The blood on Alucent's frock coat had dried to a rusty brown that stretched from his left shoulder down to maybe his chest, Mira's blood mixed with coal dust and condensation from the smog that seemed to get into everything in Iron Vale's industrial maze, The temperature had climbed to about 12°C as the noon sun fought through the gray haze but the humidity from all the steam vents made breathing feel like drowning in really warm soup.
She died because I was too slow with the protective runes, because I went for weapon enhancement instead of defense, because I thought I knew what I was doing when I really had no clue how brutal actual combat could get. Alucent couldn't help be beat himself about it, the guilt was eating deep inside him.
"This way" Raya said. Her cloak torn from scrambling through debris and her facial scar flushed red with anger that seemed aimed mostly at him "The alleys should give us cover until we reach the maintenance tunnel"
The Iron Vale alleys were narrow spaces between converted workshops, maybe two meters wide and choked with brass piping that carried 80°C steam between industrial facilities, The Runepaths that normally provided magical light were dim and flickering, their amber glow messed up by atmospheric interference, and the Glowroses that someone had tried to grow in window boxes were crushed and dead.
"The tracks are getting way deeper" Gryan said, also seem like his mechanical now shows fresh dents from the workshop fight and his face set in that grim look that meant serious trouble "Multiple patrol units moving in on this district"
Tavin pressed against the alley wall, his tunic bloodied from a Voidshard graze and his hazel eyes bright with tears that might have been from grief or just smog irritation, His Runetoken was pulsing with way more rapid light as visions came in chaotic bursts that seemed more intense than his usual prophetic stuff.
"I can still see her face" he whispered touching the copper disc "Mira's expression when the blade got her throat, the way she looked at you like she expected way better"
Hearing that, Alucent shook his head in something that looked like disappointment and shame. That's exactly what I don't need to hear right now.
"We all expected better" Raya said not bothering to lower her voice despite the obvious risk of attracting patrol attention "Professional rune guy who can't maintain basic protective magic when people are depending on him"
"The combat situation was impossible to control" Alucent replied, though he knew the excuse sounded really weak even to himself "Three Shadebinders with tracking runes, environmental interference from the forge heat, rushed inscription work under combat stress"
"Excuses" Raya snapped as they moved between steam pipes that hissed and leaked condensation onto the narrow alley floor "Mira trusted you to know what you were doing and now she's dead because you went for weapon enhancement instead of protection"
The accusation hit way harder than it should have because it was basically true, he had enhanced Raya's Weaveblade first instead of doing protective runes for the whole team, tactical thinking that reflected Academy training rather than real-world priorities where keeping people alive mattered more than maximizing damage output.
As they moved deeper into the alley system, Alucent noticed that the brass piping was etched with faint rune patterns that looked like Coalition identification markers, the kind of territorial stuff that resistance fighters used in claiming specific districts or hideaways, Though most of the inscriptions were too corroded to read properly.
"There should be a Runewell about 50 meters ahead" he said checking the directions Mira had given them "Hidden beneath what looks like routine steam venting, diameter maybe one meter and worth about 100 Silverweaves if someone wanted to buy it legally"
100 Silverweaves for a concealed magical power source, that meant the Coalition had put serious resources into maintaining infrastructure throughout Iron Vale's industrial district, the kind of long-term planning that suggested the resistance network was way more extensive than occupation forces realized.
But the sound of heavy footsteps was getting louder, maybe six sets of armored boots moving with coordinated precision that marked professional military units rather than random patrols, and the steam-choked air was carrying voices that sounded way too organized for comfort.
"Forge Coalition guards" Gryan said after listening to the approaching voices "Rune-etched armor, probably responding to reports from the workshop thing"
Forge Coalition guards meant serious opposition, professional soldiers about 6'0" wearing armor that had runic enhancement for strength and protection, equipped with Steamwrenches that could crush human bones or disable mechanical systems, the kind of enemies that required careful tactical planning rather than just making stuff up as they went.
We need concealment magic right now, something that will hide our heat signatures and magical auras from detection runes, but environmental interference is making precision inscription work really difficult.
"I can do a concealment rune" Alucent said pulling out his Runequill despite his hands shaking from guilt and adrenaline "Basic obfuscation pattern, should hide visual and magical signatures for maybe ten minutes"
"Can you actually finish the inscription without getting us all killed?" Raya asked with obvious skepticism "Because your track record with protective magic has been pretty terrible so far"
The criticism was fair but it still stung, especially when they were about to face enemies who would not hesitate to kill anyone connected with the resistance network, Alucent found a relatively clean section of alley wall and started etching the concealment rune, gray light cutting through the smog as he channeled Runeforce through his connection to the hidden Runewell.
The concealment pattern was about seven square centimeters of carefully aligned inscriptions designed to bend light and mess with magical detection, Thread 3 level work that normally would have been straightforward but guilt was making it really hard to maintain the focus required for stable rune inscription.
Come on, I just need steady lines and proper power distribution, can't let this emotional stuff mess up the pattern when everyone's lives depend on getting this right.
But as he worked on the concealment rune, Alucent could feel Shadowcage Taboos pressing against his consciousness, the kind of reality distortion that came from overusing runic magic in areas with high atmospheric corruption, maybe 20% chance of complete exhaustion if he pushed the inscription too hard.
"Rune stability is fluctuating" he whispered as the gray glow flickered and shadows started moving independently around the edges of his vision "Taboo interference plus emotional distraction, this might not hold properly"
"Then make it hold" Raya ordered as the sound of approaching guards got closer "Because if that concealment fails we're all going to end up like Mira"
The guilt hit him like getting punched, making his hand shake as he tried to complete the final inscription lines, momentarily, the concealment rune wavered as his concentration slipped, gray light fading to almost nothing before he managed to stabilize the pattern through pure desperation.
"Concealment active" he said though the rune felt weaker than it should have "Duration maybe five minutes instead of ten, and detection resistance is probably compromised"
"Five minutes is better than nothing" Gryan said as the first Forge Coalition guard appeared at the alley entrance "Everyone stay close to the wall and move slowly"
The concealment rune wrapped around them like gray fog, bending light and disrupting magical auras in a way that should have made them basically invisible to casual observation, but Alucent could feel the instability in the inscription matrix, the kind of weakness that meant detection was still possible if the guards used enhanced scanning techniques.
The lead guard was exactly as described, about 6'0" wearing armor that had runic enhancement for protection and strength, his Steamwrench held ready for combat and his helmet showing advanced optical systems that might be able to see through concealment magic if he knew what to look for.
"Thermal traces indicate recent passage" the guard announced to his companions "Multiple individuals, probably the workshop infiltrators we're tracking"
Thermal detection, that meant the concealment rune was not providing complete coverage, probably because of the inscription weakness caused by emotional interference and environmental corruption, They were hidden from visual observation but their body heat was still leaving traces that experienced trackers could follow.
"Movement in the secondary alley" another guard called out pointing in their direction "Something's messing with the steam patterns"
The second guard raised his Steamwrench and took three steps toward their position, close enough that Alucent could see the runic inscriptions on his armor and smell the oil used to maintain his equipment, and the concealment rune was flickering as Shadowcage Taboos pressed harder against his consciousness.
This is really bad, if the concealment fails now we're trapped in a narrow alley with nowhere to run and enemies who have better equipment and tactical positioning.
But Gryan was already moving, his mechanical arm extending to intercept the guard's Steamwrench in a five second engagement that sent sparks flying between enhanced brass and runic steel, hydraulic systems screaming as they absorbed impact force that would have destroyed normal human bones.
"Contact" the first guard shouted drawing his weapon as Raya slipped past the concealment rune's edge and engaged him in close combat "Multiple targets, resistance fighters"
The 56 seconds fight was a blur of enhanced speed and professional technique, Raya's Weaveblade moving with deadly precision against runic armor while her opponent tried to bring his Steamwrench to bear in the confined alley space, but her combat experience was better and she managed to disarm him with a wrist strike that sent his weapon clattering against the brass piping.
"This way!" Alucent called out as more guards appeared at both ends of the alley "The concealment is failing"
The gray light of the concealment rune was fading fast as Shadowcage Taboos overwhelmed his ability to maintain stable inscription, reality distortion was creeping in around the edges of the pattern until the magical effect collapsed entirely, leaving them exposed in the middle of hostile territory with enemies closing from multiple directions.
Nonetheless, the brief concealment had given them enough tactical advantage to break through the encirclement, and they were moving through Iron Vale's maze of connected alleys toward the hidden Runewell that might provide sanctuary or at least better defensive positions for the next engagement.
"The Runewell should be directly ahead" Tavin said as his Runetoken pulsed with prophetic vision "But I'm seeing something that looks like a trap, Coalition forces positioned around the power source"
A trap that meant their movements had been anticipated, probably through magical surveillance or information from captured resistance fighters, the kind of tactical intelligence that could turn a sanctuary into a killing ground if they approached without proper caution.
"How many forces?" Raya asked as they paused at an intersection between alleys "And what kind of defensive advantages do they have?"
"At least twelve guards plus magical support" Tavin replied, his eyes distant as the vision played out "Positioned to control all approaches to the Runewell, probably planning to capture rather than kill"
Capture meant interrogation and eventual execution, but it also meant they might have opportunities for escape that would not exist if the guards had orders to shoot on sight, Though the Coalition's interrogation techniques were reportedly way worse than quick death in combat.
We still have the Voidshard crystals from the workshop, maybe we can use those for emergency enhancement if the tactical situation becomes impossible, but using untested magical stuff in combat is really risky.
"I can hide the three Voidshard crystals" Alucent said checking their concealment options "Basic obscuration rune, should keep them safe even if we get captured"
"Total value maybe 600 Silverweaves for all three crystals" Gryan calculated "Worth the risk to preserve them for potential rescue operations"
600 Silverweaves represented serious money, enough to fund extended resistance operations or buy equipment for dozens of fighters, but more importantly the combat-grade enhancement crystals might be essential for surviving whatever defenses Eloha had prepared in his fortress chamber.
Alucent found a gap between brass pipes where the Voidshard crystals would fit securely, etching a simple concealment rune that wrapped gray light around the blue-white energy crystals until they were basically invisible to casual observation, Thread 2 level work that was way more stable than the group concealment because emotional interference was not affecting his concentration as much.
"Crystals secured" he said "Recovery inscription keyed to our magical signatures, should be safe for at least 48 hours"
As they prepared to move toward the Runewell location, Gryan had noticed something the guards had missed, a smaller pouch tucked beneath industrial debris that contained additional Coalition funds, maybe 20 Silverweaves that had been concealed during the workshop evacuation, enough money to buy basic supplies and equipment for the next phase of their mission.
"Backup funding" he whispered as they got the concealed coins "Mira must have prepared multiple caches in case the primary payment got compromised"
20 Silverweaves was not enough to replace what they had lost but it was sufficient to buy necessities like food, water, and ammunition, practical resources that might make the difference between mission success and dying of dehydration in some forgotten tunnel beneath Eloha's fortress.
"We can trade 5 Copperweaves for water" Tavin said checking local market prices "Basic hydration supplies, maybe enough for 24 hours if we're careful about rationing"
5 Copperweaves for water represented reasonable value in wartime economy where basic necessities were often more valuable than luxury goods, and staying properly hydrated would be essential when they finally reached the fortress and had to maintain peak performance during extended combat operations.
As they prepared to approach the Runewell location, Alucent could feel the weight of Mira's death pressing down on his consciousness like a physical burden, the knowledge that his tactical mistakes had cost a life and might cost more if he continued to prioritize offensive magic over protective applications.
I need to focus on keeping people alive instead of maximizing damage output, I need to think like someone responsible for other people's safety rather than getting too excited about using this Rune magic, this isn't earth anymore and how could I forget that? I still don't even know why I was brought here. While deep in thoughts Sir Vorn's voice cut through him.
"The guilt is making your rune work unstable" Sir Vorn said as they paused at the next intersection "Emotional interference affects inscription quality, which puts everyone at additional risk and I hope you shall make amends to it"
"I know that" Alucent replied though the criticism was accurate "But knowing it doesn't make the guilt go away, doesn't change the fact that Mira died because I made the wrong tactical decisions"
"Mira died because we're fighting a war against superior forces" Raya said though her tone was still harsh "But if you let guilt mess with your magical abilities, her death becomes meaningless and we all die for nothing"
It was comforting to Alucent to hear, At least he now knows Raya just isn't completely mad at him, but the sound of approaching guards was getting closer again, multiple units coordinating their search patterns with the kind of professional efficiency that marked experienced urban warfare specialists, and the steam-choked air was carrying voices that suggested they were running out of concealment options.
"Time to move" Gryan said as the first armored figures appeared through the smog "And time to figure out whether that Runewell trap is something we can handle or something that gets us all killed"
The alley ahead was narrow and choked with brass piping, steam vents creating visual barriers that might provide tactical concealment, but also limiting their movement options if the situation turned into close combat, Every step taking them closer to the hidden Runewell and whatever defensive preparations the Coalition had made.
"Remember that concealment runes are only effective if you can maintain emotional stability during inscription" Sir Vorn said as they prepared to face whatever lay ahead "Guilt and anger compromise runeforce precision, which compromises survival chances"
But even as they moved toward the Runewell location, Alucent could hear the sound of boots on brass gratings, multiple patrol units closing in from different directions with that coordinated precision that suggested their movements had been tracked despite the concealment efforts, The trap was closing and they were running out of time to reach sanctuary.
Behind them the alley filled with steam as guards began systematic searches of every concealment location, professional techniques that would eventually find any hiding place or cached equipment, ahead the Runewell waited with its promise of magical power and its threat of tactical disadvantage if Coalition forces controlled the approaches.
"Whatever happens next" Raya said as they prepared for the final approach "we honor Mira's sacrifice by completing this mission, even if it means taking risks that might get us killed"
The smog swirled around them as they disappeared deeper into Iron Vale's industrial maze, carrying the weight of recent failure and the knowledge that every tactical decision from this point forward would determine whether their impossible mission succeeded or ended with their deaths in some forgotten corner of Eloha's occupied territory.
The war had become personal, and the alleys of Iron Vale were closing around them like a trap that might spring at any moment.