After the woman finished speaking, she paused—waiting, expectant. The kind of pause that anticipated a response. Gratitude, perhaps. Or reflection. Or at least acknowledgment of the profound lesson just delivered.
Elara just looked at her.
Watched the hellscapes fade back into white void.
And said, voice completely flat:
"So what?"
The woman blinked. "...Huh?"
"So what?" Elara repeated, tilting her head slightly. "What do you want me to say or do after you've told me this so-called story? What's the expected output here?"
The woman stared at her, ancient eyes widening with something between disbelief and dawning horror.
"Did you not listen to what I said? For the past 'hour'—"
