The Kind Of Attention One Wouldn't Want

Murk reigns in this place. Clouds, dark and green like unappealing cotton candy, hover above this gloomy area. Wastelands, dismal, scant and seemingly endless range over the site. Strangely enough, somewhere in between, a great castle reaches high up into the sky, surrounded by enormous candy canes sprouting from the ground. Here and there, one could also find unnaturally tall french fries emerging from earth like crop. The castle's walls and front are made of black stone, and the way they were built leave a pompous impression. Even though its roof tiles in dark red add to the prestigious look, one can't help but think of it as eerie. A mysterious wanderer, clothed in a black cloak, advances to the intimidating castle, passing the front gate.

Within these walls, a great, magnificent entrance hall only lit by several golden chandeliers welcomes the stranger, and further in at its end are four stairways. The big two outer stairways lead up, whereas each of them has an inner one next to them leading downstairs. And amidst them a big stage fills the room, however a giant, illuminated white curtain veils the scenery, leaving only two shadows behind it visible. The silhouettes resemble that of a king and a queen sitting on thrones each, with the king supposedly facing forward while the queen's face seems to be in profile, just looking away in disinterest. The dark cloaked figure walks up there, then obediently bows down in front of the curtain.

Cloaked figure: Mylady, Mylord, I have returned.
Dark King: Was the mission successful?
Cloaked figure: Negative. Our combatant was defeated.
Dark King: The candy spaghetti monster didn't make it? How pitiful, how pitiful. And? Who defeated it? Presumably a puppet of The Queen Bee?
Cloaked figure: No, Sire. I witnessed it myself. It was one of the warriors of the prophecy.

Intrigued, the king raises an eyebrow whereas the queen looks up, finally shifting her attention from her red-polished nails to the servant.

Dark Queen: Oh? Is that so? Tell Us about them.
Cloaked figure: Of course, Madame. She was a human woman, dry-aged.
Dark King: Colonel... We think you meant something different. Old, maybe?
Colonel: Ah, yes! My deepest apologies for this mistake of mine! That was the correct term I failed to use.
Dark Queen: Alas, continue your report.
Colonel: Very well, Mylady. She had a shoulder-long haircut with gray hair and slight curls, amber eyes, wholly dressed in black, slim stature, a tiny mole next to her right eye...
Dark King: Colonel, too much detail, way too much detail. Did you lose yourself in overanalyzing again?
Colonel: Oh, excuse me...

A little smirk escapes the protection of the hood, and Colonel grabs for his facial area. His fingers move back to visible space, and a monocle is carefully held between his thumb and pointer as he licks it delightfully.

Colonel: But whenever I see something peculiar, I cannot stop myself from looking through my candy glass.

"...Slim, you say?"

The servant suddenly finches in terror.

Dark Queen: Slim? Slim?! SLIM?!
Colonel: My Queen, I-!
Dark Queen: Colonel. One more misstep like this, and your head rolls. Is that clear?
Colonel: I-I understand! Please forgive me, Mylady!
Dark Queen: So be it, then. Get Us that woman, and her head shall roll instead!
Colonel: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart! But... may I suggest just one request?
Dark King: You may. Speak.
Colonel: This warrior... may I feel her out a little before I get started? Getting information on such a person might get handy, and I cannot contain my curiosity any longer!
Dark Queen: That is actually a good point. Know your enemies, then you are halfway through victory, isn't that so? Your proposal is granted!
Colonel: Well then! Madame, Sire, I will make sure to bring her to you.
Dark King: Splendid. Now go!
Colonel: On your command, Your Highnesses!

Colonel steps back, humbly leaving the great hall again.


On their way back to Evelyn's home, both her and Gertrud are taking their time, leading a conversation as they keep walking down the sidewalk.

Gertrud: ...How did the funeral today go? It must have been awful for you, dear.
Evelyn: It was. And I did not expect that it would be so hard to talk to all the attendants. Grieving, answering the same questions over and over again... all of that at the same time. It was... difficult to bear.
Gertrud: I understand. Let me support you as much as I can.
Evelyn: Thank you, Gertrud. That means a lot to me.
Gertrud: Don't mention it.

Gertrud caresses her shoulder to comfort her precious friend, and Evelyn flashes a sad, yet thankful smile in response. Meanwhile, their odd and hidden companion Bee still resides within her handbag. Despite the darkness, a concerned expression shows on the face.

Bee(thought): A funeral? So she must have lost someone special to her. And then all of this other stuff started. I didn't know that... poor Evelyn.

Having arrived in front of the previous yellow house, the two friends stop in front of the entrance door.

Evelyn: Oh dear, now look at that. When I walked to the "Sweet Dreams", it felt like it took so long to get there. And going back with you made the time fly by in an instant. We already made it back home.