The morning air was cool, crisp, as he and Aria padded in silence through the sanctuary. The usual energy of bustle seemed minimalist, tethered in as if the ancient stones themselves sensed the rising darkness. His mind raced with thoughts, replaying the conversation he had overheard, every shadow seeming to hide a potential threat, every silence sounding a harbinger of danger.
Aria took Kael to a more secluded corner of the sanctuary, the spot where their master preferred to meditate. They found him, cross-legged and eyes closed, as the first traces of dawn spilled through the stained glass windows. In the half-light, he appeared so peaceful that nobody would even guess how truly sharp his mind was beneath the gentle veneer.
"Elion," Aria started, her voice barely above a whisper.
The old master's eyes opened slowly, focusing on them with a clarity that belied his age. "Aria, Kael," he greeted, his voice gentle. "What troubles you this early?"
Kael hesitated, but it took Aria to step forward. "Master Elion, this is something you've got to know. Last night, Kael overheard a conversation that reveals a grave danger to the sanctuary.
He gave nothing away on his expression, though there was that small flicker of concern in the eyes. "Speak, Kael. What have you heard?"
Kael repeated the conversation without leaving out any detail. He winces inwardly with the hardening of Elion's face; the calm demeanor reflects a more serious concern.
"We feared this," finally said Elion, the tone in his voice heavy. "The Shadow Guild has been silent for far too long. I suspected they might be up to something, but I did not realize they could penetrate so deep."
Aria looked at Elion in a mix of respect and urgency. "What are we going to do, Master? We cannot let them do this."
So, we need to act, but we have to be watchful about the fact that if we move too soon, we can expose our hand and drive them to more desperate action.'
Kael found his own voice, the weight of responsibility bearing heavily on his young shoulders. 'Who can we trust, Master? How do we know who is loyal?
Elion gazed back down, a softness in his eyes for Kael. "Trust's a thing forever hard, times like this— But, yet, there are those that have shown merit over the passin' years. Lira, Joren—an' a few others; people devoted to the cause of the Crimson Guards and the Sanctuary. It's them we'll begin with.
Aria nodded. "I will gather them quietly. We cannot let anyone feel we might be onto them."
As Aria turned, Elion called back, "Do be careful, Aria. The enemy lies near, and that enemy watches."
"I will," Aria replied and back, promising he would do, and with a single nod in determination, she left to gather their allies.
Kael stayed with Elion, and his mind raced. "What if they come after us before we're ready?"
Elion rose slowly, his old bones complaining, yet retaining his commanding presence. "Kael, you are far stronger than you know. The amulet has called you for a reason. The prophecy speaks of a great trial, yet of hope. Do not lose sight of that.
Kael nodded, pulling up Elion's feigned confidence. "I won't, Master."
Elion put a hand on Kael's shoulder, trust in his eyes. "We will face this together, Kael. The sanctuary has stood for centuries, and it will not be brought down now."
As day wore on, Kael and Elion readied for coming task. Voices hushed, whispered plans of action back and forth between the pair of them, all the while watching activity around the sanctuary. The knowledge of traitors amongst them sat like a weight in their chests, yet it was an awl-sharp weight at their backs.
The evening had come when Aria had reappeared with Lira, Joren, and a handful more of the Crimson Guard—the ones she really felt she could trust. They found themselves inside a little used chamber far within the sanctuary—dark, out of the way, and sheltered from prying gazes.
Aria addressed the group, her voice strong. "We have reason to believe the Shadow Guild has managed to infiltrate our ranks. Their aim is to tear down all we've worked for, and they will let nothing stand in their way."
Lira, the fierce and loyal warrior, clenched her fists. "What do we do?
Elion moved forward and spoke, his voice calm but firm, "The traitors must be rooted out and stopped before time. But we should also be careful; if we move too openly, we risk exposing ourselves."
Joren nodded, as usual the strategist. "We'll have to set a trap, something that will force them to reveal themselves.
Kael listened to the chattering of the group with an affirmed feeling inside that he could not describe. He knew the road before him would be dangerous, but with all these allies clearly by his side, he felt he could take on anything.
As they stood firm upon their decisions, Kael looked about at the determined faces. The sanctuary was very much at stake, but they all will stand up for it. The work with the Shadow Guild had just started, and in the future days, beyond what Kael already envisioned, was sure to test one and all to the very edge of their abilities.
But come what may, he was there to stand with his friends, defend the sanctuary, and find out the true essence of the prophecy that had brought them this far.