Chapter 11: TICKING TIME

Walking down the hallway heading to her room with Katherine beside her, Ophelia had the dress against her chest, lost in her thoughts. The temperature had dropped significantly, there seemed to be a snowstorm brewing that night, but Ophelia didn't even shiver. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she wasn't aware of anything else. She inhaled deeply and began muttering to herself, "The world is cruel, but you are not. You aren't cruel to people, are you? I'm not a bullshitting sadist," she then pursed her lips and shook her head, completely oblivious to the fact that there was a mage next to her who thought she was insane. Among all the missions she had prepared for, this was the one that had put the most pressure on her. She was barely able to breathe. When she finally made it to her bedroom door, she stood there frozen, staring at the door's large star-shaped carving in the center. She twisted stiffly to look at Katherine, who was still giving her a pitiful expression. "Stop