The meeting went by faster than expected, the moment Amara would step out the room the plan would be in motion. She wasn't completely confident about the whole thing, firstly how is she supposed to find them? The map they gave her looks sketchy, there many different types of symbols such as flames, lightning and water. And the last one is something that looks like a blackhole… They lined a path for her to get into the base but it looked so complicated. She will just see how it'll go if she dies in this mission it's not her fault.
Amara tried to go to Alijah but she got stopped midway by Nolan, he was staring her up and down. She was feeling uncomfortable at him acting out of character, so she took a step back from him for some space between them.
"Are you going to keep staring at me or will you say something?" She coldly asked him.
"What type of weapons are you going to bring with you?" He asked her in a serious tone.
"One of my scythes, my blades are rusty." She said while scratching her head. "I can wield swords better but I haven't cleaned them up for combat yet."
Nolan didn't seem satisfied with her answer. His eyes lingered on her longer than usual, like he was searching for something, a sign of hesitation maybe. "A scythe, huh?" he muttered, almost to himself. "I expected you'd want something more… defensive, given the nature of the mission."
Amara raised an eyebrow at his comment but didn't respond. She wasn't sure what to say. Nolan was known for his strategic mind, but sometimes he overthought things. And besides, a scythe fit her—more than a shield or anything defensive.
"If you want me to succeed, let me do things my way," she said, feeling her irritation rise. She wasn't in the mood to be second-guessed.
"Do things your way, but don't get reckless," he said, his tone more biting than usual. "This isn't just about you, Amara. We're sending you in alone, but everyone's depending on you to sabotage whatever they're planning. Don't forget that."
"I know," she snapped back, her temper flaring for a moment. She was used to people doubting her, but for some reason, coming from Nolan, it stung.
There was a beat of silence between them, both waiting for the other to say something. Amara was about to push past him when he stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Be careful around them. We don't know what tricks they'll use, but from what we've seen… they're not to be underestimated."
Amara's jaw tightened. They—the Vaxthrons. The names everyone feared but never uttered. It wasn't like she had any better understanding of them, but the idea of them being these monstrous figures felt off. Kyan… Kayden… She didn't know all of them, but she knew enough to wonder how much of what people said was really true. Still, she kept her silence.
"I'll be fine," she said, hoping to cut the conversation short. "Besides, I'm not the one who's afraid of a little confrontation."
Nolan's lips twitched slightly, but it wasn't quite a smile. "Just… watch your back, alright?"
She gave a half-hearted nod and continued walking towards Alijah. She needed a moment to center herself, to figure out how she would handle this mission—and maybe more importantly, how she would sabotage it without anyone suspecting her.
As she approached Alijah, she could see he was going over some last-minute plans, his brow furrowed in concentration. He didn't even notice her until she was right next to him.
"Ready?" he asked, his tone lighter than Nolan's had been, though his expression was no less serious.
"As I'll ever be," she responded dryly.
Alijah gestured for her to sit down next to him. "You're heading in first. We'll follow a day later to give you a head start. Once you find their base, you know what to do."
Amara nodded. "What if something goes wrong?"
Alijah glanced at her with narrowed eyes. "Why? Are you having doubts about my plan?"
"No," she said quickly, a bit too quickly. "Just curious what the backup plan is."
His gaze softened slightly, but his words remained firm. "There's no backup plan. You can't get caught. We can't risk exposing everything."
The weight of that statement hung in the air for a moment. Amara knew what he meant—she couldn't be exposed. If they found out who she really was, or worse, if they realized she had ties to Kyan and Kayden… it wouldn't just be her head on the line.
"Understood," she finally said.
"Good." Alijah leaned back, seemingly satisfied. "Once we're in, we'll create enough of a distraction for you to get close to their leader, Scribe Ammit. Your job is to gather as much intel as possible on him—and if an opportunity arises to strike, take it."
Amara kept her expression neutral, even though her heart raced at the mention of Kyan's title. Strike him? The thought churned in her stomach, making her feel sick. She couldn't—no, she wouldn't.
She rose from the table, keeping her voice steady. "I'll leave at dawn, then."
Later that night, Amara stood alone in her house, staring at the scythe lying across her bed. The Scythe of Blood Moon Fate, as they called it. She ran her fingers along its edge, feeling the hum of energy beneath the surface.
She had a plan—her own plan. She wouldn't strike at Kyan, but she would get close to him, close enough to find out what the Vaxthrons were truly after. Maybe there was another way, one that didn't involve bloodshed. If she had to sabotage Alijah's plan to protect them, then so be it.
After all, this wasn't their war—it was hers.
Tomorrow would decide everything.