Daniel looked at the door in curiosity, considering.

Who could have knocked? The plain-nosed servant girl was the most obvious choice, but that itself disqualified her. Servants could not knock for entry, not at a main door. Also, while this door was a door for guests, it was removed from the easy path, and one would have had to pass through the garden.

The knock on the door resounded.

The question of faith still hung in the air, but the resolve was firm in Daniel's mind. Even though he did not understand, he would continue forward.

Forward was uncertainty, but also favor. The knock was inviting. Asking to be opened. Could a knock be inviting?

But the Sermount Butler scuttled backward. Evidentially, he did not find the knock inviting. In fact, his face looked ghastly and pale.

"Who would even open a door at this hour of the night?" he sputtered.

"I will." Said Daniel, having permission.

So he went ahead, ignoring the Surmount Butler's gestures and panicked look.

And Daniel opened the door to Garden, in the Lren Style.

The Lren Style. Once a philosophy, now just meaningless gestures and actions.

As there was only one very large door, the Lren Style was modified. It was on a long track, and one could pull it open, either a little or all the way and effectively join the Lesser Banquet Hall with the Garden outside.

So Daniel pointed his right foot as he pulled it open with his right hand. He felt the sliding of the door, as he pulled it open first to its smallest opening, then larger and larger, as he took steps to match its opening.

And chaos came in.

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Well, the red-haired servant girl, hair completely free and flowing behind her like a tangled river of fire.

The Surmount Butler flexed his hands, knuckles cracking and popping. "Who dared knock on the door?" He asked the room.

She came in and peeled to the left, then to the right, as she crossed the Lesser Banquet Hall. She was screeching something strange, something about rising gas prices and that nobody could catch her because... "I am the gingerbread woman."

The Surmount Butler scurried after her, "I command you return here and explain the meaning of this intrusion! Why did you bang on the door?"

The girl stopped by the entrance to the kitchen. "I didn't bang on the door," she said, feet twittering as she jogged in place, eyes not on them but beyond the door. "I didn't see anyone at all. The door just opened. Great timing by the way."

"What do you mean?" gasped the Surmount Butler, scuttling toward her.

"Because I'm not 'it' anymore. Hey, diaperrash face, you suck!"

Then a crushed boulder sailed into the Lesser Banquet Hall, and the O'Tells Estate was officially invaded by the Castalas faction as the Golem roared.

And all chaos truly broke loose.

Estates could not just be attacked. Guards began coming in, and then they saw the invader and froze.

The red-haired girl was standing on a table now, clearing making the most of the break in the social norms. "Your aim still sucks!" she yelled.

"What is the meaning of this?!" the Surmount Butler said.

The guards who came in left again, ashamedly. Not their fault, because they were Lowlings. They would undoubtedly only get in the way of the midlings who were coming.

The golem came in, and its footsteps cracked the marble floor. It roared furiously.

But what of Daniel?

He was staring out the door. Into the Garden.

He was looking for the one who knocked.

And he...saw him.

Did he?

What was he seeing?

The Law of Fae was a system of fairness. Equal to equal, kind to kind. A small action requires a small favor. A large action demands a large favor. The Law of Fae demanded fairness. Even when that fairness was cruel.

But what was beyond the Law of Fae? What directed it? What established its movements and set its path?

Daniel had never known. Had never thought to ask. Before, the Law of Fae itself was the key directive.

But now...

Daniel saw the one who knocked at the door. And he couldn't describe him. The person just pointed at the door, a question.

Looking for an invitation.

All the chaos and the noise. All the fear and the danger.

And it was less important than this moment.

Daniel nodded, and the person took steps forward and crossed the threshold.

"Who are you?" asked Daniel, without even thinking.

The person smiled. "I am with you."

There was a loud noise as the Golem had just shoved aside several guards who had entered the lesser hall.

"I think I should go help." Said Daniel.

But the person was gone.