Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm

by Lea von Löwenstein

Chapter 18: A Plan to Return

The chamber was silent after Rae’s revelation, the weight of the green fabric in her hand heavier than it had any right to be. The others stared at her, their expressions a mix of apprehension and determination. Rae’s jaw tightened as she met their gazes.

“I’ll go again tomorrow night,” she said, her voice calm but unyielding.

“No,” Celestine snapped, stepping forward. “This is reckless, Rae. You barely made it back tonight. If they find you down there—”

“They didn’t,” Rae interrupted, her tone sharper than usual. “I wasn’t seen. And now we have proof that Talia was taken. We can’t stop now.”

Marcus crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “You’re putting too much on yourself. You’ve scouted the area. We should all go next time—together.”

“No,” Rae said firmly, shaking her head. “A group is too risky right now. The tunnels are tight, and the patrols are unpredictable. I can move faster and quieter alone.”

“That’s a lie,” Celestine said coldly. “You think you’re protecting us, but you’re just taking all the risk on yourself. That’s not leadership, Rae. That’s arrogance.”

Rae’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s strategy. If something happens to me, the rest of you can still act. If all of us go and get caught, it’s over.”

The Tension Grows

Tyren leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “Rae… I get what you’re saying, but Celestine’s right. You’re not invincible. Let me help. I can monitor the patrols and give you real-time data. It’s safer that way.”

“And what happens if your signal gives us away?” Rae countered. “One malfunction, one unexpected sweep, and we’re compromised.”

Soren’s voice was barely a whisper, but it carried through the room. “If you go alone again, you might not come back.”

Rae turned to him, her expression softening. “I will come back. This isn’t about taking unnecessary risks. It’s about doing what needs to be done. If I don’t, who will?”

Celestine threw up her hands, pacing the room. “You’re impossible, Rae. You act like you’re the only one who can do this. But you’re not.”

“I know I’m not,” Rae said quietly, her gaze steady. “But right now, I’m the best chance we have.”

The Plan

Marcus stepped forward, his deep voice breaking the tension. “If you’re set on going alone, then at least let us support you. Celestine’s right—we need to be a team, even if we’re not all physically there.”

Rae hesitated, her mind racing. Finally, she nodded. “Fine. Tyren, you’ll monitor the patrol logs. If you see anything unusual, send a signal to the beacon. One pulse means ‘wait.’ Two means ‘abort.’”

Tyren nodded, relief flickering across his face. “Got it.”

“Marcus, you’ll stay with Tyren and Celestine. If something goes wrong, you’ll be the fallback.”

“And me?” Soren asked, his voice stronger now.

Rae looked at him, her expression softening. “You’ll stay with the others. Learn everything you can from Tyren and Celestine. You’ll need it.”

Soren frowned but nodded. “Okay.”

The Resolve

Celestine crossed her arms, her eyes still sharp. “If you’re going, you’d better not get yourself caught. I’m serious, Rae. We need you.”

Rae offered a faint smile. “I know. I’ll be back.”

As the group dispersed to prepare, Rae sat alone for a moment, staring at the fabric in her hand. The weight of the mission pressed down on her, but she couldn’t let it show. Her team needed her to be strong, to lead.

Tomorrow night, she would return to the depths. This time, she wouldn’t just scout. She would find the answers they needed—and maybe even the key to saving Talia.

But deep in her heart, she knew that the shadows of the Scola were growing darker. And this time, she wasn’t sure what she would find waiting for her.