Mission Start

Ezra and his team waited for the cover of darkness to begin their mission. Once night blanketed the area, Ezra and Storm split up, each heading toward their assigned targets.

Ezra moved swiftly through the dense forest, his steps light and deliberate as he approached the first base. He crouched behind a tree as he examined the perimeter. This base was smaller than anticipated—only about a dozen guards patrolled outside. Their movements were sluggish and uncoordinated, and Ezra detected no trace of aether or magic emanating from them.

Carefully concealing his own aether, Ezra scaled the outer wall of the base, his gloved hands finding purchase on the rough stone. Reaching the top, he peered over, confirming his earlier observations: minimal defenses and no sign of aetheric power. He allowed himself a small, cautious smile. This one should be easy to handle.

Ezra swung over the wall and used a tiny pulse of aether to slow his descent, landing silently on the ground below. His dark eyes scanned his surroundings for any signs of movement. Satisfied that no one had noticed his approach, he crouched low, blending into the shadows.

To create a distraction, Ezra focused a small amount of aether into his fingertip. He flicked it toward a nearby tree, sending a razor-thin blade of energy slicing through a branch. The branch cracked loudly as it fell to the ground, causing the guards to jerk their heads toward the noise.

"Did you hear that?" one of them muttered, gripping his weapon tightly.

"Probably nothing," another guard said, though he sounded less than convinced.

Using the brief moment of distraction, Ezra darted past the guards and slipped into the base's inner compound. The interior was just as sparsely guarded as the exterior, and the lack of noise suggested most of the occupants were asleep—or absent altogether.

He moved through the shadows, keeping his presence undetectable as he began surveying the base's layout. Ezra noted the locations of supply caches, sleeping quarters, and a central tent that likely belonged to the leader. Satisfied with his reconnaissance, he retreated the way he came, slipping back over the wall and disappearing into the forest without a trace.

As he made his way to the rendezvous point, Ezra couldn't help but feel confident. One base down, three more to scout. So far, this is going better than expected. But he remained vigilant. This was only the beginning, and he knew the real challenge was yet to come.

Ezra moved swiftly toward the next base, the wind rushing past his face as he pushed his inhuman speed to its limits. When he arrived, he immediately noted the differences compared to the previous base. This one was larger and more fortified, though clearly not the cultists' main stronghold. Massive stone walls surrounded the compound, their surfaces smooth and unmarred—constructed with magic, Ezra surmised. Each corner was crowned with a watchtower, and guards armed with rune-etched spears patrolled the perimeter with mechanical precision.

This is no ordinary camp, Ezra thought, his dark eyes scanning the defenses. They've poured resources into this place.

Scaling the wall was an option, but the watchtowers made it risky. The guards were sharp, and any misstep would draw attention. Instead, Ezra opted for a direct approach. He moved like a shadow, appearing behind the two heavily armored guards stationed at the entrance before they even realized someone was there. With a precise release of aether, he disrupted their veins, sending a wave of energy that incapacitated them instantly. Both crumpled to the ground silently.

Ezra slipped through the gates, his senses on high alert. He kept to the shadows, moving from cover to cover, mindful of the patrolling guards and the ever-present eyes in the watchtowers above. The base's interior was bustling, though not as chaotic as the last one. These cultists were organized, their movements deliberate.

The centerpiece of the base was a fortress constructed of the same smooth stone as the walls. Ezra crept toward it, avoiding open spaces and sticking to the blind spots in the patrols. He reached the building's entrance and slipped inside, his steps as quiet as a whisper.

The interior of the fortress was dimly lit, with torches casting flickering shadows along the stone walls. Ezra took note of the layout and the number of cultists inside. At least thirty, maybe more. He could feel the faint hum of aether in the air—a clear sign that there were spellcasters among them.

Deeper into the fortress, Ezra found a staircase leading to the basement. He descended carefully, the faint sounds of chanting growing louder with each step. When he reached the bottom, he found a dimly lit chamber where a massive man clad in dark robes stood at its center.

The man radiated power, his body surrounded by a swirling aura of aether. Ezra could tell he was a mage, nearing the fourth rune level. The room itself was sparsely decorated, with only a table covered in scrolls and a glowing rune circle etched into the stone floor. This must be the base leader, Ezra thought.

He stayed long enough to confirm his suspicions but knew better than to engage now. Drawing attention here would jeopardize the mission and likely rally reinforcements from the other bases. Ezra quietly retreated, retracing his steps and avoiding detection as he slipped back out of the fortress.

Once outside, he moved with precision through the forest, vanishing into the shadows like a wraith. As he put distance between himself and the base, Ezra reviewed what he had learned. This one's more organized and well-equipped. If we're not careful, they could be a real problem.

By the time he reached the rendezvous point, Ezra's mind was already racing with strategies for how to dismantle this base effectively.

Ezra met Korr at the meeting place but Storm wasn't back yet so they stayed and waited for his return before they struck. 

Ezra reviewed what happened with Korr and he nodded. "That first one you scouted is probably the weakest link but let's wait for Storm before we decide."