The door closed behind Scarlett without making a sound.
The silence that followed wasn't heavy, but it carried attention. There was no hostility, nor exaggerated welcome. It was a neutral space, where everything still needed to adjust.
I remained where I was.
Observing.
Scarlett didn't move forward either. She stood in the center of the room, maintaining a firm posture, but without rigidity. Her gaze passed over each of them again, as if measuring the environment.
Liriel was the first to break the silence.
"So let's make this clear from the beginning."
Her tone wasn't cold.
But it wasn't soft either.
It was direct.
Scarlett nodded.
"You can speak."
Rai'kanna leaned more comfortably against the window, crossing her arms.
"No drama."
"No drama," Scarlett replied.
Vespera observed everything in silence.
Elara maintained a calm posture.
Lyannis seemed curious.
Liriel continued.
"No one here is competing."
Scarlett answered without hesitation.
"I didn't come to compete."
"Good."
A brief pause.
"Because that doesn't work."
Scarlett nodded again.
"I know."
Rai'kanna let out a breath.
"You know… or are you saying you know?"
Scarlett turned her face slightly toward her.
"I know."
No provocation.
No defense.
Just affirmation.
Rai'kanna held her gaze for a second.
Then looked away.
"That already helps."
Vespera spoke for the first time.
"Do you understand the dynamic?"
Scarlett thought for a moment.
"I understand enough."
"That's not a complete answer."
"It's not."
She didn't try to hide it.
"But I learn fast."
Vespera nodded.
"That's useful."
Elara spoke next.
"Adaptation is more important than initial understanding."
Scarlett looked at her.
"Then I'm on the right path."
"You are."
Lyannis gave a small smile.
"This is going better than I expected."
Liriel ignored the comment and continued.
"Another thing."
She took a step forward.
"No hiding information."
Scarlett replied immediately.
"I won't hide anything."
"Not from him, not from us."
"From no one."
"Good."
A brief silence.
But already different from before.
Lighter.
More stable.
Rai'kanna uncrossed her arms.
"Now the important part."
Scarlett looked at her.
"What?"
"Do you know how to deal with him?"
The question came directly.
No hesitation.
Scarlett didn't look away.
"I know how to deal with myself."
"That's not what I asked."
"It's what matters."
Rai'kanna almost smiled.
"Good answer."
Vespera added.
"But incomplete."
Scarlett remained calm.
"I'm not going to try to control him."
Glances were exchanged.
Elara nodded slightly.
"Appropriate answer."
Lyannis supported it.
"Better than trying the opposite."
Liriel crossed her arms.
"So you understand this isn't simple."
"I understand."
"It won't always be comfortable."
"I don't need it to be."
The answer came firm.
Without hesitation.
Rai'kanna looked at me for a second.
Then back at Scarlett.
"She's direct."
"Yes," I said.
Vespera analyzed.
"That avoids unnecessary problems."
Elara completed.
"And creates clearer ones."
Lyannis laughed softly.
"But easier to solve."
Scarlett took a step forward.
Not as a challenge.
But as presence.
"I didn't come here to cause problems."
Liriel replied.
"Problems always exist."
"Then I'll solve them when they appear."
Rai'kanna nodded.
"Fair."
Silence.
But now without tension.
Just evaluation.
As if all of them had already reached a similar conclusion.
Liriel relaxed her posture slightly.
"Then that's it."
Scarlett tilted her head.
"That's it."
Lyannis walked a bit closer.
"So you're staying?"
Scarlett looked around.
Then at me.
"If there's no problem."
No one answered immediately.
But no one refused either.
Elara was the first.
"There is no impediment."
Vespera added.
"As long as you maintain the standard."
Scarlett nodded.
"I will."
Rai'kanna gave a slight smile.
"I want to see that."
Liriel concluded.
"Then it's settled."
The environment shifted definitively.
Not completely relaxed.
But aligned.
Scarlett was no longer an external presence.
She was part of it.
Lyannis broke the mood.
"Now the practical part."
"What?" Scarlett asked.
"Room."
Scarlett blinked once.
"…Right."
Rai'kanna let out a small laugh.
"Relax. It's not complicated."
"I'm not worried."
"You should be a little."
"I adapt."
Vespera gestured slightly with her head.
"Hallway to the left. Second empty room."
Scarlett nodded.
"Got it."
She started walking.
But stopped after two steps.
Turned slightly.
Looked at the group.
And said:
"Thank you."
Simple.
No exaggeration.
But sincere.
No one responded with words.
But no one ignored it either.
She continued.
Her footsteps faded until they disappeared into the hallway.
Silence returned.
But now…
completely different.
Lyannis was the first to speak.
"I liked her."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms again.
"I'm still evaluating."
Vespera replied.
"She is functional."
Elara concluded.
"She fits."
Liriel looked at me.
"Now it's on you."
"I know."
"Then don't complicate it."
"I won't."
She nodded.
"Good."
The atmosphere was settled.
Without excess.
Without strain.
As it should be.
I stood up.
Unhurried.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway had already stopped.
Scarlett was probably in the room.
Organizing.
Thinking.
Or just breathing.
I walked in that direction.
No urgency.
But no hesitation.
Because at that point…
there was no more separation.
What was once external…
was now part of the group.
And that was no longer a possibility.
It was reality.