They emerged from the Glitterdelve into the dusk the oppressive quiet of the Belt now a comforting reprieve. No one followed them.
The return trip to the mountain was silent with everyone absorbed in their reflections. The mirror-doppelgangers represented more, than a bodily battle; they were a mental dissection.
Back in the strategy room, the mood was somber.
"They weren't aiming to apprehend you " Morgan stated, interrupting the quiet. He was applying ice to a spot, on his jaw. "They were gathering data. Assessing your boundaries, your choices when stressed, your responses. Valentina underwent an evaluation today."
"And we came up empty " Sierra grumbled, scrubbing her rifle with furious strokes.
"We received a caution " Tania whispered. She gazed at Cassiathon, who was fixated, on his hands. "We understand their step. They won't dispatch an army. They'll deliver a made scenario. One crafted to compel him to decide between his passion and his identity."
Cassiathon eventually broke the silence his tone harsh. "The mirrors… they revealed to me the sensation of being unbroken. Of being complete. It was… calming."
The atmosphere, in the room grew tense.
"It was false " Celeste stated resolutely. "A frozen calm. Like an insect trapped in resin. You weren't complete; you were merely… paused."
"I understand " he replied, glancing upward. His gaze carried a somber determination. ". Realizing it's false doesn't quell the part of me that craves it. That's their tool. Not aimed at my flesh. Directed at my fatigue."
The Angel of Death who had remained a watcher since their arrival at last emerged from the darkness. He rested a hand on Cassiathons shoulder. The contact was gentle. Bore the burden of ages.
"The yearning for cessation of conflict is not a flaw. It represents the tension inherent, in all conscious beings. I have sensed it throughout eternity." He withdrew his hand. "You encountered a unchanging form of yourself and turned it down. You opted for the dynamic contradiction. That is no defeat. It is an identity."
He surveyed the room taking in their resolute expressions. "The Queen possesses her information now. The upcoming confrontation will be crucial. We need to ready ourselves not for a fight of strength. A fight of spirit. For Cassiathons soul."
He faced Morgan. "Have your people been settled?"
Morgan agreed. "To the extent that's possible."
"Excellent. Now is the moment to grow our council. We have to think past survival. We need to grasp the framework." The Angels onyx eyes appeared to pierce the mountain staring into the disorder of the shattered realm. "There are forces, at play. The ancient deities awaken. The Primordial, Nyx has expressed curiosity. We can no longer remain a stronghold. We have to transform into a hub."
The objective had shifted. It was no longer about staying concealed or responding. They intended to locate the forces, in the fading world. They planned to form a coalition or at the least comprehend the war zone.
Cassiathon rose. Fatigue lingered,. Beneath it lay a resolute determination, shaped within the atrium of mirrors. He had witnessed the calm of yielding.. He had opted for battle.
"From where should we begin?" he inquired.
The Angel of Death looked at him. "We start with the one who values balance above all else. The neutral party. We find Kuro Kane."