The atmosphere in the strategy chamber was as cold as the minds of its occupants. Unlike the Forge or the Arcane Circle, this room was sober, filled with tactical maps of Aethelgard showing the shield breaches caused by Ren's sabotage.
Kaito entered, still feeling the sting of Zylpha's recent discipline. Waiting for him was Lysandra Vane, the fallen Inquisitor, whose face, scarred by Ren's decisions, always wore an expression of suppressed resentment. She represented the intelligence of the Ash Queen.
"The Spectre," Lysandra said, with a mocking inflection. She was the only one who called him by his title without a trace of respect. "The Queen wants you to prove that your success here is not limited to intimidating your brother."
"What is the mission?" Kaito asked. He had learned from Elora that efficiency was the only path to power.
Lysandra approached a holographic map showing the outskirts of Aethelgard.
"There is a resistance cell in the Middle Lands: The Silver Hand. Small, foolish, but well-connected to the Conclave's lower circles. After Paladin Ren destroyed the shields, they believe it is their time to act."
"You want me to destroy them?"
"No. I want you to control them. I need you to use the Cloak of Infiltration again. You will pose as an Elite Paladin of Aethelgard sent to "assist" this cell. The objective is simple: convince them to act on our orders and, ultimately, sacrifice their leader in an act we will blame on the Light."
Lysandra turned, her dark gaze meeting Kaito's.
"This is proof of political cruelty, Spectre." You have to convince them to trust you with their lives, knowing that it's sending them to their deaths.
The Condition of Intelligence
The risk was immense. If Kaito failed, the Queen's operation abroad would crumble.
"You are assigning me a mission that requires absolute trust," Kaito said. "Yet you hate me for my escape and the fall of your own position."
Lysandra blushed, a gesture that showed more fangs than amusement.
"Hatred is my specialty, Spectre. But the Queen wants us to work together. And I don't serve toys, but winners."
Lysandra leaned toward Kaito, her voice low and conspiratorial.
"My condition for success is not physical, but political. My revenge against Ren requires that he lose absolutely everything, even his history. Master Elora has access to Ren's memories through the bond we use." I want you, at the end of each mission, to allow me to extract and manipulate those memories. I want to use them to misinform the Light and destroy the myth of the Paladin.
Lysandra was asking for a share of control of Ren, Kaito's most valuable possession. It was a deal of power, not pleasure.
"And his reward, Lysandra, will be..."
"My reward will be the power the Conclave owes me and the satisfaction of watching the Light burn," Lysandra interrupted, her Shadow aura intensifying. "You want my knowledge of Aethelgard. I want your control over the Paladin. Have the cell sacrifice itself for the Shadow's cause, and my mind and my secrets will be yours."
Kaito ascended. The mission required him to combine Elora's intellect, Zylpha's discipline, and the Queen's manipulation. It was the final test of his training at the Citadel.
The Last Connection
Before Kaito left for the portal, the need to secure his tool forced him to return to his training chamber. He found Ren recovering from Zylpha's discipline, his body immobilized by magical restraints.
Kaito showed no mercy. He activated the Lasso.
"I'm going out, Ren," Kaito transmitted into his brother's mind. "I'm going to the Lands Between. I need your knowledge of the Silver Hand to be perfect."
Ren, forced into obedience, could not hide the truth. The Lasso showed Kaito the security structures, the emotional weaknesses of the Silver Hand's leaders, and their communication codes. Ren was a library of forced betrayal.
"Why?" Ren managed to force a plea into the Lasso. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because that's what a weapon does, Ren," Kaito transmitted, with absolute coldness. And you taught me how to forge it.
Kaito retreated, leaving Ren in torment. The protagonist, the Spectre, crossed the portal to the Lands Between. He was ready to use terror and lies to grow the power of his Ash Harem on the outside.