章 103: I'm Not Joking, It's the Truth

The room was completely silent, save for the sound of the wind slipping through the cracks in the windows. 

Anna, still sitting on the edge of the bed, took a moment to gather her thoughts. 

She had decided to share her secret, but now that she was in front of them, the words stuck in her throat. 

The expectant gazes of Aria, Nina, and Elara didn't help at all. 

"Well..." Anna began, lowering her eyes to fiddle with the cuffs of her shirt. "It's a bit hard to explain, but... I can stop time." 

Aria's eyes widened as she leaned forward, as if to ensure she'd heard correctly. 

Nina tilted her head, a mix of disbelief and confusion evident on her face, while Elara frowned, clearly trying to process what she'd just heard. 

"Stop time?" Aria repeated, her smile betraying more curiosity than skepticism. "You mean, like, everything around you just freezes?" 

Anna nodded slowly.