Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The rhythmic sound of the stress-relief artifact on the desk seemed determined to drive everyone in the room to madness. What was supposed to be calming had become a form of psychological torture after an entire hour of suffocating silence.
Two young men in crisp academy uniforms sat rigidly across from a middle-aged man. His neck-length gray hair was meticulously combed, thick-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and he wore a checkered black and white shirt that somehow managed to look both professional and slightly eccentric. His elbows rested on the polished mahogany table, fingers interlaced, chin resting thoughtfully on his hands.
"Sigh." The sound finally broke the oppressive quiet after what felt like an eternity.
