Small Steps

"I didn't know Homunculi observed such human subtleties," Nysa remarked once Neshava was out of view.

"You said it yourself. We're alike—tools with feelings, goals, and purposes. Ours simply happen to be much more defined," Jonam sharply answered.

He stretched the Emerald Plaque toward Giron before continuing, "Place this in the treasury and take Bianor's shadow with you. Try to glean more information about the Henosis Seekers, but don't force it if it refuses to cooperate. If our enemies have an Archangel on their side, it could easily pick up on minute disturbances in the city's Mana flow. That'd blow our current advantage."

Jonam then looked at the black-haired, twelve-year-old Hierapetran girl. "You said that you knew the place well. What are the chances of our movements getting noticed there?"

"Slim," she replied with a ponderous expression, "Even though it's crowded, the branches from Gonnos, Himera, and Delos could slip inside unseen if they use the huge influx of morning caravans. People are coming from everywhere to witness the Sacrificial Ceremony."

Giron took the relic from Jonam, hoisting it above his shoulder. "There's something I don't understand. If the base in the slums is merely transitional, why are we going through the trouble of setting up new headquarters on the outskirts? It might even be dangerous if they pick up on our presence and surround us before we realize it."

"You need to read between the lines," Jonam said, "The implication of it being transitional means the Henosis Seekers have to go through it to move between their main headquarters. By cutting off their primary bridge throughout the city, we'll isolate each group and take them out one by one."

He reached for a hidden cabinet underneath the counter, taking out a detailed map of the Divine Capital. Nysa, Giron, and the black-haired girl immediately moved closer to it.

"Priene is uniquely designed in that it leans East, pointing towards Mount Eurymedon. The slums stretch from the northern side to the center, occupying a good chunk of the city. If the Henosis Seekers have a transitional base there, it makes sense to assume that they also have multiple bases scattered throughout the Divine Capital."

Nysa pinched her chin, deep in thought. "I agree. The Temple of Stars heavily monitors movement on the city's eastern side. The Gilded Watch controls traffic on the western side. The best way to move discreetly from one corner to another is through the slums. Since it's only a transitional base, logical reasoning dictates that they use it as a secure bridge to shift between other bases."

"Why is that, though?" Jonam asked, mostly talking to himself. "By this logic, the slums are technically the best place to hide. Why would they establish bases elsewhere in the Divine Capital and risk getting caught?"

Everyone glanced at Bianor's shadow at the same time, which made it flicker in nervousness. "I-... I already swore that I wouldn't lie. You're free to believe me or not."

"Awakened shadows can't lie once they've sworn an oath," Nysa confirmed. "Perhaps we should investigate the base first? Should we discover an issue, we'd have avoided wasting time and resources on a fruitless plan. The Henosis Seekers are wary of the Mekkubal Order but not of me. I can think of plenty of ways to fish them out if this doesn't work."

Jonam marked a pause before nodding. "Let's do that. Giron, you'll keep an eye on the Emerald Plaque. I'll head over to the slums with Lady Quinctillia and Asteri. You can use the relic and contact the other branches if I'm not back by tomorrow morning. Master Yannai's disciple, Elementalist Yaen Beracha, should know what to do if that happens."

"Understood." The grizzled Homunculus proceeded deeper inside the shop, dragging the Grade 2 Relic like a vulgar slab of rock.

"We should make haste," Jonam left the counter, unlocking the apothecary's door. "The quicker we move, the less time they have to notice Bianor's disappearance."

"All right!" The black-haired girl hurried outside, strangely excited.

Nysa followed closely behind, maintaining her poise despite her bubbling anticipation. She was making small steps toward her goal, and the exhilaration it brought slowly erased the bitter taste of her initial failure.

This time, I'll succeed. I'll stake my life on it.

—

Around the same time, in the Great Sanctuary of Priene.

Laemno returned to his chambers long after the sun had set, escorted by Lyra Elcmene and Stolos of Priene. While opening the door, he noticed the magus duo talking with the armored guards, though he couldn't hear what they were saying.

Once inside, he was greeted by his chandelier's familiar, starry glimmer. The floor-to-ceiling window still showed the silver-and-white city in all its splendor, peaceful under the pitch-black moon's serene gaze. The seven-pointed star had grown quite a bit, sprawling over the darkened sky like a spider web made of light.

After ensuring that no one else would enter, the first thing Laemno did was inspect the hiding spot for his treasured items—underneath the sixteenth tile starting diagonally from the marble table's southwestern leg, in a secluded corner close to the painted ceiling with the Goddess Adonaios' depiction.

Laemno's reasoning for its location was that it didn't offer a good point of view to observe the painting while also standing halfway under the bookshelves, making it unlikely to step on it accidentally.

He slid the tile open without wasting time and plunged his hand inside, only to be pleasantly surprised. The triangular mirror, the notebook, the amphoras, and the black sticks were all there.

Didn't they thoroughly search his chambers during his absence?

After Laemno's discussion with the Grace of Blossoms, he had expected them to at least scour the entire wing with perception magecraft.

Last time, Lyra Elcmene found out about the cracked table mirror hidden under my bed. Sure, the items' hiding spots got a little more elaborate, but would that really make any difference for someone using occult means to search for them? Did I overestimate the extent of the Grace of Blossoms' knowledge?

Laemno hid the occult relics in various pockets within his tunic before replacing the tile.

Actually, I still can't grasp why I'm even free. I wasn't thinking straight this afternoon and openly challenged a mythical existence, but she let me come back here with no fuss. Is this her way of belittling my resolve? Or does she want to reap more information by temporarily letting me roam unchecked?

Laemno retraced his steps back to the entrance and slightly opened the door, enough for his head to peek out. To his surprise, only two armored guards remained, with one standing near the hallway's intersection with his wing.

"Excuse me," he addressed the guard closest to him. "Where are Lyra and Stolos?"

"They've gone back to the Luminous House. Do you wish to send someone to fetch them, Honored One?" The guard's tone was mild, with no trace of the tension displayed during the previous days.

"There's no need." Laemno marked a pause, cautiously choosing his words. "Actually, I wanted to know. Did something happen? Why are there fewer guards?"

"It was an explicit order from the venerated Grace of Blossoms, Honored One," the guard spoke frankly. "She dismissed two-thirds of the Gilded Watch stationed here. I have no idea why, however."