The inn's common room had been transformed into something far more serious than a place for travelers to eat and drink.
The tables had been dragged together to form a single long surface, the wood worn smooth by years of use. Candles burned low in iron holders, their light flickering across scattered parchment, sharpened pins, and tangled lines of string that crisscrossed a large map spread across the center.
The map itself depicted the city of Eldross in meticulous detail.
Streets, canals, merchant districts, temple plazas, and the looming central tower were all marked in ink that had faded from use. But now new markings covered it—fresh symbols, circles, and notes written hastily in the margins.
It looked less like a map and more like a battlefield frozen in preparation.
Chairs creaked as people shifted around the table.
Reider stood at the head of it.
His posture was straight, shoulders relaxed but steady, both hands resting lightly on the wooden surface as his eyes scanned the markings with quiet intensity.
Everyone else sat around him.
Vael leaned back in her chair, one boot resting against a table leg, her arms crossed while she studied Reider with narrowed eyes.
Mei sat beside her, leaning forward slightly with a thoughtful expression, fingers folded together as if bracing herself for whatever came next.
Across from them sat Zera and Leona.
Leona looked exhausted—dark circles lingered beneath her eyes—but determination burned in her gaze like a quiet fire.
Eryndra sat near the edge of the table, one elbow propped casually while her eyes flicked between the map and Reider.
The room was silent except for the faint groan of wood and the whisper of candle flames.
Then Zera broke the silence.
She pulled a tightly rolled scroll from beneath her arm and placed it on the table.
The parchment unfurled with a dry rustle.
"These came from the resistance," she said calmly.
Her finger traced several narrow lines drawn across the merchant district.
"Demon patrol routes. Updated as of last night."
Everyone leaned slightly closer.
"These aren't random movements," Zera continued. "They're systematic. The demons are circulating through specific trade corridors, checking supply points and mana wells."
She tapped a small red circle on the map.
"And they've begun reinforcing this section."
Leona leaned forward beside her, voice quiet but firm.
"And we learned something else."
Her hand trembled slightly as she pointed toward the eastern quarter.
"My sister… Eleanor."
She swallowed.
"They're moving her."
The words landed heavily.
Reider's eyes sharpened immediately.
He leaned further over the table, scanning the map with intense focus.
"Then we strike before that happens," he said.
His voice was calm.
Precise.
"The longer we wait, the greater the risk she disappears into the tower system… or becomes bait."
His gaze lifted toward Leona.
"Timing is everything."
Vael tilted her head.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"Full assault?"
"Infiltration?"
Reider shook his head slightly.
"Neither."
He tapped the map once.
"Not yet."
His finger slid slowly across the districts.
"Listen carefully."
Everyone fell silent again.
Reider gestured toward the map with controlled precision.
"Eldross isn't just occupied."
He paused briefly.
"It's reinforced."
His finger traced lines across the city center.
"The demons didn't just conquer this city. They reorganized it."
He pointed toward the tower.
"They've built a command web around fear, surveillance, and absolute control of mana flow."
Mei frowned slightly.
"What do you mean by control?"
Reider tapped several intersections.
"They've tethered the city's mana veins."
He looked up.
"In certain districts, spontaneous magic is suppressed."
"In others, it's amplified."
Zera blinked.
"That's… possible?"
"It is if you're willing to drain a city's population to fuel it," Reider replied quietly.
The room fell silent again.
"That's why I've been observing instead of rushing," he continued.
Vael raised an eyebrow.
"He speaks like a general," she thought.
Reider straightened slightly.
"We won't fight unless we absolutely have to."
He placed several colored stones on the map.
"We divide."
Eryndra tilted her head.
"Separate squads?"
"No."
Reider shook his head.
"Independent units."
His eyes moved from one person to another.
"All of you will move separately through the city."
"But you'll remain connected to me."
"Telepathically."
Mei nodded slowly.
"Psychic links."
Reider continued.
"You'll gather information."
"Map patrol shifts."
"Decode demon symbols."
"Identify commanders."
He tapped the map again.
"And only after we understand their system… do we attack."
Leona clenched her fists.
"But Eleanor—"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"They could move her tomorrow."
Reider raised a hand gently.
"I understand."
His tone softened.
"But if we rush now and they realize we're coordinated…"
He looked directly at her.
"They'll use her."
"As leverage."
"Or they'll kill her to send a message."
Leona's jaw tightened.
Reider continued quietly.
"We rescue her by understanding their board."
"And then flipping it."
Zera nodded slowly.
"He's right."
"This isn't a siege."
"It's a game."
Eryndra leaned back.
"So what's the play?"
Reider placed three small stones on the map.
Blood-red ones.
"There are three objectives."
He pointed to the first.
"One."
"Locate and extract Eleanor."
He tapped the second.
"Two."
"Sever the mana conduits linking the demon tower to the city's wellspring."
Then the third.
"Three."
"Eliminate or neutralize the demon lieutenants controlling the outer zones."
Vael narrowed her eyes.
"And the tower?"
Reider didn't hesitate.
"We leave it alone."
Everyone blinked.
"For now," he added.
"That tower isn't just a fortress."
"It's bait."
His finger hovered above it.
"They want us to attack it."
Mei frowned.
"You think it's a trap?"
Reider looked at her.
"I know it is."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"The energy coming from it is wrong."
"Too strong."
"Too unstable."
He exhaled slowly.
"They're feeding it souls."
A chill ran through the room.
"If we attack it now," he continued, "we walk straight into a death engine."
Leona whispered,
"How long do we have?"
Reider thought for a moment.
"Four days."
"Maybe five."
"That's how long before they start processing more citizens."
His voice hardened.
"We move before then."
"Or we lose the city."
Vael leaned forward.
"Assignments."
Reider began distributing colored tokens.
"Mei. Vael."
Two white tokens tapped onto the map.
"You'll secure disguise channels and escape routes."
He looked at Mei.
"Use illusions."
"Spread misinformation."
"Confuse their patrols."
Next he slid two green tokens.
"Zera. Leona."
"You know these streets better than anyone."
"Work with the resistance."
"Find allies."
"Find traitors."
"And learn who we can trust."
Finally he looked at Eryndra.
"You're with me."
She grinned.
"Obviously."
"We'll hunt the lieutenants."
"Quietly," Reider said.
"No fireworks."
"Capture when possible."
"Eliminate only when necessary."
Eryndra smirked.
"Told you he liked having me around."
Vael muttered under her breath.
"Or he doesn't trust you not to blow up our allies again."
Reider ignored them.
"Everyone keeps their psychic link open."
"If it weakens—fall back."
"If it snaps—regroup immediately."
His voice grew firm.
"No heroics."
Mei raised a quiet question.
"What about the people of Eldross?"
Reider's expression softened slightly.
"I'm already planning for that."
He tapped several districts.
"Once their communication lines collapse… we trigger something."
Zera nodded slowly.
"I've seen it too."
"People whisper."
"They're afraid."
"But they want to fight."
Reider nodded.
"Then we give them the moment."
His eyes sharpened.
"Controlled chaos."
"And once it begins…"
"No turning back."
Leona clenched her fist.
"We'll get Eleanor back."
"I swear it."
Reider nodded once.
"We will."
"And we'll leave this city freer than we found it."
Silence settled across the table.
Everyone felt the weight of the mission.
Reider looked at them.
"This is where it begins."
Far away, a clock ticked somewhere in the inn.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Then Reider stepped away from the map.
"When the strike happens," he said quietly, "it must be precise."
"No chaos."
"No hesitation."
He turned toward Zera and Leona.
"You two rescue Eleanor."
Leona nodded immediately.
"You know the tunnels."
"You know the resistance."
"Move fast."
"Once you have her…"
"Disappear."
Leona asked quietly,
"What if they expect it?"
Reider's gaze moved to Eryndra.
"They will."
"That's why we'll keep Lilith and Kraggor busy."
Eryndra gave him a knowing nod.
Vael frowned.
"You're walking into a death trap."
Reider pulled a folded parchment from his coat.
He placed it on the table.
It depicted a jagged, ancient artifact.
"This," he said quietly.
"Is what they really want."
Eryndra leaned closer.
"Sylva told us about it."
"When we interrogated her."
Vael squinted.
"What does it do?"
Reider shook his head.
"I don't know."
"But I tracked its mana signature."
He touched his chest.
"It's ancient."
"Hungry."
Mei stared at him.
"You already found it."
Reider nodded once.
"It's hidden."
"But they're searching."
"With urgency."
Eryndra crossed her arms.
"Another realm."
Reider nodded.
"A gate key."
"If they activate it…"
"The next war won't stay on this continent."
The room fell silent.
Then Reider looked at Mei.
His voice softened.
"Mei."
She stiffened.
"It's time."
Her breath caught.
"You need to awaken."
"You need to remember who you were."
Mei shook slightly.
"What if I lose control?"
Reider gestured to Vael.
"That's why you're together."
Vael stood slowly.
"You trust me to stop her."
Reider met her gaze.
"You're the only one here strong enough to kill a god."
Silence fell again.
Mei whispered,
"Would you really…?"
Vael answered calmly.
"If I have to."
Reider looked around the room again.
"Once the battle starts…"
"Everything happens at once."
He outlined the plan again.
Rescue.
Distraction.
Artifact.
Regroup.
"And then?" Zera asked.
Reider smiled faintly.
"Then we take the city back."
"In one day."
Leona laughed softly.
"Bold."
Eryndra grinned.
"I like it."
Mei whispered,
"And if I lose myself?"
Reider placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We remind you who you are."
"And if that fails…"
His eyes moved to Vael.
"She will."
Vael nodded quietly.
"I will."
Reider looked out the window.
"This war is only the beginning."
"Something bigger is coming."
Vael narrowed her eyes.
"What aren't you telling us?"
Reider smiled faintly.
"I have a plan."
"That's enough for now."
Eryndra watched him carefully.
"You're starting to sound like him."
Vael frowned.
"Like who?"
Reider paused.
"…Me."
He looked down at the artifact sketch.
Inside his coat pocket—
Something pulsed.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The artifact had felt him.
And it was awake.