As the crowd slowly dispersed, everyone returned to their work. Some felt relieved while others still had unease in their hearts. The base soon filled again with the usual sounds of construction, cooking, and conversations.
Liora stood silently in the same place for a moment. She took a long breath and slowly let it out. A smile appeared on her face. It was not her usual gentle smile. This time her smile was filled with mischief and pride. Her eyes sparkled slightly.
She felt proud of herself.
"I handled that pretty well," she softly whispered to herself.
The situation had been risky. She knew that sooner or later someone would ask why the earthquake had only shaken the base and not the area outside. The people who had gone into the forest would notice it once they returned.
If she had not prepared a solid reason, things might have become dangerous. In this world, even a small misunderstanding could break the trust she had worked so hard to build.
