A heavy, suffocating silence filled the command tent. The lingering scent of burnt Void ash and ozone was like a reminder of the S-Rank assassins that had just appeared in the centre of their sanctuary.
Zen gently lowered Maya onto the edge of the cot, ensuring she was sitting comfortably before turning to face the rest of the room.
He stood directly before her, keeping a comforting hand on her shoulder. The heat of his Low A-Rank core seeped through her thin clothes, instantly soothing her lingering tremors.
Valeria's broadsword slowly rested against the floor, though her hands remained on the hilt. Her crimson eyes darted from the dissolving remains of the monsters to Maya.
"What do you mean, Zen?" Valeria asked in a low voice. "We just held the perimeter. The horde is dead. We can protect you here."
