Chapter 101: Clinic Invasion
Night had fallen over Phane City for the day.
The warm afternoon light gave way to gas lamps that began to illuminate the areas around, casting everything in golden tones. Reinhard left the hotel wearing his black suit and carrying the crow mask in his bag, moving casually despite the tension coiling in his chest.
The streets remained busy despite the hour. Music drifted from open Inn doors, accompanied by laughter and the clink of glasses. A group of young adults passed him, their arms linked, singing some popular song off-key but with enthusiasm that suggested alcohol was involved.
Street performers had changed from daytime artists to the musicians and fire dancers whose acts were enhanced by darkness.
Reinhard passed a corner where a magician performed tricks for a gathered crowd. Cards appeared and disappeared, coins vanished from one hand to reappear in a spectator’s pocket. The audience gasped and applauded, completely absorbed in the illusion.
Two blocks further, a couple stood pressed against a building wall, kissing with the oblivious intensity of new love or rekindled passion. Reinhard averted his gaze as he gave them privacy as he continued past.
The commercial district gave way to the medical quarter where Hope Salvation Clinic stood. The building’s white stone seemed to glow in the gas lamp light, its windows showing illumination on the ground floor but darkness above. The sign bearing the hand-cradling-flame symbol swayed slightly in the evening breeze.
Reinhard continued past the front entrance without slowing, his eyes tracking the street for observers. A few people walked the sidewalks, but none paid him particular attention. He turned down the side street that ran along the clinic’s eastern wall.
An alley opened between the clinic and the neighboring building. Reinhard glanced back once more, confirming no one was watching, then slipped into the shadows.
He took out the crow mask from the bag and smiled at it. Then he placed the crow mask over his face, its curved beak and empty eye holes transforming him. He moved back toward the clinic’s side entrance, a door marked "Staff Only" in simple lettering. His hand tested the handle, finding it locked as expected, and then he activated Drasil Step.
Drasil Step.
Time began slowing down extremely before Reinhard rushed towards the main entrance of the clinic. Then he sped up the steps before pushing the door open, and the ground floor was exactly as he remembered from his earlier visit. The reception area has chairs, hallways leading to treatment rooms, and everything is clean and well-maintained.
But people occupied the space now.
There were six teenagers, all wearing similar clothing of dark pants, white shirts, and white shoes. They stood in a loose cluster near the center of the reception area, frozen mid-conversation. Their expressions ranged from bored to annoyed to contemplative as Reinhard rushed over closely.
Beast Masters.
Reinhard saw the back of their hands to see the symbols. He then turned around and rushed immediately to the side where he could hide, behind a support column that would keep him out of their direct sight lines.
Then time returned to normal.
"-the point of so many of us being up here?" one voice was saying, male and carrying frustration. "It’s excessive."
It was then that a bang rang out, coming from the front door.
"Huh? How did the front door open by itself?"
"Is it someone trying to enter?"
"Hold on, let me go check."
Reinhard heard footsteps heading towards the front door and then heard it being pushed open. Then, after a couple of seconds of silence, the door was closed and footsteps walked back.
"Anyone?"
"No, it was no one."
"Hahaha, did someone try to mess with us?"
"But why... Never mind, back to what we were talking about. Too many of us are here!" The male voice said as frustration returned to their tone.
"I agree." Another responded, this one deeper. "It’s a pain in the ass and boring when the interesting stuff is down there."
Reinhard’s eyes widened slightly behind his mask. Down there? Does that mean the clinic has another level? Did Miss Marta know about it?
"Shut up and be careful what you say." A third voice snapped, female and sharp with warning.
A scoff rang out. "Everything’s fine. You worry too much."
"Lord Phineas told us this month is extremely important." A fourth voice said. "No mistakes can be made."
"Lord Phineas wouldn’t mind a mistake." Someone else countered, their tone lighter, almost amused. "I’m sure he’d find it delightful since it would make things interesting."
"That’s only when it won’t affect the main plot of his performance." Another corrected, their voice dropping lower with genuine concern. "If it does, he’ll become furious and rip whoever destroys it into pieces."
"How the hell is down below supposed to help him?" This voice carried genuine confusion.
"Who knows, but apparently it’s supposed to be a welcome gift."
A scoff. "Welcome gift? Then he’s an insane bastard."
"What do you expect?" This voice held resignation. "He obviously wouldn’t be like Miss Marta, who is far better."
A sigh, heavy with complicated emotions. "Miss Marta truly is amazing. Her new practices really have been helping me and my siblings."
"My parents have benefited wonderfully, which is why..." A pause, discomfort evident. "It feels uncomfortable to be doing this without her knowing."
"Huh!?" Genuine shock. "Miss Marta doesn’t know!?"
"Why are you surprised?" Another voice said in exasperation. "Don’t tell me you actually believe she’d know about what Lord Phineas was doing?"
"Well, yeah. Aren’t they business partners? Doesn’t he need her approval-"
Laughter cut off the question. "He can just lie about what he ships here since we’re the ones who unpack the supplies and sort them out."
"Besides, don’t tell me you actually believe Miss Marta would sign off on this?" The voice said with a sigh. "Don’t be ridiculous. That woman can compromise on many things for her goals, but if it involves this clinic? She would never do anything to jeopardize it."
"But we’re doing it... even though she helped us..." The voice trailed off.
Silence fell for a long moment.