, nodding encouragingly.

“Don't worry kid. While at the school, you'll be perfectly safe. Just make sure you keep track of your contacts. You run out, the School nurse should be able to get you some more.”

“Thank you Mr. Radcliff.” He hugged the older man, before turning to the Headmistress. “I'm ready Ma'am.”