39 - *Dreamscape* 5

Chapter 39 *Dreamscape* 5

Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2022, Planet: Grimoire

Okay, this was the best time to cut his dreamtime short, so he would do that. Grifton drifted into a deep slumber and realized there was no movement around him. Seconds later he began shivering. What gives? Coldness engulfed his body after it had been so cozy and warm. Enough already, let me sleep in peace! Grifton frowned, stirring in discomfort but not enough to fully awaken and complain. First of all, he didn't want to wake up the other babies. Second, he wasn't in the mood to be jostled around and have something shoved into his mouth to obtain the disgusting formula. Third, he didn't even know where they were, yet again. It was a tad obvious that he wasn't in the carriage any longer. Huh? His brain clocked out and he thought no more.

~*~

It hadn't taken Grifton very long to learn how to control his dreaming sessions in those several hours of gaining very satisfactory sleep. He could direct where he wanted to go sometimes. As for that last interrupted session, he had his doubts about what he'd seen.

Instead of returning immediately, he'd discovered something very interesting in the astral realm of dreams. Grifton decided that spending time there would be more useful than helplessly drifting around in the dreamscapes that were quite terrifying in their clarity and lucidity. He wanted some time out before returning.

There was a library there and he could spend time learning about this new world where he was located. Grifton found some individuals who evidently managed all the various volumes, scrolls, and whatnot organized within. One of them gave him some helpful tips on where to look and where he couldn't go.

Evidently, there were ranks and levels assigned to each part of that library. All Grifton could access at this point was the most basic of texts and scrolls. He found that he didn't need the more advanced items. There was far too much even in the basics that he found overwhelming.

After some hesitation, all Grifton chose to examine were the specific records detailing the mega-continent into which he'd been dumped as an infant no less. It helped him immensely when it came to deciphering clues dropped all around him.

Finally, Grifton figured out what happened in his case. Evidently, he was from some very old draconic and human lineages. Through no fault of his parents or his own. It seemed he'd been part of an experiment that hadn't gone well at all.

Grifton hadn't handled learning about that too well. Mainly because now, he remembered having gone through that type of unpleasant fate three lifespans ago. "Can I not catch a break?" Only in his previous lifespan had he reached a very old age. That was through careful planning and not getting caught except through natural causes being his end.

"Well, at least I know what I'm in for this time around." Grifton reflected. Not long after he'd gained the basics of learning about different types of academies, the various metropolises and villages scattered throughout the Republic of Shantu his dream journeys resumed as well, showing him more of the future whether he wanted it or not.

~*~

In this latest journey, Grifton found himself dropped right back into the scene of the huge arson event that really screwed over several students. They were all attending one academy in particular.

However, the warehouses also catered to several competing academies. This was a setup for a nasty showdown between three major academies that wanted recognition by certain guilds, Grifton soon discovered.

Well, evidently this indicated some kind of useful future that he'd chosen to endure potential bullying and harassment. not something he'd wanted to deal with, but whatever. It looked as if in this place he'd gained quite a few allies and friends? Wow that was a first, and those odd siblings were involved in this future, it seemed.

Curious to see what would happen next, Grifton followed along until he drifted into a deeper sleep once more. He was more than a little nettled at the bad timing.

Dang it, that meant his physical body had reached its limit of what it could endure of his mental journeying. Grifton sighed heavily. Well, darn, he'd wanted to learn more of what his future had in store for him.

Maybe next time he'd see something that had to do with his siblings...Err, the cousins this time since it seemed that Grifton had formed a good bond with them. Or so he hoped.

~*~

What he got was something infinitely worse than before. "Okay, I could've done without the freaky weather again..." Oh, that wasn't bad weather, that was another horrifying scene of destruction taking place. "Just fucking wonderful." He muttered in acute disgust. "Hell, I haven't even had the experience of living in my new home yet." Grifton's waning patience almost snapped as he folded his arms and waited to see what awaited him this time.

A towering gothic castle wreathed in smoke, a fiery molten landscape, and upended headstones in a cemetery directly in front of it made Grifton gulp. "What is this?" He gazed around in trepidation before approaching a gate hanging askew rather cautiously. Who knew what lurked in the shadows that danced unceasingly with the fiery flames engulfing the building behind the cemetery.

It was rather obvious that raiders came through, utterly desecrating this area. What a disgrace to humanity. "Is there no such thing as decent humanity left in the world?" Even as he muttered angrily, others ran past him toward the gothic castle, shouting obscenities and curses. That's when he saw someone standing atop the highest point of the mansion.

"Huh? Grifton frowned.

That form looked very familiar indeed. He could've sworn that he'd never met the individual before. At least until he saw a name sign for the orphanage. "Flange Orphanage founded 2010-20??"

Evidently, this was also in the future, but when? Grifton shook his head in confusion.

As he floundered around, Grifton went straight back into the nothingness that signified yet another waking moment. This better be awakening for…