章節 85: The stone burner

The scraping of pencil on a paper kept on and on.

Though it was Elion's first time inside the small office, he immediately knew the first rule. It was a place where noise was not allowed.

He introduced himself to the doctor earlier, but there was no indication that he was heard.

Apparently, it was forbidden to interrupt too.

The four walls were painted white, but the upper half on the left side wall of Elion was made out of glass--- facing the empty ward.

The beds were lined in rows, covered by white linen. It was clean and simple in contrast to the interior of the doctor's office.

Elion was standing in front of a desk filled with stacks of papers. He shifted his weight onto his right feet, accidentally kicking a crumpled paper on the floor.

The crumpled paper rolled towards the corner, hitting a pile of used plates. The plates are not the only ones sprawled on the floor though, countless stacks of books reminded Elion of the slumps--- they were like modeled after the empty streets and buildings. There were also a few lab tools, some of them made from glass that Elion had to remind himself not to accidentally kick one of them.

He knew the second rule then; it was a place where clutter is encouraged.

Though new to the eyes, the small office was not unfamiliar, it reminded him of the princess' room before he would clean it up.

A smile crept onto Elion's lips as he remembered a rare instance--- moments where the princess would probably deny if asked--- where the princess seamlessly hid an undergarment displayed on the floor under her bed--- or so the princess thought. Elion saw everything, more than the princess wanted him to see.

On the doctor's instance, though it looked like a mess to Elion, it was obviously organized--- only the doctor would know about it though. Books and papers clustered on every sides probably were meant for different usage, topic, or projects.

He was already planning on how he would clean up the doctor's office--- that was why here was here after all. Elion is one heck of a good hunter. From Elion the treasure hunter to Elion the mess hunter. His job may have shifted to the domestic side the moment he entered the palace, but still a hunter.

Unfortunately, the room was not only overwhelming to the eyes, but it was also too much for the nose too. He savored and breathed in the room slowly--- it smelled funny. Bringing his attention back to the doctor, her messy bun and stained white robe, he was not sure if the smell was from the room itself or from the doctor--- he would never dare to ask.

The doctor still hasn't acknowledged Elion's presence, so he said his name once more.

Dr. Natalie raised a finger to silence him, grabbed a blank piece of paper with her other hand, and continued on writing.

Only when Dr. Natalie was satisfied with her notes did she raise her head up and studied Elion. "No questions." She gathered her loose notes and slid it in her drawer. "Do as what you're told to and you'll be back to the princess in three days' time." She locked her drawer and slid the key on the pocket of her white robe.

"Your work in here will be much easier than to baby sit the princess all day." Dr. Natalie's glossy red stiletto glimmered under the light as she slid a trash bin towards Elion. "Throw this in the stone burner behind the palace, burn it," She looked at Elion. "NEVR. Look at what is inside."

It was more of like a trash drum than a trash bin. He took it with both hands, an odor oozing from it--- he finally found the source of the funny smell. It was heavy--- really heavy--- especially when the only trash this office could produce are papers.

"Clean the ashes, throw it properly, then you're done for the day." Dr. Natalie busied herself on her desk, ignoring Elion once more. "You're dismissed."

He waited for ten minutes just to receive a one-minute instruction.

Elion exited the room as the smell lingered on him--- it smelled like something was decaying.

As he wandered around the palace searching where to burn the trash, the attendants would cover their noses and hold their breath as he walked pass by them. Eventually he gave up, he cannot find it by himself, so he asked a guard where the stone burner was. The guard pointed him towards the garden.

It was deep within the garden where grasses had overgrown, it looked like wilderness, untouched by humans for years— this part was not maintained compared to the outer parts of the garden.

As he got closer to the stone burner though, the grass had gotten thin, had turned into patches, until it turned into an empty brown soil…. an empty charcoal soil.

This small part of the land has been poisoned and no growing plant will ever grow from it.

The stone burner basically looked like a fireplace with a tall chimney.

He placed the drum right beside the stone burner and turned the lid open--- greeting him a strong pungent smell.

A black garbage bag was inside, it was knotted tightly. He emptied the drum and shoved the garbage bag inside the stone burner--- a dark brown liquid substance dripped on the ground.

Everything he needed were already prepared at the side--- chopped woods, a liter of gas, and a box of matchsticks.

He grabbed six pieces of wood and stacked it neatly inside the stone burner--- surrounding the garbage bag. Pouring a generous amount of oil, he lightened a matchstick--- making it engulfed with fire.

Elion did not leave his eyes away from the fire. As it grows stronger, he did not take a step back. As smoke puffed out of the chimney, he did not cover his nose.

He followed what was asked.

He did not look what was inside the garbage bag.

He did not even dare to take a peek--- he did not have to.

But he knew right away--- it was remains of a human.

"In another life, may you find peace."

The ashes slowly floated in the air.

A scenario that reminded him of one exact night. The campfire of the dead, it smelled exactly like that. Burning flesh, human flesh.

Elion waited patiently for it to burn into ashes. He waited for it to cool down and scooped the remains. But instead of throwing in the trash, he placed it on an empty jar and buried it near the stone burner.

***

"Eli," Maya whispered loudly. "Eli." She was power walking on the hallway, trying to catch up with his stride. "Elion!" she grabbed him on the elbow.

Elion finally turned around to look at her.

"So," She looked sideways to make sure no one was at earshot. "I heard you're under Dr. Natalie's." she nudged him to the side. "Lucky you."

She did not expect him to jump out of happiness, he's a workaholic after all. But she did not expect him to take her compliment too seriously either. "She's known to treat her attendants the best, she gives them a lot of free time, I'm told." The side of her lips lifted up. "I bet you're already done for the day."

Elion pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes, I was dismissed early."

"You're done for the day and here I am," Maya scrunched the apron she was wearing and hovered it towards him. "working until the last dinner is served." She clasped him at the back. "Do me a favor and mention my name to her, I knew her attendant died. She needs a replacement, borrowing you from the princess is the proof of that."

"I would not recommend you to that Doctor."

"What?! Why?" She wiped her hands at her side and revealed both of her palms. "Look at this," she shover her hands closer to Elion. "My callous are so thick I can barely feel anything," she was rubbing both of her hands, as if to peel away the thick skin. "and it's not because I'm busy practicing with a sword or something."

"You do not want to be that Doctor's attendant."

"Why?" She lowered her hands, all humor gone. "Did you find something?"

"She's killing people in that lab, or something much worse."

There were attendants walking towards them, Maya pulled him by the elbow and began to walk. "The more I need to be her attendant then."

"Maya!" The two attendants waved a hand towards Maya, their eyes sparking as they whispered to each other, glancing back and forth from Maya to Elion.

Maya waved back.

"You don't not need to," Elion replied once the attendants were out of earshot. "Give me two days, I'll look the lab up myself."

"Okay, but don't work alone. Remember we're partners."

Elion nodded. "We don't have much time before the princess' birthday. We have to get all the information we could get."

"Right, so, what's the plan?"

Before they could master a plan, someone shouted at the end of the hallway. "Maya!" the attendant was waving a hand in the air, she was wearing the same apron as Maya. "Chef is looking for you!"

"I'm itching to go home. " Maya sighted. "I'm tired of washing all the dishes."

"Coming!" Maya replied and joined her fellow attendant as they head towards the kitchen.

Well, Elion is tired of cleaning up the royal's trashes too--- especially the Doctor's.