Un-Chain

Uteu flipped through most of his text messages. He felt a smile on his lips as he read through the ones from his friends. Most of the text messages were simple questions of his well being and if he would need someone to send him his homework. A few asked if he needed company or wanted to hang out. He hovered over the reply button and paused.

He really didn't know what to do. He didn't want to lie to them. He wasn't even sure if he could return to school either. He opted to send a generic message that said he was unwell during the past few days and was resting to recover. As for homework, he'd have someone sent over to retrieve it.

He nearly dropped his phone when he immediately got replies for his simple message. It felt horrible not being able to tell them anything. Would they even believe him? He knitted his eyebrows and ended up turning off his phone. He wouldn't know what else to say anyways.

It was getting late and he felt quite tired. Grabbing an old pair of pajamas he set out for the bathroom. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth. He was really glad everything was prepared for him ahead of time. He didn't want to sleep in his day clothes or without taking care of his basic hygiene.

When he got out of his bathroom he noticed a small bookshelf he had missed during his quick look around earlier. It was on the wall near the door that lead out into the hall. He could see how he had missed it the first time around.

Blinking, he spotted the three books the maid named Anyi had been carrying earlier in the day. He reached out his hand as if to grab the book but stopped himself.

Uteu broke out into a wide yawn and made his way to the bed instead. He simply didn't feel like he had any energy to look at the books right now. He decided he'd read them first thing in the morning.

He was safe.

The books could wait till morning.

Under new but familiar sheets, Uteu found himself drifting to sleep easily.

_________

In the middle of the night, a shadowy figure was roaming outside of the Mandleton Mansion.

It was a new moon so it was dark and difficult to see if the figure was male or female or if it was even human. The shadow skirted across the fields and dodged all devices that could record it's movements. It chose the darkest spots to carefully move around.

It seemed to be digging around and covering up the hole it made shortly after.

After leaving about twenty covered holes around the mansion, the figure eventually stopped before a small window. Whatever the figure had done, the recording devices could no longer pick up the shadow's signals.

Illuminated by a bit of light coming from the window, Hazel eyes could be seen peering into the window. It observed a head of dark red hair and an oblivious, sleeping face.

"Why do you hesitate?"

The figure's eyes widened and seemed almost startled at the voice. It clearly was not expecting anyone else to be here.

"Hmph, jumpy aren't you?"

The shadowy figure said nothing even as it peered around cautiously. It could not see anyone or sense anyone in the darkness around them.

"The Guild is getting impatient. You've been here for three days with nothing to show for it."

Hazel eyes glared into the darkness in the direction it thought the voice was coming from.

"The kid is in there. No one will know it's you."

A male figure moved into view. Although his eyes were hidden from view, his dark red hair was easily visible.

"If you're not willing there are plenty of others to take your place. Can't say if you'll ever get another opportunity though."

The shadow didn't seem to acknowledge the man. The man looked put off that he couldn't get a rise out of the other figure no matter how he goaded.

The red head shrugged, "Look, Grello Mandleton is not in the mansion right now. This is probably your only chance. Don't let us down."

Then the man faded back into the darkness and his voice could no longer be heard.

The shadow seethed in the darkness. That red head was nothing but trouble. Ever since they got involved with the Guild. Nothing has ever been the same.

Hazel eyes looked back at the window with a resolute stare.

It was nothing personal. It was either Uteu or them.

The shadow clenched something in their hands. It wasn't exactly a difficult choice.

They didn't know Uteu Drelden in the least. Harming him would not affect them in anyway.

The figure moved and loud explosions alerted and woke up the people inside of the mansion.

_________

There wasn't actually that much damage done to the mansion when the explosions were set off. The mansion was very sturdy to withstand the actual blasts. However it shook violently and a few small fires were caused along with a few small collapsed holes in the walls.

Overall the mansion was mostly intact. Lia was the first to react. She was already barking out orders to the other maids. As she moved by, she discreetly took a few glances at the doves. She signalled them to see how someone slipped through their surveillance.

The doves didn't look any different from the other maids, if it was anyone else besides Lia, they would not have been able to tell them apart.

The maids all scattered to either put out fires or to quickly repair the holes. A few of them even patrolled the halls to find anyone suspicious.

Anyi had taken over sorting out information sent from the various doves. She would be the one to find out who had damaged her beloved Lord's home.

Harvet had chosen to run to the twin's room to check on them. Her dark almost blue hair was slightly singed from the fires as she rushed.

"Little sir and miss!" She called out to the twins who were in their room, scared and surrounded by small fires.

Their favorite maid Minh was unconscious on the ground. She must have covered them from the explosion and hit her head hard to be knocked out.

She grabbed the twins first and had them placed outside the room before she ran back in to save Minh.

Uti pulled out her white whistle with shaky hands. She could remember Lia's words regarding it. She needed to blow on this whistle 3 times.

Uti managed to blow twice before her vision was blackened by a burnt hand. The whistle was yanked away from her.