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Description
Sitting alone in her prison, Ai did her best to keep panic and despair at bay. She tried to think of the 'advice' the other fairy gave her, but couldn't wrap her mind around it. Every time she was about to come to some conclusion, a new burst of emotion made her fall apart again. Oscilliating between tears of anger and fear, Ayumi finally decided to solve at least one mystery; find out whatever was happening with her aching back.

The box she was in seemed to be once a small terrarium - with thick, glass walls, breathing holes hear the top, a small, sand-filled bowl in the corner (she shuddered at the mere thought of using such a 'toilet') and another bowl, filled with some honey instead - most likely assuring she'd not starve. The thread tying her ankles was long enough to let her make short strides, but effectively prevented any attempts to climb. Not that climbing a glass wall would even be remotely possible, regardless of her state...

She tried to examine the reflection of her back in the closest wall. Her outfit was torn to shreds there, her exposed skin tatooed with some exotic pattern. At this angle she couldn't be sure, but the lines and curves seemed to circle around two places, directly upon her shoulder blades. She tried feeling them - they were swollen and radiated pain upon touch.

What did that fairy do to her?

She was Ardis' sister... Obsessed with humans... But what was 'a completely different way' supposed to mean...?

* * *

Tammana shared Ardis' story with Nastia. The blonde pondered on the news for a longer while.

"That totally makes sense... Does your sister have the same kind of powers as you?"

"Nah. I mean, a bit. Like, she's better at potions and stuff, I got a more natural talent. But Ma and Pa always said she's the stronger one, so she was to inherit the house and all the stuff... Not that it matters anymore"

"Okay" Tammana interrupted. "But even if we assume it's your Sa, why would she do this? I mean, why couldn't she just show up and say 'hey, I'm Ardis' sis, can I meet her and the people she lives with? 'Got a bunch of questions to ask!' That would make sense! This doesn't"

"I agree..." Nastia stroke her chin "...but it's the only clue we have at this point. If we have nowhere else to go, we can as well..."

Tammana's phone buzzed once more.

If you want to see your friend again, meet me tomorrow, 9:00 AM, in the house of water. Or in the place this all started.

For the second time that day, a deafening silence ensued.

"But this makes no sense!" Tammana snorted angrily "Two places for a meeting? No demands? What is the meaning of this?!"

"Ardis," Nastia tried making her voice as soft as possible. "Sorry to put you through this, but we have no other option. Does this sound like your sister?"

The fairy looked at Nastia, her lip shivering.

"She... she liked this kind of riddles when we were younger..."

"The 'place where this all started' must be the dojo... But the 'house of water'..."

"I'd say it's the swimming pool" Tammana put the phone down, hands shaking. "But why two places? Why no demands? This doesn't make sense!" She repeated, this time anger resonating in her voice.

"Actually it does" Nastia reread the message quietly, trying to find any extra meaning between the lines. "She wants to split us. There are no demands, because this is supposed to be a trap. One she knows we will walk into..."

She looked at the gang, trying to put new informations into missing places. They needed a plan. And a good damn one.

"OK, how about this..."

Description
Sitting alone in her prison, Ai did her best to keep panic and despair at bay. She tried to think of the 'advice' the other fairy gave her, but couldn't wrap her mind around it. Every time she was about to come to some conclusion, a new burst of emotion made her fall apart again. Oscilliating between tears of anger and fear, Ayumi finally decided to solve at least one mystery; find out whatever was happening with her aching back.

The box she was in seemed to be once a small terrarium - with thick, glass walls, breathing holes hear the top, a small, sand-filled bowl in the corner (she shuddered at the mere thought of using such a 'toilet') and another bowl, filled with some honey instead - most likely assuring she'd not starve. The thread tying her ankles was long enough to let her make short strides, but effectively prevented any attempts to climb. Not that climbing a glass wall would even be remotely possible, regardless of her state...

She tried to examine the reflection of her back in the closest wall. Her outfit was torn to shreds there, her exposed skin tatooed with some exotic pattern. At this angle she couldn't be sure, but the lines and curves seemed to circle around two places, directly upon her shoulder blades. She tried feeling them - they were swollen and radiated pain upon touch.

What did that fairy do to her?

She was Ardis' sister... Obsessed with humans... But what was 'a completely different way' supposed to mean...?

* * *

Tammana shared Ardis' story with Nastia. The blonde pondered on the news for a longer while.

"That totally makes sense... Does your sister have the same kind of powers as you?"

"Nah. I mean, a bit. Like, she's better at potions and stuff, I got a more natural talent. But Ma and Pa always said she's the stronger one, so she was to inherit the house and all the stuff... Not that it matters anymore"

"Okay" Tammana interrupted. "But even if we assume it's your Sa, why would she do this? I mean, why couldn't she just show up and say 'hey, I'm Ardis' sis, can I meet her and the people she lives with? 'Got a bunch of questions to ask!' That would make sense! This doesn't"

"I agree..." Nastia stroke her chin "...but it's the only clue we have at this point. If we have nowhere else to go, we can as well..."

Tammana's phone buzzed once more.

If you want to see your friend again, meet me tomorrow, 9:00 AM, in the house of water. Or in the place this all started.

For the second time that day, a deafening silence ensued.

"But this makes no sense!" Tammana snorted angrily "Two places for a meeting? No demands? What is the meaning of this?!"

"Ardis," Nastia tried making her voice as soft as possible. "Sorry to put you through this, but we have no other option. Does this sound like your sister?"

The fairy looked at Nastia, her lip shivering.

"She... she liked this kind of riddles when we were younger..."

"The 'place where this all started' must be the dojo... But the 'house of water'..."

"I'd say it's the swimming pool" Tammana put the phone down, hands shaking. "But why two places? Why no demands? This doesn't make sense!" She repeated, this time anger resonating in her voice.

"Actually it does" Nastia reread the message quietly, trying to find any extra meaning between the lines. "She wants to split us. There are no demands, because this is supposed to be a trap. One she knows we will walk into..."

She looked at the gang, trying to put new informations into missing places. They needed a plan. And a good damn one.

"OK, how about this..."