Surveying

"We begin the 'Salvation Plan'." 

"Huh? Salvation Plan?"

"Correct," Cole smirked as his steps pitter-pattered on the misty streets of Mistveil.

"What are you going to save?"

"Mistveil."

"From what?"

"The catastrophes that are about to befall it."

"Huh?"

"Sigh, you're too retarded to keep up with my current planning, for now, you'll just have to keep watch and see how things proceed, after that, you'll have a rough idea of how they'll be on my side."

"Aye! Your offenses have no end to them, do they?" Eliran squinted his eyes as he stared at Cole in a scornful manner.

"I mean… no they don't. Anyways, Kaia, you're here right?" Cole quickly changed the topic and called for his most trusted companion as of now, in this place.

"Kirrya~" Instantly, a small bird, bigger than the normal ones, was perched on Cole's shoulder.

By this time, Cole had already gotten used to Kaia's behavior and began to find it rather cute. 

'She's just like a pet.'

 He would think anytime she acted cutely.

"Eh? What's that?" Eliran questioned as he scanned the emerald-feathered bird.

"This is Kaia, a Blightbringer."

"Eh?" Eliran moved his eyes back and forth from Cole's face to Kaia's, and then back again.

"What? You didn't think I actually became the leader of the Blightbringers? Pfft~" Cole snorted and slapped Eliran's shoulder, trying to wake him up from his shocked state.

Closing his slacked jaw, Eliran proceeded to whisper to himself, "So they do exist, huh…"

'It's weird that Blightbringers were so hidden from humans before the Celestial Eclipse. There used to be clear proof of their existence, so why would a being of noble background suspect it?' Cole thought to himself, shaking his head how it was now that he recalled the fact he had read about Blightbringers in a book when he was young.

'Even though I was a commoner, my thanks go to my mother who taught me to read and write.'

"Anyways, Kaia," Cole called out to his small companion once more.

"Kren is also in the vicinity, correct?"

"Mhm." Kaia nodded her head and pointed towards a roof.

"Hmmm…" Squinting his eyes, Cole just barely could make the silhouette of the warrior of the Blightbringers.

"Good, he's following us. It's great to see that Blightbringers have good sight. Anyways, for today, we have to scan the area, and the night is when we strike. Truly, a person enshrouded by shadows would only act during the shadow times themselves, isn't that right?" Cole talked to himself and ended the sentence with a scoff.

"… That sounded corny as hell, but true enough." Eliran shrugged his shoulders, thinking to himself how would he be able to keep up with Cole.

How would he be able to help him?

That's when it snapped into his mind.

'Ah, Cole, hold on! I told you that I have information, correct?"

"Yes?" Cole raised his right brow.

"Well, then why would you waste your time scanning the whole city when I have all the intel you need?"

"… Why didn't you speak earlier, sigh."

Shaking his head dismissively, Cole quickly picked up his pace, "Although, it doesn't matter. I need to see every nook and cranny of this place with my own eyes, for now, all you have to do is act as a guide."

"Hmm, alright then, I shall lead the way."

***

Just like that, Eliran kept his word and properly guided Cole and Kaia throughout the streets of Mistveil, throughout its sides, Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western. Throughout it passageways that were a secret and unknown to most of the civilians. The fortified official object of Mistveil, where there was a small castle of sorts.

"It's like ten times smaller compared to the one in Silvindor." Cole gave voice to his thoughts the first time he saw it, and Eliran couldn't help but chuckle as he nodded in agreement.

"Truly, that's exactly how I felt when I first saw this place."

"Wow, we're on the same wavelength for the first time!" Cole said with a gasp, purely filled with irony.

"Tsk, you're so insufferable." And Eliran couldn't help but click his tongue yet again.

***

After that, the surveying of the city was done and Cole knew exactly how and where to begin his Salvation Plan.

The whole trip by foot took over eight hours and the sun had well set.

"Listen, we strike furthest away from the Official Building of Mistveil, which would have to be the most southern part of the city."

"Hmm, by foot it would take a good hour or maybe two if we go slowly," Eliran stated, calculating in his mind as he held his thumb against his thin lips.

"Who said I'm going by foot?" Cole asked as he smirked, his face rather unclear to Eliran's eyes in the darkened mist.

"Erm?"

"No, you'll be going back to Mistfallen Inn, as for me, I know what I'll do."

"Ehhh?"

Albeit Eliran complained and gasped when Kren landed next to them, Cole didn't have any time to waste and boarded the Blightbringer's back.

"Well for now, see ya!" Cole flashed a smile and Kren took that as a signal to depart.

"Why did your teeth glint— Aye, don't leave me in the middle of nowhere!" Unsure of what to say first, Eliran ended his sentence with, "…he left me stranded and lost."

***

Fwoop~

The wind cut through the air and Cole felt himself getting fulfilled with life and adrenaline.

'Is it excitement that I'm finally getting started? It's only been two days since I've gotten here but they felt extraordinarily long.'

"Albeit, not wasted, I thoroughly planned the course of actions that I'll be taking."

Seeing how they were reaching the walls of the city, Cole signaled to Kren with a finger that he must descend there, near the gate.

'People will be traversing back and forth with a 90 percent certainty because of the Haare. Some will come to witness the fog and mist firsthand, and the others will want to leave.'

"Kaia," Cole called the name of the cute pet.

"Kirrya~" She responded back cheerfully even though Cole wore a menacing grin on his face.

"Go into the Skyleaves with Kren and gather us some purploberries."

"…?" Kaia shifted her head at an angle.

"Their juices are dark just like monster blood. I say it is time we get to painting."