Chapter Twenty Six - My home has been ransacked

It was a pitiful sight that they returned to. The door of the hut hung on one hinge, the shed half collapsed, even the garden that he had carefully cultivated uprooted and left to wither. The three bowls within the hut had been thrown out into the 'yard,' smashed as they hit the dirt. Inside was no better, jade bottles were scattered everywhere. Though they were stronger than glass from his home world, some had chipped and cracked. The chest was no longer under his bed, the empty books that it held were ripped to shreds and the cauldron had been tossed to one side. Even his cheap bedding had not been saved from the culprits wrath. His charms had been torn down, the more fragile ones snapped in two, their splinters covering the floor. "Oh."

Jin Li glanced over at the boy, who was so dumbfounded he could only sound out that lone word. Even he was not so hard hearted to notice the upset the break in had caused. He said nothing for a moment and glanced around to see what could be saved, but Leon had had little to begin with, he had even ridiculed him for it. He picked up one of the few jade bottles to survive the devastation and placed it upon the shelf, only to find that that shelf loose, unable to support anything.

His brows furrowed and he sounded a click of irritation. Who was the fool to tamper with the belongings of his servant? He would cut them down at once! With this thought in mind, he turned to face Leon, who was picking up the torn shreds of paper. Droplets of water dripped down upon them.

"You are crying," Jin Li stated, frozen in mid step.

Leon brought his hand to his cheeks in surprise. "I am," he agreed. He turned his attentions back to the books. "M-my grandfather m-made these b-b-books for me," he whispered. Leon understood, it was the remnants of Leo sorrowful for the loss of the gift that was the reason for his tears.

Jin Li felt his anger rising once more. Disrespecting an elder, he thought, how crass. He had some affection for his own old grandfather, though his mother's father was nearing a thousand years and was full of mischief enough to make his father and brothers despair on many occasions. "Who did this?" He demanded to know.

But Leon could only shake his head. He could only think of those bullies, but Caprian had moved to the inner school and he did not believe this was the work of Tor, it would not be that black hearted person's style, he seemed to be the observing time, enjoying the pain of others without getting his hands dirty. Virgal was likely, but he was also physically weak and a minion, would not have the strength the tear down the door. Leon could not accuse any of them without evidence, who knew who else might be involved?

"I w-will g-g-go t-to the school," Leon as he picked up his cauldron, which had also cracked noticeably. "I n-need a n-new c-c-c..." his stutter had worsened to the point he could no longer force the words out, so gave up.

"I will go with you," Jin Li stated, but Leon shook his head. "Why not?"

"C-c-can't know y-you are h-h-here." Jin Li began to grumble beneath his breath. "P-p-please!" Leon did not wish to risk being kicked out. He may have lived in this world for several months, but he knew he would not survive easily outside of the little protection that being in the school provided.

"This Lord believes that you are not worth this Lord's patience," he said bitterly and walked outside and left him alone to deal with the mess.