With the first half of the Heist officially over, all members of their little group met up at their hidout to discuss what they found and the next stage of their plans.
"We have everything we were looking for.
I say we leave and hunt down that secret base we discovered!" Suggested Storm.
"We still don't know where your uncle is being held, Storm!" Replied Leyocan.
"Most likely at this facility back in the fringes!" Retorted Storm.
Leyocan shook his head.
"I doubt it, Storm! They've got the expert and the materials for their projects here!
That means there's another base hidden somewhere in the area! I suspect he's being held there."
"You don't know that for certain though , do you?!" Asked Storm.
Leyocan shook his head.
"No, I don't. But I've got a strong feeling that this is the case, and my gut instincts have always served me well before.
Besides! Do I need to remind you that we made a deal with the Spellbreakers?!
The diagrams in exchange for their aid."
"The circumstances have changed, Leyocan!! They're already suspicious!! Returning there is suicide!
We can give them all the information we've uncovered.
As well as the key. They can then send another infiltrator. " Explained Storm.
Leyocan shook his head.
"No, they can't Storm.
It will take them weeks, maybe even months to get another infiltrator into the Arcanium .
By that point they would have already discovered our actions and changed security in order to close this gap.
All our work would have been for nothing. " Explained Leyocan.
"Can't you just break your pact with him? You're a clan leader too? What can he do to you?" Asked Kalipso.
"It isn't wise to break deals with Nogitsune Clan leaders.
Even for me. He can't physically harm me, yes. But he could cause us no end of trouble.
Those Golems are bad news for all of us. If they prove successful here, they may get deployed elsewhere.
Do you really want to risk ecountering more of them?
"He's got a point, Storm! If we steal the diagrams, we could delay the project indefinitely!
Their creator is already dead. Stealing the diagrams would prevent them from creating more!" Explained Mimereus.
Storm threw up his hands in defeat.
"Fine!! You've made your point!!
I hope you're plan is a good one though!!"
Leyocan smiled.
"My plan is quite simple.
You and I will go to the vault tonight when everyone has left, We use the keys to enter, then retrieve the Diagrams. "
"Any idea what is beyond the Vault door? Are there traps or guardians?" Asked Aurora.
"I... don't know.
Beyond the doors, I have no idea what to expect.
We're going to have to make things up as we go." Answered Leyocan.
"This is a big risk for an unknown reward.
We have no idea if the information in Pyros's office will be useful to us." Added Storm.
"Yes, it is a gamble, but just like any high risk wager, it has the potential for a big payout. You don't beat the house by playing it safe."
"That's easy for you to say you're a Nogitsune!!
You control the odds!" Joked Storm.
"Look, whatever is in there was enough to scare your uncle into risking his freedom and his life to stop.
That should tell you how valuable it is." Explained Leyocan.
"Fine!!! You've convinced me!!! Let's go play with 'fate' again!!" Exclaimed Storm.
They went on with normal business for the rest of the day in order to avoid suspicion.
When night finally came, Leyocan sent them a mental 'all clear' message and Storm and Aurora left their quarters and made their way to the room Leyocan had indicated.
Because of the danger. It was all hands on deck for this part of the plan.
Aurora and Sprite would stay by the entrance and keep an eye out for anyone approaching the vault.
Storm and Leyocan would do all the heavy lifting, while Kalipso and Mimereus would be providing advice.
As Storm entered the room, the first thing he saw was a gigantic round iron door that was big enough for his dragon form to walk through and was several meters thick.
He could batter that thing all day in his dragon form and he still wouldn't have been able to even put a dent in it.
"We need to turn both keys simultaneously or else the alarm would go off. " Explained Leyocan.
He showed Storm where to insert the key, then rushed to the other side to insert his own.
"On my mark.
3...2...1...Mark!!" Called Leyocan.
As they turned their keys, the door began to shudder, before it slowly rolled open.
Storm was expecting a vast room filled with treasures after all the trouble they went through to get this far.
Although the room was indeed vast.
It was completely empty except for a raised platform in the center of the room.
A long pedestal was located on the platform and a small book was floating above the pedestal.
As they entered the room, Kalipso suddenly cried out.
"Storm!!! Sometimes.... is.... wrong....!!!"
Her voice was faint and weak.
Storm's connection to her magical reserves were faltering and he briefly panicked when he felt how weak she was.
She quickly flew out of his chest, before taking physical form and collapsing on the ground.
"Kalipso!!!"
Storm and Leyocan rushed to her side as she laid on the ground.
She was breathing heavily and seemed to barely have the strength to get to her feet.
"What is wrong with her!?" Asked Storm concerned.
Leyocan looked around until his eyes fell on the walls.
"There!!"
Leyocan pointed to the walls that were covered in glowing magical runes.
"Dampening Runes. They erase any magic in the room and keeps it from being used." Explained Leyocan.
"Why did it effect her so negatively though? We're still fine!?" Asked Storm.
"When they're in spirit from, Fay are basically nothing more than sentient magical energy.
As a result, those dampeners were attacking her very being.
She's lucky she noticed it.
Another minute and she would have been erased from existence. " Explained Leyocan.
"We need to get her out of the room!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"N-no!!" Kalipso called weakly.
Storm looked down at her as she began to stir.
"..."
"I'm alright!! Just a little out of breath!!
It's not affecting me now that I've created a physical body for myself!" Exclaimed Kalipso.