Iruma walked in a daze. When he and Opera reached the entrance of the school, it became clear, they were going home. Opera scooped Iruma up and flew home in an instant.
"Much faster," said Opera once they landed. "I'm making you a snack, but then I must return to Lord Sullivan's side"
"O-oh, okay," Iruma said as Opera opened the door, bowed, and allowed Iruma to enter first. "What should I do?"
"Whatever you want, as long as you stay out of the kitchen," Opera said flatly, as always, but Iruma couldn't help but detect tension. He thought it best to give them space.
"I'll be in my room," Iruma informed, but only got a nod as acknowledgment.
Iruma flopped on his bed and pulled out his phone. He had 666 messages. Some were sent individually, most were group chats. He opened the group chat to the last ten messages visible without scrolling up.
Iruma: Hey, I'm all right. I'm sorry for worrying everyone. Professor Balam thought there was something wrong with my wings and ran away with me to get help. Sorry for not replying sooner!
He read his message over and over again. He was deeply unhappy with the deception, but he saw no way out. Iruma's finger hovered over the send button. After a few more seconds of hesitation, he clicked his phone and left his room. Iruma found Opera in the dining room, setting the table.
"Opera would you please look at this text?" Iruma asked and handed his phone over.
Opera's ears twitched ever so slightly.
"I hate to lie, but I gotta tell them something" Iruma explained.
"It should be fine, but don't send it yet," they said as they returned to the kitchen. "please have a seat master Iruma"
Iruma sat at his usual seat. Opera returned with a mountain of sandwiches and serval pitchers of juices on a cart.
"This is your snack. Don't leave the house. I'll text you if you can send that text to your classmates. Lord Sullivan and I will be home by dinner," Opera said as Iruma ate.
Iruma nodded his understanding. He swallowed his food "Goodbye Opera, see you later!"
Opera bowed before leaving "Enjoy the rest of your day master Iruma"
Iruma enjoyed his snack, he took the dishes to the sink and contemplated doing the dishes. But decided against it. Opera might be mad he went into the kitchen at all. Instead, Iruma went to his room, and although no one else was around Iruma whispered to the Ring of Gluttony.
"Ali san?" Iruma just couldn't shake the honorifics when speaking with the spirit inside the Ring of Gluttony. Or his friends he noted to himself. They will always be Clara-chan and Azz-kun.
"Lil Iru!" Ali said as he emerged from the ring, while still being tethered to it.
"Hi Ali-san!" Iruma greeted in a stage whisper.
"Why are you whispering?!" Ali asked arms crossed.
"I'm used to whispering because I need to hide you?" Iruma wondered out loud. He nodded his head "That's it! I'm just used to hiding you"
Ali shrugged as he didn't really care. Mostly teasing Iruma for entertainment. "Listen, I'm sorry I didn't help, it kinda my fault it got so bad"
Iruma tilted his head "What could you have done Ali-san?"
Ali puffed up in mock offense "I could have done something! I'm not helpless !"
Iruma's eyes went wide "Oh, no I didn't mean to upset you!"
Ali chuckled "I'm messing with you" He ruffled Iruma's hair. "I could have," he stretched himself out in the shape of wings.
Iruma hummed "That's not very big. No one would believe I could fly with such tiny wings"
"It's better than no wings at all! At least with tiny wings, they'd believe you're a demon!"
Iruma flinched from being shouted at and raised his hands defensively. "Well, it's too late now, so don't worry about it! I'm sure Grandpa knows what to do!"
Ali stretched and yawned with great theatrics. "Yeah, you're right. He'll figure it out. He can erase their memories if things get really bad. So, put this out of your mind; everything will be fine"
Iruma's whole demeanor brightened "I feel so much better, thank you Ali-san!" He grabbed Ali in for a quick hug.
Ali wriggled free quickly "Look, I'm happy for you, but hands off"
Iruma laughed "Sorry"
Ali humphed with crossed arms "You need a pet or something"
"We can play with the kitties!"
Ali waved his arms around "No, they report to Opera, and I get the feeling they would somehow call attention to me. You have fun, call me if there's danger" and with that, Ali retreated back into the ring.
Iruma did seek out the tiny, furry, black housecats. He still wasn't sure who they technically belonged to, or their names, but they were very trainable and cuddly.
...
Everyone took a seat, teachers on one side, Lord Sullivan on the other. "I won't divulge everything and you can't expect your questions to have answers. There are something, even I don't know,"
The teachers looked at each other with wide eyes, but quickly returned their full attention to Lord Sullivan.
"Please, no interruptions," Lord Sullivan said, he cleared his throat before continuing. "Iruma is not my biological grandson. I'm sure you guessed that because to your knowledge I have no children," he chuckled. "I had been so jealous of Levi and Belial for having grandchildren. For years they lorded pictures and stories over my head! I was not envious of their children but for some reason, I desperately wanted a grandchild. I searched for a while, but Iruma, in a way found me. His parents had him working hard, labor-intensive, and dangerous jobs, he was born without wings, so technically not grounded or born grounded however you look at it" Lord Sullivan said with a dry smile.
The educators stared in astonishment, momentarily parting their lips, yet quickly recalled the Chairdemin's directive to refrain from interruption. The atmosphere was thick with palpable tension.
"Adoption papers were signed, I had them on me at all times. I quickly learned critical information: he had very little education, he wasn't used to even basic decency, he was naïve not because he was sheltered, but because he has little life experience other than work, and I loved him already"
"Aww!" Professor Morax gushed.
Her fellow teachers either gawked or in Professor Naberius's case glared at her.
Professor Morax blushed and squeaked out a "Sorry"
Lord Sullivan chuckled and waved a hand "It's no trouble, my dear," he rose to his feet gracefully. "I'll be in my office and speaking with the entire staff about Iruma during their rest period. I realize now I should have done this sooner. In my heart, I hoped his secret would remain between Opera and I, but I see now-"
"Wait! Wait a minute! What about the flying race?! I pushed him off a cliff because I thought he had wings and was just being lazy!" Professor Naberius shouted as he too rose to his feet.
Professor Morax looked up at Professor Naberius "You what?" she whispered.
"You did what Kaleg?!" Professor Balam shouted pulling on his own hair.
"How could you?!" Professor Bars demanded to know as he faced off against Professor Naberius.
"All demons have wings! Or so I thought! He was sulking by the cliff edge..."Professor Naberius was shouting down at Professor Bars but pivoted to Lord Sullivan "I should have been told!"
Lord Sullivan nodded solemnly "You're right" he admitted. He held up a finger "But in my defense, I was watching the whole time. I can't always be there for my dear Iruma, but during big moments I watch and I can be there in an instant, like how when you tried blowing up his arm, but I stopped you" He waved cheerfully "I'll be my office as Opera smooths things over for me. I expect everyone to return to their regular duties"
Now all the teachers were on their feet. The chairs clattered loudly when they hit the floor from suddenly being abandoned. The teachers circled a growling Professor Naberius.
"Take no more than five minutes!" Lord Sullivan called over his shoulder.
...
Iruma was playing video games, a tiny black cat on each knee when he received the text from Opera permitting him to send his text to his classmate's group chat and to stay home, but he may go outside as long as he stayed in the yard. He sent the text immediately and immediately got replies.
Azz: It's wonderful that you received a prompt and decisive response from a member of the Babyls faculty! You deserve nothing but the best master Iruma!
Clara: Yay for Iruma being okadookie! but meannie teach could have said he was scared about your wings!
Azz: He needed to act ASAP to aid Master Iruma! Stupid Clara, Professor Balam did nothing wrong!
Elizabetta: I'm so relieved you're okay! See you at school tomorrow!
Kamu: My good sir, you had us worried, and it breaks one's heart to see lovely ladies in distress! It seems this was all a misunderstanding on good Professor Balam's part.
Sabro: My dear rival is of course fine and I was never truly worried as I knew he was always fine! You proved me right and I look forward to your presence at school!
Allocer: All's well that ends well!
Jazz: Schools not over you could come back
Iruma: Grandpa doesn't want me to.
Without Iruma realizing it, one of the cats left his knee and clicked off his video game and the TV. He was stared at first but smiled as the cat returned to its place. "Thank you; you're right the TV should not be on if it's not being used"
The cats trilled and purred and went to sleep on the couch together.
Iruma was reminded that Ali said they reported to Opera and that seemed true with that display of intelligence and sentience but his attention quickly went back to his phone as more texts poured in. His classmates could only text when they had a chance, but Iruma had all the time in the world and waited for the next message. He remained that way until his family came home.