The journey back from the stream was spent discussing Yesu’s idea.
"Do you actually think this could work?" Elsie asked, uncertain.
Yesu answered imdiately.
"Of course."
They walked side by side through the forest while Olwen followed a short distance behind.
"All the Vaults should be identical." Yesu continued. "So if you saw one, you would definitely be able to visualize it. Then you can use it to find Vault Three."
Elsie looked unconvinced.
"That would take multiple teleports. What if I keep ending up at the wrong Vault?"
She frowned.
"Or what if I visit every Vault except the one you need?"
Her voice lowered.
"What if I can’t even do it at all?"
Yesu didn’t pause to ponder on it.
"Then I’ll have to think of sothing else." She said simply.
Elsie couldn’t tell whether that was confidence or stupidity.
They said nothing to each other for so ti.
"I know..." Yesu spoke all of a sudden. "You can picture the vines too."
"The vines?"
"Yes. There are thick vines around Vault Three." Yesu said. "Lots of them."
She smiled.
"If you visualize the Vault and the vines together, it’ll be easier."
Elsie considered it.
The certainty in Yesu’s voice was oddly reassuring.
Maybe it could work.
Maybe.
Ahead of them, the forest suddenly opened up.
The three stepped into a clearing.
Several students were already gathered there.
mbers of 12-A.
So were seated on rocks.
Others stood in small groups.
Conversations died the mont Olwen appeared.
Eyes shifted.
Then landed on Yesu.
The unfamiliar junior standing beside him.
A few brows rose imdiately.
Business had clearly been paused. And everyone wanted an explanation.
***
"Who’s the girl?"
One of the squad mbers glanced quizzically from Olwen to Yesu.
The rest did the sa.
Even Elsie.
She had co with them, yet she was also looking at Olwen expectantly.
Waiting for an answer.
Olwen looked at Yesu.
Not directly. More like he was trying to figure out where exactly she fit.
Then he faced his squad.
"An acquaintance." He said.
Several brows rose.
"She got separated from her squad due to..." He paused, and a brief glance went to Yesu.
She hadn’t actually told him what happened.
Olwen returned his gaze to the others.
"...certain circumstances."
The explanation wasn’t particularly informative yet nobody pressed further.
They had bigger concerns.
A few monts later, Yesu found herself standing amongst them as though she had always been there.
The squad leader gathered everyone around.
"I received a report from our scouts." He announced. "12-C has already arrived at the Vault area."
The atmosphere sharpened imdiately.
"Then we need a plan."
Suggestions began coming from every direction.
One student proposed a frontal assault.
Rejected.
Too risky.
Another suggested dividing into smaller teams.
Rejected.
Too easy to isolate.
A third suggested creating a distraction.
Rejected again.
More ideas ca. And one weakness after another was identified.
Yet through it all, Yesu noticed sothing strange.
Nobody raised their voice.
Not once.
Not even when disagreeing.
Students contradicted one another calmly.
They listened, adjusted, and contributed. Then listened again.
It was completely different from 11-D.
Nobody was arguing. Nobody was trying to win the conversation.
They were trying to solve the problem.
Only Olwen remained silent.
The squad leader eventually rubbed his forehead.
Ti was slipping away and they still had nothing.
Then Olwen, who had been thinking all the while, finally spoke.
"How many Scales does the enemy have?"
The question caught everyone off guard.
The squad leader blinked.
"I don’t know."
Olwen nodded.
"How many of them are carrying those Scales?"
Silence.
Nobody knew that either.
Olwen looked around the gathering.
"Then why are we preparing to fight everyone?"
The clearing went quiet.
He continued.
"The only people that matter are the Scale carriers."
Several students straightened.
"If we identify the carriers, separate them from their squad and seize the Scales, the Directive is completed."
The squad leader stared.
Olwen seed to be looking at sothing only his eyes could see.
"The objective isn’t defeating 12-C." He said.
Understanding began spreading through the group.
"The objective is claiming the Vault." Olwen finished.
A slow smile appeared on the squad leader’s face.
"Why win a battle," Olwen said, "if the objective can be achieved without one?"
Nobody spoke for a mont.
Then several students nodded. Others imdiately began building on the idea.
Identifying carriers. Interception routes. Diversions. Escape paths.
Within seconds the discussion had transford completely.
Yesu watched quietly.
Impressed.
Beside her, Elsie leaned closer. "Olwen is quite sothing, isn’t he?"
There was quiet admiration in her voice.
"Hmm." Yesu replied absentmindedly.
The squad had already begun moving. Assignnts were being handed out. Plans were becoming actions.
Elsie unfolded the map and turned to Yesu.
"Show again." She held the map open between them. "Where exactly is Vault Three?"
***
The Vault area lay below them.
Squad 12-A observed from a small hill overlooking the clearing.
Most of their mbers had already gone down earlier.
Not to fight.
Just to make their presence known to 12-C.
Yesu squatted beside Elsie.
Watching.
"You know," she said suddenly, "I wish my squad was as organized as yours."
Elsie glanced at her.
Yesu went on. "Maybe then we wouldn’t be failing so much."
Elsie looked back toward the Vault.
"If the Scales get back to your squad in ti, do you think they’ll win?" She asked.
Yesu thought about it. Then made an uncertain sound.
"Maybe..." She scratched her cheek. "Although we did set traps for the enemy."
"That sounds useful."
"Yes, but all you seniors seem ridiculously skilled." Yesu admitted. "I’m not sure the traps will actually work."
Elsie nodded thoughtfully. "Then they’ll co up with another plan."
Yesu laughed softly. "My squad isn’t very good at that. We’re more of the improvising type."
Elsie absorbed the information. Then asked,
"Who were you paired against today?"
"12-B."
Elsie’s expression shifted slightly.
"Ackerman." She muttered.
Yesu blinked. "Acker... what?"
"Nothing." Elsie shook her head. "I’ll help your squad if I can." She said.
Yesu smiled.
"Thanks."
She looked toward the Vault area.
"Can you see it from here?"
"Yes." Elsie replied. "But I’m going to need a closer look."
"I’ll co with you."
"No."
Olwen’s voice cut in imdiately.
The two girls turned.
"It doesn’t seem like a good idea." He said, facing Yesu. "If 12-C notices you’re not part of the squad, they will beco more cautious."
That made sense.
So Elsie went alone.
Yesu watched her descend the hill.
The teleporter moved carefully through the trees toward the Vault.
Closer.
Closer.
And then she vanished.
Yesu sat upright.
At the sa mont, subtle movents began spreading through 12-A.
Students drifted away from one another.
Not obviously, not suspiciously.
Just enough.
The rest of the squad quietly moved into position.
The plan had begun.
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