"The stronghold is well-fortified, and HQ believes it may serve as a supply hub. That ans it's critical to gather as much information as possible without tipping them off to our presence. Stealth and precision are the keys to success."
Tess continued, unaware of Rey's inner turmoil.
Josh nodded seriously, and the rest of the team murmured their agreent.
But Rey's frown deepened.
'Stealth and precision are fine,' he thought, 'but they're not going to make stronger.'
Tess glanced at him, her gaze briefly lingering on his unreadable expression, but she didn't call attention to it. She continued outlining the specifics of their route, the expected challenges, and the contingency plans.
It was a well-thought out and laid out plan, showing the competence of The Resistance HQ.
But... it was problematic-especially for Rey.
'This isn't good.'
***************
As the eting wrapped up and the team began to disperse, Rey stayed behind, his mind racing.
He wasn't upset with Tess or the mission itself-he understood the importance of reconnaissance.
But it didn't sit well with him.
'I didn't co back to this world to tiptoe around.'
He couldn't afford to.
He clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
The battle at the wreckage, the monsters he'd defeated, and the sense of power he'd felt coursing through him-it had lit a fire within him that wasn't so easily extinguished.
"Rey?"
He looked up to see Tess standing a few steps away, watching him carefully. The rest of the team had left, leaving them alone in the room.
"You looked... dissatisfied," she said cautiously.
Rey forced a small smile. "It's nothing. Just thinking."
Tess raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "About?"
He hesitated, then sighed.
"I get why HQ wants intel. It's important. But..." He trailed off, searching for the right words. "I need to fight. I need to push myself harder, face stronger opponents. Spying on the enemy won't help get stronger."
Tess studied him for a mont, her expression unreadable.
Then she crossed her arms. "Rey, I understand where you're coming from. But this isn't just about getting stronger. It's about survival. If we rush in without knowing what we're up against, we'll all die."
"I know," he admitted, his voice quieter. "But I can't shake the feeling that I'm wasting ti."
"Wasting ti?" Tess tilted her head. "Rey, you've already proven yourself. You don't have to rush this. Strength isn't just about fighting-it's about strategy, about knowing when to act and when to wait. Believe , I've learned that the hard way."
Her words struck a chord, but the restless fire within him didn't waver.
He gave her a faint nod, more out of politeness than agreent.
"Just... trust the process," Tess added, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get through this, and there will be plenty of fights ahead. For now, let's focus on the mission."
Rey nodded again, this ti with more sincerity. "I'll try."
Tess smiled and squeezed his shoulder lightly before turning to leave.
As she walked away, Rey's thoughts continued to churn.
'Trust the process? Maybe. But I can't let myself stagnate.'
After experiencing what war was like in H'Trae, and exactly how cruel the Dragon Emperor's forces could be, it wasn't sothing any of the humans on Earth could afford either.
He glanced back at the map on the table, the marked stronghold seeming to taunt him.
He'd follow Tess's lead for now, but deep down, he knew he'd have to find his own way to grow stronger-whether that ant stepping outside the mission's boundaries or seeking challenges elsewhere.
For now, he'd bide his ti.
But the fire within him was far from extinguished.
*********
[The Next Day]
The base felt quieter than usual after the team left.
Rey stood in the common area, watching the vehicle disappear over the horizon through a narrow window. Tess hadn't even given him a chance to suggest joining the mission-her decision had been firm, leaving him behind with only a brief explanation that the mission required discretion and caution.
He hadn't argued.
He understood the reasoning behind her decision. His restlessness during the last discussion had been obvious, and Tess likely feared that his impatience might jeopardize the operation.
Still, the sting of being excluded gnawed at him.
'She's probably right, at least when it involves the mission from HQ...' he thought. 'But that doesn't an I have to sit around doing nothing.'
Rey turned back to the few team mbers who had stayed behind.
"I'll be training in my room," he announced, his tone even. "Don't disturb ."
They nodded without question, accustod to his growing need for isolation when he
trained.
Once in his room, Rey locked the door and leaned against it, closing his eyes.
He murmured a chant under his breath, weaving a concealnt Spell around himself. The faint shimr of magic engulfed him, rendering him invisible to sight and detection.
With a flick of his wrist, he cast another spell, a soft glow of energy forming beneath his feet as he activated a Flight Spell. The window slid open noiselessly, and Rey slipped out into the evening sky, rising silently into the air.
His heart pounded with excitent and determination.
'Tess doesn't trust to follow the mission's rules, so it's best I remove myself from the equation and act independently...'
He followed the team's vehicle from a safe distance, keeping his concealnt spell active.
The journey took hours, the vehicle weaving through rough terrain before finally stopping near a cluster of jagged hills. From above, Rey observed as Tess, Andrew, and Dexter erged, their silhouettes barely visible against the rocky backdrop.
Tess gathered the team and spoke in hushed tones, her hand pointing toward an opening in the ground that led to what appeared to be an underground structure.
Rey adjusted his position to get a better look.
The opening was small and partially hidden by debris, the entrance shrouded in darkness.
Tess divided the group.
She, Andrew, and Dexter would enter, relying on their unique abilities to stay hidden, while
the others kept watch outside.
Rey watched all of this with a smile, all preparations made on his own end.
'Looks like we're about to begin.'
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