------------ Dangou ------------

As soon as the door shut, Dangou sprung to work, weaving a *six-ring isolation seal onto the walls. It took him a few minutes, but as he finished his masterpiece, he smiled, relaxed. Now that he knew he was only dealing with the imperial Hellcats, he could relax. Especially since it was little Elieza, who was the student of one of his former comrades, he knew all her capabilities.

“Come out now.” Dangou called, knocking on the backroom door, “It’s safe.”

For a while there were no movements and Dangou became slightly worried. But after a few more moments, Eadrid’s dark-haired head finally popped through a crack of the door, glancing out into the room.

Dangou frowned, looking down at the peering figure behind the door.

“What are you doing?” He asked, placing one hand on the girl’s head.

Eadrid jumped, then, realising it was merely Dangou, stood up and cleared her throat.

“My mother wants you to come inside.” She sighed, opening the door, “Her exertion in talking with you has caused her to be very tired.”

Dangou nodded, and stepped through the crack, into the room.

The room was dank, with a very different vibe from that of the living. The walls lacked decoration and the ground was made of unpolished cave stone. Occasionally a drop of condensation would fall from all the medicinal ferns tied in clusters hanging from the roof and hit the floor with a dull sound. One such cluster hung directly above Ariadne as she lay exhausted on a wooden bed, dripping its mystery concoction on her bare chest.

Realising that her mother was in an unsightly way, Eadrid stepped past Dangou and dragged a blanket over her resting body. Waking from the movement, Ariadne saw Dangou and smiled weakly.

“So you see… It was all a façade.” She chuckled softly, “Was it convincing at first?”

Dangou shrugged and sat down beside her.

“It was a little forced, but I could see how one might be fooled.” He grinned.

Ariadne frowned, then laughed heartily.

“Oh, Sir Sheen, you sure are a tease.”

Dangou smiled.

“So.” He said, after a while, “I have 15 minutes left. Shall we finish the story?”

Ariadne nodded, then waved for Eliade to leave the room.

------------ Eadrid ------------

Eadrid frowned as she stepped out of the sound-proof backroom and into the living. Just what could be so secretive that even she wasn’t allowed to listen?  She sat down at the couch before the furnace and sighed. No point stressing over it, she thought. Her mother was always keeping secrets, whether it was from her or from the visitors. Dangou Sheen was the second-time her mother had ever opened up to and for that, Eliade was glad. She liked how the Queensguard felt, his light aura, cheerful demeanour, even his serious attitude when thing turned tense. She felt like she could trust the man, despite having only met for less than an hour. At the very least, he seemed better than the first man that her mother had turned to. The thought of potentially getting close to Dangou put a grin on Eliade’s face and she rolled around in happiness, giggling quietly.

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But a sudden knock on the door quickly interrupted her gleeful mood.  

“Hey Dangou, you’re taking a bit long. I hope you’re not planning to escape.” Said a feminine voice from beyond the door.

Eadrid froze, her sensitive ears tingling. How hadn’t she noticed this new visitor before she spoke? And how did this visitor know about Dangou?

She had been in the backroom when most of the drama occurred, and merely assumed that her mother had returned due to her weakened condition. Perhaps something else had happened? She was unsure what to do, this type of situation was foreign to her. She had only been used to receiving one guest at a time, it was her mother who… dealt with groups.  

“Oi Sir Dangou Sheen. I am asking you a question.” The voice threatened.

Eadrid gulped and walked to the door in a confused flurry.

“Hello? Who is this?” She asked weakly.

She waited worriedly for a response, but her question seemed to go unnoticed.

“Dangou! Are you serious? Respond!”

Eadrid frowned. Sure, she wasn’t Dangou, but she did respond.  

“Um… Hello? May I ask who this is?”  She repeated, louder this time.

She waited once again-

“That mongrel… ugh. I can’t wait to kill him.” The voice murmured from outside.

- and again, her question went unanswered.

Eadrid’s frown deepened. She was sure that the visitor would be able to hear her at that volume. The living room door wasn’t that thick.

She knocked on the door, testing her belief, only to be stopped by a shimmering blue forcefield. Surprised, the young girl yelped as the blue-light temporarily held her finger, then rebounded it back. Eliade’s eyes widened, worried that something horrible had happened to her home. But after a few moments of calm, curiously knelt to inspect the solid light.

“What the hell is this?” she whispered into the forcefield.

Upon closer inspection, whenever she made a sound the field would ripple in a similar pattern. She figured that this probably prevented the lady outside from hearing her queries and that it was Dangou who set it up.

“But why did Dangou put you here?” Eadrid wondered aloud as she poked the forcefield, “And who is that woman out there?”

“Hello? Is there someone else in there?” The female voice suddenly picked up.

Eadrid sat back and sighed, keeping one finger in the gooey blueness.  

“Yeah… But it’s not like you can hear me.” She scoffed.

“I can hear you just fine, what are you talking about?” The voice responded immediately.

Eadrid’s eyes lit up with surprise and she immediately sat up, withdrawing her finger.

“Wait, you can hear me?” She asked.

She waited for a response, but somehow the lady seemed not to notice again.

“Hello? Are you still there?” Said the voice outside.  

Eadrid frowned. She was sure that they had been able to communicate for a second there. What happened? Before she could collect her thoughts, a sudden outburst from beyond the door caused her to jump back.

“Is that it!? You’re messing with me Dangou? Who do you take me for!?” The lady shouted, her voice simmering with anger.

Eadrid stood up and backed away from the door, slightly panicked by the woman’s outburst.

“No one is messing with you!” She shouted back, frustrated.

As she turned to consider the safety of the backroom, the front door suddenly shook with force. No doubt due to a blow from the rampaging lady outside. Eadrid scrunched her face in annoyance. Who did this woman think she was? Trying to break into people’s habitats at her will. With one angry last glance, she reached for the backdoor.

Then without a second warning, the front door broke.

------------- The Unravelling (2) End------------

*Six-Ring Isolation Seal - Seals off a limited space for isolation. Renders outsiders unable to hear, see, taste, feel, smell nor sense what is within. Thus named the SIX Ring isolation seal.*