Filling up the orb was significantly easier this time, not only did he know what to do, but he already charged most of it so the needed power was much lower.
Once the device was full of beautiful verdant light, Lydia picked it up and observed it from various angles.
"I think it's good to go." She handed him the sphere. "Give it to Elira, and make sure the invisibility robe works before Isara goes out, because the roots are patrolled by a few guards loyal to Trent, it would be really bad if she got caught."
Lydia shooed him away.
"Really, go. I need to change from this ridiculous outfit."
***
Isara and Cassian were still busy with their training, so Calen and Elira were left completely alone. He has already given her the source oasis, and they were sitting in Calen's room, but surprisingly the atmosphere wasn't too awkward.
"So it's the main array of the city then... It makes sense I suppose." Elira mumbled.
She seemed to be lost in thought, so Calen coughed to get her attention.
"Elira, did you manage to get any information about it from Vinifer?"
The alchemist shook her head.
"Only things you already know - also, please call me Ellie, I feel like we've been through enough near-death situations together to do that."
Calen lifted an eyebrow.
"We've been through only one situation like that though."
Elira gave him a deadpan expression.
"That's still one too many."
Since she started to open up to him, he decided to ask her a more casual question:
"How did you end up taking care of sir Vandrel, anyway? Cass isn't the type to ask for help, and like you said yourself his father's condition wasn't particularly serious."
She brightened a little at the topic.
"Cassian came to grandpa's shop, looking for something to help sir Vandrel's recovery, but he was completely clueless about potions. I was the one behind the counter that day, so naturally I approached him in order to help - he told me about his situation, so I offered to check on his father and provide diagnosis."
Calen nodded, Cassian told him how they met, so he already knew that part - he was more interested in what came after:
"But that was one visit, and from what Cass told me you were there quite a few times - why?"
There was a hint of red on Elira's cheeks, but she answered:
"Well, it might sound stupid but I thought it was endearing how much he wanted to help his dad, and it made me want to help him in turn."
"Nah, I think I get what you mean. Cass is very loyal and devoted, especially to his father. I think it's very admirable." Calen made a serious face. "Don't tell him I said that though, his ego is big enough as it is."
Elira laughed a little.
At that moment the door to his room opened violently.
"I'm done!" Isara announced.
"Really? I thought you would need another day before the prototype was completed." Calen said.
She was wearing a dark gray hooded cloak, that reached to the ground and could easily cover her entire body.
"I haven't tested it yet, but if I didn't screw up everything should work properly."
Calen came closer and inspected the enchanted robe - it was made of cotton, covered in runes on the inside, and instead of buttons, it had small magic crystals.
"So these power the entire thing?" Calen pointed at the shimmering stones.
Isara nodded.
"The entire array activates when you button up. It was Alara's idea to make the the magic circuit close like that, quite ingenious if you ask me."
Calen rubbed his chin.
"Interesting. What are the limitations?"
"Well, most importantly we can't fight with the enchantment on - the cloak restricts our movements making any melee combat impossible, and casting while wearing it would break the illusion anyway."
"That's really good, how long will the enchantment last?"
"Assuming all three crystals are full charged, it should be possible to use it actively for an entire day."
Calen was impressed, making magical items was technically their job back home, but most of the time they just copied already existing enchantments - to make something like this almost from scratch was way more difficult.
"Should we test it then?" Elira asked.
"Sure." Isara said.
She started threading the blue crystals through the holes, and when she put the last one it it's place-
She disappeared. Completely and utterly, you couldn't see her, hear her or feel her presence.
"Okay, it seems that the cloak works." Calen said, unsure where to direct his comment.
A voice responded from behind him:
"Haha! Am I not astonishing?" Isara asked smugly.
She was standing on the coffee table, bowing theatrically.
"Yes, yes, you're extremely talented, now get off that thing, we'll brief you on your mission."
They told her about her the main array, and the guards protecting it.
"I'm not sure how big the entire thing is, but it would be good if you could check out all the parts, in case we have to alter it." Calen added.
Isara seemed to consider something for a moment.
"I think I know how this main array is built."
"Really?"
"Well, not exactly, but on the blueprints that Alara showed me the barrier was connected to a larger magical circuit - and if that circuit is the main array then I can make an educated guess how it's structured."
At that moment Cassian entered the room, today he wasn't as battered as two days ago, but he still had some cuts and bruises.
"Anything important?" He asked.
"Isa is going to infiltrate the inner sanctum tonight, but other than that no new info. You can go rest in your room if you want, were about done here and Ellie can bring you up to speed about everything we discussed." Calen summarised.
Cassian nodded, and left the room.
"I'll go as well." Elira said.
Calen was left alone with Isara once more.
"I think you should take a nap or something, it's going to be a long night." He suggested.
Isara stretched and yawned.
"Yeah, you might be right, I woke up early today to finish the cloak so I'll go catch some z's. See you at sundown."
He was alone now.
'I guess I'll read a book.'
***
Elira knocked softly on her neighbour's door.
"Cassian?"
A moment of silence.
"Come in."
When she entered the room Cassian was sitting on his bed, pretending to be reading a book - she knew he wasn't actually reading because he told her he finished this one.
She was already somewhat used to dealing with the awkward swordsman, so she sat on the opposite side of his bed, and started telling him everything about what they talked about before he came.
As her summary went on, Cassian slowly relaxed his rigid posture.
"...and I think that's about it." Elira finished.
There was a comfortable silence between them for a while, but Cassian decided to bring up a topic that slightly bothered him:
"I noticed that Cal addressed you differently today."
Elita shrugged.
"Yeah, I asked him to. If I didn't he would probably continue to use my full name forever"
She purposefully avoided the real question he was asking, to see how he would respond.
"Could I maybe... calm you Ellie as well?" Cassian asked.
Elira really didn't expect him to be this straightforward, but it made her happy.
She smiled brightly and responded:
"Sure, can I call you Cass?"
"Of course."
***
Calen and Isara were in her room doing the last checks before the mission.
"Make sure the cloak is fastened properly."
"Mhm."
"Did you take the Pathfinder?"
"Mhm."
"Do you remember-"
"Cal!" Isara exclaimed in an exasperated voice. "Nothing will happen, at worst we'll be questioned by Trent in the morning, we can live with that."
"But-"
"No buts, everything will be fine. If you're so worried you can stay here until I return."
She was annoyed at his nagging, but at the same time she was a little happy that he cared about her as much as she did about him.
"Alright. Knock'em dead... wait no, don't do that, keep away from the guards." Calen sighed. "Whatever. Good luck Isa."
She smiled at him, buttoned up the cloak and slipped into the night, merging with the shadows.
Getting to the gates of the inner sanctum was quite easy, the difficult part would begin once she's inside.
At the bottom of the Great tree was a giant hollow, it was the most sacred place to the druids, and also her destination. The space was separated from the rest of the city by a wall with a singular gate.
It wasn't particularly well guarded - there were only two very tired druids, trying, and failing, to stay awake.
Isara waited for a moment when both guards were half asleep, and then quietly slipped through the gate.
The hollow could fit several large buildings, but the only structure here was a shrine, in which the power source of the tree was located.
The only thing that interested Isara however, was the giant glowing array drawn all around the perimeter of the space.
'Let's see what you're really hiding Mr. Elder'