We need a Plan

When the girls met up with Belial, Clare seized the moment to recount their visit to the temple earlier that afternoon. They described the impressive architecture and the unique fact that it served as a place of worship for four different gods.

Hannah glanced around at the others, her brow furrowed. "Good thing those gods aren't real, that would be very bad for us."

"Not real?" Belial frowned, a shadow passing over his features. "Why would you assume they are not real?"

"Well, everyone knows that. It's just a fact," Ellie replied nonchalantly.

"And just a few months ago, demons were only figments of your imagination," Belial said, his gaze showing his contempt for their limited thinking. "Gods are very much alive, just as I am very much alive."

The realization hit the girls like a cold wave, causing them to rethink their stance. Rachel was the first to voice her concern. "We can't just walk in and attack four gods. What if they attack back? This is crazy."

"We need to come up with a better plan," Clare interjected, her voice steady despite the anxiety in her eyes.

Ellie added, "You may be powerful but do you really think the four of us and you are going to be able to defeat four gods in their own temple?"

"Do not worry, I have more information and a plan," Belial assured them, his tone confident. "Even without it, those petty gods would not be able to prevent us from achieving our goal." 

"First of all, lets be clear," he stated, "while the four gods are powerful they do not live in the temple. Even if they chose to intervene, which is unlikely it would take time for this to happen. We will be long gone before they were to arrive."

Belial then began to explain what he had done the previous night after the others had gone off to their rooms.

Belial, ever the strategist, saw an opportunity as one of the robed figures excused himself from the table, presumably to visit the washroom. He rose from his seat and followed the lone figure, blending seamlessly into the crowd as he trailed behind.

In the dimly lit corridor leading to the washroom, Belial kept his distance, careful not to arouse suspicion as he shadowed the robed figure's movements. His keen senses honed in on the man's every step, anticipating his next move with calculated precision.

As they reached the secluded alcove housing the washroom, the figure paused to glance around, seemingly unaware of Belial's presence behind him. With a swift and silent motion, Belial closed the gap between them, his movements as fluid as the shadows themselves.

In a deft maneuver, he reached out and grasped the figure's shoulder, spinning him around to face him with a steely gaze. Caught off guard, the man's eyes widened in surprise before recognition dawned in his gaze.

"Who are you?" the man demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion as he regarded Belial warily.

"I am but a traveler passing through," Belial replied smoothly, his tone betraying none of the tension coursing through him. "But I couldn't help overhearing your conversation earlier. It seems we have a mutual interest in acquiring that artifact."

"I do not know what you are talking about," the man lied, his voice wavering slightly.

Belial's eyes gleamed with dark intent as he focused his magical energies, weaving a web of compulsion around the hooded figure before him. With a subtle gesture and a whispered incantation, he delved into the man's mind, probing the recesses of his thoughts to extract the information he sought.

Under Belial's powerful influence, the man's resistance crumbled, his thoughts laid bare before the sorcerer's probing gaze. With chilling clarity, Belial absorbed the details of their nefarious scheme, each word uttered by the hooded figure etched into his consciousness like dark runes upon a cursed scroll.

"They plan to strike after nightfall," Belial mused, his voice low and calculated as he processed the information. "Under the cover of darkness, they believe they can evade detection as they infiltrate the temple."

As he delved deeper into the man's memories, Belial unearthed the intricacies of their plan—the route they intended to take, the secret entrance they would use to bypass the temple's defenses, and the escape route they had meticulously plotted to ensure their swift departure once their task was complete.

"They will enter through the back door," Belial murmured, his mind racing with possibilities as he envisioned their every move. "A hidden passage concealed beneath the temple's foundations, accessible only to those who know where to look."

With a flicker of his fingers, Belial conjured an illusionary map, overlaying the temple's layout with the path the intruders planned to take. He traced the winding corridors and concealed passages, committing every twist and turn to memory as he devised a strategy to intercept them before they could reach their prize.

"We must act swiftly," Belial declared, his voice tinged with urgency as he turned to his companions. "If we can intercept them before they reach the artifact, we will be able to achieve our plans while they create the distraction we need."

But even as he spoke, a shadow of doubt flickered across his mind. The risk of confronting the guardians head-on was great, and the consequences of failure dire. Yet Belial knew that they could not stand idly by while this opportunity to achieve his goal presented itself. They would get the blood he sought and these would be thieves would take the blame for the actions.

With a final incantation, Belial released the hooded figure from his thrall, the man's memories of their encounter fading into oblivion like mist before the morning sun. As the man wandered off, oblivious to the role he had unwittingly played in their plans, Belial turned to head to his room, his gaze steely with determination.

As he finished his story, he scanned the girls. "We must prepare," he said, his voice resolute. "Tonight, we must defeat one of the guardians of the Light, the defenders of the sacred temple. We shall not falter, nor shall we yield, for the fate of all my plans may well depend on our success."