Tap, tap, tap.
Light footsteps sounded in the corridor, then stopped at the door.
Allen looked up from behind his desk, but no one came through the open doorway.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and took hold of the Folding Knife's handle.
"Who's there?"
A little head poked around the door, followed a moment later by another.
"Phoebe, Clara, what brings you here?"
Allen breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed his temples, and stood up.
With all the recent upheaval, his nerves had been rather tightly strung.
The Communion's main personnel had all gone into the Dream, and even Lord Elliot had spent some time in prison, only being released today.
The two heads withdrew. A moment later, Phoebe and Clara hesitantly entered the room.
Although Allen looked stern, children actually liked him quite a bit. Phoebe and Clara whispered together for a while before cautiously speaking up.
"Allen, we heard something happened in the Hearthfire District?"
"Dorothea, Vanessa, and the others haven't shown up in ages..."
The matter of the Dream had not been made public, but there was no hiding the mass production of munitions from the workers. Coupled with the Third Prince escorting Elliot to prison last night, the atmosphere throughout the Hearthfire District had grown rather tense.
Allen approached the two girls and crouched to meet their eyes. At some point, several pieces of candy had appeared in his hand.
"I'm just short, not a child..." Clara muttered, but accepted the candy anyway.
"You've noticed what's been happening lately, too?"
"Of course we have. Everyone suddenly got busy, and there are fewer and fewer people around. Lately, we haven't even seen Elsa."
Clara spoke softly, then raised her head. "Is there going to be a war?"
Allen fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently. "Yes.