The team returned to the Command Base under a still-dark sky.
The symbol marked by the figure had been recorded in the temporal decoder and was now projected in the Strategy Room.
It wasn't just a location.
It was a point in time.
—
Patricia, Marie, and Isadora were waiting.
Amina and Samantha had already begun cross-referencing the data.
The temporal map began to reveal the coordinates:
> Date: 421 B.C.
Location: Athens, Greece.
—
Claudia frowned.
— Athens... The height of the classical period.
— Philosophy, politics, the earliest ideas of democracy. But also... conspiracies and wars.
Camila added:
— A time where thought and shadow walked side by side.
Kael kept his gaze fixed on the map.
He knew destiny was never random.
If that point had been indicated, something in Athens could affect the very roots of the temporal cycle.
—
Patricia continued:
— No records of League operations in that specific era.
— Whatever it is, it's either hidden... or forgotten.
Amina and Samantha cross-referenced the energy readings.
The result surprised everyone:
> Energy pattern similar to the Marco and the Veiled Forest symbols.
Anomalous flow active. Intensity: Moderate.
—
Kael spoke firmly:
— This will not be a standard infiltration mission.
— We need reconnaissance, cultural adaptation, and extreme caution.
He looked at Patricia.
— Prepare the team for an exploratory jump.
— No interaction with historical figures unless absolutely necessary.
Patricia nodded.
—
Before closing, Kael turned to the group:
— The shadow moves in the present, but its roots lie in the past.
— And that's where we will find them.
The witches answered with a silent nod.
The future, once again, depended on understanding the past.
And Kael knew:
Athens awaited them.