Ren and Lilith wore hooded cloaks as they walked through the streets of Edenhold.
It had been a full day since they arrived, and the holy city was already filled with so much fear that one could almost see it floating in the air. Panic brewed like a stormcloud, barely held in check by the tight grip of the Church.
Chosen patrols marched openly through the boulevards, their white cloaks billowing as they moved briskly from one checkpoint to another. They weren't guarding the city or the citizens. They were just up and about, to have something to do before the big fight.
But one thing could not be denied. The usual serenity that Edenhold was known for was already fraying, little by little.
Vendors shouted higher prices than usual, their stalls stripped of most goods. Children pressed themselves into alleys to avoid passing patrols, and the ordinary people kept their heads down.
Food prices had doubled, with some vendors charging triple for bread and salted meat. With the inclusion of thousands of divine soldiers in an already tight city, it seemed as if there was no space at all.
Every face was tired. As if this whole situation had aged them years in a single day. They had no idea who to trust. The Church? Or the King?
Ren kept his eyes down, and his hood pulled low. Lilith walked beside him, silent but observant.
Every corner they turned, every block they passed, they cataloged. Routes, sightlines, choke points, escape paths. They weren't just walking. They were memorizing.
A wave of Chosen passed by them as they neared the cathedral's second ring, and a senior Chosen set eyes on them. The man's eyes narrowed, and he stopped them with a raised hand.
"You two. Stop." His voice carried authority, but also fatigue. His eyes had the glazed sheen of someone who hadn't slept in days.
They did. Lilith tensed, her fingers already twitching, soul energy bubbling just under her skin. Ren stayed calm. Whatever happened, they were ready to disappear at a moment's notice.
The Chosen narrowed his eyes and took a step closer. Then, a moment later, he spoke. "You're Chosens, aren't you? Where are your cloaks?"
Ren blinked. That wasn't what he had been expecting. "We lost it when our group got redirected during transit. We were told to report to the cathedral for reassignment."
The man grunted, then nodded. "Your resonance signatures check out. But don't go walking around looking like vagrants. Go get your cloaks. It's madness out here, and you'll get blamed for something sooner than later."
They nodded and continued on. Once the Chosen was out of sight, Lilith exhaled slowly. "Close."
Ren gave a small nod. "Too close."
They soon reached the small inn where they had rented a private room under false names.
Inside, Thorn greeted them with his usual crooked grin, his boots kicked up on the edge of a table.
"Well, look who made it back without being thrown in a holy pit."
Elias stood leaning against the far wall, cleaning the edge of his blade with a cloth. "What's the word on the streets?"
Ren closed the door behind him. "The city's overflowing with new Chosen. From all over. Some don't even have proper cloaks yet."
Lilith nodded. "The command structure is a mess. Orders are inconsistent. Some squads aren't even sure who they're reporting to. Some patrols walk past each other without coordination. It's all chaos."
"That bad?" Valen asked, arms folded.
"That bad." Ren replied. "But that's good for us. White cloaks mean mobility. No one stops a Chosen, not when everyone is scrambling. We just need to play the part."
Thorn straightened, his smile fading into something more serious. "So, what's the plan? We march into the cathedral before dawn?"
"No." Ren said. "We wait. Mikael hasn't made his move yet. The moment the fighting starts, all eyes will turn outward. That's when we infiltrate."
Elias spoke, his voice low. "You think the chaos will be enough to get us in and out?"
"It has to be." Ren said. "Every layer of security they have will shift toward the city's defense."
"We've already confirmed that the cathedral doesn't have a standing force of its own. Just its usual force of Chosen. And where do they need Chosen the most? The battlefield. That means fewer eyes on the prison under the cathedral."
"And once the battle begins, we move." Lilith added. "Ren and I will take care of most heavyweight threats, and you guys keep the distractions away. Except for Valen, of course. He's much more powerful as our vanguard."
Valen gave a single nod of acknowledgement.
Thorn whistled. "Big risks. But will most of the Chosen really leave? Are you sure we're not miscalculating the Pope's response?"
"We're not." Ren replied. "This is the only window we'll get. If Mikael fails, the Pope gets whatever he wants and comes back stronger. If Mikael wins, the Pope dies and whatever failsafe he has, activates. Either way, our moment is during the noise."
Lilith nodded. "And once we have the Blood Chosen, we move fast. There won't be time for a second chance."
Elias leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes. "And if we run into resistance inside?"
Ren replied, "We keep moving. No drawn out fights. If you can end the fight with one strike, do it. Every second counts."
Elias looked thoughtful. "We'll need an extraction plan. What happens if we get separated?"
"Simple." Ren crossed his arms. "If we lose each other, we regroup at the Shivering Tree courtyard in the middle of the cathedral. Every area of the cathedral leads there, so it'll be easy to find. And from there, I'll teleport us out."
Thorn raised a brow. "You think of everything."
"I have to." Ren said. "If even one of us dies…" He trailed off, not bothering to finish the thought.
They all fell into silence.
Then Thorn chuckled and stretched. "Well, it's not like we ever do anything the easy way."
Elias grinned. "Never have."