There are different kinds of silence.
The silence after tragedy. The silence before a decision that could ruin everything. The silence that hums inside a room where everyone knows what's at stake but no one wants to say it aloud.
Kael stood at the edge of the planning table, eyes fixed on the flickering holographic map Renji had projected. His face was unreadable, the angles of his jaw clenched in thought. The image of Arlen — bound, bruised, alive — still lingered in his head.
He'd trained for weeks. Pushed his body, bent reality to his will, sharpened his power until it no longer scared him. But this? This was different. Now it was war.
Echo entered without a sound. No flourish, no words. His presence alone shifted the energy of the room. He moved like the air followed him, like gravity owed him a favor.
His coat was still dark and mirrored, his silver and black eyes scanning the team before speaking.
"The gate is nearly open," he said. "The cult has made it clear. The final catalyst they need is Kael's blood."
Kael didn't flinch. "We're sure about that?"
Echo nodded once. "They've begun setting the altar. The gate's pressure is increasing. I can feel the Mirror Realm pulling."
Renji tapped something into the panel, bringing up a second map. "There's energy spikes across three known cult strongholds. But only one lines up with the captured signal from Arlen's location."
Mara, arms crossed, eyes cold, finally broke the silence. "So we strike?"
Juno stood by the wall, posture deceptively relaxed. "Not a direct hit. That's what they want. If they think they have Kael, they'll rush the ritual."
Noelle's voice cut through: "We create a shadow. A mimic. Something real enough to fool them for just long enough."
Ziv nodded. " Kael will handle that , he can bend reality as we know it "
Kael stepped forward now, more serious than he'd been in weeks. "So I'm bait. Or a version of me is. Meanwhile, the rest of you go in."
Echo turned to the group, eyes scanning each member. "This will not be a clean mission. They'll be expecting resistance. You'll each have to split, cover different sectors, disable ritual points, and hold the line."
He turned to Ziv. "You'll lead entry through the west corridor. You know how to fold the space. It's our best shot at a silent breach."
To Mara: "You handle the decoys. If they think they've surrounded us, they'll tighten formation. Use their assumptions against them."
To Juno: "We'll need interference. Mirror hallucinations. Make them question who they're fighting."
To Renji: "You're controlling our comms and disabling their signal cloaks. If their ritual gets shielded, we'll lose time. You can't afford a mistake."
To Noelle: "Keep Kael safe until the switch. Your ability to predict patterns gives us an edge. Stay sharp."
Then Echo turned to Kael.
His gaze was heavy, not unkind, but steady. "You've trained. You've earned your place. But they won't go easy just because you're the key. Expect to be targeted the moment they sense your energy."
Kael exhaled slowly, letting the weight settle in. "I didn't sign up to be the universe's blood donation, but... if we're doing this, let's do it smart. And hard."
"Good," Echo said. "Then let's go over the plan."
The holographic display lit up with points of entry. They would split into three teams. Two would handle the outer ritual anchors—power conduits keeping the gate stable. The third would infiltrate the main chamber, retrieve Arlen, and sever the core.
Ziv would lead Team One: fast infiltration. Mara and Juno with him, disorienting the guards with illusions and attacking the anchor from within.
Team Two would consist of Kael and Noelle, acting as the fake 'sacrifice delivery.' They would stall the ritual and buy time. Kael's power, honed and sharp, would have to pulse just enough to fool the cultists but not enough to burn through the illusion.
Echo would move separately, watching from the mirror space, ready to intervene.
Renji, as always, stayed behind the scenes—but his hands would control every entry, every pulse of security, every flicker of light. If he slipped, they'd all fall.
As they all moved to prepare, Echo lingered behind Kael.
"You've changed," he said.
Kael gave a humorless smirk. "I had to. There's no space for hesitation anymore."
Echo nodded. "Then let's see what that change is worth."