CHAPTER 78: AN ALLIANCE

Victoria’s safe house turned out to be a reinforced basement beneath an abandoned smithy three blocks from the tournament hall.

"In here," she said, pulling open a concealed door. "Quickly."

We descended into darkness. Kaeel was the last one in, sealing the entrance behind us with nature magic of vines growing over the door, making it invisible from above.

Light crystals flickered to life, revealing a surprisingly large space. Weapons racks lined one wall and a map covered another with supply crates were stacked in the corner.

"You’ve been preparing for this," I observed with a raised brow as I saw everything.

"For three months," Victoria confirmed. "Ever since we learned the tournament would be held in Silvercrest. The League always makes moves during large gatherings since there would be too many targets and too much chaos, too easy to hide operations."

"The explosions?" Lucille asked, already examining the exits.

"Its a distraction and message," Kael said. She moved to the map, pointing to three marked locations. "First explosion to empty warehouse district, there was no casualties, also the second is abandoned temple while the third is an old guard barracks, scheduled for demolition."

"They weren’t trying to kill anyone?" Marcus realized and frowned.

"Not yet," Victoria said grimly. "Those were warnings and a demonstrations. ’We’re here, we can strike anywhere, and you can’t stop us. It’s for intimidation."

"But why warn us at all?" Ravenna asked. "If they wanted to attack, why not just attack?"

"Because killing everyone would draw too much attention," I said, pieces falling into place. "The tournament has royal observers, international delegates, Church officials. A mass casualty event would trigger investigations they can’t control. Besides, we don’t even know their actual goal here in Silvercrest."

"Exactly." Victoria pulled out a document, spread it on the table. "They’re probably here to eliminate specific targets."

The document listed all eight academies and their teams.

ASTRAL HAVEN ACADEMY.

Team 1 (Thornheart): HIGH PRIORITY TARGET

Captain: Hadeon Ravana

- Status: Primary elimination target

- Team 2 (Celestius): MONITORING

- Captain: Adrian Celestius (SSS-rank, Council asset)

- Status: Complicated - asset showing independence

CRIMSON SPIRE ACADEMY.

- Team 1: LOW PRIORITY

- Naval combat specialists, no cycle research detected

- Team 2: LOW PRIORITY

SHADOWGROVE ACADEMY

- Team 1 (Nightwhisper): MONITORING

- Captain: Kaeel Nightwhisper

- Status: Known resistance member, too valuable to eliminate

IRONHEART MILITARY ACADEMY

- Team 1 (Steelheart): PROTECTED STATUS

- Captain: Victoria Steelheart (survivor, Cycle 47, high-level threat)

- Status: Do not engage without authorization

MYSTHOLM INSTITUTE

- Team 1: MEDIUM PRIORITY.

- Captain: Cipher (researching ancient texts, possible awareness)

- Status: Investigation ongoing

- Team 2: LOW PRIORITY

STORMWATCH ACADEMY.

- Team 1: LOW PRIORITY

- Team 2: LOW PRIORITY

GOLDLEAF MERCHANT ACADEMY.

- WITHDRAWN

RUINS ACADEMY.

- Team 1: **ELIMINATED**

- Captain: Deceased (researching Council of Fates openly)

- 3 members: Deceased

- 2 members: Critical condition

- Status: Target successfully neutralized

The room went silent.

"Three dead," Seraphina whispered. "They killed three students."

"Students who were researching something similar or have connections to any organizations that’s awear," Kaeel said quietly. "Their captain, Ashford had found some evidence he was looking forward to presenting his findings at the tournament’s academic symposium. Two days before they arrived, his team was ambushed on the road."

"The League doesn’t do subtle elimination anymore," Victoria added. "Not when the target is about to go public. They hit hard and hit fast, make it look like bandits or monsters, and move on."

"And we’re the primary target," I said, studying the document. "Why not hit us on the road then? We were vulnerable for five days."

"Because you had two hundred soldiers shadowing you," Victoria said. "Victor Ravana isn’t stupid. The League couldn’t risk an assault on that scale without revealing themselves, besides they don’t know what you know or have. It seems they’re weary of you for some reasons."

"But now we’re in the city. Public and exposed, the only security is those provided by the tournament."

"Exactly. They’re waiting for the right moment. During a match or at a social event. Somewhere with plausible deniability." Victoria pointed to another section of the document. "They’ve already positioned operatives that we’re doing our best to find.

"Also, as you can see, the city military is already on high alert. They’re going to find the situation harder than they expected, that’s for sure."

Damian stepped forward. "Young Master, we should withdraw. This is too dangerous, we can’t afford to walk willingly into a trap that we can see "

"Can’t," I said. "If we withdraw, the Baron’s charges will stick even more. We lose political protection. The League can eliminate us quietly afterward with no one the wiser.

"My Uncle won’t be always there to protect him and since I’m not the Duke yet, I can’t use the family like I would."

"But if we stay...."

"If we stay, we’re targets in a shooting gallery." I looked at Victoria and Kaeel. "Which is why you’re here. You’re not just warning us. You’re offering help. We’re a target but also a trap to lure some interesting people out."

"Smart boy," Victoria said with approval. "Yes. The Resistance, such as it is, has decided you’re worth protecting. You’ve accomplished more in six months than most manage in years. And I won’t lie, you are strange. As far as we know you are the only one that became awear with no one telling him anything."

I smiled casually and wondered how many lies she already told me. Also, how many spies did they have to do what they did?

"What kind of help can you give me?"

Kael pulled out another document. "Intelligence. We’ve identified the four confirmed League operatives. We’ll share their descriptions, locations, patterns. We’ve also arranged enhanced security for your team’s accommodations, the Imperial Hotel in third floor, east wing. We control that section."

"Additionally," Victoria continued, "we’re coordinating with other aware individuals. Cipher from Mystholm knows partial truths about the cycles. He’s inexperienced but brilliant. The Stormwatch captain, Lyra Tempest, has some dealings too. We’re building a network."

"An alliance of people the League wants dead," Marcus said. "That’s either brilliant or suicidal."

"Both," Kael said with a slight smile. "Welcome to resistance work."