I Thought I Was Collecting Systems, Not Overpowered Wives

Chapter 67: Saga 67: A Message From the Shadows

The following morning brought a new complication, delivered not through violence this time, but through a sealed letter left mysteriously at the cathedral’s main gate, addressed directly to Ari in handwriting the Cardinal confirmed, with visible discomfort, belonged unmistakably to Vane himself.

"Should we even open this?" Kael asked, studying the letter warily where it sat on the council table, wards already checked thoroughly for any hidden curse or trap.

"It’s clean," the Church’s senior mage confirmed. "No malicious enchantment detected. Whatever this is, it’s meant to be read, not to harm."

Ari broke the seal with trembling hands, unfolding the parchment carefully. She read in silence for a long moment, expression cycling through confusion, grief, and something that looked uncomfortably close to hope before finally speaking.

"He wants to meet me," she said quietly. "Alone, according to this. He claims he never intended for the assassination attempt to succeed, that it was meant only as a demonstration of Umbra Black’s capabilities to force negotiation, not an actual attempt on my life."

"That seems like a considerable stretch, given two guards died in that archive," Sylvia said sharply.

"I agree, and yet—" Ari hesitated, rereading a portion of the letter. "He mentions the six months. He says he wants to explain what actually happened, what he became, before I make any further decisions about how to respond to Umbra Black’s continued presence."

"It could be a trap," Kael said carefully. "Designed specifically to separate you from protection."

"I know." Ari set the letter down, meeting his gaze steadily. "But I also think there’s a real possibility he’s telling the truth about wanting to explain himself. The man I remember from childhood wouldn’t have orchestrated something like this without genuine, however twisted, justification."

The Cardinal shook her head firmly. "Your Holiness, I cannot in good conscience allow you to meet alone with the leader of an organization that’s already attempted your assassination once."

"I don’t intend to go entirely alone," Ari said, glancing meaningfully at Kael and Sylvia. "But I do intend to go. If there’s any chance of ending this without further bloodshed, I owe it to everyone at risk to at least explore that possibility."

Kael studied her expression, recognizing the same stubborn resolve she’d shown throughout the entire ordeal. "If you’re going, we’re going with you. No compromise on that point."

"I wouldn’t have it any other way," Ari said, something grateful and fierce mixing in her expression. "Vane specified a location—the old Hollow Choir sanctuary in the mountains north of the capital, three days from now. If he genuinely wants a conversation rather than another assassination attempt, we’ll find out then."

"And if it’s a trap after all?" Sylvia asked.

"Then we’ll be ready for that too," Kael said grimly. "Whatever happens, we’re not letting anything happen to her. Not after everything we’ve already survived together."

The Cardinal remained visibly unconvinced, pacing the length of the council chamber with obvious distress. "I cannot in good conscience simply approve this without additional safeguards. At minimum, I want a full contingent of temple guards stationed at a discreet distance, ready to intervene should this meeting turn hostile."

"Vane specified I come without additional Church forces," Ari said. "If we bring an entire contingent, we risk provoking exactly the confrontation we’re trying to avoid."

"Then we compromise," Sylvia said. "A small, discreet escort, positioned far enough to avoid detection but close enough to respond quickly if needed. Harriden’s shadow techniques would be ideal for this, if we can get word to Renodin in time."

"Three days should be enough time for a message to reach him, assuming the courier network holds," Kael said. "I’ll draft something immediately."

The Cardinal considered this, some of her tension easing slightly. "Very well. A compromise I can accept, provided the additional escort remains entirely hidden unless genuinely necessary."

Ari nodded, already turning her attention back to the letter, rereading Vane’s careful, measured words one more time. "Three days," she murmured. "Let’s hope he’s telling the truth about wanting real conversation, rather than another elaborate trap."

Sylvia moved to draft the message to Harriden immediately, leaving Kael alone with Ari for a rare quiet moment amid the mounting tension.

"Are you sure about this?" Kael asked gently. "Nobody would blame you for refusing to meet him at all, given everything that’s happened."

"I’m not sure of much right now, honestly," Ari admitted. "But I know that if there’s even a small chance of ending this without more people dying, I have to at least try. I couldn’t live with myself otherwise, wondering if reconciliation might have been possible."

"That’s a heavier burden than most people would choose to carry."

"Maybe. But it’s mine to carry, regardless." She managed a tired smile. "Besides, I won’t be carrying it entirely alone. Not with you and Sylvia beside me."

"Never alone," Kael confirmed. "Not while I have any say in it."

Later that night, unable to sleep with the weight of the coming meeting pressing on her, Ari found herself pacing the length of her chambers, staff propped uselessly against the wall since practicing forms alone felt hollow without proper company. A soft knock interrupted her restless circling.

"Come in," she called, expecting Sylvia with some final tactical detail to discuss.

Instead, it was Kael, holding two cups of tea he’d clearly convinced a sleepy kitchen attendant to prepare at this unreasonable hour. "Thought you might not be sleeping either."

"You thought correctly." Ari accepted the cup gratefully, settling onto the edge of her bed while Kael took the nearby chair. "I keep running through every possible way tomorrow could go wrong. It’s not helping, but I can’t seem to stop."

"For what it’s worth, whatever happens, you won’t be facing it unprepared. Sylvia’s already coordinated with Harriden’s escort placement three times over. We’ve accounted for every contingency we could think of."

"I know. That’s not what’s keeping me awake, actually." Ari wrapped both hands around the warm cup, staring into its depths. "It’s the possibility that he’s telling the truth. That somewhere in this monster my old teacher has become, there’s still a person worth trying to save. I don’t know what I’ll do if that’s true, and I still have to fight him regardless."

"You’ll figure it out when you get there," Kael said gently. "You don’t have to have every answer tonight."

Ari looked up at him, something grateful easing the tension in her shoulders. "Thank you for the tea. And for not pretending this is simpler than it actually is."

"Anytime," Kael said, and meant it.

—

End of Chapter—