The Scribe's Tower was about 20 meters tall and built from Ironvine, which was this dark wood that had brass veins running through it from decades of runic enhancement and magical saturation, The building had three stories with a frosted glass clockface maybe two meters in diameter that showed the time as 6:00 PM exactly when they arrived, and brass spires jutted up from the roof in patterns that probably had some symbolic meaning Alucent didn't understand.
"Temperature is dropping to about 13°C" Gryan observed as evening air replaced the afternoon warmth and the smog finally cleared enough to see actual sky "We should secure lodging before it gets colder"
The tower's entrance was guarded by a Runewell about three meters in diameter, way bigger than the depleted one near the Steamwagon and glowing with steady amber light that marked it as properly maintained Coalition resistance property, Worth maybe 200 Silverweaves if someone wanted to buy it legally, which meant this place was really important to the resistance network's operations in Eryndral.
But standing at the entrance was Sir Vorn, and Alucent felt his stomach drop because the Weaver elder's presence meant he was about to get criticized for every mistake he had made since leaving for Iron Vale, Sir Vorn is a 58 years old Scribe Weaver leader that Alucent had joined, and about 6'0" with a grizzled beard that was mostly gray and over his right eye he wore a monocle that seemed to see right through whatever excuses people tried to make, He has silver hair under a top hat which was still maintained with professional care, and he carried a rune-etched cane that probably doubled as a weapon if things got dangerous.
"Alucent Luci" Sir Vorn said in a tone that made it clear disappointment was coming "I have received reports of your performance in Iron Vale, and I must say the accounts are deeply concerning"
Here we go, about to get lectured about Mira's death and the civilian worker and the weak speed rune that nearly crashed the Steamwagon, all the failures laid out in detail by someone who actually knows what proper rune work looks like.
"Sir Vorn" Alucent replied trying to sound more confident than he felt "The Iron Vale situation was complicated by environmental interference and tactical pressures that made precision work really difficult"
"Complicated situations are exactly when precision matters most" the elder said tapping his cane against the Ironvine floor with sharp sounds that made everyone flinch "Miss Mira's death resulted from your decision to prioritize weapon enhancement over protective runes, a fundamental failure of tactical judgment that any competent Silverline Scribe should have avoided"
The accusation hit way harder coming from Sir Vorn than it had from Raya, because the Weaver elder actually understood the technical details of what Alucent had done wrong and could explain exactly how different choices might have prevented the death, The guilt was already pretty bad but having it dissected by someone with decades of experience made it feel much worse.
Raya's cloak had been repaired with quick stitching that showed someone had taken time to make her look less like a refugee fleeing combat zones, and her facial scar was calm instead of flushed red with anger, Her Weaveblade was sheathed at her side and she seemed more relaxed than she had been during the Iron Vale escape.
Tavin's tunic had been cleaned of blood and coal dust, and his hazel eyes looked hopeful instead of filled with tears and prophetic visions that left him trembling, The Runetoken around his neck was pulsing with steady rhythm instead of the chaotic bursts that had marked his earlier predictions.
Gryan's mechanical arm had been polished until the brass showed minimal tarnish, and the dents from workshop fighting had been hammered out or at least made less obvious, He looked resolute as always but there was something in his posture that suggested even he thought Alucent deserved the criticism Sir Vorn was about to deliver.
"The civilian death in the Runewell vault resulted from inscription misalignment during trap disarmament" Sir Vorn continued as if reciting a formal report "Thread 3 level work attempted under emotional duress without proper consideration for how guilt might compromise precision, the sort of amateur mistake that kills people who depend on professional competence"
"I know I messed up" Alucent said though the words felt really inadequate "The panic made my hand slip and the disruption rune misaligned with the trap's compression matrix"
"Knowing you made mistakes is insufficient if you continue making the same errors" Sir Vorn replied adjusting his monocle to get a better look at Alucent's guilty expression "Professional growth requires learning to function despite emotional interference, not simply acknowledging that interference exists"
This was exactly what Raya had said during the Steamwagon escape, the idea that being professional meant compartmentalizing feelings instead of letting them mess with tactical effectiveness, but actually doing that seemed way harder than just understanding the concept.
"I need you to demonstrate current capability" Sir Vorn said gesturing toward the tower's main door with his rune-etched cane "Etch a protection rune on this entrance, Thread 3 level work, should create a barrier approximately two square meters that can resist hostile magical intrusion"
A protection rune under Sir Vorn's direct observation felt like the worst possible test, because the old Weaver would see every mistake and hesitation and weakness in the inscription work, and if Alucent messed this up it would just prove that he really was too compromised by guilt to function as a useful team member.
This is really bad, I'm already exhausted from vault work and bridge sabotage and the speed rune that nearly killed us, and now I have to do advanced inscription while Sir Vorn watches and judges every line I etch?
"The protection pattern should be about nine square centimeters" Sir Vorn said as if this was just routine instruction instead of a test that might determine Alucent's future with the resistance "Blue glow indicating stability-aligned principles mixed with defensive architecture, standard barrier configuration that any Thread 3 Scribe should be able to complete in approximately two minutes"
Two minutes felt like nowhere near enough time but Alucent pulled out his Runequill anyway, the tool shaking in his hand as self-doubt joined guilt in making precision work basically impossible, He found a clean section of Ironvine near the door's brass frame and started etching the protection rune despite knowing Sir Vorn was analyzing every aspect of his technique.
The blue light cut through evening air as he channeled Runeforce from the nearby Runewell, power flowing way more smoothly than it had in Iron Vale because this magical source was properly maintained instead of damaged and erratic, but emotional interference was still making the inscription matrix unstable as guilt whispered that he didn't deserve to use advanced rune work after getting people killed through his mistakes.
I can do this, I just need steady lines and proper power distribution, can't let self-doubt mess this up when Sir Vorn is watching and everyone's evaluation of my competence depends on getting this right.
But his hand was shaking badly enough that the blue glow flickered, and shadows started moving independently around the edges of his vision as Shadowcage Taboos pressed against his consciousness with warnings about corruption risk, Maybe 25 percent chance of blindness if he pushed the inscription too hard while already exhausted from earlier magical work.
"Rune stability is fluctuating" Sir Vorn observed in that clinical tone that made observations sound like accusations "Emotional interference is compromising your ability to maintain consistent Runeforce flow, which indicates you have not yet learned to compartmentalize effectively"
The criticism made everything worse because it was completely accurate, Alucent was letting feelings interfere with professional capability in exactly the way Sir Vorn had warned against, but knowing that didn't make it any easier to actually stop the emotional responses from affecting his work.
"I'm trying to maintain focus" he said as the protection rune wavered and the inscription started to collapse "But the guilt keeps dragging my concentration away from precision work"
"Trying is insufficient" Sir Vorn replied with zero sympathy "Either you complete the inscription properly or you fail this evaluation and demonstrate that you are currently too compromised to function in combat situations"
The pressure was crushing but Alucent forced himself to continue etching the protection pattern, blue light stabilizing as he poured everything he had into maintaining the stability-aligned principles despite reality distortion pressing harder against his consciousness, The defensive architecture was taking shape in careful lines that wrapped around the door frame like crystallized magic.
This has to work, I can't fail another test right in front of everyone, can't prove that Sir Vorn is right about me being too compromised to function properly.
But as he worked on the final inscription lines, Alucent could feel the Shadowcage Taboos getting way more aggressive, whispers becoming shouts as corruption risk climbed past safe thresholds, His vision was starting to blur around the edges and the blue glow was flickering with dangerous instability that suggested the protection rune might collapse entirely before completion.
"Taboo interference is increasing" he whispered as shadowy limbs started manifesting at the edges of the inscription matrix "I might need to abort before corruption becomes permanent"
"Aborting would prove you cannot handle Thread 3 work under pressure" Sir Vorn said without any hint of concern "Complete the inscription or accept that your current emotional state makes you a liability"
Sir Vorn words were harsh but they cut through the panic and guilt with brutal clarity, this was the moment where Alucent either proved he could function despite emotional interference or confirmed that everyone's criticism was justified, There wasn't any middle ground or room for excuses.
Alucent completed the protection rune with a final burst of Runeforce that left him dizzy and shaking, blue light flaring bright as the defensive architecture locked into place around the door frame, The barrier shimmered into visibility for maybe three seconds before fading to invisible protection that would activate if hostile magic tried to breach the entrance.
"Acceptable work" Sir Vorn said after examining the inscription with critical eye "The stability is somewhat compromised by emotional interference but the defensive architecture should function adequately for basic protection purposes"
Alucent knew "acceptable" felt like pretty weak praise but it was way better than failing completely, and the fact that Sir Vorn thought the rune would actually work meant Alucent hadn't completely lost his ability to do useful magical applications despite guilt and exhaustion.
But the sound of footsteps was approaching from the darkening streets around the tower, multiple figures moving with coordination that suggested hostile intent rather than casual evening traffic, and Alucent could see cloaked shapes maybe 5'8" tall that marked them as Shadebinders.
"Shadebinders approaching the tower!" Gryan announced as his mechanical arm extended in preparation for combat "Probably tracking us from Iron Vale, maybe five or six units"
Shadebinders meant serious trouble, magical assassins who specialized in void-aligned attacks that could bypass normal defensive measures, the kind of enemies that required really good protection runes or overwhelming tactical advantages to survive encounters with.
The attack came in a five minute sequence that started with void-energy projectiles slamming against the tower's walls, dark purple light that tried to corrupt the Ironvine and breach the entrance where Alucent's protection rune was supposed to provide defense, The barrier activated with blue glow that spread across the door frame in patterns matching his inscription work.
"Protection rune is holding" Sir Vorn observed as the barrier absorbed void-energy impacts "Defensive architecture is functioning within acceptable parameters despite the inscription weaknesses"
The barrier held for two minutes against sustained Shadebinder assault, blue light flickering but not collapsing at all as the protection rune channeled power from the nearby Runewell to reinforce its defensive matrix, Alucent watched with something like pride mixed with relief because at least this magical work was actually succeeding instead of getting people killed.
Gryan's mechanical arm was already moving to intercept Shadebinder blades that got past the barrier's coverage, 30 seconds sequence where enhanced brass blocked void-corrupted steel with impacts that sent sparks flying through evening air, His hydraulic systems screamed from the strain but the arm held up under assault that would have destroyed normal human defenses.
Raya drove the Shadebinders off with her Weaveblade in 5 minutes of combat that showed why she had survived this long in resistance operations, her enhanced speed and professional technique forcing the assassins to retreat rather than risk casualties in what should have been a quick ambush, The cloaked figures disappeared into Eryndral's darkening streets with frustrating efficiency.
"The protection rune performed adequately" Sir Vorn said as the barrier faded back to invisible standby mode "Which suggests you retain capability for useful magical work when properly motivated by immediate danger"
"I guess fear works better than guilt for maintaining focus" Alucent replied, though the observation felt kind of depressing "Maybe I just need to be terrified all the time to function properly"
"Fear and guilt both compromise optimal performance" the elder said, tapping his cane against the floor in sharp rhythm "Professional competence requires functioning effectively regardless of emotional state, which is a skill you have not yet mastered"
But scattered near where the Shadebinders had retreated was a small pouch containing 25 Silverweaves, probably dropped during their hasty withdrawal when Raya's counterattack had forced them to prioritize escape over securing their equipment, Tavin picked up the coins with hands that were way steadier than they had been during the Iron Vale chaos.
"25 Silverweaves from enemy casualties" he said checking the contents "Plus whatever tactical intelligence we can gain from the fact that Shadebinders are actively hunting us in Eryndral"
The money represented practical resources but the Shadebinder presence meant Coalition forces had tracked them way faster than expected, probably through magical surveillance or informant networks that extended throughout the city, Really concerning implications for how much time they had before facing more serious opposition.
Near the tower entrance someone had left supplies that included ink suitable for rune inscription, basic materials worth maybe 10 Copperweaves that would let Alucent maintain his Runequill without relying on whatever the resistance could provide, Gryan arranged quick barter with a tower scribe who was way more interested in hearing about Iron Vale events than negotiating prices.
"Tavin's visions have been showing increased Loom activity" Sir Vorn said as they prepared to enter the tower properly "What have you seen regarding Veyris and reality manipulation capabilities?"
"The Loom of Fates is being used to alter cause and effect relationships" Tavin replied as his Runetoken pulsed with residual vision energy "Veyris can change what leads to what, making our tactical planning basically useless if he decides to intervene directly"
Reality manipulation through the Loom meant they were facing enemies who could rewrite fundamental rules, the kind of power that made conventional combat approaches inadequate because Veyris could simply change the conditions that would normally lead to resistance victory, Really terrifying stuff that Alucent didn't have any idea how to counter.
"The Green Council has requested your presence" Sir Vorn announced as they entered the tower's main chamber "They wish to evaluate your current capability and determine whether you should continue with this mission or be reassigned to less critical operations"
The Green Council summons felt like final judgment, an official evaluation where important people would decide if Alucent was too compromised by guilt to function effectively or if he still had value as a resistance asset despite recent failures, The kind of meeting where his entire future role would be determined based on how well he could explain and defend his tactical decisions.
This is really bad, I'm going to have to stand in front of Council members and explain why Mira died and why the civilian worker got killed and why the speed rune was so weak it nearly crashed us, all the failures laid out for official review.
"The Council meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning" Sir Vorn continued as if discussing routine business instead of potential career termination "I suggest you spend tonight reflecting on what professional competence actually requires and whether you are capable of achieving it"
The tower's interior was warm from Forgepit activity somewhere in the basement levels, and the Runewell's glow provided steady illumination that made the whole space feel way more secure than Iron Vale's chaos, but Alucent couldn't shake the feeling that tomorrow's Council meeting might end with him being dismissed from the mission entirely.
"You should rest" Raya said though her tone was still harsh "Because if you show up to that Council meeting looking as guilty and exhausted as you do right now, they'll definitely reassign you"
"I know" he replied watching the Runewell's amber light pulse in steady rhythm "But knowing I should rest and actually being able to sleep when I keep seeing Mira's face is a really difficult thing to do, I'm not sure I'll be able to rest"
The weight of recent failures was crushing his ability to think clearly about anything, every tactical decision now filtered through layers of guilt and self-doubt that made even straightforward choices feel impossible, And tomorrow he would have to stand before the Green Council and somehow convince them he was still capable of functioning effectively despite all evidence to the contrary.
Sir Vorn's evaluation of acceptable work felt like the best he could hope for right now, barely adequate performance that proved he retained some capability but was clearly operating way below optimal levels, The kind of assessment that might keep him on the mission but would come with increased scrutiny and probably additional restrictions on what magical work he was trusted to perform.
Outside the tower Eryndral's evening sounds filtered through frosted glass, normal city activity that felt weirdly disconnected from the war and death and impossible missions that had consumed his entire existence since arriving in this world, Somewhere out there Coalition forces were planning their next move and Shadebinders were regrouping for another assassination attempt and Eloha was waiting in his fortress with Void Rune enhancement that came from ancient power sources nobody fully understood.
The war was getting more complicated with every event, and Alucent was starting to wonder if guilt and emotional interference would destroy his effectiveness before enemies even got the chance to kill him properly.