"You think the final piece is with me."
"Yes." Rita let out a quiet breath. "And I also think… you've been waiting for someone like me to expose all of this."
Byme's memories were clearly flawed. Full of contradictions. Full of gaps.
She had been searching for answers. That much was true.
But searching for answers and truly wanting to find them were not the same thing.
And more than that…
Maybe she already knew.
Maybe she had been standing at the door this whole time, afraid to push it open, yet hoping someone else would do it for her.
"Go on," Byme said.
She flicked her fingers.
The battlefield vanished. The Divine Instruction arena collapsed into nothing, and they returned to the castle study.
She sat behind the desk again, composed, almost calm.
"No matter what you say, whether it's complete or correct… when the time comes, I'll let you leave."
She paused, then added quietly,
"Consider it a courtesy. For the sake of the Vineborne now being in BS."
