Everyone paused, then they blinked, and stared at the Saint in shock.

Reinhard furrowed his brows. "Why us? Wouldn't you and Vlad be the best option? Or why can't you just lead and we follow?"

Vlad nodded in agreement. "Is there something you saw in a vision that requires only them to go but not us?"

Brunhilde tilted her head thoughtfully. "Unless you saw them going, is the best choice with the highest chance of success?"

Saint Lucian chuckled before nodding at Brunhilde. "Sharp as always, Brunhilde. But you're right. They're going to have the highest chance with the least amount of casualties and risk of failure." He paused, the black mask somehow conveying seriousness despite hiding his face. "Every other vision I saw had us losing a lot of people, even one of the people here."

Vlad frowned while Reinhard's brows furrowed deeper, and Brunhilde sighed.

"If they have the best chance." Brunhilde said slowly. "That means we're doing something that allows for it, aren't we?"

Saint Lucian nodded. "We will be pulling most of the forest's attention."

Vlad's eyes widened with understanding. "I see. You want us to attack the forest so it places more energy on us while they rush toward the center."

Brunhilde caressed her chin, working through implications. "This will lower the amount of danger and things the group heading to the center has to deal with. Furthermore, you have the other Seekers and Luminous Knight spread out to help with this attack. This forces the forest to divide its attention among many different locations."

Reinhard's eyes widened. "This would make the journey faster for us, and the chances of us being injured or captured vastly lowered..."

Saint Lucian nodded with a smile evident in his voice. "I am proud I'm working with such amazing people."

Joseph crossed his arms. "But then what is the plan when we reach the center? Don't tell me you want us to destroy the Dark Silence?"

Saint Lucian chuckled. "Don't worry. Once you're at the center, Honor will contact me, and then I will teleport to Vlad and Brunhilde's locations. Then we'll teleport to your location, and we all go into the capital city together."

Vlad nodded. "The roots wouldn't be able to react in time, and by the time they do, we'd already be rushing through the capital. With us three, we can blow through most obstacles."

"Exactly." Saint Lucian confirmed. "Which is why I gave the Jewel to Marie. She will use it to part the roots while Amiya leads them through the forest as their guide. The rest will protect both of them as they head to the center."

Amiya blinked, color draining from her face. "Me? B-But how can I guide everyone through a place I've never been?"

Saint Lucian opened his hand before a light shined from his palm. The light began to swirl and form into a golden map that appeared from nothing. "I was able to create a map of the current center last night through my visions. Use this to help navigate your way through."

Amiya's eyes widened in surprise, and then she reached for the map but hesitated, hand trembling. "But am I really the right one-"

A hand came down gently on Amiya's head, fingers threading through her curly black hair. She looked up to see Vlad smiling at her with a caring and soft expression.

"Of course you can." Vlad said. "One of the reasons I chose you as my student is because your ability to read maps and move through the forest is second to none. Believe in yourself, Amiya. I know you can do it."

Amiya trembled before then she glanced around, and began looking at the others. She found Reinhard's faint smile, Marie beaming at her with two thumbs up.

Joseph nodded with absolute confidence, and Janus grinned as he'd never doubted her for a second.

Veryn nodded with a faint smile while Casseo spoke: "It was you who guided us to find the Star Jewel, so of course I believe in you."

Honor said softly. "If Veryn and Casseo believe in you so much, then I will too."

Saint Lucian slowly nodded and said. "In all my visions, it was you leading the group that showed the best chances. You were like a shining star that led the group through darkness and never left any of them behind. Believe in yourself more, Amiya."

Amiya blinked before trembling harder, and then nodded. She reached out to take the map with both hands and held it tightly against her chest. "I won't let you down or let anyone die."

Reinhard and the others smiled at her, while before then they focused back on Saint Luciain.

Saint Lucian said. "Now then, we should be getting ready."

Joseph asked. "How will we know when to go?"

Saint Lucian glanced at Brunhilde while Vlad did the same, leading Reinhard to blink in confusion.

Brunhilde sighed lightly, then her fingers traced through the air. Golden words appeared and glowed before they rushed onto everyone like living light, sinking into their bodies.

Brunhilde's voice echoed in all their minds simultaneously. This will allow us to speak with each other through thought from long distances. All you need to do is think of the golden words, and then it will connect.

Marie's eyes lit up. "This is amazing!"

Joseph nodded as he thought. This will make things so much easier.

Vlad chuckled. "Alright then. Where will I go?"

"You'll go far north." Saint Lucian said. "I'll be in the middle. Brunhilde will be far south. When you're in position, say you're ready, and then we'll begin. Once enough attention is on us, Honor and the rest will rush toward the roots and then toward the center."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Saint Lucian turned away and began moving, his white robe trailing behind him. Vlad stretched his arms, grinning with anticipation, and his black cloak billowed as he departed in a different direction.

Brunhilde sighed before smiling at Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, Amiya, and Janus. "Be careful out there and remember to prioritize your lives."

Everyone grinned at her, leading Brunhilde to chuckle, and then she began walking away. But not before glancing one last time at Reinhard.

He smiled softly at her and mouthed to her softly. Trust me.

Brunhilde's expression softened before she nodded, disappearing into the morning crowd.

Honor turned to Amiya. "Where should we go to get ready?"

"We can wait at the east gate." Amiya said, voice steadier now.

Honor nodded while everyone began following Amiya through Naraku's streets toward the eastern gate.

The operation had begun.

…

Vlad rushed through the forest with speed that turned his figure into a blur. Trees passed in streaks of brown and green while roots spread through the ground barely registered beneath his boots.

In a minute, he had reached the northern part of Eastern Hesod and stopped.

Thick barriers of roots rose before him, interwoven so densely that no gaps existed between them. They rose upward endlessly, disappearing into clouds overhead, it was a familiar sight that led Vlad to sigh. Then a genius smile carrying hope appeared on his face, as he realized that today was the day.

Finally, beginning the plan to end the Dark Silence and fulfill the dreams of Eastern Hesod's people.

Vlad closed his eyes briefly as Images flashed through his mind.

Tearful faces of townspeople who'd lost everything, angry expressions of those who blamed him for failing to protect them, desperate pleas from families begging for salvation that never came.

"Today, it's time to make up for all of it."

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