The movements of the dissenting council's forces became increasingly noticeable as the days passed. Their boldness bordered on arrogance, with key members openly discussing strategies and moving troops as though victory was already assured.
In a grand chamber within one of Polaris Spire's towering structures, Darius Veryon, the dissenting council's leader, stood at the center of a large table. Holograms of battle plans floated in the air. Maelis Vorn paced beside him, her sharp heels clicking against the marble floor.
"They're not as weak as you make them out to be, Darius," Maelis said, her voice calm but laced with warning. "Aether and Arath are rallying support. Kara Velis, Garrik Vorn, and Alira Feyn are not insignificant allies."
Darius waved a dismissive hand. "Kara's discipline, Garrik's brute force, and Alira's scheming won't save them. We've ensured our loyalists outnumber their forces three to one."
Ivor Caelis chuckled from his seat. "Let them scheme. The louder they roar, the harder they'll fall."
Selric Drayn, silent as always, finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "Underestimating them is dangerous. Aether is meticulous, and Arath… his mind is sharper than any blade. They'll try to exploit any arrogance we display."
Darius smirked, leaning forward. "It's not arrogance if we know we'll win. Let them plan and rally. They'll find no openings to exploit."
Maelis frowned but didn't argue further. Her gaze lingered on the holograms, where troop placements and supply chains glowed in sharp relief.
"We'll double the patrols around key supply lines," she said. "If Aether plans to target them, we'll know."
---
Meanwhile, at the Lumenis estate, the atmosphere was one of quiet but focused preparation. The estate, vast and sprawling, now served as the nerve center of Aether and Arath's covert resistance.
In the central war room, a large circular table displayed a holographic projection of Aetron's major cities, transport routes, and enemy strongholds. Aether stood at one end, flanked by Arath and the allied leaders—Kara Velis, Garrik Vorn, and Alira Feyn.
Kara, her auburn hair tied back in a severe braid, tapped the table's edge. "The dissenting council's forces are overconfident. We've observed minimal security on some of their key supply depots in Veyros Sector."
"Then we strike there first," Alira said. Her tone was soft but carried weight. "Sabotaging their supplies will cripple their ability to sustain a prolonged engagement."
Aether nodded. "We can't afford to make this look like a coordinated attack yet. Every move we make has to seem like a localized incident, something they can't tie back to us."
Garrik leaned back, his arms crossed over his broad chest. "My men are stationed near Polaris Spire, blending in with civilians. They're ready to act on your command."
Arath's sharp eyes scanned the hologram. "Good. The key is to stay one step ahead. We'll position our forces strategically, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Kael entered the room, his presence immediately drawing attention. He carried the staff LUX had recommended—a sleek, silver weapon that gleamed faintly, its surface etched with glowing lines of energy.
"How's the training going?" Aether asked, his voice both curious and concerned.
"Progressing," Kael replied, spinning the staff experimentally. "I'm adapting to it, and LUX has been helping me fine-tune my techniques."
"Good," Arath said, stepping closer. "We'll need every edge we can get."
Kael looked at the gathered leaders. "What's the next step?"
Alira glanced at Aether before answering. "We've identified several key targets within the dissenting council's supply network. If we can disrupt their logistics, it'll buy us time and weaken their forces."
Kael frowned. "And what about their command structure? Taking out their leaders would cause chaos among their ranks."
Garrik chuckled. "Bold idea, but Darius Veryon won't be easy to reach. Neither will Maelis, Ivor, or Selric. They're well-protected."
"Nothing's impossible," Kael said firmly.
Aether sighed, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "We'll get there, Kael. For now, we focus on weakening them strategically. Direct confrontations will come later."
Kael didn't seem entirely satisfied but nodded nonetheless. "Understood."
---
Across Aetron, Aether and Arath's forces moved covertly. Disguised as merchants, travelers, and workers, they passed information and positioned themselves near key targets. The dissenting council, arrogant in their belief of superiority, failed to notice the subtle movements of their enemies.
In a hidden training room within the Lumenis estate, Kael continued to push himself. Eryndor and his team of security personnel watched as he sparred with holographic opponents, the staff in his hands moving with increasing precision.
"Faster," LUX's voice instructed. "Your reaction time must improve."
Kael gritted his teeth, blocking an incoming attack and countering with a swift strike.
"You're getting better," Eryndor said, nodding in approval. "But remember, the real fight won't be this controlled. You'll need to adapt on the fly."
"I know," Kael replied, breathing heavily.
Eryndor approached, his expression serious. "Listen, kid. I've seen a lot of battles, and I've seen a lot of people who think they're ready. Most of them weren't. But you… you've got something different. Just don't lose that focus."
Kael met Eryndor's gaze. "I won't."
---
Back at the dissenting council's headquarters, Maelis Vorn sat alone in her quarters, reviewing reports. She frowned as she noticed subtle inconsistencies in troop movements near Polaris Spire.
Something's not right, she thought.
She left her quarters and sought out Darius, who was meeting with Ivor and Selric in the grand strategy chamber.
"Darius, we need to talk," she said, her tone urgent.
Darius looked up, irritated. "What is it now, Maelis?"
"There are irregularities in our reports. Minor, but troubling. We may have underestimated Aether and Arath's ability to operate covertly."
Ivor scoffed. "You're being paranoid. They don't have the resources to organize anything significant without us noticing."
Selric, however, looked thoughtful. "We should at least investigate. If Maelis is right, ignoring this could cost us dearly."
Darius waved a dismissive hand. "Fine. Assign someone to look into it. But don't waste too many resources. We have bigger things to focus on."
Maelis clenched her jaw but said nothing. She knew Darius's arrogance could be their undoing, but for now, she had to tread carefully.
The preparations continued, each side unaware of just how close the other was to making their next move. The tension on Aetron was palpable, a quiet storm waiting to erupt. The fate of the planet hung in the balance, and both sides knew that when the first blow was struck, there would be no turning back.