But Hesa moved swiftly. Before Messmer could fully react, he shook open a burlap sack, slipped it over him from behind, and pulled it shut with lightning speed-his movements so practiced that he seemed to have rehearsed them countless times.
"Mmph! Uncle Hesa! What are you do-" Messmer's startled cry was muffled inside the sack, leaving only the faint sounds of struggling and flailing.
Hesa deftly tied the sack shut with a rope, then propped the sack containing Messmer against the corner.
The whole process was seamless, taking no more than five seconds.
Only after her brother had been stuffed into the sack did Melina seem to belatedly turn her gaze toward the wriggling bag.
Hesa picked up another sack and looked at Melina, his tone "gentle." "Come here, Melina. Uncle will play 'hide-and-seek' with you. Get into the sack, and don't make a sound."
Melina looked at the sack, then at Hesa, mumbling something. "Mother said..."
Then she actually walked toward the opening herself, even bending down slightly to cooperate!
Rellana pressed a hand to her forehead, unable to bear watching any longer. Wasn't this child... a little too easy to fool?
Hesa smoothly bundled Melina inside as well. This one was smaller and barely struggled.
He placed the two sacks side by side, clapped his hands, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Done." He turned to Rellana, who had already turned to stone. "Keep an eye on them. I'm going to prepare some 'props.'"
Looking at the two sacks making faint noises in the corner, Rellana felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet straight to the crown of her head.
She opened her mouth, but in the end could only weakly utter a few words. "You... you really are..."
Hesa had already gone off to enthusiastically rummage