Nimona and The Demon Quing

The Director's Nightmare

One year ago.

At the Institute building, it was just a usual day there. Future knights were still in training and the realm's citizens were enthusiastic for the upcoming knighting ceremony next year. Queen Valerin had big plans for the future and everyone had faith in those words coming from her, even the Director did not question the Queen's words.

It was peaceful and undisturbed throughout the entire building and everything ran its entire course. The Director strolled through the hallway while being accompanied by one of the Institute's cleaners, Donna.

Simply having small talk and discussing the things that happened, to which the Director still seemed to be irked about and Donna took notice of that quickly.

"It is just unfathomable. Restraining orders, area bans, warnings and that little felon keeps coming back and pestering everyone."

"Yeah, I wonder how they still let her walk around loose after everything she did. They managed to get all that graffiti off of Gloreth's statue, even though it took more than a week. She does have the handiness of a master artist." Donna admitted with a timid tone, thinking it was rather inappropriate to put it that way as she knew how much the Director idolized Gloreth.

"Too bad. She should make those shambles on a sheet of paper or a notepad like any other civilized person." the Director stated, approaching the doors of her office.

Donna held a cup of hot ginger tea and handed it to the Director with great care, but warned her beforehand right before she would go to clean the cafeteria.

"Oh, one more thing. The electricians are going to repair the security systems, just so you know. And I'm going to ask them to oil your door locks. They've been so stiff and rusty, so I'll just put this doorstop in front of it, so you won't be stuck in your office." Donna informed as she placed the triangle-formed block in front of the door and nodded for reassurance.

The Director settled down in her office chair, putting down the ginger tea and pulling out files that she needed to fill out.

"Thank you, Donna. I'll be alright in here. Now you can go and do what it is that you need to finish." the Director dismissed with an uninterested wave of her hand as she sipped her tea, not making eye contact while reading a file.

Donna grinned softly, leaving the Director's office as the clacking sound of her heels rang through the hallway, until there was silence.

The window-like doors were wide open, allowing the fresh air to enter the office and allowing the Director to breathe clean and refreshing air. It only became odd when they wind had become harder and before she knew it, she heard her office door slam shut. Instinctively, the Director stared at the closed doors as she quickly came towards them and trying to open it again.

But no matter how much she pulled, pushed and rammed into the door, it remained shut tight. Panicked, frustrated and cursing at herself, she got back into her chair and tried to calm her mind. If she wanted to get out, she needed to be calm and rational. After all, she still had the air from outside, so she won't suffocate herself to death if she were to have a panic attack.

Only that one positive thought vanished when she smelled something stale and woody. A molten, chemical stench was present in the office as a grey cloud of smog manifested itself in the room. Seeing that the smoke was coming from outside, the Director hurried over to the source of the smoke, but encountered an unpleasant surprise instead.

Adeen was sitting on the balcony with her legs crossed and holding an almost burnt out cigarette between her fingers, blowing out the smoke as she glanced over and spotted the Director glaring at her in utter shock and disbelief. And immediately got back on her feet and greeted with a big smile.