Walking in that territory felt like walking on a narrow beam. You stay steady or you fall and make noise. The small building under construction was a blocky structure with exposed beams and dusty boards.
It had no finished walls yet. The wood and nails and scaffolding looked almost raw. It felt like a place that had been chosen for a meeting because the builders had not yet put up signs of ownership. It felt neutral in a way that was safer than meeting inside a known headquarters.
As they walked Maya said to Ryan softly, "Ryan, do not get nervous or something. Nothing wrong will happen." She said it so he would feel calm. Her voice was practical. It was not trying to promise safety.
It simply tried to prevent fear from taking over him. Ryan gave a small nod. He felt grateful for the reassurance but he did not depend on it. He had to trust his own training too.
