So Norbert talked to Lily about his adventures in his new world. Norbert omitted some items and skipped over others linked with Earth, not knowing what would happen if that rabbit slipped out of the bag.
Getting to the part about where he found the goblet, Lily asked for details about it, all that he could remember. Norbert told her all she could remember without skipping on any of the details. Knowing that if this all went bad, he could always hope to be whisked back to Earth.
As he reached the part with the wolves, a realisation dawned on Lily's face as she stared, nodding slightly as he told what he could remember of the chase until the night he fought them. Skipping over the details, as it was just flashes of memory before he was knocked out, he told her how he ended up in Flare-dew.
Opening his mouth to continue, Lily held up her hand. "Ok, that's enough." She continued, "And just making sure, you truly remember nothing about how you fell from the sky?"
"No."
"And what about the weird clothes you sometimes change into randomly?"
Norbert looked at Lily, not knowing what to say but knowing what she was talking about. None of the clothes he had worn between his travels had been the same, and none were even remotely close to the fashion he had seen.
The closest items are the sheets he woke up in today compared to high thread sheets that felt more like silk but made of cotton. Norbert hoped that the coat he would be able to shrug off and others would think that it was some exotic design; sadly, that did not seem to be the case.
As Norbert looked on, not moving or uttering a word, knowing that some things would need to be kept secret, he continued looking at Lily without moving, clasping his hands together. The two stared silently, waiting for the other to make the first move.
Several tense seconds passed for Norbert, knowing he could not say anything or be incriminated. "Well, it looks like you're still keeping some secrets," Lily said, Norbert still staring back at her, giving no reaction.
As Norbert looked around the room, waiting for whatever was to come, Norbert looked at the papers on her desk. Not understanding any of the words but seeing the pictures of some people in the top corner, Norbert realised they were profiles.
As he looked at them, thoughts appeared in Norbert's head that he was now deep within an army base, in a location he had no idea about and may need to escape depending on how hairy things became.
Tensing his arms, Norbert looked around the room, looking at the mahogany wood everywhere, and the only exit he saw was the one door he entered. No bookshelves on any of the walls that may hide a secret tunnel, just plain wooden walls with some engravings and embossings with the same floral design as the desk.
As Norbert looked around the room, not seeing any way to get out of the situation except charging ahead, Norbert looked back at Lily, staring into her eyes. "So, what now?" Norbert asked.
"And now we wait," Lily responded, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes.
Norbert looked around, just thinking about what he would now do. As his mind drifted, so did his hand to the top of his head. Carefully picking up Obsius, Norbert placed him on his lap, started rhythmically petting the bird, and waited for the executioner to come.
***
Sounds from outside of people walking washed over the once-silent office. Norbert, getting startled from his thoughts from the rush of sound, looked towards the door, his heart sinking with who he saw.
The person who gave the first introduction speech on the stage and stepped through the door. Fear engulfed him as Norbert looked at her, knowing he was in serious trouble.
Watching Norbert saw her go to the back of the room before returning to his line of sight. Looking at her place, the wooden chair with the upholstery beside the desk Lily was sitting.
She placed a book down on the table from her hands before sliding it towards Norbert. Having a quick look down, Norbert saw the leather-bound book with a picture of a creature, with some writing he could not understand.
Norbert looked back up at the two women, waiting to see who would make the first move between the two. As the new arrival sat down and wriggled a bit, getting comfortable again, Lily opened her eyes and stopped leaning on the chair.
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Thunk
The sound of the chair hitting the ground caused Norbert to jump slightly.
"This is the commander of our section here, but you can just call her?" Lily said, waving her hand in the direction of the new arrival.
"Sally, thanks Lily for the introduction and as I am sure you have already been told, you are in a peculiar situation." Commander Sally continued, "Officially, you were healing up in the medical ward for the past week. That is how long you have been unconscious" Norbert reeled at the news, not believing that a week had passed, thinking back on everything he would need to catch up on. About to open his mouth Norbert was interrupted as Sally continued speaking.
"Now, as you have passed the primary lesson, in going further than was before, you will be graduating with the others with you. This means it is time for you to go out on the field" Sally patted the book she handed him. "You will continue your studies by following and understanding the beasts found within this book; it is designed for people who do not know the script; if you have any questions, you can ask the other members of your group."
Leaning back in her chair, Sally gestured towards Lily. "Now, to the last topic of interest, do you have any further details about purple lights you want to add?"
Norbert looked at her, seeing if there was some catch to be had. "No, just the basics, and I have no clue I even survived it. The only other detail is that I have no memory of waking up in the white bed after the first impact." Norbert replied, waiting to see if he would be further tested.
"And you don't have the goblet or anything for me to look at?" Sally asked, putting on a warm motherly smile. Norbert reached into his backpack, found his pants and pulled out the talisman with the purple insignia; looking down, Norbert saw it was still shining purple.
Placing it on the desk, Norbert pushed it over to the other side, where Sally picked it up, giving it a quick look "Interesting choice of rune for this one. I at least see where the colour comes from now if your story is to be believed." She said, sliding the talisman back to Norbert, who placed it in his bag.
Indicating to Norbert once more, Sally continued, "Your placement has already been updated; I see you have already packed your things; just head to the gates you entered here and show your card to the individuals there. They can assist you there and on the other side."
Looking around, Norbert looked at the two of them, mouth slowly agape, not believing what had transpired or understanding why the commander would come here just for him.
Before standing up, Norbert quickly blurted out, "I'm just curious why you came here personally to deliver this?" Norbert asked, pointing towards the leather-bound book. Instantly he tried to go into the chair, knowing that he may have just made a colossal mistake.
Sally, only smiling at him, said, "Well, to see why Lily wavered the cost for someone staying in a bed for a week. Something must have caught her eye, so I visited her personally. And I will tell you this; I understand why she did what she did. Now that is all; you don't want to be late for your first assignment," She concluded, waving her hand at him.
Knowing he was being dismissed, Norbert quickly got up and left, careful not to slide the chair on the ground in the now silent room, or else he marked the floor and who knows what would happen.
Obsius, landing on his shoulder once more, Norbert headed for the door, placing the book in his backpack and sliding it on his shoulder before opening the door to leave.
As the door swung open, people bustling around invaded the once-quiet room. With a quick bow, Norbert made his way outside, carefully closing the door and made his way through the crowd.
Sadly this time, it did not part for him like the red seas, so Norbert mindfully and slowly made his way forward, happy that most of the other people around him were also heading in the same direction.
Norbert arrived at the gates once more; feeling around, he brought out his card, showing it to someone waiting as instructed. As they placed it into the device before handing it back, the smoke appeared once more; Norbert stepped through, feeling his body extend again.
Closing his eyes, Norbert opened them again after feeling his body was normal. Patting his shoulder, Norbert confirmed Obsius was still there. Looking around, Norbert was taken aback by the amount of people streaming in and out. Reminding him of a train as people moved.
Being shoved from behind, Norbert was forced into motion, spinning his head around like an owl. Norbert tried to locate an office desk.
He was pushed out of the first room before he looked around again, seeing the use of stone now. Not believing his eyes, Norbert saw stone bricks up the side of walls, no more wood. Looking down from the walls, clear space and line forming, Norbert saw people sitting behind desks of some sort, with people walking up to them from the line. The same barrier protecting the armourer was here as well.
Looking around, Norbert looked at the queue, knowing it would be some time, lifting his backpack again, making sure it was still there and patting everything on his belt that had not been misplaced. Norbert went to the back of the queue and waited.
***
As the door closed on the office, Lily looked towards Sally, waiting for an explanation as well; Sally just turned towards her companion, smiling.
"So why did you come here?" Lily asked, a look on her face that she did not believe the last words that came from Sally's mouth, knowing that it was Sally who waved the cost off.
"I wanted to see what the last batch of recruits have come from the event, and anyway, I came down here to let you know it's no more recruitment hunting for you; it's time for the both of us to go out on the field," Sally said, standing up and moving, placing the chair back on the opposite side of the desk she left the room.
The door closed behind her; Lily looked around her office for a time. "FINALLY" she shouted, throwing her hands up in the air; she looked back at the paper before her, sighed again and returned to work.