Back at the guild hall, Dillon received a message.
Nathan didn't see the content as he was across the training yard, reviewing the Tower of Verdant Scales data with Elise. But he saw Dillon's face when the message arrived, the way his jaw tightened, the way his hand clenched around his interface. Frustration. Resignation. Guilt. All of it flickering across his features before he shut it down and walked away.
Later, Nathan found him in the training yard. The practice dummies were already scarred from his katana. Deep, brutal cuts that lacked the usual precision of [Quick Draw]. Dillon was hacking at them with raw, unfiltered aggression, his form was sloppy, his breathing was harsh.
"Bad news?" Nathan asked.
