Finally, Rynath broke the silence, her voice still carrying that nervous edge but slightly more composed.
"Do you... do you go for walks often?"
The question was innocuous, probably her trying to make conversation.
She was trying to learn more about him in a way that felt natural.
Jack glanced at her, noting how she was carefully not making direct eye contact, how her hands moved in subtlety.
{She's trying! Engage with her! Show interest!}
"Sometimes," Jack replied, his tone neutral but not hostile. "When the barracks get too crowded. Or when I need to think about something."
It wasn't entirely a lie. He did need space to think sometimes.
"That makes sense," Rynath said quickly, almost eagerly. "The barracks can be... overwhelming. So many demons, so much noise. It's hard to find peace."
{She's relating to you! This is good! Build on this!}
"You must have your own space," Jack observed. "As a general. Somewhere quiet."
