[That Night]
The campfire crackled in the cool evening air, casting dancing shadows across the faces gathered around it. Kayden stared into the flames, watching sparks spiral upward into the star-filled sky. The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on his shoulders like a physical burden.
"So you're saying Kayden's not going to take part in the plan?" Talon's voice cut through the silence, confusion evident in his tone.
Maria shifted on the log she was using as a seat, her dark hair catching the firelight. "Probably not in the way we originally intended."
"What do you mean 'probably'?" Talon leaned forward, frustration creeping into his voice. "Without him, this whole operation falls apart." His eyes darted to Kayden, who had started to rise from his position. "And where exactly do you think you're going?"
Kayden paused, one hand resting on his knee. "I—"
"He's going to retrieve a weapon," Maria interrupted smoothly, though her jaw was tight with tension. "Something that will be crucial for our victory against the Divine Order."
The mention of their enemy seemed to drain some of the heat from Talon's anger. He settled back, though his posture remained rigid. "What kind of weapon are we talking about here?"
Maria's silence stretched long enough that even the fire seemed to quiet its crackling. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Inshura."
Talon blinked, processing the unfamiliar word. "That sounds like... is that some kind of demon's name?"
"For the love of—would you just shut up and listen for once?" Carla's voice was sharp as a blade, her green eyes flashing with annoyance as she glared at Talon from across the fire.
The temperature around them seemed to drop several degrees as Talon's expression darkened. His voice went dangerously quiet. "What did you just say to me, brat?"
Kayden felt the familiar knot of tension in his stomach. Here we go again, he thought, letting out a barely audible sigh. He caught Maria's eye and tilted his head slightly toward the two antagonists, but she was already moving.
"Enough." The single word carried such authority that both Talon and Carla froze mid-glare. Dark crimson energy began to swirl around Maria like smoke, and her eyes seemed to absorb the firelight until they looked like twin voids. "If either of you disrupts this meeting with your childish bickering again, I'll make sure you can't speak—or move—for a week."
The threat hung in the air like a physical presence. Both Talon and Carla immediately turned away from each other, suddenly finding the ground fascinating. Even Kayden felt a chill run down his spine at the casual menace in Maria's voice.
"Much better." The red energy dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, and Maria's expression softened back to its usual serious calm. "Now then, let me explain the situation properly. Kayden needs to travel to a place called the Netherworld to retrieve Inshura. This obviously complicates our original assault plan on the kingdoms, since Kayden is..." she paused, choosing her words carefully, "an integral part of our strategy. Without him, we might as well surrender now."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken concerns. The fire continued its eternal dance, indifferent to their human worries.
"That's exactly why I called this meeting," Maria continued. "We need to discuss new arrangements, backup plans, contingencies."
Minutes ticked by with only the sound of burning wood and the distant rustle of leaves in the night breeze. Finally, Kayden cleared his throat.
"I don't think we need to change the plan."
Every head turned toward him, eyes wide with surprise and curiosity.
Kayden met their stares steadily. "I've been thinking about this for days now. If I can make it back before the real assault begins, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Maria's eyebrows drew together in a frown. "Kayden, the journey from here to even the nearest entrance to the Netherworld would take at least a week. Maybe more, depending on conditions."
"I've thought about that too." Kayden's lips curved in a slight smile. "Master, where exactly are these entrances located?"
"There are several scattered throughout the kingdoms, but the closest one should be in Sylvania." Maria paused, studying his face. "Why? What are you thinking?"
At the mention of Sylvania, Carla went very still. The color seemed to drain from her face, but she quickly composed herself, hoping no one had noticed.
"Sylvania..." she said carefully, "isn't that the Elvish Kingdom?"
"It is." Maria's sharp eyes fixed on Carla. "Is there a problem with that?"
"No, no problem. Just clarifying." Carla's voice was quieter than usual, and she avoided everyone's gaze.
Kayden nodded toward Talon. "That's where you come in."
"Me?" Talon pointed at himself, genuinely confused.
"Your teleportation ability. You could transport me to Sylvania instantly, cutting out the week-long journey entirely."
Understanding dawned on Maria's face, and she leaned back, one hand coming up to stroke her chin thoughtfully. "That... actually might work. The main operation isn't scheduled to begin for another week anyway." Her brow furrowed as she considered the complications. "But there's still the question of whether Talon can actually reach that far."
Talon shook his head. "My range isn't unlimited, and I need a clear mental image of my destination. I can't just teleport blind to someplace I've never been."
"You won't need to reach the entrance itself," Kayden explained patiently. "Just get me somewhere within the kingdom. I should be able to find my way to the entrance from there."
"That's definitely more manageable," Talon admitted, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "I can probably get you into Sylvania proper."
Kayden turned to Maria expectantly. "What do you think, Master?"
Maria was quiet for a long moment, her fingers drumming against her knee as she weighed the options. "It changes some variables, but the real issue is timing. Time flows differently in the Netherworld compared to our world. Even if you find Inshura quickly, there's no guarantee you'll return when you expect to."
"That's a serious problem," Talon muttered.
Before anyone could respond, a soft voice spoke from the edge of the firelight. "General Aurora, if I may offer a suggestion?"
Everyone turned in surprise. Elena had been so quiet throughout the meeting that Kayden had almost forgotten she was there. She had that way about her—blending into the background, observing everything while saying nothing. It was both useful and slightly unnerving.
Maria gestured for her to continue.
Elena stepped slightly closer to the fire, the light revealing the thoughtful expression on her face. "First, I need to understand the time differential better. How exactly does time work in the Netherworld compared to here?"
"From what I understand," Maria said slowly, "one hour there equals roughly one day here. But it's not always consistent."
Elena nodded, processing this information. "If Lord Kayden can accomplish his mission within six hours of Netherworld time—which would be about six days here—he should return with time to spare for the final phase of our operation."
The group fell silent again, each person running calculations in their head.
"The beauty of this approach," Elena continued, "is that we only truly need Lord Kayden for the climactic assault. The preliminary phases can proceed without him, and if he returns as planned, we'll be in a much stronger position than we originally hoped."
Maria leaned forward, interested despite herself. "And if he doesn't make it back in time?"
Elena's expression grew somber. "Then everything we've worked toward over these past years will likely fail. Our lives will probably be forfeit as well." The stark honesty of her words sent a ripple of unease through the group. "However," she added, her voice gaining strength, "I don't believe there's any force in either world capable of keeping Lord Kayden from returning when his friends need him."
Maria studied Elena's face for a moment, then looked at Kayden. Something passed between them—an understanding born of years of partnership and trust. "Fine. We'll proceed with the assumption that you'll return in time."
"But wait," Carla interjected, her voice carrying an edge of worry. "Even if he gets to Sylvania, how is he supposed to navigate the city? It's not exactly a straightforward place to travel through."
"What do you mean?" Talon asked.
Carla's hands twisted in her lap. "Sylvania isn't like other cities. The streets change, the buildings shift. It's designed to confuse outsiders. Even if Kayden knows what the entrance looks like, finding it could take days without a proper guide."
Kayden felt his heart sink. Another complication he hadn't considered.
"So what do you suggest?" Talon's question carried an undertone of frustration.
Carla took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for something. "Let me go with him."
The suggestion hit the group like a physical blow. Everyone stared at her in stunned silence.
"You?" Maria's voice was carefully controlled, but Kayden could hear the suspicion underneath. "And what makes you qualified to guide him through Sylvania?"
"I've been there before," Carla said, lifting her chin despite the way her hands trembled slightly. "I know the layout, the safe routes, the places to avoid. I could get him to the entrance quickly and safely."
Maria's eyes narrowed, and Kayden noticed Talon's posture shift as well. Something about Carla's offer didn't sit right with either of them, though they seemed reluctant to voice their concerns directly.
"The capital of the Elvish Kingdom isn't exactly a tourist destination," Maria said slowly. "How exactly did you come to visit there?"
"Does it matter?" Carla shot back, though there was something defensive in her tone. "The point is I know the way. Would you rather send him in blind and hope for the best?"
The fire popped loudly, sending up a shower of sparks that briefly illuminated the tension written across everyone's faces.
Maria stared at Carla for what felt like an eternity before finally speaking. "Very well. You may guide him to the entrance." Her voice turned arctic. "But you are not to accompany him inside. You lead him there, then you come straight back. Is that absolutely clear?"
"Crystal," Carla replied, though there was a barely suppressed hostility in her tone that made Kayden wonder what history existed between the two women.
"Well, that settles it then." Kayden stood, brushing dirt from his pants. Relief flooded through him—not because the plan was perfect, but because they had a plan at all. "I'll retrieve Inshura and be back in time for the assault."
As he looked around the circle of faces—Maria's stern confidence, Talon's grudging acceptance, Carla's nervous determination, Elena's quiet wisdom—Kayden felt a familiar mix of hope and doubt churning in his chest. This plan was far from foolproof. There were a dozen ways it could go wrong, a hundred variables they couldn't control.
But it was their shot. Their one chance at victory against an enemy that had seemed insurmountable for so long.
The doubt tried to take root in his mind, whispering about all the things that could go wrong, all the ways he might fail his friends. But Kayden had learned long ago that worry was just another enemy to defeat. He pushed the negative thoughts aside and allowed himself a small grin.
Whatever the Netherworld had waiting for him, he'd face it head-on. His friends were counting on him, and he'd be damned if he let them down.
"I'm ready," he said quietly, more to himself than to the others. "Whatever comes next, I'm ready."
The fire continued to burn, but somehow the night didn't seem quite as dark anymore.