Monica didn't think.
The instant she stepped away from the window, she was already in motion.
She descended the stairs of the administrative building almost running, ignoring calls, forgotten reports on the desk, and the perfectly controlled chaos she left behind. Her footsteps echoed quickly in the stone corridor as she crossed the main exit, the cold wind hitting her face the moment she reached the open plaza.
Strax was still talking to Scarlet when he sensed the change.
It wasn't mana.
It was presence.
Before he even turned completely around, he already knew.
"Strax!"
The voice came laden with relief, emotion contained for weeks, and something dangerously close to pure joy.
Monica practically threw herself at him.
