"So even if we didn’t kill those monsters, it would still wake up." Seris whispered.
"Yeah, we just fed it a little." Lian answered.
"Are you kidding?" Liana looked at him with frustration.
Selina had disappeared and there was no news of her.
A civilization was about to fall upon them while a tree that was very important was dying, and if they didn’t stop it, a disaster that could destroy the world would enter their world.
Was she the only one who understood the terrible depth of their situation? Why were Seris and Lian so calm?
They were practically in a situation that a few 18-year-old kids like them shouldn’t even be able to imagine!
The room’s space fell silent for a few moments. Of course, everyone knew how bad the situation was.
"Killing the monsters and spilling blood around it sped up the awakening process for a short time, but the main cause existed from before." In any case, Lian continued.
"The Forgotten Tree is dying, and until we understand why, the Titan will awaken sooner or later."
"Do the Cindari know about this?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah."
Lian explained that they had been moving their forces to the borders of the three forests for years.
The heavy deployment of soldiers at the Cindervein Passage, the increase in watchtowers, and the control of the paths between the forests were probably related to this issue.
"But that’s not all."
Lian looked at Aren.
"Those Cindari are looking for a way to enter the Ruined Realm."
"To attack?"
"To escape. This world is dying. The Cindari want to enter another world before its destruction and save themselves."
"So all this time they were looking for a way to escape from this world?" Marcus asked in disbelief.
"Yeah."
"And they probably kept us alive because they need Outsiders." Seraphina also whispered in disbelief.
"So from the beginning we weren’t guests, just tools." Ethan said angrily. He hadn’t liked those bastards from the start and knew they were definitely hiding something.
Rindo said nothing.
Among all the people in the room, this truth put the most pressure on him.
He had organized Ashfall Ward, negotiated with Maelor, accepted the city’s laws, and tried to prevent conflict between humans and Cindari.
When Marcus, Ethan, and Cassian were arrested, he had been forced to hand them over to save more than forty Awakeners.
All his decisions were based on the assumption that the Cindari were not their open enemies.
Maybe they were distrustful, maybe they didn’t treat them fairly, but Rindo had thought that as long as the humans followed the city’s laws, they would at least have temporary safety.
Now he realized that they might have never been accepted as a group of guests from the start.
They had gathered everyone in one area, allowed them to grow stronger.
Watched their movements.
And waited for them to find a way back to their world, so at the last moment they could betray them and use that path to go to their world.
"All this time they gathered us, watched us, and waited." Then he said bitterly.
"Wait... this means even they know they can’t stop the disaster... then how are we supposed to do it?" Liana reminded them of an important point.
And her words once again highlighted the severity of the situation.
"What should we do now?"
"We have two options." Lian looked at the city map. He placed his finger on the Vhalaris exit routes.
"First, everyone leaves the city right now and heads toward the Forgotten Tree."
"With our current numbers, that’s not possible." Rindo said without delay. Their numbers weren’t small, and besides the monsters roaming the forest, they would also have to escape from the Cindari.
Running and fighting the Cindari in the forest would be very difficult. Emberroot was practically their home, and they had a significant environmental advantage.
Rindo picked up the list of people to give a fuller explanation of what he meant.
"More than forty people are inside Ashfall. Several hunting groups are still outside the city."
"We have eleven wounded. Some people haven’t even reached Level 17." He tapped the list with his finger.
"If we move now, the group’s order will fall apart. The faster people will go ahead, and the weaker ones will fall behind."
"The Cindari know the paths better than we do. They’ll surround us from several directions and pick the group apart piece by piece."
"The city gates are also closed." Seraphina added another important point.
Rindo nodded.
"Even reaching the outside of the city would be a war in itself."
"So only one option remains." Lian said. He had expected this. His gaze fixed on the Ashfall map.
"We turn this place into our own fortress."
For a few seconds, no one said anything. As if they had some trouble understanding his words.
"We take over the entire city?" Seraphina asked to make sure she hadn’t misunderstood.
"No."
Lian pointed to the borders of Ashfall Ward. This section of the city was connected to the rest of Vhalaris by three main bridges, two narrow paths, and several high platforms.
The old design of the neighborhood made it possible to defend it with fewer forces than other areas.
"For now, just this section."
"I see. This place has limited gates and bridges." Cassian looked carefully at the map.
"The tall buildings around the square are also good for archers. If we want to build a fortress, it’s not hard." Marcus added.
"Taking a region is different from defending it." Rindo was still not convinced.
"First we clear the city’s military forces. We take the entrances, towers, and main paths. Then we turn Ashfall into our headquarters." Lian completed his explanation.
Of course, they would still have to clear the city of any threats.
"And what do we do with the Cindari who live here?" Seraphina asked.
"Ordinary people who don’t resist stay. Soldiers and commanders are naturally a different matter."
"Alive or dead?" Ethan smiled.
"That depends on them." Lian glanced briefly at him.
Rindo didn’t immediately object upon hearing the answer, but his expression grew harder.
He couldn’t allow the Awakeners to massacre all the Cindari in the area as soon as the conflict started.
Not only for ethical reasons, but also militarily, it would be a foolish move.
"Is it even possible?" Cassian asked. He still didn’t see this as simple. The number of enemies was greater than theirs.
"It depends on how many commanders are in the city. So far, the strongest people I’ve seen were around Level 30." Lian thought about the information he had gathered from recent battles.
"And how many like them are there?" Rindo looked at him.
"I don’t know."
"Great."
"Defeating all of them alone is a bit hard for me." Lian continued without paying attention to his sarcasm. Then he looked at Seris, Seraphina, and Liana.
"But with the help of those three, it should be possible."
Seris smiled slightly. Seraphina unstrapped her sword from her waist and placed it on the table.
Liana crossed her arms over her chest.
"I’m still angry at you, but whenever you need help, I’ll always help."
"And those three are also there." Lian pointed to Marcus, Ethan, and Cassian.
"I don’t need to be convinced for this part." Ethan laughed with pleasure.
"My shoulder isn’t fully healed yet, but I can fight." Marcus said.
Cassian was quieter, but whenever his team needed help, he was ready to give it, even if it meant his life.
"We have dozens of other Awakeners too." Lian smiled and looked at the buildings of Ashfall.
"After we take the area, what then?" Rindo asked. He was convinced they had no other choice. In any case, conflict was imminent.
"Then I, Seris, and Aren will head toward the Forgotten Tree." Lian answered quietly.
The plan was complete in his view. Besides, when he reached Level 20 and went through his first evolution, he doubted the Cindari would even be considered a threat anymore.
"Why just you and Seris?" Seraphina asked immediately.
"Because you need to stay here."
"Who decided that?" Seraphina’s eyebrows furrowed.
"I did."
For a moment, the pressure in the room increased, and Seraphina stepped toward Lian.
"You think because you broke out of a prison, you can make decisions for everyone now?"
"If I take all the main forces with me, Ashfall won’t last a single day." Lian answered without backing down.
Seraphina said nothing.
"You, Liana, Marcus, Ethan, Cassian, and Rindo need to stay here." He continued.
"If the Cindari take back the neighborhood, they’ll arrest or kill all the weaker Awakeners."
Then he pointed to Seris.
"Seris has seen the Titan and knows what we’re facing."
Then he looked at Aren.
"Aren also knows the information and the old paths، I have the map. The three of us will move faster."