The scene from the little girl's dream made Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood, the two "people involved" who had just returned from a cottage deep in the Black Forest, frown in unison. Their expressions turned serious as they fell into thought.
Several seconds passed before Yu Sheng was the first to raise his head and break the silence. "Could you make out those people's faces? Besides telling you to run, did those people in red cloaks say anything else?"
Xiao Xiao merely shook her head, looking tense again.
"It's all right, it's all right. If you can't remember, don't force yourself," Yu Sheng said quickly, waving his hand to comfort the shaken little girl. "Tell us if you remember anything later."
Xiao Xiao blinked and nodded hesitantly, though no one knew how much she had actually taken in.
"Take her to the East Building classroom to show her face first, and tell Teacher Su what happened while you're at it," Little Red Riding Hood said to Rapunzel beside her. "But she won't be attending class this afternoon. Let her rest in her room."
"Okay."
Rapunzel took Xiao Xiao's hand, and the two figures, one tall and one short, left the room.
The room fell quiet again. Little Red Riding Hood watched the direction they had gone, lips pressed together, apparently lost in thought. Only after a long while did she softly break the silence. "This child is the first person ever sent into this room to walk out alive."
She raised her head, her gaze settling quietly on Yu Sheng.
"Thank you. 'Fairy Tale' owes you a tremendous debt. From now on, I'll always be your most steadfast friend."
"This is only the beginning. My goal is to resolve the entire Fairy Tale Otherworld. At the very least,