"Living...Together?"

Sylvia repeated the words in confusion, clearly stated on her face. Sheila nodded her head in response before opening her mouth and said.

"Yes, it's very clear that if you keep staying at your current place, your 'mother's won't stop her action even though now she has already out of reach from the evil spirit's influence."

Sylvia stares blankly in silence while slowly trying to process Sheila's words in her mind. To be honest, Sheila didn't expect her mother to abuse her daughter even after she had purified the evil spirit. Sheila had thought the cause of it was from the evil spirit, but it didn't seem as simple as she initially thought. When Sylvia finally understood that Sheila is serious, she shook her head before saying.

"But she's still...my mother, the one who gave birth to me. No matter...what she did to me, I...could still handle it."

"I know, but think about it. Currently, she's abusing you with brute strength, but once she's used to it, she would likely do something worse than this in the future. To be honest, I would have sent a report to the police if I didn't care what happens to your mother. But I did tell you, I was going to show you the way, right? Believe in me."

Sylvia furrowed her eyebrows while listening to Sheila. Sylvia knows that the loving mother of the past has long disappeared after her parents divorced. But even so, she took the abuse silently while hoping that one day, her mother would open her eyes and became the loving mother that she used to be. But that hope slowly being chipped away as the day goes on while she suffers the abuse both at home and bullying at school. After the hope in her heart shattered into nothingness, she decides to commit suicide but ended up being saved by the girl in front of her. Looking up, she could see that there's worry deep in Sheila's eyes. 

Should I believe in her? Believe in the girl in front of me to leave the house? The question repeatedly appears in her mind. Sheila has a point in what she's saying, but I still couldn't help but worried about what's going to happen to my mother if I leave her alone. Sheila seems like she could understand what Sylvia is thinking as she smiled before putting her head on top of the small girl's head.

"Did I ever say that you couldn't visit her? I didn't, right? If you're worried about her, you can still stop by from time to time."

"Then...I.."

***

After exiting the Trial Tower, Sheila put her weight on the bed before a sigh escape from her mouth. 

"I don't understand why the girl still worried about that woman even after what she had done to her. I don't know if she's too kind or idiot, but thankfully she agrees."

Even though she had invited the girl on her own, she still needs to ask for permission from her parents. They will likely give their agreement if they know about the reason why she wants to bring her here. But the problem is... Ria. When Sheila thought of that, she couldn't help but feel her head aching from the headaches. She didn't know why but it appears that the two didn't get along well. Whenever the two met each other, there would be spark while glaring at each other without saying anything.

She remembers it all started when Sylvia said something ridiculous back then, which caused Ria to be on defensive mode for some reason. After giving the skill to Sylvia, Ria urged her to leave together right after Sheila had finished explaining the skill to the silver-white haired girl. She would likely get upset again when she heard the news of Sylvia coming over, but Sheila had to do it, or it would become troublesome later on if Sylvia continues staying at that hell hole only to be abuse. She had promised to the girl, after all.

With that in mind, Sheila gets off the bed and exits her bedroom before heading downstairs, towards the living room. As she had expected, her mother is currently sat on the couch while watching the drama on the Television as she took a sip on tea once in a while. Her father, Anthony, is currently reading a newspaper by her side. Feeling her presence, Sara turned back and saw her daughter walking toward her.

"Oh? Are you not playing games in your room like always?"

When Anthony heard Sara speaking to Sheila, he looked up and only stares at his daughter for a few seconds before continuing reading the newspaper. Sheila sat next to her mother before opening her mouth said.

"I have something to tell you, Mom. Um..."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Feeling the stares coming from both of her parents, Sheila couldn't help but gulped a mouthful of saliva while putting her hands together. Maybe her mother could feel that Sheila was nervous as Sara put her hand onto hers with a smile on her face.

"I invited a friend of mine..."

"It's just that? I don't mind you inviting a friend; in fact, would love to when for you to spend more time with your friends."

"Um, it's not just that. Actually..."

Sheila slowly started to explain the information that she knows about Sylvia to her mother, although her father's eyes were staring at the newspaper, his ears perk slightly, and listens to his daughter. It took 10 minutes to summarised everything, and after she was done, Sheila keeps her silence as she looked down, afraid of seeing how her parents would react. Before Sara could say anything, Anthony suddenly voices out his opinion on the matter.

"Why didn't you just report the case to the police?"

"It's because the girl still cares about her mother, right?"

Sara interrupted before Sheila could answer, and the latter nodded her head in response to her mother. But Anthony shook his head and said.

"How is she fit to be a mother with that kind of personality? If what Sheila said to be true, that woman could be jail for a period amount of time. That should be enough time for her personality to undergo a change from living in jail for a couple of years."

"Even so, that woman is still her mother, someone that suffered for nine whole months before giving birth to her. Although she might have disliked her mother, or hated at some point, she still couldn't do something like that to her only parent left. I guess you don't mind the girl staying in our house?"

"Hmph, she can stay all she wants."

Looking at the two talking to each other, Sheila keeps her silence, in case the two might refuse. But when she heard her father not minding Sylvia staying in the house, Sheila couldn't help but put a brilliant smile on her face. The only one left is her mother; Sheila gulped when her mother looked at her. But her mind was at ease when her mother smiled and said.

"I don't mind either, but you have to make sure to take care of her when she's living here with us."

"Mhm, I will. Thank you, Mom, and Dad."

Sheila said before bowing her head and stood up, walking to the stairs heading upstairs. She had gotten permission from both of her parents, now the only problem left...is Ria. When Sheila arrived in front of the door of Ria's room, she hesitated for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and knocked on the door a couple of times and said.

"Ria, Can I come in?"

Sheila could hear footsteps slowly walking inside the room until it stopped at the door before Ria opened the door and invite her in. Sheila entered and saw a couple of books on top of the table and assumed that Ria was studying before she steps in the room.

"So, what do you want now? As you can see, I'm currently studying."

Ria said as she sat back at her chair while Sheila went and sat on top of her bed.

"I have something to say, but before that, I hope you don't get upset about this. Would you promise me on that?"

Ria raises her eyebrows while feeling something bad swelling inside her body, she didn't know, but she feels like Sheila is going to say something ridiculous. The fact that Sheila wants Ria to promise that she won't get upset over something she will say showed that it definitely isn't anything good. But looking at Sheila serious expression, Ria couldn't help but release a sigh and said.

"Alright, fine. Out with it."

"Actually, Sylvia will be staying with us starting today."

"...What?"