The Lost Mage Read Online Free

stay here while I work. Unless you want to roam? I did promise I wouldn’t coop you up.”
     
    Nah, I’ll stay in tonight. Been running around for a couple of days. I could use some shuteye. The cat yawned to prove his point.
     
    “Okay. I’ll try to get you something to eat, if I can.”
     
    Mrowley lay across the length of the bed and stretched. Through a big yawn, he said, Y eah sure, you know, if something comes your way. It’s been days since I’ve eaten.
     
    “What about the mouse you had this morning?”
     
    Was that this morning? It feels like it’s been days.
     
    Darakin shook his head in confusion at the cat’s strange accounting of time. “In that case, you must be very hungry. I’ll see what I can do.”
     
    The cat curled up into a ball on the bed and Darakin headed out to explore his new workplace, and more particularly, this toilet that Sean spoke of.
     
    He turned the corner and saw two doors with crude pictures of people on them. He stood in the hallway, unsure what the pictures meant.
     
    A patron from the bar passed by and entered one of the small rooms. Darakin caught a glance at the large room behind the door and followed the man in. Once inside, he stared at the tiled interior. Two stalls sat at the back of the room, with chamber pots mounted on platforms. Several porcelain fixtures lined the wall. Darakin hesitated, unsure of what to do.
     
    He watched as the other man relieved himself.
     
    “Dude, don’t stare at my junk.”
     
    “Junk?” Darakin looked around the room in confusion.
     
    “You know, my privates?”
     
    Darakin said nothing, but watched in amazement as the young man went to the sink and washed his hands. The patron then pushed the button on the automatic hand dryer shaking his head as the confused mage jumped at the sound of the machine. The young man hurried out of the men’s room, rolling his eyes at Darakin.
     
    When the door had closed, Darakin used the urinal as he had seen the young man do. He reached up and pressed the handle down, watching with fascination as it flushed.
     
    Then he turned toward the sink. A sign on the wall read, “All employees must wash their hands before leaving.”
     
    He reached out to touch the handle next to the faucet and pulled it forward slowly. Water started to trickle out. Fascinated, he held his hand under the stream.
     
    “How can this be?” He whispered to the empty room.
     
    After using the soap dispenser as he’d seen the other man do, he held his hands under the water again and jumped back as he got burned.
     
    He looked at the red circle on the handle, then over at the other with its blue circle. He reached over and pulled the cold handle forward. Then he tested the tap water again, pleased to find it was a more manageable temperature.
     
    Next, Darakin went to the hand dryer. Bracing himself, he pressed the button. Though he’d been expecting it, he still jumped when the air started blowing from the nozzle. He held his hands under it, amazed at how quickly they dried.
     
    He almost bumped into Sean as he exited the room.
     
    Sean looked at his face and laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone looking so shocked coming out of there. Is it a mess then?”
     
    “No. It’s amazing!”
     
    Sean laughed. “I’m not sure what that means. It’s pretty ordinary as far as bathrooms go. Anyway, I’ve brought a plate of milk for the wee furry one.”
     
    “Why thank you! He’ll be pleased.”
     
    Sean gave Darakin an odd look, “He will, will he?”
     
    “Yes, this is exactly what he’s been looking to score since last night.”
     
    “You’re an odd one, Darakin,” Sean shook his head and returned to the bar.
     
    Darakin went back to the room and poked the sleeping cat. “I have scored you some milk, guy.”
     
    Mrowley opened one eye and peeked. As he spied the plate of milk, he jumped up but quickly regained his composure. Let me ask you something. Where you come from, is