A long sleep break was probably something everyone needed, and now they finally got it, even if things were a little chaotic.
Sophie: "(Snoring)..."
Rosalie: "Hhhh...mmm...no...Luiz..."
Sophie: "(Bob!) Huh?... Oh... Fiona... what's wrong? Can't you sleep?"
Fiona: "...Huh?... (Cough)... (Cough)... No... I'm... I'm just dizzy... (Cough)... (Cough)... My stomach hurts again... bbb!"
She stood up and quickly went to the bathroom.
Sophie: "Hey."
Rosalie: "Ugh... what's wrong!?"
They went after her.
Sophie: "What's wrong with you?"
Fiona: "I'm... fine... okay..."
Rosalie: "Not even close. You're coughing like crazy. Stay still."
She placed her hand on Fiona's forehead.
Rosalie: "A fever, maybe."
Sophie: "Let me see."
Sophie pressed her cheek against Fiona's.
Sophie: "Yeah."
Rosalie: "You're staying here today."
Fiona: "What... no."
Rosalie: "This isn't up for debate. Rest. That's an order."
Fiona: "Ughh..."
Sophie: "Fiona, you're sweating a lot."
Fiona: "Hahh..."
Rosalie: "Let me see your stomach."
She lifted Fiona's outfit slightly.
Rosalie: "Ughuh!"
Sophie: "Huh!"
The skin around her stomach had turned purple.
Sophie: "What is that?"
Rosalie: "...Hmm. That wasn't there yesterday."
Fiona: "Hhhhh..."
Rosalie: "Fiona... did you eat anything?"
Fiona: "No... not in the last few hours."
Rosalie: "Hmm... oh... I understand. Right, Fiona, you have a congenital illness, don't you?"
Fiona: "Yes..."
Rosalie: "Your intestines?"
Fiona: "Yeah."
Rosalie: "I see. Intestinal malrotation. And with the amount of mana you have, it probably hurts much more. You don't necessarily need to go to a hospital. We'll bring the doctor here. Lie down."
Sophie: "Okay, come here."
Fiona: "Ughh."
Sophie: "Shh."
She helped Fiona back to bed.
Sophie: "Get some rest."
Rosalie: "Hmm. I'll call the doctor."
Several hours later.
Doctor: "Hmm... I'm finished."
Rosalie: "Ugh... and?"
Sophie: "Will she get better?"
Doctor: "She needs more sleep. Intestinal malrotation combined with mana puts stress on the body. Sleep helps. Give her something calming. No laughing, no crying. Maybe a television series?"
Sophie: "Oh, I have one. She'll probably like it. It's about animals in the forests of the Black Forest, the largest forest in Grimmhoth."
Rosalie: "The forest that stretches from Grazburg all the way to Roselande? Interesting. Yeah, that's a good idea."
Doctor: "Good. That way she can rest peacefully. I'll be going now."
Rosalie: "Thank you, Doctor."
He left the apartment.
Sophie: "Hmm."
They opened the door.
Sophie: "Fiona?"
Fiona: "Huh?... Hahhh... hahh."
Rosalie: "You look awful."
Fiona: "I'm... sorry... I don't know what's wrong..."
Sophie: "We can handle the mission ourselves..."
Rosalie: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Oh... does that mean I'll be alone?"
Sophie: "Ugh. Rosalie, come here for a second."
She pulled Rosalie aside.
Sophie: "I just remembered. Fiona hates being alone. Besides, you shouldn't leave a sick person alone. What if something happens?"
Rosalie: "Okay, but why doesn't Fiona like being alone?"
Sophie: "Believe it or not, she's scared when nobody is nearby. Even though she acts tough, inside she's often like a child. Especially when she's sick. She's too weak to keep pretending."
Rosalie: "How about Beta?"
Fiona: "Hahh... (Cough)..."
Sophie: "No. It has to be someone Fiona has known for a long time. Hey... could you maybe contact Dark Umbrella?"
Rosalie: "No need. Yesterday I called Marcus and Lina to help us because of the hunter situation. They're coming here. How about this? You stay here with Fiona. You need rest too."
Sophie: "Then I'll go. You need more rest than I do."
Rosalie: "Me?"
Sophie: "Yeah, you."
Rosalie: "I've known her a long time, but not like you have."
Sophie: "True, but you're exhausted too."
Rosalie: "Hahhh... okay, okay. Besides, I'm hungry."
Sophie: "Okay. Oh, by the way, Fiona has nightmares all the time. That's why she takes sleeping pills so often. You'll also need to give her her medicine. She hates pills. Like I said, she's like a child in some ways."
Rosalie: "Okay. Anything else?"
Sophie: "Hmm... if you see a spider or something, don't let Fiona see it. She's terrified of spiders and other insects. Worms, bees, moths."
Rosalie: "Okay. Anything else?"
Sophie: "Umm... Fiona might have a trauma episode. Memories from her time with Howgarts. She might suddenly scream or cry for no apparent reason. Don't be alarmed."
Rosalie: "Oh dear. Is it really that bad? You'd never guess by looking at her."
Sophie: "Hahhh. She doesn't want anyone worrying about her. But when she gets sick... that's when it gets bad. Oh, and under absolutely no circumstances should she hear that children's song, 'The Bridge Is Falling Down.' Howgarts used it in his experiments to terrify children. He mixed in sounds of crying babies, screaming, and even photos of corpses. Never. Ever. If Fiona hears it, she'll be so traumatized that she'll cry. Really cry."
Rosalie: "O... okay."
Sophie: "Good. Take care of yourself too. See you later."
She left the apartment.
Rosalie: "Hmm."
She looked at Fiona.
Fiona: "(Cough)... (Cough)... hahh... hhhhh..."
Rosalie: "(I didn't know she was this traumatized... I feel sorry for her...)"
Fiona: "(Cough)..."
Rosalie turned on the documentary about the Black Forest animals.
Rosalie: "I'll make you something to eat, okay? Soup."
Fiona: "(Cough)... thanks..."
Rosalie: "Okay."
While Fiona slept, Rosalie prepared food.
Rosalie: "Hmm. Good. It'll be ready when she wakes up. Hmm? The video is almost over. I'll get the next part."
She went into the other room.
(Bzzzz)
Television: "This tape has ended. This tape has ended."
Fiona: "Huh...?"
She opened her eyes and looked at the television.
Fiona: "Hahhh..."
Television: "Switching to the normal channel... Bridge... is falling... down... Bridge Is Falling Down."
Fiona: "Ughhuh!"
She stared at the screen.
Fiona: "Hahh."
(Thump... Thump...)
Fiona: "Ughh... hahhhh... hahhhh... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Rosalie: "Ugh! What's wrong!?"
She rushed over.
Fiona: "Turn it off! Turn it off! AAAAAAAARGHHHHHH!"
Rosalie: "Ugh."
Television: "Bridge Is Falling Down!"
She turned it off.
Rosalie: "Ugh... Fiona."
Fiona: "(Crying)... Mama... Hahh... Mama..."
Rosalie: "Ughh..."
Fiona held her face and trembled violently.
Fiona: "Hahhh... hahhh... hhhhh... hahhhh..."
Rosalie: "Fiona, calm down! Hey!"
She hugged her.
Fiona: "Go away!"
She shoved Rosalie away.
Fiona: "Go away... go away!"
Rosalie: "Fiona... ghh."
She almost slapped her.
Rosalie: "Ughh..."
Television: "Bzzzz..."
Fiona: "Hahhh..."
Rosalie: "...Shhh... shhhh..."
She hugged her again, more gently this time.
Rosalie: "Easy... easy..."
Fiona: "Hhhhh..."
Rosalie: "Hey... there's nothing to be afraid of. You're not in Howgarts' experiments anymore."
Fiona: "Hahhh... ugh... Rosalie..."
Rosalie: "...Feeling better?"
Fiona: "Ugh..."
Rosalie: "(She's finally stopping shaking...)"
She looked at her.
Rosalie: "Hmm..."
Fiona: "Hahhh... hahh..."
Fiona placed a hand on her face.
Fiona: "Hahhh... I'm so cold..."
Rosalie: "...I'll get you another blanket."
She brought one and covered her with it. Only then did Fiona finally calm down.
Rosalie: "(My goodness... what did they do to those children in those experiments...)"
Fiona: "Hahhh..."
Rosalie: "(Why isn't Sophie traumatized like this? Why isn't she as damaged as Fiona?)"
Fiona: "(Cough)..."
Rosalie: "(Ah... right. Fiona was much younger than Sophie when she was taken there. Sophie was eight. Fiona was only five.)"
The television crackled softly.
Rosalie: "Hmm... is she asleep again? I want to learn more about those experiments. I could use the fact that she's sleeping and read the documents."
She quietly searched around.
Rosalie: "Ah, there they are. The Howgarts Experiments..."
She sat beside Fiona, who was lying in bed.
Rosalie: "Hmm..."
Then she decided to sit in a nearby chair instead.
Rosalie: "Okay... The Howgarts Experiments..."
She continued reading as Fiona slept nearby.
She sat down beside Fiona, who was lying in bed.
Rosalie: "Hmm..."
She then decided to sit on the chair instead, but still stayed close to Fiona.
Rosalie: "Okay... (The Howgarts Experiments)... The Howgarts Experiments... More than a hundred children participated in them... mostly orphans or homeless children... Most of the victims either died during the experiments... or... took their own lives... Hmm... Ahh, there are even records of the experiments themselves... The Song Experiment... To make the children afraid and keep them from distractions... Howgarts used the song Bridge Falling Down, where... oh... what the hell... where he used the sounds of crying people... or people dying in terrible pain while the song played... and occasionally showed disturbing images of corpses... or monsters such as Skinwalkers... The song caused the children unimaginable fear... one child even died from the shock... another child... gouged out their own eyes... To prevent the children from hurting themselves... they were tied to asylum mats... That way, the children were forced to watch it... Many children were left severely traumatized... Afterwards, the song was made even more disturbing with more corpses and screaming... Hmm... Sophie was probably there... Fiona too... and Parzival?... I'm not sure about him... Maybe Noelle too..."
She turned the page.
Rosalie: "The Sleeping Experiment... If the children slept too long, the song was used, and they were restrained with machines as punishment... for oversleeping... Afterwards, a device was used... This device caused the children to experience a kind of nightmare whenever they slept for more than four hours, through the use of certain sounds..."
(Page turn)
Rosalie: "The Taste Experiment... They tried to prevent children from being distracted by the taste of food... So they performed several experiments on the tongue and palate... For some, it worked... for others, only partially... It worked on Parzival, and he could no longer eat sweets... Fiona as well, except she can no longer eat salty food... Sophie, on the other hand, was barely affected... she was the oldest... so she was also the strongest... Sophie participated three years earlier... before Parzival, Fiona, Noelle, and the other test subjects arrived..."
(Page turn)
Rosalie: "Hmm... The Illusion Device... It caused children to see monsters... or murderers, and they believed they were real. It was called the Virtual Room... or the Dark Room..."
(Page turn)
Rosalie: "Hmm... The Shower Experiment... Even showering can be enjoyable, and Howgarts wanted to prevent that... So whenever children showered for too long, he often used animal blood to traumatize them... if they showered for more than... two minutes... That guy was really... terrifying..."
(Page turn)
Rosalie: "Most of the children were eventually freed after the truth about what Howgarts was doing came out... He was arrested and even executed... But unfortunately... many of the children never recovered and took their own lives... Only Sophie, Parzival, Fiona, and Noelle survived... Sophie was the oldest, Noelle the youngest... four years old... while Parzival was the second oldest at seven years old... Sophie wasn't there for very long... Fiona was also young, only five years old... Hmm."
She put the documents back into her bag and then looked at Fiona.
Rosalie: "(It's a miracle she can even sleep at all... I feel sorry for her... No wonder she's so traumatized and rarely smiles...)"
Fiona: "(Cough)... (Cough)..."
Rosalie: "(And she even calls for her mother in her sleep... Right... Fiona never really knew her real mother. She died when Fiona was still a baby...) Hmm... (I guess even adults need the warmth of a mother...)"
Television: "Bzzz..."
Rosalie: "I have the second tape. It's much longer, thankfully. This time I'll stay close to her... just in case... The television isn't even that old... so why this broadcast..."
Meanwhile...
Sophie: "Hey."
Marcus: "Hey."
Lina: "Miss Sophie."
Sophie: "Long time no see. Oh, by the way, Fiona is sick, and Rosalie stayed with her because she's too exhausted and also has to keep an eye on Fiona."
Marcus: "Hmm... Oh dear... Whenever Fiona gets sick... her trauma often comes back... Are you sure it was a good idea to leave her with Rosalie?... Um... Rosalie?"
Sophie: "That's Ms. Sonda."
Marcus: "Ohh... But Theressa is her first name... Oh... Rosalie is her middle name... okay... Right. You need to be careful because lately the song Falling Bridge has become very popular... and well... she keeps showing up more often."
Sophie: "Oh... damn... But I warned Rosalie."
Marcus: "Okay."
Lina: "Hmm."
Marcus: "Let's start the mission."
Meanwhile...
Rosalie: "Hmm... I'm already tired... but I have to watch over her."
Fiona: "(Cough)... (Cough)..."
Rosalie: "...Hmm... I guess I don't have a choice."
She lay down beside Fiona.
Fiona did nothing except continue coughing.
Rosalie: "There... Maybe this way she won't have nightmares either."
Fiona: "Hahh... (Cough)... (Cough)... (Cough)..."
Rosalie: "Hmm... (Using a song for something like trauma...) Hmm..."
Fiona: "Mmm... (Twitches)..."
Rosalie: "Is she having a nightmare?"
Rosalie was a little confused, but gently reacted by softly stroking Fiona's head.
Rosalie: "Hmm."
Fiona: "...Mm... (Cough)... (Cough)... (Cough)..."
Meanwhile, Rosalie continued reading more documents.
Rosalie: "Hmm... Howgarts... so... (What exactly was he trying to accomplish? What was the purpose behind this entire horror show?)"
Fiona: "(Cough)... (Cough)... R-Rosalie..."
Rosalie: "Yes?"
Fiona: "...You don't... have to stay here..."
Rosalie: "Oh yes, I do. You're sick."
Fiona: "(Cough)... (Cough)... Could you do me... a favor... please... don't tell anyone that I cried."
Rosalie: "Why?"
Fiona: "Ughh... Um... it's embarrassing... I don't want anyone to worry."
Rosalie: "I won't tell anyone. At least not everyone. Sophie has to know."
Fiona: "...Sophie's okay."
Rosalie: "You trust her a lot, don't you?"
Fiona: "Yes..."
Rosalie: "Why?"
Fiona: "...Mmm... Because... because we're almost like siblings, I guess."
Rosalie: "Hmm... I can tell Sophie cares about you a lot, and you care about her too."
Fiona: "Mmm... You've been reading something..."
Rosalie: "Yes... Dark Umbrella documents."
Fiona: "...Mmm... Why? Did something happen?"
Rosalie: "No, no. Go back to sleep now, princess."
Fiona: "Mmm... You're warmer than I thought."
Rosalie: "(Blushing) Did you think I was made of ice?... Hehehe..."
Fiona: "Mm..."
She closed her eyes and fell asleep again.
Rosalie continued reading the documents and occasionally looked around the room before returning her attention to the papers.