[Outskirts of Veltharr — Open Field — 8:45 AM]
The team arrived from the eastern edge where they had been watching.
Raven assessing Alex's damage — her hands on his side, pressure on his shoulder. Alex letting her without protest.
Emily with minimum [Heal] — enough for his side to stop protesting.
Maya with her notebook.
Kira looking at Marcus.
The boy watching from the group's edge — with the expression of someone filing everything away to process later.
Marcus with Aurum back on his shoulder.
The dragon in reduced size.
---
They sat on the rocks on the north side of the field.
Marcus spoke first.
"The report to Father Agustín."
"What are you going to tell him?" asked Alex.
"The truth." Marcus looked at the field where they had fought.
"That the bearer of Fragment 1 operates at a level that the Temple's current resources cannot handle without significant institutional cost." A pause.
"That immediate capture is not viable."
