NovMo '24: ✴ The Last Arcana ✴

If we could secure allies and gather intel from someone in the Syndicate, it would strengthen our position against the UTA.

Suddenly, the cloaked figure's voice rose above the bustle of the tavern, "The shipment is vulnerable, but we need to be cautious. The Enforcers are on high alert. If we're going to make a move, we have to strike quickly and decisively."

"Did you hear that?" I whispered, "He knows about the shipment."

Zeyna nodded, "We have to approach him. We can't miss this opportunity."

As the moments stretched into what felt like an eternity, I thought back to our earlier conversation with Kian. Could we truly trust him? The unease nestled in my stomach. I was accustomed to the intricacies of diplomacy, but this felt different. We couldn't just go around trusting anyone. We had to be vigilant; professional.

Well, just about as professional as we could be considering our place in society.

The communicator suddenly flickered. I didn't hesitate to activate it, "This is Elara," I said, my voice low and cautious.

Thank you, Snoink! :3

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly, "What, you mean Jarvis, the guy who fixes things, makes gadgets, and saves everyone's asses when their plans go wrong?"

"Exactly," My grin widened, "I'm just checking if you're still human under all that genius. You've been at this for hours."

Jarvis chuckled, wiping a smudge of grease from his hands before turning to me, "I'm a lot of things, but 'human' is debatable after all these years," He tilted his head toward me, "What about you? How are you holding up?"

I shrugged, looking away for a moment, "I'm fine. I've had worse. But... I guess I'm just thinking about what's coming. We're about to take a huge risk, and I can't help but wonder if I'm ready for it."

I adjusted the two shadow blades at my waist, the familiar weight comforting in my hands. They were always my first line of defense.

But before I could take another step, the sounds of footsteps echoed through the alley, sharp and deliberate. They weren't just regular patrols. I glanced at Zeyna. She caught my eye and stiffened.

Shit.

"They know," I muttered, my heart pounding harder. The UTA had been tipped off. The Enforcers were closing in.

"Stay low," Zeyna ordered, and we instinctively melted into the shadows.

I was already slipping through the darkened alley, my senses heightened. My magic was at the ready. I could feel the pull of the shadows, the familiar warmth of my power running through me. But there was no time for it yet. I needed to move quickly, silently.

I pulled my braid tighter as I darted through the maze of narrow streets, trying to get a better vantage point. My eyes flicked over every corner, every moving shadow, until I saw them: Enforcers. Not just one or two, but a full squad, weapons drawn, moving with precision as they took up positions around the Old Quarter. They were waiting for us.

Zeyna's voice crackled through the comms, "Aisling, what do you see?"

I stayed low, crouched behind a pile of crates, "They're not just patrolling--they're positioned. They've been tipped off."

"Let's go," I said, grinning, "We've got a war to start."

Aisling had barely escaped unscathed--her eyes distant. She had lost more than just a partner once. This time, I could see it in her face. The cost of all this was starting to show, and I couldn't help but feel responsible. If I had pushed for a safer plan, maybe--just maybe--things wouldn't have gone so terribly wrong.

"Aisling?" I called over my shoulder, though I knew she wouldn't respond. She hadn't said much since we regrouped. "You good?"

I heard her shuffle behind me, the scrape of her boots on the floor as she crossed the room to sit by the table, her eyes never meeting mine, "I'm fine," she muttered, the words flat.

I didn't believe her. But I didn't press. Not tonight.

Aisling shifted slightly beside me, her voice a low whisper, "Respect is a fine currency, but it doesn't buy loyalty."

The leader nodded slowly, "True. But in time, loyalty can be earned."

We had been given temporary quarters in the outer branches of the city, where homes were carved from living trees. The space was larger than I expected, the walls alive with trailing vines and flowers that opened and closed as we moved past them. It was peaceful, but my nerves wouldn't let me relax.

The Syndicate's leader, Xanthe, had granted us access but not trust. That was clear from the way the others watched us. We were outsiders here, and it would take more than words to prove our worth.

I stood at the balcony of our quarters, staring out at the shimmering lights of the city. The jungle stretched endlessly. In the distance, I could see figures moving along the bridges and pathways that connected the city's towering trees. Faymora never seemed to sleep.

Kaelina chuckled, "Sharp. I like that. No, I'm not here to interrogate you--if that's what you're thinking. Just... curious. We've heard a lot about the Hornets, but stories don't always line up with reality."

"And what do the stories say?"

She didn't hesitate, "That you're rebels with a cause. Fighters. Survivors. People who don't know when to quit." She tilted her head, "But I'm more interested in what you say about yourselves."

I hesitated. Kaelina didn't strike me as someone who'd turn on us, but trust wasn't something I handed out freely. Still, there was something disarming about her, the way she spoke like she already knew the answers but wanted to hear them from me.