In the seclusion of her office, Shinari sat in silence, the weight of her command pressing down on her shoulders. The room was stark, illuminated only by the soft glow of her desk console, a stark contrast to the bustling command center just outside. Here, in this moment of solitude, the enormity of her responsibility settled around her like a heavy cloak.
She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes momentarily as she sought a brief respite from the relentless pressure.
The silence was a balm, but it also brought her thoughts into sharp focus.
For the first time, Shinari found herself truly understanding the burden Aldred carried.
The weight of leadership, the responsibility for not just the lives of their soldiers but the fate of their entire mission—it was a mantle that Aldred had borne with unwavering strength.