531 Daruuns... Office? (2/2)
Duorda proudly stepped out of the purple energy, letting a similar pair of doors from the ninety-ninth floor close on the gate he just exited. ”Stop fooling around, Jack. We shouldn't keep Daruun waiting, not when I haven't seen him in so long!”
A skeletal hand reached down and picked Jack up from the ground. Then, Duorda looked around the corridor of pure-white marble with pride. He admired the translucent crystals that were installed in the ceilings like chandeliers, lighting the entire space to the point that no shadow was present.
Jack followed the skeleton and was amazed by the craftsmanship and purity of everything around him. ”So… this is Daruun's temple?”
”According to Kartonia, yes,” answered Duorda, ”but we've already left Kartonia so I'm not sure we should use its Kartonian name. Just call it what the rest of the district calls it, Daruun's personal office.”
”WHAT?!”
”Is that too hard for you? If you don't call it an office, then what else could it--”
”We're not in Kartonia?!” Jack's shock was apparent as his questions echoed through the corridor. ”How are we not in Kartonia?! Isn't this--”
'Shh! Please, Jack, don't yell so loudly! I'm with company at the moment so wait with Duorda in the lounge.'
'Daruun… How can--'
'Wait, Jack. I'm busy right now. Be patient,' Daruun added, ending the conversation succinctly.
”Come on, Jack. You heard him,” Duorda stated, leading Jack by the arm yet again. ”Everything will get explained if you just wait.”
”But we're not even in Kartonia… I'm sure my friends and family are--”
”Don't worry about them, Jack, at least not while you're here,” Duorda interjected. ”Obviously, you've met Daruun before. During those meetings, don't you remember how Daruun would pause time while you talked?”
”Yeah… Are you saying that time is paused right now?!”
”Not exactly…” Duorda used his bony finger to itch his scalpless skull. ”It's not that Daruun has paused time again, it's more like we've entered an almost timeless bubble. In here, time moves much slower, letting Daruun have as much time as he needs to run the Fate District and keep it running in tip-top shape.”
”So… Time isn't stopped but we're currently in a timeless zone?” Jack tried to rephrase it in a way his brain could better process the information.
”Sure, close enough.” shrugging, Duorda took the lead and began walking down the corridor. ”Are you coming? If you can't keep up you'll get lost, then there's no telling where or when you'll end up.”
Terrified of that thought, Jack darted to catch up with the proud skeleton while taking in the picture-perfect atmosphere that made up the giant building that Duorda simply labeled as an office.