CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: THE FIRST CRACK
The night was quiet over Aurenfall, but Frank knew silence was often a precursor to danger. He perched atop a high rooftop, scanning the streets below, thinking about the recent attacks and counterstrike. Something about the intruders had seemed… off. Efficient, precise—but too careful.
He remembered the emblem on the cloaked agents' robes—the same as the one he had glimpsed in Caelum's training notes. That mark was rare, signifying elite soldiers handpicked and trained by Caelum himself.
If he could understand how Caelum operated through them, he might find a way to predict his moves.
THE CLUE
While studying maps of the city and enemy movements, Frank noticed a pattern:
Every time Caelum's agents attacked, there was one route they avoided entirely.
Every time there was an ambush, a signal had been delayed slightly, as if someone hesitated.
Frank frowned. "Hesitation… fear?" he muttered.
Rhea, observing him, raised an eyebrow. "You've noticed something."
Frank nodded. "Caelum relies on control. If things aren't perfectly aligned, he pulls back or waits. That hesitation—if we force chaos, we can exploit it."
Rhea's eyes widened slightly. "You're saying… Caelum's weakness isn't strength or skill. It's… unpredictability?"
Frank grinned faintly. "Exactly. Force him into chaos, and he will make mistakes. Even a mastermind has limits."
THE PLAN TAKES SHAPE
The next day, Frank began simulating attacks with Leo and select townsfolk, deliberately introducing unpredictability into every maneuver. Paths were switched, signals delayed, even traps were triggered out of sequence.
The effect was immediate: normally confident trainees hesitated. But Frank moved with clarity, guiding them, showing that controlled chaos could be a weapon.
"It's not just about fighting," Frank explained to Rhea. "It's about making the enemy act on impulse. That's how we beat Caelum. Not head-on—through strategy."
THE FIRST LETTER TO ELARA
That evening, Frank wrote to Elara, sharing his discovery carefully:
Elara,
Caelum's strength is control, and every time he's forced to face unpredictability, he hesitates.
I've learned a lot here, but the real fight will test more than just skill. I need to prepare the town—and you—because every choice matters.
—Frank
He hesitated before sealing it. His thoughts drifted to her face, to her courage during the last attack. He didn't just want to protect her—he wanted her safe because she reminded him why standing mattered.
THE FIRST EDGE OF ADVANTAGE
That night, from a distant rooftop, Frank observed a small group of Caelum's agents moving toward Aurenfall. Normally, he would have prepared defenses along predictable routes—but tonight, he decided to force unpredictability.
Barrels, traps, and signals were moved. Guards repositioned. When the agents arrived, they hesitated, confused. Their coordinated assault faltered—not because of force, but because someone had broken their expected pattern.
Frank watched, satisfaction swelling in his chest. For the first time, he had the upper hand. Caelum's perfect control had a flaw—and Frank had found it.