The sun rose over St. Celeste, but Raziel and his team stayed buried in the dark of the East Basement.
The Academy accepted its new protocol and stood ready to resist the Inquisition.
Raziel pulled a heavy wooden crate to the center of the workshop.
He unrolled a detailed architectural map of the academy and dropped it on top of the wood.
He stood at the head of the makeshift war table.
Lucian, Lara, Zorya, Caius, and Gideon gathered around the map.
A jagged red communication crystal rested right in the center of the parchment.
Arawn Rivers monitored the meeting from a secure location in the capital, providing external intelligence through the magical link.
Raziel looked at his team.
He did not feel the warm rush of camaraderie or the emotional bonds of friendship.
He just recognized the absolute tactical value of the people standing in this room.
They formed a perfect, specialized weapon designed to break the Church.
