In a quiet office, a middle aged man sat behind a wide desk with a document folder open across the surface, one hand flat against the paper while the other held a pen he hadn't used yet.
The grey in his hair ran in a single streak above his left temple, sharp against the darker sections. The skin beneath his eyes sagged heavy as if he hadn't slept for many days in a row.
His suit jacket was buttoned to the collar despite the room's poor ventilation.
Jaren stood on the opposite side of the desk with both hands loose at his sides. The scar above his brow caught the ceiling light at an angle that made it more visible than usual.
Hwang's gaze moved from the documents to Jaren's face. "Officer Stolas recommended you for this mission."
"Yes, Director Hwang."
The pen tapped once against the folder's edge. "You gained your Path three weeks ago." Hwang's eyes dropped briefly to Jaren's hands, then returned. "Enough control over it yet?"
