Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm
by Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 16: Shadows and Decisions
The cold stone walls of the hidden training chamber felt closer than usual that night, the air thick with tension. The group had moved quickly and quietly through the Scola’s dimly lit corridors, ensuring no one would notice their absence. Tyren’s cogitator hummed faintly as he checked for any unusual activity in the patrol logs, while the others stretched and prepared for another intense session.
Tonight’s training wasn’t just about sharpening skills. It was about preparing for the decisions that lay ahead—decisions that could change everything.
The Training: Pushing Limits
Rae stood in the center of the room, her sharp gaze moving over each of her teammates. “Tonight’s focus is speed and precision,” she said. “In the lower levels, we’ll have no room for error. We’ll practice close-quarters movement and silent takedowns.”
Marcus nodded, already adjusting his stance. Celestine flexed her hands, her movements calculated and precise. Soren looked nervous but ready, and Tyren tucked his cogitator away, stepping forward to join the group.
The drills began, each exercise designed to mimic the confined, unpredictable conditions of the depths. Rae set up obstacles in the room—chairs, crates, and pieces of cloth to simulate tripwires. The team moved through them one by one, their footsteps nearly silent on the cold stone floor.
“Faster,” Rae said as Marcus maneuvered through the obstacles. “You’re powerful, but you need to be quick.”
He grunted in acknowledgment, his movements becoming more fluid with each attempt.
“Tyren, don’t overthink it,” Rae added as he hesitated before a simulated tripwire. “Trust your instincts.”
By the end of the session, the team was drenched in sweat but more cohesive than ever. Rae called for a break, and they sat in a loose circle on the floor, their breaths heavy.
The Discussion: What to Do About Talia
Rae leaned back against the wall, her voice breaking the silence. “We need to talk about Talia.”
The group’s exhaustion didn’t dull the tension that followed her words. Celestine was the first to speak. “She’s gone. If she’s still alive, she’s deep in the lower levels. That much is obvious.”
Tyren frowned. “And if she’s not alive? If… whatever’s down there got to her?”
“We don’t know that,” Rae said firmly. “What we do know is that she found something—or someone—she wasn’t supposed to. That note wasn’t just a warning. It was a clue.”
“But why leave a clue at all?” Marcus asked, his deep voice thoughtful. “If she didn’t want us to follow, why not say nothing?”
“Because she wanted us to know,” Rae replied. “She trusted someone would take the risk, even if she couldn’t.”
Soren shifted uncomfortably. “What if she doesn’t want to be found? What if she… chose to go down there?”
Celestine narrowed her eyes. “No one chooses to disappear in the Scola. If she went willingly, it was because she had no other option.”
The room fell silent again, the weight of the discussion pressing down on them. Rae’s mind raced. Every instinct told her that Talia’s disappearance was connected to the deeper secrets of the Scola. Whatever was hiding in the shadows of the lower levels was powerful—and dangerous.
“We have two choices,” Rae said finally. “We can wait and hope the instructors give us answers—which they won’t. Or we can go down there ourselves and find out what happened.”
Tyren raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously considering going after her?”
Rae nodded. “I am. But not until we’re ready.”
The Group Splits
Celestine crossed her arms. “And what does ‘ready’ mean? We’re strong, but we’re not invincible. If we go too soon, we’ll end up like her—or worse.”
Rae met her gaze evenly. “It means knowing every route, every patrol schedule, every potential escape point. It means being able to handle anything that comes at us. We’re close, but we’re not there yet.”
Marcus spoke next, his voice calm but firm. “Then we focus on preparation. No rash moves.”
Tyren sighed, running a hand through his hair. “And what if we prepare and still fail? What if whatever’s down there is something we can’t handle?”
“Then we’ll know we did everything we could,” Rae said. “But sitting here and doing nothing isn’t an option.”
Soren’s voice was barely above a whisper. “What if we can’t bring her back?”
The question hung in the air like a shadow, and Rae took a deep breath before answering. “Then we make sure no one else suffers the same fate.”
The Resolve
The group sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Celestine stood, her movements deliberate. “Fine. We prepare. But if I think for a second that this is suicide, I’m pulling us out.”
Rae nodded. “Agreed.”
Marcus rose next, his imposing figure towering over the group. “We’ll do it together. No one goes alone.”
Tyren gave a weak grin. “Guess I’ll keep digging through those patrol logs. If we’re going down there, we’re going down smart.”
Soren hesitated before standing. His hands were trembling, but there was a spark of determination in his eyes. “I’ll do my part.”
Rae looked at each of them, her chest swelling with a mix of pride and apprehension. “Good. We move carefully. But when the time comes, we don’t hesitate.”
The group nodded, and Rae felt a flicker of hope. They were united, determined, and stronger than ever. Whatever lay in the shadows of the Scola, they would face it together.
As they left the chamber and returned to their bunks, Rae couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. Talia’s warning echoed in her mind, but she pushed the fear aside. They would be ready.
They had to be.
