Each group was loaded into buses that carried them to the field of airships waiting to transport them to their mission sites.
Inside the bus, the silence was heavy. Everyone kept stealing glances at Professor Ismere, who sat at the front, tapping away on her tablet with unwavering focus. She hadn't spoken a single word since boarding, and her silence only made the tension worse.
Willow glanced at Payton. His face was pale, his hands trembling faintly. Gage, the ever the steady one, kept patting his back though Payton barely responded.
Across from them, Ashar let out a dismissive snort. "Why are you being such a baby? It's just a mission,"
Payton said nothing, burying his face behind his palms.
Logan's glare snapped toward Ashar. "Why can't you just leave him alone? Everyone has..."
"I don't want to hear anyone's sob stories," Ashar cut him off coldly. "We're all fucked up in this world. You either toughen up or get fucked over worse."
