Zach, Nessa, Dukiel, Anerias, and Violina all gathered for the first time in a little under two months right outside the city. They had been so busy studying and training that they hadn't made time after they concluded that their meetings trying to figure out what the Underworld was doing were useless.
No matter how much they thought about it, asked each other, and tickled Monolith, they wouldn't find out or come up with anything regarding the Underworld's current actions and plans.
Instead, just like with the ceasefire, they could use the downtime and Underworld's superficial inaction to strengthen themselves as much as possible and prepare for what comes next.
It was a hollow plan that relied on them surpassing the Underworld's expectations and the Underworld staying silent for long enough or not suddenly doing anything when the students were busy. It was a risk—a gamble. But it was one they had to take.
