Just like before, after each group completed its mission, they were ordered to return to the Dark Guild’s base for a full debrief.
There were a few reasons behind this routine. First, it prevented the Cerebus Guild from regrouping too quickly. Second, it made sure the Grand Magus couldn’t react or organize counterattacks in ti. And lastly, it allowed Raze and the others to evaluate the situation before choosing their next move. A calm, watchful approach in the middle of chaos.
On their way back, Alen and Raze crossed paths. Raze had originally been heading toward Alen’s area as backup, but by the ti he arrived, Alen’s mission was already over. Since both were returning to the sa place, they traveled together through the underground passageways, their boots echoing softly against the stone.
Alen moved with a quiet confidence, yet Raze could sense the tension in him. Both n were thinking the sa thing, how strange it was that every recent battle had felt just a little too prepared.
They reached the Dark Guild’s headquarters before the other teams. Instead of entering the main cathedral used for etings, they stayed outside in the open courtyard where other guild mbers were stationed.
The atmosphere there was almost festive.
Clusters of mages sat around, staring at their glowing magical devices. The air buzzed with murmurs of disbelief and cautious excitent.
"Have you seen it?" one of the younger mbers shouted, waving his crystal screen. "People are actually supporting us!"
"You’re lying," another laughed. "That’s never happened before."
"It’s true!" the first insisted. "They’re thanking us for wiping out the Cerebus Guild’s hidden bases. Everyone’s saying the sa thing, if those people weren’t guilty, they wouldn’t have gone into hiding in the first place!"
"Right," added a third. "And look at this, there’s still no official response from the Cerebus Guild or the Grand Magus. Instead, more and more Guilds are stepping forward, confessing the things they did under pressure. It’s spreading fast!"
Excitent rippled through the courtyard.
For the first ti in years, the Dark Guild wasn’t being painted as a faceless evil in the public eye. The tide of opinion was shifting, and the people were beginning to see them as avengers instead of villains.
Raze stood quietly off to the side, watching it all unfold.
It was exactly as he’d predicted. He had spent too many years being the center of public hatred not to understand how it worked. He knew how easily the crowd could turn, how the smallest act of rebellion could spark a wildfire that no one could control.
As he thought about this, another group approached the courtyard.
Varkos walked in first, his armor dented, his cheek marked by a fresh cut. The weariness in his eyes told its own story.
"Are you alright?" Alen asked, stepping forward.
"Mostly," Varkos replied, brushing the blood from his jaw. "We had a few losses. I tried to bring everyone back, but we ran into trouble midway through the assault. I’ll explain once we’re all gathered."
They waited together as the minutes dragged on. When Harvey finally arrived, his stride was heavy, his cloak torn, and his face unreadable. The mood shifted instantly. Every conversation died as the Dark Guild’s leader entered the courtyard, his presence suffocating in its silence.
Without a word, Harvey gestured for them to follow.
They trailed behind him into the old cathedral, the main hall lit by the glow of dozens of suspended crystals. Once the doors shut, Harvey turned and waved his hand, sealing the chamber with a silence spell so powerful it made the air vibrate.
"Now," he said, his deep voice echoing against the stone walls, "tell what difficulties each of you faced. I had my own problems where I was, but before I speak, I want to hear from the rest of you."
They went around the table, one team after another recounting their missions. As Alen listened, he realized with surprise that his group had fared better than most. Every other division had faced severe resistance. Every other commander said the sa thing, their enemies had been waiting for them, ready and ard with traps and defensive wards.
When Raze’s turn ca, he repeated the sa observation, describing how the magic circle in the elevator had been altered to pull them directly into the center of an ambush.
By the end, a grim understanding had settled over them all.
"The fact that they knew the exact day we would attack," Harvey growled, his fist tightening against the table, "that alone proves this isn’t coincidence. The Cerebus Guild was never supposed to know we were involved. They thought they were dealing with the military, not us! Which ans, soone has betrayed us!"
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
No one moved. The sound of distant footsteps from outside seed deafening.
Harvey’s gaze drifted slowly around the room, stopping briefly on each of their faces. His tone was calm, but the fury in his eyes made it clear, he suspected one of them.
"Watch your words," Alen snapped, his voice rising. "My n have risked their lives for this cause. Don’t you dare accuse us of betrayal."
Harvey didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. The tension between them was enough to make even the air feel sharp.
And truthfully, Alen’s group was the only one that hadn’t faced major resistance, which made them look suspicious, whether they liked it or not.
But Raze, standing between them, knew the truth. There was no way Alen had betrayed anyone. He was too disciplined, too invested in the mission to turn on their alliance. Which ant there had to be another explanation.
"The Dark Guild has grown rapidly," Raze said evenly, cutting through the silence. "With that growth cos weakness. The Grand Magus and the Cerebus Guild could have infiltrated us long ago. We can’t jump to conclusions."
He looked at both Harvey and Alen. "If we start tearing into each other now, if we start suspecting our own allies, this entire alliance will collapse before it finishes what we started."
The anger in Harvey’s eyes dimd slightly, though his jaw still clenched.
"We’ll find the leak," Raze continued, his voice calm but resolute. "We’ll gather information quietly, and when we’re sure, we’ll deal with it. But for now, we keep moving. Although the cost was high, we’re still winning this fight."
****
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