The director was standing when Kai came in.
That was different from the first meeting.
He stood at the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the eastern district where the Rift frame rose above the rooftops. He did not turn immediately. He let Kai come in, let the door close behind him, and let the silence sit for a moment the way people did when they were organising their thoughts rather than trying to be impressive.
Then he turned.
"Sit down."
Kai sat. The director remained standing. Sael was at her post near the door, a small notebook open in her hand.
The director looked at the D-Rank badge on Kai's coat for a moment. Not dismissively. The way a person looked at an answer they had expected and were now confirming.
"The assessor's note said four seconds," he said.
"Yes."
"Did you feel it?"
"No."
