[A few days later]
Rhea sat quietly in the gymnasium, half-hidden under the dim lights.
She was barely visible—just a shadow in the silence.
Both her hands were held—wrapped in warmth from two different men.
Lately, she had been spending more and more time with them, seeking their presence whenever the restlessness returned.
On her left was the Professor—the one who helped her reunite with her hometown, who stood by her when Rudolph left.
On her right was the man she once swore never to forgive.
But time had taken a strange turn… and here they were.
Close. Quiet. Intimate.
Both had known Rudolph.
Both understood the ache she carried.
When she spoke of facing the Demon Lord, they didn't stop her.
They stood with her.
A moment passed. Then Rhea whispered, eyes lost in the distance—
"I think I should visit the other side now."
She felt the grip on her hands tighten—both of them anxious.
"The Council is working on a strategy," Parkinson said, his voice careful.
