Final preparations

Once everyone is ready, your group makes their way out of the city. Lira insisted that you could leave from her compound, but Samus explained that would be a bad idea.

“The power of the teleportation would shatter what windows you have left. And we must return to the point from which we left, so I would prefer that to be the forest. Just in case.”

Victor shakes his head. “In case of what?”

Samus looks at him. “Many things could go wrong. Especially while transporting my father. Better to have any collateral damage be trees, than people.”

Lira nods. “A good point. Best of luck to you, then.”

You know Victor wants to come with, but you have other plans for him. You’ve tasked him with opening up communication between Hope and Thalberg. With any luck, both places will benefit from less isolation. You also need to get more information about the barrier, and wether it’s even still active. He grumbles about being left behind, but he also knows how important his part is.

Your group leaves the city, less secretive this time. It doesn’t take long before you are gathered around Samus in the same forest clearing you cured Kaeli in, not so long ago. Samus takes a breath, and looks at you.

“I will bring us outside the city, much like last time. From there, I can bring us into the palace much more precisely. With any luck, we should be in and out before they can react.”

You nod. “And if it doesn’t go that easy?”

Samus sighs. “At that point we have to fight our way out. I highly doubt that anyone still in the palace isn’t corrupted by Niran.”

Sarah smiles. “So no worries about just forcing our way free.”

Kaeli shakes her head. “No need to worry about that. I know my way around the palace.”

Alex grins. “And I can just blast our way out if we need to!”

You glance at Melora, who is nervously picking at the hilt of the short sword she’s wearing for this mission. Looking at you, she shrugs. “I can’t see anything. The magnitude of the magic in the capital clouds my sight completely.”

You nod. “I expected that. Ok, last chance. Anyone who doesn’t want to come, say something now.”

Oh please, like any of us are going to just watch the rest leave. Let’s get on with it!

As you expected, no one speaks. Nervous as everyone is, there’s no way any of them would back out now. You smile at each of them, and turn to Samus.

“We’re ready.”

The demigod nods, and closes his eyes. You can feel the power building in him, stronger than you’ve felt before. He opens his eyes, and you see them glowing white. Suddenly, he thrusts out his arms, and a dome of white light surrounds you and the girls. Samus brings his hands together in a thunderous clap, and there’s the sensation of movement, as the light fills the dome.