"It's nice seeing friendly faces once in a while."
The crimson liquid handed out to him, reduced in tandem with the lightheadedness that he was feeling earlier. He cleared the bottle and set it aside.
"Why aren't you having what he's having, it looks tasty."
"She only gave it to him; she said the rest of us are good," Park answered Anu pointing at an empty desk.
"Once he finishes that, you can leave or wait for someone who cares."
"Classic Gretsa. So, does anyone want to come with, get your first hospital tour with yours truly."
"But didn't we do that on our first day?"
"This one then is going to be exclusive," he got the batch onto their feet and gently pushed them into the hallway. Halfway in, and Park already got sight of "mummies", he peered in through the glass, the occupants within in varying levels of mummification. The ones on the right were in a slightly better place than those on the left, the right ones were easily visible as their injuries were not so much as grave as those on the left who had to be obscured by rows of brown-patched blue sheets.
Only the ends of their beds could be seen, "it was not a good sight, and given that they're still young, one even had a hanging... if it wasn't for mercy I don't know what then would, but...," he pulled Park away, "... I didn't say the tour would be this solemn. Off we go."
[The ----- Print has recognized the presences within.]
Maybe there's more to this tour, we'll see.
"For our first stop," the cold air within rushed forth, brushing gently against their skin.
"Oh sorry, forgot that I left the cooler on," he turned to the room, "you can stop it now, you're scaring my guests away."
The characteristic whooshing sound that the said cooler made died down followed shortly after by a deep male voice, "Okay, I'll be back later."
"So, here...?"
"He's becoming much better, don't worry too much about him."
Coolers talk, noted.
"... you're not afraid of going in, are you?"
Ripha stood still right by its doors, "is this where the sun sets?"
"No, this is the place I prepare them before their... sun sets?" your people have funny ways of saying things.
"So, when you said that the trip's going to be exclusive..."
"Yes? Please get in so that I can close the door, don't want another escapee like last time."
Escapee...?! W... what escaped?
"10/10 that's blood, I'm just preparing to know whose."
He closely inspected the red woven fabrics, tightly clinging onto the victims' bodies, a mix of markings and erect lines graced the corpses, all in what was the fabrics original color, a tinge of yellow. He decided to take a quick glance onto the next, immediately noticing that the inscriptions and the lines had changed, each departed had their own "fingerprint". But regardless of this,
"What's with the circles?"
the silent multitude shared something in common. A yellow circle right where their lower abdomen is. Some had slightly caved in while others were still "full".
"So, what can you feel from them?"
"Huh?"
Oh, the moans. I don't even remember how they came not to disturb me... but wait, I can't even hear anything...
"Uh... nothing?"
"That's right! The best skills that you have ever seen."
"What's happening right now? "
"I think he dodged our question..."
"And to answer your question, curious feline..."
"!"
"... heh, the circle is there as part of a mandatory closing ritual, it's the last that's tied up, but my magnificent hands make seams that look like it was a part of the whole when in fact it actually was a part of the whole!"
"Ow, pain."
I feel you, lily.
"... okay, and the sinkers and floaters."
That felt oddly good.
"The sinkers are ready for sunset, the floaters not yet. And I should actually write that down, sinkers and floaters, that was genius! "
He enthusiastically penned down the new quip and immediately he was done, was now ready to rev up the tour bus and head off to a new destination, of course after the tourists were satisfied with their current scene.
"Any final questions, we have a lot more areas to..."
"What languages have you used and why does each and every single one of them look different?"
"Ah yes, I almost forgot, someone who follows the same craft I pursue. How about this, as we walk around, I'll be writing it down for you, and also maybe some books that can help you as you research them."
"Today must be a good day!"
"Yeah, I don't get to stick around the living that much, only grumpy or dead things, so this much of a change might actually be what's making me this giddy."
In the forty minutes that ensued, the group combed through every nook and cranny, exploring through the mysteries that kept the hospital running and it's even more uncanny occupants hidden within its shadowy veils. During all this, Park's acceptance dramatically increased,
[Your knowledge on a number of creatures has drastically increased.]
Gionne's understanding of his other form increased and also learned of a new method of binding because luckily his lineage allowed it and Ripha,
"Thanks," appreciated Anu for an unorthodox treatment that he did earlier after understanding that the fear he had in battles had dwindled, he no longer feared that which was in him to be used against him.
"Sure thing, tell your friends and family too, I'll be happy to free them too."
Now that I see my method worked wonders! I wonder what gift I can ask from them... story for another day, that one.
"Anyway, here we are! Our final destination."
"Don't say it like that."
! H... he's doing it on purpose, isn't he?
"He's doing it on purpose, Ripha, don't look into it too much."
"Okay, okay."
Anu walked over to the other side, standing over a long chain line extending from an anchor on the brick wall to a tightly woven ball of metal wrapped around the still fresh handle of a weathered door, the curious crew tried to peer in through the cracks that defaced the door with time, but beneath lay only darkness.
Anu dropped on one knee and grabbed a small section of the chain, under his breath, he muttered a set of incomprehensible words which immediately the chain understood and obeyed to the latter. The rigid ball of steel that clung tightly to the door's handle began unwinding itself. Split into two by a fast flash of red light, the two halves moved independently as snakes, freeing themselves from their very own impressive meshwork and in no time, access into the still depths below was granted, they nudged against Anu as he opened the door for his friends.
Marveled and greatly amused, Anu gave them one final act as he patted the tip of the chains, and they responded in a wonderful metallic ring.
"If I learnt how to do that, I would have been well off."
"I'll be back later, okay? You just keep on doing what you do," the halves merrily sung once more, "and back to you, that magic's really hard to pull off."
They could hear the rattling above them, as they wound around the handle locking them in. Ripha looked over Anu's shoulder noticing that he was able to see outside despite not being able to see through the door's cracks earlier.
"A place of wonder, isn't it? If you can see behind you, you can well... see! different from when you were outside! and also, something else..."
"It's a lot more spacious in here...," "Correct! the space adjusts itself to the number of people in the room!"
[----- Print has sensed some of the recognized earlier presences now in closer reach.]
So, they were also part of the presences that it felt earlier.
"Is there a problem? Or have you already sensed something?"
"No... all's good here," he waved dismissingly in the air closing up the interface. Just then, another screen filled his view,
"What now?"
"What?"
"Oh! Nothing, nothing! Just some webs around!"
You want me to lose my teeth or something?