The mission hall felt hollow.
The notice boards that usually overflowed with missions now stood sparse, only a handful of low-rank requests still pinned up
I pushed through the heavy wooden doors.
My footsteps echoed against the stone floor.
The administrator sat at her usual desk near the back, sorting through papers with mechanical efficiency.
She looked up as I approached.
"Jin Raith?" she asked, though her tone suggested she already knew.
"Yeah."
She set down her pen and reached beneath the desk, producing a sealed envelope.
She slid it across the polished wood toward me.
"Your solo practical briefing," she said, her voice professional but not unkind.
"You're to report to Instructor Aldwin in the evaluation chamber. Third floor, east wing."
I took the envelope.
"When?"
"Now."
I nodded, not trusting myself to respond, and turned toward the stairs.
I found the evaluation chamber at the end of the corridor. The door stood open, revealing the space beyond.
