As the other guild members filed out of Master's office, their voices fading into the corridor beyond, I lingered behind. The familiar weight of responsibility settled over me—not just for the lunar mission, but for the trust he'd placed in me by approving my request to join the expedition.
'He could have refused,' I thought, watching as he organized the holographic displays with characteristic efficiency. 'He could have deemed it too dangerous, or decided that my skills were better utilized here on Earth. But he didn't.'
The simple fact that Master had faith in my capabilities to handle whatever challenges awaited us on the moon filled me with a warmth that had nothing to do with the office's ambient temperature. His approval meant everything to me—more than he probably realized, and certainly more than I could ever express directly.
"Master," I said softly, waiting until the office door had closed behind Jin before approaching his desk.
