The silence in the dorm was pressing—thick and heavy like a woolen blanket thrown over a fire. Rhea sat on the floor for a few more minutes, letting her pulse slow before finally pushing herself up. Her legs felt stiff, her muscles sore from the long journey, and her nerves still hummed beneath her skin.
She crossed the shared living space without a sound and slipped into the bedroom she’d claimed. As the door clicked softly behind her, she let out a slow breath and leaned back against it for just a moment. The room was quiet, clean, and modest, with a single bed tucked into one corner, a sturdy wooden desk against the opposite wall, and a tall wardrobe flanking a small dresser. It smelled faintly of wood polish and fresh linen.
A moment’s peace.
Rhea dropped to her knees beside her duf
