River sat alone in the quiet lobby, fingers tapping a steady rhythm against his leg. The lights overhead buzzed faintly, the only other sound besides the soft hum of the air conditioner. Despite the sterile calm of the place, his heart wouldn't slow down.
His eyes darted to the clock mounted above the door. Five minutes had passed since he stepped out of the White Room, but to River, it felt like a lifetime. Every second stretched like taffy, thick with tension.
He leaned forward slightly, gripping the edge of his chair. The longer he stayed here, the greater the risk.
The Sun God Mage… Nolan's about to come out.
He knew what that meant. If he didn't move now, he'd be caught in the wake of a storm.
Fortunately, before his nerves could push him to bolt, a staff member finally approached. The man looked exhausted, holding a plain white envelope in both hands like it was just another file in a never-ending routine.
