Zelia blinked.
Her body trembled as she stood.
This room…
It wasn't the dungeon.
It wasn't the rusted mattress.
It was home.
Their old, tiny living room.
Everything was how she remembered it.
Then—
"Zelia."
She turned.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Zain.
He stood by the door, casual, calm, untouched.
"Zain!"
She sprinted toward him, eyes flooding.
Her legs buckled halfway, but she didn't stop.
She threw her arms around him.
"Zain… just how much I missed you—" she sobbed into his chest.
"I thought I'd never escape… I thought I'd never see you again…"
Zain didn't speak at first.
He gently returned the embrace.
Then he said, "Nice to meet you, Sister."
Zelia blinked.
Her head tilted up.
"Wait… what?"
Zain smiled.
But it wasn't his smile.
It was off.
Just enough for her to feel it.
"Let me explain," he said, still smiling.
"You did escape. But only one loop."
Zelia's heart dropped.
"What…? No. No. I killed him. I killed Scavratt. I—"
