The successful political attack left Kaelen completely drained, but intensely focused. They left the Sunstone Caves within minutes of the Temporal Echo Rune activating, moving deeper into the Northern Wastes where the rugged, chaotic landscape offered natural concealment.
"Valerius is not a fool; he will recognize the sophistication of that attack," Kaelen observed, his voice now low and strained. "It wasn't merely information; it was information delivered via temporal displacement, overriding his own high-rank magical broadcast. He will know that his opponent commands knowledge far beyond this world's technology—or is of a lineage that predates the Collegium."
"He now knows we are tactical, not just powerful," Elara confirmed, matching his quick pace. "The book mentions that after the execution failed, Valerius stopped relying on standard enforcers like Seraph and the now-compromised Gideon. He switches to the Shadow Legion—his personal, non-magical covert forces."
The Shadow Legion was Valerius's most dreaded asset—a cadre of highly trained, specialized soldiers whose methods were designed to eliminate magic users without relying on Aether, thereby avoiding detection and counter-spells. They were stealthy, brutally efficient, and employed forbidden technology.
"They use anti-Aetheric weapons," Kaelen confirmed, recalling the tragic fate of his father's closest allies in the original timeline. "Specifically, they use Shifter Blades—non-magical metal blades that, upon contact with an Arcanist's skin, disrupt their internal Aether flow, causing excruciating paralysis and eventual death."
"Their primary target will be me," Kaelen stated flatly. "A Blue Rank Archmage, neutralized by a simple blade. It is Valerius's signature humiliation. We must avoid all direct confrontation until I can study the full capacity of the Codex and find a counter-spell."
They moved away from the geothermally active region, heading toward a cluster of high, desolate plateaus. Kaelen had one final, safe location in mind—a place he had intended to use only in the most dire circumstances.
"The Crag of Whispering Stones," Kaelen announced, pointing to a distant, jagged peak that pierced the grey horizon. "It is too remote for patrols and too unstable for permanent settlement. But it holds one advantage: raw, natural Ironwood Ore deposits in the rock face."
Elara's eyes widened. "The Ironwood Ore? The same elemental metal Valerius was smuggling?"
"Yes. Ironwood Ore naturally absorbs and dampens Aether. The Crag's entire structure is saturated with it. If we can reach the interior caves, my Blue Rank Aether signature will be completely masked from the Legion's tracking charms. They rely on detecting magical activity; Ironwood masks it."
The climb was relentless. Kaelen, still physically weak from his energy expenditure, struggled, relying heavily on his Staff for support. Elara, though physically exhausted, was hyper-aware of their surroundings, her civilian instincts proving invaluable in spotting non-magical traps and patrol signs.
They reached the base of the Crag just as night fell. The rock face was a dark, menacing wall, riddled with fissures and small, unstable cave entrances.
"We need the deepest cave we can find," Kaelen instructed.
Using a small, precise Earth-Drill spell—the last of his immediately available Aether—Kaelen widened a narrow fissure. They slipped inside, the tunnel immediately growing cold and silent as the Ironwood Ore within the stone began to dampen the ambient Aether flow.
Inside, the cave opened into a small, dry chamber. The air was heavy, but the silence was absolute.
"This will be our final fortress," Kaelen declared, slumping against the cold rock. "We are completely untraceable here, but we are also trapped. Any strong use of magic will be instantly registered once the signal leaves the Crag."
He turned to Elara, his eyes gleaming with grim determination in the dark. "We have destroyed Valerius's political platform and crippled his chief enforcer. Now, he sends his killers. We must use this isolation to study the Codex and prepare a counter-weapon for the Shifter Blades. From this point, Elara, every move we make must be lethal, and every action must be dictated by your foresight."