The abandoned astronomy tower had been closed for three years after a student's experiment with star-mapping enchantments had gone catastrophically wrong. The eighth floor still bore scorch marks on the walls, and the magical resonance made most people uncomfortable enough to avoid the area entirely.
*Perfect for private conversations.*
Raelian arrived fifteen minutes early, using the time to set up basic privacy wards he'd learned from Professor Blackthorne's lessons. Nothing too advanced—just simple sound dampening and detection alerts. The kind any competent student might know.
Helena appeared exactly on time, climbing the spiral staircase with quiet confidence. She carried a leather satchel that probably contained more advanced magical texts than most professors owned.
"Punctual," Raelian observed as she stepped into the circular chamber.
"I value efficiency." Helena surveyed the room, noting the privacy preparations with approval. "You've been thorough."
"Carelessness gets people killed in situations like this."
The tower's large windows offered spectacular views of the Academy grounds and surrounding city. More importantly, they provided clear sight lines to spot anyone approaching the tower or trying to observe their meeting.
Helena set her satchel on the room's central table, formerly used for astronomical instruments. "Before we proceed, I want to understand exactly what we're discussing. You mentioned corruption involving false evidence and innocent victims."
*Time for carefully measured truth.*
"Three weeks from now, a high-ranking Church official will fabricate heretical charges against someone who poses a political threat to his ambitions," Raelian said, moving to stand beside the eastern window. "The target is completely innocent, but the official controls the investigation, the witnesses, and the documentation."
Helena's expression sharpened. "You're speaking with remarkable certainty about future events."
"I have reliable information about ongoing conspiracies."
"What kind of reliable information?"
*Careful here. Need believable explanation.*
"The kind that comes from paying attention to patterns others miss, combined with access to documents most students never see." Raelian turned from the window. "My father's new interest in my political education has provided certain advantages."
Helena nodded slowly. "The documents you mentioned—they contain evidence of this conspiracy?"
"Fragments. Pieces that make sense when connected properly." Raelian moved to the table, spreading out several papers he'd prepared. "Look at these requisition orders for Church Guard units. Notice the deployment dates and locations."
The papers were genuine—Professor Blackthorne had taught him how to access public records that most people never bothered to examine. The deployment orders showed increased Church military presence in areas surrounding three specific provinces.
"Standard security rotations," Helena observed after studying them.
"Are they? Look at the timing. These orders were issued two weeks ago, but the official justification cites seasonal bandit activity that doesn't historically occur until next month."
Helena's eyes narrowed as she traced the patterns. "You're suggesting these deployments serve a different purpose."
"I'm showing you that someone is positioning Church forces for operations they don't want to document officially." Raelian produced another set of papers. "Cross-reference with these witness expense accounts."
The expense records showed Church officials paying for travel and accommodation for individuals from the same provinces where military units were being deployed.
"Witnesses being brought to the capital," Helena murmured, her quick mind making connections.
"Witnesses who will testify to heretical activities they claim to have observed," Raelian confirmed. "Activities that conveniently occurred in locations where the accused was never present, but where Church forces are now positioned to 'investigate' and find corroborating evidence."
**Ding!**
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║ NOTIFICATION ║
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│ Teaching moment successful! │
│ Helena analytical engagement: High │
│ Trust level: 40% → 55% │
│ Skill sharing unlocked │
╚══════════════════════════
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Helena studied the documents with growing interest. "This level of coordination requires significant resources and authority. Who has both the power and motivation for such an elaborate scheme?"
"Cardinal Matthias Aldsworth."
The name hung in the air like a curse. Cardinal Matthias was known throughout the kingdom as a brilliant theologian and dedicated servant of the Church. He was also, according to the novel, one of the most dangerous men in the realm.
"That's a serious accusation," Helena said carefully.
"It's a serious crime," Raelian replied. "Cardinal Matthias has used similar tactics at least three times in the past five years. Each time, his political enemies were destroyed by perfectly timed scandals involving unimpeachable witnesses and irrefutable evidence."
"And each time, he benefited from their downfall."
"Exactly. This time, his target is someone whose destruction would clear his path to the position of High Inquisitor."
Helena was quiet for several minutes, processing the implications. "Who is the target?"
"Theresa Sanctus. The Saintess of the Sacred Flame."
Helena's eyes widened. "The Saintess? But she's... she's beloved by the people. Her charitable works, her healing miracles—"
"Make her a powerful symbol that Cardinal Matthias cannot control," Raelian finished. "She has too much independent authority, too much popular support. Her moral authority threatens his political ambitions."
"So he plans to destroy her reputation with false heresy charges."
"Within three weeks, witnesses will come forward claiming they saw her performing forbidden rituals. Church investigators will discover planted evidence in locations she's never visited. The trial will be swift, the evidence overwhelming, and by the time anyone realizes the truth, she'll be dead."
Helena moved to the western window, staring out at the city lights beginning to twinkle in the gathering dusk. "You want to stop this."
"I want to expose it. There's a difference."
Explain.
Raelian joined her at the window. "Stopping it means preventing the false charges, which Cardinal Matthias could simply delay and try again later with different tactics. Exposing it means revealing his methods so publicly that he's destroyed instead of his intended victim."
That's significantly more dangerous.
"It's also significantly more permanent." Raelian smiled grimly. "Cardinal Matthias has been using these tactics for years because no one has ever gathered enough evidence to expose the full pattern. We're going to change that."
Helena turned to face him. We?
"Your enchantment skills can create undetectable observation spells to monitor his conspirators. Your family connections can provide access to Church records that would be impossible for me to obtain alone. And your intelligence can help identify weaknesses in his network that we can exploit."
"And what do you bring to this partnership?"
"Information, strategy, and the ability to anticipate his moves before he makes them."
Helena was quiet again, weighing risks against potential rewards. Finally, she spoke.
"Show me something concrete. Not documents that could be misinterpreted or patterns that might be coincidental. Show me proof that Cardinal Matthias is actually planning what you claim."
*Time for the first real test.*
"Tomorrow morning, at precisely ten o'clock, Brother Francis Holloway will visit the Third District Market. He'll meet with a woman named Martha Crowley at the baker's stall and give her a purse containing fifty gold coins. In return, she'll agree to testify that she witnessed Saintess Theresa performing blood sacrifices in the old shrine outside Millbrook village."
Helena stared at him. "How could you possibly know that?"
"Because I've been tracking his network for weeks. Brother Francis handles witness recruitment for Cardinal Matthias's operations. Martha Crowley is a professional false witness who's testified in at least four previous Church trials."
"If you're right about tomorrow's meeting..."
"Then you'll know everything else I've told you is accurate," Raelian finished. "And you'll understand that we have exactly three weeks to gather enough evidence to destroy Cardinal Matthias before he destroys an innocent woman."
Helena nodded slowly. "Tomorrow morning. Third District Market. Ten o'clock."
"Will you be there?"
"I'll be there." Helena began gathering the documents. "And if you're right about this meeting, then we proceed with your plan."
"And if I'm wrong?"
Helena smiled—the first genuinely warm expression he'd seen from her. "Then I'll assume you're either insane or playing an elaborate practical joke, and we'll never speak of this again."
*Fair enough.*
As they prepared to leave, Helena paused at the staircase entrance. "Raelian? Why are you doing this? Really?"
The question caught him off guard. In the novel, the protagonist's motivations had been simple—righteous anger at injustice. But Raelian's motivations were more complex.
"Because Cardinal Matthias represents everything wrong with power," he said finally. "The belief that authority justifies any action, that ends always justify means, that ordinary people are expendable for political convenience."
"And you think we can stop him?"
"I think intelligent people with good information can accomplish remarkable things." Raelian smiled. "Tomorrow at ten o'clock, you'll see exactly how remarkable."
As Helena disappeared down the staircase, Raelian remained in the tower for several more minutes, reviewing his plans. Phase three would begin tomorrow morning. If everything went according to the novel's timeline, Brother Francis would make his predicted appearance, Helena would be convinced of the conspiracy's reality, and their investigation could move into active evidence gathering.
*Three weeks to save Theresa and destroy Cardinal Matthias. The real work starts now.*