Mel shivered as the faceless girl stared her down. Slowly, she slipped her shadow-clawed hand behind her back as Jeanne set their bags down.
*Tick, tock, tick, tock, jjae-kkak, jjae-kkak.*
The gilded clock continued to tick.
"...Hello," Mel said quietly. "Can I help you?"
*Ppun, sa-ppun.*
The faceless little girl moved forward with a soft, light step. "N o. I A m … Si m pl y No cti v ag a nt . "
She tilted her head to one side in a curious, innocent motion. "I t' s Be en a Wh ile Si nc e I Vi s i te d So me O ne I n Per s o n . I t' G e t s… Lo ne ly."
*Ppun, sa-ppun, sa-ppun!*
The faceless girl quickly pattered up to the imperial princess, stepping up onto her little tippy-toes and staring Mel directly in the eyes.
She stayed like that awkwardly until Mel shuffled half a step back, not sure what to make of it all.
The faceless girl laughed and twirled in place, her dress billowing out in a graceful, light motion. Her actions were playful, but there was something unnerving about them to Mel.
The faceless girl looked back at Mel. "Th ank Yo u Fo r T al k i n g To M e."
She dipped a small curtsy "I S h a ll Le t Yo u R es t . A Wo r d Of A dv i ce: D o No t Hu rt M s. R i en . S N Is A l ot Cl o s er T h an Yo u Pe r cie ve."
Mel's pulse spiked.
She knows about SN.
"...Wait," Mel asked. "How do you know about that? Who are you? Who is Rien?"
She'd only heard that name an hour ago. Mel shifted her stance, forcing mana through her veins and gathering it, preparing to use it if necessary.
*Ppun!*
The faceless girl skipped back lightly, just out of reach. "I A m T he G ir l F rom T he F ou n t ai n."
She curtsied again, bowing low. "G o od Ni ght, Y o ur Hi gh n es s."
At that moment, Mel moved, pouring out her mana.
Her shadow lashed forwards, scything straight towards the little girl's chest just like how she'd torn through a constabulary officer days before when her secret apartment got raided when suddenly, all the world crushed down on her.
A sudden, deafening pressure slammed into her from every direction, forcing the air from her lungs. Jeanne collapsed beside her as Mel's shadow unraveled, dissolving back into nothing.
*Pitter patter, pitter patter, jureureuk.*
Mel's eyes flew wide.
So loud…
The sound of rain slamming onto concrete like a drum played by a thousand fingers permeated her ears. Judging by Jeanne's expression of shock, it wasn't just her who heard it.
"AH—!"
A migraine lanced across Mel's brain.
Mel stared at the little girl's slowly retreating back as the girl hummed a little tune, skipping away down the hall. Soon she was out of view, and only then did the pressure and cacophony of rain cease, the four scenes fresh in her mind.
Mel laid on her back, gasping.
Holy fuck.
The second imperial princess managed to drag herself upright, fumbling to unlock her door and ushering Jeanne with their bags inside.
She locked the door once, triple-checked that it was locked, then pulled on the shadows inside the room, sealing it shut. Her breathing was still laboured.
Those images…
"Obstruer."
The mana in her voice called the darkness to curl around the door, sealing the hinges and plugging them with shadow. Only after that was done and she had checked the room for threats did she beckon to Jeanne.
Mel swallowed, turning toward the maid.
"...Jeanne," she whispered. "Help me change."
Mel Mizu-bonaparte's voice was quieter now, more like the teen she was. Her large aquamarine eyes, dilated with anxiety and still-burning fear from the little girl seemed to plead to Jeanne.
"Don't fall asleep."