The decision was made before anyone had time to second-guess it. Elaine, Kael, Lira, and Ferran slipped out of the shadows of the meeting hall and into the quieter corridors of the guild.
Aria's personal archives were in the overseers' restricted wing—heavily guarded, meticulously warded, and practically a fortress. But Elaine had spent enough time in the guild to know that every fortress had its weak points.
"Do we even know what we're looking for?" Ferran asked as they made their way through the dimly lit halls.
"Anything that ties Aria to the artifact or her experiments," Elaine said, her voice low. "Records, schematics, correspondence—something we can use to show the other overseers that she's a liability."
Kael frowned. "And if we don't find anything?"
Elaine met his gaze, her expression hard. "Then we make sure she doesn't get the chance to try again."
The Archives
The overseers' wing was deathly quiet, its halls lined with thick stone walls etched with glowing runes. Every step echoed faintly, and Elaine felt a growing weight in her chest as they approached the entrance to Aria's archive.
A pair of guards stood outside the heavy oak door, their weapons gleaming in the flickering light of the rune-lamps.
"Great," Ferran muttered. "How do we get past them?"
Elaine glanced around, her mind racing. The Nexus shimmered faintly in her vision, offering a suggestion:
Tactical Insight:
Option 1: Distraction via localized energy disruption. Risk: High visibility.
Option 2: Covert access through secondary maintenance passage. Risk: Time delay.
"There's a secondary passage," Elaine whispered, her eyes darting to a small, rune-marked hatch set into the wall nearby. "It'll take longer, but we can avoid the guards."
Kael nodded. "Lead the way."
Elaine crouched beside the hatch, carefully tracing the runes with her fingertips. The Nexus provided a faint overlay of instructions, guiding her as she manipulated the energy flow to unlock the mechanism.
The hatch clicked open, revealing a narrow tunnel that descended into darkness.
"Of course it's a crawlspace," Ferran muttered.
Navigating the Passage
The tunnel was cramped and suffocating, the air thick with the smell of damp stone and faintly humming magic. Elaine led the way, her hands brushing against the walls as they moved deeper into the restricted wing.
"Tell me again why we're doing this," Ferran grumbled from behind her.
"Because it's better than waiting for Aria to pin the Oversight incident on us," Lira shot back, her voice sharp.
"She's right," Elaine said, her tone firm. "If we don't stop Aria, she'll use the Nexus's mark on me as an excuse to consolidate power—and we'll all pay the price."
Ferran sighed but said nothing more.
After what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened into a small alcove behind a tapestry in Aria's archive. Elaine pushed the heavy fabric aside, revealing the dimly lit room beyond.
The archive was larger than she'd expected, its walls lined with towering shelves filled with books, scrolls, and strange alchemical instruments. At the center of the room stood a desk piled high with papers and a faintly glowing crystal orb.
Lira let out a low whistle. "This is it."
Elaine nodded, stepping into the room. "Start looking. Anything that ties her to the artifact or her experiments."
The Discovery
Elaine sifted through the papers on the desk, her hands trembling slightly as she worked. Most of the documents were mundane—financial records, personnel reports, routine correspondence. But then she found it: a thick, leather-bound journal with Aria's name embossed on the cover.
She opened it, her eyes scanning the pages. The entries were meticulous, detailing Aria's experiments with the artifact and her efforts to bypass the Nexus's control mechanisms.
One passage caught Elaine's attention:
"The Nexus's restrictions are intolerable. If we are to achieve true progress, we must sever its hold over us. The artifact is the key—a bridge to something greater."
Elaine's chest tightened. This was it—the proof they needed.
"I found something," she said, holding up the journal.
Kael and Lira moved to her side, their eyes widening as they read over her shoulder.
"This will turn the overseers against her," Lira said.
"Assuming we get out of here alive," Ferran muttered, his gaze fixed on the door.
The Alarm
Before anyone could respond, a loud, metallic clang echoed through the room. The glowing orb on the desk flared brightly, and the runes on the walls began to pulse with a harsh red light.
Elaine's stomach dropped. "She set an alarm."
Kael cursed under his breath, drawing his bow. "We need to move—now."
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hall outside, growing louder with every second.
"Take what you can and go!" Elaine shouted, shoving the journal into her satchel.
The team scrambled to grab as many documents as they could, but the door burst open before they could make their escape.
A group of guards stormed into the room, their weapons drawn and their expressions grim.
"Halt!" one of them barked.
Elaine stepped forward, her heart pounding. "We don't want trouble," she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest.
"You're in restricted territory," the guard replied. "That's already trouble."
The Nexus flickered in Elaine's vision, offering a desperate suggestion:
Tactical Insight:
Option 1: Disable guards with localized energy disruption. Risk: High.
Option 2: Surrender and exploit internal divisions for escape. Risk: Moderate.
Elaine took a deep breath, her mind racing. They couldn't fight their way out—not without drawing more attention.
"Stand down," she said to her team, raising her hands. "We'll go quietly."
Kael shot her a sharp look, but he followed her lead, lowering his weapon.
The guards closed in, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Elaine's chest tightened as they seized her and her companions, binding their hands and leading them out of the archive.
As they marched down the hall, Elaine's mind raced. They had the journal—they had the proof. Now they just needed to survive long enough to use it.