Chapter 68: How to Uncover a Massive Corruption Scheme by Accident (2)
The rotten wood of the door vibrated each time I slammed my boot sole against it. Nothing. No sound from inside. Not even a cough, not even a "just a minute." I even thought she might have jumped out the window — but that crappy bathroom didn’t have a window big enough for that. She was doing this on purpose. Of course she was.
I leaned against the wall of the dorm house with a sigh — and a creak from the loose boards. My clothes reeked of moss and defeat, but Thalia was alive. Because of me, just to be clear.
And if it’s my fault, then I’ll take the headache too.
I kept staring at a crack in the wall while the steam leaked out from under the door. She was taking her time. Longer than necessary.
When the door finally opened, Thalia came out like a grumpy thunderstorm wrapped in a hand towel — which, honestly, probably violated three guild dress codes at once. She didn’t even look at me. Just walked right past, leaving behind a trail of moisture, lavender shampoo, and barely disguised arrogance.
"You okay?" I asked, in a tone that mixed genuine concern with the absolute certainty that I’d regret asking.
"I’m great," she answered. And that was it. "Great." As if I hadn’t just dragged her out of a druidic sacrificial ritual performed by fanatics with black root blindfolds and runes carved into their eyes.
"That’s good. Because next time I have to rescue you, I’m charging a fee."
She stopped, back turned to me. Her wet hair dripped slowly onto the floor. Her hands were clenched.
"I just wanted to get this over with," she said, quietly.
[STATUS UPDATE – THALIA]