The chief's office smelled faintly of parchment and smoke. A single lantern burned on the corner of his desk, its light casting long shadows that seemed to crawl across the walls. Behind the heavy desk sat Chief Warren, his expression clouded with fatigue, his robe still tied loosely at the waist. Though his eyes were heavy with interrupted sleep, his presence was steady, watchful, and demanding.
Edward, Aeris, and Seraphine stood before him until the chief waved them toward the seats opposite his desk. They settled in, the creak of wood loud in the quiet room.
For a moment, the four of them simply sat. Aeris shot Edward a glance—silent encouragement or a command, he wasn't sure. Either way, the weight of the explanation fell squarely on him.
And so he spoke.
