Chapter 116: The highway to (buroucracy) Hell

Elder Elena wasn't really that old. Just on the younger side of her fifties, by my rough estimate. She had all fashion choices of a person who knew that they weren't in their best years anymore, though: wavy dull-brown hair cut to her chin, a blouse without a hint of bright colours, and pale pink lipstick that could've as well not be there. Maybe she was actually just in her forties, and I only thought she was in her fifties because of all that.

At the sight of me, Elena beamed with both politeness and genuine joy and stood up from her desk to greet me. "Ah, Diana! I'm so glad you found time to get there, after all. I wanted to give you a tour of the grounds and discuss the details of your membership. For now, let me get your medallion."

"Medallion?" I asked, watching Elena hustle around cupboards of her office desk. She opened one with a key she fished out of her pocket and pulled out a chain with something dangling from it. I walked up to her to take a better look.