"No."
Ren didn't even hesitate.
Liora blinked. "No?"
"No," he repeated. "Absolutely not. That's a terrible idea."
Mira didn't answer right away, but the look on her face said she wasn't convinced either.
Liora crossed her arms. "You don't even know the full plan yet."
Ren let out a short laugh. "You just said we're going to find the Wardens. That is the bad plan."
"It's the only plan," Liora said. "They're everywhere. They control the city. If Kael is connected to them, then they're the fastest way to find him."
"Fastest way to get caught, you mean," Ren shot back.
Mira finally spoke. "She's not wrong."
Ren turned to her. "You can't be serious."
"I didn't say it was a good idea," Mira replied calmly. "I said she's not wrong."
Liora looked between them. "So?"
Mira sighed, rubbing her temple. "So we don't walk straight into a group of Wardens and ask questions."
Ren nodded quickly. "Yes. That. I like that version better."
"We do it carefully," Mira continued. "We watch first. Learn their patterns. Find a weakness."
Ren relaxed slightly. "Okay. That sounds less like immediate death."
Liora gave a small nod. "Fine. We observe first."
Ren pointed at her. "You don't do anything reckless without telling us."
"I haven't been reckless."
Mira raised an eyebrow.
Ren just stared at her.
Liora hesitated. "…Okay, maybe a little."
They moved just after sunrise.
The upper districts of Valecor were a different world.
Where the lower city was broken and uneven, this part was… controlled. Clean. Rebuilt. The glass towers here stood tall, their surfaces polished and unbroken, reflecting the pale morning light like mirrors.
It felt wrong.
Like the damage had been erased instead of repaired.
"Stay close," Mira murmured. "And keep your head down."
Liora adjusted her hood, trying not to stare too much.
People moved here too, but differently. Straighter posture. Sharper clothing. And every so often, someone wearing silver would pass, and the entire street would shift slightly around them.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
But something close.
Respect forced by power.
They stopped near a narrow side street overlooking a larger avenue.
"Wait here," Mira said.
Across the road, a group of Wardens stood near one of the glass towers. Four of them. Perfectly still. Like statues placed there on purpose.
"Do they always stand like that?" Liora whispered.
Ren nodded. "When they're guarding something, yeah."
"Or someone," Mira added.
Liora's gaze lifted to the tower behind them.
Tall.
Perfect.
Untouched.
"…That's where we're going, isn't it?" she said.
Mira didn't answer.
Ren groaned softly. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice."
They watched for a while.
Minutes stretched.
Patterns emerged.
Wardens rotated positions every so often slow, precise movements. Another pair would pass through the street at regular intervals. Civilians kept their distance without being told.
"They're not just guarding," Liora said quietly. "They're controlling."
Mira nodded. "Exactly."
Ren leaned against the wall. "So what's the move?"
Liora didn't respond right away.
Her eyes were on the tower.
On the glass.
On the way the light moved across its surface.
The shard in her hand warmed slightly.
It's there, the voice whispered.
Her breath caught.
"What is?" she murmured.
Ren glanced at her. "What?"
Liora shook her head quickly. "Nothing."
But she knew.
Whatever the shard was connected to..
It was inside that tower.
"We need a distraction," Liora said suddenly.
Ren straightened. "No."
"We're not even done planning," Mira added.
"It's the only way in," Liora insisted. "We can't just walk past them."
"Or," Ren said, "we don't go in at all."
Liora looked at him. "You said it yourself. There's no safe place."
"That doesn't mean we walk into the most dangerous one!"
Mira watched Liora carefully. "What kind of distraction?"
Ren looked betrayed. "You're entertaining this?"
"I'm evaluating it," Mira said calmly.
Liora took a breath. "Something small. Something that pulls at least two of them away."
"And then?" Mira asked.
"Then I go in."
Ren's head snapped toward her. "Absolutely not."
"I'm the only one who can use this," she said, holding up the shard. "If something reacts inside, I need to be there."
Mira didn't argue.
That worried Ren even more.
"You're both serious," he said.
"Yes," Liora and Mira said at the same time.
Ren dragged a hand down his face. "I regret everything."
A moment later, Mira handed Ren a small metal object.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Your distraction."
Ren squinted at it. "This looks like something that explodes."
"It doesn't explode," Mira said.
"That's not reassuring."
"It makes noise."
Ren sighed. "Of course it does."
He glanced at Liora. "You owe me for this."
"I didn't ask you to....."
"Too late," he said. "I'm already doing it."
Mira pointed down the street. "Throw it there. Then run."
"Run where?"
"Anywhere that's not here."
"Great. Love the planning."
They got into position.
Liora's heart pounded as she watched Ren slip away, moving carefully through the side streets until he was just out of sight.
Mira stood beside her, calm but tense.
"You don't have to do this," Mira said quietly.
Liora didn't look at her.
"Yes, I do."
"Because of your brother?"
"…Because of everything," Liora replied.
Mira studied her for a second.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
A sharp metallic clang echoed through the street.
Then another.
Then a sudden burst of loud, rattling noise.
The Wardens reacted instantly.
Two of them turned toward the sound, moving with sharp precision.
"Now," Mira said.
Liora didn't hesitate.
She ran.
Crossing the street felt like stepping into open fire.
Every second stretched. Every movement felt too loud, too obvious. But the remaining Wardens didn't move they stayed focused forward, unaware.
Liora reached the tower entrance.
A tall, seamless doorway of glass.
No handle.
No visible opening.
"Of course," she muttered.
The shard pulsed.
Touch it.
Liora placed her hand against the surface.
For a moment....
Nothing happened.
Then....
The glass shifted.
Like water.
A ripple spread outward from her hand, and the door silently opened.
Liora stared.
"…Okay," she whispered. "That's new."
"Go," Mira urged from behind.
Liora stepped inside.
The door closed behind her.
Silently.
Sealing her in.
The air inside the tower felt different.
Still.
Heavy.
Alive in a way she couldn't explain.
The walls shimmered faintly, reflections bending in ways that didn't match reality.
And somewhere, deeper within....
Something called to her.
The shard burned in her hand.
You're close, the voice whispered.
Liora took a step forward.
Then another.
The silence wrapped around her.
And for the first time since entering the city.
She was completely alone....
END OF CHAPTER 9....
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