Capítulo 74: 73
Chapter 73
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2030, Planet: Grimoire
Commander Absinthe Darmono finally came to an acknowledgment that he'd put off for some time. Flange Orphanage was a damned labyrinth on the inside and a damned Victorian-styled gothic castle on the exterior. It resembled the twisted and complicated mind of its owner and manager, Director Doyle Moline.
Many turrets and widow walks around the highest points, along with several attics. As he strolled through the various hallways and corridors with butler Garnet Shamus, Absinthe Darmono reflected that he hadn't had so much interaction with everyday people in a very long time.
However, that would soon end. At some point, he would have to leave and resume his official duties, which he didn't really want to do right now.
He would begin the process of making his slow departure from the Orphanage right now. Darmono sighed. "You've been very patient with me, Butler Shamus." He glanced at the relatively young woman next to him. "I'm glad this place still operates with good staff." That had been a bit of a problem before.
Garnet Shamus stared at him in puzzlement. "What's not to be polite and patient with someone as courteous as you?" Her apparent bafflement made him smile.
"Generally, there comes a point when guests are shooed off politely." He reminded her with a wry smile.
Garnet blinked. "Oh really? Well, I suppose that is true." She conceded. "Truthfully, I was alerted by the Director that you needed to remain on the premises." She cleared her throat. "We're going to receive some visitors, some of whom only you're capable of keeping order." She shook her head when Absinthe glanced at her in confusion. "You'll see soon enough." Garnet frowned. "Did you not check for notifications?"
Oh right, he should do that. Darmono grunted in displeasure. Bah, what an unpleasant reality check. He'd hoped to put it off for a little while longer. "I turned it onto silent mode because I needed some peace for a short while." Darmono made a sour face. "Honestly, the only time I can relax is when I visit this place."
Several dissonant chimes rang out in the quiet niche, where they paused. Darmono winced at the sound. "I need to get this fixed." He frowned at the device. The problem is that I keep being told to replace it because this model is obsolete." Darmono had reasons for not wanting to replace it. "I don't want to if I can avoid it."
Garnet's eyebrows rose when she recognized the item. "I see." She hid a smile behind one hand. "Over here will dissipate sound nicely." She nodded to an area with several chairs and a small table.
This was a pleasant place to sit and rest tired feet. Darmono glanced around. "This place remains the same no matter how many renovations are made on the outside or inside to keep it modernized and maintained to code," he observed with a faint smile.
Garnet rolled her eyes. "It is a pain in the ass to keep it maintained and cleaned properly." She didn't hide her displeasure with the problem she viewed as the most annoying.
Ouch, but very accurate because the upkeep on this place must be a real bitch to maintain. Darmono chuckled. "True, but it is a unique landmark considered a great way to know when entering an outer boundary of Three-Pronged Fork." He told her wryly.
"Big deal?" Garnet groused under her breath. "Save the compliments for the cleaning people who're always working twenty-four hours to keep this place sanitized and safe for the residents." She suggested when he laughed at her grumbling.
Absinthe couldn't help but appreciate how comfortable she was in his presence. That was very rare because most people panicked whenever he came under their purview, but that wasn't the case whenever he came to Flange Orphanage.
"I'll do that." Darmono savored the slow pace of their walking. Now that they stopped, he checked all his messages and whistled in surprise. "Huh, so Lamberton is the one who suggested the change in magical combat sparring." He mused with gratification. "Is it specific to using only hand gestures and clear vocalization?" Now, this was a change Absinthe could get behind. "It's about damned time that those changes are made."
Garnet eyed him in shock. "So, you also approve of that change?" She looked pleased and hopeful.
Absinthe nodded absently. "Yes, of course. I've been wanting to find reasons for changing that out-dated and useless method of battle through magic." What a frustrating situation.
"So, what you're saying is that you wouldn't mind if you had people in your command that didn't need those methods to utilize magic efficiently?" For the first time, Garnet sounded pleased.
What was that reaction all about? Absinthe nodded. "I've been trying for some time to get changes pushed through. Not a single attempt was successful." This was a complex subject for him to think about.
Darmono shook his head wearily. A sigh escaped him. "I don't know how many troops I've lost because of those strict rules." He glanced at Garnet. "I've got unofficial teams who're able to make up the numbers,"
When her eyes widened in shock, and her jaw dropped, he grimaced. "I guess that was something I shouldn't have mentioned." Darmono didn't know why he had mentioned that to her. "I don't know how long I can keep them out of the limelight other than as rogues." That was also something he found very distasteful. His magicians weren't rogues. They were highly eccentric and innovative, that was all.
Garnet blinked. "That is why you must stay," she insisted. There's going to be a gathering..." She paused in disbelief, her nose wrinkling in disgust. What in the world is that revolting stench?"
Darmono produced a mask for her to wear. "Sadly, it seems as though some pipes or worse have broken. None of the bathrooms can be used if that foul stench is an indicator."
Just what happened for that disaster to occur? He and Garnet hurried to the source and found a furious Director binding two to five people who were clearly not of the formal employees. Somehow, they had managed to escape detection.
This wasn't a good indicator of how the day would go forward. Darmono sighed. "I'll call for Brinton and others," he muttered.
"Don't bother," Moline glanced at him. "I already did it."
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